davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1881-07-07
The Champion Speller.

A Detroiter, who had occasion this
winter to visit Gratiot County, was in
vited to spelling school in a district
school-house, and he reached the place
to find it crowded and deep interest ap-
parent among the audience. The SPELL
ing soon began, and in little time only
six or eight contestants were left. One
of these was a giant named William
Jones, and it was evident that he came
there to conquer. When he spelled
jealousy" with "g," they tried to
make him sit down, but he raped on
the desk with his big fist and replied:
81 don't know nuthin' bout Webster
or any other foreigner, and don't care,
I've allus been used to spellin' it
jealousy and l amt goin' to knock
off to please a few woodchucks.
AS he would not sit down he was al
lowed to go on spelling, even after he
had missed several more words. AT
last only the Detroiter and big William
had the floor, and while the latter was
struggling with the word sympathy
window near the former opened softly
and a man whispered:
"Say, stranger, kin you spell 'chro
mop"
"Of course can"
"Well, it's goin' to floor Bill, and
don't you forget it, and the teacher sent
me around here to say to you that you
better climb out and skip before the
climax comes"
"What climaxP'
"Why, the one we had month ago
That ere Bill went down ON the wore
euphony,' and the chap from lows
who was left standing had to be carried
home in a blanket. When Bill get.
through with sympathy the next wore
will be 'chromo,' and you'd better
either start it off k-r-o' or be ready tC
jump through this winder and make fol
the woods, for that ere Bill is bound tC
outspell this deestrick if he has to licl
every human bein' in itr'
The Dstroiter had good eye fo
harmony in chromos, and he wisely per
mitted big Bill to be the last one lef
standing Detroit Free Press.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1881-07-07
Business Qualifications.

"De odder day." began Brother
Gardner, as seventy-eight members of
the Lime-kiln Club took their seats and
turned their faces towards his desk,
zone OBJ our race applied fur a posishin
in blzness house heah, an dey sent fur
me to ak about his character. Now, what
dye 'spose dey wanted to know? Dey
didn't AK me if he wore good cloze. Dey
didn't AK me if he had a box in de
pose offs. Dey didn't AK if he could run
a party, drive fas' horse, play poker,
talk pollyticks or lead de choir in
church. What dey axed was: Am dis
man squar' an honestp' l tole 'em he
was, an he got de place. Now let dis
case be a warnin to ye all. Frills an
scollops an bows and scrapes may be
all VERY well in sartin cases, but dey
doan' count in bizness. In de fust
place, be squar'. Have word. Make
dat word jist as good as a note. Say
what you mean, and mean what ye say.
If ye say ye'll do thus an so, do it
whether We lose or gain. In de mex
place, be honest. Make no debt 'ye
cannot pay. Wrong no man in buyin'
or sellin'. Take what belongs to you,
an gin what belongs to .odders. In dis
way de humblest man in he land will
command respect an gain friends. We
will now attack de reg'l lar order o biz
ness "--Detroh Free Press.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1881-07-07
A Dime-NOyei Highway man.

A few days ago gentleman named
James L. Dodson called at the four
Courts and reported the mysterious dis
appearance of his son, William Roy
Dodson. This boy, according to the
father, was sixteen years of age and of
light build. He was, the father said at
times little wicked and hard TO man
age. Nothing had been heard of William
by his father since the date of his disap-
pearance until yesterday, when the
father was notified that his son had been
arrested and was in a cell at the Mounted
District Police Station. Those who made
inquiries concerning the arrest were
told the following startling story: At
six o. clock on the evening of the 21st
ult.. Joseph Hendricks, colored farm
laborer in the employ of William Vale,
who lives on the Halls Ferry Road, fif-
teen miles out of the city, was driving
along the highway en- route to st. Louis,
where he intended making some pur-
chases. He had just about reached the
city limits when he heard voice which
said 60 stand and deliver" The words
made him look about him, and as he
looked he saw standing there in the
moonlight a smooth-faced boy, with
two cooked pistols, their barrels point
inc right at him. Hendricks is no cow
ard, but the revolvers brought him to
time. He stood and delivered, giving
up his purse, and the sixteen dollars
which it contained. When the young
man got this he appeared satisfied, and
walked away, while Hendricks drove on
and into the city. When he reached
the Bellefontaine Road he met Officer
Pelzer and gave him description Of
the thief. Last Friday night Officer
Pelzer, upon the description, found the
young highwayman in Baden and ar
rested him. Upon his person were found
two loaded self-cocking revolvers and a
lot of obscene pictures. He was dressed
in border-ruf1ian style-blue shirt, white
felt hat and all. He said that his father,
James L. Dodson, was a contractor,
living on White Avenue, near Moore.
He had not seen his father up 70 last
evening, but had written him letter
and was expecting to hear from him
every moment. AS he has been identi-
fed by Hendricks as the youth who said
stand and deliver" it is likely to 60
hard with him. William Roy is not a
big boy for his age He has a pair OF
very sharp brown eyes and an intelli-
gent face and looks like one who, il
placed on the right track, might stay
there's Louis Republican.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1881-07-07
A Child's Call.

