davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Richland beacon., 1880-09-18
hAl WILLIE. OCISIANA SATURD SEPTEMBER IS 1880
BLiCHWFLL'S ISLAND

ihls Is the largest island in the vicin.
ny Of New York it contains 200 acres.
IL Is long and narrow, with deep clan
i'I "l either side. and is the most strik.
liig feature III the East river. 1t was fos
more than century i'll the possession Of
'iIc ialnlly whose name it bears and was
used Tor farming purposes. The family
eventually declined, and the place was
S"id III lS23 ty one of the last representa-
'i''S i"f the then enormous sum of so, =
too. The purchaser (James BclD WAS {,
Npcrulator who was unable 10 meet his
payments, and the property was sold
under foreclosure. This occurred in
1873. and the city determined TO pur
chase 1t. This being known led To- ii
Siifitt'. competition, and the property
was run up to 81. 900. II WAS BOUGHT
''N 'he corporation as a place for penal
amt charitable Institutions. Blackwcll's
island would. if put into the market to-
day. bring Sl0, 600, 900 for residences. II
Is the healthiest and prettiest place ever
devoted to its present purposes, and the
convlcts and paupcrs have the best air in
the woild-infinitely better than the
packed population of the city. Tweed.
III fact, was much healthier as a Black
wells island convict than cooped np in
Ludlow street Jail, where, indeed. he
soon died. Two years have elapsed
since he was laid in his grave in Green
wood, and how rapidly he has fallen
out of notice! The last appearance of
ms name, indeed, was in the record of a
NE mNurancecompany, which paid a pol
icy OF $4,000 on his life. Probably that
was the only really honest money the /
family had received through him since he
abandoned brush-making and gave him
self up to that career of knavery which .
made him a convict, whose only release
was in death.
Richland beacon., 1880-09-18
NEW METHOo or RECEAfwfNG ZOO

DIR. PlayfaIr, of Edinburgh. draws at-
tentlon to the German method Of re-
claiming bog land, which has already re-
celved attention at the Agricultural De-
partmcnt at Washington. The flnda-
mental idea OF this method is to cover
bog earth with Il deep layer of gravel
after means Eavc been provided for
draining the land, and 70 leave this
gravel as n permanent surface laver.
which Is never To- bc mixed with the bog
earth that lies beneath il. Upon this
ground the crops are grown. The sur
face shields the young crops from de-
struction by night fro,ts in the spring:
1t lessons the evaporation of water from
the soil, and the radiation of heat also.
and So keeps tn" ground comparatively
warm, whl". - cNrrr.c'.." shows. the
buried huna- ran sti'l supply the crops
with food. In" upper surface mus
never he pl"w.'. Ks" rs to mix one soil
with the otilrr. bat. whrn it becomes
hard and lncru I'd. L Is worked with a
sub-Soil plo0 il ~u,', wise hat the soil
may hc i"o-n,.: ',tiior' mixing one
layer with o." ';.,r. Some writer's
argI that if j. .,.'t. toew,otcn the bog
land first L., 'r.aH.-. -. fac spreading
the Gra,I over .. r.. however, is an
open Question. 10 go I.!.ht EXISTS that
Richland beacon., 1880-09-18
n !STR1NCE FACT

The thinker finds varions things to
speculate about while passing through
life. 1t is singular that man, the biped,
is the only animal that requires amuse-
ment. No other animal on the face of
the earth is driven to the base expedients
to which man is compelled to resort for
diversion. Man, the pleasure-loving
bipea, must needs kill time and, if the
criminal law were to select out of the
murderers those who commit crime for
the sake of something to do, it would be
found that vast number of innocent
victims were used as mere wax dolls or
dummies, and that the actual and pur-
posed victim was poor old Time. Why
the time of these human beings should
be created and given into their hands
merely for them to kill is thing which
the Creator thereof can alone explain.
Richland beacon., 1880-09-18
PL1M FOOD.

