davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1881-04-21
Fabrics of Spun Glass.

The ingenuity that led to the manu-
facture of articles of clothing from
paper has been eclipsed, as similar ar
Eicles are now made from glass. A New
York dry goods house has on exhibition
a glass tablecloth several feet square,
Of variegated colors, with ornamental
border and fringed edges. The fabric
is flexible and only a little heavier than
those woven of flax, while it is claimed
that it can be washed and ironed like
an ordinary tablecloth.
Glass has been spun and woven in
Austria for some years, but it is new
undertaking in this country. A promi-
nent glass manufacturing firm of Pitts
| burgh, Pa, recently engaged in the
manufacture of this brittle substance
| into fabrics, which they claim are as
| perfect, delicate and durable as the
| finest silk. A representative of this
firm said that they can spin $50 fine
| threads. each ten miles long, in one
minute. The weaving is done with ar
| ordinary loom, but the process is more
difficult and much more interesting
than the spinning of cotton or other
threads.
1--WE can duplicate in glass any COS
tume," said this gentleman, g and car
make it Just as brilliant in color, elabo
rate in finish, perfect in fit and equal il
its smallest details, even to the buttons
on the original. The fabric is .yerl
strong, cannot be ripped or torn, ant
can be sold at a less price than linen
cotton or silk, or other fabric initiated
1t is also very warm, easy fitting ant
comfortable, whether worn as dress
shawl or other garment in ordinar.
clothing.
Among the articles already manufac
tured of glass are beautiful feathers
which resemble those of the ostrich
towels, napkins and tablecloths.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1881-04-21

The greatest gain in population, for
obvious reasons, is taking place in the
far West, and when the next census is
ready we shall probably find all of these
States, with one exception, showing
population exceeding 100000 each,
while Texas will be likely to take its
place among the six most populous
States of the Union. Kansas also prom
ises to rival Massachusetts in the num-
Der of its inhabitants. Whereas there
are now nineteen States with a popula-
tion of over 1000, 900, there are likely
to be at least twenty-six in 1890.
The growth in the population of the
cities of the Union has been great and
significant in the last ten years. We
are gathering larger proportion of our
inhabitants in cities than any other
country, and yet we still possess vast
areas of unoccupied land. Whereas in
1870 there were thirty-six cities with a
population of 10000 and over, the num-
Der has now increased to sixty-four.
That is, about one-sixth of our popula-
ton is now crowded together in these
large cities. Fifty years ago, including
all cities of 5000 inhabitants and over,
she proportion was only one-sixteenth.
This increasing tendency of popula-
ton to aggregate in the great cities is
one of the evils of modern civilization.
1t breeds social dangers, with which
our municipal systems are now proving
themselves unable to cope, and il
makes the question of city government
one of the most serious with which the
people have to deal.--N Y. Sun.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1881-04-21
Eve Memory.

LOOK steadily at a bright object, keep
the eve immovably on it for a short
time, and then close them. An image
of the object remains; it becomes in fact
visible to the closed eyes. The vivid
ness and duration of such impressions
vary considerably with different indi-
viduals, and the power of retaining
them may be cultivated. Besides this
sort of retinal image thus impressed,
there is another kind of visual image
that may be obtained by an effort of
memory. Certain adopts at mental
arithmetic use the "mind's eye" as a
substitute for the slate and pencil by
holding in visual memory pictures of
the figures upon which they are oper-
ating, and those of their results. In
my youthful days / was acquainted
with an eccentric old man, who then
lived at Kilburn priory, where he sur
rounded himself with curious old furni-
| ture reputed to have originally belonged
| to Cardinal Wolsey, and which as was
told, he bequeathed to the Queen al
| his death. He was the then celebrated
but now forgotten Memory Thomp-
son." who in his early days was town
traveller Qor brewery, if remember
rightly, and who trained himself to the
performance of wonderful feats of ey,
memory. He could close his eyes ant
picture within himself a panorama o
Oxford street and other parts of Lon
don, in which picture every Inscription
over every shop was so perfect and re
liable that he could describe and certif,
to the names and occupations of th
shop-keeping inhabitants of all tn
houses of these streets at certain dates
when post-office directories were not a
they now are. Although Memor
Thompson is forgotten, his specia
faculty is just now receiving attention
} and it is proposed to especially cultivat
, it in elementary schools by placing OF
jects before the pupils for a given time
. then taking them away and requirin
the pupil to draw them. That sue
faculty exists and may be of great serN
; ice is unquestionable. Systematic e
forts to educate it, if successful, will
good service to the rising generation
and, even should the proposed trainin
afford smaller results than its protector
b anticipate, the experiments, if CAREFUL
: made and registered, can not fail to in
prove our knowledge of mental phys
olosy.-- Ge'stlenaans Magazine.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1881-04-21
WtT AND HISgOH.

