davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1879-11-27

| Yesterday a fruit-deaIer on Market
street, says the Louisville Courier.
Journal, incensed by the liberties ia.
ken by the loafers with his wares
displayed at the door, placed hall
gallon of Cayenne pepper in a basket
labeled it "New Zealand Cherries,
and hung it in a conspicuous place in
front of his stand. In few minutes
the next-door merchant sauntered up,
inquired how trade was, picked up a
New Zealand: cherry, placed it in his
mouth, and suddenly left to attend to
customer. The Rev. DR.. Bowly
rounded to, observed that the yellow
fever news from Memphis was not
very encouraging this morning, and
-ah ! it was years since he had seen a
New Zealand cherry; whereupon he
ate one, remarked that it was superb,
wiped his weeping eyes OH his coat
sleeve, supposed that New Zealand
was getting warmer every year, wish
ed the dealer good-morning and de-
parted, lamentlng the growing weak
ness of his eyes in the sunlight.
A chronic dead-beat then came up,
took mouthful of cherries, sputtered
them out, with an imprecation, all
over the fruit, stuffed pear, banana
and bunch of grapes into his mouth
to take out the taste, informed the
dealer that he would have him prose-
cuted for keeping green fruit, and
went down the street to the pump.
A lady with two children next ap-
peared, stopped to admire the cherries
asked if she mightn't just taste of
them-she never had seen any before
supplied the children and walked
away-walked away with face frey
with scorn and anger, while the chill
dren set up howl that brought all the
people to the doors and windows and
drove all the policemen off the street.
Thus the fun went on all the morn
ing. The fruit-dealer meyer laughed
so much in all his life, The occupants
of the adjacent and opposite stores
and shoal of small boys soon learned
what was up, and watched and joined
in ringing roar as each new victim
tried the cherries. Finally, a solemn
looking countryman lounged up. in
quired the price of them 'ere New
Zealand cherries, invested in pint,
put one in his mouth, took it out again,
gave the fruit dealer lingering look
of mild reproach, pulled off his coat
and waded into him. When he left,
the fruit man with tendencies to prac-
t1cal jokes had blue eye, red nose,
a purple face, a sprained wrist, and
several bushels of fruit scattered
around among the small boys, while
the same ringing roar of laughter was
going up from the lookers.on.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1879-11-27

ENToMoLoGICALLY speaking, the
butterfly gets up from his grub and
floats through the air with the great
est OF ease. Physiologlcally speaking.
the boy makes the butter fly by put
ting it down with his grub, with the
greatest of grease. Scientifically con-
sidered, both are Chronological. Please
pass the butter, my well-bred friend.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1879-11-27
SEARCHING FOR SPONGES.
How the Sponge S Found and Z; a IN
Key West.
Florida Farmer and Fruit Grower.

Florida Farmer and Fruit Grower
l remember using sponges in my
school-boy days without a thought
whence they came, how obtained, or
their previous condition. Although
little, the sponges which we may find
exposed for sale in drug stores and
other places, look unlike animals, yet
by our naturalists they have been
classed with the lower order of the
animal species.
The sponge may be found iu the
various sub-tropical waters of the
world. The principal sponging
grounds of the United States are the
waters around Key West and along
western coast of Florida, from Tampa
bay on the south to Pen sacola on the
northeast. The sponge schooners have
two places to clean their sponges when
coast sponging-one at Anclote keys,
and the other at Rock island,
Of the sponge we have several vari-
eties, classed according to their mar
ketable value, as 'sheep WOOL syel-
low,'' fox glove grass etc., besides
one class, the logger-head,' which has
no value, and is not thought worth
picking up. The first named is the
variety mostly sought, as it bears the
best market price. The most Ct the
vessels engaged in the sponge trade
are owned and fitted out at Key West.
The outfit of sponge schooner con-
sists in a number of long poles with
hooks fastened on the end for gather
ing, and from three to seven small
boats called 'dingys,' from seven to
fifteen men-according to the number
of boats-with provisions for from
eight to twelve weeks water-glasses.
Having curiosity to see actual
sponge gathering, last Monday morn
ing found me aboard the schooner
Samfiier,' spinning toward the bars !;
but owing to light winds during the
day we did not arrive lill after night
fall. Tuesday morning, however,
sponging commenced In earnest
Shortly after sunrise the sdingys,
manned by two men each, with water
glasses, sponge-hooks, ETC., set out in
quest of sponges. One of the men in
the 'dingy,' sculls the boat about here
and there, while the other, lying
across the boats thwart, with his head
in the water-glass, scans the bottom
for sponges. The water-glass used by
spongers is nothing but a common
deep wooden pail, with circular
piece of glass for bottom. Placing
this upright in the water, and putting
the head in far enough to exclude most
of the light, one can easily see an OBJ
ject on the bottom in six or seven
fathoms of water. The sponger, when
he sees a sponge, by the waving of his
hands directs the sculler how to go,
and when in a desirable position
thrusts his long pole down and hooks
the sponge.
The vessels usually remain out upon
the bars from Monday until Friday
evening of each week, coming into the
keys Friday night, in order to clean
the sponges which they had gathered
the week previous, put those gathered
the present week into the crawls, put
their wood and water on board, and
prepare for the next week. The
sponges which they gather one week
ara mt in crawls. or pens, made by
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1879-11-27
For The PRESS.
SIS.
TO CELIA.
BY HATTIE A.

