davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1881-12-08
Catching n Rat Under Difficulties.

A cat, n rIt, pretty and stylish youHl
lady and an intrepid clerk form the drG
Ddtis persona Of this narrative. 1t al
happened last week, in one OF the mos
fashionable shoestores, in Boston, located
on Washington Street. For some time
past the store has been troubled by al Id
road of rats, causing great detrlment to the
stock and annoyance TO the proprietor. A
cat was procured. which at once began
10 catch them TO the great Joy of all con-
cerned. One day she brought up vigor-
ous rodent from the cellar, and began To
toy with it before killing, after the manner
of her kind. Suddenly it was discovered
that the rat had made its escape, and,
almost simultaneously, the persons insthe
store were startled by feminine shrek
emanating from pretty young lady who
had been in the act Of trying on pair OF
boots. The look of horror and disgust on
her face bore ample testimony TO the truth
of her assertion, ''Oh, heGvensl something
has bitten mel" One OF the clerks, a young
man justly noted for his courtesy and gal
lantry to the fair sex, and whose identity
will be etfectually concealed under the
name of Smith, sprang forward and grasped
the lady dress-sklrt at point she lndica-
ted, just below the waist 1t was the
missing rat who had there sought an asy-
lum from his feline ioe. Alr. Smith held
him tightly and invited the lady TO the
rear of the store, where, with as much del
icacy as the circumstances would permit,
lie removed his ratshlp from beneath the
dress by the tail and dashed it on tue floor.
AT this point the lady tainted from fright
and nervous strain. By the kind attention
of those present she was soon restored and
able 10 depart, which she did, but not
without first learning the name OF her pre-
server. For a day or two after this Mr.
Smith was subjected 10 great variety of
teasing remarks from his fellow clerks,
some even asseI ting that he would nov
have rats caught and brought there" and
ether remarks equally i'll natured and un
justifable. On the third day a large
package Was left at the store for Mr.. Smith
who refused for long time 10 open 1t,
being apprebenave that the aforesaid
jokers had sent him half dozen rats OF
assorted sizes. his curiosity eventually
triumphed over his fears, aud amid great,
though suppressed, excitement on the part
OF all present, the package was opened and
found TO contain an elegant and costly
cigar stand, fashioned In eDony and gilt.
Thus were the foolish testers silenced and
thus courtesy and daring rewarded.
Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1881-12-08
The Violin.

Perhaps of all musical instruments the
violin has the greatest latent possibili-
ties; it may almost be said to possess "a
soul" One does not wonder at the pas
sionate love felt for it by ali the great
violinists; the most barbaric people pos
sossed 1t in its rudimental forna, and
urcw- sy uTf,urrITUUrU sUurTu IrUIu some re-
sonant board. 1t is easy to understand
its charm, for the harmony 1t produces
is only by direct communication between
the performer and the strings. 1t is the
human touch upon the chord which
makes the tone so human, and which
carries, as it were, the very spirit of the
performer into the outer atmosphere
There is no emotion that cannot be ex-
pressed by it from the agitation of the
passionate heart. 1t is the divine quiet
of restful and contented love. 1t is curl
GUS that this. the most musical of all
instruments, should have been perfected
by the least musical of people, for there
appears to be no doubt that it was the
oldest English instrument, and that the
modern name of violin is but an adap-
ton of the old English word viele, which
in its turn, was a Norman corruption of
the original Saxon 'fythel," or feethel
which becoming feedel, was popularized
as fiddle, and by Normrn mcapaclty to
pronoune the difficult '1e, degenerated
into the smooth viele. This is the ety.
mology given in Chappels Popular
Music, and is probably correct: or be 1t
as it may, representations of the fiddle
exist in the oldest carving aud bas-re-
liefs of the British Isles. In the time
of Charles the First it became popular at
G ,urt. but it owed its later superiority
to merry Charles IL, for he introduced
a special band of violinists and made
them play to him at table. Pepys re-
fers to it in his pedantic diary, and
about the same time we read of its in
PRODUCTION into churches, and of the
many objections raised to its ''too great
liveliness," Is amusing IN the
face of a description of the sacred sing
ing of his time given by old Cornelius
Agrippa, who says: "They sing not
with human voice, but with the brutal
noise of wild beasts, while the boys
whining the descant, others low out the
tenor, Others yelp the counterpoint,
others gnash their teeth on the bass,
and although they make many sounds,
no words or speech are understood.
Even the despised fiddle could hardly
have done worse.
Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1881-12-08
Buried alive.

