davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1882-12-06
HOW FLIES CLIMB.
The Accepted Theory of Suction In The Feet
Disputed.


Herr H. DEWITT has communicated to the
Berlin Society of Natural History some facts
that bear very strongly against the generally
received theory that flies adhere to perpen-
dicular walls and ceilings by virtue Of some
sucking power in their feet. He asserts that
the feeto flies cannot possess tho sucking
property ascribed 10 them, for they are hard
aud destitute of muscles. The theory has
long been contradicted by the experiments
Of Blackwell, who found that flies could
climb the sides of q jar under the receiver of
an air.pump, where there was no atmos-
pheric pressure, and who asserted that the
power Of adherence was due to sticky mat
ter secreted from the foot-hairs OF flies.
This assertion was generally regarded as not
proved, and the case has rested there. De-
wits reports that his Investigations have
shown that BlackwaiI was right He has
watched thelexudstion Of tile sticky matter
from the feet Of the fiies BY fastening ons Of
the insects to the under side 81. i plate zof
glass and viewing II under the microscope.
A perfectly clear liquid was seen to dow
from the ends OF the foot-hairs aud attach
the foot to the glass. When The foot vas
lifted up, to be put down in another place,
the drops Of the sticky matter were perceiy-
sd to be left on the glass, in the exact places
where the foot-hairs had rested The adhe.
sive fluid appears to pass down through the
hollow of the hair, and to be derived from
glands which Leydig discovered in the folds
of the foot is 1859. A similar adhesive mat.
ter appears TO be possessed by bugs, by
many larym, and probably by all insects
that climb the stems aad the under sides of
the leaves of plants. Scieacs
Monthly.
The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1882-12-06
4 STARTLING SCANDAL.


The venerable clergyman arose slowly In
the pulpit, and glancing around on the
thinlyscattered congregation, said in an
emphatic tone. in which there was more of
sorrow than Of anger; my beloved
brethren, am In hopes that there will be
more present next Sabbath, as will then
have occasion to reveal scandal which has
long oppressed my heart II concerns the
members of this church very deeply, and no
one who has regard for eternal happiness
should be absent" When the benediction
was pronounced the handful of people slow
" dispersed, but behold how much good
seed few can scatter The next Sunday
The sacred ediice was packed. There was.
indeed, hardly breathing room when the
white-haired sage once more lifted his head
above the pulpit cushions, and silence a.
of death fell upon the expectant throng. He
stood moment looking upon the unwonted
scene, and then his voice in silvery cadences
broke the hush Of anticipation. Dear
friends" he said, ''the scandal would re-
veal Is this--you will gather in this place in
crowds TO hear mischievous gossip, but will
not listen 10 explanations Of the inspired
word. Nov, my brethren, ! offer my res
ignation. am going to Europe for six
months, and shall pay my own expenses"
But no one Of the vast multitude took the
lesson TO himself he applied 1t TO his neigh
Sor- Raetosa Iouxier.
The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1882-12-06
a pARKEY JUSTICES DECISION.

Some time ago Nathan Jones, colored
man in whose general character there was
lack of hudiblo ambition, was arraigned be-
fore Little Rock Justice, and fined. Jones
went down in tho country, became leader
among the negroes and was elected Justice
Of the Peace. The other day Squire Gilwig,
before whom Jones had been arraigned, aud
whom the waves of politics had submerged,
vent down into Jones' neighborhood, drank
Dad whiskey and killed q man. He was ar
rested and taken before Judge Jones for ex-
animation.
''Prisoner at dc bar" said the colored JUS
lice, ode las time Toasted dose judicial
optics on yer fat face, was in hook an yer
se'f was do musical director oh dc festive
occasion. Recognized my lack of lhrnin'
sab, an went ter a night school. My frien's
seein in me de stuff outen what big men is
made, put me on dis bench, while yer own
frien's, falin' ter see dem features in yerself,
.ook yer often do bench. Yer is charged
sid KILN mau. De charge am pretty well
sustained, an blamed IF see how yer's
swnter git outen dis fix"
'sJudge," said the prisoner, " I nm aware
that ani seriously situated. I fined you
heavily when you were drawn up before me.
aud now especially as my crime is great. I
do not expect mercy" '1lAs
"Yas, sab, yas Now, my mode OBJ pre-
,edement is a little different from dat put
lown in de statuary books. When man
what is guilty ob two crimes is arrested an
fotch afore me discharges him on de little
rhine but holes him on dc big one. Now.
The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1882-12-06
TEA IN A CHINESE RESTAURANT.

