davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-10-25
New England lsupsrstitions.

Superstitions die slowly, and even af-
ter they have lost all real vitality they
linger like haunting-shades around the
scenes of their former activities Go in
to the distant hamlets and by-places
among the hills, and you will still find
people who quote, even if they do not
really credit, such omens as these:
White specks on the nails are luck.
Whoseeger reads eEitaphs loses his
memory. Torock the cradle when emp
ty is injurious to the child. To eat
while bell is telling for q funeral
causes toothache. The Growing of q
hen indicates some approaching disas-
ter. When a mouse gnaws a gown
some misfortune may be apprehended.
He who has teeth wide asunder must
seek his fortune In some distant land.
IL achild less than twelve months old
be brought into a cellar he becomes
fearful for iife When children play
soldier on the hillside it forebodes the
approach of war. A child grows proud
If suffered to look into a mirror while
less than IL months old. He who pro-
poses moving into new house must
send in beforehand bread and new
broom. Whoever sneezes at an early
hour either hears some news or receives
some presents the same day. The first
tooth cast by the child should be,swal-
lowed by the mother to insure new
growth of teeth Buttoning the coat
awry. or drawing on stockings inside
out, causes matters to go wrong during
the day. BY bending the head to the
hollow. of the arm, the initial letter of
the name of ones future spouse is rep
resented. When women are stuffing
beds the men should not remain in the
house, otherwise the feathers win come
through the ticks. When stranger en-
ters room he should be obliged to seat
himself, If only for moment, as he
otherwise takes away the children's
sleep with him. A dog scratching on
the floor or bowling in a particular
manner, and owls hOoting in the neigh
borhood of the house, indicate an ap-
preaching death. Dc
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-10-25
ABEARFrGHrER's REVENGE.

A tent was pitched near Hot Springs.
Ark, and the announcement of q show
brought a crowd. When all the money
obtainable for admission had been re-
ceived, stalwart negro wrestled with a
monster bear The combat was fierce,
and passed from play to work as the beast
warmed up. The spectators screamed
with excitement, and it seemed to be a
question of life or death with the negro.
Bleeding and exhausted, he finally got the
bear off the stage, amid overwhelming ap-
plause. The assembly insisted upon an
encore. When the tumult had reached
its height, the negro appeared, carrying a
bag. After acknowledging the kindness
of the spectators, he stopped down, and
drawing knife from his pocket, com
menced to tumble with the bag The peo-
pie, suppesins this To be some new trick,
preserved a bftathiess silence. Then he
cut the bag open, and there issued from it
a swarm Of bees. As the insects buZzed
forth, there was movement of the crowd,
then panic, and finally wild rush for
the exit Some got out by cutting Sits
in the canvas of the tent with their
knives.
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-10-25

numbered with fine papers, as are the
raised flock papers giving figures in relief
These last named papers are much en-
ployed for dining rooms and hotels.
When hand painted, after being hung,
these present from the wall the appearance
of carved weed. Leather papers, for
which there is more or less demand, come
in old bronze, exidized metal and beaten
gold patterns. Ceiling decorations are ex-
ceedingly popular. These may harmonic
with the wall hangings. They may be an
agreeable contrast or the same tones of
color represented on walls may be carried
|DMt in lighter shades. American wall pa
pers in the medium qualities are to be pre-
ferred to those of the same price of French
manufacture, the patron obtaining more
for his money. The domestic papers man
ufactured by Harris, Hughes s. Co. are
characterized by their excellent colorings,
harmonious combinations and original pat
terms. This firm meets the demands of a
general trade in the finer class of hangings
They are especially noted for originality in
the treatment of rooms, their aim being to
impart distinctive character to each room.
WaH papers, when not in stock to match
carpets and drpperies, are made to order.
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-10-25
pIPHTHERIA IN VIRGINIA.

