davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-10-16
An Old Hermit's Story.

There is an interesting hermit named
Austin Sheldon in the wilds of Pike
county, Pa. He is seventy-three years
old. totally deaf, and lives in cave,
which he has rudoly fitted up for n hab-
itation. His only companion is tame
rat. His personal appearance Is start
ling. He is about five feet in height,
and his hair and beard are as white rs
snow. His clothes are worn and patched
and he wears waistband made of
hickory withe TO support his garments.
For his defence against wild beasts he
carries long knife, rs sharp ~ razor,
which he manufactured by grinding
down an old file. lie says that his par
ents were Connecticut farmers. In carly
manhood he fell in love with an accom-
plished girl and they were engaged to be
married. Her parents broke of the
match by secretly sending her away TO
boarding school. This so prcyed upon
Austin's mind that he gave up business
and started out TO find her. lie travelled
from State TO State, but in vain, and
finally, when his money WAS nearly spent,
he resolved to settle down in Pcnnsyl-
vania. lie fell into the hands Of land
speculators, who soon got what cash he
had, and decided him the barren tract Of
land upon which he now lives. His as-
constituent when he saw the '1arm"that
had been decided him may be imagined.
lie found nothing but forest, and as "A
storm came up he was Obliged to take
refuge in cave in ledge of rocks. This
cave hc has ever since inhabited. For
nearly twenty years he subsisted upon
wild fruit and nuts. and in the winter he
trapped game and fish. For three years
the hermit never saw human being.
Previous to beginning life as hermit
he was proud of his personal appear
arce, but he grew negligent, and thick.
shaggy beard covered his face, and his
hair grew long, far down below his
shoulders. From the time he began his
hermit life he has never drawn "A razor
across his face But he has grown tired
of that kind Of life, and lately told Phil
adelphia Times correspondent that he in
tended TO return TO civilization to die.
Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-10-16

I've swallowed my teeth said
Thomas Prout TO the house surgeon Of
the New York Hospital. The surgeon
looked inQuiringly ai Mr. Prout's mouth.
To all appearances he was but one tooth
short, and that was an upper front
tooth. Mr.. Prout explained. He said
that nine DAYS before. while asleep in
his home in Cheshire. Mas, he was
awakened BY y sensatic'i Of choking and
violent strangling. aYg plainly felt that
there was somethiD-. unplcasantly hard
and largemakingi sway 10 his stomach.
But he didn't kh " what II WAS until
the next morning he discovered that his
plate was missing. Then he came to
the rubber plate 10 which was attached
a single tooth. Ii was his custom 10
remove the false tooth and plate each
night on going to he'd, but that time he
forgot to do 50. The result OF swallow
ing this large and irreguiarly- ar
ticle was that he became III. could re-
tain nothing In his stomach and was IN
great pain. lie consulted the phvsi-
clans. who dosed him with eme;ics and
pokcd down his throat. All this only
aggravated his suffering. lie rapidly
grew thin and in nine days lost thirty
five pounds.
The house surgeon at the hospital seut
MIR. Prout TO = ward and had him put u
bed Then he hunted up long strip OF
whalehone, to which was attached :
little hook. The doctor carefully intro
duccd this instrument down MIR. Prouta
throat and into his stomach. Then he
began fishing for the lost tooth. II wa
slow work. but aftera time be ielt that
lac had hooked on TO something. lie
pulled slowly ana steadily, and, to Mr..
Prout's bodily pain and mental pleasure.
brought 10 light The missing plate ana
iis attachments. The surgeon was Dr.
w. I. Bull. son Of Major Hull. Of Nes-
port.
Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-10-16
4 Strange breach Of Promise Suit.

OF all the accusations brought against
the City Of Glasgow Bank. that Of being
the cause of an action for breach OF
promise of marriage IL certainly the
strangest, but nevertheless 1t II fact.
The names of the parties arc well known,
hut there Is no necessity for mentioning
them; suffice 1t to say that the lady be-
longs to Glasgow aud the gentleman 10
Greenock, both of them being people Of
some wealth. The lady unfortunately
held some of the stock Of the bank, and
when the crash came, although the mar
riage invitations had actually been
issued. the gentleman cried off until IL
was ascertained how far he would he
affected rs her husband. After the de-
cision of the House of Lords, that no
liability would extend to him, IL was. Of
course, expected that he would at once
complete his engagement, but for some
reason or other he had changed his
mind and positively refused to do so.
After all persuasion had failed, an action
claiming $4,000 was raised, which he
has now compromised BY paying $1,000.
Liverpool Gasctte.
Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-10-16
One Of John PhPnix's stories.

