davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-01-22
Wonderful Walking.

In these days, feverish with pedestrian
excitement, the following statement OF
facts and feats, which occurred over one
hundred years ago, ere of special inter-
est Foster Powell was an English
man, born in 1874. When thirty years
of age he walked over the Bath road
fifty miles in seven bours, running the
first ten miles. This was better time
than was made by either O'Leary or
Campana, during their walk in New
York. In 1773 Powell walked from Lon.
don to York and back, distance of 400
miles, in five days and eighteen hours.
In ITS, just one hundred years ago,
this man attempted to run two miles in
ten minutes, but failed by only thirty
seconds. BE was at this time forty-four
years of age. In 1856 he walked o
match on the Bath road, one hundred
miles in twenty-four hours. He won in
twenty-three and quarter hours.
In i787 Powell walked from Canter-
bury to London, 112 miles, in twenty
four hours. In 1888 he again walked
from London to York and return, 400
miles, in five days, fifteen and quarter
hours, being the best time in which he
had ever accomplished that distance.
In the same year he walked six miles in
fifty-6ve and half minutes also, in
the same year, he wagered to walk one
mile and run the pext in fifteen min
utes. He walked the mile in nine min
utes and twenty seconds, and ran the
other in five minutes and twenty. three
seconds, thus winning by seventeen
seconds. In person Powell was tall and
thin, being five feet and ten inches IN
height. He was powerfully built in his
hips and legs, and was sallow IN MS
complexion. he never slept but hVe
hours each night. This truly wonderfal
walker died on the 18th of April, 1888,
in the fifty.ninth year OF his age.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-01-22
A French Papers Joke.

A young and rich American lady,
with her three children, boarded one OF
the Mississippi steamboats, which have
the dangerous habit OF enjoying little
racing when couple of them are
careering up or down the stream.
Captain, I will make the trip with
you on one condition-give me your
word that you will not race.
Madam, pledge my word: -
They start. After half an hour an'
other steamer begins to overhaul the
first. The lady rushes frantically to
the captain.
"Oaptain, dye see dye see?"
eyes, madam"
"And will you endure it? Will you
allow her to give you the go bys NO J
Impossible You will at least try.
"Heavens madam" replied the cap,
tain, coldly, "I don't race, but II aia
I have no more wood to pile on and snow
her our heels, unless o. .
"Quick quick What is it?"
"Unless I burn one OF your chill
dren."
every well, captain" she cries,
straining over the railing and looking
wildly at the advancing steamer; hur.
~ upl Burn the biggest !"-Parss
FIGARO,
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-01-22
and wrote me the result by the hand of

and wrote me the result by the hand Of
Stevens
my only love: I have nothing to
offer you now but my life-my undi-
vided heart. We can be happy in each
others love, for you must and shall be
mine HUGH.
This letter I wore on my heart. My
aunt's solicitor came that night. We oil
knew the will was being changed. Hugh
had offended. the hard, cold woman by
loving an Aubrey.
That night my aunt died suddenly OF
paralysis. T cannot tell how it shocked
me. Stevens and I dressed her in a
white satin bridal dress which had been
folded away for thirty years. This
stroke was a retribution for assuming to
be what she was not, as she had never
been paralytic ! She was to be mar.
ried in fortnight to man she loved
passionately. he forbade her dancing.
She went to a hustings ball, and while
waltzing received the intelligence that
he had shot himself. She took VOW
never to stand on her feet again. and
she never had. Stevens told me this.
She had made me her heir, and I mar
ried Hugh and gave it back to him.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-01-22
His Grandmother.