Two darling ones sleep in one grave,
Two little bodies freed from harm.
Two little souls have scared on high,
And now are safe in jesus arms.
Dear. sister thou art sad to day,
Thy heart is sore oppressed:
Your little ones were quickly torn
From thy dear loving breast.
How gladly would come to you
In these sad hours, your heart to cheer,
You know 1 have SO many cares,
And duty binds me here.
But. sister, look beyond the tomb.
Where partings are no more,
Oh look beyond the river. Death.
To Zion's blissful shores.
And there behold your precious lambs.
Housed near the Shepherds throne;
He gently took your little ones.
And kindly bids you come.
Suffer them to come unto Me,
Were the words of Christ. our Lord,
We know their spirits dwell above,
'Tis only dust beneath the sod.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1879-11-27

BE patient. Wait. Don't fret over
last summers ice bill. Scientists tell
us that in 17,OOO,O 900 years ice sixteen
feet thick will entirely envelope this
planet, and then the ice mans extor.
tiQn will end.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1879-11-27

driving posts into the sand, where, at
low water, they will be quite or al
most dry. Here they are left until
the next Saturday, to be washed by
the tides. On the following Saturday
they are cleansed by striking them
one or two light blows with a paddle.
When the sponges are cleaned they
are taken aboard the schooner and
strung on strings, usually about five
and half feet long, when they are
thrown upon the beach to bleach and
dry.
The number of vessels engaged in
sponging from Key West probably
reaches one hundred and twenty
five, gathering sponges to the value OF
about 100000 annually. Besides the
Key West schooners, we have about
forty or fifty fitted out from Cedar
Keys and Oglockney.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1879-11-27

sTRUTH lays at the bottom of a WELL
We have often verified this by look
ing down into q well, and seeing
Truths honest countenance reflected
in the smooth water.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1879-11-27

EVIDENTLY this would be bad day
to attempt to driye pigs to market, ,
The telegraph reports pork firm.'
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1879-11-27

NEW CURE FOR RHEU MATISM.
We supposed that every possible
cure for rhuematism had been sug-
gested ere this, but German paper
announces the discovery of q new one.
A woman near Prague suffered so Sc
verely from gout in the arm that she
could not obtain rest or sleep, and the
limb in which the disease had settled
was rendered entirely useless. Her
husband having heard of country
man who had been completely cured
of rheumatism after being accidently
stung by bee, persuaded her to try
this disagreeable remedy, which, as
he pointed out, could hardly prove so
painful as the disease. She consented,
and allowed three bees to be placed
on her arm, and to sting her in sever
al places. Surprising results ensued;
the patient soon afterward fell into
long and deep sleep, the first real sleep
she had enjoyed for six months, after
which the acute pain disappeared
and when the swelling produced by
the stings subsidized, the arm recover
ed the power of motion, and the gout
has not since reappeared.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1879-11-27
BEE RANCHlNG IN CALIFORNIA

