davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1882-01-06
Thu Mama, Of tha States.

New Hampshire gets its name from
Hampshire, Eng, Massachusetts Is de-
rived from an Indian name. given to
the bay, signifying ''ncar the great
hills" Rhode island has an obscure
origin, tho Island of Rhodes, the
'Island of the Roads," and Q Dutch
origin. "Red Island" were mentioned,
the first seeming to have the best his
torical support. Connecticut is an In
dian name, signifying Gland on q long
tidal river" New York, New Jersey,
Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland
were passed over. Virginia, the Caro-
linas, and Georgia have royal origin.
Maine was named from the fact that it
was supposed to contain the ''mayne
portion" Of New England. Vermont
has no especial question, except that it
is claimed to have first been an alias
New Connecticut, alias Vermont. Ken
lucky popularity signifies either clark
and bloody ground" or "a bloody
river" but its origin signifies '.the
head of river" or 1.-THE long river"
Tennessee comes from its river, the
name being derived from the name of
an Indian village on the river-"Tana-
see." Ohio is named after an Indian
name, signifying something great"
with an accent of admiration. Indiana
comes from tho name of an early land
company. Illinois comes from the In
dian-the name of tribe. Michigan
is claimed to mean "lake country" it
probably came from the name of the
lake, "Great Lake." which bore this
name before the land adjacent was
named. Louisiana is from the French.
Arkansas and Missouri are Indian, the
former being doubtful; the latter is
claimed to mean in its original "muddy
WATER" which describes the sriver.
Iowa is also Indian, with doubtful
meaning. Texas is popularity supposed
to be Indian, but may be Spanish. Flor
ida is Spanish, "a flowery land"
Oregon has conjectural origin. It is
probably Indian, but Spanish origin
is claimed. California comes from a
Spanish romance of 1910. Nevada
takes its name from the mountains,
who gets theirs from resemblance to
the Nevadas of South America. Min
nesota is Indian, "sky-tinted water"
Nebraska is variously rendered "shal-
low water" and FLAT country" Kan
sas is for an Indian root, Kaw, corrupt
ed by the French. Mississippi is great
water" or "whole river" Alabama is
Indian, the name of a fortress and a
tribe. signifying. as is claimed, 'here
we rest"
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1882-01-06
4 Mixture IF French and Yankee Slang.

4 Mixture IF French and Yankee Slang.
Col. and Mrs. Scion were among the
prominent guests at the social given by
MIR. and Mrs. Judge jerks last week.
Gen. Jobes, sister of Judge jerks, and
who returned from Paris only a month
ago, was present The natures of the
Colonel and the Mrs. General assimi.
lated, and in each others conversation
they whiled away the pleasant evening
hours. The madame represented the
latest in Partisan art and the Colonel
outdid himself in his efforts to prove
America was not in the least behind
the capital of fashion.
"How delightful this evening is"
said the Generals wife. 'In the Ian
guage of dear Paris it is so an fait."
Eyes" said the Colonel, sit is, it is; or
in our dear American lingo. it takes the
cake"
son dit Americans are so ready with
jeu de mots; have so many jeu d esprtts.
my dear Colonel" said Mrs. Jobes,
twirling her fan and bowling as she
complimented her nation.
The Colonel promptly twisted bow
sideways and replied: Il tumble; e
pluribus Unu,n."
"Ah, in my dear France that means
the same, suppose, tout ensemble"
II s'pose So" said the Colonel; "a
sort of rickshay way of pa'ley zoo
Freashay" and he put his thumb in
the sleeve Of his vest, and put his head
on one side as he would say. II know
what you are talking about"
And thus the distinguished Mrs.
Jobes and Col. Scion enjoyed the COM
pany of each other until the party broke
up. Then Mrs. Gen. Jobes babe him
.'uu TecOi,'," to which the Colonel gal
lantly replied, $50 long."-Sunday
MeTcu,U
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1882-01-06

