davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1881-01-08
History OF Zero.

'y" ZERO" on the common thermome-
ter, like the fanciful names of the con.
relations, is a curious instance OF the
way wise mems errors are made immor-
tai by becoming popular: 1t may be
worth while to say that the word itself
(zoro) comes to us through the Spanish
from the Arabic, and means empty
hence. nothing. In expressions ike
800 degrees Fahr.," the abbreviatlon
"Fahr." stands for Fahrenheit, Prus'
sian merchant of Dantzic, on the Baltic
Sea. His full name was Gabriel Daniel
Fahrenheit. From a boy he was a close
observer Of nature, and when only -
years old, in the remarkably cold winter
of 1909, he experimental by putting
snow and salt together and noticed that
it produced a degree Of cold equal to the
coolest day Of the year. And that day
was the coolest day that the Oldest in.
inhabitant could remember. Gabriel
was the more struck with the coincl'
dence of his little scientific discovery.
and hastily concluded that he had found
the lowest degree of temperature known
in the world, either natural or artificial.
He called the degree zero, and con-
structed thermometer, or rude wealth
er-glass, with q scale graduating up
from zero to boiling point, which ne
numbered PIP, and the freezing point 81
because, as he thought, mercury con-
tracted the thirty-second of its volume
on being cooled down from the temper
AZURE OF freezing water to zero; and ex'
banded one hundred-and.eightieth on
being heated from the freezing to the
boiling point.
Time showed that this arrangement
instead of being truly scientific, was ~
arbitrary as the divisions Of the Bible
into verses and chapters, and that these
two points no more represented the rea
extremes of temperature than 'from Oar
to Beersheba" expressed the exact ex
tremes of Palestine. But Fahrehelt'
thermometer had been widely adopted
with its inconvenient scale, and nom
thought of any better until his name be
came an authority, for Fahrenheit tina!
,ly abandoned trade and gave himself VI
to science.
The three countries which use Fab
renheit are England, Holland and Amer
lea. Russia and Germany use Raumer'
thermometer, in which the boiling poin
: is counted 80 degrees above the freezin
} point. France uses the centigrade thel
= mometer, so called because it marks tn
} billing point 100 degrees from freezin
point. On many accounts the centigrad
+ system is the best, and the triumph
!. convenience will be attained when zer
7 is made the freezing point, and when tt
boiling point is put 100 or 1000 degree
! from it, and all the subdivisions al
9 fixed decimally. If Fahrenheit had dor
. this at first, or even ii he had made tn
: one Of his many improvements after Il
:, public adopted his error, the luck OF o
(. portunity, which was really his. won
have secured to his invention the pa
{ ronage of the world. ....., .ts. 81.
The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1881-01-08
Whittier's First Published Poem.

VIZ have before US, says the Portland
(Me.) Transcript, in Mr.. Whittier's
Handwriting, the first poem of his that
was ever published. In 1926, when he
was in his 10Th year, he left it under the
door of the Free Press, a weekly paper
then published by William Lloyd Gar
rison, in Newburyport. Garrison had
just attained his majority, and this pa
per was his first venture in journalism.
it may interest young writer's for the
press Of the present day to hear the
Story of his first literary effort of a
| poet now crowned with years and with
/ honors. 1t was many weeks after young
Whittier left his manuscript to its fate
before he heard from it. He was then
working upon his fathers rocky farm at
Haverhill, and his father was a patron
OF the Free Press. Week by week the
paper arrived, and the heart of the
Young poet sank within him as he look
ed in vain for his verses. One day he
was at work with his Uncle Moses re-
pairing the stone fence by the highway,
he going along on the outside replacing
the stones knocked from the wall by
sheep that had scrambled over it.
While SO engaged the postman came
along on horseback, and, to save going
to the house with the paper, he tossed it
to young Whittier 1t was opened with
trembling fingers Many writer knows
the exact sensation Of hope without ex-
pectation, so often experienced in re-
gard to the firstlings Of the brain. The
surprise Of finding his poem at the
> .shead of the corner" was SO bewilder-
; / ing that he was dazed by it, and he
, says he stood looking at it long time,
and is sure he did not read word. A,
: length his uncle called him back to his
senses by bidding him keep at work
. No success in future years has ever
. stirred such. q .tumult of emotions, a!
NAV we'll be believed. Garrison was sc
!. impressed with his new contributor
- - work that he sought him out, coming W
) to Hayerhill on horseback to interview
- him. When Garrison called youn|
y Whittier was at work in the field. H,
a was told a gentleman was at the hous
~ =, inquiring for him. n Nobody had eve
y called for him before, and he felt NOR
70 like running away, But he got into tn
~ house by the back door, "slicked up,
~ and soon stood in the presence of tn
q young editor, who encouraged him t
y, make good use Of the talent he had dis
!" played. Whittier's father came in du1
u ing their interview, and begged Carr
! son not to put such notions into tho hea
of his son. But it was too late; the dan
ID age was done! This was the first NEE
d. ing of the two men, aftcrward so int
SO mately associated. 'i.s.af '- "--'"
The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1881-01-08
Our Young Folks.
THE OLD YEAR s GOODBYE.
THE Old Year stands in the church-yard