The other evening we attended novel
tea-party. Pace-Wun Lungs Chinese res.
taurant. Time--10 P. NJ Presens-Two
editors, a lawyer and the writer. Johns-
than demured against risking his life by
Chinese cooking, but healthy, Boston,
baked-beans appetite overcame all scruples
rhe restaurants OF Chinatown" generally
ierve three grades CT meals; tho third class
lat theirs on the first floor by the kitchen,
the first class customers ascend 60 the third
story In addition, there are what are
known as third class restaurants, whose cui-
sine none but natives dare investigate.
While seated on sort of balcony overlook.
ing the street with its many colOred lanterns,
se could also look into the main saloon re-
served for white customers Hero half
dozen lacquered tables, light bamboo chairs
and ebony wood stools, gave one hopes Of
dainty repast. Nor were we disappointed.
The service would have put to blush many a
Christian caterer. A heavy, spow-white
10th, a delicate tea-set OF decorated china
he ours small and shallow, having sort OF
over Tin reality the saucer itseIf) fitting
over each to prevent the escape of the pre-
cious tea vapor, dishes containing several
kinds of cake, preserved ginger, lines, mel
on, variety Of plums, shelled Chinese al.
monds aud peculiar fruit like q dried
cherry encascd in chocolate colored husk.
As we took our seats Prong, the waiter.
lefty removed the saucers from our tea, re-
plenishing the cups as fast as emptied. And
what delicious nectar that tea was! None
OF your bitter infusion of tannin, such as
that produced by our method of boiling, but
palatable, without milk or sugar. Johna-
than seemed to enjoy his exceedingly.
Better'n Boston tea, vnm!" he cx-
ilaimed, as he awkwardly attempted 10
transfer plum to bis mouth by means of
chopsticks. Our repast, really enjoyable
one, was finished by cigarettes aud native
brandy, the cigarettes containing opium,
the brandy not especially delicious. but
strong enough to inebriate the wooden god
who, surrounded BY burning perfumed punk,
scowled at our gas.ronomic foats from the
shrine behind us.--.Saa Braacisco CORES
poadsacs Detroit Free Psess. AN
The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1882-12-06
MISCELLANY.
DOES IT Rum UP HILL Z

The erroneous notion that the Mississippi
River Is actually higher at its mouth than at
It's source has obtained much more geuer.
al belief among intelligent people than
fnany readers Of Our Curiosity Shop sup
pose. This notion grows out of the fact
that the earth Is not perfect globe its
diameter at the equator being little more
than twenty-six miles greater than the diam.
eter from pole to pole. A mathematical cal.
snlation shows that the average distance
from the centre of the earth to ts surface
on the parallel of BAlizs, at the mouth of
the Mississippi, Is nearly two miles greater
than the average distance from the centre of
the earth to its surface on the parallel of
lake Itasca, the source of the Mississippi.
But Il does not follow that the surface OF the
Mis- sdppi at = mouth IS two mil g higher
uan Lake Itasca. Actual survey has deln-
,nstIated that ii is not SO but, on the con-
trary. L a. Lake Itssca is 1875 feet, OF
thereabouts, above sea level The rapid
revolution of the earth on its axis, at the
rate of about 1000 miles per hour, causes
the waters of the earth to flow from the
poles toward the equator and remain at a
general surface hight of about thirteen miles
more from the centre OF the earth than the
surface at either pole So long as the earth
maintains its present rate of daily revolution
the level OF the Gulf OF Mexico is likely TO
DO kept lower than the source of the Missis-
sippi. but it is easy TO understand that should
this diurnal rotation cease, the ocean would
recede from the equator toward the poles,
and not only would the water of the Gulf OF
Mexico rise higher than the source OF the
Mississippi, but all North America, except
the portions nearest the equator, would be
submerged. At present the earth's rotation
on its axis serves as thoroughly effectua
centrifugal pump to drain the United States
and enable Uncle Sam to give every one OF
his boys who will cultivate Il farm = Chi
cogo Inter Ocean.
The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1882-12-06
A HoMELY MAN.


