davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1879-02-08
A Bird OF Cunning Uses.

There is curious bird in India known
as the "glow-worm bird" from its habit
of gathering luminous insects, as some
suppose, for the purpose of lighting its
nest.
Sir William Jones endeavors to ac-
count for the presence of the glow-werm
in the nest by the superstition that the
bird places them there for the purpose
of lunching upon them at convenient
opportunity. He, however, grants to
the little feathered "Indian" various
qualities, which are, if anything, more
wonderful than the above.
He says that it is easily tanned, and
may be taught to fetch and carry
like dog. Drop ring into well and
the bird will, upon a given signal, dart
after it, seize it before it reaches the
water, and bear it with exultation to
its master. 1t can also be taught to
carry notes from one house to another.
The young Hindoo women at Benares
wear, according to Sir William, very
thin plates of gold between their eye
brows, and when they pass through the
streets it is not uncommon for their
lovers, who amuse themselves by train
ing those birds, to send them to pluck
the pieces of gold from the forehead of
their mistresses and bring them in tri-
umph to the mischievous SWANS.
The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1879-02-08
Paul Boyton and the Queen.

Paul Boyton thus artlessly relates an
incident of his first presentation to
Queen Victoria, ON board the Alberta, in
the English Channel, when he was about
to give her Majesty an exhibition of his
swimming performances: !" saw lit
tie woman in black who seemed to be in
the center of the party, SO I thought
that must be the Queen. l bowed and
said, Her Majesty? She bowed lit
tie and smiled. l said, Must l take
water now?' She smiled and bowed
again; so / glided into the water, and
did the thing all up in hurry. I had
dress suit on under my apparatus, and
when / clambered on deck / quickly
threw off my sea dress, and came before
her Majesty again. She said, Il am
pleased and astonished; it is very won
derful.' A young lady who stood by
asked me question, to which 1 an
swered, Yes, Miss Some of the ladies
began to laugh, and the Queen smiled a
little. did not know what they were
laughing at, but | thought l had done
something wrong, SO l said, Your
Majesty must excuse me, have never
been presented at court before, and am
not posted"
The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1879-02-08
New Uses for Glass.

As we had heard nothing for long
time about the invention by which glass
was deprived of its brittleness, we con-
cluded that it was one OF the ephemeral
discoveries so frequent of late years, and
dismissed it from our mind We now
find something more surprising in the
glass line The Detroit Free Press has
had translated for the Use of its readers
from German paper the following par
ticulars of the new process of making
clothes out of glass AT Gnadenfrel the
artist and glass spinner, A. Prengel, of
Vienna, has established his glass bust
ness, Offering carpets, cuffs, collars, wells,
etc., of glass. He not only spins, but
also weaves glass before the eyes Of the
people. The otherwise brittle glass he
changes into pliable threads and uses
them for making good, warm clothing.
1t sounds like myth, but Mr.. Prengel
introduces certain Ingredients which are
his secret, and thereby changes the en-
tire nature of the glass. He has just
finished white, curly glass mud for
lady in st. Petersburg; he charges forty
thalers (thirty dollars) for them. Also,
ladies' hats, of glass, with glass feathers
A remarkable feature of this glass ma
terial is that it is lighter than feathers.
Wool made of glass can not be dis
tinguished from the genuine article.
Mr.. Prengeps glass inventions are some
thing SO extraordinary and useful for
clothing, ETC., as glass is non-con-
ductor, that it will probably cause an en-
tire revolution in dress material.
The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1879-02-08
TRADE WITH JAPAN.

