davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1881-01-28
Electrified Men.

The stories told by African travellers
of the marvellous sights they have wit
messed do not duh the'popular curiosity.
For each tourist in that land of wonders
is expected to 90 where no one else has
been. and tell something that no one else
has seen. The latest traveller fulfills
these expectations, as the following
shows:
Most people are familiar with the
''sparlx" which may be produced under
certain conditions by stroking the fur of
a cat.
Travellers in Canada and other cold,
dry countries have witnessed the still
more remarkable phenomenon of the hui
man body being turned into a conductor
of electricity, and the possibility of
lighting the gas by merely placing ones
finger-giving the necessary conditions
of electrical excitement-near the gas
jet, without any other agency.
Mr.. A. w. Mitchison, the African
traveller, who is engaged In writing a
narrative of his exploring expeditions in
Western Central Africa, gives some still
more startling facts.
He states that one evening when strik-
ing an African native, In a moment of
anger, with a cowhide whip, he was as
tonished to see sparks produced, and still
more surprised to find the natives them
selves were quite accustomed to the phe-
nomenon.
He subsequently, found that a very
light touch, repeated several times un-
der certain conditions of bodily excite
ment, and in certain states of the atmos-
phere, would produce a succession of
sparks from the bodies of native men as
well as native cattle.
The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1881-01-28
A Iudicious Wife.

A iudicious wife is always nipping off
from her husbands moral nature little
twigs that are growing III wrong direc-
tions. She keeps him in shape by con-
tinual pruning. If you say anything
silly, she will affectionately tell you So
If you declare that you will do some alb
surd thing, she will find some means of
preventing you from doing it. And by
far the chief part of all the common
sense there is in this world belongs un-
questionably 10 women. The wisest
things man commonly does are those
which his wife counsels him to do.
wife Is a grand wielder of the moral
pruning knife If Johnson's wife had
lived, there would have been no hoard
ing up Of orange peel, no touching all
the posts in walking along the street, no
eating or drinking with a disgusting vo-
racity. If Oliver Goldsmith had been
married, he never would have worn that
memorable and ridiculous coat. When
ever you find man whom you know
little about, oddly dressed or talking alb
surdly, or exhibiting eccentricity of
manner, you may be sure that he is not
a married man; for the corners are
rounded off-the little shoots pared
away-in married men. Wives have
generally much more sense than their
husbands, even though they may be
clever men. The wife's advice Is like
the ballast that keeps the ship steady
The Baptist Teacher.
The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1881-01-28
Fresh Air in the Bed. Room.

How much air can be safely admitted
into sleeping or hying-room Is com
mon question. Rather, 1t should be
considered how rapidly air can be adj
mttted without injury or risk, and at
how low temperature. We cannot
have too much fresh air, so long as we
are warm enough and not exposed TO
draughts. What is a draught? 1t Is
swift currento of air at atemperature lower
than the body, which robs either the
whole body, or an exposed part, OF ITS
heat so rapidly as to disturb the equl-
hbrlum of our circulation and give us
cold. Young and healthy persons can
habituate themselves to sleeping IN even
a strong draught, as from an open WIN
dow, if they cover themselves in cold
weather with an abundance OF bed
clothes. But those who have been long
accustomed to being sheltered from the
outer air by sleeping in warmed and
nearly or quite shut-up rooms, are too
susceptible to cold to bear a direct
draught of cold air. Persons over ~
years of age, moreover, with lower VI
taIty than in their youth, will not beSr
a low temperature. even in the air they
breathe. Like hot-house plants, they
@A4Ny bC hAA4tNt - IL NtHtcI AAtoN'
and must be protected by warmth at all
times. As rule, we may say that, ex-
cept for the most robust, the air which
enters at night into sleeping chamber
should, in cold weather, be admitted
gradually only by cracks or moderate
openings; or should have its force broken
by some interposing obstacle, as a cur
tain, etc, to avert its blowing imme-
diately upon a sleeper in his bed. The
ancient fashion, however, OF having bed
curtains, which exclude almost all the
air. has rightly become almost obsolete.
No wonder that people dream horrid
dreams. and wake in the morning
wearied rather than refreshed, when
they sleep in rooras scaled up tightly on
every side, bresthing over and over
again their own breaths, which grow
more poisonous in every hour of the
night Health Primer.
The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1881-01-28
Mickedness of Blondes.

