davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1880-05-26

JAPANESE WAX.-Almost every person
who has seen pistol or revolver cartridge
has noticed that the rounded metallic end
was covered with u greasy coating re-
sembling in many ways mutton tallow
and no doubt has considered it to be that
animal product. 1t is, however, nothing
of the kind, being simply the product of II
vegetable growth and known to the trade
as japanese wax.
The japanese wax tree from which this
comes is Il tree of great beautey and USE
fulness. 1t is IL species of sumac, and
grows twenty-five feet high. attaining Il
diameter of one and one-half feet. Most
of the candles used by the Japanese are
made from the wax OF the berry borne by
this tree.
These berries are gathered by the
natives with II great deal of care, and
crushed and pressed. Another way of
obtaining the wax is by macer alton
IN hot water, skimming the wax from
the surface. This wax is yellowish white,
softer than beeswax, melts at 1879 Fab
renhcit and commands a good price.
Besides its use for candles, 1t is of value
in the arts and in many minor industries.
The berries are white in color grow in
clusters. and are about rs large as Il pea.
The tree itself is of rapid growth and easy
cultivation.
japanese wax is also used extensively
as substitute for bayberry wax, the
latter costing several times rs much as
the former. 1t is used as n coating for
machinery when it is to be shipped, rs it
forms greasy coating impervious to the
action OF air and moisture. In appear
ance, smell and feeling, it closely resem.
bies mutton tallow.
An effort is soon to be made to introduce
its culture in California.-Com. Bulletin
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1880-05-26

RAFD RAILROAD TRAvELING.-rhe
other lay we printed letter from II
courteus correspondent who undertook
to curDct statement that n train which
it is ppposed to run regularly between
Jersey City and Philadelp phia-ninety
miles d ninety minutes-would be among
the fasest in the world. His examples of
fast trims were not so striking rs they
might nave been made, however: Knight 5
Mechanical Dictionary" records that
Stephnson's Rocket travelled at the rate
of sixy miles IN hour over fifty years
ago, when the ant of building locomotives
was inits enrly infancy. The same author
ily gives eigby.one miles in sixty-one
minutes, madq by special official train
on the New York Central railroad, rs the
fastest time ever made in the United
States. SCARCELY inferior is the record of
seventy-twC miles in seventy-three min
utes made Oy II train between Lima and
Dayton, ilcluding two stops. The best
English record is thirteen miles in ten min
utes, or ~ the rate of seventy-eight miles
an hour md one mile in forty-six seconds.
The spedal train which carried to Queen
Vicloria the decision of this government
in the Ifent difficulty, in 1862, ran one
hundred and thirty-one miles in one hun
dred ard forty-four minutes, or at the rate
It liftyfour and onehalf miles per hour.
These are exceptional cases, however, and
if theIe is any train in the world which
proposes n regular schedule time ninety
mills in ninety minutes, with no deduc-
tioB forany cause-which is a very differ
ent thing from the occasional rate of II
mile mnute-its existence is not gener-
allyknown. Probably the fastest train in
Engand is that between London and
Smlidon, on the Great Western railroad,
whiA travels at the rate of tifty-three and
One-hird miles per hour. The north
western road runs II train from London to
Rug,y at the rate of forty-eght and one
halfmiles per hour, and the Great North
ern nc from London to Peterborough at
the ate of fifty miles in forty minutes.
The London Holyhead, or &" Wild Irish
man = train runs only at the rate of forty
three miles. Probably the fastest French
trainis the one which runs from Paris to
Marsiles at the rate OF forty miles an
hour and on the Berlin and Hamburg
road b train covers the iitty-seven and one
half niles between Spandau and Stendal
at lle rate Of forty-two miles an hour.
need not be ashamed to add to
the record the Pennsylvania railroad train
between Jersey City and Germantown
Junction ut the rate of lorty-nine miles
per hpur and the proposed train, taking
the average of the whole distance, is, rs
we sdd, the fastest regular train run. In
Drderto redeem its schedule promises, this
engine will bave 10 some times travel at
least seventy miles IN hour, as it is neces-
sary To slacken speed in rounding curves
and passing through cities. The drivers
are 10 be six and one-hAlf feet diameter,
which is foot larger than is usual in this
country, although in England, as our cor
pointed out, seven and one-half
feet drivers are frequent, and we believe,
one engine has even ten feet drivers
Times.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1880-05-26
Jhe fireman.
For the Freeman.
Ferns.

