davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1882-10-26
Vary Shockinp.

Old Sea-Captain John, in Paul Forts
''Mysterious Barrel story, tells how he
transported a gy1nnotus- and astonishcd
the doctor. From South America one
of the first electric ecls that was ever
carried to New York was brought. 1t
was obtained in Brazil, and bought of
some Indians for about six dollars.
We had lots of trouble with this fel-
low, for these cells live in fresh water,
and if we had not had plenty of rain Oh
the voyage, we couldn't have kept him
alive, for the water he was i'll had to be
changed every day.
We kept him on deck in o water-bar-
rel which lay on its side in its chocks,
with square hole cut through the
slaves on the upper side to give the
creature light and air.
When we changed the water n couple
of sailors took hold of the barrel and
turned it partly over, while another held
a straw broom against the hole to keep
the eel from coming out.
We would always know when tho
water had nearly run out, for then the
eel Law against the lower slaves, and
even the wood of the barrel would be
so charged with electricity that the sail
ors could hardly hold on to the ends of
the barrel.
They'd let go with one hand and take
hold with the other, and then they'd let
go with thst and change again. At
first | didn't believe that the fellows
felt the cells shocks in this way; but
when | took hold myself one day, |
found they weren't shamming at all.
Then we turned the barrel back and
filled it up with fresh water. and started
the eel off for another day.
He got along frst-rate, and kept well
and hearty through the whole of the
voyage. When we reached New York
we anchored at Quarantine and the
health-officer came aboard. l knew him
very well, and l said to him.
doctor, I've got something aboard
that perhaps you never saw BEFORE
''What' that?'' said he.
Gan electric eel,' said l.
"Goodr' said he; ''that's something
I've always wanted to see. l want to
know Just what kind of Il shock they
can give"
''AiI right said 1; ''you can easily
find out for yourself. He is in this
water-barrel here, and the water has
just been put i'll fresh so you can see
him. All you have got to do IS just to
wait until he swims up near the surface,
and then you can scoop him out with
your hand. You needn't be afraid of
his biting you.'
The doctor said he wasn't afraid of
that He rolled up his sleeve, and as
soon as he got chance he took the eel
by the middle and lifted it out of the
water. 1t wasn't very large one, only
eighteen inches long, but pretty stout.
The moment he lifted it he dropped
it, grabbed his right shoulder with his
left hand and looked aloft.
What is the matter?n said 1.
"Why, 1 thought something fell on
me from the rigging said he. q was
sure my arm was broken. never had
such blow in my life"
'.It was only the EEL" said 1. "Now
you know what kind of shock he can
! CriVa ~
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1882-10-26
By the River.
We went to walk by the river,

We went to walk by the river,
And the sun was dim in the west;
IN a mis-: Of eorrOw the world was clad,
/ or my heart was fuii and my heart was sad
With love that was unconfessed;
md mCurnful the murTruT the foliage had,
By the winds OF GUNNER oppressed.
She was near, so near could touch her hand,
And tho boistcrous winds, al play,
10 NY lipa lcaPCd up with fragrant strand
Or her siik-soft hair that had slipped its band,
Yet she seemed to be far AWAY;
Ard dismal the Swallows that fell on the land,
In the track OF tho vanishing day,
She had pluckcd spray of the ciustcrd grace,
branch of the locust bloom;
ngt At the mll-white ilowers ngainst her face,
And down where the waters were falling apace
Rose the plant of bird in the gloom.
We were stayed ut last by the restless beat
OF the biiloTs that sadly rolled,
And they broke in sobs as they kissed the feet
OF the liRtess lover they came to greet;
And they begged that he might be bold,
Till, moved to the tale by their sympathy
Oh, the story of love that he told!
We sat at rest by the river,
And the sun was low in the west;
In Il tsOl1Gn glory the world was clad,
For my heart was free and my heart was glad,
With its longing ut last confessed;
And tender the niurmur the foliage had,
Ry the winds OF summer carcSSed.
She was close, SO close there wes hardly room
For our passionate hearts to play;
And the milk-whitc spray of tho locust bloom,
1t was crushed and Crumpled to rich perfume,
As cont ont On her breast it lay;
Oh, bliss of the blossoms that welcomed their
doom
Ana that died in so royal way!
From brt; that swung on branch o'erhead
Fell Il strain tEat WAS low and sweet:
And the waves rolled up where the wavelcts
led, ...-s
And they sang for JOY that the gloom was fed
From the lover they came 10 greet
"i!s head on the mountains of heaven" they
said,
Ard the valleys of bliss ut his feet"
We came in peace from the river;
And the sun was lost in the west;
Aud the night was come with its star-lit skies;
eyes,
And my heart was III last at rest;
Yet why was it burdcned with sorrow and
sighs
Till my love TO my love was confessed2
But the heights of passion, oh, who shall scan?
and its mysteries who shall prove?
Or shall raise the curtain that hides its plain,
As it lifts to blessing or sinks to ban,
Save the angels in heaven above?
For strange is the passionate heart OF man,
And strange 10 the passion of love.
Oh, sweet is the passion OF Lowell
-l!Inmer Greene, III Our Continent.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1882-10-26
Plain Preaching,

