davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1882-06-23
Planting Oysters.

The oyster business in these waters,
says q Chincoteague letter in the Balti-
more SIN. is now very active and has
reached an interesting stage -''the
planting" A description of the modus
Oprandi will perhaps be new and enter
tanning to many of the oyster-loving
readers of The Sun. There are at least
thirty vessels engaged in the business.
The oyster ''plants" grow in the mouth
of the James river, some eighty miles
from this place, and it takes a trip of
about five days for good schooner,
with favorable winds, to make the trip,
get load. and return. Every morning
fleet leaves this harbor for Hampton
roads, the schooners having a capacity
OF from $50 to I 500 bushels each, the
average being 800 bushels. The beds
of plants, which are known in the trade
rs ''cullintines," are rich in the natural
growth in the roads, and hand can
with his tongs take up one hundred
bushels day Of. the young oysters
They are about the size Of u half ofsap
English walnut, and he gets 9 cents per
bushel, making wages at from So to sc
per day. A favorable trip of from IL to
Is hours puts the vessel in ChincOteague
bay, when they are mostly planted in the
Maryland waters from Is to 20 miles
above this point.
The planting consists in scattering
them In the bay so that they will lie
thickly at the bottom of the water and
not more than touching each other
The whole cost of planting to the owner
who hires the vessel and the work will
reach 20 cents bushel. He has his
ground or his water rather, staked of,
and In two years his oysters are large
enough to be taken up and sent to
market. They command so cents
oushel here, or $l.10 in Baltimore,
Philadelphia, and New York, and the
inest IS per barrel of three bushels.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1882-06-23
Neatly Trapped.

Captain K, one of our shrewdest
steamboat captains, caught a Jeremy
Diddler on board his boat one day, as
he was making his passage from Boston
to down East" and pinned him up in
good style. 1t seems the fellow laid o
traverse to get clear of paying his fare,
and insisted to the clerk that he had
paid. but had lost his ticket.
"Who did you pay TOP" asked the
clerk.
"Why, he rather guessed it was the
captain"
So Captain X. was summoned to the
conference.
20, yes, yesr' says Captain K; ut
appears to me I do recollect it. Let
me see, you gave me five-dollar billp"
YES" says Diddler, II did"
..And gave you your change in half
dollars, didn't lP"
Eyes" says Jeremy, that's it-recol-
lect 1t perfectly"
"Very WE'LL" says Captain K. II
won't dispute your word for anything,
but if you please, should like to see
the halves"
The fellow was tripped when he least
expected it. He could not produce the
halves, and had ~ fork out his fare.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1882-06-23
What Americans Buy in Europe

I recently accompanied an American
IN shopping expedition, his object be-
ng to purchase some presents to take
With him back to his native land. Al
er securing several parcels, consisting
# trinkets and newly-invented articles,
he shopkecper handed him a pin, say
ng,-
"This celluloid jewelry sells well, as
10 most articles which come from Amer
Ca"
But" returned the gentleman, II am
rom America myself, and l do not think
t will pay to purchase articles to carry
pack to America which are made
here"
"Why, sir" exclaimed the tender; '.six
If the eight articles which you have just
purchased were made in America, and I
ian sell you twenty-six more from the
same country with pleasure, if you
choose to buy"
The gentleman left the establishment
lnder the impression that our export
rade is in fourishing condition. So
every one else impressed who has
noticed the shop windows and market
places of Europe within the past year.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1882-06-23
Under Queensbury Rules.
How Cowboy and Sport Settled Dispute.


