davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1879-01-02
Pouring Oil on the Troubled Waters.

The idea expressed in the above head
ing, though commonly held to be of sa-
cred origin, or as merely poetical man.
ner of expressing commonplace occur
renee, may nevertheless be taken literally,
as we'll as figuratively, it being, as a mat
ter of fact, saying which has satisfac-
tory groundwork in natural facts.
1t was recently stated in evidence be-
fore the commissioners appointed to look
into the herring fisheries of Scotland,
that the practice of pouring quantity OF
oil from a boat on the surface of the sea,
during heavy weather, had the immediate
effect of calming the waters, and reliev.
ing the boat from the danger of heavy,
witnesses, "although the oil has this eff
feet, for time, the sea becomes rougher
after wards, and so the advantage of adopt
ing the plan is practically not very great"
1t is more than probable that this latter
statement can be explained by the law of
comparisons. The oil cast out upon the
weather side of the boat effectually as
suages the violence of the waves, which,
instead of breaking roughly over it, glide
smoothly under it. Presently the film of
oil becomes dispersed, and the waves,
again unchecked, appear, by comparison
with the late calm, to be still more for
midable A fresh dose of oil would, how
ever, again prove advantageous, but the
experiment is seldom repeated. and so
the efficacy of the remedy is called into
question.
The best way of adopting it is to throw
overheard barrel, or skin, filled with
oil, and pierced in two places, to allow of
the gradual escape Of the contents. This
reservoir should be secured by rope,
and kept on the weather side of the boat,
and renewed as often As necessary. The
plan is frequently adopted, with the best
results, by native boatmen in the Per-
sian Gulf, and in parts of the Indian
Ocean, where sudden squalls are apt to
spring up.
The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1879-01-02
Patrick Interviews q Coroner.

The other day jocular and good-na-
tured Irishman stepped into the coroner's
private office, and requested an interview.
Pat had called on pressing business, and
was all excitement. He had buried a
man who had met a violent death. The
man had been identified by Patrick and
friends as his brother. The Identification
proved to be mistake. The natural and
thought-to- be-dead brother turned up.
Pat had carted the body to the land of
Billie Penn, and had gone to considerable
expense to have the body properly buried
under six feet OF soil in consecrated
ground.
Coroner--"W hat can do for you, Pat
ricki"
Patrick--"Och Be jabers! It's meself
that's come to tell ye a swate tale"
Coroner Explain yourself. What do
you meant"
Patrick-"The man thought was me
brother is some other crathur. Me broth
er's turned up. I'm SO nsrvus and wor.
ried that I can't contend meself To
think! I've laid out SO much on a man,
and he turns out to be another man. It's
me own heart that will break in conse-
quence. The crathur is on top of me poor
ould father. What would he say, the
good ould generous fellow, if he should
wake up some foine morning and foind
strange man on top of him. It's me
that knows what he'd do. He raise
devil of row, and Patrick, me own dar-
ling self, would never hear the last of it,
Coroner, l want the imposter taken up.
He's nuthing to me. It's not right that
me poor ould father, who supported a
family of twelve O'Neils when living,
should have to support stranger when
dead"
The coroner sat back and roared until
Pat got mad, when he good -naturedly ad-
vised him, and the misguided Hibernian
went his way.-Camdea Post.
The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1879-01-02
Convict Labor.

