davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-07-21
The Argument Against the Blind Bride.

We know not who invented this in
strIlment of horse torture, but we know
he did not understand the anatomy and
physiology of the eye of a horse. HUI
man vision is binocular-that is, we see
the same object with both eyes-and so
adjust the axis of vision that the object
appears single though seen with two
eyes. But the eyes of the horse are
placed on the sides of the head, and the
axis of each is nearly at right angles
with the longitudinal line of the body,
SO that it is impossible that the same
object can he distinctly seen by both
eyes. Now, by binding the eye i'm the
direction in which it was intended, in
its construction. that il should see, it is
forced to use an oblique vision. as if we
should cover the front of our optics and
be compelled TO see only by the corners
of our eyes. This unnatural and con-
strained use of the eye must, to u great
er or less extent, impair vision, if not
entirely destroy it. The object for
which the blind bride is used is not ac-
complisfed by, it. A horse is more
readily frightened when he cannot see
the object of his dread than if he can
have fair view of it. But it is sur
prising to observe with what tenacity
men hold on to an absurd and cruel
practice when moments reflection
should teach. them better. Nineteen
out OF every twenty horses you see in
harness have blind brides on, and if
you ask the owner to explain its bene-
fits, or why he uses it, he will be utter
iy unable TO give rational answer.
We are not surprised that draught
horses are subject to diseased eyes-we
wonder that they are not all blind.-Aa-
diana Farmer.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-07-21
A Definition Of a Gentleman.

"What do you call gentleman?''
asked the duke. ..Wiu you give me a
definition of the wordP' ..That is not
so easy, my lord; indeed, am not sure
that it is possible to define the word
satisfactorily, replied Lady De We're,
fixing her eyes on the expressionless
face of the interlocutor. s.By resorting
to metaphors, however, may perhaps
be able to outline what we all feel, hut
are unable to fully describe. A gentle
man is one in whom the vigorous and
the delicate are happily united. The
soft, the refined-that which comes
from seeking, the society of women, of
culture, lies in the 'gentle;' the strong.
the firm, the stern-that which comes
from battling with men, lies in the
mani gentle implies the possession
of all the social. man Of all the civil,
virtues; man is the fiery wine. gentle
the tasteful goblet; man Is the Sharp.
correct drawing, gentle the warm.
soft coloring; gentle might be the Syb-
arite who is disturbed by the falling
of u rose-leaf, man is the Baitus, who
as Judge knows not even his own child.
Pericles, the brave. magnanimous, ami
able, refined Athenian. might be offered
ms an example of the true gentleman
Spielhageh's ..Lady Clara De Here.''
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-07-21
Chinese Beds.

There are two kinds of Chinese beds,
and both are arranged for complete
shutting in by means of hanging cur
tains and tapestry. The expensive kind
is like q sort Of cage. having fiat
wooden roof, just the size of the bed
proper, supported at height of about
eight feet from the floor on four corner
posts and two intermediate ones. Then
there is a sort of frieze or entablature
work running around horizontally,
above and below, SO that when you are
in bed you are safely penned in q sort of
cage, and cannot possibly tumble out.
The carving on these beds is sometimes
very rich, and they cost much; but the
ordinary and cheaper kind is made of
two frames of wood shaped something
like the skeleton of an old-fashioned
.'settle," which are stood up on the
floor. facing each other. A mattress is
placed on the projecting parts of these
frames, and couple of slight sticks
across the top; then curtains and hang
ings shut all i'm, and make it look as
pretty as the taste and money of the
owner are able. Inside. there is u cot
ton quilt, laid on the mattress frame.
Tho occupant of the bed lies on this,
having % little roll of stuff for the head,
AMI for covering very thick cotton
Quilt .s.-l.-4 ~ 80
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-07-21

How Whistler Painted q Calling.

