davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-01-07
Talking at the Table.

It is one of the best digesters; there
is no tonic known to equal it, if it is OF
the kind calculated to promote hilarity
and good feeling generally. Most parents
are prone to prohibit their children from
talking and laughing ut the table; it is
unphysiological; it is cruelty. Joyous
ness promotes the circulation of the
blood, enlivens it, invigorates it. sends
it tingling to the renlotest part of the
system, carrying with it animation.
vigor and life. The louder the little
ones laugh the better; the faster they
talk the better; for then they can eat
less in q given time, consequently chew
their food more thoroughly.
Discard controversy from the dining
table. Discourage all subjects which
invite political or religious career. Let
every topic introduced be calculated to
instruct, to interest. or to amuse. Do
not let the mind run on business, or pre-
vious mishaps or past disappointments.
Never tell bad news at the table. nor
for an hour before. Let everything you
have to communicate be, If possible, OF
a gladstone, Joyous, hilarious character,
calculated to bring out pleasant remarks
Or agreeable associations. On the other
hand, never administer reproof at the
social board to either child or servant;
find fault with nothing; speak unkind
to no one. remarks are made of the
absent, let them contain some word OF
commendation, which if repeated in
their hearing afterward will kindle
kindly feelings, and thus will thoughts
of the family table come across the
memory in sfter years, when we have
been scattered, and some laid in their
final resting place, bringing with them
sweetness of emotion which makes
it n pleasure to dwell upon them.-Halrs
Journal of Health.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-01-07
servitude for a murder committed at
PeshaWur in 1867.

At the final meeting of the newly
formed American Agricultural Associa-
ton, held in New York. Professor Peter
Collyer, chemist of the United States
agricultural department, gave an account
of the investigation which he had con-
Quoted during the past two years regard
ing the extraction of sugar from sor-
ghum and from cornstalks. He said that
in five years he expected this country to
produce all the sugar needed for home
consumption, and in ten years to produce
enough for export, though now it i'm
ported Sl00, ,O0O, 900 worth of sugar, more
than the value of the gold produced.
His experiments had been made upon
four kinds Of sorghum. He had found
that in the early part of the season the
stalks contained five per cent. Of un-
crystalizable sugar and one and one
half to two per cent. OF sugar capable
of crystalization. Later in the sea-
son the amount of the former had de-
creased to one or two per cent. and the
latter had increased to thirteen OF four
teen per cent. The amount of the sugar
produced in the latter case was as great
as could be obtained from sugar-cane.
His experiments with cornstalks had
also been successful. Out of the syrups
that he had obtained, ninety per cent. or
more of the amount was found to be
sugar. The cornstalks were still of
value after the syrup had been extracted.
In answer to questions, Professor Collyer
stated that the best time to use the stalks
for sugar. making was just ct maturity,
ood fkot tho ooct of q machine 70 make
up ten or fifteen acres was abou: $3.50.
The production of sugar from corn-stalks
was about 1900 pounds to the acl
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-01-07
CouIdn't Cut 1t Short.

A day or two ago woman entered
the telegraph Office and said to the re
ceiyer Of messages that she desired to
telegraph her husband who was in Chi
cago, for money. He pointed her to the
counter supplied with blanks and told
her the rate for ten words. She strug.
gled away for quarter Of an hour,
and then handed in the following:
won't you please send me ten dollars
by next mail?"
"I don't know whether that will do OF
not" she said rs she felt for Ter money.
IF you were to receive such a dispatch
from your wife would you forward the
money!"
"Well-well, I might" he replied in
doubtful tones.
Now you wait! don't like the
dispatch mt all, because I tried to keep
it within ten words. I'll write an
other"
She tore it up. walked over to the
counter. and in three minutes handed
in new one, reading:
Am out of food and fuel, and want
ten dolars as soon as you can get il
here! If you can'ts spare it I'll spout the
parlor carpet!'
That would bring the money from
me-" said the receiver as he read the
lines and marked the number of words
"Then I guess it will from him
Send it along, and if I don't get the
money inside Of two days you'll heal
somebody ripping up forty yards OF
Brussels carpet off the hoor!-- Detroa'
Free Press.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-01-07
The First American Drama.

