davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-04-01
The Coral Fishers OF Capri.

Coral fishing is q slavery to which
nothing but sheer poverty drives the
fishermen. From April to October
their life Is n life of ceaseless drudgery.
Packed in small boat without deck.
| with no food but biscuit and foul
water, touching land only mt intervals
OF month, and often deprived of sleep
for days together through shortness of
hands, the coral fishers are exposed TO
constant brutality from the masters
of their vessels which is too horrible to
bear description. The fishing is itself
hard work. The two beams of wood
laid crosswise, with hemp and loose
netting attached TO them, which serves
ms dredge, are dragged along the sen
bottom with rope, which IL some
| times requires the crews ofhalf dozen
boats TO haul TO the surface. If IL breaks
the whole boat is in peril; If the sailor
who is paying out fails TO note the
moment when it catches the coral, his
| thigh, over which IL runs, is cut TO the
bone. A long pull tears the branches
| entangled in the net from the rock. or
breaks of rock and all, and shout of
| JOY bursts from the wearied fishermen
as the tangled mass of coral appears
above the waves. To the masters the
fishery is lucrative enough of the eight
thousand francs which form the returns
of n single boat, some two thousand are
clear profit. But, measured by our no.
tions, the pay of the men seems miser-
ably inadequate to the toll and suffer
ing which they undergo. For the
whole period of eight months, ii varies
with the strength and experience of the
seamen from $50 to 800; the boys re-
ceiving as little as $50; and of this
much is absorbed by the extortionate
| shopkeepers of Tore. Enough, how
ever, remains to tempt the beat of the
Caprese fishermen to sea. Even boys
earnings will pay his mothers rent.
| For n young man, ii is the only mode in
which he can hope to gather sum suf-
| ticlent for marriage and his start in
life. The early marriages so common
Mt Naples and along the adjoining coast
are unknown at Capri, where girl sell
dom weds before twenty, and where the
poorest peasant refuses the hand of his
daughter to suitor who cannot fur
nish wedding settlement of some
twenty pounds. Even with the modern
rise of wages, it is almost impossible
for lover to accumulate such II sum
from the produce OF his ordinary toll,
and his one resource is the coral fishery.
Saturday ReUteD.
Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-04-01
The Iron Age.

There arc forty-six rolling mills in
Ohio, tbirty-two of which are in opera
tion.
The rolling-mills of Chicago now EN-.
ploy over 5000 men, and are running
night and day.
One firm in Baltimore has made a
contract for 300. 900 tons of iron and iron
ore, and another for 10000 from Eng.
lish ports.
Wheeling. w. Va, makes about a
fourth of all the nails manufactured
in the United States. and turns out over
600, 600 kegs annually.
st. Louis has 1900 men employed In
iron mills and fouudries, who turn out
daily 700 tons of finished iron, 100 tons
OF cast iron, 500 tons OF pig and 375 car
wheels.
The number of iron and rail mills OF
all kinds in the United States amount
to 100. or about five times as MANY as
there were in 1856, with greater aver
age capacity.
II Is estimated by railroad statisticians
that the probable demand on our steel
and iron mills will be equal to $780,
600 tons, of which SAC. 600 will be for new
oeVNa WI ing thN ftsh fcoo.
The production of Bessemer steel rails
in this country since 1867, when they
were first made, has increased to a mar
velous extent. In 1867 It amounted TO
only 1855 tons. in 1879 TO "a, 600 tons.
and last year to $40. 900 tons.
Experience has shown at the Pc
troleum iron works. Titusville. Pa.
that barrel OF petroleum will generate
heat sufficient for making n ton of iron.
while a ton and quarter of coal would
be required for the same result.
An unprecedented quantity of iron
will be made in the United States this
year. In England furnaces are also BE-
ing rapidly blown in. There Is no danger
of an iron famine. On the contrary
there will be plenty of IL. and the pros
poets are 1t will all be sold at good
prices. Ratsbtirg Press.
Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-04-01
BIastIng In Hoosae Tunnel.

