davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Canton advocate. [volume] (Canton, D.T. [S.D.]) 1877-1897, 1881-10-20
Tall Stories of Old Age.

From Brazil comes story of q mn.
l ,nl women having died at the age Of
lo| years. Just as the Goth was clutch.
cred to make a Roman holiday" SO this
unfortunate Old colored lady seems to
have been killed to furnish forth a
newspaper paragraph. This is pity
because she would have answered the
purpose just as well in couple Of hun.
drsd years time, ii the newspapers
telling the tale could have had patience
to wait. She is said to have lost hel
sight at the age of 100, but to have re.
covered it somewhat later. Her death
was brought about by a fall from a
bench, SO that there is really no know.
ing how long she might have lived il
the Brazil paper had not arranged the
fatal fall. The subject of longevity is
always being disputed, some persons
being credulous of all sorts of wonders
and others being as skeptical as the
late Sir G. Cornwall Lewis. The case
OF the Brazilian mulatto is put in the
shade by that OF one Johannes de Tenn
porllbus, who, according to Stow, died
IN the year 1Ol4, at the age of 361,
Unfortunately, that was not an age of
statistics, and marvellous staten ents
were supplied. A native of Bengal is
said to have died in 1856 at the age of
3Oo; bat here again distance or place is
as important an element as distance of
time in the other instance. In 1888 a
native of Evercreech, Somerset, is re-
ported to have died aged 200. In the
latter part Of the last century death at
the age of LIS or thereabout seems not
to have been uncommon, but as we
come nearer to our own times the rec
ords are fewer, until now we are oblig-
ed to 60 to Brazil for striking instance
of extreme age. The moral would ap-
pear to be that if in time of registra-
ton and research this class of wonders
has become extinct, the former state
ments with regard to them were myths.
Perhaps life was so dull in those slow
times that a man put his sensations into
figures, and thought he had lived two
hundred years instead of seventy
hrerDOOi Post.
The Canton advocate. [volume] (Canton, D.T. [S.D.]) 1877-1897, 1881-10-20
PARSON BIGGS.
A Man who Passed a Terrible Night

Ihttle ROck ua2ette.
The other day Parson Biggs, an old.
time preacher from "away in the coun.
try" paid his first visit to Little Rock
He Went to the residence of old Squire
Muckle, who at one time had lived in
the parsons neighborhood. The squire's
family were exceedingly glad to see the
parson, for years ago he had taken of
his saddle at the 'squire's gate; had
eaten corn.bread and cabbage with the
family, and had sung and prayed W til
the boys, who had plowed all day, fell
asleep. After singing the old familiar
songs, and praying the old familiar
prayer, the squire conducted the par.
son to the bedroom designed for the
rest Of the good old servant.
what do call this ?" asked the par
son, regarding with an air of interest
a mosquito-bar suspended over the
bed.
"Why, that is a mosquito-bar."
"What account is it?'
"To keep off mosquitoes"
Brother Muckle, thought that YOU
were too sensible man to give way to
these town fixins. You told me that
when l came to see you we would have
a revival of the old days. Now you
want to hang that thing over me. Take
1t down, please. I'm afraid that the
vanity that I've alters heard lurked
about these towns is taking hold of you"
The bar was taken down and the old
man blew out his candle, which he al
ways carried in his saddle-bags. with d
puff" and retired.
The squire and Mrs. Muckle slept in
an adjoining room. They had been in
bed but a few moments when Mrs.
Muckle remarked:
"What was that noise?"
"Pow-pang" came from the adjoin-
ing room.
Il don't know what it is" answered
the squire, stuffing the corner of the
pillow into his mouth.
"Slap' came from the next room.
odd you hear that?" exclaimed Mrs.
Muckle.
It's nothing" said the squire.
Something is shaking this bed, Mr..
Muckle."
"Slap, slap! !"
go in there and see what's the mat
ter with the parson. Mr.. Muckle."
"Chuch, chuck, chuck" was all that
Muckle could say.
"You act like man that hasn't got
any sense. You'd lay here and see a
man die in the next ROOM"
Chow can l lay here and (chuck)
see man in the (chuck) next room i?
The doors shut and the lights out"
"slap, bang!'
"You must 60 in there, Mr.. Muckle."
"Why don't you go?"
"Think Pm going into a mans room
All right; if the old man dies it amt
my fault" and Mrs. Muckle turned
over, and Muckle chuckled himself to
sleep.
Next morning when the parson ap-
peared at the breakfast table he pre-
sented a swollen appearance. His face
was covered with bumps, and his hands
looked as though they had the nettle
rash.
II lay there and fit them things all
night" no said solemnly. Reckon
you'd better put up that thin-lookipg
Sheet" and bowling over his plate, he
said: Gracious Lord, make us thank
full for these, Thy many blessings"
The Canton advocate. [volume] (Canton, D.T. [S.D.]) 1877-1897, 1881-10-20
ThE RETURN OFTHE DEAD.

