davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1879-03-20
A Suicides Letter,

The dead body of an unfortunate
man, Hood Alston by name, was found
on the Sd of March under tree at Bay
st. Louis, Miss. 1t was discovered
that he had destroyed himself by NOR
phine, and that he left behind him a
pitiful and deeply interesting letter.
He was evidently a man of culture, and
the letter said he had once been a jour.
nalist. On the I'd of July, 1868, he was
struck on the head by piece of shell at
the battle of Gettysburg. He recovered
to all appearances and was thought to
be quite well. In his letter, however,
Aston declares that he has since been
conscious that he has always been
lowering on the dangerous edge of in
sanity. He has felt on particular and
frequent occasions an almost irresistible
impulse to kill people, and always pre-.
ferentially those who were most dear to
him. To avoid this he has fed often
from the presence of wife and chill
dren, living in California, whom he
tenderly loved; but has never had the
moral strength to confess his fears and
cause himself to be placed under re-
straint. At last the accumulated
agonies of his apprehension, and the
horror of his secret was too much for
him and he slew himself. The case is
singular and suggestive. How far Al
ston's madness was, as represented by
himself to himself, real and how far
feigned we shall probably never know.
Perhaps, as some writer's would have us
think of Hamlet, he was sometimes sane
and sometimes otherwise. But were
his fears lest he should take the life of
others incident to his lucid intervals, or
did they only present themselves when
his mind was off it's balance and so con
stitute the characteristic and proof of
his insanityp The question is a puz-
zling one, and, like the problem of
Hamlet's lunacy and the inquiry whether
it is genuine or simulated, may invite
endless discussion while leaving the
issue forever in the sequel to be
"smothered by surmise. "-New York
Evening Post.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1879-03-20
A New Astronomical Wonder.

At the last total eclipse of the sun,
many astronomers busted themselves
chiefly with observing the corona which
had excited so much interest and specu-
lation at previous eclipses. This is the
name given to the bright light seen out
side of the moons disk when the body
of the sun is completely hidden by it.
Opinions were divided as to it's cause;
some observers thinking it proceeded
from the suns atmosphere, or from lu-
minous gases which shot far above its
surface; while others imagined it sepa-
rated from the sun altogether, and due
to other causes in the depths of space.
From the observations made, and
from photographs taken, it is now be-
lieved to be simply the reflected light of
the sun. This reflection is supposed to
be due to immense numbers Of meteor
ties, or possibly, systems of meteorites,
like the rings of Saturn, revolving about
the sun. The existence of such meteor
ties has long been suspected, and OBJ
servations now seem to justify belief
in their existence. Their constant fall
ing into the sun is thought to be one of
the methods by which its heat i, main
tanned without loss.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1879-03-20
Mh0nners.

It was at q miners cabin in Tennessee:
dozen or 80 of rough, uncouth, un-
kempt-looking fellows sat over stove
in an atmosphere redolent with cold cof-
fee and tobacco.
"Talkin' about your stories," said a
grizzly, gray old fellow, removing his
pipe from between two shaggy masses
of tawny hair, while his companions
gave each other significant glances-
talkin' about your stories, why, we
all hearn on Bill Hess, him as was
killed in '76, moonshining. Well,
Bill an me wus old cronies. A year
afore the war Bill, he swalled of a
peach pit. 1t trubbled of him kinder,
but no one thought much ont; but
Bills appetite it got stronger and
stronger, till at last he'd eat and de-
YOUR of every think as what he could
lay of his hands on. An the mystery
about the affair wus, that the more
Bill he would eat, the thinner did he
become.
"It wus six years arter that-yes, it
wus sewing years-when one day Bill
he wus took with a gripin' an groan-
in. Snakes how he kicked and yelled !;
sewing men couldn't hold of him. No
doctor wus in the parts where we wus.
Well, he had commissions, an he had
'em right smart, too, I tell yer, and the
furst think we krowd, up came small
cherry tree -
"I thought as 'ow he swalled of q
peach pit ?" some one asked.
"Well, so he did, and he disgorged of
a peach tree about three feet high-did
I say cherry 2-well, that wus O slip of
the tongue-with bloomin' peaches on
it.. And arter that Bills health cum
back to him, and he wusn't afflicted no
more"
"Tve got story to beat that" ex-
claimed a young. sprightly-looking
miner, with merry eye and clear
complexion. "Me an Bob Jones we
wus travelin' in '58, just about the
time that ere accident happened to Bill
Hess, and Bob he got cinder in his eye,
which kinder annoyed him. It got wuss
and wuss, till the poor feller hadn't no
peace or comfort. One day, says Bob
to me, says he: Pete, somethink is
the matter with that ere eye, ,somethink is
the matter. 1t feels like as what it wus
gettin' bigger and leavin' of my head
81 looked at it, and sure enough there
wus a raisen-like sort of think on it.
Still it trubbled of Bob. Day by day,
that raisen-like sort of think growed and
growed, until it wouldn't let the eyelid
shut. Mind ye, all this time Bob could
see just as we'll as ever, if anythink, bet
ter than nor before. The raisen. like
sort of think growed and growed for
two years, when it had growed three
inches out of Bob's eye. 1t was just
like bush, with tiny branches and little
bits of leaves. Well. to make long
on his face in his sleep, and in the
mornin' he found little maple tree
lyin' alongside of him, and the pain in
his eye and the bush VINE gone. That,
there" pointing to a sapling just out OF
the door, sis the tree which growed of
the cinder what Bob Jones caught in his
eye."
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1879-03-20
The Cause OF a Mine Explosion,

