davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1879-05-30

To DESTROY INSECTS.-The Journal
of Chemistry publishes recipe for the
destruction of insects, which if it be
one-half as efficacious as it is claimed
to be, will prove invaluable. Hot alum
water is a recent suggestion as an in
secticide 1t will destroy red and black
ants, cockroaches, spiders, chinch bugs
and all the crawling pests which infest
our homes. Take two pounds of alum
and dissolve it in three or four quarts
of boiling water let it stand on the
fire till the alum disappears then ap-
ply it with brush, while nearly boil
ing hot, to every joint and crevice in
your closets, bedsteads, pantry shelves
and the like. Brush the crevices in the
skirting or mop boards, if you suspect
that they harbOr vermin. If, in white
washing ceiling, plenty of alum is
added to the lime, it will also serve to
keep insects ut IL distance. CockrOaches
will flee the paint which has been
washed in cool alum water. Sugar
barrels and boxes can be freed from
ants by drawing a chalk mark just
around the edge of the top of them.
The mark must be unbrOken, or they
will creep over it but continuous
chalk mark half an inch in width will set
their depredatiOns at naught. Powder
ed alum or bOrax will keep the chinch
bugs at a respectful distance and
travellers should always carry pack
age in their hand bags to scatter over
and under their pillows in places where
they have reason to suspect the pres
ence of such bed-fellOws.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1879-05-30
Old Times.

A half century ago, large part of
the people of the United States lived in
houses Imprinted, upholstered and ut
terly devoid of adornment. A well-fed
fiIe in the yawning chasm of Il huge
chimney gave partial warmth to sin
gle room, and it WAS Il common remark
that the inmates were roasting on one
side while freezing the other. In con-
trlst, IL majority of the people of the
older states now live in houses that are
clapboarded, painted, blinded and com
fortably warmed. Then the household
furniture consisted of II few plain chairs,
IL plain table, Il bedstead made by the
village carpenter. Carpets there were
none. To-day, few are the houses in
city or country that do not contain
carpet of some sort, while the average
labOrer by il weeks work may earn
enough to enable him to repose atnight
upon il spring bed.
Fifty years ago the kitchen ''dressersn
we're set forth with shining row of
pewter plates, The farmer ate with
buck-handled knife and an iron or
pewter spoon, but the advancing civili-
zation has sent the plates and spoons to
the melting pot, while the knives and
forks have given place to nickel plated
cutlery.
In those days the utensils for cooking
were dinner-pOt, tea kettle, skillet,
Dutch oven and frying-pan; to-day
there is no end of kitchen furniture.
The people of 1890 sat at evening in
the glowing light of pitch-knot fire, or
read their weekly newspapers by the
hickcring light of ''tallOw dip :" now,
in city and village, their apartments are
bright with the flame of the gas jet or
the softer radiance of kerosene. Then,
if the fire went out upon the hearth, it
was kindled by coal from il neighbor-
ing hearth, or by a flint, steel and tin
der. Those who INDUCED in pipes and
cigars could light them only by some
hearth-stone to-day we light fires and
pipes by the dormant fiIe- works in the
match-safe, at Il cost of One-hundredth
of a cent.
In those days we guessed the hour of
noon, or ascertained it by the creeping
of the sunlight up to the "neon- mark
drawn upon the floor only the we'll
tO-do could afford a clock. To-day
who does not carry watch ? And as
for clocks, you may purchase them at
wholesale, by the cart-load, atsixty two
cents apiece.
Fifty years ago how many dwellings
were adorned with pictures7 How
many are there now that do not display
a print, engraving, chrome or litho-
graph9 How many pianos or parlor
organs were there then7 Reed organs
we're not invented till 1910, and now
they are in every village.
Some who may read this article will
remember that in 1880 the Bible, the
almanac and the few textbooks used in
school were almost the only volumes of
the household. The dictionary was a
volume four inches square and an inch
and halfin thickness. In some of the
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1879-05-30
Newspaper Morals.

