davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Evening critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1881-1885, 1881-07-13

AT n meeting of the preference share
holders of the Erie Railway, in London, on
Monday, it was resolved to form commit
tee for the purpose of securing the pay
ment of the six per cent. dividend for the
last financial ycor
The Evening critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1881-1885, 1881-07-13

The sum of SIG has been raised in Bal
timore for the prosecuted Israelitcs of
Southern Russia.
The Evening critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1881-1885, 1881-07-13

The highest point reached by the ther-
mometer in Pittsburg Pa, yesterday, was
90. Seven eases of prostration were re
ported, four of them resulting fatally.
Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1881-06-23
Travelling IN OIdep Times.

A careful inspection of the vehicles of
former times leads us ID the conclusion
that our forefathers were lined with zinc
and Opper-fastened-for nothing short of
il could have withstood tn, joltings and
Earrings the bouncIngs and bumpings en-
tailed upon those who used any other
method of locomotion except that which
nature provides. The chariot in which
General and Mrs. Washington went TO
Philadelphia upon his election 10 the Presi-
idency was no doubt an instrument
of torture. To the discomforts of this
rambling old carriage may be added, for
the General, the lncessant wagging of Mrs.
Washington's tongue, for it is well-known
fact, that Martha was OF shrewish nature,
and made no bones of giving the General
her views in a very forcible manner. The
method of travelling which they pursued
gave publicity TO the fact that the General
had a curtain lecture every night for a
a night cap. In the course of their Jour
ney they arranged to spend the nights at
the houses of the gentry scattered along
between Mount Vernon and Philadelphia
and Martha was often heard TO nag her
lOIu anu LldStSl uuIil lOul SuOlO du-
nounced that the General was safe in the
land of dreams from all worldly annoy.
ances.
The chariot was the acknowledged mark
of aristocracy. A journey in these days
entailed a retlnue, somewhat after the fol-
lowing order:
/. Marster and Missis in carriage.
2. Marsters "boy" on horseback, with
a led horse for Marster to ride when he
wished to stretch his legs.
8. A wagon CONTAINING two hair trunks
and Missis's maid.
The rate of progression was about four
miles an hour.
The habit OF carrying servants even on
neighborly visits, obtained in Virginia and
Maryland until the abolition of slavery. A
form of entertaining, called spending the
day." was in fashion. This consisted in
going to friends house early in the morn
ing, and staying until late in the evening,
consuming the interval in a succession of
meals. Besides the visitors, the coachman
and horses, there was usually a "maid.' .
who sa: on the rack behind the carriage,
swinging her legs in ecstatic delight at the
prospect of "going abroad"
Chaises were the only two-seated vehicle,
in use, and were something like modern
top buggy, except that it had but two
wheels. Consequently, going up hill, tht
occupants were being spilled out behind
and going down hill they were spilled ou
| hafOIa
Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1881-06-23
IBunions or B0IiSs

''Is it against the laws of this city 20
have corns on your feet?" inquired Theo-
dore Rembo ashe found himself before the
bar of justice, In Detroit.
mo, sir, nor on the top of your head il
you want 'em there. The city ordinances
of Detroit and the laws of Michigan are
very liberal on the subject of corns."
''Well, sir, last night | was walking
along one of our streets, hobbling because
my corns hurt me so, wheE fend grabbed
me by the collar, called me drunkard, and
dragged me to dungeon"
How awful mean in him" sighed the
court.
"When have corns can't hobble if its
more convenient than walkingl"
Certainly"
"Well, corns was what allied me, aud
demand that the officer apologize TO me and
that be set at liberty"
"Let US listen to the officers story first.
Go ahead Mr.. Bluecoat."
This man, began the officer, bumped
against at least a dozen pedestrians, fell
against a window and broke it, and was
lying down on the car track when | gath
cred him in. He smelled so bad of whiskey
when brought HIM ia that we had to burn
coffee in the ROOM"
"Welll /" queried the court as he turned
to the prisoner.
81 say it was corns."
"How many have you gotf"
"Ten."
"Show 'em up. | haven't seen a real
old fashioned corn in about eighteen years,
DO you think Pm going to pull nay
boots off before the crowd? | guess I've
got little modesty left"
''Then III take care of it for you. l
shall exile you for thirty days"
"For what2"
''Corns and modesty, alias drunk and
disorderly. That's all, my man, and now
please fall back and give some Of the other
hungry mortals chance to say they have
bunlons or boils."
Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1881-06-23
Under the SNOW