Probably you have heard of Whist
ler's extravaganza in houses. He was
engaged to decorate noble mansion
in Belgravia; the price was no object to
the owner-and for that matter neither
was it to Whistler. One day a friend
asked me to go over and see one of the
rooms that was nearly completed, and
fastened to accept the invitation. This
is what we saw on entering: A very
slim, spare figure extended on mat
tress in the middle of the floor; beside
him, on an enormous palette, paints, a
half-dozen long bamboo fish-poles set
ting on n line with their butts close at
hand. apd a very large pair of binocular
glasses. Whistler, dressed wholly in
black velvet, with knickerboclzer pata-
looms stopping just below the knee,
black silk stockings. and low pointed
shoes with silk ties more than six
inches wide and diamond buckles. was
fiat on his back. tishing-rod in hand
and an enormous eyeglass in one eye,
diligently putting some finishing
touches on the ceiling, his brush being
ON the other end of the Gsh-pole. o.
casionally he would pick up his double
glasses like some astronomer peering
ut the moon, and, having gained q
nearer and better view of the effect, he
would again begin to agitate the paint
brush at the other end of the long
pole. ~
'.Now, wouldn't be q fool" said he,
ito risk myself on a scaffolding, and
nearly twist my head off my shoulders
trying to look upward, when can
overcome the difficulty and annihila to
space SO easily thusp" and he gave u
wave of his fish-pole. 'i.is
And such room! One mass of
gorgeous purple and blue, ornamented
solely with an enormous number of the
eyes of peacock's feathers. 1t was a
room to make a man lunatic in a
week. 1t was as if all the peacocks in
'Christendom had settled down upon
one, and were about to smother one in
tail-feathers. And this was the cele-
brated peacock room" about which all
London went wild not long afterwards.
London Letter.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-07-21
A Dress Of Campbell Badges.

Al the last flrawing-room Lady
Archibald Campbell wore dress Of
blue and black Lyons velvet, which was
cut la ~princesse, and relieved by
slashing on the left side of the skirt in
silver-gray satin, the corsage garnished
with black Chantilly lace OF a rare pat
tern; band of la gibeciere of black
velvet bearing small ecusson shields.
united by Gaelic knots in gold, ,traversed
the bust of the habit and secured en-
traverse by silver fish-one of the
Campbell badges. The shields on the
band were charged alternately with the
cognizances of the Argyll Campbells
and the Calienders of Ardkinglas and
Craigforth in their proper heraidic
tints. A besace, or satonel, of shield
shape, emblazoned with the quarterings
of the Argyll Campbells and the Cal
lenders of Ardkinglas and Craigforth.
was secured to the left side of the dress
by the badges of the fish and tho bog
myrtle. The satchel contained an an
tique lace handkerchief en- jabor. The
train of silver-colored satin, suspended
from the shoulders, and attached to the
dress by the badges. On the train was
embroidered, en- applique, the ancient
and well-known coat-of-arms of the
Campbells of Argyll in subdued colors.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-07-21
- y ~ %. 90
Oolored Aristocrats.

In 'sstudy of an old Southern bor-
ough" in the Atlantic we find the fol.
lowing: "In the newer towns and the
larger cities the negroes have by this
time forgotten their old masters and
old homes, or do not care for them.
But in an old borough there are always
some who have passed their whole lives
there. Their old masters they always
address as old maser,' and his sons as
Mars James, or Mars Themas,' or
whatever their christian namo may be.
At their old home they feel that they
enjoy no slight privilege, and even that
tney have a sort of right to see that
everything about the household goes on
well. These negroes have sort of
contempt for those who have no such
old attachment. 1t is a common phrase
among them. in speaking of q negro
who did not belong to an aristoeratic
family: "Dat nigger amt no manners.
neber had no raisin'-pOor folks mig
ger.' Sometimes these old negro men
preserve the lordly manners of their
masters. Their negro dialect does not
seem to detract from their gentility,
and they are noticeable as men of par
ticularly fine manners. ~ -,
s a Virginia lady in Louisville had
employed genteel old negro man to
nurse her son, who was suffering with
broken limb. She noticed at once
the digniied bearing of the negro; and
one day she asked him, Uncle Ned,
where were yc0 rearedP' re I"
".In old Virginny, madam with q
polite bow. @ 4ftaN siis
az am a Virginian myself she con,
hnued. ar s.fsi 4aEt9it
g From what part OBJ de State, ma
damp 81 taee aIlI
:: From Fairfax, Uncle Ned. My
maiden name was Morson.' - asoT
:" i knowed dat we was related, ma
dam. b'longed to old Mars Hugh
Morson. l knowed dat we was re-
lated rs; a5v-5ss-
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-07-21
Honor to tbs Brave.


