davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Richland beacon., 1881-02-19
Tho London Cabby.

The London cabby is at once phil
osopher and Wit, sort of English
DloScncs on his tub instead Of in it. He
has triumphed over every obstruction.
even over the London fog. Weather is
nothing TO him rs long as he can raise a
fare. When he can't raise a fare he
chaifs at the passing world. His bed as
! a rule, Is his box, and he has been known
to take nap there occasionally. He is
much-abused person. hut. on the whole,
he Is "A civil, CHEEKY, well-conducted per-
son, particularly gallant to nervous old
ladies' and almost rival Of the guards or
Of the ''bobbies' with the nursery maids,
for he has inherited the wink Of Sam
Weller, and nothing could possibly re-
slst that His tribe is very numerous.
there being fourteen Thousand Of him,
Notwithstanding underground and over
ground railroads and busscs innumera-
bic. a mission mas been started in Lon
don for his special spiritual and moral
improvement, but he doesn't seem TO
take kindly to the movement; in fact, il
Is hard TO see how he can find time to
attend a mission. OF the ii. 900 cabbies.
only 900 are set down as total abstain
ers. and even these elite would probably
resemble Rips drinks-they don't count.
If any class Of persons might be excused
for taking an occasional nip, it would
surely be London cabmen. who are con-
stantly exposed to every kind of the
worst weather that ever was invented.
Sir +. Henderson, chief of the London
police, stated at recent meeting that he
discovered gradual improvement in the
cabbv. There has been a considerable
diminution during the past year in the
number Of cabmen brought before the
authorities for drunkenness. but il this
respect they had as yet by no means
reached the point of moral elevation at
tanned by omnibus men and stage drivers.
Ont of !, 400 omnibus men there was only
ii convictions for drunkenness during
the year. and of 3, 200 stage-driyers only
%. In II, 900 cahmen there had been
100 convictions, a reduction Of go on
the previous year. They were also
rather addicted to furious driving, fault
that probably bears a corresponding
ratio to gin.
Richland beacon., 1881-02-19
RAYVIILE LOUISIANA, SATURDAY, FETi.C AIRY 10, 1884,
"Oh. Aunt Mile" and Mabel drew

"Oh. Aunt Millie~ and Mabel drew
a long breath. chow could you."
Auntic stroked the brown hair rs she
continued:
"The school-house was clear across
the playground, which was fenced in.
This particular AFTERNOON the gate had
been left open. As 1 seated myself on
the saddle for ride around the ward. a
large boy. almost young man in fact,
mounted the other pony. Seeing this,
tine boys all at once commenced to veil.
| more like wild Indians than civilized
white boys" and she smiled rogr,ishly
at Jimie.
Hec"llections of certain noisy game
ot the forenoon, made Jamie blush. but
he laughed, to-. and said: well. anntie.
What is a fellow to do? The noise lust
hollered itself" Auntie drew the plump
fingers into her own, and petting them
affcctionatcly, went on: AT the first
scream. the horse pricked up her ears,
and Mt the second started for the gate on
n run. The little hands holding the
bride were powerless to hold the fright
cned creature. On, on-faster and fast
er. she sped with her frail burden, still
clinging to the reins.
"After running in this wny about n
mile. | thought of the lane which led to
the house, and felt certain in turning
the charp corner at snch pace, could
not hold on. and then looking up, 1 saw
the house of Mr.. Shaw near by. This
was the home of my dearest friend. and
place familiar also to the runaway
horse. 1t was the work Of an instant to
turn the horses head towards the gate.
and the horse when she found herself to
the old hltching post-stopped.'
JAMES grey eyes had been growing
bigger and bigger, and now with a sigh
OF relief. he exclaimed, What did YOU
do ncxt?'
oh answered auntie, ''when the
horse stopped and l realized that was
saved. / began to tremble little. Ina
few mintes the young man, Henry Adj
ans. rode mp. He had started as soon
as he found my horse was running away
with me. hut could not catch me. His
pony could not run rs fast as mine.
won that race fairly" and auntie smiled
on the two eager faces. Il began 10
feel weak and faint and rather afraid of
the runaway. so Henry let me ride his
horse home, and took the one had him
self.
when nearly home we met father
coming on old Nellie. Some one had told
him of the runaway, and he was nearly
as badly frightened as L.
:" You didn't ride that horse again, did
you," asked Mabel.
"No, I believe not" said Aunt Milly.
81 limped n little. for two or three
months, but was not cured of my passion
for horseback riding. Since then have
had many horseback rides, but never q
runaway"
The mother coming il with the lamp,
auntic took up her sewing, and with a
kiss of thanks, the little folks turned to
their school-books for little while, be-
lore seeking dreamland. Interior.
Richland beacon., 1881-02-19
Cruelty and Civilization.