Out in n certain Western fort. some
time ago. tho III jor conceived that artil-
lcry must be used effectively in fighting
the Ind ians by dispensing with gum
carriages and fastening the cannon upon
the backs Of mules. So he explained
his views 10 the comm andsnt, and it was
determined 10 try the experiment. 4
howiizcr was selected and strapped upon
an ambulance mule, with the muZzle
pointing toward the tail. When they
had secured the gun and loaded IL with
ball cartridge, they led the calm and
stcadfast mule out on the bluff and set
up target in the middle Of the river 10
practice ut. The rear of the mule was
turned toward the target, and he was
hacked gently up to the edge Of the
bluff. The officers stood round in
scmicircle, while the major went up and
inserted a time fuse In the vent Of the
howitzcr. When the fuse was ready,
the major Iii ii and retired. In minute
or two the hitherto unTuffied mule heard
the iizzing back on his neck. and il made
him uneasy. lie reached his head round
10 ascertain what was going on. and as
he did so his body turned. and the
howitzer began 10 sweep around the
horizon. The mule nj last became ex-
cited. and his curiosity became more
and more intense. In accond or two
he was standing with his four legs in
bunch. making six revolutions per
minute. and the howitzer threatening
sudden death To every man within half
A mile. The commandant WAS Cbserved
20 climb suddenly up n tree; officers
were seen sliding over tke bluff into the
river, as il thev didn't care NJ all about
the high price Of uniforms; the adju-
tant made good time toward the fort; n
sergean; began tc throw up breastworks
with his bayonet; the major rolled over
and groaned. In moment or two there
was n puff of smoke, and q dull thud,
and the mule-oh, whore was he! A
solitary brute might have been seen
turning successful back somerssults over
the bluff. ohly 10 rest at anchor finally
with his howitzsr at the bottom Of the
river, while the ball went of toward the
fort, hit the chimney in the majors
quarters, rafting the Adobe bricks down
into the Iarlor, and Tightening the
majors wife into convulsions. They
do not allude TO it now, and no report
Of the result Of the experiment was ever
seat 10 the War Department.
Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-10-16
Nsws and Nete. for Nyem.n.

The Santa Fc New Mexico) indus
trial school Is about 10 graduate an
ANahe Indian girl "a teacher.
Rachael Vent worked at blacksmith
ing in Baltimore until her death, short
time ago. She was robustly handsome.
but habtually smoked clay pipe.
Mrs. Emma ID. +. n. Southworth. the
novelist. says that she las written con-
stantly ever since she was fifteen years
old. She is now vt work on her sixtieth
novel
Mrs. Estellc johnson. the wife of ex-
Governor Charles 7. johnson. Of Mis-
souri,. recently committed suicide ai the
family residence by taking arsenic. Grief
over the death Of a child had brought on
mental arrangement.
Julia Clarke, n San Francisco factory
girl. wat caught in n machine by her
long hair. She seized pair of shears
and cut of her tTesses so quickly that
she was not drawn between the wheels
and killed. rs she otherwise would have
been.
The painter lngrcs says; ITO give a
true poise TO the figure necessitates an
upright carriage of the head and n
smooth. firm step" To give this he re-
commcnds long walk daily with a
pitcher of water on the head. The hint
Is being acted upon by the lady pupils of
an eminent French actor.
Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-10-16
An Iron War Shirt.

An iron shirt was recently lefl at the
Office Of the Alexandria (Va.) Gd=ctc by
some one who found IL in house that
had been occupied by Union troops dur
ing the closing months OF the war
This iron-clad Chcmisc resembles some
what the armor of crusader. and il
made of ten pieces of heavy boiler iron.
or it may be plates of thin steel. oil
jointcd by movable rivets, which allow
the shirt to be disjointed and packed up.
4 portion Of il is hinged so n TO allow
motion TO the limbs. This mobile en-
ceinte or personal fortress WAS fitted on
in front like n dicky. but extended down
far enough TO cover the thighs. The
Gazette says; Its inventor evidently
deemed the shirt a useful invention. FOR
the sample on our desk is marked on one
shoulder in brass, like an cpaulette,
patent applied for and on the other.
Made by Atwater Armory Co., New
Haven, Conn The marks. /. A. A.
which. we suppose indicate that I must
Avoid Accidents are the only other in
striptions found upon this work ofart. "
American cattle are now imported at
Belfast. Ireland. and the trade promises
10. grow as large, proportionately, M that
with England
Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-10-16
Bearing Fruit.

