davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1879-08-29
4 Giant Buried in the Bank of England.

There are only four streets, / am told,
saws a London correspondent of the
Baltimore Sun, in all London, whence
verdure is not to be seen; that is to say,
all the streets of London command a
view of some growing green trees or
shrubs. This is rather startling when
you come to think of the hundreds of
acres of houses and narrow streets of
! this great city of cities presented to the
view of the visitor. Take ''the Old Lady
of Fhreadneedle street." as the citizens
disrespectfully term the venerable and
mighty bank of England. Within its
strong walls is garden, even a delicate
fountain, and big tree, indeed two trees
and some numerous plants. Fresh and
attractive they stand out in charming
contrast, smiling at busy business and
listening to the ever tantalizing clink of
gold. This garden is more beautiful and
attractive than any have seen in many
towns in. America land of treesl You
survey this emerald spot, studded with
floral rubies and adorned with petalled
turquoise, and you look around at the
topaz fringe of guinea gold, and exclaim,
''No garden in the world is so richly en-
vironed." Millions of money per month
pass around this garden. Beneath that
tallest tree there is a story. 1t is brief.
Allow me to tell it for the first time in
print. Some years ago the bank had a
clerk whose height measured nearly
seven feet two inches. He was mar
vel in more ways than one. He could
add up don't know how many columns
of figures at one time without an error;
do subtraction and multiplication sim
ultaneously, and look upon vulgar frac-
tions" disdainfully. In a word he was
a figure. Nature has given to big men
gentle dispositions.
This fgIrative giant was most amiable
and a general favorite. The clerks in the
bank Of England are all gentlemen by
birth and education, not few of them
being by blood ties allied to the oldest
families in the kingdom. Indeed, am
told one is the lineal descendant of
king. and as the monarch through this
descendant proclaims Ireland as their
domain, will not for moment stop to
dispute the pedigree of 'the pretender."
In good company the giant labored and
lived and died, for giants cannot carry
their heightened sweetness long drawn
out beyond the period allotted to man
generally any more than dwarf When
the giant of the bank of England added
up his last figures and balanced his ac-
counts with this world his clerkly COM
panions sought to shroud him in the
leaves of the ledger of their esteem and
bury him beneath the tree 1 mentioned
in the precincts of the bank he loved so
well. There, in this verdant oasis of
the commercial desert, his financial
spirit is continually rejoiced by the tinkle
of gold and the ever-moving millions,
not farthing of which he can now
reckon on.
Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1879-08-29
Whole Number 1547.
A Birds Wing,

Did YOU ever look at birds wing care
fully, and try tOfind out from it the way
in which it is used? People usually sup
pose, either that a bird flies because it is
lighter than the air, like balloon, or that
it rows itself along as a boat is rowed
through the water. Neither of these
suppositions is true. A bird is not lighter
than the air and does not float, for when
a bird is shot on the wing it falls to the
ground as quickly as a squirrel. On the
contrary a bird flies by its own weight
and could noe fly at all if it were not
heavier than the air.
Look at quill feather and you will
see that on each side of the central shaft
or quill thereis broad, thin portion,
which is called the vane. The vane on
one side of the shaft is quite broad and
flexible, while that on the other side is
narrow and stiff; and by looking at a
wing with the feathers in their places,
you Will find that they are placed so that
they overlap little like the Stats on
window blind. Each broad Vane runs
under the narrow vane of the feather
beside 1t, so that, when the wing is
moved downward, each featheris pressed
up against the stiff, narrow vane of the
one beside it, like blind with the Stats
closed. After the down-gtroke is finished
and the up-stroke begins, the pressure is
taken off from the lower surface of the
wing and begins to get on the upper
surface and then to press the feathers
downward instead Of upward. The
broad vanes now have nothing to sup
port them, and they bend down and
allow the air to pass through the wing,
which is now like a blind with the stats
open. By these two CONFERENCE.-The
shape of the wing and the shape and
arrangement of the feathers-the wing
resists the air on its down-stroke, and
raises the bird little at each flap, but
at each up-stroke allows the air to slide
off at the sides and to pass through be-
tween the feathers. so nothing is lost.
81. Nicholas
Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1879-08-29
An Exciting Ride.