The mutilations of prisoners exhib-
itcd on Assyrian sculptures are not sur
passed ia cruelty by any we find among
the most blOod-thirstv Of wild Races !:
| and Rameses H.. who delighted in hay
ing himself sculptured on temple walls
throughout Egypt as holding a dozen
captives by the hair and striking Off their
heads at blow, slaughtered during his
conquests more human beings than a
thousand chiefs Of savage tribes put to-
gcther. The tortures inflicted OH captured
enemies by Red Indians are not greater
than were those inflicted of old on fel
ons by crucifixion, or on suspected reb-
els by sewing them up in the hides of
slaughtered animals, or on heretics by
smearing them over with cOmbustiblcs
and setting fire to them. The Damaras.
described as SO utterly heartless that
they laugh on seeing one of their num-
ber killed by a wild beast, are not worse
than were the Romans, who made such
elaborate provisions for gratifying them
selves by watching wholesale sIaughfers
in their arenas. If the numbers de-
stroyed hy the hordes Of Attila were not
eqlialed by the numbers which TIE ko-
man army destroyed at the conquest of
Selucia, and by the numbers Of the Jews
massacred under Hadrian, it was simply
because the occasion did not permit.
The cruelties of Nero, Gallienus, and
the rest may compare with those of
Zingis and Timour and when we read
of Cnracalla, that after he had murdered
90, 600 friends of his murdered brother.
his soldiers forced the Senate to place
him among the gods, we are shown that
i'll the Roman people there was a ferocity
not less than that which deiiies the most
sanguinary chiefs among the worst of
savages. Nor did Christianity greatly
change matters. Throughout medieval
Europe political ofenses and religious
dissent brought on men carefully de-
vised agonies, equaling. if not exceed
ing, any inflicted by the most brutal of
barbarians. s.-Herbert Spencer, in Fort
nightly RerieW.
Richland beacon., 1881-02-19
StenOgraphic Blundprs.

From paper on blunders, by F. j.
Morgan, of Syracuse, We extract the fol-
lowing as ludicrous instances OF steno-
graphic Interpretation and transcript
ton:
Gross receipts-Grocery seats. Tam
arack knees-Dum rickety knees. The
mothers prayer The matters prior.
He was little fellow-He was a little
full. They captured two Parrot guns
They captured two pirate guns. The
woman was baking bread-The woman
was begging bread. l found the horse
in that pasture-I found the morse in
that pOsture-Counsel offered paper i'll
evidence-COunsel brought pauper In
evidence. Arthur Waite, the chalk
talk evangelist - Arthur Waite, the
Choctaw evangelist. The showers were
not sufficient to meet the wants of mill
men-wants of milkmen. In the inter-
vcning time he said nothing-In the
entire evening time he said nothing. l
came with my brothers, Horace and
Henry-I came with my brothers horse
and Henry. A medical witness, speak
ing of the illness of lady patient. said !:
"She appeared to he somewhat un-
strung and nervous" The transcriber
made him say "Shc appeared to
be somewhat kneesprllng and nerv-
ous." A minister, preaching a ser
mon on the death of gentleman
named Samuel, quoted: "And buds and
blossoms in the dust" He was delight
ed to read in the next issue of the paper:
"And buds and blows Sam in the dust. "
An attorney asked female witness how
she came to be employed by plaintiff,
and she answered: 81 saw a sign in the
window, Female clerks wanted here. I"
The laundering reporter rendered it:
"Family color warranted here" An
orator referred to the different religious
sects or denominations "gOing for one
another" throughout the country, and
said: ''Here we have one sect persecut-
ing another" and was so reported, but
the transcriber rendered it: "Here we
have one sick person feeding another"
and so it appeared in the next-morning
papers.
Several years ago an eminent lawyer
hired stenOgrapher to take testimony
in an important case. The transcribed
minutes astonished him. A "patent," "
upon which much depended in the suit,
was converted into a "potentate;" a
"solid frame" was turned into an "iso-
lated farm" the furnaces of this coun-
try" were set down as "Fenians of this
country" "clerks and bartenders" were
made "clocks and barometers;' and the
question, "Were you in tho habit Of
visiting the house?' was written, "Were
you in the habit of fastening the hose 2"
Richland beacon., 1881-02-19
Origin OF Cyclones.