Generally twelve holes are drilled. and
these are filled with large cartridges.
IromI each of which protrudes a wire.
lnese wires are connected with two
otheriwires. about 200 feet long, attached
TO powder keg battery" When all
Is ready the hands fal! rapidly 10 work
covering up the rails in the vicinity of
the blast with heavy timber, as some
times large stone will break or bend a
rail, and thus delay trains. This being
done. the foreman shouts " fire." and ali
the workmen in the vicinity drop their
tools and retire some three or four hun
dred feet, either way, TO a safe distance.
One man stations himself at the battery
to fire the blast, Suddenly, while you
are listening for the report, you expert
ence n quick, powerful reeling of pres
sure, which seems TO spring away from
you as quick as IL came. and there fol-
lows such bang" as you never heard
before. You feel as il an attempt had
been made TO throw you from your feet,
and then the air rushes by you in a
rapid succession of waves of roars. Il
seems as IL the whole mountain above
you were trembling with the echoes,
and you hear the rumble of the report
even after the men have got back TO the
scene OF the blast. A person can have
no conception OF a loud report until he
hears blast in Hoosac tunnel. There
is no chance for the noise TO spread, ex-
cept through the long hole, and the ex-
PLANTATION of the sensations one has there
when blast is made Is easy enough
Some of the miners themselves dread ID,
and cover up their ears before the elec-
trio spark is sent. Sometimes a cart
rldge Will not explode, and then the
foreman has to draw it. Every time he
does this he takes his life in his hands.
After every blast the track is covered
with broken rock, which is promptly
removed in order not 10 delay the trains.
Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-04-01
Extinction Of The RnIralo.

According to the Montana Herald, a
Canadian paper. very few buffaloes,
comparatively, have ranged during the
past year north of the boundary between
the United States and the British possess
sions in America. This important and
useful animal Is every year becoming
more and more srarde, and before very
long will probably be extinct. Forts
Walsh and Macleod have for some years
been important eenters for the collec-
tivn of buffalo robes, the market value
Of which TO the Indian hunter may be
estimated mt two dollars each. IN 1877
some 600 robes were gathered at Fort
Macleod. and large number ut Fort
Walsh. In 1878 the number was ~, ,7y7
It the former and i6,6g7 at the latter
place; while last year only 8. .764 came In
nc Fort Macleod and 6,277 at Fort
Walsh. This steady decrease In the
number OF buffaloes slain by the Indians
and hall. breeds of the Northwest affords
: ready explanation OF the suffering
prevalent among them.
Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-04-01
FOR THE FAIR SEX.



Fray, gentle being, give me heed,
AZ kneeling humbly at thy side,
With lascerated heart 1 plead
That thou'lt become my blushing bride
Ilong-I wildly long 10 press
Thee TO my heart, yet stand abash--
pine 10 print fond caress
Upon thy meek and mild mustache.
Why, tell me why thine eyelids drop
And turn away 30 pettishly,
And why with fierce, tumultuous nop
Thy bosom heaves coquettishlyY
know that thou art young ard fair
As tiny buds in early spring
But thou shalt be my constant care,
Thou irail and fragile l:ttle thing.
I'll sew thy shirts and darn thy hose,
Thy victuals cook, thy fires will light
I'll grease thy gracious Grecian nose
Each snowy, croupy, wintry night.
So, surely, thou'lt not tell me nay
And bid me dying quit thy side
Brace up, pull down thy vest and say
That thou wilt be my blushing bride.
-RaHsaS City Times.
Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-04-01
A Paper Dome.

There seems no end to the new use
of paper. Trunks. bricks, Pullman car
wheels, chimney fues, carpets, roofs,
buckets, basins, SOUL boats, no longer
excite much astonishment. The Rail
road Gazette says the paper car wheels.
in use since 1875, have proved a success.
They are about forty inches in diameter.
Sixty-six of these wheels were lately
made over new after running an average
Of II lSS miles. Some were still good
after still further running. The price
OF one of these wheels, according to lie
DeUOtr, is 425 francs, or about $65.
We have in this country an astronomi-
cal tower made of paper. This is al The
Polytechnic Institute at Troy, N. Y.
The interior diameter of tthe revolving
dome is twenty-nine feet. Made in the
ordinary manner this dome would weigh
from five TO ten tons, while quite extern
sive works TO support il and quite i'm
portant machinery TO revolve it would
be necessary. In place of the ordinary
metallic armature, there is q light but
strong framework of wood. On this
framework the paper rests. BY enor-
nous pressure it is reduced TO one-sixth
of an inch in thickness and made as
hard as the hardest wood. The weight
of this paper dome is not more than one
tenth that of the ordinary construction.
1t is supported by twelve or fifteen cast
iron balls, about six inches in. diameter,
all of which revolve in a circular groove
provided for the purpose. These balls
may be regarded as casters. upon which
the vast dome moves with so little
friction that child's hand could turn 1t.
The idea of making this dome of paper
first occurred TO Professor Dascome
MATES and astronomy by whom II was
suggested to Messrs. Z. Waters & Sons.
manufacturers. who are largely engaged
in making paper boats.
Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-04-01
"The Luck Guinea,

