davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-01-01
A Tennesseean's Bad Bargain.

Last Thursday morning o rattle was
made up by some of the citizens of Paris
for box of five hundred cigars. There
we're twenty-five chances at one dollar a
chance. The plan was that known as
the shotgun plan, in which each man
taking q chance puts his mark on the
blank paper surrounding target. The
target is placed on pivot and whirled,
and while thus whirling is fired at with
a gun loaded with small shot. The mar
whose mark comes nearest being hit
takes the prize. In this case George
Lefiis took chance, but would. not put
down his mark until all the other marks
had been placed around the target. He
then went to each of the rafflers and
said "You and T have each got a
chance in this cigar rattle let us 60 in
'cahoot' If you get them divide with
me, and if I get them I'll divide with
YOU" This arrangement he made with
eighteen of the chance holders, telling
each to keep their partnership a secret.
To prevent any possibility, as he
thoug ght, OF winning the cigars himself.
he made His mark az far from the target
rs the paper would allow. He then felt
sure OF half the cigars, and already, in
imagination, was putting the fragrant
weed, and laughing in his sleeve over
the sharp trick and excellent joke he had
played the "other boys" But, alas
the Joke was soon turned, and visions OF
a cob pipe foated before his astonished
eyes. The gun was fired, and stray
shot knocked the center out of Georges
mark. Eighteen men stepped up and
said "I'll take my half now." Letiis
thus found himself booked for $500
worth of cigars. He compromised, how
ever, after some wrangling, by dividing
the cigars equally among his partners.-
Paris (Isnn.) Inteltigencer.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-01-01
Thoughts for Saturday Night.

The sure way to miss success is to
mis- the opportunity.
Philosophy, if rightly defined, is
naught but the love of wisdom.
Hypocrites are beings of darkness dis
guised in the garment of light.
He that keeps his temper is better
than he that can keep carriage.
Though fancy may be the patients
complaint, necessity is often the doctor.
He who will not reason is a bigot,
he who cannot is fool, and he who
dares not is slave.
If all the year we're playing, holidays,
to sport would be rs tedious as to work !;
but when they seldom come, they are
wished for.
Vanity is our dearest weakness, in
more senses than one o man will sacri-
flee, and starve ont all his inclinations to
keep alive that one.
There is nothing evil in life for him
who rightly comphrehends that death is
no evil ; to know how to die delivers us
from all subjection and constraint.
Like many virtues, hospitality is
practiced in its perfection by the poor.
If the rich did their share, how would
the woes of this world be lightenedl
We die every day ; every moment de-
prives us of portion of life and advan-
ces us a step toward the grave :; our
whole life is long and painful sickness.
Death opens the gate of fame, and
shuts the gate of envy after it !; it un-
looses the chain of the captive, and puts
the bondsman's task into another mans
hand.
Many nm honest man practices upon
himself all amount of deceit sufficient, if
practiced upon another, and in little
different way, to send him to the State
prison.
By what strange law of mind is it
that an idea long overlooked and trod-
den under foot rs useless stone, sud-
denly sparkled out in new light, as q
discovered diamond?
Death alone of the gods loves not
gifts, nor DO you need to offar incense
libations. He cares not for altar nor
hymn the goddess of persuasion alone
has no power over him.
Persons who practice deceit and arti-
fee always deceive themselves more
than they deceive others. They may
feel great complacency in view of the
success of their doings but they are in
reality casting a mist before their own
eyes. Such persons not only make o
false estimate of their own character,
but they estimate falsely the opinions
and conduct of others. No person is
obliged to tell all he thinks but both
duty and self-interest forbid him ever to
make false pretences.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-01-01
The Evening Time.

