davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1881-11-04
The Amid Fiddle,

At banquet held in Huron, Canada,
Mr.. James Dickson, Scotch emigrant,
narrated the following touching remin-
iscence of "Auld Scotia:"
1t is now forty-eight years since I
first came TO this country. / was then
little more than boy, fresh from Ed
ingburgh University, and had come
with my father to bear the trials and
privatiops of early pioneer life in the
backwo6ds. My mother and the other
members of our family were in the old
land, and an ocean and q wilderness
lay between them and US. Our world
ly possessions, when we reached tho
Huron tract, consisted of two chests,
which had been brought from Hamil-
ton in an ox-cart After attending to
the duties which devolved upon us for
our immediate needs, we sat down to
ponder on the best course to pursue in
our battle with the mighty forest. At
ter while my thoughts went from our
present surroundings to the dear ones
at home in the old land, and possibly
my fathers thoughts drifted thither-
ward also. Finally he said to me:
"Jeames, wad ye open the kist, an
see if tn feddle is a. richtp"
did as he told me, for. knowing
him to be good fiddler. thought the
tunes of the old land might cheer us
both. On opening the chest I found
the fiddle and handed it to my father.
He took the violin from my hands. and
after thumbing the strings, touching the
bridge and tapping the sounding board.
his face illuminated as he calculated:
"She's a. RIGHT, Jeames; she's a RIGHT"
He then rubbed the resin on the bow,
and drawing the latter across the
strings struck up one of the grand old
Scotch airs, 1.-THE Broom O. the Cow
den Knowes," which he had often
played for mother and the BARNS in
'.Auld Scotia" When he had finished
the first tune he played another and
yet another. and as the beautiful mclo-
dies rose on the air could not help
thinking:
Father, ye play the fiddle great
deal better now than ye ever did in
Scotland"
The music was finished at last. my
father relinquished the instrument to
my hands for safe keeping in the chest,
and saw then what / never saw be-
fore or since-the tears rolling down
his cheek.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1881-11-04
The Man With the Umbrella.

Why it is that the public do not
look kindly upon a man carrying an
umbrella in hot day is mystery yet
to be solved, but the fact is they do
not, and that not one man in hundred
has the moral courage to carry one.
Yesterday, when an eminent and dig
nified citizen coming back from his
dinner turned into Griswold street with
an umbrella over his head, he was ac-
costed with:
"Been raining down your wayp"
mo, SIR"
''Going top'
mo, SIR"
Then you carry the umbrella to
keep the flies Off"
"Yes, SIR"
"Well, that's a good plan, and all
soft men ought to practice it."
The next man had grin on his face
as he called out:
whats that forp"
ITO keep the sun off,"
what do you want to keep the sun
off forP''
'Might get sunstruck."
Suppose you did?"
suppose you mind your business,
sirp''
The next one presumed upon his
long friendship to halt the man with the
umbrella and whisper:
pretty sharp in you, old fellow
keep the bulge towards YOUR creditors,
and they can't See your
Other men told him that poultice
on the head would dispense with the
umbrella, and others said if he was
afraid of his ears being tanned he
should fasten fan on each side of his
hat. Not one single man took him by
the hand and encouraged him, and
when he reached the postoffice he was
SO discouraged that he lowered his
shade and used it to punch the ribs of
boy who had begun to sing:
"He's fat-he's a Teller,
And he Tugs an old umbrella"
Erop presS
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1881-11-04
Too Literal.


The shorthand reporters Of Sidney,
N. S. w.. having been found fault with
for their method of reporting the
speeches in the Legislative council. re-
taliated by giving the speech Of one Of
the council exactly as it was spoken, as
follows:
1.-THE reporters-ought not to-the
reporters ought not to be the ones to
judge of what is important-not to say
what should be left out-but-the menu
Der can only Judge of what is important.
As las my speeches-as the reports
AS what say is reported sometimes,
no one-nobody can understand from
the reports -what it is-what mean.
So-it strikes met has struck me GER
tain matters things that appear of inn
portance-are sometimes left out
omitted. The reporters-the papers
points are reported-I mean what the
paper thinks of interests reported"
This was taking very cruel revenge,
but then. even reporter is human.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1881-11-04
What He HADN'T Got.

