davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1880-01-10
A Wonderful Parrot.

Among the many interesting accounts
of smart, educated parrots, allow me to
tell YOU of bird that is an honor and an
ornament to the State of Vermont. She
is the most prominent member in the
household of Oscar Dix, of Dummerston.
As far as beauty is concerned, neither
she nor l have any thing to say. A
strange, unfortunate habit which she
has of pulling out her own feathers gives
her the appearance of having come off
defeated in some hen fight. Her re-
naming plumage is of the usual parrot
green, but in this case it is not emblem
attic of their intelligent possessor. The
charm of her talking lies in her clear,
distinct enpnciation; and the veriest
stranger could understand what she
says. She sings several songs; "Shoo
Fly" "Little Brown Jug" both sings
and whistles the tune of " Yankee Doc
dle," and executes with great spirit that
old time " round":
Scotland's burningl
Scptiand's burning!
Look QUIT Look Outi
Fire Fire Fire Fire!
Cast on water.
She is a great imitator, cackles like a
first-class hen, and news as well as the
kittens themselves. She greets visitors
with " Hullo! how do you dop" and
says "Good-bye'' when they leave.
Her funniest exclamation is "Therei
I've Just found OUT" and she usually
ends the expression with burst of
laughter. A rap on the cage will bring
out the welcome "Come I'M" She asks
the question: els it cold out to-dayP"
and then remarks: "Polly's cold out
here!" She will sob and cry in the
most heartbroken way, and calls the fol-
lowing names: "Uncle Oscar, Aunt
Marcia, Bert, Nellie, Lou, Georgia, Le-
ma, Charlie" She can sing up the
20 scales" with the words, "Polly-is-a-
pret-ty-bird!" "a syllable for each note)
She counts, occasionally missing num-
Der, and says, "Polly wants her dinner
noD" "Polly wants toast, - " cake" or
''apple," as she happens to think.
When she is very DESTROYS of obtaining
any thing she praises herself by saying,
"Sweet, pretty Polly" in a teasing, af-
fectionate way. She calls the cows,
"Boss! Boss! Boss!' as distinctly and
loudly as any New England farmer.
When she climbs up on her perch in the
evening she calls, "Good night" a
number of times. She never says this in
the daytime. In my own home, in Bal
timore, we have three parrots, all con-
sidered "talkers" in their way, but they
certainly have to step into the back
ground, for this "prima donna" takes
all the bouquets and encores. / can
yOuchsafe the truth of the above asSer-
tons, and to dubious friends all would
say is "Come and see for yourselves. "
Springfield Mass. Republican.
The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1880-01-10

In several of the counties in northern
Georgia there is much excitement over
new and terrible method of killing
fish, which is being practiced with great
efficacy. When the Government sur
veyors were improving the beds of the
Etowah and Coosa Rivers they used
dynamite in blasting rock. 1t was dis
covered that the explosions were very
fatal to the fish all around them. The
shock was so terrible that hundreds OF
dead or stunned fish would rise to the
surface and be easily taken. The peo-
pie around the country heard of this
destruction of fish, and resolved to put
it to practical use. They produced a
number of dynamite cartridges and be
gan such killing of fish as was never
heard before. The practice rapidly
spread until now it is common in several
counties in north Georgia. A place in
the stream is baited well for several days
until fish congregate thickly there.
Then the managers of the destructive
plan go to work. The dynamite car
fridge is placed deep under the water.
1t is exploded by means of q small gal
vanic battery or by some cheaper method.
A terrific stir is made in the water, and
for yards around fish are killed by the
hundreds. We learn that not far from
Gainesville, the other day, 200 pounds
of fish were thus killed in one stream.
The news of this practice is rapidly
spreading, and wherever it is heard OF
there is desire to try it. The destruc-
ton of fish in the streams and ponds is
consequently terrible. Much mitigation
is fel: by those who deem this an extray-
agant waste of fish, but there seems to
be no way to prevent it.-AtlGnta Con-
stttutiOn, aH
The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1880-01-10
A Victory for Crinoline.