GOODS manufactured in Maine
under its statutes, can be peddled free
in the state. while license fee is
eNacted from peddlers who sell SINH
lar goods made out of the state. In
this case, State VS.. Kurdish. decided
by the Supreme Court in Maine,
Judge Walton, in the opinion, said :
This is discrimination in favor of
goods manufactured in this state and
against goods manufactured in other
states, and is in violation of the
federal constitution. This precise
question has been several times be-
fore the Supreme Court of the Unit
ed States, and that court holds that
such legislation is void for unconsti-
nationality.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1882-01-06

manhood, still lives and shocks the
world daily with his unmitigated in
science and downright knavery.
The criminal. Guiteau, has certain
ly had too long lease of life since his
appalling crime. 1t would have been
far more befitting his deserts had the
year 1881 recorded the execution of
the loathed and despised specimen Of
depraved humanity that is casting
shame and disgrace upon the Ameri-
can people to-day by his living pres.
ence. Even Satan would be ashamed
to keep him company. but the hang.
mans day is sure to come and pleas.
ing spectacle it will be to fifty mil
lions of people to witness the drop of
the trap that shall send Guiteau to
the lower regions of perdition.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1882-01-06
A Cats Stratagem.

Mr.. G. w. Eddy, of Waterford, ILL.,,
owns II cat. There is perhaps nothing
singular in that fact, as in that village
cats and dogs form large proportion
of the population. There are not SO
many dogs as there were, however, and
that cat was the cause of the tragical
fate that befell one of the dogs recent
ly. ID 'gs and cats have naturally a
strange antipathy for each other. 1t is
moi necessary. we suppose, to enlarge
upon this fact. Dogs are the stronger.
and their feline foes always seek shell
ter in flight when attacked. Recently,
Mr.. Eddy's cat was basking in the sum
shine Oh the back porch, when q
strange canine made its way into the
yard. The cur espied the cat, and his
lips twitched as he thought Of the fun
he was going to have. He started for
pussy. and the cat curled its tail over
its back and fled. There was a lively
chase around the yard for few mo-
ments. and poor pussy was sorely
pressed, until at last happy inspira-
ton seized her. In the yard was a
deep well, and around it an old-fash-
toned well-house. We do not know
that pussy realized the full extent of the
consequences that would ensue, but
she acted as though she did. The door
of the well-house was open, and run
ming at full speed the cat sprang to the
open door, swung herself around, chung
to the lattice work below, as her head
lodged down out of sight. The dog
did not stop to reason either, but made
leap after the cat. and, as the cat
foresaw, went down into the we'll. The
cat just laughed as she went back to
finish her siesta, to the music of the
dog bowling in the well. The next day
doggy was fished out, and there are
many men busy dipping the water out
of the well to purify it, not caring to
realize that such small matter as q
dog or two in the drinking water for
cities is never noticed. But some folks
will be particular.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1882-01-06

THE year 1881 has passed away, but
there were deeds dark and damnable
committed during that twelve months
that will stand out as singing re-
Duke to depraved mortals until the
chronicler of passing events shall fail
to note historical facts, and until
time shall be no more. To speak of
all the vast number of depredations,
crimes and casualties that occurred
during the year 1881, is beyond the
power of our calibrc, and we leave
the task 20 me deft pen of the his
torian. But above all other por-
tentious events there stands one of
supreme magnitude in the prospective
of the old year. On the memorable
End of July James Abraham Garfield,
President of the United States-an
ideal man-possessed of civic virtue.
intellectual vigor, practical sagacity,
moral consciousness, and all that 60
to make a man true, noble, brave and
self-sacrifcing was cut down by the
hand of an assassin from sheer
manevolence and the wantonness of
depraved morals. Upon that dread.
full tragedy. which caused nations to
weep and crowned heads to bow down
in grief, the ceaseless wheels of time
rolls on, our nation lives, business
continues undated, prosperity is
universally vouchsafed to deserving
mortals by He who rules over all, but
the vile criminal who took from
earth one of Gods noblest type Of
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1882-01-06
The Household Racine.