Night before last An Arizona cowboy
and sport got into dispute ut gam
bling table. and in the alteration which
followed. the gambler pulled six
shooter and placed it against the others
breast. The cowboy, looking at the re-
volver. laughed and remarked: II hav-
emit any weapons" ''Then 60 and heel
yourself" was the reply, "and come
back and have deal"
The cowboy went away and solicited
several people for the loan Of a six
shooter, but, he being q stranger, no
"ne would accommodate him. He 70.
\, however, and stated to the gam
lat he had "boned dozen men
whistler" but couldn't get one.
expressed q willingness, however,
tie the row according to the usages
customs of the p. r., and mention,
ule by which he would like to run his
train. The gambler said ne was ready
TO settle the row In any way that ".
satisfactory. and II anybody had copy
Of the Queensbury rules. he would like
to look them over. A man was at once
dispatched to bookstore. and copy
of the rules was secured.
The gambler then sat down on stool
and gave the rules critical inspection.
He finally remarked that the absence of
kicking, gouging, and face-hitting ac-
corded with his ideas of square fight.
He was ready to make the game right
there.
81 tell you, boys, the man who drew
up those rules had a heap of good horse
sense. He wanted to see the best man
win."
At this point the cowboy wanted to be
self, with view to refresh his memory
OH few points. This being allowed,
everything was settled, and the two adj
journed to the rear of saloon. where
an extensive back yard, surrounded by
high board fence, gave the contest
ant every opportunity to have square
fight, and was q sufficient protection
to the police. An impromptu ring was
pitched by stretching clothes-line
across the corner of the yard, thus CIV
ing the men triangle to fight in. by
mutual consent seconds were dispensed
with, and extra bottleholders appointed
to restore the equilibrium of the Occa-
sion.
When the two toed the scratch the
cowboy sent heavy Highlander, but
failed to land his pocket, and got q
counter in the jaw that sent him to
grass. In the next round the cowboy
was badly punished about the face, but,
closing on the gambler, threw him
heavily, falling upon him with consid-
cradle vim, and knocking the wind out
of him, the select audience cheering
loudly. III the third round the sport
did some clever work of q decorative
character on the others face, but the
cowboy closed again, and by his supe-
rior strength downed the other In his
corner rs before. In the wind-up the
gambler reached the others nose with a
well planted left-hander, and was again
thrown and badly punished about the
head. The repeated falls used him up
and his bellows were In such bad con-
dition that he elevated the sponge and
asked for a recess. The cowboy, al
though the winner Of the fight, was
much the worse punished of the two.
1t was fairly fought, quite satisfactory
to all hands, and there Is no danger of
resort to six-shOOters. Lake Iri-
Lnnp
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1882-06-23
Heuls Eggs 1000 Years Old.

At st. Eloi, in the FaubOurg st. An
tome in France, a nestful of eggs was
found under the ruins of the old palace
where King Dagobert lived. So they
knew that 100 years before some hen
had stolen her nest, just as our hens do
nowadays; and had been disturbed, and
left the nest before the eggs had been
sat upon. The workmen, who in clear
ing away the ruins to build the old
church that still stands there had found
the nest, were going to throw away the
eggs; but the Abbc Denis, who was then
the curate of the parish, remembering
that wheat had grown from grains that
were found with the mummies in Egypt
ian tombs, which must have been sc, 900
years old. thought that there might be
life in these old eggs. He set them I'M
der one of his good. motherly old hens.
and sure enough, in twenty-one days she
came off the nest with u fine brood Of
liking Dagobcrt" chickens, as they have
ever since been called; and the Dagobert
fowls have so increased that the able Of
the parish has organized sale of liking
Dagobert" eggs for tho benefit OF the
poor of his parish.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1882-06-23
Emmet's New Dog.
A Monster of Canine Elegance and Beauty Tha
Stopped Play.

A Monster Of Canine Elegance and Beauty Thai
Stopped Play.
Mr.. Joseph X. Emmett was aconstant
visitor ut the late dog show, rSd spent
most of his time while there looking ut
a huge st. Bernard dog, named, Bay
ard, Jr., the property of Mr.. Pope, OF
Boston, who imported him last year.
Bayard measures seven feet from the tip
of his nose to tho end of his tail. He is
thirty-two and one-half inches high,
and weighs nearly two hundred pounds.
His color is white and red, with white
collar and nose, and has the much-prized
'sacred cross" He is only twenty
months old, and has q massive and beau
tiful head, with the kindest face imagin-
able. and great intelligent brown eyes.
Mr.. Emmett took such a fancy to Bayard
that he asked Mr.. Pope by telegraph if
he would sell the dog, and received a
reply that he would. but the price would
be $4,000. Mr.. Emmett agreed to pay
that price and secured the prize. Mr..
Emmett is playing Fritz in Ireland ut
the Grand Opera-house, and last night
reporter of The World called there to
ask him il he intended to train Bayard
for the stage. The reporter was shown
into MIR. Emmet's dressing-room and
there found Mrs. Emmett sitting on the
floor supporting Bayard's head in her
lap, while his body almost filled the lit
tie apartment. In few minutes Mr..
Emmett entered from the stage. "You
want to know what am going to do
with Bayard?" said he. s'Well don't
know exactly; 1 bought him as pres
ent for my wife, and it remains with
her to decide. Wherever we go Bayard
goes, so il he is in the theatcr he may
Just as well go on the stage. Bayard
has already made his debut. He went
on twice last wcek-thc first time was
in the last act, where am a mountain
guide. He looked so handsome and so
appropriate in that scene and was so
we'll received that made up my mind
that would let him appear i'll every
scene / could. So the next night he
went on In the first act, and behaved
splendidly until the villain came on to
steal Lena. You know on this incident
the whole play hinges. This Bayard did
not clearly understand, and when the
villain attempted to steal the child, Bay
ard saw all was not right and drove him
back to the wings. Then, standing
guard over the child, he would not let
anyone approach until went on and
took him of 80 rs to let the play pro-
ceed."
els it true that you paid $4,000 for
the dogp"
ayes; it Is o lar~" '''cr hu. III
you know, j."
| anarf ka 1,
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1882-06-23
Sleeping 1.-THE Back-Side."

