davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1881-06-30
How Marbles are Made.

Marbles are named from the Latin
word marmor," by which similar play
things were known to the boys of Rome
two thousand years ago. Some mar
bles are made of potters clay and
baked in an oven just as earthenware is
baked, but most of them are made of
hard kind of stone found in Saxony,
Germany. Marbles are manufactured
there in great number and SEM to all
parts of the world, even to China, for
the use of the Chinese children. The
stone is broken up with hammer into
little square pieces, which are then
ground round in mill. The mill has
fixed slab of stone, with it's surface
full of little grooves or furrows. Above
this q fiat block of oak wook, of the
same size as the stone, is made to turn
round rapidly, and while turning little
streams of water run in the grooves and
keep the mill from getting too hot
About one hundred of the square pieces
of stone are put into the grooves at
round and polished by the wooden
bio *.
China and white marble also are used
to make the round rollers which have
delighted the hearts of the boys of all
nations for hundreds of years. Marbles
thus made are known to the boys as
"Chinas" or "alleys." Real China ones
are made of po. celain clay and bak ed
like China ware or other pottery. Some
of them have pearly glaze and some
are painted in various colors, which will
not rub off because they are baked in
just as the pictures are on plates and
other tableware.
Glass marbles are known as "agates.'
They are made both clear and colore6
glass. The former are made by taking
up little melted glass on the end of al
iron rod and making it round by drop
ping it into an iron mold, which shapes
it, or by whirling it round the heat
until the glass is made into little ball
Sometimes the figure of a dog, o,
squirrel or kitten, or some other obiec
is put on the end of the rod, and, whel
it is dipped into the melted glass th'
glass flows all around it, and when tn,
marble is done the animal can be seeI
shut up in it. Colored glass marble
are made by holding a bunch of glas
rods in the fire until they melt; thel
the workman twists them round into
ball or presses them in mold, so tina
when done the marble is marked witt
bands or ribbons of color, Real agates
which are the incest of all marbles, ar
made in Germany, out of the stone calle'
agate. The workmen chip the piece
of agate nearly round with hammer
and then grind them round and smoot
on prindstones
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1881-06-30
DOLLY'S PARACHUTE.

"P-a-r par-a-c.h-u-t-e. Uncle Har-
nv, what's that ? a parachute ?"
"A big word for little girls tongue,
Dollie. Come, let me see if it bas
twisted it crooked ?"
forth the desired organ, and as gravely
pronounced it sound and straight.
"But l want to know, Uncle Harry"
she persisted.
SO I took the young lady on my lap,
and explained, as we'll as 1 could, the
mysteries of the parachute; and the
beautiful brown eyes grew bright with
wonder at the new ideas thus presented
to her inquiring mind.
My story finished, Miss Dollie sat
awhile on my knee in deep thought /;
and then she got down, and trotted off
with a preoccupied, business-like air.
1 loved good cigar in those days-I
do now for the matter of that-and sit
ting smoking on the portico, with the
sweet summer breezes dancing around
me, and the woodland songsters filling
the air with music, L forgot Dollie-
though I had promised to keep an eye
on her-until suddenly startled by q
ing from the garden, sure indication
that the mischievous little monkey had
got into some sort of trouble, as usually
happened on an average twice day,
at least.
threw away my beloved cigar, and
rushed out to the scene of the turmoil,
my sister closely following ; but neither
of us, must confess, were prepared for
the sight that met our view.
There was tall grape-arbor in the
garden, composed of several upright
posts connected by long Stats, nailed
longitudinally, and projecting foot OF
more beyond the uprights at either end
There were fifteen of these Stats, foot
apart, and on the end of one of the up
permost ones hung Miss Dollie.
She was suspended somewhat in the
manner of d penknife with the blade
partly open and the point turned down
ward and as she swung to and fro
filling the air with lamentations, hel
poor little nose received many a blow
from the frantic plunges of her knees
and feet,
"Keep still, Dollie p 1 cried out, IN,
voice full of laughter.
And then l ciembered rapidly up tn,
arbor, and plucked the terrified child
from her elevated, impromptu swing
landing her safely on the ground.
"Dollie," said her mother, severely
"haven't forbidden"
'It's all Uncle Harry's fault, so it is I
sobbed Dollie, in doleful accents. "H
said person could jump off hig
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1881-06-30
Paanut Statistics,