The new commercial treaty between
the United States and Japan, just rati-
fed by the Senate, provides for the
abolition of all determinations against
us in the Japanese customs tariff, and
gives our consular courts jurisdiction
over claims for forfeitures of penalties
arising from iDfractions of treaty pro-
visions or violations of the japanese Gus
toms laws. Two additional ports are
thrown open to American commerce,
and all export duties are abolished. One
of the most important provisions is that
which prohibits the imposition of any
higher duty upon articles from the
United States than upon articles from
any other nation.
Although we first opened Japanese
ports to commerce" says the New York
Shipping List, "and, Notwithstanding
the friendly professions of the nation
toward us, which has been a source of
jealousy for England, the latter by per-
sistence and assiduity has secured spe-
cial favors, which have amounted TO
discrimination against American COM
merce. Thus, for the six months of this
year, which ended June 80, we imported
articles from Japan to the value 2,494,-
600, while our exports only amounted to
$1,720,000. Great Britain, whose i'm
ports from Japan only amounted to
81, 1863. 600 during that period, supplied
nearly SO, 100000 of a total export
trade of $17,000,0U0. As regards the
movement of specie, the exhibit is still
worse for us, Great Britain receiving
SO, 497, 900, while we shipped to Japan
$475, 900 more than we received. The
principal articles of export from Japan
are raw silk, cocoons, silk-worm eggs, tea
and copper. OF the whole amount, the
silk, cocoons and tea constitute more
than three-fourths, and these we want.
The principal articles imported into
Japan are cotton goods, woolens, rice,
sugars and produce, metals and petrol
cum, and all OF these we ought to supply
better and more cheaply than any other
power. The more receptive intellects
and greater adaptiveness of character of
the japanese render the introduction of
our products into Japan easier than in
China; and, under the provisions of the
new treaty, our manufacturers should
be able to greatly increase their sales in
that direction"
The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1879-02-08
Newspaper Management In France.

The management of newspapers here
and in France is very different. In
order to set up s. journal there a
government warrant (brevet) is required
in advance, carrying at its minimum
twenty-five thousand francs (some five
thousand dollars), as caution money.
This is nominally held by the govern
ment, which in return subscribes to so
many copies, counting it as kind of
equivalent. As may be seen, this is
species of subvention or subsidy gener-
ated by imperialism, and still continued
by the republic, which fears to make
too many innovations upon established
custom in country composed of such
variety of political opinions. The press
of France, noticeably that of Paris, is
hardly what it has been. Freedom of
speech has run, in many cases, into
RIGHTEOUSNESS, and liberty of discussion
into ribaldry and gross personal abuse.
Low-priced journalism has introduced
low morality and inferior talent. Still,
the Paris newspapers are gradually
working out of the slough of corruption
into which the Third Empire cast them.
All of them are not Figdros, Pays, and
Gdutois. There are also Temps and
Journals des Debdts. One of the great
editorial defects is want of supervision,
conference, or agreement as to what
shall be published. Each man, be he
leader-writer, correspondent, or re-
porter, says, as rule, what he likes or
believes for the moment The conse-
quence is that the representative jour
nal of the capital represents nothing but
the passions and prejudices of each pen
man; and to form any idea of the policy
or principle of the journal is no more
possible than it would have been to
learn given language in the Tower of
Babel. To this criticism, however, it
must be said that the Repubhque Fran
caise, the principal Republican organ
and the journal of M. Gambetta, is not
ODeQ.
The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1879-02-08
SOLAR COOKING.

One of the most interesting exhibits
at the Paris Exhibition was the solar
cooking apparatus of Prof. Mouchot, to
whom a Cross of the Legion of Honor
has been awarded. Archimedes of old
is said to have won himself great renown
by setting fire to the ships of hostile
feet with the concentrated beams of the
sun; but M. Mouchot has achieved an
humber triumph in turning them to the
peaceful use of the kitchen. The sun
is known to be great fire, in whose
rays the world perpetually turns and
warns itself. Why not use this fire for
cooking, although it is SO far off? Its
heat at the earth's surface is too dltfused
to cook directly, but it may be concen-
trated either by lenses or by mirrors,
which focus the rays while they reflect
them. 1t is with mirrors that NJ
Mouchot works Concave mirrors are
employed to catch the sunlight and
focus them by reflection on glass-tube,
inclosing a tubular still if spirits are
to be distilled, kettle if water or eggs
are to be boiled, gridiron if chop is
to be cooked, and SO on. 1t is simple
apparatus, but M. Mouchot works won
ders with it even in our cloudy ATTITUDES
He makes coffee, boils eggs, distills wine
into brandy, works steam-engine, and
roasts beef with it. There is something
OF the magician in M. Mouchot thus
making hearth of the world and cook
ing by the heat of the sun. With a
mirror two square feet in surface area.
he roasted two pounds of beef in twenty
two minutes at Paris. In one hour and
a half he cooked stews, which on an
ordinarywood-fre would have required
about four hours to prepare. In half
an hour he boiled nearly pint and
half of cold water.
If these feats may be done at Paris,
what may not be done in the clear dry
air and under the burning sun of AL
geria, Egypt and India, or on those
Sandy deserts where there is no fuel to
be had for the burning, while the fierce
rays of the sun stream down on every
side? The Russians, who are not slow
to profit by any novelty which comes
under their notice, have been taken
with M. Mouchat's apparatus; and the
Grand Duke Michael, while at the ex-
hibition, ordered several of the porta-
BILE solar cooking apparatus for the
use of the Russian army now unde
General Kaufman, at Tashkend, on the
plains of Turkestan. The working of
stationery engines by M. Mouchot's plan
is not the least interesting of its appli-
cations, and if these engines were en-
ployed to produce artificial cold and
freeze water, we should have the curious
anomaly of the SUMS rays creating, in
stead of dissolving, ice and frost. OF
course such an invention could scarcely
be of much use to country whose skies
are frequently clouded.
The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1879-02-08
Cold Weather at the Aquarium.
New York News !

