davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-09-22
Seasoning Food.

Many people have an idea that fine
ly Favored dish must cost a great deal;
that is mistake. If you have untaint-
ed meat or sound vegetables. or even
Indian meal to begin with. you can
make it delicious with proper season.
ing. One reason why French cooking
is much nicer than any other is that it
is seasoned with every variety of herbs
aud spices. These cost very little. If
you buy few cents worth at time
you will soon have a very good assort-
ment. The best kinds are sage, thyme,
sweet majoram, tarragon. mint, sweet
basil, parsley. day leaves. cloves, mace,
celery seed and onions. If you wish
to plant the seed of any of these first
seven mentioned in little boxes on your
window sill, or in any sunny spot in
your yard. you can generally raise all
you need. Gather and dry them as
follows: Parsley and tarragon should
be dried in June and July, just before
towering; mint in June and July;
thyme, marjoram and savory in July,
August and September; all herbs should
be gathered in the sunshine and dried
by artificial heat. Their flavor is best
preserved by keeping them in air tight
tin cans, or in tightly corked glass
bottles
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-09-22
An Ingenious Kind of a Bird.

One of the most interesting and COM
mon birds in the AdirOndacks is large
woodpecker that bores holes in tue
bark of spruce and then plugs them up
with acorns and nuts of any kind. One
piece of wood taken from tree, of
about eight square inches contains ten
of these plugs, so closely and tightly
wedged in that a knife had to be used
TO force them out. The piece of bark
looks rs if wooden bullets had been
fired at it and just covered themselves.
The general impression seems to be
that the birds put them there and eat
them in Winter or later, but squirrels,
it would seem would have the best of
it. The amount OF work woodpecker
does in making a hole three inches
deep can be imagined when it is known
that in some of the pieces of wood bored
ten or fifteen pecks of their bills will
hardly make any impression. How
many thousand it would take to finish
the. work mentioned, and the conse-
quent wear and tear of patience. can
be imagined.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-09-22
Ihe Thunderer Compliments American
Surgeons.

VI all such improvements in the
healing art President Garfield will reap
the full benefit; for not only have AM
erican surgeons had comparatively re-
cent experience of campaigning. but
they occupy q position in the front
rank of their profession. They are
habitually among the very first to APP
ply all new knowledge which comes
to them from abroad; they have largely
contributed to the advancement of
knowledge themselves, and they dis.
play, in even greater measure than
Englishmen. that solicitude for the well
fare of the individual patient which SO
conspicuously differentiates practition-
ers of the Anglo-Saxon race from those
of the Continent of Europe. The arti-
ficial reduction of the temperature Of
the sick-room, which was early men,
toned as among the means which had
been employed for increasing the COM
fort of the sufferer, is only single in
dication of the care with which he is
being tended; and those who are anx-
iously watching the daily bulletins may
be comforted by the reflection that
nothing which skill and knowledge can
suggest or carry out will be neglected
in the management of tho case. The
President will rise from his sick-bed
endeared to tho whole American peo-
pie by his suffering, and with his hands
immeasurably strengthened for much
of the work which they will find to do.
The reports of every day seem to bring
this happy issue more and more within
the region of probabilities. London
Times.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-09-22
Fear of Disease.

While the plague was raging in Bu-
enos Ayres, the grave-diggers bore
charmed lives. OF the three hundred
men SO employed, not one died OF the
disease. IL has often been noticed
that during pest;lential diseases, ply
sicians. undertakers. nurses and grave
diggers. whose business compels con-
stant liability to infection. have usually
escaped in a far greater ratio than their
numbers would warrant. The ''charm"
of this immunity from the prevailing
sconrge is very simple. They are not
scared. They are positive to the dis
ease, and repel its attacks. Fear is a
great ally of death. Whoever is afraid
of disease is in negative condition,
and really invites its approach. And
thus it is the world over. The brave
die but once, while towards die many
times.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-09-22
The Flying Dutchnlan.