The remarkable case Of Elizabeth Wood
cock, who was buried under the snow, is
especially striking. In the winter of 1899
she was returning on horseback from Cam
bridge (England) to her home In a neigh
boring village, and having dismounted for
a few minutes the horse ran away from
her. AT z O'Clock on a winter evening she
sat down under thIcket, cold, tired and
disheartened Snow came on; she was too
weak to rise, and the consequence was
that by the morning the snow had heaped
around her TO height of two feet above
her head as she sat. She had strength
enough TO thrust a twig, with her handker-
chief at the top Of it, through the snow,
to serve as a signal and TO admit little
daylight. Torpor supervenee, and abe
knew little more of what passed around
her. Night succeeded day, and day again
broke, but there she remained, motlonless
and foodless. Not senseless, however, tor
she could hear church bells and village
sounds-nay, even the voice and conver
sation of some of her neighbors. Four
whole days she thus remalned-one single
pinch of snuff being her only substitute for
food during this time, and this even she
found had lost its pungency. On the fifth
day a thaw commenced, and she suffered
greatly, but still without being able to ex-
tricate herself. 1t was not until the eighth
day that the handkerchief was espied by q
villager, who with many others, had long
been seeking for her. STOPPING down he
said:
"Are you there, Elizabeth Woodcock g.
She had strength enough TO reply, faint
ly:
"Dear John Stittle, know your voice.
For Gods sake help me out"
She died about half q year afterward,
through mismanagement of frost-bitten
toes; but it was fully admitted that no one,
unless cased In snow, could have lived out
of those eight days and nights in such a
place without food.
Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1881-06-23
The Diffusion OF seeds,

In very large number Of cases the diff
fusion of seeds Is effected by animals. To
this class belong the fruits and berries. In
them an outer heshy portion becomes pulpy,
and generally sweet. inclosing the seeds
1t is remarkable that such fruits, in order,
| doubtless to attract animals, are, like flow
ers, brightly colored-as for instance, the
! cherry, currant, apple, peach, plum, straw
berry, raspberry and many others This
color, moreover, Is not present in the un-
ripe fruit, but is rapidly developed at
maturity. In such cases the actual seed is
generally protected by dense, sometimes
almost stony, covering, so that it escapes
digestion, while its termination is perhaps
hastened by the heat of the animals body.
Ii may be said that the skin Of apple and
pear pips is comparatively soft; but then
they are imbedded in a stringy core, which
is seldom eaten. These cclored fruits form
a considerable part of the food of monkeys
in the tropical regions of the earth, and we
can think, hardly doubt that these ami
mails are guided by the colors, just as we
are, in selecting the ripe fruit. This has q
curious bearing on an interesting question
as TO the power of distinguishing color
possessed by our ancestors in bygone times.
Magnus ami Geiger, relying on the we'll
known fact that the ancient languages are
poor In words for color, and that In the
Oldest books-as, for instance, in the Vedas,
the Rendavesta, the Old Testament, and
the writings OF Homer or Hesiod-though
Of course, the heavens are referred TO over
and over again, its blue color is never
dwelt on, have argued that the ancients
were very deficient in the power of dlstIn-
gushing colors, and especially blue. In
our own country Dir. Gladstone has lent
the weight of his great authority TO the
same conclusion. For my part l can not
accept this view. There are it seems to
ME, very strong reasons against il, into
which | can not, of colnse, now enter;
and though / should rely mainly on other
considerations, the colors of fruits are not,
| think, without significance. If monkeys
and apes could distinguish them, surely
we may infer that even the most savage of
men could do so too. Zeuxls would never
have deceived the birds If he had not had a
fair perception of color. In these instances
of colored fruits the fleshy edible part
more or less surrounds the true seeds; In
others the actual seeds themselves become
edible. In the former the edible part
serves as a temptation TO animals; In the
latter it is stored up for the use of the
plants itself. When, therefore, the seeds
themselves are edible. they are generally
protected by more or less hard or bitter en-
velopes, for instance the horse chestnut,
beech, Spanish chestnut, walnut, &c. That
these seeds are used for food by squirrels
and other animals is, however, by no means
necessarily an evil to the plant, for the re
suit is that they are often carried some
distance and then dropped, or stored up
and forgotten, SO that in this way they get
carried away from the parent tree.
Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1881-06-23
A Mystical Plant.