In Harper's Monthly the incumbent
of the Easy Chair discourses with his
customary good humOr and good sense
upon what he tersely characterizes as
Newspaper Lies. He considers them
under two heads the lie direct, which
is told with circumstantial detail and
precision and the lie Indirect, which
appears under IL slight veil of insinua-
tion, reading perhaps somewhat like
the following: "If the rumor be true
that Bishop Simpson picked the pocket
of Vice President Wheeler on Saturday,
the 10th instant, then it is evident
where the money came from with which
he bought the huge piece of tatfy that
he is said to have been sucking as he
went to church on Sunday, the llth."
In his impatience with both these forms
of slander, which unquestiOnably do a
vast amount of irretrievable damage,
the Easy Chair philosopher expresses a
feeling which must be shared by all in
telligent readers of the press. But in
his explanation of the cause of the evil
and of the possible cure for it, he comes
nearer the truth than do most of those
who criticise or condemn newspapers
for untrust wOrthiness. He observes
suggestively, There is no supply
where there is no demand" and adds
''The character of the press does not
depend upon the editor and the report
er only, but quite as much upon the
gentle reader, who makes every kind
of public life more difficult by believing
whatever an irresponsible and anony-
nous writer may choose to say"
| 1t was DR.. johnson, we believe, who,
when reproved by lady for including
Improper words in his Dictionary,
replied with characteristic bluntness,
MADAM, yOu haze been looking for them ,
The case is much the same with many
of those who criticise the papers. They
have an eager appetite for the very
scandals and ISLANDERS they condemn
and they endeavOr to quiet their con-
sciences while enjoying this sort of lit
erature by abusing the papers which
cater to their taste. The truth of this
statement may be tested with mathe-
matical precision by comparing with it
the fact that the newspapers which are
most tiagrantly sensational, and most
reckless III their treatment of reputa-
tions, enjoy, in most cases, profitable
circulation, and are read, cOvertly OF
OpcHIy, uI Sitdt IhdIy lcSpcCIdpie
people. The reason that some newspa-
pers make business of lying is because
experience has taught them that lying
is profitable. When people in one
breath condemn paper because you
never can believe a word it says" aud
in the next breath admit that .'they
like to read it, because it is so spicy
they expose the whole secret of the
matter. The remedy for the trouble is
quite simple, and it rests altogether
with that many-headed parsonage, the
public. When any considerable portion
of the community will stop buying and
reading the papers which thrive upon
slander, those papers will find some
thing better to publish. However much
we may claim for the press as leader
of public opinion, it is none the less
true that, in certain ways and to GER
tain extent, it is itself shaped by pub
lie OpiniOn.-JOurnaL.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1879-05-30
Who Was the Bad Boy p

Little Annie was prettily dressed and
standing i'll front of the house waiting
for mother to go out to ride.
A tidy boy, dressed in coarse clothes,
was passing, when the little girl said:
Come here, boy, and Sake hands
with me. | dot IL boy dus like you
named Bobby"
The boy laughed, shook hands with
her, and said "l've got little girl just
like you only she HASN'T got any little
cloak with pussy fur on it,"
Here lady came out of the door
and said: "Annie, you must not talk
with bad boys on the street. [ hope
you have not taken anything from her
Go away and never stop here again,
boy"
That evening the lady was called
down to speak to il boy in the hail.
He was very neatly dressed, and stood
with his cap in his hand. 1t was the
enemy of the morning.
81 came to tell you that am not IA
bad boy" he said, 81 go to Sunday
school, and help my mother all can.
l never tell lies, nor quarrel, nor say
bad words; aud don't like lady to
call me names, and ask me if I've stolen
the little girls clothes from her"
''l'm very glad you are so good,'
said the lady laughing at the boys
earnestness. "Here is quarter of il
dollar for you"
Il don't want that !" said Bob. hold
ing his head very high. ''My father
works i'll IL foundry, and has lots of
money. You've got bigger boy than
me, haven't you ?''
Eyes, why 2"
'DOes he know the commandments ?'
/ "Pm afraid not very we'll"
"Can he SAY the sermon on the mount
and the twenty-third psalm, and the
golden rule 2"
81 am very much afraid he can not. y
said the lady, laughing at the boys
bravery.
'DOes he not ride his pony ON Sun
day, instead of going to church ?n
81 am afraid he does, but he ought
not" said the lady, blushing a little.
Mother don't know that | came
here" said the bright little rogue, "bui
thought would just come round. and
see what kind of folks you were, and
guess mother would rather your boy
would not come round our doors, be.
cause she don't like Mamie to talk te
bad boys in the street. Good evening. )
And the boy was gone.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1879-05-30
ST. JOHNSBURY, VT, FRIDAY, MAY 80. 1879

bottom to bottom. But perhaps the
most singular perfor of all, was
that done with his aural appendage.
The expression, "Can you wag yOur
left ear ?" has often been heard, though
"hardly ever" realized, but here was a
man who gave an actual illustration of
it IN its literal meaning. The doctors
were amused as well as astonisned. AL
together it was a most remarkable ex-
hibition, given perfectly free from all
deception, before men of acknowledged
medical learning, who found their sub
Ject one of interesting study. Mr.. War
ren is in excellent health, and is a man,
as might naturally be Inferred from
the foregoing account, of remarkable
physical power and endurance.-PrOui-
dence Journal.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1879-05-30
A Man Who Can "Wag His Left Ear. y

