davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1879-01-02
Habits of Birds.

At recent meeting of the Maryland
academy of sciences, Mr.. Otto Lugger
read paper on birds, based upon his
own personal observations. Most birds,
he said, take but two meals day-early
in the morning and about dark; birds
of prey rarely more than one a day.
Three hours out of the twenty-four seem
sufficient rest in sleep for singing birds.
They are sensibly affected by atmo.
spheric conditions, singing less, and
less jubilantly during cloudy, wet
weather. Male birds usually mate with
one female and remain faithful to her,
guarding her while she builds the nest
for the coming brood, and feeding her
while she is incubating the eggs, or
taking her place while she flies off in
search of food. Birds have little dis.
elimination as to what kinds of eggs are
placed under them in the nest to incu-
bate, and will try to hatch acorns or
nuts If placed in the nest instead of
eggs. A temperature of eighty six
degrees Fahrenheit for twenty. one days
is required to hatch most birds eggs.
The young are not assisted by their
parents to leave the egg, but VIXEN each
one has broken its way out the parent
carefully removes the pieces of broken
egg from the nest. The young generally
emerge from the larger end of the egg,
and, before coming out, can be heard at
work breaking their way. They are
born hungry, open their mouths for
food as soon as born. and are great eat
ers. Their eyes open in from five to ten
days. When the young bird is old
enough to forage for itself, it is cruelty
driven away by the parent birds. Many
birds are much troubled by skin and
feather parasites on their heads and
wings.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1879-01-02
The Empire States Population.

A New York paper says: IT will, we
imagine, surprise most New Yorkers to
learn that, according to the last census
of this State, IL, $50 families are now
living in log cabins. OF other dwellings,
59S,03l are built of wood, 98,290 OF
brick, and 49, of stone. More than
one-half Of all these cost less than
81, 600 apiece; more than one-third less
than 81 ,OC0, and 7,164 less than $50
each, showing that any extravaganza
which interior New Yorkers may have is
not of an architectural order. In the
county or city of New York, houses, as
may be supposed, have much more value
than in the country, sc, ,010 having cost
So, 900 and upward, mainly upward. In
deed, the dwellings, of the metropolis
alone have cost about as much as the
dwellings in all tAe rest of the State.
OF 1857, 727 productive New Yorkers,
351, ,628 are farmers or farm hands. OF
the workingwomen of the State, one
half, or 1877, 416 of them, are house
servants. Over $50, 900 men earn their
bread rs day lahorers. There are 50,-
103 clerks, 40, 406 tailors and seam
stresses, and 33. 476 milliners and dress
makers. Celibacy seems to be in favor
with New Yorkefs. There are 2. .673, ,81a
unmarried, to 1,776.01S married.
Widows and widowers number 248, IT'S,
and divorced people l, ,349. During the
last census year, in only one family Out
OF forty-hve families was there a wed.
ding. 'ss-t y, - -sis s.-.,f
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1879-01-02
Every Man His Own Locomotive.

The newspaper carrier who serves
papers to the attendants in the perma-
nent exhibition bnilding goes his rounds
at the rate of twelve miles an hour. He
travels on machines not unlike roller
skates, which are called pedomoters,
according to the inventor, Mr. J. H.
Hobbs, an architect on Walnut street,
above Fifth. The day is not far distant
when the whole city will be on wheels,
when pedestrians will be skimmipg
through the streets at the ratio of ten
miles an hour without any more effort
than is now put forth in perumbulating
half that distance. The pedomotor con-
sists of four tough, light wooden wheels,
supplied with an outer rim of tough
India rubber. These wheels are secured
to frame the shape of the foot, which
is strapped to the pedal extremities in
the usual manner. Unlike roller skates,
the wheels of these little vehicles are not
under, but are placed on each side of the
foot, thus giving the wearer a good as
well as solid footing. The rear wheels
are three inches in diameter, while those
in front are but two and half inches.
This gives the foot slight incline, and
when i'll motion has much TO do in i'm
pelling the pedestrian forward. Extend.
ing from the toe, with slight curl to-
ward the ground, i a piece of casting
termed the pusher, which is simply used
in mounting the elevation or steep in
cline. From the center of the heel
small brass wheel extends backward,
serving as guide as we'll as q brake.
The whole scarcely turns the scale at a
pound weight. In using them no more
effort is required than in ordinary walk
ing. The wearer steps with his regular
stride. and is amazed to find himself
skimming over the ground go rapidly
with so little muscular effort. Mr.. Hobbs
explains the mystery of the rapid
movement as follows: A man whose
stride is thirty two inches will traverse
forty eight inches, or one-half further.
with the pedomotor. This is because the
body is in constant motion. For instance.
says he, the traveller starts, and while
he raises one foot to step he continues
rapidly onward until the foot is set down
and the other raised to make another
step. This gives him mere momentum.
and away he goes over two miles in the
same time it would take him to accom-
pfish mile with the feet. No effort of
the body is required for their use, as in
skates. The traveller simI ly plants one
foot before the other and finds himself
| whizzipg along at lively rate Phila-
detphia Record, ..41a.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1879-01-02
ENSIGN RANSOM.

