davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-03-10
How Big Is Man Z

How big ls man, anyway? Well,
he is smaller than an elephant, and an
elephant is smaller than q mountain
and a mountain is smaller than the
world, and the world is mustard seed
compared with the SUN, and theIsun it.
self is a mere mote in the dust cloud Of
spheres that stretches out through the
universe beyond the reach of thought.
Suppose we could make an exact model
of the earth eighty feet in diameter:
Eighty feet in diameter would
be a pretty large ball as balls 90
on the face of this planet. Assume, for
the sake of easy calculation, the' diam
eter of the earth to be exactly 5000
miles, and let US proceed to build our
model to scale. A mountain five miles
high should represent on our model
$50 .OOOth of eighty feet or 6-l0 Of an
inch. An elephant built in proportion
should be Ia, ,400th Of an inch in height,
and an average man 7-52, ,800th of an
inch tall. An army Of 26, 400 such men
standing shoulder to shoulder in single
straight rank would require their gen.
eral to gallop over a space of one inch to
pass them all under review. With a
smart horse of proportionate size, rid
den at brisk gallop, he could accom-
plish this distance in about an hour.
Viewed in this way man is a mere
mite crawling over the face of the globe,
yet he has had the arrogance to think
the universe was formed for him more
than for other insects. and that the
Ruling Intelligence had him pre-. emf.
nently in view in bringing order out ei
| chaos. Os.-Gctenttfc Nes0s.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-03-10
Row to Treat Diphtherle.

A person sick with yellow fever, it is
supposed, does not directly give the
disease to another. The contagious
poison-whatcver its source-is alb
sorbed by woolen or cotton or other
porous material, which thus becomes q
source of contagion. ~
Diphtheria, however, like smallpox,
may be communicated directly from one
person to another. Besides this, the
poison may listen on any porous article
within the sick-room-the hed-clothing,
window-curtains; wrirfng-paper, books,
and clothing hanging In The closets.
Or it may be absorbed by water, milk,
or other fluids that are exposed in the
room, and sometimes even in distant
parts of the house.
Of course, everything about the house
should be disinfected as thoroughly as
if the disease had been smallpox, and
no person should be admitted into the
house until after the disinfecticn. As
to articles of clothing, they should be
carefully disinfected by themselves:
The hair of the patient, also ought to
be subjected to repeated disinfectlons-,
or, in severe cases, closely shaved and
then burned.
Last summer family of three chill
dren in St. Albans. VT, had diphtheria
and recovered from it. After their re-
covery they played about the streets for
fortnight. Then they were sent on q
visit to friends in Fairfield, in which
town there was no case ofthe disease.
After their visit the diphtheria broke
out in all the four families that the chill
dren had visited. OF course, the sup.
position is fully warranted that they
carried it with them in their hair or in
their clothing.
In Russia there are districts where it
is said half the infant population have
ately been swept away by diphtheria;
and in Odessa, since last spring, more
than three-fourths of all the children
have died of it. In parts OF New Eng
land whole families of children have
been attacked by the disease, and q
large portion of them have .not re:
covered. And this will continue until
families and town authorities deal with
it as they do with smallpox-by fullest
isolation and the most thorough disin.
feotion.-Yo4th's Companion.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-03-10
Odd Ways of Putting Things.

When Naples was ruled by King
Bomba, his majesty one day paid visit
to the ship Of an English commodore,
lying in the bay. While the commo'
dore was receiving his royal visitor on
the quarterback, q member Of the Nea-
politan suite, cruising about midships,
mistook a wind-sail for pillar, and
leaning against it, suddenly went below
head foremost. The only witness Of the
accident, an old tar, thereupon made tor
the quarterback, and having saluted,
said: Ibeg pardon. commodore. but
one of them ere kings has fell down the
hatchway!" :,
Sheridan once declined to take a walk
with a troublesome feminine admirer,
on the plea that the weather would not
permit; and being caught by the lady as
he was sneaking out for stroll, encoun'
tered her remark that the weather
seemed now to have cleared up, with
the bold asseverarion: Yes, madam,
enough for one, but not enough for
two" Enough for one would, how
ever, have: been held enough for two,
had the lady been as attractive as the
fair one to whom youthful admlreI
wrote: II want you to come around tc
our house. IT you cannot get anybody
to come around to your house, and fetch
YOU around to our house, l will come
around to your house and fetcL you
around to our house" He evidently
meant business, although bis method o.
putting things was as odd as that of tht
gentleman who would not hear of shar
ing his fortunes with q partner because
IT you make anything you don't gea
it; and if you lose you have to lose Il
! ali. .r-Chnnaber's Journal.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-03-10
Comnressed Food for Armies.

