davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-05-08
THE TURN OF AN ACCIDENT.

IT was six o'clock of a crisp October
morning, and John Boyd, farmer, rous-
ing from his sound nights sleep, sprang
out of bed with the alert readiness of
man who knows the value of the first
hours of the day. 1t was tavern bed
from which he jumped; home and its
cares were many miles away; but a
long ride lay before him, and he washed
and dressed briskly, as one in haste,
humming cheerful air meanwhile, as
became man who felt himself in good
spirits, and had ample reason for being
so. For, be it known, this year had
proved the best for farmers since John
had been his own master. Harvests
had been large, prices high, and John,
on his way back from the annual mar
ket, carried a sense of freedom and lib
GRAFTON OF his heart from the final ex-
tinguishment of mortgage on his farm
"a mortgage which had pressed as
heavily on his conscience as did the
burden of Christian on his shoulders.
The burden was lifted now; and, fur
ther than that, John carried in his fat
red wallet two hundred dollars, over
and above, toward the expenses Of the
next year. He had never been SO " fore
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-05-08
COlOr.BlindneSS.

THERE is no human infrmity more
curious than is color-b blindness; and
scarcely any other about which so little
is known. The oldest thing about it,
perhaps, is that it is not certain, or even
likely, that the person who is afflicted
with color blindness is aware of the
defect. blindness is an inability
to distinguish colors. Those who are
wholly color-blind can see no more
than the forms of things; but cases of
total absence of the power to perceive
color are very rare. In most persons
who are lacking in this respect, the
infirmity extends only to certain colors.
One man can not perceive red color;
another green; another blue, and so on.
This partial color blindness is not UNI
common. Examinations by experts
seem to show that about one in every
twenty men is defective in the percep-
ton of color; and it is asserted that the
defect is not so common in women as in
men. Probably not fifty readers of this
paper are conscious that they are color
blind. Yet, if oculists are correct,
and four or five in every hundred per-
sons are deficient in this respect, the
defect assumes proportions that COM
mand attention, for the reason that
there are many occupations in which
quick and accurate perception of colors
is necessary. The lack of it may render
success impossible.
There are many ways of testing the
eye, to fiEd out if it is color-blind. The
best is to put in the hands of a person
worsted of various colors, and ask him
to separate the pieces into red, blue,
green and other colors; and then to
shade them from light to dark. A man
who is color-blind will usually make
mistake in asserting the colors in the
first four or five pieces given him for
examination. Another test is to see if a
person can read red letters printed on a
black ground. A third is to cover a
sheet printed with black letters with thin
white tissue paper. To the perfect
vision the letters will appear a yellow
ish brown. If they are black letters
printed on red sheet, they will appear
green under the paper.
The causes of color blindness have
been sought by scientific men, and very
plausible theories have been formed
with regard to them, which we have not
space to give. The defect is incurable.
person who does not know colors can
never be taught them, and there is no
operation or instrument that will reme-
dy the defect.-Youth's Companion.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-05-08
That Boy.