In the information column Of some Of
our exchanges the startling assertion
that watermelon may be vanished
and will keep till Christmas is still 60.
ing around.
The watermelon is our favorite fruit,
and we thought last fall that we would
varnish one and surprise our friends with
it Christmas. The surprise was all right
but the melon wasn't good for much.
After the turkey and cranberry sauce
had been demolished, we remarked as
we sharpened the carving knife on our
boot leg that we would now deal out
the fruit. :.
When we showed the glittering blade
through the vanished shell of the wa
termelon, about quart of melon juice,
in bad state of preservation, squirted
around the festive board and stopped
the flow of conversation.
Yes, you can varnish a watermelon
and keep it till next fall, but when you
hold the autopsy you want to have no
body around but the coroner and the
embalmer.
When we threw that melon over into
the alley we remember that it went to
pieces like an old seed cucumber thrown
against the side of barn.
You can't always bet on these recipes
that you read in the papers. We re-
member once of reading that certain
preparation would keep eggs for a year
and they would taste better when you
peeled them than when they were first
picked.
We tried 1t.
They seemed filled with malaria when
we opened them and they popped like a
champagne cork.
The family had to move out on a
ranch till the affair had blown over.
And while we were gone the coroner
broke into the house to see who had
been killed and locked up there to con-
ceal the crime.
Some of these editors who compile
recipes for housekeepers don't know a
blanc mango from q paletot.-Boona-
GRIMM
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1882-01-06
"Idiomatio' Wisdom.

.Tve always noticed" says Mrs.
Partington, dropping her voice to the
key that people adopt when they are
disposed to be philosophical or moral,
..I've always noticed that every year
added to a mans life has a tenderness
to make him older, just as man who
goes a journey finds, as he joys on, that
every milestone brings him nearer to
the place where he is going and further
from where he started. haven't got
the exorbitance of feeling that once
had, and I don't believe I shall ever
have it again if I live to the age Of
Methusale, which heaven knows don't
want to.
"And, speaking Of long life, 1 hsvn't
any desire to live any longer than the
breath remains in my body, if it isn't
any more than eighty years. ]
wouldn't wish to be centurion, and
the idea of one surviving her factories
and becoming idiomatic always gives
me disagreeable consciousness. But
whatever is to be will be, and there is
no knowing how thing will turn out
till it takes place. Gracious goodness!"
she exclaimed, as cracker snapped on
the floor by her feet; "you might as
we'll kill a body as brighten 'em to death,
Isaacr'
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1882-01-06

Flax is u staple article, being a Ger.
tain yield and demanding a good
price. There is nothing except pro-
ducts peculiar to southern states that
can not be raised In southern Minne-
sofa and eastern Dakota, and expert
ence has shown that the land can not
be impoverished by years of cultiva-
ton.
Minnesota produced in 1879, a.
80l 900 bushels of wheat in 1880,
Al 100000 bushels, and in 1881, 49,.
10000 bushels, the falling off this
year being due to the unusual severi-
ty of last winter and the lateness of
the spring. The soil of southern
Minnesota is of superior alluvial
deposit and of remarkable uniformi.
ty. 1t contains, as a rule, a greater
proportion of sand and less clay,
which imparts properties to it that
are very beneficial in agriculture.
These lands were withdrawn from
disposal by the government many
years agO,-lOng in advance of the
settlement of the country,-and they
have ever since been withheld for the
purpose for which congress granted
them. They arenot, therefore, what
have been left after being picked
over, but are, in fact, the choice
lands of the grants just as they were
set apart by the United States.
Railroad lands in this section are
rated in price according to the value
of each tract and only after a thor
ough and practical examination.
They range from $s3 to IS per acre,
according to character, location, etc,
with few tracts adjacent to stations
at ~ and $40 per acre.
1t will thus he seen that Minnesota
and Dakota offer rare opportunities
for the immigrant desiring to better
his condition in life. The land is al
most invariably fertile. The climate
is healthy. The water is good and
abundant. The railroads are numer-
Gus, well equipped, liberal, and enter
prising. The country is well adapted
to Ill kinds of farming and TO stock
raising and dairying. The lands are
cheap and may be had from any of
the railway companies above men,
toned on easy payments. Rebates
are allowed for improvements, and
reduced rates Of fare are provided for
prospectors intending to purchase
lands and settle. 1t would seem,
when all the other advantages, social,
political, and commercial, are taken
into consideration, that there was
little else to be desired.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1882-01-06
COUNTY CORRESPONDENCE.
DanvIlIe.

