davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Louisiana cotton-boll. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], Attakapas, La.) 1872-1883, 1879-12-11
The Value of Military Studies.

1t is worth while, in more ways than
one, for a people to know somewhat of
the art Of war. IT. is worth while to us
as people of ruders-as a people which
takes, think, a particular interest in
history--as q people which, because it
manages its own affairs, ought to read
history understandingly. Now no other
portion of the chronicle of humanity is
in general so incOmplctely presented and
so imperfcctiy comprehendcd, as that
which relates to military events. AS
history is usually written, an ordinary
civilian may read about campaigns and
battles all his life, without ever really
knowing why one army failed and an
other succeeded. His first suppositiOn
probably is that the victors were Drawer
than the vanquished. Thenhe is puzzled
to account for the apparently resulting
fact that Germans, for instance, are
sometimes brayer than Frenchmen, and
Sometimes not SO brave. If he is liberal
in politics, he explains this by talking
about the spirit of an age" If he is
q hero-Wqrs.ipper, he speaks of the
genius Of Frederick, or the genius Of
Napoleon. But in neither case can he
show the process by which his fayOrite
cause produced the given effect.
On the other hand, the intelligent mill
itary student really and clearly secs why
this or that battle ended as it did. He
comedies, of course, difference in the
morale ofarmies, and differenCe.in con-
manders. But he investigates more
minutely than this: he inquiries into the
paEticulars of organization, discipline,
and other preparation; he studies the
geography and topography of. the scene
of action, and the handling of the oppos-
ing columns; to this final circumstance,
indeed, he attributes an almost decisive
influence. Examining the details of Ross
bach, for example, and remembering the
principle " not to make a flank march
within sight and reach of an active
enemy,p he understands why forty-six
thousand French and allies were beaten
by twenty-five thousand Prussians Ex.
amining Napoleon's first campaign ir
Italy, and remembering the principle
?" not to make detachmehts on the eve of
q conflict, he understands how seventy
five thousand Austrians and Piedmontese
were crushed by forty-four thousand
French. With the same ease many
minor mysteries of military history are
unlocked by the minor keys of military
science. An outpost is captured, or a
convoy comes to grief, through lack of
small precautions, all well known to the
educated soldier, though sometimes neg
lected by him, and all beyond even the
guessing range of the mere civilian.
The Louisiana cotton-boll. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], Attakapas, La.) 1872-1883, 1879-12-11
Mrs. Bingle's Butter.

"This is beautiful corn-brGad, my
dcar," remarked Mr.. Bingle, as he sat at
breakfast this morning.
Mrs. Bingle smiled approvingly
Mr. B. slit the corn-bread, inserted be,
tween the sections a liberal fake of but
ter, and then began to eat. A slightly
rank taste manifested itself, and in q
timid way he vcntured to remark tAO
the finest butter he had tasted in town
was at Bevans' restaurant.
E Mrs. BIS eyes flashed fire and there
was look of awful determination on her
face.
What's the matter with that butter"
she asked.
Mr.. B. saw at once that he had made
tau@Pas, and cunningly cndeayOred to
retreat in good order.
"Oh, nothing, my DEAR" he replied,
checrfully-" nothing the matter with
this, but"
But what, now2 but what?"
"Why, Pm not finding fault with the
butter, my dear"
What are you talking about that
restaurant butter for, then? Isn't this
butter gOod?'
"Well, now, Tabitha, if you insist
upon direct answer, truth compcls me
to say that there is just a very little
rank taste; but probably got slice from
the outside of the roll"
Mrs. B. contemplated her lord in silent
amazement for full minute.
We'll, confound y0u, you confounded
old fool! You're never satisfied with
anything on your own table. A woman's
a fool that tries to please you, anyhow.
You're bound to growl ut everything"
"Why, my dear Tabitha, / haven't
growled at anything. You asked me if
the butter was good, and surely you
wouldn't have me say it was If l
thought"
" Oh, shut upl shut up! You don't
know what is good or what isn't. Talk
about you restaurants, confound you!
! wish you'd go and live at q restaurant
altogether. declare Pye been married
to you fer thirty years. and | never in
my life heard you praise anything on
your own table"
Mr. B. had fine opening for him to
say, "what, neverT" but he lacked the
COuIdSt " tdhC dQN dIlCdSC VI IT, 1IO
just stared blankly at his wife and be-
seechingly protested that she was too
severe on him. Her meat pies, he
avowed, brought a heavenly bliss to,his
soul, and the way she broiled steak was
unequaIed; in fact, only a few minutes
ago he had highly praised her corn
bread.
You did not-nothing Of the kind!
You never praised anything cooked for
you at home. If you did, Pm sure you
didn't mean it."
In an agony of despair, the hapIess
husband grabbed his hat and rushed
from the house. This afternoon he was
treating the crowd continually in the
Magnolia saloon, and singing, "What a
(hic) jolly old cookie am l."
The Louisiana cotton-boll. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], Attakapas, La.) 1872-1883, 1879-12-11
The largest Sapphire IN the Word.