Aplenty of Jreathing-space round ones
bed (remarks the Christian Uaion) can
DC only an advantage and benefit; and
it is suggested that some of the ''morn-
ing dulness' and actual headache so Of
ten complained of may be traceable to
sleeping close to the side Of the room,
and breathing all night the air reflected
from the wall.
A physician was lately called to pre-
scribe for young lady. There was
nothing the matter with her. she de-
clared, "nothing but terrible head
ache" Every morning she walked with
headache and 1t lasted nearly half the
day. 1t had been going on for months
ever since they moved into their new
house. The doctor tried all the old rem
edies and they all failed. Riding and
archery were faithfully tested, study
and practice were cheerfully given up.
Nothing did any good.
"Will you let me see your bedroOmp'
asked the doctor one day. and he was
shown up into the prettiest little nest
imaginable.
Nothing wrong about the ventilation.
The windows were high and broad, and
were left open every night, the patient
said. The -bed stood in one corner
against the wall.
"How do you sleepP" says the doc
tor.
''On my right side, at the back Of the
bed, with my face to the wall. Lou
likes the front best"
"She doesr' says the doctor. $50 do
/. Will you do me the favor to wheel
that bed into the middle Of the room
and sleep so for weekp Then let me
know about the headache"
The middle of the room, indeed! And
there were the windows on one side,
and the two doors on the other sides,
and the mantel with its Macrame lam
brequin on the fourth side. There was
no place for the bed but just where il
stood, in tho corner.
"Never mind, sacrifice your lambre-
quin." urged the doctor; Just for q
week, you know"
The lambrequin was sacrificed, the
bed moved where it had free air on both
sides, the headaches disappeared.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1882-06-23
The Enemy Of the Oyster.

Naturalists tell US that the stingy.ray,
star-fish, prawns. boring Wrinkle and
gryphea are the deadliest enemies OF
the oyster. That's all the naturalists
know about it. The worst enemy the
oyster has is the spirituelle woman of
1877 pounds, when she declares. after
the theatre, that she cannot eat . single
morsel, oh, indeed no. Well, II she
must, then you may bring her very
small bit Of cracker and just one tiny
oyster. When the oyster ceases to exist,
and joins the innumerable caravan.
that's where it win be gone to.-Has0b-
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1882-06-23
iii, | thinh u trout
0ncluded Mr.. Letting
-ook running
.'n,Ied

