davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1881-07-14
Asiutfc Opium Smokers.

A correspondent, travelling in Persia,
writes rs follows of the chief vice of men
of that part of the world "Aftcr sup.
per OF boiled rice plcntifully creased, the
men, of whom some eight or nine were
present commenced smoking opium, q
vice frightfully prevalent in this part OF
| the world as one can see from the corpse
like complexion, and dull, leaden, YAM
| pirc-like stare of the eyes of half the
people one meets. Even here in Kclat,
| in the room where I nm writing this,
three men are diligently plying an opium
katiem. They lie at full length on the
floor, their heads together OH the same
pillow, their feet outward, like the
spokcs Of II wheel. Close to the pillow
is a small circular table of alabastcr Il
foot wide, and raised five inches from
the ground. On this is n small lamp of
the same material, fed with butter. This
is covered by Il glass bell about seven
inches high, it's edges resting OH three
small copper coins, so as to allow mir to
enter. In the top is a small hole, bound
with brass. The flame comes within Il
couple of inches of this aperture a
piece of opium rs large as Il good-siZed
pea is stuck OH point of kind of metal
bodlin, and held over the flame. 1t is
repeatedly melted and tempered before
being smoked. The opium pipe consists
of al earthen OF metal pear-shapcd bulb,
about tho size of boys peg top. In the
broad cnd is inserted wooden tube, ten
or twelve inches long. In the side of
the bulb is wafy small hole. a piece
of roasted opium is placed on this hole,
and pierced with the bodkin, SO rs to al
low the passage of air. The smoker
holds the opium thus placed over the
aperture in the glass bell, and inhales
the smoke, companion all the while
turning and manipulating the opium
with the bodl1in After half q dozen
whilis tho smoker relinquishcs the ap-
paratus, and sinks back in scmilethnr-
gic state. My head is dizzy, and I feel
quite sick from the heavy, sour-smelling
fumes which pervade the apartment. L
can not very well ask them to stop or go
out, as am their guest. It is singular
that while this vice is 50 universal among
the more eastcrly Turcomans it is almost
entirely unknown among the Turcomans
of the Atterek and Caspian littoral."
The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1881-07-14

The kayak Of the Grccnlandcr is the
frailcst specimen Of marine architecture
that over carried human freight. 1t is
eighteen feet long and as many inches
wide ut its middle, and tapers, with an
upward curving line, to point ut either
end. The boat is graceful as duck and
light as feather. 1t has no ballast and
no keel, and it rides almost on the sur
face of the water 1t is, therefore,
necessarily top-heavy. Long practice is
required to manage it, and no tight-rope
dancer ever needed more steady nerve
and skill of balance than this same
savage kayakcr. Yet, in this frail craft
he does not hesitate to ride seas which
would swamp an ordinary boat, or to
break through surf which may sweep
completely over him. But he is used to
hand battles, and, in spite of every for
tune, he keeps himself upright. We
have been assured, however, by persons
familiar with Arctic cruising, that the
Kayakcr does sometimes come to grief
by the capsiZing of his canoe. The skirt
OF his sealskin waterproof shirt being
firmly lashed to the coaming of the we'll
of the kayak, he becomes so chilled by
the cold water, and exhausted by his
struggles to free himself from his canoe,
that death by drowning overtakes the
poor fellow in spite of all his presence OF
mind and nautical skill. As long rs he
retains his doublc-bladcd paddle undcl
water there il fair chance of the
kayaker righting himself, but when that
is lost his chances Of getting safely tC
land are poor indeed.
The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1881-07-14
Had Il Shock.

eyes," Mr.. Messenger replied, in an
swcr to the young lady's remark, che
was rather fond of bathing; very fond of
it, in fact, but he received terrible
shock few summers ago while in the
water, and he has never recovered from
it,"
"My," she exclaimed, "did snake
bite him?" ooh, drcadful!'
"No;" Mr.. Messenger said; cit wasn't
TINT"
Did he come near drowning, then?"
she wanted to know.
"No," he said, "'it wasn't that exactly
bnt just as he was about ready to come
ont of the river he saw tramp going up
over the hill, about quarter of mile
away, with his hat, his pockctbook, his
vest, his watch, his handkerchief, his
stockings, his cigar case his shoes, his
collar, his necktio, his shirt stud, and
collar button, his s-s-suspcndcrs, his
cane, and, well, in fact, his trousers.
And there was q Sunday school picnic
only half mile down the river, gradu-
ally coming nearer, and lie lomged
around among the willows all that day
and walked home alone in the starlight.
| And the fact was he has never been able
to enjoy swim much since that time. }"
The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1881-07-14
1865.
Cowi,,g II Tramp.