A Galveston man tells how the Indians
captured in 1888 Mr.. chsm, who was
then blacksmith at San Felipe, and re
gsrded as the ugliest or homeliest man il
Texas. The Indians kept Mr.. Chism cap
tive about three days, and during that time
as be related himself to my informant, as he
was able to understand their language, he
was made the subject Of their ludicrous
tests in regard to his ugliness, and was com
PEELED TO run foot and mule races for hi.
life, and constantly threatened with shoot
Ing il he got beat in the race He war
finally, at the end Of the third day, told tc
ride away on his mule, as ho and she were
too ugly to kill, unless it was done in self
defense. Mr.. Chism never claimed TO BE-
good-looking after that, and accepted th>
Indian verdict. and thought II extremely
fortunate that he was so ugly, especially al
that important juncture, as It saved his
life. This escape enabled him to i've to o
good old ago aud to die q natussl death Il
paid that time to be ugly. 0rsssD
Tsmss-D Democrat
The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1882-12-06
JAPANEE WOMEN.

Although the average stature of this peo-
pie is under the standard of iaost of the
European nations, it is about equal to the
average of the French that is, Of the male
portion. The females are very much below
the height OF Western women. But they
have the same muscular traits as the males.
They have welldeveloped limbs and Ca
pacify for labor and fatiguing work that
seems astonishing. To see these women al
work in the fields, managing the immense
hoe in use there, with their scanty garments.
which allow the sun to look upon their
shoulders and the upper portion of their
bodies, leaving their limbs unfettered, they
appear models Of symetrical developments
Beautifully rounded arms and limbs, with
smallest of feet and hands and small boned.
they present the spectacle of what the hu-
man form should be in its natural grace and
finish. An extraneous appliance is never
permitted to assist Dame Nature in giving
shape or line TO the compact anatomy of
their bodies. The children are woudrously
strong also. They are harnessed into the
koucIhA Chtc VI INC Atttch ~ VI hhC uOuSo-
nold as soon as they are large enough to have
a smaller child strapped on to their backs.
They learn very early the skill of bearing
burdens upon their shoulders. As they in
crease in growth the capacity for this sort
of work is duly fostered. The women,
young and old, are to be seen bearing loads
upon their backs that the uninitiated in such
work would not be able 70 stand up under.
They will travel miles laden this way with a
speed that would be sufficient to tire IN aver
age Yves ern woma il entirely unincum-
bered In fact, there are very few women
who could at al walk the distance the old
women do while bearing heavy loads. And
al this is performed on an abstemious vsse
tabls diet San Frasscisoo CAronicle.
The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1882-12-06
CHINESE supRRsrlrloNs,

Much curious information on the subject
IS conveyed in the Report OF the Health Of
Wenchow, for the six months ending Sept.
90, 1881, compiled by DR.. d. J. Mcgowan.
The author has gathered together miscel-
laneous collection Of memoranda concerning
many Of the superstitions prevalent in the
Celestial Empire. He deals with epidemic
frenzies tho popular crazes which some-
times affect whole communities and of which
the most noted Western example is the witch
mania which devastated Europe in the six
teenth and seventeenth centuries. Such
epidemics are very common in China, the
most conspicuous recent instance being the
terror created in 1876 by the supposed su-
pernatural clipping Of queues. It appears
that sorcerars are in the habit of scattering
charmed bits Of paper representing men,
which are the means OF disseminating evil
spirits throughout tho community When
one of these spirits enters house he pro-
seeds TO cut off piece Of the queues of the
inmates, and the sorcerer, on obtaining pos
session of this, can evoke at viii the soul Of
its owner, which he is able thereafter to use
as a servile demon, while tho man dies
through the loss of his spirit. Tho only
cure is for the sufferer to cut of an inch or
two more of the remainder of his hair and
keep 1t for eighty days soaking In cesspool,
thus severing the mysterious connection be-
tween his head and the portion Of hair in
possession of the sorcerer. But for proven.
ton, reliance III placed on amulets and
charms In 1876 the Governor of Kiangsu
issued proclamation embodying charm
of his own invention, to be posted over tho
loors of dwellings, or to be worn az an anu.
let He further recommended an anathema
attributed to Tao-Tsze, the founder of Tao
ism, which was to be chanted while copying
il on yellow paper with the blood of cock
mixed in vermillion, the paper being there
upon burned and the ashes swallowed. DIR.
mcgowan states that there was scarcely a
house-door that was not protected by
charm, and scarcely an individual who did
not wear an amulet ON cap or sleeve; but il
subsequently appeared that the panic was
the work of secret revolutionary societies,
whose emissaries found little difficulty In
creating disturbance by clipping off few
queues from the unwary in each large city,
and by loudly announcing in places of public
resort that they had been treated In the
same yhg
The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1882-12-06
SPANISH WOMEN.