The first American drama was the
Contrast" written by Royal Tyler. a
Vermont lawyer of marked ability. He
not only wrote the first American play,
but also the first American tale, the lat
ter being 1.-The Alegerine Captive. ;
Tyler was an able jurist as we'll as a
literateur, and reached the dignity of
the supreme court bench in his native
State. The" Contrast" was performed
in New York in 1876, and was highly
popular. Itabounds in Yankee dialect,
and it's leading character is rustic
youth who comes to New York and is
much surprised at city life. He goes to
the theater to see the "School for Scan
dal," and when he gets to his boarding
house he complains of the fraud prac-
ticed upon him. "Instead of Il theater,
they only lifted green curtain. which
opened into neighbor's house, where a
lot of folks were talking. There was
good-natured sort of husband and
ranting sort of Il wife," etc. Tyler
also wrote a play showing up the mis-.
cries of a New York May day, and an.
other entitled Lands in the Moon"
The latter was severe satire upon the
spe .uiating mania of that time, a fact
which reminds us that such things are
nothing new.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-01-07
Books and Their Makers.

The London Chemist says that Ger
man writers invariably smoke while
writing.
The most widely.read novelist in the
Southern States, it is said, is Mrs. Mary
J. Holmes.
Trollope turns out about two novels q
year, and when he begins he never
knows when to stop.
Miss Braddon, the English novelist,
is, in fact, Mrs. Maxwell, the wife of an
English publisher.
Twenty new books by women are an
nounced by American publishers to be
issued Immediately.
The historian, Bancroft, who in his
old age likes to ride horseback, is an en-
thusiast on the subject OF music.
The largest collection of books in the
world is in the British museum The
library contains over l,0OO, 900 volumes.
Wyckliffe's translation OF the New Tes-
lament was published in 1880, and the
celebration of the 50Oth anniversary of
his great work is suggested for next
year.
G. C. Davenport, of Pamela, Texas,
who lost both eyes at the battle of
Charlottesville, is selling poems of his
own production for the benefit Of him
self and family.
Victor Hugo never reads. but always
praises, the numberless books and manu-:
scripts which are daily sent to him, and
on which be is asked to pronounce judg-
ment by the aspirants for fame.
Jean Ingelow is a small, slight
woman, perhaps forty years of age. with a
pleasant manner, and quiet, somewhat
timid smile. Her eyes are bright and
expressive, her hair tinged with gray.
John Lothrop Motley's autograph at
the recent sale in Boston brought S5. IS,
and Hawthorne's S5.87; William IT,.
Prescott's signature was sold for SO. 90:
P0e's for S2.74, while Bulwer's and
James Russell Lowell's each brought
one dollar.
Mr.. Longfellow being visited at Cam
bridge by Mr.. Charles Warren Stoddard
was naturally asked by the latter for an
autograph. "What shall l write, for
you? ?" asked the poet; and Mr.. Stoddard.
| begged him to write down some line OF
his own which he might have prefer
ence for. Mr.. Longfellow Thought for
q moment, then went to his desk and
wrote the four lines beginning Lives
of great men all remind u.s." etc.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-01-07
A Seller Sold.

Alphonse Karr. in his "Livrc de-
Bord" tells nice little story Of Auguste
Romieu, well-known writer on lie
Figaro, whose practical jokes made him
famous all over Paris. One night
Romieu, having dressed himself for ms
part in provincial costume, entered,
awkwardly watchmaker's shop andi
with timid bow and an apology for
disturbing the tradesman, began: x
Pardon, monsieur, but what are
those little round things hanging sup
thcre?"
"Those ara called Watches"
watches! What are they for?" Z
"To tell the time of day"
"Why, they must be real handy. Do
they cost much?"
From two hundred francs down to
twenty five"
"Biess ,ne, could afford to bug one.
Does it take much trouble to make them,
goH" ..,
mo; ali you have to do is to wind
them up every day-this way.
"That seems very easy-but when
should I wind the watch-1 think that
is what you call it-up" .,'
lin the morning." ..
"Tn the morning-why s
Because yor arc always drunk ut
night, NJ. Romieu, and you'd breakjt.if
you tried to wind it then"
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-01-07
Inter.Occanic Canal.