"If man will not work, neither shall
he eat" has been considered wise and
just saying from time immemorial. That
every man should perform some labor
and as producer, exchanger, transporter
commensurate in value with the food he
eats and the clothes he wears, seems to be
self-evident proposition, and he who
does not this, is, as a rule, looked upon
with contempt by all right.thinking peo-
pie. There are thieves who steal, tramps
who beg, and confidence men who can be
looked upon in no other light than thieves
who steal with permission. There are
heirs who inherit fortunes and spend
them, leading lives worse than those of
mere idleness-and gamblers who take
advantage of the weakness and folly of
mankind--to enrich themselves at their
expense; all who take without giving in
return forming one great class of which
society might we'll be rid. No man
b o uld live at the expense of his neighbor
unless in some way he can benefit that
nei2hbor sufficiently to discharge the
debt.
1t was something IN this way we re-
Elected a while since, on our way home
from visit to Blackwell's Island where
we saw more than thousand able-bodied
men prisoners, clothed, fed and guarded
at large expense who are not permitted
to do profitable work; that is, any work
from which the county derives revenue.
They are made of service in making
walls, keeping roads in repair, and have
Of oA fho Af I'M
They also make most of the shoes used
on the island, and have recently built
some wagons used by the Commissioners
of Charities and Corrections, but nothing
that they might, could, would, and should
make is allowed to be sold.
Naturally one looks for the reason of
rule so apparently unreasonable, and on
inquiring is told that certain classes of
our population object to the manufacture
of anything by convicts that will be put
in competition with honest labor, and
argue that whereas the convicts must be
supported at any rate, the articles manu-
featured cost the county nothing but the
material used, consequently the county
can put them in market at a price ruin
Gus to manufacturers who pay for their
labor. The same general argument is
used when it is proposed to hire out the
convicts to manufacturers. The wages
paid are small because the services rem
dered are not those of skilled workmen-
but small or large, it makes no difference
with the objectors-who are of the class
that can see nothing which does not seem
to promote their own interests; who
wOuld destroy all machinery hecause II
comes in competition as they think with
their labor.
An effort is now being made in the
State of New York to pass law for the
prisons of the State similar to the one
now in force on Blackwell's Island. 1t
will be readily supposed we do not favor
such law. The expenses our criminal
population entail upon us in various ways
are enormous without adding the cost of
food and clothing which every able-bod-
led man should be allowed and obliged to
provide for imsef.-RurdL Nem Yorker.
The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1879-01-02
"H0me, Sweet Home"

They have become household words,
clothed in the sweetest melody that sing
er ever sang. Yet to how many these
words are only a mockery, and in how
many hearts there is no responsive chord
to their music.
The poet tells us that "some flowers OF
Eden we still inherit; but the trail OF
the serpent is over them all" The How
ers of home are marked too often by the
trail of the serpent, temper. This is the
blight that robs our household roses of
their perfume and their bloom; this is
the great dark shadow that rests heavily
upon its pleasant places, and drives out
the golden sunshine. This it is that
mars the melody and produces only dis
cord; this it is that makes a place of
torture of what ought to be pure Eden
of happiness and peace.
Could we only take look into all the
homes of earth, we would see how true
this is. 1t may be the fathers violent
temper that produces the discordant
sounds which mar the music of home.
1t may be the mothers scolding tongue
that drops gall when it should drop only
honey. 1t may be the sons harsh words
and rude violence that sends its angry
clamor through the house; or it may be
the passionates of the willful daughter,
who forgets that "an excellent thing in
woman is a low voice."
The misery caused by this domestic
demon, temper, cannot be told. 1t breaks
up homes, drives asunder those God has
joined, sends sons and daughters on .
weary pilgrimage through the world,
seeking peace and finding it not. Men
and women who have sworn before God
to love and stay with each other until
death parts them, are severed forever, I'M
mindful of their vows, by this serpent,
temper. Daughters and sons are very
often tempted to forsake their duties to
parents by this destroyer of home happi-
ness.
Read the divorce records if you wish
to see the misery that temper has caused.
Look all over the world-you will see the
trail of this serpent, seven to the very
gallows, where the poor culprit confesses
that through its promptings he commit
ted the deed that brought him there.
Home can never be ''sweet home" until
peace prevails; and not until the demon
temper is rooted out of its every nook
and corner can we truly call it "home,
sweet home" God "setteth the solitary
together in families" not to make dis
cord, but to help and cheer; not to crush
all the flowers of joy, but to tend and ex-
pand them into greater beauty, richer
fragrance. Happier than any shining
palace is that home over which nestles
lovingly, with white wings outspread,
the beautiful Angel of Peace; for beneath
the shadow of its pnions only can home
really be "sweet, sweet home"
The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1879-01-02
How She Gave the Census.

