davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Osceola times., 1882-02-11
ARACK.HANDED SPELLER.
The Curious Faculty OF a Young New Mex
lean Compo-itor.

The Santa Fe Ncc Merican says: Santa
Fe has a.young man with N ind which
hos faculty that is rarely to be found,
if indeed it can ever be discovered else
where. The gentleman in question is
Hugh McKevitt, a printer working over
at military headquarters. lie is rapid
typesetter and thoroughly good work
man, so that he is not dependent on any
side business for good living, and as a
consequence has never said anything
about his spelling capacity, which is the
subject of this item. Mckevitt is left
handed speller. and deties any one to put
TO him a word which he cannot spell
backward as rapidly as the best and
quickest speller could give it in the usual
way.
The other day the reporter fell in with
him when he was in more communica-
tive mood than usual, and had occasion
to try him. Incomprehensibility was not
a marker for him. As soon as the word
was pronounced, Mac said, Fifteen let
ters," and went at it backward SO fast
that his hearers were unable to tell
whether he was right or wrong. "Iou
sec,' said a fellow printer, "he can tell
the number Of letters in any word with
out moments hesitation, as well as he
can spell it backward, and not only that
but You can give him whole sentence
and he will tell you at once now many
letters there are in it, and go right on
and spell through the whole thing back
ward faster than most people could spell
it the other way"
This thing was triedrtime and again.
and no words or series of words could be
hit upon which were not rendered rs in.
dicated above. OF course there are
words in the English language which
Mckevitt had never heard of, Just as is
the case with almost every other man,
but he is what could be called a fine
speller, fright. handed" as he says, and
is familiar with the language, and any
word which he has heard and can spell
at ali he can spell backward with aston.
ishing rapidity. The strangest part about
the whole thing is that McKevitt has
never practiced or studied spelling back
ward day in his life. lIo says he does
not know how he ever acquired lle abil
ity TO do it, but that as soon as ne hears
or sees a word. even if he has never
thought of i: before, which of course is
the case with large majority of words,
he knows Immediately how many letters
there are in it, and how to spell it hack
ward or in the regular way. II is so, too,
with sentences. He knows at once how
many words and letters in any sentence
that may be suggested. and states the
numbers promptly as soon as the words
are uttered. McKevitt can also distrib-
ute type backward as fast as forward. In
the left-handed spelling there isno theory
of sound IN aid him "a in Va~V U many in.
stances the letters spell nothing at all,
aud cannot be pronounced, 80 that there
is no accounting for his ability to spell
in that way except to conclude lhat it is
the result Of gift-a peculiar faculty of
a remarkably quick mind.
There is NJ particular advantage in all
this as far as can be discovered, but II is
a curiosity and rare one, and if any
body thinks it isn't hard TO do let him
try to acquire it.
The Osceola times., 1882-02-11
Venetian Arlstocrnt-.
Pail Mall Gazette.

The earliest nobility of Venice were
the - families who, before the year Sl3,
ruled as tribunes over the - islands that
formed the confederation of the Nene-
ton lagunps These - families cOnstl'
tuted the basis and origin of Venetian
nobility. Some of these ancient houses
are still represented, and reputed branch
of one of them-the tfiustluiaui of
ROmc-holds the Scotch earidom OF
Newburg But it was not till the close
Of the thirteenth century that the Nene-
tian aristocraCy took the rigid ard def
mite form under which it is best known.
At that date many families which We're
not noble had acquired Importance IN
the commonwealth through their riches,
and bad won for themselves chief
place in the management of the state.
These determined TO close the doors ul
office against all newcomers, and TO
establish themselves as sole and PEI.
maneut rulers Of Venice This they did
by decree which provided that those
who then sat in the great council or who
would prove that a paternal ancestor had
at one time sat should alone be eligible
i'm future as members Of the council. AS
all the principle offices of state were
filed from among the councillor, this act
seltennobled aristOcracy monopoly Of
government. The great council thus be-
came the basis of the Venetian nobility;
the only title Of Venetian grandec WAS
"Nobile del Gran Conseglio." But, al
/ though they were forced to bend before
| the new aristocracy, the twenty-fuur
ancient and noble families still main
1 tanned the distinction of their ancestry.
/ They called themselves the "old houses,
| to mark the di ference between them and
/ the more recent nobility, they formed,
as it were, a caste inside the aristocracy.
/ The moment the noble order WAS thus
/ closed, admission TO its ranks became
/ an object of desire 10 those who were
/ left outside. When the state was IN
| difficulties, the government could hold
/ out no stronger bribe TO induce the citi-
| zens 10 make an effort than 10 promise
| to ennoble those families which should
| be most distinguished by their zeal. But
such additions to the patriciate were Of
rare occurrence, and only happened
thrice in any great numbers. For the
most part, admission to the order Of
| Venetian nobility was preserved as a
compliment to be bestowed on foreign
princes or distinguished generals. The
/ Venetian gristocracy guarded the privi-
/ lege most jealousy. And, to secure the
/ perfect purity and legitimacy of their
| blood, they established a register in
which the mobiles were bound TO inscribe
the names of all their sons born in we'd
lock.
The Osceola times., 1882-02-11