II IlaIn food is well and carefully
cooked. 1t Is as palatable as richer diet.
and much more wholesome. Take as
simple dish as "hasty pudding when
properly made, it is IA dish L" fit for Il
hing" but, when half cooked or sea-
Noned, 1t Is fit only for pigs and chickens.
Cooking Is Just as truly chemical pro-
cess as any result secured in labora-
tory. And, as in chemistry, the least
deviation from proper proportions in a
gwen compound will give result en-
'ir"ly different from the one sought, SO
1t Is largely i'll cooking. In the country.
too little attention is paid to diet. How
few farmers have good bed Of aspara.
gus, 50 desirable in early spring between
hay and grass, " when the whole system
cries ont for fresh vegetables, and vet
such bed is easily started, and will last
for fifty years. Some farmers do not
feel able to afford their families any
kind of meat but salt pork, summer and
winter, and yet they can buy good, fresh
beef from the butchers cart for less than
what they would sell their everlasting
pork for, and by "boiling down" in the
kcttle, with few light dumplings, you
can have fresh-meat dinner that will
he eaten almost AS heartily as roast
turkey. Health largely depends upon
the food we eat.
a MAN threw gun across his shoulder
at Pineville, Indian Territory, and said
he was going hunting. His way led
past neighbor':l house. on the porch of
which some children were playing. He
took quick aim at little girl and fired,
killing her instantly. The only explana-
ton he can give for the deed is that he
felt an irresistible impulse to do it.
Richland beacon., 1880-09-18
UEIL-BRED CHILDREN.

II Is delightful to see well-h.haveJ
children III these DAYS, when vomg
America rides rampant over all ..stah-
H-it"d laws "f etiquette. One meets too
many little people who act Us if they
'i"u%ht II "t no consequence how they
behave at home. They talk loud, are
h"iNtrr"uS when they enter room. race
'p Ihd down stars, and call wIth ioud
voices from one story To- another. slam
ming every door after them until the
I"i'' is like the report OF il cannon. re
f'f'ilcsN OF the great ANNOYANCE and dis
comfort they intlict upon all in the
i''iN'. \ visitor at house where
>'ich h"havlor III children is tolerated
""u'd scarcely recognize them If ne mot
them away from home, they can h" 50
IIii"t and uhobtrusivc. But that l., not
h'lh@ refined and polished. True p,-
hieli"as and good manners cannot he
taken on or put off at pleasure. They
must he homemade. instilled into the
minds OF the children from the cradle
+" ic the pure article. But if it is no.
/" hc sure, even spurious article is
Better than none. At least it will be
som" relief to those who must witness
IN" hoorshncss of their home manners.
Bui II II child can he taught how to con-
d'Ict himself properly i'll friends house,
surely he must know that rude conduct
at home is offensive and reprchensible
to the last degree, and in no wise to he
tolerated. Parents can train their
to be polite at home as well as
abroad, and they are guilty of great
wrong II they do not accomplish it. The
'lrst and most important element of
good breeding is consideration for the
feelings of others.
Richland beacon., 1880-09-18

A SOMEWHAT strange case came before
an English court of law few days since.
The Rev. E. ]. Warrington, rector Of
Denzil, Essex, was charged with libel
ing Miss Andrews, of Denzil Hall, by
reason of his refusing to administer to
her the holy communion. He aggra-
waited the alleged offense by reading that
part of the rubric before the congrega-
ton which declares against evil livers
presenting themselves to take the sacra-
ment, using the feminine gender while
doing so. When Miss Andrews went to
the table the rector refused TO admins
ter the communion. Lord Penzance.
before whom the case was tried, reserved
Judgment
Richland beacon., 1880-09-18
NJ MBER 3S.
u ISE OEDS.

Is faith and hop. tn voriI win disagree.
Hu; all inai knd'- concern is ci,rty.-PI~.
Iris right To be cont,ntc,i with what We
have, never with what we arc.-.Nackiu-
toyH.
liEthat prycth into every cloud may
be stricken with thuudcrholt. -.Io~ph
Cp1k.
No BOOKS are 81 lcgiblr as the lives of
mcn: nocharactcrs soplain "a, thcirmor-
al condnct.
EVENT ave not III our power; hut il al
"'N' Is To make good use Of even the
wor~t.-Errh,tV.
oNcE knew Il man who had advanced
t" Such aPi'ch of solt-cetcrm that he
never mentioned himself without taking
of his hat. ridgc.
BE not divided from your duty bv any
ldir reflections the siIl ' world may make
upon .vou, for thcir ccn~urcs are not in
N"ur power, and consequently should
iI"' h' any part al your conccrnS.-
Ipictftx.
10 FINprccroatlom in amusement is
not happiness; for this JOY comes from
without. and Is. therefore. dependent on
accidents, which often cause inevitable
affection; hut the happiness that is
found III the soul itself is abiding.
SOME people when they meet loss sit
down dcspondcnt; others go to work all
the harder and make gain that more
than covers the loss. There is good
moral to the following: AT the battle Of
Shiloh an officer rushed up to Grant and
SAID: General, Swartz's battery is took"
"Wcll, sir, said Grant, "you spiked the
guns before they were takcn?" "Vat,
Schplke dem new guns? No, Shcncral.
1t would schpoil en-" "Wcll. then.
what did You do?" "Do? w, we went
right III and took EN- back agan."
Richland beacon., 1880-09-18
NERVOUSNESS.