Mrs. Deacon Grover, who was the
widow OF the late Mr.. Mcconnell, Of the
town OF Horschcads, New York, is n lady
approaching sixty years of age, a kind
hearted and charitable but spirited
woman. One day recently she was
visiting her son, Augustus Mcconnell,
III HoSchcads, who keeps bacheler
sort of farm i'll the town. BY bachelor,
we mean not lonesome place, nor al
lll-kept one, but one in which the al,-
scnce OF women is n noticeable feature.
During her visit Mrs. Grover was sitting
ut " table sewing, something thnt il
necessary even in bachelor establish
ment. She was alone in the house. A
person appeared who answered we'll the
description of tramp. He said he was
hungry, and, the lady's sympathics being
aroused, she drew her gold-rimmcd
spectacles from her eyes and laying
them on the table, went down into the
collar for some bread and meat for him.
when she returned she noticed that her
spectacles were gone from the table.
WITH the toothsome provendcr on plate
still i'll her hand she said ; "You've got
my gold specs" The tramp denied the
charge. She reiterated it and the stran-
ger reiterated his denial She quietly
laid the plate on the table, went to Il
bureau and taking IL revolver therefrom,
her son Keeping weapon of this kind
i'll every room i'll the house, as shc knew,
she pointed it Mt the tramp and told him
if he didn't lny those specs on the table,
she would shoot linn where he stood.
The trump took the specs from his
pocket, and mildly laid them on the
table. "Now," she said, "ont what I
have brought for you and get out" He
ate and departed. When her son Au-
gustus appeared, the spirited old lady
again took the revolver from the bureau
and said to him: "Augustls, how do
ynu cock this weapon 2"
The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1881-07-14
How Coffee came to bU Used.

IT is somewhat singular to trace the
manner in which arose the use of the
common beverage of coffee, without
which few persons in any half or wholly
civilized country in the world, now make
breakfast. At the time Columbus dis
covered America, it had never been
known or used. 1t only grew in Arabia,
and Upper Ethiopia. The discovery Of
it's use rs a beverage is ascribcd to the
Superior Of a monastery in Arabia, who,
desous of preventing the monks from
sleeping Mt their nocturnal services,
made them drink the infusion of coffee,
upon the reports of the shepherds TINT
their ilocks were more lively after brows-
ing on the fruit of that plant. Its
reputation spread through tho adjacent
countries, and in about two hundred
years it had reached Paris. A single
plant, brought there in 1714, became
the parent stock of all tho French coffee
plantations in the West Indies. The
Dutch introduced it into Java and tho
East Indies, and the French and Span.
ish all over South America and tho West
Indies.
The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1881-07-14
Il Little Railroad.

One OF the most curious railroads in
the world is the tcn-inch gauge road
running from North Bcllcrica, Mass,
to Bedford. 1t was ut first hootcd ut by
the people, but the road was completed,
making length of about eight and A.
half miles. There arc eleven bridges on
the road, one Of which is over 100 feet
long. The rails weigh twenty-five
pounds to the yard. The road is we'll
equipped. One grade is of 1876 feet.
The cars and engines will Mt first sight
create wonder and admiration. Their
perfect proportions give them n hnnd-
some appearance. They are constructed
very near the ground, giving them great
advantages of safety. The cars havo
M aisle with one seat on ench side in the
same manner rs ordinary cars have two
seats, each person having n seat to him
self. The cars are supplied with closets,
water tanks, are heated by steam, and
have all the modern improvements.
They weigh but four and a-hnlf tons, or
binary cars weighing on in average
eighteen tons. The trains run at the
rate of twenty miles an hour with per-
feet safety. The engine is placed be-
hind the tender, giving it greater adhc-
sion to the track. They weigh eight
tons and draw two passenger and two
freight cars. The cost Of the railroad
was 81 500 per mile. .- '.
The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1881-07-14
COlorlng Walls

