davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1879-06-26
Shall the Sun be ExecutiOner!

Apropos of the death of the French
headsman curious article by Camille
Desmoulins on capital punishment has
been unearthed. He advocates the Sc
lection from among the imprisoned
murderers of the most ferocious of their
number to be employed as headsman,
that "In the punishment of criminals
these wretches might always behold the
doom they had merited and perhaps
were not to escape" 1t might be urg-
ed that these executioners would bungle
their work. Camille proposed a plan
(which should be welcomed ty all gen.
tie minds, and which has already been
proposed in the National Assembly by
just and merciful man, DR.. Guillotine.
Employ purely mechanical instrument,
where there will be nothing to do but
to cut a rope and let an AK fall" But
Camille saw that it might be objected
to that the opprobrium of being an ex-
ecutioner would still rest u pon the man
that held the scissors and made pro-
vision for the objection thus: "Place
an astronomical machine upon the scat
fold; and at the hour of noon the action
of the sun will detach the spring and
the celestial body which beholds the
crimes of the universe will become also
their avenger."
The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1879-06-26
How tlA Russian Prisons are Filled.

A short time ago, in St. Petersburg,
physician named Kadian, who had
highly distinguished himself during the
recent Russo. Turkish war, was arrest
ed on suspicion. He was at once i'm
prisoned, and his sister, the principal
of the Convent School, and, therefore,
nun, was also arrested. Now, the
Convent School is under the immediate
and special patronage of the Grand
Duchess Catherine. Hearing that the
directress of her school had been ar
rested, this lady Immediately proceed
ed to the bureau of the Third Section,
in order to ascertain upon what grounds
a nun had been imprisoned. On ar
irving at the police Office the Grand
Duchess dispatched her private secre-
tary, Michaelow, to make the necessary
inquiries. This gentleman had no
sooner stated the purpose of his errand
than he was dispatched to prison.
The Grand Duchess waited patiently
for some time, and then sent her at
tendant to look for the secretary. This
messenger, for making inquiries about
the sister of a suspected person, was
sent off under arrest. The Grand
Duchess, unable to comprehend what
had happened, drove home and sent to
the police notification of the inexpli-
cable disappearance of her private sec
retary and her attendant. The police
made due inquiry, and found the secre-
tary, Michaelow, who was speedily with
his patroness. The attendant, howev-
er, could not be discovered The po-
lice assured the Grand Duchess that
the Nihilists had most probably cap.
tured the attendant, and kept him in
hiding. Only after three days had ex.
pired was the poor man recognized
among the number imprisoned in the
principal jail.
The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1879-06-26
Banished Lepers.

Yesterday, about noon, II Chinese
lepers, Is of whom have been confined
at the Smallpox Hospital for some time
past, were shipped on board the steamer
China and sent back to the Flowery
Kingdom. For about three months Su-
pervisor Gibbs has been trying to have
the lepers in the Small pox Hospital
sent back to Hong Kong, but owing to
opposition among the Chinese mer-
chants, and the unwillingness of sailors
to remain on any vessel with lepers, the
projected trip on the Alaska last month
was given up at the last moment. Since
the Alaska sailed without her intended
leprous cargo, the Chinese Consul, Sit
Ming Cook, has quieted some of the op-
position among the Chinese merchants,
and with the assistance of Vice-Consul
Bee, Mr.. Gibbs and the Health Officers
made secret arrangements to ship the
lepers on the China. During the past
week Officers AVIAN and Hogue found
two more cases of leprosy in Chinatown,
and on Saturday Sit Ming Cook went to
the Smallpox Hospital and informed all
the unfortunate men that they must 90
back to China. They objected consid-
erably, but upon being informed that
their departure was compulsory, they
readily acquiesced in the proposed trip.
Accordingly, the II were put in GOV.
cred wagon yesterday and taken to the
Pacific Mail Dock. On the way down
one leper jumped from the vehicle and
attempted to escape, but he was caught
and forced to 60 upon the steamer
Each Chinaman was furnished with a
blanket, food for two days and $40 by
the Chinese Consul, and their fare o.
S33 each was paid by the city. The
lepers did not appear very repulsive
the faces of one or two only being badly
diseased, and as they were compelled tt
wear shoes over their diseased feet, anC
clothing over their arms, but few people
on the steamer knew they were lepers
They will be sent to the hospital at Can
ton.-Sdn Francisco Call.
The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1879-06-26
Cheerful Closets.