Many years back, young man cam.
out of a little house at the eastern enc
OF town by the sea. There was plent,
of life and Payety at the other end OF
the town, which was enlivened by ont
or two barracks, q fort and castle
But the eastern end was very poor, and
would have been quite lonely but fol
the fishermen and their boats. The
house from which the young man came
was beyond even this homely hustle,
and was little more than a wooden hut,
tarred to defend it from wind and
weather.
But the young man who came out was
in the full dress of a military officer,
though that was screened from q first
view by the long gray cloak that the
wild March wind made SO necessary.
He was quite young, and his face was
finely cut. and would have been pleas
ant but for look of stern aud painful
sorrow, noI unniixed with bitterness,
which seemed strangely iuaongruous
with his years and his dress.
He walsed on quite through tt e
town. Wherever the houses broke
apart one caught glimpses OF wild,
fiat country, dotted here and there with
weird trees in Indian file; and the
youth looked wistfully toward these
desert fields, as if he would fain have
struck away across them instead Of
going on, as he did, toward the grim
old fort.
Yet there, it was clear, festivity was
going forward; and friendly voices
greeted him as he passed the gray old
portal. And then, over his stern, sad
face he dropped mask of gayety, and,
though he relapsed into silence at
times, he was as polite and conversable
as the best OF them.
There was preparation for a dinner.
party in the fine, stiff, old hall, with its
rows of military portraits, and its dingy,
blood stained banners. The castle,
the barracks, and the fort itself, had
eagerly furnished guests to welcome
the visitor of the day, a grand old gen.
eral recently returned from honorable
victories in the south of Europe.
After dinner, when ceremony was
fairly thawed, the good old general, il
the kindliness and pride of his heart
displayed little box, which had been
given to him by some grandee of Spain.
think it must have been too small foi
a snuff-box, and was probably one Of
those tiny trifies in which fashionable
folk used to carry comfts and lozenges
At any rate, this box was set with dia
monds and colored gems of rare value
and it passed from hand to hand, flash
ing brightly in the lamplight, while the
old warrior told dread stories of hii
campaigns and of the daring and honor
of his men.
But suddenly, at the end of story
so thrilling that all heads had beer
crammed toward him, while the mill
tary servants had thronged the door in
rapt attention, the simple question was
asked:-
"Where is the generals jeweled
box?"
Nobody knew everybody said that
he had silently passed it on to his
fellow.
The general rummaged his own pock-
cts, lest it had found its way back 10
him and lie had half consciously put il
away. No, it was not there, and the
brave old fghting face looked little
blank, and he murmured an excuse
about" Z" how its loss would vex Lady
Elizabeth"
z" But it cannot be lost, general, f" said
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1879-01-02
Have Hope.