Since my arrival here have been indus
triously looking out for the beauty for which
tho Spanish women are popularity supposed
TO be famous. / think the character for
beauty with which the Spanish women are
generally credited must originally have
smanated from French source. No doubt
but that he Spanish fair sex exceeds the
French in good looks, but then the French
women are VIGOROUSLY homely, speaking
generally. an told that the best booking
women of Spain are TO be found in Seville
and Cadiz, with which two towns | am at
present unacquainted. but must say that
the fair Madrinos far exceed their Partisan
sisters in good looks. cannot say that the
average of female beauty, in Madrid at any
rate, is any higher, or indeed so high al
that to be found In America and England.
There are few very homely women in Mad
rid, and the old English expression "come-
ly" would describe as accurately rs possible
tho average OF feminine beauty in this city,
which tako to be fairly representative of
the whole of Spain. In vivacity they ex-
tcod thCh tshbhoh otHtNiny shShSh shpJ Picb-
ably fall short somewhat of the French
ideal. In point Of gracofnlness they are
incomparably superior to any women ever
met Ispeak, perhaps, rather confidently
on this point for one who has been for so
short time on the Iberian Peninsula, but
happen to have had one or two good intro
ductions to native residents of this city and
have had the opportunity, which few tran
sient visitors TO the capital have, of seeing
something Of tho home life of the Spanish
upper circles There Ia no one who will
not concedo to the Spanish women unparal-
leled gracefalness, eonsummate mastery of
the art OF handling a fan, and the possession
of the finest eyes ofany women in tho world,
which organs, en- parentsse, may perhaps
be. permitted to observe, they know full well
how to make use Of
The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1882-12-06
WHEAT rs KING.
What Constitutes u Bonspxa Farmer In
Dakota.

Dakota.
The reader desiring clew to the social
and business life OF this people must under.
stand that in all the Red River country
''Wheat is King" Millions of dollars are
invested in its cultivation, and every man.
woman and child is deeply interested in the
yearly crop, for as yet it is the staple pro-
duction of the country, the crop upon which
its continued prosperity rests. Stories of
crop disasters from floods, tornadoes, drouth
and grasshoppers pour in each year from
other localities, and although tho Valley has
gone on for years producing beautifully,
and has soil whose wheat nutritives are
apparently inexhaustible, yet each year the
douot recurs, what if some accident should
occur? This doubt keeps the whole com.
munity in fever of anxiety for months pre-
ceding harvest. Men put off journeys,
building, paying debts, getting married,
everything till after harvest; and solitary
stranded chopper by adverse winds driven
out of its unerring course to tho wheat fields
Of Iowa and Nebraska, is of more inter-
est than the prospective adjournment of
Congress.
Happily the point of danger this year is
past, and the revulsion is electrical Every
where new buildings are being erected, q
believe that is the way Richard Grant White
would have us put it, anyway the buildings
go up, elevators are enlarged, stagnation
disappears, the funny stories come to the
surface. and .all goes merry as q marriage
hell" Big wher crops are a fruitful source
of healthy booms. Fargo is the favorito
residence of the bonanza farmers A little
PREDATORY explanation of that title seems per.
tinent When a man secures from one t.
twenty thousand acres o. wheat lands and
an annual net profit of from $40 to S. per
acre, he ia then said to have bonanza, the
possession OF which entities him to the rank
of honanza farmer. But there are all grades
Of bonanza farmers from the struggling pri.
vate in the ranks With only his one thousand
or two thousand acres of wheat, up to the
bonanza kings with many thousands. These
distinctions may account for the prevalence
of military titles. for Generals, Colonies,
Majors and Captains do much abound.
Anything below a Captain is considered
"small potatoes" and don't count Private
Dalzell must secure brevet before he can
reasonably expect any distinguished mems
autographs in this neck of words.r There
is no position in the world / would more
cheerfuly undertake to fill than that Of bo-
nanza farmer. During most of the year he
lives in town in his own house, or stops at
the best hotels, smokes the best cigars, Ii
full of good stories, and taxes life in an easy,
jolly way, which would be decidedly refresh.
ing to the "horny -hauded Ohio farmer. -
Dakota Correspondent Cincinnati Coma,<r.
eiol.
The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1882-12-06

STRICKEN DUMB.
Tennessee Nesress Paraiyx ed While Civ.
Ing False Testimony.