Ihave recently been favored with the
sight of one of the famous jewels of the
world-a stone that has its history and
its pedigree and is celebrated in the
annals of the noted gems of Europe; |
have held it in my hands and admired
beneath the rays of the sunlight the
finest sapphire that is known to exist.
This beautiful and well nigh priceless
stone combines in singularly perfect
degree the leading qualifications of size,
shape, color and water. In form it is a
fiat oval, being about two inches long by
one inch and a half wide. 1t is cut
slightly en- cdboehon on top and into a
multitude of small facets beneath. Its
hue is perfect, being warm, idstrous
Marie Louise blue, not so dark as to show
black beneath the gaslight, but having
all the velvety 6oftness and purity of
tint that are required in really fine
gem of this description. Its weight is
800 carats, and it belongs to noble and
wealthy Russian family, in whose pos
session it has been for the past two cen
turies, and it has been placed by its
owner in the hands of one of the great
diamond merchants of Paris for safe
Keeping. One of the Rothchild family
has offered for it no less a sum than $780,
900, but the offer has been refused. {
asked the courteous gentleman in whose
care it has been left as to the actual
value of the stone. He told me that,
being, as it was, perfectly unique, no
precise valuation could be set upon it,,
but that he was inclined to estimate it
at some 100000. He also showed me
a string of enormous graduated pearls of
extreme purity and tineness the center
one was as large as q small cherry j and
he told me that the necklace belonging
to the noble Russian was composed OF
six similar strings Of equal beauty and
exceptional size. The great sapphire
was mounted to be worn as a brooch,
being s,irnounted with large diamonds
of some twenty caratse each. Its guardian
informed me that the pendant: belong
ing to its brooch was composed of large
pear-shaped sapphire, weighing sixty
carats, and set in diamonds. The whole
collection of jewels belonging to this one
family is worth over $4,000, 900. "There
is no such sapphire as that largest one,' .
continued my informant, "eyen among
the crown Jewels Of Russia. ] furnished,
myself two very. fine ones to the empress,
each weighing sixty carats, but they dc
not compare with this magnificent gem"
THE gentleman who spoke was well
qualified to give an opinion, as he is one
Of the few great diamond merchants of
the world. and is, moreover, noted ex
pert
The Louisiana cotton-boll. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], Attakapas, La.) 1872-1883, 1879-12-11
Josh Billings on Marriage.

Sum marry because they think VIM
min will be scarce next year, and live to
wonder how the crop holds out.
Some marry to get rid of themselves,
and discover that the game was one that
two could play at, and neither win.
Sum marry for love without cent in
their pockets, nor friend in the world,
nor drop of pedigree. This looks des-
perate, but it is the strength of the
game.
Sum marry in haste and then sit down
and think it carefully over.
Sum think it carefrIly fust, and then
sit down and marry,
Nolman kin tell exactly where he will
fetch up when he touches calico.
No man kin tell exactly what calico
has made up her mind to dew. Calico
don't know herself Dry goods of al
kinds is the child of circumstances.
Marriage is a safe way to gamble; il
you win, you win pile, and il you loost
you don't lose anything.
The Louisiana cotton-boll. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], Attakapas, La.) 1872-1883, 1879-12-11
Language of The Broom.