TIE Old Year stands in the church-yard
SuGW.
Blowing his frosty fingers;
4 Ills time were going long ago.
He muttcrcd, yet still he fingers
White is his beard with the drift of age,
And white with the wintry weather;
He turn, his back to the tempest rage.
And his body bends trembling togcthcr'
Anxious he peers through the stormy hlsn''
Listens with eager ear; !.
~ can hear no steps in the Snow'drl1ts l'sn''
But surely he must be near:
With bounding step and check a9!ow
Comes Il stranger. young aud 1alr;
Little he cares Tor the driving SHOW,
Or the biting midnight air.
"Good evening. Old Year" "Good evening,
Lam glad you are c,mcat last;
Since darkness irll I've teen waiting for
And my strength is failing fast.
" But could not 60 till III seen you here,
Aud your promise true had heard.
Pardon an old mans natural fear;
Bear with his parting word:
"Take care Of the children! the wide world
round.
] We IDOkcu Ill tUcI' lUCtS t""ys
I've listened to catch each merry SOUND
AS they shouted and rompcd ut play.
IL knew twas the last should see the sight,
And whispered to each, Good bye:
But would not cloud their faces bright,
Would not let them hear me sigh
"Tncy arc yours, New Year; give them to
Take them all in your strong, young hand :
| And charge YOU to your trust he true,
| BE the guardian of Babyland.
"COvcr the hills with cOasting-snow:
| Pave the streams with smnothrst ice;
Heap high the fire in each home aiyou go;
Spread thick each generous slice.
"To the hooks where the earliest flowers arc
found
I Lead the little ones roaming feet:
Strcw viOlcts thick on each tiny grave
Where sleep the babies sweet.
"show the children tho nests whence the bird
lings fly:
Let them roll in the scented hay;
Let their kites mount high in the summer
sky:
| Give them many bright nutting day.
"Make Christmas time of sladdest glee,
When winter comes again:
Load every bouyh OF the christmas tree
With jOllicst presents then.
600 with the little folks to school;
Keep bright each little mind:
Help them obey sthe teachers rule.
And make the teachers kind.
"In Sunlay-school fill their hearts with love
As of Jesus love they re told;
, Oh. train them all for the home above
Where the years grow never Ola!
The New Year bowed with earnest look;
} Promised his tender care;
: And the old mans trembling hand he tool
AS they stood Il moment there.
+ Then tn good Old Year was lost In tn
: night,
l But bark! ch,ldrcn's voices clear.
E In every home. with the dawninY light,
, "To all a happy New YEAR,
y -Rer. Edlrllu d. ration. in Chicago Adrdnce.
The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1881-01-08
A Proposal Of Marriage.

Notwithstanding the testimony of
high-hown romances, a proposal of
marriage is generally delivered in any
thing but glib terms. The followingis
the quaintest method of making a pro-
posal which has ever come to our knowl-
edge: A gentleman had long been pay
ing attention to a young lady whom he
was very anxious to marry, but could
not screw up his courage to the sticking
point. At last he resolved to take the
first opportunity which presented itself
of asking the momentous question. No
sooner, however, had he formed this
resolution than fortune seemed to de-
sert him. He often met the fair one,
but never could get chance of speak
ing to her alone. Driven to despera-
ton, he one day succeeded in accom-
plishing his purpose at a dinner party.
Unfortunately, the lady was on the op.
posite side of the table. He was, how.
ever, equal to the occasion, and tearing
out leaf from his pocket.book wrote
on it under cover of the table, evil
you be my wifep Write Yes or No al
the foot Of this" Calling q servant HI
whispered to him to take the note
which, Of course, was folded up-tt
''the lady in blue opposite The ser
want did as he was directed, and tn
gentleman, in an agony of suspense
watched him give it to the lady, AM
fixed his eyes, with badly disguised Gag
erness, to try and Judge from her ex
preston how the quaintly.made offe
was received. He had forgotten on
thing-namely, that ladies seldom carr
pencils about them at dinner party
His love was, however, not to be battle
by so trihing an obstacle, and, afte
reading the note calmly, the lady turne
to the messenger and said, "Tell th
gentleman Yes" They were marie
, In due time.
The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1881-01-08
Adversely Teaches Wisdom.