Together We walked in the evening time,
Above us the sky spread golden and clear,
And he bent his head and looked in my eyes,
AS if he held me Of all most dear,
Grayer the light grew and grayer still.
The rocks fitted home through the purple
shade
The nightingales sang where the thorns stood
high,
AS walked with him in the woodland glade.
And our pathway went through fields Of wheat
Narrow that path and rough the way,
But he WIS near and the birds sang true,
And the stars came out in the twilight gray.
Softly he spoke Of the days long past,
Softly Of blessed days to be;
Close to his arm and closer prest-
The cornfeld path was Eden to me.
And the latest CLEANS of daylight died;
Ny hand in his EMBODIED lay;
We swept the dew from tfe wheat as We passed,
For narrow and narrower wound the way.
He looked in tho depths OF my eyes and said:
"sorrow and gladness will come for us, sweet ;
But together we'll walk through the fields Of
lifo
Close as VIC walked through the fields Of
wheat"
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-01-01
Items of Interest.

The key by which man gets into
prison-whiskey.
From observations, made in the far
West, by naturalists, it has been proved
that grasshoppers, like spiders, can FORE
tell the changes in the weather and pro-
vide against the same.
A New York chemist says, he wants
nothing more than three pals, barrel
of old water and twenty cents worth OF
drugs to make six gallons OF just such
champagne as fools pay dollar pint
for.
Japan has perfected another evidence
of her adoption Of Western civilization:
She has established twenty national
banks, with q capital of So, ,276, 100 yen.
The yen is nearly equal to an American
dollar.
The eighteen thousand bombs thrown
by the Russians into Kars cost them one
million, five hundred thousand rubles,
or about $1,O96,000. Thus far they
have not collected the interest on that
large sum.
Capt. Beaufort saw neat Smyrna, in
the East, a cloud Of locusts forty miles
long and three hundred yards deep,
containing at least 169, 0OO, OOo, 600.
That beats all the Kansas grasshopper
stories.
In England it has been proven by a
series of careful examinations that coun-
try boys of fourteen years, average, an
inch and quarter more in height and
seven pounds more in weight than city
boys of the same age.
Thomas JeAerson's birthplace, Shad-
we'll. in Albemarle county, Va, is ad-
yertised for sale. Martha Washington's
house, in the same State, where she
lived before she married George, has
just been sold for 81, ,225.
The loveliest, sweetest flower Chumi-
lity) that bloomed in Paradise. and the
first that died, has rarely blossomed
since on mortal soil. 1t is 80 fral!, so
delicate a thing, it is gone if it but look
upon itself and she who ventures to
esteem it hers, proves by that single
thought she has it not. O."
If you ask boy to break up piece VI
lump coal so as to keep himself from
freezing, he regards his lot as one OF ex-
ceptional hardship; but let him find an
old torpedo lying aronnd loose, pc Will
hammer at it with stone until the per
spiration stands in great drops upon hls
forehead, or an explosion relieves him
from his self-appointed task.
The operations of the internal revenue
officers against Illicit distillers In the
South during the last Six months nave
resulted as follows : Illicit stills seized,
forty-one distillers arrested or s'1rrend-
cred, 1,O64 officers killed, including
Lieut.. McIntire, United States army,
four officers wounded, four; cltizers
assisting officers killed, two wounded,
two distillers killed or wounded, four.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-01-01
Where an Acorn SprOutcd.

Out on the Indian Valley road, in
Nevada, there is pine tree, with q
diameter of nearly two feet, in which is
an oak limb growing which has already
attained q considerable length and a
diameter of three inches. 1t does not
seem to thrive in it's strange Quarters.
The theory is that m acorn by some
means got lodged in the bark Of the pine
tree, and dust settled around it in suftl-
cient quantities to make it sprout, and
that it gradually became a part Of the
tree itself.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-01-01

1t is predicted that within fifty years,
district of 100 miles square, including
the counties of Athens, Perry and
Hooking, in Ohio, will equal i'll product
iveness any coal region in the world:
This section has twenty-five feet OF solid
coal in five seams, the greatest vein
being in some places twelve feet thick.
and nowhere less than six. Mingled
among the coal beds are inexhauet tible
o les Of iron,
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-01-01

TEXTS FROM THE TAIMUD.-If thy
wife be small, bend down to her, and
speak to her; do nothing without her
advice. Everything in life can be re-
placed; thy wife of early days is ire
placeable An honorable man honors
his wife; contemplate one despiseth
her. The loss Of q first wife is like the
loss of a mans sanctuary in his lifetime.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-01-01
LARGE vs.. SMALL CITIES.
The Enormous Growth of Municipal Indebl
ednoss-Some Suggestive Figures.

