davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-04-07

The largest peach orchard in the
world is IN Chambers county. Ala. II
contains 30 acres and has yielded $50,
O0O worth of peaches. 1t " owned and
cultivated by Mr. John Parnell, a
brother OF the Irish agitator. He came
to this country some ton O. twelve years
ago and bought an old, worn-out cotton
hrm, which he has converted into this
immense peach orchard, and il always
the first TO have early peaches on the
market, for which ne receives almos,
fabulons priceo. he is said TO be get
ting immensely wealthy at the busi-
ness.
Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-04-07

Il had rather have newspapers with.
out government" said Jefferson. g than
government without newspapers"
Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-04-07

No strict vegetarian will eat kidney
beans or marovfat peas.
Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-04-07

Southern California Ii desirous OF
setting up in business on its own ac-
count. II complains of the 900 miles
journey 10 Che capital, Sacramento, and
iindz fault with the Legislation enacted
Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-04-07

For the first time in four years an
execution has taken place in Prussia
The culprit, wife.murdercr named
Gehrke, was recently beheaded in the
jailyard of Coslin 10y q man named
Krants, the exccutioner Of the would be
king killer Hodel. The execution was
conducted in the old style, with an Ak
and block instead OF the guillotine. As
soon as the head fell into the basket a
number OF superstitious bystanders
rushed forward and dipped their hand
kerchicfs in the culprits blood in the
belief that their business would thereby
prosper.
Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-04-07

The new census in Germany shows q
total population of 45, ,19l, III, an in.
crease of 2,4G6,s12. The Asiatic hives,
China and India, being excluded, the
empire now ranks as the third state in
populat on, Russia and the United
States having the first and second
places, and France and Austro- Hungary
the fourth and fifth. The birth-rate in
Germany is the highest in Europe, and
consequently great gains in population
are possible Notwithstanding the drain
Of emigration.
Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-04-07

Wendell Phillips says of the govern.
mental problem in Russia: At this dis
tance | don't mean TO cdticise methods.
look at. Russia, 1000 miles away, and
see what an incubus is resting on her
people. only hope that somebody
viii lift il off her shoulders. If nothing
will do it but the dagger then welcome
the dagger Is there an American here
who thinks that bad?
Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-04-07

The only really absolute monarchy
left in the civilized world is feeling the
force Of the universal tendency toward
basing government on the popular will.
According to an English correspondent
Mt st. Petersburg steps are being taken
in Russia TO admit representatives of
the people to participation in the con
sideration OF state questions. This
means that laws in the vast empire Of
the ear will before long be made, not
10y imperial ukase, as heretofore, but by
the free action of a parliamentary body.
Arizona weekly enterprise., 1881-12-17
sEA-coAsr sUpERsr1rross.

Many wives by the sea- coast hold su- perstitions concerning the harrow-sound- ing and mysterious. Thus Dickens tells us that Barkis fingered in his dying un- til the turn of the tide, when, the tide going out, Barkis went out with it. In New England it is unlucky to kill pig in the wane of the moon or at the ebbing of the tide; the pork will shrink in the boiling. Water in the dinner-pot evap- orates more rapidly over the fire when the tide is "dead low" It is unlucky to eat fish from the head downward; it drives away the fish from the shores. To tell the stage of the tide without go- ing to the beach, look in cats eyes the pupil of every intelligent cot's eye is elongated when the tide is at the flood. Never count a catch of fish until the days work or sport is done. Otherwise the sport is spoiled. Similarly, the sea- side farmer never counts his lambs until the season for their dropping is over. put It lS uOU HlOue III Iludl COL1u1ull1lACS that men and women keep up customs and rites founded on Pagan supersti- tions. Among the ancient Greeks and Romans it WAS a custom for the bride groom to give his bride, on the wedding night, considerable sum of money, by way of purchase of her person. From this usage, no doubt, we have derived the custom of making wedding presents, under which so many people groan. The ancient Saxons gave a betrothal ring, or other gift, which was called "wed, '' and from which we have derived very charming word. Fifth avenue throws an old shoe after the departing bride. 1s this because our sterner forefathers or dained that the bridegroom should tar his new-made wife on the head with his
 shoe as token of her submission to hel
 lord?
Arizona weekly enterprise., 1881-12-17
HIS MAIDEN EFFORT.

