davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1880-11-18

ca negro lost no time In showing that
he considered he had worked enough
for all timc. AS rule, he declined
to do much more than would keep
him. In some cases proprietOrs act
ually abandoned their property all
together. Some staid and eked out q
livelihood OH the wreck, while the
best off kept an agent OH the spot and
lived in England ON a tenth Of their
former income. Thus fuatters have
gone on for many years, during which
u large proportion of Jamaica proper
ty has been sold in the West Indies
lncumbcrcd Estate Court, and is no
longer in the hands Of the families of
the original prOprietors. During the
past five years, however, an encourag-
ing circumstance is found in the sue
cess Of the importation of coolies, who
take most kindly to the soil, desire to
stay when their period OF contract
expires, amt seem likely to prove u
very valuable element; and more re-
Gently number of Cubans have
sought refuge there, who are report
cd to he prosecuting tobacco culture
with much success. A large propOr-
tion of the island has been allowed to
lie almost fallow for so long that it
would probably bear heavy cropping,
and if Jamaica tobacco gets reputa-
tion at all equal to Gu bans there is no
saying how soon the island will not
once more assume \ more important
position amony British dependencies.
Thus, while heavy losses and complete
ruin has attended the lot of individuals
the probabilities are that, in time, Ja-
maica will again blossom MS the rose,
its unproductive estates again become
valuable, and its neglected plantations
the abode of happy and prosperous
people. The mother country will be
the gamer from its increased revenues
and the ruin wrought by Wilberforce
will be repaired.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1880-11-18
A Bloodhound,s Gratltude.

The Detroit Free Press tells re-
markable story of bloOdhOund's
gratitude at tAndersonville. The pris-
Oners were allowed to go out in squads
strongly guarded, to collect fircwood.
One day it was the hcro's turn to go,
and for the first time since his impris-
onment he caught sight of "Colonel
Catchc,n," the big bloodhound. The
Michigander noticed that the dog
limped painfully OH ono Of his fore
feet, but gave the matter no special
attention until, after being out for
half an hour, he sat down to rest near
ono of the guards. The dog approach
ed the guard rs il to ask some favor,
but was repulsed with an oath and q
threatened blow. He then skulked
around and came near the prisoner,
who saw that he had an old horse nail
run into his foot. With little coax
ing he got the dog near anu finally
pulled out the nail, aud the animal
ran away seemingly pleased. Twelve
days after that, one night, about mid
night, q tunnel was ready. Tho pris-
oner was long time getting clear of
the neighborhood, and weak and
starved as he was he was not more
than two miles from the stockade
when day broke, and "Colonel Catch
en-" was put on his track. When he
heard the hound coming lie looked
for suitable tree to climb, but failed
to find one. Armed with club, he
took his stand, and determined to
make o fight for it. The dog recog-
nized the man, and began exhibiting
every sign of friendship: After few
minutes the pursuers were heard in
the distance. The dog at once trOtted
off in that direction, and was shortly
baying and leading them over a ticti-
tious trail. The prisoner pushed
ahead for half All hour, and was then
rejoined by the dog, who kept either
close to his heels or just ahead of him
all day, and lay beside him in the
woods at night. This position of
guardian or companion he maintained
until toward the night of the second
day, when he returned to the st0ckade.
The prisoner was then thirty miles
away, but on the fifth morning he
was recaptured. When he returned
the hound met and carcssed him. From
that hour to the close OF the war the
dog would not take the trail of AL es-
Gaping prisoner.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1880-11-18
Degenerate Jamaica.