Friar Ctfthbert was one of the class of
jocular preachers so popular in the me-
dimval times. They preached what was
called Risus Paschales-comic homilies
for Easter. Their works have been
printed, and the student of early man.
ners may consult them with advantage.
though he may be repelled by their
coarseness. They were bold satirists,
dwelling perhaps too exclusively on the
baser aspect of human life. In their de-
nunciation of prevailing vices they did
not spare the most exalted personages.
Maillard, the cordelier, so irritated
Louis XII. by his structures that he
threatened to have him thrown into the
Seine. "The King may do as he pleases,"
replied the undaunted preacher, "but
tell him that shall sooner get to Para
disc by water than he will arrive by all
his post horses"
But we shall best give the reader an
idea of the style adopted by these jocu-
lar clergy by quoting a few sentences
from sermon preached by Father On
oroto, the Capuchin, which we have
come across in a curious old Italian
work. In the course of the sermon he
brought into the pulpit skull, which
he addressed as follows: Speak" he
said, ''speak and tell me whether you
were not once the head of magistrate!
You don't answer? Silence shows con-
sent" He then placed upon the head
a judges cap, eXclaiming at the same
time, "Have you not often been in
league with the advocate in order to de-
priye the widow and the fatherless of
their rights? You don't answer. Silence
shows consent" He then laid down
the skull and took up another, to which
he exclaimed, Were you not the head
of one of those light-minded damsels
whose every thoug ght is given to their
coquetries?" Then taking cuff from
his sleeve, he placed it upon the hideous
relic of humanity, crying: Miserable
head, where are now the soft, lanxuid
glances that used TO csptivste the un-
waryP Where ia that beautiful mouth
which formed such fascinating smiles!
Where are now the pearly teeth-where
the rouge-where the cosmetics with
which the face WAS 80 often paintedi
Ands on in this strain the capuchin con
tinued, describing ell the various cendi-
tions Of life. and altering the position of
the skull, which he hold in his hand, ac-
eording to the subject with which he
hadS to deal. On one occasion Louis
XIV. asked Bourdalout, the famous
orator Of Notro Dame, his opinion OF
Onoroto: Sire" was the reply, that
preacher tickles indeed the ear, but al
so pricks the heart. People return at
his sermons the purses they steal at
mine. ."-2eopIe's Friend
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1882-10-26

Bernhardt is terribly jealous of her
new husband, whom marriage has not
entirely cured of q passion for flirting.
She keeps close eye upon his move
ments, and is never comfortable when
he is out of her sight. During her stage
performances, the bare thought that her
attractive lord and master is engaged in
''rnashing'' some of the foot-light beau
tics behind the wings drives her nearly
distracted. At Blackpool recently, where
an immense audience had assembled to
see her in Camille" she refused after
the first act to play any longer She al
legged sickness as the reason for this
sudden whim. and pointed to the blood
which she was raising from her lungs
with q violent attack of coughing as a
proof of it. 1t was shrewdlv surmised.
however, that the blood was merely
'.stage blood" which Sarah had used
with realistic effects, and it was after
wards discovered that her jealousy was
the real reason of her rrefusal to continue
the play. She had detected Damala in a
new Irritation, and could not remain on
the stage while he was out of her sight.
If she doesn't shoot or poison this fick-
lie benedict before long. or kill off her
self or every beauty whom he is likely
to admire, she will not be true to the
traditions Of the disappointed actress of
the French stage.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1882-10-26

