davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1880-02-25
Representative joys.

He occupied One-half of the car seat and
filed the other With double-covered mar
ket basket. He was an original specimen
His plug hat sat on his ears like smoked
chimney on the prongs of lamp top; his
legs were braided together and his shins
were sharp enough for can-openers
''Iou can't guess what I've got in the
basket, Squire, he observed to passenger
in the seat behind him.
''No, was the reply.
Twins, by thunder,' he exclaimed
and I'm going 10 give them an airing
So saying he drew forth black and white
doll Of unusual proportions and dandled
them on his knees.
III tell ye how it is, Captain" he con-
tinued. Me and the old woman has been
hitched up in the holy bonds of hemlOck
going on these forty years, and there hain't
a chick or child to be seen or heerd about
the house. So I've brought home these ar
twins. She can take her choice-a black
'un or white 'un Bet We she will take
both. Why, if took home black snake
she would want it to set up and have
some supper, and put a hot brick in the
bed where the snake was going to sleep.
Gosh, the old gal has got a heart in her
like red cedar. Great prize pumpkins,
how she will shout when she sees them ar
twins"
And then lac put them carefully bac!. in
the basket, closed the cover and beamed
benlgnantly upon the wintry world with
out
Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1880-02-25
Horses for Leeches.

4 number of persons at Bordeaux,
France, recently attempted to make their
fortunes out of that very disgusting object
of natural history, the leech. To this end
they have made artificial swamps on the
banks of the Garonne and filed the swamps
with leeches. To be profitable these leeches
must multiply themselves bv millions; to
do this they must be literally supplied with
food; to thus supply them the Bordelais
Spectators buy up the old and WORKOUT
horses of the province, and drag or drive
the horses into the swamps, which are sub
divided by wooden compartments, Sd plac-
ed that when these unhappy animals have
been forced into the mud there is no hope
for them. The leeches fasten on them in
stantly by thousands: the horse is in q few
moments black with crawling creatures
the blood suckers fix themselves most of
all on the open wounds and gals tnat these
poor horses have incurred in their many
years of service. An eyewitness desert
bes in terms of horrible vividness the vain
struggles of the animals drawn downward
into the mud, bleeding at every pore, striv-
ing in frantic terror to shake off the leeches
which hang on their eyes, their lips, their
nostrils, all their most sensitive parts, and
atiast, exhausted by loss of blood, are sucked
down into the noxious slime and seen no
more. He adds that all these poor martyrs
are bought when they are aged, infrm,
weak with overwork, with hunger and
with fatigue, and in this piteous state are
devoured alive by the aDnelldes. From
$4,000 to 1000 horses are annually sac
rlficed in this manner at Bordeaux.
Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1880-02-25
A Rajah's Vanity.

