davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-03-03
Disraeli,

No doubt says the London correspon-
dent of the New York World, you will
have noticed and enjoyed the childish
delight with which the ex-Premier de-
picts the ''gilded saloons of his friends,
the aristocracy. In them, after all, is
to be found the only kind of social di-
version for which he has ever cared.
True happiness is to be found only in
the society of ''queens of fashion" like
ZenObia (whO is a sort of combination
of Lady Blessington and Lady HollanO
and distinguished personages'' in blue
ribbons and brilliant decorations. Such
was always the opinion of Mr.. Disraeli,
and now that he is an Earl he can not
well be expected to change it. In one
part of ''Endymion' he refers indi-
directly, of course-to the ''immense
sorrows'' of his youth. What were
they? He was sent to solicitors office
to be trained in the study of the law.
He was not Il commonplace clerk, as
many have supposed; he was not in
poverty. The ordinary accounts of the
hardships of his early life he has HIM
self repudiated. ''My father left me a
sufficient patrimony," he once declared.
What were his immense SORROWS? SIM
ply compulsory association with the
''middle class" Until lucky accident
gave him an entree to Lady Blessing
toms house, and opened ROthchild's
door to him he was excluded from the
Endymion's is made to predict that all
his good fortune will come to him
through women. So it actually hap
pened. Lady Blessington took him up,
and Mrs. Wydham-Lewis married him
and gave him all her money. Deter
animation can move mountains, but it
can not always enable a man to pick
up fortune with his wife. Even in
delineating the fortunes of his new
hero, Lord Beaconsfeld is obliged to
jump the hardest fence on the road by
making some anonymous friend come
forward with a present of f2O,0
Youthful students of the Disraelian sys-
tenn of ''getting on in the world will
perhaps complain that donors of f2O,-
900 are comparatively scarce in the
world. The noble Lords answer would
be: 81 have found them; go thou and
do likewise. VIII thing and you can
get it. Resolve to be Prime Minister
and nothing can prevent you from
reaching that position. You will want
money to start with-look out for a
woman who has it.. You will never
find man to give you G2O,0 600; there
fore turn to the other sex. l did SO,
and see where | am and what l have
BEEN That is what the author of
s.Endvmion'' would tell any young man
in whom he took a friendly interest
Lord Rowton, for instance. People may
say that this is not a very lofty view of
life. But what is that against it? 1t
enables men to grasp power. To do
Mr.. Disraeli justice, he never preached
anv other doctrine. That is why he has
been called more demoralizing writer
than &. w. NJ. Reynolds. He says the
foundation of all belief is the nobler
qualities of the human race.
Disraeli has great fondness for char
acters in high life. His Lothair is an
example. In this he differs greatly
from Dickens, whose matchless descrip-
tions of characters in the middle and
lower ranks OF life are well-known.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-03-03
Minneapolis Flour Mills.

New York Graphic.

NEW IOTk 1TstpniC
Wheat is cracked and mashed at Min
neapolis and not ground into flour.
Burr stones are things of the past and
Hungarian steel rollers have taken
their place. These rollers are about
thirty inches long and eight inches in
diameter 1t takes five sets of steel
rollers to finish the flour. Each'set of
rollers runs closer than the preceding.
After the wheat passes each set of roll
ers it is bolted OF sifted through coarse
cloth. This cloth lets the disintegrated
particles of wheat through, and passes
off the bulky and large pieces, which
are run through another and closer set
of rollers, and cracked again. The last
rollers have little else but wheat hulls
and the waxy germs of the wheat, which
do not crack up, but smash down like a
piece of wax. The germ of kernel of
wheat is not good food. 1t makes flour
black. By the old milestone process
this waxy germ was ground up with the
starchy portion, and bolted through
with the flour. By the new system of
cracking the kernel instead of grinding
it, this germ is not ground, but flat
tened out, and sifted OF bolted out,
while the starchy portions of the wheat
are crushed into powdered wheat or
flour
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-03-03
''Chalk Your Hat.
om the New York Times.