The impecunious Isnob, when obliged
to search for work, is in danger Of stand
ing in bis own light. clearinghouse
keepers. unfortunately, know him too
we'll. He is always waiting for that ''re-
mitlancenn which never cones,. In,tead
Of taking tho 6tst thing that dffers, he
expects topick md ohooss; and Is, con.
sequently, left far in the rear. Even in
the most desperate situations his snob-
EShnessstiAolisgs Is hims I aWhat do
YOU wish, sff!'' said q merchant to one
Of this kind, who had applied to fill a
situation in store. II thought l might
let IN 3ppoiFneut y slclsaH, or
e@kS "a bsnk.p III nerehmt mildly
fsuSs tseed that hi packSrmgA tsSt him
to work. The snob, however, said che
hada't come down to that,p and in. q
Few minutes va, tAyenot1slJ reducing
the contents of q free lunch bar in a
neignboripg saloon. People Of this kind
seldom do we'll. Not having, the SENSE
70 know thht, discretion IS the better
part of valorthey spoil such chances as
they might have by reckless use Of
their tongues, and unless their home
training has q powerful restraint upon
their inclinations, they drift lower and
lower1iu the social scale until they sinh
into the very dregs Of society," On thu
other hand, to . young man, even though
hashouln be1ps g have :somltmng O
the snob ID his nature provided It doe
fnot counterbalance all his more mani,
instincts, there is nothing like roughin!
lit. Stern adversely will teach even fool
wisdom; and it IS the best, teaching |
young, man thrown upon his own y
sources can have. He win rise or SIM
according to his deserts. ss;.4s.
The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1881-01-08
The Small Boy and Vaccination.

In these smallpox times the small
bow is alive to all the terrors and humors
of the situation. lie sees more yellow
flags about town than anybody. lie
knows of more sick Cinnamon than half
a dozen Boards Of Health. He sees
men with sadly. blotched faces slipping
about in the shades of evening. He
studies with interest the dubious nose OF
the old soaker leaning against an avn
ing ost-everywhere he finds symptoms
of the dread disease. '.t ..,
). In his mind vaccination has taken the
place lately occupied by kite.6ying,
marbles and base ball. Take three or
four small boys who have passed
through the order of vaccination, and
let them get hold of the small boy who
has yet to undergo that trial. The
young innocent stands with mouth agape
and distended eyes while the others de-
scribe the operation:
"The doctor tells yer: Haul off that
coat!' Then he tells yer: Roll up that
sleeve!' When yer got yer sleeve up,
he takes great big knife and jabs il
inter yer arm, up to the handle. The
blood flies all over things, and the doc
tor mops it up with big sponge: Oh
yer Nave no idea of the blood! Then HI
takes a lot Of stuff what he's got mixe(
up on piece Of glass, an he stuffs it in
to the cut what he's made, and that is
the waxination what he's a.puttin inte
yer. While he's a.stufin' in the waxi
nation every jab he makes is a-goin' t
yer heart-it's jist like takin' yer life
50 it ISL .'.. ..a..s., -,. o..
"Yes," chips in another, can ye
got to stand still an not move yer arm
a mite, or the doctor might let his knit
slip an cut a big vein and you'd blee
to death in mint" .'.~
When boy who has thus been en-
couraged is finally marched into a doc
tors Office, three or four of his comfort
ers manage to slip in and view the ope1
alton, looking as solemn as SO man
mourners at q funeral, but pulling fact
at the victim every time the docte
! turns his back.
The boy who is about to undergo tt
operation at last has his arm bare'
The doctor grasps the limb and the be
! turns aside his face and becomes pal
His teeth are firmly set, yet he tries
. smile as he catches the eye of one of b
F, companions. He wants to be brave
possible. The cold point Of the doctor
lance touches the bare skin of his arr
1 and he thinks cash several inches
I length has been made in his flesh. !
b twists his head around to look for t
q wound, and the doctor twists it bac
telling him to "keep STILL" j
The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1881-01-08

