davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1880-12-23
Shakespeare's Mother.

Both young men belonged to the sa-
cred je,raesse doree of Harvard, but
even their brilliant intellects had sue
cumbed to the power of wine They
stood upon the step of Cambridge car,
and talked loudly, wholly unconscious
that Miss X, the young lady upon whom
they were to call the following evening,
sat just inside the car door. Theatrical
topics were the subject of their CONVEX
sation, and one remarked, loftily, that
for his part he never cared for Shakes
peare. go, dash Shakespeare" the
other returned; she's nobody. I knew
his mother. She was nothing but an
old niger washwoman down on Joy
street, On the following evening the
two youths, in faultless attire, were sun
ming themselves in the smiles of Miss K,
when Shakespeare was casually men
toned. 81 am always smashed on
Shakespeare, F" the second youth remark
ed. What was his horror when Miss x.
returned, coldly, "That is very natural;
believe you are acquainted with his
mother. "-BOStO7a Courier.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1880-12-23
A Sailors Life at Sea.

In an article upon the general features
of sailors life, published in the Boston
Commercial Bulletin, the writer says
After the pilot leaves the vessel at the
mouth of the harbor, the captain assumes
command, then officers and crew begin
to understand each other. In olden
times it was customary for the crew and
officers to make this day the decisive one
as to whether the officers or men were to
"take charged"
The most trifiing act indicative of in
subordination ON the part of the crew, or
the first harsh word from an officer, was
sufficient to throw call hands" into a
tumult-as the result of this fresh battle
determined the character of. the rule
throughout the voyage. Heaven help
the officers who are overwhelmed by the
turbulence of the crew in this, their first
encounter. For while the men dare not
openly disobey the orders from their Of
ficers. they will contrive to render their
obedience in such q MANNER as to cause
their unfortunate mate the creates.
chagrin.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1880-12-23
I.ynclipd.

Three negroes, two of them boys aged six
teen and eighteen years, and negro girl aged
fifteen, sister of one Of the boys attacked and
killed the wife Of Thomas Kennedy, of Salem,
in Clarendon County, s. c., few days since,
during the temporary absence of her husband.
Mrs. Kennedy was aged nineteen years, and a
bride of less than one year. Their object was
robbery. Mrs. Kennedy fled for her life, but
was overtaken by them at the yard gate, and
knocked down. She pleaded for her life, tell
ing them they could have what money there
was, but one of them said to her, "Ise been
waitin' long time to kill you, and with hoe,
literally severed the head from the body. A
few hours later, when the murdered woman's
husband returned, he found her lying at the
gate, stiff in death, in a pool of blood. TtA
murderers we're apprehended, arrested, and one
of them confessed the crime. One hundred
and fifty whites and fifty negroes collected, and
on a vote whether to lynch the trio, there were
only twenty-three dissenting votes. The fifty
negroes pleaded with the whites to let them
burn them alive, but were refused. They were
driven in a cart to convenient tree, and swung
of amid general satisfaction.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1880-12-23

Mrs. Bergman, the young wife of French
man, who, on an ocean passage, became in
fatuated with young Spaniard, has been giving
her friends peck of trouble. She left her hus-
band, and has been spending her time in New
York hunting the Spaniard. Her husband and
mother resorted to the Courts and had her ad-
judged insane, but under physicians, in two
weeks she was pronounced convaiescent. Still
she refuses to return to her husband, who is
wealthy, or to give up the Spaniard. Finally
the Spaniard was brought to her, and told her
that he wanted nothing to do with her.
"What the ID do you want with me, any,
how?" he asked, but even such an interroga-
tory as that did not seem to weaken her infatu-
alton. She protested that he was repelling her
under coertion, and refused to believe he did
not love her. After his departure, she again
set out, roaming the streets hunting him. She
and her husband are both wealthy, and belong
to refined society. Her husband now declares
he will apply for diqorce, while she persis-
tently refuses to abandon her crazy infatua-
ton.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1880-12-23
Iron and Bronze.