twenty-five years ngo we went 10 the
wedding reception OF n charming and
brilliant young woman from New
England State, lust married 70 n young
physician in WeAtern city. She had
come from the best schools, and was the
woman, Of all Others. wao WAS looked
at as leader In the higher literary and
artistic life of IA prominent circle in the
town. Seven years ago We again met
that woman, now matron Of forty
five, in Western university town,
where her husband had finally landed as
aprOfessor Of science in the college. We
saw that the family were living in quiet
and simple elegance on the small saiary
of n Western professor. with house full
Of fine children, and no servant that we
could discover.
At tea we ventured the question,
What has been the result OF your
studies and experience in the last twenty
ycars3 | have seen no book, or maya
zine article, or poem, over your name.
as we expected" Il will show you my
one book, " she replied, leading the way
to her kitchen. There she exhibited
a most ingenious machine for washing
the dishes OF her table. which abolished
the drudgery Of :his disagrecable end of
housekeeping, and enabled a child, with
the help Oftwo "lifts" from mother, TO
make play Of what would be the work
OF servant.
Now, Of course, not every cultivated
schoolgirl has the inventive faculty TO
do what this woman had accomplished.
But think what she has doncl She
has made it possible for every mother in
America 10 save AN hour day for study,
or work, In the upper side OF lie. She
has made itnot only respectable, but
an artistic employment 20 wash table
dishes. She has made home duties and
housekeeping more attractive 10 all her
daughters, and taken one more step to-
ward the abolition Of the drudgcry that
has so crushed out the lives of thou
sand q nerations Of women since the DAYS
Of mother Eve. We doubt IL any book,
even n new novel by George Eliot, or q
Tew picture, a new voice like the warble
Of Gerster, or any splendid thing that
may be done by woman in America,
would 70 30 deep, touch on higher
realms Of life, or more Justly cntitlc that
cultivated Christian lady 10 the respect
and admiration OF the country .-Gez
England Journal Of Ed4n1lLor.
Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-10-16
4 Troopers story OF the Cabul
Massacre.

One Of the troopers Of Major Cayag-
nAri's escort in Afghanistan. who escaped
being massacrcd, says that the roof Of
the British residence at Cabul was com.
manded by other houses, and was conse-
queEtiy untenable bv the bcsieged. who
made n trench outside. At about one
O'Clock In the afternoon on the day OF
the massacre Major Cavagnari received
n wound from n ricochetting bullet on
his forehead. Mr.. Jenkyns. Major Cav
agnari's assistant. who arrived at the
reSidency during the attack. wrote to the
Ameer for help. and the Amccr's reply
was. God will. am making arrange
ments." 4 previous request for aid from
Major Cavagnari had met with the same
reply. Mr.. Jenkyns wrote again when
Major Cavagnari was wounded. but the
bearer of the letter Was cut to pieces by
the mutineers. The trooper then started.
but he was disarned and imprisoned.
lie succeeded In escaping at daybreak
and visited the residency. where he saw
the corpse of Lieutenant Hamilton, com
manding the escort Of the British Mis-
sion. lying across mountain gun. \
Comratte who was confined In Cabul in
formed him that Lieutenant Hamilton
shot three of the mutinecrs with his re-
volver and killed two with his sabcr
DIR. Kelley, who was connected with the
mission, was living dead inside the resi-
dency. Major Cavagnari was in room
which was burnt and which had fallen
in. His body had not been found.
Three native officers Of the Guides were
burned to death near the rcsidcncy.
Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-10-16
Gardening for Ladies'.

