davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1881-01-05
A CONTRACTORS INGENI us ExPEDIENT

A CONTRA CTORS INGENI us EXPEDIENT.
A few years ago an iron bridge of con
siderable length the weight being about
two hundred tons was constructed in Eng
land and erected in remote part of Ger
many. By some mshap the bridge, when
finished was found to be some distance
"out" to one side, an error which the
proprietors insisted should be rectified.
70 take down and re-erect the bridge
would be simply ruin to the contractor.
But necessity is the mother of invention,
and so it proved in this case. 1t was
simmer time, and the contractor proceed
ed to find the amount of expansion which
was caused by the heat Of the sun over the
whole length Of the bridge. He next as
cerlained what contraction took place in
the night by cooling. Armed with this
data, be thought it might be possible to
bring the bridge to its proper position in It
few days. The bridge of course, in its
ordinary condition, expanded from the
centre, pushing its two ends outward oil
further apart, and again contracting tow
ard the centre. Taking advantage O
these conditions, one end was made fast II
the morning, and the bridge was forced tt
expand from that immovable point, ,insteaC
of from the middle,as formerly. When thu
iron composing the bridge had expanded
to its full extent in the direc ion intended
that end WAS released, and the opposite
end made fast The bridge then contracted
toward its true position. Thus, whateve
was gained by the days expansion, wa
secured by the subsequent contraction
when the metal cooled at night; and tn
process being renewed day by day, th'
work was successfully accomplished.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1881-01-05

How LONG MAN MAY LIvE.-It was
Professor Hufeland's opinion that the limit
u possible human life might be set at 200
years This is on the general principle that
'ne Ilie N a creature is eight times the
years of its period Of Growth That
which is quickly formed ouieklv perishes,
and the earlier comnlete deviopment is
reached the sOohar bodily decay ensues.
More women reach old age than men, but
more men attain remarkable longevity
than women. Some animals grow to be
very old Horned animals live shorter
lives than those without horns, fierce
longer than ti'nid, and amphibious longer
than those which inhabit the air. The
Voracious pike exists, it said, to an
age of $50 years; the turtle is good for
hundred years or more; and among birds
the golden eagle is known to have lived
nearly 800 years, while the sly and somber
crow reaches the venerable age Of cen
tury. Passing up in the scale of life t
man and skipping the patriarchs we find
many recorded instances of longevity
among the classic Greeks and Romans.
Pliny notes that in the reign of the En-
peror Vespasian, in the year 76, there
were 1874 men living in the limited area
between the Apprentices and the Po Of
100 years and upward, three OF whom
were l40 and four over 1856. Cicero's
wife lived to the ace of 10S, and the Ro.
man actress Luceja played in public as
late as her 18th year.
Coming down to more recent times the
most notable authentic instances of great
age is that of Henry jenkins, of York
shire, England, who died in 1870 1863
years old. He was a fisherman, and at
the age of 100 easily swan across rapid
rivers. Another historic case is that of
Thomas Parr, Of Shropshire, II day labor
er, who lived to the age of 1852 years.
When more than 120 he married his
second wife, and till 1870 he could swing
scythe and WELD the fail with the best of
his fellow laborers. In his l52d year Parr
went up to London to exhibit himself to
the king. 1t proved an unlucky visit for
ry and a half, the old man feasted so
freely oD the royal vituals, that he soon
died merely of a plethora. On eXamina-
ton, his internal organs proved to be in
excellent condition. and there was no
reason why he should not have lived
much longer save for this unfortunate
taste of royal hospitality. Professor HUI
feland's roll of centenariens includes many
more remarkable cases, among them that
of Mittlestedt, a Prussian soldier who
served sixty-seven years under both
Fredericks, fighting many battles and
enduring much hard campaigning, and
who after all this married successively
three wives, the last when he was 10,
Only two wears before his death,-SDrinq-
field Republican.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1881-01-05

