davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Brookings County sentinel. (Brookings, Dakota [S.D.]) 1882-1890, 1882-05-18
FOREST FIRES.

The recent destructive forest fires on
Long Island have caused the New York
Herald to descant on the carelessness Of
the American farmer. 1t says the for
ests" that burn are generally small tracts
Of wooded land which are parts Of farms,
but as they are utterly left alone except
when the farmer wants frewood, they
are full of underground, brush heaps and
dead leaves. Forest fires are scarcely
ever heard of in Europe, for the poorest
and busiest peasant who owns bit Of
wooded land finds time to cut away the
underground, remove dead trees and
fallen boughs, and even to cart away
some Of the leaves to his compost heap.
German and English farmers who come
here begin by preserving their wooded
lands, but too often they fall into the
shiftless American way, and frequently
they pay the penalty. Any farmer can
prevent fire on his own forest land; he
can clear away underground and leaves,
the work being easiest done in winter.
when he has little to do on any other
part of the farm, or he can fence this
ground and turn his cattle into it to eat
or break down small growth and trample
leaves to pieces and into the ground.
Both plans have been tried with great
success, and neither is costly. Of
course in great wooded tracts of hun
dreds and thousands of acres such pre-
ventives would be impracticable, but
these are not the lands most frequently
burned over.
Brookings County sentinel. (Brookings, Dakota [S.D.]) 1882-1890, 1882-05-18
ST LOUIS.
Old Damascus.

THE Empire Of the 0aphs. Won KremerI
Damascus was the residence of q rich
and extravagant court, with it's train of
high officials. Hither came crowds of
strangers, merchants and caravans from
all parts of the east. Her bazaars were
filed with the artificial and natural pro-
ducts Of three hemispheres, and fire.
quented by picturesque and busy
crowd. Here groups OF Syrians in their
purple cloaks, ornamented with ara
besque patterns, with baggy trousers
and red sandals, in their full turbans of
white or blue, drove their asses and
mules laden with the produce of their
country. Bedouins in their wooden man.
ties of brown and white stripes, their
heads bound with "kufijes" Of red and
yellow, stood gaping and puzzled in the
crowded streets; here on prancing steed
passed naughty chief, shaking his long
lance. Descendants of the prophet,
with sharply cut features, slowly paced
toward the mosque counting their rcsar-
les. Trains of women, their figures
completely concealed in their long white
cloaks, bargained and haggled in the
shops; black slaves and beggars pushed
and wrangled in the mob; water-carriers,
selling iced lemonade and sherbet,
chnked their metal cups; ON all sides
were heard the cries of the vendors.
"Raghyf ja shibob. Bread, good
youths, P" cried the bread seller. Goods
from Halbun," called out the peasant
with his splendid figs grapes and pome-
granates; "Eddaim Allah" ""God is the
imperishable,' was the cry OF the salad
seller, wishing to win the custom of the
devout by praising the eternity of God
in drawing attention to the perishable
quality of his goods. And all this hustle
and turmoil took place within the mar
row streets shaded from the sun by
straw mattings or under the stone ar
cades
Brookings County sentinel. (Brookings, Dakota [S.D.]) 1882-1890, 1882-05-18
A Tale Of the Devil.
IFrom the British Architect. !

The tradition at Dutfield is as follows:
At this village was anciently castle be-
longing to the Ferrars, Earls Of Derby.
The site of this castle is still known by
the name Of Castle Orchards, and very
short distance from the hill on which the
castle stood, is another eminepce (ouly
one fields breadth Off on which are
some ancient cottages. There is tradi-
tion current in the neighborbood that
the church was originally intended to be
built on this eminence, but after the
work had been commenced, and pro-
ceeded to some extent, the devil, for
some unexplained reason, removed the
whole of the work in one night to the site
it now occupies, IN q field by the river
Derwent, at quite the opposite side Of
the village. The workmen were natural
ly surprised in the morning on finding
that their work had ali disappeared, and
after solemn prayer again began laying
their foundations, but to be carried
away again by the devil on the succeed
ing night.
Day after day the same thing was
enacted, being removed and set mp IN ibs
right place ON the site the arch-dend had
chosen for il; and at last he 30 complete
ly triumphed over the patience OF the
workmep, that they went down TO the
place where he had carried the material
and completed the church where il nov
stands. The eminence, IL appears, on
which the church was originally intended
10 be built was place of rendezvous fol
evil spirits, for at the present day tn.
villagers firmly believe "brown man,
or man bogie, ia 10 be seen every nigh
peer the cottAGea-
Brookings County sentinel. (Brookings, Dakota [S.D.]) 1882-1890, 1882-05-18