The Newport correspondent of the
Boston Transcript says: must tell you
of the experience of q friend of mine in
her search for cheerful, pleasant sum-
mer home; such experiences are often
very amusing. My friend is in ill
health, and the place must be bright
spot where she can rapidly convalesce.
So her husband and her sister were sent
to choose for her. After much travel
ing they found a home, lovely in loca-
tion and spacious and inviting, and the
best suite of rooms was untaken. Just
as they were to conclude the arrange
ments their astonished gaze fell upon a
coffin standing upright in niche in the
room. The 1andlady, following their
look, stepped briskly to the spot, turn.
ed key in the lid and threw it back
with the remark, "This goes with the
room; my husband was in the business,
and when he failed we saved half.
dozen large sized. and use them for clos.
ets." Now, closet room is desidera.
tum in country houses, but my friend
concluded to hang up her gowns under
a sheet in another house further down
the street.
The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1879-06-26
Facts About the Human Body.

Every adult man has 1,400 square
feet of lungs, or, rather, the mucous
membrane lining the air cells of his
lungs, if spread upon smooth, plane
surface, would cover an extent of 1,40O
square feet.
About two-thirds of q pint of air is
inhaled at each breath in ordidary res
piration.
A man breathes eighteen times min
ute and uses 5000 cubic feet, or about
375 hogsheads of air per hour. -.
The weight of the heart is from eight
to twelve ounces. 1t beats 100000
times in "a hours.
The stomach daily produces about
nine pounds of gastric juice for the Ii
gestion of the food; its capacity is about
five pints. a..
An amount of blood equal to the whole
quantity of the body passes through
the heart every minute.
The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1879-06-26
PITH AND POINT.

THE watchword of life-Tick.
SHARP practice-Learning to strap
razor.
HOPE is the sugar-coating of the pill
of life.
The cry of the chiropodist: g. came,
l saw, corn-cured."
THE saddest words of tongue or pen:
81 intend to pay; 1 can't say when"
A SWEET temper is to the household
what sunshine is to trees and flowers.
THERE is German proverb which
says that Take-It-Easy and Live-Long
are brothers.
Now the winds that softly breathe,
and the flowers that garlands wreathe,a
gentle hint of summer in the mind i'm
plants; and so do the beetles and the
spiders and the ants.
ADAM never smoked. Eve said she
wasn't going to have the lace curtains
spoiled by the nasty old smoke, and he
didn't dare to 90 out into the wood-shed
for fear he'd set something aire.-Bos-
ton Post. '''
BOB INGERsoLL has been converted.
He stopped over night lately at house
where there were two heartless tiends
practicing on the accordeon. He says
he throws up the sponge, and takes
back all he ever said about there not be-
ing place Of infinite torture. .-Yonkers
Gazette.
The Earl of Caithness, who is now
visiting this country for the third time,
is quoted as praising US extremely for
our hospitality; indeed, he says that is
''a distinguishing trait Of the American
people," He thinks that America is
the most interesting country in the
world, and has this time brought over
his son, Lord Berrydale, in order to
show it to him. sr.... .....=.
A CLERGYMAN of an original turn of
mind is passing by parishioner's shop,
and in order to emphasize great moral
lesson bounds suddenly in crying
Boo!" Naturally the parishioner
starts. "You did not expect to have
me call?" 81 did not, by blessed
sight" "Suppose 1 had been Death
where would you have been? Chaw on
that!" and the excellent clergyman
vanishes. .-..
LITTLE JOHNNY-stPa, you said once
that the reason folks are dumb is be-
cause they can't hear others talk" Pa,
delighted to see how well his little son
remembers)-"Yes, Johnny" Johnny
-"Then l suppose boy who never
gets chance to see any thing would be
blind, wouldn't he?'' Pa (rather dis
concerted at Johnny's logic) )-"Wcll-
yes-perhaps so. But why do you ask
that, Johnny?" Johnny-''Nothing,
only there's been one circus, and an
others coming, and don't want to be
blind, pa "-Bostom Transcript
IT is all wrong to let your church
choir 60 on singing in the opera of
"Pinafore" between Sundays. A dread
full thing recently happened on this ac-
count at California funeral. The pas
tor, a tall, white haired man, much re-
sembling an admiral, arose in the pull
pit and had no sooner finished, in q
sing-sopg tone, the remark, "We miss
his presence in his usual haunts, than
the choir sprarg to its feet and shouted
in return, "And so do his sisters and
his cousins and his aunts. ."-MilUastEee
/ Cp,,f;DeI s,
The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1879-06-26
Statistics for Girls.

