davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1879-07-18
Temperance During the Past Fifty
Years.

From Private Letter by William e. Dodge.l
But those of us who can go back to the
very commencement of the temper
ance reform well know that in all parts of
the country outside our large cities there
has been most remarkable change in the
customs of the great mass of people as the
result of temperance efforts. Then there
was hardly family of any standing that
sat down to dine without some kind of in
toxicating drink on the table. Men were
hardly expected to work on the farm or
in their shop without their regular allow
ance. It was kept in every country store;
was used at all public gatherings, and, in
my remembrance, was passed among the
attendants at funerals. AS you sat down
at the hotel tables every second man had
his bottle or glass of some kind of intoxi-
eating drink. Now we know that to a
great extent this is changed. Go where
you will throughout the country, sit down
to the tables of a great majority of our
families, and you will find no intoxicating
drinks. Sit down at our hotels on the
great liues of travel and you will not see
one person using strong drink, where
fifty years ago yon would have seen ten.
Had it not been for the vast increase of
population from the old world during the
last half century, the results of the tenn
perance movement would be more ap-
parent. But those of us who have watched
it feel that its progress has been most en-
couraging. I have just returned from an
absence of two months, in which L have
travelled through ten States and over 1000
miles, and I have seen less drinking and
fewer drunkards than ever before in the
anne time and distance.
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1879-07-18
Fish Not q Brain Food.

DR.. J. w. Draper, in an article in Har-
per's Magazine for April says: Since dur
ing the acts of sensation and intellection
phosphorus consumed in the brain and
nervous system, there arises necessity
to restore the portions consumed, or, as
the proper expression is, to use brain
food. Now, as everybody knows, it is the
property of phosphorus to shine in the
dark and as fish in a certain stage of
putrifactive decay often emit light, or be-
come phosphorescent, it has been thought
that this is due to the abundance of phos-
phorus the fish contains, and hence they
are eminently suitable for the nourish-
ment of the nervous system, and are an
invaluable brain food. Under this idea
many persons resort to diet of fish, and
persuade themselves that they derive
advantage from it in an increased vivid
ness of thought, single improvement in
the reasoning powers. But the flesh of
fish contains no excess of phosphorus nor
does its shining depend upon that ele-
ment. Decaying willow wood shines
even more brilliantly than decaying fish !;
it may be discerned afar off at night. The
shining in the two cases is due to the same
of carbon, not of phos-
phorus, in organic substances containing,
perhaps, not a perceptible trace of the lat
ter element. Yet surely no one found
himself rising to poetical fervor by tast-
ing decaying willow wood, though it
ought, on these principles, to be a better
brain food than much larger quantity Of
fish.
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1879-07-18
A Curious Lake.

In Colorado there is ten-acre field
which is no more nor less than subter-
ranean lake covered with soil about
eighteen inches deep. On the soil is cul-
tivated field of corn, which produces
thirty or forty bushels to the acre. If
any one will take the trouble to dig a
hole the depth of spade handle, he will
find it to fill with water, and by using a
hook and line, fish four or five inches
long can be caught. The fish have neither
scales nor eyes, and are perchlike in
shape. The ground is black mari in its
nature, and in all probability was once
an open body of water, on which was ac-
cumulated vegetable matter, which has
been increased from time to time, until
now it has a crust sufficiently strong and
rich to produce fine corn, though it has to
be cultivated by hand, as it is not strong
enough to bear the weight of horse.
While harvesting, the field hands catch
great strings Of fish by punching hole
in the earth. A person rising on his heel
and coming down suddenly can see the
growing corn shake around him. Any
one having the strength to drive rail
through the crust will find on releasing it
that It will disappear altogether. The
whole section of country surrounding this
field gives evidence of marshiness, and
the least rain produces an abundance OF
mud. But the question comes up, has
not this body an outlet? Although
brackish, the water tastes as If fresh, and
is evidently not stagnant. Yet these fish
are eyeless and scaleless, similar to those
found in caves.
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1879-07-18
The Ocean Floor.

