davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1880-04-22
l.>ostrp.
Little Against Big Words.

A MoSosyLL,Btc PROTEST. BY rRor J. A.
ALEXANDER.
Think not that strength lies in the big round
word.
Or thai the brief and plain must needs be
weak.
To whom can this be true who once has heard
The cry for help. the tongue that all men
speak
when want or woe or fear j. In the throat.
50 that each word gasped out Is like >hrtcs !
Pressed from the sore heart. or strange wild
mote.
Sung by some fas or iicnds There is strength
whvh die IL stretched too far or spun too hue
Which has more height than breadth, II ore
depth than length.
Le, but hi. force Of thought and speech be
mine.
And he tha; will NAV take the sleek fat phrase.
Which glows and burns not, though u elean
aud shine
Light but not heat-a fa-h. but not blaze :
Nor /. /, mere strength that the short word
boasts,
1t serves OF more thsn fright or storm to tell.
Tn. roar Of waves that clash on rock-bonnd
coasts.
The crash Of tall trees when the Wild winds
swell.
The roar OF guns. the groans OF men that die
ON blood-s,ained fields II has voice A. well
For them that far of on their lick bed. lie;
for them that weep, for them ihsi mourn
the dead;
For them that laugh and dance and clap the
hand:
To joy'. quick step. as well a. grief's low
tread,
The sxcc, plain word. we learned at FIR; keep
time,
And though the theme De sad. or gay, or
grand.
With each with all, these NAV be sAid 10 eslme.
In thought, or speech, o. SON, or prose, or
Thy me.
Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1880-04-22
Cough and the Oxford Students.

An amusing story is told Of John b.
Cough, when he went TO Oxford to address
the students on temperance. A few even
ings before an eminent man was to have de-
liyered lecture at Oxford on "The Evils of
Tobacco" The boys got into the hall an
hour beforehand, each with what DIR. Carroll
drolly emphasized as college pipe" in his
mouth. The time for the lecture arrived,
but if the lectarer did, it was never disoov-
ered-he was not visible through the fog.
The students sent word to Mr.. Cough when
he came that they wouldn't have any tenn
perance and advised him not TO persist in
lecturIng. But he went to the hall. For
twenty minutes he spoke in pantomine amid
the deafcning catcalls of the boys. Finally
he stepped forward. demanding British fair
play and offered TO whip every one Of the
500 singly. This offer was loudly cheered
and promptly accepted. and big six foot
athlete was sent up on the stage. Cough.
who is a little man. backed of as the big
fellow approached him and explained my
friends, YOU evidently misunderstood me-
This is to be an intellectual contest not
prize fight" The students cheered again at
this evidence Of the Americans shrewdncss
and ordered the debate to proceed. The
the temperance champion. He was Al a dis
advantage, but he quoted Scripture and re-
minded the plucky lecturer that 1t was one
Of the apostles who wrote to Timothy-a
Young man, too, like thcmselves-to take a
little wine for his stomach's sake and for
his other infirmitics The lads shouted
votiterously nj this, and wanted to know how
Cough could get around il.
Cough slowly examined the six -footer
from top TO toe and then said. MY friends,
look at this athlete. this fellow with muscles
like steel, who can WELD the club OF Her
cules. who can bend an English yeoman's
how. who could knock down an OK with the
blow Of hammer He u the pcrsonifica-
ton Of health and strength, but he thinks
he needs 4 little wine for his stomach's
sake
Coughs inimitable manner Of saving this
had a tremendous effect The students
fairly yelled with delight and their defeated
champion rctreated. Another was sent up.
He was the intellectual giant Of his class in
coniTadistinCiiun 10 the >N-tooier. He.
with much self-contidence. made a finished
argument for liquor drinking. based on
ChriSt's changing the water into wine at the
wedding feast His comrades chcercd him
% the echo and thought his argument uu-
ausvcrablc. and Cough was chaffrd for his
defeat. Young men. said he, solemnly
u admit that your champion has forrstalIed
me iIc has SAID to me Just what came
here to charge YOU TO do. Drink all the
vine YOU can find tha; is made entirely out
Of water =
Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1880-04-22
From Musical World. I
Vocal Practice.