A year she had slept the sleep of the dead,
When the young wife rose from her narrow bed
She woke from her sleep with yearning love
For the husband and child she left above.
My little son was but ten days old
When came to lie in the churchyard mould.
MY arms had held him but once to my breast
When they laid me here in my lonely rest,
And my husband dear-woe worth the day.
lie wept and wept when they bore me away.
30 might see him once more in our home,
o. might but once in his presence come;
Might rock our babe in his cradle bed
Then would l come back and rest with the deadp
Her prayer was granted. Through stone and
through clay
by the might of her love she forced her way
With yearnng love and with trembling fear
She has fitted across the threshold dear.
Unseen and unheard she wendell her way
TO the chamber aloft where her young son lay.
Like cloud she broodcd above his bed
He shuddered and smiled at the touch of the
dead.
And now must | comfort my husband dear,
And dry the eyes that have wept for year"
Unseen she stands with her hands on the door
"He thinks not, he knows not, hear him once
more"
And the gentle tones of his low tuned voice
Made her dead heart beat and her flesh rejoice.
Full well she knew ev'ry word that he spake--
Twas q poem of love that he made tor her sake.
And though she lay buried a year and day,
She livedin his mem'ry for ever and aye.
lie gave her the sweet name he called her in life;
She listened and heard how he murmured, "My
Wife"
And vowed to be true to eternity.
80 faithful beloved thou thinkest of me-"
Unseen she drifted through panels Of oak!
And stood in his presence, nor breathing nor
spoke.
God, what sight her dead eyes meet!
And closer she gathers her winding sheet
A fair young girl by her husbands side,
And her he is calling his dearest his bride.
The dead is forgotten, thrust out of his life,
And now has he welded another young wife.
The Canton advocate. [volume] (Canton, D.T. [S.D.]) 1877-1897, 1881-10-20
He Should Have Procured the License
Kansas City Journal.

Kansas City journal.
Mary l.. Nohsker is the name Of a.
young woman living on the east side,
who created a sensation last night by
trying to commit suicide in her we'd
ding dress. She has been living at a
boarding house on Sixth and Cherry
streets, where she made the acouaint-
ance Of a young man, William Harri-
oft, to whom she was to have been
married last night at the house of Mrs.
Harrison, on Charlotte, between hide.
pendence avenue and Sixth street
The guests were all assembled. the
justice OF the peace engaged for the
occasion was on hand, and the Young
people stood up to be married. when
the justice asked for the license. This
was something Harriott hadn't taken
into account. He was bewildered and
the bride was in tears. Harriott went
out with friend to try to get a license
but it was then too late, and the wed.
ding had to be postponed. Miss Noff.
skier was very much agitated over this
turn OF affairs, and after the first burst
Of tears became respondent, evidently
feeling that she had been disgraced in
some way. Suddenly she disappeared
from the house, and could not be found
anywhere in the neighborhood. Her
friends became alarmed and continued
the search to the river. It was very
fortunate they did, for, after wander
ing around a while, she had deter
mined on suicide, and was running
along the bank of the river toward the
bridge with her bridal veil streaming in
The Canton advocate. [volume] (Canton, D.T. [S.D.]) 1877-1897, 1881-10-20
At the Restaurant.
Bur,lette.

