davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-03-02
Stage Coaching Seventy Years Ago.

The mail-coach system was brought to
such wonderful perfection that elements of
error were hardly ever allowed. While
travelling long distances at great speed the
coachs punctuality was thing to swear
by. DE Quincy tells us: Gone case was
familiar to mail-coach travellers, where two
mails in opposite directions, north and
south, starting at the same minute from
points six hundred miles apart, met almost
constantly at a particular bridge which BIZ
sccted the total distance.'' It is evident
from what we read that this perfection
deeply moved the feeling of the country,
and was kccnly enjoyed. 1t was so total q
change from all that had gone before
that most travellers appreciated this "gIory
of notion" and felt that they themselves
were conquerors. Dc Quincy Says 'tFor
my own feeling, this post-oilice service
spoke as by some mighty orchestra, where
thousand instruments, all dlsregarding
each other, and so far in danger of dscord,
yet oil obedient as slaves to the supreme
baton of some great leader, terminate in q
perfection Of harmony like that of heart,
brain and lungs in a healthy animal organi-
zation.' There were some, however who
prophcsicd sad disasters when the coaches
attained speed of ten miles an hour, and
it was whispered that passengers had died
OF apoplexy from the rapidity of tho mo-
tion. The usual speed attained by the
mail-coaches was about ten or eleven miles
an hour, including stoppages; and when
we take into account the inequality of the
ground travelled over in a long journey, we
shall find that they must have flown over
some part of the way at a prodigious rate.
The Manchester mail did its 1877 miles in
10 hours, the Liverpool mail did its 203
miles in 90 hours 80 minutes, the Devon
port mail It's 227 miles in 90 hours, the
Holyhcad mail Its 261 miles In 2G hours 55
minutes; but the most remarkable instance
OF sustained speed was the Edinburgh mail,
which travelled over its 400 miles in 40
hours. Some of the light coaches almost
rivaled the swiftness of the mails; thus the
"Hcrald," Exeter day coach, did Its III
miles in 20 hours; and the Shrewsbury and
Manchester coaches journeycd from Lon
don to their respective designations in a
single day. On all these roads little time
was wasted in stoppages, and the changes
of horses was a very rapid proceeding.
Everything was ready prepared, and
what had often, under the old system,
taken half an hour to pcrfom, now occu-
pied barely three minutes. 10 obtain this
speed, no expense was spared, and the out
lay on single coach was enormous. Tho
horses required were at the rate of one to
every mile; thus, as 1t is one hundred and
flfty-four miles to Shrewsbury from Lon
don, one hundred and fifty horses v ere re-
quired for the "Wondcrh coach. BY this
ample supply the horses were kept in good
condition, for though the work thoy pcr-
formed was hard, It occupied but a short
The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-03-02
An Old Road.

Besides being the-Most famous and prin-
cipal thoroughfare OF Rome, tho Via Sacral
is also supposed to have been the most an
cicnt, and the stones lying along it are
credited with having been there for about
2, 600 years. They arc flagstones of an ir-
regular polygonal shape, composed of ba-
saltic lava, and are descfibcd as being for
the most part in very bad condition; from
which 1t may be supposed, as might indeed
have been anticipated, that they are good
t.eal cracked and displaced. Here and
there, however, they have escaped almost
miraculouely from the ravages of time and
the rudcness of barbarians of all Sorts who
have made their way across them with
moro or less bcllicose intentions during the
last fourteen centuries. This Is notably the
case Ill the part close to the base of tho col
umn of Phocas. These historic stones the
administration" has, according to its own
profession, been "dcsirous of respecting, y
and it has accordingly refused to- allow
them to be carried away and used for
mending the roads, This is very creditable
10 the municipality, and will command the
praise Of antiquarians, as far as 1t goes.
The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-03-02
Il spectral Air-sIlip.

