davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-10-23
The Finest Diamond In the World.

France ., opposes 10 sell her crown
j"wcI-. Among them is the Regent. the
finest of the great known diamonds Of
tn" world. There are several that are
larger in the royal TREASURES OF Europe.
and there are some few that are more
valuable. but there are none 20 beautiful.
lmost perfect is this peerless stone in
al respcc $. In shape, cutting, lusior
and color Il MAY be pronounced fault
Jess, were II not FOR a small and almost
impcrccpliblc spot. which II visible TO
the eye Of m expert when the stone is
taken from its setting.
The history Of tho Regent shows
through what varied adventures the his.
toric gems Of the world have generally
passed. Found in the mines Of Col
conda. i originally formed one Of the
eyes Of famous idol placed in the pa
CODA of Chandcrmagose, in BcDgar
Stolen mysteriously by some unknown
adycnturcr. it passed from hand to hand
until IL became the property OF Thomas
Pitt, tho grandfather Of the great Earl OF
nathan. that gentleman havir z pur-
chased 1t from a jewel merchant while
in India for the sum of SCI, 500. The
Duke Of Orleans. when Regent Of France.
bought for S67 coo. Louis XIV. and
Louis XVI wore ii in their hats. Ma
poleon ]. caused Ii 10 bc set in the hi!t
of his sword. For long time. during
the consulate and first empire. this
precious diamond was held in pledge by
the state banker. NJ. NaIlcrberghc.
Whilst it was in his possession he
adopted novel method Of keeping It
safely. Ills wife used 10 wear IL con-
stantly sewcd up ia belt. while the
wary banker exhibited TO the eyes Of
the curious n fine fac-simile in paste Of
the celebrated gem. During the second
empire 1t formed the crowning jewel of
n splendid diadcm of antique form, en-
tirely composed of diamonds. which
the beautiful empress wore on all grand
occasions Of public festivity. Those
who have ever beheld this peerless
stone blazing like star above that fair
brow have never forgotten the sight.
4 full inventory Of the crowned jewels
Of France was taken in 1921 by order Of
the National Assembly. Therein the Re-
gent is described as "a superb white
brilliant of square form. with rounded
corners. weighing I36 carats. and valued
at twelve millions of francs (s2. 4OO, ,OOO). p"
The great diamonds of the world are
generally ugly and lustcTless. as witness
the kobI-noor. 1t is on.y tho great
French diamond that shows rs regal in
its beauty as in its size and value.
Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-10-23
A StIIt Race,

A French writer says: | remember
particularly certain silt race, one of
the oddcst races that | ever saw. Six
men and four women were entered
rs the horscy men would say. Al Ar
cachOn the women share the exercises
of the men. There were then on the
beach of Eyrac ten tchnnkas. In the
patois of the Landes. which one might
be tempted TO confound with the Japan
csc or Chinese idioms, tchanka Is "A
person mounted on stills. and sec
tchanSa means To mount on stills. These
ten tchankas had all the same traditional
costume, without distinction of sex. that
Is to say, bcrct on the head, "A mantle
OF wool over the shoulders, Il buttoned
doublct, bare feet, and the legs cnvcloped
in n camano or fleece. fixed by red gar
ters. Their stills raised them five or six
feet from the ground. A pole served
them IA a third point of support. Seen
from distance they looked like gigantic
grasshOppcrs. The tchanka. hSwcycr,
Is seen 10 perfection on the bare lands,
motionless and fixed like a solitary tri-
angle ut sunset, or else when hc leans
against pine tree, silently knitting
stockings and guarding Il black and lean
flock. Stern and mute in the midst of
the crowd, which was examining them
with curiosity. their thoughts were con
ccntrntcd solely on the race that they
were about TO dispute. The price was
not much. The victor won twenty
francs. But twenty francs in the eyes
of the tchanka represents "a fortune.
So abatc signal given by the president
of the fctc, they AL ten spread over the
Eotch, bowling and yelling. II it had
not been for their immense strides,
which pass Imagination, you might
have thought that you were present at
an Arabian fantasia. Their cvolutions
were the same, accomplished with the
touched upon the impossible. and on
ground where the siilt sunk in foot nj
each step. Their mantle. streaming in
the wind, like those Of Arabian cnva-
liers. they ran and piyotcd round n
deity rs If they had been on foot. The
women were by no means inferior to the
men; one OF them. in fact, came in
second. and they were only 10 be dis
tinguishcd by their more piercing cries
This race was followed by some private
exercises performed by the tchnnkas in
order To provoke The generosity of the
spectators. They jumped, they SIT down
and rose up again, and they picked up ns
they ran pieces Of money that were
thrown 10 them. The spectacle was moi:
the least extraordinary. Bouncing for
ward nj full speed, The man was sud
denly seen to stop. the stills bent. fcl!, as
II were. 10 pieces. then something was
seen moving between three pieces Of
wood, like the body Of spider in the
middle Of it, long legs The whole per-
formancc was done with lightning
rapidity. the stills rose again. and the
man rcappoarcd on the top of them anl
resumed his course.
Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-10-23
Rome sentinel BreyiIies.

