davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1879-10-23
POstoffice CuriOsities.

In spite of official warnings and no
tices almost without number, says a
New York paper, people still continue
to send to the postoffice articles which
cannot be handled or delivered. In the
New York office within a month the
searcher department has found in the
mail bags and held as unmailable mat
ter the following:
ReceiUed ALiUe.-Rattlesnakes, black
snakes, copperhead snakes, moccasin
snakes, cats, grasshoppers, bees, hornets,
wasps. alligators, canary birds, potato
bugs, horned frogs, tortoise, turtles.
Reeeiued Dead. : Mice, butterflies,
humming birds, rats, insects, squirrels,
quails, bugs, pheasant.
Cooked articles. Plum pudding, boil
ed quail, ham, sandwiches, bread and
butter, cake, crackers, bread pudding,
Jelly, custard, cheese, sausages-
Miscellaneous. Pistols, loaded cart
ridges, torpedoes, medicines, glassware.
clothing, soiled undergarments, baby
clothes, hosiery, hair brushes, combs,
carpenter tools, pieces of machinery,
fence wire, gold and silver watches,
jewelry, notions and novelties Of all
kinds, shrubs, roots, scions, herbs, fresh
and dried fruits and flowers, six cases
of dynamite, which were thrown in the
East river to prevent serious disaster.
But it is not only in posting matter
which cannot be mailed that the public
is careless to degree almost beyond be-
lief. Hardly day passes that letters
unsealed, unaddressed, and containing
sums of money, checks, and other val
uables are not dropped into the boxes.
During the past six months 1883 un-
| sealed registered letters were received
at the New York office. They contain
ed, in cash, S6,649.2I, and in checks.
drafts, ETC., 1904, ,6l5.56. making a total
of S2lI, ,464.77 posted in unsealed enve-
| lores. Not long ago well-known city
bank posted 81, 500, 600 worth of United
States bonds, which were unregistered
and easily negotiable. in an envelope so
fimsy that it broke open before it left
the stamper's table Similar instsnces
of carelessness could be repeated almost
without number. Indeed, it il hardly
to be wondered at that the officer that
related these circumstances felt called
upon to exclaim in conclusion: The
postoffice has to deal with great many
curious people,
Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1879-10-23
A Woman Who Weighs Nearly Eight
Hundred Pounds,

While travelling through one Of the
adjoining counties of Maryland the other
day, writes the correspondent Of an East
ern paper, met a couple of giants
John Powers and his sister who
have exhibited themselves in most Of
the cities of this country. Powers is
about thirty years of age and has ex-
hibited himself for fifteen years of that
time. He is about seven feet in height,
and weighs, he says, six hundred and
fifty-five pounds. He is even more of
an attraction as fat boy than he is as a
giant. The lady who travels with him
as his sister is the well-known fat woman
who was lifted by derricks out of Bar
NUNS museum, in New York,
some years ago, when that estab-
lishment was on fire. She is about
fifty years of age, and says she
weighs seven hundred and eighty
six pounds. am pretty well sat
isfied she is of about that weight, for
she is, beyond doubt. the largest piece of
humanity that now exists. Her arms
are so large that they would almost fill
-four barrel. She is so big that she is
unable to walk, or even move, without
help. She told me that she had not
walked ten yards at one time in the past
country in large wagons, into which they
are raised and lowered by kind of der
rick arrangement or elevator. 1t is run
by horse power. Accompanying them
are an Albino and " Circassian girl,
the latter being also a snake-charmer; a
man with an iron Jaw, who lifts stoves
with his teeth, and allows men to smash
hundred-pC stones with sledge-
hammers on his breast; an educated pig,
and several cages of monkeys. They
live a kind of gypsy life, and camp
wherever night overtakes them. John
Powers told me that although he had
been in hundreds of cities he had never
seen the sights in any of them-first.
because of his immense size, he could
not travel about the streets much if he
desired to; and second, because it was
mot business" to allow himself to be
seen free. Since he had been ION the
road" as he expressed it, he had seen
actually nothing except the people who
came into the tent or building in which
he and his combination were exhibit
ing. They make plenty of money to live
on, besides putting by a dollar for the
rainy day every now and then, but are
far from being satisfied. / would give
that cage of monkeys. and that bunch
Of snakes, which cost me over 81, 900, y
said the giantess, if could walk about
this tent" 1t is only very seldom that
she il able to stand up, SO as to let her
audience see how high she is. / did
know how many yards it took to make
her show dress, but / have forgotten
the exact figures, though it was between
seventy-five and ninety. Her foot Is
about fourteen inches long and nearly
nine inches Wide.
Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1879-10-23