At q meeting of the American Geo
graphical society, held in New York. a
paper on the proposed inter-oceanic
canal, prepared by Rear Admiral Am
men, was read. The paper was mainly
"a review of proceedings of the Paris
conference, called to consider the pro-
Ject, and of which Admiral Ammen was
Il member. Beyond that it set forth
what are claimed as the particular aG-
yantages of the Nicaragua, or avow.
edly favorite American route above all
others, he said that the rainfall on the
Nicaragua route is exceedingly small,
only about forty ght inches 4 year, and
that there will be little interference with
the work from that cause. There is
abundant good stone, hydraulic and
other lime, wood and bamboos. which
latter may be found very advantageous
in the construction of harbors. There is
considerable population, well disposed,
and, when they can have remunerative
employment, fairly industrious. The
country has an abundant cattle supply
of good quality for food, and other pro-
ductions which would furnish the main
subsistence for laborers on the canal,
with a convenient water transportation
in general along the line of the ship
canal, and lake Communication witt An
extensive. populated, and fertile region.
Between Lake Nicaragua and the Pa
cihc, near the line of the projected canal,
several passable roads exist, and what
ever roads might be required over this
short distance could readily be made at
inconsiderable cost. There is an in.
cxhaustible water supply in its lake OF
300 miles of superfce. which equalizes
floods and makes the daily changes
small in the discharge of the river San
Juan, by which it debouches into the
Caribbean sea.
An excellent harbor can be made on
the Pacific coast at San Juan del Sur,
convenient for anchorage. Lake Mica
ragua affords every facility tor an inter
change of cargoes that may be desired.
The west coast and the valley of the
lake are, as compared with the eastern
slope, comparatively healthy, and on
the eastern slope considerable part Of
the labor can be done by means of
dred ing machines.
The cost of the Nicaragua route would
be S65. 722. 1877. The Panama route would
cost S94.5ll 800. and the Atrato Napipi
route S9S, 96,S94, supposing that the
construction Of a ship canal on either to
be an engineering possibility.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-01-07
A Witty TeetOtaler.

The correspondent of a London paper
happened to be on Peckham Rye the
other day when one of the disciples of
temperance was holding forth. After a
full favored attack on the "Goverment
pets" as he styled the publicans. he said:
"A short time ago I was coming from
Aldridge's. where l had been to buy a
horse for my cab; ] saw a woman lying
dead drunk on the cellar-hap Of one of
the neighboring public houses; SO I
walked in to the bar and said to the land
lord: 'One of your sign-boa1ds has
tumbled down. The old equity publ
can and his pot-boy, who was rather
older than his master, came outside, ex-
claiming, 'Wherep' 'There!' I said,
pointing to the heap of rags on the flap.
'Why don't you take it inside and put it
into your window, as all other respect.
able tradesmeu do with their goods, and
label it, Our own manufacture, made
to order instead of leaving it out here,
as if you were ashamed to own itp"
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-01-07
Sc NOteS.o

Man must need pick up many crown
on the royal road to wealth.
The tn X of there being no sunshine
in this life, is all moonshinc.
Young man, if YOU are ever asked
what hanniness is, and YOU don't know,
inst saw it is the possession Of good
health, and dollar that was left alter
paying all your deots.
After all, to receive Just praise for our
honest endeayors while welive is much
more gratifying than the prospect OF
ever SO much misspelled "tstfy" on
our tombstone.
"Do you take your local paper" asked
a stranger of a resident. NO" WI, the
reply" "the fact is am too poor; Why.
nv dear sir, cannot afford to keep q
dog, to say nothing of newspapers. -
Turner's Falls Reporter.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-01-07

The author of the History of the
North American Indians" says that
"among 1900, 900 Indians he found not
one who breathed through his mouth"
If he examined the breathing arrange
ments of 80 many Indians, it is difficult
to understand how he found time to
write their history. An Indian that
breathes through his nose is no more
pleasant to contemplate than one who
breathes through his mouth, Many
persons prefer cigar store Indians. They
don't breathe at all.-Norristo1Oe Herald.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-01-07
A Christmas Carol.