All things are engaged in writing their
history. The planet, the pebble, goes
attended by its shadow. The rolling rock
leaves its scratches on the mountain; the
riv, r its. channel in the soil; the animal,
its bones in the stratum; the fern and leaf
their modest epitaph in the coal. The
falling drop makes lis sculpture in the
sand or the stone. Not n foot steps into
the snow, or along the ground. but
prints, in characters more or less lasting,
a map of its march. Every act of the
man inscribes itself in the memories oil
his fellows, and in his own manner and
face. The air is full Of sounds, the sky
of tokens, the ground in all memoranda
and signatures, and every object covered
over with hints which speak to the inteli-
gept.-EmerSon
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1881-01-05
ANIMALS KNOW SUNDAY FROM OTHER

ANIMALS KNOW SUNDAY FROM OTHER
DAYs.-lt seems evident that some ami
mails, at least, know when Sunday comes
A friend of mine has dog that always
runs with the wagon. On week days the
wagon turns to the right from the gate
and goes down to the factory. On Sunday
it turns to the left and goes to the church.
The dog runs ahead on Sunday he turns
to the left, and no intimation is given
Six days the sagacious animal runs on in
advance to the factory. Even the horse
understands the day as we'll as tho way to
church.
No one who has passed week day in
Venice will have failed to see the pigeons
fed at the hour of noon. More than one
hundred of these little birds have come at
noon for their food. They never mistake
the hour. They never come at 10 or II
O'Clock. When the bell of st. Marks
begins to cang out the hour of noon, not
a bird can be SEEM before the bell ceases
the air will be black. and doves by the
hundreds fly to the windows. On Sunday
no grain is given. The old bell jars out
IL O'Clock, but no birds appear. They
can count-they know when Sunday
comes. Growing World.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1881-01-05
ScANpAL-A disposition to scandal is

SCANDAL.-A disposition to scandal is q
compound of malignity and stimulation
1t never urges an opinion with the bold
consciousness of trnth, but deals in a
monntonous iargon of halt sentences,
its antiquities by emphasis, Its propa
gators law II mighty stress upon the May
be'S md "l'll say no more" Let us
hope not" They do say and Time
will show;' thus confirming the evil they
affect to deplore, more under the SEM
blance of pity and prudential caution,
than they possibly could in any shape
short of demonstration. Observe the
greatest reserve with persons of this
description; they are the hyenas of socie-
ty, perpetualy prowlng over reputation.
which is their prey; lamenting. and at
the same time enjoying, the ruin they
create.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1881-01-05

"Why do not more of our young men
get marriedp" asks recent writer.
Whist! till we tell him. There isn't more
than about one young man in ten who is
worth marrying, and the girls are finding
it out.-Ne,O HaUen Register.
So live with men, as considering always
that God sees thee; so pray to God, as if
every man heard thee. Do nothing which
thou wouldst not have God see done. De-
sire nothing which may either wrong thy
profession to ask or Gods honor TO grant.
-HenShaao.
have heard of tavern keeper, who,
relishing music, went to one of the meet
ings merely to hear the singing. He was
afraid Of the preaching, and that he might
not hear it, sat with his head inclined and
his fingers in his ears. But fly lit upon
his nose, and at the moment he attempted
to drive it away with one of his hands, the
preacher uttered with power the text, He
that hath ears to hear let him hear" The
word took hold upon MS conscience, and
he found no relief till he becam convert
ed man,
The best polish for fine woods is milk.
After all dust and dirt have been removed,
fresh milk is applied to the wood and well
rubbed in with wooden rag until all
moisture has disappeared. Repeat this
Several times, and in case of new utensils.
tit should be done once week The fatty
substance of milk answers the same pur-
pose as inseed oil, while its other constt-
uents act as II filler, and it leaves no diSa-
greeable odor. Another ingredient is
Indispensable, and that is "elbow grease
CONsCIENCE.-I we don't trife with
our consciences we shall find them costly
thing to carry through the world. 1t will
cost you companions, ridicule, humility
and loneliness in society; in trade it may
cost you custom; in politics it may cost
you office. Yet on the other hand, it may
safely be asserted, and it should be re-
membered, that the man whose conscience
never costs him anything is carrying
about cheap article 1t behooves us in
the highest wisdom to hold it high above
all price; it is the inalienable gift of the
Almighty to man. To tamper with it is to
injuro our nobest self and to diminish our
capacity for God and Heaven. Prof. W.
P Coddjngton.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1881-01-05

