davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-08-21
NUMBER 80.
The spelling Reform ,
lNew York rrihnnel

# seeing what ought to be were equiv
alent to establishing what ought to be,
fe wera reformers would die broken
hearted. In the matter of orthograpby,
for instance, the Pathological Conven-
tion at Newport and the Spelling Re-
form Association at Phllade phia have
made their usual midsummer remon-
|strances, and told a good deal of whole
some truth; but in spite of this, and
in spiteIof Max Muller and Professors
Whitney, March, and Haldeman, and
the London School Board, the practical
adoption of the proposed chances by the
public seems no nearer now than it was
twenty years ago. It may not be diff.
cult to prove that the universal use of
an alphabet in which every sign repre-
sented one sound and no more would
save twenty per cent. OF all the money
that books and newspapers now cost;
that children would learn to read in
half the time now employed; and that
be far more reasonable and simple tnan
the usual orthographys But to get
people into the the habit of spelling so
is quite another thing. Yet this is the
minimum change advocated by the
ulOuSIdtcS III Guc SpcllluS TclOIm.
1t no doubt seems monstrous that in
the English language, containing at
least 5000 words, not more than
eighty or ninety words are spelled pre-
cisely as they are pronounced; but this
| fact, instead of making change to sim
| plicity easier, makes it more difficult
In a language where general analogy is
observed lapse from uniformity would
be much more conspicuous. The human
| eye is conservative. 1t is said that Car
lyle was more offended and enraged be-
cause the American edition of his works
spelled labor" without the Gu than
he was at any dissent from his princi-
pies. A radical change in the typo
! graphical appearance of newspaper
frequently causes as much grief among
subscribers as a change in its politics
would.s Learning to spell is merely
lear ing how to keep up appearances,
and the fact that large majority spell
in certain way is and will he more in
fuential than any demonstration of the
absurdity of their method. Authors
will persistently refuse, for instance, to
write, 'egz,"a because such spelling
might be ascribed to ignorance. If all
English-speaking people between the
ages Of two and seventy years could be
annihilated, this painful problem of or.
thographic crookedness might be solved
without seriously incommoding any.
body, and probably to the great benefit
Of the race, which, would still find the
worlds libraries sufficiently ineligible
AS this opportunity hardly seems likely
to occur, hnwever, and as people gener
ally care more about conforming in mat
ters Of taste than they do about being
scientifically accurate the glory. of the
phonetic paradise is probably not yet al
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-08-21

The London Observer states that three
hundred engineers on strike at Brad
ford, England, have been offered en-
ployment by the engineering firms in
the United States, and would emigrate
at once with their families. 1t men
tions that the branches of the Amalga-
ted Engineers society in this country,
at Cleveland, Boston, New York, Phila-
delphia, st. Louis, San Francisco,
Chicago, Brooklyn, and New Haven have
assured them of prompt and remunera-
tive emplo yment. The strange feature
about it is that the Observer regards with
complacency the loss of this valuable,
and, as it would seem, indispensable
labor. The straits there must be great
indeed to produce such feeling.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-08-21
The Small Boy in q Corn Bin.

ssrn., iEldorado (Ia.) Ledger.
!. Frank, a~twelve-year-old son of Joe
Williams, had a new experience Satur-
day. 2 The youth was up in the new ele-
,ator after pigeons; Looking At @ the e
corn passed into the car, it occurred to
him that it would be pleasant trip to
ride down with the corn. He jumped
on and was soon covered up in the rush
ing grains of corn. Dan Bushman, OBJ
serving that the grain had ceased flowing,
ran his hand in and felt the boys feet.
They had to break the spout to remove
him. He was almost smothered to death
and black in the face. They blew in
his nostrils, worked the chest, and chafed
his hands; and they were rewarded for
their effort by slight pulse. On his re.
moval home medical aid was summoned,
and the youth win survive his spoutine
experience.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-08-21
FREEMAN, the Pocas ett (M ass. } ad

FREEMAN, the Pocas ett (M ass.) ad-
ventist, who murdered his little daugh-
ter under fanatical dulusion that God
would restore her to life, and who is
still in Jail at Barnstable, refuses to take
any legal advice, and says, should the
state furnish him with counsel, he
viii not permit him to smooth over the
facts to make good defense. He con-
tinues to assume that he was Justified
Of God" in slaughtering his child. His
wife, who shortly after her arrest seemed
- see the enormity of the deed, has
again fallen under the old delusion, and
thinks her husband did perfectly right
in sacrifcing the child. They both talk
nationally upon every other subject.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-08-21
A Yankees Freak.
&c Worcester spy.l