A lady living not far from the corner
of Lafayette and Second Streets, De-
troit, says the Free Press, of that city,
received an afternoon call from little
six year old, which illustrated the
progress children in Detroit are making.
The little one rang the bell, and being
ushered in, said:
How do you do, Mrs. forget your
name-my name is Halle -. / saw
you over to mammals house the other
day, and as mamma was busy thought
l would return your call. Ma doesn't
know it, but / don't care"
The little one was heartily welcomed,
and after she gazed around for a while,
she asked:
"What time do vou dine?''
"Five o'clock" replied the lady.
1--WE always have dinner at two
o'clock, but l guess / can wait. Can 1
stay?'
30, certainly-glad to have you,"
said the lady. ID
Then the little one removed her pretty
wrappings, her dainty hat and gloves.
Hearing the lady of the house call her
servant Katie, she took advantage of
the mistress absence for moment to
run down stairs into the dining-room.
Katie, come herer' she cried.
"What are you going to have for din
ner?''
Soup, beefsteak. sweet potatoes and
pie," meekly replied Katie.
What kind of pieP''
Cranberry"
"Wen, put plenty OF sugar IN the pie
and lots of gravy on the steak, sure"
I. L tair
and soon became jolly friends
was very serious in her conversation,
and asked why young ladies had to wait
so long to be married. Then she told
the lady in all confidence that she had
already received a proposal, but had
not yet concluded to say yes. The lady
was considerably struck with the prod
ICY, and drew her out upon all sorts
Of subjects. Finally the child went to
the piano and offered to sing an original
song.
II always make up my songs" she
said, and then she began in mournful
minor key, as follows:
When am dead and in my coffin,
Ny mamma, she won't care for nothin' ,.
! Our folks will cry,
Mamma will sigh;
| Ihe neArSe Will come.
| And the band with q drum,
| And take me to the sweet bye-and-bye.
Continuing this sort of rhyme she de-
scribed her funeral, the mourners, the
procession to the buryin' ground, y
where
| A deep, dark cave
/ Shall be my grave.
Striking all the time discordant
thirds and fifths, the little one entered
into the spirit of the song SO much that
the tears rolled down her face at the re-
cital and the lady buried her face in hel
handkerchief-to cover her smiles. JUS
as the hostess had promised to have hel
husband '' put plenty of gravy on the
little girls steak, lady, flushed and
excited, rang the bell. Itwas the little
callers mother, and she had been scour
ing the neighborhood for some hour:
with horrible thoughts of kidnapping
rushing through her brain.
The steak with plenty of gravy il
waiting the little one yet.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1881-07-07
SCHOOL ASD CHURCH.