From the New York Times.
The cant phrase, "Chalk your hat, !"
which is still current in many parts of
the Union, is said to have had its origin
in literal illustration of the words.
s'Admirar' Reside was an owner of
various stage coaches in the days be-
fore railroads. He spent much of his
time in Washington, where, indeed, he
lived for several years. At the annual
adjournment of Congress be would
pass his friends of the House and
Senate-he was well acquainted with
all the prominent politicians of his era
over any stage line he controlled. He
would say to an Ohioan or Kentuckian
81 suppose you're going back to Gin
cinnati or Louisville, and I'll pass you
through by stage" When he was ask
ed: s'How?' he would reply. ''Give
me your hat" He would take the hat,
make a cabalistic chalk-mark on it inn
possible to counterfeit, and return it
with the remark: THAT will serve
your turn; any of my agents will recog-
nize that anywhere, and won't receive
a cent from the man whose hat is so
Marked Reside was right. All his
agents knew the sign at once. The
thing became so common that fellows
tried to initiate it, but they were in
variably detected and compelled to
leave the stage or pay their fare. In
the South and West ''Chalk your hat
still stands for what the East styles dead
heading.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-03-03
Spanish Moss.

The Spanish moss which grows upon
the cypress, ive-oak and gum trees in
the swamp lands of the Gulf States is q
product of considerable commercial
value. 1t is a profuse parasitic growth.
which is partially swept from the trees
on which it grows by autumn winds, and
requires less labor and care in the har-
yesting than the hay crop. 1t is gather
ed mainly by poor whites and negroes.
and brings, in cured state, from two
to four cents per pound. It is used,
after being ground or cleaned by ma
chinery devised for that purpose, for
stuffing furniture, mattresses, cushions,
etc., being cheap substitute for hair.
Its elasticity and freedom from the vis-
itation of insects make it peculiarly
valuable material for the purposes to
which it is applied. The receipts of
moss at the port of New Orleans dur
ing six months amounted to 10. 800, 600
pounds, valued at $315,OOO.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-03-03
Keeping Winter Apples.

The question is being discussed as to
whether dry or wet cellar keeps ap-
pies best. A writer in the New York
Tribune says apples keep excellently in
his cellar, which is a wet one, and cites
the remark of an experienced buyer
that whenever he entered a cellar and
was compelled to walk on boards to
keep out of the water, he was sure to
find the fruit in good condition. On
the other hand, many writer's recon-
mend dry cellar as the best for keep
ing apples. Who shall decide the ques-
ton?
That water is not injurious to the
keeping of apples, even when actually
in contact with them, is shown by the
fact that they keep perfectly well on the
ground under leaves all winter. A
friend of mine living in Montreal says
that seeing some very fine Fameuses
exposed for sale in that city, he in
quired how they were kept. He learned
that they were part of the cargo of a
canal boat which had sunk in the canal
and was frozen in before it could be
raised. When this was effected in the
spring, it was found that the cargo of
apples, which would not have kept much
longer than January in the air, had
been preserved perfectly in the water.
An old custom of burying apples in the
ground, the same as roots, also demon
strateS that moisture in contact with
apples does not necessarily cause rot
ting. In Russia / understand that ap-
Piles are preserved in tight barrels with
water, in the same way practiced in
this country with cranberries. On the
other hand, apples keep in perfectly dry
cellars, as many fruit growers can tes-
tify.
What then is the essential requisite
for the safe winter keeping of this fruit?
Simply, l believe, the preservation of
low uniform temperature as near the
freezing point as possible. This can be
maintained in dry cellars, but much
more easily and perfectly, think, in
wet ones. The presence of water has
a controlling power over the variations
of temperature near the freezing point,
as all know who have had to keep
wafer in a cold cellar to keep it from
freezing. The moisture does no harm
to the apples. 1t may even be direct
benefit in preventing evaporation from
and consequent whitening of the apples,
though this evaporation is very slight
a the low temperature necessary in
fruit cellars for success in keeping APP
pies over until spring. In Canada ap-
pies are rarely stored for keeping in
house cellars. Aspecial cellar is made,
deep, with thick stone walls laid in NOR
tar. These walls rise above the surface
only about ten inches, to allow of small
windows forventilation and light. There
is a double floor above filled with moss
OR sawdust. AT times during the win
ter when the weather is not freezing
this cellar is opened and fruit removed
for sale. When properly made and
there is little or no loss in the
way of storing winter apples.-T n.
Hosktnas, III. q, an Ru,'al Nea0 Yorker.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-03-03
A Quaker Printers Proyerb.