OuGiStHtuS CbCOls -
There's song in the air! ~ =.
There's star in the sky! "ss
There's mothers deep prayer s
And baby's low cry! T9%
And the star rains its fre while the beautiful
sing, ,-.
For the manger Of Bethlehem cradles king
There's tumult Of Joy
=. Ger the wonderful birth, !, Us i.
For the virgins sweet boy -
Is the Lord OF the earth. 81 So,
Ave! the star rains lie IRE and the hcautiiu =
sing, :,
For the manger Of Bethlehem cradles kins
In the light Of that star - s
Lie the ages impearled;
And that song from afar al..,
GO. Has swept over the world
Every hearth ia ansme, and the, beautiful d
sing, I.F. Z - .T-..t.. q u,
In the homes Of the nations that Jesus ia king 81
We rejoice in the Light, = "a - + =, -
And we echo the song ~. ~ = t'Gs-
That comes down through tie night n.
From the heavenly throng. SNs
Aye! we shout to tho lovely evangsl thoy
bring, '',Ef - ,S3 .,,,...f,s - e z,
And we greet In his cradle our Saviour Ana
DIR. J.. G. Ro,iand.s /. I
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-01-07
The Years are Passing By.

The years are passing by!
Ne watch, as from an open door
Their passage through times corridor;
Each shadow, in its falling, slopes
Across the graves OF buried hopes;
The pulse of being slower beat
Through winter SHOWS, through summer heat
And faith and hope and love grow cold
As we grow old, as we grow old!
The years are passing by!
The years are passing by!
Times record hath such pages blurred,
With hasty deed, with bitter word,
Such sad mistakes mark all lite's years
We scarce can read, because OF tears.
We see dead faces on the wall,
We hear dead voices in the halls,
We touch some hands on bended knee,
We kiss some lips we cannot see
The years are passing by.
The years are passing by!
They carry with them as they 60
The rain, the sunshine and the snow;
They leave behind the drift OF days
Wherein each soul some penance pays;
Some hopes we have, but not our own!
Some loves We cherish, not alone!
And there are leaves and faded flowers
That tell sad tales in memorys hours.
The years are passing by!
The years are passing by!
The seal Of silence on our lips
We closer press. Times umbra dips
To deeper darkness down the lane
Through which we walk to hide our pain.
q We smile and smile as one who bears
/ A lie untouched by griet or cares,
But when in solitude we wait
We bow our head at sorrows gate,
The years are passing by!
The years are passing by!
Another joins the passing band!
Oh! is there not some other land
Where compensation for all ills
The measure of lite's being fills?
We wait the answer, but in vain;
The shadow falls; sense Of pain
Rests on us wheresoe'er we 60
And whispers Of the sod syd snow.
e.. The years arepassing by!
... ~. E. Pabor.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-01-07

Smythekins, said Pettimouse the
other evening, at Mrs. Fairandforty's re-
ception, edo you know that intermin-
able talker there, Miss Gabiteasy?' L
have the pleasure of slight acquaint-
ance with her." "Let me make your
acquaintance with her more familiarp"
mo. thanks; the pleasure of it lies in
Is being slight. ."-Neu York Mctl.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-01-07
ITEMS or INTEREST.

Russia's army is feartully addicted to
drink. A.. a. ES, - " =. y
The astronomers business is looking
up.-Boston Post. 4sa 3
Postal cards, now. almost universal
started in Austria, In 1855. Is
A woman at Havana, Ill: one day Ieel.
Gently gae birth to four girl babies.
The most touching thing to which our !,
attention has ever been directed IS ties
forefinger of the right hand. .-Lasens
In the decade between 1860 and 1870
manufacturing establishments in the
United States increased 80 per cent. -
It is difficult to understand why ysAl
wife never asks her husband If the doors I
are all locked until after he Is suugIy
covered up in bed.-Walerto0 Obsspsrs Z :
The farmers harvest now has fed5 sSSs ~
Cold winters nude his bow; &.
All you who have nice steers TO shed, tSl
Prepare to shed them now. ,ssSs.;5:
In South Carolina q statute provides
that all persons having no reasonable z
and lawful excuse shall attend some re-.
ligious service every Sunday; -. !
Rice is cheaper than wheat in" Eng:
land, and is said to be quite extensively
used as an adulterant.l ifrso nutritiod2 Z
an article may be called by sucll4a name,
~ -, At ten, n child; at twenty, wild; sS,t.
At thirty, strong, il over;
At forty, wise; at fifty. rich; ~
Atsixty, good, orTever. ,Ee-.
g,..u.r ,.'-'ti -Bufalo Courier.
There are many fellows who. endeavoi
to beat time, but ;bout tile, only man
who accomplishes IL Is the fellow who
haadles the baton in the band.- Wattrloo
Observer. u s.a,, ;stG". ~ FL
WEEK IN THE STOCK I,BusIsEss.
Monday, dabbied In tutare opssa joss: ~,
Tuesday, owned millions by nitlc icniation''. =
Wednesday, on my avenue palace began;
Thursday, / drove out spanking bay srsa, IS
Friday, I gavc magnificent haai9l4 u n
Saturday, VIC busted, with nothing ct all. e 81.
One of our rural exchanges Is trying
to give farmers advice on the subiet;t oi. 4
keeping chickens. The best way about
this time of the year. is to fasten, then
to the roost with chain cable and put
a spring-gun near tire hen-house door. . I
OIL City Derrick. ''' ~ ~
The two highwaymen who asSaiief
John Han1m, thin, bent, consumptive
! little man, near Vincennes, Ind. walked
up the wrong customer, for ne drew
pistol and shot one Of tlIem.. and
pounded the other insensible with the
weapon.
IF there is one time more than an
other when a mans heart overtio9s
with gratitude toward loving wife, it
is when he receives bill of s5ofr
the icweler for the handsome birthday
gift with which she recently so affec.
tiona,ely surprised him.--MsddlctqtDn
transcript. e -.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-01-07