A name given by sailors to phan-
tom ship. supposed to cruise in storms
off the Cape of Good Hope. Accord
ing to tradition, Dutch captain. bound
home from the Indies, with long, con-
tinuel head winds and heavy weather
off this cape, and refusing to put back
as he was advised to do, swearing a
terrible oath that he would beat around
the cape if it took until the day of
Judgment to accomplish the feat. He
was taken at his word. and doomed to
beat against winds all his days. His
sails are believed to have become
threadbare, and the ships sides white
with age, and himself and crew re-
duced almost to shadows. He cannot
he:.ve to or lower a boat. but sometimes
halls vessels through his trumpet, and
requests them to take letters home for
him. The superstition has its origin
in the looming or apparent suspension
in the air of some ship out of sight-a
phenomenon sometimes wiIn ssed at
sea, and caused by unusual refr ac-
L on in the lower strata of the atmos-
Dhere.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-09-22
Women Gambling at Sarataga.

One of the recent amusements of a
group of ladies at the Grand Union has
been buving French pools on the daily
races. They do not go to the track.
but meet in the reception-room and
agree on the horse. They admit they
scarcely know horse from a mule. but
are governed by their intuition. Rath-
er, this secret power resides in one
little lady, who takes the days pro-
gramme and selects the horse. She
does not select the favorite. That, she
says, would be using her Judgment.
and she has greater faith in her intui-
ton. She selects the horse and the
other ladies buy and the ticker sends
them the results, while they nurse their
excitement in the reception-rOom dur
ing the races. The strangest part is
that so far she had not made any mis-
takes, and the ladies are radiant over
their successes. The ladies who do
not buy amuse themselves by picking
out the winners and choosing the COM
binatiOn. One of these the other day
chose q successful com mbination which.
If she had bought. would have brought
her $1.5OO Naturally she can but re-
gard it as the lost opportunity of her
life. Others are governed by signs and
omens. One lady rose disheartened be-
cause she dreamed she was going to be
surprised. Another. having bought
pool on Saunterer. grieved that she
could see no malfOrmed person to
touch. as that would surely bring luck.
and insists now that tho commission
caused her to lose her mohey. The
prospect of seeing Hindoo running
filled the stand with a fiuttering crowd.
and the ladies were catching at every
face for points. Tho result
has been amusing. and somewhat
their confidence in tho judg-
ment of their male friends. as in tho
first race the dark horse camo in with
pools that would have
bought q summer dress at Rulings or
and their money is on the
to N. Y. World
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-09-22
How to get q Futl Milk pm.

We assume TINT the COW is properly
fed. Lacking this condition, no COW
can milk rs she ought, says the London
Lice SIock Journal But careful feed
ing seems to have but little influence on
the milking properties of some cows;
they lay on flesh instead. Yet, rs they
have first of all to live before they can
think of giving much milk. or in fact
any milk at all worth speaking of, and
as about two-thirds of the food they
have an appetite for goes to sustain the
offices of life, it is clear that under
feeding will not lead to a profit. This
is proposition well enough estab-
lished. and it appeals alike to our judg-
ment and interest. Yet, after all, breed
is of the first Importance, because with
out it good feeding is of small effect on
the milk pail; but, if we have both
breed and feed, the pail will overflow
if we let it. Breed, then, is first; food,
next then good milking by hand, kind
treatment, shelter from the storm, and
all that.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-09-22
Keeping on Good Terms with a Wife.

When the celebrated Theodore Park
er married Miss Cabot. he entered in
his journal ON his wedding day the sub
Joined resolutions, the keeping of which
made his life happy one:
1. Never, except for the best of rcas-
ons, to oppose my wife's will.
2. To discharge all duties for her
sake freely.
3. Never to scOid.
A. Never to look cross at her.
5. Never to weary her with COM
mands.
6. To promote he. pietv.
z. To bear her burdens.
8. To overlook her foibes.
9. To save, cherish and forever de-
fend her.
10. To remember her aiwa,s, most af-
fectionateiy, in my prayers.
Thus, God wiling, we shall be
blessed.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-09-22
Tha Pianista..


1t is French instrument, about four
feet wide, a foot deep. aud stands a
trile higher than the keyboard of a
pianoforte. The actor placed this novel
invention in front of handsome up
right Steinway pianoforte. Extending
from the back were small hammers.
enough to cover the principal keys of
the Steinway instrument. A heavy
paper with pcrforations. and resemb-
ling a book. was placed in the left hand
side. and the end placed under cross
board on the top of the pianista. MIR.
Emmett then turned crank, and as
the paper passed under the center-board
the perforations worked small levers,
which in turn worked the hammers on
the keys of the finger-board, and tho
splendid instrument played "La Car
nival de Venise." and ''Home, Sweet
Home" These were played on the
piano, and by working two pedals at
the foot of tho pianista the same tunes
can be played.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-09-22
a Baby with a Bullet in its Brain.

