davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1882-10-12
The Dying Year.

There can be nothing sadder than the
solemn hush of nature that proceeds the
death of the year. The golden glory of
autumn, with the biilowy bronze and
velvet azure of the skies above the royal
robes OF oak and maple bespeak the
closing hours of nature teeming life and
the silent fare we'll to humanitys gauze
underwear. Thus while nature dons
honor of the farewell benefit to autumn,
the sadeyed poet steals swiftly away to
the neighboring clothes line and in
honor of natures great blow out. dons
the flaming fiannels of his friend out of
respect to the hectic flush of the dying
year. Leaves have their time to fall and
so has the price of coal; and yet how
sadly at variance with decaying nature
is the robust coal market. Another glo-
rious Summer with its wealth of pleasant
memories is stored away among the
archives of our history. Another gloomy
winter is upon US. These wonderful
colors that fame across the sky OF Indian
summer like the CORY banner of a royal
conqueror, come but to warn us that in a
few short weeks the water pipe will be
busted in the kitchen and the decorated
bowl will be broken. We fit through
the dreary hours of summer like swift
winged bumble-bees amid the honey
suckle and pumpkin blossoms, storing
away perhaps little glucose honey and
buckwheat pancakes for the future, but
all at once, like a newspaper thief in til 9
night, the king of frost and soft, mellow
chilbiains is upon us, and we crouch be-
meath the wintry blast and hump our
spinal column up into the crisp air like a
Texas steer that has thoughtlessly swal-
lowed raw cactus. Life is one con-
tinued round Of alternate joys and sor-
rows. To-day We are on top of the surg
ing wave of prosperity and warming our
selves in the glad sunlight of plenty, and
tomorrow we are cast down and d :
pressed financially, and have to stand off
the wssherwomau for our clean shirt, or
stay at home from the opera. Oh, time |!
thou bald-headed pelican with the VEN
cradle corn cutter and the second hand
hour glass, thou playeth strange pranks
with the children of men. The chubby
boy whose danger signal hangs sadly
through the lattice work of his pants,
knows that time, who waits for no man,
will one day, if he struggles heroically
on, give him knowledge and suspenders,
and solid girl, and experience and soft,
white mustache, and eventually low
grave in the valley beneath the signing
elms and the weeping willow, where in
the misty twilight of the year noiselessly
upon his breast SHALL fall the dead leaf,
while the silent leaf of the gray autumnal
sky will come and sink into the yellow
grass above his head Boomerang.
The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1882-10-12
A husbands Christmas Present.

A gentleman sauntered into large
dry-goods store in the city of L.
few days before Christmas, and re
marked casually to the attentive clerk
81 want something for a Christmas
present for my wife. What have you
got"
The clerk suggested various things,
but the customer seemed not quite sat
isied.
At last he asked, "Hsve you cotton
oloth?"
Certainly, SIR"
II need some new shirts. How much
cloth does it take for shirt?"
about four yards"
well, let's see. I want eight new
shirts. Eight times four are thirty-two.
I'll take thirty-two yards"
The gratitude Of the wife at receiving
IS q Christmas present the cloth for
eight pew shirts for her husband can be
better imagined than described. II Hxr-
per's Magazine for October.
The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1882-10-12

DocroRs' FEES IN EURoPE.--Perhaps
in the matter of doctors fees it might be
as we'll to glance at France and Ger
many. In both these countries there il
regular tariff for the visits of medical
practitioners, often, nay, generally, ex
ceeded by rich peasants, but affording .
guarantee against excessive charge for
the poorer. 1t is also . satisfaction %
the public mind generally to know exactly
what they b We to pay when calling :
doctor. Permit me further to draw At
tention to q point Of medical etiquette
in North Germany. Except in cases of
severe illness. when daily attendance 10
absolutely necessary, doctor never re-
pests visit. He must be requested to
do 90. The custom has its advantages,
- 1t will often happen in cases Of slight
illness that single visit sufAces. II
medical fees are too high With ne, they
ere too Low in Germany end France two
marks and tvo franes vidt.) sxnspi, Of
eoarso, il The fnahio1ablo wo6ering
plseee. whitaker npes buA ~ rich -
- ~ MXIvUUc
The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1882-10-12