About Il dozen well-known members
of the Rhode Island medical society met
ut the office of Drs. Hutchinson and
Browning on MathewsOn street, to wit
ness private exhibition of remarka-
bic nature by Charles II. 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 Il man of extraOrdina-
ry power, which gives him perfect con-
troll of all the muscles of the body, in
dividually and sectionally. But few
days ago he appeared before DR.. Bige-
low of Harvard college, and astOnished
the doctor by a wonderful display of
muscular movements. The exhibition
Friday was of similar nature, and pro-
duced no less surprise among the medi-
cal 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
two and half inches, and just as
quickly brought it back to its normal
condition. Displacements of the wrists
and the shoulders, by which he sue
ceeded in lengthening his arms an inch
or more, were next shown, following
them with dislocation of the jaw in a
downward and forward movement. The
difference in the expansion of the chest
from its natural state was seven inches.
He showed dislocation of the knee
joint, and twisted his limbs about in
almost every conceivable condition, ac-
tually bringing both feet close together,
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1879-05-30

country villages few public-spirited
men had gathered libraries containing
from three to five hundred volumes; in
contrast, the public libraries of the
present, containing more than ten
thousand volumes, have an aggregate
of ten millions, six hundred and fifty
thousand volumes, not including the
Sunday school and private libraries of
the country. 1t is estimated that alto
gether the number of volumes accessi-
BILE to the public is not less than twen-
ty millions! OF Webster's and W0r-
cester's dictionaries, it may be said that
enough have been published to supply
one to every one hundred inhabitants
of the United States.-C. G. Coffin, IN
Mdy atlantic.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1879-05-30
HE and She."

IBy Edwin Arnold Author of He Who died at
Azan."l
'She is dead 7" they said to him: Come away.
Kiss her and leave her-thy love is clayp
They smoothed her tresses of dark brown hair;
On her forehead of stone they laid it fair;
Over her eyes that gazed too much,
They drew the lids with gentle touch
With tender touch they closed up well
The sweet thin lips that had secrets to tell;
About her brOws and beautiful face
They tied her veil and her marriage lace,
And drew on her white feet her white silk shoes;
Which were the whitest, no eye could choose
And over her bosom they crossed her hands
Come away !" they said-"God understands"
And there was silence, and nothing there
But silence, and scents of eglantere
And Jasmine, and roses, and rosemary;
And they said "As lady should lie, lies she"
And they held their breath as they left the room,
With shudder to glance at its stiffness and gloom
But he who loved her too well to dread
The sweet, the stately, the beautiful dead,
He lit his lamp and took the key
And turned it-alone again-he and she.
He and she; but she would not speak,
Tho he kissed, in the old place, the quiet cheek
| He and she; yet she would not smile
Tho he called her the name she loved erewhile-
| He and she still she did not move
To any one passionate whisper of love.
Then he said Gold lips and breasts withou
breath,
| Is there no voice. no language of death.
Dumb to the ear and still to the sense,
But to heart and to soul distinct, intense2
''See now; will listen with soul, not ear;
What was the secret of dying, deari
| WAS it the infinite wonder of all
That you ever could let life's flower fall
| ''Or was it greater marvel to feel
The perfect calm DER the agony steal9
Was the miracle greater to find how deep
Beyond all dreams sank downward that sleep3
| ''Did life roll back its records, dear,
And show as they say it does, past things cleari
| And was it the innermost heart of the bliss
To find out so, what a wisdom love is2
30 perfect dead o dead most dear
hold the breath of my soul to hear
| II listen deep as to horrible hell,
AS high as to heaven and you do not tell.
There must be pleasure in dying sweet,
To make you so placid from head to feet
''I would tell you, darling, if were dead,
And 'twere your hot tears upon my brow shed
Il would say, though the Angel of Death had laid
His sword on my lips to keep it unsaid.
You should not ask vainly, with streaming eyes,
Which of all deaths was the chiefest surprise,
1.-THE very strangest and suddenest thing
OF all the surprises that dying must bring"
All, foolish world; oh, most kind dead
Though he told me, who will believe it was said
Who will believe that he heard her say,
| With the sweet, soft voice, in the dear old way
| The utmost wonder is this-I hear
And see you, and love you, and kiss you, dear;
"And am your angel, who was your bride.
| And know that though dead have never died"
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1879-05-30
A Little Misunderstanding.