Some peculiar features of mining
casualties were developed at coroner's
inquest on the bodies of William Crone
and Thomas Tiernay. who died from in
juries received by an explosion of fire.
damp, at the Lower Rausch Greek col.
liery, near Pottsville, Pa. These men
were working with safety-lamps on the
bottom level of the mine, 1900 feet
below the surface. The vein in which
they worked made no gas, but another
beneath it, with about nine feet of slate
between, gave forth gas in quantities so
great as to force up the solid slate-cov-
ering in the centre of the breast, the
pressure of the strata above, of course,
helping. The movement caused a
rumbling and cracking, which the men
thought came from the roof, and they,
together with the fire boss, James
O'Neill, and q miner named Jacob
Imschweller, were watching that part,
when the noise became so violent that
they ran into the heading, fearing that
the roof would fall. The roof, however,
remained undisturbed. The men had
scarcely left the breast when the floor
heaved up. opened, and volume of
gas poured forth, which at once filed
the whole place. O'Neill and Imsch-
weller, fortunately for them, darted
into the passage leading inward from
the breast; but Crone and Tiernay en-
tered the "intake" passage. Crone,
knowing that a strong current of air
would force the fame through the
meshes of his lamp and set fire to the
gas, shielded his lamp as he ran, but
Tiernay neglected this precaution. The
gas ignited from his lamp, and terrible
explosion followed. Crone and Tiernay
were SO badly burned that they died in
a few hours, while the others, being
behind the explosion. which always
takes an outward course, were only
slightly injured by being dashed against
the coal The wood work of the mine
was shattered for a distance of 100
yards, and a boy named Grady received
fatal injuries from door which fell on
him. The mine was then being in
spected for the third time that day (the
explosion occurred at noon). and 16, 676
cubic feet of air per minute was then
passing through that portion OF 1t. The
Jury returned a verdict that I" the de
ceased came to their deaths from the
effects of an explosion caused by run
ming through the gas with their safety
lamps against, instead of with, the air
current"
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1879-03-20
How YaSSar Lost a Punil.