Disraeli's first effort in Parliament is thus described by one who saw and heard it.
 "When Mir. Disraeli got mp to reply to the great Irish athlete, Daniel O'Con- nell, who had just sat down, he looked as collected and pleasant as bride groom on bis nuptial day. There was moment of intense silence highly flat tering to the youthful politician. He began in an easy flow of graceful execu- ton, and his voice was clear and strong. I looked forward to triumphant dis play of his powers, when, of sudden as if it had been concerted, as doubtless 1t was, loud chorus of discord- ant eiaculations broke forth from the Whig and Radical members that rose in volume and dissonance till the voice of the orator was quite drowned. He seemed in no wise disconcerted, but per- sistently began again and again. At last he appealed to the refractory mem- bers, and said that, as matter of fair ness. if not propriety, they ought to allow him to proceed, at least till he gave cause for interruption, and that nothing would induce him to take part in treating any honorable gentleman in the manner in which he was assailed. He saw at last it was useless to struggle against the uproar, which was only in creased by the stentorian efforts of the Tory side of the house to sustain him so, gathering himself up to his full height, with his eyes emitting fierce flashes of indignation, and in voice of proud defiance, he exclaimed, as he brandished bis right arm: Though l sit down now, the time will come when you will hear me"
Arizona weekly enterprise., 1881-12-17
THE COLOR OF LIGHTNING.

The color of lightning is altogether due to the nature of thesabstance which is made incandescent in its track. The blue, red, purple and silver tints, which are ordinarily much more brilliantly marked in warm climates and inter-t trop- ical countries than they ever are in England, are due to the same circum- stances as the color which is designedly communicated to the light of different kinds of fireworks. It is result of the intrinsic nature of the vaporized parti- cles which are made to shine. The va DOT of iron has one kind of sheen and the vapor of sulphur another. Each different foreign ingredient that floats in the air has its own proper hue, which it can communicate to the lightning. The broad flashes of light which appear in the clouds during a thunderstorm and that are distinguished as sheet lightning, gre very often merely the re- factions from the cloud mist of the dis charges that pass from one part to an other with each redistribution of the internal charge, as the tension at the outer surface is changed by an external flash. This redistribution of the in- ternal changes is sometimes also marked by beautiful lines of coruscation playing upon the dark background as the storm drifts away. There is table mountain a few miles away from Pietermaritzburg, in Natal, over which this kind of display is continually exhibited. The retreat ing storm clouds finger over the flat tor of this mountain, where they can bt seen from the city in the advancing night. In this dark canopy of the mountain bright coruscations, accom-. panying each redistribution of the cleo trical charge, can be watched for hours at time-now assuming the forms O
 coronals of electric fire, now running along in machioiated horizontal ines
 just above the fiat top of the mountain
 and now radiating out in all directions
 from central loop, like the cracks o
 starred glass. for AU.
Arizona weekly enterprise., 1881-12-17
CHINESE BABIES,

The Chinese have many very strange superstitions, but none more so than that concerning the demoniacal posses sion of their babies. If an infant from the time of its birth has frequent spells of crying, and is of very peevish dis position, the parents conclude at once that Sam Ku Lok Pc, as the hobgoblin is called, has taken up its abode in the child, while the baby's true soul is wan dering somewhere in space. They there upon take dried banana skin, burn it to ashes, and mix it with water, so as to make sort of inky compound. The mother now dips her forefnger into the ink and paints cross on the baby's forehead, with the words, "I paint this cross to drive thee [the demon away"
 Another method of exorcism is to blacken the infants face. Banana skin does not necessarily form an ingredient this time any ink will do The par ents wait until the babe Is in a sound slumber. when they take the ink and blacken its face, with their fingers -a brush would not be eficacious. In a short time the demon which has taken possession of the child returns, prepara- tory to it's awakening the soul wan ders from the body during sleep, and is free-and seeing the blackened face, ex- claims, "Lawk-a-mercy 1 this can't be l." or words to that effect, and decamps precipitately. The true soul, which has been waiting for an opportunity, ap- breaches the dormant body. Now is the time for the parents to wash of the ink with all speed; the soul recognizes it's true easement, and the babe awakes in natural state. Woe betide it should not the ink have been washed of at the right moment, for then the true soul will, like the demon, fail to recognize the body, and sorrowfully leave it, and the little one dies in sleep. On account of the supposed possibility of such an occurrence, the parents seldom use this latter method, which is called "the face blackening," but prefer to make the 1 cross on the forehead
Arizona weekly enterprise., 1881-12-17
TOM MARsHA1L,s sEcREr.