"I HOPE nothing will happen to that
boy" the cross passenger remarked,
anxiously, as we were speeding north
ward from London.
The boy in question was about seven
years old. He was entertaining the
passengers by running up and down the
aisle, shouting like a Camanche Indian.
He would run to the rear door, kick the
panels and shout "Ho!" Then he
would run to the forward door, kick it
and yell "Hay!" When this perform
ance began to grow maddening with its
monotony, the boy would lend it little
variety by pausing to look into some
passengers face, while at the same time
he would strike at him and shrek,
am kill you!" 1t was very interest
ing, and we all loved the infant. Now
and then his mother would say, {" Sam
my, Sammy dear, you mustn't strike the
gentleman; perhaps the gentleman
doesn't like it." And then the gentle
man would lie like Trojan, and say,
ooh yes, he didn't mind it; he liked
little boys" And so we were all worried
and nervous, for fear the child might
get hurt. We fairly grew with anxiety.
He stopped at my seat, snatched the lap
tablet out of my hands and roared
s'Gimmy that pencil!" and when his
mother said, "Why, Sammy, | am afraid
you disturb the gentleman. Sammy
yelled, "I'llkill him!'' l was so anxious
about him that I watched him all the way
down the aisle to see if he wouldn't
fall and break his neck. So we all
sat and watched him, with concern
written all over our faces. The boy
snatched an apple away from the fat
passenger, kicked the cross passengers
valise, made faces at the sad passenger,
and hit the man on the wood-box twice
with stick. Once, and only once, he
made an offer to slap the woman who
talks bass, but she glared down at him
with croak that made his hair stand
on end, and he avoided her during the
rest of the trip. At last, just as he was
rushing up to the forward door to kick
it, the impetuous brakeman banged it
open 70 announce station. He cracked
that boy on the head with the brazen
knob, and the boy acted very much as
he would have acted had he been shot
with catapult, and it took all the ice
water in the cooler to cool off his head,
and the boy was effectually quoted
down. u.te.t
And it was really pleasant to see the
wearied look of anxious concern pass off
the passengers faces, after the brake
man dropped the boy. The cross pas
senger's grim face relaxed like May
morning, the fat passenger winked at
the man on the wood-box, who was still
rubbing his knuckles with an air of ten
der interest, the sad passenger hummed
merry little air, and the woman who
talks bass gave a cheerful croak that
was interpreted to mean laughter.
Four passengers, whose names | could
not learn, gave the astonished brake
man fifty cents apiece. The boy with
his head swathed up in wet handker-
chiefs remained comparatively quiet
Burdette, IN Burlington Haa0beye.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-05-08
Europe Forty Years Ago.

THE younger generation can hardly
realize the state of Europe thirty or
forty years ago. 1t was like another
world from that which now exists. The
position of several of the European
sovereigs was scarcely better than that
of the Gar at the present day. At one
time the Emperor Francis Joseph, who
can now drive about his )dominions in
perfect security, and amid the acclama-
lions of his people, could scarcely show
himself in Vienna, and a military ter
ror was established in central Europe
very similar to that which now prevails
in Russia. 1t has all passed away like
q bad dream; and howP Not by the
assassination of monarchs or the over
throw of thrones, but by their having
found out how to insure to their sub
jects the enjoyment of personal free
dom. The arbitrary rule of despotic
bureaucracy has been broken, careers
are open, and men and women can live
and breathe freely. This is what must
be done in Russia. The Russian people
see what has been accomplished in this
way in the neighboring countries, and
they can not rest satisfied until they at
tain similar liberty. Just at present
this discomfort is aggravated by bitter
disappointment at the results of the late
war.-Londoa Times.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-05-08
SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY.


KAFURsTAN, which no European has
yet succeeded in exploring, appears af-
ter all to be only about $50 miles in
length by about fifty or sixty in
breadth.
PYRITEs is lame employed by min
eralogists to designate large group or
family of minerals compounded of metals
with sulphur, orfwith arsenic, or with
both, as is often the case.
THE oil lands of Peru are on the coast
region. They extend from Cape Blan-
co to the Tumbez River, a distance of
12O miles. The tract is sixty miles wide,
and contains 4,500,000 acres, where the
waves of the Pacific Ocean have worn
away the rocks the oil trickles out, and
the outcrop may be traced for ninety
miles along the coast.
The seed of SOFA htspida, known as
"soy bean" or "Japan pea,' is the
most concentrated vegetable food
known. 1t contains forty per cent. of
albuminoids and eighteen per cent. of
oil. The sofa grows in the Himalayas,
but is principally cultivated in the north
of China, whence it is largely exported
to the southern districts. The seed is
pressed for its oil, and the cake, mixed
with substances less rich in heterogeneous
matter, used as a food for man and
beast.
| DIR. JOSEPH LEIDY, Professor of
Anatomy in the University OF Pennsyl-
vania, at Philadelphia, has just been
awarded the great Walker prize for the
value OF his researches in natural history.
This prize is given once in five years to
the naturalist whom it shall decide to
have performed the most elaborate and
original work during that time. This
prize has been awarded but once previ-
ously-five years ago-to Prof. Alexan-
Agassiz, of Cambridge. 1t is usually
the sum of $500, but on account of the
extraordinary merit OF DR.. Leidy's re-
searches the Council increased the sum
to 1000.
A Preventative wrapping and pack
ing paper for protecting cloths, furs,
etc., from mildew and insects, is among
the recent minor inventions of notes.
The paper for this purpose is made
from wooden and cotton rags and MANILA
rope or paper. This is saturated with a
mixture of seventy parts, by measure, of
the oil remaining from the distillation
of coal-tar naphtha by live steam with
five parts crude carbolic acid, contain
ing at least fifty per cent. of phenola,
twenty parts of thin coal-tar heated to
about 1902 Fab, and five parts of refined
petroleum. After saturation, the paper
is passed through squeezers and over
hot rollers for the purpose of drying,
and, when cool, it is cut into sheets of
suitable size, and the drying completed
in the atmosphere.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-05-08
What kind of thinpspr