The following anecdote occurs in a
paper in Scribner for January descrip-
tive of the simple people known as the
Acadians of Louisiana:
The sole innovation-successfully in
troduced for an age into these self-isolat-
ed communicates crinoline. Long
after hoops had "gone out" in the FASH
ionable world, a merchant of New Or
leans by way of experiment, shipped a
lot which he had on hand, to various
remote hamlets. Great was the conster-
nation among the simple folk of Prairie
Gros Chevreuil, when they heard of the
arrival of the obnoxious merchandise.
Had they not seen them when they went
to town to sell their cotton and their
periqueP A horror! barbarism! Good
enough certainly for the Americans, and
such others as are in pitiable ignorance
of propriety; but for themselves-God
forbid! Men of family swore that they
would not be disgraced by their women
making bizarre fools of themselves.
Excitement eliminated at the following
Saturday night ball, when Madame de Ia
boutique appeared on the scene in glori-
ously expanded skirts. For once the
ever ready oaths failed the men. They
gazed in dumb open-mouthed astonish-
ment upon this audacious traitor to their
sacred social traditions. Alas for their
bravado! they gazed too long! Crino-
line conquered. Madame was the belle
Of the ball. Not a man, married or
single, who did not beg the honor of her
hand for quadrille or waltz. Virtuous
indignation swelled the breasts of the
women. sThat was always the way
with the men. They were forever prais-
ing plain dress to their wives and daugh-
tiers; but, ma fol. they liked gay birds
best, after ALL" The sequel of this dra-
matte episode was enacted the following
week. Early on Monday morning,
women on horseback and in caleches
might be seen vending their way toward
the boutique; this continued day after
day, until the supply of 'oops"-it is
the thing for them to quote English as
for US to quote French-was exhausted.
The New Orleans merchant doubtless
plumed himself upon his astuteness,
when, few days later, an order came
for another supply of these articles.
The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1880-01-10

From "The Acadians of Louisiana"
in Scribner for January, we extract the
following:
The wooiDg must be done at balls or
in the presence of the family. Flirting
being impracticable, it is always under
stood that the wooer means marriage,
and consequently he eagerly avails him
self of the few privileges deemed by the
rural Mrs. Grundy consistent with the
proprieties. These usually begin with
prancing, caracoling and racing his
horse on the road in front Of his
"belle's'' dwelling-place. He repeats
the performance as often as possible,
and enjoys it immensely. The more
spectators, the greater his delight. The
sweets of courtship are necessarily ex-
pended on the old folks. Macsboy
snuff a la rdniile, a bottle of anisette,
etc., for nanan go far toward making
the course of true love run smooth.
With the old gentleman, tact at losing
half-dimes at play is equally effective,
always provided the lover comes under
that comprehensive descriptive "6oD
gdrcon. While thus counting the par
ents, he avails himself of every oppor-
tunity to make "sweet eyes" at the
daughter, and, after few weeks Of such
wooing, proposes. The ballroom y
generally the place; when the pleaeur.
able excitement of the waltz has reached
it climax, while her slender waist g en-.
circled by his arm, and her head almost
leans upon his shoulder, then comes sne
opportunity. II the coy maid favors
his suit, he instantly seeks the approval
of her parents. With that one might
think the affair settled. But no; ne
must obtain the permission OF tne
numerous relatives Of the bride-e!ecs
even to the cousins, who may be OF 10
special importance. Dressed in nI
nattiest suit, he proudly prances arouna
on the grand tour, and formally ASK
the consent of each in turn.
The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1880-01-10
Crying Over Split MIX.