Fortune taps Mt every mans door,"
but 1t is the misfortune oi many men
never 10 he at home ~ receive the calls.
II Is against the law to carry conceaIcd
arms, yet IL Is nothing uncommon on
moonlight evenings to see young ladies
with half concealed arms around then
waists.
The schoolboy will gloat for half a
day on the eEigmas In puzzle column
but when he comes to getting his regular
arithmetic lesson he considers IL the
greatest bore on earth.
The Domestic Monthly desires TO be
told How to stuff egg plant" The best
way Is To have the egg plant sliced
thin. fried in egg and butter until il is
done brown, then stuff IL into the orifice
between the nose and the chin.
Sir Henry Thompson is arguing strcn-
uously against big English dinners with
their unreasonable supeTnbundance of
viands aud their iediously protracted
series ul courses. Let him encourage
more of the English 10 go into the news
paper business II nc desires to- make
effective inroads upon tue barbaric
practice.
Immediately after the noon rcpast n
very young lad petitioned his mother to
allow him to spend the afternoon, till
four o'clock, with his playmate around
The corner. Tho mother said he might
20 to bring back top he had left there,
hut that he must return Immediately.
| This led the urchin 20 reflect and re-
mark: "I don't think can find the top
before four o'clock"
Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-10-23

Jockeys arp the boys who generally
suffer in life and limb at fairs. but Mis-
souri offers a tragedy in which n booth
keeper is the victim Wkile Senator
Cockrell was delivering An address nj
the Saline county fair. nj Marshall. the
CRY OF murder" was raised and the
great crowd broke away from around the
orator to pour down upon n booth kept
10y Robert Montague. 4 man by the
name of Fisher had cuarreled with
Montague and stabbed him to the heart
with dirk. There was the most intense
excitement among the 5000 people pres
cnt.
At the Fulton (Wis) fair the most
valuable cow on exhibition kceled over
and gave up the ghost. The cattle doc
tors all gathered around the animal and
made a post mortcm examination In
public. The cause Of death. wonderful
To relate, was found TO have been n hair
pin in the beasts heart. The remains OF
the girl who perhaps went down with
the pin were not discovered.
The novelty during the carly davs Of
the Bourbon county (ky.) fair was n
baby show. The Cincinnati Enquirer
dispatch, which chronicles the fact that
w. +. Coupland. of Iseadville. Colorado.
Mht Nllt IIfAfs 6AN NtAs ttAhft VI
the tying the ribbon IL seemed as though
several fights were imminent among the
mothers of the kids who were ertercd.'
At the Wisconsin State fair John Nc
Cullough. tho tragedian. reoited from
Julius Caesar, Othello and other plays
for the benefit of the rustics. There
was ballon ascension. also.
II was so cold at the Minnesota State
fair that an old-fashioned backlog fire
in the lumberman's camp was the most
popular attraction 10 The blue-noscd
sight-seers.
Brilliancy was given 10 the domestic
department OF the Minnesota fair by
covering the tables alternately with red.
white and blue cloths.
A coin collection. in which all ages
and nations were represented. was the
curiosity Mt the Toledo (OhioI ui-Siate
fair.
Among the attractions 10 garner the
shekels at the st. Paul MINI fair was
Captain Bogardus. the crack slot.
In his ascension from m Ohio fair the
other day an aeronaul took mp live
colt.
Many farmers were encampcd In army
tents ofSthe Iowa State fair grounds.
The novelty at the Decatur (lll.) fair
was a 4O0-yard foot race.
Beer was hanished from the Michigan
State fair grounds.
Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-10-23
4 FIreman,s Rrn,e Decd.