amining handkerchief-b boxes and even
fan-cases for dutiable goods. Most of
the officers did their work with dispatch
and regard for the owners feelings.
1t is said that there has been a marked
improvement in this respect during the
past few days, and particularly since the
exposure of the recent outrageous treat
ment of several respectable ladies and
gentlemen on suspicion that they were
5mugglers.
A gentleman who had brought two
large wooden cases filled with several
hundred choice books was allowed TO
pass them on explaining that they were
for his private library. He had pre-
pared long list containing the name of
every work and the date of purchase.
The searcher looked at the list, took some
Of the books out Of their wrappings, come
pared them, and then shutting down the
lid, pronounced the consignment " All
right" A fair amount Of wearing ap-
parel. purchased and made up on the
other side, was allowed free. Gold
watches, diamonds, canes, and umbrellas
were passed when not in too large num-
bers, and sworn to be for personal use.
A dozen gloves were allowed free to each
lady or gentleman, and other minor ar
ticles in proportion. lr.sf.
"There is to be said in extenuation of
the increased rigor nowadays" said
Chicago clergyman who had just had
'' Pass u marked on pile of trunks bear
ing the labels of half the hotels on the
Rhine, in Paris, in Switzerland, and
Italy. "There is vastly less wholesale
smuggling than there was four or five
years ago. In 1875 the customs service
here was very loose have myself seen
men who were in with well-known Gus
toms officers. go ashore with twelve or
fourtt en- trunks, and pass the whole of
them without examination. Now | be-
lieve they search the baggage Of every
one, whether the friends of custom
house people or not. Of course they
should exercise care and not subject in
nocent parties to undue humiliation,
A customs officers function are most
delicate, and unless tempered in their ex-
ercise by forbearance and good sense,
would become unbearablen
Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1879-10-23

The position was reserved until Winn
was able TO come down on his artificial
limb and take the place.
Said old Mullins, baggage-smasher,
sitting on the shady side of the depot,
one Sunday afternoon of the following
summer, and surrounded by a respect
full audience of fswitch-tenders, brakemen
and oil-boys:
Z" l tell you what It's, boys; 'tisn't SO
much what we have OF where we are in
this world that tells, as It's keeping kind
O. calm and cool and satisfied with what
we get.-EIizabeth 4. S. Chester, in Good
COnlpGnu.
Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1879-10-23

WucFe 0u8u DdUy's Dfmple be
Over the cradle the mother hung
Softly grooming a slumber song;
And these wore the simple words sung
All the evening long:
I" Cheek or chin, or knuckle or knee,
Where shall the baby's dimple bef
Where shall the sngels finger rest
When he comes down to the baby's nest :?
Where shall the angels touch remain
When he awakens my babe again ?"
Still as she bent and sung SO low,
A murmur into her music broke;
And she paused to hear, for she could but
know
The baby angel spoke.
"Cheek or chin, or knuckle or knee,
Where shall the baby's dimple be-?
Where shall my finger fall and rest
When come down to the baby nest
Where shall my fingers touch remain
When l awaken your babe again ~
Silent the mother sat and dwelt
Long in the sweet delay of choice;
And then by her baby's side she knelt,
And sang with pleasant voice:
Not on the limb, oh, angel DEAR
For the charm with its youth will dis
appear;
Not on the cheek shall the dimple be,
For the harboring smile will fade ami fee;
But touch thou the chin with an impress
deep;
And my baby the angels seal shall keep"
Saturday Magazine.
Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1879-10-23
DIR. Lemoyne.