The ride from San Antonio, Texas, to
FL Paso is one of the most stirring bits
of travel to be had in America. The
conveyance is a four-horse stage coaches
are changed three times and beyond
ConchO, which is 2I6 miles north of San
Antonio. Bronco mules are under har-
ness. The mule is q fiery, unamiable
little animal, possessed of all the spirit
and speed of a race-horse, and all the
long suffering and patience of a Spanish
jack. A correspondent of the st. Louis
Republican, gives this account of "Lize"
and "Murphy"-a dun and sorrel-
that have done splendid service on this
road: Until the four-horse coaches were
put on, their task was to draw buck
board twice a week distance of sixty
five miles. The journey was made in a
single night, without water, and without
food or rest, except an hour at midnight
at Van Horns well. When l returned
from Mexico to the States these two lit
tie mules pulled myself, another passen-
ger, some three hundred pounds of mail
and baggage, and the driver the dis
tance named. The driver cheered the
solitude of the night with mauy an
ecdotes of their performances, and at
our request, and aided by us, frequently
tried to stop them between the stations.
Our attempts to do so were Intellectual,
for the more we would pull the faster
they would go. Some two weeks later
Gen. Cabell was the only passenger, and
the propensity of 'Lize" and Murphy"
to run was so great he considered his
life IN serious danger. He drew his six
shooter and kept it cooked, determined
to shoot one of them through the head
if they ever left the road. But leaving
the road is something the mules never do.
Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1879-08-29
Never TEMPT a Man.

Among the Mohegans, an Indian by
the name of Zachary, was the heir to
the chieftainship. He was brave man
and an excellent hunter, but as drunken
and worthless an Indian as could well
be found. By the death of intervening
heirs, Zachary found himself entitled to
the royal power. In this moment the
better genius of the man assumed sway,
and he reflected seriously: "HoW can
such a drunken wretch as I be chief Of
this noble tribe? What will my people
say? How shall the shades of my glo-
rious ancestors look indignant upon
such q succession? Can l succeed to the
great Uncas? Aye, l will drink no
more" And he solemnly resolved to
drink nothing but water.
One day, at the annual election, the
Mohegan chief dined with the Cover
nor at Hartford. John, the Governors
son. mischievously thought he would
try the sincerity of the chiefs temper
anCe.
The family were seated at dinner, and
there was excellent home-brewed ale
upon the table. John addressed the old
rhief: Zach, this beer is very fine.
VIII you not taste itY
lut Olu ClllCl ulOppSO Alo huAACl anu
leaned forward, with a stern intensity
of expression, and his fervid eyes, spark
ling with indignation, were fixed upon
the boy.
John" said he, "you do not know
what you are doing. You are serving
the devil, boy. Do you know that I am
an IndianP If l should taste your beer,
1 should never stop till got rum, and l
should again become the contemplate
wretch your father remembers me to
have been. John, never again, while
you live, tempt a man to break good
resolution"
Socrates never uttered better pre-
cent. Demosthenes could not have given
it with more eloquence. John was
thunderstruck. His parents were deeply
affected, and afterwards frequently re-
minded him of the scene, and charged
him never to forget it.
Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1879-08-29
Our Wives.

A young woman during the first week
of her married life entertains vague sus-
picions that the statements of older
wives, that the way to a mans heart is
through his mouth, are true. Her
Charles, who is almost, if not quite, ex-
empt from human failings, has already
manifested a profound admiration for
veal pies, and has openly expressed his
detestation to overdone mutton. She
accordingly builds up within her for
tress of resolution, in which to guard
that sacred treasure of husbands affec-
ton. In her girlhood this young woman
had spent much time in cultivating her
musical taste, in reading Emerson and
Carlyle; she had been fond of pretty
landscapes, and could use her hair pencil
with effect, and she had been heard TO
declare with pride that when she mar
ried she would give up none of these
things.
Let US visit her now, at the end of ten
years of matrimOny, and we will find
that she has broken her VOW and thrown
it to the winds. We find a tiresome sort
of person, whose whole intellect is alb
sorbed in attending to the cares of house
keeping, and in getting stylish dresses
for her children. Her conversation
rises seldom above the level of infant
gossip and servants, and the only ideas
developed by time and experience are
expressed i'll her conviction that men
are the most unreasonable and selfish
of creatures, and women the most
abused and self-sacrifCing.
There is great evil somewhere, but
what is it? The husband acknowledges
to himself that he is disappointed in the
wife he has chosen, and yet he finds
difficulty in pointing out his mistake,
and hardly finds cause to blame her,
for is she not faithful wife, devoted
mother anda most frugal manager? The
mistake is a national characteristic. So
passionate and intense is the American
mind in pursuit of its temporary in
terests, the men will suffer the chains
of business to bind them down and
throttle them, while their wives bend
beneath a similar yoke of duty at home.
What is lacking is the power to rise
above the petty annoyances of daily
life; we need to learn to distinguish
trifles from affairs of moment, to know
that every mole-hill is not a mountain
We need not fOrsake the upper strata of
sentiment, thought and ideality-the
atmosphere of the soul-because We
know that there is a lower one of rou-
tine and small vexations, in which our
feet are told to tread. To breathe in
the one is to receive strength and re-
freshment for exertion in the other. 1t
is good plan to pick up needles and
pins from the floor, but picking pins
ought not to be made the chief object
of existence; for if we move along with
our heads constantly downward we most
assuredly will see nothing better than
pins and needles to the end of our
days.
Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1879-08-29
The Eject of Fear,