The Flying Dutchman is the name given
by sailors to spectral ship, imagined to
cruise off the Cape Of Good Hone under
full sail, when all honest vessels are fain to
try bare poles. What the fact was from
which this strange fancy has been distilled
is matter Of dispute; but out of some ac-
tual incident it has likely grown, and
''whcn the dark scud comes driving hard,
and lowered is every topsuil yard, and can
vas, wovc in early looms no more to brave
the storm presumcs, then mid the war of
sea and sky, top and top gallant hostcd
high, full spread and crowded every SAIL
the demon frigato braves the gale" In
like manner wierd air-ship is in process
OF construction out of Il mOurnful calamity
in our day. Her name is the Pathfinder
none better for the legend to grow up. In
many parls of the West people have been
pecring into the skies, looking for Wisc's
lost balloon, days and weeks after it was
impossible that any mortal could direct its
course. At half dozen places men and
woman have imagined that they saw this
ballon. No end to these cxtravagant fan
cics has been rcachcd-thcy stretch more
and more into the prcpostcrous. Only the
other days some dwellcrs in OwingsvIllc
thought they saw the missing pronaut dang
ling from the end of a rope, and then rising
out of sight, ;he theory being that they
were too startled to discover the balloon
above. When such stories are rife, it is
plainly only step to the super natural :;
and should the Wise mystery remain un-
solved, out of ii would be likely to come a
wild legend of spectral air-ship, drifting
forever i'll the skies, and portendng
storms.
The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-03-02

time. The horses were fine animals and
they rested for twenty three hours out of
the twenty four, besides remaining quiet
every fourth day. They were well treated
and fed with rs much as they could eat,
Tor each horses stomach was alone the
measure of his corn. TIE coaches were
built SO as to combine great strength with
great lightncss. The mails were especially
light. as they carried no luggage on the
roof, and they were frequently called
spapcr carts by rival coachmen Early
In tho present century the post office au-
thortics thought it desirable that all the
mail-coachcs should be built and furnished
on one plan. The mail coach guards were
most respectable body of men, and they
were trusted by the public. There is am
pie evidence to prove that they were de-
serving OF the trust rcposcd in them; and
MIR. Lewins gives an interesting anecdote
which illustrates this in one instance, and
many more of a similar character might be
cited. "a mail-coach having travelled
during driving snowstorm rs far as 1t
could advance, the guard, as the custom
was in such cases, took the bags with him
Oh horseback for some miles farther; then
the horse, sinking deeper at every step, was
sent back to the coach, while he, essaying
to carrying the bags on foot, was found
with them round his neck next morning
quite dead" The coachman did not wear
a scarlet coat by right, rs did the guard,
but 1t was given to him by way of distinc-
ton after long (or, if not long, trying and
spcciaD service.
Soon after the introduction of mail
coaches an act was passed, declaring that
all carriages and stage coaches employed to
carry his NIajesty's mails should hcnceforth
be exempt from the payment of toll both
on post and crossroads. In consequence
OF this act, inn-keepers, who were the prin-
cipal owners Of stage coaches, bargained
Tor the carriage of mails frequently at mere
~ nominal prices, in order to obtain the
privilege of running their coaches free Of
toll. The turnplkc-kcepcrs naturally look
ell upon the mails and all connected with
them as moving in a sphere beyond their
control. At the approach of the mail
coach, turnpike gates flew open, and all
around was Difference and obedience to the
omnipotent will of the driver The fcclinr
OF Importance thus cngcndercd communi-
Gated itself to the passengers and they felt
themselves, in consequence, to be formed
Of superior clay. Even here, however,
there was divided opinion, for The inside
passengers considered that they were porce-
lain, while the outsiders were merely dclf.
Dc Quincy makes some amusing remarks
on this feeling, and tells us that for some
time the insidcs would not sit ut the same
table with the outsides; and if the latter
were so presuming as to push into the cof-
fec-room, the waiter would bcc1on and en-
ticc them into the kitchen. At last the
outside passengers rebelled, and after a
great struggle, obtained recognition.
The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-03-02

