davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1880-06-24

The United States Marshal, located in New
York city, does not hesitate to declare that the
plan of buldozing and bribing the electors by
The use and employment of an army of election
deputy marslas will be carried out. The OBJ
jcct OF the veto message Of the dc facto President
now becomes so plain that he who runs can road.
The mere fact that Congress did not provide for
the payment of these electionccring agents out
Of the public treasury will not stand in tie way
OF tEcir appointment and free use Mt tho polls.
The cheek and audacity of the Republican party
are unmcasurcd, and nothing short Of Waterloo
will ever bring them within honest and decent
lim:s.--At Constitutions
Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1880-06-24

ATHENS, June 20. Tho Crock Government
is taking measures to increase tho army from
1900 to 40 900 men. Il number of officers
have gone to France, Italy. Hungary, Algicrs
and clothing. lnfnntry arc to to be provided
With 1000 cartridges apiece.
Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1880-06-24

Texas is good Sac--to stay out off, II has
too many insane persons-nsnne from whiskcy
and loaded down with concealed wcapons-at
large, and between its petit jurors and governor
lessen the number. The Currio verdict like the
Currie case, belongs to Texns-1t. Constitution.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1880-04-22
The Sinners ON the Tomb.

Churchyard literature comprises many
specimens of the laconic epitaph, bul
hardly any so noteworthy as one in the
New church, at Amsterdam. consisting
simply Of two Flemish words. "Efen
nyt." meaning exactly. The following
is the history of this brief epitaph, as
transcribed in my old scrapbook = ]
don't remember where ] got it: These
words are inscribed on an ancient
monument of whitish marble, on which
there is also sculptured pair of slip
pers. The story runs that gentleman
who was tolerably wealthy, and loved
above all things goof living con
ceived the notion that he would
only live certain number of years. and
desirous to leave none of his wealth un-
enjoyed, he made a nice calculation oI
his fortune, which he so apportioned
for every year he was to live (according
to his notion) as to last exactly the same
time with his life. Curiously enough
it so happened that his calculations
did not deceive him, for he died exactly
at the time he had previously reckoned
and had then so far exhausted his es'
tate that, after paying his debts, there
was nothing LETT but pair of slippers
His relatives buried him, and caused
the slippers to be carved on his tomb
with the laconic epitaph, Exactly
Notes end Queries.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1880-04-22

The next process to which the lens is
subjected is that of focusing" and re-
quires extreme care. The person hav-
ing this department to. attend to is
placed in small room alone; across
the entrance is hung curtain, which is
only drawn aside sufficiently to admit
the required amount of light from win
dow several feet away, upon one of the
top. panes OF which is placed piece
of heavy cardboard with small hole
cut in the center representing the
bulrs.eye OF target. Through this
the rays of light shine upon the lens in
the hands of workman, and are re-
ilected through it to a dark background.
The lens is then moved back and forth
upon an inch measure until the proper
focus is attained. Say, for instance,
the extreme end of the measure is sixty
two inches, the lens is placed at that,
but does not focus; it is gradually
moved along, inch by inch, until, per-
haps, it is brought to tbirty-six inches.
At this the proper height of center or
focus is attained, and It is then num-
bered thirty-six. The same operation
is OF course necessary with every lens.
This accounts for the numbers which
are upon spectacles or glasses of any
kind when purchased.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1880-04-22
One Can,t Excel in Everything.

Ideals of excellence, if not excel
lences themselves, are so graduated as
to fit the different orders OF mind In
which they take their rise. Greatness
is not positive quality; it is simply a
relative attribute.
The man who never succeeded in en-
snaring single "speckled beauty from
some "tortuOus stream" may truthtully
boast of his eminent success in catch
ing sculpins.
The man who cannot sing may yet
have voice peculiarly adapted to cry
ing CLANS, oranges or charcoal.
He who is no dancer may be good at
hich-and-kick or shinny.
The man who was no. born to COM
mand, to set squadron in the field, may
surpass all his acquaintances in the untir-
ing devotion he evinces in the coloring
of his meerschaum.
The boy who is ever at the foot of his
class may still be an expert on the forma-
tion and propulsion of spitballs.
The lad who is not pronounced sue
cess at arithmetic may be simply excel
lent at humble. peg and taw.
The woman who cannot make loa
of bread may excel in making frills and
furhelows.
She who cannot play the simplest air
on the washboard may. execute the most
difficult themes upon the pianotorte.
She who cannot darn a stocking may
be the envy of her circle for her skill
and taste in worsted work, in marrying
sky-blue dogs to pink background.
The mother who cannot command the
respect of her children may yet be
fawned upon by half score of male BIZ
peds without spot on their dainty linen
or an idea in their heads.
The daughter who is too feeble to
wash the dishes may dance till the small
hours of the night after having been
shopping all day.
The girl who cannot sew may chew
gum with tireless jaw.
A great singer may not be able to
smoke the mildest cigars without turn.
ing pale.
A general who has led armies on tc
victory may be surpassed in profanity
by the raggedest boy in the city.
The hand that has penned the divin
est poetry may be clownishly awkward
with the billiard cue.
The man who is capable of organic
ing and carrying forward gigantic bust
ness enterprises may be outdone at eau
Gus management by the shabbiest poll
tician in his ward.
The artist who gives birth to sucl
exquisite creations may not be able tC
tie his neck-cloth near so we'll as Au
gustus, who in his turn can do nothin,
else.-BoSton Transcript.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1880-04-22
The Great Tunnel Under the Alps.