The fatal effect of fear has been 8
thousand times demonstrated, but the
case below is worth narrating. The Rev
Theodore Clapp for thirty years was an
indefatigable nurse and philanthropist
in New Orleans. He worked night and
day during some of the heaviest epidem'
les of cholera and yellow fever, and was
the acknowledged Howard of the whole
pastoral Paternity. In his more inexPe-
rienced days he waited upon q young
married gentleman sick of yellow fever,
On the third day, when the fever had
reached its crisis, the wife of the patient
insisted that in view Of the possible
death of her husband, he should make
a will, and requested the clergyman to
propose the matter to him. Mr.. Clapp
refused, SAYING: "Your husband is fun
of hope; he has no thought of dying,
and if you let him remain undisturbed
until sundown his danger will be passed" "
The wife insisted, and the pastor at
length yielded. He approached the sick
man delicately, and, after assuring MN
that he would doubtless be all rlglt III y y
few days, stated that 1t was a part OI
wisdom that every man should m9Ke gS
some arrangement as 70 ms WO5luIy
r,o1Js ssYoEr lady would like to have
Sou execute a will this morning" J" gently
Concluded Mr.. Clapp. make a will"
cried the patient, "is it possible that !
am in any danger of dyingT And at
once he lost his hope and his courage,
and in three hours was a corpse. An
unhagging trust in a speedy recovery is
better than all the medicine ever COM
pounded by the skill Of man. That
powerful and mysterious agent, the im-
agination, has killed more people than
the human butchers called warriors, or
the philosophical theorists called doctors.
1t is the nursing Of that fear which
destroys hope and opens the door toT
the entrance Of death.
Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1879-08-29
Charles Summers Domestic skeleton.

Concerning Charles Summers unhappy
marriage but little is known, and that
little mostly based on rumor. But re-
Gently, Mr.. George Williams, a cOlored
man who has acquired much local fame
as an orator, has given to reporter of
the press some hints of the trouble that
existed between Mr.. Sumner and his
wife. Mr.. Williams entered Mr.. Sum-
ners law Office Just after the close of
the war, where he remained for several
years. It was shortly after he entered
Mr.. Summers Office that he (Sumner)
of the son of the late Samuel Hooper,
late member of Congress from Massa-
chusetts. Williams account Of Summers
matrimonial infelicities are interesting,
as showing the annoyances to which
even the greatest of men are sometimes
subjected. The narrative proceeds:
Mrs. Sumner was a viYacious, attrac-
tive woman in society, but the cold, Sc
date, and digniied demeanor of the
Senator rendered them as uncongenial
as Mr.. and Mrs. Dombey. She was fond
Of evening parties, and lac would soon
tire of their gayeties. Finding no one
who could converse with or listen in
telligently to him, he would retire in
quiet to one side, and wait solemnly the
pleasure of his lady. At times he would
become impatient at her delay, and
make special requests for her departure.
They were granted usually at her pleas
-ure, and their return home at such times
was always conspicuous from its silence.
Mrs. Sumner had been accustomed
probably to many indulgences by her
first husband, and liked to have the
management of her household affairs.
The arrangement of her husband suffered
from this. The clippings he made from
books and newspapers, and systematic
ally arranged in rows on the wall,
fastened by pins, did not escape her
senses Of order.-'Why,' said he one
morning to Williams, pacing in evident
perturbation through his office, my wife
has swept allmy clippings into the waste
basket They did not remain together
long. One day Sumner came to his
Office with a darker cloud than usual on
his brow. A little later his wife's father
came in, and, in tones half Of alarm and
half Of inquiry, exclaimed, alice has
gomez Yes, sir said Mr.. Sumner, ina
voice of tragic sternness, Alice has
gomez and afterward he only referred
TO her from necessity.Y
Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1879-08-29
General SeOtt,s Daughter.