Ii is not often that a demand is made up
on the vocal organs for the exercise of their
utmost powers. Little by little, they be-
come weakened and confined, until they are
capable only of the exertion required By ev-
ery-day conversation. Frequently, even in
conversation. if we have not given attention
to vocal culture. We find ourselves unable to
give word or phrase the precise intonation
that it seems TO demand. Fortunately, we
are by the very necessities Of society spared
the extreme result of this tendency. of which
We have a homely illustration. 1t is said
that upon a certain island in mid-ocean
a number of dogs were found that could not
bark. The dscoverers concluded that they
had lost their voices BY disuse. since the is
land was entirely destitute Of game. There
seems to have been provided against like
disaster in our case in the disposition of
children to give vent to themselves in what
seems to older people useless noises. Were
they as matter Of fact as their elders. one
cannot guess to what extent the vocal organs
would generally be impaired. The practice
of the art of music is preeminently adapted to
physical development. Nor are the physical
effects Of this practice confined to the vocal
organs. Increased action of the lungs pro-
duces . corresponding increase Of action in
The rest Of ths body.
Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1880-04-22
Robert Toombs in Congress.
General BrIseln in Philadelphia Press

| iteusfti III ltaiaAStPNs" 'N'7-i
II was Mr.. Wade who originated and
| brought forward that great measure, the
| Homestead BILL" or. as he was pleased to
call il. ..land for the iandless." The South
ern men a, once antagonixed this bill with
the slavery question, and Mr.. Wade, ae-
ccpting the issue, rushed to the contest with
the battle cry Of Land for the landless
against niggers for the niggcriess y The
Southern men sought in every way to defeat
the bill. but Wade made powerful argu-
ment, and for the time completely routed
his enemies
While the bill was under discussion, Mr..
Toombs referred To it. with a sneer. as a
measure for white paupers, when Mr.. W ade
Immediately rose and said
.Sir. YOU sneer at the Homestead bill be-
cause itNriyes land TO the landless. do YOU 2
What is your pet scheme Buying Cuba
Stealing niggers for the nlggerless' We
will gp 10 the country upon lt-iand for the
landlcss against niggers for the niggerlc>s
Wade one day replied TO roombs and TO
all appearance used language which would
compel Toombs 10 challenge him. Several
friends went To Wade and begged him TO de-
sisi but the old man grew more and more
violent. until Toomhs indicated his intention
Of calling Wade to account for the language
he was using. when Wade quietly sat down,
seemingly having accomplished his object.
The Southern men looked at each other in
surprise. and it was manifest to all that
Wade had deliberately sought aquarrel with
Toomb~.
That night friend OF the Southern SEN
aior called on Mr. Wade TO know II he would
rctract the offensive words he had used.
NO. won't take back id word. was
Wade's emphatic reply. Then. said the
friend Of Nr. Toombs, 1T will be necessary
for Mr Toombs 70 challenge you TO mortal
combat" That i just what want, and
we might have 20; 10 the point without all
,hi. pala,er." said Wade. You surely can
not BE- in earnest. Mr.. Wade, sand tie
Souiherncr
WHY. Of course am You see, sir. we
Northern men don't like TO fight. Nov, |
am opposed To the code, and are my con
.tituen,s but you fellows have broken sum
ner, head. and we mus, spuuk up little or
YOU will break all our heads. The shortest
way 70 end the matter Is to XII Of lev q
yuu. and ! have picked on old fonmbs as
my man. lie viii have TO challenge me /;
then. Of course. will have the choice Of
weapons, aud I'll take my old rife. and d-n
me II don't bring him down AZ the first
crack
When Toomhs heard ~ha, Wade said, he
replied can't challenge him; If do the
old brute will likely Kill M"
|, appears iha, To1mh, and Wade had
bccn ont together shooting with riti. scv-
crai times aud while roombs could shoot
v.U 18th n f,lsfnl b. wa, moor rifle shot
Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1880-04-22
A few Mysteries Unveiled

She was to meet her adorcd one on the 9
O'Clock Oakland boat. and it wanted fifteen
minutes of the hour Her hand was on the
door to 90 out, when il struck her that she
had forgotten to line her left eyebrow.
Rushing To the glass to rectify this, she dis
covered small red spot commemorative of
a departed pimple. 4 dab Of lily-white
settled that defect, and she was about to
make fresh start when u backward glance
assured her that her new hat was not as be
coming a. il should be. 50 She stopped
Just long enough to give il punch over one
ear and hykc" in the back. Then her
"Recamier locks" wanted little arranging,
and an inch Of blond must be pinned across
her nose. Then she parted her lips to see if
her filled tooth showed very plainly, and
that started a most seductive dimple in one
cheek which suggested a scrap of black
court-plaster on its yery verge to call at
tention to is dangers. like sign board on
thinly frozen pond. Then she tipped the
glass and stuck in the curllng-tongs to hold
il, and walked across the room with her
head over her shoulder to get a back view,
gave her drapery a twitch here and pat
there, tried 20 see how long step She could
take without bursting the tapes, gave her
self little shake ike a sparrow after
shower, changed her four-but gloves for
six, sprinkled Lubin's latest ON her haudker-
chief. stamped her little French heels once
or twice TO settle herself, and, seizing her
parasol in the most approved style to show
the lace TO advantage, started for the ferry
where smiling official, either in fit of
admiration or sarcasm, offered her his glass
with which to watch the fast-receding boat
already half across the bay San Franeis-
CO Nelcs Letter.
Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1880-04-22
Vol. XVI. Whole Ne. 1917. Ne.l7.


