davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1880-01-16
A Storm King.


One or two old Philadelphians are
able to recall very bitter scientific con-
troyersy that ragged nearly half century
ago. An unknown schoolmaster pre-
dicted storms repeatedly and foreshadow-
ed their course and duration. His
theories were contemptuously treated,
ex .epting by some liberal members of
the Franklin Institute. The budding
meteorologist was James p. Espy and
one of his promoters was Mr.. Charles
Brown, who does not hesitate to assign
him the credit of the paternity of the ex-
listing weather service.
!. Espy must have come to the city in '28
or '29. He was a native of Washington
county and where he got his bias toward
meteorological inquiry is not known.
The Franklin Institute was open to all
kinds of scientific inquiry and discus
sion, and Espy's professed knowledge
awoke great interest, if it did not make
converts. His main point was the possi-
bility of producing rain by artificial
means. His starting point in this theory
was derived from observations tending to
show that great artificial disturbance of
the atmosphere, such as the firing in
great battles, was often followed by local
rains of violent character. Inasmuch as
such rains usually begin at what has
since got to be called the dew point of
atmospheric pressure, he thought that
by cutting down, say two hundred acres
of forest trees, leaving the foliage on and
firing them simultaneously when the
atmosphere reached the dew point, rain
could be produced. Mr.. Fraley was the
chairman of large committee of the In
stitute, which was appointed to inquire
into Espy's alleged discoveries, and he
was able to persuade them that the perils
of ocean navigation could be greatly
diminished by proper comparison of
atmospheric conditions and the proba-
bilities deduced therefrom. In ~ the
enthusiast went to Europe to ventilate
his opinions. He was listened to with
great patience by the members of the
French Institution and by London
savants. This kindly reception gave
him more credit among his own
countrymen, who styled him the Storm
King.
Whenever he appeared in public he
was pointed out as the man who could
make it rain even in time of drouth.
Prof. Henry, who even then held very
influential position in the Smithsonian
Institution, interested himself in having
Congressional patronage for the enthu-
siast. A place was made for him at
small salary nominally as professor of
mathematics in the Navy Department.
Even this small bone was stoutly dis
puted by many of the economic legisla-
Iators of the day. Still, IN spite of all
opposition, his few friends won the fight
and his official life was saved. His
bureau was soon afterward transferred
to the Smithsonian institution, although
he made his reports through the War
Department. It was, in fact, the first
Signal Service. and that now existing is
only the elaboration of the ideas upon
which Espy spent his life's labor.
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1880-01-16
HUMOROUS.

The red rose is the fashionable flower.
The Rhode Island twins, Senators An
thony and Burnside, live in the same
house in Washington.
Gen. Crook was nearly frozen to death
last week, having lost his way while
hunting in the Platte Valley.
Francis Joseph gave King Alfonso's
bride, his cousin, better outfit than he
gave his own daughter.
Those embroidered bags of black
satin, that look like nothing so much
as foot muffs. are the fashionable tea
cosies.
The popular horse shoe has now been
utilized for q. hat rack. It is of
ebonized wood, with nickle-plated nails
for pegs.
A novelty in evening dress fabrics is
white toilet sanglier, boar's cloth, a
heavy all-wool material, dotted in raised
fine points.
Mrs. Langtry was skating at Brighton,
England, on parlor skates, in rink.
One of the rollers came off and she fell
gracefully.
American silks are growing prettier
each season. The latest design shows
pompadour stripes of blue, alternated
with old gold.
Miss Susan B. Anthony thinks woman
is getting slice after slice and will have
the whole loaf by and by. Perhaps,
Susan; but isn't the loaf little sour
down in Massachusetts,?
Horatio Seymour says that to see gray
boards scrambling for place and power
L. L.. ~e no11 > zf
DEATH and he will never be fonnd
making one in such cotil1ion.
The nephew of the French Minister of
Finance, NJ. Say, is on trip around the
world in the yacht Henrietta. formerly
Mr.. Boucicanlt's Shaughraun, having
sailed from New York last week.
s.The august widow of Napoleon III.
gave her hand to be kissed by everybody
that she knew" is the way the reporter
of a French newspaper describes the
scene where Eugenie arrived at the
Biarritz railway station on her way to
Madred
In recent court martial trial one of
the disputants closed his argument in q
way that, to say the least, was novel, and
which ran something in this wise: "From
what have said, your Honor, the law in
this case appears to be about all on our
side, and if it does not SO appear, it is
the fault, not of the law, but of feeble
Interpretation.
An Ohio man rushed out OF his house
the other night in an almost nude state,
and was arrested by the police He
claimed that he had seen his fathers
ghost. This way of playing Hamlet with
nothing on but red-hannel nightshirt
and green cornplaster is peculiarly an
Ohio idea. A healthy public sentiment
should nip it in the bud at once.
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1880-01-16
A Self.Poss esscd Liar.