While Mr.. Ralph Gore, the contrac-
tor. was experimenting the work in the
new sewer in Cleveland, Ohio, and while
he was at the bottom of the excavation,
the earth began to give away. He step
ped aside and let all in his employ es-
cape ahead of him, and then the earth
fell on him. His head could be seen
just above the earth. 81 think my
legs are broken, gentlemen" he said,
"but set to work and dig me out of my
grave" He spoke encouragingly and
made light of the accident. While the
workman were digging the other bank
the rS spot Where Mr. Gore stood wedged
in as in a wise. Five or six hundred
tons of earth and rock must come down
unless a miricle intervened. The labor
ers had cleared away the earth as far as
Mr.. Cores shoulders, but now they had
to fly for their own lives. Next moment
the man was alone, Above him was the
tottering avalanche, aud on the south
bank stood crowd of people with palhd
faces. The look of despair that he gave
when he took in the situation will never
be forgotten. He made one more des-
perate struggle to extricate himself, and
then resigned himself to his fate. Hs
fixed his eyes on the slowly moving mass
and watched it creep nearer and nearer
to the point where he know it would re-
ceive sufficient impetus to be hurled
down upon him. ''God help me" he
exclaimed, and the awe-stricken crowd
echoed the wish. Then his lips were
seen to move in prayer, and the land
slide moved faster. 1t received tenn
porary check, but again glided on to-
ward the brink. The suspense at this
moment was terrible. A large school
opposite had just let out, and the teach
ers and children had gathered on the
bank. Men, women and children sobbed
aloud, and some knelt in prayer. The
avalanche was now within two feet of
the point where the bank became steep
er. Slowly it crept; inch by inch the
point was reached; its pace quick
ened there was rush, and the next
moment five hundred tons of earth
plunged over the brink, and fell with q
crash on the top of the mans head.
Later in the day the body was recover
| ed, shapeless mass.
Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1881-12-08
Hurried Dinners.

It is q mistake to eat quickly. Mastica-
ton performed in haste must be imperfect
even with the best teeth, and due admix-
ture of the saliyary secretion with the 1000
cannot take place. When crude mass OF
inadequasely crushed muscular fibre, or
undivided solid material of any description
is thrown into the stomach, 1t acts as
mechanical lrritant, and sets up condition
in the mucous membrane lining that organ
which greatly impedes, if it does not alto
gether prevent, the process of digestion.
When the practice of eating quickly and
filling the stomach with unprepared food
is habitual, the digestive organ is rendered
Incapable of performing Its proper func-
tious. Either a much larger quantity of
food than would be necessary under nat
ural conditions is required, or the system
suffers from lack of nourishment. Those
animals which were intended to feed hur-
riedly were either gifted with the power
of rumination or provided with gizzards.
Man is not so furnished, and it Is fair to
assume that he was intended to eat slowly.
We must apologize for reminding our
readers of facts so familiar; but we do this
| in the hope that anyone who may chance
1
to have influence with the managers OF
large hotels where dinners tG tG6te
d'hOte are in vogue will take measures to
! bring about a much needed reform in the
manner In which these entertainments are
conducted.
At the best and most frequented estab'
, Iishments in places of fashionable resort,
where at this season mIltltudes OF health
seekers are wont to congregate, the hur-
ried dinners are not only causes of annoy
ance, but actually go far to prevent the
benefit which should be derived from 6
change. No sooner is one course served
than another is introduced, without giving
the guest time to digest or even to swallow
the first. The eagerness to secure gooG
dividends takes particularly mischevou'
form when it piles food on the plate OF,
customer, and compels him to consume ii
breathlessly. The matter may seem
small one, but it is not 80. just as maj
may go on for years with defective teeth
imperfectly masticating his food, and won
dering why he suffers from indigestion, ST
man may habltually live under an lnhlc
tion of hurried dinners, and endure tn
consequent loss of health, without knoWln
why he is not well, or how easily the caus
of his illness might be remedieds
Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1881-12-08
A Strange Cloud of VapOr.

About q month ago a remarkable
phenomenon was observed near the
village of San Jose, Vera Cruz, Mexico.
Two days after violent thunderstorm
and incessant raining, what seemed to
be an immense cloud raising out OF the
ground was observed. Little attention
was paid to the phenomenon, as many
of the peasants interpreted 1t to be the
smoke of large quantities of wood that
were burned into charcoal. An Indian,
going to his maize field, situated on a
hill, discovered that the vapor issued
out of his field. His attempt to approach
the column was thwarted by the extreme
heat of the vapor. The extension of the
column was some thirty sqnare yards,
and the yapor issued at intervals OF five
minutes. The smoke was so dense that
the eve could not see the trees on the
other side of the column. The maize
fisld was completely burned, and as the
vapor came out on the other spots cover
ed with trees, the leaves were burned
and the trunks became black. The va.
por column proceeded IN the direction
fom east to west. between the volca-
noes of Tuxtla and that OF Orizaba
The phenomenon lasted nearly sever
avs. and it is interpreted as an under
ROUND fire communicating with the
olcanoes of Orizaba and that of Tuxtla
Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1881-12-08