How She Gave the Census.
When the census. taker raped at the
door of certain Detroit cottage on Craw.
ford street the other day, and wondered
if the woman would set the dog on him
or douse him with dish water, great
disappointment awaited him. She opened
the door softly, snuffed the air to see if he
smelled of lightning rods, and then threw
it open for him to enter.
MADAM, l am making a canvas of the
city," he began.
"Ah, sit down." she replied, and as be
began opening his book she continued
"There are five of us in the family, and
we paid 500 down on this place. My
husbands name is Peter, his age is AZ,
and he came from a mean family. His
father was always having lawsuits about
dogs, and his mother was the greatest
gossip in Elmira. Have you got that
down?"
He grunted assent and she continued
"My name is Alvina Sarah, and l was
born in''-
IL do not care to know where you were
born. madam" he interrupted.
swell, care!" she exclaimed; sit
makes great deal of difference whether
| was born in Africa or Boston, and l
want it put down. AS l was saying, l
was born in Boston in 1888. Put down
that came of a good family"
MADAM, you don't understand
your
Don't understand that came of a
good family? I'd like to know of Bos-
ton family which carried their noses high
er than the Rogerses9 Put down that my
father was in the Mexican war;"
"You have three children, MADAME"
81 haven't any such thing, sir! Put
down that my mother was killed by an
explosion in quarry. Her and father
| were
"How many children have you, mad
am9"
"Have you got mother down."
mo, madam. You see l am taking
the census of the CITY,"
"Well," she said, giving him danger
Gus look, 81 had the typhoid fever at the
age of fifteen, and for weeks and weeks
hung on the edge of the grave. bore
up as we'll as l was able, and''-
five III thc IdiHiiy -hoW many VIII
dren?" he suddenly asked.
Put down that l bore up!" she COM
manded. "And that one night when the
watchers were asleep crept out of bed
and took drink Of
This is foreign to the subject, madam
How old are your children?"
Haven't you put down that l hung on
the edge of the grave!''
mo, ma'am."
"Aren't you going, too!'
"Nn, madam. You see l am simply
taking the census of Detroit. l desire to
ascertain
"You can't ascertain it here. sir" she
snapped. "If my sickness, which cost
over 5000, isn't good enough to go in the
book, then you don't get line here"
"Let me ask your
mo use asking for any of our pho.
tographs, sir. If you get 'em anywhere
and put our pictures in that book we'll
make it hot for you! Good-day, sir
good-dayW
He stood on the step, signing, and she
called through the door:
my grandfather was also bitten to
death by an alligator, but won't give
you any of the particulars! You want tc
walk!'
He passed on, sorrowfully wondering
if the next woman's mother was blown of
a bridge or carried down the river on q
hay stack Detroit Free Press.
The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1879-01-02

To WASH BLACK CASHMERE Take q
hard soapsuds, wash your goods thor
oughly, and after you have rinsed them
in warm water, rinse them 10 warm cof-
fee, with teaspoonful of gumarsbic va
ter to every pound of goods; take piece
of dark flannel or place layer of flan-
mel and then one of goods, and 90 ON un-
til you have finished, then roll up tight
and leave until morning, then iron on the
wrong side. You can also wash soiled
velvet this way.
To WASH CHAM0s SKlxs.-Wash In
cold water with plenty Of soap, and rinse
we'll in clear, cold water; thus treated
The skins will never be hard, but soft and
pliable.
The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1879-01-02

ScoTcH CAKE.-One pound brown su-
gar, one pound flour, one-half pound but
ter, two eggs, one teaspoonful cinnamon
roll very thin and bake.
GRAHAM MUFFINs.--A penny's worth
Of yeast, three pints warm water. salt,
half cupful molasses, and Graham -four
enough to make thick batter; set il in
warm place to rise; have your muffin
pan hot, and bake in hot oven.
To USE UP COLD MEAT. - Prepare
your meat as for hash; fill deep dish
with boiled maccaroni; on top of that
place the hash; cover it with tomatoes,
over which sprinkle bread crumbs, with
a little butter; bake until nicely
Drowned.
PARADISE PUDDINa.--Three eggs, one
fourth pound Of bread crumbs, three ap-
Piles, currants, juice Of half n lemon, nut
meg, salt; mince the apples, beat the
eggs, and stir them iuto the bread crumbs
and other ingredients. Rub the currants
in -four before putting In. Boil for ~
hour and half. To he eaten hot with
sweet sauce.
The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1879-01-02

