davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1880-10-21
A Pretty Woman.

Is she an object of envy as she seems,
all said? Beauty is great gift, but
its possessor has her trials. From
mere girlhood the pretty woman is the
object of attentions she has not tried
to attract-attentiOns that often onl v
annoy and embarrass her from the one
sex and render her the object of envy,
and too often ill-natured suspicion
and unkindness, to the other. Plain
women or ordinary women are prone
to look upon the brilliant and beauti-
full woman as their deadly enemy, and
by tacit consent they combine to
wound or crush the common foe. In
consequence. she is always receiving
small stabs that wound her keenly.
Then it is impossible for handsome
woman to have any comfortable mas
culine friendships. No sooner does q
man speak to her than he is at once
supposed to be in love with her, while
an ordinary civility is a proof of
courtship. Married or single, old Or
young, all male creatures are presum-
ed or feared to he her lovers, and she
cannot receive the smallest amount of
attention from d given individual
without being accused of a desperate
firtation. In this respect she has not
half the liberty enjoyed by plain
woman. Again, beautiful woman
cannot go out without an escort when
it would be perfectly safe for IL plain
person to go, or enter gentleman
office OH any business whatever with
out being suspected. In the humble
walks OF life, indeed, remarkable per-
sonal lovclincss is perhaps the great
EST, misfortune 4 Girl can have, since
many ladies will not employ maid
servant or seamstresS who Is hand
some, while Il person SO endowed is
perpetually pursued by dangerous OF
Insulting admiration.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1880-10-21
J = = = 2. -
DARKNESS AND LIGHT.

"Leave the house Instantly You are
no son of mine from this time. will
not harbor one who has thus degraded
himself, and disappointed me-"
Hard words were these to hear from
the lips of any one, still harder from
those of father.
Mr.. John Phillips was q proud man
proud of himself, of his family, of
the reputation he had acquired for
honesty and upright dealing, and of
the notice he received from people
who were just n step farther up the
ladder of fortune than himself. To
increase his wealth and consequence,
he had ground down his family to the
most pitiful and pinching straits in
private, to atone for expenditures to
meet the public gaze with a show of
riches that honestly belonged to his
wife and children for their ordinary
comfort.
His eldest boy was placed in store
where there were many other clerks.
Young Phillips scanty clothing, his
evident desitution of money, even to
Withholding q penny from a poor child
when Others gave freely, accorded ill
with the reports of his fathers wealth;
and the lads sometimes touched the
sOrest place in Samuel Phillips heart,
by reproaching him with sOrdidness.
One day-a cold, wintry day-a lit
tie girl, shivering and pale, CAME into
the store. Her wan, blue look touch
ed his heart with pity: How could
he send her away! lie thrust two
glittering half dollars into her hand,
and bade her go and buy some wood.
The money, he thought, could be re-
ntoI,4 lxvp
other lad who was glad of an oppor-
tunity to degrade him, and when the
cash sales We're made up that night,
young Carroll reported that the mss
ing dollar had been taken by Samuel
Phillips.
The boys bushes and confusion as
he tried 10 make an honest statement
of the case, were taken for guilt; and
note 10 his father, whicn he was
bound to take home from his employ
cr, distinctly told that Mr.. Sampson
no longer wished to employ person
in his store who had been guilty OF the
crime of stealing. :. nE' ..
In his first passion Mr.. Phillips had
uttered the above words to his son. In
vain the poor boy pleaded why he did
it. Perhaps the excuse embodied
more sin III the fathers eyes than the
deed itself. To give dollar to a beg
gar! What an enormityl And then
that John Phillips son should 50 out
rage his fathers good name! The
mans pride was. stronger than the par
ent's affection. Samuel took him at
his word and that very night, i'll the
cold and darkness, the boy set of, TAX
ing his first step into the unknown
fuIIre of his life ---r.
Had his father but believed him,
pointed out what was wrong in his
act, and forgiven him, his sou might
never have sinned again. His pride
and cruelty sent him fourth, q wan
derer, distrusting all, and holding in
his heart root of bitterness which
might turn his whole life to gall.
When the family was aroused to the
conviction, the next morning, that
Samuel Phillips was actually gone,
Mr.. Phillips tried to soothe the dis
tressed mother with the thought that
he had only disappeared for time,
and would soon be with them again,
glad enough to return and ask pardon
Tor his conduct. He did not tell her
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1880-10-21
Arab Auguries.