TO see your eyes gaZc upon me us once they
did. Tonight | have succeeded Bcr-
trand, do you believe what have said .
VIII you pardon-will yon take me back
home"
The struggle within the man was fierce
and long, but his sense OF wrong conquer
ed.
"IIome!" he calculated with harsh
laugh, as he glanced round. ''Truly. this
looks suitable one for Squire Kendalps
heiress!" |"
'Bertrand, it is not Squire Kcndalps
hciress, but your wife, who pleads. Oh,
have you no pity?"
Unnoticad by either, the child had risen
in the bed. Now, extending his tiny hands,
he cried:
"NIamma--dcar mnmma!''
"Bertic, my boy!" calculated Alice Fer
moy, in tones that thrilled the husband.
Swiftly she had dartcd to the bed.
Kneeling there, she had ciaspcd the child
TO her breast, pressing Il shower of kisses
on his fevered face.
''Grcat heavcn!" cried Bertrand Fcrmoy,
his whole love rcl1indlcd for his wife in
presence of her danger. "Woman, you
know not what you do! A virulcnt fever
has been raging in this neighborhood, and
and-the boy has i'll"
A startled glance lcapcd into the gray
eyes raised to the speaker, but the child
was clasped closer yet.
"Our BERTHE ill, and you would have hid
den him for mc2 Oh, Bcrtrand!" she cx-
claimed, "Hcavcn has been kinder in
bringing me here at this time a mothers
place is by her sick child
"Alice!" cried Bertrand Fermoy, hoarse-
ly, "ths fever is fcarfuly contagious! Put
down the boy!"
"Not, Bertrand, until am forgiven.
have no dread of death TIL thcn," she re-
piled, calmly, and firmly.
He trcmblcd with a violent emotion.
"Alicc, if what you have said be true,
it's l, not you, to blame" he cried "For-
give me, my wifc!"
She fled to him, and, with burst of JOY
Gus tears fell on his neck
"Bertrand," she cried, "hold me to you;
let me not go! 1 havc learned severe
lesson: Henccforth, poverty with you,
dear, is better than wealth to me alone"
ooh, my Alice!" he smiled, fondly car
cssing her. "But it is not poverty offer
you. No-richcs, fame, prosperity; for
this night, which has restored wife to her
husband, and mother to her child, has
also brought success to my discovery!'
The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-03-02
Bandit'S Widow Carries on Isusin css.

Southern Italy has not as yet succeeded
IN radically curing tho chronic disease of
brigandage under which it has suffered
from time immemorial. 1t seems that the
district OF Saranzaro has recently been tor
mcntcd by an uncommonly severe attack of
the bandit epidemic, spread over its vine
clad hills and smiling valleys by an armed
horde OF sanguinary ruffians under the lead
crship of lovely and romantic damscl,
Maria Croci by name. This amable ad-
vcnturcss, whose personal attractions are
reported to be little short of soul-subduing
by those who have been fortunate enough
to escape from her clutches, was formerly
the bride of a gallant mountainccr who oc-
cupicd distinguished position in the band
at present commanded by her. This brave
fellow unfortunately met with his death by
the rifle Of carabinierc whilst diligently
practicing his professional avocations,
whcrcupon his afflicted bctrothcd picked up
his gun, raised 1t towards heaven and vowed
to avcnge his cruel fate. She has fulfilled
her pledge with touching conscientiousness.
Elected captain of the association by her
dear dcparted's comrades, she has become
the terror OF the whole district above men,
toned, where she has earned Il dread repu-
tatlon for ubiquitousncss by the rapdity of
her movements. Here, there and every
where by turn, she burns down farmhouse
one day, plumbers a church the same night,
lifts" Il herd or two of cattle next morning
and carries nunnery by assault before she
rctires to her we'll earned reposo. Troops
are out after her in half-a-dozen directions,
but she has hitherto managed to evadc their
impcrtinent interference with her "wild
career" 1t is to be apprehcndcd, however,
that term will shortly be put by the royal
authorities to the sportive vagaries of this
latter day Helen McGrcgor
The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-03-02
TRI-W EEKLY EDITION.
SUMMER EVE,

Dimly falls tho summon even,
Over forests and green meadows,
Golden moon. through misty shadows.
Beams down from tho azure hoavon.
By tho brooksido, with a shri,lness,
ChirpB tho cricket, and q flas ing
or tho water and a plashing,
droots tho wandorvr through the Stiffness
Yondor whore tho waters simmer,
Bathos alone tho elf-queen nightly;
Arm and shoulde I'd. shining Whitley,
In the moonl ght softly glimmer.
The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-03-02
Marlborough Walks Home.