For tho purpose of discovering the
causes which determine the progressive
movement of storms, have made an
extensive examination Of the course and
velocity of storm centers Ill tropical re-
gions. and also Of abnormal paths in the
middle latitudes of Eourope and Ameri-
ca. i have examined the course Of all
those hurricanes which have originated
near the West India Islands, and whose
paths have been carefully investigated.
and also all the storm tracks delineated
on the maps of the monthly weather re-
view. / have likewise examined all
those hurricanes in Southern Asia and
its vicinity whose paths have been best
determined. and all the storm tracks de-
lineated on the maps of the international
series Of observations. The following
summary presents some of the results
derived from this investigation: Cd The
lowest latitude il which cyclone center
has been formed hear the West India
Islands is ten degrees, and the lowest lat
itude i'll the neighborhood of Southern
Asia is six degrees. Violent squalls and
fresh gales of wind have, however. been
encountered directly under the equator.
2) The ordinary course Of tropical hur
ricanes is toward the northwestward. In
a few cases they seem to have advanced
toward a point little south of west, and
In few cases their course has been al
most exactly toward the north. 81
Tropical hurricanes are invariably nc
companied by a violent fall of rain. The
rainfall is never less than five inches in
twenty-four hours for portion of the
track and frequently it exceeds ten
inches in twenty -fourhours. (4) Tropical
storms are generally preceded by a
nOrtherly wind, and after the passage Of
the low center the wind generally veers
to the southeast at stations near the
center, and the southerly wind which
follows the low center, is generally
stronger than the northerly wind which
preceded it.
This fact appears to suggest the ex-
PLANTATION Of the origin of the cyclone
and the direction Of its progressive move
ment. The prevalent direction OF the
wind in the neighborhoOd of the West
India Islands is from the northeast.
Occasionally strong wind sets in from
a southerly quarter. The interference
of these winds with each other gives
rise to a gyration and a fall of rain
sometimes results. When the rain COM
mences the latent heat which is lib
Grated causes an inflow OF wind from all
quarters, by which the rainfall is in
creased; and since the wind is DETECTED
by the rotation Of the earth an arch of
low pressure is produced and the force
Of the winds will be maintained as long
as the rainfall continues. The effect Of
this strong wind from the south is to
transport the low center in northerly
direction, and by the combined action of
the south wind and the normal from the
northeast the center of low pressure is
usually carried in direction between
the north and west.--ProE. Elias
LoOnais.
Richland beacon., 1881-02-19
A Drummer's First Trip.

A Cleveland merchant determined to
send hiS son for trip on the road in the
interests of the house. The young man
was rather averse to going, but his
fathers persuasions were all-powcrful,
and he went. He was out some ten
days, and on his return his father anx-
iously inquired, "Well, my boy, did
you get many orders?" "Yes, father, "
answered the new-hedged drummer 81
got quite a number" "Goodw ex-
claimed the delighted father. II knew
you would succeed. The young man
grinned and answered: "Well, the
first order got was in Squashbog.
went into o mans store there and he
said git out! In Bungville I got my
second order This time it was skip I
Ny third order was 'chase yourself
round My next order was 'scoot,
and" But the old gentleman hastily
arose and, kicking his hopeful's sample.
case across the Office, sternly command.
ed the young man to 60 out and help
Jim load the truck.
Richland beacon., 1881-02-19
zen. Sam HOuStOn'S Romance.

Born in Virginia in 1893, left an Or
phan in bOyhood, Sam Houston went
with his mother to Tennessee, where he
supported her with his own industry,
thus early learning family loyalty. In
1913, at the age Of 90, he enlisted under
Gen. jackson in the Creek war, and for
his repeated deeds of gallantry he so
gained the esteem of Jackson that he
urged him to remain permanently in the
army. Resigning, however, and study
ing law in Nashville, he rose from Office
to Office, and in 1923, at the age of 80,
he was elected to Congress, and then
again in 1927 was elected Governor of
Tennessee. Up to this time Houston
was unmarried. Universally admired,
and urged by associates to form an alli-
ance, which seemed essential to his sta
ton, young lady of beauty and accom-
family influence. His proposal of mar
riage was accepted, and late in 1928 the
marriage ceremony was performed with
unusual pomp. The next day Houston
resigned his Office, crossed the Missis-
sippi into Arkansas, and Dec. II, 1928,
wrote from the agency of his old Chero-
kee acquaintances the letter to Presi-
dent jackson which called forth his let
ter of Jan. "a, 1929. No one of Hous-
tons companions knew till his death the
cause Of his new course, which his best
friends, like Jackson, regarded as par
tial insanity; no one but his widow
could reveal it, and she only through a
sense of cOnjugal and Christian duty.
That cause was the highest test OF
loyalty of which any man could be ca
pable.
On the eve of the marriage Gov.
Houston observed tremor in the voice
and in the hand of his bride, when the
vow of undivided attachment was pro-
nounced, which convinced him some
secret had not been revealed to him.
Before retiring he frankly told her of
his suspicion, asked q frank confession
and pledged her that it should not work
to her injury. His frankness and firm
ness led to the confession that her af-
fections had been given and pledged to
another before their meeting, and that
filial duty had prompted her acceptance
of his proffer. Houston retired to his
own cot, next day resigned his position,
allowed the entire fault to appear to be
his, permitted and encouraged her appli-
cation for divorce on the plea a fdeser-
ton, and his bride was married to the
man of her former affection. Many ir-
Irregularities, rumor, of course, charged
on the man who had really sacrificed
everything to save one who had erred
only in mistaken duty; but no charge
of domestic in6delity could be true in q
man who denied it to the estimable lady
who afterward became his wife.
Richland beacon., 1881-02-19
MlLLY'S RUNAWAY.

