davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1882-11-30
HOTEL GUESTS ELECTRIFIED.
The Trouble that was Caused by the
Little Screw OF au Electric Lamp.


A gentleman leaning against one of
the iron pillars in boomers cafe re-
Gently, says the Philadelphia Press.
was observed 10 pitch suddenly for
ward and nearly fall on the marble
floor. Returned very pale, and lo0E-
ed about him to see whether his in
voluntary action had been noticed. IL
did not appear to have been, and he
walked back to the pillar and examin-
ed it critically. Then he walked
around il and looked to the ceiling.
He locked TO the floor, and then TO
satisfy himself whether the post had
moved from its place and kicked him,
he pressed hard against it with the
palm of his hand.
In another instant lie gentleman
was sprawling on the floor. He got
up and finding that he was beginning
to attract attention, he walked back
and sought Mr.. Dooner. as this place
haunted" he asked, "or have you "A
familiar spirit which knocks people
DOWN. Then he explained what had
taken place. Nonsense" said MIR.
Boomer, "show me the post and Ill
hug it if you say So" Mr.. Dooner
was shown the post, and he put his
arms around it. But it was not for
long. In less thar two seconds Mr..
Dooner was where his guest had been
few minutes before. At the same
time howl of rage was heard in the
bar room. Mr.. Dooner ran back. A
man was standing there with a half
emptied glass of wine in his hand.
"What does this mean ?" he demanded.
81 attempted to take drink and a
shock went through me like galvanic
battery. Do you" He was interrupt
ed by another man, who entered sud
denly with yell and muttered i'm
precation. What's the matter hereT'
he asked, rather angrily. / put my
ing TO the cafe, "and / believe I'm
paralyZed."
BY This time a group of excited men
had gathered around. "The place Is
bewitched," said one, "or has been
magnetized," suggested another. mo,
gentlemen" ventured little man,who
was smiling broadly. "it's nothing OF
the kind. These gentlemen have all
received an electric shock. Make an
investigation and see if / am not
right"
The hotel proprietor sent for the
manager of the Electric Power Com
pany. He came. and in less than
twenty minutes had solved the mystic
ry. 1t was found that steel screw
from which depended an electric light,
had been pushed too far through the
lath and plaster and came in contact
| with on iron oi rdar rafting on the nil.
lar and the base of the pillar rested OF
another girder beneath the floor. The
gentlemen who were knocked down
had completed the circuit by touching
the post, and the man who though he
was drinking molten lead did the same
by placing his foot on the metal raj
, in front Of the bar. after he had lifted
the glass to his lips. The screw wa:
given half turn back, the circuit wa:
broken and everybody was relieved.
Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1882-11-30
The Presidents Mail-Strangers
Who Appeal for Money-A Girl
Who Wanted O Piano.


was in the White House the other
day says Washington letter in Phila-
delphia Times, and saw q stack Of some
hundreds of communications addressed
to the President Of the United States.
They were all neatly jacketed and cord
ed up, awaiting the Presidents return.
l asked Secretary Pruden what the
tenor of such letters was.
"Oh, everything" was the reply.
"They are on every conceivable subject
of personal nature to the writer.
Many of them are direct appeals for
money. Now you would never suppose
stranger in Texas, Nebraska, or New
Hampshire, or somewhere else. would
write to the President for few hun
dred dollars with the expectation of
getting it, would your"
answered that didn't feel quite
sure about that, since women and men
who were total strangers to me fire.
quently come into my office and request
me to get them pass to Philadelphia
or New York, or government clerk
ship. or a situation on leading news
paper.
swell, it's fact. There are letters
here asking Mr.. Arthur to send vari-
GUS sums by return mail or express,
from fifty cents up to $500. One
young lady wants TO buy piano, by
which, she says, she will be able t.
earn her own living. Another man
wants to borrow 800 for six months
for which he will give his note and II
per cent interest.
1 glanced at the top jacket and saw
the brief, "Pecuniary Assistance"
Eyes, that's one," said the genia
secretary. "There are good many
more in the stack. Some want 0fficia
sinecures, making no profession of ser
vices. They merely want to be put OF
the rolls somewhere for few months
80 that the salary will help them along
They are usually not particular, how
ever. whether the Government or th'
President furnishes the money"
(Which of course he does ?" said /.
"Oh, yes; the same as you provide
the railroad passes and clerkships
Why, his $50, 900 year wouldn't b.
enough to pay these demands upon hin
personally. He can't even read thei
letters. It's very funny world this
And so it is.
Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1882-11-30
KALAMAZOO, Mich, Feb. 2, 1880.