"This is the porterhouse, is it?" asked
the sad passenger, sitting at the corner
table in the restaurant. eyes, sir"
said the waiter, with the weary air of
a man who was tired Of having to tell
the same lie a thousand times q day,
"porterhouse steak, sir, same as you Or
dered." ado you cut portcrhouse
steak from between the horns this
year? ?" asked the sad man, with the in
donation of man who wanted to know.
"Slr?" said the waiter cit seemed to
be trifle tenderer last year," the sad
passenger went on, with the air of a
tired man indulging in pleasant remin-
iscences of the past, "but l remember
now; it was cut tritle lower down
then. Last year you cut your porter
house steaks from the curl in the fore
head, and the sirloins from the shin,
but I think this come from between
the horns. [ used to live in a boarding
house where they cut the porterhouse
between the horns, and this one re-
minds me of them. Animal dead this
steak came from?" Dead" echoed
the astonished waiter; "course, sir. He
was butchered, sir" "Butchered to
make Roman holiday" sighed the
sad passenger. "He would be more
likely to make Roman swear. Well,
it was time he was killed. He hadn't
many more years to live on this earth.
All, here is the brass tip from one of
his horns. Dropped into the steak, no
doubt, while you were slicing it off.
What do you do with these steaks when
the guests are through with them ?'
The waiter looked puzzled. "Why,
sir" he said, "there amt nothing left
Of 'em when customers gets through
with 'em sir?" "Possible?" said the
sad passenger; "what becomes of
them?" The waiter looked nervous.
"What?" he said; "the customers eat
them up" The sad passenger looked
up with an air of interest. 'Incredi-
BILE !" he exclaimed; "cannot accept
your statement without proof. They
may hide them under their chairs, or
secrete them in their napkins, or they
may carry them away in their pockets
to throw at burglars, but cannot be-
lieve they eat them. Here, let me see
one of them eat this and 1 will believe
you. Trust me, good waiter, L"
But the waiter pointed to a placard
inscribed Positively no trust" and
went to the cashiers desk to tell the
boss to look out for that man at the
corner table, as he didn't seem to be
satisfied with his steak and had asked
| for trust,
The Canton advocate. [volume] (Canton, D.T. [S.D.]) 1877-1897, 1881-10-20

''The numerous friends Of the Jap
anese minister. Mr.. Yoshida," says the
Washington Star, "will regret to lean
that he has been confined to his house
by illness for several weeks. He spent
the summer with his family at the sea.
shore, all of whom were greatly bene.
flied but himself. He is now impror.
ing, and it is believed will soon be well
again. The popularity which this
diplomat has acquired during his resi-
dence of about seven years in Wash.
ington is something quite unusual, and
his friends will now rejoice on the en-
tire restoration of his health
The Canton advocate. [volume] (Canton, D.T. [S.D.]) 1877-1897, 1881-10-20
The Body of Billy the Kid Kidnapped.

Scarcely has the news of the killing
Of William Bonney, alias Mccarthy,
but known the wide world over as
"Billy the Kid" faded from the public
mind, before we are again to be startled
by the second chapter in the bloody 70
nance of his eventful life-the dispo-
sal of his body. Billy was killed on July
14th and was buried on the 18th in an
almost abandoned cemetery at Fort
Sumner long-neglected military
burying ground, we believe it was.
When the rude and homely funeral
ceremonies were completed and the
last cold clod had been heaped upon
the sand mound, then should have end
ed the thrilling romance. But the fifth
day after the burial Of the notorious
young deperado a fearless skelologist
Of this county proceeded to Sumner,
and in the night, with the assistance of
a comrade, dug up the remains and
carried them away in a wagon. The
"stiff" was brought to Las Vegas, ar
rived here at O'Clock in the morning,
and was slipped quietly into the pri-
vate office of a practical "sawbones,"
weo by dint Of diligent labor and care.
full watching to prevent detection, boil
ed and scraped the "pate" SO US to Sc
cure the skull. The body, or remains
proper, was covered in the dit in q
coral, where it will remain until decom-
position 81 all have robbed the frame of
its meat, when the body will be dug up
again and the skeleton "fixed up
hung together by wires and vanished
with shellac to make it Iresentable.-
Las Vegas N. MY Optic.
The Canton advocate. [volume] (Canton, D.T. [S.D.]) 1877-1897, 1881-10-20
Daniel Webster'e Descendants.

A correspondent of the Washington
Post gives interesting details of Daniel
Webster's descendants. He says
Daniel Webster had but three chill.
dren-Edward, Fletcher and Grace.
Edward, who never married, was killed
in the war with Mexico; Fletcher, who
was killed at the first Bull Run, mar.
ried Miss Caroline Story White Of
Salem, Mass; Grace, married Samuel
Appleton of Boston, Mass. The chill
dren Of Fletcher and Caroline were
Daniel, Ashburton, Grace, Julia and
Carrie, Daniel died childless in early
manhood; Ashburton died unmarried
in 1877; Grace and Julia died before
reaching maturity; Carrie, the widow
of James Geddes Davis died at Marsh.
field, Mass, on the 10th August, leav-
ing no children. Thus it will be seen
that there is no lineal male descendant,
OF Daniel Webster who bears his name
Mrs. Fletcher Webster is now lying
quite low at Marshfeld, grief-stricken
for the loss of her last and favorite
child. The children of Grace Webste,
and Samuel Appleton were Samuel
Daniel, Carrie and Julia. Daniel died
childless from the effects of severe
burn; Samuel married daughter Of
the late General Ambercrombie, and
now lives in Massachusetts,; Carrie
married Mr.. Newbold Edgar of New
York. and after his death Colone
jerome Bonaparte; Julia married Mr.
Armistead of New York. AS these
children with the exception of Daniel
still live, it will be seen that there are
two granddaughter and one grandson
OF Daniel Webster alive at the presen
time: They are Mrs. Bonaparte, Mrs
Armistead and Samuel Appleton"
The Canton advocate. [volume] (Canton, D.T. [S.D.]) 1877-1897, 1881-10-20