20 Mistur Punch. Sur,-I wright to you
as knows as ow you wont let the Brit
ish army go for to be Sighted! Not
you! Look ere sur. There wos a chap
as called imself '.speshul'' as came
over to the Afghan wor. Is name wos
Archibald Forbes. And wot did Q do?
Wy saved kupple of chaps lyves by
bynding up there wounds under fyrei
Wot that? Z was sivilyun! Well
now 1 was never under fire in my ole
life and yet Isports the Afghan wor
meddie ke vite proper! But I am
sodger and arnt! That maykes all
the duifrance! And yet this chap
Archibald Forbes-wornts the NEEDLE
two! never card such chekei And
after being mentioned in dispatches
two-as if that wornt enuff to sotusi
the likes of ei But in corse the sukka-
tary of stait for Injy as refused inn
Kevite proper! Stopped cove, if
wornted the meddle wy didn' mt ware
red cote? If ad ed ad the wor
meddle given i'm like burd!. Wots
more for saving the lives of them coyes
e would ay ad Victoria kross two
But for sivilyun to arsk for meddle!
Well never-its dounryght stoopid -
rename Mr.. Punch, Sur, yore affesh-
nuth frende (signed) THOMAS ATKINS
X his mark. p. ST. arnt responcibm
for the horthoggruffy of the cove who
rut this-cos wy! karnt wright or
spell miself
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-07-21
Chinese Version of the Prodieal Son

u IA man, he two sons. Son speakee
to father; father got money; give some
he; father he take it all rightee. just
now givee you half. He givee him
half; he 60 long way-ikee me come
China to New York. No be careful of
money, use too much; money all gone;
he velly hungly. He went to man.
He .wantee work, he say; all right; he
tell him feedee pigs. He givee pigs
beans; he eatee with pigs himself. He
inst now talkee, My father he Itch
man-muchee money. What for me
stay here hungryP want to go back
and see my father. l say to him,
velly bad. He knows 1 bad. Emperor
(God) see 1 bad. No be SON, me be
coolie.' He go back; longee way, faith
er see him. He takee him ON the neck.
Son say, 4 velly bad. L just now no be
your son; 1 coolie.' His father talkee
to boy and say, 'Gettee handsome coat;
givee he ring; givee he shoes; bring
fat cow-killee COW. givee him to eat
They velly glad. He alice samee dead.
ihst now come back alive; he lost; he
get back. Number one son come. He
hear music; he tellee coolie. "What for
makce musicr He say, Your brother
come back; your father velly glad he
no sick; he killee fat cow Number
one son velly angly; he no go inside;
vclly angiy. Father he comee out; he
say, No, no be angly.' Number one
son say,s.I stay all time by father; new
er makee him angly. My father never
killee one fat COW for me. My. brother
he velly bad; he use money too muchee;
he have fat COW and music Father
say, You no sabee; he just dead; he
now comes to life; he lost; now comee
hack.s They makee music"
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-07-21

| the next, ne realized with u groan. how
! insupportable a life would be that had
no excitement, no whirl of gaiety in it
And so the days went on. and, still
undecided. he did not go back-days
| during which Violet waited, at first all
sweet patience, full of trusting happi-
ness, then busy making excuses for
him, until
He made his decision one day, and,
with the impatient impilse SO charac-
teristic of him, gave himself no rest un-
Ill he had sealed his bargain-thc bar
gain which in his very soul he knew
was the wrong one, and yet the only
one that the iron bands of custom and
pride and social obligation permitted.
lie went straight TO Maui Brcreton,
and found her US usual-gracious, ele-
CANT, the very woman, he told himself
in y feverish sort of exultation, who
wonld do him credit.
He told his story well, and she listen
ed with rare grave grace, and then
informed him that she had been en-
gagged for some days to the Marquis of
berleigh-expressed her regrets and
sent him away feeling strangely be-
wildercd, because he could not tell
whether he was relieved or chagrined,
or disappointed. -l-sf-,
''It settles it for me, in that line," he
said to himself. 81 will marry the
girl love, and tho world may smile or
frown. 1 have made my venture for
its favor, and failed. / will suit my
own needs"
And it was with a lighter heart than
had throbbed in his breast for many a
day, that Sir Aubrey Trevelyan found
himself at Saxenham one bright, balmy,
early March day, when it seemed that
the south winds and blue sky were
stolen from the promise of the glad
May that was to come.
And-just in time-to meet, as he
sat contentedly back in his carriage
that fetched him from the station
Violet uarland's funeral.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-07-21
WHOLE No. 673.
Witchorait in Engla,d.