The following reported in the Pough-
keepsie Nescs, is probably one of the
most remarkable cases of the kind on
record: On the 10th of June a young
man named Coresh was practicing with
his pistol at Duchess Junction, viii
lage in Duchess County, ,on the line of
the Hudson River Railroad. His pistol
carried No. 80 ball. One of his shots
passed through the board walls of
sLanty occupied by French Canadian
family named Payette, and struck a
child years and months old sleeping
in IFS cradle. The bali entered the
right side of the child's head, back of
the ear, and DR.. Schenck. being sum-
moned, ordered its removal TO the
Highland Hospital at Haltewan. Here
a consultation was held, Drs. Schenck,
Slack, and Doughty being present.
ence of ether, and an unsuccessful at
tempt was made to locate the ball.
which the medical men believe is
lodged between the dura matro and the
interior bones of the skull. The wound
was dressed anti-septically twice daily.
The child began to improve to the
wonder of the doctors and of everybody
else. After six days a relapse took
place, and the child was seized with
violent convulsions, after which the
whole left side of the child became
paralyzed. The convulsions decreased
in violence until the sixteenth day after
the shooting, when they ceased alto
gether. AT present the child is alive.
aud the opinion of the doctors is that
with care it is likely to live. Its appe-
lite is good, it rests well, no symptoms
of pain are observable, and the wound.
which has been discharging a healthy
pus, is ut the present closing up. Re
Gently the little one was removed from
the hospital to the cabin of its parents,
and again occupies its little cradle and
crows as Justify as before it got the dose
of lead. of which it appears 10 be in
blissful Ignorance. A wealthy lady of
Mattewan wishes to adopt the child, in
order that it can be given the care and
attention which the poverty of its par
ents prevents them from giving it. The
case is the wonder of the medical men
OF the county, many of whom have VS.
tied Payette's cabin to study the extra
ordinary case.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-09-22
The Stroke of the Rattlesnaks.

The fact that poisonous serpents
strike with the fangs, which are only
found in the upper jaw, into the objects
of their attack, instead of biting them.
is not generally known by the public
unfamiliar with their structure and
habits. The lower jaw is used in seiz-
ing food only, and plays no part in de-
fence. The curved fanGs are strongly
thrown forward in the segment of a
circle, of which the portion of the ami
NAL resting on the ground is the centre.
The force of this stroke is given with
all the power of the muscular system
of an exceedingly muscular organiza-
ton; its force is realized only by those
who have felt it. We once placed q
foot on the head of small prairie rat
tlesnake, in Kansas, and friend took
hold of its tail, and cut its head off
with his pOcket-knife. The body was
no sooner released from the hand than,
with a quickuess only equalled by the
traditional '.flash," it struck his hand
with the stump hard enough to bruise
it so as to make it useless for a week or
more.
This has been called to mind by the
following letter to Prof. Baird from
Mr.. Stone, of the United States Fish
Commission, in charge of the Depart
ment of the Pacific Coast. He writes
from Baird, Cal, June %:
''One of my young men had mar
row escape from terrible death last
week. He was walking down the trout
pond ditch (hume), when he was sud-
denly struck by a rattlesnake on the
side of the leg, about halfway between
the hip and the knee. Fortunately. he
had on long rubber boots. fitting rather
loosely. The snakes fangs pierced the
rubber entirely through, and one of
them tore slit half an inch long in
the boot leg; but the fangs did not
reach the flesh and the man escaped
unhurt. The snake hung moment by
his fan~s, and the man had to shake
him off. He SAYS the blow was so hard
that he thought some one Lad struck
him with a rock. The man was MIR.
Loren Green, who works at the trout
ponds. 1t was such an ext aordinary
escape that l thought You would per-
haps like to have me write YOU about
it. LIVINGSTON STONE"
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-09-22
Stace-Etruck.