Late at night fire broke out In the
basement uf thrcc-stoTy brick tcnc
mcnt on President street, BROOKLYN, IT,
the apartments of Andrew Hcnur. and
rapidly filled the house with sitting
smoke. There were three families in
the house John McCann. his wife and
seven children occupied the third story
Most of the inmates of the house were
in bed when the ire broke out. There
was much excitement. and the tenants
iird down the stairway partly dressed.
and carrying in their hands such articles
as they could hastily collect. The fami-
lies in the first and second stories cg-
capped easily. but Mrs. McCaun WAS de-
laycd in waking up her seven children
and getting them started into the street.
ClasrinC An infant in her arms she
grouped five Of the Others together and
guided them down the stairs through
the dense smoke. She met police scr
gcant on the second story on his way 10
help rescue the children, and told him
all of fthcm were with her, but when she
reached the sidewalk she mi ssed hct
five-yeaT old daughter Emma. Mrs Nc.
Cam uttered shrek and made a dash
for the entrance Of the house. which by
this time had begun 10 be lighted by the
fire below. while dense smoke filed the
upper apartments. She was restrained.
and ladder was put up against tho side
of the building.
Fireman Samuel Duff foreman Of No
,. mounted the ladder. and forcing open
the shutters Of the window of the third
story. climbed in. The room was al
ready full Of smoke. which was almost
suffocatiug. and Duff was tempted To re-
turn. thinking that the child must have
been smothercd. hut Iust then heard the
cries Of the child. and. falling upon his
knees. he CROPPED his way along the floor
until he reached tho bed. lie called nj
the top Of his voice for the child 10 come
toward him. and felt over the bed with
ont reaching her Hearing the cry again
~ follow d its direction. and found the
frightened child curlcd up against the
wall. lie graspcd her by the arm. and,
almost overcome by the smoke. started
for the window. lie could not see. and
the first window he reached was closed,
but edging his way along the wal, 10 the
open window he reached the ladder,
where the police sergeant met him and
took the child. Duff was much ex.
hausied by his efforts. and waited at the
top of the ladder for some minutes to re-
cover himself Mrs Mccain was over
ioyed to receive her child safe in her
aVtna
Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-10-23
Phenomenal Wells.

A letter from Meadville. Pa. to the
baltimore american says: -Four miles
from Clintonville. Venango county, y
we'll was sunk three months ago To the
depth of 900 feet. No oil but heavy
vein of gas was found. The owner oi
the well attempted TO remove the casing.
II was raised foot The fresh water
at the top of the hole rushed into the
bottom. Itwas caught by the great rush
of gas and thrown n hundred feet in the
air. This natural fountain has been
gushing at the rate OF 9, 900 barrels Of ice
cold water n day ever since, with no in
dication that ii will ever cease.
Some months ago party of oil opcr-
ators from Titusville and st. Petersburg
began operations in the newly discov-
cred oil region OF Trumbull county,
Ohio. They have struck n vein OF pc
troleum of character heretofore un-
known in the oil business. IL Is lubri-
eating oil of the finest quality. and IL
comes from the earth refined and ready
for use on the finest machinery. This
well is flowing FIVE barrels Of this oil n
day. for which the operators have n
ready ale Mt St6 n barrel. Ordinary oil,
In the Pennsylvania regions, is now SELL
ing Mt sixty-three cents n barrel. The
tract I'm which this phenomenal we'll Is
located is near West Mecca. Two thou
sand acres has been leased at enormous
prices by other spectators. The dis
covcrcIs of this refined lubricating oil are
putting down other wells on their land.
Among the sand rock taken from Tew q
Thurston's new oil well near State Line,
at n depth of over 900 feet, was piece
thickly studded with sea shells and bear
ing the impressions of curious fishes.
Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-10-23
Where the Heat IL Almost Uncomfortable.