ooh. Aunt Milly. Tell us something
that happened when YOU were little
girl, said Jamie Williams, as he threw
himself down on the carpet, before the
glowing Goals, which both warmed ail;.
lighted the pleasant sitting room.
"Yes," said Mabel, something that
happened ever and ever so long ago.
when you were about as big rs l am, :"
and the blue eyes looked up lovingly.
1t was an evening in early fall, when
careful mothers call their children in
ont of the damp, chilly twilight, and the
restless feet and thoughtless heads find
it hard work to fall into the traces of
schOOllife and the quiet evening games
seem dull indeed, after the merry out-of-
door romps, of the long summer days
On each evening, Aunt Milly volun-
teered to tell the children story. while
the little mother cleared away the sup
per, and made preparations for break
fast. "Well," said Auntie, musingly,
''did 1 ever tell You, about the time o
great. big horse ran away with me?'
''Oh, no. no." exclaimed the children,
''tell us about it, do, please" The visit
of this auntie was regarded as a great
treat by the children; she had the knack
of storytelling, and was always ready
to bring forth stories, new or old. from
her treasure house of facts and fancics.
''Well," she continued, 'it was when
your grandpa was living at C, and
kept pony which was used to riding
around the yard, though 1 was thought
too young to be trusted in the street.
Father had taken pains to teach me
at home, and almost my first experience
at school was upstairs with the old
scholars. 1 was ten years old, but very
small of my age and fral-looking. Two
or three young ladies rode in from the
country, a mile or two. every afternoon
for a recitation in Latin. As was an
especial pet with them, asked one Of
them one day if L might ride around the
yard at recess. She answered, Yes Of
course, without thought of any dam
GER"
"What, auntie," asked Mabel with
wide open eyes. "You ride q strange
pony. Weren't you afraidR'
mot bit," laughed auntie. "a few
days before, when our old Nellie had he
come frightened, and jumped so quickly
as to throw me of. I picked myself mp
from the midst of the patch of burdocks,
where I had fallen, and took another
ride. burdocks and ALL"
"Hurrah for you, auntie, said Jamie,
II wish l had you for playmate. You
could climb trees I'll warrant, and
wouldn't have been 30 afraid as Mabel
is, when want her to romp in the barn
with me-"
Yes, was a sad romp." said anntie,
''but as I WAS such delicate child.
mother allowed me to play as hard as 1
pleased, and to this freedom I owe my
good health. My favorite playhouse
was under the shade of tree. on the top
of the leanto Of the house, which was so
nearly fiat. there was little danger of my
falling Of"
Richland beacon., 1881-02-19
NUMBER s.
ENTERTAINING PARAGRAPHS.
WHcLr-SoLrD-tho Chicago girl