Diphtheria has been raging in most ma
lignant form in certain sections of Pittsyl-
vania county Va, for the last two months.
In a radius of six miles six physicians re-
port $50 cases, out of which So died who
were treated by them; and there were SO
others who either died before the physi-
clan came or were too far gone to receive
treatment after his arrival. The disease
appears in different forms. In some cases
the patient is attacked with vomiting.
emitting in the last stages a greenish or
blush fluid; in others. high fevers, and
others congestion of different parts.
Whenever there are sores about the limbs
they are covered with the false membrane
similar to that in the throat. The doctors
all agree that filth has much to do with
the spread and maiignitv of the disease.
and disinfectants are rec0Tin nded. In
-one house. with only one room, a man.
his wife and five children were down at
one time, and but for the persistence of
the physician would have suffered for want
of food and care. There were other cases
in which the family had to shroud and
bury its own dead. No one who has
had the disease in malignant form has
been fully restored. Some are paralyzed;
some but partially; some have dropsy; in
numerous cases the eyes are affected, and
of the patients died of heart c1ot after they
had apparently recovered from diphtheria-
Relapses are frequent and in most cases
fatal The treatment of the disease varies
with different doctors. They have all aban-
doned the old style of hopping out the
throat all have found that the disease
yields to corrosive sublimate and iron.
when taken in time. Some cases died in
twenty -four hours after being seized with
the disease. Henry Orange buried three
children the same evening. and James
Matherly buried two of his sons in the
same grave. Some families lost six, some.
five, and in some instances every child
died. The disease is pronounced by all to-
be malignant dfphtheria In some cases it
is attended by malarial fever and in others
by scarlet fever. The number of cases is
grow ing less and less in the locality where
it first originated, but is spre, ding in diff
ferent directions.
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-10-25
To Poretell the Weather.

If the sun sets IN crimson clouds and
rises brilliant, on if the stars are nunier-
Gus and bright, we know in general
wax that NE may reckon duration of
fine weather.
Dews and white morning fogs are
symptoms of clear days.
A dark and vapory sun and sickly-
looking moon with blunt horns, and a
circle around her, or pallid. big and
non-scintilating stars are all signs OF
approaching rain.
If the sun comes up pale and then
turns red, or if the moon is large and
rudtly, with sharp. black horns, we may
count on wind.
The chickweed is called 1.-THE poor
mans barometer" because it shuts up
its flowers when wet is approaching.
The aurora boFealis, when very bright,
'forebodcs stormy, moist, unsettled
weather
A haze around the sun indicates rain;
it is caused by fine rain or mist in the
upper regions of the atmosphere.
A halo around the sun has often been
followed by heavy rains.
A halo around the moon is also an in
dication of rain. The larger the halo
the nearer the wet spell.
Lack of dew is another sign of rain.
Sharp white frosts in Autumn and
Winter precede damp weather, and
three successive white frosts are an in
fallible sign of rain.
Previous to rain the flies bite sharper
and stick to us closer, and bees remain
in the hive.
But few of the many signs we have
briefly instanced only apply to the inn
mediate future, and have nothing to do
with the far-seeing prophets whose
representations. also largely based up
on natural causes, peer into future
months-nay, years in advance.
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-10-25
Preachers and Tight Collars.

A well known preacher experienced q
painful sense of suffocation during his
preaching services on Sunday, followed
by severe pain in his throat after going
home. On Monday he felt hardly able
to speak, and on Tuesday he could with
difficulty utter whisper. By Wednes-
day the trouble generally relieved itself.
This continued for some weeks, alarm
ing the poor man all the time. and in
creasing in pain and Inconvenience.
The suffering clergyman consulted a
physician, but without avail. He then
mentioned the difficulty to friend who
happened to be dealer in shirts and
neckwear. This friend inserted his fin
ger between the clergyman's neck and
his neck-band, and at once reported the
cause of the trouble. He had been
wearing collar an inch and half too
small for him. He had for years been
accustomed to a fifteen-inch collar, and
had not taken notice of the fact that he
was increasing in size to such an extent
that sixteen and half collar was now
what he needed. The sense of relief
when he got collar of the right size
was wonderful The pain and uneasi-
ness was no longer felt, and the man
could now speak with ease. The lesson
to clergymen is obvious. There are
many who wear tight collars and era
vats around their necks, and who are,
in consequence martyrs of throat all
ments. The organs of speech must be
allowed ample freedom, if the Gospel
message is to be delivered aceeptably.
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-10-25
CHILDREN AND FLOWERS.