Tho Bedouins take auguries from
birds. A single raven in ones path is
a very bad token, but two are extreme
ly lucky. They say Akhdharegn
Fallen zein-two green G. e., black)
ones fair omen. The Bedouins have
many other snperstitions about ami
mails. The superstition as to the flesh
of the rock badger, which Palmer
noted in the Peninsula of Sinai, is un-
known here; but there is similar
idea about the monkeys which fire.
quent Mount Kara. These, it is said
were once men, who came to visit the
prophet. lie set before them milk
and water, directing them to drink
the former and perform their ablutions
with the latter. The pervcrse visitors
drank the water and washed with the
milk, and were transformed to monk
eys for their disObedience. AS they
were once men, their flesh is not eaten.
This legend is closely akin to what
one reads in the fabulous history of
early Arabia about Nasnas and the
Wabar, i'll the great sandy desert
Both these words are monkey names,
quite current in the present day,
though not recognized by the lexicons.
The latter is an ape, the former a
monkey with a tail. Except in this
monkey story, could find no trace Of
the superstitiOus rejection Of the flesh
of any animal. But some kinds of
flesh have a magical virtue attached
to them. A man who suffers in any
member of his body seeks cure by
eating the corresponding part of hy-
ena. The hyena is also eaten in the
neighborhood of Sucz, for u friend Of
mine who shot one near the Wells of
Moses was requested by the Bedouil.s
to give them q leg. A similar virtue
attaches to the flesh Of the gemsbok
(WudheyhyO a rare species Of ante
lope found far in the interior. When
eaten it draws an obstinate bullet
from q WOund.-4Scotsnaan.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1880-10-21
What to do with the Cold Meat,

How to present in tasteful and
appctizinS manner, the fragments OF a
joint, ,after il has been served hot one day
and cold the next, is a vexatious prob
lem to the prudent housewife. The
ordinary ''hash," is not an attractive
looking dish, certainly, and few cooks
can prepare it SO as to have it palat-
able. The dishes given below, though
perhaps 4 little moro troublesome 10
prepare, will be found OH trial to be a
great improvement on the "mince-
meat of careless cooks.
Minced Fowl and Egg.-Cold roast
fowl, u hard-bOiled egg, salt and pep
per, or cayenne, to taste three table,
spoonluls of new milk or cream, half
an ounce of butter, one tablespoonful
Of flour, teaspoon of lemon juice !;
mince the fowl, and remove all skin
and bones; put the bones, skin and
trimmings into stew pan, with one
small onion, and nearly Onc-half pint
of water; let this stew for ali hour,
then strain the liquor, chop the egg
small, mix the egg with the fowl, add
salt and pepper, put i'll the gravy and
other ingredients, let the whole just
boil, and serve with sippets of toasted
bread.
Mutton Hash-Fry one onion chop
ped small, with some butter, till it is
Drowned add tablespoonful of flour
and one and a half or two gills of
stock, with u few cloves, some pepper,
salt 10 taste, u teaspOOniul of walnut
ketchup, half that quantity Of Wor-
cester sauce, and u teaspOOnful of to-
mato sauce. Stir the whole together,
let it boil once or twice, and then
strain it into q saucepan. When cold,
lay the pieces OF mutton i'll it with
this sauce, and. place the saucepan by
the side of the fire, SO that the con-
tents are very gradually heated shake
the saucepan occasionally, but never
let the hash boil. Serve with sippets
OF bread fried in butter.
Beef ROlls.-The remains of cold
roast Or boiled beef, seasoning to taste
of salt, pepper and minced herbs;
puff paste. Mince the beef tolerably
fine, with small amount of its own
fat; add seasoning Of pepper and
salt and chopped herbs; put the
whole into roll or puff paste and
bake for half an hour, or rather longer,
should the roll be very large. Beef
patties may be made of cold meat by
mincing and seasoning beef as direct
ell above and baking III q rich puff
paste i'll patty tins.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1880-10-21
The HOOdlum.