In the gossip which followed the an
nouncement that General Sherman's son
had left for Europe to become a Catho-
lie priest, a story was told of the
romantic circumstances attending the
career of one of General Winfield Scott's
daughters, who died in the Convent of
the Visitation at Georgetown. This
story was to the effect that Miss Scott
fell deeply in love with an attache of a
foreign legation, who loved sincerely
IN return. The match was opposed by
General Scott, and through his instru-
mentality was broken off. She went
heart-brOken to a convent, and he pre-
pared himself and was admitted to the
priesthood. In course of time he was
ordered to Georgetown College, and
portion of his duties consisted in hear
ing the confessions of the nuns at the
college. On one of these occasions Miss
Scott knelt in the confessional to her
former lover. Each recognized the
other. She tainted, went into a rapid
!ecline and soon died He left the
Ountry.
The true story of the affair as related
by friend of the family of General
Scott is much less romantic than the fate
of the gossips. Nearly forty years ago
Mrs. General Scott was living in Paris
with her family, the younger daughters
being pupils in the Convent of the Sacred
Heart. She moved in the highest cir
cles of Partisan society, and her eldest
daughter was known because of her ex-
ceeding beauty and culture as "La belle
Americana" A Frenchman of excellent
family and considerable wealth fell in
love with Miss Scott. His affection was
reciprocated and with the consent of
Mrs. Scott an engagement of marriage
was made. In visiting the Conventof
the Sacred Heart where her younger
sisters were at school, Miss Scott became
deeply impressed with the holy life of
the Sisters. In a comparatively short
time she was converted and determined
to devote her life to the Church. She
sought and obtained a release from her
engagement. What became of her lover
is not known, beyond the fact that he
never left Europe. He was reported to
have joined a religious order in Rome.
Miss Scott returned to the United States
with her mother shortly afterwards, and
was admitted to the Convent of Vista
ton at Georgetown. She was in delicate
health when, on the I'd of October, 1874,
she received the habit of the novice, and
on the 26th of August 1874. she died of
consumption.
Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1879-08-29
The Best Cultivated County in America.

One of the very best cultivated coun-
ties in the whole Republic is said to be
Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, orig
inally settled by Mennonites, MOravians
and Dunkers, who fed from Germany
and Holland to avoid persecution during
the eighteenth century. They were
mining and agricultural people, and
their descendants to-day follow the
same callings that their ancestors did.
Lancaster was laid out in 1923, and was
the fourth county in the State. 1t con-
tains 929 square miles; the value of the
farms is estimated at about $50, 600, 900,
of its agricultural products nearly $20,-
100000, and its minerals some SIC, 900, :
900. The population is about 226,0O0.
The farms are small, from so to 100
acres generally, a farm of 200 acres
being very rare. These are seldom sold.
They are handed down from sire to son
the Pennsylvania Dutch, as they are
commonly named, being among the most
industrious, thrifty and conservative Of
people. They have changed very little
in the last $50 years, having the same
notions, habits and preiudices that they
had a century ago. They are not en-
lightened in any sense, but they work
hard, pay their debts, prosper materially
and mind their own business. If the
Americans generally understood farming
as they do, this country would be the
garden of the world.
Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1879-08-29
An IrIsn PIaY.BIII.