The neatest thing in silks-pretty
women.
Fire our, and no coal to replenish
it, is a CRATE sorrow.
"A 20, can ..ui four times III IRE
weight in bp, 5 on slei than he C.. Il
wood from the b ,ok yard.
A fall in wheat goes ag tinsI. the
grain OF IL specH aLor w!lo has bou III
for il rise - Iou.eU Coari6".
The ie ter :. i, i like many men.
1t is first in everything, Lut ends in
smoke. - D0StJi1 ITst,tS ra,,t.
Hens favor so!'r.efy. They gen
orally quit LAYING when the gy-nnS
season approaches ~ u. icapH,.'.
"A gun is loaded with powder;
table is loaded with the delicacie OF
the season. Both 90 OF, ard both kill.
-Philotetphia Ite1n
- Why is q sleepless cat bound to
be very destructive Because, YOU
see, q sleepless eat is bound to NEW till
late. - q dreSton Netos.
"A man was arrested in New York
| the other day with II coffin under his
arm, which he WAS irving To sell for
| ten cents. The man wan;ed two biers
worse than one coffin. Norris 0on Her.
| uld.
If you don't believe it try the ex-
| pertinent That is, that man who
! knows how cold it is by the thermom-
! eter makes more fuss over it and feels
colder than one who has paid no atten-
| ton to it. Detroit FREE Press.
Son to his fond father, who has
| asked him where be is in his Class now:
ooh, pa, I've got u much better place
than / had last quarter indeed:
Well, where are you?'' I'm four.
tesnth.' ''Fourteenth, you little lazy
bones! You were eighth last term. Do
you call that Il better place? Yes,
sir; it's nearer the stove. - French ht-
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1881-04-21
Bad Omens.

AMONG other bad omens in India may
be mentioned snake or jackal cross
ing ones path; hearing person cry
when you are going anywhere; the
cawing of crow. and the crying of
kite; cat crossing ones path. and the
seeing an empty pitcher. As compared
with the bad, there are but few good
omens. Among these may be men
toned the following: The meeting of a
dead body being carried away, and no
one crying with it; seeing pitcher
with rope attached to it, or Brah-
min carrying jug of holy water from
the Ganges; lizard creeping up one 5
body; hearing bride cry when she is
leaving her parents and going to live
with her husband; hearing the bell of a
temple strike, or a trumpet sound when
one is setting out on journey; crow
perched on dead body floating down
the river, and fox crossing ones
| path.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1881-04-21
Interesting Decision About Will
making.

THE Supreme Court have just made
decision in case arising in this county
which is likely to be taken as leading
case both here and elsewhere in this
country The facts are briefly these:
In january, 1879, the Hon. Alexander
Dewitt, of Oxford, died. leaving a
will with four codicils attached. After
due public notice these instruments
were, on the 4th of February following,
admitted to probate as the last will and
testament of the deceased. The exec
utors Hereunder, having been duly
qualified, proceeded with the admins
tration of the estate. This continued
for a period of four months, when they
produced 60 book" which, under the
I advice of their counsel, Bacon, Hopkins
! g. Bacon, they filed in the probate
Office, together with their petition, pray
/ ing that the same might be admitted
to probate as part of the will of the
said Alexander Dewitt. This shook "
was a common blank book, containing
written testamentary directions on thir-
teen pages, each separate direction hav-
ing the signature of the testator append
ed, in all twelve times. This signature
was witnessed as often as it occurred,
but by one person only. On the cover
of the book was this writing: "Direc-
tions to my executors in the way and
manner wish all the legacies to be paid
as near as possibly convenient. Should
l dispose of any of the property herein
named before my decease, L order and
direct my executors to make up the
legacies in stocks or other securities, OF
cash, as they may think best"
This also was signed by the testato1
and witnessed by the witness to his Other
signatures. The book now described i:
referred to in the the third codicil TO the
will in these words: 81, -, order ant
direct my executors, or the survivor O
them, to paw the several legacies men
toned in my will and codicils, az nea
as possibly convenient, according to th'
directions written in book by Melvin
w. Pierce, signed by me, Alexander De
Witt, and witnessed by said Melvin w
Pierce.n The book was not at first pro
duced with the will "because the peti
TONERS did not think it was necessar
to have the same probated." After nc
tice, the case came on for hearing befor
, Judge Thayer, and at the July term
, decree was entered up ''that the part
i of said book (aforenamedD, and the d
: rections therein written and by said de
ceased signed, be approved and allowe
as apart of said third codicil and of tn
: last will and testament of said deceased.
y From this decree an appeal was take
q to the Supreme Court, and the case wa
q argued at the September term in 1875
That court have now affirmed the deere
. of the Probate Court. This decision,
y is understood, will make serious chang
i in the disposition of the estate -Wo
!. cester (Mass.) Spa.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1881-04-21
FACTS AND FIGURES,