The Sons of the Prince of Wales have
arrived at home in the corvette BAG.
chante, in Which they have made cruise
around the world. The eldest of these
two youths, Prince Albert Victor, who
stands next to the Prince of Wales him.
self in the line of succession to the
throne, was born at Frogmore on Janu-
airy 8, 1854, and is now in his nineteenth
year. He is slender youth, straight as
an arrow, with fair complexion, fine
features and blue eyes. He carries him.
self well and converses easily. When
not talking his face wears grave and
reserved expression, BETTING one des-
tined for the exalted position to which
he will in the course of time be called.
The younger of the two, Prince George,
was born on June 3, 1855, and is now in
his eighteenth year. He is not so tall
and slender as his brother, but has
rounder face, full lips that easily curve
into smiles, and q very pleasant express
sion. In June, 1877, the young princes
were examined at the Royal Naval col
lege at Greenwich, precisely in the same
manner as ordinary candidates for naval
cadetships. Both princes passed very
satisfactory examination, and in some
subjects exhibited more than usual de-
gree OF proficiency. Two years later it
was determined to give the youths
chance to pick up the practical points of
the naval profession, and at the same
time to see something of the world. For
two years they had passed most of their
time on board the training ship Britain
mia at Dartmouth, and the Admiralty
regulations make that period the limit
of such service for naval cadets
They both passed first class in sea-
manship and conduct, thereby gsining
six months time, which entitled them
soon to become midshipmen. The YES
eel sslscted for their long cruise was the
Bacchante, fine iron corvet, easel
With wood. The vessel was doub Y
manned with supeior officers, to furnish
the young princes with the best instruc
tion possible. On July "a, 1875. they
bsde farewell TO the Britannia, and on
September 18th set sail from Portland on
the BscchsDte for Port Mahon. 10 the
Island of Majorcs. The young princes
were treated throughout the cruise a.
ordinary midshipmsn, taking the regular
round Of duties, messing With their CON-
rades, and being distinguished only by
srecial and separate sleeping accomoda
tons, with an eye doubtless to the risk
OF their being "cut down in their sleep
after the fashion commemorated by
Captain Marryat. Special allowances
wore made to the Captain and the ward
room and gunro0m measee for ''such ex-
psudisures - may BE- directly conss-
quens upon entertaining euesle Who msy
WRIT the ship o. aooo0o4pl ~ having
tho princes cupboard TIE G(oeog cnbin
~ thaE which, ~ ~ ~ - ~
The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1882-10-12
A fight Of Sea Monsters.

Gen. F. e. Spinner. the man of mar
velous chirography, formerly treasurer
of the United States and member Of con-
gress. and now q resident of Florida,
writes the following to the Florence DIS
patch, vouching for it IS mo 6sh story,
but truth, every word Of it," The Cen
erals letter il dated ''South Beach, below
Mayport, August ID, 1882"
Early yesterday morning. a. went
for my usual sun bath, accompanied by
my daughter, Mrs. Schumacher, we wit
NJ. sed what has probsbly seldom been
seen.
The ocean was unusually placid, but
. strange commotion in the surf was
noticed. On nearing the shore, it was
sseu that fierce battle was raging he
tween two schools Of fishes, one Of
sharks, aud the the other OF saw-ash. II
was high tide, and the water was quite
shallow. 80 that the caudal and the
dorsal fms, of both these kinda OF sea
monsters, were constantly seen above
the water.
The onslaught Of each OF the DOM
ns'snts, Of which from sixteen n
twenty were in view, was fierce and
rri6c. A disabled saw-6sh was
stranded. / wadeu to him, and With
the edge of . piece Of Aoor board, gave
b m the ''coup de grace" He measured
nearly nfteen feet, aud carried . sword
saw three feet and half long, with over
hfty teeth on it, msreins. Il was found
tina. one Of the sharks had bitten piece
out Of his side equal to foot square.
through which his bowels protrudsd. At
one time il looked - il sn,ther pair OF
the combatants would be stranded, for in
their struggle they came 40 near the
shore that they touched bottom all the
time, but they ana ly managed 70 join
their companions in deep water, and
after fifteen minutes all the belligerents
disappeared. TO the great relief Of those
Who cared moro for sea bathing than Tor
seeing the terrible Aghts Of ~ mon.
sters.
Ny daughter will carry the ~ a. ~
capturod ~ 70 her hono - momoooo
and trophy a NJ aysae soa1iet,, and IL
- e'tdf1iea - ~ sabinss q esoaa suBi-
The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1882-10-12
Natures Undertakers.