Sawyer drove about the city until he
could copy the message, and after filing
it at the telegraph Office he went TO the
white house, where he delivered the
message as he promised he would do.
President Grant occupied some time in
reading it over before il was sent TO the
senate. BY this time the message was
in Boston and was being read on the
streets of that city in tine Trareier before
it reached the senate The senate be-
ing in executive session, even the sub
stance of the message was not given out
until Senator Sumner called the atten-
ton Of the senate to the fact that he had
received telegram from Boston saying
that the message was printed there en-
tire In view of the fact, the senate
allowed copy to be given out. sawyer
took chances aud won, as many do who
take chances. All sorts of stories were
got in circulation as to how 1t got ont,
the general impression being that Ben
Butler had hand in It. The true story
was the above, and this is the first time
that it has ever happened in a newspa-
per.
The Osceola times., 1882-02-11
IuE SHIP THAT WAS LOST.

Twas sunny morn in the early spring
And the light kissed fondy everything
With a son impartial beam.
The toppliug crngS whose brOws hung DER
The smooth white beach with its sandcd floor
And the huge rough boulder's seam.
Twas sweet fresh morn and the laughing sea
Was mcrriiy racing IN childish elcc
O'cr cavcfns Of coral and pearl
Tho silvcry hilloWs IN riot ran mad
And dashed on the shore with a cry that was glad
In foaming impeluous whirl.
oh trcachcrous sea. 50 seemingly true
With jubllant wavcleis smiling and blue,
As the mrrurd decps' eOnclavo
Young spirits alluring 10 fondly conldc
Their peace IN the faith Of thy mercilcss tide
So on a cruel grave
launched me a ship that promising morn
When life was young aud hope first born
Laden with priceless treasure
And my heart was jocund aud light with JOY
As / marked it tossing abonglike a toy
TO the chime Of the seas Wild measure.
And watched well pleased at It's novel flight
Till over the waicn u sank out of sight
Then the smiles deserted my lips
And n brooding OF fear Invaded my rest
Dispcling the glainess filling my breast
As ! thought OF the many lost ships
So sat me IN doubt by hemoaning sea
And the clouds Looked angrily down on me;
The sun concealed bis face
The lightning flashed ana thc tAuNucf ffushtus
Aud the sea in fury was madiy lashcd
In The Tcmpests fierce embrace.
And there al my feet, by the billows tossed,
lay the wreck of the ship-the ship that wa
lost
All its priceless treasure ilownl
And since that morning Of moan and pain
! never have trusted the sea again
Nor banished It's sad tone.
For even now, when the waves run high
Aud thtcarnng clouds ocrcast the sky,
feel the d-lime pain
Which tucgcd and snapt asunder the last
sweet tie that anchored me 10 the Past
Where Youth aud Love remain.
Henry.
The Osceola times., 1882-02-11
Dying Words.