Tea and coffee drinking does not
strengthen the nerves 10y any means,
though they temporarily stimulate them.
In fact the nervousness and peevishness
Of our times are chiefly attributed to tea
and coffee. The digestive organs of con-
firned coffee drinkcr4 are in a state of
chronic arrangement. producing fretful
and iachrymose moods. Cocoa and
chocolate are neutral in their psychic
effects and are really the most harmless
Uf our fashionable drink
Richland beacon., 1880-09-18

A BOHEMIAN in Austin county, Texas.
had been stacking hay, and after finish
ing the stack he slid down. and pitch
fork that was leaning against the stack
stuck into his throat and penetrated to
the brain. He lived two days after the
accident.
Richland beacon., 1880-09-18
" nat CHILDREN SHOULD READ.

The greatest trouble which ensues
from placing sensational literature in the
hands of children is the false idea of life
which 1T produces. Many children ev-
cry year, after reading those thrilling
adventures and glowing descriptions Of
the golden West" have BECOME dis
satisfied with the tame and seemingly
uneventful school life and have left their
homes to seek their fortunes and follow
their hero. Most of these deluded fort
me hunters find their mistake and like
ihe prodigal return, but with the taste
for good reading impaired. Such litera-
ture should not be placed within the
reach of children. There are plenty of
good, useful books of moral tone that
are suitable, pleasing ana at the same
time instructive. History is now gotten
up in such pleasant style that it is
source of amusement as well as in
structive to read it. Ii novels must be
read-and none can deny that a good
novel occasionally does no harm.-his.
torical are preferable to those whose
chief merit seems to he the excitement
they may produce and the false ideas of
life they may create. Every piece a
child reads should contain grain of
truth, either moral, philosophical, DO
iltical or historical, that it may spring
up and bear some fruit of usefulness. II
Is quite important, too, that the youth
should be conversant with the topics of
the day, which may be found in the
leading papers. No one can be consid.
cred well read who knows nothing of the
literature of the times.
Richland beacon., 1880-09-18
TIE Spider.

The intelligence and power evince.
by the spider in securing lis prey ho.
often attracted attention: Int We hav,
seldom heard of So rcnarkahlca 4 disploy
oi these faculties aS We witnessed = shnr,
hhe since. \ small-sizcd spider had
made his web on the under sid. ut q.
table. Early one morning. cockroacb
was noticed ON the floor, directly under
the web. and, on approaching to take it
away, 1t was found that the spider had
thrown Il line around one Of if, leos and
while the observer WAS looking N it. the
+ spider came down and lassoed tine orpn-
/ site leg of the cockroach. Th. spiIcr
Then went up to his web, but instantly
cimr down and fastened line to anoth
q "r leg, and continued for several minute,
dartmg down and fastening lines IL
different parts Of the body of his victim.
lhe struggles of the cockroach (though
iull-8fown one) were unavailmg 10
effect his escapc-he could not break hi,
bonds, and his efforts seemed only Z,
entangle him the more. As his struo-
giles became more and more feeble. the
spider threw his lines more tllickly
around him; and when he had become
nearly exhausted the spider proceeded
to raise hlm from the floor. He at fir,
raised the head and forward part of the
body nearly half an inch; then raised
the other end and SO continued to work
till the cockroach WAS elevated five or
slX inches from the floor Thus, chung
III chains, the victim was left to die
The spider was, as before remarked. IA
small one, and could not have been NOR.
than a tenth of the weight of his prev.
Spiders crawling more abundantlv and
conNplcuouSiy than usual upon the i'll
door walls of our houses forcteU tl,,.
near approach of rain; but the follow
ing anecdote intimates that some Of
their habits are equally the certain in
dication of frost being at hand. Ouat-
rcmer Dlslonval, seeking to begrlilc the
tedlum of his prison hours at Utrecht.
had studied attentively the habits of the
spider: and eight years of imprison
ment had given him leisure to be wei,
versed with its ways. In the December
OF 1874, the French army, on whose sue.
Cess his restoration to liberty depended.
was in Holland, and victory seemed GER
tain if the frost, then of unprecedented
severity, continued. The Dutch enyovs
had failed to negotiate peace, and
Holland was despairing, when the frost
broke up. The Dutch were
now exulting, and the French Generals
prepared to retreat; but the spider
forewarned Disjonval that the thaw
would he of short duration. and he
knew that his weather monitor never
deceived. He contrived to communicate
With the army of his countrymen and
is Generals, who duly estimated hi
character, relied upon his assurance
hat within Il few days the waters would
Ne again passable by troops. They de-
aged their retreat; within twelve davs
he frost had returned - the French
rmy triumphed, Disjonval was liber-
ted, and spider had brought down
Tin on the Dutch nation.
Richland beacon., 1880-09-18
WITH n BLOI7E.R.