The crop of peanuts which supplies
the entire country comes, for the most
part, from Virginia. In few Of the
other Southern States the peanut has
been planted, but the yield in quantity
or quality is scarcely worth counting in
comparison with that of Virginia. Many
years ago the Spanish seed was sown in
Virginia and it fructjfied wonderfully,
the nut as it grows now being double
the size of the original seed. 1t is still
supposed by many that the esculent is
still foreign importation, but this is
not so nor has it been for the past three
years. The receipts of the peanut in
this city from Virginia for the past three
years, from October Is to June l each
year, here is as follows: 187S.79, 4,605
bags; 1S79-80, 99,017 bags; lS80-81, 76,-
443 bags. The total receipts in 1879
were 1O4, 344 bags, and in 1880 127, 402
bags. The average current price, as
given by large importer, was: Hand
picked, 1-2c. to 3-4c. per pound;
choice, &c. to lac. per pound; lower
grades, Sc. to l2c. per pound. A
large quantity of shelled peanuts is sold
annually in this city for confectionery
purposes. To give an idea of the con
sumption throughout the entire country
the following figures are quoted:
Stock of bags on hand June 1:
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1881-06-30
THE FARM AND HOUSEHOLD.
PnnlfrH Nnfea.

The number of eggs consumed in this
country is enormous, and has rapidly
increased for quarter of q century.
AS many as 10, 600, 900 have been shipped
to New York annually from Mon
treal alone, and it is computed that more
than thrice that number come east from
Ohio and the interior states. Eggs are
reported also as very scarce and dear
this winter in Great Britain, where some
4OO,OOO,OOO, valued at near $4,000, 900,
are annually imported, mainly from the
Continent. It has been estimated that
the consumption in the United States
reaches more than 1000, 100000 every
year
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1881-06-30
Coin Home To-day.

Ny business on the jury's done-the quibblin,
all is through
I've watched the lawyers right and left, and
given my verdict true;
stuck so long unto my chair, thought !
would grow in;
And if do not know myself, they'll get me
there ag'in;
But now the courts adjourned for good, and
have got my pay,
I'm loose at last and, thank the Lord, I'm
going home to-day.
I've somehow felt uneasy like, since the first
day 1 came down
1t is an awkward game to play the gentleman
in town;
And this 'ere Sunday suit of mine on Sunday
rightly sets
But when wear the stuff week, it somehow
gals and frets.
I'd rather wear my homespun rig of pepper,
salt, and gray
I'll have it off in half jiff when 1 get home
to-day.
The mornin' that came away we had little
bout
coolly took my hat and left before the show
was out.
For what said was naught whereat she ought
to take offense,
And she was always quick at words and ready
to commence
But then she's first one to give up when she
has had her say;
And she will meet me with kiss when 1 go
home to-day.
have no doubt my wife looked out as well
As well as any woman could-to see that things
was done;
For though Melinda, when I'm there, won't
set her foot outdoors,
She's very careful, when I'm gone, to tend to
all the chores;
But nothing prospers half SO well when l go
off to stay,
And I will put things into shape when I get
home t. LAY.
My little boy-I'll give 'em leave to match
him, if they can;
It's fun to see him strut about, and try to be
man;
The gamest, cheeriest little chap you'll ever
want to see
And then they laugh, because think the child
resembles me.
The little rogue he goes for me like robbers
for their prey;
He'll turn my pockets inside out when get
home to-day.
My little girl can't contrive how it should
happen thus
That God should pick that sweet bouquet and
fling it down to us
Ny wife, she says that han'some face will
some day make stir;
And then l laugh, because she thinks the
child resembles her.
She'll meet me half way down the hill and
kiss me any way;
And light my heart up with her smiles when
go home to-day.
If there's a heaven upon the earth, fellow
knows it when
He's been away from home week, and then
gets home again;
If there's heaven above the earth, there
often, I'll be bound,
Some homesick fellow meets his folks, and
hugs 'em all around.
But let my creed be right or wrong, or be it as
it may,
My heaven is just ahead Of me-I'm going
home to-day
VA Carleton. in "Fdrna Ballads"
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1881-06-30