cit is well. Washington.
81 must slcep now."-Byron.
kiss me, Hardy."-Nelson.
"Head Of the army. y."--Napolean
Don't give up the ship" Lawrence.
LET the light nter"-Goethe.
Unto thy hands o Lord. d."-Tasso,
Independence forever" adams.
'"rhe artery ceases 10 beat" t"-Ilaller.
as this your iidelily?'-Nero.
"Give Ddyrols chair."-Lord Ches-
terfed.
at is the last of earth."--J. q. Ad-
ans.
God preserve the Emperor" Haydn.
"A dying man does nothing well."-
franklin.
"Let not poor Nelly starve. Charles
What, is there no brbing death?"-
Cardinal Beaufort.
"All my possessions for a moment of
tif.e. e."--Queen Elizabeth.
1T matters little how the head lieth."
Sir Walter Raleigh.
Clasp my hand, my friend, ! die
Alfcri.
81 feel as ii were to be myself again"
Sir Walter Scott
Let me die,to the sound of delicious
music" ."-Mlrdbcau,
Il have loved God, my father and lib
erty."-Madame de Stael.
BE serious. .'-Grotius.
1T is small, very small indeed" clasp
| ing the neck. Anne Baleyn.
II pray you see me safe up, and for my
coming down, let ne shift for my
self" descending the scatlold Sir
| Thomas Moore.
Don't let that awkward squad fire
over my grave."-Burns.
81 resign my soul TO 6od-and my
| daughter to my country. Thomas JEFF
ferson.
81 wish you to understand the true
principles of the Government. ] wish
/ them carried out. ! ask nothing more"
Harrison.
al have cndeavored TO do my duty
/ TAYLOR.
/ "You spoke of a relreshment, my Emf
/ ilie take my last notes, sit down to my
piano here, sing them with the hymn Of
your saintcd mother. Let me hear once
more those notes which have 80 long
been my solacement and delight. Mo
zart
"God bless you, my dear."-Dr John
son.
"God bless you! Is that you, Dora "
Wordsworth.
/ "Now il is comr."-Johu Knox.
"Dying, Diving, HOOD.
"How grand these rays; they seem to
/ beckon earth to Heaven" The sun WAS
shining brilliantly into the room in
which he was J, ing -EIumocldn
"Oh, Swain James A. Carried,
The Osceola times., 1882-02-11

TnE daily newspapers are to be burned
out of existence. Such seems to be the
prophecy made by the clergyman who
writes as follows to the Udtelmoa: I'VE
hear about the glories and the greatness
OF the daily press, Faugh! 1t is an
abomination. 1t is as completely en-
slayed to the god Of this world as is the
theater or the sailors dance house. |
am, for my part glad to know that "a
ERE is kindlei in Gods just anger that
shall consume the last sheet Of it."-Nar
EHI NlW.
The Osceola times., 1882-02-11
un,x a MESSAGE was stolen.

During the excitement of the Ala
bama treaty, some few years ago, mes
sage of President Grants got into the
newspapers before it did to the senate.
No one knew how it did SO then, though
all knew that it did. II came about in
this way. W. +. Sawyer, the correspond
ent of the Boston Trdrsier, at that time
who has since gained prominence as an
inventor of a number of electric appli-
ances notably an electric lamp-hap-
pened to be near the state department
blilding as the message, which was
prepared by Hamilton Fish, the then
secretary of state, was being sent down
to the executive mansion for the sigma
ture of President Grant, preparatory to
being sent to the senate, which was then
in special session for the purpose Of con-
sidering the question arising out OF the
spoilation and damages done by the Ala
bama 20 American shippers. Taking 1t
| for grdrtad that the messenger had the
document which all knew would be sent
to the senate that day, he spoke to him
| in an authoritative way, saying that
/ President Grant was in great hurry for
| il, and 50 great was his hurry that he
would take it to him himself. His man
ner Of talking threw the messenger OIL
/ his guard for the momeuLand he qIietly
handed the package TO SAWYER, who
| iumped into carriage near by and
drove away without giving the messen-
ger time 10 think,
Instead of geing to the white house,
The Osceola times., 1882-02-11

TnH Springfield Republican is pre- ty
thoroughly disguised with the attention
paid Oscar Wilde, and concludes an edi.
torial on his reception in this strain;
"This is the welcome that in serious
America may await the man who, born
to the inheritance of fine qualities and
rare talent, forswears his race and blood
desrises his times an! their great issues
plays the zany in London salons, and
writes 'aciyious verses"
The Osceola times., 1882-02-11

chad been the boy Of the office, the
lowest one in rank about the concern,
and when he w,s promised a notch be
was as pleased as an actress with a bou-
quet she didn't pay for herself They
asked him about the change. NO" said
he, "my work isn't easier" at meaner,
too, fnd the salary isn't raised any to
speak of. But, by hokey, now I've got
some one under me that | can kick
round. Its heap of comfortl"-Bosion
Post.
The Osceola times., 1882-02-11