A century ago a nabob hailed from
the West. rather than the East, ln-
dies. When the novelist of that peri
cd set about to depict fabulous wealth
and acme of luxury, he went 10 Ja-
nlaica for his man. Tommy MertOn,s
papa. sam extremely wealthy man,,
hailed from that famous island, and
the picture of Tommy taking an air.
ing. attended by two negro slaves,
lives in the memory of millions OF
her Britannia Majcsty's lieges i'll con-
nectiOn with their first ideas OF splen-
dor. Up to that time, and for thirty
years later, Jamaica was, i'll certain
way, the fashion, which East India
never was. She even had ducal Gov
crnOrs at quite an early date. the sec
ond Duke of Albemarlc, son OF the
famous George Monk, having (attend-
cd by Sir Hams Sloane, the founder OF
the British Museum, as his physiciam
obtained the GovernOrship, chiefly
with view to raising 4 sunken trea-
sure ship, an object i'll which he was
completely successful and long after
came a Duke of Portland to reign at
'sThe KING House." as the Governors
magnificent residence was not inap-.
propriately styled. Those were the
days when the Beckfords, Storcrs, Eli
lisses, Lawrences, Tharpes, Scarlcts,
Vassalls, and many more were deriv-
ing immense incomes from the island.
Greatly would they have been aston
ished had they been told that youth
of a family which, albeit respectable,
had fallen from its high estate and
become merely provincial bourgeois,
was going to strip them of their splen-
did position. None of those West In
dian magnates who gave balls in
Grosvenor Square and drove curricles
and barouches which wero the envy
Of young mobiles in Hyde Park had
then even heard OF William Wilber-
force, and no more suspected the
source whence the blow to strike
them was to come than did English
Squires twenty five years ago recog-
nize their ruin in our Western States.
Emancipation was-tO Jamaica espe-
cially-a complete prostrating blow.
There was, it is true, compensation
granted by Parliament, but it was y
lnere drop in the bucket. The JaMai,
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1880-11-18
be, and he spoke ono word only.

be, and he spoke ono word only. IL
was:
"HorMta"
Tho horses had been stung In more
than twenty places. They were un-
harnessed ut once, and we were all
out OH the ground directly.
We laughcdMnd we cried, and Mrs.
Bland's cousin distinguished herself
by fainting away.
Il don't blame the horses in the
least" Queenic said. "One sting is
bad enough" aud she showed where
her eye was beginning 10 swell. ''The
hornets came swarming out of the
woods there" AS for Obed, he was o
Inundated man.
''But was the one to blame," he
said. II thought the horses would u
stood till their hides dropped off'n
Their ribs but l tell yc ther' never was
the team hitchcd up yet that 'ud
stand hornets. Blarst the creeturs I"
hc. added, in All untlcrtone.
"But Ray Tinkham!" cried Kate,
and she went up to where tho little
thing was sitting on a rock, looking
pale. '.You saved us all, you blessed
child. How did you ever think of
doing thal?"
"My grandmother stopped some
runaway horses III that way once"
gasped Ray. 81 didn't know whether
I could stop these. knew somebody
must do something, or we should all
be dashed to pieces"
SWELL spoke Obed, "Pve known O.
that bein' done just once afOre ial my
lifetime, but it was boy that did it.
There's a saying 'mongst teamin' men
that, when you hain't got the reins
you can stop runaway if you walk
out OH the pole and grip hold O. the
brides, but taint every horse thatll
stand It,"
a "But wasn't 1t splendid of Ray!'
cried Lou, going over, and putting
her arm around her.
"Never knew girl cd have so
much pluck" answered the driver
"If she hadn't a. been light on her
feet, and level in FER head she never
cd "a done it. / tell you if these
horses hadn't been uncommon good
horses, nOthin' on airth would "a
stopped them"
And Ray! never meant to make
30 long story of it, but l must tell
you that we gave her party after
this. All the fathers, and mothers,
and brothers went, and we carried her
a carpet for her room and q new cham
Der set, and nice new clothes all
through /; and o few of the gentlemen
gave her bank book, whatever that
may mean. l only know that she was
to have the income OF certain money,
and that was enough to educate her
thoroughly. We had the best time
that night, and Qucenie's father took
Ray out to supper, and she sat at his
right hand, and everybody treated
her as though she been princess OF
the blood.
l do believe there never was hap
pier girl on earth than Rachel.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1880-11-18
Sagacity Of Animals.

An Icclantfie traveller tells . story
of six or moro mice taking n piece of
dried mud, placing berries upon It
and using it as raft to cross stream.
They range themselves round the edge,
their heads in the middle, and their
t1ils III tho stream to servo as rud-
dcrs. They carry potatoes or eggs on
land by one lying down and hold
ing it between his fore paws while
his companions draw him along by
the ears.
Mr.. George j. Romanes tells the
story Of dog in Scotland, who, In
going to church with his master had
to swim a channel . milo wide. II
the tide was flowing he ran north q
milo; if cbbing south an equal dis
tance, always landing at . point near
the church. Rut thcn we arc prepar-
ed to believe anything concerning .
dog.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1880-11-18
Delphine Gay.