The following description, by Mr.. Val
Prinsep, of the dressing up the Maharajah
for his portrait, is amusing:-Tukaji Rao
Holkar has been i'll since Delhi; he has
even now fever, the result Of cold, and re-
quested me to paint him as fat as he was
at the Assemblage, rather than rs he is now.
He prides himself on his flesh, aad can,
they say, eat a whole wild boar unassisted
at one meal, must say | saw but little
change in his vast bulk; he looks a little
, grayer, but that may be that he has forgot
ten the dye this morning. However, he is
certainly scedy, and that does not render
his society or conversation any more fasci-
mating. Holkar is the beau ideal of u rajah
He sits lolling about in his big chair while
flies are brushed away by attendant slaves.
and if his Rajahship leans back, a cushion
is put under his head or elbow; IN fact, u
raiah for the Surrey Theatre ''the Great
Mogul called Bellon-the dream of ones
youth; yet as sharp as needle, and as
cheeky and proud as the King of the Can
nibal Isles with nothing on but club and
few beads. The second day went there
the Rajah had to put on his jewels, and
what sight, 1t takes ut least six men 10
dress him. There is the Hereditary Mas
ter of the Jewels, an old man with spectac-
les, who puts them ON with the care of a
real artist, while four men stand round
with trays, on which are displayed jewels
worth | do not know how lnany lacs.
''What shall wearl" says the Rajah. 81
think this handsome" And he holds up a
kind of peacock made of diamonds aad
pearls. '.Yes, that will do" And the pea
cock is ''offered up 10 his head while he
lazily turns from side to side, gazing with
self satisfied look into glass, which origin
ally cost eight annas Zone shilling, and
which, held by a sixth man, contrasts
strangely with the jewels it is called on To-
reflect. Squalor and magnificence are
found side by side in all these rajahs'
abOdes None of them have any sense of
fitness-in fact, no native has. We won't
put ON these pearls, cries the Maharaiah,
''fOr without them this looks more like a
CROWN And this in India, the land of
caste, changeless through succeeding ages:
Why, this man $ ancestor was 4 goatherd,
and he himself, for all his airs, would
cheerfully pay any sum Of money to be
considered Rajah: and while many
Brahmins stand around with clasped hands,
and probably his cook is Of Brahminical
caste, not one of them would eat with
him Raiah though he be-
Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1880-02-25
NO. 9.
A Very Old Joke.

Stopping for some time at an inn, and
feasting on the fat of the land, Tyll was at
length importuned by the landlord for pay
ment, and being driven to his wits end,
he eoncocted a pleasant scheme for dis
charging his score Far and wide he eaus-
ed it to be announced that foreigner had
arrived at such hostelry with an extra
ordinary animal, whose head was to he
seen where his tail should be. The sight
seers fi0cked to the tavern, and when the
yard was quite full, and every one hal
paid his admission fee, the door of the
stable was thrown open, and EulenSpiegel's
horse was seen with his tail in the manger
and his head where his hindquarters uSu-
ally stood The jest was taken in good
part, and every ore advised his neighbOr To
lose no time in visiting The wonderful ami
NAL. Tyll was thus enabled not only 10
pay his host, but to ill his own pocket
The equivoque, however belongs to all ma
tiOns and times. The writer well remem-
bers paying penny 10 his fathers
coachman who had promised to show him
Il carriage horse with his head where his
tail should be. He was also Il witness, some
years ago to a somewhat similar trick beng
played off al the expense Of the worthy
townsfOlk of Bruges. \ kermessc WAS in
full swing, and at the door of caravan, u
man loudly vociferating, and at times
banging drum. invited mesSieurS ct
DlesdGDies" To walk in and behold what
they had never seen before and would
never see again. Tie charge WAS
ten centimes and about every quarter
of an hour little stream of people
issued forth, laughing heartily and bidding
all their friends pay two sous for 4 sight
that was well worth tie money. The spec
tacle was simply this: As soon rs the car
avan was filled, the shoSman produced
from his pocket nut, which he carefully
cracked with his teeth. Then, holding up
the kernel, he gravely inquired if any lady
or gentlemen present had ever seen it be-
fore, and, of conrse, was answered with a
volley of mo, no, meyer" In that case"
he rejoined, ''look at it vel, for'-popping
it into his mouth-''you will never see ii
again"
Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1880-02-25