We call the attention of our eastern
friends to the fall styles in lynching in
Wyoming and to the advancement thus
being made in crude justice. The tele-
graph pole has about played out here
now as a western aid to speedy vindica-
ton and the advantage of box car as
a convenient lynching apparatus will be
seen by all, and the day is far distant
when a car fitted up like wrecking car
only with vigilance committee, coro-
ner, coroncr's jury, rope, ETC., will be
the popular thing. If the day ever comes
when such necktie chariot roams up
and down the land, people will begin to
look over their past record when they
see it coming, and reform.
Wyoming may not be very recherche
in many ways. but she has made some
gallant strides in the way of sudden
equity. Justice may be slow in the old
world, but in Wyoming results come
treading upon the heels of crime and ef-
feet somehow seems to follow rapidly on
the trail of cause.
The Pullman Palace Lynching car will
have every convenience and be managed
so rs to give perfect satisfaction to ali.
1t will be held subject to telegram and
"Ien IIlc average DOIu, Ddl lldn, VINO Is
too handy with n six shooter, kills the
principal business man in town, it will
be coupled to an engine rs soon as the
wicked man can get himself in shape,
the excursion train will come and take
him along. When business is good, and
several kilograms have to be attended to
the first man can be hung while the car
is making forty miles per hour on the
way to the second man.
No doubt there are croakers who will
sneer at this suggestion and claim that
it is impossible, but other inventors be-
sides us have been hooted at. When
Calico invented the steamboat and
Archimedeas discovered her lever and
Edison found out that the earth revolved
on its hind feet, they were all laughed
ut because they were SO far in advance
of the age in which they lived. That
may be our fate, but we cannot help it,
when we get one of those glorious ideas,
we just go to work and print it, and
then let humanity avail itself of the
statement or turn its back upon us and
grope on through the black nights of
ages.-Lamarte Boomerang.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1882-10-26
A Family of MONKEYS,

Hindoos do not hurry themselves in
anything they do, but the monkeys
have lots of time to spare and plenty CT
patience, and in the end, after the crow
has stolen little, and the dog had its
morsel, and the children are all salts
fled, the poor fragments of the meal are
thrown out on the ground for the blum
der-logue, the monkey people; and it
is soon discussed-the mother feeding
the baby before she eats herself. When
every house thus, in turn, has been Wis
tied, and no chance of further 'Out-
door relief remains, the monkeys 60
off to the well. The women are all
here again, drawing the water for the
day, and the monkeys sit and wait, the
old ones in front, sententious and seri-
Gus, and the youngsters rolling about in
the dust behind them, till at last some
girls see the creatures waiting, and, ''in
the name of rain" spill 10th full OF
water in q hollow of the ground, and
the monkeys come round it in a circle
and stoop down and drink, with their
tails all curled up over their backs like
notes of interrogation. There is no con-
tention or jostling. A forward child
gets box over the ear, perhaps, but
each one, as it has satisfied its thirst,
steps quietly out of the circle and wipes
it's mouth. The day thus fairly COM
menced, they 60 off to see what luck
may bring them. The grainkeeper's
shop tempts them to loiter, but the ex-
perience of previous attempts makes
theft hopeless; for the baunya, with all
his years, is very nimble on his legs and
an astonishing good shot with pipkin.
SO the monkeys make their salaams to
him and pass on to the fields. If the
corn is ri pc they can soon eat enough
for the day; but if not, they go wander
ing about picking up morsels, here an
insect and there Il berry, until the sun
gets too hot, and then they creep up in
to the dark shade of the mango and
snooze through the afternoon. In the
evening they are back in the village
again to share its comforts and enter
tainments. They assist at the cOnvoca-
ton of the elders and tho romps of the
children, looking on when tho faquir
comes up to collect his little dues of
salt, corn and oil, and from him inthcir
turn exacting pious toll. They listen
gravely to the Village musician until
they get sleepy, and then one by one
they Chamber up into the peepul. And
the men sitting round the fire with their
pipes can see, if they look up, the whole
colony of the blunder logue asleep in
rows in the tree above them.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1882-10-26
The Musket's Persuasiveness.