Colonel Thornton, of the East India
service, tells thus the romance OF his
youth:
"One clear starlight evening in June,
Helen and we're walking on the ter.
race among Aower-beds that were cut in
soft green turf. Inspired by the still
ness and odorons influence Of the air, 1
told her my hearts secret, with all it's
hopes and fears. She looked up at me
wopderingly, and tears glistened in her
beautiful eyes as she said:
"Ab, Captain Thornton, are you
sure9 Do you-do you love me2 1t
cannot be. No, never
&c Wby,' cried, impetuously press
ing my suit and her; you love
anotherp'
"'Sir,' she said, almost sharply, do
you know who I am 2
".The loveliest girl in England
"No, sir; am not. Great heavens,
Captain Thornton, I am your grand
mother 7
"My grandmother Talk of sudden
shocks after that, won't you? I tried
to speak, but my voice failed me: 1
reached out my hands and touched her.
Yes, she was there, real enough, and l
was not dreaming.
"Tell me all 7 / gasped. ,
"And standing there by the broad
stone coping, she told me all. How
her parents had died when she was lit
tic more than an infant, and Sir John,
her guardian and my grandfather, had
watched over her with jealous care, AL
ways keeping her at school, however,
until he brought her home-a young
lady. :. II,
"Then, while 7 was in India, tn
Door old man fell suddenly ill, and on
bis dying bed persuaded his young
ward to marry him, inst in order to IN
herit his vast estate, which she had re-
fused to take as legacy.
"sAnd, believe me, said Mrs. Hell
en-, L did it only to keep it for you,
the rightful heir, whose wildness had
temporarily provoked the old gentle
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-01-22
HPith and Point"

A compositor becomes pressnan
whenever he hugs his sweetheart.
Why is half pie like natural vacuum
in pine board? Because it is knot
hole.
The fellow who "makes no bones
about it " is evidently not professional
grave robber.
Now who can tell how much the
horned horse gnu?
Nobbs says that whenever he goes te
harness his mare. he takes a bride
to-her.
"Thus runs the world away" but
our landlord sticks like shoemaker's
wax.
When the mountains strive for prizes
the Alps will draw Blanc.
OF course you never saw anybody
swallow a barn, and yet you probably
often saw a barn.swallow.-Neao Yorl
NeaUs.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-01-22
A C0mnany of Heroes.

The active and probationary members
of the ife-savjng corps OF this city, says
a New York paper, met on the Dover
dock for the purpose of bringing their
services before the public, so that they
may be enabled to obtain monetary as-
sistance to aid them in carrying out the
philanthropic work in which they have
been for over two years engaged with.
out recompense. The captain of the
corps is William O'Neil, better known
as "Nan, the Newsboy," who sells
papers and magazines on the Harlem
steamboat dock. His assistants are
Gilbert Long, who is employed in tin
ware factory on Old slip, and Edward
Kelly, another newsboy. No one of the
trio is over twenty-five years OF age,
but their gallant efforts in saving
drowning men and women from the
East river, place them in the front rank
of heroes. Since the winter Of 1875
they have rescued twenty-five men,
women and children from the river,
nearly always risking their own lives in
the attempts, and their only recognition
QaS Uecu Ill OCCdSlOudl uOHopapOA pu1a
graph giving the details OF the rescue.
O'Neil has been decorated with the sill
YER medal of the New York Life.Saving
Benevolent association; but this is only
slight recompense for the danger, toll
and hardship which he has undergone
in his noble work. In June last O'Neil,
Long and Kelly agreed to work togeth-
er, and from that time till now they
have nightly patroIled the East river,
from Battery to Corlear's Hook, no mat
ter what the weather might be. From
their own small earnings they purchased
three ropes. each 12O feet long; set of
graphing irons, life-saving hooks and
other apparatus for rescue. and have
hired a boat in which they row from
pier to pier, ready to pull to the rescue.
They have number of newsboys who
aid them in patrolling, but who cannot
be elected regular members of the asso-
citation until they prove their claims BY
saving life.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-01-22
A Savage Oueen's Devotion,