The report Of the Swiss federal coun-
ell about the st. Gothard tunnel gives
some interesting particulars with regard
t. the completio of the work.
The average number of men employed
in the tunnel during the last month was
2 8l4, and tue total expenditure up to
the date when the parties working from
the two ends Joined hands was 80, 1885,
sos
The quantity of earth and rock ex-
cavated was about $40, ZOO cubic yards,
and the masonry of the arch of the tun-
mel was completed for distance of
seven miles out OF the mine
The pressure of the air at the northern
mouth of the tunnel vas equivalent to
81 atmospheres, while at the southern
end it was equivalent to only 81 atmos-
pheres. The volume of air introduced
into the tunnel every day was 1877, ,5S4
cubic yards, and the mean temperature
ut the head of the shaft on the Cos
chenen side was eighty-six degrees Fab
renheit, and eighty-four degrees on the
Airolo side, rising to as much as eighty
seven degrees during the removal of the
soil eXcavated. The highest tempera-
ture up. either side of the tunnel was
ninety four degrees Fahrenheit, and this
u time when the thermometer outside
stood at only three degrees above freez-
ing poiLt.
The average number of lamps alight
in the tunnel was about $50 a day, and
the daily consumption of oil was about
seventy gallons,
1t may be added that about eighty
men lost their lives, and twice rs many
more received severe injuries, while
the work was in progress.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1880-04-22
Engenie,S Crown.

A recent London letter says: The ex-
Empress Eugenie before starting for Zu-
luand presented her imperial crown to
the Church oi Notre Dame des Victories,
Paris. 1t is of great value on account
of its artistic composition and the num-
Der OF precious stones it contains. After
the empress flight from France the new
government ordered that all the valu-
ables of the imperial family, including
the crown, the regalia and the sword of
state, should be deposited with the
Bank OF France. But q rumor soon
got abroad that the empress crown,
together with the celebrated re-
gent diamond, had been secretly
forwarded to London to the care of the
Rothschilds. A little later the gossips
affirmed that it had been sold by DIR
Evans, the American dentist, and that
the proceeds had been applied to the
support of the empress at Chiselhurst.
The true account of her flight and of the
valuables she took with her, has re-
Gently been published. 1t appears that
when Prince Metternich appeared at
the Tuileries and bade the empress
hasten her departure she went hurriedly
into her bedroom, put on brown
waterproof cloak, round travelling
hat, took a green parasol, began to col
lect in great haste all the miniatures of
the emperor, of her son, of her sister,
the Duchesse d'Alde, and of her niece,
and put them into lapis lazuli box,
which, however, in the haste of hel
flight she was destined to leave be-
hind. MAKE haste, madam, hear
cries; they are mounting the stairs
they are coming" cried M. Nigra
Prince Metternich went boldly into tht
bedroom and took the empress by til,
arm. Every one had, more or less, LOST
heir presence of mind. The empires:
left without taking any money with her
| although there was about 40, 600 francs il
the drawers, and Marshal Valiant, VIII,
had had thought of this, and bringing
some rouleaux of gold with him, had
with the greatest difficulty, succeeded il
entering the palace by the gate in tn
| Rue de Rivoli, arrived too late to Civ
them 10 the empress. She was driver
10 tie hotel of Dr. Evans, who supple,
her with money. She was then put int
the hands of Sir John Burgoy ne, VIII
conveyed her aclo oss the channel, an
when she set foot on British shores sh
was almost penniless. In the subse
gu ent arrangement of her affairs, ate
the commune, many of her valuablei
and among them the crown, were re
stored to her.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1880-04-22
A Story of Brick POmerOy.