| This is q famous country for bees
and the making of honey, and at many
a breakfast table in distant Europe to-
day the waffle is spread with sweets
that have been filched from the hearts
of ZOO California flowers. In the
mouth of almost every canon there is
a bee ranch or apiary, whose owner
grows rich and prosperous from the
labors of his industrious subjects.
Here there are no long winters with
dearth of flowers, through which the
patient workers must be nursed and
fed in order that they may live until
the opening of the next field-season.
These bee ranches are models of neat
ness and domestic comfort, and the
profession of Bookkeeping is rapidly
becoming popular among persons OF
little physical strength or small imam
cial capital, or both ;'such as maiden
ladies, broken down ministers, bache-
lor students, and those diiettanti farm
ers who fancy that the royal road to
bucolic happiness lies through the
fowery beds of bee pasture. Their
expenses are as light as those of a her.
nit in his cave, and what stores OF
honey are laid up are so much clear
gain, as the bees board themselves
while they work, and work unceasing
ly in preparation for the winter which
never comes. When the hive is full,
the cakes of comb are removed, the
liquid is strained from the cells, and
the empty cups are replaced, to be
filled again and again. This econom-
ical process prevents waste OF labor
and time in the galuering of wax and
the building of new bins in the store
house. Walking out in the morning
in the green bushwood of these can
ons you hear a loud and continuous
buzzing of wings, and, although there
may not be flower in sight, it is as
ceaseless and strong as a in buck
wheat patch or clover field at home.
This humming of bees is natures tenor
voice, as the roaring of water is her
bass. There is cure for home-sick-
ness in the bees monotone, even
though the authors thereof be perfect
ly wild, as, indeed, many of these are.
In such country you cannot feel ut
terly lonesome and lost.-[S Sunday At
ternOOn.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1879-11-27
DETECTING CRIME.

A woman applied to priest to re-
cover a certain article which had been
stolen from her. The priest,
that the thief was a member of his
congregation, adopted an original
method to detect him.
After mass, he mentioned the theft,
and his suspicion that the thief was
then present. If so, he intended to
find him ont.
'Down on your knees, ali of you,'
he said. The congregation knelt. Il
shall throw this book he continued,
and it will hit the thief
He made the motion, and one man
only dueked his head. 'Come here,
sirl You are the theft and he was.
An English magistrate in India
once detected thief by method SIM
liar in spirit, though not in form, to
the priests.
He missed large silver bracelet
which he had left over night on his
table. He suspected one of his SER
wants, but said nothing about the loss,
except to his valet. In his presence
he placed on the table two marked
rupees, powdered with nitrate of sill
yer. The next morning the money
had disappeared.
He ordered the drum to be beaten
to summon all the servants. After
they had been placed in line, he talked
to them about the theft, and how
wrong it was for a servant to rob his
master, Not face gave sign of
guilt.
Then he told them what he had
done, and that the thief would have
caustic mark on his hand. Instantly
one man looked at his hand. He saw
the mark, turned and fed.
His fellow.seryants pursued and
caught him. He made confession of
his guilt, and restored both money
and bracelet. Then he was drummed
off the premises.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1879-11-27

C.. L. BELDEN,
DHYSICIAN AND SURGEON.-O1iee in
Empire Building; Residence on King
uett drst door south OF Main.
tsvenna. May n. 1876. 404-y'
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1879-11-27

80 o. p. SPERRA,
etfOFney at Law. Office over C. +. Poe's
store. Seymour's Building, Ravenna. o. 56O
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1879-11-13
Satisfying A Patient.