A lot of human owls who fit around
the Palace hotel barroom at night. nm
til daylight and the harkeeper drives
them home il the morning, were try
ing to outlie each other few nights
ago, when big-footed, long-armed
miner came in and sat down in the
corner.
EYES," said one of the party referred
to-a curbstone broker-who was gen
orally considered the most cold d-blooded
liar on Pine street; "yes, gentlemen, I
have had some mighty queer experien-
ces aon this coast When I first came
out I worked for three dollars a day in
the old Ophir shaft, and = came terri
BILE near losing my life once while up
there, too"
s'How'wz that?" asked one of the
party, waking up to relight his cigar
cite.
"Well, it happened in this way.
Ugh! it makes me shudder to think of
it, even now. You see, 1 was being
hauled up ON the cage with another
workman, when just after we had risen
about five hundred feet saw that the
rope over our heads had unravelled
and was about to give way
"Great Scott!'' said the barkeeper,
WHO WAS one OF the OeSG Jra1n0O lie
abettors in the State.
est was a moment of frightful peril
Our joint weight was too much for the
rope. One of us must be sacrificed.
I mentally contrasted myself with the
other man. He was a homely-looking
whisky drinking, accordion-playing
bachelor; was a prominent Knight of
Pythias, with brand new pair of
boots on, and two loving wives, and
say fourteen children somewhere out
on the surface waiting for me, seized
the miserable wretch and hurled him
down into the darkness. Heavens! His
despairing shrek rings in my ears yet!
Quick, ,barkeeper, a little more2 brandy. y
And you were saved, of course?"
asked the big miner rising up and ap-
preaching the story-teller.
'Well, you see, I'm here" rejoined
the latter, blandly.
"And the other man was mashed all
to pieces, you think?"
''Think, why, certainly.
'"That's just where you're wrong, old
hoss. I was that man."
.'Why-why, it's impossible. Thai
was fifteen years ago." stammered the
broker.
''Exactly. I lit on side beam, abou
ten feet down., and was scooped up by
the next cage, and for twenty years
have been praying. for a chance to icl
your hide clean off for your inferna
selfshness.
'sBut this is the most preposterous"
gaspel the broker, getting on the othe
side of the table, as the big strange
deliberately took off his coat"
'sOh, it is, is it," put in the other
grimly. 60 You think I'll have mai
shy me down the Ophir shaft, and thel
,, go round telling it for the beer. Now
I'll tell you what I'll do. Set up tn
champagne for the whole crowd, ant
I'll call it square. If you don't, II
break every bone in your body witt
this bungstarter."
And the fizz was according set up
since when the broker has told til
same yarn with variations over eigh
hundred times. He says he's paid
|, big price for that story, and he's boun
to get his moneys worth out of it, il
: takes all winter.
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1880-01-16

WILD ANIMALS IN NAFRICA.-Although
the gradual spread of the population
toward the interior of Africa is driving
the wild animals further and further in
land, and though they are consequently
difficult to reach in the more inaccessible
haunts to which they hane retreated, yet
the larger wild animals have, with one or
two exceptions, scarcely suffered any
diminution from the advancing tide of
civilization. Ostriches have suffered,
perhaps, most, but only to exchange y
wild for domesticated state Elephants
are frequently seen within short dis
tance of the southern and southeastern
coasts. Hippopotami are abundant.
Even the larger beasts of prey are by no
means uncommon, and tigers are especi-
ally depredators. If the reports of
diamond diggers in the northwest are to
be believed, new animal has lately
made its appearance as candidate for
the honor of being chased by an enter
prising sportsman. It is called by the
bushman or natives; the ssbear ion'
and is described as being about the size
of lion, but far stronger in make, and
with tremendous head and neck. Its
much stouter, and it is apparently far
more powerful. Its color is dark
yellow. with black spots. It runs or
creeps along the ground, but does not
bound like o lion. 1t has sometimes
been seen accompanied by smaller one
probably cub-so that the race is ap-
parently not yet quite extinct, whatever
the animal may bel Boston Traveller.
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1880-01-16
RUP TURE
CURED!
From q Merchant.