the wind, when she was met by one Of
I4e young men invited to the wedding.
i1er friends succeeded in quieting her,
and she seemed afterward to repent OF
her determination to die. 1t is proba-
bic that the wedding will 20 on lust AZ
soon as William can get q license.
The Canton advocate. [volume] (Canton, D.T. [S.D.]) 1877-1897, 1881-10-20

Harry Garfield, the late Presidents
oldest son, will, after graduating at
Williams, 60 to Cleveland to practice
law. Harry and his brother James are
devoted to their feeble old grandmoth'
er; James especially watches over her
closely, and his mother says that this
has always been his way.
The Canton advocate. [volume] (Canton, D.T. [S.D.]) 1877-1897, 1881-10-20

The Louisville Couriev-Jouvnal saws
that Collector Robertson, according to
''stalwart" rules, cannot be removed
without the consent of Senators Miller
and Lapham.
The Canton advocate. [volume] (Canton, D.T. [S.D.]) 1877-1897, 1881-10-20

Rev. Stuart Robinson, D. D., died at
LOUISVILLE, KY, recently, after pro
tracted illness from cancer of the stonl-
ach: He was native of Tyrone, Ire
land, and was in his 9th year at the
time Of his death. DR.. Robinson was
for many years one of the ablest d.
vines in Kentucky, and one of its most
prominent citizens.
The Canton advocate. [volume] (Canton, D.T. [S.D.]) 1877-1897, 1881-10-20
THE LEATHER EAR.


THE LEATHER EAR.
There is always u horrible mystery
about the inside passengers to coach,
if one could only find it all out.
Fred. Ringwood had handbag con-
tanning fresh collar and spotted silk
neckerchief, a few rather good cigars,
and small bottle of Santa Cruz rum.
He was on his way to Evenden to
spend day and eat q Thanksgiving
dinner with gentleman whom he
knew merely in 81 business way.
Beggarly clerks are not often asked
out through letter by the senior part
ner's brother to Thanksgiving dinner,
and SO young Ringwood, being excep-
tionally fond Of turkey and pumpkin
pie, had set out that afternoon with the
liveliest anticipations of enjoyment.
The holiday out of town was an inn
mense thing, not to speak of day and
night in a country house and twenty
miles of coach and country road.
A very singular looking female, in
the proverbial nubia and coarse black
gown, sat bolt upright in one corner
opposite Fred, while the middle seat
was occupied by gentleman of fifty
years, perhaps, in a dark surtout, a
black stock, which he wore uncom-
monty high, and red flannel bandage
around his head and face, covering his
ears. During a relay of horses at
Bangcoke, Fred undid his luggage and
applied himself to the rum very
sparingly.
"A little spirit cheers the heart and
elevates the SOUL" said the man with
the bandage.
''Have someY said Fred in duty
bound, extending the flask.
"Untying the bandage the stranger
reduced the quantity in the bottle to a
mere gill at gulp.
"Poison-poison," said he, senten'
tiously.
Now there was a popularity about
this man which gave Fred cold chill
and made him sit further away, and
when the coach ratified off he got such
a jerk rs gave the back of his head 9
lump as big as an egg. The man who
did not object to poison calmly re
placed the red flannel. He had q curl
ousl deep red scar across his right cheel
extending from his temple to his chin
and his right ear was done up in blacl
morocco. Instantly Fred felt for hi
pocketbook, and suddenly remembered
that he had none. He carried hand
full Of loose coin in his trouser pockets
and mighty lucky was he in the middl
of the week to be able to jingle tn
bit of silver he carried with him I
Evenden.
The man in the middle got out a
Sterling where the coach took head
or, and Fred actually felt relieved, a
no doubt did the lady in the black gowr
although henceforth she kept her ey
mainly on Fred, who, in truth, had
rather rakish air, but so little egotisn
that he felt only moderately hattere
by the lady's attention, and rather cor
ceived the idea that she entertaine
lively doubts as to his respectability
That man, madam" remarked Free
with great nonchalance, after the stra,
ger had scrambled out Of the coacl
eaving it to Ringwood and the lady
the b. E., that man is one OF the grea
eat rascals of his day"
"GoOd graciousl" exclaimed the !a1
With nervous spasm; .'you don't Ga
80. What does he do mostly"
"Oh, as to that, it is easier tellir
what he does not do. He doesn't I
anything elderly and nice, but ever
thing Of the Dick Turpin-Sixtee
S:ringeJack, sort, you understand i
The Canton advocate. [volume] (Canton, D.T. [S.D.]) 1877-1897, 1881-10-20