If YOU walk out after soft spring rain
in May you may chance to pass our bed OF
giant ferns, just awakening from their
winter sleep. 1t will well repay daily
walk TO watch them progress: First a
round ball of soft wool wrapping the
future possibilty-then, in day or two,
the wonderful process of unrolling the
closely packed leaves-the pushing up
from the root of the long stem-the rapid
development out.running Darwin and all
the phiosophers-so amazingly rapid that
if You miss but a single day in observing,
they astonish you!
One may get good many hints from
the ferns, and not only of growth and
beauty, but also of higher matters. We
were quite sure they were dead. The
first hard frost laid them low-the mould
covered them--the autumn rains wept
their tears over them and they were
buried. Moro choice and precious
treasures we have consigned to earth.
" If Il man die shall he live again?' The
silent ferns give reply: Surely in some fu
ture spring the beauty and life we consign
to earth in hope shall rise again to sur
prise us, clothed in immortal life and
beauty. II. v.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1880-05-26

A Rich THING ABOUT EDITORS. .-"Edi-
tors are usually wealthy" the man with
the sample case remarked.
Yes" said, "they are familiar with
all the slang phrases of the money mar
kct; they write about millions as ordinary
men talk about dollars; they know how to
pay the national debt; they build rail-
roads; they organize mining and magniti-
cent transportation companies with
fabulous capital; they declare war without
consulting the Rothschilds, and if all the
banks in America were to fail tomorrow,
the editors wouldn't be cent poorer
than they are to-day. Yes, they are rich.
They associate with the moneyed classes,
they sit down at the table with kings, and
sometimes, in happier, luckier moments,
with aces; if You want to borrow money,
90 TO the editor, he will turn to his adver-
Using columns and tell you where you
can borrow it. If you have money to
loan, rather than see you suffer- he will
borrow it of you himself. Rich? lie
knows the secrets of the moneyed rings;
he divulges the plans and schemes of the
heavy operators to the people; he roars
himself louder than the bulls, and growls
among the bears; his voice is heard in
the temples of the money changers, asking
for money he MARBLES his little roundelay
ont on the curbstone, in melancholy
minor key, when he dosen't get it. Oh
yes the editors are rich. When you want
10 spend all the money you have in this
wide world, 90 to your lawyer; when you
want something done for nothing. HE you
to your newspaper office. Then when
you want to send some man to congress
send your lawyer, because you can get
along without him."
paused, and profound, impressive
silence filled the car like dream ol
peace. | looked around upon my aud
| ienCe.
Ii was asloep.-Burlington Haeckeye
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1880-05-26

GIVE HIM Your EYE. hooking at the
preacher encourages him TO believe you
are attending and are interested in what
he says.
If it would be uncourteous not to look ut
person holding conversation with you,is
it less to avert the eyes from the preacher
while he is addressing you?
As teacher of the most momentous of
all truth he has II right to every testimony
you can give him of your interest in what
he breaches, and looking ut him is one of
those testimonies. Look at the preacher,
because your good example will mid in re-
calling the wandering eyes of others,
rebuke their inattention, and restore their
lost sense of propr;ety.
Looking at the preacher is eminenty
favorable to keeping up the minds atten-
tion to his message. The eye helps the
ear. and both help to fixedness of thought
upon what is uttered.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1880-05-26