Delphine Gay, u French novelist, was
the daughter Of French official in
one of the departments, and OF his wife
Sophie, who was the authOrcSs of a
number of works both in poetry and
prose. Monsieur Gay was doomed to
experience one of the penalties which
sometimes attend the pOssessOrs of
clever wives. Sophie having written
a witty sally against project of the
department, her husband was depriv-
cd of an appointment which he had
enjoyed under the victim of his wife's
satire. Their daughter, Delphine,
married Monsieur Emile dc Girardin,
the well-known journalist, really
good and conscientious man. but one
whose temper also had been soured
by early misfOrtunes. His young,
beautiful, and witty wife was as great
o favorite In society as he was the re-
verse. Her rooms were the constant
resort of the most celebrated literary
characters of the day Lamartine, AL
exandrc Dumas, Balzac, Victor Hugo,
Merry, Theophile, Gautier, Eugene
Sue, and sometimes Alfred de Musset.
Among all these celebrities it is fear
ed thar the husband was often for
gotten: and though Delphinc Occa-
sionally met him at diAner, nursed
him when he was ill, and was ready
at all times to help him out of the
difficulties into which his quarrel
some disposition had involved him;
he inhabited his own rooms, and new
er appeared at his wife's RECEPTIONS
This, however, is matter of small
moment in France, the marital ties
set very loosely, and Madame enjoys
herself to the fullest extent to mako
up what she has has lost as Maden.oi.
selle,
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1880-11-18

"Pve had my life insured, @ssn Mr..
Scotsiroe, yesterday, according to tho
veracious historian Of The Lutte Rock
Gazette. "Now in case die my wlfo
will recsive $4,000. In case Of my
death, however, I don't know that shc
would be benefited, for she has de-
termined to kill hcrself II any thing OF
q serious nature happens to me. Let
me tell you what she did," and Mr..
Scotchroe took hold Of the two men
to whom he was talking. "Why, she
has prepared . bottle Of stuff almost
deadly enough 70 kill . mule. She
says when the money falls duo she
shall fall q victim to the contents Of
tho bottle" 49,
SIT may be unwarranted incredulity
on my part, Scotchroe," replied one
Of the men, "but I'll bat you $5 thas
1 can go to your house, tell your vito
that you are dead, aud"
"Just go on. Break the news to her
gently. I'll stand outside prepared
to rush in when she makes q dive for
the bottle. Come ahead" THO two
men went to Sc0tchroe's cottage
Scotchroe stood out by the chimney
while his companion went in.
This II Mrs. Scotchroc, believer"
said the man when red-faced woman
opened the door.
Eyes, sir" -.
ssRsther q fine day.
"Rsthcr!w -.
"Heard any news to-dayf"
s'No, sir"
s4Got some for you. Scotchroe IL .
capital fellow, q splendid mon. Every
body liked him. Pity that such ca
lamity should befall him."
"What's the matterY"
"Ile went down to the depot to-day
and stood around. A switch engine
came walking along. You know
switch engines have Killed more men
than all the others"
"Yes," said Mrs. Scotchroe, "switch
engines have always borne sanguinary
regulations"
tWell this switch engine took sight
of Scotchroe and fioored him."
"Did it kill him3"
"Well, he'll be brought home after
awhile in SACK"
"Will they bring him before din
ner?"
"I don't know; by the way, he had
an insurance policy for $4,000"
''Yes, and l want the money right
away!"
"Rather unfortunate, but when he
was swept up from the track, among
the rubbish was found q paper that
Scotchroe had reiinquished his poll.
cy-" a--
"What, deceive me In that way;
leave we without any support; the
miserable wretch. /"
Scotehroe ran In and attempted TO
clasp his wife.
"Wherc's that pOlicyp"
"Here 1t is."
"Givc it here. It's just like yeu to
surrender it and get killed.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1880-11-18
The Spider.