DIR. Francis julius Lemoyne, the rich
physician, who died at his residence,
Washington, Pa, aged eighty-one, was
aman of rare attainments, ripe scholar,
and a skillful doctor and had accumu-
lated much wealth. His prin cipal claim
to notoriety, however, arises from the
fact that he was the father of cremation
in America. With him cremation was
a mania. and the erection and perfection
Of the crematory on his farm was carried
on with an earnestness and enthusiasm
that were remarkable. When the body
of Baron de Palm was cremated there
DR.. Lemoyne was one Of the most inter-
ested spectators. and pointed out the
beauties Of the process of incineration
with enthusiasm. Two bodies have
been cremated in the furnace, those Of
Baron de Palm and Mrs. Pitman
Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1879-10-23
NEWToN's HOTEL!
BRIDGEPORT, N. j.

Good accommodations for all who become
its guests. The table and bar always supplied
with the best. Visitors to this attractive
neighborhood will find hero pleasant and
quiet home.
SAMUEL S. NEWTON, Proprietor.
Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1879-10-23

Scarcely has the warm breath summer
died away, wi en- coughs and colds, those avant
couriers Of dangerous disease, show them
selves. DR.. Bull's Cough Syrup slways cures
them, sad most quickly toe.
Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1879-10-23
NEwToN's HOTEL!

MANTUA, N. J.
The Bar is always supplied with the best
brands of Liquors and Cigars, and the Table
with the Choicest Delicacies of the season.
Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1879-10-23
HOTELS.
NEWToN's HoTEI

NEWTON'S HOTEL!
Formerly Wilis),
MAHLON W. NEWTON. Proprietor.
Cor. Broad and Delaware Streets,
WOODBURY.. N. j.
nished throughout. Its accommodations are
hrst-class. A large number of new rooms have
lately been added to its previous accommoda-
tions. 1t has also attached new stables and
sheds.
The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1879-02-07

An IMPROVED eXtinguisher for street
lamps has been Invented, peculiari-
ty Of the construction in this case con-
sisting OF an arrangement by which,
when the pressure upon the gas il in
creased at the gas house above the
amount to resist which cup Is
weighted, the cup will be forced up
ward, raising the lower end Of the tube
above mercury, and allowing the gas
to pass through the tube to the
burner This tube is held down
against the increased pressure by the
catch, which is piYoted to q small
bracket attached to the cover; and as
the cup and tube descend upon the
decrease of the pressure, the edge Of q
flange strikes the catch, pushes it
back, and passes below 1.-THE catch
Immediately swinging forward over
this tlange, preventing the rise Of the
cup and tube until tho catch has been
drawn bNck. When the time for
lighting the street lamp approaches,
the pressure upon the gas Is increased
TO the desired point at the gas house ;
then, as the lamplighter comes to
each post, he pushes back the catch,
and as the tube cup rises with the
pressure, he lights tho escaping gas.
When the time for putting out the
lights arrives, the attendant at the
gas house reduces the pressure TO the
proper point, and all the lights are
put out at the same time.
The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1879-02-07

How OFTEN Should Cows BE MIIKED.
Regularity in the milking Of cows is
OF as much importance as regularity
in feeding them. In state Of nature
the COW is relieved of its milk a great
many times q day A calf allowed to
remain with its mother viii help it
self seven or eight times a day. UE-
der such circumstances the udder of
the COW will remain small, and if al
lowed tC retain the milk screted during
the twelve hours, fcverish symptoms
are likely to be produced. The practice
Of milking COWS more than twice
in twenty four hours causes
the capacity OF the udder to be greatly
increased, and probably helps In main
tanning the tactical secretion long
after pregnancy has taken place.
When, however, by an artificial sys-
TEN, the COW has been enabled to re-
tain her milk without Inconvenience
Tor twelve hours or so, she ought to be
milked regularly, every day at the
same hour, When the time for milk
ing arrives, the uddcr actually be-
comes distended TO its utmost capacity,
and II the milk is not speedily re-
moved the animal suffers cOnsidera-
bic pain. Cases Of fever, the result
Of allowing animals 10 remain too
long unmilked are, indeed. by no
means OF unfrequent occurrence. 1t
Is especially necessary to attend to
this point for some days after the ami
nal has brought forth its young, for
during that period very little irritation
OF the lacteal organs is likely to bring
on that most fatal of all maladies,
fever. II milking be too long delayed,
nature Will try to help the poor ami
NAL, An absorption Of milk into the
blood will, to some extent, take place.
and that which remains In the udder
will become deteriorated When neg
lect to milk COW at the proper time
is repeated several times the secretion
OF the fluid IS permanently checked A:
and there are many cases where by
such neglect an animal has become dry
in less than a month. Irish Farmers S
GGScttc.
The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1879-02-07
SCIENTIFIC.