There is an end of all romance about
hidden ocean depths. We can speculate
no longer about pearls, or mermaids,
heaped treasures, and dead mems bones
whitening the coral caves. The report
of the exploring expedition sent out from
London in III. NJ. s. Challenger has lately
been published. Nearly four years were
given to the examination of the currents
and floors of the four great oceans of the
world. The Atlantic, we are told if
drained, would be vast plain, with q
mountain ridge in the middle. running
parallel with the American coast. Another
ridge crosses it from Newfoundland to
Ireland, on the top of which lies sub
marine cable. The ocean is thus divided
into three great basins, no longer "un-
fathomable depths" The tops of these
sea-mountains are two miles below ship.
and the basins, according to Reclus, ff-
teen miles, which is deep enough drown
ing, if not for mystery. The mountains
are whitened for thousand miles by
tiny, creamy shell. The depths are red
in color, heaped with volcanic matter.
Though the black, motionless waters of
these abysses move gigantic abdormal
creatures, which never rise to the upper
currents.
There is an old legend coming down to
us from the first ages of the world by
which these scientific deep-sea soundings
throw curious light. Plato and Solon
recorded the tradition, ancient in their
days, of country in the western seas
where fourished the first civilization of
mankind, which, by volcanic action, was
submerged and lost. The same story is
told by the Central Americans, who still
celebrate in the fast of Izeall, the fright
full catastrophe which destroyed the land
with its stately Cities Do Beurgborg and
other Psychologists assert that this lost
land extended from Mexico beyond the
West Indies. The shape Of the plateau
discovered by the Challenger corresponds
with this theory.-Noah's Sunday Times.
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1879-07-18
ENanAND's INDEBTEDNESS TO Franc

ENGLAND's INDEBTEDNESS TO FRANCE.
A petition lately presented to the
French Senate by q NJ. le Baron sets forth
that the English Government is indebted
to France in no less sum than "a, ,776, l32
francs, and prays that restitution OF the
sum may be claimed from the English
Taeasury. It is stated that by the treaties
and conventions between England and
France in 1914, 1916, sum of $500, 900
francs, payable annually for certain
number Of years representing a capital
sum of 13O, ,0OO, 600 francs). was awarded to
England as indemnity for the losses suf-
fered by English subjects in the destruc-
ton or con6scation of their property In
the execution Of the revolutionary laws,
and on understanding that if any balance
was left unappropriated after payment o
the claims Of various sufferers, the bal
ance should be refunded to the French
Treasury. It is calculated-on what
grounds is not clear-that the sum .ol
nearly 65, 5,OOO, 900 francs remains In the
hands Of the English Government unap
propriated, and the petition suggests thai
its payment should be demanded. AS an
equivalent it is proposed that Englane
should surrender to France Mauritlus, tnt
Seychelles, and neighboring islands, ane
recognize French supremacy In eastern
Africa and Madagascar.
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1879-07-18
Del, caey Of Mint Scales.

The fine gold-weighing scales made in
Philadelphia for the New Orleans mint,
and placed in position recently, are mar
vels of mechanical invention and accurate
workmanship. The larger of the two has
a capacity of 10000 ounces troy, or about
6s6 pounds ayoirdupois, and, when loaded
with its full weight, will indicate varia-
ton of 1-1000 part of an ounce, or 1-l00,-
600 part of it's weighing capacity. An
other pair of scales is the one intended
for weighing gold only. It has bearings
composed of the finest agates, which have
been ground with wonderful precision.
So delicate is this machine that it will
give the precise weight of a human hair,
and is susceptible to the slightest atmos-
pheric changes. Millions of dollars worth
of precious metals will be weighed an
nually upon these scales.
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1879-07-18

