davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-01-01
How General Spinner invented Frae.
tional Currency.

The origin OF the fractional currency.
which has been in the past few years
superseded by fractional silver, is some
what peculiar and not generally known.
The appearance of this currency, which
Mt first was always spoken Of as postal
currency was due to the premium on
specie. In 1862 small change became
very scarce. Gold being up and taking
with il silver, these coins disappeared
from circulation. Stockings were
brought out and the precious metals
found their way 10 their heels and toes.
1t was more than n days search to find
five-cent silver piece or any other
small denomination of that coin. PeO-
pie could not find exchange for small
transactions. In buying a dinner in the
market change had to be taken in beets,
cabbages, potatoes and what not. Cen
eral Spinner was then treasurer of the
United States. He WAS constantly ap-
pealed to from all quarters 20 do some.
thing TO supply the demand for small
change. He had no law under which he
could act, but after buying \ half-dol lars
worth of apples several times and re-
cciving for his half dollar in change
more or less of different kinds OF pro-
duce he began TO cast around for sub
cdtutl tti sunni tufAnkt. IN utc uitthh"
he bethousht him of the postage stamp.
He sent down to the postoffice depart
ment and purchased quantity ofstamps.
He then ordered up n package of the
paper upon which government securi-
titles were printed. He cut the paper
into various sizes. On the pieces he
pasted stamps TO represent different
amounts. He thus initiated n substitute
for fractional silver. This WAS not
however, a government transaction IN
any sense. lt could not be. General
Spinner distributed his improvised cur
rency among the clerks of the DEPART
mcnt. They took IL readily, and the
trades-folk more readily. The IDEA
spread; the postage stamps either de-
tached or pasted upon n piece OF paper.
became the medium of small exchange.
II was dubbed postal currency" from
this General Spinner got his idea OF frac-
tional currency and went before Congress
with Il. That body readily adopted 1t,
and but a short time after General Spin
ner had commenced pasting operations 8
law was on the statute-book providing
for the issue of the fractional currency
which became so popular. The iac
simile Of postage stamps was put on eacn
piece Of currency, and for long time II
was known rs postal currency" Inc
introduction Of postal stamps as money
entailed considerable loss 10 those VINO
handled them. In a short time they Dc
came 30 worn and disfgured that they
would not take q letter on iis way, ana
were therefore worthless. - Rash'NS'O"
!Sar.
Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-01-01

that night to her husband. "Just
think Of our cook marrying Frank. !" and
she laughed gleefully. "But she was
alway such darling, felt like kissing
her the first time / ever saw her. She
shall be married from here, and the
parsonage is ever SO much handsomer
than this house."
81 think IL is the most charming
thing that ever occurred"
Tom, selfish man, made wry face
81 can't say I am altogether delighted.
Some other woman might have suited
Frank just as well, and am afraid we
shall never find another cook who can
make such glorious pumpkin pies"
Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-01-01
Tho Origin or Indian Corn.

'Tis said that ever % long ago
A young maid walked by the river side,
Singing swcetly, soft and low,
To the music OF tho tide.
And the little maid was passing lair,
With eyes OF tender, sunny blue,
With rosy lips and floating hair
On q wondrous golden hue.
Her fairy step on the velvet sod
Was light and soft "a the falling snow;
But 1t reached the ears oil a river-god,
Who lived in the waves below.
He saw the maid, with her floating hair,
Her rosy lips an .'"er rounded form,
Her teeth like pcai At the vision rare
His heart grew bold and warm.
80 fair sight has never met
My eyes beiore!" said the ardent god,
'These messy banks have mover yet
BY one SO iair been trod!
The river maids are fair to see;
But never one shall my eyes behold,
Though live thousand years" )" said he,
"Like this maid of mortal mould"
so said the god. "I will seek her side;
must bring her home to live with me.
She uust be mino, whate'er betide,"
Said this vain god, boastfully.
Then, with leap, he left the flood,
With never n care for right or wrong,
And sought the maiden where she stood,
Singing her little song.
Fear lent her wings. Aiar she spies
A bank OF reeds, tall, dark and dense;
And in the sorest need she flies
Swift to their frail defence.
She said: "Oh! reeds, I pray you hide
Me saio and sure from his cruel art"
They crowded around on every side;
Each reed had tender heart.
They wound around her trembling form,
They twined themselves in her sunny hair
To save the maid from threatening harm,
They wrought marvel there.
For 10! when he parted the slender wall
He looked on the simple power with scorn-
There in the midst, fair. straight and tall,
Stood a stalk OF Indian corn.
This is the reason that night and morn
A gentle sigh, as OF one who grieves
Over some loss, fills the fields of corn
And fiutters its haunted leaves,
This is the reason il whispers so;
'Tis the soul OF the maiden prisoned ther
That night and day, with murmur low,
Burdens the summer air.
-Carloita Perry, in Independent.
Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-01-01