Ceilings and walls are often finished
in distemper, but very often turn out
unsatisfactory, from the want of know
ledge in the mixing and laying on. Alb
sorption in tho wall should be checked
color than another, md an uneven or
or spotty appearance result. Various
preparations nrc used for preparing
walls and to stop absorption. One of
these is to mix about q dozen pounds of
the best whiting with water adding
thereto enough parchment or other size
to bind the color, about two ounces of
alum, and the same weight of soft soap
dissolved in water; mix well and strain
through screen on coarse cloth. In
mixing the tistcmpcr, one writer says,
'"Two things arc essentially necessary {:
clean and well washed whiting, and pure
jellicd size" The whiting should be
put to soak with sufficient soft water to
cover it well and penetrate it's bulk.
When soaked sufficiently, the water
should be poured off, which will remove
dust from the whiting. It then may
then be beaten up to n stiff paste by the
hand or spatula. Size is next added and
mixed together. Care should be taken
not to break the jelly of tho size any
more than can be avoided.
Another caution is that distemper
should be mixed with jcllied size to lay
! on wcll-thc color then works cool and
fionts nicely; but when the size is used
| hot, it drags and gathers and works dry,
producing n rough wall. a little alum
added to the distcmpcr hardcns it and
helps to dry it ont solid and even. The
bcat size is made from parchment clip
: pings, which arc put into an iron kettle
! filled with water and allowed to stand
, twcnty-fonr hours till the pieces are
, thoroughly soaked, then they are boiled
' for five hours, and the scum removed.
The liquid is then strained through n
cloth. For mixing colors the whiting
and the color required, finely ground,
are dissolved separately and then mixed
to the required tint For example,
lampblack mixed with whiting, makes
gray, and the most delicntc to the dark
est shades may be obtained. For French
gray the whiting required is taken and
soaked in water, and Prussian blue and
lake finely ground in water are added to
produce tho necessary shade or tint
Buff may be made by dissolving in like
manner, separately, whiting and yellow
o,hre. A little Venetian red gives warm
tone. A good salmon tint is produced
by adding to tho dissolved whiting q lit
tie of the same red, just sufficient to
tingc. Drabs Of various tints can be
easily made by grinding up finely u little
burnt umber and mixing it with tho dis
solved whiting. The sooner the distem-
per color dries after being laid on, the
better, and the best plan is to close win
dows and doors during laying, and throw
them open nfterward.
The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1881-07-14
ThnwS und l'rOSts Oh Plants.

Herr Hoffman throws light on the way
III which plants are injured in time of
hard FROST. 1t is well known that plants
and trees situated in the bottom of n
valley suffer much more from cold and
frost than those III Il higher sitnntion
Thi" 10 duo t" tho fo"t that thn v",Inw, -
not only retain its own cold of radiation,
but also serves as il reservoir for the cold
heavy mir which pOllrs down into it from
the neighboring heights. 1t is thus that
the higher grounds in Switzerland are
warmer than the valleys or gorgcs, rs in
these the cold collects rs in so many
basins. 1t is also found in this country
that plants and shrubs, which survive
tho severity of winter on ground raised
above the level of the valley, perish when
grown III the valley itself. The great
advantage of hilly position is thus
apparent, and has been amply proved
by Herr Hofl,mans observations Mt Gels
sen. Here he found that the plants so
situated took little or no harm from the
intense cold while quite near, in the
valley, there was extensive injury. The
injury, too decreased in proportion to
elevation above the valley. AS to the
Immediate effect of temperature upon
ll'tlltH, Illc lttloI IL Ol tllc opinion IlltlI
lit is not a particular degree of cold that
kills plant, but the amount of quick
thawing. This was illustrated in one
case by the curious fact that one and the
same hush-spccics OF boX-was killed
i'll its foliage on the south side, while ON
the north the foliage remained green.
The sudden change of temperature
produced by quick thawing was con-
sidered to be some degrees less for plants
in u high situation and for the shady
sides of the half-killcd shrubs. The
higher situations are in this respect also
favorable to plant life; because, while
| the frost is not 80 severe rs in the valley,
| the effect of thawing winds is found to
| be the same for both. The plants on the
higher ground are therefore subjected to
less strain by variations from low to Il
high temperature, and the reverse, than
their congcncrs i'll the valleys. These
facts are of Importance in determining
questions as to the sites of country
houses and gardens, and the more or less
hardy character of the plants and shrubs
most likely, in the particular situation,
| to survive the frOSts of winter.
The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1881-07-14
An Electric Fire Tcll-TaIc.