A Belfast man, though strong and
able bodied, has elected to spend the re-
mainder of his days in chair, He is
ship carpenter by trade, and when a
reduction OF wages took place he refused
to work longer. So he seated himself
in a rocking chair by the window in his
sitting room, and there he sits, only ris-
ing to so to his meals or to go to bed.
The rockers of his chair have worn
grooves in the floor, and on the window
sill are the imprints of the fingers of one
hand, with which he drums idly as he
rocks to aud fro. There are only the
man and wife in family, and they are
supposed to have laid up something on
which they now live.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-08-21
A Hundred and Ave Years Old.
Philadelphia Record.I

The most venerable relic of antiquity
in Camden is old Father Evans. a
colored preacher. On the oath of last
March he celebrated his 102d anniver-
sary by prep ring "a large patch OF
ground for his garden, digging the earth
up with his spade and putting it into
condition to received the seed. He
takes his regular walks of ten and
fifteen miles into the country "to call
on his friends" as he says, and walks
home again when he has completed his
round Of visits. In the summer time
he is able to do light work around the
farm, and in the fall can husk as many
bushels of corn in day rs many who
are more boastful of their youth and
strength. .--..... Ii s.'.f ..-s-..t.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-08-21

1T is positively asserted as among the
serious objections to the Panama Canal
scheme, to which the Paris Congress
gave its enthusiastic endorsement, that
it is absolutely impracticable; that no.
body can succeed in digging such a
canal at that point BY any amount of
effort and expenditure. If thie is true
there would really seem to re very lit
tie reason why anybody in this country
should worry about the matter. II. De
Lesseps will persist in trying to dig a
canal that ne can't dig, why not let him
goaheadi 5l
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-08-21

GREAT preparations are being made
for the expositions which are 70 be. held
at Sydney, New South Wales, and Mel
bourne, Australia. A committe has
been organized by the secretary of state
to represent our government. DIR. 8. s.
Cox, of Washington, has been appointed
secretary and viii leave San Francisco
for Sydney early this month.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-08-21

been In the habit of instigatiDg him, for
there have lately been found in his
trunk a hair-brush and some other
articles which are proved to have been
stolen by him from former employer.
Mr.. Cox's character does not stand the
strong glare of investigation quite so
well as might be expected from young
man who has such serious thoughts of
joining the ministry. Il LA - ts{
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-08-21

The figures that show the movement
Of population Of the new farming lands
in the West are almost startling.
During the year that closed with last
month not less than sixteen million
acres Of government lands ware taken
up by homestead entries alone, and
fully fourteen million acres of new
lands were sold to settlers. II is
estimated that half . million people
settled upon the new lands In 1873, and
the number for the present year promise1
10 be even greater. -r 4f
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-08-21

In France the other day subscriptions
were called for one million obligations
at fifty francs each for account of Paris
and other cities. In less than twenty
four hours the call was responded to
with more than eight times to the
amount in Paris alone. France. with
financial conditions identical with ours,
in full of prosperity. FIs ~
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-08-21

A CINCINNATI man found the pearl
of great price" lately in musselshell
in the Miami river, and sold it in New
York for $3.50. Since Ohio produced a
president there is no end to her good
luck, and her people can find anything
from pearls to pigs in products, and in
things made to order from greenbacks
down TO offices.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-08-21

The San Antonio Express publishes
an account Of the discovery of a silver
bonanza in Mexico, abou. 400 miles
southwest of San Antonio. The ore as
says fifty per cent. pure silver. The
vein is fifty feet thick. A town of
5000 inhabitants has sprung up in the
last few weeks. loo ssF.sEoJ sFE
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-08-21

A CORRESPONDENT of the Boston
Courier asks whether ga" or "an "
should be used before words beginning
with "u." Why" can" without doubt" "
Let him try to say "a uncle" as much
as he may, we think he will find it rather
difficult work, unless he is thorough
cockney, and then he would probably
allude to his relative as ga huncle." On
the other hand, "a" is correct before
gu" having the long sound, as "a uni
versity." aa
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-08-21

NEW HAMPSHIRE has passed law
taxing all church buildings and real or
personal property owned by any church
association of greater value than
$4,000. This limit will not interfere
with country meeting houses or plain
edifices in the larger towns. IL will,
however, prove encouragement to
costly experiments in ecclesiastical
architecture, and rich religious corpora
tions. HHNht-A -W WTAat
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-08-21

AsIATrc cholera has broken out in a
most fatal form Iaaong the English
troops in India, recently returned from
Afghanistan. The deaths are about
forty in each regiment per day. Beacon-
field says it IS a harder enemy to fight
than Cetewayo with all his Zulus.- -.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-08-21