II Is quite refreshing 90 read such
da nty little story rs this, told by Julia
Coleman:
- know lady whose sensible doc
tor told her twenty years ago that she
was half gone with consumption and
that her only chance for life was To be
In the open air as much as possible. A
perfect bower Of paradise was her little
yard. Was the soil poorp She enriched
Il. Were here varieties Indifferent She
procured better. Nearly al the flowers
were fragrant Fifteen kinds of roses
bloomed under her hands and success
sion of flowers filled out the summer.
One side of the yard was covered with
grapes. Peaches, plums and raspberrics
were trained ca osp1iiCr. and choice
squashes ripcned ON the roofs of the out
houses.
Tomatoes were trained 10 single
poles and yielded nxuriantly. and ruby
strawberries peeped out even from the
bleaching grass. She herself was as
fresh and vigorous as you could expect
one 10 be whose hali-decayed lungs had
left her with insufficient vitality. .But
her life was saTcd and Il has been =
happiness to herself and blessing 10
others"
Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-10-16

chose . three year-old nephew of Hicn
Fung, and appointed themselves TO
reign until he became man. The
scheme was carried out, and the two
women are now seemingly firmly re-es-
tablished. Among the first statesman
ofthe empire was Wo Ko-tu, mt the head
of the Civil Service Department. lie
brooded over the wrong done to the in
fa mt son of Toung-che, and Mt last re-
solved to speak out against IL. This was
serious matter. for ancient usage in
China DEGREES that whoever utters trea-
son shall Mt once commit suicide. Wo
Ko-tu wrote and published. in the most
respectful language, n demand that tho
empress and queen should abdicate.
Then he killed himself with knife.
Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-10-16
A Rams Head in n Strange Place. .

Quite n curiosity was found few DAYS
ago near the camp Of the workmen on
the new toll-road, near Yankee Fork.
New. II Is mountain rams head deep
~ imbedded in pine tree and about ak
feet from the ground The right horn Il
outside and curls partly round the tree,
while the front Of the skull and most of
the left horn Is covered with the growth OF
wood The tree is q thrifty pine, fifteen
inches through. How that rams head
came there will always remain n mys-
terry to scientists, but men Of the noun
tains. who are familiar with the fighting
propensitics of the wild buck. can easily
explain 1t. The ram whose head l. noW
a part of the tree stood on the upper side
Of the hill. while his enemy stood near
what was then n pine sapling. When
tle present relic made n rush Mt ram No
. the latter stepped TO one side. and the
old warriors head coming In contact
with the young tree split Il wide enough
for one horn to enter. and he was left
dangling ut the mercy Of his foe. The
rest Is easily guessed. The survivor of
the fight deliberately butted his unfor.
tunate adversary until there was nothing
LETT of him but the skull and horns fast
In the wood. Fred Myers. one of the
proprietors OF the toll.road. will have the
part OF the tree containing the rams head
sent TO tile Smithsonian Institute.
Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-10-16
UyspeDSia.

Abstain from drinking Immediately
before and during meals, and for nm
hour RftCrward; also. use no milk in
either tea or coffee. Burn alum until
the moisture in il is evaporated; then
take rs much as you can put on dime
about half. an hour before eating.
Three or four days, probably, will
answer; hut take II until cured. The
kernel OF the peach pit has been i'm my
case perfect remedy for what is termed
heart burn. | suffered from II hourly
for years; more at some times th an
others. When the suffering manifcsts
itself cat one or two Of the kernels. and
after few days the symptoms will dis
appear. Change your diet and manner
Of living; drink neither coffee nor tea
never drink at meal times; after every
meal. or during the meal, dissolve half
u teaspoonful or more Of cayenne pepper
in half glassful Of milk and drink IL /;
cat plain food; never taste pastry Of
any kind. II you arc troubled with
slcepless nights, do not try TO promote
sleep by taking stimulants or opiateE-
they do more harm than good take n
sponge bath before retiring. and If YOU
are unable to do Il yourself, get some
one To- rub you with n coarse towel; If
you wake in the night and cannot get to
sleep again. get up at oncc-not lie until
you get nervous thinking about It; :"
take foot bath rub your limbs well
10 get up n circulation; drink glass Of
cold water. Do not expect TO cure
yourself in one weeks time; have pa
tionce and try one month. In bathing
use your hands tn apply the water; they
ARE much better than n sponge; soften
the water with boraN; IL is more invig-
Grating than salt water. - Exchange.
Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-10-16
Cure for sleepiessness.