project was set on foot by the A 0r;c,,
tural society Of New South Wales ort-
year ago, and the government my
pointed committee of leading colon;a!p
which has since had exclusive cnntreI'
The building, called officially ":rIa ":Ji.
Garden Palace" cost about sI Ooo dd" e
and was erected under the directinn
contractor, who received comrn;o "
sion OF five per cent. the Royern,na.t
finding labor and materials. It's area ~
is about seven and half acres. inrlnd
Ing all the galleries and basement r.
size 1t of course falls short Of the phil
delphia exhibition the main buiid;n.
of which covered twenty-onc and bak
acres-but il Is about one-third I,r.nII ,'I
than the London exhibition of IstI
which was considered great enternrias,
ut the time. In shape. the Garden nai,co
is cruciform; it has four towers and
central dome 100 feet in-diameter snS
2l0 feet high. Japan and Amerina
occupy the space opposite Great Bri,,i,
and fronting the nave from the dome H.
the north tower. The American and
Canadian displays were incomplete on
the openingiday, but rapid progress was
being made with them. Next wear Nj
bourne will hold an exhibition. which
will probably eclipse this in splendnr
and variety, but Sydney has reason r.
feel proud Of the enterprise she has dis,
played.
Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-01-01
TIMELY TOPICS.

Next February will have twenty mine
days. Except in leap year, February
never has more than twenty-eight days.
IL is true TINT next February viii have
five Sundays. They will fall on the
first, eighth, fifteenth, twenty-second
and twenty-ninth. This occurs once in
every twenty-eight years. Its last pre-
vious occurrence was in 1852, and after
the next year IL will not occur again
this century. The same Is true of every
other day Of the week. For instance,
February has five Mondays once in
every twenty-eight years. This was
last the case in 1864, and it will occur
again in 1892.
Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-01-01

The Australians seem TO take n great
pride IN the Sydney exhibition. (which
opened formally last September. The
Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-01-01

From the annual report of Albert I
Myer, chief signal officer Of the United
States army, we learn that one hundred
and seventy stations of observation Of
the approach Of storms and other me.
teoric changes have been maintained
during the past year. The course of
drill in military signaling. telegraphy.
meteorology and other signal service al
Fort Whipple, Virginia. has been mucf
improved during the year, and large
number of men have received instruction
as assistant-observers The whole AZ.
tive force of the signal corps is practiced
at this post n the general drill in arms
and with telegraphic equipments. Ex-
animation Of the daily forecasts or in
dications of weather for the past year
shows a percentage Of 90.7 Of them veri-
fed. On occasions of supposed especial
danger cautionary signals have been
systematically made at ninety-f0ur
different sea and lake ports and cities.
No less than so. per cent. of the whole
number of cautionary signals displayed
have afterward been justified by storm
or wind of dangerous violence. The
Geographic lines OF the signal and life
srving service are on the immediate sea-
coast, and such reports OF weather con-
ditions as are not otherwise attainable
are received by them. Passing vessels
are promptly warned of approaching
danger. During the year a telephone
line connecting the intermediate life
saving stations has been extended from
Kitty Hawk to Cape Henry-a distance
of about sixty two miles. On June 30,
1879. no less than ,467 miles OF tele-
graph lines, including 543 miles on TIE
sea-coast, were in operation, and main.
tanned in the care OF officers and enlisted
men of the signal corps.
Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-01-01

Honest country-folk are warned he
HaTper's Weekly TO well bear in mind
the fact that in these DAYS there ara
swindlers and "sharpers, " A. well a.
tramps, roaming over the country. try.
ing To get money by deceiviny the nm.
wary. Indeed, it has lately come n
light that there Is n bold and wei,
organized gang Of "sharpers who are
carrying out scheme Of systematic
swindling, and many New England
farmers have been yictimizcd. Varion.
means are used by these rasca,s and
strange devices are their "stock in
trade" Sometimes il is an improved
washing-machine they wish 10 seI
sometimes patent saw. Whatever tIe
article is, the scheme in some way on.
tangles the simple hearted countryman
who finds himself. few weeks later. in
trouble. The law cannot always prt
hold of swindlers;' but people can
exercise greater caution in dealing with
strangers, and especially they should
invariably refuse to put their name to
any paper presented TO them by thosc
personally unknown.
Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-01-01