A letter from Poughkeepsie, N. Y, to
the World, says; At the beginning Of the
term one year ago young lady from
New York entered the freshman class of
1878 at Vassar college. She was then
sixteen, of slight figure, brown haired,
pretty, and young person OF buoyant
spirits, who speedily became something
of character among her fellow students.
It is said, however, that the faculty
found her intractable and subjected her
to course of mild discipline which she
did not like. She had entered the col
lege under peculiar circumstances. Her
father had endowed scholarship
there at a cost of $4,000, and she was
the first to receive its benefits. Finally,
much of what was considered infelicitous
in the girls ways was overlooked by the
faculty, and under the new order of
things matters moved along more
smoothly.
just before the last holiday week she
was again, however, in open rebellion
against the authorities. She expressed
determination to accompany fellow
student to the latter's home in the West
to spend the holidays. The head of the
college protested with emphasis; but
when the time arrived the young rebel
went on her proposed trip and returned
i'll due time and resumed her studies.
In the meantime she was corresponding
with and meeting in Poughkeepsie every
Saturday, when the young ladies are
permitted to leave the college to do
their shopping, the young son of her
fathers partner in New York.
Thus matters stood up to a recent
Friday, when the young woman was
missing. Inquiry discovered that, with
the assistance of two OF her chums, she
had quietly packed her wardrobe and
stolen away. The young man had q
carriage in waiting for her. and on her
arrival they went to the residence of DIR.
Elmendorf, of the Second Reformed
church, in Poughkeepsie, and were mar
ried. Then they were driven to the
Nelson house, where they remained
until Saturday afternoon, going then to
New York. DR.. Elmendorf, it is said.
was induced to perform the ceremony
only by the presence of a gentleman Of
high standing in this city, who accom-
panied the couple to the house and
vouched for their character and the regu-
larity of the proceeding. The father of
the bride and groom are in business to-
gether, the former being wealthy manu-
facturer of proprietary bitters."
The two girls who assisted his daugh
ter in making her escape from the COL
lege have been expelled and sent home.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1879-03-20
Relief From a Corn,

Soak the foot in warm water for a
quarter of an hour every night; after
each soaking, rub on the corn patiently,
with the finger, half dozen drops OF,
sweet oil; wear around the toe during
the day two thicknesses of buckskin,
with hole in it to receive the corn,
and continue this treatment until the
corn falls out. If you wear moderately
loose shoes, it will be months, and even
years. before the corn returns, when the
same treatment will be efficient in few
days. PAIRING corns is always danger
ous, beside making them take deeper
root, as does weed cut of near the
ground; but the plan advised is safe.
painless, and costs nothing but Q little
attention. n.-E1chanSe.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1879-03-20
The Custom of "Treating."

"Treating" constitutes one of the
chief perils attaching to the custom
of -imbibing spirituous liquors, and
there are now few persons who
could not, if free from its shackles,
restrict the indulgence Of their thirst to
decent moderation. A man meeting
group of his friends just as he is bent
on obtaining his afternoon allowance of
"sherry and bitters must, if he does
not violate usage, and if he wishes to
do what is expected of him, ask them
all to join him. Suppose the whole
party to number seven. Seven drinks
are poured down seven throats, willing
or unwilling. What is the immediate
result of this hospitality? Six other
individuals feel themselves mortgaged
with an obligation to equal it. There
may be a little chat, and then some one
says: "Ah, let's have another drink |"
Then seven more drinks are poured
down seven throais. More talk. An
other happy thought by another mem
of the party. Seven more drinks de.
scend the seven throats. More talk.
A fourth inspiration by fourth partici-
pant. Some one who has done his fated
duty tries to beg off has business to
transact ought not to drink any more.
His objection is vetoed by the asking
party, who is already slightly stimulated
perhaps. "No shirking ole feller,
come on r. Repetition of the gulping
act by seven performers. Every one
feels the mellowing influence by this
time. "Charley," says No. Six affec-
tionately to the genius of the bar,
"giv's mother All hands round -
Encore the feat of seven men swallow
ing seven drinks. No. Seven's turn
has arrived. The happy relief is near.
He happens to be the least experienced
of the party. He is already full OF bliss.
His words are few but expressive. "Set
'em up again, hic I" Up they go, and
then down they go-seven more drinks.
Let us see. Seven times seven are
forty-nine. And all because one man
felt like taking little " sherry and Bit
ters." Perhaps he goes home to his
dinner afterward. Perhaps he don't.
Perhaps he fails to see his wife and
mother-in- law until the next day. Such
is life in country where Treating" is
the custom, -Nes0 York Herald.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1879-03-20

A confidence operator was caught in
the act of cheating man at cards, and
boldly insisted that by SO doing he was
only obeying the scriptural injunction
When asked how he made that out, he
said: 4" He was a stranger, and to-. |.
him in" -
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1879-03-20
TIMELY TOPICS.