The spider has never been at school
q day in his lifo; be has never learned
q trade or read book, yet he can
make the strai.htest lines, most per-
feet circles, beautiful little bridges,
and many Of his family can spin and
weave, some of them can hunt and
swim and dive and do mason work al
most as we'll as II they had . trowel
and mortar. There 10 . spider In my
garden that makes 50 many lines and
circles you'd think it had been all
through geometry. It makes circles,
every one little larger than the 9TH
er, about twelve Of them, and then
from the smallest circles begins and
makes about twenty-eigh straight
lines going to the outside circle, like
the whalcbones in an umbrella. 1t
makes this web SO perfect and regular
that it is called the gcometric spider.
You'll see late in summer clusters OF
its eggs on bushes and hedges. When
hatcned the spiders all keep together
in q little ball. You touch this ball
and the spiders will scatter in all di-
rectiOns; but as soon as they can
they'll get together again, as before
I left my silk dress last night hanging
over chair near the wall, and this
morning found that Mrs. Spider had
been there In the night and made .
beautiful little bridge OF silk between
my dress and tho wall. The spider
that made this bridge for me had eight
eyes. 1t can't move any one OF those
eyes; each eye has but one lens and
can only see what Is just In front Of
it. 1t had a pair of sharp claws In
the fore part Of its head with these
little pincers it catches other smaller
spiders. When the spider is at rest
it folds these little claws one over
the other like parts Of scissors. This
spider has eight feet; most insects,
you know, have six. At the end Of
each foot is q movable hook. 1t has
five little spinners, or spinnerts. with
which 1t makes its web. Each Of
these spinners has an opening which
it can make as large or rs small as it
likes. There is tube like q little hail
communicating into each OF these
openings. In this tube there arc four
little reservoirs, which holds the
"gluey substance Of which the thread
Is spun." AS soon as this liquid
comes to the air it becomes o tough
and strong thread. l suppose the air
acts upon 1t in some way.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1880-11-18

Mra. Mary Hewitt, in her 4Liie Of
TredericA Bremen" tells the following
story, which Is 20 pleasant and good
that it ought to be true, although 1t
is by NO means new. az :
'fhere was, In the early part Of
this century, . young student came to
Upsala, the son Of q poor widow. who
was standing with some Of his college
companions in ono Of the public walks
on hne Sunday morning. 5..,.-....-.
"As they were thus standing, the
young daughter Of the governor, q
good and beautiful girl, was seen ap-
preaching them on her way to church,
accompanied by her goveriless.
suddenly the widows son ex-
claimed: 81
"I ana sure that young girl would
give me kissP
ellis companions laughed, and one
of them, . rich young fellow, said ~
"'It is impossible! Thou, an utter
stranger, and In q public thorough
fareY It Is too absurd to think Of.
Nevertheless, am confident Of
what say returned the other.
1.-The rich student offered to lay
heavy wager that, 60 far from sue
cecding, he would not even venture to
propose such . thing. ''' 49,
'faking him At his word, the poor
student, tho moment the young lady
aud her attendant had passed, follow
ed them, and, politely addressing
them, they stopped, on which, in .
modest aud straightforward manner,
he said, speaking to the governors
daaghter: - Ia. 49,
make my fortune oAH
"'How soS' demanded she, greatly
amazed. - 80
".I am q poor STUDENT said he, the
son OF q widow. If Froken would
condescend to give me a kiss, 1 should
win large sum of money, which, ell
abling me to continue my stndies,
would relieve my mother Of q great
anxiety ,.-...
"1f success depends on so small a
thing said the innocent girl, Il can
but comply and tlerawith, sweetly-
blushing, she gave him kiss, just rs
II he had been her brother.
"WithOut q thought Of wrong do
and afterward told her father Of the
encounter, shr..s.
s.rhe next day the governor sum-
mOned the bold student to his pres
ence, anxious to see tho sort of person
who had thus dared to accost his
daughter. But the young MANS mod
est demeanor at once favorably im-
pressed him. He heard his story. and
was SO we'll pleased that he invited
him to dine at the castle twice q
week. .. d.
"In sbout . year the young lady
married tho student whose fortune
she had thus made, and who ia at the
present day one Of the most celebratod
Swedish phitolOgistA His amiable
wife died few years since." tr
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1880-11-18

Mr.. E. A. Cowper, president Of tho
Institute Of Mechanical Engineers, In
his address before the members Of tho
society at q meeting at Barrow, In
Furncss, while acknowledging the
1icai education in England. iamented
introduction of new arts and new in
dustrial processes, thus permitting
less favored countries to make rapid
advances over Great Britain, and even
to compete successfully with her In
her own markots.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1880-11-18
Afraid VI Lightnihg.
London Telegraph.

