davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-02-10
Habitual Profanity.

One can not walk the streets, or trav-
ell in the cars, or stop at public places,
and not be sadly touched by the amount
Of profanity he hears. Boys hardly
old enough to talk plainly; young men
just stepping over the threshold of ac-
tive life; gray-haired men bending over
the grave, are all in fetters to this de-
grading habit. 1t matters little what
the place or occasion, your ears are filled
with profanity. We. can understand
how a man under severe provocation
might give utterance to an oath. We
understand, if we can not sympathize
with, passionate man, beset with little
difficulties, when he snaps out a too
energetic word. But for man in COM
mon, every day conversation, calmly,
even stupidity, to mix in dozen or
more profane expressions, there is no
excuse; and yet it is the result of a
habit which has grown upon the Amer
lean people and deserves the most Sc
we're censure. No boy utters his first
No man with any regard for the pro-
prieties of society, ever swea-s in the
presence of ladies. 1t is more a
matter of habit than almost any
vice to which the people are ad-
dicted. Now, if those who have this
wretched habit will break it, if only for
a few days, and listen to others, they
will see how senseless, how unmanly it
is, and how little necessity there is for
it. 1t is the most gratuitous and uncom-
pensating of all sins. 1t neither gives
force to remark, dignity to speech,
nor impressiveness to thought. And it
is habit as easily broken as formed.
How degrading to humanity to hear
the vile curses of foul-mouthed
drunkard. The two vices generally go
together, and one is as beastly and dis
gushing as the other.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-02-10
Webster az a Farmer.

To the end of his long and busy life,
Daniel Webster retained the love of the
country and of farming which he ac-
quired in his childhood. It was always
with Joy that he Ereturned from the
scenes of his public labors and triumphs
to his cosy home at Marshfeld and his
well-tilled fields at Franklin. The quiet
pursuits of the farm; the planning of
his crops; the rearing of his cattle,
his sheep, his pigs and hens; the inn
provements in cultivating lands; the
care of his horses-all interested the
great statesman fully as keenly as grav-
er questions of state, and oratorical
victories at the Capitol.
One day he asked his son Fletcher
and friend who was visiting him to
90 out with him to the barn and see his
cattle. He fed them with delight, and
turning to his companions with smile,
said:
81 like this. I had rather be here
than in the Senate. 1t is better COM
pany."
When at Washington, engaged in alb
sorbing duties as Senator or Secretary of
State, he seldom let day pass without
writing to his farm-overseers at Marsh
field and Franklin, telling them just
what to plant and what to plow, what
horses to buy and what cattle to sell.
Webster discovered the value of kelp,
or seaweed, as rich manure for land,
and brought it into general use in his
neighborhood. He was probably as
skillful farmer as lived in New Eng
land, and showed the same wisdom in
this as in public affairs.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-02-10
Old Steve

Old Steve suffered with dew poison,
an Inheritance from slavery.
''Steve," said old Silas, <twhy doan
you core dat pizen? Doan yer know dat
a man wild an aillnent in little Rock
amt 'spected?'
81 knows all dat, but how kin I cure
the pizen?''
..Hes yer tried eberything''
Yes"
'Wall, why doan yer git down and
pray?''
.'Lemme tell yer bout dis prayin'
business. Some time ago l 'cluded
dat prayin' would pray off de pizen.
1 got down in de corndner NV de
fence, an begun like dis: Lord, ez
yer is awar, 1 suffers wild de pizen.
Now, as de man sed wen he wus see
sick on de Gulf of Mexico, jes' tell
me what Use did ter bring dis pnn-
ishment onter me? Tell me cornti-
Dental. Jes' pint out some fack what
Use done.' No fack was pinted out.
Arter waitin' awhile longer 1 sez,
Now, oh Lord, take dis pizen outen my
fut. Use well in ebery udder 'speck,
ah, now, fur de sake OBJ de ole man,
hep me, won't yer?'
s.Wall, want yer hepped?'
..Hepped! yas wuz hepped. When
1 Strengthened up foun' dat l had de
wus case of rhetmatez in de wOrl. Oh,
yas, was hepped. Hepped home on
!, couple OBJ rails. 'Twon't do to fool
wild de Lord, yer hean my horn?''
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-02-10
The Colonel's Coffee Mill.