There are several devices for enabling
the rise of temperature accompanying
an outbreak of fire ut n particular place
in building to ring IN alarm-bell by
means of m electric current. There is
the mcrcurial thermometer, in which the
mercury column, on expanding by tho
increased temperature, makes contact
between two platinum electrodes fused
into the tube, and completes the circuit;
and there is IN arrangement in which
the bimetallic spring, fixed at ono end,
is free to curve under the unequal OK
pansion Of the two metals, and close q
circuit in that way. A still simpler plan
has been recently contrived by NJ. G.
Dnpre, in which the contents of the
automatic keys are kept apart by q piece
Of suet or tallow, which on melting by
tho heat allows them to como together
through the operation of small weighr
attached to tho uppermost contact bat.
The tallow is not Of course placed inn
mediately between the contacts, for in
that case. the fat would act MS an in
sulator, and prevent the flow Of the cur
rent. The apparatus is readjusted after
nm alarm by charging it with fresh tall
l0w E'.'.- .'H. sat f
The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1881-07-14
The Uses Of Mica.

The mica chiefly met with in com
mcrcc is of that variety which is proof
against acids md intense heat. It's
toughncss, elasticity, and close approach
to transparency naturally lc,l, Mt first, to
its use for windows, and especially to it's
employment in lanterns. 1t is found in
largo quantities in Northern Carolina,
where there arc unmi istaken evidences
that some of tho beds were worked "
great many years ago. The finer sheets
of tough mica arc now used for such p,lr-
poses as the dials Of compasscs, the lot
! tering of fancyAsigns, covering photo
graphs, constructing lamp shades, re-
flcctors, etc. Of late mica has been used
in the solcs of boots and shoes, as n pro-
lection against dampncss The invcn-
ton consists of q sheet of mica embedd-
cd in the boot or shoe between the outer
and inner sole, the upper leather tapping
over it's edges, and covering the upper
space from the toe to the instep There
are many other uses to which mica is
put, and it is becoming more and more
valuable as the arts anl trades progress.
Mercy is sometimes an insult to jus
tice. az .El
The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1881-07-14
Trips of the Sort.

IT was Catharinc Lawlcr who took the
head OF the procession in the Mayors
Court, Chicago, and began
'Ah I'm glad to see your Honor
looking so we'll Looks now rs if the
backbone Of winter was broken, doesn't
it?"
eyes, rather. How do YOU feel after
being drunk and disortlcrly last night ?"
''Say, wont your Honor look over it. "
VI have let you off about six times,
haven't II"
Just six, your honor, and this will
make seven. Whit arc seven little
grains of mercy to II woman who has to
work like II naygur for living?"
Lets see? you have always had an
excuse for being drunk ?"
eyes, sir, always"
1.-The last time your excuse was that
you took whisky for chils ?"
eyes, sir, and L haven't had a sign of
one since"
"And what did you take it for this
time ?"
''ro break up fever, your Honor,
and besides TINT L have five small
clildren."
"Where arc they?"
'Well, your Honor, they are dead, of
course, but I'm thinking of them every
hour in She day, you ]:now. If yo,,
should send me up don't know how mo
husband would get along" {"
"Wherc is hep"
"Well sir, I think he's sailing out of
the port of Buffalo this summer"
"Well, I'll have to send you ,lD this
time. 1 have given you MI the show yo,,
could hope for, but you get drunk every
two weeks as regularly as clock work."
"Oh, no, sir-only once in twenty
years. Indeed, sir, but this will be only
seven times"
',C"n't do it. shall send yon mp for
"For two hours, sir"
"For thirty days"
ooh, sir, make it twenty"
emo"
"Twenty-fivc.
"No."
'"Then for twcnty-ninc and a-half."
''Thirty days, Catharine, and Bijah
will give you Il scat on the Moorish tlivan
to wait for the buggy"
every well, your Honor, and TIL take
the divan up there wild me to lie on
when infiustratcd with the heat. Your
Honor is a gentlemen, and hope you'll
live to give me Mt least dozen more
trips of the sort.
The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1881-07-14
- - -
Pins.