A writer in the AHantic Monthly
says: / have found the worst feml-
nine qualities almost invariably allied
to the blonde style; not the green
or gray eyed blondes. with straight,
abundant hair and fresh coloring, but
the swallow or palid being, with light
blue eyes and limp or waving hair-an
innocent-looking creature, with feline
manners, pate de UelOltrS, and such
clawsl These are the women who delude
and destroy men; who never forgive an
injury or forget slight; who smile and
talk sweetly, and put on airs of meek
piety or high art and refinement, but
under all are scheming, unprincipled,
false to the core. Did not Lucretia Bor
gia have golden hair? Was not Lady
Macbeth a Scottish woman, presumably
with lint-white locks? Two of the worst
and most brilliant woman l ever knew
had this style of complexion, and the
lovely being whose picture was my child
ish alteration, who sat simpering over
the library shelf in dear old Uncle w. S
house, robed in satin and sables, her
gold hair curling like a child's, her sap
phire ewes as inscrutable as a deep
spring, her rosebud lips soft and fresh as
baby's, and her taper white fingers
crossed in her lap, was virago, a drunk
ard, n woman without n symptom of
principle-the mystery and the curse of
the old and honorable family she mar
ried into Black haired and dark-eyed
women are quick-tempered, electric.
generous, jealous probably, but full of
relenting, and capable of being coaxed
into or out of anything. Weak as to
their affections, snappy as to their tenn
per; warm of heart and hot of head, they
are never very bad or very good, and are
the delightful torment of every man who
loves them and whom they do not love
too much; but love makes slaves and
fools of them, and they are ridiculously
The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1881-01-28


These ornaments are very pretty and
dainty when made of the light shades of
silk. such as heliotrope, pale pink, or
blue, OF which an eighthof yard viii be
required, and a spool of fine sewing-silk
to match in color also three small
wooden molds-two oval, and one long
and narrOw-square at the ends. These
can be turned, or, if that is rot con
vement, small button -molds can be used
fer the earrings, although the shape is
not as pretty, and the pin can easily be
cut from soft wood. 4 thin layer of cot
ton Is then placed over the wood, but
must not turn under the edge. The silk
Is cut half an inch larger all round than
the mold, and drawn smoothly and rs
tight as possible over II. This must be
caught across the back with sewing
silk, as 1t is stronger and less clumsy
than cotton or thread. Sew as firmly as
possible on the backs of the oval molds
the gold loops that are 10 pass through
the ears. These can be purchased from
a jeweler at a small cost. \ small piece
of cardboard is then cut the shape, but
trife smaller than the mold, covered
smoothly with silk, and very neatly over
handed on the back ; each one Is finished
on the back in the same way. The pm
must be attached to the square one by a
leweler. They are now ready for the
painting, which must be done rs well as
possible, for it is in this that their beauty
consists. The design should be of fine,
delicate flowers, and nearly cover the
mold A very pretty set for mourning
can be covered with black silk and paint
ed in white only, the design being OF
white iessamine and bleached ferns.
They are not difficult to make, but the
most exquisite neatness Is necessary IN
order to produce a satisfactory result.
The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1881-01-28
The Man.SlaYer.

A man who had committed a dreadful
murder fed, and was pursued by the
officers of the law and the relatives of the
murdered victim On reaching the river
Nile he saw a lion on the bank, and. he
ing drcadfully afraid. climbed mp a tree.
He. however. discovered a serpent IN the
upper branches of the tree. and, being
greatly alarmed, threw himself into the
river, where he was carried off and eaten
by crocedile This the earth, the air
and the water, alike refused shelter TO
murderer. The foregoing fable was
written fully two thousand years ago and
teaches us how true 1t IS that times
change, and we change with them; also.
that not every change Is for the better.
If the murder referred TO had been com
mitted now. instead of two thousand
years ago. the murderer-unless he were
a poverty-stricken frieEdless wretch. a
mere superliuous human quantity-in-
stead of fleeing from the sheriff, would
have hunted him up and given bail, In
order to be better able to assist his at
torneys In procuring continuances from
term to term and tampering with the
States witnesses, stealing or quashing
the original Indictment, procuring
changes of venue, appeals, reversals, re-
mandments, and otherwise securing his
complete vindication when in the course
of time or eternity, his trial came off, if
it ever did. This fable teaches us that
there was once a period when the muir
derer was regarded with such adherence
that even the wild beasts and the ele-
ments refused him protection 1t is
comforting to know that there was such
a period. - GaLCcStoD NetCs.
The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1881-01-28
what Does IL ueanl