Powdered chalk ad lei TO glue
strengthens it.
Tile strength OF one h hprse is equiv
alent to that of five men.
The British stationery Office turns
out five tons of waste paper daily
"A draft horse can draw | 90 IpoundS
% miles day. weight of carriage IN
cluded.
The humidity of the atmosphere is
greater above forests than over non
wooded groun Is.
Coal gas i not explosive. except
when miXeI with 4 known proportion of
common air.
Over one thousand printing presses
have been shipped from Philadelphia
to France since ne Centennial.
In horsc mil u horse moves at
the rate of thre feet in second. The
diameter of the track should not be less
than 25 feet.
| The stamp duty OF six cents per
! pack was paid on l,O94,S23 packs OF
/ playing-cards in England last year,
/ amounting to $50, 659.
Engine ariug has succeeded in put
! ting into steam only about one-tenth OF
| neat fediiZ6l III lie llIudCo VI lHo poilCi
the remaining nine-tenths are lost.
st. Louis has nearly tripled its
grain shipments down the Mississippi
River, the amount rising from about
100000 bushels last year to l3,o00, ,OOJ
bushels now.
The difference bewteen the highest
speed attainable by an ocean steamer at
sea in good weather and the rate OBJ
tanned during a gale is the measure o.
the vessels strength
MIR. Frederick Sansome has sue
oeded in producing goo hydraulic
cement from blast furnIce siag by mix
inc it with an additional quantity OF lime
and calcimining mass.
Alcohol and acet;c acid, says j
, Bechamp, are constant and necessar,
products Of putrefaction. He has dis
| covered alcohol also in small quaatitie
} in normal and SCUM animai tissues
= The estimate o! d horsepower il
? machinery is 50, 900 pounds, avoirdupois
raised through the space OF one foot i
! height in one minute; but rs a horse
: power can exert that force bat six hour
a day, one machinery horsepower
: equivalent to that of four horses.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1881-04-21
Phosphorescent Flowers.

THE phosphorescent flowers, whic'
have become such an attractive noyelt,
of late are produced in very simple
manner by the French manufacturers.
They are rendered luminous bv coating
the petals with transparent size, and
then busting them with n phospho-
resent substance. such as Canton
phosphorus (sulphide of calcium) OF
Bologna phosphorus (sulphide OF
barium). the first named being con-
sidered the best, and yielding a soft
yellow light. According to M.
Becquerel, a good quality can be made
by mixing forty-eight parts of flowers
Of sulphur with fifty-two parts OF
calcined oyster shells, and raising them
10 temperature of between 800 and 9O(
degrees G. Exposed to sunlight during
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1881-04-21
Lydla's Rocks.

Mr.. J. Kuhne has sympathies with
Hancock since the termination Of the cleo
tion Of school distri.t No. IL.
A great many people were deprived of
the stock sale, in consequence Of the wet
weather.
r. Souslin and sons have been engaged
in hauling lumber for the Snider Bros.
the past week.
q. q. Sande-on who emierated TO lows
has purchased one hundred acres Of good
farming land. His wife and family will
move out shortly.
George Sanderson will farm the +. Mid
daugh farm the coming spring.
w. F. GrigRs and ". J. Eyman had al
old fashioned corn husking on Thursday
10 Kern has purchased fine horse fo
which be paid $50 dollars.
Phillips x Co., will soon move theil
saw mill on Miles Dittos's farm, wher
they will saw large amount OF lumber.
Prof. Wright Of Pleasantville, Ohio
has been visiting friends and relatives i
this vicinity.
r. III. Bincklsy was in this neighbol
hood last week surveying.
Any one wishing first class flooring lum
ber will do we'll 10 call on l.. Mooter.
HANCOCK
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1881-04-21
Paralysis Cured by Prayer.