A particularly interesting study for
the past few days was the effect of cold
weather on the inhabitants of the
Aquarium. The man-eating shark,
whose brothers and sisters are far away
in warmer regions, where they will re-
main for many months, feels it keenly,
lies motionless at the bottom of his
tank, has changed color completely, and
is now as white as snow. The Holsters
from Bermuda stretch their skinny legs
slowly and deliberately, as il suffering
from infammatory rheumatism. The
snakes and lizards suffer from want of
appetite, the hardy salamanders do not
move, the young alligators, Matched last
summer, are stiff and lazy, and only the
Northern creatures and the inhabitants
of fresh water move with the same vi
vacity as before The salmon, bass,
carp, catfish, doghsh, and further, the
sea robins, Norwegian wrasses, fileish
and blowfish show an extraordinary
activity and agility, as if the cold
weather had induced them to quick
motion. What is more remarkable,
some few creatures imported from the
warm waters Of the Bermudas have
lost none of their lively habits. Among
these the most interesting is a gigantic
specimen of the so called fat, or broad
lobster, creature that has resided in
the Aquarium for more than eight
months, and become 80 accustomed to
its place and keeping that it will, like
trained animal, leave its favorite corner
as soon as it perceives the man, come to
the surface, and take the food out of
his hands. This broad lobster is one
of the Oldest and most venerable look
ing of all the creatures brought from
Bermuda. It's back is thickly covered
with sea-weed, alge, and living colonies
of sertularia, giving the impression of
an old house, the matched roof OF which
is covered with green moss A curious
contrast to this weathe r-shaken roof is
made by the lively colored legs of the
creature, red and black, that remind
you of barber-poles. Sometimes it rests
immovably on its ten legs for hours, and
only the nervous motions Of its little
tentacles indicate that it lives and
observes.
The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1879-02-08
Abandoned in a Storm.

The Leadville (Col.) Reueiue says
Our citizens will remember the whirl-
ing, boisterous snow-storm that pre-
vailed in Leadville on New Years Day,
and they can very easily imagine how
much more severe and binding the
storm must have been on the bleak
summit of Weston Pass On that day
the stage line known as the South Park
Company had so large list of passen-
gers that an extra wagon was provided,
and il it four passengers took their
seats. When this comfortless vehicle
was within mile or a mile and half
of the summit of the pass on the other
side, the passengers were told to walk
or else they could proceed no further.
The driver finally gave peremptory
commands to get out and walk. Two
of them hung on to the tail-board to
keep up and to obtain such slight pro-
lection from the driving snow as this
slight barricade afforded against the fu-
rious blasts coming squarely in their
faces. AS there was room for only two
at the rear of the wagon, the other two
passengers, Mcnamara and James
Burns, struggled and plodded along be-
hind in the deep snow as best they
could. One of them, Mr.. Burns, being
unaccustomed to the high altitude and
to such strain upon his not very Wig
orous constitution, began to lag and re-
quire from his more robust companion
greater assistance than mere words of
encouragement. The driver agreed TO
wait for them when the summit was
raochad ond with this fond hono m op;
mate them they toiled forward. and in
a thoroughly exhausted condition gained
the top of the range only to experience
the keen disappointment of finding the
wagon gone and themselves abandoned
upon one of the most exposed spots of
the Rocky Mountains in a terrible
storm. The evidence in the suit which
is to follow this inhuman abandonment
will show that the driver waited only q
few moments for these two men, and
The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1879-02-08