There is rumor in circulation to the
effect that Brick Pomer0y has made a
lucky hit and secured about 100000,
and those who tell the story claim they
got it from good authority. Tie story
is very omantic. Last summer, readers
of his Democrat will remember, there
was published in that paper an article
from the pen of Pomeroy, reciting
the terrible sufferings of an Animosa
(Col. } man, who, though wealthy, had
been turned out of doors by his family,
to whom he had decided his prop
erty on condition that they would sup
port him in his old age. According
to the article the ungrateful fam
lily, by false swearing, caused the old
man TO be incarcerated in an asylum for
the insane, and then proceeded to enjoy
themselves upon his savings. This is
where Pomeroy's tale ends, and where
Dame Rumor takes it up. 1t is said that
on his recent visit to Colorado Pomeroy
gave attention to the case and succeeded!
not only in getting the poor old man out
of the asylum but in putting him again
in possession OF his property. 1t is then
said that in his gratitude the old man
has decided his property over to Pome-
roy upon the same conditions as it was
first given to his family. 1t is fact
that Pomeroy has remarkable faculty
of satisfying ignorant people of his
greatne So and it is not improbable that
this yarn may be true.-La Crosse Repsb-
ltcd7.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1880-04-22
Woman as n Census.Taker.

In many parts of the country women
will be appointed as census enumera-
tors, with the probable result something
like this:
Neatly dressed woman of an uncertain
age, with big book under her arm and
pen in hand, rings the door-bell. Young
lady appears at the door.
Census enumerator-"Goodm morning.
Lovely morning. I'm taking the GEN.
sus. You were born"
Young lady-"Yes'm."
Census enumerator -" Your name,
please. What pretty dust cap you
have on. Can l get the patternp It's
just like the one the lady in the next
house has. Let's see, your namep"
Il haven't the pattern. Don't you
get awful tired walking round taking
the census?'
"Oh, yes, it's wearisome, but l pick
up a great deal of information. How
nice your dinner smells cooking. Plum
pudding P"
"In Maine. No, 1 haven't plum
pudding to-day. I'm looking for new
recipe"
1--WE got one that l took down from
a lady's cook book across the way. Are
you marriedp'
"No. Want an invitation to the
Weuulug, uOu yOuF IL Will De IL long
time before you get it. You can keep
your plum pudding recipe, thank you y
&c sh'd think 'twould be some time.
Have you chill Oh, of course; for
got. This hall carpet is just the pattern
OF Aunt Prudy's. She's had it more
than twenty years. How many are they
in the familyp"
"lf this hall carpet don't suit you you
can get off from it and go about your
censusing"
"Well. you're an impudent jade, any.
how. You haven't told me whtn you
were born, or what's your name, or
when you expect to get married, and
there's ten dollars fine for not answer
ing us-takers' questions, and If |
was you ] wouldn't be seen at the door
in such a slouchy morning dress. so
there"
"Oh, you hateful thing. You can
just go away. I'll pay ten dollars to get
rid OF you, and smile doing it. It's none
of your busin IS, nor the census either.
No, it isn't. You can keep your pattern
and your plum pudding and your
saucy, impudent questions to yourself
IL"
"Good morning. / must be getting
on. l haven't done but three families
all the forenoon" and an energetic bang
of the door just missed catching a foot
of her trailing dress skirts.-NeaO Hdue,a
Register.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1880-04-22
Does a Whale Spout Water?

A discussion having arisen as to
whether a whale does or does not spout
water, the Nantucket (Mass.) Inquirer
ana Mirror contributes the following
opinion in regard to the matter: We
think that those who go down to the Sc
in ships will agree that the whale does
not spout water, although he blows
water. To explain this seeming para
dox, it must be understood that the
blowing of whale is simply strong res
piration or breath, and that the whale is
warm -blooded mammal with lungs
like those of land animals, and breathes
air only. At the moment of rising to the
surface of the sea, he forces out strong
current of air, by which the small guam
tity of water then standing in the cavity
of his spiracle OF spout-hole is blown
into countless atoms. forming cloud of
spray which looks like white smoke or
steam. The form of this cloud differs
in the case of different species of whale,
SO that the practiced eye of the whale
man can usually distinguish the several
varieties, even at distance of miles.
This variety results from the different
conformation and direction of the spir-
acle in the various species of whale, and
go from the fact that some species have
a. one spiracle and others two. The
only idea that the whale takes in vast
curren. of water and elects it again in
quantities IN like that from fire en-
q solid streA mistake, and the pictures
CINE is great him as spouting such
streams high aloft a. ieman. II IL NOT
10 the eye of the wha- -orth mention.
that any waterN the whales
ing ever finds its way into snded he
lungs. but when mortally wo.. "a or
will throw out copious strean. ,ed
gushes, not Of water, but of warm, J.,
blood
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1880-04-22
Cleanliness.