During the battle of Marion, Tennessee"
says campfire story-teller in the Philadel-
phia Press, "a negro was seen far in advance
of his regiment firing at the enemy. There
was large stump nearly midway between
the lines, and the darkey seemed to be head
ing for it. Pushing through the heavy fire
Of the enemy he got within sixty or seventy
Yards of the stump and then ran for it. The
fire was very heavy but he made it, and fall
ing down behind the stump, lay perfectly
still and many thought he had been killed or
mortally wounded. After a considerable
time there was puff of white smoke at the
stump and rebel was seen to drop. An
other long silence ensued, when there was q
second white puff, and rebel No. bit the
dust The rebels peppered that stump until
it was completely filed with lead, but the
negro held on. One Johnnie started for the
stump. but had not got far on the way when
the darkey fred and hit him in the leg. SO
the negro held on, firing every now and then
and generally with effect A general ad-
vance of the rebels took place, and the col
ored soldier had to beat hasty retreat The
rebels peppered at Aim. but he got safely
away and finally reached our lines. An Off
Ger afterward, in conversation with the
brave fellow, said Sam, why did you
not hold on to the stump and keep the
rebel army in check ? ''Kase, mars;er,
dis chile had no noah use of dat dar stump.
Too many of dem rebels wanted it more'n
did"
Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1880-04-22
Making Change. .

The New York Tine, advocates an impor-
tani reform in the matter OF taking up church
collections. Ii is 10 grant TO ever, contrib
utor the right Of taking change ou, Of the
plate. As /, well known. this : Al present
impossible and whatever sum Is now placed
on the plate. must remain there. Could a
man put IN, say - cents, and take out 10,
be would never b. compelled TO choose be-
tween giving too much or giving nothing At
all. In illustration Of the possible evil
effects Of the present practice Of giving no
change, the Times tells the following lIltle
story BLACK Run, a. amy map ma, fail 10
show, is situated IN the Colorado mining
district. and the Baptist church Is presided
over by an able, athletic preacher On the
fourth SUNDAY in February last, collection
was iaken up for the Franz Josef land mis-
sion, and the plate was passed around By
one Of the deacons. There was present a
miner from Red Guleh. who was anxious, a.
he phrased il, to put up for the Franz Josef
heathen, but who had no coin smaller than
$50 gold piece. When the plate reached
him. he inquired in low tone. How much
j. the ante ? The deacon told him that he
| could contribute whatever he chose. Then
replied the ingenious miner, I'll chip IN a
dollar and thereupon he put in his $40
gold piece and undertook TO withdraw $40
This the deacon objected to, on the ground
that no change was given at that establish
ment. 4 struggle ensued, in the course Of
which the plate was upset. and the entire
congregation rushed TO pick up the scattered
money Had il not been for the presence OF
mind of the presiding minister. the entire
amoun, already collected would have been
absorbed by reckless persons eager to jump
the deacon's claim'-as the local papers
substantially express it. The minister, fort
unately. happened 10 be an old Californian.
who thoroughly understood the true way of
dealing with a Colorado assembly. Draw
ing heavy revolver and leaning it on the
edge of the pulpit he demanded order in
stentorian voice, The brethren he re-
marked, will please take notice that have
got the drop on them, and any brother who
declines To 90 TO his seat or who touches
any of that money, will have a funeral at
his house tomorrow at ? o'clock D. IN. Our
mining friend Red Gulch will please let 90
the deacon's necktie, or he is a dead man
This address, together with the ministers
known reputation as pistol shot, instantly
restored order, and the deacon picking up
the scattered money, including the $40 gold
piece, resumed the collection, and the service
proceeded without further interruption"
Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1880-04-22
He Was on Hand.

