davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-08-11

One cold night in the middle of ,nu
ary they had talked over the old SUBJ
ject until both felt it to be exhausted
at least for that night. Julia drew
aside the heavv. satin curtains, and
looking out. said: 1T is showing
heavily, aunt; tomorrow we can have
sleigh ride. Why, there is sleigh at
our door! Who can it bep A gentle
man, aunt, and he is coming here"
"Close the curtains, child. It is my
lawyer, Mr.. Howard. He promised to
call tonight"
"Oh, dear! 1 was hoping it was
some nice strange person.
Miss Phoebe did not answer; her
thoughts were far away. In fact. she
had talked about her old lover until
there had sprung up anew in her heart
a very sIrong sentimental affection for
his memory; and when the servant an
nounced visitor on business, she rose
with sigh from her reflections. and
went into the reception-room.
In a few minutes Julia heard her voice
in rapid, excited tones, and ere she could
decide to 60 to her or not, Aunt Phoebe
entered the room, holding by the hand
gentleman whom she announced as
Mr.. Alfred Compton. Julia was disap-
pointed, to say the least, but she met
him with enthusiasm. Perhaps Aunt
Phoebe had quite unconsciousIy magni-
ned the beauty of the youthful Alfred;
certainly this one was not handsome.
He was sixty at least, his fair, curling
locks had vanished, and his fine figure
was slightly bent. But the clear, sensi-
tive face remained, and he was dressed
with scrupulous care.
The two women made much of him.
In half an hour Delmonico had fur
nished a delicious little banquet, and
Alfred drank "te his promised wife
Miss 'PhHbe Wakefield, best and love-
liest of women"
Miss Phoebe laughed, but she dearly
liked it; and hand in hand the two cid
lovers sat, while Alfred told his sad
little story of lifelong wrong and suffer-
ing; of an intensely nervous, self-con-
scious nature driven to extremity by
cruel usage and many wrongs. At the
mention of DR.. Orman Miss Phoebe eX-
pressed herself little bitterly.
MAY, PhGbe," said Alfred; "what-
ever he was when my brother put me in
LIS S1lCS AC UCS1IaC thy VI oS 212Saoh ~
his skill and patience owe my restor-
alton to perfect health; and to his firm
advocacy of my right and ability to
manage my own estate owe the posi-
tion l now hold, and my ability to come
and ask Phoebe to redeem her never-for-
gotten promise"
Perhaps Julia got little tired of these
old-tashioned lovers, but they never
tired of each other. Miss Phoebe was
not the least abashed by any contrast
between her ideal and her real Alfl ed,
and Alfred was never weary of assuring
her that be found her infinitely more
delightful and won anly than in the
days of their first courtship.
She cannot even call them silly or
foolish couple, or use any otner reliev-
ing phrase OF that order, for Miss Phoebe
--or rather Mrs. Compton -resents any
word as applied to Mr.. Alfred Compton
that would imply less than supernatural
wisdom and intelligence. mo one but
those who have known him as long as I
have" she continually AYERS, "can pos
sibly estim tie the superior infol nation
and infallible judgment of my husband"
-Harper's Weekly.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-08-11
A Battle With Buffal0es.

An army officer tells this story of an
exciting onslaught made by q tribe of
Crow Indians upon large herd of buff
faloes: After riding over mountains for
two days the Crows came upon fine
herd of bufaloes in narrow valley near
the Yellowstone. There were four hun
dred Indians and four thousand buffa-
loes. The Crows had been forced by
fear of starvation to take to the chase,
and the keen hunger they were suffering
only sharpened their eagerness for tilt
with their old fellow .nomads, the noble
bison. The game stampeded down the
valley in the direction of the Yellow
stone. The chase was hotly followed.
half hundred buffaloes biting the dust
tefore the river was reached. One of
the most vehement of the pursuers, who
had distinguished himself for bravery in
two or three fights with the Sioux, fell
from his pony in the midst of the flying
herd and was trampled to death by the
frantic beasts. The Yellowstone, q roar
ing, rushing river even at the lowest
tide, was booming with the regular
summer freshet, the outpour of the
melting SHOWS in the high mountains.
When the river was reached the game
made q bold stand, and for a time it
seemed doubtful which held the mas
terry, but the incessant fusilade from
four hundred rifles, together with the
desperate proximity of the formidable
battalion, drove the herd in dismay into
the roaring torrent. Beside themselves
with the excitement of the moment. the
Indians urged their ponies into the
stream, unwilling that even flood
should spoil their frenzied sport or cut
them off from their game. The terrific
current, made tumultuous from the high
piles of rock here and there in the chan
mel, whirled buffaloes, ponies and In
dians along at bewildering velocity
until the thousands of beasts were roll.
ing and writhing in inextricable con-
fusion. In the dizzy evolutions OF
horses and riders the latter were left to
struggle for themselves in the water,
and to be jammed to death between the
surging masses of drowning beasts
Some who foresaw the danger in time,
and turned shore ward, found safety on
terra firma, but those who ventured far
enough to be embraced by the sweeping,
resistless tide, and to become involved
in the tangle of struggling animals, were
all drowned. The story brought 70 the
post was that thirty Indians and fifty
ponies were dro Wned, beside five hun.
dred to thousand bufaloes.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-08-11
Story Of q Mermaid.