A FLORIDA company has been so sue
cessful in making paper from palmetto
that it is said twenty mills will be erected
in sections OF the State where palmetto
trees are abundant.
The Osceola times., 1882-02-11

UNDER law Of Congress, q fine Of S2j
was exacted from each applicant who
took out a trade. mark. The law having
been declared unconstitutional, ii is now
sought to recover the money which was
thus paid into the treasury.
The Osceola times., 1882-02-11

Is the time of the writer, as editor and
proprietor of the New York Express, he
has seen moro than 100 journals live and
die in the city OF New York alone, and he
believes that more than twenty millions,
have been spent on the city papers since
1886 Only FIVE of the l20 daily journals
IN existence in 1886 and since then, now
survive, and 1o4 disappeared in the
space' of twenty years. In inexperi-
enced hands the biggest collection of
sponges will not imbibe water as rap
idly as new newspapers will absorb
money.-Erdstr BROOKE.
The Osceola times., 1882-02-11

JUDGE GARDNER, of New York, told the
recently convicted milk dealers; 81 con-
slider The man who adulterates food, and
the man who deals in adulterated food,
worse thar the assassin and the sneak
thiefn
The Osceola times., 1882-02-11

Tnn Austrian government is as mad
as \ hornet because an American has
been putting the Austrian imperial eagle
on his cigar boxes. The Austrian eagle
dot,'t emele
The Osceola times., 1882-02-11

IT is stated that the only instance in
which father and son have sat in the
United States Senate together was when
the elder Dodge was senator from Wis
consin ard his son was Il senator from
The Osceola times., 1882-02-11

ONE of the feminine gushers writes
from Washington that president Ar
thur is magnificent iceberg bathed in
sunshine" She ncglects to mention The
probable benefits of such an aurora
borealis combination,
The Osceola times., 1882-02-11

A CONNECTICUT man invented a ma
chine to measure the power of a
mules kick. The mule was to kick
against disc fixed against a spring, and
il took SO many pounds pressure 10 drive
the disc certain distance. And they
placed tho thing on an old army mule, and
the first kick knockod the whole machine
into smithereens, and landed the most
of il in the next field. Genius has IFS
trials Boston Port
The Osceola times., 1882-02-11

Iris said that bookings are already Sc
cured by the agents fthc different steam
ship lines for 100000 emigrants. 1t is
evident that the population is to be
largely increased next year.
The Osceola times., 1882-02-11

TuE state of West Virginia has no in
dcbtedness, the constitution Of the state
forbidding the creation Of any liability
in the ma urc of 4 public debt.
The Osceola times., 1882-02-11

FIFry leather straps, each foot long
two inches wide, and very thin, have
been purchased by the Porl iuron
(Mich.) Board Of Education for use in
furnishing pupils in the schools.
The Osceola times., 1882-02-11

Indiana Secretary of State re-
ed an application from Justice OF
Peace who wanted an appointment
s "uoter republic"
The Osceola times., 1882-02-11

A DEAD Michigan horses stomach CON
tanned spoonful Of sand. 1t issupposed
that the sagacious beast must have been
trying to eat the traditional peck OF dirt
affected by men.
The Osceola times., 1882-02-11

JoHS BULi,the desperate and gambler
who was lately shot att killed at Dem
ven by Jim Bash. spo'ting man, was
the person who entered the prize ring
at Pacific Junction and called Tom Al
len to order in his third round with Ben
Hogan, the converted pugilist.
The Osceola times., 1882-02-11

A GIANT, Abeokuta by name, born at
Dahomey, 20 years of age, eight feet
high. and still growing, is among the
distinguished arrivals of the week in
Now Work
The Osceola times., 1882-02-11
ARKANSAS
SELECTED ITEMS.