A strange story comes from the eastern
portion of this county of woman being
struck dumb while giving false testimony.
The facts as related are rs follows: On lsss
Friday colored man named Jesse Price
was on trial before Squire Allen, Justice
of the Peace, who has an Office on the Ma.
con road between Germantown and Bartlett,
Tenn. Price had been beating number of
women in the neighborhood, and Isabella
jackson, colored woman, was placed on
the witness stand to tell what she knew OF the
matter. She began her evidence, but was
soon after asked by the Justice, "Do you
not know that you are lyingr' She an
swered, Yes, sir" These words were tns
last Isabella jackson ever spoke. She had
appeared quite independ mt, and to some
extent impudent when first put upon the
witness stand. After her last remark
number of questions wore asked, but the.
woman made no reply. Believing her to be
shaniming, the Judge ordered Constable W.
X. Allen, to escort tho witness from the
court room but when ordered 10 follow that
officer she did not move. Two men of her
own color were then told TO carry her out of
the room. While in the act of carrying tho
woman out it was observed that she was In
a helpless condition she had been para
lyzed in every part her limbs we're motion
less. her tongue had no power, and 1t soon
became evident that the hand Of the Al
mighty had been laid heavily upon her. For
two hours or thereabouts, the woman re-
manned in this passive state, after which abe
was placed in wagon and conveyed to her
home. She never moved or spoke after, but
on Saturday evening she expired, no anti
dote applied during the interval having
awaited in affording the slightest relief The
incident is verified by Esquire Allen, before
whom the woman appeared, and also by
number of persons, present at the timo Of
its occurrence Nashoiiis american.
The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1882-12-06

A MAN WHO KsrTs John Schinsky, OF
this county, says the Paducah, KY, Neios,
who is Familiarity known as the Man Knit
ter,r was in this city to-day. Mr.. Schinslsy
has mania for knitting, aud It l. said tho
first thing he does in the morning Is to get
his needles aud yarn and commence knit
ting, and he so continues all day. He FREE
qusntly, after retiring at night, will got up
aud knit for an hour or two at time. To
day, whilo buying bill Of dry goods, he
"attendsd to his knitting" and purchased
his goods at the same time. He excites con-
siderable cusiosity Us he passes through the
streets and in and out doors, knitting as. Il
for life, and hardly, apparently, with any
knowledge Of the employment of bis hands.
The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1882-12-06
THE INCOME OF ROYALTY.

Tho Queen of England's estate or estates
II any, are not crown property. The Ken
sington property bought by Prince Albert is
small. which was sold by his agent in build
ing lots, no doubt realizing han dsome
profit on the purchase. 1t will fall into the
hands Of the heir at the expiration OF the
lease Jf ninety nine years with all the
buildings thereon. We will turn now to
tho fixed income of the other European
crowned hoads. The Emperor Of Russia,
81, 100000 the Emperor Of Austria, $780,
900 the Emperor of Germany, 100000 /;
tho King Of Italy, c550.0o0; the Sultan,
f350, o0o tho King of Spain, f20o, COOS the
King of Portugal, fi5O,0oo. Those sums
represent the English pound sterling, The
persons who grtimble about the Queens
income being 30 large forget that the peo-
Plies representatives voted the sum Of 1885,
900 per year to the Queen as an equivalent
for all she reiinquished. Correspondence
Richmond Wig.
raox ~~-----~>@~sUs--4->
Additional reading matter on fourth
The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1882-12-06

NORTHERN CApIrAt N SOUTHERN Timer.
"A good deal of Northern 'apital has been
invested during the last few months in South.
ern timber lands, and the number OF persons
seeking investment is rapidly increasing AT
the present time prices arc low, compare
tively--even along lines, Of projected rail
roads, The future Of. the South promises
well. as the grand army of lnmbernien
marches South bearing with Il earnest labor
ers, wisdom, worth, aud goodwill The
favored sunny land will verify be q rich
blooming garden. Osisago Lans6emdn
The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1882-12-06

SHED ARRIVED. There's story Of wo-
man up in Michigan who was lost in the
woods five days, nearly starved to death,
was frozen at night, was chased by wolves
and scared by snakes, and when she got out
Of the jungles and reached home at last, no.
body had missed her SHADOW of DEATH
But she was the rnaddest woman, Yes, daugb-
ter, you may just bet your bangs they knew
she had got homsl Oh, yes they knew it."