The merm.id which served to help
Barnum on to fame and fortune as a
Snowman, about forty years ago, caused
a great deal of talk at the time. Barnum
now tells the story, according to the cor
respondent of the Indianapolis Journal:
Moses Kimball came from Boston with
what he declared was genuine mer-
maid. The lower part was the tail of a
shark or some larte fish, but the upper
part was not of woman's form by any
manner of means. 1t was hideous
head and shoulders-apparently of some
sort Of ape. Pretty soon letter was
written from Mobile 10 the Herald with
the announcement that man had landed
there from the Sandwich islands, bring
ing a genuine mermaid. 1t had not been
seen and would not g exhibited, for it
was on it's way to the London geological
gardens. This was copie.i all over the
country. In another week letter from
Charleston announced that the wonder
had arrived there on its way to New
York, whence it would sail to London.
A more detailed account OF the wonder
full creature was given. This served to
swell the curiosity. From Baltimore
Cduuc SIlll OGiiSA lOGlSIo tbaN ohSAi SSAAo
my man to Philadelphia, carrying the
mermaid in close box. He put up at
the best hotel, and cultivated the hnd-
lord. To him, just as he was paying his
bill and leaving, he contided the secret
that he was the Englishman who had
caught the mermaid. "Now, see here, "
said the landlord, "you must let me see
it, After much persuasion the mermaid
hunter yielded. Then he said: "See
here, you must let me show it to one or
two reporters" Alter much Emporium
ity the weak Britisher yielded, and a
limited exhibition was permitted: The
Philadelphia papers blazed with it
next morning. The next day. it was
brought to New York, and the same
performance was gone through with at
the Astor house. The papers wete full
of it and the city was all agog.. Thou.
sands hocked to see ii, but mo exhibition
was allowed, except to reporters. l wa1
n OF known in connection with 1t until
the proper time.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-08-11
Hints for Hot Weather.

The following directions have been is
sued by the New York board of health;
but may prove useful in any locality:
NURSING OF INFANTS.
Overlooking doee more harm than
anything else; nurse an infant month
or two old every two or three hours.
Nurse an infant of six months and over
five times in twenty-four hours, and
no more.
If an infant is thirsty give it pure
water, or barley water; no sugar.
On the hottest days a few drope of
whisky may be added to either water or
food; the whisky not to exceed tea
spoonful in twenty-four hours.
FEEDING OF INFANTS.
Boil teaspoonful of powdered barley
(ground in coffee grinder) and gill of
water, with little salt, for fifteen min
utes; strain. Then mix it with half as
much boiled milk; add a lump of white
sugar the size of walnut, and give it
lukewarm from a nursing bottle. Keep
the bottle and mouthpiece in bowl of
water when not in use. A little soda
may be added.
For infants five or six months old give
half barley water and half boiled milk,
with salt, and lump Of sugar.
For der infants give more milk than
barley water.
For infants very costive give oatmeal
instead of barley. Cook and strain as
before.
When your breast milk is only half
enough change off between breast milk
and this prepared food.
In hot weather, if blue litmus paper
applied to the food turns red the food is
too acid, and you must make fresh
mess or add small pinch Of baking
soda.
Infants of six months may have beef
tea or beef soup once day, by itself or
mixed with other food and, when ten
or twelve months old, crust of bread
or piece Of rare beef to suck.
No child under two years ought to eat
a. your table.
Give no candies; in fact, give nothing
that is not contained in these rules
without doctors orders.
SUMNER COMPLAINT.
Itcomes from over feeding and hot and
foul air. Keep doors and windows
open.
Wash your well children with cold
water twice day, and oftener in the
hot season.
Never neglect looseness of the bowels
in an infant; consult the family or dis
pensary physician at once, and he will
give you rules about what it should take
and how it should be nursed. Keep
your rooms as cool as possible, have
them well ventilated, and do not allow
any bad smell to come from sinks.
privies, garbage boxes or cutters about
the house where you live. See that
your own apartments are right, and
complain to the board OF heal lth if the
neighborhood is offensive. When an
infant is cross and irritable in the hot
weather trip on the water will do it a
great deal of good (ferryboat or steam
boat, and may prevent cholera infan-
tum.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-08-11
"Cle0patra's Needle."