The Enormous Growth OF hunfcfpal lndcDt-
ednoss-Some SuERcstive Figures.
Mr.. Robert P. Porter, of Rockford,
ILL.,, in an article in the September Gal-
ary, makes rather forcible comparison
of the management of large and small
cities. To present the sad defects in
our management of municipal affairs in
densely populated cities, he selected
twelve of the largest cities on the CONT
nent, and shows their debt, valuation,
ta1 levy, and population now and in
1866. The cities taken were New York,
Philadelphia, Chicago, Boston, Cincin-
natl, st. Louis, Baltimore, San Fran
cisco, New Orleans, Brooklyn, Louisville
and Pittsburgh. The aggregates of the
four elements in these cities are as fol-
lows
Municipal debt: $ 4as,5os119 s152,o5S,87
Assessed valuation
Annual taxation. 79,153,777 42,523,574
Population ....... 5,043,618 2,671,5
The writer then takes twelve cities of
medium size, and presumably governed
by those who pay the taxes. In such
communities the proportion of the pro-
prietors to the whole is larger than in
the twelve cities given above. In the
twelve smaller cities the reckless and
vicious part of the community is small,
and incapable Of being organized and
led by rlnscrupulous men. That these
conditions diminish the dangers of abuses
in the management of municipal expend-
lures seems proven by comparison Of
the following table of aggregates with
the one above given. The cities taken
for the second comparison were Ale
ghany, Columbus, Chelsea, Davenport,
Fort Wayne, New Haven, Paterson, st.
Paul, Taunton, Troy, Utica and Burling-
ton, with the following aggregate results:
n,9ss;ss Mssissf ysss ssst Of ll'dSs0s0 $685.
NssISr the property. % ~. 27s,s7s s1s 126, ,2ao,714
Annual taxation. 3,431,227 1,645,082
Population. 441,121 3os,s6i
In the first table, representing the
dozen large cities, we find debt in
creasing at the enormous rate of 1877 per
cent. in ten years in the second table,
representing the twelve smaller cities,
the rate of increase is nearly 90 per cent
less, or SO per cent. In the large cities
valuation increased but IA per cent; in
the smaller, 121 per cent. Of course
the rate of increase in population was
higher. In large cities the amount of
debt per capita Of the population is $685.
80, and yet it must be remembered the
proportion of the proprietors or tax
payers to the whole population is much
greater in the small than in the large
cities. Below we give table showing
summary of these comparisons
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-01-01

From this it seems that the great dan
ger and disgrace in the management of
municipal matters is confined to our
large and densely populated cities, the
facts and figures presented certainly in
dicatine that such is the case.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-01-01
To Be Dead.
BY MRS, 8. n. B. P1ATT.

If I should have void darkness In my eyes
While there were violets in the sun to see;
II I should fail to hear my childs sweet cries,
Or any birds voice in our threshold-tree'
II should cease to answer love or wit:
Blind, deaf or dumb, how bitter each must
be!
Blind, deaf, or dumb-I will not think Of it.
Yet the night comes when I shall be all
three
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-01-01

Two million acres Of cultivated land
hardly suffice to produce the grain con-
sumed in New York breweries yearly.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-01-01