"Tom Marshall, Richard Menifee and Frank Hunt were all brilliant men, continued Gov. Magofin, as the conver- sation drifted in that direction. "Hunt came nearer being the equal of Clay than any man I ever knew. He was wonderful man. Marshall had wider seputation, perhaps. He was singular compound. 'They talk about my as- tonishing bursts of eloquence,' he said to me one day, 'and doubtless imagine that 1t Is my genius bubbling over. It is nothing of the sort. I'll tell you how I do it. I select subject, and study it from the ground up. When I have mastered it fully 1 write a speech on it. Then take walk and come back and revise and correct. In a few days I sub ject it to another pruning and then re- copy it. Next I add the finishing touches, round it of with graceful pe- riods and commit it to memory. Then l speak it in the fields, in my fathers lawn, and before my mirror until gest- ure and delivery are perfect. It some times takes ne six weeks or two months to get up speech. When have one prepared I come to town and go to drinking. I generally select court day when there is sure to be crowd. am called on for a speech and am per mitted to select my own subject. Iseize hold. on to the bannister or railing and confirm the impression that am very drunk and speak my piece. It aston ishes the people, as intended it should, and they go away marveling at my amazing power of oratory. They call it genius, but 1t represents the hardest kind of work This was the way Marshall 1 would talk to his intimates, and have DO doubt he was telling the truth. Yet, with all his vanity and faults, he was B man of unquestioned ability and intel lectual power of the highest and bright est standard. "-Harrodsburg (Ry.) tet- Ger in Chicago Times.
Arizona weekly enterprise., 1881-12-17
ORDER OF SALE.

In the Probate Court of the County of Pinal, Territory of Arizona.
 In the matter of the estate of John Ballentine, deceased
 Order to show cause why order of sale of real estate, mines, mining claims and mining interests should not be made.
 It appearing to the Judge of said Court, by the petition this day presented and filed by Robert Williams, the administra- tor of the estate of John Ballentine, de- ceased, praying for an order of sale of real estate, mines, mining claims and min ing interests, that 1t is necessary to sell whole or some portion of the same to pay the depts outstanding against the said de- ceased, and the debts, expenses and charges of administration.
 It is therefore ordered by the Judge of said Court, that all persons interested in the estate of said deceased, appear before the said Probate Court on Monday, the fifth day of December, A. D. 1881, at 10 o'clock in the forenoon of said day, at the Court room of the said Probate Court at the town of Florence, in the county of Pinal, A. T., to show cause why an or der should not be granted to the said ad- ministrator to sell so much of the real es- tate, mines, mining claims and mining in- terests of the deceased, as shall be neees- sary.
 And that copy of this order be pub lished at least four successive weeks in the ARIZONA WEEKLY ENTERPRISE, news paper printed and published in said coun- ty. G. L. WRATTEN, Probate Judge.
 Dated October 5lst, 1881. S2
Arizona weekly enterprise., 1881-12-17
NO LETTER FOR EURcu.

