davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Smyrna times., 1880-09-01
Politics in the Ball Room.

Well, say" said one Of our best young
men at North Hill hop tho other even.
ing, ''you know bout this fellah Hancock?
Well, say, he amt same ono that's presi-
dent OF insurance company, is he2 Writes
awfully coarse hand, you knowP"
"Now," replied the best young man ad.
dressed, "ho's man that signed constitu-
ton of United States; great politician, I
reckon. Had row with General Wash.
ington at battle of Monmouth"
"Haw, no." interposed third best man,
'"taint that fellah. Cad, he's dead, man
pom my soul he is"
"Well, say" exclaimed the first best
young man." when'd he die?"
"Can't say, IN sure replied the third
best young man, who appeared to be a
young man of broad information on gen.
eral topics, "but know he's dead. This
Hancock's militrry man; colonel in the
army, and governor of some island near
New York"
The other best young men gathered
around him with a common expression of
the liVeliest interest. Finally one of them
asked:
DWELL, say? What's he want to run for
president for. he's governor of an island ~
Don't know" said the we'll informed
best young man, "but guess he has to.
B'lieve after fellah's been governor of an
island for bout SO long as he has to retire,
an if he can't get to be president, he has
to-hasn't got nothing to do, you know.
| don't know just how it is"
"Well, say, who's this preacher follow
Garfield, that's runnin' the democrats fol
president ?" asked the first best young
man, after an intelligent pause.
Dom know much bout him." said the
well informed young man; "he's been
president once, know"
"Talkin' man or dancin' man?" asked
the third best young man.
"Ohio man, l b'lieve they call him,
said the we'll informed young man.
Whats that2" asked the other bcs
young men, in intelligent chorus.
"'Pon my soul, l don't know" replied
the we'll informed best young man, frankly
"Some kind of a-er, ah-er-kind of
mani don know, m sure"
And just then the band struck up ant
the three best walters in the room ceasec
talking politics and abandoned the Pre-
found study of statecraft to join tho gidd
mazes of the dance. The glory of tn
land of freedom and the pride of societ
is its young men.-Burlington IIawkeye.
Smyrna times., 1880-09-01
Fashion at Saratoga.
EXPENSIVE DRESSINGS AND HOW THR JERSEYS |

EXPENSIVE DRESSINGS AND HOW THR JERSEYS
FIT.
Eli Perkins, If he is to be believed on
this occasion, writes from Saratoga to the
Sun that the dressing this season is more
extensive than it has been during any
season for the last ten years. The number
Of $500 dresses that line the balcony at
in the evening smazes me. The favorite
dress is the tight.fit imitation Jersey
waist, made from heavy satin or brocade.
Old gold is the predOminating color.
There are several real Jersey waists hero,
fashioned after Mrs. Langtry's pattern.
When they make their appearance they
invariably make hubbub.
/ "There she goes-there-," | heard
several ladies whisper yesterday, as mag
nifcentiy formed woman sauntered up the
United States balcony.
Who-where
"Why, the Jersey waist-ths real Jer.
sey?"
followed the Jersey woman with my
eye. The waist did ct superbly. The
woman's figure was as perfect rs the torso
Of Milo. Every line was rounded. Stand
the woman on pedestal and whitewash
her, and she would pass for the Venus de
Msdici. She was q walking statue. Ne
wrinkles about her arms, but one smooth
surface.
"HOw do they put on this 'Jsrseyf'" l
asked fashionable 5th.avenue lady.
"Oh, right over the head. It hasn't a
seam in it or button on it. It's knitted
Of silk like q pair of silk mits and is a.
elastic as silk stocking. But, oh, don't II
bring out the arms and shoulders though II
"And are there no stays Or--or-i" ]
faltered.
"Oh, yes, there are small tight.fittine
corsets under it, but the Jersey hugs the
arms and neck. There isn't seam in it
nor button or lapel on it."
The old lavender, which has only beer
worn by the beautiful Jewesses for the las
ten years, is now the favorits color. II in
cludes lavender ribbons, lavender flowers
lavender stocking and lavender gloves.
One toilet Of Irish green has been seer
at the Statss this summer. The ladit' 50!
that the old Irish green which has beer
worn by the servant girls for the last tsr
years is TO come next. The tawdry rec
and the faded out yellow and blue-sucl
colors as find in the old mosque rugs--ar
1.-THE next shades. They are called the ar
colors. They 20 with tifs Jersey waist.
Smyrna times., 1880-09-01
THE BATTLE OF LIFE.