Ten thousand glass eyes are sold an
nually in the United States.
The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-09-29

livers them where due, or turns them over
to the care of others with as much delica-
cy and attention as if they are specially
marked "Glass: handle with care" /"
1t is not out of order for
the writer of this to say that
he has found on the Elm street line of
this city three or four of theses. G. C.'s
from whose conduct he has drawn this
hasty sketch of what makes nearly per-
feet Street Car Conductor. Occasionally,
and perhaps as often, others.may be found
on other lines. When found they should
be cherished as a new and soul-satisfying
species. Owing to the impoverished and
nearly desperate condition of city street
railroads in cities of the first class the po-
sition of S. G. c., or s. c. c., is not one in
which much wealth is bagged in hurry,
or many holiday hours enjoyed; and so
we have said what we have said as trib-
ute which the hydraheaded but appreci-
ative public feel toward the capital S. G.
G. The man who can persist in being a
gentleman eighteen hours out of the
twenty-four on seven square meals week
should be allotted his just rank and
credit.
The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-09-29
Profitable Stock Enyestm ents.

Before Messrs. Lawrence & Co., the New
York Bankers, inaugurated the combina-
tion system of operating in stocks, it was
often very difficult for inexperienced ope-
rators, or even old stagers, to deal profita-
bly, by their single handed ventures. Now
the field is open to every one for successful
operations, and capital in any amounts,
from $40 to $4,000, can be used with equal
proportionate profit. Instead of distract
ing efforts among many customers the Or
ders of thousands are concentrated into
one vast pool and co-operated for the bene-
fit of all, dividing profits pro rata every
month. A prominent citizen of San Fran
cisco made ST, 264 SO from al investment
of $500 last month. Other customers are
doing better still. $25 pays 1925 during
the month, 5000 returns 1900, or per
cent on the stock, and so on as the market
moves. New circular contains 1.-TWO un-
erring rules for success" and full instruc-
tons for any one to operate profitably. All
the advantages of unlimited capital and
careful manipulation are secured by the
combination method. Stocks and bonds
wanted. Government bonds supplied.
Deposits received. Apply to Lawrence &,
Co., Bankers, 81 Exchange Place, New York
City.
The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-09-29

| Beaconsfield's Afghanistan boom
turned out after all to be boomerang.
The question is asked whether the last
of the Seminoles will be thrown at his wife.
A man may step-father, but no woman
if even as old as your great grandmother can be-
gin 10 do It,
One reason why the Mormon religion
fourishes Is because it is found Prophetable to
the saints.
Beer drinkers are noticing an unusual
tlghtness about the Vine street market within the
last few days.
The supply of currency is likely to be
inadequate for moving the supply of bummers
next month.
The doctor thought when he calle d
that it was pneumonia case. Butt was the same
told monia after ALL
Owing to the Seitz law it is predicted
hat th ward politicians will this fall be unequal
to the wants OF trade.
Paragraphers all remind us we may
make our jokes sublime, and by stealing keep be-
side us cords of copy all the time.
Bismarck is said to be fond of hunting.
He acquired taste for it hunting French Emper
ors. He is now anxious to catch a Russian Bear
A young lady wrote a billet doux to
her lover the other evening, and received a r epy
from his new flame saying that Billy shouldn't
1t is now settled that the Neosho at
tended by President Hayes and party in Kansas
was the gratis show on earth, Notwithstanding
Barnum's assertions to the contrary.
1t might prove paying investment for
some temperance society to send to Burmah for
King Theebaw, and exhibit him about the conn.
try as an lawful example" King Theebaw needs
to have the Riot Act read to him about every
three weeks.
The reason that Lorne declined to
come to the Exposition at Cincinnati was because
he only belonged to the English Royal family by
brevet Consequently, according to strict eti-
quette he could not sit at the first table with a
reigning American sovereign as, for instance.
would have been permitted TO his wife. He there.
fore stad at home for fear of being wounded.
The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-09-29