There never was valley without faded
flower,
There never was heaven without some
little cloud.
The faco of day may flash with light In any
morning hour,
But evening soon shall come with her shadow
woven shroud.
There mover was a river without its mist Of
gray,
There never was o forest without its fallen
leaf;
And JOY may walk beside us down the windings
of our way
When lol there sounds footstep, and we
meet the face of grief.
There never was a seashore without its drifting
wreck,
y There never VAS an ocean without its moan
ing wave;
Aud the golden beams of glory the summer
sky that fieck
Shine where dead stars are sleeping in their
azure-mantled grave.
There never was a streamlet, however e-v.' !
clear,
without shadow resting in the npr,es Of
its tide.
Hopes brightest robes are bordered with the
sable fringe of fear
And she lures-but abysses girt her path on
either side.
The shadow Of the mountain falls athwart the
lowly plain,
And the shadow Of the cloudlet hangs above
the mountains head
And the highest hearts end lowest wear The
shadow Of some pain,
And the smile is scarcely fitted ere the an
gnish tear is shed.
For no tyee have there been ever without
weary tear,
And those lips cannot bc human which never
heaved II. h;
For without the dreary winter there has never
been year
And the tempests hide their terrors In the
calmest summer sky.
So dreary life is passing-and we move amid
its maze,
And we grope along together, half in dark
ness, half in light;
AMI our hearts are often turdened by the
mysteries of our ways,
Which are never all in shadow and never
wholly bright.
And our dim eyes ak beacon, and our wear,
fest guide,
And oar hearts Of all life's mysteries seel
the meaning and the key;
And a cross CLEANS DER our pathway, on it
hangs the Cruci6sd,
And He answers all our warnings by the
whisper: Follow Me-"
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1879-01-02

The articles made OF paper at the late
Berlin exposition comprise the roof,
ceiling, cornices and interior walls of a
house, the exterior walls of which were
of pine wood; but all the furniture.
blinds, curtains, chandeliers, carpeting'
ornamental doors, mantel and table or
naments were OF paper, including a
stove made of asbestos paper, in which
a fire was burning cheerfully. There
were also exhibited wash basins, water
cans, full-rigged ship, lanterns, hats
shirts, full suits of clothes and under
clothes, straps, hsndkerchiefs, napkins
bath tubs, buckets, bronzes, flowers
urns, jewelry, betting and animals. both
for ornament and for toys.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1879-01-02

A young man from the country was in
town and entered photograph gallery
to have his picture taken. After seating
him, the operator told him to assume a
pleasant expression. "Think of some
thing cheerful" he said /; "think OF
your girl" A terrible scowl took
possession of the young mans face, and
jumping up, he exclaimed "Think of
the deucei She went home with
another fellow last night, and she can
20 to thunder, for mel r. He evidently
thought OF her, but the pleased express
sion was not forthcoming. .-Norristoipn
Herald -
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1879-01-02

partment of state at Washington O
full length portrait of General Wash
ington. It is considered an excellent
likeness, and will be framed and hung
in the white house,
At a recent fashionable wedding in
London the bridegroom requested the
bride to order her own jewels. This
she did; and bills have now come IN to
the trusting bridegroom amounting to
over $500, 900. He is unable to pay,
and the jewelers. decline to take back
their wares.
The Rural NeW Yorker says: IAN
intending purchaser should have the
horse brought out before him, and
watch the animal as he stands at rest.
If the owner is continually starting the
horse into motion, and urging him to
"show off," something may be suspect
ed, because it is when the horse is at
perfect rest that his weak points are
divulged.. IT the horse be sound, he
will stand right square on his limbs,
without moving any of them, the feet
being fiat upon the ground, and all his
legs plumb and naturally posed; if one
leg be thrown forward, with the toe
pointing to the ground, and the heel
raised, or if the foot be lifted from the
ground, and the weight taken from it,
disease or tenderness may be sus-
pected."
China has governor-general by name
Lii Hung Chang. He is at the head of
the progressive party in that country,
whose great aim is to avoid tho course
pursued by the Japanese in leaning so
much upon Europeans, and to develop
China by Cinnamon. With this view a
variety of great undertakings are in
contemplation-as steam navigation com,
pany, extensive mining operations, the
gradual introduction Of railroads and
telegraphs, and postal system on the
ordinary model. With view to at
tracting investors, the competitive sys.
tenn of selecting employees, which TO,
some Q, 900 years has been rigidly ad.
bered to, is to be at once laid aside, and
any contributor to the stock of certain
of the new schemes will have the right
of nominating clerk. No attempt at
improving the postal communication
with the capital is Immediately contem-
plated, but during the summer. cor
respondence between Pekin and Tent-
sin is to be carried on daily by donkey
or horse mail, and in winter by o route
which at best involves ten days.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1879-01-02

From the rather imperfect statistics
at hand, it is estimated that the total
amount of honey produced in the United
States is not less than 35, 900, 900 pounds
for the year 1873. In 1870 the returns
gave 4,702, 1851, and 631, ,129 Of bees
WAX,
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1879-01-02

In the United States alone, in 1877,
100 deaths per week we're reported from
accidents by kerosene.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1879-01-02
TIMELY TOPICS.