A young English statistician who was
paying court to young lady, thought
to surprise her with his immense cru
dition. Producing his note book, she
thought he was about to indict love
sonnet, but was slightly taken aback by
the following question:
"How many meals do you eat a
dav?"
"Why, three, of course; but of all
the oldest questions"
"Never mind, dear, I'll tell you all
about it in moment'
His pencil was rapidly at work. AT
last, fondly clasping her slender waist
"Now, nv darling, I've got it, and il
you wish to know how much has passed
through that adorable little mouth in
the last seventeen years, can give the
exact figures"
Goodness! Gracious! What can
you mean?"
Snow, just listen," says he, "and
you will hear exactly what you have
been obliged to absorb to maintain those
charms which are to make the happi.
ness of my life.''
But don't want to hear"
"Ah, you are surprised, no doubt,
but statistics are wonderful things.
"Just listen: You are now II years
old, so that in Is years you have absorb.
ed: Oxen or calves, 5; sheep and lambs,
IA, chickens, 327; ducks, 204; geese,
~; turkeys, 100; game of various kinds.
S24; fishes, 100; egg,, 1924; vegeta
bles (bunches), 700; fruit (baskets)
COS; cheese, 1903; bread, cake, etc. Gin
sacks of flour), 40; wine (barrels), II
water (gallons), 5000"
At this the maiden revolted, and
jumping up exclaimed:
81 think you are very impertinent
and disgusting besides, and l will moi
stay to listen to you'll" upon which she
flew into the house. ......
He gazed after her with an abstracted
air left, saying to himself:
elf she kept talking at that rate Il
hours out of "a, her jaws would. in 2(
years travel at distance of 1885,, 124
miles,
The maiden within two months mar
ried well-to do grocer, who was nc
statistician.
If you were to accuse Miss Analine dc
Flukey of overweening self-conceit, you
would not abash her in the least; she
would retort that one has perfect righ'
to admire the masterpieces of Nature
The day after the announcement of he1
engagement to Fred Dory, an old frienG
offered his congratulations. emo
me-" she said, and she twitched he1
nose haughtily-" congratulate Fred
Puck
The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1879-06-26
BELLEVUE, La, THURSDAY. JUNE 1S79