The horse-biscuit which continental
armies have used with success is q port
able invention which enables the trooper
to carry in his haversack a weeks ra-
tion for the charger, and thus on a
sudden emergency makes himself in
dependent of all other forage. In like
case. Kopfs consolidated preparations,
which were used with signal service IN
South Africa, supply a long-felt ana
much-needed want. Kopfs prepara-
tions are inexpensive, they are nutritious
and are extremely portable. In Zulu
land the British soldiers spoke most
highly of them, and even in England
they are not despised in the barrack-
room. A small tin cylinder weighing
but one and one half ounces contains
ample for Il meal; three of these among
two men are all the soldier requires in
the day. Soups of various kinds, con-
tanning compressed vageta bles in greater
or less quantities are the preparations
most appreciated, but compressed tea,
milk and sugar are luxuries which cam
paigners will not pass by. Three min.
utes' boiling in soldiers canteen is all
the cooking necessary for q meal. One
mule can carry $500 tins of FKopfs
soups, or rations for whole battalion
for day; q camel can in like manner
carry over rough ground more than two
DAYS rations. Each man without much
difficulty could slip supply for two or
three days into his haversack. Here,
then we have the whole secret of wag-
ing war with minimized transport and
consequently at reduced expenditure.
London, Times.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-03-10
At last the engsQement was announced

At last the engagement was announced
Oracle Bassett had no friends to inter
fere with her, and fatter ed by Edwards
attentions, and quite believing that she
loved him quite enough for happi.
ness" she had agreed that the marriage
should take place as soon as all needed
arrangements could be made.
you know, Nellie" said she, as the
two sat sewing in the garden one hot
afternoon, while Edward was out on
his rounds, lit really does not do to love
person too much. Yo'l are certain to
become a slave to his whims and
caprices if you do. I have always made
up my mind that I would marry a man
who loved me, and that if l had a
reasonable liking for him in return, he
would not expect or even wish any
thing more"
Nellie made some reply, she scarcely
knew what, and then she went on
thinking the matter over. Had she been
sxalting love to an undue value? With
her it had stood before everything "If
a man would give all the substances OF
his house for love, it would utterly be
condemned" She had entirely indorsed
the sentiment. But now was it possible
that she had made mistake? Oracle
Bassett was year or two older than
herself, and probably knew better than
she did. Nevertheless, at the conclusion
of her cogitations Nellie shook her
head, and half smiled and half sighed as
she answered.:
"Well, you have of course right to
your own opinion, Oracle, but | must
say I don't agree with you. l think
that would rather die than marry a
man whom did not love with all my
heart"
And Nellie gathered up her sewing
and went into the house, singing as she
| went:
"Lovo shall still be lord OF ALL"
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-03-10
The Ash Tree.

In the Highlands of Scotland, at the
birth of q child, the nurse takes q
branch of the ash tree, one end of which
she puts into the fire; and, while it is
burning, receives into Il spoon the sap
which oozes from the other end; this
she gives to the child. to be mingled
with it's first food. 1t is supposed to i'm
part wonderful virtue. In Kings
county. ireland, near Kenetry church,
is q famous ash. the trunk OF which is
twenty. one feet ten inches in circum-
ference. When funeral of one of the
peasantry passes by this tree the pro.
cession pausss and the body is laid
down for few minutes, while all offer
few words of prayer. Then each per-
son casts a stone to increase the heap
which has been accumulated over it's
roots. This is imagined to benefit botll
the dead and the living. There is an
ancient saying that a serpent would
rather creep into the fire than over the
twig of IN ash tree" Cowley, enumer-
ating various prodigies, says:
"On the wild ash's tops, with bats and owls,
With, oil night, ominous and baleiul fowls,
Safe brood,ng, while the screeching OF the
doves
pro.aued and violated all the groyes."
1t is surprising how many Of such fol-
lies will creep into mems minds.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-03-10

Socrates OWNED the quantity OF a
mans voice, mind or soul, by the tone
of his voice. and all students remember
his expression: "Speak, that / may
see you" DIR. Durant explains charac-
ter by voice, and tells US these facts:
We perceive in stutterer one that is
easily enraged, and as easily pacifed
vain, o6icious, inconstant and ordin-
arily quick. A person whose utterance
is thick and coarse is malicious, cunning
and disdainful.
A coarse voice indicates robust
physique,a q great talker, quick-tempered,
though conspicuously discreet.
+ A piercing, fine or weak voice is in
dicative of timidity, cunning, and gen.
orally of quick wit.
An attractive and clear voice expresses
8 man who is prudent, sincere and in
genious, but proud and incredulous ;
whereas, a firm voice, without harsh
ness, denotes person who is robust,
intelligent, circumspect and benevolent:
A man possessing trembling and
hesitating voice is timid, weak, vain
and sometimes jealous.
A voice combining great sound and
frmness indicates a man who is strong,
audacious, rash, obstinate and selt-im-
portant..
A sharp and rude voice, in singing as
we'll as ID conversation, denotes q coarse
mind, inferior judgment and strong ap-
petites.
A hoarse voice, seemingly the effect
of cold, signifies person more sim
pie than wise. credulous and truthful,
vain and inconstant.
A full and sweet voice denotes man
who is peaceful, inclined to timidity
discreet and sef-willed.
A voice at first grave and then sharp
and piercing denotes the quick temper
of an imprudent man:
A soft, sweet voice is found in per.
son of peaceable and suitable char
acter.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-03-10
Famine In l'urkey,