Carl Tresch's children have the
scarlet rash.
Charles Kline has gone to Buffalo,
N. Y, to visit his parents.
The school-house in dist. 1877 has
new curtains at all the windows.
The town clerk is busy making out
his report of births and deaths for
1881.
Christmas and New Years passed
quietly. Santa Claus left Christmas
trees at j. p. Kremer's, j. Bach's and
j. p. Eschbach's, which delighted
the little ones.
The subject of vaccination is being
discussed. Some people think to much
of their money to spend it for any.
thing that may necer proUe benefit.
Those not willing to run the risk are
being vaccinated.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1882-01-06
AIapletOn.

Lyceum next week.
Revival meetings commence next
week.
The election of village council pass
ed quietly last Tuesday.
School commences next Monday
after II two weeks vacation.
Another of DaE Bard s noted dances
came of Wednesday night of this
week. A number of Good Thunder
people took in the dance, among the
number we noticed Mr.. Graham, of
Graham House fame.
Mr.. John Ellis, of Sterling. died OF
consumption Saturday morning, Dec.
3lst. He had been sick nearly three
years. He was about twenty-one
years old.
Elder Nash's people lost child of
three years old with diphtheral Group
Wednesday night Jan. S.
There has been a Mankato firm
trying to sell ready made cloaks and
dolmans here for the past week, we
venture to predict that they didn't
get their license money back. There
is no competing with Troendle and
Brown with goods in that line.
Barrett's saloon is moved from
Louis VOLTS building into David
Smiths building across the street.
Romance in high life!
Mr.. Albert Groskey, who is beyond
telling his age in fact has reached the
period in bachelors life where he
grows younger instead of older de-
cided to have wife, so he went tc
the poor house and asked a "bonny
lassie' some eighteen years old "ii
she would come to his house, whicl
he hasn't got, and keep house for him
She consented and after the marriage
ceremony they started for Mr.
Meyers farm three miles from
Napoleon which he has rented for q
year. Mr.. Meyers people are going
to try the west for change.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1882-01-06

THE proposed Hennepin canal is
sixty-five miles in length, and forms
connecting link between the Mis-.
sissippi and the Lakes. According
to the estimate made 10y the War
Department in 1870, it will cost So
500, 723, and the attention of Congress
will be directed to this great enter.
prise during the present session. 1t
will be one of the grandest national
works ever undertaken in the interest
of cheap transportation. The seven
Northwestern States whose commerce
it will directly cheaper produced in
1879 according to United States
Census) in round numbers 1900, 000,-
900 bushels, or 70,00O,00O tons of
grain alone. The saving of two cents
a bushel on one half of this amount
would net S3S, 900, 900 in one year. or
enough to build ten such canals as
that proposed. TO Minnesota this
waterway would be worth every.
thing, and its construction is matter
of vital Importance to our com.
mercial interests.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1882-01-06

THERE is an effort in progress, and
for that matter has been several
weeks, to bring stain upon eX.Secre-
tary Sherman's official record while
at the head of the Treasury. Mr..
Sherman fears not the result of the
most thorough investigation of his
acts, and instead of retarding pro-
gress TO elicit every possible inform
alton to the committee he is doing
whatever he can TO lay facts before
il. In the end, Mr.. Sherman hands
will be found 10 be clean from any
thing that is tainted, and his record
as an hon est and efficient Secretary
will be fully sustained. The Senator
can afford to be calm under this
trifling infiiction. If his enemies
keep on in the way they have begun
they will lift him into sufficient
prominence as Presidential candi.
Ia. he by 1884 to give them good deal
of trouble. ffe is taking just the
right course to strengthen himself
with the people-devotlng himself
quietly and effectively to the public
service.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1882-01-06
Thad Stevens and the Judpe.

At Carlisle, Pa, they told innumera-
BILE stories about that grim old patriot
and anti-slavery agitator, Thad Stew
ems.
One day the old man was practicing
in the Carlisle courts, and he didn't like
the ruling of the presiding Judge. A
second time the judge ruled against
"old Thad," when the old man got up
with scarlet face and quivering lips and
commenced tying up his papers as if to
quit the court room.
"Do l understand, Mr.. Stevens"
asked the Judge, eyeing ''old Thad, in
dignantly, "dO I understand that you
wish to show your contempt of this
Courtp"
mo, sir, no SIR" replied "old Thad."
Il don't want to showmy contempt, sir;
I'm trying to conceal itr'-M Y. Star.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1882-01-06

can, If they can't let them 60 farm
ing. Politics come next. Of course
we will send only farmers to occupy
those offices that are so laborious
and poorly paid, of course we will
not have any reduction of salaries as
those in office contend that it i'm.
possible to do the work on less than
FIVE or eight dollars per day. and they
should know. Our motto is to lice
and let lice il they can without incon.
veniencing, our livers, our liberties,
and our purses. W. C.S.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1882-01-06