The custom house at New Orleans was dam
aged to the extent to 100000 by fire on the
18th inst.
The Keystone Rubber Works, williamsport.
Pa, burned on the l1th inst. Loss &s0, 900; in
surance $35, 900.
A large portion Of the business center Of
Hastings, Ont, burned on the 11th inst. caus-
ing loss Of s60, 900.
Twenty business places, including. the eI.
press and post-ofice, were wiped out by fire at
Ridgetown, Ont, on the 10th inst. Loss $100,-
600.
vincent's block, at Cairo, H., occupied by
about twenty families, furnished food for
flames on the 10th inst. Three adjoining
buildings were also burned and the Southern
Hotel badly damaged.
Gull River, Mimi, suffered the loss of Pills
bury, Chase q Co, g large saw mill, on the 10th
inst. Loss e65,000
FIRE ragged at Lincoln Centre, Me-, on the
9th inst, sweeping away thirteen buildings,
including stores and dwellings,.
Fulton and Wyatt's saw mill at Avonmore,
Ont, was reduced to ruins by fire on the 9th
inst. Loss $4,000.
A saw mill at st. Johns, Fla, was wiped out
BY fire on the 9Th inst, causing loss OF ESQ.,
OO0
Brookings County sentinel. (Brookings, Dakota [S.D.]) 1882-1890, 1882-05-18
CHEAP LETTER POSTAGE.

Representative Andrews, OF Kansas,
who introduced bill in congress pro-
viding for reduction of postage on half
ounce letters to two cents, and one cent
for each additional half ounce, has thor
oughly investigated the past history Of
cheap postage rates in this country and
has submitted to the committee on post
offices and post roads the results OF his
inquiries. He finds that IN 1845 the
population of the United States was
about 20, 900, 900, two fifths what it was
in 1880. The postal revenues of the
year 1845 were "a, ,2S9, S4l. At that time
the rates Of postage established in 1916,
when the population of the United
States was about 7,500,0 900, were still
maintained. They were: For "single
sheet" letter, under 80 miles, six cents;
over 80 and under 80 miles, ten cents;
over 80 and under $50 miles, twelve and
half cents; over $50 and under 400
miles, eighteen and three quarters cents;
over 400 miles, twenty-five cents. An
act of the 9Th of March, 1S45, changed
the rate on letters to five cents for 300
miles, and ten cents for over that dis
tance. The postal receipts diminished
greatly for short time, but soon were
greater than they had been before. In
1851 another great reduction was made
by the extension of the 800 mile limit to
5000 miles, the substitution of the one
half ounce standard for the "single
sheet" lette~. and the reduction of the
rate to three cents per one-half ounce,
if prepaid, and five cents if not prepaid,
for any distance under 5000 miles.
Though the receipts, following the reduc.
ton, were somewhat decreased the num-
Der of letters soon increased and more
than made up the deficiency. In 1855
another reduction was made, when the
condition Of prepayment was established,
and the rate was fixed at three cents un-
der 5000 miles and ten cents for dis
tance exceeding 5000. In 1856 prepay
ment by stamps was required, and in
1868 the uniform rate of three cents for
each half ounce for all domestic letters
was established. These changes pro-
duced no apparent effect ON the reve-
nues and Mr.. Anderson thinks that the
time has come when the postage on let
ters might, with advantage be reduced
still lower. She receipts for postage are
now almost sufficient to pay expenses
and, were the reduction to be made, the
increased volume of business done would
soon be so great as to fully equal the
present receipts, if it did not cause the
postoffice department to show a clean
balance sheet at the end of the year.
Brookings County sentinel. (Brookings, Dakota [S.D.]) 1882-1890, 1882-05-18
LOSSES OF BRITISH FARMERS