When cruising in the fore and aft schoon-
er ''Sunny South, on the Mosquito Coast,
4 few years since, the steward hung roast
of beef from one of the stern windows; and
to his annoyance it was nOn-est in the
morning. The weather at the time was
very calm, and IT was consequently suppos-
ed that some forecastle hands had got down
in the rudder chains and appropriated it,
although how il was to be cooked without
discovery was difficult to know. However,
a second piece was about being hung out,
which doubtless WAS TO be well watched.
when, us the piece of line was about to be
made fast, violent pull was felt, and ON
the steward running out his head 20 find
the thief, it was found to be shark in
stead of man: the fish had sprung at least
three feet from the water to secure his prize.
\ friend Of mine, while fishing with a deep
sea-line, was nearly losing his hand through
one of these blOod-thirsty prowlers of the
deep. The fish had not been biting rapidly
and careless from want Of success, the hand
in which he held the line was outside the
gunwale of the boat and close to the
surface; fortunately, he happened TO cast
his eye at the moment overheard, and just
il time, for a shark, seven or eight feet long,
was close TO the surface, coming straight for
it. On examining the head of shark, it
will be seen that from the position Of the
eyes, they can well see what is taking place
above them, and In all instances where i
have observed them take bait, they always
got underneath teiore seizing, it turning
on their side at the moment of laying hold.
never previously, till reading Mr.. Buck
lands remarks. saw il stated that a shark
scented his prey; nevertheless, | have long
thought SO, ard that their olfactory nerves
are of the greatest acutencss and use in
directing them to where it is found. On
two occasions once in the Southern Indian
Ocean, on another, off the north coast of
South America, near Los Rocas, although
no sharks had been seen previously, they
appeared about the ship soon after the most
venturous had bathed. Again | was on
board avessel becalmed, within sight of the
volcanic rocks, St. Paul's and New Amster-
dam. The captain kindly lent his gig to
procure some specimens of Cape pigeons,
Cape hens, and albatross. A great number
of birds were killed. and whether it was
the scent of blood or not, can not say,
but white shark about ten feet long join
ed us, and remained by us till our return to
the ship. He was afterward caught by
using a Cape hen for bait. On examining
the head of shark, the snout will be
found to project long way over the upper
jaw, and although there are no regular nos
trils defined, such as will be found in the
salmon or trout, there are great number
of minute Orifices, doubtless intended for
smelling, and which duty am inclined to
believe they most ably perform.
Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1880-02-25
Why Gold Changes Color.

1t is well known that the the human
body contains humors and acids, similar in
action to, and having like tendency to-
wards, baser metals; as nitric and sulphuric
acids have, namely, to tarnish or dissolve
them, varying in quantity In different per-
sons. OF this theory we have abundant
proof in the effects which the wearing of
jewelry produces on different persons.
Thousands wear continually, without any
i'll effect, the cheaper class of jewerly with
brass ear wires, while il others wore the
same article for few days they would be
troubled with sore ears or, in other words,
the acids contained in the system would so
act on the brass as to produce i'll results.
Instances have occurred in which articles of
jewelry of any grade below eighteen carat
have been tarnished in few days, merely
from the above named cause. True, these
instances are notyefy frequent; nevertheless
it is as well to know them; every case is
not the fault oI the goods not wearing
well-as it is generally called-but the re-
suit of the particular constitution by which
they are worn.
Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1880-02-25

The Cats Home, is a refuge maintained
by the women's branch of the Pennsylva-
MIA Society for the Prevention of Cruelty
to Animals in Philadelphia. Here an Of
ficer of the society receives all stray cats,
lost cats and diseased or aged rsis, both
Thomases and Tabithas. whether Tibbies
or Grimalkins, whose friends desire their
ailments cured or ended. Not only cats
are included in its benefcent provisions.
but dogs and other ''small deer" like par
rots. canaries, rabbits-in fact, pets of any
kind can partake of its hospitality. If the
animal is sound and healthy it is not killed,
but kept until good home can be obtained
for it. If it be of many years or incurably
diseased its life is mercifully ended. Ten
thousand six hundred and thirty dogs and
cats received, and either provided with
good homes or kindly killed, in period of
five years, is certainly a record of which
the officers Of this auxiliary Of the women's
branch of the u. ;. p. c. 4. may be proud.
This shows the necessity of such an insti-
tuition in large city, and rs the workings
of the refuge become wider known, doubt
less in the future the above figures will be
greatly increased. Philadelphia stands
alone in this work Of mercy. There is no
other institution of this kind in the United
States. The house and lot at present occu-
pied by the refuge was purchased by the
women's branch in 1873, $1,000 being the
price of the lot and house. The society has
raised, by subscriptions and donations since
that time, the sun. of Sl400, leaving debt
of 81, 600, which is secured by mortgages
on the building, to pay which the society
will be glad to receive any contributions
however small. Any person can become
an annual subscriber by paying 81 per
year. Recently kind hearted young lady
who Is connected with 4 well known family
of Boston, gave the sum of 500 for the pur-
pose of building small house for cats in
the yard of the refuge, which has since been
erected and is now in use.
Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1880-02-25
Casts from Living Forms.