Many of your young country girls are
anxious to break away from the monOt
ony of home life and try their fortunes
in the city. They desire to be a clerk
or book-keeper in some large store.
They fancy a book-keeper as a young
person in tasteful dress, wearing lawn
cuffs, and having early hours, with easy
work, on salary of perhaps 5000 to
81, 800 year. The average pay of good
women book-keepers in New York is IS
a week, and not over S12 for the best,
unless by favor, which implies no i'm
provement to girls reputation. A
book-keeper can board for 81 week,
her washing costs so cents, and car fare
80 20 Is cents more, and she works in
dimly-hghted office, with gas burning
half the time over her page, till the
bloom dies from the cheek and from her
spirits. This picture is not alluring,
but it is at least a true one. Better
stay at home, girls. and be thankful for
the refuge afforded by the old farm
bpuaa
The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1881-01-28
An Old Book.

An interesting glimpse into our early
history is afforded by an old worm-eaten
gazateer which was found lately In
private library.
1t was issued in the first of this cen
tury, by J. Balm, of Baltimore. Geo
graphical information Is oddly MN
gled with scientific facts, and J.
Bain's vehement opinions concerning the
British, and the Cthen) late war with
them, obtrude in every page. Those
ruthless invaders, he assures us, ''ex-
hibited a barbaric cruelty unequaled
since the days of the Saracens and Van
dals.'
Philadelphia was then ''the metropolis
of the country" Washington could
"boast of four churches, gaol aud
a hotel. Boston had twenty-three
churches. Ithad, also, "a fine row of
warehouses on the north side of the pier,
and handsome street running from the
pier to the town-house.'
The Eldorado for emigrants was The
Ohio, which was then the far West.
Long lines of high, canvas covered
wagons took their way over the Ale
ghany Mountains, drawn by eight horses,
each usually decorated with an array Of
bells; the wife, children, chairs, plow,
and feather-bed were piled up III the
wagon: underneath 1t ran the Watchdog
the father and oldest boy walked along
side, with their rifles slung on their
backs
The journey occupied two months or
more, which the emIgraut of the present
makes IN twenty-four hours When the
squatter was once settled, however, in
his cabin. his bill Of fare was as luxuri-
ous as that Of city gourmand nowadays.
Bears meat, yenison, pheasant, and wild
turkeys were the picccs-dc-reSistduce Of
his daily dinner, while wild honey,
golden front, and partridges filed the
smaller dishes.
1t Is a useful study to compare the
lives and privations of our ancestors who
conquered the grim forests of the New
World with our own the more useful he
cause we find that with all their struggles
they had. as a rule, more tranquil, slow
er, longer lives than our own. This was
because they were not fevered by the
modern thirst for riches aud social dis
tinctiou which now maddens even the
poorest emigrant Crops and clothes
enough for the wear 10 come, and a
woods preaching or house-raising now
and then satisfied their desires.
II was poor, meager life, according
to our more civilized notions: but it had
in it "a content which we have universally
lost ont of our own household furniture.
Youths Companion.
The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1881-01-28
A Practical Joke on the Wrong Party.