How often do we hear the query,
''What becomes of all the dead birds?"
The secret of their mysterious disappear
ance was but just now half told by TIE
buzz of those brown wings, and the
other half Is welcome to any one who
will take the trouble to follow their lead.
This beetle is one of mans incalculable
benefactors. 1t is his mission to keep
fresh and pure the air we breathe. He
is the sexton that takes beneath the
mould not only the fallen sparrow, bat
the mice, the squirrels and even much
larger creatures that die in our woods
and fields.
Beneath that clump of yarrow / found
just what had expected-a small dead
bird-and the grave diggers were in the
midst of their work. Already the ram
part of fresh earth was raised around
the body, and the cavity was growing
deeper every moment, as the busy
diggers excavated the earth beneath.
Now and then one would emerge on q
tour of inspection, and after rummaging
among the feathers of that silent throat,
and climbing upon the plumy breast to
press down the little body into the deep
ening grave.
These nature-burials are by no means
rare, and where the listless eye fails to
discover them the nostrils will often in
dictate the way, and to any one DESTROYS
of witnessing the operation, without the
trouble of search, it is only necessary to
place in some convenient spot of loose
earth the carcass Ut some small animal.
The most casual observer could not fail
soon to be attracted by the orange.
spotted beetles. Entemologists assert
that these insects are attracted by the
odor of decay; but, from my own hum
BILE investigations, have never been
able to fully reconcile myself to this
theory. v
Ii it we're the question of odor alone
in this dead bird, for instance, it would
be difficult to explain the Decline fight
of these humming beetles, two of which
came swiftly toward me even from the
direction of the wind, and dropped
quickly upon these feathers hidden from
sight among the grass. Perhaps in such
an instance we might imagine that they
had been there before, and knew the
way; that they had noted this clump of
yarrov, maybe; but 1 have observed the
fact before when there wsS every reason
to believe that no such previous visit had
been made.
lam always glad Of an opportunity to
watch the progress of these meadow
burials. And, had you accompanied me
on that morning walk, you would have
looked with interest at those little under
takers-seen that festhery body toss and
heave with strange mockery OF life as the
busy sections worked beneath it, digging
with their spiked thighs, shoveling out
the loose earth with their broad heads,
aud pulling down the body into the
deepened cavity William Hamilton
Gibson, in Hsrper's Magazine.
The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1882-10-12
Vancouver Independent

OFFICIAL PAPER OF Cry AND COUNTY.
Vancouver. Clarke County, Washington
Territory.
The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1882-10-12

~ opp 6Ico euHs AAA7o 1UotAlO AAustS VI
fancied she had. = claim On the festive.
gentleman who was rioting within, su 1
she burst into the room like q thunder
clap. A furious and we'll contested bat
tie between the fair Mollie and the two
festive females ensued. There was dis.
tressing SOUND Of blows. shrieks ard
mutual recrimination, and the MASKING
Of crockery like bombsnells against the
wall. Frantic screams and vhoops,
which would have done credit H. Sioux
chief on the war path, rang out upon the
midnight air, ~ If pandemonium had
broken loose, and its inmates were hold
ing high carnival in that quiet and re-
tired neighborhood.
Wig. bounded out Of bed with frantic
energy. and fed in dismay down stairs in
dishabille. He raped ON the pavement
with cudgel A Phillistine in the dim
distance gave an an weripg rap thst all
was right, but didn't come. He yelled,
and tried to raise policeman, until be
wa nearly frozen, but nary one conld
he raise BY this time the smoke Of bat
tie had cleared away. The fair MoIIis.
who is heavy weight, with no moon
siderable knowledgs Of the p. r., had
conquered the destroyer Of her happl-
ness, and YES leading out The cFsss-
fallen ''J6hu Of her SELECTIONS" BY The
ear. The diseoontsd and 10 longer
fsslfys 5snslss slsueh -, loeking very
Wiegiss sseurns1 p he esssh ~
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-05-06
Agricultural Items.