The worlds production of gold is one
third less than in 1850.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1879-01-02

Luis Cardena, an artist of Quito,
South America, has sent to the de-
partment of state at Washington O
full.length portrait of General Wash
ington. It is considered an excellent
likeness, and will be framed and hung
in the white house.
Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-02-07

A writer in the Scientific Monthly
tells how the habit of snoring is ac-
quired, and-better still-how it NAV
be cured.
And first, the cause The air
reaches the lung through two channels.
the nose and the mouth. The two
currents meet in the throat below the
soft OF the palate, the end of which
hangs loose and swings backward and
forward, producing the snoring. If
the air reaches the lungs, as it should.
through the nose, no noise will be
made. lit reaches the same through
the mouth, the palate will make more
noise, since it is not the natural chan
mel, but when it rushes through both
these channels, then it is that the
sound sleeper banishes rest from the
pillows OF his companions by his hid
eous noise. The remedy for snoring
is to keep the mouth closed; and for
the purpose DR.. Wyeth, the writer of
the article referred to, has invented
an article so cheap that any one can
make it, and no snorer should be
without it. 1t consists of a single
cap fitting the head snugly.
and a piece of soft material fitting the
chin. These are connected by elastic
webbing, which is connected with the
head cap near the ears. This con-
t%riyance prevents the jaw from drop
ping. down, and thereby rendering
snoring impossible. The great
trouble will be to get people to adopt
this invention, since the most upright
and honest of men and women will
rarely, if ever, confess that they
snore, and will be very indignant if
accused of it. AS a further induce
ment to the introduction of this CON
trivance Of DR.. Wyeth, it may be
added that breathing through the
mouth is very detrimental to the
health, and that many diseases of the
throat or lungs are contracted or ag-
gravated thereby"
Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-02-07
Raptism Extrnordinnrr.

READING, PENN, February IA
baptism ceremony was performed at
Palmyra yesterday, which causes con
siderable excitement in the neighbor-
hood. The particulars are as follows:
Mrs. Martin Bowman, an invalid. aged
tifty-iye years, and unable to walk.
was taken to Spring creek and there
baptized according to the rites of the
German Baptist church, of which she
was a member. The mode of baptism
is to immerse three times, and not
withstanding the delicate condition of
the woman, the ceremony was gone
through with. Being unable to walk
from weakness, Mrs. Bowman was
placed in a chair and carried into the
stream by Rev. Hertzel and an attend
ant, after which she was plunged
under the icy-cold water
three times. When brought ND
from the third plunge the paid
c%ountenance and limpid form denoted
death. When brought out of the
water her husband and children.
.supposing her to be dead, were
overcome with emotion and gave vent
to their anguish in tears. The sup
posed corpse was taken, wrapped in
blankets, to the house of a neighbor.
where hot bricks and irons we're
applied to her feet and stimulants
administered and after much exertion
she was brought to consciousness. Her
first words on recovering to conscious
ness were God, am | with you? |
am so cold, so cold" 1t was some
time before the ice in her hair was
thawed out. Just before she revived.
she says that she could hear her
friends around her, but was unable
to speak or move. Several other
who were to be baptized have
concluded to wait until warmer
weather. Up to this afternoon the
woman was improving rapidly.
Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-02-07
Docs Temperance Pay?