Mr., ODwYER rents a shan C.r,:
Galveston Ave. Avenue from old man ch lisr
lei, prominent citizen: l .,ss rent
Chrysler called in to collec1 l n,'or 1.-The the
and ODwyer showed him IN. G ;Mconve.
house, complaining OF us I. .i M;sh;er
niences. Said O'Dwyer: ~. too low
Chrysler, your house is intolrly ~ Wv c ale
On the ground to be healthy the n. s s;n' :
ines are too low, and the doo y s ..jd
high enough "Mr. VDw!y ho,,t this
Chrysler, sis there anything s a4tu rou9'
house that is high enough, ~, TO sui; !: it,"
"T 1i%''y rin at''i be jaDers." -''''*''''
News.
The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1881-01-08

Col. FAIR, of Nevada, stands five feet
eight in his stockings, and weighs 227
pounds, which, taken in connection with
his financial standing, makes him in
every respect q solid man.
The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1881-01-08

GENERAL MILES says that Sitting Bull
is one of the best specimens of a crafty
and unrelenting savage he has ever met
"a man WHO'S cunning rather than dip
lOmatic.
The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1881-01-08

JOHN T. CRAWFORD, who recently
died in Cincinnati, bequeathed property
of the value Of 800, 900 to build home
for aged colored men, on an eighteen
acre tract at College Hill.
The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1881-01-08

.GENERAL AlcClELLAx has received q
gilt Of the hint.lock pistol carried BY
Winfield Scott during the Mexican War.
The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1881-01-08

NAKED man on his knees ID ,e No.
snow. with the thermometer a. A. " con.
was 50 strange spectacle that RtnniSlr road
ductor on the Pan Handle Id that 8
stopped his train. The man a; sa' to hang
his clothes on a limb and pray
The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1881-01-08

QUEEN VlcroRlA' at ba'ny the pulpit
ships in a raiscdpew 50 near ne, . sne y With
that t!''s1 she he cou1q almost shake n''o' Wv
The minister.
The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1881-01-08

No head nor tail to it--A circle.
The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1881-01-08
INDIAN LIFE IN THE NORTHWEST.
Co,sts,.ip. ,anA Marriage Of WINE nc" ="
Dusky Maidens.

CqnstssiRs ssA Marriage OF wA''s ne" "
Dusky Maidens.
AwoSG the Northwestern tribes OF In.
dams innocence is IS marked among the
GIRLS as their color. The impression
fhat the red maiden docs not entertain
. hic,, standard of morality is an error,
for ske a taught as other girls are, and
crowd I'M with well developed ideas OF
The responsibilities of life and firm
resolution to discharge them. Educated
in the faith that she was ordained to
work, she trains herself to undergo hard
labor, and at sixteen years of age she IS
sturdy and strong, brave against to
.:-,:c' and perfec. housewife. She
- possess New England notions
}. ,.;rsnl'ness, but she takes not little
mn, n her personal appearance, and
In " arrangement Of her lodge she
dis.,,aJs ome crude ideas of taste and q
&c ...nount q !neAuess. II she
,,.ryy a white man, shc makes Nm a
good wife as long as she lives with him.
His home is her sole care and his COM
fort her ambition. She thinks of him
aud for him, and makes it her study TO
please him and make him respect and
love hen J She fecoguizss in him one Of
the superior race, and by her dignity
and devotion endears herself to him and
struggles to make him happy.
AT the agencies on the upper frontier
thousands Of men are employed, and II
is not an exaggeratidn TO say that the
majority of them have Indian wives and
live happily. TheyNare not sought afte'
by the maidens, for the Indian girl''
custom is to remain quiet until the mar
rage oatrsctis madesnd the marriag
:Dortio2 - ev(r. The husband mus
lhayeAhe lQwiys With which he must in
vest hys projected mothcr-in.law befor
the ceremony takes place. The process
is little out of the usual run, and
description may be Of interest. In
aspiring bride groom must be wei
known in the tribe before he ca
hope TO- Vim "a wife; Her people van
to thoroughly understand him An
know if he can support not only her bu
also her relatives Ia the event of Il pinch
He uuss be- q kind. hearted man, with
temper warranted to keep in any az
nestle Climate, and he must have goo
lodge and at least half q dozen horse'
II he be AMI have al these, The can I
wooing gos ! Selecting the LADY, b
makes APPLICATION to her mother, and |
q cA,6Ajl the price is fixed upon, II t.
girl ba specially pretty, her mother vi
den III ia gun, two horses and q lot
proSi hs, blankets aud cloth. A gu
is VI at $50, horse at 800, and
mus drnish material to bring Il
amJ ~ - fmm goo 70 Sl5O. Thl
he fd&t Re 1ams down, and
! !; i: 5; ]; !;
cboMyThfns c0hrtsfiip Il left entirely
Morning journal and courier., 1881-01-14
Criminal Statistics.