Go forth to tho battle of life, my boy,
Go while it is called to-day.
Fo- the years go out and the years comein
Regardless of those who may lose or win.
OF those who may work or play.
And the troops march steadily on my boy.
To the army gone before;
You may hear the sound of their falling feet
Going down to the river where tho worlds meet;
They go to return no more.
There is q place for you in the ranks, my boy,
And duty. too, assigned,
Step into the front with cheerful face,
Be quick or another may take your place
And you may be left ber nd.
There is work to be done by the way, my boy,
That you never can tread again;
Work for the loftiest, lowliest mel-
Work for the plow, plane. spindle e1d pen
Work for the hands and the brain.
The serpent will follow your steps, my boy,
To lay for your feet snare;
And pleasure sits in her fairy bowers,
With garlands of poppies and lotus flowers
Enwreathing her golden hair.
Temptations will walk by the way, my boy,
foundations without and within;
And spirits of evil, with robes as fair
AS those which the angles in heaven might wear
win lure you to deadly sin.
Then put on the armor of God, my boy.
In the beautiful days of youth;
Put on the helmet and breast-p plate and shield
And the sword that the fullest arm may weld
In the cause of right and truth.
And go to the battle Of life, my boy,
With the peace of the gospel shod.
And before high heaven do the best you can
For the great reward and the good of man,
For the kingdom and crown Of God.
Smyrna times., 1880-09-01
Grass Widows.
A NEWSPAPER UNDERTAKES TO GIVE A DFFINI.
TIoN.

What different meaning from the orig
inal one many words acquire by common
use. Grass widow is one of these. 1t is
generally employed now in this country to
signify q woman whose husband has left
her from incompatbility, or for more tan
gible cause, and who, though not divorced,
has no intent to live with her again. Long
ago grass widow was an unmarried woman,
who has had child, and sometimes that
word is SO applied here. In Europe it
means simply u wife who is temporarily
separated from her husband for any reason
whatever, but without any disharmony or
idea of reproach. In England a woman
whose husband is in India or Australia is
spoken of, without disrespect, as a grass
widow; SO is q French wife whose natural
protector is in Algeria or the Isle de Bour-
bon, although in Great Britain the express
sion is also understood in the American
sense. Grass widow is really corruption
of grace widow (the French say veuve par
grace) a widow by grace of favor, and was
specially used in reference to the wives of
| the Crusaders, who were left at home while
their absurdly enthusiastic lieges fought
against infdels in Palestine and often staid
away SO long that their spouses sought con.
During the gold fever in California, many
men went to the Pacific coast at a venture,
putting their families to board in the states
while they hunted for the precious metal or
pursued whatever course circumstances de.
termined. This the gold.seekers called
putting his wife out to grass, in allusion to
putting horse to grass when not wanted
or untitled to work. The term grass widow
steadily extends its application. 1t means
to-day on this side the water, any woman
legally or virtually married whose actually,
ostensible, or nominal husband is perma.
nently absent. a wife temporarily separated
from her husband, however fond of, or sym
pathetic with one another, they may be, is
also q grass widow. But wives at Lone
Branch, Saratoga, or Newport during the
season, while their husbands are attending
to business in Wall or William or South
street, would not feel !lattered at such
designation, nor would the wives who spend
so much time abroad, rclinquishing theil
marital partners with little regret on either
side. Grass widow has become so associated
with opprobrium that it is not likely to b.
employed in its European import. The
: | vuiHotu 10 in, y,roI,1nk n
the metropolis. She abounds here. Sh,
has hundreds of representatives, all o
whom claim to have husbands somewhere
several of them, often-though they canno
for their life tell where they are, nor d'
, they, indeed, care to know.-N. Y Times
Smyrna times., 1880-09-01