Common sense generally recon
mends physicians as well as other
men to popular favor, but there are
exceptions where something uncom-
mon is better received. The Hoo
siers listened to speech of General
Jackson, but would hardly be salts
fed he was a great man till he shout
ed string of Latin phrases-"E plu.
rlbus unum." "Multum in parvo,"
"Sine qua non!' and then they rent
the air " 18th wild hurrahs for him. A
nice invalid was harder, even, to sat
isfy than the Hoosiers. The first
physician in his case was discharged
because he was honest enough to tell
HIM that he had sore throat, and
the second doctor, having some hin,
of the fact, answered the sick man,
when questioned, that his case was
highly abnormal, and that it had de-
generated into "synanche tonsilaris. !"
"Oh, DOCTOR" said the patient, "do
say that word again"
"Wby, sir, said that you were at
present laboring under synanche ton
silaris."
"Why. just think, doctor, that
blasted fool told ne that | had moth
ing but sore throat. Doctor, what
was that you called it 2"
81 told you, sir, in plain terms, that
the morbid condition of your system
was obvious, and that it has termina
ted 10 synanche tonsilarls
ooh, doctor, it must be mon.
strous bad complaint. Think you
can cure me, doctor r
swell, though your diagnosis is
clear, your prognosis is doubtful; yet,
/ think by prudent care and skilltul
treatment you may recover"
"Oh, thank you, doctor but do
stay all night, aud | will pay you
anything you may ask"
He got well of bis sore throat, and
he likewise paid the doctor a gener.
GUS fee -Pofter's Monthly
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1879-11-13


FROM The Illustrated Christian
Weekly; The Scientific American"
says that recently large shoe man.
ufacturer in this State advertised in
Boston and New York for twenty
FIVE shoe-fitters to work in bis FAC
tory, Offering full current rates and
steady work. The advertisement
brought one application. About
the same time Boston firm adver.
tis d for bookkeeper, and the next
days mail brought three hundred
and forty seven answers. at is al.
together probable" says our neig.
bor. "tbat in any considerable city
10 the land an advertisement for .
retail clerk will bring fifty times az
many replies as sn advertisement
for fair workman at any trade"
Its conclusion il that that the coun-
Try wants intelligent, iudus;rious,
thrifty woIkmen. and that there are
too many mere clerks and record.
keepers and it wonders Why our
young men swarm alter clerkships.
We wounder, too.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1879-11-13
HOW JOHN MORRIssEY WENT TO
CONGRESS.
M,.. siorrissey's "Reminiscences.

Mss. Sforrisseys "Reminiscences.
Jonn ana | were married twenty,
i've years ago. Ii was jnst after
the Yankee Sullivan fight. We were
married after he beat john Heenar
and although IN those days when
De went into the ring | always sent
him from me with the injunction TO
oeat his man, my SOU revolted at
the thought OF q priz D. battle But
II was my great hope to have him
succeed in life. He came bacs
from California ADD Visited our house
ia Troy 10 bring some message from
my brother, whom be had lett there.
ln three weeks after that we were
Engaged, and few months after
that We wire married. | knew John
as ragged little BOY about Troy,
barefooted and beihgerent, always
looking for fight. When we were
married he could not read or write,
and to tell the truth | was only a
trifie better off 10 the matter of ed
ucational advantages. told him he
must learn to road, and he said |
must teach HIM. Well, we estah-
ltshed lesson hours. Every night
before going to bed he devoted him
self to his spelling book, and in the
morning one hour to writing in
copy. book. The rule of study was
infl exioie. We made it SO. The
morning after he fought John G.
Heenan, when he was all sore and
oandaged. and blind of an eye as
well, | propped him up with pillows
and made him write
ID w long. Mrs. M orrisey, did you
seep hlm pupil?'
Till his fatal Illness. Every night
he studied something, and | studied
during the day that 1 might be able
10 help him. Of course, when | say
studied don's mean IN the ordi-
nary school children's way. After
we mastered the English branches
we took up history, and when be
was pretty well posted in that we
made the living topics of the day a
matter of investigation be Faro
pean news, the speeches of great
men. | read them in the daytime,
and John would GO through them al
night. Than we took up such books
rs De Qaiocy, the writings of Car.
lyle, and, though John Morriss y
Was a gam bier, and by bis profess-
ion made many enemies who
trowned upon him he was possessed
Of knowledge upon many subjsots
independent of city politics and
horse racing, which would have put
to blush his sternest critics had they
been 10 competition with him."
''Did Mr.. Morrissey follow this
line of study because of q natural
bent of mind ?"
81 don't think 50. Hs would say
Now, this is no good tor me, SUSIE
out / pressed him on and he would
soon get interested. Then he had
snch an indomitabls perseverance.
When he found a thing he did no
readily understand he would master
II out OF very spite. | remember
once of his throwing down his arith-
metic, shortly after We were mar
ried, and exclaiming psttishiy: Il
don't care about those fractions
they're only part of thing an,
way What's the use of all this
study, SUSSEX john l SAID, if you
don't beat these fractions. you will
never go TO Congress- OIL that's
your lay out for me, is it?' 1t is,
indeed, my boy | replied. Then
be took up his book again and said:
All right, my dear, we'll go 20 Con-
gress.' Aud he did. "-PhiIadelphia
Record
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1879-11-13
Chandler and tho High Joints.