EtteuBen VII liSIdAtAFt
We have the language Of the flowers,
the fan, the handkerchief, and 50 on,
and now we shall give the language Of
the broom, which is intended more
especially for the ladies':
Taking il in the hand properly
shall sweep the floor.
Bringing it over the shoulder, brush
end oremost-Look outfits loaded.
Holding it across the person-l love
another.
Moving it along the ceiIing-I see
cobweb in the distance.
Sweeping the floor very industriousiy--
Nv sweetheart eometh, and he will con-
siticr my usefulness when he obserYeth
me busy.
Striking yiciousiy with the stick end
He is my husband and be needs cor
recting hand.
Handling very carefully and ten
derly-.Brooms have gone up, and you
can't get one for less than thirty-ftTe
cents.
Putting away in the corner, brush
end down. don't know anything about
the care Of broons.
Putting away in the corner brush end
up-I know very little about the care Of
brooms.
Putting a string to taFe lIandfe and
hanging on a nail-I know ail a5out IT.
Throwing tie old stub over the back
fence "A new broom sweeps clean.
The Louisiana cotton-boll. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], Attakapas, La.) 1872-1883, 1879-12-11
Noble Qualities.

iGreehbush IN ~ Democrat'I
You know more of the world than I,
Augustus" said she. "Tell me, are there
many people in the world?"
Not many" said he.
Where do people in the world livo?"
she asked confdingly.
In winter on Fifth avenue; in sum-
mer at'Ncwport, Long Branch, Saratoga
and few in Europe" said he.
" And are those alI?' said she.
Gail said he, softly.
"Tell me, said she, in hersilyer tones,
how much must one be worth to be a
gentleman or ladyW
At present not less than 100000
In old times one might go in society for
$500,00O, but prices rule higher now. In
fact, mere miIlionaires are but Just tOler
ated in good society,"" said he,
He slipped on her finger 81 900 ring.
" Remember, I am but a poor man, " said
he.
81 care not, said she. "You are good
and noble, and those are qualities better
than wealth"
The Louisiana cotton-boll. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], Attakapas, La.) 1872-1883, 1879-12-11
4 Steam Road wagon.


A buck wagon, owned by Mr., Isaad
Mills, of Braddocks, has Just been coTn-
pleted, and win be propelled by steam.
1t is built to carry two persons, Is q four
wheeled concern, and the body Of the
wagon is similar to that of any ordinary
wagon Of the same variety, excepting
that the Stats are much heavier.
1t is propelled by an engine with q
two and one-half inch cylinder and SIX
inch stroke. The steam is supplied by q
regular locomotive boiler, two feet long
and ten inches in diameter, and the
wagon is guided by a tiller rope similar
to that used in steering steamboats,.
The boiler is supplied with water by 2
miniature Injector, which receives and
distributes the water from small beer
kee which is attached to the under side
of the frame Of the wagon It Is calcu-
lated that the wagon will make about
twelve miles sperhouron an ordinary road.
When fully equipped ard painted the
wagon will present handsome appear
anes. III was shipped to Braddocks, yes
tesday, and il any Of the suburban resi-
dents see something which doesn't give
them time to make 4 mental diagram OF
il, they may know that II Is Mills and
his flyer.
The Louisiana cotton-boll. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], Attakapas, La.) 1872-1883, 1879-12-11
Business on the Brain.
[ LNIrginia ChronLGle.l j


One night last week the wife of JUS
trce Moses was aroused from a sound
sleep by a stern voice:
d" Are you ready for trial, l say %
Hush Don make a noice, c. else
yJr'll wake the baby" she replied,
endeavoring to soothe him. (
Don't talk back to this COURT he
vociferated. "If you've got any wit
nesses, bring m on, but let your lawyer
do the talking"
Why, Tom, how you take on ! What
is the matter 2? =M
send you up for sixty days-that's
what's the matter, Here, Enders, take
her away. Now, Pm ready, for that
pretty larceny case. Bring up the pris-
oner.'
And, jumping out of bed, he started
for the next room to summon q jury, but
fell over aroekiDg chair, barked his shins,
woke up and asked his wife what the
dickens was the matter. anyhow
The Louisiana cotton-boll. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], Attakapas, La.) 1872-1883, 1879-12-11