The word right is never pronounced
wrong, and the wrong lis never pro-
nounced right.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-01-07

Mrs. Betsy Mustard wants 100000
damages frsm the royal bank Of Scot
land.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-01-07

One of the most peculiar wills on re-
cord is the subject of contest in the New
York surrogate's court. 1t was made
by Isaac w. Potter, now deceased, on
the 2SUh of February last, and bequeaths
as legacy to the heirs of the testator, a
lawsuit, which has been pending, for 2
long time between the deceased and
Mary Ann Coulter, whom he accuses OF
having wrongfully deprived him Of Ger
tain property. Until this litigation is
settled, not a cent of the estate OF Mr..
Potter is to 90 to the heirs, but all is to
be appropriated to the payment OF coun-
sci fees.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-01-07

Calcraft, the English hangman, is
dead. For forty -one years every exc
cution in England was managed ny him,
and during that period he "worked
off" over two thousand convicts SEN
fenced to death. His time was occu-
pied in his deadly business to such an
extent, that his dates ahead were care
fully noted before death sentences were
imposed, lest one engagement might
conflict with the other. In his later
years Calcraft made a strong effort to
enable his children to outlive the stigma
that attached itself to their fathers
position. He educated them literally,
and at length one of them entered the
Indian civil service and fulfilled h is
duties creditably. There was at first
great outcry against the appointment,
but it died out rs the young man pur-
sued his way evenly and gave satisfac-
tion. In his treatment of prisoners who
were to be hanged, Calcraft was curt
and business-iike. At hanging IN
Dundee the rope broke, and the hang
man always afterward furnished the
ropes himself, and was very careful to
{ [ersonally inspect the arranging OF the
gallows and everything pertaining to it.
The recent attempted assassination of
Lord Lytton in Calcutta by lunatic
recalls the fate of the last Viceroy of
India but one-the Earl of Mayo, on the
eight of February, 1872. Lord Mayo
was on n visit to the Andaman islands,
where he had inspected the various in
stitutions of the convict colony. He
went to the summit of Mount Harriet at
sunset, and walked down with Count
Waldstein and Captain Lockwood in
advance, the other five members Of his
staff close together and IN armed police
guard ard soldiers around and in the
rear. Darkness falls rapidly in those
elm atos, and ere the narrow stone pier
was reached torches had to be lighted.
They were only twenty-five yards from
the boat, the escort being close to Lord
Mayo on both sides and the police and
his body servant in the rear, when q
man suddenly sprang out of the dark
ness and stabbed the viceroy twice, on
the LETT shoulder and under the right
shoulder-blade. Lord Mayo ran for
ward n few PAGES and fell over the pier
into the shallow water. He got up him
self and was helped out, his shoulder
bleeding copiously. He walked firmly,
felt his wounds, and said: II don't
think I am much hurt" After the
wounds had been bound up he MUIR
INJURED twice, Lift up my head "-and
expired. The assassin, who was seized
on the spot, proved to be convict
named Shere Ali, sentenced to penal
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-01-07

There are many fellows who endeavoi
to beat time, but ,bout tile only man
who accomplishes IL Is the fellow who
handles the baton init band Wat1loo
Observer, ~ ,....:.,srt. ~ E1sf