The Baroness Burdette- Coutts was
created n peeress on account of her
large gifts to public objects. Her wealth
Is derived from her maternal grand
father. the rich London banker, Thomas
Coutts.
In the banking -bonse there is pre-
served a gold coin called the Luck
Guinea" It has curious history. Old
Mr.. Coutts was In the habit of visiting
n town In the vicinity of the country
seat of one of. his married daughters.
On one Of these visits. his neat but some
what worn clothes attracted the atten-
tion OF a benevolent old gentleman.
Noticing the banker, he Imagined that
he must be decayed old gentleman
who had seen better days. 1t was near
Christmas. and as the Good Sanari-
tan passed by MIR. Coutta, he put r
guinea into his hand, bidding him get
n good dinner.
A few days after the benevolent man
received NJ invitation to dine at Mr..
Coutts' daughters house. There he Wa
introduced To the recipient Of bis
charity. The banker told the story to
the guests, and amid their amusement
announced that the guinea would re-
main anon the heirlooms Of Couttsi
banking -hcuseI
Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-04-01
Russla's Dictator.

Gen. Loris Melikoff, who Is now the
military dictator of Russia, is the son oil
an Armenian merchant. and began his
military career as an officer in hussar
regiment in st. Petersburg. His talents
were recognized by Mouravieff. the gov
ernor general of the Caucasus, but until
the campaign of 1877 he had never had
an opportunity to handle large body
OF troops, or TO learn the science of war
in the open field.
Melikof IL n handsome soldier, with
black curly hair, large, dark, sparkling
eyes. n somewhat bronzed complexion,
and features which, without being quite
regular. are comfy and refined. He is
OF middle stature, of q slight nervous
structure, and spare in person. His man.
ners are polished and extremely affable,
while his conversation Is light and easy.
He has been one of the most successful
of the military governors who have been
invested with supreme power in their
districts during the last year. He is n
man of great and varied accomplish
ments. In addition to his native lam
guage, Armenian, he Is familiar with
and speaks Russian, Turkish, Persian
and French, but Is ignorant of German
and English. He was great favorite
with his soldiers. He visited them in
their bivouacs. tasted their soup, and
inquired after their comfort. He took
especial care OF the sick, frequently in
specting the hospitals and ambulances.
At the same time he was a strict dis.
ciplinarian. and required from all, and
particularly the non commissioned off,
GERS of his army, n punctual perform
ance OF their duty. His age is fifty.
aavpS.
Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-04-01
The Pleasures Of Life in 81. Petersburg,

A st. Petersburg correspondent of the
London Times gives the following illus
trations of affl.irs at the Russian capital /:
A military attsche of the French en-
bassy was dragged before the chief OF
police for looking too attentive,y at the
fortress. The correspondent in calling
on friends in the daytime and early in
the evening has been refused admission
by the dvornik (hall porter) on the
ground that he (the correspondent did
not live there and so could not go in.
lie says: Within my own street,
which last night was Illuminated at
every window by command of the police
| Witnessed three quarrels with dvorniks
who refused TO give admission TO per
sons wishing TO visit friends or relations.
In an adjoining street saw one arrest
for the same reason. On Sunday there
was q storm of wind and drifting snow.
The emperor In passing from the Winter
palace to the parade at the riding school
was escorted bv q suite of Cossacks and
followed by one of the district police
masters In sleigh. Those who saw his
maie gty's cortege of course removed
their caps. One unfortunate individual
whose sight was impeded by large
bashlik over his head did not doff his
head-dress. The police master noticed
Il and shouted 10 policeman 10 take
him of. The unhappy individual. who
through the binding snow and sleet had
failed to notice the imperial cavalcade,
protested TO that effect. but was never
theless dragged Of to the police station.
These are few illustrations of how di-
rections, very good in themselves, are
carried out by utterly incompetent sub
ordinaaes who are incapable of exercis-
ing common sense and discrimination.
The latest instruction to the dvorniks is
that they must not sit at their posts.
The streets Mt night present the pictures
of groups Of biz, drowsy house-por .sis.
muffied up in their sheepekins leaning
against each gateway carefully nursing
the large keys which have turned the
locks on the whole town within doors.
As each perann pnsses by they rouse
themselves, each watching him until he
disappears from sight and passes into
the Jurisdiction Of another watchman.
Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-04-01
A Lightning Proof Reader.