The following IL nm extract from the
letter oil missionary's wife, and yiyidly
describes the terrific heat which prcyGils
In lndlh during the summer: / remem-
Der seeinga iantastic lining by Gustave
Dore. representing tophet. The fire
burst forth from the mouths az buyc
caycrns. and everything hnd a molten
and red-hot appearance. India at pres.
cnt is very much in this condition. Tho
hot winds blow unintcrruptcdly from
four 10 eight hours daily ns from n liery
furnace. The iitrccly blazing sun
scorches and burns everything in the
most uncompromising manner. The
earth has an oycuy appearance, and is
cracked open in large iissuIcs with the
intense heat, and scorchcs the feet even
through thick soled boots. The miscrn.
bic trees look unhappy and hang their
poor wiltcd leaflets. There II rot a
spear Of grass visible. Folks out-doors
drag their weary lengths along as though
each were carrying "A ball and chain
They seem 10 have 10 ambition on earth
but TO drop down and die quietly In some
shady nook. The roads are some inches
deep in dust and the air j. filled with IT,,
50 that breathing il difficult and pain
iuL There are no vegetables nor any
fruits. Wells and tanks and cistcrns are
low and the water muddy and unhealthy.
Indoors the furniture burns the body
through the clothing. The sun glarcs
into every crack and crcvicc so persist
entity that blinds and shades and thick
curtains can hardly darl.cn room -uili-
cicntly. Every outside door j. closed
tightly. from early morning until after
sundown, 10 keep out the heat. The
air becomes stagnant and sufiocatng.
A little relicfis obtainablc from the pun
kah. large fan suspended from the
ceiling and worked by servant from
the outside. The punkah swings day
and night. The man whose business II
il TO keep it swinging sometimes falls
asleep. and then the air seems 10 press
upon one NJ the rate of a thousand pounds
to the square inch. Breathing is next 10
impossible.
At night there il still less comfort 10
be had. The bed is hotter than the
body. We sprinkle the bed first and
then jump in, but it j. dry and hot again
in almost no time. We sprinkle the
floor and furniture and do everything
imaginable Ia cool the Sleeping room,
hut all usolessiy. II j. like trying 10
sleep in well heated oven. Although
We may long 10 renouncc the flesh and
sit in our bones, still we know that both
flesh and clothes are absolutely necessary
in order To protect the body from the
bot air How sup"rlatiyely happy must
those be who live in cold climate,
" hat would | not give for q breath Of
cool mir from the AdriondncEs. or for
plunge into the surf at Newport. or for
walk on the strand. or even for a di-iau
glimpse o the sea-
Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-10-23
The Husklng Bee.

Tho rooster stalks on tho hangers lodge,
He has tail like a scimisar's edge,
A marshai's plume on his Afghan neck,
An admiral's stride on his quarter deck;
He rules the roost and walks the bay
With dreadful cool and Turkish way.
Two broadsides fires with his rapid wings
This sultan proud, OF line OF kings
One cultural laugh, four blasts OF horn,
Five lusty syllables rouse the morn
The Saxon lambs in their wooden tabs
Are playing school with the II, b, abs;
A q! |, o. All the cattle spell
Till thoy make the blatant vowels toll.
And a hali.laugh whinuy fills tho stalls
Whom down in the rack tho clover falls.
A dove is wnltzing around his mate,
Two chevrons black on his wings of r!n'c,
And showing Off with wooing note
The satin shine oi his golden throat
Il Is Ovid's "Art OF Love" retold
In binding flne of blue and gold
All, the buxom girls that helped tho boys,
The noble Helens of humble Troys--
As they stripped husks with rustlng fold
From eight-rowed corn Ms yellow rs gold,
by the candle-light in pumpkin bowls,
And the gleam that showed fantastic holes
In the quaint old lanterns tattoed tin.
From the hermit glim sct up within;
BY the mrer light in girlish eyes
As dark rs wells or as blue rs skies.
hear the laugh when the car Is red,
sec the blush with the forfeit paid.
The cedar cakes with the ancient twist,
The cider cups that the girls have kissed,
And see the fiddler through the dusk
As he twangs the ghost OF Money Musk
The boys and girls in a double row
Wait face to face till the magic bow
Shall whip the tune from the violin,
Aud the merry pulse OF the feet begin.
B. r. Taylor.
Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-10-23

Vaccination appears TO have untold
terrors for the country folk of Germany.
4 woman Of Mellcnberge, who was re-
paatcdly notified to submit her child of
eight months o the operation. and was
threatened with arrangement In court
ishc did not comply, jumped with the
oaby into the Fulda. Both were drowned
Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-10-23

WHAT'S your nameP" asked teacher
Of boy. my name Is Jule," was the
reply; whercupon the teacher impress
sively said. "You should have said
Julius. sir" And now, my lad, !"
turning 10 another boy, "what Il your
namePm Bilious. sir.m
Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-10-23

When slleca to herself she was "
ing on the damp ground with seat
cushion under her head and number
Of gentlemen standing around her.
I" BE they all killed ?" asked Quiz, with
a shudder.
"No; thanks TO you, my brave girl.
we are all saved" answered n kind
faced gentleman, who was bending over
her: "arc you better now7"
"Yes. thank you; but where's Fred ?
Wasn't Fred on the trainf"
ANYBODY here by the name of Fred ~
asked the conductor, who stood near.
Three or four gentlemen stepped for
Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-10-23

The people who have no aim In life do
n Q most shooting .-Ifouyasse
Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-10-23

Fortune taps Mt every mans door,"
but 1t is the misfortune OF many men
never to he Mt home ~ receive the calls.
Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1879-07-12
COMMISSIONERS
NOTICE.
,irruit Court of Jefferson Coun-

