davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1882-04-21
The Speed of Thought,

Helmholtz showed that a wave of
thought would require about a minute
to traverse mile of nerve, and Hirseh
found that touch on the face was recog-
nized by the brain, and responded to by
a manual signal, in the seventh OF sec
ond. He also found that the speed of
sense differed for different organs, the
sense of hearing being responded to in a
sixth of second; while that of sight re-
qu1red only one-tifth second to be felt
and signaled. In all these cases the dis
tances traversed was about the same, so
the inference is that images travel more
slowly than sounds or touch. 1t still re-
mained, however, to show the portion of
this interval taken up by the action of
the brain. Professor Donders by very
delicate apparatus has demonstrated this
to be about seventy-fve thousanths of a
second. OF the whole interval forty
thousandths are occupied in the simple
act of recognition, and thirtyfive thous-
andths for the act of willing a reponse.
When two irritants were caused to oper-
ate on the same sense one twenty fifth OF
a second was required for the person to
recognize which was the first; but a
slightly longer interval was required to
determine the priority IN the case OF the
other senses. These results were OBJ
tanned from a middle-aged man, but IN
youths the mental operations are some
what quicker than in the adult The
average of many experiments proved
that q simple thought occupies one
fortieth of q second.
The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1882-04-21
HMa COuntrYman Burns"

At a Burns banquet held in Montreal,
goodly number of chiels from the
land of brose, kali and parritch sat down
to an enjoyable Canadian dinner, which
was pronounced almost as good as the
universal Cruel diet in the land of the
heather. Sandy McGrab, distinguished
stranger. made the speech of the even
ing. After fortifying himself with a
gill of cold Scotch he cleared his throat,
and after being presented by the Chair
man who had never seen or heard of
him before, in fattering speech, he
said
"Leddies and gentlemen, I'm awful
prood O. the great honor an respect
We show IN Cunnada to ma countryman
Burns. Tn also proud to tell We that
in iyery land ye find Scotchmen at the
head O. affairs. Perhaps ye dinna ken
it. but I am a Scotchman ma sell. I'm
only lust DOT fra Glasca, and OWN to-
head winds and snaw only arrived yes
ter morn as 1 said before you may not
ken it, but L assure ye, leddies and gen.
tlemen, that / am Scotchman ma sell,
an am awfu' prood o the great honor
and respect shown not only in Cunnada,
but the world over to ma countryman,
'Bobbie Burns Scotland is the land
o. sang, an all the world has drawn its
music frae Scotland. Ye see Pm awful
prood o Scotland, but perhaps ye dinna
ken it that I'm Scotchman me sell frae
Glasca, whar they speak the purest
English in the world, an monny man
frae Glasca is taken to be an English
man, but I'll no detain ye, sac here's
the toast o a toasts, My country
man, Burns
The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1882-04-21
The Rest the Cheapest.

In a fit of desperation, says cor
respondent, l went down to Chinatown,
which is another name for the lower end
of Mott street in search of servant.
| went into one of the groceries, ana
grave and reverend Chinaman, who
looked as if he had the wisdom OF the
centuries and the concentrated cunning
of a thousand foxes twisted up IN his
pigtail, eyed me from behind his round
goggles, and asked me my errand.
50 want a servant.
You want China boyY
Eyes"
"You want China boy for do cookee?"
" Yes, and anything else he's asked
to do"
How much you give 2"
Whatever is right.
That phrase seemed to please him.
His eyes twinkled, and he continued:
81 get you China boy-you pay him
thirty dollar month. "
"Too much"
"You pay him thirty dollar month ?
Why not? You pay Mclean girl fifteen
dollar month. One China boy worth
two Melican girl. Mclean girl put hair
in pie. China boy no put hair III pie.
Melican girl she make man come into
vour house. China boy, he make nc
man come into your house. You
nav Mclean girl fifteen dollar
month, she eat twenty dollar
month: >: Won pay China boy thirty dollar
month. he eat four dollar month. Yor
nav Mclean girl fifteen dollar month
MeIican girl boss. You pay China boy
thirty dollar month and you boss
You all glad pay China boy thirty dollar
month by and by. China boy ask forty
dollar then."
cold man," I said sadly, "you are
RIGHT. II is worth fifteen dollars month
10 be boss in your own house, but
can't afford the luxury" and 1 turned
away. AS lifted the latch of the door,
tLe animated old idol said oracularly:
"You come again some time, sure
China boy cheapfor thirty dollar month.
Detroit Free Press.
The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1882-04-21
Mourning COlOrs.