A letter from Liverpool, Eng, regard
ing the adulterated "lard butter" and
impure cheese shipped to that port from
Chicago, speaks in the strongest terms
against the practice of such expectation
from the United States, and says that not
in single instance has an order for
such stutf" been repeated from Europe.
Formerly Chicago had fair fame in these
commodities in the English markets, but
now her name is execrated among the
importing houses of that country, and the
influence has been such that even well
known and standard goods from the
United States, which have long stood
high in the foreign markets, are now
falling under suspicion. 1t is understood
that the Chicago authorities are endeavor-
ing to regulate the manufacture and ship
ment of these spurious articles.-Ex.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1881-01-05

The Color OF THE SEA The changes
in the color of the sea have attracted the
attention of sea-faring men from the
earliest times They struck with wonder
the Pnenicans when they first ventured
out of the Mediterranean into the Atlantic
they excited the astonshment of Columbus
and terrified his companions, while in
search of the ar-famed Indies; AMI thy
are no less u surprise TO the modern navl-
gator, to whom the march of discovery
has left few unexplored regions in store.
One of the most remarkable and most
widely distributed contrasts of color, is
that which is known to exist between the
intensely blue seas situated between the
topics and the green seas of higher
latiudes. 1t appears, as the result Of re-
cent observations, and more especially of
series of experiments made on board the
German frigate "Gazele" that there is an
intimate relation between the color of sea.
water, and the proportion of salt held in
solution by the latter On comparing the
specific gravity of green water with that
of blue water, it was found that the latter
is always heavier than the former, am
therefore at the same time more salt -
Science tor Ali.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1881-01-05
SUPERIOR STARCH POLISH. Take @

SUPERIOR STARCH PoLIsH.-Take of
white wax one ounce, spermaceti two
ounces, and good pinch OF salt. Mix and
melt them together, and when cold it will
be hard. white cake, and will not mould
or sour even in hot weather. Put a piece
the size of pea in the hot starch that is
intended for every three or four shirts.
When ironing, go over it a second time
quickly, which increases the gloss or pol
ish. The best kind of polishing iron is
the one with bulge at both ends-a kind
that costs a dollar at the hardware store.
Iron it we'll once, then dampen with
perfectly clean, soft, white, damp cloth,
then rub with the polishing iron until it is
so glossy you can see your face in it. The
iron must not be too hot, or it will scorch !;
If it is little too cool, the polish will be
longer coming.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1881-01-05

The petrfed head of soldier at the old
Crown Point fort. which was washed out
of the ancient French burial ground near
the mouth of Jacks creek on Lake Cham
plain, is in the possession of Burr Pease
of Pease's hotel at Port Henry, N. Y. 1t
was found by Sam Norton, the "old ferry
man." Some time since he stumbled
against what he at first thought stone
but closer inspection showed it to be a
human head and neck, with IA soldiers hat
with the cross bands complete, all turned
to stone. The features are of Roman
cast The color of the relic is like that OF
a dark gray sandstone, resembling the soil
whence it came, which is a clayey mixture
of gravel and sand. Many pieces of pet
riied wood are found in the vicinity, and
specimens of fish turned to stone are not
uncommon. 1t is believed that other por-
tions of the human body could be discov-
cred. 1t is hoped that digging will be
allowed.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1881-01-05
VOL. XXXVIII.