III, i thilh u trout
I'm mrst class" concluded Mr.. Letting.
well, calmly.
T,.v all regarded each other a mo-
ns5e. anr the four sat down again.
There is not only money in it," con-
tinued Mr.. Leffingwell, "but fun. Think
of the Spec"
The man with the Indian club raised
it on high, and another poised his dumb
bell.
Think of the spectacle" said Mr..
Leflingwell. not needing the Interrupt
ton, .'Of thousands of fish crowding to
your door step for food, and such fish!
l fancy now that ! see the spec"
The man in his shirt sleeves sprang
forward with whOop, and he of the
sword-cane brandished his weapon.
al see the spectator" proceeded Mr.
Leflingwell, Cooking on while spread
bread upon tho waters for the hungry
mouths upturned toward me-"
"Ah" calculated the four dropping
into their chairs.
"And," observed Mr.. Leffingwell,
agine the pleasure with which I shall
contemplate the spec"
The man in his shirt sleeves crouched,
and the rest wet their hands preparatory
to the onslaught.
Contemplate the specialist, as he
stands envying me-" Mr.. Lcflingwell
went on mildly, 'envying me the good
fortune and rare skill which have devel-
oped these fish, these spec"
They congregated around him and
waited.
'These spectors of perfection; these
spec-w
The man in his shirt sleeves grabbed
him and the rest made ready.
"These spectrum tinted denizens of
the shady pool. That's my idea, gentle
men," and MIR. Leffingwell took his hat
and babe the party good evening.
He didn't say it," muttercd the man
in his shirt sleeves, drawing on his
coat.
The rest laid their weapons away and
regarded each other gloomily.
.Hc came close to it several times"
remarked the man with the club.
The rest sighed and silence fell. They
had waited for Mr.. Leflingwell to say,
or make some allusion to "speckled
Beauties" when they would have crack
ed his skull, taken out his spine and
scraped it. thrown his legs up the Chin
ney, poured his blood down the drain
pipe and subjected him to other incon-
veniences. There is limit to free
speech, even in America. - Brooklyn
Ea1le.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1882-06-23

rs an ambush, reScrving stout little
one rs weapon of defence. Then
sat down. keeping my eyes on him. He
lay cat-likc, opening occasionally his
drowsy eyes. sometimes giving his enor-
nous head shake. BY degrees his
slccpiness seemed to pass away. and
with frightful yawn he raised himself
up and advanced toward me
lie paused for u moment, and, raising
his head, he snuilcd the air. rs if sus-
picious of the presence of an intruder.
With growl he continued to advance
cautiously, rs il on his guard -
foe whose strength he WAS ign
A few steps discovered me t6
with growl of rage he cror
for u fatal spring. While
terror the fearful fate viii,
on me in few seconds COT
admirin'. tho excessive be.
animal, whose splendid strii
on his brown and orange ski
ing cyeballs, rs he dashed hi.
his tail, made him perfect
quivering movement of his l.,
that In moment l would - torn =.
pieces without chance of Sefencc or
escape. closed my eyes for. second,
and rs opened them he raissd himself
and stood with his head turned toward
the door. Was any one comifg to save
me? listened in vain for footstep.
Suddenly the soft music of guitar
broke upon the stiffness.
My first impression was that it meant
another trick of the witty baron, but to
my intense relief the tiger, with purr
Of satisfaction, laid himself down against
tho door in an attitude of attentive list
ening. Hour after hour passed away
as the music continued without mo-
ment's cessation, and his highness, the
his evident enjoyment of the sounds.
This lasted until daylight, when the
door was suddenly opened, and man
entered, armed with a heavy whip and
q carbine. This was the tigers keeper.
At sight of him it crept lazily into its
cage.
"The secret of this door," said he, lis
known to tho baroness and myself
alone"
lost no time in escaping from my
prison, and soon reached the other part
Of the house. found Petrovitch wan
dering about in search of me. told
him what had happened. Unjust leave
the house at once" said /.
Stay to breakfast. Let the baron
see that you are alive and well. shall
enjoy his surprise"
did stay to breakfast. The baron's
yellow face turned green at the sight Of
me. The baroness did not appear. At
ter q month heard of the baron's sud-
den death. called on the baroness.
She had known of the horrible design
on my life. 1t was by her influence that
the servant who coniided his suspicious
to her was induced to spend the night
playing on the guitar, she having known
that wild animals arc tanned by musical
sounds. She is now my wife. The tiger
has been placed in a menagerie. Ihope
they will be as good to him as he was to
me, and will feed him well, as l escaped
doing.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1882-06-23
"Ail work and no play
Makes Jack u duh boy;
All blame and no praise
Makes jack q cheap tow"