Mr.. Joseph Arch, the champion of the
agricultural laborers, who visited the
United States and Canada few years ago
to ascertain the advantages this continent
existing condition of English agriculture
says: "The law Of primogeniture and
entail must be abolished, SO that large
estates may be disposed OF. Large farms
have been hindrance to the prosperity
of our agriculture, and an injury to the
country. The game laws must De aDol- a.
one-half, the farmers crops are devoured
by game" In addition" he says, "there
must be an easy and cheap system OF land
transfer, and removal Of the heavy land
charges-in short, equal laws for rich and
poor" When this is done he THINKS tnere
properly cultivated, and the now waste
twenty.seYen million acres brought under
| the ploW.
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1879-07-18

he had hazarded and lost the last
dollar of money he had in trust for
his employers.
Mr.. Meek's voice faltered as he
closed his narrative. He was about
to volunteer something about the
prisoners good character when a
disapproving glance from Mr.. Man
gle brought him to a halt.
just then the prisoner chanced to
turn his head, and catching glimpse
of the senior partner, who had Just
entered and was standing.among the
crowd, he started quickly, then v his
pered hurriedly in my ear.
"Turn aside your face" I whis-
pered back. And the case for the
prosecution was closed.
"Have you any witness for the de-
fence?" inquired the judge.
ri will call Hezekiah Mangle," 1
replied.
A buzz of surprise greeting the
announcement, in the midst of which
Mr.. Mangle stepped forward and was
sworn.
"You have been absent for the past
year, Mr.. Mangle?" I began.
"I have"
"Trayeling in different parts?"
eyes, sir.
s'The prisoner was employed by
your partner in your absence, and
was arrested about the time of your
return"
"Such was the case
"Have you ever seen him?"
"Not to my knowledge"
"Or met him in your travels?"
eff he will turn his head this way
I can tell better"
AT my bidding Gilbert turned and
faced the witnesss.
The effect was electrical. Mr.. Man.
gle turned red and pale by turns.
zone other question, Mr.. Mangle,"
I resumed. "Do you recognize in the
prisoner a young man from whom
you won thousand dollars at poker
while on your travels?" and I named
the time and place at which the pris-
oner had met with his misfortune.
The man of iron nerve hesitated
worse than his amiable partner had
done. He was halting between
point blank lie, which might entail
the penalties of perjury, and the
truth, which would cost him money.
Cowardice performed the Office Of
science, and the truth came out. The
firms money, which George Gilbert
had lost, had been won by the senior
partner; and the court instructed the
jury that, as the sum in question had
actually been delivered to one of the
joint owners, who was bound to ac-
count to his associate, the prisoner
could not be convicted.
"God bless you, Mr. Parker ! fall
tered the happy little wife. 81 knew
you would bring us out all right"
It was evident the truthful wo-
mans nature gave me all the credit
of result in whose achievement my
share had been next to nothing.
The lesson was not lost on George
Gilbert. His first false step was his
last, and the richest fee ever re-
ceived was the heartfelt gratitude of
of his noble, faithful wife.
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1879-07-18

DIR. Dufaur, French physician, reports
this interesting case: A common brown
owl built it's nest beneath the projecting
roof of farmhouse, where it had brood
of young. One day the farmer, moved by
curiosity, drove away the old bird, took
out the young owls, and, after looking at
them, replaced them uninjured. In the
evening, as he was entering his house
with his servant, the latter suddenly
heard the beating of wings, and felt the
claws of the owl on his chin, and before
he could defend himself received blow
from its beak directly under the eye. On
the following day an unsuccessful hunt
for the bird was instituted, but in the
dusk it appeared again and attacked the
farmer himself striking him directly in
the eye with its beak. DR.. Dufaur found a
wound of the cornea and an abundant
hemorrhage. The sight OF the eye was
completely lost and the other eye was
subsequently threatened with sympa-
thetic Inflammation.
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1879-07-18
Coffee Raising in Florida.

While in Georgia tea culture is begin
ming to attract attention, in some portions
of Florida the culture of coffee is excit-
ing int rest. The Tampa Tribune says
s'Mrs. Joe Atzeroth, living on the south
bank of Manatee river, near Braidentowa,
was two coffee trees, bearing this year
for the first time, as we learn from
a gentleman recently from there.
With proper care and judicious efforts
there certainly can be no doubt of the
probability of raising cofye in South
Florida, especially in certain parts of
Manatee county and in the Caloosahatchie
county. 1t would be interesting to know
if any efforts have been made in this lat
ter region to grow this tree, and if SC. with
what success"
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1879-07-18
He Wanted Some sscenery.''