A statement has recently been COM
piled from the agricultural reports OF
England. showing the falling off in live
stock in the last l3 years. The figures
Of this statement says the New York
Times, have an interest for stock breed
ers and shippers in this country quite
as direct as reports of the condition and
prospects Of English wheat-growing have
for the farmers Of the northwest. The
disheartening and even startling fact
shown is that with 10 per cent more
land now devoted to fodder crops than
in 1868, the amount Of stock kept is 3
per cent. less. The tables show that in
England the falling off in sheep is equal
to 5,54s, 900 head, or 26 per cent. in the
13 years from 1868 to 1881; in Ireland,
l 1854, 900 head, or 32 per cent. in Scot.
land, 3sl 900 head, OF per cent, or in
the United Kingdom, 7,712, 900 head, or
over 21 per cent. This is an eAtraor-
dinary decrease, but there has been a
slight compensating increase in the
number Of cattle, amounting to $50, 900
head, or 10 per cent. for England, and
S22, 900 head, or 8 per cent, for the
United Kingdom. but to make a fair
comparison, both kinds of stock are re-
duced to one term, each head lis reck-
oned as equal to six sheep. The CON-
bined decrease in the 13 years is thus
found to be from 80. LOG, 600 head to
81 1926, 600 head, or 3 per cent. in the
whole kingdom. The loss in England
alone is over per cent; indeed, in all
these comparisons it is England alone
which makes the worst showing. The
money value of this live stock which has
disappeared, being equal to 2.7S0,000
head of sheep, estimated at e. los. per
head-not high price for mutton sheep
which sell for Is. pound in their wool
is G6, $780, 900. For England alone the
loss was much greater, being 3,26S, 900
head, a money loss of G8, ,170,0 900, which
represents SO much "farmers capital in
cattle aud sheep alone which has been
obliterated in the period of Is years. =
If, meanwhile, there had been a de-
crease in the cultivated acreage, this
falling of could be easily accounted for.
But in these 13 years there was an actual
increase in the breadth of land under
permanent pasture, clover, grass, green
crops and roots in the United Kingdom
from 31,135, 900 acres to "a, ,5l2, 900, or
10 per cent.
Brookings County sentinel. (Brookings, Dakota [S.D.]) 1882-1890, 1882-05-18
Old Wrecks.

Two old wrecks have been discovered,
both on the same day, one being re-
ported from Long Branch and the other
from Galveston, Texas. The former was
found by men who were widening the
channel of the Shrewsbury River, and
was in good condition. 1t is believed to
be the remains of an American merchant
vessel sunk by the British cruisers in
the old inlet to prevent the American
privateers, which, when closely pursued
by the enemy, took refuge in theShrews.
bury, from passing in and out through
the old thoroughfare. The channel was
filed by the action of the sea sixty or
seventy years ago, and the place through
which once passed the Aeet-winged
American privateers is now filled to the
level of the surrounding beach by mass
Of white sand. At Galveston, while
dredging the channel of Labadies wharf
pieces Of an old wreck and an antiquated
iron cannon, nine feet long and five-inch
bore, were brought mp, and the general
belief is that they are from the wreck of
one of the Lafitte's ships, wrecked dur
ing q terrific storm in 1918. which
wrecked number of vessels composing
the feet of the bold buccaneer.
Brookings County sentinel. (Brookings, Dakota [S.D.]) 1882-1890, 1882-05-18
VICTIMS OF BAsELEss HOPES.