A certain rich man possessed of great
wealth was wont to be proud OF his
possession and to refer to them often.
but withal, ho was not man of intel
lect.
One day he had an old Irishman
working for him, and he went out to
oversee the job. He looked at Pat
minute. hard at work, and said:
"Well, Pat, it is good to be rich, amt
itp'
"Yis, sur" said Pat, who had the
wit of his action.
Il am rich, very rich, Pat"
"Yis, sur"
81 own lands, and houses, and bonds,
and stocks, and railroads, and-and-
and"
"Yis, sur" said Pat, shoveling
away.
"And what is it, Pat, that I haven't
gotP'
"Not bit av sinse, sur" remarked
Pat as he picked up his wheel-barrow
and trundled it of full Of dirt; and the
rich man went into the house and sat
down behind the door.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1881-11-04
Nothing Mean About Them.

A gentleman who was recently stand
ing in front of the Opera House was
approached by tramp who seemed to
have tears in his eyes, rs he said:
'.Say, mister, my wife is dying, and
I want to get twenty-five cents to buy
some medicine"
Before any answer could be made, q
second tramp came from the other
direction and halted, and asked:
Say, mister, can't you lend me q
quarterp I've got to get something for
my cough, or I'll be dead before snow
flies"
..Here you are-one wants q quarter
to save his dying wife, and the other
wants a quarter to cure his cough. Now
what shall do about itp'
'.Is your cough very badP" asked
tramp No. l of No. 2.
"T-terrible p cougked No. 2, in re-
'.Well, there's nothing mean about
me-" continued No. l. 'This is my
second wife, and no great shakes at
that and maybe the medicine wouldn't
help her any. I'll waive all claims,
and he may hand you a quarter"
20, c-couldn't think of it."
coughed the other. "Maybe I'll get
over this, while your p-poor wife GER
tainly needs medicine"
"Well, here's quarter for each of
you." said the citizen. rs he witnessed
their unselfishness. and while he halted
on tho next corner to tell friend that
the world was growing better, the two
philanthropists halted a block the other
way to play pigeon-hole for the drinks.
Free Press.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1881-11-04
Ariatocratio Vapetables.

There are some peculiar little preju-
dices in Italy about certain fruits and
vegetables. Though blackberries grow
in profusion along the roadsides. they
are never seen on the table, being con-
sidered altogether too common. Wa
termelons also share the same fate.
and are only sold in the streets to the
poorer classes. Tomatoes never appear
upon the table, but are only used to
flavor with. I think the kind signora
with whom we live has never entirely
recovered from the shock I gave her
one day by begging for q couple Of raw
tomatoes. In place Of vinegar an Ital-
ian always prefers lemon juice upon
spinach, for instance. Cottage cheese
is eaten with ground coffee sprinkled
upon it, which can assure you is not
bad. And fresh figs are always eaten
with dish of fried ham, which brings
out the flavor of the fruit most wonder.
Florence Letter.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1881-11-04
A Horse Attacked BY a Weasel.

A remarkable incident occurred re-
Gently upon farm in Scotland. A
farmer was blowing in one of his fields,
which was nearly completed, and was
passing to within a foot or two of the
fence wall, when suddenly and to the
surprise of the farmer, one OF the
horses became FESTIVE and wild, and
refused to proceed in his work. This
was an unusual circumstance, and the
farmer was puzzled to make out the
cause of it. Selling the reins in his
hands, he walked toward the horses
head, when, to his astonishment, he
found that large weasel had attacked
the horse by springing upon it and
fastening its teeth in the frightened an
mails neck. 1t was moment OF excite
ment and alarm, but the farmer was
equal to the emergency. With we'll
directed stroke of the reins tho weasel
was dislodged and killed. The horse
soon recovered from his fright. and in
due course blowing was resumed. The
cause of the daring attack upon the
horse was explained upon the return
Journey, with the pillow breadth near
er the wall, where at the place OF at
tack the stock turned over q nest OF
young weasels, the object of anxious
solicitude to the pareut weasel. 1t twas
the well-grounded fear of harm to her
young that had inspired the heart of
the parent weasel to perform an act Of
daring that one could almost regret
should have been so disastrous to itself
and proUeny.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1881-11-04
Pears.