The following is a literal copy Of a
play-bill issued in the year 1898 by the
manager Of the Theatre Royal, Kill
kenny: Kilkenny Theatre Royal, by
his maiesty's company of comedians.
On Saturday may "A, 1898, will be per-
formed, BY command of several respect
able people in this learned matrapoish,
for the benefit of Mr.. Kearns, the trag-
cdy of Hamlet ? originally written and
composed by the celebrated Dan Hays,
of Limerick, and insarted in Shakes
peare's works. Hamlet by Mr.. Kearns,
(being his first appearance in that char
acter), who between the acts, will per-
form several solos on the patent bag
pipes, which plays two tunes at the same
time. 'Ophelia' by Mrs. Prior, who viii
introduce several faYorite airs in char
acter. particularly The Lass of Rich
mond HILL and Well all be Unhappy
Together from the Reverend Mr.. Dib-
din's Oddities The parts of the
King and Queen by direction of the
Reverend Father 0'Callagan, viii be
omitted, as too immoral for any stage.
'Polonius,' the comieal politician, by
young gentleman, being his first appear
ance IN public.
The ghost the grayedigger and Laertes,
by Mr.. Sampson, the great London
comedian. The characters to be dressed
in Roman shapes. To which will be
added an interlude, in which will be
introduced several sleight-of-hand tricks
by the celebrated surveyor, Hunt. The
whole to conclude with the farce of
"AIahomet, the imposterp MahOmet
bv Mr.. Kearns. Tickets to be had of
Mr.. Kearns, and the signs Of the Goats
Beard, in Castle street. The value of
the tickets, as usual. will be taken (if
required) in candles, bacon, butter,
cheese, soap, etc, as Mr.. Kearns wishes,
in every particular, to accommodate the
public. BS5@No person what soever
shall be admitted into the boxes without
shoes or stockings"
Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1879-08-29
SING TO MY SOUL, GOOD ANGEL

''Ob, sing 10 my soul. good Angel,
a psalm OF the battle Of lifeI
For the bravest sometimes alter,
And fail in the bitter strife
But the spirit OF Infinite Mercy
Upholds them. till. undismsy'd.
They have won the purple anG gRT:s.l-.
c. :sIe palm trees that never lade;
Yea, some. from the war. triumphant
Der trial, and gloom. and sod,
Go up till their steps are mid flower
On the beautiful hills Of GOd!'
~ob sing TO my soul, good Angel,
A song OF the early lost,
The track OF whose radiant morning
By q sorrowful night is crOss'd-"-
They are blest that have wOn," saith the Angel,
The peace Of the early dead,
For the light Of immortal glory
CrO,yneth each innocent head
They have crOssd the wild, dark river:
That means thro' the vaIIay OF years,
And the hand Of q love made perfect
Hath wiped away their tears"
Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1879-08-29
Jokes.

It has often been said that the best
Jokes are those that are made by acci-
dent, and this is certainly the case with
proper names. Few intentional "bulls"
have ever been more complete than the
grave official entry in a list of Scottish
landed proprietOrs: "John Elder, the
Younger, in right of Mrs. Margaret Hus-
band, his wife" The worthy country
gentleman who, eight years ago, taunted
the leader of the English Opposition
with looking like "a fox that had fallen
into a pit," was as much astOunded as
any one at the roar of laughter which
greeted this unconscious pun upon the
names of Mr.. Pitt and Mr.. Fox. The
three last Governors of the Don Cos
sacks have CHANGED to bear names which
respectfully signify Fire, Flood and
Fiend. In the list of the English Navy
for last century. the readers eye is still
startled by the sight of the frigate Ven
geance, commanded by Capt. Death,
with a first officer called William Devil,
and a surgeon bearing the pleasantly
suggestive name of John Ghost. But Of
all the authentic cases of this kind, the
most singular is one that occurred at a
small tavern in the West of England
4lOb A4dAAy y CelAo elE-Os LA4ANC 4Ol oNNAAAAEs
commercial travellers, meeting there one
cold evening, had a hearty carouse to-
gether, as a matter of course. Supper
over, the three found some difficulty in
allotting their respective shares of the
bill; but one of them at length cut short
the dispute by proposing that whoever
had the "oldest name" among them
should go scot free, the expenses being
halyed by the other two. This amend
ment being promptly accepted, No. l
produced a card inscribed, 'Richard
Eve" which No. trumped with "Adam
Brown" Then No. 3, a pOrtly veteran
with a humorous gray eye, laid down
his card with the quiet confidence of a
great General making r decisive move
ment, and remarked with a thick
chuckle, Il don't much think you'll beat
this 'un, gents" And he was right,
for the name was "Mr. B. Ginning"