Never sendest thou an article for pub
lication without giving the editor thy
name, for thy name ofttimes secures q
publication to worthless articles.
Thou should st not rap on the door of
the printing office, for he that answereth
the rap sneereth in his sleeve and lOseth
time.
Neither do you loaf about, ask ques-
tions, or knock down type, or the boys
will love thee like they do shade trees
when thou. leaveth.
Thou should st never read the copy
on the printers case, or the sharp and
hooked container thereof, or he may
knock thee down.
Never inquire thou of the editor for
the news, for behold, it is his business
at the appointed time to give it to thee
without asking.
1t is not right that thou should st ask
him who is the author of an article, for
his duty requires him to keep such
things to himself.
When thou doest enter into his office,
take heed unto thyself that thou doest
not look at what may be lying open and
concerneth thee not, for that is not meet
in the sight of good breeding.
Neither examine thou the proof-sheet.
for it is not ready to meet thy sight as
thou mayest understand.
Prefer thine own town paper to any
other, and be sure to subscribe for it
Immediately.
Pay for it in advance, and it shall be
with thee and thine.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-03-03
Sound and Sense,

The following is an illustration of pro-
nunciation and spelling in the use of
wrong words which have the same pro-
nunciation as the right words, and
which properly read, would sound right.
The story:-A rite suite little buoy, the
sun of q CRATE kernel, with rough
about his neck, fiue up the rode as quick
as eh dear. After thyme he stopped
at a gnu house and wrung the BELLE
His tow hurt hymn, and he kneaded
wrest. He was two tired two raze his
fare, pail face. A feint mown of pane
rows from his lips. The made who
herd the belle was about to pair pare,
but she through it down and ran with
all her mite, for fear her guessed wood
not weight. Butt when she saw the lit
tie won, tiers stood in her eyes at the
Site 1--WE poor dear! Why due yew
lye hear? Are yew dyeingP''- ''Know,"
he said, Il am feint two thee corps" -
She boar hymn inn her arms, as she
aught, too Il room where he might bee
quiet, gave him bred and meet. held
cent under his knows, tide his chOler,
raped hymn warmly, gave hymn some
suite drachm from a viol, till at last he
went fourth as hail as a young hOarse.
His ewes shown. his cheek was as read
as flour, and he gambled a hole our.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-03-03
Successful Electric Light,

The New York Tribune speaks of the
successful use of the new incandeScent
carbon light, invented by Prof. Maxim,
at the Equitable Building, on Broadway.
The Tribune says:
1.-The basement hall is lighted by one
or two large arc lamps, of about 1000
candle-power each. The public has be-
come so familiar with lamps of this ma
ture that they no longer attract atten-
ton. The novelty is the small incandes-
cent lamp, no larger than gas jet, of
which about sixty are kept burning day
and night in the rooms and vaults of
the Mercantile State Deposit Company.
The handsomely furnished new reading
room of this company is lighted by a
number of these lamps, arranged like
gas Jets. Some are placed upon the
walls, and some are clustered in chan
delier. In order not to dazzle the eyes
of readers, the bril!iancy of the lights
in the room is reduced, and it is, there
fore, only in the vaults that the lamp
shines with its full strength. The light
fiickers somewhat, but this defect is
probably due to some imperfection in
the regulator, which controls the dyna-
mo machine furnishing the electric cur
rent The fiickering is not at all mark
ed, and one must look twice to detect
it; so that the failure to secure perfect
steadiness is not regarded as Il serious
Ddrawba TO the incandescent lamp. The
great security vaults of the company,
the storage vaults and the rooms, in
cluding the large offices and halls, are
furnished with the electric light. The
largest areas are lighted with the arc
lamps, while the incandescent lamps
make the smaller rooms as bright rs If
flooded with sunshine. The electric
current is furnished from a single Max
i'm machine, deriving its power from the
engines in the Equitable Building. This
machine is controlled by Il regulator,
which Diet armincs the force of the eiec-
tric current required. The lamps are
so constructed that they can be turned
on and of ut will, as gas is managed,
with the advantage that the lamps light
themselves. There is no waste, be-
cause when the lamps are turned off the
regulator causes the machine to furnish
a current of proportionatcly less strength
to the remaining lamps. The lamps
now used ut the Equitable Building have
been burning day and night for three
weeks, without II failure of a lamp, or
any perceplible change in the light OF
lamp"
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-03-03
The Secret of Beauty.