Prof. Huntington, of Kings College.
London, is not convinced that the belief
that mankind employed bronze before
iron Is well founded. 1t is true, indeed.
that more bronze than iron implements
have come down to us from prehistoric
times; but the force of that fact is weak
ened considerably by the very important
consideration, frequently disregarded.
that iron oxidizes very rapidly-is soon
reduced to rust; while bronze. on the
other hand, decays very slowly. At a
very remote period the inhabitants of In
dia were well acquainted with the work
ing OF iron, and there is every reason to
believe that the ancient Egyptians could
also manufacture it. Man, in a very
savage state, may have practical
knowledge of the nature and use of iron.
as has been proved by the finding OF
iron assegais of native workmanship, in
Zululand. The hard and fast lines u.s.
ually drawn to indicate human progress
first from the stone, then to the bronze.
and lastly to the iron age, need to be re-
laxed, to say the least.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1880-12-23
A Joke on q Horse.

A Detroit merchant had a horse which
was the terror of every pedestrian who got
within three feet of his head. The ami
NAL had teeth like ashark, and would bite
everything within reach except pile of
grindstones. Whipping had no effect,
and he would get rid of muzzles as fast
as they were put on The firm had paid
out considerable money to settle for his
bites, and were wondering what they
could sell him for, when along came a
man who guaranteed a cure for $5. He
was told to go to work, and his first
move was to get an old suit of clothes
and stuff it with straw. The horse was
driven down the street, and the suit was
tied to hitching-post, back to the street.
A full pound of Cayenne pepper was
I then rubbed into and sprinkled over the
| garments and the straw stufing, and the
| joke was ready.
The horse came jogging back, and the
driver left him standing within six feet
of the man of straw The old bitter s
eyes had twinkle as he saw a fine
chance to use his teeth, and as soon as
left alone he began edging toward the
post. When ready for business he made
a sudden lunge and caught the 'man"
by the shoulder. That old horse meant
wickedness, but he had surprise in
store for him. As he lifted the figure
off it's feet and gave it shake it fell
apart, and his mouth, nose, and eyes
were filed with smarting powder. Great
tears rolled down his long nose, he
sneezed and snorted and coughed, and
he was just as chagrined at the general
laugh ON him as a man would have been.
He backed away from the remnants,
opened his mouth to cool it, and hung
his head in shame. He did not cease
weeping for a day, but when he got SO
that he could look the public square in
the face he was changed horse. Any
body could pull his ears OR rub his nose
with impunity In fact, he would court
caresses where he had defied them, and
on the approach Of a stranger would shut
his eyes and mouth, as if fearful of an
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1880-12-23
LiterarY Revolution.

CENTS sach formerly 81 90 to sl rs each: l. Mao
aulay's Life Of Frederick the Great. H. C.syles Iis q
Robert Burns. III. Lamartne's Lif Of KsrY onses 4
each, formerly 81 50 eech l. Arnolds Light Of Asia H.
Godsmith's Vicar Of Wakefield M. Baron Munchau..
ems Travels and Surprising Adventures For SIX
CENTS: Bunyan's Pilgrims Progress Illustrated eata-
logue sent free. AMERICAN BOOK EXCHANGE, John
B. Alden, Manager, Tribune Building, Now York.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1880-12-23
A Relic of the Olden Time.

A romantic relic of Cowpens' battle is
in the possession of a North Carolina
man. It is plain 22-karat gold ring,
which was found on the Cowpens battle
field, in 1921. The inscription reads:
''This and ye giver are yours forever,
1722" Tt was presented to British
officer by his sweetheart before his de
parture with Lord CORVALLIS for Ameri-
ca. The officer who was killed at Cow.
pens, also wore buttons of 2O-karat gold
on his uniform, and some of the buttons
are still owned in the Carolinas. One
was presented to General La Fayette, in
1926, and others were sent to England,
the coat-of-arms on them revealing the
family to whom they belonged.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1880-12-23

Der at 100.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1880-12-23
SWAN LEGENDS.
The Romance which Surrounds the
Graceful Bird.
IPall Mall GAzeite.1