Human cunning and human creduIity
have lowered with mystery certain plants
which are worthy of being considered the
most beautiful and passive of creative OBJ
jects. One plant, at least, has been said
to utter shrieks In being torn from the
earth, and to have avenged the violence by
causing the death Of him who removed it.
This plant was the mandragora Of the
poets-the mandrake of Scriptures-a
species of the SGLG1lOe or nightshade tribe,
the belief in whose qualities as q sedative
or charm was as old az the days of the
childless Rachel. Indigenous ID the East,
where probably its uses as an anodyne AMI
soporTdc were early known 10 the initiated,
il may be that, In order to enhance the
wonder Of its effects and prevent the eX-
tirpation Of the root by It's too common
use, miraculous powers were imputed to
1t, and superstition hedgec 1t around with
fabled Ierrors. The evil reputation Of the
plant procured it subsequently, the name Of
AtrOpG Md'ldrGgorG, by which our old
est botanlsts distinguish it--e name bor-
rowed from the most terrible of the Fates,
Atropos, and since transferred TO its rela-
tive, AtropG BelLGdon'lG (dWale, or
''deadly nightshade'O. So potent and
valuable were the medical uses of the root,
at time when few apodyes were known,
that the ancient Romans made il the sub
1ect of weird ritual, without which they
would have deemed it impious to have
taken 1t from the earth. The operator
stood with his back to the wind, drew
three circles round the root with point
OF sword, poured libation on the ground,
and, turning TO the west, began 10 dig Ii
up. The root of the mandrake, a plant
with tap root, frequently forked, as we
see that Of the radish, and covered with
tibrous rootlets, was easily convertible into
a grotesque likeness of the human form.
In the time of Henry VIII and Elizabeth.
little images made OF mandrake roots,
called dbrusles were imported in large
number from Germany, and found ready
sale in England. The fable of the won
drous powers of these vegetable idols was
easily accepted by our superstItioHs ances.
tors, and the peddlers who travelled about
from place to place with cases of them
drove brisk trade. SIR Francis Bacon
had them in lis minds eye when we wrote,
''Some plants there are, but rare, that have
a messy or downy root, and likewise that
have number of thread-like boards, as
the mandrake, whereof witches and i'm
posters make an ugly image. giving il the
form of face at tod of the root, leaving
those strings to make broad beard to the
foot. 1t is to the credit of the old herba-
lists, Gerard and Turner, that they both
essayed, without fear of consequences, 10
dig up and examine for themselves the
dreaded mandrake, and lost no time In pub
fishing the fallacy of the weird stories told
of 1t.
Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1881-06-23
DO Your Work Well.

Daniel Webster gives an account of q
petty insurance case that was brought to HIM
when young lawyer in Portsmouth. Only
a small amount was involved and twenty
dollar fee was ali that was promised. He
saw that, to do his clients full justice, a
tourney to Boston, to consult the Law
Library, would be desirable. He would
be out of pocket by such an expedition,
and for his time he would receive no ade-
uuate compensation. After a little hesita-
ton, he determined to do his very best,
cost what it might. He accordingly went
to Boston, looked up the authorities, and
gained the case. Years after this, Webster,
then famous, was passing through New
York. An important insurance case was
to be tried the day after his arrival, and
one of the counsel had been suddenly taken
Ill. Money was no object, and Webster
was begged to name his terms and conduct
the case 81 told them," said Mr.. Web
ster, ''that it was prepOsterous to expect
me to prepare legal argument at few
hours notice. They insisted, however,
that l should look at the papers; aud this,
after some denur, | consented to do. We'll,
it was my old twenty-dollar case over
again, and, as never forget anything,
had all the authorities at my fingers ends.
The Court knew that had no time to pre-
pare, and were astonished at the range OF
my requirements. So, you see, / was
handsomely paid both in fame and money
for that journey to Boston; and the mora
is that good work is rewarded in the end,
though, to be sure, ones self-approval
should be enough.
Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1881-06-23