During his first visit to Paris M. Las
sale, a distinguished German, present.
ed himself at the house of a well-knOwn
lady to whom he had sent letters of i'll
PRODUCTION in advance. When the ser
want opened the door and received his
card, she conducted him to the boudoir
and told him to he seated, saying
madame will come Immediately"
Presently the lady entered. She was
i'll dishabille, and her feet were bare,
covered only with loose slippers. She
bowed to him carelessly and said "Ah,
there you are; good morning"
She threw herself on a sofa, let fall a
slipper aud reached out to Lassalle her
very pretty foot.
Lassalle was naturally completely as
founded, but he remembered that at his
home in Germany it was the custom
sometimes to kiss IL lady's hand and he
supposed it was the Paris mode to kiss
her foot. Therefore he did not hesitate
to imprint a kiss upon the fascinating
foot 50 near him, but he could not avoid
saying, 81 thank you, madame, for this
new method of making a lady's ac-
quaintance. 1t is much better, and cer-
tainly more generous than kissing the
hand.n
The lady jumped up, highly indig-
nant. "WhO are you, sir, and what dc
you mean 2n
He gave his name.
"YOu are not, then, a cOrn-dOctOr ?"
81 am charmed to say, madame, thai
| am not"
"But you sent me the corn-doctor':
card"
1t was true. Lassalle in going Out
that morning had picked up the card O
Il corn-doctor from his bureau and put
it in his pocket. This without glancins
at he had given to the servant, who haC
taken it to her mistress. There wa,
nothing to do but langh over the Joke.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1879-05-30
VOLUME 42---NUMBER 2183.

70 That honesty is the best policy
was rather singularly illustrated the
other day at Waterbury, Conn. A
young Irish lad had bought himself a
pair of shoes the new pair was placed
on his feet, and what was left of the
old ones was done up in a nice bundle,
with the card of the shoe dealer printed
on the wrapper. On going into the
street when no one was looking, he
laid them in the gutter. A cOuntryman
going by, seeing the boy picking them
up, as he thought, said, "Here, boy,
that is my bundle" The lad gave them
up, and the countryman gave the boy
fifteen cents.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1879-05-30
st. Johnsbury Post Office.
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE OF M

ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE OF MAILS.
Boston and intermediate offices. Arrive $50 D
III. Close $50
Boston through mail. Arrive lao a III. Close
.00pm.
New York and the West. Arrive 2.25 and IL 25
III, 5l5 p III. Close S.45 a III and 500 p III.
Newport and the north. Arrive $40 a III. Close
4.30
ll.00
Swanton and intermediate offices. Arrive . 90 p
M Close 1.30 p III.
Waterford. Arrive $50 a IN. Close AS pm.
North Danville. Arrive $50 III. Close $50 a
III.
West Concord and East st. JOhnsbury. Arrive
$40 IN. Close 4.3O p III.
CHAS. z. CARPENTER, I'd, p. M.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1879-05-30
Interesting Law Suit.

The decision of the supreme court in
the case of Lydia b. Warren against
the executors of the estate of James F.
Westgate, of Fall River, has created
much surprise. The case has been no
ticed several times, us it is very inter
esting one. Mr.. Westgate at the time
of his death WAS engaged to Mrs. War
ren. They were to he married on his
next birthday. His health had been
feeble for some time, and the note,
which was the subject of the suit, was
probably given to Mrs. Warren because
Mr.. Westgate felt that his health was
so uncertain that his death might come
unexpectedly at any time. The note
was for $4,000, and was made in the
store formerly kept by Mr.. Westgate,
and was witnessed by Herbert Hart.
Its form was nearly, if not quite, as
follows: "On demand after date.
promise to pay to the order of Lydia
B. Warren SIS, 200, payable after death
signed James f. Westgate." The note
was put i'll a sealed envelope to be given
to Mis-. Warren after his death, Mr.
Westgate telling her that in the en-
velOpe there was something for her in
case he was taken away before their
marriage. After his death she opened
the envelope and found this note He
left no will. Before his death, Mr..
Westgate had made some Investments
which have since greatly deprecated,
and this claim of Mrs. Warren's if col
iected, would have consumed large
portion of the estate. The case was first
heard before Judge Colt at the term of
the supreme court held in New Bedford
in November last, and was reported to
the full bench. The Court now holds
that the note is uncollectable on the
ground that it was made as IL gift and
not for valid consideration, and is
void as against the statutes that regu-
late the transmission of property by
wills and testamentary devises.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1879-05-30
Trapeirrs' 6nide.
Portland Il Ogdensburg II. R.-Feb. B, 1879.
TRAINS MOVING EAST.