The funeral of the late Hon. Enoch
R. Nudge took place at Lynn, Mass,
on Tuesday afternoon. Only the day
before his death he made the last pur-
chase necessary for the completion Of
the costly church he had erected as a
memorial to his children, and congrat-
ulated himself and the rector that the
work was done.
The Canton advocate. [volume] (Canton, D.T. [S.D.]) 1877-1897, 1881-10-20

superhuman strength, foaming at the
mouth and endeavoring to bite those
who were holding him.
The Canton advocate. [volume] (Canton, D.T. [S.D.]) 1877-1897, 1881-10-20

Mrs. Waggoner was Emily's more
than mother.
Nothing worth mentioning" an
swered Fred, turning trifle red in the
face as he remembered the rum which
was so plentifully diluted with annis
seed.
Frederick, you arc good fellow,
and full Of the right stuff. Emily,
don't mind telling you, my dear, tina,
you have made an excellent choice d
a husband. From tonight, Mr.. Ring
wood, you enter my brothers. business
az an interested clerk, with partner
ship in view, while I've no doubt tha
We can make things all satisfactory t
you at Evenden.''
i Emely and Fred 60 down every yea
to eat Thanksgiving and Christmas din
ners at Evenden.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-11-02
A Great Gun.

READING, October 24.-Early this
morning preparations were begun to
cast the Lyman Haskell multicharge
cannon at the Scott works of the
Reading iron works, in this city.
Two reverberating furnaces were
charged with 5000 pounds of coal
blast charcoal iron from four other
furnaces, and the cast was success
fully made this afternoon. The fif-
ty-seven thousand pounds of metal
was poured into the mould in six
minutes. 1t will require about two
weeks to cool before the gun can be
taken from the pit.
The gun is thirty-fve feet long,
and the bore, when finished, six
inches in diameter. Along the bore
four pockets will be located, in each
of which a charge of powder will be
placed to accelerate the speed of the
ball after it leaves the chamber Of
the gun. 1t is claimed that ball
thrown from this gun will penetrate
through two feet of solid wrought
iron. Il charge Of powder will con-
sist of one hundred and thirty
pounds, and the weight of the ball
will be about one hundred and fifty
pounds. The greatest diameter Of
the gun will be twenty-six inches,
When finished the gun will be taken
to Sandy Hook for trial. A number
of military men and civilians from
New York and other points were
present to witness the casting.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-11-02
Railroad Agent Killed.

OMAHA, October 2S.-News was
received at the Union Pacific Rail
road headquarters to-day of the
murder of j. Hinckley, agent of the
company at Franklin, Utah, on the
Utah and Northern branch of the
road. The tradgedy occurred at ten
o'clock Thursday night. Two mask.
ed men, presumed to be strangers,
entered the depot and pointing a re-
volver at Hinckley's head ordered
him to throw up his hands. Before
Hinckley could make move the
revolver was discharged and the
shot passed through his neck, kill
ing him almost instantly. The
murderers, whose object is supposed
to have been the robbery of the sta
tion. turned and ran, from which it
is concluded that the discharge OF
the revolver was unintentional. Gen.
eral Superintendent Clarke, of the
Union Pacific Railway, is authorized
to offer thousand dollars reward
for the arrest and conviction of the
murderers.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-11-02

WASHINGTON, October 26.-Upon
the application of Messrs. Scovillt
and Robinson, counsel for Guiteau
Judge Cox in the Criminal Court to
day consented to the postponement
of the commencement of the assas.
sins trial until November IA, in or.
der to give counsel for defence fur
ther time to prepare their case,
The Court said that the date to-day
fixed upon must be regarded as pre-.
emptorily established. Mr.. Scoville
admitted that he thought the Court
had jurisdiction over the case, and
intimated that he would not raise
that question.
District Attorney Corkhill has re-
ceived telegram from Judge Por-
ter, of New York, stating that he
will assist the Government counsel in
the prosecution OF Guiteau.
Judge Lawrence, First Comptroll-
er of the Treasury, has decided that
witnesses for Guiteau living more
than one hundred miles outside OF
the jurisdiction of the Court Dis
trict of Columbia) cannot be paid
by the Government. Inside of that
radius their expenses can be paid.