the disease to impure water. and bave
.t gsen 1t tne name of detephobia, and
tnough 1t is seldom fatal the sufferer re-
mains put shadow of his former self
IHE Tyron Valley, in North Carolina
Is natural hot-house. It is a slice OF
FLORIDA, less than mile long and about
nall mile wide, uncovered at the base
OF the Blue Ridge, retaining its southern
temperature all winter, while the, sur.
rounding mountains and valleys are
nleak and bare. The soil and yeeeta.
tlon are the same as those of the ada.
cent mountain region, but the tempera-
ture is higher. Early in April, when in
tne region round about the forests are
pare, this lovely little belt is clothed in
the verdure of summer. The mountains
lnclose it on every side save the south.
and protect it against winds and cold
currents of air.
The Michigan Legislature has taken
It's turn at the tramps. Any of the fra
ternlty who shall refuse to work in re-
turn for food, clothing or lodging sup
Piled, can be fined $40 or imprisoned
not more than 80 days, and hard labor
for from one to five years is the penalty
tor procuring food by threats or ma
ilclously injuring any person or proper
". Ii i've tramps gather together to
encourage vagabondage, or for any 9TH
er unlawful purpose, they must endure
two years at hard labor, and any town
or village can hire their labor on the
highways or other public improvements.
The law is made to except those physic-
ally unable to work and females under
Is years of age.
In England it is illegal to sell sweets
on Sunday. An act passed in the time
OF Charles II. forbids it; and the police
TO Daventry have just discovered that
that act is still in force. Mary Fleet, a
shopkeeper there, has had the temerity
to defy the statute. The police caution
ed her; and she persisted in corrupting
the childhood of Daventry, notwith-
standing that Charles II. and his parlia-
ment forbade it; so outraged local au-
thorlty had no resource but to bring the
impenitent Mary before the magistrates,
who dismissed the case on payment of
costs, and expressed solemn hope that
their decision would put a stop to Sum
day trading in the neighborhood.
THERE is one kingdom less among
the nations of the earth. The sovereign
of Loo Choo has been deposed, and his
island dominions have been incorporat-
ed with the Japanese Empire. China,
while vainly protesting against the
course taken by Japan in seizing a
country over which China claims juris-
diction as vassal State, docs not threat
en- an appeal to arms. The people of
Loo Choo have been notified that the
deposed monarch and his family and
relatives will be kindly treated, that
taxation will be reduced, and more
liberal form Of government instituted,
and that all will be allowed to remain
in undisturbed possession of their prop
erty. Another interesting piece of news
from the far East, is that Queen Kim,
widow of the late King OF Corea, is
dead, and that every man in Corea is
wearing white hat in token of mourn
ing.
The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1879-06-26
A Man Who Can "Wag His Left Ear"

About dozen we'll known members
of the Rhode Island Radical Society met
Friday at the Office of Drs. Hutchinson
and Browning, On Mathewson Street, to
witness private exhibition of remark
able nature by Charles H. Warren, of
New York. This man met with an ac-
cident in his youth that caused dislo-
cation of the hip, and, what was quite
remarkable, succeeded himself in re-
ducing the dislocation. This power, it
seems, led him to tests of muscular
strength and exertion that finally de-
veloped him into a man of extraordi-
nary power, which gives him perfect
control of all the muscles of the body,
individually and sectionally. But few
days ago he appeared before DR.. Bige.
low, of Harvard College, and astonish-
ished the Doctor by a wonderful display
of muscular movements. The exhibi-
ton Friday was of a similar nature, and
produced no less surprise among the
medical savants who assembled to see
him. He dislocated almost any part of
his body at will, and then resumed his
natural condition in the perfect embodi-
ment of physical development. He first
showed dislocation of the hip joint of
"a inches, and just as quickly brought
it back to its normal condition. Dis
placements of the wrists and shoulders,
by which he succeeded in lengthening
his arms an inch or more, were next
shown; following them with a disloca-
ton of the jaw in downward and for
ward movement. The difference in the
expansion of the chest from its natural
state was seven inches. He showed a
dislocation of the knee-ioint, and twist
ed his limbs about in almost every con-
ceivable condition, actually bringing
both feet close together, bottom to bot
tom. But perhaps the. most singular
performance of all was that done with
his aural appendage. The expression,
s'Can you wag your left ear?'' has often
been heard, though "hardly evern rea-
lized, but here was a man who gave an
actual illustration of it in its literal
meaning. The doctors were amused as
we'll as astonished. Altogether it was
most remarkable exhibition, given per-
fectly free from all deception, before
men Of acknowledged medical le arning,
who found their subject one of interest
ing study. Mr.. Warren is in excellent
health, and is man, as might natural
ly be inferred from the foregoing &C
count, of remarkable physical power
and enduranee.-Providence (R. r.
Journal,
The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1879-06-26
The Chameleon,