Mr.. Wagon was the victim. HIS son
johnny l. "a mischievous lad, and one
day resolved 70 play trick on his broth
er. He arranged certain attachments 70
that brothers bed. worked 10y cords run
ming TO his own room. and then went OF
fishing. While he was gone ms brother
was sent away to be absent over night
and lot of company arrived ct the
house Mr.. Wagon gave up his own
room TO them and occupied the absent
sons bed johnny got home late at
night, and wholly ignorant of tins
change of arrangements, went TO ms
room, which was next to his mothers,
and prepared to perpetrate his designs
upon his brother.
The first proceeding was n haul on
cord which ran between the blankets and
spread on his brothers bed. and. being
fastened at the top, would pull the
clothes off the bed. Mr.. Wagon was
comfortably tucked in, whom suddenly
the clothes began TO slip, and he found
himself uncovered. He thought he
might have kicked them of, and sat up
and took hold Of the clothes to pull them
back Meanwhile, Johnny had yanked
another cord which pulled the pillow of
the bed. Mr. Wagon discovered his loss
and reached for the pillow, and when he
got it, the clothes went off again. He
was much excited ut that, and again
went after the clothes and again lost hls
pillow.
That time the pillow went under the
bed and Mr. Wagon went after 1t, and
Immediately came out again and swore
prodigiously, for the floor was strewn
with chestnut burrs, and he had COTTON
into them. He resolved to scold the
chambermaid for leaving so many pins
on the floor. Once more he attempt TO
get the pillow, and, as it was way under,
he made a frantic dive for 1t, and Just
then Johnny. who was shaking with
laughter, pulled the last cord and the
whole bed came down upon Mr.. Wagon
and iammed him upon the burrs.
His frantic howls brought his wife and
friends to the rescue, and he was fished
out. And then the gas was lighted and
somebody discovered the cords running
to Johnny's room. Mr.. Wagon at once
hastened there. The lad explained that
he thought his brother was IN the bed,
but it didn't make any difference. His
yells were mistaken by man sleeping
half mile away for cry Of fire, and he
jumped out of bed so hard that he
sprained a toe. And the next day when
Johnny went to school he got spanked
again because he wouldn't sit down, and
is now resolved to run away from home
the first chance he can get, as this part
of the country is a mighty discouraglng
region for n boy E,rchUaQc.
The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1881-01-28
Short Stories.

Mr.. Hale is right. The people do like
to read, and therefore do read if that
doesn't follow without the saying short
stories, as he boldly AYERS in the preface
to his last volume of tales. But they
like them to be good. What IS a good
short story? There are plainly several
answers to this question, depending upon
the classes of readers by whom they are
given. But let us consider the stories
GOOD enough in their thought, purpose,
style and literary workmanship to COM
mand place in the best monthly maya
zines. and in weekly journals that strive
to maintain n high standard In the
first place, a story of this grade must
have the readabIc quality in a degree
that Will carry seventy-five per cent. or
more of the patrons of the magazine or
journal through it, in manner to inter
est and to please them. An editor fit
for his place commonly looks out for this,
by an instinct which authors may quar-
rel with, but which Is better4or the pub
lsher's purse and the readers satisfac-
ton than the opinion of ''ten men who
can render a reason. - Golden Rule
Mrs. Long of Baltimore, lately rich
widow. is insane on the subject OF relg-
ion only and is a street preacher. In
place of a hymn, her irreverent congre-
CATION sang, lately:
"Man wants but little here below,
Nor wants that little Long"
The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1881-01-28
a Weuan,s wiz

A woman's advice is generally worth
having; so, if you are In any trouble,
tell your mother, or your wife, or your
sister all about it. Be assured that
light will flash upon your darkness.
Women are too commonly judged
verdant in all but purely womanish af-
fairs. No philosophical students of the
sex thus judge them. Their intuitions,
or insights, are the most subtle, and, if
they cannot see a cat in the meal, there
is no cat there l advise a man to keep
none of his affairs a secret from his-wife
Many a home has been happily saved,
and many a fortune retrieved by mans
full confidence in his wife. Woman is
lar more seer and a prophet than
man, if she be given fair chance. AS
a general rule, the wives cOnfide the
minutest of their plans and thoughts to
their husbands. Why not reciprocate,
if sbut for the pleasure of meeting con-
fidence with confidence? The men who
succeed best in life are those who make
conidants of their wives. - Weekly
yf1<leoe17o}eyf
The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1881-01-28
Canacity for Sleep.

Public men, subjected to severe men
taI strain bv exhaUstiog duties, learn to
sIeen anywhere and at any time. Napo-
lean once slept for an hour in the middle
Of battle with the roar of artillery
obont him. Brougham slept for twenty
fonr hours at the close of an exciting
week in the courtroom.
story told of William Pitt, when
prime Minister of England, exhibits this
mntiny had broken out on ship of
var and the mutineers had imprisoned
Admiral Colpoice, and threatened him
18th death unless their grievances were
radressed 1t was feared that the exam
nle would become contagious, and the
mutinv become general
several members of the Cabinet, led
Inv, Tord Windham, went in dismay to
PITT house for counsel. He was asleep,
but they forced then way to his chamber
and reused him.
The great statesman sat up in bed,
heard their exciting story, and wrote
III Admiral Colpoice is not given up,
fire mon the ship from the batteries un-
III she is destroyed.
He then lay down on his pillow, and
wos snoring before his surprised col
leagnes s,e had left the room. They could
not understand how sleep was possible in
such an emergency.
The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1881-01-28
Anecdote of Lord Redesdale.