An article printed by the Philadelphia
Times will quash the hopes of a great
many persons who have imagined them
selves entitled to fortunes as the heirs of
people who died many years ago in Eng
land, Holland, or other foreign cour-
tries. There are several associations
formed for the purpose of recovering
such estates. 1t appears, however, that
these associations are misled by foreign
adventurers, whose purpose in holding
out glittering hopes is easily apparent.
The subject was brought to the attention
of the authorities Of Pennsylvania by a
letter from Secretary Blaine to Governor
Hoyt, dated Washington, June 10, 1881,
in which Mr.. Blaine says, after speak
ing of the generally baseless nature of
most of these claims, and asserting that
they are gotten up by designing persons
for purposes of their own gains, these
persons generally living in foreign coun.
tries: 81 have, however, come into pos
session of the inclosed original letter,
addressed to worthy resident of Gales
burg, Mich, by one 81. B. Sinks, styling
himself secretary Of the Van Horn and
Van SAINT Association, and purporting to
be written from its Office, at mo. 3ll
Walnut Street, second floor, back The
internal evidence Of this letter, coupled
with the known fact that the so-called
'Wolfert Webber estate (of some hun
dreds OF millions of dollars) is absolute,
ly non-existeut, creates in my mind
grave doubts as to the good faith Of the
writer. commend this letter to your
perusal." For some reason the state
authorities seem to have taken no action
on this letter, for Times reporter, who
hunted b. B. Sinks, found him in new
quarters, but still ostensibly pushing the
claims Of the swan Horn and Van SAINT
Association" He said the Van Horns
were heirs 10 the Wolfert Webber estate
in Holland, and also 70 property in Ber-
gen, N. j.. and that the association nov
had more than two hundred members In
twenty-five different states. "We have
NOT" he said, "had sufficient money 70
prosecute our claims either in New Jer-
sey or Holland. It costs 500 to be-
come a member OF the Van Horn and
Van SAINT Association, and the monthly
Brookings County sentinel. (Brookings, Dakota [S.D.]) 1882-1890, 1882-05-18

dues are % cents. We have also formed
q stock company for the prosecution Of
other claims. The shares are $5 each.
He could not be got to talk of details,
but gave the visitor number Of little
printed pamphlets, which he said would
tell him all about what had been accom-
plshed by the society thus far. A
perusal Of the pamphlets, which pur-
ported to be annual reports of the pro-
ceedipgs of meetings of the association,
etc., did not throw ray Of light on the
validity of the claims. The burden Of
the pamphlets consisted of appeals for
more money and cautions 10 the men,
bers OF the association not to give any
information to anyone not member.
The Times concludes that there is no
room to doubt the fraudulent character
Of the enterprise.
Brookings County sentinel. (Brookings, Dakota [S.D.]) 1882-1890, 1882-05-18
The Man on the veranda.

ktrVIl tue DctrOlt 4 rec fFesrI
Up on Park Street the other evening
the boys fixed up a straw man in an old
suit and placed him on a veranda in the
melancholy twilight. He hadn't been in
position above ten minutes when along
came specimen who had been blasted
out of the lower stratum of hfe, and he
leaned his elbows on the fence and called
out:
GOOD evening, mister. Is this the
place where they wanted the back yard
cleaned ont ?"
The straw man made no reply.
~ think this is the place, continued
the other. al was speaking TO the
lady, and she said rs how l was to call
this evening for ten cents, being as she
pitied my misfortunes."
The straw man was silent.
(Which was very kind Of her indeed,
because am powerfully broken down.
may be wrong, but dunno. I'll be on
hand early in the morning. allus likes
TO keep my word, you know"
II the straw man knew he didn't let on.
"Yes, she said she felt for me, and she
said 1 must be sure to call for the ten
CtutS. DtluS as yOu hIc utT uubuduu L
presume you might hand me the money
yourself?"
Still no response.
sin which case my gratitude would
be eternal, you know? Cast thy bread
upon the waters and it shall return fifty
per cent, or some such thing. You
couldn't make it a quarter, could you
That would be cast worth casting, you
know. The profit on that after many
days would be half dollar, you see ?"
1t is doubtful if the man saw.
Being as I'm in a little hurry, and
being as haven't had anything to eat in
several days, perhaps it would be well
to close this transaction at once. II you
wanted to make it half dollar instead OF
a quarter, why /"
Just then potato licked the wayworn
travellers ear, and another raised his hat
several inches. He bounded to the Gen.
ter of the street like cat, wheeled
around, and peering through the dark
ness he called out:
"Mister, three minutes ago 1 looked
upon You as great statesman, but ia
man which will beave rocks instead OF
arguir e the question hain't fit to run q
yaller dog convention !, Good night,
sir ! II you have that ere back yard
cleaned it'll be after you have apologized
for this uucalled for attempted assassin.
alton 7"
Brookings County sentinel. (Brookings, Dakota [S.D.]) 1882-1890, 1882-05-18
How to Talk to Children.