DAYTON, W. T. Feb. 10, 1873.
W j. Horne, Proprietor California Elastic
Truss Co., 72O Market street, San Francisco-Dear
Sir: The Truss purchased Of you one year ago
ha proved u miracle to me. have been ruptur-
ed forty years, and wore dozens of different kinds
of Trusses, all of which ruined my health, as
they were very injurious to my back and spine.
Your valuable Truss is as easy as an old shoe and
ia worth hundreds of dollars to me, as it affords
me so much pleasure. can and do advise all,
both ladies and gentlemen, afflicted, to buy and
wear your modern improved Elastic Truss imme-
diately. never expect to be cured. but am sat
isfied and happy with the comfort it gives me to
wear it. 1t was the best $40 ever invested in
my life. You can refer any one to me, and Will
be happy to answer any letters on its merits.
remain, yours, respectfully.
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1880-01-16
10 $4,000 4 YEAR, or s. to $40 day

- TO $4,000 A YEAR, or S. to $50 day
~ IN your own locality. No risk. Wo-
SNH men do as well as men. Many make
Wv more than the amount stated above.
No one can fail to make money fast Any one
can do the work You can make from Scots to
81 an hour by devoting your evenings and spare
time to the business. 1t costs nothing to try the
business Nothing like it for money making
ever offered before Business pleasant and strict
Iy honorable. Reader, if you want to know all
about the best paying business before the public,
send us your address and we will send you full
particulars and private terms free; samples worth
SIS also free; you can then make up your mind
for. yourself Address GEORGE STINSON &
CO Portland. Maine 16:S1yI
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1880-01-16

A QUEER HoUsE.-An eccentric Eng
lishman has recently built house in the
Quarter Tivoli for the residence of him
self, his wife and eight children, which
is the talk of all Paris. It is circular
and has neither door nor window exter-
nally. The approach to it is from the
ground floor on to the roof by means of
ladder, which is moved up and down
by machinery similar to that of draw
bridge. There is only one floor, and that
contains eighteen apartments, more or
less small in dimensions, looking into
the center, which is lighted from above
by glazed cupola. One stove for all
these rooms is in the middle, and in
summer its place is to be occupied by an
exquisite parterre of flowers. A circular
balcony, open to all the apartments, sur
rounds this space. The motive of this
oddity Is is, of course, only known to the
author of it, but everybody can see that
two points are gained by Immunity
from the taxes on doors and windows,
and perfect preventive of any attempt
at burglary Boston Traveller.
FIVE SUNDAYs.-We are cfedibly in
formed that there will be five. Sundays
in February of next year, and the same
veracious writer to whom we are indebt-
ed for this fact supplements his state
ment with the remarkable prophecy that
not until 1920 will another February be
able to boast such plethora of first
Day. There is something remarkable in
the fact that this surplusage of Sunday
should occur in leap year; it really
looks as though there were management
in this thing. But be that so or not, -
the unmarried young lady with yearn
ings after matrimony does not take
advantage of the coming bissextile
February with its culinary opportunities
for martial engagement, she is not the
unmarried young lady with matrimonial
yearnings we take her for.
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1880-01-16

A woman in the hospital in Florence
has strange story. She entered the
Italian army in order to save her brother,
a married man, from military service.
She served with distinction during the
war with Austria and received medal
for bravery in the field. When these
presented her with the cross of his order,
and gave directions for her discharge on
an annual pension Of 300 francs.
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1880-01-16
WEEKLY CORVALLIS GAZETTE.
CORVALLIS, JANUARY 16, 1880
ALARM HYMN.