A CHAPTER on STINGs. - The pain
caused by the sting of plant or insect
is the result of certain amount of acid
poison injected into the blood. The first
thing to be done is to press the tube OF
small key firmly ON the wound, moving
the key from side to side to facilitate the
expulsion of the sting and its accompa-
nying poison. The sting, if left in the
wound, should be carefully extracted,
otherwise it will greatly increase the
local irritation. The poison of stings
being acid, common sense points to the
alkalies as the proper means of cure.
Among the most easily procured RENE
dies may be mentioned soft soap, liquor
of ammonia Spirits of hartshorn), SMELL
ing salts, washing soda, quick-lime made
into paste with water, lime-water, the
juice of an onion, tobacco juice, chewed
tobacco, bruised dock leaves, tomato
juice, wood ashes, tobacco ash and car
Donate of soda. If the sting be severe,
rest and GOODNESS should be added to the
other remedies, more especially in the
case of nervous subjects. Nothing is SO
apt to make the poison active as heat,
and nothing favors its activity less than
cold. Let the body be kept cool and at
rest, and the activity of the poison will
be reduced to minimum. Any active
exertion whereby the circulation is quick
ened will increase both pain and SWELL
ing. If the swelling be severe the part
may be rubbed with sweet oil or drop
or two of laudsnum. Stings in the eye,
ear, mouth or throat sometimes lead to
serious consequences; in such cases medi
cal advice should always be sought ss
soon as possible.
The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1879-01-02
An Italian Dairy Show.

1t seems likely that dairy shows will
soon become quite an institution. They
were commenced for the first time in Eng
land last year, when the one held at
Islington was SO successful as to encour-
age its promoters to organize another.
The second show was held few weeks
ago, and was also successful. They have
also just been started in Italy, dairy
show having been opened in Naples.
Italian cheese is produced in such nu-
merous varieties that the show can hardly
fail to be interesting. We learn that the
contributors to the show number 1874, of
whom fifteen are foreigners, while the
rest are nationals representing thirty-six
provinces, Catanzaro, in the Calabrias,
being the largest contributor. The arti-
cles exhibited are arranged in five hun
bred groups, many of them as inviting to
the taste as any of our English cheeses,
and most Of them preferred to those of
our own country by the natives. This is
the result, no doubt, in a great measure,
of habit; but the rich plains of LON
hardy and many districts of the South
can, and do, produce "lattagine"-un-
der which name are included all the
compositions of milk-which is really
delicious. In an agricultural point Of
view, whether as regards small or more
extended farming, the cheese exhibition
is of considerable importance, for milk
is scarcely ever consumed by the Italian
in any other form. Cheese-making in
Italy is practised on a somewhat small
scale, although nearly every peasant has
a COW, some even renting one. Skill in
cheese making thus becomes of the ut
most importance; and it is to be hoped
that these cheese exhibitions will have the
effect of improving such skill, and con-
tributing to the production of an article
ofsuperior quality.-Amsrican Dairyman.
The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1879-01-02

ILI~HUMoR il nothing more than an in
ward feeling Of our own want of merit,
. classification with ourselves which 10
always united With ~ envy that foolish
vanity excitss. Goethe.
The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1879-01-02

The production Of silk in the United
States appears to be on the decline II
spite Of oil sttempts u revive and encous-
age ssriculture. In 1850 about twelve
thousand pounds Of cocoons we're raissds
but In 1870 the production bad fallen ~
70 = little over thsss tAousssd pousds.
The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1879-01-02

THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER.-In the
history of Rome it is related that in 33l
B. c., great chasm opened in the mid
die of the forum, which it was found
impossible to fill. The soothsayers said ii
would close when it contained what Rome
possessed of most value, and then the
state would be perpetual. A noble youth
named NJ. Curtius:d if Rome had
anything Of more value than arms and
valor. He mounted his horse, richly
caparisoned, and amid the silence of the
people spurred him over the brink of the
tremendous precipice (rids Liv. 1. vii. 81.
1 have seen striking picture of this some
where. 1t represented the horse and
rider after they had passed the brink and
were descending TO the unknown depths.
There was remarkable contrast between
the fright of the brute and the unruffled
self possession Of the man. The limbs
of the horse were frightened TO his body
and the muse les of bis neck drew his head
to his chest, and shudderiDg terror ex-
pressed itself in the fash of his starting
eyes. The rider was serene and calm,
with . solemn expression Of majesty on
his face, Is of one who lived with high
thoughts. If | we're set to spiritualize
this picture, I should say that it was NO
mean representation Of ripe Christian
departing this life. The horse is the body
and the rider is the spirit. Flesh shrink
ing. spirit steady asd calm and solemn:
Fiesh drsading the terrible shock, and
spiTit wrspt in the glory Of action, de-
scsnding that il may sscend.--Ceok.
The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1879-01-02