One of the greatest English divines,
Isaac Barrow. received i'm his boyhood
only blame from his father, who thought
him stupid. He used to express his con-
tempt tor him by saying. that II it pleas
ed God to take from him any Of his
children, he hoped it might be Isaac
Yet when the University of Cambridge
sought for u successor to the great New
ton stupid Isaac Barrow was the man
they selected.
Our charming American essayist, Mr..
William Matthews, tells an anecdote
which illustrates the stupidity Of some
parents and teachers.
A boy was brought one day to Gen.
Salem TOwne, when he was q teacher.
He came labelled as an incorrigible
Ounce. No master had been able to
make him learn, and II Mr.. Towne
couldn't he should be apprenticed TO a
trade.
Mr.. Towne proceeded to examine
him. The boy soon made mistake
and instantly lodged, rs II frightened.
"Why do you do thatP" asked the
master.
because l was afraid you were going
to strike me-"
"Why should you think SOP"
because have always been struck
whenever made mistake"
"You need never fear being struck by
me-" said Mr.. TOwne. THAT Is not my
way of treating boys who do as well as
they can"
Under the wise teachers judicious en-
enlargement the stupid boy showed so
much Intelligence that he was sent to
college. In after years he became q
lawyer, an editor, a judge. o governor,
United States senator and secretary Of
war and of State. That boy was VIII.
liam L. Marcy, of New York.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1882-06-23
A Scene on the Towpath.

Beneath the nights bespangled arch
they were strolling along unconscious OF
aught save the intermitting fancies OF
their twain hearts. Suddenly they paus-
cd and, gazing at ruddy star that
flashed like a great ruby in the firma-
ment, she said: ''Diomcdes! what rules
cent orb is that which winks with bloody
cen from yonder domeP' THAT, An
dromeda," spake her courtier knight,
sis Mars, the wad of gore-beg pardon;
l mean the god of war;" 'Ah, yes! and
looks he not like some gaunt Achilles,
armored for conquest, bidding defiance
to the hosts of HadesP'' ''He doth, An
dronaeda, he doth! Or like some grim
avenger furling hoe-I mean hurting
fOe-tO the death!"
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1882-06-23
he Wanted to Be . Girl 30 Bad.

sUncle Simon feter, as ne is gencr-
ally called. went to Augusta, Ca, Sum
day morning to preach. As Is custom
airy at camp meeting he found q great
many Of the young men mem sitting ,Sa1 a%oaK
move over on the mems side, which
they did. That evening Rev. Sam Jones
was to preach, and s6ncle Simon Pc
teri was up in the pulpit with him.
Just as Mr.. Jones got up TO commence
preaching. "Uncle Simon Peter" looked
over the audience and spied young
man sitting with o younglady He i'm
mediately jerked Mr.. Jones by the coat
tail and mOtioned him to sit down. Ris-
ing up. Nc said, young ladies, II you
have q spare dress, please put It on that
young man over there with his hair
parted in the middle. He wants to be q
girl 30 bad" ---.S
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1882-06-23

August Schoaf, who was court artist
to the unfortunate Emperor Macmillan
during his reign in Mexico. and who
settled in San Francisco in 1876, has
mysteriously disappeared from that city.
His rooms are largely stocked with paint
ings of his own. with few from other
artists, the lack of purchasers being due
TO the large prices placed on them. One
large canvas, view OF tho valley OF
Mexico" by himself, has been valued
nj So. 900 by connOisseurs.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1882-06-23

tho porter when ri.;s 70
tho door. puts ms head in and says,
'.Misther Immet, is the dog loose, l don
knowP" / say "All right, Pat; como in,
I'll hold him." Faith / will not, Nv
he wanted to boite me twilve min
wouldn't hould him." he replied. So
unless lock the dog in another room
don't have any fire. He is not in the
least cross, however, and l don't think
he would hurt any one"
Il would not part with him for S5,-
000," said Mrs. Emmett.
As tho reporter left, Bayard was stand
ing on his hind legs in the doorway with
his fore feet on Mr.. Emmcts shoulders
and his head nearly touching the cell
ing.-NeU York World.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1882-06-23

An ingenious method Of arriving at
an estimate of the numbers of children
who succeeded in evading the compul-
sorry bylaw Of the School Board has
been adopted by the Ragged School
Union of Liverpool. A band Of music
was hired to play for two hours day
during school hours In different parts Of
the city, and record kept of all the ju-
veniles who were attracted by the mu-
sic. In four days they counted no fewer
than 5000 children of school age, for
the most part squalid and ill-fed. stand
ing round the band at time when they
ought to have been al school