The palace of the native queen of tie
Marquesas group of islands in the Pa
ci6c has lately been visited by corres-
pondent of the Louisville Courier-Jour-
nal, who writes of the place Altogether
it is charming retreat. Sauntering up
the street, the queens house was point
ed out to me, and I concluded to call on
her majesty. The house is built of
sawed timber, and is large and airy, set
upon the usual pai.pai, an elevated
piece of stone work, about three feet
high, and solid as stone can make it,
with rough-hewn stone steps leading to
the doorway. The queen was not in;
but was informed that she could be
found at the kings grave, which was
pointed out to me, situated on knoll,
with stone steps leading up to the top,
to the left of the house, and almost be-
side it, as it were. Ascending the steps,
I found her majesty seated by grave
or tomb, experimenting some workmen
who were building large tomb of ma
sonry. The queen was very gracious
and good-looking, having remnants Of
beauty in her person, and seemed to
have been very pretty in her younger
days. She has a grave, benevolent e1-
preston of countenance, and her de.
meanor bespeaks her rank. The king
has been dead about twelve years, and
ever since his death she has kept watch
over his grave; the most of the time she
herself keeps her silent vigil over the
resting place of her love. A light is
always kept burning beside the tomb;
never allowed to go out under any cir
cumstances, and attended to by the
queens retinue, who live in native
built house adjoining. She is now hav
ing larger tomb built, and intends
having the remains put in it, together
with her child, when finished. She also
is leaving a place for herself and son,
now living. She was the second wife OF
the king. What more touching and
tender spectacle than this quiet devotion
to the memory of her love, by this grave
and sad-looking lady? Generally the
savages of the South Sea islands are not
credited with having much sentiment or
feeling, or even affection; but think the
impression has arisen from the want of
knowledge of their domestic life. I
have witnessed many instances when
maternal affection has been exhibited
and wifely devotion has shown itself to
an extraordinary degree. There was
once native woman, who swan twelve
miles with her white husband on her
back to save his life from his enemies,
and instances are not wanting where the
wife hes remained true to her dead love
during her life, refusing to be comforted
by another affection.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-01-22

where he was heavily ironed. This time
the authorities of Pike county at once
petitioned Governor Bishop to revoke
the warrant by which Reddy was to be
turned over to Sheriff Bullock and by
him taken to Cheyenne, Wy. T., for
trial. The governor did 80, and Wyom-
ing lost it's opportunity to bring the
murderer of Johnnie Slaughter to JUS.
tice and ropes end. Mr.. Bullock en-
deavored to get Governor Bishop to re.
woke the revoking order, but he refused
to do so. he is to be tried in Ohio for
crimes committed there, but it will be
remembered that Reddy has an unex-
p;red term of thirteen years to serve in
the Utah penitentiary for the murder of
St. George. and before long the road
agent may be on his westward way
again"
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-01-22
MY AUNTS WILL.

"We are none OF US perfect, thank
goodness, said Caroline, my eldest sis
ter, with an aggravating laugh. 81 do
not claim to be paragon, by any means,
and it would take qualities little short
of saints to poke down in the country
and hobble through life at the beck of
fractions old woman. I shall not go, for
onel"
"Caroline p said mother, in mild
tone of rebuke.
Poor little soul She rarely ever
asserted her authority before the elder
girls. They were all Rushtons, every
inch, and poor little nanny had learned
all about the Rushton blood years
before I was born. They we're stern,
proud, arrogant set, and, in her meek
eyes, were more like queens and ogres,
than her husbands relatives. How Ger
aid Rushton came to marry a poor
country curate's daughter remained
mystery to his family to the day of his
death, and with a woman's instinct
freehened by the memory of my moth
er's sad face and fearful eyes, I think
she had puzzled over the enigma
through many lonely hours, only the
question might have been put to her
consciousness little differently. As,
how was it that she had been brought to
hold in idolatry man Of my fathers
temperament.
he was very unlike her imagined
hero, quite unlike the lover she had ex-
pected would come up the rose walk at
Aubrey rectory to ask her to marry him.
My mother rarely ever spoke of her
later years as wife, but often with
even enthusiasm of their first meeting,
AMI TIE childish fondness with which
she regarded him.
It had been made matter OF reproach
to her always by his relatives, and my
father, I think, never entirely forgave
her for her share in his alienation from
his family. He died with that antago-
nism in his heart, and my mother had
suffered silently, rearing her three girls
as well AS she could on the slender pat
rimony left her, with just enough of
the old curate's dignity of character to
restrain her from appealing to the great
people doWn in Kent.
Caroline, now in her twenty-third
year, had been waiting some years,
rather impatiently, for a duke or Wis.
count to come down into the country
and marry her for her peachy cheeks
and sloe- black eyes. But nowadays
dukes prefer a bad complexion and
100000 a year to captivating young
person whose sole dover is in mere per-
sonal attraction.
Edith was already twenty-one and
felt aggrieved at her sister for not hav-
ing made match, leaving the field to
her.
Not strong like Oaro, Edith was, how.
ever, a pretty girl, with fine, ladylike
hands, and carriage princess might
have envied.
I believe I was seldom thought of by
any one until it was discovered I was
too much grown to utilize the cast-oh
frocks of the other girls, and was now 8
tall, awkward girl Of eighteen, with
large elbows and sandy complexion,
like the Aubreys. It was also disoov'
ared about this time that I had made
much Of my musical chance, and, what
with a few lessons from the village or
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-01-22
IOWa's Walled Lake.