Coca" the ''beloved narcotic of the
Peruvian Indian. was first named bUtani-
cally through the labors of Joseph de JUS
sieu. The history of the most noted botan-
ist is q melancholy one. He left France in
1875, in the memorable expedition of NJ
La Condamine, and after NJ. La Condamine
left South America, NJ Jlssieu continued
his botanical researches. making numerous
Journeys ON foot, notably those TO the Gin
chona regions. The result of fifteen years
labors were contained in certain cases of
dried plants, etc., and native servant at
BuenOs AyTes. thinking these cases contained
money, stole them, and this loss had such
an effect on poor Jussieu that he returned
to France in 177l deprived of reason.
The Coca is the great source of comfort
and enjoyment to the Peruvian Indian. 1t
is to him what the kava-kava is to the
South Sea Islander, the betel to the Hindoo
and Malay, and tobacco to the rest of man.
kind, but with this difference 1t produces in
vigorating effects. The Peruvian Indian
looks upon coca with veneration. In the
palmy days of the Uncas or Yucas, coca
was sacrificed to the sun, the high priest or
Hmllac Umu chewed it during the ceremo-
| ny, and before the arrival of the Spaniards,
coca was used in lieu of money. After
the Spanish conquest, much was done to
prescribe its Use, because as council of
bishops held in 1869, said il was ''useless
and pernicious leaf, and ON account of the
belief stated to be entertained by the In
dians, that the habit of chewing cocoa gave
them strength, which is an illusion of the
devil" Coca, indeed. from Its popularity,
being used by about eight millions of peo-
pie, has always had great commercial i'm
portance, and one vIceroy, Don Francisco
Toledo, issued no less than seventy ordi-
nances concerning coca in the space of four
years (1570-1574).
The coca plant is scrub of four to six
feet high, with straight and alternate
branches and leaves like those of the tea
plant, and is cultivated at elevations OF
from 5, 600 to 6, 900 feet above the level OF
the sea IN the warm valleys of the eastern
slopes of the Andes. Here the only al,
formations of climate is from wet to dry,
frost is unknown, and it rains more or les:
every month of the year. The seeds are
sOWn on the surface OF the soil as SoCn as
the rainy season commences, and begin tC
sprout in a fortnight, being carefully
watered, and protected from the sun by q
thatched root. The following year the
seedlings are transplanted in soil care
fully broken up and freed from weeds. The
ancient custom was to raise the plants il
terraces on the hillsides, but now planta
tions oD the level ground are resorted to, al
though Indians aver that plants raised un
the former conditions yield much supe
rior quality of leaf. AT the end OF eighteer
months the first harvest is ready, and the
picking of the leaves, performed by womer
and children, is very carefully proceeded
with, so rs not to injure the young and stll
tender shoots. AS soon as one crop o.
leaves is removed, if well watered, and thu
Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1881-06-23
A Matter of History.

In the year 1885, the State of Franklin
was formed out of portion of North Caro-
lima, embracing the present territory of the
State of Tennessee, and the Legislature Of
the aforesaid State of Franklin passed the
following fee and salary bill: His Excel
lency the Governor, per anum, 1000 deer
skins; His Honor the Chief Justice, 500
deer skins; the Secretary to His Excellency
the Governor, 500 raccoon skins; the
Treasurer of the State, 450 raccoon skins ;
each county clerk, 800 beaver skins; Clerk
of the House of Commons, 200 raccoon
skins; member of the Assembly, per diem,
three raccoon skins; justices fee for sign
ing a warrant, one muskrat skin; to the
constable for serving warrant, one mink
skin. Enacted into law the 26th day of
October, 1889, under the great seal of the
State This seems to be matter of
historical truth, just as tobacco was once
made to answer the purpose of currency in
Virginia.
Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1881-06-23
Changing TneJr base.