How ROMAN CANDLES ARE MADE -
A reporter of the Sunday Leader lately
visited mandatory of fireworks, and de-
scribed how Roman candles are made
Numbers Of boys were seen following each
other in Indian file about circle OF hol
low pasteboard tubes set on end The
tubes, which were the candles ready for
the reception of the fire, we're set in sockets
on the outer edge of the platform. The
first boy from a pan he carried in one
hand scooped up with the other certain
amount of the compound and dexterously
tipped it into the upright tubes. The one
following carried a hammer and punch
driving down the charge. The third car
ried a handful of small colored wads
which he inserted after the boy with the
hammer and punch. This was the bal
that shot out, and the compound placed
between each wad is what burns In the In
terval. The third boy was followed by q
| fourth with hammer and punch, and
he by Others with wads and hammers and
punches -,
These are eight ball candles said Mr.
Edge. Those of four or twelve are made
in the same way. Some of the balls you
see are yellow, some green and some red
those will be the color of the fire when
thew are ignted. If we want green We
use copper lilings and salts of copper; fol
blue, zinc filings; for light, greenlsh blue
sulphuret of antimony.; for yellow, amber
rosin. antimopy and common salt; red
lampblsck and salts of stiontan; zinc, nj
tire. The seeds of the club mosses burn
with flash of rose color, and is used
rood deal in the manufacture OF fireworks
1t is also used to produce the effect o
lightning on the stage. The green that
gives death like hue to everything, and
which is also much used on the stage is
made of II parts of nitrate barytes' 10 o
sulphur, of chlorate potash, of puver
ized charcoal and 2 OF arsenic. Bengola
or blue lights are made of Z parts nl're,
of sulphur and of antimony These lights
as well as rockets, are used at sea ant
form large share of our trade. For TIE
navy we make IL large fire rocket which
under favorable circumstances can be seer
ninety miles he ordinary rocket for ex
hibtion purposes is very simple and easily
made The materials that produce the flrt
are the same as for Roman candles and nj
the rest. If we want stars or explosion
bombs, or different colored balls of free
smokers or birds, we make them separate
| ly out of tho same stuff that sends Tho
rocket up, only we place them in cup Il
the end of the rocket. When the hr'
reaches them they ignite and the explo
sion showers them in the air. Rocket
are very popular and can be made to pro
duce hundred different effects. They
are comparatively cheap. A veay large
andsuperor rocket is made which explode'
and shows eagles flying, profles of faces
md embleMs ii thousand feet up. These
are more expensive, and are only made tC
order"
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1881-01-05

What inference shall we draw from this
remarkable law in nature, that there is
nothing waste and nothing meaningless
in the feelings and faculties wherein liv-
ing creatures are endowedp For each
desire there is a counterpart object; for
each faculty there is II room and oppor.
tunity for exercise, either in the present
or in the coming futurity. Now, but for
the doctrine of immortality, man would
be an exception to this law-he would
stand forth as an anomaly in nature, with
aspirations in his heart for which the uni
verse has no antitypc to offer, with capaoi-
ties of understanding and Thoughts that
never were to be followed nv objects OF
corresponding greatness through the
whole history of his being.-ChaInsers,
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1881-01-05

The CosT OF WAR.-According to re
cent calculations, the Franco German wal
and the commune cost the French treasury
l4,638, ,098,8l4 francs-about 100000
900. The sum of human capital destroyed
has been calculated as follows by Colonel
Perron: German army-killed, 1868;
ness, l2,3Ol disappeared, 1000; woun.
ded who survived, l27, 1867. French army
killed in the war, 1l6,925; died in
captivity, 1920; died in Switzerland
l,70l, died in Belgium, 1924; wounded
by the enemys fire, l43,066 In the Econ
Oltste FranciS, Mr.. le Fovile shows that
these figures are below the mark, and
estimates the number of Frenchmen who
fell between June. 1870 and July. 1871, at
150,000,and at 100000 those who survived
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1881-01-05