II was dark in the depot, one day last
week when the evening train came in An
elderly farmer was backed up against the
partition, watching in open-mouthed wonder
the big putting engine, and the yellow Gov
cred cars as they discharged their passengers
when handsome Young girl in seal-skin
cloak dashed forward, and throwing herself
upon the honest granger's manly breast. I'M
printed a kiss upon his sunburned cheek
and exclaimed:
waiting for me. And how's mother, and
how's Jennie, and how's John-and oh I'm
so glad to get back-and where's my trunk
and oh pa, you take the check and lets
hurry
The granger was old and kind of dried up
and he had never known what it was to have
wife, much less daughter. He mstrusted
the Young lady in the seal-skin sack had
made mistake. but instead of stsmmering
and hemming and having, he came gallantly
up to the scratch, and throwing both arms
around the fair creature, he made up his
mind to be father to her or die in the at
tempt. lmprinting kiss like the report of
a pistol on her cheek, he enthusiastically
calculated:
''Oh, yer mothers well, an John an Hen
ry an (smack) an Jane an Susan (smack
smack, an Horace. an Belindy an Calvin
(smack) an Joshua an Peter, (smack,
smack,l oh, they're all smart an hearty
AM
By the time the young lady's friends
could get to her, she had slid into stoney
faint, and they had TO lug her home in a
hack, while the aged granger. as he finished
the third round with her outraged young
man, and sauntcred out Of the depot, leaving
him with bad eye and a ruptured coat
chuck led to himself
''The old mans gittin' old an stiff an
careless like, but when any young females
wants to play any games O. copenhagen,
they'll find him right to time, an shouldn't
be s'prised if it rained fore nine O'Clock
G'lang, Kate !"-Rockland Courier. -.
Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1880-04-22
What Alcohol Does.

do not wonder that every thoughtful
man is prejudiccd against this vile stuff
called alcohol. Intemperance cuts down
youth in its yigor manhood in lis strength ;
and age in il weakness. II breaks the
fathers heart bereayes the doting mother
eNtinguishcS natural Affection erases con-
jugal love; blots out tllal attachment :;
bii.hts parental hopes; and brings prema-
ture age in sorrow to the grave. II pro-
duccs weakness, not strength; makes wives
widows; children orphans fathers tends :;
and all paupcrs. It feeds rheumatism ;
nurses goui; welcomes epidemics invites
cholera; imports pe-tilence embraces con
sumption; covers the land with misery and
crime. II engeuders controversy; fosters
quarTels cherishes riots. II crowds your
pcnitenilarles and furnishes victims 10 the
scatfold 1t il the blood Of the gambler
the element Of the burglar; the prop Of the
highwaym an the support Of the midnight IN
cendIagy. Il countenances the liar respects
the thief cStccm~ the blaSphemcT. II yIo-
lates obligations; rcycrcnCeS fraud hates
love; scornS innocence and virtue. II in
cites the father to butcher the helpless off
spring. and the child 10 grind the parrlcldal
axe. l. burns up men; consumes women :;
deiest- life; curses God; de~p,scs heaven.
II suborns witnesses nurses pcrtly; dctlc-
the jury box; stain, the Judicial crnInc.
Il hribeS voters dlsqualites votes corrupts
lecctions; endangers the government, It
dc-radcs the citizen; dcblscs the legi,Ia-
tor di,honors the statesman; disarm> the
patriot. Il brings shame, not honor terror,
not safety; despair. not hope; misery, not
happiness and with the maleyolence OF a
icnd, calmly surveys its frighttul dcsolation,
and un>ustained with havoc, it wipes out
national honor, then curses the world and
laugh, at its ruin. 1t does more-it muir
ders the soul Il is the sum Of all yillainie>;
the father Of all crime; the mother Of all
denominations the devils best friend. and
Gods worst enemy. LCoi R. q IngersoH.
Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1880-04-22

Hotel MysTERIEs.-"Why is it," asked
the man with the sample case, that at the
average hotel, the shortest man is always
set down at the end of the table, where
there is nothing and where he can reach
nothing else ?"
And why" asked the sad passenger, "is
the waiter always tuttering over some de-
liberate old gourmand who is going to stop
over three days anyhow. when you have
only fifteen minutes and then have to run for
your train ?"
And why" asked the tall, thin passen-
ger, ,..is the black pepper cruet always in
the castor on the next table ?"
And why is it empty when you get it ?"
asked the cross passenger.
And why, asked the fat passenger, do
the two Young married people who sit OPP
posite you always stop eating and gaze at
YOU with such pitiful Representatives, every
time YOU look at them ?"
And why" asked the brakeman, coming
in to light the lamps, doesn't the hash
shave ,"
And why" suddenly said the woman who
talks bass, don't men ever talk sense ?'
The peaceful silence came drifting into
the ear noisclessly as Fundy fog, until the
car was full Of it. And these questions are
unanswered conundrums even unto this day
especially the last one HGwkeys.
Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1880-04-22