The legend runs that the fine Norman
Church of Godshill, in the Isle of Wight,
was to have been built in the valley, but
the builders every morning found the pre-
vious days work had been destroyed du-
ring the night and the stones carried to the
top of the hill. Considering this as Di-
vine indication where the holy structure
was to be built, they accordingly reared it
on that prominent site, where for
miles round it still forms a graceful and
beautiful object. A similar legend Is re-
lated with reference to the Church of Ste
Marie du Castel, in Guersney, where it is
currently reported that fairies where the
agents, while others assert it was the work of
angels Indeed it would appear that in days
gone by the invisible beings, OF whatev.r
nature they were who according to tradi-
ton, so often interfered in the building of
some sacred edifce, generally selected for
its ste the most inconvenient spot, and not
lnfrequently steep hill. The Church of
Breedcn IN Leicestershire, for instance,
stands on high hill, with the village as
its foot. Tradition, however, SAYS that
when the site of the church was first fixed
upon, central spot in the village was
chosen. The foundations were not only
dug, but the builders commenced the fa-
brio. 1t was to no purpose; for all they
built in the course of the day was carried
away by doves during the nighttime, and
skilullly butt exactly in the same manner
on the hill where the church stands Both
founder and workmen, awed and terrified
by this extraordinary procedure, were
afraid tc build the church on Its original
site, and agreed to finish the one begun by
the doves.
Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1881-06-23
n Royal wedding,

The marriage of Crown Prince Rudolph
of Austria and Princess Stephanie OF Bel
gium was most imposingly s0lemnZed at
the church of st. Augustine, in Vienna, on
May the 10th. An hour before the begin
ming of the ceremony the church was
denselY crowded by brilliant assembly.
The streets were filled with people. At II
o'clock the pro cession started from the
palace and proceeded to the church, the
archdukes and foreign princes IN full uni
form walking in pairs. followed by Prince
Rudolph in the uniform of major general.
Emperor Francis Joseph came next having
on his right the King of the Belgians, both
being in generals uniforms. Then came
the bride with the En- press of Austria and
the Queen of the Belgians on either hand.
The trains of the three ladies were borne
by the principal ladies in waiting. Prln
cess Stephanle wore magnificent robe OF
cloth of silver, with train elaborate in
embroidery, orange blossoms arranged in
punches looping up the dress, and veil of
Brussels lace specially made for the occa-
sion. Her mother, the queen, wore blue
velvet dress, trimmed with lace, and the
empress wore pale gray dress, trimmed
with Brussels point lace. The trains of
the foreign princesses and arc5duchesses
were borne by pages and ladies of the pal
ace. Another group of officers completed
the procession. A fanfare of trumpets sig
nailed the arrival of the cortege at the
church door, where 1t was received by Car
tlinal Won Schwarzenburg at the head OF
his clergy. Their majesties took seats
under canopy over the throne. The
bridal pair proceeded to their places before
the sanctuary rails, where they offered a
short prayer. After a brief address from
the cardinal the marriage ceremony was
proceeded with. At the moment when the
rngs were exchanged. peals broke forth
from the bells of the city, and salvos OF
artillery were fired. At the conclusion o.
the ceremony TIE Deum was sung, after
which the Hofburg choir executed an old
German march. The newly married pair
accompanied by the other imperial and
royal personages then returned to the city
palace of Hofburg. In commemoration Of
the marriage Emperor Francis Joseph has
founded % scholarships at various schools
and has given 100, 900 forins for the FREE
admission of ten pupils to the establishment
for the education of daughters of officers
He has also granted complete or partla
amnesty to 331 persons imprisoned for va
rious offences.
Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1881-06-23
In PERIL0US WATERS,

Bout ship o brother mariners
'Tis needful we should flee
For pleasure spreads her Turing net
Beneath this hungry sea.
'rwere death to us did We but pass
Yon dge Of creamy foam
There, in sea-cave, fathoms deep,
The slr,n makes her home.
Ger lucent waves of golden green
Soft breeZes bear along
To ears that will not be be- ui.ed
The wan on's dulcet song.
We scorn the glamour OF her face,
A flame with hot desire;
No charm lies in her baleful look
or eyes that scorch like fire.
Her kisses pail, her love is false
So quick to seaward sail
For kinder is the stress of waves,
Less cruel is the gale.
The heaven OF cur hope doth lie
Hard by brighter shore
There We may strike our tattered sal Is
And rest Us evermore!