was taken by a friend, says correspond
ent, 10 see the wonderful plaster casts of liv-
ing human beings which are among the cur
iosities of the Russian department. How
the thing is done is impossible to imagine,
but there the two statues are, recumbent
female figures, undoubtedly taken from liv-
ing women. One lies slightly turned upon
her side, her lips parted in smile, as
though she wss trying to suppress laugh.
The other; who was much the finer form of
the two, lies face downward, her feet cross
ed and her head pillowed on her folded
arms, as though she had thrown herself
down to sleep. The minutest details OF
the texture of the skin, nails, etc, are very
perfectly reproduced, the ''gooseflesh'
vherewith the skin is covered being anus
ingly noticeable, and showing that the pre-
paration used for these casts, the compost
ton whereof is secret, must be applied
cold. Then all the little indentations in
the soles of the feet and the palms of the
hands, and the curve of the nails and theiI
trimmings of skin and flesh are produced
with startling accuracy. The process by
which these figures are produced is still q
secret, but it is certainly wonderful and
clADus discovery.
Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1880-02-25
The First Paper Maser.

Who was the first paper maker? q the
reply to this query should be, as is quite
likely, that some old-time inventive genius
was the man, il will be incorrect. The
date of the invention and the founding of
paper making is not definitely known. The
common wasp was. however, the inventor.
The big wasp's nest, which was ALWAYS
kept at safe distance, and often knocked
down with stone during the rambles Of
boyhOod, was composed Of actual paper of
the most delicate and elegant kind As
spiders were spinners of gossamer webs of
intricate and exquisite pattern when primi-
tive man went about dressed in the shaggy
skins of beasts, and could neither spin nor
weave the beautIf j and fine cloth fabrics
OF to-day, So little wasps, when people Of
the later and somewhat more advanced age
had recourse 10 such rude and unsatisfac-
tory substance as wood, stone and brass,
the bark Of trees, and the hides of animals,
on whick to pre- -erve memoranda, were
making material of far greater excellence.
They make their paper, too, by very nearly
the same process employed by man at the
present time. Indeed, several of our best
discoveries in regard to building, architec-
ture, and manufactures Of various kinds.
if they have not been derived from acute
observation of the work Of certain animals,
including insects, have, when compared
with their constructions and their manner
of making them, been found to show a
wonderfully close resemblance. The beaver
gave men their earliest and most service
able knowledge concerning building.
and to-day no workman can surpass this
animals skill and precision in the erection
of such structures. Nature is a good
teacher, and especially does the paper max
ing of the wasp illustrate how valuably
suggestive she may sometimes be; for, as
suredly, the wasp was the first to show that
ii did not always require rags to manufac-
ture paper, that vegetable fibres answered
for this purpose and could be reduced TO a
pulp. and that to make the paper strong
and tenacious, the fibers must be long.
The first thing the wasps do, when about
to build nest, istocollect fibres with prefer
ence for old and dry wood fibers, about one
tenth Of an inch long, and finer than hair,
and put them into bundles, which they in
crease as they continue on their way
These fibers they brlise into sort of lint,
anu Celh0nt WIN siAlhs Vi Sluc, aiteI
which they knead the material into paste,
like papiermache, and roll up ball; this
they trample with their feet into leaf as
thin as tissue paper. The ceiling of the
wasp's chamber, to the thickness of nearly
two inches, is often constructed by putting
one above another fifteen or sixteen LAYERS
or sheets of this prepared paper, and be-
tween these LAYERS spaces are lett, so that
it seems as if number of little shells had
been laid near one another. Next they
build up terrace composed of an immense
number of paper shells, until light and
elegant structure, like honeycomb, has
been constructed, and in the cells thus
formed they rear their young.
Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1880-02-25
WHATS Up?