/ heahs de alarm f'm de number one box.
Listen, siunahs, listen!
Hark how earnestly de angel knocks;
De fire is hot an hissin'.
Angels tappin' on de conscience bell,
Heah 1t, heah 1t bapgin'!
Hits a greet big fire dey's habbin' in hell;
Dat's why de 'larm BELLS clangin'.
A fire dat de ingines nebber gifts around;
Sinnahs br'flin'. fryin'-
Whar de kabcock 'sting'shers kant be found
AM dey aim no use o. tIyin'.
Flames is burnin' up higher an higher
Surprisin', oh, surprisin'!
You has an intr1st in dat fire,
An de flames Is still a-risin'.
Jump when you heah dat warnin' chime;
Jump up, sinnahs, jump upi
Do your do in q berry quick time;
Now is de time TO hump up.
Kase yon know dat you kant afford
Hallelujah! be singin!-
To resk yo, souls, for dey amt inshored;
<.sl4AStenn n8e firebell Iingip'!
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1880-01-16

A BOYS CoMPosITIoN.-Pe no
American schoo1-boy's composition has
ever put "the Father of His Country" on
q stronger moral basis than this-the
letter appears in a transatlantic cotem-
porary: George Washington was little
boy what once lived in Virginny what
had max give him by his ole man. Wen
Georges ole man foun out what George
an the mother boy done, he called George
to him and he ses, George Washington
who cutted the bark ofrn the cherry
tree? George ses did Tha ole man sais
you did. George ses did and cannot
tell a Ii. Why can't you tell Ii, sails the
old man. Coz sails George if tell Ii
this here fellarl blow on me and then Ill
be spancked twict. That's rite sails the
old man whenever yer get into trouble
the esyist way out is the best
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1880-01-16
My Rules For Living.

am no doctor, quack or pill-vender,
yet l have had pretty good long life
and happy one. May I not, therefore.
give my simple rules for health in hope
that some poor traveller on the up or
down hill of life may look at them and
perhaps be benefited by them. I have
practiced them for many years and they
may have done me good; perhaps they
may do good to others. They are mex
pensive and may be easily abandoned, if
they cause any harm.
I. Keep in the sunlight just as much
as possible. A plant will not thrive with
out the sunbeam; much Jess mar.
2. Breathe as much fresh air as your
business will permit. This makes fresh
blood; but it will never be found within
the four walls Of your building. Beneath
the open sky, just there, and only there,
it comes to you.
3. Be strictly temperate. You cannot
break organic law, or any other law, with
impunity.
4. Keep the feet always warm and the
head cool. Disease and death begin at
the feet more commonly than we think.
5. Eat white bread when you cannot
get brown bread.
6. If out of order see which of the
above rules you have not observed, then
rub yourself all over with a towel satu-
rated salt water, and well dried and begin
upon the rules again.
Z. Look ever on the bright, which is
the heaven side of life. This is far better
than a medicine.
These seven simple rules, good for the
valid or the invalid, if rightly observed,
would save, I apprehend, deal of pain,
prolong your life, and, so far as wealth
goes, make it worth having.
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1880-01-16
A LAWYER sPLEA.-Lawyer defending
cashier charged with embezzling 0,000

Oudl SOu WAoAh OuoSANAAa5 OO,O0o
francs belonging to his employer: ''No,
gentlemen of the jury, have no desire
to extenuate my clients error-for that
it is an error I can hardly deny. But
was he to blame? Was he to blame?
Who was it confided to him, young
man of weak character and easily led
astray by the temptations which assail
his age-who was it confded to him the
keeping of suchlarge amounts of money?
If he had not been trusted with this
money he could never have misappropri-
ated it. That stands to reason. Did he
take his employer by the throat and de-
mand the keys of the safe, or break into
it? /. No; the keys were placed in his
,keeping deliberately, maliciously, to
temp5s him tos.his. destruction. And
again, when NY unhappy Silent had
yielded and was in his power, what did
the prosecutor dogk He arrested him, Is
this conduct compatible with hfs Theory
of trust, of regard? Why did he believe
that he had been robbed; or if he had
been why did he not prove his good
opinion of this young man by waiting
till he had paid back the sum? But he
did not do this. He procured this young
mans arrest at the moment that the
crushed penitent was seeking to hide his
shame in a foreign country! Come down
from yonder witness-box, monster; come
down, thou heartless wretch, into the
dock, and tremblingly await the just re-
ward of thy iniquitiesp'
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1880-01-16