ago if you had seen me you would have
looked upon q mere shadow. was much
attunuated, both in form and face; now
you see don't look like person in i'll.
health, do 1 ?"
The question put with smile carries its
own answer, had not Miss Happier sat on
an invalid's chair no one would ever dream.
ed her the faster of such duration as to
make Tanners effort appear trivial. "That
is the way it is," continued the lady, 81
waste away, and then will gain flesh SO
rapidly, and this, too without taking food,
that am compelled to think it is not real
flesh. Indeed how can think so, for do
not eat, and from whence could good real
substantial flesh come. Do sleep? Very
little. never feel like retiring until one
or two o'clock in tho morning, and then
do not derive any comfort from lying
down-it is no rest for me-"
"Do you mean to say, then, Miss Hap
per, that you have lived for years upon
lemonade, the juice of fruit and water, and
have been unable to take medicine in
wardly2
SEEKING IN VAIN FOR A CURE.
"That is the true state of my case, of
which have given you mere outline.
Not only has that been my case, but l
have, as l have already told you, gone
months without eating or drinking any.
thing except little water, and have
gone more than one week without even
being able to touch water, and yet have
not beceme emaciated or weakened, as one
would naturally expect. My limbs, oi
course, are tottering and tremble at times
but this attribute to their non use, caused
ago the neuralgia and nervous attacks left
me, but in their stead came q severe cough
l expectorated but little, and it racl1ed me
sorely for six long months. If you haC
seen me then you would have thought one
more breath would have been my last, bu
that departed few weeks ago, and since
then l have been gaining flesh, but my ap
petite is gone, and, fear, forever. Wha
the end will be-what is coming next
with heaven; but seek in vain for solu
ton and cure"
"And your physicians-have they n
theory"
al can hardly say they have. Drf
Lank, father and son, have watched m
case for years. They have studied, l ar
satisfied, with all the care that any cas-
coule exact, but the outcome is as hav
told you. They say it is nervous prostrt
ton, but my loes of appetite, the pains i
the stomach, this state of inanitiOn, i
fact, the affection of all the organs, re
mains puzzle to them apparently, as it
to me. Once, while visiting brother an
sister.in.law in Pittsburg, was place
under the care of DR.. Cote, since deaC
and seemed to obtain from him some r,
lief. A we'll known physician of California
hearing of my case, once visited me an
, seemed interested in my case, but he aC
vanced no opinion"
Smyrna times., 1880-09-01
How Oysters are Born.

Our bivAlve, however, do not spawn after
the manner of mollusks generally. 1t is,
in its own way, vivaparous. 1t does not
emit eggs, but at the proper time sends
forth its young alive. The eggs are dis
lodged from the ovaries and committed to
the nursing care of the gill and mantle.
At first each egg seems to be inclosed in a
capsule. 1t is Of yellowish color, but as
incubation or development progresses the
color changes, first to q gray, then to a
brown, afterward to a violet This is n
sign that the time Of eviction is at hand,
for nature now issues her writ to that effect.
And wonderful little beings they arc when
the writ arrives to Vacate the homestead,
for whole troops of them can go gracefully
and without jostling through the maziest
evolutions in that tiniest sphere-a drop of
water. AS cited by F. w. Fellowes in the
American Naturalist, says NJ. Devaine: "Noth.
ing is more curious than to see, under the
microscope, these little mollusks travel in
drop of water in vast numbers, mutually
Oho hAObASAI SiOSoAhS NuSh ObAcA >
track in every direction with wonderful
rapidity, never touching and never meet
ing" The parent oyster has, indeed, 9
prodigious family to turn out upon the
world. But when this time does come,
though winter be near, her actions are sum.
mary, and the wee BARNS are every one or.
dered from home. They are spit forth, or
elected from the shell. Filled with water
the valves are suddenly snapped together.
Every snap emits a small whitiSh cloud.
Though little of the milky fluid be in it,
this whitish cloud is composed chiefly of
the tiny fry; for individually, they are
almost invisible. Indeed, who shall count
the oysters offspring? Science, by her own
methods, has made the computation, and
SO she gives US the astounding assurance
that a single oyster, during one spawning
season, emits two million embryosl
Smyrna times., 1880-09-01

AFTER THE BATTLE.--A colored individ.
ual, whose left arm was missing, was yes
terday soliciting a small loan on Griswold
street, and in recommendation of himself
he stated that he lost his arm after the
fight in the Wilderness.
"Was it in the fght?"
"No sab; it was artsr de fight. Dat
were powerful hot time, tell ye. De
balls few arown' like snow fakes, de can.
mons roarsd, an 'spscted to be killed for
hull half day."
"But you were not hit2"
"No, sab; 'spscted to be, but
wasn't"
f" But how did you loose your arm2'
al lost it arter dc battle, sah."
"Under what circumstances 7"
DWELL sab, all de circumstances l ebsr
heard of was dat l had it cut off wild a
buzz saw"
"When ~
"Two years ago, sah."
"And you call this losisg your arm after
the battle of the Wilderness7" -:
ayes, sab. I'ze hard up, sRh, but 1
doan' want to lie to you. If I'd lost it
befo' de battle I'd say so, but it was arter
de BATTLE"
"WelI, I guess it was" said the man,
after load pause, and he went down for o
dime.
Smyrna times., 1880-09-01