A man from Branch county, being in Custer City soon after 8 postoffice was established there. went up to the shanty one day with intent to inquire for mail matter. A man from Missouri was just ahead of him, and inquired if there was any letter for Zachariah Burch.
 "Be you the feller?" queried the Postmaster. "I am"
 "Named Zachariah, are ye ?''-
 "Yes, sir"
 "Too internal long for this country. You'd better chop it in two"
 "I axed if there was letter here for Zachariah Burch," said the Missourian, with bad gleam in his eyes.
 "And. heard ye, and there aint nothing of the sort here"
 "Kinder seems to me there is."
 "Then I'm 8 iar?"
 The pair looked at each other for minute, and then Burch remarked:
 "Mebbe you are"
 Uncle Sam's official hopped out of his den and went for Zachariah Burch. It was pretty even match for ten minutes, and then the Postmaster got his favorite hold. Soon after that event MT. Burch observed
 Stranger, I reckon it's no use to prolong this sorrowful affair.""
 "I reckon hot, but ye inquired for 8 letter for Burch."
 "Yes."
 "And you give it to me purity strong that sich letter had arriv."
 Yes, I did, replied Burch, as he felt of his left ear to see what portion was left for future fights, "but I've bin thinkin' powerful hard in the last ten minits, and I guess the old woman back in Missouri has put of writin' till next Sunday. Let's go out and take suthin' to bring tears to our eyes"
Arizona weekly enterprise., 1881-12-17
AN ATTACHING LIE.


 An early settler of Chicago relates an incident in which he was an actor As I sat there in the long ago, and, shrouded in the September haze, was dreaming of fortunate future for myself, I heard the mufaed tread of innumerable feet drawing nearer and nearer to me. The sound was like the footfall of regiment of infantry approaching, and I rose to see what was the cause. had not long to wait, for very soon there hove in sight very singular spectacle. First came large Illinois hog at the head of long column of Illinois hogs, all marching Indian fashion, and grunting with that gentle, placid grunt which the hog cnr- ries with him. On closer examination into the singular phenomena, saw that all the hogs, except the lei der, were blind, each animal having its prede cessor's tail in his mouth throughout the long line, consisting of Is, 521 uAfort- unate, sightless hogs. cheerfully follow ing their leader to the water. I was never 80 struck with the wonderful in- stinct of the brute creation in my life, and my eyes filled with tears when l saw the childlike faith and confidence of each blind animal following with i'm plicit trust the more fortunate guide.
 Soon, however, great dazzling three-comered idea worked its way into my intellect. Dashing away my idle tears, drew my revolver ard shot of the leaders tail, leaving the long line of disconcerted and aimless hogs in the middle of the broad prairie, with no guide but the dephlogisticated tail of a hog who was hree-quarters of a mile away. Then I stole up, and, taking the gory tail in my hand, led the trusty phalanx down to the stock yards, and sold the outfit at 8 cents, live weight This was the start of my dazzling ca- reer as capitalist, career to which now point with pride. Thus, from 8 poor boy with one suspender and pooi toe, I have risen to be one of our lead ing business men, known and respected by all, and, by industry and economy, and by borrowing my chewing tobacco, have come to be one of our solid men.
Arizona weekly enterprise., 1881-12-17
THE FIRTH OF NIHILIsM.

In 1882, when Mourawieff, the Lieu tenant of tue dead Czar, was carrying out his cruel and barbaric crusade against the incipient rebellion in Poland, young student of that country, attend ing the University of Dorpat, returned home one day with half dozen con- panions whom he had promised to en- certain in his fathers house. They en- tered, and a ghastly spectacle met their view. The whole family lay massacred, while the mother and sister of the young Pole had been hatefully outraged by MouraNieff's brutal soldiery, drunk with woodky. The students, struck dumb with horror, stood silent on the floor, while the bereaved boy sat down by little table, on which was laid his right hand, while his left hung loosely by his side. At first his companions, who were Russians every one of them, expected violent outburst of rage against themselves and their country.
 But suddenly the face of the Pole be came pale and death-like, and from his glassy eyes tears began to stream over his downy cheeks. Terrified and chok- ing with grief, his companions, ap- pIoaching, exclaimed, Stanislas, Stan islas, come to yourself again, and by the living God we will aveuge th1s wrongp The youth did not reply. By and-by the tears ceased to flow, the eyes rolled in their sockets, there was 8 heavy sigh and Stanislas was no more
 Kneeling around the body of their dead companion, the handful of Russian stu dents bound themselves by a solemn oath to work out tue ruin of the tyranny which had thus disgraced their father land. Such, according to one of its most authoritative organs, was the origin of Nihilism, which ever since has carried on war the most desperate, and which now claims as its latest victim the august ruler of more than so, 0OO,OO0 of people. They were students who first concocted the conspiracy, they are students and men and women of the student class who have since mainly swollen its ranks, and, as the current reports go to show, Nihilism has found in students the in- | struments of it's latest and most terrible
Arizona weekly enterprise., 1881-12-17
ANCESTRY.