In Italy women grieve in white gar
ments and men in brown In China
white is worn by both sexes. In Tur-
key, Syria, Cappadocia, and Armenia
celestial blue is the tint chosen. In
Egypt, yellowish brown-the hue of the
dead Leafs deemed proper and in
Ethiopia, where men are black, gray is
the emblem of mourning. All of these
colors are symbols. White symbolizes
purity, an attribute of our dead the
celestial blue, that place of rest where
happy souls are at peace /; the yellow or
dead leaf tells that death is the end of
all human hope, and that man falls as
the autumn leaf, and gray whispers of
the earth to which all return. The Syr-
ians considered mourning for the dead
an efteminate practice, and so when they
gr1eved they put on women's clothes as
symbol of weakness, and as shame
to them for a lack of manliness. The
Thraclans made feast when one of their
loved ones died, and every method of
Joy and delight was employed This
meant that the dead had passed from a
state of misery into one of felicity. Black
was introduced as mourning by the
Queen of Charles VIII. Before that the
French Queens wore mourning and were
known as white Queen.
The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1882-04-21
HISTORICAL.

THE aborigines of America, In 1892,
did not know the use of iron.
The loss of a hand was one of the
penal mutiIations enacted by William
the Conqueror.
The discovery of the luminosity of
plants has been attributed to the daugh-
ter of Linnaus.
HANGINGs for rooms, called arras,
were first made in Arras, France, In the
fourteenth century.
DURING the reign of Trojan 5000 poor
children were supported by the Govern
ment in Rome alone.
IT Is within the last two centuries that
the first attempt was made in Europe to
establish quarantines.
TvEn first 25nlcenv. or ebeIcouv. rs IA
was 1nszI caifess, va zsi> n coz
vent Garden, by Lord Arundul, in the
seventeenth century.
ONE ancient Mexican penalty was to
have the hair cut, at some public place !;
and during medieval times in Europe
cutting the hair was enacted as pun
ishment.
DoMITIAN once actually assembled the
Roman Senate in special session to vote
on the merits of a new sauce which he
Mediterranean turbot
THERE were no sermons in the time of
Elizabeth, except when the Sunday hap
Kings had two every morning; they
often lasted more than two hours.
ITALY is the only country in Europe
where all famous men are expected to sit
in Parliament, and where the humbleSt
fA,-
composer or General than for local
celebrity.
WHEN the first census of Ceylon was
taken, in 1871, it was common belief
among the natives that the object was
TO discover the number of unmarried
youths, with view to their being taken
to Europe, whose male population, they
said, had been destroyed by great war.
JAMES II. brought the coinage of
Ireland to disgraceful condition during
his stay there. His coins of gun-metal,
copper, brass, and pewter were forced
into circulation by every device, and his
Irish subjects were the losers, having In
their possession nearly the whole of his
worthless money.
GARFIELD's friend and commander,
General Thomas, whose stubborn cour-
age saved the day in the great battle for
possession of Tennessee, was well called
the "Rock of Chickamauga. In the
greater battle in 1876, for the nations
honor, Garfield well deserved to be
called the g Rock of Ohio.
In SUSTAINING and defining the notion
of sin, the early church employed the
machinery of an elaborate Legislation.
Constant communion with the church
was regarded as of the very highest I'M
portance. Participation in the sacra-
ment was believed to be essential to eter-
nal life. At the time of st. Cyprlan 1t
was administered to infants.
The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1882-04-21
Parisian Bam Costumes.