A terrible epidemic, says the Modern
A'yo, is sweeping over Louisville
switch is in the state OF Kentucky"
and unless it is soon got under control
may be attended with most deplorable
results. One-haf the girls of that city
are age-struck-stark, staring stage
struck. Hundreds of the residences
have been converted into amateur play
houses. where would-be female stars
tear their hair and rave, and split the
air with their arms, stalk majestically
across imaginary stages to the imagi-
nary music of imaginary orchestras,
amid bursts of imaginary applause and
showers of imaginary bouquets. In the
dry goods stores young ladies rush up
to the counters with inspiration drop
ping from the eyes in great chunks.
and in hollow tones command the af-
frighted clerk to: ''Hast, thee, cringing
vassal; pr-r-r-ro-ducc and br-r-r-ring
forth into our pr-r-r-re sence thy 50
cent hoser'
In the ice cream saloons maidens
shovel the cooling cream into lovely
mouths. and swcetly murmur to their
escorts:
..Now. be me faith, Orlando. but is't
not nectar tit for gods? Speak, me
beloved, is't not dainty dish that
graces our festal board?" and practical
Orlando replies:
81 bet your
On the street car tile maiden stalks
forward to the driver and liowls:
''What. ho! there. clarioteer, give
me, pray thee, diminutive coin for
this ST. bond, an will upon the in
slant requi:e thee for thy services upon
this Journey"
When one of them catches a.flea, she
holds the victim at arms length, and
rOarS:
''Aa-a-a-a! have thee at last, vile
craven! For many'a nirht thy vista
tiOns to my chamber have brought un-
rest to my dormitorial couch. Now, at
la-a-a-st, thou art in my re-r-r-re-lent-
less clutches, and will shower full re-
quitting vengeance upon thy thr-r-r-r-ice
aceursed head. Die, vile ingr-r-r-r-ate,
and may the seething fires of hopeless
perdition engulf thy quivering soul for
evermOr-r-r-r-r-e!'
Then she opens her fingers little to
get a good squeeze at him, and the flea
hops ont and goes home TO tell its folks
about it.
They have got it bad. and none of
the old-establlshed modes of treatment
seem to avail.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-09-22
What an ALBANY Man Said.

One of the lumber dealers in this
State says the Detroit Free Press has
for the past three years been supplying
a dealer at Albany. For the first year
everything went well, but at length the
Albany man began to complain. He
found shortage and culls i'm every car
load sent him and demanded discounts
therefor, and this spring it was impos-
sible to please him. No matter how
carefully lumber and shingles were
culIed and billed here, he was sure to
write back that they were not up to the
standard. Two weeks ago a carload
of ''star'' shingles was sent him. The
''star" shingle beats anything made in
the country, and they know it ut Albany
rs we'll as in Michigan. but as soon as
the car arrived the dealer replied that
he really must protest The shingles
were hardly ''clear butts.'' and he
could not unload the car until assured
of discount of twenty-five cents per
thousand.
The Michigander had suffered long,
but the end was nigh. He had inspected
every bunch of shingles on the car. and
he made up his mimi to go to Albany
and inspect them over again. The
dealer there had never seen him, and
Cuc WOlVoFluc WdlkcU 1nLC Ills OmCo IS
q would-be purchaser of some extra fine
shingles.
'.I've got exactly what you want"
promptly replied the Albanian. s.I've
got car load of Michigan stars out
here which lay over any shingle you
ever saw"
care they all perfect?"
s.Every one of them"
'.No culls in the center of the
bunchcs?'
"rll eat every Gull you find. got
them from a Michigander who is as
straight as the Ten Commandments
and he has never yet sent me stick of
second-class stuff. Come and see 'em."
The Wolverine quietly pulled out his
business card and laid it on the desk.
The dealer took it up. read the name,
and sat down on a stool with q queer
feeling in his knees.
There was an awful silence as they
glared at each other, and it was full
minute before the victim slowly ex-
tended his hand and hoarsely whis-
pered:
'.Did you ever see man make such
m internal ass of himself? Shaker'.-
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-09-22
En;curean Smokers.