THE amount of gold on the way TO
this country Is estimated at two and a
half millions of dollars, and the current
will steadily increase. We have taken
in all the bonds that foreigners can
spare us, and still the balance of trade
is enormously In favor. t----i.f.t- I
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-08-21

CLARA MORRIS is going on the stage
again, and will be able 70 give Sara
Bernhardt odds on the invalid business.
sara has never tried moxa yet, but is
one ahead # Clara by having slept in
her own coffin.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-08-21

THE subiectof bank taxation occupied
a large portion Of, the time Of the bank
ers in Saratoga, and incidentally the
subject Of corporation taxation came in
for. discussion. There is no subject
which is so involved as that of taxation,
snd in no country are the taxes so un.
SjustiyAo rather unequally, laid. The
fact that some scorporations are taxed
ana some are not, gives the people who
regard them as instruments of the evil
one some ground upon which to base
their charges. All this should be
changed. The matter ID not an easy
one to handle, but thstis no reason why
it should not be taken mp.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-08-21

The Latest rslisbIe infornation from
Sitting Buifand fis braves is'to the ef-
feet that he and they have changed
locations for the Z PufpUe of finding
game more plentiful, and That they
have no thought Of returning to Amer
ican soil. r. ITTTF y = - - Il
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-08-21

When Payne, the author of "Home,
Sweet Home,p returned to Boston after
long absence in Europe, be called upcn
a lady, an old schoolmate, who said /:
," Mr.. Payne, don't you find Boston much
changed?' eyes, madam" he answer
ed, Every much i receive many invi-
tations to attend church, and very few
to dinner." When the poor poet went
to assume his office at Tunis, his luggage
was at once pathetic and amusing he
had several trunks filled with books, and
hardly any clothes. 1,tss''sA =
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-08-21

A STATUE mania has of late ragged in
France. Rabelais is to be thus honored
at Chinon, and Beranger and Theophile
Gsutier are also put forward for the
species OF commemoration. kfl f
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-08-21
TOPICS or THE DAY.

The negro Exodus" has not yet
ceased, despite the efforts that have
been made by the whites to stop II.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-08-21

The California papers say that more
Chinamen sre coming over now than
ever before, since every vessel from
China comes in crowded with them.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-08-21

~ PRor. GRoTE thinks that the Indian
corn plant originally grew wild on the
elopes of the Rocky Mountain region,
and on the sides of the Valley of IL Re
Colorado. 1t was cultivated by the
early men of that region, Who were
Asiatic emigrants in preglacial times.
The cliff dwellers and mound builders
cultivated maize. The plant was prob
ably at first single. cared, and the grain
smaller Prof. Grote believes that its
present yield might be still increased
by planting corn from plants producing
the largest number of ears, so that
finally a more numerously cared variety
~ 40 ha ;ntroduced siisH eff ihiiS~s|.!
l'ay e po INV o''i 0'A sninsgE5 ,.eit!oz
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-08-21

The authorities of Paris propose to
form q gallery TO contain all the avail
able views of the city, ancient and
modern.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-08-21

A CURIOUS pension question has been
raised by the inmstes Of Soldiers Homes
who are entitled to arrears Of pensions.
Their current pensions are surrendered
to the Governors Of the Homes in which
they receive support.in lieu of pension.
IL Is claimed that under the law the. AZ
rears Of pension to which they are en-
titled must also be paid to the Govern
ors, while the pensioners themselves
claim that arrearages should be paid to
them personally, and are about to ap-
ply to the Courts for 4 mandamus en-
forcing the claim. ..-.r
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-08-21

EUROPEAN telegraph companies count
FIVE figures as a word. The Western
Union monopoly extorts the full charge
for each figure.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-08-21

JEFF DAVIS is writing History of
the Rebellion" Oh Lordi Here will
be another chance for book agents.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-08-21

A BosToN servant girl has lived in
one place eleven years and never missed
but two nights Going out. She feels aw.
full bad about those two nights.-Detroit
Free Press.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-08-21

A GREAT many husbands seem to be
shooting their wives for burglars, says
the Elmira Advertiser. Let the next case
be rigidly investigated.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-08-21

WITH food cheaper in this country
than in Euroos and the wages Of labor
higher, it seenu certain that The foreign
emigration setting IL q ~ present
time must go ,n ineseasing. Now 4
the time for %. inmigfstion bursau
and county societies y prfsct their
organization and y arrssCe their plsns:
To be in the line Of propef dsvsIopmenf
we must have moro labor for our
splendid farming lands, our mines and
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-08-21