A Constantinople correspondent
writes: While the sultan shuts himself
up in the Yildiz Kiosk, surrounded by
place hunting pashas, who take care
that nothing unpleasant shall reach the
royal ears, the country IS progressing
from bad to worse. Misery, destitution
and famine have it all their own way in
the provinces. From Europe and Asia
comes the cry Of distress; letters from
Erzeroum give a fearful picture OF the
condition of several surrounding dis
tricts. At Bayazid reople have gone
mad from hunger. and many have been
poisoned by eating roots and moses;
grain is forbidden to cross the border
from Persia and Russia. and the local
governor is grinding three years taxes
from the starving peasantrv, his excuse
being that the money is required Tor
Constantinople. The vail, or governor.
general, looks on with folded hands. and
estimates that there is enough grain IN
the province to feed all the inha
possibly the quantity exists but 1t is
locked up in the granarics OF the tlth"
collectors or spectators, and might aS
we'll be in the heart of Africa rs far rs
the people are concerned. But the gov
ernor has ordered list to be made OUT
of the poorest; judging from experlenG"
in such matters, the officers employ"
will take month to draw up this list.
and by that time the destitute will h.
dead. and the 'comnLissioners-for t'i'
Turks can do nothing without coin
mission-sent to verify the list will re-
port that they haven not been able to mr."
the people said to be in distress. Thr,
Turks give arms freely to professional
beggars, to sturdy cripples and stout in'-
posters: but to organize systematic re-
lief they are incapable. A famine is
kisn,et and it is wrong to fly in til" inc2
of Providence. The doctrine is "onSo':'-
tory for those who can oe!ieye in 1t, k"'
it smacks little of sclhshnrss. oH
foreign aid alone must the wr't"h,1
rely, AM turn their implorins Eyes I"
the alleyiators of thcir distress Of 1875
tho British and Americans.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-03-10
Both.


She was the LATEST li3le woman
That ever set mortal crazy;
Twas marvellous how my erring spirit
Could be subdued BY one 80 lazy.
To monosyllables addicted,
To use all else exceeding loath,
Asked which Of two things she preferred
She only murmured, "both !"
1t is NO paradox to say 30
Her every movement was repose;
As on q summer day the ocean
slumbers, the while 1t ebbs and hows.
Yet was there latent fire; her nature
That of the panther, nofthe sloth-
asked her once which she resembled,
She only murmured, "both"
Her person-well, twas simply perfect,
Matching the graoes OF her mind;
To pedect face and form she added
A 'kesn perception, taste refned.
But when challenged her 70 tell mo,
What knew not myself in troth,
Whether her wit or beauty charmed me
She only nurmured, 10th! :"
Provoked at last at never hitting
This lazy little woman's point.
Is canned her armor, and discovered
Haply therein one open joint.
In careless tone asked her, knowing
Her word was binding as an oath.
"Shall love or friendship be between US"
She smiled, and murmured, both !"
: Witliam Young, in .dppieton's Journal.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-03-10
The Mammoth Cave.