On train coming east over the Central
Road the other day was Californian
bound for New Jersey, and the train had
scarcely left Chicago behind when he
stopped the conductor and said:
On which side of the car can best see
the mountains
The conductor told him that there
were no mountains along the route, and
the man Indignantly replied:
aWhat in blazes did you build the road
for2 What do you suppose I'm travelling
for? This must be one-horse road If it
don't take in at least one mountain!"
He cooled down after while, but in
half an hour he tackled the brakemen
with the query:
Z "Does this road pass by any old ruins of
INTEREST,""
The brakeman couldn't remember any
ruins except an old log house here and
there, and the Californian was man in
minute.
"Do You think shipped on this road as
freight or live stock ?" He called out.
eff you don't run past any old ruins why
don't you say SO on the time-cards, and
not be deceiving the people?"
When the conductor next came along,
the Californian was looking from the
window to catch sight of the bridges, and
he turned and said:
eff we come to any bridges over eight
hundred feet long just give me the world.
I don't care about seeing any shorter
ones..'
The conductor had to admit that the
road was trying to get along with few
short bridges, and the passenger bobbed
around in his seat and replied
"What did you want to build your old
road for? If you haven't any long bridges
on the line why don't you hunt for new
one?"
About thirty miles west of Detroit the
Californian caught sight of lake afar off
and going out on the platform he asked
the brakeman
Don't we run along the shore of that
lake, over there?"
mo; we are as near as we shall GO"
"You are, eh? Then that settles this
| road with me When I come back I'll
ride in a lumber wagonl You can take
your confounded railroad and eat it, bu
| You can't fool me again. Looks to me a
| if the folks who built it simply wanted te
connect Detroit and Chicago, and dom
care cent for scenery. I'll get off at thu
next station and walk
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1879-07-18
JOHN s. BAKER, PRO
CORVALLIS, OREGON.

HAVING BOUGHT THE ABOVE MAR
ket and fixtures, and permanently located
in Corvallis, will keep constantly on hand the
choicest cuts of
BEEF. PORK, MUTTON AND VEAL.
Especial attention to making extra Bologna
Sausage.
Being q practical butcher, with large expert
ence in business, / 1atter myself that can give
satisfaction to customers. Please call and give
me trial. JOHN s. BAKER.
Dec. 9th, 1873. 15:49H
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1879-07-18

Corvallis Ledge No II, =. q A. n.
Holds stated Communications ON Wednesday ON
standing cordially invited to attend. By orde
WIN.
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1879-07-18

Rarnum Lodge No. 2, I. .. o. r.
Meets on Tuesday evening of each week, in
their hall, in Fishers brick, second story. Mem
tend. By order OF N. G.
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1879-07-18

Grain Storage!
A Word to Farmers.
HAVING PURCHASED THE COMMODI-
Gus warehouse of Messrs. King and Bell,
and thoroughly overhauled the same, I am now
ready to receive grain for storage at the reduced
Hate of Il cts. per Bushel-
am slso prepared to keep Extra, White
Wheat, separate from other lots, thereby enabling
me to SELL AT A PREMIUM. Also prepared
to pay the
Highest Market Price.
for wheat, and would most respectfully solicit
share of public patronage. T. J. BLAIR.
Corvallis, Aug. 1, 1878. I5:32H
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1879-06-04
The Beauty of Neatness.

A woman may be handsome, or re-
markab)y active in various ways; but
if she is not personally neat, she can
not hope to win admiration. Fine
clothes will not conceal the slattern. A
young woman with her hair always in
disorder, and her clothes hanging about
her as if suspended from prop, is al
ways repulsive. Slattern is written
upon her person from the crown of her
head to the soles of her feet, and if she
wins husband he turns out, in all
probability, either to be an idle fool or a
drunken ruhian. The bringing up OF
daughters to be able to work, talk, and
act like honest, sensible young women,
is the special task of all mothers, and
in the industrial ranks there is imposed
also the prime obligations of learning
to respect household work for its own
sake. AID the comfort Of happiness it
will bring in the future. Housewcrk
is drudgery; but it must be done by
somebody, and had better be we'll than
i'll done.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1879-06-04
It is due Mr.. Davis to saw that saw