The sacred right of petition has been
vindicated to the extent of 10, 167 petit
tions introduced in the House of Rep
resentatives during the Forty-fifth
United States Congress. They relate to
all sorts of subjects, and come from
private individuals, aliens, corporations,
literary. scientific, and labor-reform
societies, boards of trade, State and
Territorial Legislatures in fact, from
almost every branch OF trade and in
dustry. Under the rule of the House
petitions are not presented in open ses.
sion, but are placed on file, and as q
general thing are never heard Of.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1879-03-20

A case is sometimes gained through
perjury and sometimes per jury.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1879-03-20

An original character, well known in
the Latin quarter, has just died in Paris
at an advanced age. Pere Roger, as he
was called, fancied he was an unappre-
ciated genius, and amused himself in
inventing new systems which were to
renovate society. He set up a new re-
ligion, one article of which-and the
one that rocured the most adherents-
was to make every other day day of
rest. He habituated himself to eating
only on alternate days, and used to
argue that by sleeping twenty-four con-
secutive hours and then working for a
like period, the same sum of labor
would be produced with saving of food
and the time lost at meals. During the
late war Pere Roger invented number
of means for annihilating the Prussians,
and never pardoned the war depart
ment for the indifference it manifested
toward his Greek fire, which he called
the "prussovore." He was the author
of some songs, which were sung in their
time by the students, and of a poem
called "Le droit de boire," which, un-
fortunately for him, he never found a
publisher to bring out. Like many
other philanthropists, he died in a
state of utter destitution.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1879-03-20

Sixty-nire libel suits for one libel
Ambiguity has been the death of one
poor paper in Marseilles, France. The
NouUelliste, of Marseilles, stated some
months ago tnat the tax receiver of st.
Etienne had embezzled $4,000. The
proprietor must have had more than
one "bad quarter of an hour when he
discovered, as he very quickly did, that
there are sixty-nine st. Etiennes, towns
or communes in France. Every one of
the tax receivers of these places brought
an action against the pepper, which has
been ordered to pay $40 damages to
each collector, besides $40 fine.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1879-03-20

A subject of more than ordinary in
terest is now under consideration by
committee of the Medico-Lega society,
and it is deemed probable that the re.
suit of the research and report of the
committee will be the passage of law
providing for the verihcation of every
case of supposed death occurring in
New York city. The wisdom and ne
cessity of such law, the Herald re-
marks, can hardly be questioned by any
one who has given the subject any care
full thought; and 80 thoroughly is it
acknowledged by Europeans that in
every principal country Of Europe legal
cognizance is taken of the possibility of
syncope being mistaken for death. And
in nearly all, if not all of the principal
cities on the continent there is an officer
of the law whose duty it is to decide in
every case of apparent death whether it
is or is not real. In England and Amer
lea, however, no protection is afford
ed by the statutes against the possibility
of live person being buried.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1879-03-20

A "first exhibition circular" of the
Melbourne International exhibition of
1880 has been received. 1t contains
long lists of commissioners and commit
tees and the "system of general classi-
fication," apparently based to a con-
siderable extent upon that Of Philadel-
phia. The president is the Hon. VIM.
John Clarke, member Of the legislative
council at Melbourne. Applications for
space should be sent in not later than
June 80, 1879. The reception of ex-
hibits will commence June l, 1880, and
none will be admitted after August 81.
The exhibition will remain open for six
calendar months, commencing October
l, 1880, and closing March 81, 1881.
Full particulars can be obtained from
James e. Denison, No. 1913 Collins
street, West Melbourne, who will act as
general agent for American exhibitors.
The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1879-10-17
the STEAMER
FANNIE LAKE

WILL LEAVE FOR
Mukilteo, Tulalip. Stanwood,
Skagit, Utsalady & Laconner
EVERY
Monday and Thursday, returning Tuesday
and Friday,
And the I'd and lth Thursday in each month for
Nooksack.
Freight and passage At greatly reduced rates.
sl7dtf 8. HILL, Master.
The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1879-10-17
"PINAPORE,, AT A DISCOUNT.