Yesterday old Joe Hemlock, one of
the blacklist colored men in Detroit,
was promenading through the editorial
rooms of the Free Press, IN search of
money enough to buy new pair of
boots. and the sight of him revived an
old recollection. In 1861, after the
retreat from Bull RIM, the third Michi-
gan Infantry went into camp at Hunt
er's Place, and old Joe, then a middle
aged darkey, came into camp rs q rum
away Col. Mcconnell seized upon him
for cook, and after instructions Joe
was given charge of the Colonel's
kitchen. His first meal was dinner,
and abont time for it to appear he walk
ed in on the Colonel, made very low
bow, and said:
'.Kernel, lie not quite up to the sit
uation jist yit. You tole me to bake
beans, didn't you?''
81 did"
s.Werry well, sab; de beans am baked.
You tole me to fry ham, didn't youP'
81 did,
..Werry well, sab; de ham am fried.
Now did you say l war to bile de coffee
in de kernel or, or;
..No-no-who ever heard of making
coffee that way?'
..Well, dat's what fought; but Ker-
mel, it am an awful slow job for one
nigger to crack all that coffee tween
his teef, and dinner gwine to be half an
hour late. suah's yoer bo,n!'-DetrOH
Free Press.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-02-10
A Business Proposition.

In Galveston, says the News, there is
no coin of a lower denomination than a
nickel in circulation. This is, of course,
a great Inconvenience. For instance,
yesterday two men quarrelled on the
avenue. The bigger man of the two
said to the smaller man:
s.For three cents I'll give you the con-
foundest licking you ever got in your
life.''
The little man looked wicked. He
had his coat off in a minute. Then he
took out u nickel and rendered it to the
other party, who said:
81 said I'd lick you for three cents,
and I'll do it. That's five cents. Gim-
me three cents, and I'll fix you SO the
coroner will have to hire hack to get
enough of you together to hold an in
quest"
You can keep the change" said the
little fellow, edging up.
I'm like the country, l don't want
any change. l stick to my proposition.
Gimme three cents and I'll destroy
you"
Here is fifteen cents. Suppose you
lick me five times, and then it will come
out even.'
'.After I've licked you once there
won't be enough left over for a dog to
lick. I'm not going to rob your widow
and orphans of twelve cents. Gimme
three cents and the trouble can begin
right now. It's not my fault there are
no copper cents in circulation"
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-02-10
"Qd Pam" "

Old Day, the English trainer, turned
up ut the door of the House of Com
mons one day, and asked whether
Palmerston was in. '.Do you want to
see him?" the man at the door asked.
'.Yes; tell i'm Day wants TO see i'm, and
tell'im to 'urry, for L want to get away"
says old Day. Well, they looked at
him and began to chaffhim. ''Wouldn't
Lord John Russell do as well?'' asked
one. ''Perhaps you would like to see
the Earl of Derby, also?" suggests
another. Hadn't we better send for
Aberdeen?" asks third. And while
they were showering the old trainer
with chaif, n member of the Commons.
who knew him, put his hand on his
shoulder, ''Why, Day, what are you do
ing here?'' 81 want to see Palmer
ston," Day replied. '.Well, Palmer
ston is at his post in the House of Com
MONS" said the member, ''you can
hardly expect the Premier to come out
to see you'' .'Oh, he'll come if you'll
tell i'm l wants to see 'im," said old
Day; .'tell i'm its about the filly." The
member went in, and Old Pam came
out in a devil of a hurry, much to the
surprise of the fellows who were chat
fling the trainer. ''What about the
filly?'' he anxiously inquired, after
shaking Days hand. ''She's won 'er
trial." Day said. Good says Palmer
ston, and he began to confer with the
trainer as to what was to be done with
her.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-02-10
Some of the Fruits of Idleness.