The Baptist anniversaries are this
year to be held in indianapolis. The
most distinguished men in the denom-
ination are to have part in them.
DIR. Lorenzo Firmin, of Findlay,
Ohio, has given tract of valuable
Missouri land, containing upward of
800 acres, to Oberlin College.
The late Mrs. Mary Perry, of Fair
field, Conn, bequeathed $4,000 to the
Congregational Church in Weston,
Conn, as fund for the support of a
minister.
The Southern States, taken togeth-
er, are said to have a school attendance
of 2, ,S16, 784, and public school fund to
the amount of S11, ,634, 106. The school
population, including white and colored
children, is 5, 1875
The British Methodist object to
the proposal of American Methodists to
introduce doctrinal topics in the Ecu
menical conference. To this narrowing
of the scope of the conference the
American Methodists are expected to
demur.
Mr.. Stanhope has introduced in
Parliament a bill to remedy the abuses
of church patronage. The bill provides
that all exchanges and designations of
benetices for which a peouniary consid-
Grafton is given must be first approved
by the Bishop of the diocese, who shall
under his own hand state all the terms
and considerations of the transaction.
The property of Mills Seminary
for Young Ladies, near San Francisco,
Cal, valued at $500, 900, has been given
by DIR. and Mrs. Mills, who established
it, to the young women of the Pacific
coast, under sef-perpetuating Board
of Trustees of all denominations, to be
forever a public in stitution. 1t is to be
unsectarian, but religious in character.
Chicago public schools have by
| crowding been forced to adopt an excel
lent plan for the younger children. They
are only given. half days tuition: OF
three hours per day, and thus two lots
can receive schooling each day. The
| children's health is better for it, and
they probably improve in their studies
and be crammed.
Mrs. Oswald Ottendorfer, the wife
Of the editor of the New York Stats
Zeitung, has given $35, 900 for the pro-
motion of the German school system in
this country. The fund is to be known
as the Herman Uhle Fund. OF the
sum, $4,000 goes to the German
Teachers Seminary at Milwaukee,
$40, 900 to the Free German School OF
New York, and $1,000 each to the
Nineteenth Ward (New York; School
and Prof. Adler's school.
The General Conference of the
Methodist Episcopal Church South, al
Nashville in May. will perhaps elect
four new Bishops. The Richmond Stat
says: Among the names most promi
nently mentioned for the four places
are those of Rev. DIR. John G. Gran
berry, Professor OF Vanderbilt Universe
ty, and for some years pastor of Cen
tenary Church in this city; Rev. DR.
Articus g. Hagood, of Macon, Ga.
editor of the Hestcr7S Methodist, ant
President of Emory College; Rev. DR.
A. w. Wilson, of the Baltimore Con
ference, but who is now Missionar,
Secretary of the Methodist Churcl
South. 1t is generally believed by
prominent Methodists that DR.. Hagoo(
will be elected on the first ballot
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1881-07-07
Never Be Too Sure.

Some people are much too positive,
and perhaps the aged err the most in
this direction. About five years ago an
old lady living on Huron Street missed
ring. No one but herself and SER
vent girl occupied the house, so of
course suspicion Immediately fell on
the latter, who was arrested, convicted
on the old lady's evidence and, spite of
her protestations of innocence, sent to
jail for short term, the magistrate
making the sentence light as it was her
first otfense. Time rolled on and about
a year ago the old lady died.
Recently, while the house was under
going repairs, the mantelpiece was taken
down and there behind the slab in the
crevice where it joined the wall was
found the ring, for the theft of which
the girl was punished. This reads like
a romance, butit is a solemn fact. The
repairs were being made by the owner
of the house, who is carpenter, and it
is his father who well recollects the cir
cumstances of the case. Where the un-
fortunate girl went to after her release
from Imprisonment is not known, nor
can her name be at present ascertained.
TOrO11fO World
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1881-07-07
NOTICE,

Matilda Jackson, widow Of Robert T. Jackson,
dec d., and his children, Rosa Banks and her hus-
band John Banks, Celia A. Smy the. and her hus-
band J. A. q. Smythe, Edward Jackson, John j.
Jackson, Comfort Z. Jackson, Robert 4. Jackson
Mary A. Jackson, and Clarinda NJ, Jackson, who
now or lately resided in Alamakee County, State
of Iowa, and whose residence are otherwise un-
known, John W Mitchell of Chickasaw County
State OF Iown, and Joseph z. Mitchell, William
Mitchell, Thomas Mitchell, and Sarah Mitchell,
whose residence are unknown the name of the hus-
band of said Sarah Mitchell if married, is unknown
and any unknown heirs Of John J. Jackson, dec d.,
late of the County of Perry, and State of Ohio will
take notice that Lyman J. Jackson, Admins
traitor of the Estate of said John J. Jackson, decd
on the End day OF May A. ID 1851 filed in the
Probate Court of Perry Coutny, State of Ohio, his
petition against them and the other heirs Of John
jackson decd, alleging that tie personal estate
of said deceased is insufficient pay his debts and
the charges Of administering his estate that he
died seized in fee simple of the of the following
real estate in said County TO wit The North
West quarter Of Section Eight, Township sixteen,
Range sixteen, except forty acres on the South
side thereof heretofore conveyed TO John Wise
man by William Wiseman. The prayer of said
petition is for Sale OF said real estate for the
payment of the debts and charges aforsaid. Said
persons notified that they have been made
parties defendant to said petition and that they
are required to answer the same or before the
10TH day of July A. u. 1881.
LYMAN ]. JACKSON,
Administrator of John J. Jackson, decd.
May 18th, lSSl-6w.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1881-07-07