WHoLr-soLEp-th Chicago girl
| FREE Of charge an empty gun.
The funniest Part Of dogs rail is the
wag.
ir's the Gentle thing i'll NMmonlOm
- have only one wife.
t NoCpLF- person who hasn't sufficient
| back bone ~ be Il fool
VESSELS are always called she. and
yet W. hear of mail steamers.
THERE is more fashion in the city, Int
| ticr" : more stiles in the country.
| DYING III poyer.y is not as harl "A
| living in poverty, after all the nOvclistS
say.
HAIR switches" so reads sign So
| II d0cS, on the south end Of a horse III
| ily-timc
MAIpEvlady'squotation slightly altered
from AL old arhorism Where single
hess Is bliss It's folly to he wives
N"EN one sees q man thrown from his
saddle over the head of n horse, he must
r,r"gnize tle power behind the thrown.
lr WAS young hUusekcepcr who set
| the cake she lad baked for surprise
party out-of-doors, one cold night, to be
frosted.
\ PRISONER at the CRATE. Turnkey
Are vOu III for contcmpt?" Prisoner
(wi,h Indignation mo. sir. haven't
| fallen that low-it's 4 simple drunk.
WHEN a grocer advertises every variety
of 'raisins' for sale, does he include
derricks. pulleys. jack screws, Yeast.
rope aud tackle, and that sort of thing?
WHAT does encore moan?" asks an
exchange. 1t is only one phase of
universal desire among the sons Of men
to get something for nothing, and get it
right Off
BEACoSsFIELD ascribes all his great
ness to woman. Adam laid all his tronble
to the same source. Adam. We are
ashamed of you. Bcaconsfield, you arc
n gentleman.
HE funniest patent medicine is tho
''humor pad. made expressly to tickle
the ribs of the mournful Photographers
are manufacturing these pads III qnan
titles to suit.
LINKED for life" is how the Syracuse
.SNndard heads a marriage notice. How
forcibly this reminds us of Byron's beau
'-A'-' AH' %" WV oduouRSS al tilt
hUcs Of youth.
''CoME right into the house, children"
shouted Mrs. Shuttle. "You are making
more noise and uproar than n session Of
Congress. What do you suppose the
neighbOrs tilink?"
\ CALIFORNIA heiress was left $50 600
worth Of diamonds which she could take
possession of on her wedding day. and it
is not surprising that the first fellow who
offered himself was accepted.
"YouR opponent was a bright speak
er." the citizen said to the candidate
who had not been elected by 1000 ma
jority. YES" was the sad reply, very
bright. He cast reflections upon me all
through the campaign"
A LADY was praising the amiabiliiy Of
her friends husband, and asked how in
the world she had ever brought him to
such perfection. whereupon the friend
sweetly answered that she did it chiefly
with II croquet-mallet.
THERE was fight imminent between
two boys. One of them darkly intima
ted that he was bigger than the. other.
The smaller, who is the son of deacon.
defiantly retorted, II don't care if yonrt
as big as a church debt; you can't scare
me. "-Ddn6,yy NeUs.
Richland beacon., 1881-02-19
A French WOman's Valor.

Visitors to Paris cannot fail to have
seen in the great central market an old
woman seated behind n gOodly array of
cabbages and caulihOwers, wearing the
Order of the Legion of Honor on her
breast. Her name is Annette Drevon,
and her history is n remarkable cne In
her younger days she was cantinicrc in
a regiment Of Zouaves who served in
Africa, in the Crinea, in Italy, and on
the banks OF the Rhine. She was pres
ent at the taking of Magenta, and during
that ntctee saw couple Of Austrian SOL
diers lay hands on the flag of the regi-
ment IA which she belonged. Undeter-
red by the whistling of the bullets, the
courageous Frenchwoman rushed forward
to save the flag, killed one Austrian,
wounded the other with her revolver, and
returned triumphant with the standard
she had saved from the enemy. For this
act Of courage she was decorated; but it
is not her only one. During the Franco
Prussian war she followed the Thirty
second Regiment of the Line as canii-
nicre. One day after the armistice had
been proclaimed, she was iusllted by
Bavarian soldier, near the gatesO Thion-
vile. The plncky cantm,cre drew out
her revolver and stretched the aggressor
dead on the ground. For this she was
arrested, tried by court martial sitting
at Metz, and condemned to death. On
the day she was to be executed Prince
Frederick Charles happened to be passing
through Metz. Having learned that
woman was to be shot, he inquired into
the circumstances, granted her respite,
and four days later sent her back to
France, pardOned. Since then Annette
has established herself as q market wo-
man, and, aided by o pension allowed her
by the State, manages to live, as she is
proud of saying. independently.
Richland beacon., 1881-02-19
The Difference.

''The difference" said Augustus Mill
whites, sauntering into the library the
other day-''the difference between the
works of Captain Cook and the works Of
Beaumont and Fletcher is, 1 presume,
that the former are by tar and the lat
ter by-tu-men. Before he could cackle,
he was seized by the nape of the neck
and thrust out of the building by an
enraged professor, who said to him, as
he struck the ground, "Do you know
why you are like Noah's Ark?"
NO" said the bewildered Augustus
Well, its because you're pitched
without said the professor, a. he shut
the door.