Senator Chandler was for forty
years politician, and gained nation.
al prominence by his remarkable en-
ergy in war times in urging the pros.
ecution of the war. Lacking cult.
walton aud book education, he was
possessed of unusual good sense,
which was at times of immense value
to the Government. Senator Car.
penter tells this of him When the
Alabama claims were under discuss.
ion by the "high joints England
submitted proposition that was
very severe. In response to cable
dispatch, the English members Of the
singh Joint" were told to withdraw
entirety If the proposition was re-
iected. In great distress Secretary
Fish sent for Secretary Chandler.
The point was explained TO him By
Fish in the presence of Grant aud
the whole Cabinet, ana Chandler
was asked, "What shalt we do ?"
Old u ,ch replied, "Tel 'em to go to
hell--put in diplomatic language, Of
course" That is just what was done,
and it answered the purpose entire.
ly.-MH. Sentinel
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1879-11-13
The Torpedo That Returns.

London Neacs-That intellirent
weapon the tsh torpedo, which, Il
has been said, can do pretty nearly
everything but talk, lately made 4
strange mistake, if we are to believe
a Lima correspondent writing to the
New York papers. An attempt was
made by the Peruvian steamer Huss.
car to destroy a Cailian ironclad at
Ahtofsgasta, the means chosen being
We are told, a new fish torpedo of
English manufacture. The torpedo
was safely launched upon its errand
OF destruction, but when halfway
towards the enemy it suddenly
changed Its mind, and came slowly
back again towards the Huascar it.
self There was no time for the Pc
Tavian man-of.War to get out of the
way; but lieutenant who had been
watching the path of the fish from
the deck, jumped overheard, and hap.
PLY turned tho course of the torpedo.
50 that it passed astern of the Hnass
car, and thus ayerted the danger.
A similar incident happened with
OF our own ironclads that was prac.
tieing with the fish in Portsmouth
water not long ago. In this case,
fortunately, the torpedo was not
charged with gun~eotton. The weap-
on, after being launched, made cir.
calar journey and came. back, boom.
erang.hke, under the very vessel that
had discharged it. But there is one
item in the American account that 10
clearly wrong. No fish torpedoes
are made in this country, with the
exception of those produced at the
Royal Arsenal at Woolwich, aud
these, as matter of course, are
manufactured for the use of our own
navy only. The Whitehead factory
is at Fiume, in the Mediterranean and
from this source no doubt emanatss
The torpedo with the i'll regulated
mind or rudder, that so recoiled upon
the heads OF its owners. TIE cigar
shaped fish torpedo gets its lotion
from compressed air stored inside.
and this issuing at the tail sets in
motion screw which revolves with
considerable velocity. A we'll con.
structed fish viii run many hundred
yards at velocity of twenty miles
an hour, and on striking its head,
which contains the charge, explodes
with considerable violence. The fish
torpedo is therefore weapon of ter
rible effect but its value as a means
Of offense will be greatly narrowed il
we must perforce have officers ready
70 jump overheard to direct its
course when necessary.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1879-11-13

AFTER all. the result on members
of the Legislature in New York is,
under the peculiar circumstances,
ths most significant incident of the
popular vote 10 that State. There
were evidently many Republicans
who. for reasons satisfactory to
themselves, either SCRATCHED" the
State ticket or utterly refused TO
vote for State officers. but Who cid
take an active part 10 tbs election
for Senator'S and members of the
Legislature. The fact that the Re-.
pubicsns will have majority OF l6
10 the Senate, 80 10 the House, and
sc 90 join. BALLOTS exceedingly sig
nificant, in view of the peculiar
character of the late contest in tina.
State.