The New York Sun has this account
of the late John G. Robinson. known rs
the lightning proof reader" who was
found dead in his bed in Williamsburg
one morning n short time ago: Mr..
Robinson was born in this city forty
years ago. He attended school in the
Seventh ward, and entered John A.
Gray's printing establishment in Cliff
street as copy boy" when thirteen
years old. In 1854 he entered the Tri-
Gu,ie proof room. In deciphering manu-
scripts he was marvel. He read Rich
ard Hildreth's, Horace Greeley's, Count
Pulaski's, Gerrit Smiths and other
grabbed manuscripts almost at n glance.
When Mr.. Greeley himself was unable
to decipher one of his own written SEN
tences, he referred il to MIR. Robinson,
who looked at it steadily for minute
or more, and made out its meaning. In
the municipal canvass of 1865 letter
from Mr.. Greeley. written under the
Spingler house heading, was sent TO the
night editor OF the TTtJalEe. Ii enclosed
an editorial article in the same hand
writing, tavoring the election of n we'll
known politician. who was running on
an independent ticket. 1t was the night
before election. The article was put in
type. In asserting the copy before read
ing the proof the manuscript fell under
the eyes of Mr.. Robinson. Something
about IL attracted his attention. He ex-
amined 1t as a paying teller would ex-
anime doubtful bill. That's not the
old mans handwriting" he said. He
was so confident that It was forgery
that he called the EDITORS attention TO IL,
and the article was suppressed. So skill
iul was the forgery that on the follow
ing day Mr.. Greeley said that. had he
not known different. he would have
taken IL TO be his own handwriting.
MIR. Robinson srapidity in reading n
proof sheet aloud was unparalleled, and
his enunciation was perfect. Timed by
the writer he has pronounced 696 words
in minute. This is at the rate of
4l,76O words per hour. The words were
pronounced in monotonous tone of
voice without accent, and came from his
lips "a though sent from the wheels of a
machine. Long before the death of Mr..
Greeley. Mr.. Robinson was given charge
OF the Tribune proof room. He Ieft that
Journal in 1875 and accepted n similar
position on the Sun. lie was straight
as an arrow, had clean-cut featurss.
light curling hair, and nm eye like n
hawk. lie had many friends and no
enemies.
Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-04-01
Tendencies TO Disease

Seventy thousand persons in America
die yearly of consumption alone. Vast
numbers inherit tendency to rheuma-
item, epilepsy, insanity, cancer, dyspep-
sia, headache. neuralgia, asthma or TO
early loss of sight or hearing. Probably
some 26,000, 900 inherit some constitu-
tional defect.
Hitherto little has been done to extir.
pate these tendencies. Even when they
have begun to show themselves, a course
is generally pursued by friends the re-
verse of what is needed. Moreover, .
thoughtless squandering of vital reserve
is encouraged by the whole force of our
social usages. Hence we are degenerat-
ing as a people. The birth rate, already
lower in New England than in any
country of Europe, except France. l.
steadily gained on by the death rate.
But there is no inhersat difficulty in
the way of extirpating hereditary dis
ease. It may be accomplished by hy-
gienic care. such rs can be given only
by medical expert, and such as, when
downright sick, we all resort to.
A physician thus describes the case of
his family: Consumption on my faith
er's side, he having lost one, If not two.
sisters by the disease. Mother died of
il in her forty-third year. Six children
were born TO them. All are alive and
healthy. the youngest being past his
fiftieth year. They are all free from any
signs OF tuberculosis, as are also thirty
one grandchildren and eleven great
grandchildren"
This is a sample statement of many
that might be given. The same intellir
gent care would generally show simila
results.
Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-04-01
The Amount Of CANDY Made.