A few days before the schools were
closed by order of the School Board, at
Lansing, Michigan, one of the teachers at
noontime espied a small boy with red flan-
mel scarf around his neck. Visions of diph-
liberia Immediately hoated through her
brain, and she ordered the young John
Henry to pack up his books ana return no
more ''until your throat is perfectly well. +"
He obeyed the summons, and on his way
home met three Of his companions, who
noticed his books and saluted him with
whats up?" John Henry proceeded to
explain that the piece of red flannel had
gained him a furlough. The three youths
held short council Of war, Clipped in
what little spare change they could muster,
went into dry goods store, bought half a
yard of red flannel, tore it in strips and
placed it around their necks. In just
twenty minutes from that time three more
boys were ordered out of the school-reom,
On the ground that they were threatened
with diphtheria-
Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1880-02-25
Leap Ne Ir.

Any girl who has sat up every night unit
II O'Clock since the last Leap Year will
the same young man, eating 55-cent candy
has an inalienable right to pop the question
Should the same girl devote all Sunday af
ternoon to the same young man, and feed
him literally and frequently during this
| period, his refusal to take her makes him
liable to be fined and incarcerated in the
| deepest dungeon beyond the mOat Ii il
can be shown that any ''maydn' between
the ages of thirty-six and so on has for the
said period of time (viz. since the last Lean
Year focused her affections ON any certain
particular young man, that she has diligently
sought TO keep and hold him by divers
means known TO the sex, and striven to
kIndle the ardent flames in his bosom. can.
under the provisions of this act. drag the
said hardened young man to the nearest
magistrate, and give him the choice of
supporting her for life as her lawful hus-
band. or eniisting in the service of his Gra-
ciOus Country. Doing service for the
Country is sheer nonsense The way
to do it now is to snatch the young man by
the lapel of his ulster and give him the
choice OF taking you or parting with his
garment. In nine cases out of ten he Will
save his ulster and take YOU As the di-
vorce lawyers put it, this will prevent the
publicity Of going before magistrate
If the young lady cannot muster courage,
this antique law clothes the parent with
certain powers. ANY time during Leap
Year she is privileged TO drop in on the
young man at any hour (it makes no diff
ference whether the young man is weighing
the old mans darling on his knee or glued
TO her side by crimp in the ARM and say
to him:
''Young fellow, biz is biz. There Is NV
lovely daughter. Here is Il lovely bill for
Sixteen gross of candles;
Eight cords of wood:
-Four dozen gate hinges;
1.-TWO hundred and twenty meals;
''Three carpets;
''Six chairs;
Seventeen dresses;
Fourteen doctor bills;
'Ioss of sleep:
''Raids ON the kitchen;
''Hair oil;
''Perfumery;
'sPowder:
''Paint
'Patience-
used and consumed by you and that girl,
during the courting spell Which will you
take l''
The modern degenerate young man would
no doubt close sOlemnly his off-eye at the
parent and remark:
''BTz is biz, Old. ..man-but knock off the
candle charge, no light, you know, for three
wears luf lOUu that fire hill npo tbir|
We have been too snug to use much heat
Substitute sliding down balusters for gate
hinges. And, as for chairs, that's sheer
extortiOn; one chair for two has been the
rule. But, give a fellow six or eight months
to think it over and I'll let you know
lndulgent parent. beware,
Tender-hearted female, nail him.
Do not falter.
Pop the question at once.
IL he declines, fire him out.