A wonderful amount of invention is
expended in devising original costumes
for Partisan fancy balls. A lovely
Countess, who is noted equally in Paris
for wit and beauty, gave one recently in
which her guests represented a fruit
garden. The ladies appeared as vines,
cherry trees, currant bushes, strawberry
plants, ETC., and the gentlemen as apple
and pear trees. One lovely young lady,
1t Is said, won murmurs of admiration as
a strawberry. At another ball a kitchen
garden was represented. The ladies
wore white and red turnips, caulifowers
and radishes (the sweet-smelling onion
and the suggestive carrot were neglect
ed), and the gentlemen appeared as
cabbages, beet root and celery. Some
amusement was created at another fancy
ball given by Nine. Guichard by the
appearance of newly couple as
cock and hen, the cock being arrayed
in golden brown feathers, with comb
and spurs complete, and the hen in
white satin and swansdown, with little
white-feather tail and a small basket of
golden eggs.
The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1882-04-21

HOW Beds Are Made ReautifuI.
a great deal of decorative color is now
fashionable for bed-coveriags. Silk COW
erings of embroidery or of rich damasks
are used over the entire bed. If a white
spread is preferred, it is frightened by
a scarf drapery of rich dark brocade,
that is thrown carelessly across the foot
OF the bed The Japanese embroidered
quilts, and those done with gilt threads
IN tapestry designs, are especially hand
some. Antique laces combined with
white muslin are used over colored silk
Innings for bed-spreads, with pillow
spreads to match. A border of red
plush, upon which the lace edge falls, is
a pretty finish when not lined, these
lace spreads are used over down COM
fortables that are covered with rose,
blue or red silk.-BOSton AdUertiSer.
The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1882-04-21

A GERMAN painter once obtained per-
mission to paint some great court cere-
mony in which the Emperor William
and his son Fritz were the central
figures. The Emperor asked the artist
to show him the sketch of his picture.
On examining it he noticed that the
Crown Prince was represented standing
with one foot on the steps of the throne
dais. He at once asked bystander for
a pencil, and altered the sketch, which
was returned to the audacious artist
with the significant words mot yet "
written under the figure of the Prince.
The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1882-04-21

In the main room is desk, presided
over by gentleman and lady, who run
the institution. On one side are sever
a. "tickers," a " ticker which gives
the market quotations from minute to
minute. Some of the members know as
much about gambling PIN market quota
tions as an oyster knows about a charity
supper, and they look with comically
wise eyes on the slips as they come from
the instruments. - Chicago Morning
The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1882-04-21

AN Anti-Crinoline Society has been es-
tablished in London. It issues the fol-
lowing protest: g We, the undersigned,
believing that the artificial aid to dress,
known as 'cr1noline and hoop, is in
convenient and ungraceful to the last
extent, hereby engage ourselves never to
wear the same, whatever attempt is
made on the part of the milliners to i'm
pose this tyranny on the ladies of En-
gland"
The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1882-04-21
GOSSIP FOR THE LADIES.
Wants Him Back.

aAA - A-AAA DaCAs
II was proud young lumberman
Who uNed my heart and hand
=" If you love me as I love yew
Our marriage shall be planned"
dotted on his stalwart form,
And, like silly goose,
Thought De'er was seen a smarter lad,
Nor one who looked so spruce.
His eyes were hazel IN their hue,
His hair was chesnut tint
His mouth ne'er uttered locust words,
His breath ne'er smelt of mint
He had grasp for every palm,
tender grip for mine;
he was poplar with the girls,
They all for hun did pine.
He said "a Oak careful be, my dear,
Beech chaste and always good
'Iis little know Of theworid.
I'm booked up, bUttonwood."
He left me for the leafy glsdes,
And went by Maine trunk line
To Androscoggin's logging camp,
On chops 10 daily dine
willow any ono debt
OF gratitude il they
Bring tidings Of my absent " mash,
Now three long yeara away.
The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1882-04-21

PRoF. MEHAN has advanced the theory
that the absence of trees upon the Amerl-
can prairies is due to annual fires, 1t
being known that such fires were caused
by the Indians during long period.
Herbaceous plants and ANNALS may In
crease their area yearly, while trees
were never able to get beyond the line
to which the annual fires extended.
The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1882-04-21
THrlate Mademoiselle Marie Taglioni,

The late Mademoiselle Marie Taglioni,
who retired from the stage IN the year
1S47, almost in the zenith of her glory,
and who died Countess Gilberte de
Voisins, is said to have coined the word
star in a theatrical sense, for, about to
be billed with two other premiere
danseuses, she desired to use some term
to particularly distinguish her, and Sc
lected the word "star," since SO COM
monty adopted.
The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1882-04-21

SOME poet says "holy minds in
healthy bodies live" Yes, oh, yes; now
we know what makes the lusty Sitting
Bull, who never had an ache nor a pain
in his life, and such meek and lowly-
minded skin full of holiness That's
lust about as much as the poets know
about such things.
The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1882-04-21