Science, with all it's confidence, has
provided no safeguards against thun-
der-storms. 1t can warn, but it can
not protect. Conductors may happi-
ly carry off the electric current, but
they cannot secure uB from daMger.-
The timid may be told emphatically
to stand in the middle of the room, to
avoid fireplaces and brass ornaments,
or to roll themselves up in feather
beds or hearth-rugs; but these pre-
cautions will be OF little avail II
houses, as at Manchester, tumble
down and bury all alike, the terrified
and the bold, in a common ruin
There have been in all ages popular
superstitions having for their object
to avert the dangers Of thunder aud
lightning. The Thracian soldiers
took up their bows and arrows aud
fired into the clouds to drive away
the storm, and il was considered nee.
essary to erect cross on st. Pauls
steeple, filed with the relics Of saints,
in order to free the city from all dan
ger Of destructive tempests. Constant
to the belief that an evil spirit ragged
in the storm, it was \ custom In old
times, as we'll in England Is In France
and Germany to ring church bells in
order to protect the frightened inhab-
itants. When they rang out the great
bell at the abbey of St. Germain, in
Paris, or chimed in the tower OF St.
AdelOn, in Malmesbury abbey, the
faithful assisted the bell-ringers with
prayers, and helped to stay the storm.
Many more holnely charms against
thunder and lightning exist to this
day i'll some parts Of England. The
curious herb known as the houscleek,
growing on the housetop of rustic cot
tages, is supposed to he as valuable
preservatiye as any scientific lightning
conductor Of approved pattern. Peas
ants, true to>tne faith Of thoiR FORE
fathers, still carry beneath their
waistcoats scraps Of bay leaf or laurel
as all amulct-n custom as old as, II
not older than, the days Of riberius
Caesar. We may have got beyond the
superstition that allowed . dead man
killed by storm to lie where he fell,
in order that the spot might be fenced
about and u sheep promptly sacrificed
on q rude altar: but it would DO
strange if country folk did not still
place u cold iron bar on beer barrels
to prevent the liquor from turning
sour during . thunderstorm; and
that swans eggs are only Matched du-
ring loud peal Of thunder is q be-
lief yet cherished by those who watch
this bird for signs of atmOspherical
electricity as closely and confidently
as they listen to the scream Of poa-
cock to betOken rain. Countless cXpc-
riments have been tried to ascertain
the scientific causes Of .. thunder
storm and to determine its proper
meaning, from the time whom Frank
lin sent up his silk kite attached to
the dry hempcn cord and narrowly
escaped the danger Of drawing tiro
from the heavens, until the days when
electric researches wer8 checked by
the death OF Prof. kichmann, Of st.
Petersburg, who drew 80 much elcc-
tricity from the thunder cloud that
lie was promptly killed Oh the spot.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1880-11-18

The New York Herald has an arti-
ele on the clothing trade, which shows
that New York stands first aud ChicaLs
20. second In the business Of making
and selling MeN's furuishings aud ga
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1880-11-18

Nathan Thompson recently picked
up eight Spanish nilled dollars, some
as old as 1928, Oh Indian Island, near
Solon Ferry, Me.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1880-11-18

A gold watch has been plowed up
on the battlefield at Chickamaugua,
and with slight repairs will be good
time-keeper again.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1880-11-18

During . recent lawsuit in London
the opinion Of expects regarding the
value Of the land in that city was
brought out-one acre is worth 81, 1l6,-
42O.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1880-11-18
+s4FS xitrD
GA Splendid Sorrow"
Dr @.

| /. nr-~e.
Thou art In pain and yet must hide thine an
guish .- 4
With lonely silence like some Wounded
bird;
thee,
Idars not whisper one poor little word;
All. mol may not, as In days Of oiden-
A gulf too darkIy deep divides us now
Call to that check the light and glow Of
81 gladncss, =!
Or kiss the shadows from that girlish brow.
Unseen. with yearning pity now I watch
thee; --- -..-
Civ. jest for jest. and smile. nyh. up thy
face,
While tears arc trembling thro' thy silver
laughter,
And sobs arc surging meath thy costly lace.
The gayest marvel At thy grace and bright
:; And envious thoughts stir many gentle
They dream not all this gloss and simmer
A heart whose sadness never knows resti
Thou art - lonely mid this festive gath'r,ug
Tho eircIcd thus with merry jest and smile.
As tho thy tired feet alone were wandering,
'Mong tangled BRAN blcs In some esert isle: /:
And thou art welded-yet alone for ever
Alone with all thy pain and mute des spair-
He can never lift thy burden, weary, a4
Nor ono dream Of thy young life ever sharei
Al. surely. Maude. il thine . splendid sor.
Glad music ripping through its darkest
hours.
Its tears with sheen of dazzling jewels gllded:
Its sighs perfumed with scent OF rarest
flowers. -Fgiff Eft.tf - g r
The world enjoys the wonder OF thy beauty,
But ahi beyond, 1t Graves to own NO part:
What recks Il II the bloom be fair MI scsnied
That cruel worms ghaW at its tender k-ertf