1t was not easy to get an answer to
this question. In fact, the terrified and
inexperienced girl had hardly dared tG
formulate her own fears; but John
gathered the idea that coming or other
unlawful practices were going on, and
Lucy, only half comprehending, had I'M
derstood enough to startle and brighten
her into making her escape. She had
effected this by night, six weeks before,
and her great dread was of being dis
covered and forced to go back. John
treasured her as well as he could.
" You'll be just as safe at the farm as
If you were in an iron safe," he pro-
tested.
But, spite of his assurances, the lurk-
ing terror meyer left Lucy's eyes, though
weeks sped safely by, and nothing oc-
CURED to alarm her. Every sudden
noise made her start; the sight of
strange figure on the road blanched her
roses to paleness. Except for this fear
fulness, she proved an excellent "help"
in all ways-quick, neat-fingered, sweet
tempered. Old Barbara wondered how
ever the farm had got on without her,
and John in his secret heart wondered
also. It never should be without her
again-on that he was firmly resolved.
Lucy" he said one day, three
months after she became his inmate,
"l'm tired of seeing you jump and
| culver and scuttle up stairs whenever
the peddler or the ragman comes along.
It's bad for you, and it worries me
almost to death. Now there's Just one
way that'n make all safe, and set your
mind at ease, and that is, that you
should just marry me out of hand, and
give me the right to protect you. Once
my wife, L shouldn't care if your STEP
father and all the gang came after you
let them lay finger on you at their
peril, while I'm alive and have the right
to interfere. viii you, LucyP It's the
best thing to be done, trust my word for
it. l don't mean to pretend that I'm
doing it for your sake entirely" added
John, with broad smile, "for / amt.
l want you for my own sake the worst
way, but both ways it will be gain !;
so, unless you have something against
me, say Yes Lucy, and we'll have the
parson over tomorrow, and make all
safe. Will you, Lucyp"
"Oh, how could 1 have any thing
against you'll" replied Lucy, with the
sweetest blush.
"Well," declared John, moment
after, as he raised his head from his first
long lovers kiss, "now forgive Mrs
Nash" -Harper'S BaSar.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-05-08

IT is an interesting fact, says the
Statesville IN. CO. LandnsGr'k, that the
Siamese twins used to have frequent
fights. They were indicted for one of
these, at term of Surry Court some
time before they died, and Judgment
was suspended upon payment of costs.
This is matter of record. Before the
war the twins were great Secessionists,
but afterward, much embittered by the
loss of their slaves, they took no inter-
est in politics and did not go to the
nollS.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-05-08

Tenants bring all sorts of recon-
mendations of good personal character.
Here is recent instance from real life.
An inquirer for q tenement, being an
entire stranger to the owner, was asked
what references he could give. He re-
piled SIMULTANEOUSLY: "Well, l love
the Lord, and 1 have heard that you do.
My wife loves the Lord, too"
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-05-08
To CORKEsPONnENrs.

All communications for this paper should be accom-
panied by the name of the auhOr not necessarily fo
publication. but evidence of good faith on the
part of the writer. Write only on side of the pa
BE particularly careful in giving names and dates
to have the letters and figures plain and distinct Prop
names often difficult to decpher because Of the
careless manner in which they written.
National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1880-02-18
A National Bankrupt Act Wanted.