corn canning factory is talked of in Gray.
Buyers in Aroostook county are securing
all the beef cattle they can gather up.
During last year 1928 American horses
were exported, the average price being Sl54
The Waldo County Agricultural Associa.
ton has received from the State Sl10.
Mr.. f. l.. Rich of Eddington raised 4C
bushels of Lost Nation wheat last year from
one acre.
Mr.. Vanderbilt Allen of New York owns
Honest Harry, record 2.22d, and formerly
owned by Charles Howard of West Gardiner
The Press says that beavers still exist on
Jackson brook. Washington, and last winter
built dam over IA feet in length.
The Lewiston Journal says that ID. w
Whitehouse of South China has this spring
sold three tons of cabbage at three cents pei
pound. They were pitted during the winter
and came out sound and good.
The Machias Union says of the egg busi
ness Allowing domestic consumption to be
so per cent. of the shipment, or only so. .O0(
dozen, the four or five towns including Ma.
chias and Mschiasport will show an egg prod
uct of about 100, 900 dozen for lssl-at II
cents per dozen, worth SIG, 900
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-05-06

The Wages of Farmers.

The condition of the farmer, when COM
pared with that of the mechanic and those
employed outside of farming. makes a
much better showing now than it could
have year ago. The reason of this is
that the prices of farm products are high
er and in many instances double what
they were twelve-month ago. This in
crease in the price of produce works well
for the farmer, but lily for the non-agri-
cultural classes. What is the farmer S
gain is the others loss. Had the rise in
food products been followed by "a CORE
spending rise in wages, the workingmau
would not have suffered. But wages have
remained about stationary, and rs a result
he has all he can do to make both ends
| meet. This Improvement in the circunl-
stances of our farmers is cheering In
the past the husbandmsn has not
been rewarded for his labor as
have men who worked at other trades.
Accurately compiled statistics for series
of years show that the farmer has received
for his labor only little more than one
half as much as the mechanic or the opera
tive. Furthermore, while the capital en,-
ployed in manufacturing, railroads. etc.
has been paying six, eight and ten per
cent. that invested in farming has paid
ne'er red cent. To recapitulate, the farmer
has trivan fha Of 4
as many hours, and realized only little
more than one half as much for his work
as the artisan. There is no tangible rea-
son why the farmer should not be remu-
nerated equally as well as those working
at mechanical employments To be a
good farmer requires as much
training, tact and talent as to be
a skilled cabine: maker or an expert type
setter. One Of the chief agencies which
have been at work causing the present pros
perity of farming is the fact that many
farmers or their sons have deserted their
farms and engaged in other pursuits, sim
ply because other occupations paid bet
ter, consequently the growth of the sup
ply of farm products has not kept pace
with the demand, resulting in compara-
tive scarcity of these commodities and
good times for the the farmer. We trust
that the present year is but the commence
menl of prosperous era in store for our
farmers, and that in the future they may
stead of practicing that rigid economy
which has been the lot Of the majority in
years gone by.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-05-06
A Notable Man.

William Alexander, one Of the most nota-
BILE men in Pittsburg, Pa, died Feb. 3. He
had singular history. Born in County An
trim, Ireland, in 1906, he came to America in
1920, and learned a machiDist's trade in
Pittsburg. He then went to New Orleans.
In January, 1927. as General jackson was
coming into the pier at New Orleans on two
steamers locked together. the Caledonia and
Pocabontas, the New Orleans artillerymen
were firing salute in honor of the hero of
1915. The gnnners could not manage their
cannon, and Alexander offered his services.
While ramming home charge the cannon
was discharged, and both of Alexander's
arms we're blown of at the elbow At the
great ball given that night General jackson
heard Of the accident and sent the wounded
man check for $1,000; but Mr.. Alexander
would not receive it, although he was a poor
man. Mr.. Alexander was engaged to be
married to Miss Eleanor Day at the time,
and he offered her her freedom after he re-
covered from his accident. She refused TO
accept it, and for 81 years was his loving
wife He came back to Pittsburg. and al
though burned out in the great fre Of l845,
ne struggled on, and at his death was very
wealthy man. -
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-05-06
AUGUSTA MAINE 6
NO. 1O7.
Religious Notes.