An association has been formed in
Westphalia for the extinction of pow
erty throughout the world The theory
of its promoter, who are not Socialists,
Is that tte wants of mankind have so
increased of late years that luxuries are
now looked upon even by the poorest
classes rs necessaries. Life, IL Is urged,
may be sustained and comfort insured
Mt a trifling cost by simply putting aside
the supertluities Of modern existence.
This object can only be attained by
complete revolution in our social and
domestic habits. Children should 30
trained from their earliest infancy to
look for no other shelter than that
afforded by wooden buts. Their food
should consist only OF bread and vcgeta
bles. and their drink ofpure water. The
style of modern clothing. as regards
10th men and women, is condemned rs
ex travagant, barbarous and unwhole-
some. One thick garment of good ma
terial for winter, and one of slighter tex.
ture for summer, is all that Is required.
II Is estimated that under good man.
agement on the new system $50 year
will be sufficient income for any person
10 exist upon comfortably, and will leave
small margin which, IL laid aside an
nually and carefully invested, will
amply provide for all the reasonable
wants of old age.
The Australians seem TO take n great
t1rfdn IN fha gvdnnv A owl,ft.fetrx. Axswhfrh
Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-01-01


Mrs. Jones had said: "Oh! do YOU
make good old-fashioned pumpkin pies?
Mr.. Jones thinks there is nothing more
delicious, and know he would like to
have some"
So now the new cook stood beside the
table with her curls tucked under =
somewhat coquettish little cap, long.
demure apron on, and her sleeves rolled
up. Presently she heard steps and
laughing voices In the passage. the door
opened, and she looked up surprised.
with her sitter in her hands. Mrs.
Jones was holding her long velvet skirt
around her. and saying: tom is such
n goose; he thinks nobody ever had
such house. and he will drag you from
garret to cellar. 1 hope you don't
mind"
Receiving no answer, she turned and
looked mt her guest. lie was standing In
front of Polly, who. crimson and trem-
bling, was letting the -four dribble down
on the floor. "Can II be possibler' he
said, huskily; can 1t he possible that
have found you! Oh. Pollyl thank
heaven, have found you'll had almost
lost hope" And right there, before the
astonished eyes Of Mr.. and Mrs. Jones.
the fioury arms Of their new cook went
round the minister's neck. and she was
sobbing on his immaculate coat. "But
aren't you married to Melissap" came
from the depths of the coat. The minis
ter smiled at this well-timed question.
II have never contemplated such :
thing for moment he answered; 81
have never loved any one but you, Polly.
since the morning overheard your
aunt abusing you, and / caused you TO
put pepper In the pies. You bore t
a.l so meckly and patiently that,
loved you from that moment
Isn't Il the most romantic thing Won
ever heard OFF" said little Mrs, Jonaa
Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-02-29
Dead in the Ruins.

The reckless fashion in which New
York t1remen risked their lives forty or
fifty years ago is we'll shown by an Incl
dent which occurred during the great fire
OF December 1G, 1885. The memorable
confagration broke out ON bitter cold,
but clear and starlit night. The first
alarm was struck from the City Hall, the
principal bell in the Fifth District.
"Thirty-four'' engine was the first on the
scene, and wheeled into line at the sue
ton, foot Of Wall street. Four other en-
gines rapidly took up hose connection,
until at last the fire was reached.
Itspread rapidly, and broke through
the block. Another line was formed, and
in the new distribution of engines the
''Thirty-tour" was placed at the head,
next to the fire, which by this time had
reached the Merchants Exchange, now
the Custom House. A number of the
men of that engine went into the build
ing to tend the ''pipe,' as it was called.
While they were so engaged, the walls
gave evidence of lettering, and their fore
man cried out to them:
"Back, boys, back out! She is COM
ing down; lack out!"
Seeing their danger, they all obeyed-
at lest, it was supposed that they all
debut one of them, as lie was hurry
ing from the building, dropped his leath-
er ire-cap.
He turned to pick it up. The walls
fell, and he was never seen again alive.
Four days afterward his brother, saun-
tering leisurely INTO "Thirty-four's" en-
gine-house. said, casually, referring to
him:
"Any of you fellows seen Bill lately2"
"No, amt he home'" asked some one.
"Ain't been home since the big fire.
was the brothers reply. Thought he
must be laying round the engine-house."
Upon this closer inquiry was insti-
tuted, and it was discovered that the IN
fortunate fireman had never been seen af-
ter the Merchants Exchange fell. A
search was made, and his body, without
scar or wound upon it, was found be-
tween two granite pillars in the rnins of
the building. He had been suffocated.
Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-02-29