General Steedman tells good story
which is applicable to the manner in
which the aristocratic SiXtieth Rifles re-
Gently skipped out in front of Ramleh,
and gave everything up to the Egyptians.
While near Nashville the general had a
negro regiment on the picket line, and
bright young mulatto sergeant in COM
mand of a post got the drop on q rebel
post and captured the whole outfit The
rebels were q crowd of high-stepping
young Virginians, and some of them
were badly wrought up by the idea OF
having to surrender to u '.lot of Mig
gers" General Steedman took their
commander, a fine young fellow, into his
tent, extended some little courtesies to
him, and in the course of the conversa-
ton said. at was little tough, Lieu
tenant, to be taken in by colored soldiers,
but war has strange experiences
''Well, General" said the other, setting
down his glass, ''Ive been in the army
now nearly four years, and if I've
learned any thing it has been Ii pro-
found respect for the musket. When
the muzzle is showed into my face, [
don't usually ask any questions as to
who's got hold of the breech.
General Sherman tells nearly as good
q story, in his book. He was standing
on the sidewalk in st. Louis when Cen
eral Lyon went out with his men to at
tack the secessionists at Camp Jackson.
A young lady of General Sherman's ac-
quaintance-daughter of one of the most
aristocratic families in the city-was
standing on stoop near by, wringing her
hands and crying. She said her brothers,
cousins, and anumber of acquaintances,
were in camp Jackson, and she was
certain they would all be killed, for they
were proud, high-spirited men, belong
ing to the best families in the city, and
they would die before they would yield.
General Sherman tried to console her
by saying that he had noticed that sons
of lirst-class families were usually not
any more willing to die than other peo-
pie. He continued his walk, and in
little whilo met General Lyon returned
with the entire force at Camp jackson,
which had surrendered without firing Il
gun. He hastened back to comfort the
young lady with news of her kinsmen's
safety, but after she heard it she
slammed the door in his face.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1882-10-26
What Becomes of Our Bodies.

With very near approach to truth,
the human family inhabiting the earth
has been estimated at 1000, 900, 900; the
annual loss by death is S.0G0, 600. Now,
the weight of tho animal matter of this
immense body cast into the grave is no
less than 634, 600 tons, and by its decom-
position produces 1000, 900, 000,000 cubic
feet of gaseous matter. The vegetable
productions of the earth clear away from
the atmosphere the gases thus gener-
ated, decomposing and assimiiating
them for their own increase. This cycle
of changes has been going on ever since
man became an occupier of the earth.
He feeds on the lower animals and on
the seeds of plants, which in due time
become part of himself.
The lower animals feed upon the
herbs and grasses, which, in their turn
become the animal, then, by its death,
again pass into the atmosphere and are
ready once more to be assirnilated by
plants, the earthly or bony substance
alone remaining where it is deposited,
and not even there unless sufficiently
deep in the soil to be out Of the insorb-
ent reach of the roots of plants and
trees. 1t is not at all difficult to prove
that the elements of which the living
bodies of the present generation are
composed have passed through millions
of mutations, and formed parts of all
kinds of animal and vegetable bodies,
and consequently it may be said that
fractions of the elements of our ances-
tors form portions of ourselves.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1882-10-26
Odd Wedding Rings.

The Jewels Placed by Young Lovers Upon the
Fingers OF Their Sweethearts.
There is no jewelry about which
women always show so much interest
as the betrothal and wedding rings" re-
piled dealer to q reporters question.
''Ihe first has altered noticeably in
shape and setting, A pure white dia-
mond, the only suitable gem, is under
set in short claws so that the stone hides
the setting completely. Polished gold
is preferred to Roman gold. The shank
is oval and tapers from the gem. There
is neither enamel nor engraving on its
surface, and Inscriptions are cut inside
an old fashion revived, and one which
will be liked. In the last 80 years we'd
ding rings have changed twice in style,
from the narrow, double circlet to the
polished oval; and lastly the plain, wide,
flat band, which is now also preferable
in polished gold. A fourth style, and
one eminently in harmony with the
present temper of romantic sentiment,
might well revive the ornament which
decorated a ring discovered long ago in
Egyptian ruins. 1t represented two
cats, sitting back to back, and between
them the goddess of love, who smiles
sweetly on vacancy while they glaro
around at each other in genuine Kilken-
ny fashion"
Would you make it to ortler?''
''Certainly."
q will bear that in mind. But mean
time can you tell me who invented the
finger ring?'
lit is older than history. The ancients
account for its origin by ascribing to
Jupiter sharp practice, which would
be no credit to Four Courts shyster.
They say that, prompted by revenge, ho
had Pr0metheus chained to 81 frosty
Caucasus, where vulture banqueted
the live-long day on the captive's liver
Jupiter eventually relented, and, to
avoid breaking his oath, commanded
his enemy when free to wear perpetual
ly on his finger an iron ring to which
was fastened small piece Of Mt. Cau-
casus,s SO that in effect he remained bound
to the rock. l don't take much stock in
that story. The ancients were, some of
them, scsly fellows. "-St. Louis Post
Dispatch.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1882-10-26