An entirely original product of San
Francisco is the Hoodlum. Ordina-
rily he is ragged and dirty. On Sum
day, however, he is arrayed in short
black coat, old fashioned .sspring bot
TONI trousers that cover three-quar-
ters Of his high-heeled boots, felt hat
with a sugar-lOaf crown, and q neck
tie SO lurid that it would light up the
Harlem tunnel. His face is generally
meagre, sallow and unwholesome.-
His shock of long hair shines with an
odorous imitation Of Macassar. He
walks with the Bowery swagger, and
usually hand in hand with the female
of his species. She is coarse, long
tongued, gypsy faced, in cheap and
gaudy dress, a "Pinafore'' hat, with
flaming ribbon, set iauntily Oh her
head. She chews gum with stolid
contentment and the rotary jaw-mo-
ton OF the domestic COW. She rattles
Oft glibly the slang of the street, and,
if vcxed, she shows unexpected re-
sources i'll hlasphcmy. Her the hood
lum calls his ''chunk." There are
thousands of these creatures in the city
who are scarcely more than children
i'll age, but who have absorbed all the
vices European and Oriental.
The centre of the hoodlum's activi-
ty is known as ''Tar Flat low-lv-
ing quarter, thickly covored with
small houses. Here he bids defiance
to the police. One of his favorite pas
times is to come down like the Assy-
rian under cloud of night, upon the
peaceful German cOrner-grOcery, de-
nland unlimited schooners of lager,
maui about the mazzard the proprietor
who refuses, leave the spigOts running
-alh depart for fresh fields of con-
quest just as the Irish guardian of the
peace appears in the distance. He de-
lights also to beleaguer the Chinese
washhOuse and bonn bard it with stones.
II he can break the windows and soil
the clean linen on the roof, he retires
with the conviction that he is pub
lie benefactor. These sports have be-
come hazardous though, of late, as the
police justices do not seem to appreci-
ate the point of such practical jokes.
No empty house is safe from the hood
lums sdepredations. He cOntiscates gas
fixtures, lead pipe, window -gglass-ev-
erything that may be sold to the junk
dealer. He is the terror of solitary
pedestrians in the suburbs. He loves
to linger about the street corners af-
ter nightfall, smoke cigarettes, tell
ribald stories, and insult any passer-
by who looks incapable of resenting
the outrage.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1880-10-21
The Great Comet of 1S43.

The following extract from Profess
sOr Pierces' lecture on comets and me-
teOrs contains a description of the
wonderful comet of 1913, of which
GOuld's comet is supposed to have
been reappearance:
"AbOut noon Oh the 2Sth of Febru-
airy, 1S43, groups of people in mahy of
the towns of New England especially
Portland, Maine, collected at the cor
hers of the streets, gazing up toward
the sun. Protecting their eyes in the
shadows of the houses, they saw a
brilliant object close TO the sun. Such
a marvellous spectacle had never before
been seen. A thoughtful sea captain,
Mr.. Clark, brought out his sextant,
and repeatedly measured the distance
of the strange object from the limb of
the sun. These unique observations
are OH record, and submitted to rigid
criticism, attest the accuracy of the
observer. In about a week from this
time wonderfully brilliant comet
was seen skirting the horizon soon af-
ter sunset, and reaching more than
one third of the way round the sky
1t was now a tail without a head, as it
was at first head without a tail, but
they were members of the same comet.
The best determillati ton of its path was
accomplished by the distinguished as
trononer, Sears o. Walker. At its
pcrihcliOn it passed nearer the sun
than any known comet, with the sim
gle exception of that Of 1850, comput-
ted by Sir Isaac Newton. and in the
discussions of which in the Principia
hc broachcd the first approximation
to the true theory of the cometary
tail. These two comets approached so
close to the sun That it would seem
quite possible that they touched its
surface, or at least swept in nearer
than the solar corona. 1t would have
been All absurd hypothesis that they
were elected from the sun at the time
of penet ration, had it not boen for the
fact that the comet of 1850 was seen
on its way down to the sun, and for
the remarkable phenomena which we
are about to describe concerning the
comet OF 1913. 1t may be claimed as
a not impossible hypothesis that each
OF these comets was at some former
time the product Of solar eruption
in accordance with Buttons theory
OF the origin of comets. 1t would on
ly involve force which would double
the greatest velocity given to the solar
field OF hydrogen. But Il justcr inter-
probation of its phenomenon, and one
which avoids the necessity ofan extrav-
agant volcanic action, is to be found in
the relation between the comets and the
1t is simply the splash of the
falling metcOrs. In about an hour and
Il half the comet OF 1913, like that of
1850, went round the sun from one side
to the other. What would have be-
come of the tail, which was reaching
out about 100 ,0OO, 600 of miles from the
sun to the earth's orbit? There have
been those who have actually adopted
the incredible, may say the impossi-
bic, hypothesis that the tail rotated
through this immense circuit, dcvel- |
0ping centrifugal force which all the
united powers of the universe could |
not have sustained. No!
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1880-10-21
The Dismal SMAmN.