IPall Mall GAzete.l
In the northern legends swans play a
most romantic part Two separate cur
rents may be distinguished in the swan
myths of Teutonic and Scandinavian
various stories of swan maidens, to the
other those concerning the knights OF the
swan. Here, again, both traditions of
beast worship and images of nature, po-
etry may play part; though it is not
clear that the swan maidens of the north
had any other origin than the obvious
one which would lie in process OF imagina-
tive reasoning like this: Swans are beings
all softness, grace and purity; so are
some rare maidens; therefore, some rare
maidens are in reality swans.
At any rate there was no question that
such supernatural beings existed. They
were both fairer and wiser than mortal
women. They could change from one
shape to another at will. To assume
the human shape they dofed robes OF
down or 'swanshirts,' but retained IN
variably a gold or silver chain about
their necks. She whose swanshlrt was
carried off by mortal could no longer,
while he kept it safe, become bird
again or resume its freedom. On the
other hand, she from whose neck In her
human shape the chain was taken, i'm
mediately became swan again, and
could not recover her humanity until she
got back her chain.
Sometimes hunter approaching for
est pool would descry damsel Of more
than mortal beauty bathing in its waters,
would notice the chain about her neck
and the robe of down hanging from a
tree, would seize the robe and bear the
damsel home to live with him in happl-
ness until one day he should forget the
key which kept her magic garment from
her, and return to find her flown forever.
: Or swan-brides would consort OF their
own accord with warriors who had sur
prised them at dawn as they sat spinning
in human shape beside the margin of a
mountain turn, until after seven years
their hearts would change, and they
would fly away, leaving their husbands
to sally after them over the snow in
vain.
Another Icelandic story tells how Helgi
and Olaf fought on the ice of frozen
lake, and how Kara, the mistress Of
Helgi, hovered over the heads Of the
combatants in the likeness of great
swan, and by her magic blunted the
weapons of them that fought against
Helgi, until by chance he struck off 6
leg of the swan with his sword, and i'm
mediately the fortunes of the battle
changed.
The other great swan myth of the nortl
is that of the injured maiden, to whose
aid, in her extremity, there comes sailing
knight in q boat drawn by an enchanted
swan, and who, after the knight has res
cued and made her his bride, destroys
her happiness by insisting that he shal
, tell her who he is and whence he comes
} We are all familiar with this tale as it i
: told by Wolfram Won Eschenbach, ant
has in our own day been recast by Wag
.. ner concerning Elsa of Brabrant ant
Lehengrin, the son of Percivil.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1880-12-23
OHenses I'm Ireland.

The statement of Baron Dowse, at the open
ing of the Connaught Qreland) Assizes at Gal
way, showed that in four months 698 indicta-
bic offenses had been reported in Connaught.
For these only thirty-nine peasons have beer
rendered amenable. Five hundred and seventy
seven persons, against whom offenses had been
committed, had, through terror or desire to
shield the offenders, refused to give evidence,
prosecute or assist the police. Lesser offenses
are also numerous. Thus in Mayo there were
3S8 lesser and 236 indictable offenses.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1880-12-23
Last OF An Infamous Gang.

Intelligence from Rawlins, Wyoming, says
the infamous road agent and murderer, George
Parrott, ala Big Nosed George has been SEN
fenced by Judge Peck to be hanged next April.
George is the last but one Of the worst band
of road agents and robbers that ever infested
Wyoming. The last act Of the gang was an at
tempt to turn Union Pacific passenger train
into a chasm $50 feet deep at Big Springs, in
1878. Two Deputy Sherits pursued the gang
and were killed. George confessed he crime
and desired to be hanged in expiation.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1880-12-23
A Remarkably Cool Suicide.

Near Shelbina, No., an old negro man named
Cy. Arne was found dead in the woods where he
had committed suicide by hanging. He had
cut a withe of bittersweet, which had been
broken. Then he made another of hickory and
twisted it to form loop, which he slipped
over his head. When found he was standing
on his feet, his body bent forward, the weight
coming on the loop. He could have relieved
himself at any time by reaching up to the pro-
jecting limb just above his head. He bent
twigs back to keep them out of the way. 1t
was one Of the coolest and most deliberate
suicides on record
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1880-12-23
An Accomplished Rascal.