EVERY man knows that one-half tba
stocks in the hands of speculators are
bubbles, which viii collapse with anv
sudden disaster. Suppose Gould or
Vanderbilt should die, or either one or
both should attempt to unload, where
would be the thousands of others Who
are risking their all upon margins Tt
is the haste to get rich which endanoars
all interests by needless speculation
The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1882-04-21

"How beautiful the dome of heaven
this evening I" said Angelica, as she
leaned heavily on his arm. "The stars
seem to look down upon us" Oh,
yes," said the practical John, cit is i'm
possible for them to look up to us, you
know. They cawn't." Sudden check to
an evenings fill of most delightful senti-
mentality.
The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1882-04-21
THE GOLD THAT WEARS.

We parted one eve at the garden gate,
When the dew was ON the heather,
And promised my love to come back to her
Ere the pleasant autumn weather.
That we twain might wed
When the leaves were red,
And live and love together.
She cut me a tress from her nut-brown hair,
And kissed her bps Of cherry,
And gave her a ring of the old-tme gold,
With stone like the mountain berry
As clear and blue,
As her eyes were true
Sweet eyes, SO bright and merry
" The wealth Of my love is all have
To give you, +" she said in turning:
The gold that wears-hke the radiant stars
In yonder blue vault burningl"
And took che trust,
AS a lover must
Whose soul Tor love is yearning.
Fate kept us apart for many years,
And the blue rolled between us;
Though kissed each day the nut-brown tress
And made fresh vows 70 Venus
IN sought my bride;
And fate dehed.
That failed from love to wean u.s.
] found my love at the garden gate
When the dew was on the heather
And we twain were wed at the little kirk
In the pleasant autumn weather;
And the gold tha. wears
Now soothes my cares,
As we live and love together.
The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1882-04-21
The women'. Board of Trade a, Chi


The principal business transacted on
the Ladies' Board of Trade at Chicago is
bartering for n nickel's worth of pea
nuts, knitting silk stockings of the old
gold and banana patterns, tearing to
pieces new dresses, not literally with the
fingers, but with the tongue, and tele-
phoning their dear fathers and brothers
across the way to learn if they'd better
venture deal this morning or wait till
some other morning. With an enthus-
iasm worthy of Oscar Wilde they have
eschewed the uncouth terms of bull
and bear" and address each other by
the endearing names of "long" and
sshort." The polite form is "Are you
short this morning ?" and not Sc Hello,
Shorty /" as the uninitiated might infer.
The scene presented on entering the
room occupied by the board, in the
top story of Metropolitan block, is
enough to make the bravest heart pal
pitate. In the waiting-room may be
group of ladies before the mirror, critic
ally examining each others new cloaks,
dresses or toilets. A few will be found
sewing and fixing over articles OF wear
ing apparel, while others are discussing
fashions. arranging their hair. compar-
ing shoes and counting buttons thereon,
and having jolly good time generally,
The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1882-04-21

Age is opportunity no less
Than youth itself, though in another dress,
And as the evening twilight fades away
The sky is filed with stars invisible by day.
The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1882-04-21
LONGFELLOW.
Eorae OF FEfa Characteristic Uffernnces on
Life and Death.

No morel oh, how majestically mournful are
these wordsl They sound like the roar OF the wind
through forest OF pines.
The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1882-04-21

Not in the clamOr of the crowded streets,
Not in the shouts and plaudits Of the throng,
But in ourselves, are triumph and defeat
The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1882-04-21

The air is full Of farewells 70 the dying,
And mournings for the dead.
The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1882-04-21