The culture of flowers in the living rooms
of the home cannot be too much COM
mended, intoxicating, as it does, 1oye of
them in the hearts of the children of the
house. and there can be no more charming
educator of taste. A love of color, form,
harmony, delicacy of touch, sensitiveness
to oders-all develop with the love and
care of flowers. | have picture in my
memory that was revealed to me in an
artists studio last summer, and which is
more vivid and fuller of the exquisite poetry
of charming childhood than any that an
artist has put on canvas. Around the
studio hung many gem of color, grazing
the walls and resting on the floor; and the
light from the artists north window fell
on rich pictures and soft rugs, and bits of
"drapery" harmonious in coloring and pic
turesque in arrangement. On an easel
rested canvas upon which the artist
worked, evoking by deft touches of his
magic brushes, face, most radiantly
beautiful, of a young woman whose high
bred beauty shone in the purest perfec
ton of feature, illuminated by hazel eyes
of a matchless brilliancy. and crown
ed by waving hair growing like
golden aureola above her pure brows.
This was the beauty the artist painted, but
at his feet was more glowing picture; his
ing stood painting picture too.
A coarse, chuck bottomed" chair made
her easel and her canvas, both in one; the
door was her palette, and her colors were
drawn from pile of many hued petunias,
tossed in sweet confusion at her feet
See me paint, Papa . lisped the sill
very -tongued cherub; and the little baby
hands lowered ike butterflies above the
flowers, stuck here and there, in the plait-
ed rushes of the chair. now red and now
q white blossom. here a pink and there
purple corolia, and between each telling
touch the lovely artist would clasp her
pink palms and withdraw little from her
picture to pose her pretty little nut-brown
head on one side and view her work, little
knowing the study" she presented in her
simple Mother Hubbard frock of white
null, showing her pearl white ankles and
bare feet, the petunias blushing against her
rosy toes, and her flower painted picture
before her
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-10-25
HABITS OF THE cop-F1sH.
From the Laramie Boomerang.

A correspondent of the New York Post
says that the cod fish rrequents the table
lands of the sea-" The cod fish no doubt
does this to secure as nearly as possible a
dry, braeing atmosphere. This pure air
of the submarine table lands gives to the
cod fish that breadth of chest and depth of
lungs which we have always noticed.
The glad free smile of the Goldfish is
largely attributed to the exhilaration of
this altitoodleum.
ThescoFrespondent further says that 1.-THE
cod subsists largely on the sea cherry
Those who have not had the pleas
ure of seeing the cod-fish climb the sea
cherry tree in search of food, or clubbing
the fruit from the heavily laden branches
with chunks of coral, have missed very
fine sight.
The cod fish, when at home rambling
through the submarine forests, does not
wear his vest unbuttoned, as he does while
loafing around the grocery stores of the
United States.
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-10-25
TIE MALLEY BLACKMAIL CASE

The Essex market police court room
was crowded yesterday when the case of
Walter Malley against Baldwin, Pratt and
Hanley, who are charged with black
mailing Malley. was called. Mr.. N. l..
Blydenburgh, Walter Malley and Blanche
Douglass arrived in court early, and waited
in Sergeant Longs private room pending
the beginning of the examination After
the morning watch had been disposed of
and other routine matters transacted
Judge Patterson announced that he w as
ready to proceed with the examination of
thetcase. All the spectators were request
ed to retire, which they did very reluctant
", and then the party entered the court
room and from thence went into the magis-
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-10-25