MAIL-Leaves SwantOn 9.1O, Cambridge juno
tion IO.52, Hardwick 1919, East Hardwick 1924
Greensboro 1872 Walden LOO, Danville 1.21, st.
Johnsbury 2.O5, East st. Johnsbury 216 West
Concord 2.25, Miles Pond 242 East Concord $50,
arrives at Lunenburg 300, Portland at $50.
MIXED.-Lv SwantOn 400 p. m, Cambridge
junction 7.10, arrive IL yde Park $50. Leave Hyde
Park 400 a m,, Hardwick 5.24, East Hardwlck 544
Greensboro 600 Walden 6.55, Danvile 74O, arrives
at st. Johnsbury $40 a. m, leaves 80 a m East
St Johnsbury 9.45, West Concord lois, Miles Pond
10. .55, East Concord 1I1O arrive Lunenburg, 11.3O
A.. III.
TRAINS MOVING WEST.
| MAIL-Leaves Portland 100 q. IN. Lunenburg
| LOS D. M, East Concord 1l5 Miles Pond LIZ,
| West concord l39 East st. JOhnsbury LAG, arrive
ST. Johnsbury 200, leaves 2.l5, Danvile $50, Wal
den BIS, Greensboro 3.I4, East Hardwick 352
Hardwick 4O5, Cambridge junction $40, arrives
| at SwantOn at 100 p. m.
| MIXED.-Leaves LunCnburg $50 a. m, last
| Concord 654 Miles Pond lib, West Concord $50
East st. Johnsbury 5.IO arrives st. JOhnsbuly So
a. M, leaves 45O p. m- Danvllle 555, Walden o:4J
| Greensboro T.34, East Hardwick 1852, hardwicl
SlS arrives yde Park 1000 p. M. leaves % u. IN
Cambridge JUNCTION $40, arrives Swanton l2OO III
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1879-05-30
WESTERN TICKETS

Tickets to all points West and South and tn,
Pacific coast, via. all the first-class routes.
To Liverpool, Glasgow, and other points, by first
class Steamers
To San Francisco, by Rail or Steamer.
For lowest rates. time tables. and information
call on or address A. c. HARVEY Ticket ct.
St JOhnSbury, VT. SO
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1879-05-30
The Poultry World,

And AMERICAN POULTRY YARD,
weekly
Both Publications are devoted exclusively to
Poultry.
Published by III. HI. STODDAND, Hartford, Conn
The POULTRY WORLD is sent postpaid for 81 2J
Both papers for $500
series Of twelve magnificent Chromos each
rePresenting standard breed of fowls, sent for rs
eents extra to all subscribers Of either publication
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1879-05-30

LIBRARY AND READING -RooM,-Free to all. Open
from 8 A. M. To II NJ; from 2 to 6. p. M and from
to l-2 Saturday evenings.
ART GALLERY-Open Tuesdays and Fridays.
W. W. THAYER Librarian.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1879-05-30
Telegraph Office.

Western Union and VT. Internationally Post
Office, Main st. Open from n NJ, to p. III. Sun
days to 10 a. m, to Z. m. Night messages at
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1879-05-30

SWEEPING CARPETS Dampen corn
meal, sprinkle it over the carpet, then
take dry broom and sweep it off
briskly.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1879-05-30
SHAW & CO.,
IN s u r A NJ C e
In both Stock and Mutual Companies.
w. A. SHAW.
LELAND A. WHITNEY

Would inform those wishing to take lesso,s ~,
eltner organ or Piano, each can be accommnds, od
emo known on application For any further Informs
ROBERTS & WHITNEY
.. Wards Block, R. r. St
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1879-05-30

NEEDING CARDS.-We have lately addad
several new styles of type for wedding and
address cards, and prepared to print the SANE
IN N good style and at reasonable prices Weddino
bnoetopes on hand, at the
CALIFORNIAN OFFICE.