know Hop Bitters will bear recon-
mendation honestly. All who use them
confer upon them the highest encomi-
ums. and give them credit for making
cures--all the proprietors claim for
them. 1 have kept them since they
were first offered to the public. They
took high rank from the first, and
maintained 1t, and are more called for
than all others combined. So long as
they keep up their high repstation for
purity and usefulness, 1 shall continue
to recommend Demonstrating have
never before done with any other patent
medicine.
J. J. BABCOCK, MD.
Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1882-11-30

VERY LIKELY.--A Scotch professor
in the University of Edinburgh was
experimenting before his pupils with
some combustible substances, when, as
he was mixing them, they exploded,
SCATTERING the vial which he held into
Fragments. He held up small piece
of glass, and said, very gravely: "Gen-
tlemen, have made this experiment
often with this very same vial, and
never knew it to break in my hands
bef0re"
Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1882-11-30
A Man lO4 Years Old.

Last Saturday the writer had the
pleasure of conversing with gentle
man who claims he will be los years
old on the fifth day of next April.
Think of it, 1O5 years of age. The pa
triarch's name is Francis Delaware; he
is French by birth. but removed from
his native land 10 Canada while quite
young. His story is, in brief, that IS
years ago he removed from Canada to
Vermont; several years ago he took
Horace Greeley's advice and came
West, locating in Illinois. Sixteen
years ago he struck further West and
located in White Cloud, Kas., where he
has since resided. This living, healthy.
robust specimen of manhood can walk
almost wholly without the aid of
cane mis- eyes are as brilliant and pene.
trating as a man at 80; his weight is
about 124 pounds. When ayoung man
Useventy years ago. he says his aver
age weight was between 165 and $50
pounds. Having grandchildren living
not far from here who are well advanc.
ed in years, the old veteran took 1t
into his head TO visit them. Mr.. j. s.
RUNNERS wife is a relation of Mr..
Delaware's, but of the third generation.
We saw the old gentleman climb
pair of stairs last Saturday as lively as
the writer could do it. The old mans
vitality is wonderful; he says he wants
to be $50 years old and then he wants
to leave this earth bodily. Question
ing the rugged old gentleman was
found that he likes tobacco, that he has
used it ever since he could remember,
and as for liquor, while he is not a
habitual drinker he has drunk rum or
some other strorg drink more or less
nearly all his life.' We give the story
as it was given us by him and his
friends. We call it remarkable and
the subject one out of Millions WAGER
IN Republican.
Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1882-11-30
NxONWRkTED.

After a searching inquiry into the
charge against Dervlsch Pasha for giving aid to
Arab Pashs, the former has been entirely ex-
onerated, having given satisfactory explana-
ton.
LEO Is DIsPLEAsKD.
Pope Leo is very much displeased
with the decision of tho court Of appeals at
Rome that the jurisdiction Of Italian tribunals
extends within the walls OF the Vatican.
Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1882-11-30

ride In that direction, he stopped at
one Kelly's, the blacksmith of the viii
lage, where, having called the man, he
asked him il he could shoe horse with
candle. mo-" replied the son of
Vulcan; "but can with a hammer"
Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1882-11-30

WHAT He SHoEp 1T wrTH.-It hap
pened that Dean Swift. having been
dining ut some little distance from
Larscor, his residence was returning
home on horseback In the evening,
which was very dark. Just before he
reached q neighboring village his horse
lost q shoe. Unwilling to run the risk
Of laning the animal BY continuing his
Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1882-11-30