There are some people so unfortunate
~ constituted tkat they can not as easily
appreciate the blessings that belongs to
them as those which they have missed
who are perpetually grooming over sorse-
thing lost or denied, or wasted, to the
disparagement of the goods the gods
have provided. If q dish is broken or a
garment rent, instead of quietly making
the best of it, since no amount OF chafing
or crying will restore any injured article
to its pristine glory, they recur again
and again to the disaster, till one might
suppose nothing less than q CONFUSION
of nature would demand such q hue and
cry. A stolen purse is text on which
infinite changes may be rung among
this class; anu one might believe that
the loss of nights sleep could be
readily repaired by weeping and gnash-
ing of teeth, while the lamentations of
jeremiah are weak compared to the
bewailing they make over ruined en-
terprise or tickle lover. With all their
bowling, they only succeed in publishing
their misfortunes to world that thinks
no better of them for suffering failures,
and in annoying their friends, without
mending their estate or recovering the
lover.
1--WE have gains for all our losses
says the verse, but surely the gain is moi
TO be secured by making ourselves and
and every body about us miserable on
account of our mishaps; the one who
bears with fortitude calamities which,
great or small, are beyond her control,
wins whatever advantage there is to be
derived from them, and makes adver-
sites, no less than prosperity, minister
to her development. If our friends dis.
appoint us, bemoaning will not recon-
pense us; if "youth, the dream, de.
parts" deploring it will only hasten the
ravages of time; if moths corrupt oul
furs, fretting will not act as an exter.
minator; though the early frost kills oul
favorite roots, "fOr violets dead, the
sweetest showers can meier make grow
again."
Although we are wen aware that cry
ing over split milk is so much wasted
time and energy, yet many of us prac'
tice it with total disregard of cOnse
quences, which would be heroic if used
in more unselfish cause. In the mean
while there is a sort of hopeless pleasure
in sorrowing over the split milk, which
however blue or sour it may have
seemed when ours, becomes all thai
milk should be the instant it leaves oul
grasp. Blessings brighten as they
take their fight" and sometimes it il
only when we have lost thing that W.
grow capable of estimating its value
and discover how necessary it was t.
our well-being. 1t is cold comfort, per
haps, but one which we are apt to hug
to reflect with bitterness upon what {
different aspect the world would weal
for us if certain pals of milk we wot o
had not miscarried; if Angelina hat
married old Goldpill, instead of a coun
try parson; if Aunt Goodenough ha(
remembered us in her will, instead o
the Feejee Islanders; if the lover of ou
youth had proposed in person, insteat
of trusting tender avowals to the mercie
of the postman.-Hayper's Bazar.
The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1880-01-10

CALIFORNIA papers contain much in
formation about the grape culture in
that State. The st. Helena Star says
Last summer certain forty-acre tract,
nineteen of which was in vines, was Of
fered for 81 $40. Parties thought it too
high. This fall the vineyard alone
yielded $1,000 worth of grapes" The
Anaheim Gazette reports: at is said
that there are tons of grapes rotting in
the vineyards at Westminster, the own
ers being conscientious temperance peo-
pie, who would rather see the fruit waste
than sell it to winemakers."
The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1880-01-10

A man whose garments appeared to
be in the last stages of decomposition,
whose hair was unkempt, whose shoes
were worn, and whose step was weary,
shuffled up to the rear of Kentucky
residence and, greeting the hired girl
with smile that looked like the crack
of doom, began:
81 have this day arrived on Kentucky
SOIL
"Bad for Kentucky sol" interrupted
the girl.
"I have, say" continued the stran-
ger "this day arrived on Kentucky soil
-
"You weren't expected, sir!n
"To reach here, my good woman,
have travelled long distance. To this
spot from the cline where the Sierras
lift up their minarets of snow, like white
hands held to heaven, is no days jaunt.
My boots show that. No. This journey,
like Rome, wasn't made in day. II
required weary marches and counter
marches; rides by stealth on cattle
trains; hours of suspense from the rear
axle of an emigrant wagon, bringing to
mind many scenes long gone by, when
covetous companions cried to the unsus-
pecting farmer to whip behind!' But
at last / am here-''
"Much as we can do to scratch for
ourselves
sand that / am here, / thank the
gods! The privations and misery of my
long journey hither! How bitter had
been my lot had it not been sweetened
by the anticipation that 1 would one day
stand where now stand-upon the his
toric soil of the grand Old Common.
wealth, where Clay and Calhoun
"We haven't bite of cold victuals in
the house,
81 dare say I am barely stone 4
throw from the famed blues grass region
where the heavens above are mirrored
from the meadows beneath, and where,
in turn, the meadows catch their blue
from the eyes Of the fairest women be.
meath the sun. Nay, do not go. 1t il
no empty compliment. Heaven knows
/ mean it. Looking into the depths Of
your liquid orbs l have the proof as
strong as Holy Writ. All, thanks, fan
maiden, thanks! Sitting here on the
sunny side of the dog house, / will
partake of this rabbit pie, these dough.
nuts, eorn-dodgers, and what-not, and
when get down to that apple-jack
will drink it to the one who gave it, and
sweeter will it be than Amontillade
sherry i''-CincinnGt Enquirer.
The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1880-01-10