The Standard Oil Company owns
several hundred thousand dollars of
portable property" in Pennsylvania.
1t holds this amount every day in the
year, and yet the tax-collectors have
not received cent therefrom. The
auditor-general OF the state reckons up
its bill back to 1872 at $4,000, 900.
1t is probable that this gigantic mon
oply, however. will avoid the payment,
but it should be either induced to help
support the government which fosters
it, or it should be wiped out of exis-
tonce-and it should be wiped out
anyway.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1881-07-07
ON THE OUTER WALLS
Is again the proud banner of the ID. Il
o.. aud by another happy stroke of
enterprise gees to the front.

The Baltimore and Ohio having perfee-
ted all the details of the elaborate series of
improvements it has been making of late,
announces a change in its time schedule 10
go into effect on the 22d instant Under
this new schedule the time between Chica-
go and the East is greatly lessened. The
afternoon fast line which formerly left
4:05 now leaves at 5:l5, arriving at New
York at 6:40 the second morning. This is
a solid train rnnning through to Washing
ton, Baltimore, Philadelphia and New
York without change of cars of any class
whatever. The B. & O. is the the only line
offering this great advantage, as by other
lines changes of cars are made except sleep
ers. The great convenience of the entire
train running through without change
must he more aT,'aio.it ~ tl5-c w4.o Lave
been forced to change cars at unreasonable
hours of the night and in many ways been
put to no little trouble in getting their
families and baggage from one train to an
other There is nothing of this on the B.
& o. for if one SO shooses the car that he
takes in Chicago he may remsin i'm until
he reaches New York city. AS all the
eastern lines run trains leaving Chicago at
SIS it is interesting to note that the b.
& 0. train leaving at that hour reaches
Washington whole night in advance of
the 5:l5 trains on aompeting roads-or in
other words, those who leave Chicago for
Washington via the B. & o. reach there
| the next evening, while by taking other
| lines they would not reach the National
| Capital until the second morning. The
| time from New York to Chicago is lessen
ed an hour, the fast express being due at
7:30 instead of $50 as heretofore. There
is no material change in the departure
| the morning train for the East. The
splendid accommodations offered on the
New B. & O. Slcepers and the perfect man
ner in which they are kept up increase the
concentrations of the travelling public.
The B. & O. Sleepers are certainly unex-
celled in everything which tends to render
such cars luxurious and convenient. In
fact in many respects they are superior TO
sny sleeping cars run anywhere. They
are larger and finer ins every way, and the
conductors and porters are gentlemen in
every sense of the word The line of new
Parlor Cars has just been placed upon the
road and the cars are beauties indeed. In
their construction they embarce many now
elites. while in general effect they are
ma;chless. The Dining Car Line in and
out of Chicago has become very popular,
the meals served are of the very best and
the attendance is all the most fastidious
could ask for. The Dining Halls on the
entire line are now under the immediate
management of the company and well de<
serve the popularity they have obtained as
the best in the country.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1881-07-07
Feasting in India.