i" the young lady whose intricate
ovcrskirt is held in inm,mcmhlc folds by
many pins, it may seem IL hardship that
her yearly allowance of pins is only
about 140. Such, however, is the case
with each individual in the United
States on an equitable division of the
pins yearly sold in this country. But
the Indians in the West are not supposed
to use their full allowance, and collar
buttons have so far done away with the
use of pins by gentlemen generally that
s thh y2iI'" & ,:.. ,":, ;1 ;;S' ,os GalowaS;G HE
pins made in the United States are made
by fourteen factories. Their annual
production for several years past has
been about 1000, 900, 600 pins. This
number has not varied much for some
years, the demand remaining about the
same a few of these 1000, 600, 600 are
swallowed by children, a number are
bent mp in schools and placed in vacant
and inviting chairs, md some millions
get into cracks of floors, and the rest for
the most part are scattered along the
hyways and highways, where they have
dropped from dresses and been loft to
work their way into the earth
The importation of English pins is
small, and the expectation of pins from
the United States is confined to Cuba,
South America and parts of Canada,
where, however, hut few pins are sent
England supplies almost the whole world
outside the United Stntes.
The rnw mnterial--thc brass md iron
wire from which NIL American pins arc
madc-is from the wire mills of this
country, and much of the machinery for
their manufacture is of American inven-
tion and patent.
The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1881-07-14
Scenery and BUMPS.

In Nevada recently two rival coaches
started out Oh parallel roads, each four
team on the gallop. The New Yorker
being the only passenger in one coach
took seat with the driver. He endured
the first five miles very well, as the road
was pretty smooth, but he finally care
lessly observed
''rllis pncc is rather hard on the horses
isn't it?"
ooh, no; they are used to il. !
haven't begun to swing 'em yet !" was
the reply.
"If We were going little slower |
could enjoy the scenery much better"
eyes, l s'pose SO, but this line isn't
run ON the scenery principle"
That ended the conversation until the
horses turned IL corner and the stage
rode around it on two wheels. Then the
Yorker remarked
III suppose you sometimes meet with
accidents ?"
"Almost every lay!" was tho brief
reply.
'1sn't there danger of something Civ
ing way?"
"Of frcur&o, but we've got to take oul
chances. G'lang there"
AT the end of another mile the passcn,
ger col ,llcd his voice sufficiently tC
inquire:
"Wat if we shouldn't reach Red
Hill at exactly two o'clock? I am in no
hurry"
"No, s'pose not, but I've got to do il
or lose ten dollars"
elbow ?"
''l'vc got an even ten bet that I cal
beat the other stage into Red Hill by
fifteen minutes, and I'm going to wiz
thnt money if it kills a horse p
''Say, hold on p exclaimed the Other
rs he felt for his wallet, "I like to ride
fast, and I'm not hit nervous, but dc
hate to see horses get worried. Here's
$50 for you and let's sort O jog along
the rest of the way and get chance tt
smoke and talk about the Indians p
"Whon, there Come down with yo,
--gcntlc now--tnkc it easy and don't
fret y called the driver ms he pulled il
and reached for the grecnliacks with ono
hand and his pipe with the other, and
thereafter the New Yorker had nor,
scenery and less humps.
The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1881-07-14

Mercy is sometimes an insult to jus
tice. "e .sl
The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1881-10-13

On Sunday last Thos. Padden buried one
of his children, and on Tuesday another,
scarlet fever causing the death of BOTH In
their affection Mr.. Padden's family has the
sympathy of the whole community.
The mate of the Lurline fell overheard on
Thursday last, short distance below this
city, and while in the water kicked his shoes
off and made for shore, which he swan to
before help could be extended to him.
Several Portland tramps and beggars,
dirty and drunk, with dirty papers OF rec
ommendation, have been doing Vancouver
within week. The vagrant ordinance, or
cow hide boots, is what they need applied
to them more than anything else.
Ex-Mayor Kalloch lectured in Portland
to an audience OF So persons, including
deadheads, on Tuesday evening. He was to
have been brought here, but some people
kicked against it, as they would not go to
hear a man wearing such unclean skirts as
Kalloch.
On the last three days of the county fair
Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, Oct.
18th. 18th and l4th, the steamer Luriine
will leave Portland, foot of Morrison street
north side) for Vancouver at 800 A. NJ,
returning will leave Vancouver, foot of b
street, at 4 P. NJ. Carriages for the fair
grounds will meet the Luriine on the Van
couver dock.