Col. VALENTINE BAKER, who was
imprisoned in England for an ugly as
sault on lady in railroad carriage, is
the Baker Pasha who distinguished him.
self in the Russo Turkish war. He is
now the central figure in the Anglo
Asiatic question.
The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1880-01-10

Bismarck is at his country house,
suffering much from nervousness. His
physician tells him that his excessive
smoking is aggravating, and possibly is
the main cause of the ailment, and adj
vises him to stop the use of his pipe al
together, and to confine himself to light
cigars. But the Chancellor defies the
doctor and sticks to his pipe.
The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1880-01-10

IT is decreed by the Prussisn NUM- y 8.
authorities that any officer who ssaa' =
struck by civilian must fortnw,.s .s1r Z
mon that civilian, though the issss. .
unarmed and defenseless, and cut s,s
down upon the spot. An ofhcer neg'e =
ing to perform this duty is liable % =
cashiered.
The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1880-01-10

Reaches: Patience and persever-
ance are required to get rid of this YER
min, when It once takes up its abode in
house. Insect powder and borax are
specific poisons to drive them away.
Paris green, deadly poison also to HUI
man beings, will kill them when sprin-
kled on their bodies.
The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1880-01-10

You can train the eye to see all the
bright places in your life, and so slip
over the hard ones with surprising ease.
You can also train the eye to rest on the
gloomy spots, in utter forgetfulness Of
all that is bright and beautiful.
The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1880-01-10

Silver is wrought into queer -
sticks that initiate African caxssud 80
These are worn for earrings sna 49,
pins. Daisies, pansies, fcrges-msssc3N
birds and medalIions are also mao' = :
The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1880-01-10

-" Don't put me down Reverend; >
I'm no preacher; I'm only a layman;
call me Moody, and without any Mr."
said the Evangelist to q st. Louis re-
porter the other day.
The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1880-01-10
Science and Industry.

The electric light is in use on some
of the Prussian railways as headlight
for the locomotives.
The foyer of the Grand Opera-house
at Paris is now Illuminated by means of
the electric light. A chief object of this
arrangement is to save the decorations
by NJ. Bsudry from destruction by the
The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1880-01-10

II the young man who U.s. .,sc-
stealing kisses don't abandon ~ .s,JS lie
tice. he will soon find himself pen'n1 -
bars of wedlock.
The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1880-01-10
school and Church.

-taSSar college, mas three Japanese
ladies among its students.
AT Marshall, Mich, the Methodists
and Baptists have formed partnership,
the one furnishing the church and the
other the preacher.
There are now 90 girls among the
the students of Cornell University, and
IS of them are freshmen. Michigan
University has 1874 women students.
The Atlanta (Ga.) Colored Baptist
Theological Seminary, built by the
Home Mission Society of New York,
was formally dedicated on the 18th, un-
der the auspices of Gov. Colquitt. The
seminary will be open to colored Baptist
theological students from all over the
country.
Three members of the organization
known in England as the Salvation
Army" have come to this country and
begun to hold services in Philadelphia.
Their meetings are largely attended
and numerous conversions are reported.
They expect reinforcements from Eng
land.
The Episcopal Church almanac for
next year gives the following statistics
Bishops, 81; priests and deacons, 1914 /;
parishes, 1000; ordinations, 1870; bap-
tisms, 1926; combinations, 24,652 /;
communicates, 322,7l3; Sunday-school
scholars, 25S,1S7; contributions, &c.
068,272.26.
The Samoan Islands have been en-
tirely Christianized. Out of o popula-
ton of about 10000, some $4,000, or
seven-eighths, are connected with Chris
tian churches. The London Missionary
Society reports 6,493; the Wesleyans,
4,794; the Roman Catholics, 1852, and
the Mormons, 126.
The Rev. DIR. Galleher, rector of
Zion Church, New York City, Just elect
ed Protestant Episcopal Bishop of LOU
isiana, entered the Confederate service
from that State as private, but was
soon called to the prominent and respon-
sible position of Adjutant-Genera on
General Buckner's staff. After the War
he studied and practiced law in Louis
vile, Ky. His inclination, however,
soon induced him to prepare for the
ministry, which he did in the General
Theological Seminary of New York City.
His advancement has been rapid, as it
is only IL years since he was ordained
deacon. He is an eloquent preacher,
and possesses fine administrative ability.
The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1880-01-10
Odds and Ends.