trate's chamber where Clerk John Mexican
4 took the affidavit of Walter Malley. Il
| consisted of repetition of the particulars
of the case as published, and embraced the
statements of Blanche Douglass, who gave
her name as Mrs Annie Zimmerman. In
answer to questions she said her age was
1 twenty years, and at FIRST said that shesre-
sided fer the past three weeks at No. / .761
Third avenue, but corrected herself and
gave the number as ,79O In referring to
| the theft of the letters from her. Walter
Malley described her as Nellie Maxwell,
whose real name is Annie Zimmerman.
Edmund 3. Price appeared in the in
terest of Edward Haniey and Oliver
Bogart for William Pratt. John Gouriven
had no counsel When the affidavit was
taken it was delivered to Justice Patterson,
and the prisoners were placed at the bar.
They had nothing TO say to the charge at
present, and the further examination in
the case was set down for Thursday at
1890 q. m.
Mr.. Bogart claimed that so far as his client,
Pratt was concerned, he demurred to the
complaint as being insufficient to constitute
crime within the statute. His argument
will be heard to-day.
Malley and Blanche Douglass walked
through Grand street to the Bowery. with
Mr.. Blydenburgh and friend. On reach
ing the Bowery, Malley and Blanche Doug
lass had a talk aside from the others, and
finally Mr. Blydenburgh left and the re-
manning trio took north bound train of
the Third avenue elevated road. =
The detectives in the case caused the at
tendance in court of Mrs. Annie Snyder,
the housekeeper at No. 14S Spring street.
where Blanche occupied a furnished room
when the alleged robbery was committed.
It was intended that her testimony should
be taken, but it was. dispensed with for the
present Her story is that Haniey was an
almost daily visitor to Blanche Douglass,
and the latter represented him as her
brother in law. On the 18th list, during
Blanche's absence, Hanley called at the
house. and going to his friends room in
serted key in the lock, which, however,
did not fit. He went to Mrs. Snyder and
informed her that his sisrer-in law had sent
him to procure some things from her
rooms, but had given him the wrong key.
AS Blanche had stated to her that she was
going to move, Mrs Snyder gave him key
to her roem, and he left with q satchel.
Mrs Snyder further said that Blanche
Douglass first occupied rooms in her
house five years ago, when she was but
fifteen years of age and the wife of Ger
man named Zimmerman. They were with
her during different intervals OF time rang
ing from two months to II year and
Blanche returned as lodger about thee
months ago. The complaint in the case is
a conspiracy to blackmail.
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-10-25

From recent discussion in the Albany
Lao Journal it seems that ian interesting
practical question has been raised in con-
nection with the nse of the Telephone. This
is-whcther affidavfts can be taken and ties
timony heard by teiepaene. Snppeses for
instance, person lying i'll or suddenly
called out ofstown should have an AFFIDAVIT
to make. Can notary take such per-
sons affidavit officially. at the other end of
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-10-25

Attorney General Brewster and his
special counsel have prepared AN answer
TO the attorneys who defended the Star
route cases. The document is 10000
words in length. It reaffirms the asser-
tons made by the attorney general that
persons in the employ of the department
had been tempered with by the Star route
conspirators and used as spies and to cor
rupt jurors
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-10-25

A plan for transferring gold certificates
from the United States ub-Treasury at
New York to the seven other sub-treas-
uries in various parts of the country, is
under confederation, and a telegram to
the assistant treasurer at Philadelphia
brought out an order for $1,000, 600 Itis
believed these certificates win become the
favorite circulating medium outside of
New York
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-10-25

Three French physicians in New York
have q remedy for hydrophobia which
they claim Is sinfalIibles and which con-
,sists in throwing the body into such
perspiration that the poison win be
forced out Of the system through the
pores OF the skin. They are so, conf
dent Of its value that either one Of them
agrees to be bitten by q mad dog and
undergo treatment by his associates, in
order TO prove its efficacy, provided a.
pecuniary reward is offered by the Gov
iernaent or By individuals for the test.
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-10-25

As Wilkesbarre man took his seat
IN the BARRIERS chair he asked the bar
Der d he had the same razor he had
used two days before. Being answered
afflrmatiyely. the patient man said,
s'Then give me chloroform."
The Dillon tribune., 1882-02-04
Raising the Wind.

Once Tom Sheridan asked his father for
= supply Of cash. "Money l have none,
was the reply. "But money must have
said the other. "If that be the case, said
the affectionate parent, .'you will find q
case Of loaded pistols up stairs and horse
ready saddled in the stable, the night |,
dark, and you are within half mile o.
tlounsley heath" ~ understand what yo,
mean" said Tom, "but I tried that last
night. unluckily stopped Peake, you'
treasurer, who told me that you had beer
beforehand with him, and had robbed hi,r
Of every sixpence he had in the world"
The Dillon tribune., 1882-02-04
Revolution In a uerL Of Deer.