80, don't know what Joe's being do
ing to it, I'm sure" said the promising
girl; "but 1 guess it is light enough to
see to play cats CRADLE" and SO they
tried it.
"Why, Joe, you're genius instead of
Ounce, l do declared cried Debby.
''This is an Invention and no mistake"
"You are all acting like a parcel OF
ounces declared their father, prepar-
ing to 90 to bed. "Taint no great won
der that birch bark should burn after it's
got a fire. if 1t is in an old tea-kettle. 1t
will burn out IN ten minutes"
"No, Debby, I'm only Ounce; but
you'll soon see that it will bnrn all the
evening""
And it did. At bedtime the tea-ket-
tie was taken from the crane and the
blaze extinguished. The next evening
it was hung on again--this time without
opaosition-and lighted after it got hot,
no time being lost in waiting in waiting
for steam to dry off. Joe split his kind
hngs now without delay, and never was
there a mere diligent and happy fellow.
Toward tbs end of the week the crust
burned off the cracks in the kettle, where
upon the light became more brilliant
than ever, for it streamed out from every
crack as well as from the spout, and the
black old tea-kettle was clothed in a
mantle OF Pickering fire. But Joe was
afraid the shattered constitution of his
favorite would hardly hold together I'M
der so much excitement. SO, on Satur-
day, he plastered the cracks over anew,
this time with clay, and filled 1t with a
new stock of birch bark.
And thus he worked by his tea-kettle
light all winter, and thus got his school
ing too.
Here endeth the true history of the
first of all the gas factories.
Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-02-29
What Workingmen May Hope for from
Electricity.

Prof. W. E. Ayrton closed lecture
to 1000 of the workingmen of Sheffield,
England, on the subject of electricity
as motive power, with this picture:
1--WE are, it Is true, a commercial peo-
pie, but do we not still love orr hills
and our fields? There was time when
the cutler of now black, grimy Sheffield
was very feet of foot in following the
chase. There was time wheng' not
only in the village around old Shelf
fe,d,' SO says the history of Hallam-
shire, were the fle-makers' shops or the
smithy to be seen, with the apprentices
at work; but even on the hillside in the
open country at the end of the barn
would be the cutters shed, while in the
valley below, by the river, was the
grinding wheel ready to sharpen the
tools that had been manufactured And
why not now? Why should not the
mountain air that has given you, work.
men of Hallamshire, in past times your
sinew, your independence of character,
blow over your grindstone now? Why
should not division of labor be carried
to this end, and power be brought to you
instead of you to power? Let us hope,
then, that in the next century electricity
may undo whatever harm steam may
have done during the last, and that the
future workman of Sheffield will, in
stead of breathing the necessarily i'm
pure air of crowded factories, find him.
self again on the hillside, but with
electric energy laid on at his command
Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-02-29
A Discontinued Baby's Diary
From Judy's Almanac.l

1. January-Just born. Here's lark
Papa does not seem very pleased over it.
though.
1. February-Every night pa walks
about up and down the bedrosm with
Inc when squeal. 1 always squeal-1
must do something.
1. March-Nurse is a splteful thing
she sticks pins into fellow On purpose
1. April-After all, one may weary Of
the bottle.
/. May wish I could cuta tooth, I'd
bite nurse.
/. June-What nuisance it is to have
relations who keep on saying, "Ketchet-
ty, ketchetty," and dig in your ribs with
their toreiGgers. When 1 grow up III
do it to them, and see how they'll like
it.
1. July-TheIe are three babies next
door got the measles. get nothing. It's
awfully dull.
l. August--One Of the babies from the
next door came in to see us to-day, and
| heard ma say, "He hasn't got the meas
les now?" mo- said the baby's ma;
there's greedy sneak for you. Left 'em
at home!
l.. September drinks something
out of black bottle. I've caught her
at it. 1t isn't the same that's in nv bot
tie, either. If 1 were bit bigger I'd
change EN-.
1. October-Blessed if this amt nice
GO, neither. Some one called to-day to
see pa and ma, and they said it was I'M
Gle, and gave me to him to kiss. He did
not kiss me, thsugh, with what you
might call a good will. Then they asked
him again, and then they gave me to
him again, and he pinched me.
l.. November--This IS worse than ever.
Why, here's another baby now, and they
say he belongs to our house: and they
not going to send HIM away. Don't even
know how to feed himself out of the bot
tie. Well, Of all-never mind.
1. December-Got to sleep in the crib
with him now! Wait till he gets to
sleep; I'll give him such an oner!
Here's ueast of a baby! He cont go to
sleep, and not soul in the same crib
can get blessed wink.
Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-02-29
Lost His Shawl.