The secret of beauty is health. These
who desire to be beautiful should do all
they can to restore their health if they
have lost it, OF to keep it if they have
it yet. No one can lay down specific
rules for other people in these matters.
The work which one may do, the rest
he must take, his baths, his diet,
his exercise, are matters for indi-
vidual consideration, but they must be
carefully thought of and never neglect
ed. AS rule, when person feels
well he looks well; and when he looks
i'll he feels ill, as general thing. There
are times when one could guess, with
out looking in the glass, that ones eyes
are dull and ones skin is mottled. This
is not a case for something in pretty
bottle from the perfumer's, or for the
lotion that the circulars praise so highly.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-03-03
The Bludgeon and Dagger-Fan

Some fans are not fans at all.
The ''steel FAM is simply bar of
metal. shaped and painted to resemble
an ordinary close fan, and carried some
times as !; life-preserver, sometimes, by
the swellmobsmen and rowdies of China,
to be used at close quarters with muir
derous effect. OF the same species is
the well-know ''dagger-fan," which
consists of an elegant imitation in lac
quer of common folding fan. but IS
really a sheath containing within its
fair exterior deadly blade, short and
sharp, like small Malay KRIS. This
dagyer-fan was invented by the Japan
ese, and its importation into China has
always been strictly forbidden. Great
numbers have however been success
fully introduced into Canton, Foochow.
and other maritime cities. and they are
now even manufactured by the enter
prising natives of the aforementioned
mort. -
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-03-03
Umbrellas.

In the seventeenth century an UNI
brella generally measured about four
feet in height and nearly four yards in
circumference. 1t tweighed at least four
pounds, and cost sum varying from
two pounds to three pounds, and even
more. 1t was then made of leather,
oiled silk, or glazed paper, and consti-
tuted an important article of property,
handed down as a family heirloom
from generation to generation. 1t was
in 1880 that the Paris manufacturers
began to reduce its size, and to make it
of lighter and less expensive materials.
Its color had then by no means be-
come restricted to the hues now in fash
ion, and the good people of the revolu-
ionary times, as well as under the Di-
rectory, were free to indulge according
to their fancy, in such colors as yellow,
rose, blue, and even apple-green.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-03-03
A Hint to Grumblers.

appic VI NoIu.
What a ntsy world this isr' croak-
ed an old frog. as he squatted on the
margin of the pond. do you hear
those geese, how they scream and hiss?
What do they do it for?''
go, just to amuse themselves" an
swered little field mouse.
Presently we shall hear the owls
hooting; what is that for?''
''It's the music they like best" said
the mouse.
'.And those grasshoppers; they can't
60 home without grinding and chirping;
why do they do that?''
so, they are SO happy they can't help
it," said the mouse.
'.You find excuses for all. I believe
you don't understand music; so you
like hideous noises?"
well, my friend, to be honest with
you," said the mouse, Il don't greatly
admire any of them; but they are all
sweet in my ears compared with the
constant croaking of frog"
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-03-03
Mind What Yon Say.