The greatest wonder in the State of
Iowa is what is called the "walled
lake." in Wright county, twelve miles
north of the Dubuque and Pacific rail-
way, and $50 miles west of Dubuque
city. Tho lake is from two to three feet
higher than the earth's surface. In
some places the wall is ten feet high,
fifteen feet wide at the bottom, and five
wide on top. Another fact is the size
of the stones used in construction, the
whole of them varying in weight from
three tons down to 100 pounds. There
is an abundance of stones in Wright
county, but surrounding the lake to the
extent of five or ten miles there are
none,
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-01-22
Intemperance Among Women.

DR.. Stephen Smith, Of New York
who has given much thought to the
subject, says: Thoughtful medica
men frequently express much appre
hension at the prevailing tendency ol
women, and especially young women.
to indulge in the use of alcoholic liquors
The causes of intemperate habits among
the wealthier class are twofold: The
first is social wine-drinking customs,
These exert an especially strong infu
ence upon young women. At the period
of budding womanhood the nervous sys-
tenn is peculiarly impressible, and any
thing which produces state Of nervous
exaltation will, if repeated, readily be-
come o fixed want. No one except
physician can fully appreciate the SUI
ceptibility of young ladies at the age
when they are conventionally intro
duced to fashionable society. There is
scarcely anything 80 liable to impress
the nervous system at this time as mild
but exhilarating wines. Confirmed
habits of drunkenness may now now be
formed, but permanent impressions are
made which will never be lost, and
which too often revive at some later
period and make sad havoc OF personal
character and domestic happiness. A
second exciting cause is tho prescription
of alcoholic stimulants by physicians.
Reference is not made to the scientific
uses of alcohol in medicine, but TO the
reckless habit of recommending stimu-
lants for all the trihing ailments OF
women. The physician, wearied With
the opportunities of patients, recon-
mends wine or beer, brandy, or whisky,
y prescription easily made and gener-
ously complied with.
The effects of intemperance upon the
constitution of women are of the most
decisive character. Intemperance tends
to shorten life more in woman than in
man. Competent authority gives the
average duration of life of the intem-
perate, after drinking is formed. as fol-
lows: Among mechanics, working and
laboring men, eighteen years among
traders, dealers and merchants, seven
teen years !; among professional men and
gentlemen, fifteen years; among women,
fourteen years.
The ills of women accustomed to the
habitual use of alcoholic beverages are
innumerable. The effects OF intem-
perance upon the mental faculties OF
women are not less disastrous than up
on the physical system. 1t very
rapidly brings her will power under
its subsection, and often before her
friends are aware that habit has been
formed she is already it's helpless and
hopeless victim. She will resort to every
device to secure its indulgence. It de-
stroys her purity of thought and makes
her Indifferent to the good opinions OF
others. The use of alcoholic beverages
by women is growing evil which de-
serves the most serious consideration.
The evil Is not limited to the individual,
but perpetuates itself in her offspring,
and thus leeds to the degeneracy of the
race. In England, where vine and beer
drinking is more common than il this
country, the voice of the medical pro-
fession has been raised against it. The
reform must begin in the home and
social circles.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-01-22
SnOWfakes.