Over 1880 years ago Pliny wrote:
Gall pears whatsoever are but heavy
meat unless boiled or baked" and it is
probable that the varieties cultivated
at that early date could hardly have
been anything but small in size and
bitter in taste. But when Pliny record
ed this famous opinion, he wrote for
his time, and the idea is as little worthy
of consideration to-day as the philoso-
piers real knowledge of the fruit at
the present day must have been limited.
Pears are regarded at the present time
as among the most wholesome and nu-
tritious fruits. Baking or boiling may
improve them for weak, digestive or.
gans, but eaten raw and freely at all
times they are productive Of fine
blood and healthy skin. The amount
of real nutriment they contain is hard
ly equal to that of apples, but the fine
and delicate juices are hardly excelled
by any other fruit. Pears are coming
to be regarded as one of the staple
fruit crops, and great deal Of atten-
ton is being paid to their culture and
marketing. Herald
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1881-11-04
Low in the Human Scale,

A singular race of Africans are called
Mucassequeres. They are perfect
savages, born under the shadow of the
forest trees, building no huts for shell
ter. and seeking no cover from the
weather. They despise alike the rain,
the heat and the sun, and bear the rigor
of the seasons with tho same indiffer-
ence as the wild beasts. As they never
cultivate the ground, agricultural i'm
piements are entirely unknown. Roots,
wild honey, and animals caught in the
chase, constitute their food. They
rarely camp two nights in the same
place. The arrow is their weapon, and
so dcxtrous are they in its use that the
animal once sighted is as good as
caught. They use no cooking appli-
ances, but roast meat upon wooden
spits. Salt is quite unknown to them.
Both men and women barely cover
their nakedness with small monkey
skins. They are excessively ugly and
repulsive looking. The eyes are small.
and out Of the right line; the cheek
bones very far apart, and high; the
nose fiat to tho face, and nostrils dis
proportionately wide. The hair is crisp
and woolly, growing in separate patch
es, and thickest on the top of the head.
A few strips Of the skin of some ami
NAL, encircling their wrists and ankles,
constitute their sole ornament, and
these are perhaps worn rather as ANU
lets than for the purpose of adjournment.
They quarrel very violently among
themselves, and the offenders against
the peace are sold by their brethren
into slavery.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1881-11-04
TYpes Of People,

A Philadelphia tailor has been giving
his experiences to the Bulletin, of that
city. Among other things, he says:
Naturally, you meet with all kinds of
people" suggested the prospective
purchaser.
Eyes, there are many different types.
There is the Peculiar, having style Of
his own conception, as o man who
wants blue Goth coat with brass but
tons, or a velvet jacket with lace ruff
fles in the sleeves; then there is the In
different, not caring what ha wears;
the Pussy, particular about minor fan
cies not made known; the Tasty, show
ing a natural taste for the selection of
colors and application of style; the
Snowy, having an eye for the gorgeous
and extreme; the Neat, presenting q
naturally attractive appearances; the
man with no idea what he wants; the
man who knows, but has not the power
of imparting his ideas; the man who
wishes to please his wife, his mother,
his sisters, his brothers, etc., all OF
whom are ready to offer their advice,
and who tend to confuse. Overawe and
dictate to the unsuspecting, weak
minded mortal, who has not enough
originality of his own to know what he
likes and what he does not like"
"You seem to have classified your
customers pretty WE'LL" said the tailor's
visitor.
"Oh, yes. am a student of human
nature. and like to study my fellow
man. Some men come here and tell
me they want the latest style; they
don't know what it is. of course, and
when they are told they say they would
not wear such thing if they were paid
to do it. On the other hand, there is
your quick-witted, strong.minded man,
seeing at glance the beauty of the
new garment"
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1881-11-04
An Engineers Race for Life.