MISS JENNIE SMITH, who claims to
have been cured, in answer to prayer, of
sickness that had lasted sixteen years,
last night related her experiences to a
large throng in the First Place NJ. L.
Church in Brooklyn. Miss Smith is An
unusually hearty-looking woman. about
thirty-seven wears old. She was afflicted
with paralysis, which kept her bedrid-
den for many years. She traces the first
improvement IN her physical condition
to the time when she began to have faith
in God and to experience something of
the comfort of religion.
She was removed from Bellefontaine,
O., to Philadelphia, where she passed
under hospital treatment. She had be-
come converted, and had thought much
of what God could do to restore her.
She conversed with her physician about
it. He seemed to be Christian man,
and he believed in asking God for aid.
She thought she had received many
wonderful answers to prayer, and he
al 6 Il him to pray for her. While he
was kneeling by her bedside there came
to her, she said, as suddenly and ;ts
definitely as though by electric shock, Il
perfect freedom from pain. She was TOO
happy to speak. For years before Site
! had not been without pain.
Some ministers then made an appoint
ment to come to her room for prayer
meeting. She wrote to her former pas
tor at Dayton, o., and to other friends
| to pray for her on the same evening.
She intended to write simple note, she
said, but mechanically her pen moved
over the paper until she had in
scribed the passages in the Bible refer
ring to the healing of the body. After
she had sent the letters away she felt rs
though she had committed some greas
crime. She reached out her hand -
touch the bell upon her table to call tn.
letters back, but her hand was stayed
by some mysterious power. A cold chill
seized it, and it was powerless to per-
form her wish.
The prayer meeting was the occasion
of her complete recovery. She felt that
night sense of complete consecration,
and, as the prayers were uttered, she
experienced a renewal of physical
strength. She suddenly raised herself
from her chair and walked. This oc-
Cured nearly three years ago, and she
says she has been strong ever since
She devotes her time to Christian work
-NeN York San.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1881-04-21
Our PopuIation-A Comparison With
the Great Nations Of Europe.

The Superintendent of the Census
reports that the population of the
United States is so, 152, $50. When the
returns have been finally corrected some
changes may be made in this total. but
they will probably be slight. Our popula-
ton in 1870 was 38, ,55S, 81. We have,
therefore, gained in the ten years since
then IL, ,594, lS5 inhabitants. This is an
increase nearly as great as the whole
population fifty years ago.
Compared with the great nations of
Europe, the United States show a
greater population than any. except
Russia, which contains over 72.0O0, 600
ofinhabitants. Against our so, l52, ,559,
Germany shows 42.727, $50; Austria
Hungary. 1881. 40; France, 36,905.-
78S; Great Britain and Ireland. "a. 160,-
600, Italy, q. .769, 475; Spain, 16.526.5ll.
The total population of Europe is given
by the AimdRdh de Gothd as 81, ,763,
713. Hence we have even now only about
one-sixth as many inhabitants, though
our area and that of Europe as a whole
are nearly equal.
The following table gives the first ad-
ditions of the returns of the last census
of the eight States of largest popula-
tion, compared with the census of 1870
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1881-04-21

WEnotice in many places the mis- AXE
which is made in planting arbor-vltie
and hemlock hedges i'll front yards,
gardens, lawns, etc, almost side by
side with large spruces. naples and
other trees. If those who indulge in
the idea of having presentable hedge
at all by this proximity would Just look
around and see the failures on every
hand where this mistake has been
made. they would see the disappoint-
ment in store for them. 1t should be
remembered that the arbor-vites will
not thrive where there is much shade;
and that neither tie arbor-yitH nor
hemlock spruce will be successful where
the substance of the soil is all eaten up
by the roots of large trees. Hemlock
spruce likes shade to a moderate extent,
with moist, loose, rich soil; but the
arbor-vitH must have the latter and all
:he sun possible.
In selecting plants of either of these,
see that they are we'll branched from
the bottom, q" no ne10- branches eUer
shoot ont after the pldaetS are large enough
to set ont. The soil about them, to the
extent of the branches, should be kept
light with careful stirring, and shoulC
be mulched for the first two years
These hedges should never be prunec
until late in April, after all danger o
severe frost is over. We have .severa
times noticed that when pruned too
early and they are caught by the frost
they are badly ytdamaged, from which i
| will sometimes take two years to re
cover. In making a selection of arbor
vitns, be sure to get the American, a
it stands-except under peculiar cir
cumstances-the severest winters, ant
makes the most beautiful hedge. Gu
own hedge of this variety, which wa
set out some twenty years ago, may b
regarded as fair specimen, whel
properly managed. = Germantoaon Tete
| 0raDh
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1881-04-21
H0W Missionary Lost Wife.