caa 'he tender Of this porous pa,er
~, .'n'eys to You the true confession
ie" friendly gifts could be the cheape,
-'one can excel this for impression.
H. ''' ihk' TINS downy whiteness spotting.
so ia toward me like wornlwood never;
'ir various nssives you are blotting.
a1o Aetp tlle IncmOry of the niver
Richland beacon., 1880-09-18

A NEGRO family near Montgomery,
Ala, were taken i'll, and voudou doc
tor was called in. He said that snakes
were the cause of the trouble, that their
eggs were in the air and water about the
place, and that he would destroy them
for $780, His price was deemed too
high. Then the doctor made pass in
the air with his hand, and showed two
toy Egyptian snake eggs" of the kind
familiar to the children of the North.
These had been floating imperceptibly
in the air, he said. He touched match
to them and uttered some gibberish,
while the snakes were rapidly extend
ing themselves. This was satisfactory
proof of his knowledge and power, and
he was paid the 800.
Richland beacon., 1880-09-18
FHlLD EATEN BY AN ALLIGATOR,

Mr.. John Owens, who lives two miles
this side Of Florida Town, on the eastern
shore of Escambia bay, related to one of
"'ir citizens recently a most horrifying
affair. His statement was-and he gave
II us positive fact-that while party
numbering some three or four were taking
sea bath, their attention was directed
to little 10 or 12-year-old boy whom
they had left on reef in shoal water
near the beach, the men having ventured
INTO deeper water. On looking in the
direction of the child they realized the
awful fact that the boy was being swal-
lowed by an alligator, fully half the vic
tins body still being visible, and then
suddenly disappearing in the frightful
Jaws OF the monster, whose tremendous
mouth was plainly seen by each one
present. They at once returned to the
shore, hut not a trace of the unfortu-
nate lad could be discovered, save the
blood which foated on the water.-
PeasacOia (Fyd.) Advance.
Richland beacon., 1880-09-18
PROG RES< IN JOFRNdLISN,

y 81. Louis correspondent SAYS The
other day 1 met here Col. George Knapp,
proprietor OF the daily RcpuJHcan.
lie Is " medium-sized, haired. rud-
HE-l"ceG gentleman, not apparently over
% years old-quiet, interesting, pleasing
II manner. He was with his large and
Genial editor-in-chief, Mr.. Hyde. both
of them enjoying mutual interview
and lean against the iron railing along
side the magnificent architectural pile.
the Republican building" Our con-
'FrSatlon turned on the past and pres
ent Of journalism, and their contrast.
Col. Knapp INDUCED in this interesting
blt of retrospect:
Fiity-three years ago I began with
the Rcp"b/ican. 1t was a weekly then.
We had nothing but a wooden hand
press. Our city circulation was less than
200 L delivered the papers myself. 1t
took two stout men several hours each
week to work off on that press our
small city and country edition. The
entire edition was only 600 or 700. Our
office was i'll little old frame building
then"
And what is the statistical difference
now, Colonel ?" was asked.
"Oh, it can hardly be stated in words.
lou see this mornings issue Opening
copy. Well, our new press prints both
sides at once, and cuts the pages and
pastes them together and folds them up
as this is, at the rate of 10000 copies an
hour. Ihave thrown mp the job of de-
hyering our city edition, as I've grown
old, and concluded to let the poor boys
tend to that"
Richland beacon., 1880-09-18

PRESIDENT HAYES visited recently tb~
house in Bradford, Ct, built by his
great-grandfather, Ezekiel, $50 years
ago.
Richland beacon., 1880-09-18

HE was saying, as he scratched YucY-
fer on the side of the house, 81 like
those houses with sanded paint nice
when you want to strike match, you
know. :" Is that so, she asked demure-
ly; 81 wish L lived in a house with
Sanded paint and then she looked
things nnutterable. If he had asked
" What for?" she would have hated him
But he didn't. He took the hint. and
the match was struck then and there.
Richland beacon., 1880-09-18

Is faith and hop. tn wuril viii disagree.
Hu; all lnaihind'> concern is chlr.ty.-P,}~
The Rock Island Argus., 1880-09-13

WatertoTn, Rock Island Co., his
Dear Sr:-I have used your excellent Indian
Blood Syrnp for q severe Cough, and have received
much relief thersfrom.
MRS, q. SNOW.
The Rock Island Argus., 1880-09-13
"All Correct"