eral thing, were wretehed, time-serving
fellows. What did they care whether
the hand that patronized them was
stained with blood2 Malatesta's infamieg
were notorious. Stillsuch noble architects
as Gugllielmo Da Visto and Andrea Vasi
ccourted his favor. When he re-entered
hisPalace he Immediately granted private
audiences to the artists.
A large COncourse surrounded the
wagons conveying the prisoners. The
latter harangued the vast crowd of neo-
pie that witnessed their arrival in ring
ing tones.
People of Rimini!" exclaimed the
venerable Aesiello, "will you permit
the tyrant Malatesta to sacrifice youx
best friendsW
A great commotion ensued in the vast
throng.
"Hear Aesiellop cried some.
"It's shameW shouted others.
"Down with Malatesta! roared still
bolder citizen.
Malatesta had heard this last exclana.
ton. He rose from bis throne and
called out to the archers:
Kill that manp
"Lets kill Malatestaw roared the
citizens back.
The mounted archers charged the
crowd in order to dispdrse it. But a
hailstorm of stones was showered down
upon them. Theirhorses were frightened.
strong arms tore them from their saddles
and they were miserably Drained with
heavy bludgeons. All this had been
done in few moments. Malatesta had
turned deadly pale. He saw that he
was in imminent peril. "Surround me-
archers!" he cried. @ a. Is
But the archers were as cowardlv AZ
they were villainous. They deserted the
tyrant in this extremity. But the ex-
agperated multitude caught all of them
and put them to death.
But now an extraordinary scene took
place. Malatesta had been thrown to
the ground by three citizens. The pris-
onars, as a matter of course, had been
liberated. Aesiello approached tie pros
trate tyrant. Now" he said to Mala-
tesla, "you shall suffer the death which
you had prepared for us. Ny friends"
he added, turning to the citizens, abring
the executioncr here"
The latter arrived, trembling with
fear. He willingly did as he was bidden.
lie fastened the feet of Malatesta to the
ring in the scaffold. Then he dealt him
n terrible blow on the left temple with a
stone hammer Malatesta dropped sud
denly. In a second the executioner was
on the breast Of his victim. He then
ripped open his clothes with a sharp
knife, and then cut a horrible cash in
his left breast. Into this cash the
wretch inserted his right hand, and then
withdrew it, producing the still reeking
heart Of the tyrant. The citizens greeted
the sickeniiigs spectacle with deafening
acclamations In their blood-thirsty
frenzy they massacred every person in
Rimini that had supported Maldtesta.
His palace was sacked and burned to the
ground. For few years the small re-
public fourished; then its fate, owing
TO the wars of invasion, became as de.
plorable as ever.
The Louisiana cotton-boll. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], Attakapas, La.) 1872-1883, 1879-12-11
Knan When He'd Had Enough.

TJohn A. Haddock in the Philadelphia Tme5.l
In the year 1859, / made the cele-
brated trip with Prof. John La Noun
tain, from Watertown, New York,
which was the second longest trip
ever made by an air-ship, and the only
one I ever heard of where a second as
cension was made after remaining eight
hours at night tied up to the top of o
tree. Like Professor Wise's late aseerl-
sion, we started near night, and in the
same month in September. We Travelled
over four hundred miles in little over
four hours, but whittier we were being
borne, or how fast we were travelling,
we were as ignorant as two children, for
1t was a dark night, and in balloon
you can never tell your course of fight
unless you cansee the earth. Instead of
being thirty or forty miles from home,
as we supposed when we anchored to a
tall tree FOR daylight, we were 400 miles
from our starting-point, and instead OF
being in an inhabited country not far
from some friendly farmhouse, we were
in the great Bosketong wilderness to
Canada, which extends from the river
Ottawa on the South to the arctic circle
on the North. / viii not further enter
upon details, save to say that, after
thirteen days of the most painful abb
sence, we at last worked our way out of
civilization, two of the raggedest and
distrdit, but gladdest men that ever
lived. From that time three square
meals day, and store-ciothes, and tele-
graph Offices, all assumed new import
arlce to us, and Imade up my mind that q
balloon might be a good thing TO
g professors to fool around with, bu
for e steady thing" the solid earth wa
good enough for me."
The Louisiana cotton-boll. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], Attakapas, La.) 1872-1883, 1879-12-11

spirits have the power to return in
ghastly terrors, oh! will do so, and leave
her no single moments peace. 1t would
have been easy for her to have made me
happy, or at least contented. If could
remain alive, my life should be vowed,
exclusively, to vengeance on her. But
l am going fast. Be she accursed with
my last breathW Such were the last
words scrawled on this extraordinary
document by an obviously diving hand.
The Louisiana cotton-boll. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], Attakapas, La.) 1872-1883, 1879-12-11
pertsbips on the Plains.