John Bowling was tried yesterday
afternoon 10 Justice Knox's Court, for
a.s.ulting William Roberts. The
trouble took place in G street saloon
the night before aud Roberts was badly
besten about the head.
Roberts testified that he WAS in the
Snug Retreat drinking, singing. and
other wise enjoying himself when Dow
ling came in with . crowd and began
bullying him. He had never met Dow
ling before and at frat paid no atten-
ton to his threats. Fin.lly Bowling
walked up to him, and planting heavy
blow in his face. Knocked him down.
The crowd then kicked him about the
head and side and pitched him down
the back steps Of the saloon.
Attorney for the defense-Did you
commit the first breach OF peace by in
sul,ing Mr.. Dowling'
Wstness-No. sir.
Attorney your oath do you say
that you did nothing to aggravate Dow
ling,
Witness whatever.
Attorney-Did you not sing some
snatches from Pinafore until you drove
the crowd To such pitch OF exsspera-
ton that they we're not responsible Tor
their acss.
Witness-I WAS singing Q little; but
that was my business and not theirs.
Bowling took the stand sndladmitted
the assault. but asked leave to explain
certsip circumstances connected with
It. He came into the saloon, he said.
with some friends and they found Rob
srts singing Little Buttercup" in q
horribly cracked voice. They Of course
reoue,ted him to stop. He subsidized
for few minutes, but broke loose again
with:
kind Captain. I've important infor-
nation"
This he sang over and over again,
until it drove everybody frantic. and
finally Bowling thought that Roberts
might be enabled to enact the role OF
Dick Deadeye betterif his make up was
improved. He accordingly concluded
to fill in tho dead eye, which he did to
tho satisfaction Of tho crowd. who un-
tremendously kicked the man down
the steps. No man. the witness de-
clared, could yawp any Pinsfore at him
and get away with the trick.
When the case was about to be given
to the jury the Court remarked:
I'm most cases waen an assault: Is ad-
mittsd, . verdict of guilty is expected.
This case. however. is q peculiar one.
aud think the defendant 10 entitled
to all the sympathy that proper sp-
probation Of his wrongs can inspire.
like music ~ we'll as any man living.
and, in fact, the more real love . man
has for harmony and tune. the moro he
feels disgust for an ill-conditioned lout
who interprets it badly. l believe that
such men should be put down, even if
somebody has to knock them down.
While good music has charms which
will even soOthe the brenzed bosom OF
the untutored Pluto, bad music necessa.
rily infames the evil passions of men
aud causes them to commit overt acts.
This state Of mind, in my opinion. the
law should take proper cognizauce Of
in the administration OF its DEGREES.
The country is full Of men who. with
no knowledge of music. persist in in
ficting their butchered tunes upon
peace.loving and lsw.abiding citizens.
The remarks OF the Court were re-
ceived with applause. in which even
the Constable joined. and tho jury
found . verdict of mot guilty" with
ont leaving their seats.
The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1879-10-17

A London journalist Of rather ripe
imagination says that ct recent dinner
given in New York the peaches devel-
oped an altogether new and unexpect-
cd feature. They bore the monogram
Of their owner traced distinctly in the
velvsty bloom. The process he describ-
cd thus: Letters cut from paper are
pasted on the peaches when growing.
When the fruit is ripe, on removing the
paper tho letters arc found picked out
in the most delicate green, tho rest Of
the fruit being rosy hued.
The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1879-10-17

BELOW COST.
All Kinds of Crockery, Groceries. Provisions.
etc.. - cheap Is any other house In town.
Tobacco. Cigars and all other goods st the lowest
price for cash.
Agent for Port Madison Smoked Herrings.
mh25-dtf II. UHLFELDER.
The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1879-10-17

A Holyoke Mass widower. whose
wife 10 buried in Willimantic. went
there the other day to mourn over the
grave. but. meeting an old friend near
the spot. fell into conversation, and re-
turned home without looking at the
grave. It was not until several days
later that he recollectcd his object in
the visit Then he Immediately hast
ened back to WillimHntic and did the
business.
The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1879-10-17

She WAS Spanish dulcinea.
And Der ma desired her To wed,
But she didn't feel inclined that way.
And thus to her ina she said:
80 hate the men, confound EN-;
SO no, ma. l viii lot we'd"
And they called the place Sonoma,
From what the dulcinea said.