The States of the Union which have
more women then men are Alabama,
Connecticut, Georgia, Louisiana, Mary
land, Massachusetts,, New Hampshire,
New Jersey, New York, North Carolina,
Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South
Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. The
greatest excess of females is in New
York where it is 1000, and the least in
Louisiana where it is 5000. The total
excess of women in these fifteen States j;
800, 0,000-they are minus 100000 hus
bands. Think what the women may
save who, if married, might have beer
compelled to support those husbands
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1881-06-30
Farm and Garden Notes,

In reply to an inquiry as to how to
prevent SOW from eating her young,
correspondent of the Country Gentle
man recommends giving them "say half
a pound of pork or scraps from the pack
ing-houses or blood and waste from the
butchers two or three times before and
on the day they farrow. Since I have
adopted this plan I never lose any. Last
spring my man neglected one OF the
sows and she ate up twelve pigs. This
spring she has ten, and is one OF the
qUietest and kindest of all the mothers" J"
Posey county, Indiana, claims to have
raised the largest COW in the world. Her
name is Lady Posey, breed mixed Dur
ham and Big English. Her measure
ments are Greatest height, five feet
ten inches girth, eight feet nine inches /;
length, ten feet six inches, or including
tall, seventeen feet her form is good
and, though not fat, she weighs 5000
pounds. Her color is red and white,
red predominating. Age, six years.
Her present owner lives in Stark county,
Illinois.
DR.. Lyon Playfair, perhaps the grea
est living English authority on food
said in the debate in the house of com
mons on o1eomargarine, that, as it con-
tanned the same fats as those obtained
from the cow-minus the aromatic fats
which curiously enough produced ran
cidity in bad butter-he thought the
sooner it supplanted bad butter the bet
ter. He believed that it would do that,
but he did not think that it would sup
plant good butter. y
Sassafras bushes may be eradicated by
plowing deep and narrowing. This
will bring the roots to the surface.
Plant corn or potatoes, and keep the
crop well hoed to kill any sprouts that
may appear. Two years of this treat
ment will thoroughly destroy them.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1881-06-30
The Flower Garden.

Aside from the pleasure derived in
cultivating flowers, there is no doubt
that Horticulture is profitable occupa-
tion. Towns and villages spring into
existence where a decade before was
only an unpeopled waste, and the shop
keeper, mechanic, or artisan is glad to
buy the surplus the farmer may have
from his overfowing garden. This l
know to be the fact in scores of instan-
ces where the business of nurseryman,
market gardener, or florist was, as it
were, forced upon the farmer by his
village neighbors desiring to buy the
products of his garden. Here is case
somewhat in point. The original pro-
prietor of one of the largest seed houses
in New York, shrewd Scotchman with
an eye to the main chance, emigrated
from Scotland sometime about the be-
ginning of the present century. He was
| mailer by trade, and was entirely ignor'
ant of anything pertaining to seeds OF
gardening but one day coming through
the Bowery, then half farm, half city
he saw rosebush in a cottage window
1t was rose in wilderness, for prob
ably there were not score more in the
city then. He went in and bought i
for fifty cents, took it home, painted the
pot green, and placingit it in the window
of his nail shop, quickly sold it for {
dollar. This was easier work and bet
ter pay than Matchmaking. So he start
ed out daily, buying plants Of all kinds
always painting the pots greene prac
tice by the way that modern scienc
would frown at)-doubling his none
rapidly. From plants the transition t
dealing in seeds was natural and easy
, SO that in less than twenty years frol
the time this humble Scotch nail-make
had purchased his first rosebush in th
Bowery his seed house had become I'll
largest on this continent and he was
wealthy man.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1881-06-30
HUMOR OF THE DAY.
Wagons are born tired.