O,e dsn \ aat I :, 1o,on aon .s. 1T -, Tho O.,
ous branch n the Eostern ,oad beb;nd
q ,aie csreworn ~ loJ. whn vos - s;nn a
little bov from Rosion to Maiden Az
the i;ttis hov ~ w.S ' ~ a .erv = ;non;r; n. ="
mind and eyervth;ng .aerad to attrac3
his attention. i conId not helm I;sten;ng
TO some of his onest;ons
"Wbat 10 That anut;e 81 the little bov
commenced no;rt;no to a stack of bev IN
the marsb
ooh that's Inv dear I" apsvered tho
careworn Iadv
:" What ia bav sunt;epn
"Wbv' bav ;s bav dear
"Bnf what ia bay made of2"
"Wby. bay is made of dirt and water
and air"
UWbo makes u ~
"God makes II. dear"
aDoas ba nats - in tho dor ,;uo -
in the NIGHT - ~ ' -
UIn hotb dearn
"And Snndsysp"
eyes. all the time"
"Aip't II wicked IN make bav on Spo-
day. Auntiep"
10 don,t knov ia t.o, s,;u Wi
lie, that's dear. Auntie is tired
After remain;no oniet a mnment Ii,t,e
Willie broke ont.
WI,ere do stars csr,s f,or, o,,,,;o ~,
al don't know. nobody knows"
"Did the moon Law emp"
eyes I ouess 90 rcnl;ed the wicked
lady.
6Cap the moon Law eggs. too2"
q" SUPPOSE 40, Don't bother me"
Another short SILENCE whom willie
broke ont again.
"Benny saws oxins ia an owl auntie.
ia tbev9p
Brookings County sentinel. (Brookings, Dakota [S.D.]) 1882-1890, 1882-05-18
Thieves ana Sxyindlers.

While entering the German Exchange Bank,
New York City, on the 9th inst, Charles Hoff-
man, messenger boy the Mechanics National
Bank, was robbed OF checks, ::drs fits and notes
amounting TO S47, ,965. Three men are under
arrest, on suspicion.
The postoffice at Bucyrus, o.. was robbed Of
$4,000 worth Of registered letters, stamps and
money on the night Of the 9th inst.
Two wagon-loads Of cloth were were taken
from tailoring establishment in Pittsburgh
early on the morning Of the 9th inst. The po-
lice saw the teams, but did not suspect that
burglary had been committed.
Fall River, Mass., cotton mills suffered to the
extent Of $50, 900 recently, through fraudulent
bills OF lading. A commission man named
Green, Of Columbus. Miss. is the perpetrator
Of the swindle.
Brookings County sentinel. (Brookings, Dakota [S.D.]) 1882-1890, 1882-05-18
Adulterated Tobacco.
From the Providence Journal. !