.sf,A A witch was all that WAS Bb0min8ble,
and to be held in.thd strlk k96lt sloathinv:
yet few had the wisdom 81 tie courage
to contradict the possibiifiy of her e3-
.ercising the arts she pretended to. The
Judge, as he passed sentence upon the
condemned woman, trembled lest her
fell gaze should bring upon him and
his household sorrow or death. Tie
yelling crowd, as it half stripped her to
undergo the water ordeal. shuddered as
it saw upon her exposed bosom the
marks. which. it..was supposed, proved
that she allowed her familiar - draw
upon her 1ife's blood. a<villagers,
who went miles out of their way to avoid
her haunts, never for one moment be-
-heved that the object of their fear was
powerless to work them evil, and was
either half-mad woman, the victim of
q hideous delusion, or else the actress
of q knavish part to suit her own vile
ends. To all the old crone, with her
tall hat, cruteh stick. and black cat
nesting ON her shoulder, was one who
had dealings with Satan, and who,
through the might of Satanic aid, could
scatter the seeds of misery broadcast
wherever she listed. She had sold her.
self, body and soul, to hell, aud until
ucdtti sClfsAuACu uCA tueF- power 10 cUecb
evil, it, was alleged, was unlimited.
!. The great man. is he who rises superi-
or to tue prejudices of his age; but boz
fore the end, of the seventeenth century
with the exception of Bodin, Erastus,
Reginald Scot, John Wagstaffe, and DR..
Webster there were none who had the
bo1dness or the knowledge to brand
as a base and, palpable SUI
perstition. We find Lord Bacon grave
" prescribing ..henbane, hemlock, man
drake, moonsha,te, tobacco, opium, and
other soporiforous medicines" as the
best Ingredient for witch's ointment.
From the pages Of his History of the
World" we see that the gifted and
practical Sir Walter Raleigh was firm
Believer in this childish form of SUPER
stition.' The learned Selden, in his
'sPabIe Talk" while pleasantly dis
ON the subject of witches,
shows that he also held the same faith,
Sir Thomas Browne, the kindliest of
Sir Matthew Hale, one of
the most acute and spotless of Judges;
Hobbest.' the skeptie; '.the eminent DIR.
More. of Cambridge" and the patient
and thoughtful Boyle, all were of opin-
ION that witehcraft was an evil capable
Of solid proof. and that its disciples
merited sharp and swift punishment
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-07-21
pevont Young Robbers

Greek brigandage is regularly on
ganizcd business A little cssbital tor
the purchase Of arms Is reqnhed. PA-
pers alrslrawn UP, in which the shares
of the captain and the men are speci-
fed. Sometimes routes are let by one
band to another for percentage It
proving exceptionally good in one case.
the parties came very near bringing the
affair into court on = lawsuit. Death to
the captive is almost certain If the RAM
som is not paid. A ransom which was
once on its way from Constantinople
was stolen from the messenger by an
other band, but the captive was killed
all the same. A farmer having two
children captured could send the money
only for one. and the boy was returned.
He begged a little delay, but the band
was on the move and could not whit.
The little girl was found afterward with
q stab in her heart and wild flowers in
her hand. These robbers never drink
wine, never neglect their religious du-
ties, always cross themselves before eat
ing, and never omit the numerous fast
days the Greek Church insists upon.
Some are well read, one leading scoun-
drel always travels about with small
library.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-07-21
! ,Wona,r,,ss, d. q. the Mijm Mijcmroacopua. u,ua.

az A. Thousand wonders in nature, are
lost to tho haNan9 eye, and only re-
yealed to us through the microscope.
Think Of dividing. . single SPIDERS
web into a thousand strands, or count
ing the arteries or nerves, in the wing
of gossamer moth. Yet, blythe aid Of
the powerful lens of q microscope, it is
found there are more than 1000 mus
cles in caterpillar. The eye gof a
drone contains IA. 600 mirrors, and the
body of every spider is, furnished with
four little Jumps. pierced with tiny
holes, from each of which issues q
single thread; and when a thousand of
these from each lump are joined to-
gether. they make the silk line of which
the spider spins its web, and which we
call spiders thread. tuA,sr.-l
Spiders have been seen as small as q
grain of sand, and these, spin q thread
SO fine that it takes, 1900 Of them, put
together. to equal in size . single hair.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-07-21