The Davenpor. Gazette, in its report of
Mr.. Winters play. on Saturday evening
last. at Moline. says:
A large audience greeted the presenta-
,iou of Mr.. Carl Winters new play. "All
Correct" on Saturday evening at Timm's
Hall. Ii was hattering fret night" for
the actors, and one over which Mr. w has
occasion to rej1ice. The interest was
held from first to last. and at times it
manifested itself in the most hearty outs
bursts of applause. Mr.. John Bummer-
stein. as played by Otto Krause. is q fine
piece of dramatic work. but whether to
cxll it a comedy or q tragedy it is at times
difficult 10 tell. Miss Susie s. Chase. a.
Jennie Holmes. q friendiess girl, who
turns out "All Correct is a fascinating
actress and had the sympathy of her au-
ditors till her fortune turned, when they
were happy to share it with her. The
special scenery brings out the effects of
the play finely. AS for the plot. that is
not So important matter. but there is
enough about il in which to weave o vast
deal of character acting. An Opportunity
will be given Monday night TO hsar and
see "All Correct" under more favorable
circumstances In the new Burtis House.
Davenport,
The Rock Island Argus., 1880-09-13

the Gate City. radical Republican,, IN mo-
tioine the spssch says: As an orstor Mr..
Irish is the peer of many of our most
giftsd men, Hin figure 10 6ne. his gesture
par excellence and his delivery grand. Mr..
Irish will probably speak in Rock Island
bsfore the campaign closes.
This evening, .Rey. James Patterson,
OF Scotland. will lecture in the United
Presbyterian church. corner 3rd avenue
and 14th streets. on travels in Australia,
India, Ninevsh, Babylon, Russia. Turkey
Rome and Jerusalem. He will no doubt
deliver an interesting lecture. as he has
extensively travelled the countries named
and speaks from, actual experience. An
admission Fee Of 10 cents viii be charged
st Louis Republican special states
that the Hancock veterans have arranged
with j. d. Burgh. an old member of the
Second army corps. to walk from Chicago
to New York as the bearer of the address
OF the Hancock veterans of Illinois to Gen
Hancock Burah will make the Palmer
house the starting point of his long
tramp, leaving q week fiom next Tuesday
He will be escorted out of the city by q
torchlight procession. No particular time
is set for the enterprising vet eran to
reach New York city. His line Of march
viii be made up next Tuesday. It's as
serted that he will make the journey attired
in the full accoutrements of soldier,
The Rock Island Argus., 1880-09-13
Didn't Come It.

About three months ago a business
looki OK, middle aged man called upon a
prom inent farmer in Sheridan township
aud wished him to take the agency, and
have the exclusive sale of the township. -
of ''Tarr's boss iron lifting jack. fence
overhauler and post puller combined" bis
first ins tallment to be q half dozen of the
jacks-"and all further shipments to be
furnished at one-half the retail price,
which is seven dollars each" And the
farmer was TO receive the jacks when
they arrived. aud TO have each free Of
charge, aud exclusive sale and commission
of fen per cent on all other goods manu-
featured by the Eagle machine works of
Cleveland. Ohio" Tbs farmer told the
agent that he would do the best he could
and signed an agreement, and ut the
same time received an agreement from. the
agent. In q few days the jacks arrived
at the depot here for the Sheridan agent,
but instead of six only. there were twenty
Eve, all cast iron-and the price to be
seven dollars each. when it didu't cost q
dollar apiece to manufscture them. The
none of his neighbours would touch them
because of the exorbitant price.
Now, then, Friday last the township
sgent had a call from 'the Superintendent
Of agencies" of Tsrr's boss lifting jack
who presented bill for the Is jscks--six
Jacks ut $7.O0 each and Is jacks at $3. SO
each Mr.. O. refused to pay-snd the
agent threatened 10 sue on an agreement
which he produced. and which wasn't like
the one the former held at oil. but bound
him to pay for the goods when the super.
intending agent should call for them,
The farmer was no simpleton, however.
aud deied this new agent; told him to
track ahead" that he had witnesses to
prove all that had transpired between him
and the first agent Then the newcomer
cooled down, and said that If Mr.. 0,
would give him bis note for the amount
payable ID twoyears. without interest, he
would call it square. But Mr., Q. declined
to enter into any business transaction with
him. but finally promised to bring the
boxes of jacks to Davenport. which be did
yesterday. The agent begged him to say
nothing about the 10 after to the newspa-
pers. But Mr.. o. told him be would
make no promises-and SO the boss iron
liftiug-jaok 10 hereby exposed as fraud.
1t 10 likely that il has an exclusive
agent" in every township in Scott county.
Davenport Democrat.