The telephone has saved mans life.
A diver belonging to the British ship
Vernon, while under water, tainted. He
had no strength to signal with the rope,
but could just whisper, "Pull me up
and then became insensible. The tele-
phone which wss attached to his helmet
faithfully reported the whisper, and the
mans life Wns saved.
The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1879-01-02

A TURKISH soldier receives less than
81 so . mooth.
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1879-03-15
HE KNEW THE RULES.

There were several church socials
last night, and at one of them there
was young man of the largest and
most pronounced experience in
these affairs. He had been around,
he had, and when he caught the
eye of the young lady who had
waited on him and beckoned her to
approach, there was something 50
suDlimely honest and inspiring in
his countenance that she could not
resist, SO she dropped business for
the moment and approached the
place where he sat. As she reached
his side he impaled an oyster on
his fork, and hosting the said fork
and the aforesaid bivalve erect in
front of him, he said:
There's nothing mean about
me-"
The young lady blushed and in
timated that nobody had intimated
that there was any such intimstion,
and then she asked what he meant.
There has been a mistake made"
said the young man.
"A mistaken" queried the young
lady.
Yes, sir-mam, / mean. What's
this forY' pointing at the oyster.
"Oh, / haven't got time tor fool
ishness," said the young lady, start
ing to return to her table.
The young man grasped her
gently by the ninth button on hsis
glove, and, stopping her progress,
LIE reiterated:
There's mistake here; know
the rules of the church socisls;
there are three oysters IN this plate
of soup, and I amt hardened
enough to take advantage OF the
church. Take this one back. No
thanks. no thanks, young lady. Two
is the number fixed by the Consti-
tuition and Bylaws, and I ann only
doing my duty in returning thus
one"
A petition is being circulated
now for signatures, 70 Lave tha
young man expelled, or excom-
municated, or something or other
awful. we forget whaI-Kaak4k
Constitution.
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1879-03-15
NOT TAKEN HERE.
detroit Free Press.1

A big chap with half a bushel Of
whiskers sauntered up to the stamp
clerks window In the postofice
yesterday with letter in his hand,
and his eyes at once caught the
sign: Canada money not taken
for stamps" Reading it over twice
to be sure he was right, he said to
the clerk:
Can l buy some stamps with
Canada money?
The clerk pointed to the sign.
Young man, won't Canada money
buy stamps herea continued the
man.
What does that sign saya replied
the clerk.
l demand to know-persisted the
man, raising his voice a good deal
l demand to know if Canada money
won't buy postage stamps at this
window?
No, sir, it won't.
Do you tell me that if I hand you
a Canadian dollar bill you won't
give ,ae stamps for it?
! do, sir.
Well, I wouldn't If I were you'll
quietly observed the stranger, as he
laid down three Yankee cents for
a letter stamp and humbly received
and licked it on.
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1879-03-15

The young man who wrote and
asked MS girl to accept "ouckst"
Of flowers. became Little pale when
sae told him she wooden Wsro L
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1879-10-30
cTATE OF WISCONSIN-IOWA

y Coun.y-lu Probate Court
In the matter OF the estate of Robert Quick, de-
cgGyd.
ua administrator Of said estate having applied
4yht courts for an extension Of time for twelve
asuths in Which to settle said estate
on notion q Lanyen X sfsensley, attorneys
for Die administrator OF said estate, it is by the
earr ordered that the petition for said extension
Of Emt be heard before this court on the 18th day
If November, 1873, az two o'clock in the afternoon
Uitnal day.
And is further ordered that the administrator
af,ad estate give notice Of said application to
At fHr,i,a interested in sad estate by publishing
gi,o-darln the Mineral Point Tribune for three
successive weeks before SAID day of hearing.
By the c0art:
JOHN T. JONES Judge,
p4.ed this lith day of October, 1879. 43-3