CnamDcrS JOufnal.
The mind should be always occupied;
it is strengthened and preserved in q
healthy state of work; whereas it de-
Gays or becomes impoverished by dis
use; or, what is even worse, since it is
impossible to keep the brain absolutely
at rest, its powers should be profitably
employed, or they react on the system,
and give rise to the numberless all
ments, physical, mental. and moral,
known as hysteria. This term almost
implies that L am thinking of the fe-
male sex; certainly it is to women
especially that the want of occupation
applies. Young men are forced to get
their living whether they like it OF not;
but large number of young ladies in
a family have absolutely nothing to do.
Those brought up in the country have
this advantage, that they may always
make work for themselves; the village
children may be taught and otherwise
cared for; bringing not only a blessing
on them. but a healthy body and mind
to the benefactor.
In town the condition of middle class
girls is to me pitiable. They are too
genteel to follow any occupation; there
are too often too many in a family to
assist in domestic duties; they have
returned home from school with some
very poor accomplishments; their
knowledge of French and German is
not sufficient to allow them to converse
in those languages; and music just
enough to indulge in a doleful song, or
play badly'on the piano. They dawdle
through the day in listlcss way, and
fall victims to thousand little ailments
! which the doctor is supposed to put
right by physic. And the most curious
thing is that should the instincts of tho
girl force her to put some of her ener-
gies into use, she is as likely as not to
be thwarted by the mother. l am
daily witness to this; and when young
ladies are brought to me for advice, the
invariable story is that they are over
taxing their strength; the maternal in
stinct being so perverted that it has be-
come with many the belief that every
movement means fatigue, and that alb
solute rest is the way to insure health.
1t is against this very erroneous view
that | am not preaching. These
mothers do not come to the doctor for
advice, but come to dictate to him; and
they say: Il want you, doctor, to insist
on my daughter not playing the organ
at church, for it is too much for her;
or having that chiidren's class once Il
week, for she is always ill after it; but
order her to have her breakfast in bed,
| ands :. glass of port wine about IL
o'clock'' 1t is this fanciful care on the
part of parents which is So Injurious;
for the very energy of young people
would command them to occupy them
SalynS
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-02-10
Difference Between "Consins.u

The difference between city and their
country cousins is more marked than
most people believe. The first impress
sion man has on finding himself for
the first time in a great city is of vague
excitement, accompanied by sense of
danger. The multiplicity of objects APP
pears fantastic to an eye accustomed to
rural scenery; the unintermittent noises,
the entangled yet purposeful panorama
of unfamiliar human faces, combine to
throw the visitor into state of mind
totally strange to him. And amid so
much tumultuous life he sees death ev-
erywhere ON the lookout for victim.
But if the visitor to these strange re-
gions looks at the faces of those he
meets in search of some reflection of
his own perturbation, he looks in vain.
The countenance of the city man, as he
threads his way along the streets, is cur
iously impassive. At first glance it
appears also to be unobservant, but this
it is not. For though he seems to look at
nothing, it soon becomes evident that he
sees everything. He mechanically in
forms himself out of the corner of his
eye, of everything that might tend to
obstruct or threaten him; and though
he passes through a thousand people
without encountering the gaze or tread
ing on the toes of any one of them, he
will recognize an acquaintance or cal
culate to an inch the rate of speed at
which he must make the crossing in Or
der to escape the omnibus from one di-
rection and the truck from the other.
Doubtless custom and memory will ac-
count for large part of it; yet the inn
passive face would probably appear far
less imDaSSiye than if does had not the
contraction of the facial muscles, brought
about by the innumerable impressions
and the impossibility of responding to
them all, become in manner fixed.
The houses and the pavements, the We
hicles and the hubbub, produce an
effect upon these muscles just the re-
verse of that exercised by the hills and
dales of the country; they press them
in instead of drawing them out in
other words, the mind resists them in
stead of sympathiZing with them.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-02-10
Deceived by Appearance.

An honest Galveston shoemaker was
strolling down the avenue when, peer
ing into Il restaurant, what should he
see but one of his fashionable CUSTOM
ers seated Mt 4 table covered with all
the delicacies of the season. including
a large bottle of green seal and two
canvas-back ducks! Rushing in, the
irate Galveston tradesman exclaimed,
''You haven't got money to pay me for
the boots you have got on, but you can
afford to pay for all manner OF deli
cacies:'' The young man wiped his
that he was not overheard, responded
in whisper, ''Don't be deceived by ap-
pearances. You must not lose conf
dence in me. don't expect to pay for
this banquet any more than 1 expected
to pay you for the boots. .''-Gdtceston
Neics
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-02-10
The Doughnut.