A gentleman returning from Europe
bought very handsome and expensive
shawl for his wife. 1t cost between
$4,000 and $4,000, and he was naturally
DESTROYS OF avoiding the disagreeable
necessity of paying several hundred dol
lars more in the shape of custom duty.
On board the vessel was an exceedingly
attractive lady, to whom when they were
in sight of land he confided his dilemma.
why, my dear, SIR she said, naively,
that is no dilemma at all. will wear
the shawl ashore, and then no question
will be asked The gentleman paid
glowing tribute to the wonderful fertility
of the feminine mind and accepted the
offer. The shawl graced the lady's
shoulders, and was certainly very be-
coming. The trunks were examined and
passed with that mysterious chalk mark,
without which no baggage can receive
the benediction of Uncle Sam, and then
the gentleman saluted the lady, spoke Of
the pleasure he had enjoyed in her COM
pany, hoped they would have the pleas
ure of crossing the ocean together again,
and then asked for the shawl. 4 beg
your pardon, she said, 'but what shawl do
you refer too He naturally answered,
why. the one you have on, to be sure
And why should give you my shawla'
she inquired. In word, the dialogue
waxed so warm that she threatened to
call policeman unless he desisted, and
since he could not legally claim the
shawl without convicting himself of a
deliberate attempt to swindle the gov
eminent, he was compelled to leave with
the fair stranger the present which he
had intended for his wife.
Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-02-29
Signs and POrtents.
Boston Transcript

When the crescent of the young moon
rests suplnely, its horns IN air, it is q
sign of dry weather, because in that posi-.
ton it holds all the water, thus prevent
ing its fall to the earth. This is also a
sign of wet weather, the explanation in
this case being that waterful moon is
emb,ematical of water soaked earth.
Don't forget the sign of the new moon
1t is rarely you will find one so impair
TALLY accommodating,
Whoever finds four-leafed clover is
generally liar. It is so much easier to
detach leaf from a five lcaved stalk
than to hunt for one with four that the
temptation to mendacity is too much for
average clay.
When mouse gnaws hole in gown
some misfortune may be apprehended
The misfortune has already happened to
the gown, and may be apprehended tc
happen to the mouse.
An old sign is that child grows proud
if suffered to look into a mirror while
less than twelve months old. But what
the average infant can see in the mirror
to make it proud is difficult for any but
Its parent to understand.
A red sky in the west at evening indi-
Gates that the next day will be pleasant,
barring accidents Of rain, snow and hail
If you take down your single, pre-
paratory to putting it up in a new loca-
ton, it is sign you are moving.
IT hen runs across the street directly
in front of you, it is a sign that hen will
soon be on the other side. If she cross
over just behind you. Pshaw! who ever
knew hen that wouldn't die right in
her tracks rather than cross ones path
way in his rear2
When you sec cat running around
fur1onsly, it is sign that the crockery
or glassware is in danger.
When you drop knife and it sticks
in the floor, it is a sign that some one Is
coming. If you are small boy, that
some one may be your mother, and her
coming be to demonstrate with you with
her slipper.
To dream Of a wedding Is sign of
inanltion.
To dream Of funeral betokens too
much pork and cabbage.
To dream of finding money betokens
that it is easier to dream OF finding money
than to work for it.
To dream it is Sunday morning is
heaven.
To be suddenly awakened from your
sweetest sleep to find that it Is not Sun
day is-that is to say, very disagreeable.
1t is sign that you will be unhappy.
A great many more equally infallible
signs might be given, but the reader has