Airy, ohaogeful hosts Of snowAskes
Past NE Fit,
attentive to the pageant. with observant
gaze sit
Noting how these wintry elves
lido disport and blend themselves;
Finding varied moods and fancies
lin each flake that near me chances.
Here come wild, hilarious snowfakes
E;ding Fast
lightly clingipg to the bride Of the bitter,
northern blast
In their cloaks Of fleecy fur,
Plying whip and rein and spur;
With mad and reckless haste
Bounding DER the wintry waste!
There, gathered some timid snowfakes,
Lightly Skim,
own the 10y, winding river they 60, catching
at its brim,
With half pause at every turn;
As questioning, with soft concern,
How far upon the road they be
Toward evening and the distant sea
Now, group Of giddy snowaakes
Trya Waltz,
Waltz,
lot dancer seems reluctant, weakly hesitates
or halts;
Hand in hand they madly whirl,
France and curvet, till twirl,
Ending in trip and fall,
Sends them reeling to the wall.
Down, band Of snowf1akes, nun-like,
Dumbly Float,
Us might angels from come upper sphere, too
high and too remote
For sympathy with common crowd;
With attitude attent and bowed,
These seek some dim, secluded place,
And kneel with rapt and hooded face.
Come some fakes with busy ardor,
Now, to Search,
Every corner, chink and crevice, with btisk
important lurch,
Every pornce does plainly speak.
"Surely, here is what We seek!'
But, their object still unfound.
on they go with angry bound
Others still, with fixed intentness,
Downward Drop,
With an earnest, soulful purpoae that can nei'
tier rest nor stop;
Whose wings seem heavy with the weight
OF some unknown and priceless freight;
These must be messengers that go
To comfort faithful flowers below.
Farther out are other snowflskes,
4imned against the somber background Of the
steep and wooded hill;
These seem working hard to bury
Whirling leaves that, brisk and merry,
Will not fold their hands and keep
To their quiet, winter sleep.
Now, some cunning snowhakes silly
Past me Glide,
Glide,
,hasing hiful gusts and eddies with swift,
mischievous slide
These are they that ply, ut will,
Under door and window-sDl.
That will push line Of snow
Where none others think to 90.
Yet are these but vague outriders
Ola Vast,
md unending hest Of snowhakes that still
steadily drift past
That with silent, solemn power
Fill the measure Of each hour;
And, with soft, unquestioning grace,
Fit themselves to any place.
IS C.. Stone, in Wide A,oake.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-01-22

Nine samples of sugar were recently
analyzed at Richmond, Va, and only
three found sufficiently free from min
eral salts to be wholesome.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-01-22

The registers show that in fifteen
months the Richmond bars have sold
1897, ,2O5 alcoholic, and 3,093, go malt
drinks total tax, $55, ,650.61.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-01-22

From the debris of their coal mines
France makes annually 100000 tons Of
excellent fuel, and Belgium 500, 600
tons.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-01-22

A man is going to have his name
stamped upon 5O,000,000 toothpicks
That mans name will be in everybody's
mouth.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-01-22

A Liverpool firm is reported to have
purchased steamer for the purpose OF
importing live pigs from America. The
vessel is being fitted up to hold over
1000 pigs, as we'll as cattle.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-01-22

King Louis, of Bavaria, is building
on the island of Herrenworth, in lake
Chiemsee, a castle which will cost
$4,000, 900, and be the most sumptuous
royal residence in Germany.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-01-22

The commissioners have footed up
loss of $40, 572, 500 to New Orleans by
the yellow fever.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-01-22

Andrew Jackson's old iron clock that
used to mark time for the White house
was discovered the other day in heap
of rubbish and sold to a patriotic Wash
ingtonian for twenty-nine dollars.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-01-22

Think of what an agricultural fair
must be in California, with cabbages
five feet in circumference, pumpkins
weighing hundred pounds, cucumbers
yard long and peaches and pears as
large as your head.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-01-22

There are over 7, 900 Americans study
ing in German schools and universities.
The American consul at Nuremberg
estimates that over 81, 500, 900 are thus
annually expended by Americans in
Germany.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-01-22

Mr.. Harper, who owns the famous
running horse Ten Broeck, says that he
shall not again enter him for race.
The animal is in excellent condition.
He has been removed from the training
stable to the stud farm. Not long ago
he weighed l, 142 pounds.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-01-22

An immense grave or vault is being
made in the cemetery of Pere la Chaise,
in Paris, in which to place the remains
of all the forgotten combatants of the
war of 1870. It embraces an area of
400 square feet, and will be surmounted
by a monument, the design of which
has not been chosen.