The great duke of Marlborough some
years before his death retired occasionally
to Bath. and often amused himself with
cards, though he seldom vcnturcd to play
high. One night he was engaged at piquet
with Dean Jones, from whom he won I'd,
and exacted the payment. Tic dean dc.
clarcd no hnd no silver, Dutsborrowcd the
money, as the duke said he wanted 1t tc
pay for his sedan chair. The dean, know.
ing the dukes avarice, watched him, and
saw him actually walking home in order
to save the Cd. Pope speaks of him as one
who would "Now save kingdom, and
now save q groat."
The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-03-02

Bishop Potter, of New York, has
confirmed 70 900 persons.
Virginia has 676 colored schools
| and 416 cOlored teachers.
The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-03-02

sfiQtaf gy5g sRW slr f,,iaautDst!8 !8s
tga1 a's u aas ssit Nm saW I'D .attt.y. /,
The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-03-02

y U3ptl AIF'H nsFf @8}s.8
y iisslfi& o. g! sB isigg 40 r&%kt,tNf
3h 81 Hg Fggg .tga8 a&
Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1880-07-28
An Ice Gorge in July.

A remarkable ice gorge EXISTS in Sussex
County, New Jersey, near SwartswoOd
Pond, in gorge of the Blue Mountaine.
The gorge is several hundred yards in
extent, ten TO thirty feet deep, with caves
and clefts in the rocks, where the ice avs :;
it is located very short distance from the
mountain. The shade at the gorge is very
dense, the sun apparently never penetrat-
ing it. The bottom of the gorge is covered
with ice, and the little caves and crevices
are filled with it. II is a natural ice house;
hundreds of tons might be taken out with
out appreciably decreasing the whole
Much of it has no doubt lain there for
years, the mass gradually melting and be-
ing added to each year. The thermometer,
which registered in the nineties in New
ton, marked So degrees at the bottom of
this gorge. too cold for one TO remain there
any length of time. A few feet from one
end of the gorge spring of the most deli
cious, sparkling water bubbles up. The
water in this spring stands at 81 degrees
Samuel Thompson, who owns the farm on
which this natural curiosity was found in
conv ersation with the reporter, said: why,
yes, | s'pose il is rather remarkable. but
We don't think very much about it exceD.
when We want ice. The neighbOrs all
around goes over there for their ice"
Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1880-07-28
The Cat Bird and Her Nest

We knew of so msny birds nests
nearer home, and had such good facilities
for examining them in a thicket of syringa,
rose and wax-berry bushes on our pre-
misses that we did not think of such thing
as looking for them in our summer explora-
tions, but We were glad indeed to inger
over one which we came across that
afternoon in the most retired part of the
little wilderness iha we afterwards almost
came 10 look up n rs our own property,
since nobody ever seemed to GO there ex-
cept ourselves. And this reminds me anew
of the deep satisfaction we had all through
those long June days in wandering or wait
ing in its leafy receses, where flecks of
sunlight frightened the green half-twilight
and dappled the soft floor, variegated with
fallen leaves and hundreds of shy plants
and tender wild flowers, where our only
companions were the many brooding
birds and their mates.
This cat-bird had done a marvelously
ingenious but most risky thing, in locating
her nest between two small hemlocks, just
where the tip of the outermost branch of
one Tapped a bit on the corresponding tip
of the other, so that if the wind had hap
pened to sway them ever so slightly tine
result to the nest would have been the same
as if it had been left loose in space, its
foundations on nothing more tangible
than air; and it would have followed the
same law of gravitation which influenced
the falling apple made famous by Sir Isaac
Newton. But our wise little friend had
calculated upon such a catastrophe, and
acted accordingly, using some kind Of fore
sight which we should call reasoning If a
human being had done it. 1t CHANGED that
tLin shoot of alder, tough and sinewy as
a whip-lash had grown up near by. This
the bird had seized upon as the needful
thing to make the place available. The
overlapping hemlock twigs were made to
serve as the bottom and the walls Of the
nest, on which were laid up some fibres of
dry roots and a few dead birch leaves; then
the alder had been bent down aud bound
like wiihe around the hemlocks straining
them together, then passed around and
through the nest, in which two green
leaves of it were growing from the out
side as luxuriantly as if nothing had hap
pened to it.
The bird must have had hard time Of it
pulling the alder into place and making it
so taut, but the result was beautiful
nest of shining green with two paler oval
leaves fluttering in it.
She had the usual number Of glossy,
solid looking eggs; and ten days later there
were five awkward, yellow-throated, gap
ing cat-lingA We afterwards saw several
nests as we followed the river, all built of
strips of grapevine bark. dry roots and
straw-like grass, and most of them in dan
gerous places, either on the alders which
hung over the water, where the young
stood chance of being drowned. or so
exposed that hawk passing above could
easily spy out and pounce upon the de-
fenceless brood.
Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1880-07-28
That was too Mucn.