Kate Field is said to have received
some stock and money salary as q teIe-
phone agent, while in London. The
shares she took at $50 are now worth
$1,000 each.
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1880-01-16

Mrs. HAYES AND THE NORFOLK BoYs
During the afternoon squad of the
Norfolk City Guard bethought them
selves of passing the time by a call at the
White House. While the soldiers were
walking around the reception-room,
finding much to admire, lady of most
kindly appearance approached, and with
much cordiality extended her hand to
the officer in charge, and, introducing
herself as Mrs. Hayes, said that she
recognized the splendid uniform of the
Norfolk City Guard, the commanding
officer of which she had met the day.
previous, and desiring to form the acz
quatntance of the members of the COM
lany generally, she gladly availed her.
self of this opportunity. She was then
introduced to each of the Norfolk
soldiery. Shaking them by the hand
with hearty good nature, she remarked,
''That the President sometimes held
private little receptions unknown to her,
but that she had stolen march upon
her lord this time" The Guards then
spent few moments, assisting Mrs.
Hayes in dressing the room with flowers,
in which task she was engaged at the
time of their entrance. Being furnished
by their kind hostess with guide. they
proceeded through the public rooms Of
| the magnificent mansion. 1t is need
| less to say that if it were possible Mrs.
Hayes can be the next President so far as
| the franchise of the Norfolk City Guards
is concerned.-N Norfolk Virginian.
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1880-01-16

AA A WEEK in ycur own, ,tsxsf and no
q capital risked. You can give the
Ah business trial without expense.
WV The best opportunity ever offered for
those willing TO work. You should try nothing
else until you see for yourself what you can do at
the business we offer. No room to explain here.
You can devote all your time or only your spare
time TO the business, and make great pay for
every hour you work. Women make as much
as men,. Send for special private terms and par
ticulars, which we mail free. Sc outfit free.
Don't complain of hard times while you have
such chance Address H. HALLETT 4 CO.,
Portland, Maine 18:s1yI
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1880-01-16
Tllorvalds. ms BOyhOOd.

Young Thorvaldsen was not perfect
cha aracter, and was by no means as fond
of his studies as he was of drawing and
modelling. He loved art, but reading and
writing and recitations troubled him. In
deed, his schoolmaster, Herr Chaplain
Hoyer, had come to the conclusion that
BerteI Thorvaldsen was Ounce, and
would always be in the lowest class. But
something happened TO change his opin-
ion.
There was distribution of prizes at the
Fine Arts Academy, and certain young
Thorvaldson received the silver medal.
Next morning Herr Hoyer read it in the
newspaper. OF course it could not be the
Ounce, he thought, but it might be some
relative, whom he could hold up to the lad
as an example of industry. So, when
Bertel came in, he said:
"Thorvaldsen, is it brother of yours
who has just taken the prize at the Acad-
emy?" -.
"It is myself, Herr Chaplain" was the
reply, and the modest lad WAS covered
with confusion.
Herr Hoyer gazed at him in utter as
tonish ment. Then he said in a changed
voice:
"Herr Thorvaldsen, please to pass up to
the first class"
This was felt to be a great honor to
Bertel, not only the sending him 10 tne
first class, but the calling him "Herr. "
Herr" means Master" and though the
boys always applied it to their teachers,
the teachers rarely, if ever applied it to
one of their scholars. Thorvaldsen said
afterwards that none of the distinctions
he enjoyed in latter years gave him quite
as much pleasure as this first one.
Thorvaldsen was seventeen years Old
when he took the silver medal and re-
ceived the title of "Herr." His success
| inspired him to work harder than ever,
and gave him bright hope for the future
He was a quiet, reserved youth; seldom
laughed or talked, and when he began his
DAVIS task no jesting of his companions
could divert his attention.
He worked with tremendous earnest
| ness.
When he was twenty one he took an
other prize, the gold medal; and at twen-
ty-three he took a still higher, which
alter two years was to give him pension
enabling him to study at Rome for three
years, without expense to himself.
On the Sth of March, 1897, the scuipto
reached Rome. He used to say after
| wards, that on that day he was born. Hi
life at Rome was very Interesting, but no
at first very easy; and it was only afte
a long while that he began to prospe
there.