The amount of candy manufactured In
this country, says New York paper. is
TAR greater than Is usually thought, the
Americans-the women, mainly-eating
more, 1t is said. than AL the rest OF the
world combined. New York has, until
recently. made most ot the candy, but
now Boston IL large manufacturer.
Within few years many small houses.
mostly French, have sprung up in New
York, and reduced the price materially
Boston has three large manufactures,
employing some 300 workmen, and pro-
ducing over 1, 900 tons of candy annually.
Not more than one-fourth of this II con-
sumed in New England. the remainder
going chiefly TO the provinces and the
West. Boston makes, altogether, more
than 5000 tons. using something ovea
25, 600 barrels of sugar for the purpose.
New York, it is estimated, makes about
$500 to 1900 tons. which goes 10 al
parts ofthe Union. good deal of Ii be-
ing. it is said. exf orted to the West
Indies, South America. and even to Eu-
rope. Il has been supposed that the
French candies were the best. but we
now make candy regarded superior TO
those. Outsideof Boston and New York
not much candy l. made. though the
Philadelphia make has considerable
reputation.
Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-04-01
News and Notes for Women.


Adelina Patti gets seven dollars n
minute in opera,
A recent evening toilette in New York
was decked with thirty birds.
The ladies of Chicago have three clubs
devoted TO literature and philosophy.
Mrs. Lydia Sexton, seventy years of
age, is preaching in Little Rock, Ark.
Women convicts in the Kentucky
penitentiary are dressed in pantaloons.
Donna Francesca. Garibaldi's new
wife, was the nurse of his grandchil-
dren.
The New Ysrk woman's exchange
employs four saleswomen and four book
keepers.
Eighty young women are fitting at the
Boston latin school for the Harvard
annex"
A blind girl has outranked all her
seeing competitors in the Portland, Me,
high school.
Mead, the sculptor's wife, is beauti-
full Italian lady With whom he could not
at first talk.
Mrs. Southworth says she began to
write from necessity, and continued
from the love of it.
Mrs. Alex. Agassiz pays from her own
pocket the most of the expenses OF the
| Harvard museum OF zoology.
/ A New York engraver got out cards
| in these words: - Mr.. and Mrs. -
their daughter"
Sir William Gull says that drinking
habits ara not on the increase among
English ladies; but the Rev. DIR. Nor
man Kerr is ofa totally different opinion.
The wife of United States Senator
Walkinson Call, OF Florida, is the
youngest of all Senator'S wives, and is
said to be the most beautiful. She was
a Miss Sinking, of South Carolina.
Mrs. Marie L. Ellis. for eighteen years
| favorably known as n custom house in
spectress at New York, died recently,
aged fifty years. 1t is stated that she
/ captured more diamonds from women
! smugglers than ever were taken from
male smugglers.
The Mormons evade the legal de-
cisions against polygamy by secret mar
riages and taking the new wife home AS
helper or teacher, and the old wives
submit because they religiously believe
1t to be their duty.
Mrs. John w. Mackay. wife of the
California bonanza king, is solemnly re-
ported TO have engaged the exclusive
services of one of the most celebrated
Partisan dressmakers, so that there
might be no duplicates of her gowns.
A young man at Omaha did not wish
10 marry the girl to whom he was en-
gagged. but she would not release him
until he gave her his grocery business
rs recompense. She now runs the
store, while he works elsewhere on
small wages, and the bargain pleases
both.
The inability of an ingenious woman to
purchase sealskin sacque led to very
original garment. According TO an ex-
change she stripped the down of turkey
and other feathers from the quills and
wove it into light soft thick cloth
out of which, when dyed desirable
hue, luxurious sacque was fashioned
Miss Charlotte A. Scott. of Girtor
college, Cambridge, daughter of Rev
Principal Scott, of Lancashire Indepen
dent college, has obtained the position
of equal to the eighth wrangler" in
the Mathematical Tripos at Cambridge
The highest place hitherto won by any
lady has been among the senior optime:
Il. e., second class. Miss Scott's
achievement is the most remarkable or
record in the annals of female education
/ In England