Wagons are born tired.
Everybody should take newspaper
but not from other folks doorsteps.
A lover is like tug-boat when he
goes out with toe.-Sdlene Sunbeam.
To be short in his accounts is, in
q cashier, crime; in reporter it is O
virtue.
Will the coming man eat dried applesP
Central City lem. If he wishes to be
classed as O swell he probably will.
The man who has invented flying
machine should make his trial trip now.
There have never been more flies out
than at this present time.-Picdyune.
The Brooklyn Eagle gives the follow
ing as q Boston lads definition of his
stomach: Something that goes across
the teachers knee when get licked"
Ground for objection "Me buy the
property, sor? Me be landlord and be
Shot in the back Shure, there's to be
no more landlords we're all goin' to
be tinnants ?"-Punch.
We warn newspaper men against
counterfeit 800 bill now in circulation.
Probably no professional men handle so
many bills of that denomination as the
pencil pushers, and we hope our timely
warning will prevent any from getting
caught.-RocheSter ErpreSs.
An elderly gentleman says to little
miss of seven: "Say, sissy, will yon
marry me l' The child, taking the pr>.
position gravely, curls up her mouth as
if considering the subject. Come,
sissy" says her mother, "will you marry
the gentleman "Yes, n, but
(aside)-ma, I'd like newer husband
FINANCIALLY EArDARRAssED.
man in business often is,
You'll find, perplexed and harrassed;
But when he's walking down the street.
With his best girl SO trim and neat,
And ice cream signs his eyes do meet,
With not cent to stand the treat,
The girl may look him in the phiz;
And at such times he surely is
Financially embarrassed
YOnkers Statesman.
Some one has formed 1,051 English
words Of not less than four letters from
the letters in the word regulations"
The above item is having an extensive
circulation through the newspapers.
A glance at the word regulations
shows that it contains all the vowels
and six of the most frequently used
consonants, so there isn't anything won
derful in the feat mentioned. The per-
son who accomplished it could have
done more for humanity by sitting at
the forks of road and acting as an
automatic guideboard.-Ne,o Hares
RegiSter.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1881-06-30
he following figures are quoted:
Stock of bags on hand June 1:

The available surplus stock on hand
in Virginia, New York, Boston and
Philadelphia, June l, 1881, ii excess of
the stock at the same time in 1879, was
102,S62 bags, and in 1880, 67,371 bags.
The past winter was so cold that the
consumption of peanuts was much be-
low the average. At the opening of
spring dealers found their stock nearly
all on hand; nor is there any likelihood,
in the opinion of prominent merchants
in the trade, that for the balance of the
year the market will be otherwise than
dull and weak.-Ne,o ork Herald.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1881-06-30

Morse, who invented the telegraph,
and Bell, the inventor of the telephone
both had deaf mute wives. Little COM
ment is necessary, but just see what a
man can accomplish when everything is
quiet. Citizen.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1881-06-30
FertIIizinp Orchards.

Professor Beal, who has been expert
menting with an orchard situated on
rolling land of black, loamy nature
since 1878, reports these results: Around
some trees small circles were kept culti-
vated but these trees do no better than
those which grow in sod. A circle Of
grass extending nearly out to the ends
OF the overshadowing lines is of little or
no damage to the tree after it has grown
fifteen or more years and has become
we'll established.
Trees of this age left in grass without
manure, in our orchards, grow more
slowly, produce less fruit, of a smaller
size and poorer quality than trees which
have been we'll cultivated; the fruit is
generally in our experiments of a brighter
color when grown on trees left in
grass. When spread broadcast about o
tree, barnyard manure produces a good
effect about two years sooner than when
the manure is placed close to the tree.
Some trees were kept heavily mulched,
to others ashes were applied at the rate
of one wagon-load of leached, or two or
three bushels of unleached per tree, 9th
ers were given wagon load of barnyard
manure these applications were made
four years ago, and perhaps it is toe
soon to arrive at conclusions, but as YET
the trees appear about the same, nc
difference being visible in favor ol
either of the above modes of manuring
Where clear cultivation has been prac'
ticed without fertilizers or mulch. the
fruit seemed to be just as abundant and
of as good quality as in the three las
cases enumerated. Thorough tllling o
of the land has been one of the best eX
periments, and has apparently produced
the best results. have experimental
in thinning apples while they are small
| o,,J G,,J vow, ,oroGtoh1a
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1881-06-30

Breeding Farm Horses.
We have encouraged the use OF the
large imported horses of the better class,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-08-19
Alexandria Affairs,
for THE EVENING STAR.