BosToN, Feb 1.-THE several committees
of manufacturers and merchants in relation tc
National bankrupt law make tho following
reports In January, 1870 tho Boston board OF
trade appointed a special committee TO con.
slider this subject. During tho past year theil
investigations Gncluding correspondence from
Maine TO Orcgon) found that the enactment OF
such law would bo as generally approved as
had becu the repeal of that of 1867. In tho
meantime aid in tho construction OF a new law
was sought from many aud varied sources
Other trade societies worked independently to
the same end, then joint commission reached
II mutual agreement rs to most of tho main
provisions for the desired net. Up 10 this time
the cxpodicncy of presenting the subject TO the
present session of Congress has not been fully
determined. When two of the gentlemen whu
had taken an active interest in the matter
visited Washington for that purpose upon
their request special committee of tho House
judiciary Committee was appointed. before
whom, on the 9th instant. satisfactory hear
ing was had, and an understanding reached,
that complete bill should be prepared and
presented in duo form at the earliest day prac.
ticable. The construction Of such Il bin has
been conhded to an eminent judge Of the
United States court. 1t is expected to have
the bill before the Judiciary Committee early
next month. The Boston board of trade will
gladly receive any suggestions which may aid
in pcrGecting this work.
National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1880-02-18

FIFTY CENTS PER MONTH.


and suggest what, II any, notifications are
advisable In the plan for the Improvement OF
the harbors OF Washington and Georgetown
submitted in tho report OF the board OF sur
Vcy appointed under act OF March ., 1877.
section provides that the said board shall
thcrcupon procood forthwith to mako the said
Improvement IN accordance with said plml 80
changed aud modified rs azores I'D, aud the
sad plan OF Improvement so changed ana
modified shall be strictly altered to IN tho
prosecution OF sud work, until Otherwise
ordered by law, aud IN the expenditure Of any
money appropriated IN this or any future act
OF Congress Tor tho Improvement oil said har.
Dois' And said board shall adopt tho least
expensive method ~ detail consistent WIN
permanent ana elective results, ana shall de-
tcrnihe and hx the haib1r limos OF all nav,-
gahle waters within tho limits Of the District
National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1880-02-18
Tho virginia Middle,

A correspondent writes The NATIONAL RE-.
PUBLICAN from Norfolk, Va, under date oil
February II, and over the signature of "Ouu
Who Knows" aud takes the trouble to inclO4C
several slips from public journals to show
the sentiment OF Government officials who are
manufacturing public opinion so rs to kecp
themselves in Office. This correspondent in.
sists that these otficc.holdcrs are not Ropub.
liCans of south side Virginia, where the great
bulk Of the Republican party exists, aud that
tho election last fall ought TO have taught
these machine politicians a lessons. He con-
tends that Il communication in the Day Book
of the 10th inst, which is omitted for want
of available space, aud which protests against
the Stanton convention, il consulted and its
incucations are adopted, will enable the Re.
pubicaus to gain three or four members Of
Congress, and give six, and perhaps the whole
nine, electors TO the Republican ticket He
insists that Republican ticket pure and
simple invites defeat while II coalition ticket
will triumph by at least 10000 majority, and
break up tho Bourbon dynasty which seeks to
keep up solid South. Tho machine poll
ticans last fall were opposed to Il coalition,
but tho Republican masses paid no attention
to them, aud will pay rs little this fall. Self
ishness controls the ofiico.h holders, and whom
the National Committee desire to know the
real sentiment of Virginia, Republicans let
them come among those of tho south side,
and not inquire of the ofiicc-holders or OF
oiiice-hunters who hang around Washington
city.
National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1880-02-18
Supplying Last ysnr,s Omissions.