IN the CIRCUIT Court of Jefferson Coun-
ty, West Virginia:
John Brscoc's Admir-, Plaintiff,
against
John T. IIenklc and others, Defts.
IN CHANCERY.
Extract from decree of April p, 1879.
This cause i, referred TO Commissioner
Clcon Moore, to ascertain and report,
1st, When the sale of the realty, in the
proceedings mentioned, was made by
John Il. Iienkle to Susan j. and Joseph
+. Smooth. When possession thereof was
given, and the cause of delay, if any cX-
isted, in placing the said purchaser in
possession.
End, The amount agreed to be paid by
the purchaser for the said realty, the pay
ments made thereon and the dates thereof,
and the amount due of the purchase mon
ey after deducting the said payments.
Bird, The value of and expenditures
made by the said purchaser for improve
mcnts of the said realty, after obtaining
possession thereof.
18th, The balance remaining of the pro-
ceeds of the sale Of the said realty made
under the decree in this cause made OH
the 9th day of April, 1873, after deduct
ing costs, expenses, commissions, and the
debts due by Mrs. Fannie Lucas TO DIR.
John BriScoe or his personal representa-
tive. \ Copy-reste.
+. Il. LYNCH, Clerk.
Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1879-07-12
A SPECIAL OFFER TO TIE
READERS OF THIS PAPER.
81 FOR G3 CENTS.

The American Diamond Dictionary,
containing 10000 words, photography,
pronunciation and definitions according
to the best English and American Lex
cographers, illustrated with nearly 200
engravings; satisfies the wants of the
scholar and at the same time is Just
what a plain learned person needs. 1t is
decidedly the best dictionary ever print
ed. Contains 700 double column pages.
SupcrJly bound in cloth aud gilt. Type
clear and handsome. Sent FREE to any
reader of this paper upon receipt of 63
cents,to pay actual postage and packing
charges. This great offer is good tor
thirty days only, and is made solely for
the purpose of introduction. But two
dictionaries will be sent to one address.
This appears but once. Order noW.
Send silver currency or 3 cent postage
stamps. Address at once National
Book Company, Rochiand, Mass.
Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1879-07-12
WASHINGTON E.I3T"TERS.
WAslIlNGrox, D. G.
.IulY s, 1879.


If the Sfar is 10 be believed, Senator
Conkling has Just discovered that Sena-
tor William Wiudham, next TO Grant,
is the must available Presidential candl-
date. Readers OF this correspondence
will remember that the same suggestion
was made therein some months ago.
lie is Blaincs second choice to XII
Conkline, Conklng's to kill Blaine, AMI
of both of them to Kill Sherman. |
don't believe Windam is needed to kill
oft any of those gentlemen, but he may
still answer, as was said OF another dis
tinguishcd Senator, ~ genera! sooih-
ing syrup. The party could MAKE many
a worse nomination. His private char
actcr is beyond reproach, aud his Srrvi-
ccs at the head of the appropriation
committee, and elsewhere in the Senate,
have been creditable.
The reform administration is carrying
on its raid upon the pockets of It's clerks
and messengers in the interest of radl-
caism in Ohio, and indirectly for the
benefit of Sherman as Il Presidential
candidate Tho one thing altogether
lovely as feature OF this movement is
the fact that Shcrmans own Depart
ment, the Treasury, is first aud most
heavily called upon.
Secretary Sherman will leave here on
Monday for Maine, stopping on the
way at Boston to deliver a speech. lie
will probably speak twice i'll Maine. 1t
has been denied, see, that ConhlnS
will speak in Maine, but l have good
reason TO believe he will be heard from
at Bangor before the election. Blaine,
it is said 10y his friends here, is not over
anxious to have the State carried THIS
Fall, for what reason do not know,
and perhaps his apathy is the cause OF
Senator Conklings willingness or eager
ness 10 DO what he can TO carry 1t. The
ways of politicians of the Blaine aud
CUnkling stamp are mysterious.
No such serious charges were ever
before made against the condition OF
Department as are made by Senator ii.
G.. Davis and Representative Glover
against the Treasury. The most slS-
picious circumstance connected with the
officer was the eager effort OF the Re
publicans to prevent the investigations
which resulted in these charges Ihous-
ands of business men in the country are
found to be defaulters, and those in the
Treasury Department are probably at
least as irai! as their fellow men, so that
nothing stated by the Senator and Rep
resentative named is improbable. This
opposition to investigation was led IN
the Senate by an ex-Secretary OF the
Treasury who was most earnestly sup
ported by the head of the Finance Com
mit,ee. two men, who, if anything was
wrong, would be likely TO know it. The
investigation must now be continued
until all the truth is known.
HILTON.