The Doughnut has been favorably
mentioned in literature and it fills an
honored place in our memories of child
hood; but the doughnut which is rolled
in pulverized sugar and which has
raisin in the center possesses an ideal
grace never attained by the plain fried
cake, OF even by the ring. Take three
pints of flour, piece Of butter about
the size of hens egg, one cup sugar,
one egg, a small bowlful of milk or wa
ter, four or five teaspoonfuls of baking:
powder; flavor with nutmeg or CHINA
mon. The dough made in this way will
be thin,- and you will need to sprinkle
flour enough over it and on the knead-
ing-board to roll it out nicely. Cut the
cakes out with a biscuit-cutter; then
take a knife and insert it at the edge of
the cake until the point of the knife is
at the center; then take out the knife
and put the raisin in; press and flatten
the cake and cut it out again with the
biscuit-cutter. This operation prevents
the raisin from bursting out when the
cake rises
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-02-10
Nhaff and Real Grain.

In nature the husks enclose the kerr
mel. The best is never at the surface.
Hidden springs lie deepest, and purest
waters gush from silent sources. The
chaff and wheat grow together until the
threshing time when the ripe grain is
gathered in the garner, and the chaff
scattered by passing winds. Froth dis
appears as bubbles on the wave, but
the mighty tides roll on in unceasing
flow forever. Realities are substance;
illusions, shadows. Falsity may be
wreathed in smiles and clothed in rich
attire, while truth is hidden in humble
forms and seeks no loud parade. Hon
or may be for time crucified, while
fraud triumphs with brazen front. De-
ceit may work in sinuous ways and gilt
ter as serpents in flashing hues, while
manly souls wear beggars' garb and
suffer sorest pain. Slander may dip the
tongue in venom deadly as the reptiles
the threshing time approaches when
the chaff is blown aside and the true
grain appears all golden. Falsehood
may triumph for a moment, but truth
lives on forever. Honor may lie in the
dust to day, and tomorrow shine as the
sun in the heavens. Deceit may stab
like the assassin in the dark, but soon
is stripped of its mask, and abashed,
covers in the clear, calm gaze of nobler
souls. The strain of time tests charac-
ter as well as beauty. In the struggle
the real only survives, the fictitious dis
appears. You can not build pyramids
on shifting sands, their base must rest
on granite foundations. Robust man.
hood is not developed from sickly
frames, nor can the principles that live
and grow through field and blood be
maintained in the foul chambers of evil
passions As the kernel and not the
chaff contains the power of reproduc-
ton, so the heart and not the body de-
velopes the principles that live on
through the ages. Truth and error
have each their affairs where gifts are
hung and prayers are offered. The flow
of years rings out the false, rings in the
true. The underbeat of humanity is
after perfection. Religion, science, art
all Strive for the highest forms. The
scaffoldings of one age go down after
another as the great temple of virtue,
moral worth and excellence is building,
and higher rise the towers and fairer
swells the dome as the chaff is swept
away and only the true grain appears.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-02-10
The Dignity of Housekeeping.


Where is there any station higher
than the ordering of the house? While
the husband has to veX himself with out
ward matters, while he has wealth to
gather and secure, while perhaps he
takes part in the administration of the
State, and everywhere depends on cir
cumstances; ruling nothing 1 may say,
while he conceives that he is ruling
much; compelled to be but polite where
he would willingly be reasonable, to
dissemble where he would be open, to
be false where he would be upright;
while thus, for the sake of an object
which he never reaches, he must every
moment sacrifice the first of objects,
harmony with himself-a reasonable
housewife is actually governing in the
interior of her family; has the comfort
and activity of every person in it to pro
vide for, and make possible. What is
the highest happiness OF mortals, II not
to execute what we consider right and
good, to be really masters of the means
conducive to our aims? And where
should or can our nearest aims be but
in the interior of our home? All those
indispensable and still to be renewed
supplies, where do we expect, do we re-
uuire to find them, if not in the place
where we rise and where we go to sleep.
where kitchen and cellar, and every spe-
cies of accommodation for ourselves
and ours is to be always ready? What
unvarying activity is needed to conduct
this constantly recurring series in un-
broken living order! How few are the
men to whom it is given to return regu-
larly like Il star, to command their day
as they command their night; to form
for themselves their household instru-
ments, to SOW and to reap, to gain and
to expend, and to travel around their
circle with perpetual success and peace
and lOvei 1t is when u woman has at
tanned this inward mastery, that she
truly makes the husband whom she
loves Il master; her attention will re-
quire all sorts of knowledge; her activl-
ty will turn them all TO profit. Thus is
she dependent upon no one; and she
procures her husband genuine indt oer1-
dence, that which is interior and do
mestic; whatever he possesses, he be-
holds secured; what he earns, well en-
ployed; and thus he can direct his mind
to lofty objects and, if fortune favors,
he may act in the State the same char
acter which so well becomes his wife at
home
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-02-10
A Settlers Escape From Indians.