County, Ohio, after running five young girls, all,
daughters Of respectable, and three of wealthy
farmers, left for the far West. The five girls
each expected the young mar to marry them,
and they are now certainly in a sad shape. The
Cincinnati Commercial correspondent should
have given the young rascars name. People
ought TO know who he Ia.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1880-12-23

A FINELY dressed young woman was
the complainant in Washington Police
Court, and the prisoner an old woman in
tatters. "What charge do you make?'
asked the Judge. "Vagrancy, was the
reply. "Do you know her?" "She is
my mother, am sorry to say" The
spectators hissed, and the Magistrate
declined to commit the mother.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1880-12-23
Be a Man.
HindOO Servants.

Even the wealthy Hindoos cannot find
good domestic servants One of them
writes: ''The good servants are gone
who use to know how to hold your UNI
brella over your head, pour the water
over your hands after meals, and exag-
crate your resources before your friends.
This fine class of men has disappeared,
and degenerate species of epidemic
stricken, unframed young barbarism
have taken their place. They plunder
you when sent to the bazaar; they steal
your clothes, your rice; and they are so
greedy that they lick off the very syrup
from tbe surface of your sweetmea S.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1880-12-23

Victoria Woodruff now proposes to retrieve
her shattered reputation in this country and
England by series Of libel suits She was to
have been married one day the past week to
Martin Lombard, London banker, and at the
last moment the ceremony was postponed in
consequence Of stories from this country as
sailing her character. II is too bad that woman
must be pursued by the venomous tongue Of
scandal. II must have made Vic awful mad.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1880-12-23

Another revolving case Of illness from eating
raw ham, infested with trichine, has como to
public notice in Chicago. II. c. Hansen, a
contractor, living at 635 North Ashland avenue,
purchased q smoked and sugar-cured ham, and
Sunday evening, November %, he and his
family, consisting Of his wife and three chill
dren, alto quantity Of itythinly sliced with
bread and butter. The parents ate from two
TO four ounces, and children q less quantity.
Next day the parents felt pains in their stom-
acb, and on the fifth day were unable to leave
their beds. They have grown gradually worse,
and now have little hopes Of recovery. The
children as yet have not shown any dangerous
symtoms. A piece Of the ham Of which they
ate was examined under microscope, and in
one ounce 1900 trichins were discovered.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1880-12-23

At Detroit there are twenty dusky damsels in
jail for drawing money from the Government
on fraudulent pension claims. James c. Rich
srdson, . colored man, and Eugene Fecht, q
German attorney, are the persons through
whom the applications were made. The claims
were all either those Of widows, or heirs-at-
law, and it is stated that the SO called widows
are many Of them not yet thirty years old, and
consequently could not have lost husbands in
the war. The affair will rebound with consid-
cradle force on Richardson and Feeht.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1880-12-23
Ea0s 60 StlII Alive

joan I. Cahill, Mexicsn Consul in st. Louis,
has received a letter from Captain James B.
Eads, dated City Of Mexico, December 2, in
which he says ~ am progressing very favora-
bly, with the object Of my journey 10 this capi-
tai, and trust that within q few days shall
meet with success here, and that shall be
able to proceed Immediately 70 the Isthmus of
Tehauntepec and make an ex, nj lation Of the
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1880-12-23

Happiness is the absence of pain OF annoy
ance, and wherever there is pain there is dis
ease. pain in the lower portion of the body
indicates disorder of some kind. If there is
any odor or color or deposit in the urine it
means disease, and requires attention at once
We have heard many of our friends speak of
the remarkable power of Warmers Safe Kidney
and Liver Cure and are convinced there is moth
ing so certain and valuable for all disorders of
the urinary system both male and female.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1880-12-23
Nntorieix the Horcrunner OF Fame,

Kenward Philip, who notably has been con-
nccted with tho Morey Letter, and the forger
thereof, has taken to the lecture field, his sub
iect being "Morey-Antique." His first lecture
in tho Academy of Music, in New York. was
listened to by three hundred people, fifty of
whom were ladies'
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1880-12-23

Baron de Friedland and wife have been ar
rested in Paris. The latter, who is the daugh-
ter Of Duke de Persisny, and granddaughter
Of Princess De La Moscowa, and god-daughter
Of ex-Hmpress Eugenie, is charged with forg-
ing her grandmother's signature TO acceptances
amounting to 19s, ,090 francs.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1880-12-23