The Hollister (Cal. Enterprise says:
The dangers incident to travel across the
trackles8 alkali plains Of the West, un-
less the traveller is familiar with the
route and well prepared for journey,
are well understood, yet people are found
who undertake the hazardous expert
ment, and many leave their bones to
whiten on the sands of the desert as q
consequence of their rashness. As Deo
Malcolm, who arrived in town Thursday
from his home in Tulare County, was
crossing the San Joaquin plains, he
found a man lying in the sand nearly
dead from thirst. He was unable to
stand or articulate; his tongue was so
swollen as to protrude from his mouth
several inches; his eyes we're wild and
CLASSY and his mind wandering Deo
moistened the mans lips and poured
water on his face, but failed to restore
him to consciousness. He then placed
him in his wagon, administering the
water from time to time until he reached
an alkali pool some eighteen miles dis
tant. The water being unfit to drink,
Dec took out his man and gave him
thorough soaking, which seemed to re-
vive him little. He then proceeded
with him about eight miles to Shaws, on
the Panoche, where there is an abun-
dance of fresh water. Here, after a
time Of careful nursing, the man reeov-
cred sufficiently to be able 10 talk and
walk, though still very weak and debili-
tated. He informed Mr.. ua1com that
he had spent few days in Hollister and
had started for Whites Ferry TO look
for job Of strengthening. He had
small canteen Of water, which he con-
eumed the first halliday out, and up to
the time when found had not tasted
water for forty-eight hours. It was the
merest accident that the man was dis,
covered. as Maleom was travelling an al.
most unused track The spot where he
lay was not far from where he remains
OF poor old man Jost we're found few
years ago-anotber victim to thirst and
exposure.
The Louisiana cotton-boll. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], Attakapas, La.) 1872-1883, 1879-12-11
Fatally Bitten by an Insect.


This morning resident of the Tan
neries named Robert Dufin, ffty-two
years Of age, died from the bite of an
insect received last Sunday. The I'M
fortunate man then felt a sharp sting in
one of his arms, but whether it came
from fly or not he was unable to de-
tect. He rolled up his sleeve and per-
ceiyed that the bite was a poisonous one,
and soon sent for doctor, who did not,
however, apparently apprehend any
serious result. The arm, however be-
gan to swell, and the effect Of the poison
began to be felt on the system, where
upon the physician was sent for again.
He cut out the part where the insect had
stung the unfortunate man, but the oper-
alton came too late, and he died, as al
ready stated, this morning. A somewhat
similar case, it will be remembered, re-
sulting in the death of a young man
bitten by fly while out driving, oc-
CURED in this city about two years ago.
The Louisiana cotton-boll. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], Attakapas, La.) 1872-1883, 1879-12-11
DRIFTING.


0ayIy drifting Eayly drifting
Down lifs's stream
Not care to mark my pathway,
It doth seem.
world Of joy, so bright and fair,
With wonders rifar and pleasures rare,
pleasant dream.
Idly driftingI Idly drifting
Down hfe's streaml
Not thought save for the present
Still Iseem
Free from petty cares annoying;
Life is sweet! I'm now enjoying
Loves young dreaml
Slowly drifting slowly drifting
Down lifs's stream
Often now in troubled waters
Changed the scenol
Storm clouds now before me rise,
Yet DER the waves my bark still glideE!
'Tis no DREAM
Gently drifHngi gently drifting
Down life's streaml
Calm and peaceful now the waters
Hope doth CLEAN.
Ere long my sailing will be o'eri
soon shall pass to yon bright shore
OF which l dreaml
The Louisiana cotton-boll. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], Attakapas, La.) 1872-1883, 1879-12-11
Was That all He Could Do

A Hcgro named Elijah, who died some
time ago at Oxford, n. c., was famous
throughout that whole region for his
amazing strength. He was six feet four
inches high and weighed two hundred
and thirty pounds. He could take up a
barrel containing thirty or forty gallons,
stand erect and hold the bung to his
mouth and drink out of it; he could
throw an ordinary.sized anvil twenty
five yards; he could pull down" four
men with handspike at one time; he
could shoulder and carry log that
would make seventy-fre or hundred
rails, and could lift three-year-old colt
over an eight-rail fence. He once killed
a deer on Mayfield's Mountain with a
rock, overlook and dispatched black
bear with an axe, and caught and ham
strung a feTocious bull.
IN consequence OF the Hon-delivery
Of telegraphic message, the first in
formation that Scion GID family re-.
ceived OF the death of q daughter was
the delivery Of her eofined remains by
aha express company.