But has vacant chairl
We have no title deeds TO house or lands;
Owners and occupants of eaFlier dates
From graves forgotten stretcn their dusty hands,
And hold in mortmain still their old estates
The spirit world around this world of sense
Floats like an atmosphere, and everywhere
Watts through these earthly miss and Yapors dense
vital breath Of more ethereal air.
Our little lives are kept in equipoise
By opposite attractions and desires;
The struggle of the instinct that enjoys
And the more noble instinct that inSPires-
These perturbations, this perpetual Jar
OF earthly wants AID aspirations high
Come from the influence of an unseen star,
An undiscovered planet in our sky.
And as the moon from some dark gate Of cloud
Throws DER the sea floating bridge of light
Across whose trembling planks our faneies crowd
Into the realms Of mystery and night
So from the world Of spirits there descends
bridge Of light connecting it with this
Ger whose unsteady floor that sways and bends,
Wander our thoughts above the dark abyss.
Into the Silent Land!
All who shall lead us thither?
Clouds in the evening sky moro darkly gather,
And shattered wrecks lie thicker the strand
Who leads US with gentle hand
Thither, thither,
Into the Silent Iaud7
Into the Silent Land!
To you, We boundless regions
OF all perfectionl Tender morning visions
OF beauteous souls! The futures pledge and band
Who In life's battle firm doth stand,
Shall bear hopes tender blossoms
Into the Silent Landi
o Land o Land
For all the broken hearted
The mildest herald by our fate allotte
Beck ms, and with inverted torch doth stand,
To lead us with gentle hand
To the land Of the great Departed,
Into the Silent LandI
The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1882-04-21

Lay thy soft hand upon my brow and cheek,
o Peaceful Sleepi' until nom pain released
breathe again uninterrupted breath
All, with what subtle meaning did the Greek
Call thee the lesser mystery at the feast
Whereof the greater mystery Is Deathl
The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1882-04-21

oh what a glory does this world put on,
For him who with feryent heart goes forth
Under the bright and glorious sky, and looks
On duties well performed and days well spent
The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1882-04-21
Long Trains.


What Emperor William thinks of the
I long Trans of ladies balI-dresses may
| be CLEANED from conversation he had
at the recent court ball with the Young
and charming wife of a foreign military
attache, who appeared with one of those
long trains prescribed by the etiquette
of her own country, and also worn at
Berlin by the nOn-dancIng ladies of ripper
youth. The Emperor, noticing that
the aforesaid young lady had not joined
the dancers, inquired, In his most affa-
bic way, the reason why, and received
the frank reply For the simple rea-
son, your Majesty, that nobody asked
me to dance. "Then let me tell you"
said the Emperor, with a smiling glance
at her enormous train, that my officers
are evidently afraid of playing sad havoc
with your lovely dress;" jestingly add
ing " If had had the slightest power
In matters of fashion, l should never
have tolerated those cumbersome trains
at balls. Unfortunately l have been
utterly powerless in this respect thus
far, but sincerely rejoice at the pros
pect of Dame Fashion speedily and sym
pathetically coming round to my views
once more"
American Women the Best Dressed.
American women are unquestionably
the best dressed nowadays. Why il
should be so is n question too profound
to enter on here. Much and subtle anal
ysis would have to be expended on that
problem. One explanation which seems
to lie on the surface may be that, while
deciding with authority on questions of
taste, and fully competent to Judge
them, they bring to the business a GER
tain originality of conception and ma
tional freshness of idea which pervades
the result. making it not only charming
in itself but exactly suitable to the wear
er. American women-those, at least,
who visit Europe-have generally the
pull over English women in money mat
ters, and, as we have said before, they
not only have the money to spend, but
ike spending it on dress. But, beside
that, there is discernment of the fit
ting, a happiness of choice, which they
bring to, rather than find in, the studios
of high art in dress. High art, by the
way, is wofully wanted just now to ward
off certain deformities the feminine part
of the human race Is threatened with.
Tight lacing, a vice always lying In wait.
is now openly advocated and enjoined.
The waist is to resemble in roundness
and harshness the mainmast of a ship,
only it must not be thicker than a spar.
High square shoulders are sim" and
ladies whose graceful sloping lines were
once the admiration of the world now
insert hoops of whalebone in their
sleeves to preserve unbroken the straight
line from the neck to the top of the arm.
London Daily Nes0S.
The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1882-04-21

There is no flock, however watched and tended,
But one dead lamb is there!
There is no freside, howsoe'er defended,
But has one vacant chair!
The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1882-04-21

All are scattered now and fed,
Some are married, and some are dead
And when / ask with throbs of pain,
"Ah, when shall they all meet againf"
As in the days long since gone by,
The ancient timepiece makes reply
Forever-neveri
NeTer-fOreVern
The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1882-04-21

o, though oft depressed and lonely,
All my fears are laid aside,
If I but remember only
Such as these have lived and died.