The originator OF The idea is said 10
have been a German State official. DR..
stephan, who wrote an essay upon 1t IN
1865, Austria was the first TO adopt IT,,
beginning in October, 1869. The first
three months witnessed the passage OF
9 $50 900 cards through the mails, Ger
many followed suit in 1870, and on the
first day after the introduction of the pos
tai card 45, 46S were sent off in Berlin
alone; and within two months over 2, 600,
600 were used. Other countries soon ini-
tiated the same step. During the Franco
Prussiap war the postal card system was a
great boon to both armies. Over 10, 600,
0OU cards passed during the campaign
between the German soldiers and their
friends and homes. The greatest proper
tional consumption of postal cards occurs
unuuestiOnably IN the United States. The
whole of Europe is estimated to use annu
allv $50 600, 900, while the consumption
IN the United States alone will probably
not fall short of 23O, 100000. Germany
consumed IN 1879 122, TAI, 900. The use
of the postal card is, moreover, constantly
increasing, and, to some extent, at the
expense Of the letter correspondence.
There are now said to be seventy-three
countries in which it is introduced. Aus
trla, which has the honor of first putting
the idea into practical execution, is now
said to have cards of the poorest mateEla
and most inconvenIent form.
Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1881-12-08
"How would you like few cowslips2"
desperately.

"How would you like few cowslps?
desperately.
"No, nothing of tn kind either.
guess. The blossoms are most too
! creamy, while the last ! had were
hooked by an envious neighbor. have
found it necessary to hide my plants
from the general gaze, Cows lips do not
emit as fragrant an odor as some other
varieties which can mention.
Then the flower man said he odor an
apology for the mistake and suggested
artichokes.
"You artichoke down the idea of fit
ting me out with anything of that sort. Z"
the customer replied Indignantly.
'Fuschias?"
"Few shees? guess not, sir. am
all the shes that will ever be introduced
into our household, I'm thinking"
"Ivy fine collection of cIambering
vines" the de&er observed, after an
awkward pause"
"Vine the world don't you climb ar
ound and trot them out. then?" was the
pert reply.
They didn't suit, however, and then
the harassed man suddenly changed the
subject.
"Would tulips fill the billP" he in
quired.
81 suppose they would, if the other
fellows bill wasn't too large in proper
ton, was the blushing reply. "You
will do well not to press so delicate q
subject too far however. /"
Chow about thyme?" he exclaimed at
last, in sheer desperation.
"That's just what was about to sug-
gest," was the reply. eff L buy of you
at all, it must be on long time"
And then the florist lost all inter
est in the subject, and she went out in
sad sort of way because she hadn't bot
any.
Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1881-12-08
Knick Knacks for Fan Toilets.

All sorts of knick knacks add to the
dressy effect of fall toilets. Quaint
iewelry, cocks heads, or the entire bird
IN real, imitation, or semi-precious jew
els, to1toises, parrots and owls, tiny sill
yer mice, paroquets of green enamel
perched on a gold stick, with a pearl or
diamond at each end, together with bits
Of gold lace, silk brocade, figured vel
vets, gold lace and antique embroidery
are introduced into costumes with mar
velous effect nowadays. Everything in
cur mothers or grandmothers' scrap
bags and wonder chests is unearthed to
combine with cashmere, or satin, OF
moire-thing hundred years old with
ribbons of yesterday, and ancient Jewels
with fresh novelties. Nothing need be
scorned or thrown away.
Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1881-12-08
Botanical.

ST would like to purchase q small col
lection of plants she remarked, as she
paused beside florists stall.
"What variety, madam" was the po-
lite response.
ooh! I hardly know"
"How would you like buttercups?"
"Oh! as for that, ] think I can pro-
cure few Of those cheaper from Mrs.
Jones. She says her new hired girl
has made way with all the crockery
about the place but her cups and she
has enough of those for two families. "
The dealer blushed.
''Daisies?" he suggested.
'sNo, don't think 1 need any more
of those. My husband has indulged IN
days' ease, while his business has run
behind. until we are in bad shape fnan
cially. No, nothing more in the way OF
daisies for me, thank you"
Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1881-12-08
Postal Statistics.