When General Bonaparte first came
among US we were furious with the Di-
rectorate, for having sent boy to COM
mand us. ct should be remembered
that at this time Napoleon was only
twenty-six years of age.) He was q
short, awkward-looking, thin youth,
and the army was seriously discomfort
ed with having such boy placed in the
chief command, while generals like
Augereau and Massena were placed
under him; but they soon felt the infiu-
ence of the young generals genius in
establishing order among them, and
after the battle of Montenotte. when
Napoleon. on the following morning.
visited the hospitals. and addressed
words of encouragement to every
wounded soldier, and saw himself that
his wounds were dressed. and his fail
ing strength revived by suitable nour-
ishment. kind of magic confidence in
him came over the spirit of the soldiers,
which the subsequent victories of Diego
and Mossemo, following soon after that
of Montenotte, kindled into spirit of
Temple Bar.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-07-21
Life in the LAND of the Sky.''

At the late meeting of the American
Association for the Advancement of Sci
ence, in Boston, the writer sought in
formation from the professor (J. r.
Proctor) about the homespun fabrics
that still constitute the common wear of
large population inhabiting the terra
(almost) incognit0 of the United States,
viz. +: the mountain sides and valleys of
Eastern Kentucky and Tennessee,
Northern Georgia, Western North and
South Carolina, and Southwestern Vir-
ginia, and was invited to explore part
of the region by him. HG "a. ssss4,
This section is. we may say, some-
what larger than Great Britain, and
contains moro, and purer iron and coal,
equal deposits of copper, lead. zinc,
and salt, besides corundum and gold in
its mines; it enjoys what is probably
the finest climate on this continent; it
is permeated by the most fertile val
leys. and bears upon its hill and moun-
tain sides the heaviest growth and
If to this true mountain region be
added the Piedmont and Cumberland
Plateaus on the east and west, the blue.
grass section of Kentucky, and the
high uplands of Alabama and Georgia,
the area will be enlarged to nearly that
of France, and it may be affirmed that
there is nowhere else to be found in
this country, in an equal area, such an
opportunity for diversity of employment
in agriculture, mining, metallurgy, or
variety of manufactures. ie sas:i.uG'f
1 Yet in the first two dwellings, built of
logs. to which the writer was ,Gnided
from the new town of Rugby, not, only
the house. but every thing in Or about
it, except iron and crockery ware, had
been made by members of the family
with their own hands,. In the garden
grew the little patch of cotton to be
ginned on a small roller gin. whitfield
out with a iack-knife; on the hillside
ranged the sheep. Both the wool and
cotton were carded with hand-cards.
and spun on the spinning-wheel by the
house-mother or her children, then
woven on the hand-loonl, the frame Of
which had been fashioned with abroad
axe from the oak of their own pasture.
The boys were clad in butternut gar
ments. the father in blue jeans from tho
same loom. The sheets, bed-quilts and
blankets were truly manufactured in
the same way, while the beds were
stuffed with feathers plucked from their
own geese. .sa ID s..y,..,
In the next house 1 managed to pur-
chase blue and white quilt. of very ar
tistic pattern, and striped cotton and
wool blanket, both woven by the old
lady, who seemed TO think it i,tfa deg.
to sell the product of her own hands.
and only consented when l explained
to her that wished them to keep as
examples of what will soon become one
of the lost arts. Her twelve-treddle
loom filled about third of the living
room.
The writer is not sufficient master
of the art of picture-writing to dare to
hope to give an impression of the scenes
that are to be found in this Gland Of
the sky" as il has been called.-EtL-,
scasu Atkinson, an Harper.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-07-21
ns,sA Deadly Scorpion,

A Durango correspondent describes a
terrible scorpion. known as the alacran,
which infcsts that region. It's sting is
mortal in every case, and no remedy
has ever been found to counterfeit its
deadly poison. The spasms are SO yio-
lent that it takes three OF four strong
men to hold a patient stung by it. Hap
PLY the suffering is short, for after two
or three hours it is all over. Patients
emit from their mouth a greenish-yel-
low. scum, which turns into a black,
spongy matter in a short while. Every
year thirty or mere deaths are record
ed as the work of the alacran. The gov
ernment pays a premium for their
scalps, and the boys hunt them and de-
rive quite revenue from that source,
but the pest does not seem to diminish
any. They are said to occupy but a
small belt of land running east and
west, taking in Durango and Mazatlan.
San Anto,,io Ter Herald.