The tenant of u house on Crawford street,
Detroit. who was always behind in his
rent, was some Gays since ordered to va
cate, and then he put his imagination al
work to invent excuses TO remain in the
house. He first had his wife fall sick, and
thereby got a week. Then he was taken
with the chills and got in four days more.
Then he got two days in which to get
another house, and when an officer went
there for the key he found the man dying.
At least his wife said such was the case,
and acted like one greatly distressed in
mind.
sThis is very sudden" remarked the
nonplusssd officer.
Every sudden, sir. He had Just said to
me that we would begin moving after din
ner, when he dropped on the floor and he
has been lying in stupor ever since. The
doctor says he may never rally again
'Can see himi"
''Oh, yes, but please don't speak above
a whisper
She led the way to the bedroom. There
Law the unconscious man, but somehow he
didn't look as sick man should, and his
breath had a strong smell of whisky. The
officer felt of his pulse and made mp his
mind that it was game to beat the court.
He therefore began: swell, Mrs. Blank,
congratulate you. In few hours more
YOU will be rid of him forever. He is a
great loafer and hard drinker. and but
for this he would have died in the state
prison"
The wife opened her eyes IN astonish-
ment and the officer continued:
sTn leave word with the undertaken as
90 down. Any sort of box will do, or
NAV be they'll haul him out on the COM
mons. It's of no consequence what be-
comes of these old soakers. Ion will be
a happy woman when the old galoot goes
up the spout
At this point the dying man rose up,
and took a cool survey of the officer and
quietly observed:
"Sir YOU are no gentleman! No sir, you
are not! I'm no soaker or loafer. and
want yor to understand that I'm able TO
have as decent funeral as you can- lou
can take your old house and go to bangs
with it for all of me. Mary hand me my
clothes, and well show this vulgarian that
we can move out Of this old shanty, ana
into a residence in about forty minutes.
In about twenty minutes all their goods
were ON the walk and the house Locked up.
Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1880-07-28
Modern Ratcatchers.

Rats and their ecceuTrIc freaks nlav M
inconsiderable part in German legendary
lore. That their passion for music will
induce them TO brave the utmost neriI No
have learned from the Ratcstcber of Ham
elin's'' quaint narrative. Poor Bisbon Hat
to discovered 10 his cos, what desnera,,.
enternrises they vere csnabIe of nndar-
taking when stimulated TO strenuous effort
by the promptings of outraged morality
and of an inbJr predilection for enisconal
flesh. Ever since they stormed tbs, lucLlesa
prelate's castle and picked his homes in ;,
highly memorable manner they have loved
to linyer in the purlieus of German b sb-
ons' palaces. and cathedral cities are their
fayorite abodes-at least sucb is the he.
lief in Catholic provinces of the Fst,e,l,nd
In Paderborn. 1t seems. tney have es,s, :.
lished themselves 81 solidIy that the mimi
cinal authorities of thai venerable stro,r-
hold of the church have fopnd il pecess.-
nv to adopt extreme measures for their e.-
pulsion. A short time ago the Burgo-
master. Herr Franksnberr entered into N
contract with the eminent ratcstcher
Baum. by which the latter hound himself
to deliver Psderhorn of its rodent nonula-
Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1880-07-28
Old Jim Bridger.

One of the most noted characters on the
border twenty years ago was old Jim
Bridger, of Fort Bridger, in Utah. On one
occa sion he came to New York. He did
not like the narrow downtown streets with
high buildings on each side, and COM
plained that he had once lost his way In
..Dey Stree, Canon. and been rescued with
difficulty by the police. He liked the
theaters, and expressed the utmost delight
at a performance of the Midsummer
Nights Dream" He had no clear idea who
Shak,s ca swas, but conc we'd and develop
ed the most extravagant admiration for
him.
Returning to the fort, he sold stock and
supplies to emigrants and other travellers as
in time past. One day a man wished to
buy some oxen, and Jim said he could have
any except one yoke, which he had made
up his mind to keep at all hazards. In the
morning messenger came to say that the
man wanted this yoke, and none other.
'.He can't have 'em, said Jim. There's
no use talkin',"