At Pantano, saws the Tucson (Ar.)
Journal, the brakes OF a fiat car, loaded
with ties, became loOsencd in some mex.
plicable manner, and the car began to
move down the steep grade toward Cie-
maya. A bystander jumped aboard and
cndeavored TO tighten the brakes. He,
however, found them unmanae cable.
Another tried and failed. A regular
brakeman then boarded the car and
quickly discovered that the brakes were
out of order. The car by that time had
increased its speed to fully twenty
miles an hour, and to remain upon it
would be almost sure death when the
first washout was reached. He there
fore called to the other two men on the
car to jump. and this they did.
Engineer Frank Shaw at this time
was sitting on his engine ut Pantano,
and attached to his locomotive was q
car filled with Cinnamon. He at once
realized the terrible result, If this rum
away fiat car was allowed to proceed
unchecked on its way, for score or
more of laborers were engaged far down
deep guich in the Cienega pass
strengthening the braces of broken
bridge that spanned it. They would
not be able to hear the approaching car,
and it would soon crash through the
weakened timbers. probably crush many
beneath its weight. AS these thougts
flushed through his mind, he pulled
wide open the Unbelievable and started
in pursuit of the fast-receding Car. It
was a race for life, and Shaw was soon
laundering down the track at sixty
miles an hour with the carload of ter
rified Cinnamon behind him. The fiat
car ahead was increasing in speed at
every turn of the wheels, and the grade
there is very steep. The locomotive,
however. Kept gaining, and finally
Shaw placed the lever in charge of his
fireman, crawled to the cow-catcher,
and. taking the heavy coupling rod in
his hand, stood in the perilous position
until the car was reached.
The chasm where the men were
working came in sight, and still the
fugitive car was two hundred yards
away. He called to his fireman to
open wider the valve. and the laboring
engine made q lurch that showed she
had felt the increased volume of stea m.
They sped on with lightning rapidity.
The space between them gradually less
ened. Shaw stood with the rod in one
hand and the coupling-pin in the other.
Finally the few feet disappeared, and
with dexterous hand, that comes from
practice and cool brain, the coupling
was made. The locomotive was re-
versed, and the train came to stand
still within fifty feet of the bridge. This
is the way one man saved many lives.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1881-11-04
Practical lessons in Political Economy

Practical Lessons in Political Economy.
A Baron illustrious in the world of
finance, DESTROYS of treating couple OF
pretty actresses, enters fruiter's store
and inquiries the price OF the three ear
lest peaches of the season.
"a hundred francs each, SIR" re-
plies the merchant; land you can see
for yourself that they are splendid
ones"
at is rather q steep price," observes
the financier; "but l wouldn't mind
paying the price if I were sure they
were ripe"
81 will guarantee them. Taste one,"
and the merchant cut one of the pre-
cious peaches in two, handed the Baron
one-half, and ate the other himself.
"They are exquisite. indeed" said
the Baron; "wrap me up these two"
and he placed O two-hundred franc
note on the counter.
81 beg your pardon, the price is four
hundred francs" said the dealer.
-Four hundred francsp Why, it was
only three hundred when there were
three peachesr'
Precisely, sir; but as there are only
two peaches left they are rarer, and
the price has naturally advanced. II
we were to eat one of the remaining
couple the survivor, being unique,
would be worth at least one thousand
francsr'
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1881-11-04