Wet half towel, apply Ii to the back
OF the neck, pressing Il upward toward
the base Of the brain. and fasten the dry
hall OF the towel over so as to prevent
the too rapid exhalation. The effect Is
prompt and charming. cooling the brain
and inducing calmer, sweeter sleep than
any narcotic. Warm water may be
used, though most persons will prefer 1,
cold. To those suffering fro over.
excitement Of the brain. whether the re-
suit Of brain work or pressing anxiety.
THIS simple remedy Is IN especial boon.
Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-10-16
Jokes from "Harper's Drawer"
Here arc n couple of yarns from Con-

Here arc couple of yarns from Con-
necticut:
Old MFR. F. B. was very
wealthy farmer. Hard working, penurf-
Gus and worldly. he had reached his
ninety-sixth year. but still persisted in
working hard every day. One of his
neighbors. an excellent man, himself
over ninety years old, met him one day
and said: Well, Mr.. B., we are
getting TO be pretty old men"
Not so very old-not so very old. :"
said the farmer, grufiy.
but don't you think" persisted the
other, that we ought TO be considering
about the next world, and what our life
will be thereP We must very soon die,
you know"
Don't know about that-dont know
about that. retorted the farmer. Very
few men die at my age"
Old Squire c. was postmaster, store
keeper and autocrat Of his village. lie
was the wealthicst man in IL, but had
the reputation of being also the sharpest
and hardest man in his dealings with
the poor, yet drunken loafer in the
village once outwitted him. This loafer
an old sot, generally known as "Sam "
came one day TO the store trundling
II wheelbarrow. The squire was seated
on the front stoop OF his store, and see
ing him approach, called out: well.
Sam, what are you after nowP"
why. Squire c." drawled the
old rascal, most obscquiously, :" | want
n barrel Of your best wheat flour. and
want to pay cash for IL, too.n
"Ohom said the squire that's 1t, is
ltP Well, George e"-turning To his clerk
-" Roll out barrel Of that Gencsee
flour, and help Sam to put it on his
wheclbarrow. This was soon done.
and Sam very quietly began to wheel
IL away. The squire had not received
his money, and he sprang up at once,
and called: " Sam SAM you said you
wanted to pay cash for that -four.
Where's your money!
"Waal, Squire c." drawled Sam,
so / do want to pay cash for it. but,
YOU see, can't ~ trunding the wheel
barrow OF more and more rapidly with
every word.
Squire C was 40 astoundcd at the
loafcr's impudence that lac let the -four
60.
Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-10-16

She 10 right, too, when she says tina
more than half the credit for the orna-
mentation Of our dooryards and homes
is due 10 the ladies who push the men up
To their duty. - Woman a. Work.
Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-10-16


Red bonnets will continue 10 be worn
this winter.
,Blbbons are twilled this year instead
OF being of satin.
Both hats and cottage bonnets will
continue in fashion.
Dotted net ruches will be substituted
for Lace this winter
Silk beaver will be worn for elegant
walking-hats this winter.
Baby belts Of ribbon will continue in
iashlon throughout the winter.
Bronze beads will take the pIace NJ
the rainbow beads Of Last year.
An immense variety of new tints in
SIX ana velvet has been imported.
- Frog green. copper green and North
foie blue are among the new tints.
Crackle velvet, looking like bits of
porcelain, is 10 be used for trimmings.
a new kind Of plush has alternate
stripes Of repped satin and uncut loops
Velvet, with the ground of one colol
and the pile Of another, is TO be revived.
Sulphur is mixed with pink in some
fIehch costumes prepared for the au-
tumn.
Faceted balls cf jet, followed out until
thcy are as light as down, are used for
bordering bonnets.
The case Of Worth against the Prince
Murat for bill Of 81, 300 will soon come
up in the French courts.
Overdrcsses OF colorcd muslin in
scrolls and flowers are worn over dress
oil iouIhrd for evening dress.
Long mantles are announced Ms the
coming winter wrap for ladies who do
not adopt the cloth street suits.
Stephanotis is mixed with orange
flowers in some bridal wreaths. The
fragrance Is rather overpowering.
Long-napped plush in all the new
shades is likely 10 be used for both the
outer and inner trimmings Of bonnets
next season.
The crowns Of bOnncts will be either
folded or laid smooth or pulled this win
ter, and one style will be rs fashionable
rs the other.
Striped ribbons, and those Of changca-
BILE twills. will replace those of satin
next season. They will be- wider than
those worn last year.
Painted satin, 20 be used for trimming
light dress bonncts. has IA ground oi
ivory, cream, uauphin-gray or old-gold.
and figures OF Indian design.
The silks called glace are old fashioned
changeablc silks. no more, no less This
year some OF them are plain, and some
have satin stripcs ofsolid color.
Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-10-16

forming two points in front, and Ia ar
ranged In a moderately bouffant manner
IN the back.--NeD York Herald.