DAN DOUGHERTY FEELS QUITR BLUR.-Mr.
who Dougherty, the "silver-tOngusd" orator,
nominated Gen. Hancock at Cincinnati, talk
ing the other day at White Sulpher Springs
with correspondent of the indianapolis
Journal said: "Hancock is sanguine. To
my astonishment he feels perfectly certain
of his election. l staid all night with him
ON Governor Island week or so ago and
expressed my surprise at his composure.
To tell the truth, feel quite blue just at this
juncture. Maine and Ohio leave us little
chance with them, and confess Indiana is
at least shAky. Mr.. English is q model
business man, but my friends assure me he
is without personal magnetism and by no
means popular among the mass of the
people of his State. Speaking for myself
alone, wish we had somebody else on the
ticket. If we lose Indiana it will be blue
for Hancock" t....- +.
Smyrna times., 1880-09-01
WHOLE NO. 1918.
Current Opinion.
PHILADELPHIA EVENING NEWS.

In order to be in the fashion tho sros;do
bellies have brought their freckles 70 oor
''old.gold" color.
A youth with his first cigar makes him.
self sick; youth with his first girl make,
other people sick
Another young lady has been fatally
burned by cigar spark while out walking
with cigar and its owner.
Low many young men there arc who.
Ilko corn, turn white when they non
Whitehall Times. And turn whittier whom
they ask pop.
Don't be afraid of icewator, green frp;t
or whisky. The talk about these innocont
things being dangerous to health is all non.
nse.-Lndcrtaker'S HerqM
Tho latest thing in fans is cigar.shaped
and covered with the natural leaf. It's a
tanciiul cOncsit; it cannot be smoked, and
therefore emitE no fragrance.
Before it can be settled that we live in \
republic, free, honest, untrammeled ballot
must be allowed to all entitled to if.
Every freeman must vote just once.
King AlphonzO's baby is TO be presented
to him on a silver salver. If tits like other
babies it should be presented on a gong or
some other ear-splitt;ng instrument.
Roman and Greek dresses are now worn
at costume parties in England, says a fash
ion exchange. Tho rage for the ANTIQUE
may yet bring us back to the Garden Of
Eden costumes.
When the Southern brigadiers read Han.
cocks letter of acceptance they got along
pretty well until they came to his FREQ
ballot and fair count phrase They then
choked with laughter.
The Prince of Wales still complains of
lack OF funds. IIo has q wife and several
children to pport.-IHiladelpLia Mus.
How's this? Thought the English all had
bar Is Waterbury american. So they have.
but Albert Edward can't keep the bung in
his.
The new "Tam O'Shanter hat is com.
ing into fashion. Those who wish to nut
themselves into a new latitude toward
society would do we'll to avoid it as it
makes an old and ugly wearer look Tam
himself-"g glorious, DER all the ills of life
victorious"
Middletown, Conn, is agog over tho mar
riage of B. A. Rich, o Wesleyan graduate
of wealth, to Miss ITaggerty, a pretty ssrv.
| ing-maid at his college clubs table, whom
he has educated at New York. Well, q
) rich man can afford to do as he pleases in
the matter of getting wife, can't he?
Pope once wrote: "Worth makes the
! man and want of it tho fellow" but now
it is Worth who makes the woman and
, want of him the failure. Sara Bernhardt
comes to this country with twenty OF
Worth's dresses. She May jabber Choctaw,
be too thin to cast shadow, and have a
dozen brevet husbands, but, Worthy
woman, her success is assured.
Smyrna times., 1880-09-01

The population of Massachusetts, is now
two hundred and twenty-eight to the square
mile-a degree of density only surpassed
by Belgium, Great Britain and Italy. Mar.
blehead is the only town in the state whose
population has not increased during the
decade. Two counties have lost ground,
Nantucket and Barnstable.
Smyrna times., 1880-09-01