A writer in the Cincinnati Enquirer
says of ofKentucky's great natural wonder
Mammoth cave cannot be described,
even. by the aid of illustrations, much
less by words alone. Its magnitude and
grandeur, it's absolute darkness and op-
pressive stiffness must he seen and felt;
its long, solitary and tortuous passages
must be traversed and seen by the dim
light of the lard oil lamp and by the
glare of the Bengal light: ones utter
loneliness and heIplessness with lights
extinguished, must be experienced or at
least imagined there to be appreciated.
The cave consists of miles upon miles
of intricate passages, winding about in
every direction, 27O in number, OF all
possible sizes, from the grand avenues
and chambers, through which trains OF
cars could pass with ease, to those so
small that man can only crawl through
them for long and wearisome DISTANCES
lying faton bis face, and others still 10
small that even a child could not get
through them. And these passages
twist and wind about in many places
totally unsupported by the traveller in
the cave, along by his side, over his
head, and under his feet, forming a
maze of branching passages-a real laby-
rinth-that the visitor along the ordin-
ary routes knows nothing about. Not
much wonder that the man who, few
years ago, got lost from his party, be-
came maniac as he wandered about IN
the dark long before he was found
twenty-six hours afterward, hiding and
irving in terror to escape from the an1-
ious friends and guides who found him.
These ordinary routes are known as
the "Long Route" and the Short
Route" the former about eighteen miles
in its total length, the latter about seven
or eight miles. Both of these along their
entire length, with the insignificant ex.
ception of the Fat Mans Misery" and
"The Corkscrew," are through large
avenues and magnificent chambers, from
whose floors the loose rock that has
fallen from the roof has been removed
or piled up along the sides in such q
way as to make a good, smooth foot
path. The journey through there is
easy, pleasant and invigorating, requires
no change of costume, and brings to
view the finest parts Of the cave In
taking The long route, it is necessary to
cross in boat the river in the cave,
which rises and falls with Green river
outside, some miles away; and as the
roof over this river is low, when the
water rises it soon reaches this root,
making the passage of this river impos'
sible, and of course shutting OF that
part of the cave beyond it.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-03-10
An Ingenious Danger Signal.

The House committee on comm cree
has reported bill ordering the con-
struction of one of Mann's danger sig
mails, at cost of not more than 81, 500,
in order that it may be tested by he
lighthouse board. Fog bells run by
machinery on land are available only at
certain stations. Steam sirens are ex-
pensive. requiring steam engine and
the services of two men. Fog bells 80
arranged that the movement Of the
waves rings the bell are so liable to get
out of order that they become useless
Just when they are most needed.
Another invention, now in use on the
Massachusetts coast, near Boston har-
Dor, is serviceable in deep water. 1t is
a bell-shaped vessel with a whistle at
tached, which is blown by the rising
and falling of the waves. But it is
necessary that a pipe attached to this
should extend doWn into the water to q
great depth, and5therefore this signal
cannot be used in shoal water. The
pipe sometimes becomes clogged with
weeds. and the device fails to be of ser.
vice.
Mann's device is a floating vessel,
shaped like pear, with its base in the
water. When anchored by a strong
cable upon shoal where the motion OF
the sea is always considerable. constant
rocking causes the air to be drawn into
the vessel through one set of tubes and
to be forced out through another get OF
tubes and through an opening at the top
of the vessel, where is placed contri.
vance like the reed of clarionet. The
sound produced is loud and shrill, even
when there is but little motion Of the
waves, and when they are turbulent it
becomes Il sbriek of great power and
volume. 1t is said that the vessel is not
easily put out of order, and will work
until its parts are worn out. The reed
can be so adjusted as to produce different
sounds, and may be assigned to certain
shoal. The mariner can thus, in the
dark. discover by the signal the name
and location of the shoal which he i:
approaching. 1t is said that such sig
nal will be of great value on the Frying
pan shoals and other extensive shoals
on the Southern coast, and that one O
these signals would have saved thu
Huron and her passengers If it had beer
at work on the shoals where this vesse
struck. Mr.. Mann is poor man and {
mechanic, and will be content will
what Congress may give him for his In
vention.-Ne,o Hd0.n Union.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-03-10
her hand, while burning bushes dyed

her hand, while burning bushes dyed
her cheeks.
"Oh, cousin Edward, do please forget
that ever said sop
Mot likely" he said, smilingly. "Ah,
Nellie" and be was serious now, i
have learned my lesson since that even
ing. I have learned to value love, not
as it deserves, but at least 70 set it above
everything earthly. My Nellie, do not
tell me that your love for me is dead"
Never mind Nellie's rerly. Two
months from that day she became Ed
wards wife. and he never had the least
need to remind her that she had prom
ised to obey him, simply because she
loved him, and to do as he wished was
a pleasure.
And having at grent risk and cost
learned his lesson, Edward strove TO
teach it to others, and to more than one
young man he gave in confidence the
advice: "If you wish to be happy
marry only a woman who loves you.
Neither money nor position. nor any
thing else, can bear the least COMPARE
son with love. which will outlive them
alln
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-03-10

In the early settlement Of Illinois and
Missouri two trappers were going down
the Mississippi river to New Orleans
on a hatboat. Every well regulated
boat in those days carried plenty of
whisky aboard. The trappers tapped q
barrel with a gimlet and sucked the
whisky through a straw. The Missou-
rian "puked," but the Illinois man, like
his successors, being proof against SO
weak o beverage, kept his down. From
that day Illinois men were called Suck
ers," and Missourians "Pukes."