THE initial social events of the
present season in Washington, was
the White House reception on New
Years day. The affair is reported
by the various Washington specials
as being one of the most brilliant and
polished receptions which has ever
characterized any of the great social
amenities at the federal capitol. not
excepting beauty and gallantry. III
stead of appearing in full dress, with
swallow tail coat, white cravat, white
kids and the immaculate choker, he
was attired in plain black business
coat cut square down the front and
reaching scarcely half way down to
the knees. 1t was careless!y left un.
buttoned disclosing long vest
buttoned high, black neck.tie and
standing collar such as he invariably
wears when transacting business AZ
fairs connected with his Office. His
hands were covered with a pair of
lavender tint gloves. In this simple
but sensible attire the President con-
Quoted his official reception, assisted
by Mrs. Frelinghuysen, Mrs.
Brewster, Mrs. Lincoln, Mrs. Logan,
Mrs. James, Mrs. Pearson, Mrs. Cam
eron, Mrs. Miller, Mrs. Pendleton
and Mrs. Stone, who arranged them.
selves upon the right of the President
in the order named. Mr.. Sevellon
Brow, Chief Clerk of the State De.
partment stood OH the left of the
President, and presented the distin-
guished people present to the execu-
tive. According to programme, those
first presented were the Foreign Rep.
resentatives, followed by the Cabinet,
Judges of the Supreme Court, Army
and Navy officers, &C., after which a
general reception to citizens was in.
dulged.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1882-01-06
Indian Wives.

Among the Northwestern tribes of In
dams innocence is marked among the
girls as their color. The impression
that the red maiden does not entertain a
high standard of morality is an error,
for she is taught as other girls are, AMI
grows up with well-developed ideas of
the responsibilities of life and firm res
Olution to discharge them. Educated in
the faith that she was ordained to work,
she trains herself to undergo hard labor,
and at sixteen years of age is sturdy
and strong, brave against fatigue, and a
perfect housewife.
She may not possess New England
notions of cleanliness, but she takes not
n little pride in her personal appear
ance, and in the arrangement of her
lodge she displays some crude ideas of
taste and q certain amount of neatneSs.
If she marrys a white man she makes
him good wife as long as she lives
with him. His home is her sole COM
fort, and his comfort her ambition. She
thinks of him and for him, and makes
it her study to please him and make
him respect and love her. She recog-
nizes in him one of a superior race, and
by her dignity and devotion endears
herself to him and struggles to make
him happy.
At the agencies of the upper frontier
thousands of men are employed, and it
is not an exaggeration to say that the
majority of them have Indian wives and
live happily. They are not sought af-
ter by the maidens, for the Indian girls
custom is to remain quiet until the mar
rage contract is made and the marriage
portion paid over. The husband must
have the dowry, with which he must in
vest his projected mother-in-law before
the ceremony takes place. The process
scription may be of interest.
The aspiring bridegroom must be
well known in the tribe before he can
hope to win wife. Her people want
to thoroughly understand him and know
if he can support not only her, but also
her relatives in the event of a pinch.
He must be kind-hearted man, with a
temper warranted to keep in any domes-
tic climate, and he must have good
lodge, and at least half dozen horses
If he be, and have all these, he can
a-wooing go. Selecting the lady, he
makes application to her mother, and at
a council the price is fixed upon.
If the girl be especially pretty, her
mother will demand gun, two horses,
and lot of provisions, blankets and
cloth. A gun is valued at fifty dollars,
p horse at twenty dollars, and he must
furnish material to bring the amount up
to from one hundred to one hundred and
fifty dollars. Then he tries to beat the
dame down, and if he succeeds, he
knows there is some reason for letting
the girl go; if not, he understands that
he is making good choice. The court
ship is left entirely to the mother.-St.
Louis Globe Democrat.