For some time past there has been a
systematic piupdering Of the mails bet ween
Denver and the eastern cities, and the postal
Authorities hays been baffled in every effort to
stop 1t.
EVIDENCE ALL IN.
Melville has been excused from the
witness stand by the board of inquiry in the
Jeanette case. An adjournment has been
ordered until some time in the near future,
when decision will be given.
BEcX's SUGGESTION.
Senator Beck proposes, as soon as
the senate convenss, to offer resolution pro
vidiug that the annual holiday recess be
abandoned this year.
LAND QUESTION.
Secretary Teller has ordered that ac-
Ii IN Of the department be suspended 10 divers
cases involving title to valuable Michigan iron
lands within the limits Of the grants to the
Marquette aud StatsLine and the Ontonagon
railroads.
POSTAL DECISION.
Postal authorities have decided that
canned meats, weighing not over four pounds
can be sent as fourth-class matter, at a post.
age Of Is cents per pound.
ADJOURNMENT.
The Alabama claims commission
have deCid ed various controverted points, and
adjoui ned until January z, 1883.
COMBINATION.
Postmaster-G General Howe has signed
a contract with ST. Louis parties, for combi-
nation letter and envelope. This will be upon
the market early In January, and can be OBJ
tained at all postofhces for the modest sum Of
three cents.
BANKS AUTHORIZED.
The comptroller of the currency hes
authorized the national bank Of America, Chi
cago 10 begin business with capital OF
S3J), 100; also the First national at Pawnee
City, Neb., capital $4,000.
HOPEFUL DAVIS.
Judge j. q. Bancroft Davis, who left
the bench to become secretary OF state under
Blame, confidently expects to be appointed to
the vacancy on the bench OF the court Of
claims.
AUCTION sALR
About 5000 packages have accumu-
lated In the dead letter office during the past
year, and sale of the same IL announced to
take place early In December.
LABOR CONGRESS.
The national labor congress, which
has been ir session In Cleveland, have organ
lied for the ensuing year, and formally ratified
a platform of principles. These resolutions
demand, among other things, the enactment
Of employors' "liability lsws:" the compulsory
education of children and the prohibition of
their employment In labor when under IA
years Of age; the enforcement OF toe eight
hour law, and the stoppage OF the order or
truck" system Of payment,
10 BE STOPPED.
Fourth class postmasters will not be
permitted TO operate their efices by proxies
and serve 90 members Of state legislatures at
one and thu same time, as has heretofore been
the custom.
The chief clerk of revenue has sub
mtted his annual report, and therein strong
~ objects to the proposed transfer Of that
bureau from the treasury 10 the navy depart
ment
Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1882-11-30

LADIES DIARIES, 17s2-1ss2.-Many
of the diaries kept 10y society" ladies
one hundred years ago, and printed for
the delectation of nineteenth century
readers, may not be very brilliant liter
airy efforts. but they admirably serve
to show how simple and unas sumi2g
We're the lives of equality folk" in
ancient times. The annexed is excerpt
ed from the recently printed dairy of
Lady Sourapple:
"July 18-John took yarn of the
weaver, and brought back flax, spices,
and sugar. The stage wagon had not
arrived when he left Ipswich. and there
was no package from London. My
lord was to send hangings for the large
drawing room. but it matters not"
This, the reader may say, is very COM
monplace. And so it is. If il had been
written by the obscure Mary Jane Bog
gins instead of the Lady Sourapple, it
would not have been embalmed in
print, but the object in quoting it il to
compare it with couple of extracts
from the diary of society lady of
1sS2-which will not be printed for the
DtDtub VI lCouCio q OOhbtiy hChCVt
albeit quite as interesting as the Lady
Sourapple literature:
December Is = Painted a lovely
stork on mas pickle jar. Decided to
have my new heliotrope damasse made
without train. Read three chapters
Of The midnight Shrek; or, the faint
ing BRIDE Purchased charming vel.
vet collar with gold clasp for dear
little Fido's neck. Charles Augustus
called this evening. He's too sweet
for anything.
December 21-Worked supremely
beautiful pen-wiper for a Christmas
present to Charles Augustus. gave
him pair of utterly intense slippers
of my own embroidering last year, but
they were three sizes too small. A
pen-wiper is never misfit. Brother
Tom asked me TO sew on a suspender
button. He has no regard for the deli
cate state of my health. Was at Mrs.
DeUpkrust's German last night, and
danced every set. Didn't get home
until three o'clock this morning. /
must now dress for the Kodphish re-
ception, which is TO be too utterly all
butt. II. Williams, IN Editors
Drasoer, Harper's Magazine for Decem
Der.
Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1882-11-30

1T doesn't do to engage in q dispute
with chemist, for he always has re-
tort ready.
Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1882-11-30

Unhealthy or inactive kidneys cause
gravel, Bright's disease. rheumatism,
and horde of other serious and fatal
diseases, which can be prevented with
Hop Bitters, II taken in time.
Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1882-11-30

II you can't trust man entirely, let
him skip; this trying to get an average
on honesty has always been . failure
Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1882-11-30

Never reproach man with the faults
of his relatives.
Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1882-11-30

The chief clerk of revenue has sub
mItted his annual report, and therein strong
~ objects TO the proposed transfer Of that
bureau from the treasury 70 the navy depart
ment.
Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1882-11-30
NUMBERING THE RED SKINS.
BAFFLID AUTHORITIES.