Squatting in the center of piles of vari
Gus delicacies is the vendor. And curious
are these sweets. Milky cream and
coarse brown sugar are their chief in
gradients. No attempt is made at dec
Grafton. In fact, the native would not
appreciate anything which savored of
delicacy. His cookery is always strong.
Horrid garlic, greasy CHI, or clarified
butter-condiments at which the Euro
pean would sicken,- are the bonnie
6ouches of their culinary efforts. The
quantity of sweets a strong man con-
sumes borders upon the marvellous.
The reason is of easy account. A Hindu,
by his religion, is forbidden to eat meat,
and the most nourishing food he can
then obtain is saccharine matter. A
sweetmeat called jeItG6i is in high
esteem. This is made in imitation of a
hollow coil of rope and filled with
treacle A mouthful to a tender stOm-
ach is provocative of cholera or bilious
ness for at least a month. But the
English schoolboy has been known to
compete with the Hindoo in such gas
tronomic feat; for one boy has been
known to eat, at a sitting, about twelve
solid pounds. The doctors prophesied
of him immediate death, but he smiled
sickly and thought a draught of milk
would set him right
In all great nativefeasts confectionery
takes an important place. First, as the
guests arrange themselves, is handed
round in silver tray the altar, a scent
procured from the rose. This is rubbed
into the clothes of the guests. Then
follow the pan and betel. This is the
nut of the areca pounded, and with lime
inclosed in a large, green succulent
leaf. 1t is an appetizer, and eaten In
the same manner as a European would
drink, Just before dinner, sherry and
bitters The taste is acid, but withal
pleasant, and the lime brightly reddens
the lips This is greatly admired by the
natives. Then follow rice, sugar and
milk, and pound upon pound of the
coarsest lollypops. Not a word is
spoken during the meal. Each man is
bent upon his meal, and those who wish
to highly honor their host tie around
their stomach, before sitting down, a
| tender thread. When this breaks the
gentleman thinks he has satisfied his
appetite. AS when in olden times in
Europe lady thought she paid a COM
pliment to her host when she said she
| had been so drunk as TO 1OrSeC now sne
reached home, so a native of certain
caste thinks he is courteous when he
says the repast was so good as to cause
severe indigestion. 1t is not an uncom-
mon thing after grand feast that at
least two or three people die from over
gorging; and then another feast has to
be given, at which, probably, some
more die. Thus is Deaths sickle not
permitted to rust. A sweetmeat shop if
a frequented place, not only by the
younger members of the community,
but by the sage and hoary. But nothing
can be bought without wrangling.
Though man may buy pound of the
self-same article for ten years running,
he would each time try to reduce the
price, and the seller, knowing this
popularity, invariably asks about double
the real price.-Calitorntdm.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1881-07-07

as Tashkend. Russia has already
large number of steam vessels on that
river which run into the very heart
of Central Asia. But the most
gigantic plan OF Russia is the
contraction of railroad from
the Caspian Sea through Central Asia
as far as the frontiers OF China and
Afghanistan. There is no doubt that
Lesseps has his hands in all these Rus
sian plans; he has travelled through the
interior of Asia for this purpose. The
construction of a railroad through the
desert along the Persian border towards
the chief cities of the Turcoman and
Geok-Tepe and Merv must be regarded
as the beginning OF the Russian Central
Railroad. 1t cannot be long before that
road will be pushed towards Herat in
Afghanistan, and in an easterly direc-
ton towards the frontier of China
Resting upon the beginning in the con-
struction of this road, General Skobe-
left is now besieging Geok-Tepe, forti-
fed town of the Turcoman, and it will
not be very far off in the future when
other Russian Generals will appear be-
fore Merv and Herat
Even for Africa great plans and en-
terprises are intended. Mr.. Lesseps
must also be regarded as the first insti-
gator of these plans. At first the idea
was entertained at Paris to food the
Little Sahara Desert and make it a part
of the Mediterranean Sea. But the i'm
possibility of successfully executing this
plan soon became apparent; and, even
if it were possible, it would have proven
to be Improbable. The newest plan is
the construction of railroad through
the Desert of Sahara towards SOudan
and Central Africa. Several exploring
parties have left Algiers to locate the
line of this road, by the aid of which
the French hope to conquer the whole
of Northeast Africa.
Thousands of millions of dollars are
necessary to execute all these plans and
projects, but everywhere enough of cap
ital can be found which is seeking last
ing and profitable investment.-Ch Chicago
| TTibu,ae.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1881-07-07

The Greenback party means war
war upon monopolies which are now
stealing all of labor's profits. Never
before, not even during the heat of
OF the last presidential campaign,
we're the calls for speakers and docu-
ments more numerous than now, and
the calls are increasing. This proves
that the Rag Baby is not yet dead
enough to be buried. In fact, it has
just began life. 1t has thrown aside
its swaddling clothes, and is a terror to
the evil doers. 1t shows, too, that
the people are in earnest, terribly in
earnest, and that the war now being
carried on against the monoplies will
never end. nor the agitation cease in
the least, till the people rule, instead
of as now, being the slaves OF the
monopolists.