TIE VALUE OF Coal SIFTINas
siftings and small coal at the mouth
of GOAL pits and in coal yards have
nov, owing to the enhanced cost Of
fuel, positive commercial value, be-
ing more and more largely used for
making patent or artificial fuel. The
method most generally in vogue Is TO
mingle 1t with some adhesive and
combustible substance, like bitumen,
pitch, tar, or rosin, and then mould il
into cakes by pressure. In Belgium,
where this industry has attained great
success and importance, the coal dust
is agglomerated into blocks by ad-
ding eight or ten per cent. of coal tar,
and some hundreds of thousands OF
tons are used annually for heating
locomotives. These blocks are very
nearly of the same density and weight
as solid coal, and burn without pre-
senting any obstacle to the circula-
ton of air through the CRATE. It was
nearly twenty years ago that the ad-
vantages were pointed out Of blowing
coal dust into q chamber lined with
fire brick, so that it might be ignited
on coming in contact with red hot
furnaces, after having been mingled
with the quantity Of air necessary for
combustion. Many of the largest
manufactures in the United States
have for some time past used pulver-
lied fuel for furnaces and boilers.
Coal dust has also other uses among
these may be mentioned its employ
ment in foundries for moulds, and its
use as a building material mixed with
one-siDh part OF cement.
The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1879-02-07

AN INGENIuUs DEVICE. IN Ingenious
French device for removing Walcr
produced by the condensation Of
steam in pipes, is among the recent in
ventions. and consists OF al entrance
pipe. an exit pipe for the water, and
a float balanced by a counter weight
and resting on the surface OF water
which accumulatcs in the lower part
Of the vessel. The action Of the me-
chanism is entirely automatic. AS the
float is raised by the addition Of water,
a pinion on the shaft, on which its rod
turns. engaging in a rack, elevatcs a
slide valve. and so opens the escape
Orificc. Tho water then flows out un-
til the float falls low enough to shut
the valve once more. 1t is suggested
that device Of this kind, attached to
the stcam-heating apparatus Of o
building, would doubtless prevent that
disagrceable clacking and hammer
ing due to the water forming in the
pipes, and the consequent injury
to tho latter arising from repeated
strains.
The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1879-02-07

baffled the curiosity OF hundreds of
intelligent Observers, including many
noted scientific and literary gentlemen.
Lite Tommy is japanese figure, less
than three feet in height, seated in a
chair, which rests upon a small table.
His mode Of expression is by move
mens of the head, by which he re-
sponds and gives prompt and correct
answers to an endless variety of ques-
tions. He will give the correct time
of day, even to minute, tell the num-
Der of persons in q room, perform sim
pie sums in arithmetic, and execute
numerous other feats of intelligence
which surprise and delight Eall who
witness his wonderful and mysterious
performances This ingenious autom-
atom was invented and constructed by
a gentleman of this city, whose name
has not yet been given to the public.
Boston Saturday Euening Gazette.
The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1879-02-07

SOWING CLOVER SEED. As the time
is at hand for farmers to secure their
clover seed for sowing this winter or
spring, and as I have had good
deal Of experience in sowing seed for
many years, [ will venture a few
thoughts for their consideration.
If you want good stand of grass,
SOW plenty OF seed. Ny rule is to
SOW one bushcl OF timothy seed on
eight acres of land, in the fall When
SOW my wheat; then in February OF
March, when the ground is frozen,
SOW the same amount Of clover seed
on tho same land. As a general rule,
February is the best time to SOW; the
subsequent thGwinG and freezing sinks
the seed deeper into the ground. Seed
sown in February will not come up as
soon as that sOwn in March, for this
reason. If YOU can guess when the
last freeze comes il March, and SOW
then, you viii be all right, provided
no draught sets in.
Some may think that the above
amout Of seed is too much, especially
when they have to buy at present
high prices. But it Will pay, were the
price higher than it is. The more
seed sown, the more plants you obtain.
When you obtain a good stand it Will
pay for the seed the first season. BE
very careful not to pasture closely in
the fall. have known even old pas
lures to be badly injured this way. II
you want a good winter pasture, take
a blue grass field. Take your stock
OF Of it, say about the middle OF
August, and let it grow until it is time
TO turn of OF your other pastures
Then turn on the blue grass Ohio
FHyUlgr
The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1879-02-07