be some mistake. I'm uooK-Keoper Tor
Brown a. Co., dealers in hides and tai.
low. NV father was Norton McDou.
gal, my mother was Mary McDougal.
my grandfather was"
"Confound your grandfather. Either
marry my sister as you promised to do
a month ago, or take one of these pis-
tolls and"
20. helpr'
"Dry up, you whelp!" and tho cap
tain clapped his hand over my mouth.
Choose" said the captain, giving
me kick with his boot.
'I'll mar-marry her."
"All right"
And the captain smiled grimly as he
returned the pistol to the case.
The elder Mr.. Boynton went after the
carriage. but before l had ceased to
tremblc he returned.
The captain helped me in, and then
seated between the chivalric father and
son. l rode away. There were plenty
of people on the street, but l. was warned
not to shout, if knew what was
healthy for me.
We rode at smart trot for about
two miles, should think, and then the
captain drew rein before a large, two
story white house, that stood near the
road, surrounded by a high white
fence. There was gravel walk up to
the front door, and several large cherry
trees stood in the front yard.
"Here we are" said the captain,
getting down, and motioning me to fol-
low.
the door opened just as we reached
it, and who should fall into my arms
but the identical young lady who had
made such a strong impression upon
my heart the night Of the lecture in w.
40. John! I knew you would be
true" she cried; and the captain
snickered as he led the way into the
parlor.
But once there I succeeded in con-
vincing Miss Boynton that 1 was not
McDougal. Her father apologized, so
did the captain, and the upshot of it all
was that consented to stop over night
with them, and / am happy to state
that / passed very pleasant evening
indeed.
/ learned, too. that this j. McDougal,
for whom had been taken, was a gen.
tleman of wealth and leisure, with only
one fault, and that was promising to
marry every pretty woman he became
acquainted with. Then l told my story,
and both Mr.. Boynton and the captain
seemed pleased, and so did Carrie, es-
pecially when offered to stand in Nc
Douglas shoes. And-well, my dear
reader, did about month afterward.
We had great wedding, and Clara
Segard was one of the bridesmaids,
and Henry Bower was groomsman.
And am very well satisfied that Nc
Dougal took the up train instead of the
down
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1881-11-04
Tho Future Motor Power.

The steam-engine, that has been the
means of revolutionizing manufacture
ing transportation, was spoken Of with
good deal Of disparagement by sever
al members of the British Association
for the Advancement OF Science at the
late meeting at Bath. Nearly every
person who spoke on the subject gave
it bad name. 1t was stated that 1t
was expensive to build, costly to run,
difficult to keep in repair, dangerous
to life and property, cumbersome, pro-
ductive to dirt and noise, and not
adapted to many purposes where .
motor is required. 1t is the opinion Of
some, the steam-engine had had its
day. and played its part, and was now
ready to be put in museum OF curio-
stiles. They think it is behind the times.
and that it should give place to some
thing better.
These scientific men of Great Britain
object to the steam-engine because 1t
does not meet the wants of the present
age; because 1t spends too much force
for the results it accomplishes, and for
suming the coal that will DO wanted for
heating purposes. They want better
force, more lomotion, quicker travel,
less expense, and greater security.
They want something that will propel
canoes as we'll as ships; that will run
sewing-machines as well as trip-hsm-
mers; that will draw pleasure carriages
as well as railway cars. They desire
motor that will not consume fuel. pro-
duce smoke or cause noise; that can be
managed by q child and run IL desired
in parlor. They want something that
will do all the stsam-engine does and
many things beside.
In the opinion of most of the scien-
lists of Great Britain electricity is to
take the place of steam in driving ma
chinery and moving cars, and Is to be
generated by the action of tides, winds.
and falling water. They predict that
wind power will DO utilized to greater
than any persons in previous age ever
believed it would. Wind will generate
electricity for moving machinery. for
lighting streets, and warming dwellings
in Ireland, Belgium, Denmark. and
other countries where there are few
streams that afford water-power. The
movement of tides will produce the
same effects in most countries that have
an extensive sea-coast, while tho fall
of water in rivers and streams will gen.
crate electricity in all mountain re-
gions.
Tho great electrical exhibition at
Paris is doing much to draw attention
to what is called the motor-power of
tho future. A picture called THE
Queen of the Nineteenth Century"
hangs in many Of the shop windows.
It is a female Fl ure surrounded with
halo, and emitting rays Of light from
the hands. which are raised as II to
enable the being to fly. The light
gives the arms the appearance of wings.
The artist is an enthusiast, andsis re-
garded by many as prophet. We all
hope that his fair predictions will be
realized. The steam-engine is q good
thing, but we are ready for something
better. 1t has done so we'll that till
recently scientific men and inventors
have no trouble themselves to make
something better. Now that attention
is drawn to electricity, great results
may be expected.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1881-11-04
II there should be wool famine in

II there should be q wool famine in
a year or two, there would be nothing
in the fact which would greatly sur
prise some of the principal authorities
on wool matters. Rot has carried of
many sheep in England and on the con-
tinent, and it is said that sheep are in
numbers far below the average. 1t
may be that the American wool grower
is at last about TO find his reward for
having patiently chung to his sheep
through the long period Of low prices.