The demand for winter rye for sowing
for forage has been steadily increasing for
a few years past, till thcre is now large
call in this direction. If growing grain
crops for forage should increase for few
years to come as it has for three years
past, it will paw well for good number
to make speciality of producing good,
clean, plump seed for this purpose. Much
of the rye, barley and oats we are now
compelled to buy is so foul with weed
seed and so infested with rust and smut
germs that it would in some cases be dear
II received as a gift. We have been in
the habit of paying too little attention to
the purity and general character of the
seeds we plant, and reform in this direc-
ton is much needed.-E1.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1881-01-05

A good story comes tardly from an
absolutely sure of the triumph of their
party in the recent election. On the night
of the election they placed loaded cannon
on the town square. and patiently awaited
the news. 1t came-and the democrats
skunk home, leaving the unfred cannon
behind. Thereupon the enthusas repub.
licans placed over the dumb mouth of this
piece of ordnance q card bearing the
hymn,
"A charge 10 keep have"
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1881-01-05

al have heard" says Mat Henry. "of a
married couple, who though they were
both of hasty temper, yet lived comfort
ably together by simply observing rule
on which they had mutually agreed never
to be both angry together" And he adds
that an ingenious and pious father was in
the habi, of giving this advice to his chill
dren when they married: Doth ont
speak fire, ,t'other with water come; is one
provoked, be t'other soft and dumb,
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1881-01-05
THE SABBA I'll.

Oh, heart Of all the week
Whence strength and gladness fiow
To beautify all other days,
And make their graces grow;
In thee is full supply
Oflife-blood for the seven,
Thy healthful pulses lift the weak
Nearer to God aud heaven.
Oh. fount of pure delight!
From thee such sparkling streams
Gush through the dryest, dullest day,
That fair and bright it seems.
Thou wsterest all the days
Thou freshest of the seveni-
And drawest from unfailing springs
Which have their source in heaven!
Oh, glorious sun of days!
Thy glad and steady lignt
Shines down the vista of the week,
Through morning, noon and night.
No day so dark and sad
Though darkest of the seven
But thou canst shed through all its hours
The radiance of heaven.
Oh, heart of all the week!
Oh, fount so fresh and freel
Oh, glorions sun Of all the days!
How cling our souls to theel
Cheer still our earthly way
Each day among the seven,
And let us never lose thy light.
But In the light of heaven.
-selecte
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1881-01-05

England is beginning to be troubled at
the number of people coming to the United
States. The London Economist estimates
that the emigrants coming to this country
during the current year bring with them
5,OO0,0 900 in specie, while the average
value to the United States of each person
in adding to the productive resources OF
the country is S940, so that the number
landing this yesr constitute an "actual or
potential addition to the wealth of the
country" of 100000, 900.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1881-01-05

Religion should be the guardian Of pub.
lie morality, and prevent men from going
astry into the paths of dishonesty; religion
should stand by our side and call out to
man, "Your salvation is the truthfuness
In perfect honesty and sincerity" Ifyou
wish my definition of religion, will say
religion, if it is anything, is the very
science of sincerity .-Fett1 Adter.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1881-01-05

Your little birdie has been very, very
sick she WI ote TO the young man. IT
was some sort Of nervous trouble, and the
doctors said should have perfect rest and
quiet, and that | must think of nothing
absolutely nothing. And all the time, dear
George, | thought constantly of you. u
The young man read it over, and then
read it through again very slowly, and put
it in his pocket and went out under the
silent stars. and kept thinking, and think
ing, aud thinking But didn't say any.
thing. He only kept thinking.-Rocktqad
Courier.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1881-01-05

Professor Bencke of Germany says the
growth of the human heart is the greatest
in the first and second year of life and
dosen't grow much after the twentieth
year. We have noticed this A five years
old child has a heart so big that he will
give away all his possessions on this earth
but when he reaches 80 years and accu-
mulates 50 thousand dollars, his heart is
so contracted and sordid that he wont give
five dollars to uniform base. ball club.