Tho House Committee on Appropriations
yesterday discussed the subject Of deficiencies.
Mr.. Defrcos, Congressional Printer. was before
the committee, and asked for deficiency ap.
preparation Of $4,000 urging that the late
extra session of Congress had neccssitatcd II
great amount OF extra printing, for which no
estimate could be made when the general esti.
mates were submitted apon which tho annual
appropriation for public printing was made.
Professor Baird also appeared, and asked a.
appropriation Of $4,000 for the purpose of
furnishing tile fsh.hatching steamer to be
employed along tho COASTS of South Caroline,
Georgia aud Florida. He also desired tho
Secretary Of the Navy to have authority to de-
tail an officer of tho navy and sufficient num-
Der of scamcn to man tho vessel. The commit.
tee has agreed upon tho Indian deficiency ap-
propration ofSl35 900, and as soon as possible
will recommend other appropriation bills for
specific dolcicuies which appear to bO most
urgent.
National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1880-02-18

lam E. Disbrow; Second ]. @. A. Stone. George
T. jerks for the district Of Now Hampshire.
West Virgiuia--trst district, George r.
Latham. John 3. Neil, for the district Of
Utah. William II. Boyd, for the District of
Columbia. Tcxus-First district, George w.
Van Vlcck; Second, p NJ Graham; THIRD,
William II. Andrews; Fourth, j. H. TarhCtt;
Fifth, T.. III. Galloway; Sixth, f. A. Vaughan.
w. L. Goodspeed, of Ohlo, to be Marshal OF
the United States for Northern district Of
Ohio.
Edward s Wheat, Marshal for Middle dis
trict Of Tennessee.
Postmasters-Jame II. Marshall, at Tan-
caster, Pa; William Alexander, at Chanton,
Iowa.
Army Promotions-First Lieutenant John
L. Loud, to DO captain Second Lieutenant
George Il. Backus, to bo first lieutenant; Sec
ond Lieutenant John z. Wiser, TO be first
lieutenant; Second Lieutenant Edward w.
Casey, to be first lientcnani; George w. Me-
Creery, of Now York city; Edwaud d. schue,
of Now York city; Richard G. Newton, of New
York, aud John J. Cochran, OF Massachusetts,,
to be assistant surgeons Second Lieutenant
Horace b. Steel, of Twelfth infantry, to be
second lieutenant Of Nineteenth infantry.
The following wero rejected rs Supervisors
OF Census Ira NJ. Hedges, Fourth New York
district; William II. Haskell, Fifth New York
district; John 8. Slidgcr, Third district oil
Iowa; LcmuG g. Brislow, FIRST district OF
Virginia; Robert Boiling, Second Virginia dis
trict.
National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1880-02-18
POLITICAL M.ITI'ERS.


UTICA. n. Y, Feb. l7.-At the First assem-.
bly, district Oneida county, Republican con
vonton in Utica TO day two conventions were
held, each claiming to have q majority of the
duly elected delegates. One elected Hon
Roscoe Conkling and Mcssrs. Gordon lIackntl
aud j. p. Richardson delegates to tho Utlca
convention. The other elected NTcssrs. samuel
s. Lomery, s, A. Mllnrd aud N. A. Pierce
delegates. The latter adopted tho following
resolution:
Rssorcd, That wo repeat earnestly the declara
tion of the New York Republican State convention
OF 1875. of "uuultGrAblc opposition 20 the election
Of any President for the third term and Instruct
our delegates To tho convention, to ba held on thu
10Th inst 10 enforce this principle In every honor
able way.
tho convention which elected tho Coukling
delegation.
Georgia Republican Convention Called.
ATLANTA, GA. Feb. l7.--The Republican
State committee met hero to-day, Colonel
Bryant, tho chairman, presiding. A State
convention was called to meet in Atlanta
April 2l, to choose delegates 10 the National
convention aud transact other business.
Vermont for Edmunds- Graut.
BURLINGTON, VI, Feb. IA fully.at
tended and harmonious Republican caucus to-
night made q unanimous choice of an Ed.
nluuds Grant delegation to the State COnven-
tion. The preferences Of the delegates are iol
Edmunds, providing there is n chance of his
nominations; otherwise they favor Grant
Texas C0Iored Convention.
GALVESTON, Feb. IA Ne,Ds special froui
Dallas says in the colored convention to-day
several additional counties were represented
The convention received and considered the
report of the committee on constitution and
bylaws which forms the body into the Texas
Farmers Association. A colony is to be eS.
lishtd in the Pan Handle with a capital stock
OF 100000 shares az S25 each. A committee
was appointed to visit the Pan Handle and
select land for the colony. Tho session TO.
day was characterized by great confusion.