The part which the skin plays in the
regulation of bodily heat is not ade-
quately estimated. The envelope Of
complicated structure and vital func-
tion which covers the body, and which
nature has destined to perform q large
share of the labor of health preserving,
is practically thrown out of use by our
habit of loading it with clothes. 1t is
needless to complicate matters by al
lowing it to be choked and encum-
bered with dirt. If the skin of an ami
NAL be coated with an impervious var
nish, death must ensue. A covering of
dirt is only less inimical to life. We
are not now speaking Of dirt such as
offends the sense of decency. of those
accumulations of exuded matter with
which the skin must become loaded
if it is habitually covered and not thor
oughly cleansed. The cold bath is not
cleansing agent. A man may bathe
roughly, but remain as dirty to all prac-
cleanliness; indeed, the physical evil of
dirt is more likely to ensue, because il
wholly neglected, the skin would cast
off its excrementitious matter by peri
odic perspirations with desquamation
of the cuticle. Nothing but frequent
washing in water, of at least equal tenn
perature with the skin, and soap can
ensure free and healthy surface. Til
feet require especial care, and it is toe
muclI the practice to neglect them
The omission of daily washings will
soap and the wearing of foot coverings
so tight as to compress the blood vessels
and retard the circulation of the blood
through the extremities, are the most
common causes of cold feet. The
remedy is obvious; dress loosely and
wash frequently.-Lance!.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1880-04-22

In Spain, man of wide sympathies
is generally called "a man with two
hearts" But it by no means follows that
man with two hearts is man of wide
sympathies. A Spanish peasant, living
in the vicinity of Madrid, in a petty
quarrel, killed an aged woman, ana
would have murdered her dauchtCr,
also, had not the latter succeeded in
making her escape. Thinking himself
robbed of great pleasure by the girls
escape, he revenged himself by lcpeat-
edly stabbing the corpse of the mother.
Singularly enough, remorse. preyed so
quickly upon his mind that he immedi-
ately hanged himself. But the rope
broke, and he would, in all probability,
have survived his attempt at suicide
had he had not broken his skull in the
fall. On post mortem examination
the man was found to have two hearts
instead of one. both being of regular
size and presenting no popularity of any
kind.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1880-04-22
Words of Wisdom.

1t is with nations as with individuals
those who know the least of others
think the highest of themselves; for the
whole family of pride and ignorance are
incestuous. and mutually beget each
other.
II is perfectly delightful, the philoso-
ply with which we reconcile ourselves
to the misfortunes of our neighbors.
That another should be hungry, after
we have dined, is a consideration that
distresses nobody.
The greatest loss of time is delay and
expectation, which depends upon the
future. We let go the present, which
we have in our power, and look forward
to that which depends upon chances.
and so quit certainty for an uncer-
tainty.
The everyday cares and duties which
men call drudgery are the weights and
Acounterpoises Of the clock OF time, Civ,
Ing, its pendulum true vibration, ana
its hands regular no. non, anu WIEN s
they cease to hang upon tn, wneGis Isle .te
pendulum no longer swings, H. 'e nanus any,
ho longer move, the clock staras s'ili
knowledge is not ability, cram ID 4. ~
power, least of all in education. A man
may De ao'e to count accurately every
yard OF distance to the stars and vet
oe most imperfectly educated; he NAV
be able to reckon up all the KINGS that
ever reigned, and yet be none the wiser
OF the more efficient for his learning.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1880-04-22
How Spectacles are Made.

The white lens in use in the ordinary
spectacle of commerce is made OF the
common window pane glass rolled in
sheets; sometimes it is made into balls.
From these are cut pieces of about one
and quarter to one and a half inches
in size; they are then taken into the
grinding room and each piece cemented
separately upon what is called lap, of
a semi-circular shape. These are made
to fit into a corresponding curve or
saucer, into which fine emery powder
is introduced, and subjected to a swift
rotary motion. The gradual curve in
the lap gives to the glass as it is ground
a corresponding shape, until the desired
center is reached. The lap is then taken
and subjected.to warmth, which melts
the cement sufficiently to permit the
glass being removed and turned upon
the opposite side, when the same pro-
cess is renewed. This being completed,
the lenses are detached again from the
lap and taken to another department,
where they are shaped to fit the frames.
This is accomplished by a machine of
extreme delicacy. Each piece of glass
is put separately upon a rest, when a
diamond is brought to bear upon it,
moving in the form of an oval,
thus cutting the desired size; but
the edges. of course, are rough and
sharp and must be beveled. For this
purpose they are turned over into an
other set of hands, mostly girls, who
have charge of the grindstones, which
are about six inches in thickness. Each
operator is provided with gauge; the
glass is taken between the forefinger
and thumb, and held sufficiently side
ways to produce the desired bevel;
when this is attained il is again turned
and the other side of the bevel COM
pleted. During this process it is con-
stantly gauged in order to ascertain
that the frame will close upon it with
out too, much pressure, which would
break the lens.