For some time past there has been a
systematic piupdering Of the mails bet ween
Denver and the eastern cities, and the postal
Authorities hays been baffied in every effort to
stop 1t.
Daily Republican., 1882-03-29
al.

An exchange says:-Bayard Taylor
was q man who made many friends
be was loyalty itself in his lender de-
votion to those he loved He is spoken
OF to-day and will le spoken of for
years as man who Is personally
missed. Everything that touches his
life is OF interest to many people.
There came the other night to an exhi-
bit;On OF his sket ches the best element
in journalistic and art circles. | saw
~ old school journalist a man who
oStsugs to the old generation white
harriet little man who is saturated to
the heart with English poetry a man
who at his best writes poems that Will
live and at his worst writes TAR pad
ding for the weakest of our respectful
dail,es, a man who would be great if 1t
were no. Tor the haunting dinner pot
that .H,1st be kept boiling at home; l
saw This man stand with moist eyes
befcge a lost CHARACTERISTIC likeness OF
TaTlor, a pen and ink drawing done by
his own daughter. The two men had
worked much together in the old days
and had loved each other foLdly. He
knew as many man knew, how brave
generous and loyal BayarG Taylor was,
how charitable towards the faults OF
others, how strict with his own. These
are the characteristics that Taylor
friends love best to relnember-even
his transcendant literary fame his
great success, and the many horrors of
his later life, seem as trivial beside
these golden memories of the COLDER
things in his character. Bayard lay
lor was man, big and simple man
with the broad sympathies that come
of strel 9Th To his friends he gave o
himself as few men have done.
Daily Republican., 1882-03-29
THE Nc mocratic Msshiue.

The Levy Court of Kent County,
which adjourned on the 10 inst, had the
disfrsncting machine In full operation.
There was not the slightest trouble for
IA Democrat to get assessed, but when
Republican presented himself matters
were changed. The Republicans OF
East Dover hundred succeeded in GET
ting some seventy names on the assess.
ment list, and there are many more
that are legally entitled TO be on, but
which have by the Vaccinations of
the dominant party been stricken OFT.
In making the 'scrap assessment for
Dover hundred the Democratic assessor
took especial pains to keep the name of
every colored man Off The Republic
cans of that hundred are very indig-
nant at the unfair manner in which
they have been treated and it is ru
mored that the County Court will be
asked at the next term to serve writ
Of mandamus, compelling the Levy
Court to put the names OF a number of
men on the assessment list that have
been frauduently left Oh.
Daily Republican., 1882-03-29
Oda,t elIOWsh Et

On Wednesday, April I'D, the Odd
Fellows will celebrate the slXty-third
anniversary of she institution OF the
order in the United States, and last
evening committees from all the lodges
lin this city met at the Ddd-Fellows
Hall for the purpose OF appointing
committees to make the necessary ar
engagements. The meeting organ
izea by electing =. W. Taylor chair
man and Harry L. Hiesler secretary.
The following committees were ap-
pointed
On Speakers--German ID. Lincoln,
w. w. Crawford, ,.ohn Healey, Edgar
G. Pierce, Richard Burton, Jr.
Gu Music-M. l.. L!chtenstein, David
Downs, b. f. SLak espeare, W. &. Rob
inson, ,Ionn H. Bennett
On Select Ktaiaugs and Literary
Matters Harry f. Heiser, Thomas
Stimmell, NJ. L. Jester, Thomas Stein,
Frank Talley.
On Arranging and Decorating the
Room-Wm. II. Green, James Il.
Wright, j. ID. Garter, George Pyle,
Christian Spoer, James Kemble, Louis
Feldheimer, Eward Stewart, David
Downs, j. A. Bennett.
Frintlug-Geory +. Hobbs, I. Slim
meil, W. f. Vaughn.
The anniversary Will be held in Odc
Folio as Hall.
The convention will hold anothe
meeting next Tue.day evening.
Daily Republican., 1882-03-29

A young man named Orlando John
son, a: Seatord, hired team at thai
place on Friday last and started for
Georgetown. When he arrived at ii at
place, he imbibed rather freely in the
ardent spirit, after which he started for
home, but had not gone far on his way,
when he concluded TO return and have
some mere fun. Arriving in town he
left his horse standing and started off in
search of fun" HI called on widow,
living on The edge Of the town, but was
refused admitlance, whereupon be
broke window and gained ali entrance,
cutting his head severely.
He was accordingly arrested and
leaked up until morning, at which
sime his horse was Sound wandering
about the town, the wagon having
been canght in a post which retarded
the further progress OF the team. The
young man was allowed TO depart up.
on promising to pay six dollars Tor
damages
Daily Republican., 1882-03-29