The Alexandrian obelisk. presented by
the Khedive of Egypt to New York, is
about $500 years old. having been set
up in Heliopolis by Thothmes III, at
least / 600 years before Christ. 1t is an
entire shaft of granite, covered with
hieroglyphics descriptive of the power
of Thothmes. The inscriptions on the
side which has for nineteen centuries
faced the Mediterranean sea have been
partly destroyed. but the other sides are
considered to be perfect, and have been
deciphered by many scholars, including
Champollion and Kircher. The pyra-
midion on the first side contains a carV-
ing of Thothmes represented as q sphinx
seated On a pilon or pedestal. In both
hands he holds jar of wine, and the
inscription on the pedestal calls him
"the powerful bull, crowned on the city
of Western Thebes, the Son of the Sun,
Tahutim' 8" (Thotmesh). The monarch
is represented as making gift of wine.
Before him is the god Ra Helios, or the
Sun, hawk-headed, wearing disk,
seated on his throne, and holding dog
headed scepter in his right hand and an
emblem of life in his left. Above their
heads are the words: "Haremakhu
THarmachis, a form of Horus. or the sun
on the horizonl, the great God. Lord
of the heaven" which is followed by
the words "the Harmachis gives all
life to the good god, the Lord OF the
two centuries, Menkhepera Thoth-
mes I'LL Each side of the obelisk is
also decorated W tn three perpendicular
lines of hieroglyphs, the central one on
each side being that of Thothmes Ill,
who first set up the obelisk. The side
lines to the right and left were added by
Ralnases H., of the nineteenth dynasty.
(Thothmes was of the eighteenth.) }
The remaining lines, and the lines on
the other sides, are full Of lofty refer
ences to the powerful bull," the "gold-
en- hawk" "Ra." "Remessu," and
Thothmes I'LL, which may be very in
teresting and important to the student,
but are very monotonous to the general
readers. On the metal crabs found on
the base of the obelisk when excavating
in June, 1877, are inscriptions in Greek
and Latin, setting forth that the monu-
ment was erected in the reign OF Angus
tus Caesar by the architect Pontius.
This is taken as proof that the obelisk
was set up in the time of Augustus, and
not of Tiberius. -..
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-08-11
The Sultan Of Turkey.

A friend of mine who hast just re-
turned from Turkey, and who had oc-
casion to be brought in contact with the
sultan and many of his ministers. tells
me, says the editor of London Thu h,
that the commander of the faithful is,
without exception, the most utterly
faithless scamp in his dominions. When
ever he appoints minister he says to
him =" You must find means to resistall
demands for reform, and your tenure OF
Office will depend upon the length Of
time that you can do this without com.
promising me. Eventually the ambas.
sadors will complain of you, when ]
shall pretend to be most indignant ut
your not having carried out my policy,
and shall sacrifice you for having de-
ceived me-" The sultan is the son of An
Armenian mother, and it is generally
supposed that his real father. was an
Armenian. He is neither drunkard
nor a voluptuary, and although ~ no
means an able man he has a consider
able amount of low cunning He is be-
lieved to be accumulating a considerable
fund, for although the finances of bis
country are in desperate condition
taxes do come in. and yet neither the
arnly nor the civil employees are paid.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-08-11
Cooking by the Suns Rays.