Cast-iron pipes are now being made
to receive tho underground telegraph
cable which in a few months will put
Paris in direct communication with
Marseilles. A hundred and fifty navvies
are engaged in this work, which is being
prosecuted from both ends along the
right bank of the Rhone, and following
the main roads. The pipes are laid at
a depth of moro than metre and z
half, and chambers for facilitating re-
pairs are arranged about every five
hundred metres; they are described as
resembling large cast-iron caldrons
with covers, and having aperturcs for
receiving the ends of the two pipes
which they connect. Every hundred
metres the pipes are united by cast-iron
couplings, which will also permit of in
specting and repairing the cable; and
the joint between each pipe is made
with an Indian-rubber washer or lead
collar. The work is pushed forward
with vigor, and it is proposed eventual
ly to connect this cable, which will
traverse France from north to south,
with the cables of the Mediterranean
and Atlantic.-Ir0n.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1882-10-26

On one occasion an officer of his took
a poor woman's horse from her and
gave her receipt, which, OF course,
was quite worthless. She came in tears
to Garibaldi; she had lost all she had.
G:,ribaldi took the paper, had the Off
Ger summoned before him, and in the
presence of his whole staff, while the
weeping woman stood by, said, ''Did
YOU take this horse?' ''Yes, General; l
was forced to; l had lost mine" 'Did
you write this paper, which you know
is worthless?' "Yes, General" Then,
turning to his aide-de-camp, be said,
s'Restore the horse to this poor wo-
man." and, tearing up the paper, with
a whitening look at the offending officer,
he added, :Is this the way that Italians
fight for the freedom of their country?
BE no more soldier of mine!' and he
sent him back to Rome.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1882-10-26
When the Lover Nav Sneak,

AS rule, delicate woman does not
think of man as lover, or even know
whether she could care for him i'll that
capacity or not, until she has received
some impression of his special interest
in her. Then she begins to consider him.
Does long talk with him bore or de-
light her? Does she find herself talking
to him freely, or entertaining him with
an effort? Is the festive occasion from
which he is absent robbed of some por-
ton of its brightness? Does she ''see
his face. all faces among catch his
voice, though dozen are speaking?
Then, unconsciously, do her cheeks be-
gin to glow at his coming. In her eyes
smiles welcome, timid, yet sweet; and
the reverent, waiting lover may speak
safely, for his time has come.-MrS.
MouIton, in our Continent.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1882-10-26
An Awkward Sign,

A spell ago man started in the
ready-made clothing business, on Sev-
enth street, and called his place u Nils
fiji paror." 1t was an odd name and
puzzled people a good deal at first.
Some thought it was Il place where fits
were cured, and person subject to one
would miss fits if he entered the parlor.
When the Assessor called there last
spring he asked if Miss Fit was in.
Another time Il woman dropped in with
her little girl and wanted to buy suit
for her I'VE have suits for boys" said
the urbano proprietor, ''but none for
little girls" Cant you fit a Miss?'
asked the woman, impatiently. mo,
we cannot" Then," said tho irste
woman. ''why do you advertise miss
1itsp You had better take in your
sign. - Cincinnati Saturday Night.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1882-10-26

A traveller was leaning at night
against railing at the Harper's Ferry
railroad station. A locomotive came
along, and he sprang lightly over the
rail to escape possible, danger. He
thought it was meadow on the other
side, but knew his mistake when he
struck in a muddy stream forty feet be-
low. On being rescued he was asked
his name. 81 wouldn't tell you for a
thousand dollars" he replied; describe
ME simply as a fool"