The chameleon has been an object Of
curiosity the world over on account Of
IT'S power to change it's color, but its
power to change its form is not less re.
'markable. Sometimes it assumes the
form OF a disconsolate mouse sitting
mum in a corner; again, with back
curved and tail erect, it resembles a
crouching lion, which no doubt gave
origin to its name, ckan,ai-leon, OF
ground-lion. By infating it's sides il
hattens its belly, and viewed from below
takes the form of an ovate leaf. The
tail is the petiole, while white, serrat-
ed line, which runs from nose to tip of
tail over the belly, becomes the midrib.
sui again throwing out the air, it draws
IN Its sides, and at the same time ex-
pands itself upward and downward till
1t becomes as thin as knife, and then
viewed from the side it has the form OF
an ovate leaf without midrib, but with
the serrated line of the belly and the
serrated back becoming the serrated
edges of leaf. When thus expanded it
also has the power to sway itself over so
as to present an edge to an obserer, thus
ShSiJ ooulhS W l1S ucduS OI COuCoal-
meGt.
| have studied the changes of color
with much interest. In its normal state
OF rest it is of light pea-green color, at
times blending with yellow. The least
excitement, as in handling, causes a
change. The ground work remains the
same, but TRAVERSE stripes appear run
ming across the back and nearly encir-
cling the body in a full-grown animal,
numbering about thirty, and extending
from head to tip of tail These stripes
occupy about the same amount of space
as the ground work. and are most sus-
ceptible to change of color. At first
they become deeply green, and if the
excitement continues gradually change
to black. When placed upon tree the
ground work becomes deep green and
the stripes deeper green or black, and
so long as they remain on the trees the
color does not change. The prevailing
idea, that they take on the peculiar hue
OF the foliage among which they happen
to be, is. think, erroneous. We have
placed them on the scarlet leaves of the
dracana and among the red flowers OF
the acacia, with no change from the
prevailing green.-O. R. Bachelor, in
Popular Science Monthy for June.
The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1879-06-26
A Kentucky Scandal.

A Louisville dispatch Of May 1S saws
A commotion was caused in society cir
.cles here to-day by the announcement
that persons belonging to the best fam
lilies in the State were actors in a very
dark. scandal. The facts as stated are
that Mr.. William H. Tominson, a
brother of ex-Secretary Belknap's wife,
was prevented from killing his cousin,
E. Stanley Bowman, by the interference
of his father and the appeals of his
mother. Tomlinson and Bowman are
partners in business, the father of the
former having given both their starting
money. Two years ago Tomlinson
married Miss Jessie Buckner, of Green
vile, Miss. who was attending school
at Harrodsburg, KY, then the home of
her husbands family. Miss Buckner is
as accomplished as she is beautiful, and
while in Kentucky was in the care of
Little Phil. Thompson, Milton J. Dur
hams successor in Congress. Miss
Buckner is descended from distin-
guished family of Mississippi, and is a
cousin of Senator Beck's wife. Bow
mans uncle is Regent of the Kentucky
University at Ashland, Henry Clay's old
home. His father was recently United
States Collector at Lexington. The
cause of the breach between Tomlinson
and Bowman was the discovery by the
former of an improper intimacy be-
tween Bowman and his wife. Confes-
sions were forced from both, the wife
declaring that her husbands partner
and cousin had drugged her with wine.
Her husband sent her to Mississippi and
Bowman fled to Washington. 1t is
feared serious trouble may yet grow out
of the affair.
The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1879-06-26

THE Rev. Lyman Abbott, editor of
the Christian Union, baptized in Farm
ington, Me-, few weeks ago, an infant
daughter of the young wife of the Rev.
Jonas Burnham, of Pennington, who
is 80 years old. ..r...... a,
The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1879-06-26

ATMOSPHERIC air is so heavy that its
weight upon the body is Is pounds to
the square inch. People can now un-
derstand why it is SO hard to raise the
wind.
The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1879-06-26

BEST Corn BREAD.-1 cup sugar, 1
cup sour or buttermilk, pour the milk
on the sugar; add l teaspoonful of gin
ger, lemon and /! cup of butter; dis
solve teaspoonful soda in q little milk
and add; then stir in cup -four and
Indian meal enough to make a stiff bat
ter; bake in a moderately slow oven.
The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1879-06-26

If any one thinks Dame Nature
don't know her biz, let him climb up in
the barn and offer crumbs to a setting
hen.