1t is always well to avoid saying ev-
erything that is improper, but especial
| ly SO before children. And here par
ents, as well as others, are often at fault.
| Children have as many ears as grown
persons, and they are generally more
attentive to what is said before them.
What they hear, they are very apt to
repeat, and as they have not discretion
and knowledge of the world enough to
disguise anything, it is generally found
that ''children and fools speak the
truth"
See that little boys eyes glisten while
you are speaking in language you would
not wish to have repeated. He does
not fully understand what you mean,
but he will remember every word; and
it will be strange if he does not cause
you to blush by its repetition.
A gentleman was in the habit of call
ing at a neighbor's house and the lady
had always expressed to him great
pleasure from his call. One day just
after she had expressed to him as usual
her happiness from his visit, her little
boy entered the room. The gentleman
took him on his knee and asked: care
you not glad to see me, George?''
'.No, Sir" replied the boy.
''Why not?''
because mother don't want you to
come" said George.
s'Indeed! How do you know that,
George?''
Here the mother was crimson and
looked daggers at the little son. But he
saw nothing, and therefore replied,
Because she said yesterday she wished
that old bore would not call here
again.
That was enough. The gentleman's 5
hat was soon in requisition, and he left
with the impression that great is the
truth and it viii prevail -
Another child looked sharply in the
face of Il visitor, and being asked what
she meant by it, replied:
II wanted to see whether you had a
drop in Your eye; L heard mother say
you had, frequently"
a boy once asked one of his fathers
guests who lived next door to him, and
when he heard his name, he asked if
he was not q fool.
No. my little friend,' replied the
guest, ..he is not Il fool, but 4 very SEN
sible man. But why do you ask that
question:"
Because. replied the boy, ''mother
said the other day that you were next
door to fool, and, wanted to know
who lived next door to yOUh
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-03-03
WHOLE No. 653.
A Nice Bed Covering.

White bed spreads are the incest out
side coverings for a bed, and when clean
are always as good as new. A very
pretty design for one is made by taking
two breadths of unbleached, 40-inch
cotton cloth, and sewing it together in
the middle. Five yards and half is a
great plenty. A box of stocking yarn
is needed. Sew the cloth on quilting
frames as you would bed quilt.
Stretch it smoothly, then with a chalk
and line, mark on it cornerwise, in dia-
mond form, having the checks about an
inch and half in size, then with a
large needle, and yard of cotton yarn
threaded, take stitch in length, bring
the needle back half way, keep the
stitches close together, SO as it will look
like small cord; it is very rapidly
done, if you like to do it. A knot in
the center of each diamond looks pref
ty. A row of Roman heraldry all
around the quilt is a pretty finish. A
hand hem finishes up the spread, and it
is a nice, durable article that will last
for years; is easy to wash, and is as
heavy as is needed.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-03-03
What the English Teachers Earn.


The greatest prizes of English clerical
life, from pecuniary point of view, are
the head masterships of the great pub
lie schools. Those of Eton and Harrow
are worth from $4,000 to S35, 200 q
year, and those of Westminster, Win
chester, Rugby, Charter House and
Merchant Taylors are worth from $12,-
600 to $4,000 year, including the spa
cious abodes attached to them. The
heads of college at Oxford and Cam
bridge do not, for the most part, receive
nearly so much. The master of Trinity
College, Cambridge, the ''boss'' college.
has about $11 200 year, and the Dean
of Christ Church, who is also Dean of the
Cathedral Church, over $4,000. The
next most lucrative position in Oxford
is President of Magdalen, which is
worth about $4,000. Magdalen being
a very wealthy college.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-03-03
A Faynrita Dish.

In a certain little town in Normandy
there are dozen landed proprietors who
are extremely fond of amusement, but
amusement at q low price, each landed
proprietor being, if possible, more eco
nomical than the others. Not long ago
they arranged picnic, at which each
was to bring his favorite dish. ARRIVED
at the place of festivity, they proceeded
to arrange the menu. The first person
called upon drew from his pocket fine
bunch of radishes. Then each of the
ten seemed to have the same gastronO-
mic tastes, for each in his turn drew a
bunch of radishes from his pocket. Fl
nally all the hopes of eleven distressed
appetites centered upon the twelfth, who
thereupon placed on the table, with an
air of triumph. a bunch of young on
ions.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-03-03
0onviucad.

A storekeeper in Georgia, having sued
a desperate, the latter came into the
store in a furious passion, holding the
summons in one hand and a long knife
in the other, and exclaimed, civilians,
did you sue me?'' s.Let me get my
spectacles, and I'll see," answered the
merchant quietly. He soon returned
with revolver, and said sternly, Eyes,
1 sued you.'' ..All right" said the
cowed desperate, 81 guess I'll pays"
and he handed over the money.