LEADvILLE, Colorado, is perhaps a
sample specimen of the mushroom growth
of mining towns such as have sprung up
in former years in California, and more
recently along our Western borders.
Although only little over year old
Leadville boasts of population exceed
ing ten thousand inhabitants, while
those engaged in the contiguous mines
and depending on Leadville for their
daily supplies, there are more than half
as many more. The place can of course
be but city of mushroom growth, to a
great extent in choatic condition as
to streets and Improvements, but
it is, nevertheless, the seat of a
most thriving and active trade.
1t is situated in the midst of the noun
tains, 1880 feet above the level of the
sea. The hills about the place are honey
combed with the holes excavated by pros
pectors and abandoned, but there are,
nevertheless, upwards of sixty profitable
mines now being regularly worked, some
turning out silver of extraordinary rich
ness. The value of silver taken from
these mines up to the 1st of August last
is estimated at ten millions of dollars
but the present yield is at the rate of one
and one-half millions per month. The
adjacent mountains are supposed to be
many of them not less rich in ores, but
the climate is rigorous and uninviting,
oyercoats and warm underclothing being
demanded at all times of year, while the
air, owing to the great altitude, is so rare
fed that only persons of sound lungsan
robust health can breath it safely for any
protracted time.
The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-09-29

THENew York newspapers have from
time to time chronicled of late the i'm
proyement in the demand for real estate
in their city. This tendency in the di-
rection of healthy revival is perhaps
more fully seen in the increase in the de-
mand for tenements shown by the num-
Der of new buildings going up. Pre-
vious to the panic that began in 1873 the
number of buildings erected in New
York reached an annual average of 1900.
Immediately following the panic it fell
to 1900, and subsequently to 700, and
once to 500. During the twelve months last
past it has risen to 1,200, while the value
Of building lots in the upper part of the
city has advanced fully one-third from
the lowest point touched during the de-
preston. 1t is claimed that within the
next quarter of century the whole Of
Manhattan Island, on which New York
is situated, will be solidly built with
houses, and that we are now entering
upon an unprecedented boom in real
estate in New York and every other
business center.
The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-09-29
The Cincinnati Star,

THE DAILY STAR is served by carrier.
to their subscribers in the City of Cincin
natl and in all important Western cite,
aud towns for IL CENTS PER WEEK
payable to the carrier Or the paper will
be mailed, postage paid. to any part o.
the country for so CENTS PER MONTH
IS per annum.
THE STAR is the only STRICTLY INDE
PENDENT NEWSPAPER published in
Cincinnati. 1t is taken and read BY
people of all parties and shades of opin.
ion, and it seeks to present the news oi
allkinds fairly and faithfully, with justice
to all and with especial favor to none.
THE WEEKLY STAR-$1 PER YEAR,
circulates in all parts of the country, ana
ia first-class family newspaper.
ADVERTISING RATES-In Daily, 12E
CENTS per line, or 81 per square of eight
lines, agate measure In Weekly, q
CENTS per line.
Address THE STAR,
230 Walnut Street. Cincinnati, o.
The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-09-29
SINCE the howl from Detroit about AL

SINCE the howl from Detroit about AL
dermanic sprces, carriage rides and other
grievances of like nature, we have an echo
from Providence, r. /. The Morning
Star of that city gently suggests to the
Fathers that instead of making their APP
preparations for "Asylum walls and
buildings" they should call things by
their right name and say: "For our
quarterly dinner at the Asylum, at which
we and our invited guests had such a
good time, it is necessary to appro-
pirate such and such an amount.
The truth is the average Alderman is a
glittering beat, elected by pot-house eau
cuses, sustained by like influences, and
living off of what he can steal and cover
up as appropriations" And SO will it
be until every good citizen makes it his
duty to vote at his ward elections, attend
the primaries, and generally interest him
self i'll the affairs of local politics. Then,
if by accident an untrustworthy official
is elected, he has himself only to blame,
and instead of getting up the cry of
"thief' he can resolve to do better next
time.