then deliberately proceeded on his way,
or perish in the snow.
The wind had filled the track with
snow, and only with great difficulty and
delay could they keep the road by feel
ing with their feet for the beaten trail
After struggling along for mile on this
side, they stopped for consultation
upon the desperate situation in. which
they realized themselves to be. Being
strangers, and totally unfamiliar with
the surroundings, they had no idea that
Rocky Point Station was only three
miles from them, on a down grade.
Knowing that there was a station be-
hind them, they finally decided to re-
trace their steps, and actually toiled
back to the summit and down the
weary bleak eight miles to Platte Sta
ton, where they found shelter, food,
and hospitable treatment. The coach
of Thursday brought them into Lead
vile, and the men actually report that
some employee of the stage company de-
manded fare of them.
Mcnamara and Burns sought legal
advice, and have placed their suit for
damages in the hands of Judge Newt
son, of the firm of Tankersley & Newt
son, of Leadville. DR.. Law being
called in, examined the men and found
one of them had leg solidly frozen.
The Doctor thrust needles into the
limb and the owner never fipched.
One hand of the other is badly frozen,
being somewhat more exposed by hold
ing blanket in front of his face. The
boys intend to push the suit to the bit
ter end. The damages sued for will be
some 5000 or $40, 900 each.
The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1879-02-08
The Early Coinage OF Michigan.

In the good old days of Michigan there
wasn't any money to speak OF floating
around from hand to hand. When a
householder wanted meal, he seraped a
half-dozen coon skins together and made
a trade. If he wanted meat he killed
it; and il there was need of whisky, it
was very poor man who couldn't find
wild cat bill or a bogus half-dollar
down in his pocket. One day a circuit
preacher, hunting for place in which
to speak to the dozen or twenty settlers
in Oakland County, halted at forlorn
looking cabin beside the trail and asked
for dinner. The squatter's wife ex-
tended very cordial welcome, and said I:
"Its lucky you come along to-day, as
l have go, a new bag of meal, lots of
sassafras for coffee, and some of the best
communion you ever tasted of. Go
down to the ditch and wash up, and I'll
have the dinner ready in ten minutes"
When the preacher returned he began
lamenting the hard times, and the fact
that he hadn't seen the sight of money
for several weeks. He was cheerfully
trying to do good, but he frankly con-
fessed that he could do much better if
he could now and then hear the jingle
of money in his trowsers' pocket The
woman looked wise, but made no reply,
and by and by the good man resumed
his journey. His horse was picking his
way along the trail, about three miles
from the cabin, when a native, six feet
high, and attired in coon-skin cap, hick.
DRY shirt and Indian leggings, came
after him on the run, yelling out:
I" You thar whoa hold on, youp'
When he came up he asked:
Are you the travelling Bible who
halted back there for dinner and eat up
a whole coonY'
am circuit-rider, and halted
back there and eat more or less of big
hunk of delicious meat" answered the
good man.
"And didn't you tell my wife you
were dead broke for cashT'
II intimated, as | now recollect, that
| was not burdened with any great
amount of cash."
Well, my wife is the most internal
OLD hard-blow in the territory, and Pm
the meanest liar in the diggins, but yet
we must keep religion billing | got
home just as you left, and when she
told me you were hard up, | went to
work on the jump and nodded you these
six half-dollar pieces. There's a leetle too
much lead in 'em, but if you are care
full to wipe 'em on your eoat-tail now
and then, they will pass on anybody ex-
cept a land-brokerp
Some legends say that the preacher
didn't take them; but legends are not
always reliable.
The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1879-02-08