William Pordew, an old resident Of the vii
lage of Leon, Decatur County, Ia, helped him
self in n drug store to what he supposed was
whisky, and died two hours afterwards. The
stuff wasn't whisky at all, but it tasted exactly
like 1t, and couldn't be told from the genuine
article by experts. Look out for it. The mar
ket is full of IT,
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1880-12-23

''To sum it up, six long years of bed
ridden sickness and suffering, costing 5000 per
year, total. 81, ,2OO-all of which was stopped
by three bottles of Hop Bitters taken by my
wife, who has done her own housework for a
year since without the loss of day, and want
everybody to know it for their benefit i
"JoHN WEEKS, Butter, N. W
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1880-12-23
4 pr.prraao Killed nv n Rrnth.r.

At Urksville, KY, John Mathew Pierce, a
quiet man, in self-defense, shot and instantly
killed his brother William, desperate. They
were tho sons of n "mild-mannered cut
throat" and William was his "dad's brae
boy" who had been educated to be a bully.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1880-12-23

Imogene, the variety actress, who was ar
rested for completely in the embezzlement Of
100000 from the Boston City Treasury, has
been discharged. Evidence Of her knowledge
Of the doings Of John A. Woodward, the alb
sconding cashier, was clear, but as she proved
she was his lawfully welded wife, she escaped
trial on Q technicality Of the law, and accord
ingly, the Grand Jury found no bill. Her hus-
band has been traced to Montreal.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1880-12-23

'JoHNNY, you must never use tobac-
co, said fond mother; "even the hogs
don't do that" II know they don't,
mamma, and hogs don't go to heaven
neither" and Johnny went out soon
after and hid two cigar stumps under the
doorstep.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1880-12-23

Jay Gould's county seat at Evington, on the
Hudson, said to be the most extensive green
house in the country, has burned. 1t con-
tanned the rarest and most valuable plants,
exotics and ferns, many Of them having been
imported at great expense and not duplicated
in the United States.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1880-12-23

stop spending much fine clothes, rich food ano
style Buy good, healthy food cheaper and better clo
ing, get real and substantial things every
way and especially stop the foolish habit running
Alter ate expensive and 9nack doctors or using much Of
makes the proprieors rich, but put your in the
greatest Of all simple pure remedies, Hop Bi,ters that
times and good health. Try Read of it in
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1880-12-23
A Heavy FaiIure.

seidenberg & Co., Of New York, the heaviest
tobacco firm in the country, have failed for
s5oo,OOo. They attribute the calamity to the
shrinkage on the value OF tobacco.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1880-12-23

There is astrong effort being made in Louis
villo to secure the appointment Of colored men
ON the police force and in the Fire Department.
Petitions ir circulation asking this Of Council
are largely signed by prominent Democrats.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1880-12-23
The OlA Raaral.

William Hammond, aged fifty years, Of Phila-
ielphia, it is conclusively shown, has been
guilty Of incest with his ten-year-old daughter.
The officers hai time of it to keep hir out Of
he hands Of an indignant mob.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1880-12-23

After all there are some good features about
the Mexican Government. On the occasion Of
tho Inauguration Of President Gonzalez he had
the forbearanco to not inAict q helpless public
with q burdensome message. Are there any
Gonzalez Presidential material in the United
States? We pant for them.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1880-12-23
. a..~-.,n,.., ,Ex,,or.,,eu.

Tho Council and Royal Geographical Society
OF London propose an expedition to the Arctic
regions, the purpose being to explore the un.
known regions north Of ths ssventy-ninth and
eightieth degrees latitude.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1880-12-23

Ernest A. ThomAlen, . stamp clerk in the In
ternal Revenue Office at Chicago, has absconded,
taking with him s3,756. He had been in the
Office nine years, was thrifty and saving Ger
man. and had no vices.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1880-12-23

A 1 ,iler explosion at Garrettsville, Ohio, re-
,ulted, last week, in the death Of two men. The
boiler was blown a distance Of twenty rods,
'cutting down trees Of considerable size in lis
ffgbt-"