Carl PretzeI thus discourses, in the
National Weekly concerning lovers of
the weed
Among smokers there are many cpl
cures their fasiidiousness is exhibited
in hundred ways. The epicurian
smoker indulges in his darling habit
only under the most favorable condi-
tons; the right time, the right place,
and the most favorable circumstances.
must unite to entice him. Then the
epicure throws himself back in his
easy chair in q reclining attitude. and
first carefully inspects. then lights and
proceeds to smoke his favorite cigar.-
There is an air of trepidation about our
epicurean smoker while he gently
draws the first few whiffs he finger,
his superb ''upman" nervOusly, re-
notes it from his mouth frequently,
scrutinizes tho gradually forming lash"
narrowly. After making this observa-
ton he suffers the smoke to escape slow
ly from his lips. inclines his head slight
ly, and closes his eyes, permitting his
face to be bathed in the ascending
wreaths of blue. that every sense may
sit in judgment on the quality of the
cigar. If the verdict is favorable. the
smokers eyes unclose only to beam
Will OeuSnt, piaclu Shiie OVerSpToauS
his face, and from his now parted lips.
the remnant of the experimental whiff
is borne forth on a sigh of grateful re-
lief and supreme satisfaction.
The man who smokes Is at Ills best,
intellectually and morally, when he
smokes. 1t is then, if ever. that great
thoughts come to him. 1t is then, if
ever, that he forms noble resolutions.
Blessed be he, and blessed be the world
if these great thoughts and noble reso-
lutions do not end in smoke I! The
cigar is the chief of all cOmforters in
afliiction. When all other companion
ship jars, the cigar soothes. The silent
communion between tine smoker and
his cigar. promotes = cOntentnent akin
to that to lovers whose hearts are too
full for utterance. AS the lover clasps
his betrothed in his arms and draws an
inspiration of eternal fidelity from her
coniiding eyes. SO the smoker fondles
his cigar, and finds a blessed oblivion in
the clouds of ever vanishing. ever re-
newing wreaths of smoke that circle
about his head.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-09-22
Women in Journalism.

The influence of women in journal
ism in the United States is far greater
than appears on the surface. The fact
that there are sixty papers and period
icals openly edited and published by
women gives but a very small frac-
tional idea of the extent of their con-
nection with journalism. The number
of female contributes to all classes of
papers and magazines is not known to
the general public, and not always
even to the publishers, from the fact
that in the highest class of periodicals
they frequently adopt male moms de
plane, while many others form part of
the editorial staff of influential journ-
ais, where, as impersonal contributors.
sex is not recognized.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-09-22
To a Skylark.

would my lot were thine, happy Lirli
How near to Heaven should my voice be
hcnril
How ligatly I'd soar on the m orning wind,
Leaving the shadows of earth behiud,
Away, far away In IN, pure fresh air,
Till the fiaccy clouds my form should bear,
AMI al LIES sorrow and sins an wrong
sftuid be lost in the sweetness of my sOngl
But have little in common with thee;
"Enrth, earthly" ust my portion be;
Aui cannot soar for tho dust that cliugs
I" my spirits soiled and dropping wings
Orc of multitude strange and vast,
ku1nfng g a race VIII Oh we lose at last,
w ,rking great works that are pOn forgot,
1ojling for that which ayaileth notl
And the cares and sins of ev'ry day
Chain us to eai tn; we are far away
From tho higher aims of stor agu"
And the stainless joys that poor souls know.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-09-22
Formulation of Austria.

The total population of the non-Hun-
garian portions of the Austrian Empire
in December last was %, 130, 6S4, being
an increase of 1,735. O54 within eleven
years. or eight and a half per cent.
The population of the Hungarian por-
ton of the empire was 1868, 723, or
one and one-fourth per cent. more than
in 1870, of but 191. 1896. This gives a
total population in the whole empire in
December last of 7,739,407. Austria
contains but four cities having popu-
lation of more than 100000. These
are Vienna, with population of 1885,
los; Pragul with 162. .318; Trieste, 144,-
437; and Lemberg. with 40. 250.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-09-22

Germany has nearly 100000 shoe
makers and cobblers. or nearly ninety
to every 10000 of her population. This
is larger proportion than in any other
country except Italy and England. It.
ally takes the lead of all. Then come,
in the order named. gland and Wales,
Germany Belgium, Ireland. Denmark,
France, the United States and Sweden.
1t is a curious circumstance that warm
Italy should have within fraction of
100 cobblers to 10000 of the popula-
tion. and cold Sweden less than
eighteen. ..e