CHAsrINE Cox, when he was arrested
asserted that he was instigated to the
the robbery of Mrs. Hull by the devil.
The gentleman in black seems to have
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-08-21
A RICH New Yorker has bought an
immense ausntity Of coal and made ar

immense qysb,ity Of soel and made arr
rangements to supply the poorer classes
of that great city with fuel At rate net
half as high as they have been paying
in the past. That kind of a prayer for
the poor reaches heaven and the hearts
of the needy ones. -...-....ar.g !
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-08-21

ONE hundred and twenty-five camp
meetings will be in full blast in the
United, States during the month of
August The people will get change
Of air and provisions if nothing more
Detroit Free Press. -s.z...
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-08-21

This is the season of the year TO tell
secrets; every body will keep shady.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-08-21

irony" of the law-Sentencing q
blacksmith for " forgery"
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-08-21

"BoB, did you ever stop to think, !"
said grocer recently, as he measured
out half peck of potatoes, "that these
potatoes contain sugar, water and
starchf' "No, 1 don't, replied the
boy, "but ! heard mother say you put
peas and beans in your coffee, and
about pint of water in every quart of
milk you sold" The subject of natural
philosophy was dropped there. Ga. s4' %
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-08-21
. paesss,xc Isx,1Es.

A HEATED term" at Narragansett ~
Pier last week.-Ne,U York HAIL.
MOSES never had the gout. This was
one of the missed aches of Noses Med- asgs
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-08-21

t3 An old sock hung upon the line,
A sock with many q hole. ftI
And in reflection sought to draw
Some comfort for its sole. = ts- 5enl p
"It take NO stockin' all the yarns s13
l hear the parsou spin, . ...
For hoey matters worry me
.+. Much more than mortal siH.
: " Heel tell us all toe walk upright
And act our duty we'll;
But do sock have Joot-ure statef yeas
s I'm darned If he can tell !"
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-08-21

THINK,
leasured
at these
ier and 'kH
lied the ~ %aa
you put SO Ms.
ee, and S.s
quart of .--a a4s
natural
sQ ks sl
irObe.
T" Home,
.on after
led upcn s iz4
no said: al rref
on much
answer
ny invi- b e
'ery few
,et went ss
luggage 40
sing he
oks, and
fot34sa& IL
? Sohh
in the - 80
onih of g ssas4s
change sE.& eI
more
eE
: at the
3 sFass
.sAi sg {ilse 8lA
{sr r5 sesEsi
The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-05-21

DALLAS, W. Va, May 10.
Editors EntellIgeueer:
Prof. A. B. Morton, who has been cor.
Quoting a musical convention in this place,
gave a grand musical concert in the Pres.
byterian Church on Friday night last.
The entertainment consisted Of songs,
quartettes, glees, anthems, &c, ali Of
which were well rendered by the class,
Prot. Morton goes to West Alexander to
mold a musical convention at that place
and carries with him the best wishes Of
the entire community.
AT the close OF the concert Rev. John Fl.
Aughey arose and offered the following
resolutions, which were unanimously
adopted, viz:
Restred, That the thanks OF this audi.
ence be rendered to Prof. A. b. MoTton
for the excellent entertainment 10 which
We have Just listened.
ReSotred, That we appreciate his faithful
and successful laborin instructingour chill.
dfen and youth in the science OF music.
and we would commend him to all whom
u may concern as worthy Of their conf.
dence and deserving Of their patronage.
ReNQred, That our thanks are due 10
Miss Josephine Morton for her co.opera.
ton IN promoting the success of the en-.
tertatnment, and for the admirable man.
ner in which she presided at the organ,
Res9tred, That a copy ofthese resolutions
De published In u county papers and in
tho Wheeling 1STELLIogNcRR.
+. NJ. HENDERSON, President.
Il, w, RHOAnPS Sacrator,
The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-05-21

The New Orleans Times in an article on
Southern Openings for northern industry
says: at wants every paper in Louisiana
to insert an advertisement inviting indus
trious families from the West or North to
buy up a parish and COLOMBO It. The ar.
ticle proceeds to point out the most desira.
BILE sections Of the State, which, hitherto
inaccessible, are now being opened by the
extensions Of railroads. In the rich dis.
tricts of St. Martin and St. Landry, the
parishes west OF Iberia, the splendid farm.
ing urea north and south of the railroad
from viCkburg 10 Monroe, and connected
with 1t by the various navigable streams
running at right angles to the railway, lie
thousands OF acres of the most fertile land
heavily timbered, abundantly watered,
adapted equally to cotton or grain, or to
stock raising. The assurance is given that
u colony, such as described, could get land
enough in any OF the districts mentioned
that must be considered perfectly satisiac.
tory, and we are told there can be no
doubt that the Louisiana lands, worked as
those of the far West are, would yield two,
three, or even four fold"