A Virginia paper tells some things
which are not generally known about
the Dismal Swamp. It is not q vast
bog sunk low in the ground, into
which the drainage of the surround
ing country flows. On the contrary
it IS above the level ground some tif-
teen or twenty feet, as was demOnstrat-
ell by actual surveys. Instead OF DC
ing rece eptaclc into which rivers and
streams enter and flow, it is i'll reality
an immense reservoir that, in its vast
sponge-like bulk, gathers the wa
ters that fall from the heavens
and pours them into the five
different rivers which flow onward
to the sea. Any one would 1mag-
inc that the Dismal was verltable
charnel-house atspreads its miasma
throu shout the country. On the con-
trary it is the healthiest place on the
American continent. The swamp IS
entirely of green timber. There is alb
solutely no decomposed wood; the
appearance of the fallen timber does
not at all resemble that which one sees
usually of trees lying around the for
-ests aud swamps, although there are
many trees down.
The two principal woods that grow
in the place are the Juniper and cy-
press, which never rot. They fall
prone OH the ground like other trees,
but instead of the wood decomposlng,
it turns into peat, and lies lndlssoiuDie
by air or water for ages perfectly
sound. There is nothing in the swamp
to create miasDa; no rising OF the
tides no decomposition OF rank veyet-
ablcs; no marshes exposed to the
81 3 fl,n n 9
and sweet and the air is laden with as
sweet odors as the fragrant woods III
Nav, when the fragrance or the tloW-
ers mingles with the pungcnt scent or
the pine and dogw wood. In the, ante
6elLatnt lays all planters were ANXIOUS
to hire their slaves to shingle makers
in the swamp on account of its health
fitness. MIR. Reddick, a well-knOwn
contractor. says he worked a. gang of
fifty hands for fifteen years III the Dis
mai. getting shingles, and in all that
time there was not a single case of ague
and fever. L have seen numerous af1l-
davits of overseers and agents. who
have lived in the swamp their whole
lifetime, and they never knew q death
caused by miasma, OF a solitary IN
stance of ague and fever. The air IS
pure and sweet, and the water, tinged
to a faint wine hue by the juniper, is
as potent a medicinal drink as is to be
found at the famous watering places OF
the Virginia moutain spas. ltii often
used by vessels going on foreign
cruise, on account of its healthful
properties, and also because it keeps
fresh and clear for years. 1t is a strong
and invigorating tonic with a pleasant
taste
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1880-10-21
Musicians and Their WOrshippers,

1t is the proud privilege Of musical
"stars' to stir the fair breasts of FASH
ion-leading Russian ladies with such
mighty impulses of enthusiastic ad-
miratiOn that DANES and damsels of
the highest rank, carried away by
their feelings, are wont now and anon
to perform the strangest acts of hero
worship. At the termination of An
ton Rubinstcin's last concert in Mos
COW, the patrician beauties of that
aristocratic city carried the platform
by storm, and devoured the great pi-
anist's hand with fcrvent kisses, to his
manifest tembarrassmcntan and confusion.
Apropos Of this quaint freak of the
Muscovite ladies, tire Russische lett
atlag reminds its readers of cofnical
incident that took place toward the
end of Gar Nicholas's reign, when
Salvi, q tenor singer endowed with
uncommon personal attractions, hav-
ing completed his engagement at the
Moscow Opera House, was about to
take his departure for st. Petersburg.
A large number of his female admirers
for the most part patricians OF the
first water, drove to the railway sta
ton to see him Off, laden with wreaths
and bouquets of costly exotics, and
surrounded him Oh the platform as he
was about to get into the train, inn
ploring him Ia passionate accents 10
bestow upon them some trifie by
which they might recall him to their
memories when he should be far away.
Salvi was at first smitten with pain
full perplexity by the prayers OF his
fair worshippers, but presently a ludi-
crOus notion suggested itself to him,
and he proposed, i'll jest rather than in
that he should administer to
each lady u smart farewell pinch "to'
him by" To his amaze
nlent this absurd proposition was
hailed with joyful acclalnation; and,
as he proceeded to put it into execu-
ton, the enthusiastic recipients of his
eagerly importuncd him to
pinch hard, 80 as to leave a nice blue
mark that would last long while,
and, above all, where they could see
itw-LOndon Telegraph ..-
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1880-10-21
SuperStitiOn.