The Levy Court proceeded to the
Almshouse this morning at 10 ~ o.
clock, in their own conveyances. Upon
their arrival they were received and
welcomed by II. Ogle, the physician
in charge OF the institution who secuted
them through all the different depart
ments. The Court expressed themselves
well pleased with the excellent conai-
ton of the place, and the cleanliness
and order that was manifested in every
department.
After thoroughly inspecting the
building the Court adjourned to the
Trustees room where they held a SEES
sion. Mr.. Cooch addressed the meeting
on behalf of the Trustees of the Poor III
reference to finances. He said that the
So, 900 appropriated for last year had
been expended, and there was now ii
deficiency of SlA,Om This he aocoun
ted for, by The extra expense the hoard
had been to on account OF the smal!
IDx, the greater amount of other sick
ness, and the increase III population,
and mentioned that the drug bill alone
W ~ double what it had formerly been,
Daily Republican., 1882-03-29

ST. PETERSBURG, March ~ Tho
La. 81 numDe OF tae VIII of the People
the NlLl.ist organ, dated February,
urg 5 the continuation of the organiza-
ton of the conspiracy, mot Wlthstandlng
the reprlsals Of lhe government. IL
also mentions thata brother of the W.
man 1erenJleaVa, one OF the NlhlllSts
rcctn ly asresJed a. st. Petersburg, has
been arrested; also, an escaping CON
Wet, GU whom wtry found lists OF names
leading to numerous arrests at Lka,
terinburG, Tiulnel, Iomsk and kaLan,
Tne Will of tue People declares that
the Keactionary Holy League has de-
ciueu even to use aSoao,ln Illon III CON
batting the Nihii,ts. A dispatch tt
the St. Petersburg Herald from kiet
says the authorizes OF that city have
ordered The Jews to abandon their resi-
deuces in the "Podul,' or commercial
quarter, and removed to the suburbs OF
the other side OF .he canal.
They have also ordered all Jewisl
domestics, unless authorized 80 resld
in Kiet1, to relinIuish their situation
and leave the town. The Jews are re
uuired to dismiss all their Christian
servants.
Daily Republican., 1882-03-29
EDITION
The Mason Court.maP tial .

WASHINGTON, March 28.-The re-
port OF Judge Advocate Swain III tne
case of Sergeant Mason WAS made pub
lie to-day. 1t shows that when Mason
fired the shot Guiteau was reclining
on his cot, while u substantial Drlck
wall INTERVIEWED between him ana the
line of fire. He was therefore in abso'
lutte acc urity from any effort Mason
might make to shoot him at the time.
The exclamation of Mason that he did
not know whether he killed Guiteau or
not, shows that he firedspurely At ran
dom or without reasonable certainty
of hurting or killing him. Therefore
as Guiteau was beyond the reach OF a
musket shot from the position occupied
BY Mason at the time OF the firing is he
guilty of an assault with intent 10 XIII
Guiteau. as alleged and found by the
Court? In2 Wharton on Criminal Law
9th ed. }, page "A the following rules
are laid down in such cases.
where, however, there is wanting ap-
parent and real ability to hurt in any
way there is generally no assault.
Again at l,279 it is said, "Where the
ability to commit u feloniOus attack Is
both apparently aud really wanting
the otiense is not complete. In note
uuder 2, 694 the same author cites an
English case in which it was heid that
shooting at another person does mol
take place when the other person ~
not in the place shot at.
By this it is understood that the
"o'her person" referred to was not IN
the line of fire and, like Guiteau, was
in absolute security irsm The shot, az
much so as if he was one of the ant'po-
DIES. AS the ability to commit the AZ
sault was both apparently ana really
wanting am OF the opVnlon that there
is material variance between the al 10
cations and the proofs and the conVlc-
ton ought not to be sustained.
General Swain then considers the
right of the court martial to try the
case and says while Masan cannot. on
the evidense, be convicted OF assault
with intent TO kul, yet has conduct en-
dangered tbs god order of the troops
and disturbed the tranquility, and the
Court should 80 bund as Il lesser KIN
dred otfense t9 that alleged by making
the necessary exceptions aiid SuDsttn-
tinns IN lts tin1mg~, OLher questions
might be RAISED ouching the validity
of the convic tin, and sentence IN TINS
case, but the foregoing reasons are
deemed sutiinlea to justify setting the
conviction and sentence asi lie, and 1t
Is 70 recommended.