Reported for THE EVENING STAR.
THE MARYLAND FERRY.-The franchise ofrun-
ming the ferry between Alexandria and the Mary
land side just opposite is now contested be-
tween the little ferry steamer Virginia, under
the management Of Mr.. Clarence Wheat, and
row boat of Mr.. Richard Phillips. 1t is under
stood to be cOntended that the steamer succeeds
to the old ferry franchise and has the monopoly
of carrying passengers for gain across the river.
The ferry was originally established in 1870 and
ran from Point West to Addison's (nOw Shep-
herd's.) There were afterwards two ferries, one
from FishtOwn and the other from the foot of
Duke street. The upper ferry was removed in
1899 to the present location and the other ferry
has been abandoned over fifty years.. The steam
ferry rate is 10 cents and the row boat rate 5
cents. Some fisticuffs took place over the con-
test yesterday, which were paid for at the mayors
office this morning.
THE STARS SUGGESTION CARRIED 0uT.-The
change suggested in The STAR, by which the
odOrless method of doing the night scayengers
work is to be substituted for the present odor-
Gus work, will take place about the close of this
month. The mayor will determine next We'd
nesday to which of the proposing contractors the
work will be given. and Immediately the new
plan will be put into operation. The Washing
ton machines will probably be employed in the
business.
COUNTY COURT.-The county court of Alexan-
dra county will open its August term next Mon
day. The only business likely to engage the
attention of the court IS the complaint Of Messrs
Wright, Hatch and others that the Arlington
road is not kept in order 1t is quite likely that
this case will be postponed until September, and
the court adjourn almost as soon as it opens.
COLORED TROOPS FROM THE DIsTRICT.-The
Lincoln Light Infantry, of Georgetown, and the
Butler Zouaves reached here yesterday after
noon, and the colOred population turned out
en- nadsse to receive them. They paraded the
streets for some time and then gave dress
drill at the Fair grounds and were reviewed by
the mayor and other officials. They returned at
a late hour.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-08-19
Presidential "Inability.o
of the Chicago Times,

Correspondence of the Chicago Times.
Ex-senator Mcdonald, while in the Senate,
was regarded as special authority on all SUBJ
lets relating to the constitution of the United
States. | ;sssEed him last night what he thought
of the discussion as to w,,:et constitutes inability
of the President, as defined BY the cOnstitu-
ton. Mr.. Mcdonald said that he mad not
given the subject any special consider
alton. but that he could not see any
possible construction that could be put upon
the clause in the constitution that related to any
thing but mental inability. So long as the Pres
ident was mentally able to consider the PROPOSE
lions submitted to him mere physical inability
could not legally prevent him from performing
executive acts. Up to Andrew Jack sons time
Presidents signed all the land patents, commits
sions and other documents relating to the exer-
else of executive authority. Since that time
subordinates. The signing of land patents Is
assigned to a land patent clerk, although the
President may sign a patent If he chooses. There
is no legal difficulty in the way of mans au-
thOrizing another to write his signature for
him. Mr. Blaine, any member of the Cabinet,
his private secretary or any clerk might be desig-
mated to sign James A. Garfield to needed dOcu-
mentS. If President were paralyZed, and MS
mind yet remains clear, there could be no ques-
ton about his being able to direct how the duties
of his Office could be legally performed. MIR.
Mcdonald thought there was very little worthy
of attention in the discussion that has been
raised. II the President should remain in sick
bed during the four years of his administration,
Mr.. Mcdonald does not see how the Vice Presi-
dent could be called upon to perform any execu-
tive act, except by the President himself, to act
as the representative Of the latter.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-08-19
CITY AND DISTRICT.
Condensed Locals.

Street lamps will be lighted tonight at 7:15
pm, and extinguished at 2:34 am.
Prot. Greener is to deliver the emancipation
Grafton on the oath inst. before the cOlOred peO-
pie of Frederick Co.. Md.
Register of Wills Ramsdell yesterday issued to
Isabella HI. Morrison letters of administration on
the estate of Chas. s. MorrisOn ON giving bond of
81 500.
Mrs. Ellis. who recently shot herself in the
breast while labOring under fit of melancholy
caused by i'll health, has so far recovered as to
be able to leave her bed.
The Bakers Cooperative Association yester-
day elected Mr.. Louis DOrr treasurer.
The sun-fOwer rage, which is considered a
step towards the aesthetic cult" is now well
developed in this city. Young ladies with an
assortment of dropping sun-flowers hanging
Imply and all forlorn from their belts are fire.
quently met on the streets.
The pastor of the Metropolitan Presbyterian
church, Rev. Dr. Chester, has returned from his
summer vacation.
The Philadelphia Times remarks: SIT is posi-
bic that the passenger railway managers allow
alleged young gentlemen to smoke cigarettes
and five cent cigars on the back platforms of the
cars as matter of ornament. 1t certainly is in
no sense useful" To the same class of young
persons in this city the remarks are entirely APP
plicable.
From G.. A Whitaker we have the London
Quarterly Review for July. with an excellent
table of contents.