A pamphlet has been published, show
ing that in Germany thousands Of tons
OF beet leaves are transformed into TO.
bacco. In some places chiccory and
cabbage leaves make the fragrant weed.
An English chemist found stuff sold
for tobacco was the leaves of adiaphoret.
ic plant. 1t has been impossible to sell
the plant as n drug, and it had been
turned into tobacco to save loss.
Another writer informs everybody, or
wants to, that chemists have an impor-
tant place in tobacco factories. Fifteen
fastories in New York employ chemists
to "fiavor" cigars. They can not do
much with the wrapper, but they can
"heighteu and develop the filings. 1t
is relief to know on the authority of
the writer quoted that opium is not
used, although it used to be formerly,
in England, but stringent laws broke the
practice. The substances used to flavor
tobacco are numerous. Every manu-
facturer has his own formula. Vanilla
is the most common. This is employed
in the form of an alcoholic tincture to
flavor filings. 1t is said that few cigars
are free from vanilla. Its effects are not
harmful if not used to excess. The
tonka bean and balsam fir are used in
the same way for the same purpose.
Cedar oil is also introduced. The best
imitator Of the tobacco flavor is valerian.
Valerian and vanilla are the most valu-
able chemicals now in use by tobaccon-
lists. By their use the poorest stems
may be converted into fair tobacco. Into
cigarettes enter not only valerian and
vanilla, but cascarilla bark. To make
cigars burn, ammonia is used, aud they
are soaked in saltpetre. The latter is
injurious and makes young men old with
dispatch. The object of its use is to
cause the cigar TO burn freely. II has
been noticed by some. smokers that an
Intoxicating effect has been produced by
some cigars. This is produced by dip
ping the filings in solution Of sulphuric
ether and bromide of potassium. When
it is known that New England rum ia
used with vanilla and valerian, il ID
nothing TO wonder at that the cigars 90
treated produce intoxication. We do
not name the brand that is treated with
New England rum. II We did, the de-
mand would exceed the supply. To
make tobacco, or aid in its adulteration,
such other things ~ potato leaves. sugar,
potash, tamafinds, aniseed, gum And
vsrions oils not heretofore mentioned ere
Brookings County sentinel. (Brookings, Dakota [S.D.]) 1882-1890, 1882-05-18
Matters In ireland.

George Otto Treveysn the nephew Of the
late Lord Macsulay, formerly prominent lib
eral member Of parliament, and at one time
the civil lord Of the admiralty in Gladstone's
cabinet, has been appointed chief secretary Of
Ireland, as the successor Of Lord Cavendish,
who was assassinsted at Dublin.
The Gladstone government is preparing lis
new appointments and new policy for Ireland,
which will be shortly announced. man
named Moore has been arrested in Ireland,
suspected of being one Of the gang who assas-
sinated Cavendish and Burke. The London
Times insists upon holding the land league re-
sponsible for the murders at Dublin.
Brookings County sentinel. (Brookings, Dakota [S.D.]) 1882-1890, 1882-05-18
Wicked Winds.

Awestern zephyr struck Montgomery County,
Arh., on the sth inst, doing damage to the
amount Of sl50,0OO. Seven or eight persons
we're killed and large number wounded.
The same blizzard which destroyed the town
of McAllister, Indian Territory, also demolish-
cd the small village Of Mill Spring. on the Kan
ly injuring two children.
A vicious cyclone, accompanied by remark
able electrical disturbance wrecked the town OF
McAllister, i. T., on the Sth inst. Eight men
were killed and number seriously injured
Brookings County sentinel. (Brookings, Dakota [S.D.]) 1882-1890, 1882-05-18
HALLWAY Wrecks.

Washouts caused two wrecks on the Texas
Central Road. A bridge near Waco gave way
beneath freight train. killing 4 fireman and
two brakemen. In a sniash-up near Cisco one
man vas killed and several wounded.
By collision Of Iron Mountain freight trains
near Little Rock, two negro amps sere killed,
and two.epgines and fifteen cars were wrecked.
BY collision between passenger train and
a cattle train on the Boston, Concord and
Montreal Railroad, VIM. II. Abel and Hiram
Jones were killed and several others injured.
The accident occurred on the 8th inst.
Thirty freight cars and q locomotive went
through bridge at Huron, o., on the Sth inst,
causing loss Of go, 900. No lives lost.