Forty of the prisoners in the Wethersfield
 State prison are in on life sentences. g for killing and for rape. Three of these con- victs have been in the prison over twenty years-Isaac Randolph, of New Haven, com-
 mitted in July, 1856; John Warren, of Tol-
 land, committed in December, 1859, and
 James Cuff, of Brooklyn, committed in No- vember, 1860.
 There are altogether 261 prisoners in the institution. Of these 30, or more than one
 ninth, were in the Reform School These figures are at least suggestive in illus trating what useful tender to the State pris- on the Meriden institution has been. Fur nishing a ninth of all the convicts is doing a pretty liberal business. The prison does not seem to be thoroughly satisfactory home for ten per cent of the inmates have pe- the petitions are sent into the Legislature is itself reflection on our method of pardons. It puts the law into disrespect.
 The crimes for which the 261 prisoners were convicted were 193 crimes against property and 78 crimes against person or life A distressing feature of the record is the age of the prisoners. Sixty per cent. of them are under 30 years of age! Only 12 are over 90. At first sight this seems to indicate 6 large and growing class of young criminals It may, however, be construed to indicate that life of crime is short. Fairfield county continues to be the banner State for crime and furnishes about one-third of tho whole assortment. This is one of the benefits of living near New York
 The statistics show, as all of the statistics of the kind do, the comparative freedom of females from crime There are three women in the prison and 258 men. There are % colored men and 229 white men. The popu- lation of the State is about ell white to colored. Under that ratio there should be only colored persons in the prison.
Morning journal and courier., 1881-01-14
Connecticut Railroads.


 Freight Earnings a More Prominent
 Factor than FormerIy-steel Rails fin
 Connecticut.
 The Railroad Commissioners annual report was presented yesterday to the Legislature. There has been a gain in both the passenger and freight business, the former showing an increase over the previous year for the first time since 1875, while the latter exceeded by more than million dollars the highest amount previously recorded As to freight earnings, compare the record of 1880 with that of 1873, the year of greatest prosperity heretofore At that time the passenger earn ings of the New York, New Haven and Hart ford, the greatest passenger road of the State, were 97.4 per cent greater than the freight earnings, while in 1880 they were only A. per cent. in excess. On the New York and New England, in 1880, the freight earnings were 40 per cent. greater than the passenger earnings, while in 1873 the roads now form ing the New England had the passenger earn ings AZ per cent. greater than those from the freight business. The amounts of the gross earnings in the year just closed were !: For freight $6, ,245, ,899.85, and for passengers $5, 222, AGO. 9S, making a total of $11, 468, 36O. S3, which is $1, 352, ,892. IS larger than in any former year.
 The operating expenses have also largely increased and amount to $7, ,6S6, ,414.20, an increase of $967, .53. It results from the increase of the operating expenses that the net earnings, though considerably aug mented, do not reach such figure as might be expected from the amount of the gross earnings The amount is $4, 7O4, ,464. 31 an increase over the previous year of $4O7, 511.93
 Steel rails are now used on 613 miles, or more than half of the total length of tracks in the State.
 As to accidents the number has been unu- sually large, but no passenger has been killed or seriously injured except through his own carelessness. Seventeen employees have been killed and 39 injured, the number in each case being more than double that of the previous year.
Morning journal and courier., 1881-01-14
Veteran Firemen's Association.

special meeting of the Veteran Firemen's association was held last evening in the Con- mon Council chamber, which was largely at- tended. Vice President Thomas E. Twichell was in the chair The chairman stated that the object of the meeting was for the pur- pose of considering the question of the asso- citation giving ball. Members of each of the companies present expressed their opin- ions, and all spoke in a favorable manner of the idea of giving ball. It was voted unani- mously that the ball be given, and that the president and secretary, together with the vice presidents of the different companies, be committee to select committee of ar engagements, said committee to have full pow CT to act
 The following named ex-fremen were ad- mitted as members of the association From Engine company No. ?, James Winchell, A. G. Pratt, H. W. Green, Thomas Brennan No. 4, Jeremiah Breen, Dr. c. Rawling, Hor- ace Hurlburt No. 5, H. W. Clark, Lewis Le Bars; No. 6, James A. Peck; No. 10, Charles F. Huntley; Columbia hose, Charles Bradley.
 It was voted to adjourn to Thursday even- ing next at o'clock The ball will probably be given during the month of February, and it will be an old-fashioned firemens ball, with the ''Old Gents band" to furnish the music.