George Bovard is the name OF Young
Methodist minister who attended the
annual Conference of tie NJ. +. Church
at Mercer u couple OF years ago. While
there he and a young laly teacher OF
the Soldiers Orphan School, located in
Mercer, fell in love with cacl other.
Her name was Clara Shaiier. He was
about to start for india TO Christiani :e
the heatheu. a corl espOndence WAS
kept up between the two. and he want
ed her to come to II M and be MARI ed,
and assist him in his laDors. He had
no money to pay her expenses, and she
had none. In this emergency. few
months ago, she made q confidant of
"Dick'' Wright. a heavy clothing
merchant of Mercer. and he beng a
big-hearted man with generous inl-
pulses, offered to supply her with what
money she needed to reach her far off
lover. She gladly accepted his offer,
and at once be ran her preparations for
the long journey. ''Di}k' and Miss
Shaffer were thrown much together
for Il while, and about the time she was
read to start Ire was deeply in love
with her himself But he said nothing,
and she started FOR New York with
enough of "Dick's'' money in her
| pock ct to take her to India.
! Two Or three days Il ter her depart
ure he gre des spon lent, and chided
himself for having given away bis
chance for marrying NJ IS Shafer him
SELF a thou ht struck him, and that
was to follow her, and, if possible. over
! take her before she boarded Il steamer
| in New York for distant India He
acted promptly on the thought, took
the cars reached New York and found
the vesSe el on whici: she was to sail.
Miss Shatler was already on beard; he
made known his Il fleet on asked her
for her hand for himself. was accepted, :,
and the two return Il 10 Mrrc"r Il few
! DAYS ago l- n.a! u ,i - e
The uutcom, is Ht.lu rodrn on the
Young minister WHO is wrestling with
superstition and idolatry in the imgleH
| of India MS6yTtJh tO3Hutr, citl.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1881-04-21

While the Republican and Demo-
cratic parties are quarrelling and
pickering over party supremacy and
spoils, the National Greenbackcrs are
organizing and uniting for the future
election.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1881-04-21

The Republican party in the Uni
ted States Senate depend on Malone
a Virginia repudiationists to give
them control of that body. They
would compromise with the devil to
secure the spoils.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1881-04-21

The Counties of Muskingum, Lick.
ing. Delaware and Perry elect two
State Senators at the next election,
The Democratic majority at the Pre-.
idential election was about seven hun.
dred.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1881-04-21

ONE of the leading chemical manu-
factories of Germany employs six regu-
lar chemists, with salaries varying rom
ST. 800 to -, 800 yearly, and in addition
engages the services of an eminent
chemist for theoretical work exclusively,
paying him nearly $4,000 per annum.
1t is doubtless to this liberal patronage
of qualified scientists that The superior
ity of German chemical manufactures is
dine
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1881-04-21

II will be seen that whereas these
eight great States contained just about
one-half the total population of the
Union in 1870, they now fall short of it
by nearly 100000.
They have not gained in as great a
proportion as some of the far Western
States, as, for instance, these:
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1881-04-21

At many Of the elections in Michi-
gan the Democracy and Republicans
united but the Greenbackers in almost
every instance came off victorious.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1881-04-21

What is life? In infancy, q battlo
with colic; in youth, n struggle to keep
out of mischief; in manhood, II struggle
with indigestion, and i'll old age the pre-
Iude of "A contested will case.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1881-04-21

Ir now appears that the earbonized
cardboard burner with which Edison
startled America was used by j. w.
Swan, the well known English elec,ri-
clan, twenty years ago. AT least so he
announced ut n recent lecture ut New
castle-on-T Tyne. Thus do all our mols
fall.