NOVEL MODE OF PRESERVING A MANS
REASoN-A curious story is going the
rounds of the English newspapers, Of
an exhibition in the show windows
of one of The leading jewellers in Vienna.
The object of attraction is brooch
magniiicenty studded with gems, in
the middle of whose chasing is incloscd
the most singular OF centers-four com
mon, old, bent and corroded pins. This
brooch is the property of the countess
LaAelskofy. The pins have II history, of
course. Seven years ago Count Robert
Lavetskofy, as the story runs, was arrested
at Warsaw for an alleged insult to the
Russian government. The real auther OF
the insult, which consisted of some care
less words spoken at social gathering was
his wife. lie accepted the accusation,
however, and was sent TO prison.
In one of the lightless dungeons in
which the car is said 10 be fond OF con-
lining his Polish subjects, the unfortun ate
martyr for his wife's loose tongue spent
six years. He had only one amusement
After he had been searched and thrown
into cell, he had found in his coat foui
pins. These he pulled out and threw on
lne floor; then in the darkness he hunted
for them. Having found them, perhaps
after hours and even days, he scattered
them again. And SO the game went on
for six weary years. but for them" he
writes in his memoirs, Il would have
gone mad. They provided me with 4
purpose. So long as had them to search
Tor, had something TO do. When the
decree for my liberati on rs an exile wal
brought 10 me. the jailer found me on my
knees hunting for one which had ESCAPED
me for Two days. They saved my wife'i
husband from lunacy. My wife, therefore
could not desire u prouder ornament"
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1880-05-26

How TO MAKE MIsCnIEF.-Keep your
eye on your neighbors. Take care of
them. Do not lot them stir without watch
inc. Ihev may do Something, wrong if
you do. TO be sure, you never knew tho.
to do anything very bad, but it may be on
your account they have not. Perhaps II
it had not been for Your kind care, they
might have disgraccd themselves long
time ago. Therefore do not relax any
effort to keep them where they ought to be.
Never mind your own business that will
take care of itself There is man passing
along--he is looking over the fence-be
suspicious of him; perhaps he contem-
plates stealing, some of these dark nights;
there is no knowing what queer tancIes
may have got into his head.
If you find any symptoms of any one
passing out of the path of duty, tell every
one else what you see, and be particular to
see a great many. 1t is good way to
circulate such things, though it may not
benefit Yourself or any one else parlicu-
larly. DO keep something going = silence
is dreadful thing; though 1t is said that
there WAS silence in Heaven for the space
of half an hour, do not let any such thing
occur on earth,-it would be too much Tor
this mundane sphere.
If, after all your watchGul care, you
cannot see anything out of the way in any
one, you may be sure it is not because
they have not done anything bad; perhaps
in an unguarded moment you lost sight OF
them-throw out hints that they are no
better than they should be, that you should
not wonder if people found out what they
were after little while, then they may
not hold their heads so high. Keep it
going, and some one else may take the
| hint, and begin to help you along after
awhile; then there will be music, and
everything will work with charm.-Se|
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1880-05-26

TIE POPULAR PUzzLE.-Mr. Richard
A. Proctor has been giving the English
public some account Of the puzzle of if-
teen, which, he says, is exercising the
minds, and apparently also trying the
temper and taxing the moral energies OF
the American people. Over the solution
of this puzzle. he adds, hundreds of
thousands of Americans have lost their
characteristic GOODNESS, and some of those
hundreds of thousands have departed, in
some degree, from the strict path of
truth. At any rate, have seen not few
announcements in the journals that this
difficulty las been solved, whereas it is
mathematically demonstrable that it can
not be solved. When any one says he has
seen the thing done.h does not necessari-
ly tell an untruth, for the hand is quicker
than the eye, and he may readily have
been deceived; but when man says he
has done this thing, he most unquestion.
ably says the thing which is not. There
is, however. certain amount of interest
in discussing this puzzle, and l would
commend that problem-always within
reasonable limitations as to time-to the
attention of readers who may possess malh
ematica tastes. 1t is, perhaps, hardly
necessary to say that the problem is ont
depending on the properties of numbers
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1880-05-26