For wears an old buck, the leader OF the
deer herd on the Boston Common, has
maintained IN absolute malicious ty,ran,y
over the Younger members OF his own sex
H,s treatment ranked, and the other day
when he shed his horns they made com.
bined attack upon him, which only ceased
upon the death Of the tyrant. The
superintendent and his assistants at.
tempted to interfere, but were driven OFT
Of tire enclosure by the Infatuated animals,
which became docile again when their
enemy was disposed o. They still pre-
serve, howevery, sort Of ST se'~fer !v'""'
MS air, and thus far no one Of their humber
ha, laid claim to the rrimacy.
A Notable Bridge.
An iron bridge now building across
Mur.,crer's Creek, near Newburg. n. \.
for the New York, Ontario, and Western
Railroad, will be one OF the notable bridg
IS Of the country. 1t will be l,:oo tee
long, and so feet high, or ESQ feet Longer
than the Niagara Suspension Bridge, am
3, feet longer than the New Londo'
Bridge over the Thames. Its hight tx
ceeds that ofthe New York ard Brookly'
Bridge by ,6 feet, and Of High Bridge, owe
the Harlem River, by about IS feet.
The Dillon tribune., 1882-02-04
Select 9orhr.
WHAT WAS HIS CREED

$e|rrf eorlrp.
WHAT WAS HIS oREED'
lie left load Of anthracite
In front Of a poor Widows door,
when the deep snow. frozen and white,
Wrapd street, square mountain and moor
That was his deed;
He did It we'll.
"What was his crccd!"
cannot tell.
I;test "in his basket and his storc.,'
In sitting down and rising IN,
When more ht got, he gave the more,
Withholding not the crust and cup.
lie took the lead
In each good task
"What was hts creed?"
did not ask.
lis charity was like the snow,
Soft white and silken in its fall;
Not like the noisy winds that blow
From shivering trees the leaves, a pail
For flower and weed
Dropping below.
"What was his crccd!'
The poor may know.
lie had great faith in leaves Of bread
For hungry people, young and old;
And hope .inspiring words he said
To him he sheltered from the cold.
For man must feed
As we'll as pray,
"What was his crced?',
cannot say
In words he did not put his trust;
In faith his words were newer writ;
He loved to share his cup and crust
with any one who needed It.
In time Of need
A friend was he
What was his creed?"
He told not me.
tlc put his trust in Heaven, and worked
Ever along with hand and head;
And what he gave in charity
Swcetened his sleep and daily bread.
LIT us take heed
For lite Ia brief!.
Adopt his creed
And give relief.
The Dillon tribune., 1882-02-04
S4ie',lif4.
From the Scientific American.
Weight Ofthe Brooklyn Bridge.

Weight O1the BFOOkJyn Bridge.
In recent report in regard to the weight
and carrying power Of the F.; st River
Bridge, Engineer Roebling said that thu
agg, egate strength Of the cables is $4,000
TONS and the elastic limit S'aoo tons. Thu
floor beams in the supersructurc will
sustain 40 tons each. The total weight Of
the bridge, with its transmitting load Is u,
80 tons; weight Of main span, loaded,
S,.,o tons, Of which the cables and long
stays support 6,9,o tons, ana the trusses
and short stays 1850 tons. The reason
assigned for increasing the height Of the
,russes was that the bridge should be used
tor every purpose TO which It would lend
The Republican journal., 1882-01-12
A Pretty Western Romance.

A brother and sister, says the Daven-
port Qa) Democrat, have met after a
separation of 20 years, and the meeting
has been brought about in Davenport by
the little son of the sister in a most pecu-
liar way. One week ago yesterday the
raft steamer Clyde went into Davenport
on her way north, and Capt. Douglass
tied up his boat for awhile in order to
permit some of the crew to go ashore and
make purchases. Among others who
went ashore was Aaron Carter, a RATS
man. The weather was very cold, with
a keen northwest wind. While going
along the street, Carter met poorly clad
little boy, who was running along, crying
matter, and the little lad sobbed out
''Im cold" "Come with me, said Carter,
and, taking the boy to a clothing store,
he bought him suit of warm clothes and
apair Of mittens. He then asked the boy
his name. "Aaron Dunlap" was the re-
ply. Carter was thunderstruck. "Aaron
Dunlapw he cried. "Where are your
father and mother :" "Father is dead"
the boy replied "Well, take me to your
mother, then, as quickly as you can,"
said Carter. The boy took him to his
humble home, and when Carter entered
the house the boys mother rushed into
his arms with shrek that made all the
other occupants of the house rush into
the hall to see what was the matter. Car
ter had found sister whom he had not
seen since the year 1862, when he went
to war with Maine regiment.