In the following significant facts,
lately submitted to the clerk of the
Circuit Court of Edwards county.
Illinois, the economy of temperance is
strikingly illustrated
There has not been a licensed sa-
loon in this county for oyer twenty
five years. During that time our Jail
has not averaged an occupant. This
county never sent but one person to
the peqitentiary, and that man was
sent up for killing his wife while
drunk, on whisky obtained from a
licensed saloon in an adjoining county.
We have but very few paupers in our
p%oor-house, sometimes only three or
four, Our taxes are thiry-two per
Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-02-07
The NeW NIissourl Senntor

st. Louis Letter to New York World.l
George Vest has popular manners,
is a sprightly speaker and is a great
fayorite in his own locality, but the
opinion prevailing among thoughtful
citizens is that he is hardly the mar
to be elevated to a seat in the United
States senate at tho outset of a new
era Of Democratic supremacy. His
habits are not exactly senatorial, and
the newspapers are already airing a
laughable episode of his Confederate
career, which occurred in Richmond
about the middle of the war. Vest
was a member of the Confederate
house Of representatives, and one
morning, just as he had taken up his
gavol to rap that body to order, one
tair white hand of a handsome woman
was suddenly put upon Mr.. Vests
collar, while the other drew from the
folds of her dress neither a o nor a
dagger but a common domestic cow
hide, and, with it laid a half dozen
smart cuts over Mr.. Vests back before
she could be taken away. The hand
some woman was the well-known Mrs.
Pollard, who explained that Vest had
slandored her and that she thought
this summary mode Of ohastising him
better than a resort to law, Ofcourse
all the women interpreted this as a
case Of kissing aud telling which
was, no doubt, unjust.
Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-02-07

an excellent run. She is one of the
best steamers Of her class v e con-
structed and Captain Milt Harry is
as proud Of her as he was Of his first
born.
The splendid sidewheel steamer
Red Wing, of the Adams Mail Line,
Captain Geo. Malone in command.
leaves this evening for Vicksburg.
carrying the mail, doing all way bust
ness and making direct connection
with the Yazoo river packets. and the
J. NJ. White for New Orleans, ticket
ing passengers through and giving
through bills of lading. She also
gives special attention to all way bust
ness. Captain Ed Thomas, who has
endeafed himself to the people in the
bends by his strict attention TO their
business and uniform Kindness to all
with whom he comes in contact. has
charge of the Office, assisted BY Jimmy
Thomas. On our local page will be
found a testimonial Of thanks pub.
lished by her passengers that came up
this trip, which speaks in very COM
plimentary terms of the Red Wing
and her worthy officers.
Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-02-07
COMMERCIAL.
PFBLIo LEDGER 0FFIcR,
MEMPHIS, February Z, 1879.

- Wv
The rapid shipment of cotton from
this market and the consequent reduc-
ton of stocks warrants the belief that
Eastern exchange rates, which have
been steady for the past three months,
will shortly undergo a revision. At
present cotton bills offer freely, and
rates show no variation from recent
quotations, which are &c off for demand
on New York and sight on New
England for demand bills on points
beyond New York &c off is the
rate. Checks on New York are
sold by the banks at par. New Or
leans rates are lc discount buying and
par selling. Time drafts of from three
to eight days sight are at s@2c dis
count.
Money is easy with an increasing
volume. Discount rates are 8 to 10
per cent. among the banks and insur-
ance companies, and 6 per cent. in
exceptional cases.
Fifteen shares of Memphis gas stock
is announced for sale at public cutlery
tomorrow, for account of the success
sion of T. +. Pleitz, deceased.
County scrip is in moderate request.
Other securities are merely nominal
as follows
Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-02-07

No. Sll1-ln the Chancery Court of Shelby
county, Tennessee-City of Memphis VS.,
Augusta kortrecht ct al.
appearing from affidavit in this cause that
ne defendant, Uriah NJ. Lee, is a non
resident OF the State of Tennessee; il Is there
fore ordered that he make his appearance
herein at the courthouse in the city of Mem
PMS Tennessee, on or before the first Mon
day in April, 1879, and plead, answer or
1emqr to complainant bill, or the same will
pc laken Tor confessed as to him and set for
der be published once a week for four sue-
cesslve weeks in the Public Ledger.
This LIST day of February, 1879.
A ~copy-Attest:
m +; J; BLACK, Clerk and Master.
BY 4. B. McHENRY, DC. and M.
e., A. Hanson and X. M. Heath. Solicitors
for complainant. i%-Ii0.1lseis9