It is due Mr.. Davis to say that saw
him next morning, at his own house,
before congress met, as soon as went
into town, and told him what had pass
ed between the French consul and N.Y.
myself. His answer was: 81 should
concur with you in accepting these
terms but for the constitutional diff
Guilty. You know that congress has no
jurisdiction over the subject of slavery"
"True," said, "but that difficulty may
be gotten over, in my opinion, without
any violation of the constitution. Let
the bill for the gradual al clifton of
slavery also provide that it shall not
take effect until the states have, by acts
OF their prospective legislatures, duly
passed, approved and ratified it, which
you know will be just as good as if
passed beforehand, authorizing congress
to do the thing. I will not be guilty of
the presumption of offering such bill
upon my simple responsibility, but
may say that you concur with me [
will introduce the bill tomorrow. He
then asked me why the French govern
ment could not deal with the states in
the matter, SO as to avoid all constitu-
tional questions. / told him I had pr,t
that very question to the French con-
sui, and his answer was: France does
not know the states, but she knows the
confederate government and President
Davis"
Mr.. Davis then said: "4Vell, I must
consult the cabinet, and if they agree
with you will send for you" And
there the matter ended.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1879-06-04

THOSE who may be anxions to pre-
serve old and decaying trees may be
glad to try the following method, which
is recommended by the Gardeners
Chronicle, in preference to plugging them
with concrete: "However much care
may be bestowed upon it, it is impossi-
BILE to make cement adhere to living
tree, and before long the water, perco-
lating along the bark, will find its way
slowly but efectually into the hole and
pursue its work. The only effective way
of curing such a disease is to make
plug of oak or other hard wood, smear
it with tar, and hammer it tight in the
hole until it's outer surface is on the
same level with the hole. If there is
any recuperative power left in the tree
the bark will soon grow over the plug
and the wound be perfectly healed,
which will never happen with the con-
crete process"
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1879-06-04
A FATAL HORSE DISEASE!
Several Valuable Horses In Rochester
and Vicinity Taken off with it Sud-
deniy.-Is it an Epidemic!
Rochester Democrat.

NASSeSA
40 unknown and fatal disease has
made Its appearance among the horses
owned in Rochester and vicinity. In
several instances within the past few
days horses have been attacked with it
and death resulted within very few
hours. Owners of valuable horses are
already becoming considerably alarmed
at the nature and consequences of the
disease, Veterinary surgeons express
themselves as being wholly at a loss
now to treat 1t, as nothing similar in
symptoms or results has heretofore
come within their practice. In short,
some halfdozen valuable horses have
died from the disease in or near Roch-
ester within the past two or three
days. w, II. Bowman, the welLknown
lawyer of this city, lost one of his team
two or three days since, and the follow
ing day valuable horse belonging to I.
n. Wright, liveryman, died of what ap-
peared to be the same disease. Ex-al-
derman John w. Martin was the next
to suffer the loss of one of his team, and
then, on Tuesday. fine horse belong
ing to l.. ?. Ross, the well-known shoe
uIdilCudCluIGI, OlcO Ill ike manner.
All the cases named occurred within
the city. Besides them we have one
case reported from the country. On
Tuesday John H. Howell, well-to-do
farmer residing about two miles from
Fairport, lost good farmhouse, which
had been attacked with precisely the
same SYMPTOMS noted in other cases.
The animal was taken sick about 10
a. m. with what appeared then to be
colo. At noon he ate as usual, and
very soon afterward he was observed
to be perspiring in an inexplicabie de-
gree. MIR. Howell started off to sum-
mon veterinary surgeon, and before
ne had been gone an hour the. horse
died. This is almost an exact repeti-
ton of the case with Mr.. Ross horse,
excepting in the fact that he succeeded
in getting veterinarian, though the
remedies administered by the latter
proved of no avail, Notwithstanding they
were just such as are ordinarily pre-
scribed with success when the primary
symptoms are similar to those noted.
1t is not strange, in view of all these
facts, that horsemen are becoming
frightened.