The annual report of the Superintendent
of the Free Delivery Division OF the Post
Office Department for the year ended June
80. shows that during the year there were
delivered 262, 425, ,668 mail letters, 59,-
968. 800 mail postal cards, 1878 20s local
letters, AZ, 698, 15s local postal cards, g.
1926. 809 registered letters, and l46 AT, ia
newspapers. There was collected at the
1O9 free delivery offices during the year
284, 759, 945 letters, So, 793, 125 postal cards
and "a, 075, 476 newspapers. The cost of
service for the year amounted to $2, 49a, :
972. IA, or mills per piece.
Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1881-12-08
The Great Grain States of the Union.

An extra census bulletin just issued,
giving the cereal production of the United
States by counties for the year ending June
80, 1880, shows the States which lead in
tie enormous grain yield of the country.
Illinois may be said to head the column.
1t produces the most wheat, corn and oats,
and ranks second in the production Of rye
California leads1n barley and Pennsylva-
MA leads in rye. New York is first in
buckwheat, second in barley and third In
rye and oats. The great wheat states are
Illinois, which raised tifty-one million
bushels; Indiana, forty-seven; Ohio, forty
six; Michigan, thirty five; Iowa, thirty
one; California, twenty nine; Missouri,
twenty five; and Wisconsin, twenty-four
In these States were produced nearly three
fourths of the whole wheat crop Of the
country. Nearly a third Of the entire corn
yield of the United States was grown in
Illinois, whose product amounted to three
hundred and twenty-five million bushels.
Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1881-12-08
SmIth 5 q Liar.

Father" began young Detrolter the
other evening, ''were you in the war 2"
''Yes, my son."
"Was it awful2"
YES"
"Lots of dead and wounded men :"
yes"
I'D you kill manyf"
"Well, shouldn't like to answer that
question"
.sAre you very modest, pa2"
q hope I am too modest to brag."
That was what Mr.. Smith meant, then,
when he was telling the men down at the
drug store that you hadn't any war record
to brag Of"
"Be did, eh9 Smith is a harl"
ssThat's what l thought. He told the
men that you run so fast that he couldn't
catch you on horseback, and any boy
knows thai horse can catch man with a
stiff knee"
Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1881-12-08

The annual raisin production ot
California amounts to about $4,000
boxes,
New-York tribune., 1881-12-28
WEALTH 1yD LUYURY NOT WRONG

Henry Ward Bee her gave the fifth OF the
Wuoughby course or lectures last night IN the
Tompkins Avenue Methodist Church, Of TOmpklhs ana
WinouRhbyavcs Brooklyn His subject was Chris
tian Liberty Wealth, Luxury and Beauty Mr. Beccher
said among other things
There IL no need 10 urge men 70 the pursuit OF pleas
ure to add zeal to tho almost fury win which wealth is
pnrsued in all our largo cities, to yarnsa excess or to
soften the practice Of wrongdolng. wish to try
and reconcile tho OF good men to the posses
sion of wealth for obtaining luxury and beauty Inc
Old Testament throughout speaks Of wealth ~ tho re-
ward OF honesty and industry. The New Testament CON
demns rc men, because in Palestine at that time ii was
tne universal impression that every man with great
wealth obtained It by fraud and by grinding the poor
Christ would not condemn the man Of wealth OF to-day
who had gained his riches by honest labor and economy
and used It FOR charity anl good works
Many think poverty s a sign OF humility ana
Christian spirit What ia poverty II IS the condition
in which man ia hardly able TO keep the animal IN him
alive In that state mans whOc life Is in bondage to
his body Is that state that apt TO be conducive to
grade! Wien % man l., in slavery all his lie to his
animal nature he never rise 10 any great height
II ia thought generally that philosopher docs not need
a large revenue Wny should he, when the community
In which he lives Is rchl II he wants books, there IA the
nlic library across the street Ho get good bread
lcap and good milk->omctimes. man with little
,y,.Ii can Iy. i n ricl community, but community
without any wealth in II returns {" s''lo of
IUf how shall wealth ba uscdl There nrr many rich
mon who Say " IN Willingly give ny VIE Az" 'dhiTrh
,,. - f,r lyli-r- such 49, bras, cAnG sticks and silk
dr.-ros aud pctr'7 u.ver. i"ht - i.e H. "I'H- -
7.ldrr ,fl ma keep 'tu warm il winter. Il .oy long
for al the urignts oi ut.i iA.ur le VIII say i''.9
-.,aU ne stomach have DO ali the ear "aHiS food
shall tine mouth nav" it af I",A H1A N'&nI' ir ..l Z
D., &,' 7.' % ak ir AID ll..r,i Is.y ye- II ho
|I O d Il r. L
New-York tribune., 1881-12-28
CLOSING PRICES or CILIF1RyTA STOCKS
NFRANcf.cD. TuesdnY. pc. 27, 1881
my rEIEGRlru ~ TuE TRIDUNEI