UNDEEGEoUND TBLEGRAPH LINES
An improved method Of laying under
ground telegraph lines is due to the
ingenuity OF Holtzman of Amsterdam,
Holland. His plan consists, substan-
tally, in providing a cast-iron trough,
which is filed with a peculiar bitum-
inous insulating compound, which is
proved to be very effectual. The gut
ter rests in the bottom OF a ditch in
the earth. The compound is put in
while warm and semi liquid. The tele-
graph wires, insulated with gutta per-
cha, are then submerged, separately,
in the compound in the trough, and the
latter Is then closed by q cover and
the ditch filled with earth. The COM
pound soon cools and solidiiies, and
holds the wires in perfect insulation,
unaffected by moisture, temperature,
or decay. a telegraph line Of some
forty miles in length, near Amsterdam,
on the above plan, has proved an en-
tire success, and although laid in bad,
swampy soil, no breaks have oc-
CURED
The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1879-02-07
AGRICULTURAL.

On-CAKE FOR Mich Cows "A cor
responder. Of the Toledo Farm Jour
nal gives the readers of that paper the
benefit OF his experience, as follows:
Dairymen in this vicinity, where
continued feeding of mich cows is
requisite from five to seven months OF
the year, who have not tested the vir-
tue Of oil-cake as an economiZer in
fodder, can scarce believe how profit
able its results are, especially during
long, cold severe winters. Owning
about forty COWS several years since,
all Of which were stabbed during the
winter season, the writer's attention
was called TO the value OF cOtton-seed
oil as an economizer of fodder, and a
trial WIS given it, a ton or two being
purchased at st. Louis and shipped
to Toledo in January. Several
bushels were thrown into a barrel,
which was then filled with water; and
when the oil-cake had become dis
solved about quart Of the fluid was
poured over the quantity ofmiddlings,
cut hay, OF whatever fodder was given
each animal at one feeding, great
care being taken not to give too much,
in order not to cloy the appetite-a
result which follows if caution is not
observed in this respect. The conse-
quence was that the cows grew sleek,
were perfectly healthy gave more
milk, and required far less food than
before; a very desirable result at that
time, as the winter proved long one
and feeding had to be kept up until
the middle Of May. So long as / con-
tinued to remain engaged in the
dairy business I never again gave up
the use of oil-cake, although it be-
. came difficult to obtain the cotton
seed oil-cake, and tried inSeed oil
cake, using it in the same manner,
with good results, although l prefer
the former, but would always use the
latter when that is not obtainable.
When fodder is scarce and dear the
value Of this experiment is great, in
deed, especially in winter; and [
would advise all who are engaged in
the production Of milk for city mar
kets to give it a fair trial, well con-
vinced they will not regret it. So far
as regards an increase in the quantity
Of cream, I cannot say from expert
ence, though it is alleged to produce
cream Of better quality and Of in
creased quantity. Those who sell
milk and keep COWS for this purpose
cannot fail to derive great benefit from
the use of Oil-cake in the manner
above described, as it is a saving OF
money, while it also serves as an aid
in making it.
The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1879-02-07

BRICK-MAKING APPARATUS. -A An in
Cenious kind OF brick-making appara-
tus is stated to be in operation in Stat
ford, Eng. which conveniently com
presses some 1900 bricks per hour,
but which is capable OF producing, if
required, a much greater quantity.
On revolving horizontal table are
fixed six dies for COMPRISING the
clay. On one side Of the table stands
an operator who fills each die with
clay, and an operator on the other
side removes the clay after it has
been compressed. Each die is fitted
with hinged lid end a sliding bottom,
and as the table revoIves, the die
passes under a fixed plate which com
presses the. fclay to the required de-
gree. TIE clay, in this condition, Is
deilve' cd in a column down an incline
Iror Il the pug-mill, and Is cut into
locks OF the desired size by very
, simple apparatus worked by the ope-
rator who fills the dies.