A CUNNING BIRD.-Some years ago I
was overlooking penguin ''rookery," as
it is called, at the Falklands and watch
ing the goings on of the numerous colony
below me. 1t was breeding season, and
the birds were sitting on their eggs
on the bare earth, crowded together, with
hardly walking room between them.
Among the birds stepped II pretty sheath
bill (ChiOnis alba) with quiet jaunty
stride, picking what be could, and APP
parently perfectly Indifferent 20 the mo-
tions of the penguins, who drove at him
with their beaks as he passed, but never
struck him. saw him pass and repass
one bird, always just out of reach, till the
bird could stand it no longer, but reached
of her nest about an inch to strike him
he was still out of reach and busy with
something, apparently not noticing the
penguin; sho reached further, he crossed
her again. still Just out of reach, and this
went on till he had drawn her about two
feet from the nest; then in one stride he
was beside the egg, had punched hole
and was slipping tho contents before the
slow penguin could turn and hop back to
save it.; he again led her away by the
same manosuvre, and increased the hole
and got a greater part; third time he
led her off and was eating the egg, when
he was driven right away by another pen.
guin, who was wandering at liberty, the
mattel suppose, being on turn on the egg
The proceeding on the part of the sheath.
bill was perfect trap for the poor foolish
old penguin.-Ndture.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1880-05-26

GENTs.-One day, several years ago,
when ] was rather young man, the
editor of one Of the great New York
dailes, for which | was doing occasional
articles, called me into his sanctum. He
held manuscript of mine in his hand,
and on his countenaace was an expression
which | hastily and inaccurately translated
into declined with thanks"
81 notice the word gent here" he said,
thoughtfully tapping the paper with his
foretinger; "have you spelled it correctly?"
II. "JItIBaXsRth ] spelled it g-e-''t?' asked
Il believe so; but won't you have the
goodness to look it up in the dictionary"
turned confidently to Wcbster's Una
bridged, and presently became rather red
in the face at not being able to find the
word in that bewildering store house.
Perhaps there is no such word in the
English language" slyly suggested the
editor; "in which case we had better
strike it out of the article"
This little lesson made SO deep an inn
preston on me, and instilled into my heart
such Il hatred of the word gent that l be-
lieve if | were naked and starving |
would refuse to be clothed gratis at IA
Gents Furnishing Store" or accept Il
complimentary dinner in Gents Sa'
LOOM" Mr.. Richard Grant White wittily
remarks that gents" and "pants' belong
together, for the former always wear the
latter. If gent is to be tolerated by
careful writer's, then let us accept "pants'
for trousers, transpire " for h1ppen or
occur, and, in brief, adopt all the varie.
gated and wonderful vocabulary of the
average newspaper.
The word gent" however, does de-
scribe class. When you see Il greasy
young fellow who seems u cross between
II rustic and a negro minstrel Oft duty
person with cap set far back on his close
ly cropped head, tight trousers that grow
suddenly full at the ankle, and shoes with
turncd-up pointed tips (where does he gel
those shoes D-when you see this vulgar
little object, you see gent. You will
encounter him on street corners in shabby
neighborhoods, gazing admiringly at the
lnhograph of some famous clog dancer OIL
cheap blonde in u drinking-shop window
you will meet him there, but Heaven
preserve you from ever meeting him in
decent literature!-From the Contributors
Club, in March atlantic.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1880-05-26

CLEARING OUT WooDCuUCKS.-Io occa-
sionally see an inquiry in the agricultural
papers as to the best way to get rid of the
woodchuck nuisance. l find in my expert
enee, that it is about impossible to raise
such crops as cabbages and beans in lots
adjoining wild land with any good degree
of success before clearing out the war
mints." have found trapping very sue.
cessful. One of my hands has been using
the double spring Newhouse trap this
season; Git can be found in the city hard
ware stores,) and has thus far caught
nearly forty. He sets the trap in the
mouth of the holes, leaving the middle
fully exposed but covering with earth the
two ends and the chain. have tried a
single spring Newhouse. but it will not
always hold the animal. If you are in
doubt whether the animal is in the hole,
for they often dig several holes, cover the
mouth with loose earth over night, and if
there, he will dig out. When you have
caught all the tenants of hole, fill the
hole with stones and earth, otherwise
some migrating fellows will again take
possession and make farther trouble.-J.
j. II. Gregory, IN PlOaghnaan.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1880-05-26