SAX FR,NCrSC,. Dec. 27.-Tha Bulwcr Mining
Company has dec lrcl n dividend of 10 cents per
San FRtNcIsCo. Dec. 27. - Although the
ColD-tors strong transactions are smaller TO-
day than mt any other time for months past. Lttlo
disposition Is shown By spectators 10 30 anything
during holiday week c
the old officer, were reecc Ell.
BuIlion valued M $255,32O 70 was received n
fuiS city Yesterday from the mines
The Barbco & Walker mine shipped December 70
- 900 bullion.
The Robinson Consolidated Company received
after II O'Clock yesterday morning the iou wing
translation Of a cipher dispatch 70 Brayton Ives.
president OF the company; c-, D..-
"Ore is improving in she drift ~ we advance IN
500 foot level. Assays average 20 10 ~ ounces,
largely lead Much cncouraglng. VIII report
further ~ exhibited W. n SNhiNGloN'
The Stormont mine shipped, December II, $7OOo
bullion. r,
~ shows that the shaft is down ,l39 feet. no
east crosscnt 900 level, Is IN 1870 Feet The toia
length of he south drift from the east croSsc !Uo
level j. 29O feet. The west cTO5Scut~ 700 level $
in 37J feet. Tn. total length OF west crosS'ui No.
l. 500 level is 247 feet; the rock Is sun very hard
The west crosscut No ,. same level is IN ~ feet.
The total length ot he south drift 800 lsY" ls Oh
feet the vein in the face showing a width az
feel The uprase on the Bullion vein, 80 level IS
MP 1872 feet, the vein showing width of ieas
oi fine one The uprajse ON the Cook vein, ,ioJ
level is 10 los e1t the vein at the top Is . ttet
wide On IN, $50 level the vein in the slopes IL
from : To % feet WIDE and on the 800 leyeflt -
from 10 to 20 feet of good milling ore.
New-York tribune., 1881-12-28
there be surplus, it will be applied TO strengthen,
ing the endowment of the Charitable llolo io1'-'U
by Lady Augusta Stanley. u W. '
TILE COURIS.
ALLEGED BRIBERY OF A CoACHMAN.

ALLEGED BRIBERY OF A COACHMAN.
Judge McAdam, IN the Marine Court, Cham
bers yesterday granted permission to EuluS h"''n ~
nut in an amended in the suit begun against nlm
several years ago by Henry Brewster CO. 10 recover
for certain carriage repairs. The litigation has Deeh
prosecuted with great yigor both sides from the hfs
and now after two trials and two arguments on appear
before the General Of the Marine Court ana o e
Court OF Common Pleas suit ia by one stage less au
yauced than at tho time OF the first trial MI ha'cnS
original defence was that the charges for the repairs
were excessive In his amended answer ne PROPOSES W
set I'M oe an additional defence the alleged bribery OF ms
coachman by the plaintiffs Mr. Hatch asserts Iha1 'ho
plaintiffs from time to time paid money aud m3ue ps
cnts to his coacbman, in consequence OF WWH lo
BETRAYED his masters interests and caused uh
bills 10 be contracted win the plaintlhs' JAas
ADAM in deciding the motion, says: ." IL IL
part from the usual course ot trade ana ~ ~
servants Of their customers by d0ncsuS, WIN NC .
and intent Of gaining en- undue advantage over tHVu
guch conduct IL Illegal anu when 1t forms art oi trV
contract sought 10 be enforced may 90 10 the eNlht U Up
preventing any recovery upon 1t. Ihe phlHtiua 9,u
not seek 10 avoid the opportunity when tle ~
affords OF yiDdcang their business metHous l']on ] .5
charge made against them LAe p"IuIssi"H ~ 'N
answer given t,Cln3
New-York tribune., 1881-12-28
MINES AND MINING.
TUESDAY, Dec. 27-P. N

TUESDAY, Dec. ZIP. NJ.
The mining stock markets to-day better,
not only in spots, but in the general tone Of
the dealings as well as in prices. Robinson
Consolidated. however menopolized a large
portion of the trading and rose from 2.10 TO
$40, and closed at 2.60. The State Lines
were hardly as firm in prices as on Saturday.
Moose was specially active and higher, at 80 cents.
Chrysolite was strong at 800, and Iron Silver at
2.O5 Green Mountain rose TO :. 10. Consolidated
Virrinia was weak and declined to Ito, Caiifor-
MIA selling ut 3j830 cents, The general market,
however, closed strong.