The Lafayette Avenue Presbyterian church
CDR. Cuyler's), in Brooklyn, gave last year
Sal, s05 in benevolent contributions. The
church numbers l..9o members.
The Third Baptist church of Atlanta, Ga,
has enjoyed a revival, over 20 having been
received tor baptism, and more will probably
follow.
An active effort has been made the past
year to evangelize Geneva, Switzerland.
Three hundred and sixty-five meetings were
held with this object in view.
A memorial church is in process Of erection
in Edinburgh, Scotland, to be known as the
''Guthrie Memorial Church." in honor of the
great preacher who made the pulpit he oc-
cupied so famous in all lands
The continued persecution Of the jews in
Roumania is turning their attention to colon.
ization in the East and a thousand Jewish
families are preparing to embark in agricui-
ture in the Holy Land.
The Christian denomination in the United
States has in 80 years made the following
gain, viz. ministers, from 926 to l.264;
churches. s5a to l,l24; communicates, 2S,-
Sa2 to 10000.
There is one full-blooded Indian priest and
seven deacons in the Episcopal mission to the
Chippewa OF Ojibwsy Indians of Minnesota.
Besides, there is one mixed blood clergym&n,
priest, also connected with the mission.
The first session of the General Conference
of the Colored Methodist Episcopal Church 10
being held in Washington. Bishop Miles Of
Kentucky, presides. and delegates are in at
tendance from nine Southern States
The American board Of missions at Boston
have received news of the death in Africa of
Rev. William Walter Bagster, who sailed
from this country last summer. Mr.. Bag.
ster, an Englishman by birth. was about 30
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-05-06
Crocodile Tears.
ALLEGATIONS Amour THE ALLIGAroRs AND
THEIR REGARD FOR FRIENDLY CArrAIN.


The passenger, who was going down the
big river for the first time in his life, secured
permission TO climb up beside the pilot,
grim old grayback. who never told a lie in
his life.
"Many alligators in the river?" inquired
| the stranger. after a look around.
Not so many now, since they got to
| shootiu' 'em for the hides and taller" was
the reply.
Used to be lots. eh?''
IL don't want TO tell you about 'em.
stranger" replied the pilot, signing heavily.
"why?"
"'Cause you'd think was alvin to You:
and that's somethn l never do. can cheat
at keerds, drink whisky. or chaw poor ter.
hacker, but cant lie.
Then there used to be lots of emp in
quired the passenger.
''l'm most afraid to tell ye. mister, but I've
counted 1eveb hundred allygators to the
| mile from Vicksburg cl'ar down to New Or
leans. That was years ago, afore shot was
| ever fired at EN-
"Well, I don't doubt it," replied the
stranger.
"And I've counted 3,459 OF 'em on one
sand-bar," continued the pilot at looks
| big to tell, but a government surveyor was
abord, and he checked 'em of as | called
OUT
Il haven't the least doubt of it," said the
passenger, as he heaved deep sigh.
| 'Tm glad o that, stranger. Some fellers
| would think I'm liar, when Fm telling the
solem truth. This used to be a paradise for
| alligators, and they were so thick that the
wheels of the boat killed an average of 40 TO
the mile.
"Is that SOP"
| "True as Gospel. mister! used to almost
1 e. a. Al.
cry out cen most like human being. We
killed lots of 'em, as | said, and we hurt
pile more. l sailed with one captain who
alus carried a thousand bottles Of liniment
to throw over to the wounded ones.''
'He didY"
"True as you live he did. / don't spect
I'll ever see another such a kind, Christian
man. And the alligators got to know the
Nancy Jane and to know Capt. Tom, and
| they'd swim out and rub their tails agin the
boats an purr like cats an look mp and try to
smile!
| ''They would?"
"Solemn truth, stranger. And once when
we grounded on a bar, with an opposition
boat right behind, the alligators gathered
| around, got under her stern and jumped her
clean over the bar by grand push! 1t looks
like big story, but never told a lie vet and
I never shall wouldn't lie for all the money
you could put aboard this boat"
| There was painful pause, and after while
the pilot continued:
"Our ingines gin out once and q crowd of
alligators took tow-line and hauled us 45
miles up stream to Vicksbure."
''They did?'
''And when the news got along the river
that Capt. Tom was dead every alligator on
the river daubed his left ear with mud as a
badge Of mournin' and lots of 'em pined and
| died"
The passenger left the piIot-house with the
remark that he didn't doubt the statement,
and the old man gave the wheel q turn and
replied:
'Thar's one thing won't do for love nor
money, and that's make a liar Of myself
was brought up by a good mother and I'll
stick to the truth if this boat don't make .
cent. - Vieks5urg Herald.