he. i lave $50 for masses. and the rest
lave TO YOURSELF said he. and needn't tell
We to be a good mother to the children. says
he. for well We know there are none. An,
poor John. Will We have another cup Of tay.
Mr. Costello2"
at must have been hard on ye." said Mr.
Costello. Thank We. ma'am. no more.
lit was hard" said Mrs. Cummiskey
for nv own living: an so go, Until this
place. and here am to-day"
"Ah." said Mr.. Costello, as they rose
from the liable and seated themselves before
the fire, nand here We are both of US this
evening"
Here we are. sure enough" rejoined the
widow.
AN so mind We of-of him, do ?
asked Mr. Costello. after pause. during
which he had gazed contemplatively into the
fire.
That We do" answered the widow. ''iC
favor him greatly Dark complccted and
the same pleasant smile
Now. with me sittin' here and YOU sittin
there fernins, me. We might almost think .c
we're marrit again" said Mr.. Costello, IN
sinuatingly.
"Ah 20 away now. for a taze that We are.
exclaimed the widow, musslng her clean
apron BY rolling the corners of IT.
Il diSremember what II vas he sald about
seem any man YOU liked better nor him. ~
said Mr. Costello. moving his char little
nearer to that of the widow.
lie SAID. said he" answered the widow,
smoothing the apron over her knees with
her plump. white hands, Mora, sand he, Il
any time We see any man better nor me,
marry him. saws he.
Ibid he say ANYTHING about any wan yc
liked a, good as him 2" asked Mr. Costello.
II don't mind that he did" answered the
widow, refieoiisely. folding her hands IN her
lap.
II suppose he lcft that TO yourself ?" pur-
sued Mr.. Costello.
Faith. an don't knoS then. answered
Mrs Cummiskcy
"Diy We think We like me ss well As yc
did him ?" asked Mr.. Costello. persuaslVcls
leaning forward and looking into the
widow ewes. which were cast down.
'Ah. 20 away now for a ,aze.' exclaimed
the widoN. strengthening herself and pla,
full, slapping Mr Costello on the face.
He mo, cd his char ,till nearer and moved
his arm around her waist
Never YOU think I'm ticklcsnnc. NJ.
Costello" said the widow looking boldly az
him
Tell me he insisted. "diS We like rn0 As
well A. We did him ?"
"I-l-most-l most disrcmembcr nov
how much liked him." answered the Nid-
ov. naturally embarrassed by such que
ton
We'll. then" a.kcd Mr.. Costello. enforc-
ing HI, question by gentle squecfes Of the
widow. round uais;. div ye like me well
enough a. mcsclf.
Hear the man." exclaimed Mrs.. Cummi--
KEY. dcrlssely do ike him veil enough
A, himself p
~Ah. now. don', he brcak.n' me heart
pleaded Mr. Costello. Answer me this
question. Mr.. Cuinmiskey. !. ,our heart
;cnder tow ards me- p
Il, j." whispered the widow, an there
nuW sc have ii.
'G.or, bc 20 Cod exclaimed the happy
lover a, he strained the not unwilling val
ow 10 hi, bosom.
\ lev minutes aflcr Nj. Cummiskcy
looked up. 4nl. - she sHooihed her halr
.AId but; James, you haven't told me lri
how YOU would like YOUR tay.'
.'th. Nora, me jewel" answered NJ.
Costello. the taste OF that first Kiss wouid
take away the taste OF all the tay that ever
was brcwci."
Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1880-04-22

SMOKING AT NEw YORK. - New York
pays more for cigars than for bread, and
this is easily seen when individual cigar bills
run up to $500 per annum. | know of one
man who was unable to save anything on an
income of $4,000 a year, and who gave
among other reasons that it cost him so
per week for cigars. II all his expenses
were at such rate there could be little
chance al accumulation. There are many
smokers who average 100 cigars a week.
These are the men who build up such for
tunes as the Gilseys and others have made.
Peter Gilsey landed in this city poor emf
grant. He was piano maker, but opened
cigar shop in the Bowery, which his wife
tended while he wrought at his trade. From
this humble beginning Gilsey became one of
the most extensive dealers in the city. He
had at one time nearly dozen cigar shops,
ana he left an estate worth s2,0O0,000. The
Gilsey house is one of his creations, and the
splendid establishment known as the ''Gilsey
building" corner of Broadway and Courtland
street, is another Troy Times.