Early one morning he made his way to
the mansion of the Earl of Lucan. He
had started for the races, and was dressed
in sporting garb, his cap put ON awry
and a cigar between his lips He rang
at the front door, and the Earls best man
an exquisite of the first water-an-
swered the summons.
- Is the Earl at home?'
{" No. sirl The Hearl Is not at 'ome.
He mistook the caller for sportive ser
want, very likely seeking bemploy-
ment.
"Do You know if he has gone to Wind
:. No. L don't know hif e as gone to
Windsor. But I'll tell you what 1 do
know: You'd be a doin' of yerself
vast deal o credit hif you'd honly just
run around to the sign O the Bell an
Crown, hand fetch me pot of allan
'alf.
''TaU right, where's your money!"
Wy-bless youl / don't find money
for them as l has to hanswer the bell for.
'Aven't you got a sixpenny bit OF yer
own?''
q guess I can find one.' And away
his ioTdship went, really enjoying the
thing. and shortly returned with tam
kard of foaming half-an half.
The valet drank it with n keen relish
-emptied the poland then offered to
return it, with:
"There, my good fellow-I'm much
But the visitor put the pot back, and
cut the speech short with
Return the tankard yourself. my
man, and when your master returns, be
kind enough to tell him that Lord Redes-
dale called. "
His lordship left the dazed and con
founded valet supporting himself against
the door-post, the porter-pot fallen to
the floor, MS face the picture of horror
and despair, looking for all the world
like one who wished he had never been
The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1881-01-28
Divine Judgment for sabbath Breaking.

Toward the end of the sixteenth cent
ury, in England, Gods judgments
were mucb in vogue. A Suffolk clergy
man, named Bownd, adduces many such
judgments. One was the case of a no
blemap s'who. for hunting on the holy
day, was punished by having a child
with head like a dogs" Though he
cites this instance, Bownd, in the mat
ter of Sabbath observance, was very
lenient toward nObleman. With court
ier-like pliancy, which is not without its
counterpart at the present time, he
makes an exception IN their favor
Concerning the feasts of noblemen
and great personages or their ordinary
diet upon this day, because they rep
resent in some measure the majesty of
God on the earth, in carrying the image,
as it wese, of the magnifcence and puis-
sance of the Lord, much is to be grant
ed them"
The civil war was regarded as a pun
ishment for Sunday desecration. The
fire OF london and a subsequent great
fire III Edinburgh were ascribed to this
cause, while the fishermen of Berwick
lost their trade through catching salmon
on Sunday. A drunken peddler, "fraught
with commodities on Sunday, drops
lutO d AA'cA. Oue lIlCn OcIItHuOTuS, Il
Swiss, while playing at dice on the
Lords day, lost heavily, and apparently
10 gain the devil to his side broke out in
to this horrid blasphemy: If fortune
deceive me now / will thrust my dagger
into the body of God" Whereupon he
threw the dagger upward 1t disap-
peared, and five drops of blood, which
afterward proved indelible, fell upon
the gamlng-table. The devil then APP
peared, and, with a hideous noise, car
ried off the vile blasphemer. His two
companions Jared no better. One was
struck dead and turned into worms, the
other was executed. Popular Science
MOnthIU.
The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1881-01-28
A Model Girl.

Do you want to read this word picture
OF modest girl? / wish more of her
class existed, for the sake of society at
large. She is not what is called hand
some, though possessed of quiet at
tractiveness all her own. Her ward
robe is chosen for quality according to
her financial circumstances the colors
are selected with care, suitable to each
other, and favorable to her complexion
lyon may call this taste; so it is-"mod-
est taste') the style must, of course,
be Is. near the popular fashion as she
dare approach, but never quite up to
the height; when out calling or shop
ping she dresses with neatness and care !:
If walking, she neither moves too fast
nor slow, but glides along with a natural
and graceful step which is very be-
coming, recognizing her friends by a
polite bow, or welcome grasp of the
hand; but there are no demonstrative
embraces or gushing words. She is
strictly truthful. When any question is
being discussed, and her opinion is
asked, she gives it hesitatingly, not
doubtfully, and, if not accepted, never