Some monthsagoanE English tourist,
lingering i'm a country churchyard, was
present at a funeral, and observed
among the group of mourners a young
man, who particularly attracted at
tention by his swollen face and the ut
ter detection of his appearance. "Here
at least is one true mourner," thought
the Englishman. While this thought
was passing through his mind, the
supposed mourner took up skull
which lay on the top of heap of dry
mold and crumbled bones. He raised
it to his lips, and, with his own
teeth extracted a tooth from it. Hor-
TOR filled the stranger as he watched
his proceeding, and saw him throw the
skull carelessly away, while he wrap
ped the tooth in paper and put it in
his pocket. "Cam you tell me why he
did that2" asked our tourist of all old
man who stood beside him during the
funeral ceremony. "Aye, surely, your
honor; the poor boy was very bad
wiz the too li:lche, an it's allowed to
be cure if you draw a tooth fiae a
skull VII Your anc teeth. He'll sew
the tooth in his clothes, an wear it as
long as he lives" "You don't tell me
SO! Do you think the remedy will be
efiectual?" "It's like enough, SIR" re-
piled the old man, showing where a
tooth was sewed in the lining of his
own waistcOat. "It's five years since I
pulled that ane the same way, an
l never had q touch o. the toothache
SINCE"
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1880-10-21
How PatSeY PrOSDered.

Mrs. Hoolahan, whose rather coltish
son Patsey went out West a few
months ago to seek his fortune, re-
ceived great news from him yesterday.
"Did Patsey write to yOu?" we in
quired. ''No, be jabers, he has niver
a line since he lift, butaone OF The Con-
ner.b'ys who went to Dinyer1a fort
night ago promised to hunt up Patsey
and let lie know what he is doin', L
got a litter to-day, and Conner tills
me that Patsey has great 81 tuation as
su peaintendent of a. free lunch route.
which extends pretty much over the
whole CITY," "That must be a pretty
nice thing" we suggested. "Well, L
should say SO. Patsey is a. nice boy,
and | knew he'd do well If. .he had q
chance" returned the confiding old
woman, her innocent, mOtherly old
face Frightening at the thoughts of
her way ward boys success, and show
ing no trace. of. suspicion that "the
Conner by" was trying to be funny
by perpetrating joke on a loving and
ting old woman.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1880-10-21
About Alum.

Ordinary alum is double sulphate
of potash and alumina containing
when crvstallized. twenty-four MOLE
cules of water. When heated, it melts
in its water of crystallizatio", and OH
continued heating this is expelled leav-
ing a dry powder, known in pharma-
CIV as Altmen usta, or burnt alum
That sold at the drug stores is often
imperfectly dried, and should be
placed for an hour or more i'll hot
bake oven before use. According to
G. Bernbeck the best test for a good
article is, that it is nearly tasteless
when put on the tongue, and takes
twelve to twenty-four hours to dis
solve in water. Much of the alum
now in commerce contains no potash,
the alkali being ammonia. Of course
ammonia alum cannot be converted in
to burnt alum, as the ammonia is ex-
PEELED at the same time, leaving only
sulphate of alumina behind.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1880-10-21
POwdering the Skin.

Here is something for mothers to
read and inwardly digest. Paint and
powder as much as they may, they
should keep tt vile compound which
has destroyed the bloom and beauty
of their compilations from the cheeks
of their little daughters
''To powder or not to powder, is a
question each woman must settle for
herself. A fine, fresh, pure skin is
possible to anybody whose flesh has
not been contaminated by cosmetics
those who have begun fancy they
must keep on, but it is Il shame for
mothers to allow their fresh, sweet,
lovely daughters, just i'll the bloom of
girlhOod, to make acquaintance with
the powder-boX. 1t would be amaz-
ing if it were not disgusting to see
maids and mothers powdering little
girls-the rosiest babies-in the dress
ing-room before the opening of a
dancing school bal, dredging them rs
a cook joint before roasting it. If
these foolish women knew how much
more beautiful the child was with her
sweet, fresh tints, they would spare
them till their rosebud daughters
were at least in full blossom, and try
first what fresh air, exercise and pure
water will do. Beware of any pow
der that contains bisinuth, unless you
are willing to risk an aftercrop OF
purplish piuples."