Dairy Fair-The milkmaid.
"A green Christmas makes lean
plumber.
-"How nicely this corn pops, said a
young man who was sitting with his
sweetheart before the fire. g Yes" she
responded, demurely, "it's got over be-
ing green"
AT 10, a child; Mt 20, wild;
At So strong, If ever;
At 40, wise; at 80, rich;
At 90, good, or never.
-Bgfaio Courier.
First boy: "Nhere you bin, Billy?"
Second boy: .'Bin fishing" First
boy: "ketch any thingP" with an ex-
preston on his face. Far-seeing second
boy: "No, but expect ter when git
to the house."
Elder sister TO little one who APP
peared to take great interest in Mr..
Skibbons): "Come, little pet, it is
time your eyes were shut in Sleep" Lit
tie Pet: al think not. Mother told me
to keep my eyes open when you and Mr..
Skibbons were together"
"A Michigan newspaper says it is
permitted by etiquette in that State for
q bride to be married without gloves, it
The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1880-01-10
ITEMS OF INTEREST.
Personal and Literary.


Lawrence Barrett, the tragedian, is
TO become manager of the California
Tbeater, San Francisco, next spring.
The stockholders guarantee him against
loss, the establishment having been,
like the rest of the Pacific coast theaters,
financially unsuccessful for several years
past.
Mr.. George Augustus Sals received
n thousand pounds on leaving England
for his volume of American travels, and
will receive another thousand on its an
nouncement. He has been offered the
seat in Parliament for Brighton at the
next election, but, like his friend Dick
ems, he has no political ambition.
Mr.. Delane, editor of the London
Times at "a, is case which stands on q
par with Pitt, Prime Minister, at pre-
cisely the same age. "Long before De-
lane was So" writes the Spectator, {" he
was courted by all the initiated as one
of the male group who govern the Unit
ed Kingdom, was as powerful as any
Cabinet Minister, and trusted with
every kind of political and social Sc
cret."
Mr.. Tennyson's new play is found
ed on Boccaccio's beautiful legend of the
"Knight and the Falcon" so pleasant
ly treated by Mr.. Longfellow in the
italics of Wayside Inn" The play
is in one act, and in verse, and employs
four characters, only two of whom, the
Knight and the Lady, are of import
ance.
Mr.. Thomas Hughes = "Tom
Brown ~ is quoted as saying: "Do
you know there is nothing that astOnish-
es us English so much as to see you
Americans come over here for lecturers.
Why, sir, / can name all the orators of
England on the fingers of one hand !;
while you are a nation of orators"
Ivan Tourgueneff will, for the first
time in many years, spend the winter
in Russia, that he may observe events
more closely than from the standpoint
of Paris. During his short stay in Rus
STA last spring " he was most enthusi-
astically received both at st. Peters
burg and Moscow by those young people
at whose follies he has often laughed,
but with whose generous aspirations he
has always shown sympathy. Many of
them are now perhaps under arrest, !"
thinks the Athensun. No doubt of this
last, nor would Tourgueneff himself be
safe if he were somewhat less lannon's,
and it may be doubted even now wheth-
or his security be absolute.
-Lippincott, the Philadelphia pub
Usher, has been indulging in some per-
sonal "reminiscences, anecdotes of au-
thors and the like, most of which are so
dull that no publisher would print them
unless he was also the author. OF Dick
ems he says he "was naturally good
hearted, jolly, pleasant fellow. But his
early and brilliant success turned his
head. Like Napoleon, he was intoxi-
Gated by his own glory. To use horsey
expression, he felt his oats a little too
much. He was n good deal of fop,
and little of snob in his dress and
manners. 1t was pert, if not imperti-
nent, for Dickens, young man of 80,
to call Washington Irving, an old man
of 60, and the most famous living writer,
MY dear Irving But his snobbery
and foppery were forgotten in the pres
ence Of the man himself, he was so hear
ty, fresh, and jovial."