I Church choirs are put at the back end of
churches to accsmmodate the timid wor.
shippers who cannot face the muSic.--Ne,O
Orleans Pieayms. Oh, mol They are put at
the back end Of churches so as to accom-.
MEDIATE the tenor and base, who want to
face the soprano and alto.
Smyrna times., 1880-09-01

The main issue to be settled this cam.
paign is whether the ballot or the bullet is
10 rule the republic. The majority which
decides nations choice is based on vstss,
fair end honest ones, and which are counted.
Smyrna times., 1880-09-01

The report comes from Georgia that
Senator B. II. Hill is suffering from a can.
cerous tumor on his tongue that threatens
to terminate his career as public speaker
if not his life, as there are doubts of per
manent removal of the tunor. as
Smyrna times., 1880-09-01

A call has been issued at New York for q
mass convention Of Garfield and Arthur
clubs, TO be held at indianapolis September
is. The object ia to decide on united
plan for November.
Smyrna times., 1880-09-01

The twin girls of Norman Taylor Of Lam
singburg. N. Y, are SO sxactly alike that
they cannot tell each other apart, and one
frequently dresses the other Under the i'm
preston that she is putting on her own
clothes. 7l.# 1 llIat Eel '5,l1
Smyrna times., 1880-09-01

The brightest hours in a boys life GENE
when he gets big enough to enjoy copsn'
hagen but not old enough to feel the re-
sponsibilities of existence = q ' .''..'.
Smyrna times., 1880-09-01

There is no doubt but that all the Census
Enuthsrators win get all their pay some
time, but just when, is what no fellow can
find out, 'aa..if
Smyrna times., 1880-09-01

GA coolness has sprung up between
Night and Morning" and yet We are
enabled to say that their Olese connection
remains and they pass the tins very agree
ably. ea} 3. ~
Smyrna times., 1880-09-01

Dan Rice has stopped delivering temper.
ence lectures, but is fitting up q floating
circus for the Mississippi. Heis bound to
mako money somehow. on water.
Smyrna times., 1880-09-01
A Four Years Fast.

THE SAD EXPERIENCE oP YOUNG LADY IN
PENNsYLvANIA-A SUFFERER FROM NEU.
RALGIA FOR TWELVE YEARs-wAsT-
ING AWAY AND THEN RAPIDLY
RRGAINING FLESH WITH.
OUT ANY KNOWN
CAUSE.
Smyrna times., 1880-09-01

Everything isaahead of ths usual time
this year, sxOspti the Presidential election,
and that takes place as early in November
ss possible, the second.
Smyrna times., 1880-09-01

The number Of young men who will cast
their first votes in November is variously
estimated at from one to two millions,
Smyrna times., 1880-09-01
The Powers of a Hymn.

In one of the hospitals of Edinburgh lay
wounded Scottish soldier. The surgeons
had done all they could for him. He had
been told that he must die. He had con-
tempt for death and prided himself on his
fearlessness in facing it.
A rough and wicked life, with none but
evil associates, had blunted his sensibilities,
and made profanity and scorn his second
nature. To hear him speak, one would
have thought he had no piously.nurtured
childhood to remember, and that he had
never looked upon religion but to despise
it. But it was not so.
A noble and gentle-hearted man came to
see the dying soldier. He addressed him
with kind inquiries, talked to him so ten.
derly of the life beyond death, and offered
spiritual counsel. But the sick man paid
him no attention or respect. lie bluntly
told him that he did not want any religious
conversation.
"YOu will let me pray with you will you
not?" said the man at length.
"No; know how to die without the
help of religion" And he turned his face
to the wall.
Further conversation could do no good,
and the man did not attempt it. But he
was not discouraged. After a moments
silence, he began to sing the old hymn, SO
familiar and so dear to every congregation
in Scotland:
Smyrna times., 1880-09-01
90, mother dear, Jerusalem,
When shall l come to thee?

He had pleasant voice, and the words
and melody were sweet and touching as he
sung them. Pretty soon the soldier turned
his face again. But its hardened expires
sion was all gone.
"Who taught you thati" he asked, when
the hymn was done.
"My mother"
$50 did mine. learned it of her when
was a child, and used to sing it with
her." And there were tears in the mans
eyes.
The ice was thawed away. 1t was easy
to talk with him now. The words of Jesus
entered in whore the hymn had opened the
door. Weeping, and with a hungry heart,
he listened to the christians thoughts Of
death, and in his last moments, to his
mothers God and the sinners friend.