In regard to the much talked OF US,
of solar heat for industrial purposese
Mouchot gives an account Of his addi-
tional experiments in this direction, in
which he asserts that his smaller pieces
of cooking apparatus have never failed
to work during sunny weather. Some
mirrors Of less than half q square meter,
constructed with all desirable perfec-
ton have sufticed to roast half a kilo-
gram-or about one pound-of beef in
twenty-five minutes, and to cook, in an
hour and half, stews which required
four hours of an ordinary fire OF wood;
and in half an hour to bring three
fourths of liter of cold water to the
boiling point, which latter corresponds
to the utilization of 9.5 colories per
minute per square meter, Which may
be considered aremarkable result in the
latitude of Paris.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-08-11
After Fifty Years.

The Erie (Pa.) Dispatch tells this very
large story: In the year 1920, when the
great Napoleon was languishing in St.
Helena and George w. mounted the
British throne, little Jennie Miller,
aged four, poked kernel of coffee into
her right ear. The king and emperor
have passed away, but that little kernel,
in the clear head of Miss
Miller for over a half century, is as
fresh, fragrant and useful to-day rs it
was when she first showed it into her
auricular appendage.
1t was brought to light yesterday
as Miss Miller was sitting at
breakfast will. the family other brother
in-law, Mr.. John Ralph, of West Eighth
street. The lady complained of an un-
easy sensation in her ear and requested
her niece, Mr.. Ralph's daughter, to see
if any foreign substance had got in. A
brown speck was observed and picked
at with needle. 1t came away and
the kernel fell into the old lady's lap.
Then Miss Miller's memory carried her
back half a hundred years and she re-
membered the morning when she
alarmed her mother and father by
thrusting it into her ear.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-08-11

A sea-captain, who was asked by his
wife to look at some pianos while he
was in the city, with a view of buying
her one, wrote home to her: Isaw
one that I thought would suit you, black
walnut hull, strong bulkheads,
strengthened fore and aft with iron
frame. sealed with white wood and
maple Rigging, steel wire-double on
the ratlines, and whipped wires on the
lower, and heavier cordage. Delaying
pins of steel and we'll driven home
Length of taf'rail, over all, six feet,
one inch. Breadth of beam, thirty
eight inches; depth of hold fourteen
inches. Hatches can be battered down
proof against ten-year old boys and
commercial drummers. or can be clewed
up, on occasion, and sheeted home for
frst-clsss instrumental Cyclone.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-08-11
Fashion Notes.
Gathered 1ounces gain favor.

Gathered founces gain favor.
Short skirts are worn for dancing.
Handkerchief dresses of silk are the
latest.
Red parasols have already lost favor
in Paris.
Hoods are worn abroad on dresses as
well as wraps.
Open-worked white embroidery is to
be used on silks next winter.
For ball and festival dresses the rule
is decoration to profusion with artificial
flowers.
Bodices are pointed in front, rounded
on the hips, and have position basques
in the back.
The gold thread seen in fine white en-
broideries and in lace does not tarnish
when washed.
Dancing dresses are made of thin
goods, and for young ladies white ones
are the most popular.
Bridal dresses are made of white satin
with round dots, and trimmed with
tulle and orange blossoms.
Black silk gauze, trimmed with black
lace and jet, the bodice lined with old
gold satin and a balayeuse to match the
lining, is q favorite artistic dress. All
these light costumes require foulard pet
ticoats, muslin ones being too bulky for
the scanty skirts now affected.
Sheer linen is being made into large
collarettes, almost as broad as a fchu,
and edged with lace or embroidery
They are round at the back and are
pointed low in front, being quite open
at the throat. Square linen cuffs, OF
else those made OF two folds of the
linen, are trimmed to match with the
embroidery, and are then worn outside
the sleeves.
Fashionable toilets for outdoor fetes
in England are of white India muslin
dresses made short and trimmed Law
ishly with lace; the bodices are lined
with ponceau silk, and there is pom.
ceau killing round the edge of t le skirt
The quality of the muslin is exceedingly
fine. The tablier is gather or drawn
and the quilles at the side are alternate
bands OF muslin and lace.
Fans intended for day use, and differ.
ing widely from evening fans, are quite g
show. They are this season neither too
large nor tuo small, but that desirable
size, the happy medium. Oriental taste
is conspicuous in the father fans-pea.
cocks feathers, ostrich feathers, cocks
feathers are all pressed into the service
and the mounts are more or less elegant
according as they are of ivory, pearl OF
shell.
At an American wedding which re.
Gently took place in Paris, the rich dress
of the bride was modelled after that
worn by the Queen OF Spain, with an
elaborate double train, and high wired
Medicis collar, of historic shape, made o
pearls. The material was creamy whitt
satin-plain. not brocaded--and instead
of lace the trimming was made of egg.
shaped pearls that covered the front o.
the dress as though it was incrusted
with them. The train was rounded al
the end, lined throughout with satin
striped gauze, and edged with three
plated frills of silk tulle, on each o.
which was a band of satin. Orange
blossoms and white lilacs were the flow.
ers used. The sleeves were of lace ane
pearls.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-08-11
as One Whom His Mother Comforteth:

Br THE LATE z. NORMAN GuNNIsoN. -.
As one his mother comiortcth
In sadness and unrest,
As one who lays bis weary head
Upon his mothers breast,
And fndeth there tenderness, ~
The truest and the best,
So God, our God! we look to Thee,
When earthly cark and care,
And all the petty ills of life
Seem more than we can bear,
Laying our hand upon Thy breast
We ind OUT comfort there.
As one his mother comiorteth -
When darkness fills the skies,
And shadows overbrood the way =
Before bis doubling eyes,
Looks forth, and sees better land
In which his future lies;
So God, our God! we look to Thee
When storms Of life assail, -.
And mercy hides her heavenly faoe
Behind q shrouding veil,
Through all the storms and darkneasA
We see Thy love prevail.
As one his mother comlorteth,
Oh, tender words of grace! - e
In which hidden soul OF love 3
The weary heart may trace,
And ind a sweetness in the words =
For all our fallen race. Z;
50 God, our God! We turn to Thee
In darkness and unrest,
And md the One who comforteth
Upon His loving breast
Above our earthly comfolters,
The truest and the best.
.-... -Chri.tian at Wuh.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-08-11
FOB THE FAIR SEX.
Avoiding In Samoa.


A correspondent of the San Francisco
Chronicle, writing from the island Of
Samoa, says: We have had social sen.
sation in the way of great Samoan
wedding. For months past leading
chief of Falefa, in the Atua district. has
been courting the village maid of Apia,
Moe, daughter cf Seumanutafa, high
chief of Apia. and the new governor of
the Tuamasaga district. As the chief
is an old man and Moe is abont nineteen,
it has required the most strenuous
efforts of both families to bring about
the match. The Falefa family have
brought to Apid more than three hun
dred pigs, killed and cooked, and dis
tributed them among the young lady's
relations. In return for these. the
family of the expected bride must give
fine mats, siapas, etc., and they have
been busily engaged collecting them
from all over the islands till the gover-
nor's house is half full. These mats are
the most valuable property of the
Samoans, and are given at weddings as
more substantial presents are at home.
They are the heirlooms of families for
generations, and are justly priced, as it
requires years to make one of them.
Some of them are valued as high as
81 ,OOO apiece. Many of them are
tringed with red feathers, and are almost
as soft as silk.
A vast deal of ceremony is connected
with these weddings. Yesterday all the
maidens from Faleth went in a process
sion to the governors house, each one
carrying a stick with bunch of red
feathers suspended from the end. These
feathers are very rare nowadays, and are
much priced for mat trimmings, etc. All
the town fales (native houses) are filed
with visitors. At the wedding some
member of the government read chap
ter from the Bible and then reads GER
emony. The happy couple are seated all
the time and join hands toward the close
Of the ceremony, as in more civilized
countries.
In this instance the young lady is well
and widely known, and is q favorite
with the officers of the war ships of all
nations. She is amiable and interesting.
But as a rule, Samoan girls have very
little to do with the choice of hus-
band. That is generally arranged by
the heads of the families, and from in
terested motives. When the governor
was asked why be did not marry Moe to
a young chief, he replied that if she did
not like her old husband she could run
away from him, and it would be no dis
grace, while q young husband might
take a fancy for another wife, and it
would be shame to the family to have
him leave her. A young chiefgenerally
has wives all over the islands. Through
them he becomes allied to numerous
leading families, and acquires extended
influence, and when he falls out with
one family he goes to another and finds
wife awaiting him. Native dances
are taking place nightly and are a part
of the wedding festivities. All the
young dandies appear on the stage at
such time, and display their fine,
manly figures. Also, the leading
maidens of different villages assemble on
the scene. Their costume is the primi-
tive garb OF Eve, and their figures such
as might have been seen in Sparta.