No SECRETS FROM MoTHER.-The mo-
ment girl has secret from her mother,
or has received letter she dare not let
her mother read, or has friend of whom
her mother does not know, she is in dam
ger. A secret is not a good thing for a
girl to have The fewer secrets that lie
IN the hearts of women the better. 1t is
almost test of purity. She who has
none of her own is hest and happiest. In
girlhood, hide nothing from your mother
do nothing that, if discovered by your
father, would make you blush; have no
mysteries whatever. Tell those about
YOU where you go and what you do.
Those who have the right to know, we
mean, of course. The girl who frankly
saws to her mother: II have been there.
met so-and-so. Such and such remarks
were made, and this and that was DONE"
will be certain of receiving good advise
and sympathy. If all was right, no fault
will be found. If the mother knows, out
OF great experience, that something was
improper or unsuitable, she will if she is
II good mother, kindly advise against Its
repetition. 1t is when mothers discover
that their girls are hiding things from
them, that they rebuke and scold. limo
cent faults are always pardoned by a kin(
parent You may not know, girls, ius
what is right, just what is wrong yet
You cannot be blamed for making little
mistakes; but you will not be likely to dc
anything very wrong if, from the first
You have no secrets from your mother.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1880-05-26

How TO BE SUcCEssFUL,-A Vermont
teacher says Who are the boys that sue
ceed in the world? This my young friends,
is Il very important question for you to
answer. Shall | answer it for youp AS
you and are strangers, let me say, have
had thousands of boys under my care as a
teacher, and that know who succeed in
all th2cse shtutsyrdf b6Ssi fl me se66oro6fh,
in the store,in college,on the farm-every-
where. One trait of character is possessed
by all of them in II greater or less degree
namely, they all have great powers of
concentration. Whatever they do they do
with all their might. Is IL lesson to be
learned, they bring all the powers of their
mind to the task until it is mastered. They
do not allow their minds to wander of,
now upon this subject and then upon that !;
but with an iron will and an unconquer-
able determination, they give the task
to be performed, whether Of the head or
the hand, undivided and close attention till
the work is done.
This power of concentration is the secret
of one scholars success over another in
the same class. How you study is of far
greater importance than what or how
nuch you study. have in my mind now
several of my old scholars who are emil
nent rs lawyers, physicians, ministers OF
the gospel, civil engineers, builders, mer-
chants, farmers all of whom were noted in
school for their undivided and close atten.
ton to be done. either at their desks in
preparing their lessons or in their class
room at recitation. | remember one of
these boys in particular, although it is
nearly thirty years since he was Il student
ut my school, can see him now at his
desk, working ut y difficult problem in
algebra or arithmetic, or trying to trans
late sentence in Latin or Greek. 1t
mattered not what the study was he always
entered upon it with the same resolute
determination to master it AT the least pos
sible time. He seemed to bring his whole
body ns well as all the powers of his mind
to the accomplishing of his task.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1880-05-26
TIE DEAD BOY-SOLDIER.


Laures and tears for thee, boy,
Laurels and tears for thee
Laurols of light and tears Of love forevermore
For thee
And laurels of light and tears of truth,
And the mantle of Immortality;
And the flowers of love and immortal youth,
And the tender heart-tokens of all true ruth
And the everlasting victory
And the breath and bliss of liberty,
And the loving kiss of liberty;
And the welcoming light of Heavenly eyes,
And the over r-calm of Gods canopy;
And the infinite love-spsn of the skies
That cover the valleys of Paradise
For all the brave who rest with thee;
Aud for one and all who died with thee;
And for every one who lives and dies,
On the solid land or the heaving sea,
Dear warrior -boy-like thee.
-F'orcevthe Wilson