Just below Kanawha Falls, in West
Virginia, writes correspondent OF
Louisville, paper, is an overhanging
rock jutting out about one hundred feet
over the seething whirl pool, and about
the same height above. This was once
the scene of q remarkable adventure.
The Indians were in hot pursuit of Van
Bibber, Il settler and man of dlstlnc-
ton in those early times. He was
hard pressed, and, all access to the river
below and above being cut off, he was
driven to this jutting rock, which prov
ed to be the jumping of place for him.
He stood on the rock, in full view of the
enemy, who yelled triumphantly at the
certainty OF his speedy capture. He
stood up boldly. and with his rifle kept
them at bay. AS he stood there he
looked across the river and saw his wife
with her baby in her arms, all helpless
to render assistance. They stood as If
petriiied with terror and amazement.
Presently she cried at the top of her voice,
Leap into the river and meet me"'
Laying her baby upon the grass, she
sprang into skiff and seized the oars.
As she neared the middle of the river
her husband saw the Indians coming in
full force and yelling like demons.
inc; drop down little lOwerr' With
this he sprang from his crag and de-
scended like On arrow into the water.
He rose near her; in a moment the canoe
was alongside of him, and she helped
him to scramble into it amid 4 shower
of arrows and shot that the baffled
Indians poured upon them. The dar-
ing wife did not speak word; her
husband was more dead than alive, and
all depended on her strength being
maintained till they could reach the
bank. This they did, just where she
had started, right where the baby. was
still lying growing and laughing.
Some men pulled the sSiff high up on
the sand, and the wife slowly arose and
helped to lift Van Bibber to his feet,
then, seating herself, she wept wildly,
That baby is now grandfather,
and that rock is called EVAN Bibber's
Rock'' to this day.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-02-10
A Wonderful Feat of Memory.

The history of the celebrated conju-
rer Robert Houdin furnishes a remarka-
BILE example of the power of memory
acquired by pratice, He and his brother,
while yet boys, invented a game which
they played in this wise. They would
pass shop-window and glance into it
as they went by without stopping, and
then at the next corner compare notes
and see which could remember the
greatest number of things in the window,
including their relative positions. Hav-
ing tested the accuracy of their observa-
tions. they would go and repeat the eX-
pertinent elsewhere. By this means
they acquired incredible powers of OBJ
servation and memory; so that, after
running by a shop-window once and
glacing as they passed, they would
enumerate every article in it. When
Robert became a professional conjurer,
this habit enabled him to achieve feats
apparently miraculous. 1t is told o5
him that, visiting friends house
caught glimpse of the bookcase as he
In the course of the evening, when
anxiety to witness some specimens of
his power, he said to his host, ''Well
sir, 1 shall tell you, without stirring
from this place, what books you have
in your library" ''Come, come,'' said
he incredulously; 'sthat is to good.''
eve shall see,' replied Houdin. '.Let
some of the company go into the library
and look, and shall call out the names
from this room.'' They did so; and
Houdin began -s.Top shelf, left hand,
two volumes in red morocco, Gibbons
Decline and Fail; next to these, four
volumes in half calf, Boswell's Johnson;
HasselaS, in cloth; Hume's History Of
England, in calf, two volumes but the
second one wanting" and SO on, shelf
after shelf, to the wonder of the whole
company. More than once gentle
man stole into the drawing-room,
certain he would catch Houdin reading
a catalogue; but there sat the conjurer,
with his hands in his pockets, looking
into the fire.