DIR. SCHLEIMANN has been continuing
his excavations in search of the buried
Troy, and has traced the remains of four
prehistoric cities. Most remarkable
among the new. discoveries he has ex-
humed from the oblivion in which they
have been buried for so many ages, is a
we'll preserved distaff of wood eleven
feet long with large quantity of wooden
thread wound around it and charred as
black as coal; but the most interesting
object he has found he considers dag
ger of steel four inches long. The blade
which is double edged and in the form
of an arrow, and in perfect state of
preservation, is the first piece of iron he
has ever found in his excavations. The
prehistoric times are of vague significa-
ton. and it is only of late years that we
have begun to form some idea of the inn
mense lapse of time from the creation to
the prefent day. The work of Mr..
Schleimann and. others is beginning to
The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1879-02-08

In spite of the hard times in England,
the business of setting up American
families. on the proceeds of estates in
chancery thrives as vigorously as ever.
The Carpenters will receive dollar or
two apiece as soon as that famous Bible,
containing the family records, is discov-
cred and wrenched from the sacrileg-
ious hands of the wretch who is hanging
to it and hiding it. The Hydes, of
NOVA Scotia, now are all agog over $12,-
000,000,000 deposited in the bank of
England, which will be distributed
when their missing link" is found.
This consists of commission made out
to a former Governor of the province.
1t is now owned by an old woman, who
bought an old trunk at auction few
years ago for twenty-five cents. She
found the parchment in it, and kept it
because of the pretty seals on it. When
the old woman is found and the parch-
ment proves to be what it is supposed
to be, and the twelve thousand million
is paid over by the Bank of England
to the Hydes, their skins will hardly
hold their happiness.
The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1879-02-08

A VERY wealthy Russian lady some
years ago wished to indulge her passion
for card playing by few games with a
French lady Of rank who was noted
player. The two met at nine p. M, and
at sunrise next morning the Russian
lady had lost all her money and jewels,
and more, too, and said she would in
struct her steward to turn all her estates
and mines over to her conqueror. The
French lady, however, insisted on pro-
viding her own terms, and with the aid
of a notary and priest she bound the
Russian lady only never to play again,
but to send her $4,000 year. The
bargain was kept, and the money given
to the poor. The French lady has just
died.
The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1879-02-08

DESPITE all the tales of strikes and
lockouts in the shipbuilding yards of
Great Britain, the following figures
show that some activity has still been
maintained: One hundred and twenty
six-thousand three hundred and seven
tons of iron shipping were built on the
Tyne in 1878; 100, 943 tons on the Wear,
1879 tons at Hartlepool, and II, 5S7 on
the Tees. The Tyne built nearly one
half more vessels in 1878 than in 1877.
Many of the vessels launched on these
rivers are Of considerable size, and have
been employed in carrying corn, cotton,
and provisions from the United States to
the United Kingdom with considerable
success in the last quarter of the year.
Some steamers have been built on 1he
Tyne for Germany, France, etc.
The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1879-02-08

A PROFESSOR at Cornell, lecturing on
the effects of the wind in some western
forests, remarked: In travelling along
the road, l even sometimes found the
logs bound and twisted together to such
an extent that a mule couldn't climb
over them, 80 l went round. Nv 7.
World
The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1879-02-08
TOPICS OF THE DAY.

THERE is an almanac issued annually,
in December, by the Chinese Board of
Astronomy, and bestowed by special
act of imperial grace on the Coreans,
Lewchewans, Annamites and other trib-
utaries. 1t contains, says Prof. Har-
rington, section intended to be prac-
teal guide in the common affairs of
life. The poorer classes watch this part
of the almanac, and marry, bury, and
do other things only when it advises,
and the better educated people, it is
thought, do not start on journey or
enter Office except on favorable days.
The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1879-02-08

IT is stated that in Iroquois County,
ILL.,, 53,500,000 gallons of water are sup
piled daily by artesian wells for the
Irrigation of land. These wells do not
in any instance exceed seventy-fve feet
depth; they are of small bore, and
within radius of twenty miles there are
two hundred of them.
The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1879-02-08

MUsKRAT farming seems to be rival
ing cranberry culture in Iowa IN the
matter of making swamps productive.
After two years a muskrat pond q
marsh will yield fair profit and lots ct
fun for the muskrat hunters.
The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1879-02-08

THERE is something touching in the
child-like simplicity with which the
man who has bought pair Of ready
made trowsers nurses and endeavors "a
retain the tell-tale crease down the
Puck.