When Ben Franklin, grmy young printer, was carrying his forms through fhe street one day, he met young fel- low of his own age, the son of an aristo- cratic family, who was so poor as to want a meal.
 Franklin offered to find work for him in s neigliboring shop, but received the naughty rebuff;
 "The G--'s are not fallen so low as to become mechanics !"
 When Franklin was Minister to France, this man died pauper ill the Philadel- phia almshouse.
 Family pride of another kind was shown by q sturdy farmer in Congress, who, when an attempt was made to buy his vote on a certain question, replied:
 "Sir, every one of my kin in the old graveyard at home would rise if shou d touch that money! would not dare to do it."
 In countries where social rank, estate and title, all solid realities. descend in an unbroken line, there is some apology for family pride, and even in America it is natural for man to take a keen in terest in those whose blood and character he inherits. As long as the knowledge Hat his ancestors have been truthful, honest, manly men, helpers in Gods Horld, makes him more anxious to be himself honest, independent aud useful family pride is help in his life.
 But when, as is more often the case we see family dawdle weakly througl life, unwilling to engage in trade O bonest work, justifying their right to bt alive by their far-of kinship to som titled or rich dead man, pride of birth i only hindrance, and is vulgar sni absurd pretense.
 Honor and fame from no condition rise,
 Act well your part, tsere all the honor lies.
Arizona weekly enterprise., 1881-12-17


 Roll up piece of paper, pamphlet, to make a tube about nine or twelve inches long and an inch or 50 across. Put this tube to your right eye and look through at some object, attentively keeping both eyes open. Now hold up your left hand with its back toward you and bring it very near the lower end of the tube, looking at your hand with the left while your right eye is fixed on something through the tube. If you hit the right position, which you can do, putting the edge of the hand against, not over, the lower end of the tube, you will be surprised to see very clearly the things beyond. It is very easy, but most surprising little experiment, and will please old as we'll as young people. You will, of course, wish to know why this Is so, why there seems to be a hole where there Is none. The scientific journals are talking about this, but their explanations would hardly suit young sters. We usually look at the same thing with two eyes, and the two images make one in our mind. Here we sep arate the two eyes in an unusual man. ner, and the mind brings together the circle made by the tube for one eye and the hand seen by the other, and makes one of them. You can vary this in sew eral ways. If, when looking through the hole in the hand, you stretch out the left thumb so that it will be seen by the right eye through the tube, the thumb will appear to be directly across the hole in your hand. Instead of look ing at your hand, use card; make & black spot on the card as big as a half dime, and look at it as before the black spot will appear to be floating in the center of the hole, with nothing to hold it there. Another variation is to make a round hole in the card of the size of the half-dime look at this hole with the left eye, so that the real hole will be in the imaginary hole; the hole will appear ex- ceedingly bright, and surrounded by a ring of shadow.
Arizona weekly enterprise., 1881-12-17
HE SOE.

Elder Toots, at meeting of the Lime Kiln Club, arose and begged leave to inquire whether the club had taken any action toward relieving the sufferers of the Chicago fire. If not, he wanted to move that the sum of $100 be voted from the treasury for that purpose. For about minute Paradise Hall was so s. eat that the ticking of the clock sound ed like boy pounding on an empty barrel. Then the President asked:
 "W-what Chicago fire ?"
 Why, sah, moas' of de hull city has bin burnt up."
 "Whar did you git dat news ?"
 "Right heah, sah, was the reply, as the elder held up scrap book in which was pasted newspaper account of the big confagration of ten years ago. There was a general laugh and wild uproar when the old mans mistake was realized, and after the excitement had subsided the President said
 Elder Toots. you am good man on a plain job of whitewashin', but when you tackle literature you am purity sartin to git upset. Onless you desire to withdraw dat resolusion an substitute one wotin' money to buy Adam spring obercoat you'd better sot down"
 The elder fell back in lump and ad- justed his spectacles for another wrestle with the old scrap book.