Tow TuuMn has smoked ever since he
was Il years old, but swore of recently
by his physicians advice.
The Osceola times., 1882-02-11

1877 the pilgrims TO the vatican
,e-ed 3l.50S; in 1873, l3,G25; in
III. last wear, 10, ,S27.
The Osceola times., 1882-02-11

new London journal for women is
Pan. The shrewd proprietor
that no woman can get on with
b. fru
The Osceola times., 1882-02-11

SENATOR NHsT owns an addition 10
Kansas City which is expected in ten
EARS 10 be worth 81 100000.
The Osceola times., 1882-02-11

'.. The cost Of placing q
l the New England
H1 OF which over
eight and jnsur-
taa. southern
-1gs. when by
.ag.r fields at
lone i'm Mas
a. and SELL
they yan
tLe total
.r say jo-
Is along the
in regard 10
s-t1 see which
Je FIRST fish while
in q number OF
aular exchanges are
.e this pool seeliuF gooa
man in every fishing excur-
..t goes out is bought up by he
adventurous gambler in the same man
ner that horses entered for race are
bought. These pools often run up as
high ss $500 and 5000 each, according
10 the number Of fishermen, and the
first man that catches a fish is declared
the winner, and his hackers take the pot;
the man who tskts second place, how
ever, takes some shfre, -iotter 10 Courier
journal.
, 1882-03-08

Europe was returning, it will be re-
membered, from Melbourne, laden
with the treasures of art belonging to
this country, and Her Majesty's cor
vette Alert rendered her essential
service. Hence the Italian Govern
ment loses nc time in gracefully &C
knowledging the courage and cour-
tesy of her commander. -TSmeS.
, 1882-03-08

CnaS6Q. On1na, is therefore, eH Tie
road to obtain a fleet of war-vessels
which will place her or more than a
par with her neighbour, Japan, and
which will enable her to maintain
her dignity in her own waters. The
significance of this fact is the more
striking, because China, unlike ia
pan, has not strained her material
resources by these purchases of gun
boats and ironclads. Good-sense
has character ised all her transactions,
andunlikemost Eastern Governments,
she seems to have really obtained the
full value of her money.
But the Chinese will have to re-
member, when all has been admitted
in favour of the admirable type of
war-vessel which they have selected,
that the efficiency Of a navy depends
quite as much on the condition and
discipline of the men, as on the capa-
bilities of the ships. In the direction
of training their sailors and of organ
ling a corps of officers, they have
still much to do, and, perhaps, every
thing to learn. The Pekin authori-
ties will have to encounter in this
matter many deeply-rooted preju-
dices, and it will require much tact
and patience on their part to eradi-
cate them. The Chinese man-of.war's
man of the present may be open to
ridicule, but he has the stuff in him
of which good eamen are made.
But the healthy influences which are
to assist in his elevation must come
from above, and Ii Hung Chang,
who has taken the lead in the found
ing of the Chinese Navy, will have
to exercise all his influence to remove
incompetence and corruption from
the ranks of the officers and Superin-
tendents of his Fleet. The Chinese
Ambassador at Berlin dwelt on the
peaceful objects of his Government
but there is, evidently, more impor-
lance in the declaration of the part
a fleet will play, in guaranteeing
those rights to the Chinese Empire
mutually recognised and accorded
by the civlIised States of modern
tines" Meantime, China is fast at
tanning a position which will enable
her to resist the encroechmentS Of
Japan. The Loo Choo dispute is so
far from being settled that diplomacy
has now given it up in despair, but
the last Chinese declaration onthesub-
ject was that they "intended to main
tain their rights" In Corea, affairs
are also critical, and the interference
of the japanese on the mainland is
regarded as an almost intolerable i'm
pertinence. Without a Navy, China
could do nothing the activity shown
in supplying the deficiency hardly
leaves room for doubt as to the first
use in which it will be employed.
The Loo Choo question is one of
scarcely more han ffth-rate impor-
lance, but who doubts, if France
were to seize one of fthe Channel
Isles, or Germany to make a swoop
on Heligoland, hat the outrage,
practically unimportant as it might be
in material consequences, would be
productive of war? The case of
Loo Choo is almost exactly similar,
and the greatest nation of the
Asiatic continent" is not likely to show