davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1882-03-23
KNEE. BREEChES- NOT2
The Important Question Discussed
by Kate Field.

Black velvet breeches fourished when
George II. was king. Then change
came Ger the masculine leg. Some
body with abominable calves, or PROB
ably with no calves to speak of, took it
into his head to wear top-boots. Every
body else followed in his footsteps.
''The mode makers of the age" thun-
ders The London Chronicle of 1862,
''have taken an antipathy to the leg,
for their high-topped shoes and long
trouser-breeches with broad knee
band, like compass for the retula, a
leg in high taste is not longer than a
common councilman's tobacco-stop-
per-" Toward the end of the last
century doe and buckskin breeches
were much worn, and even in walking
it was the fashion to have them SO tight
that marvellous gymnastics were re-
quired to put them on. Fancy a
gentleman exclsiming to his tailor, 'If
| can't get into them l won't have
them"
On this side of the Atlantic knee
breeches disappeared about Hfty years
age. In England they are worn by
certain members of the clergy and reign
as court dress. By the light Of such
facts why should nineteenth century
frenzy seize our population at the bare
mention of these garm ents, and why
should the wearing of them be regard
ed as magnificent form of idiocy
There are men of brains who, endowed
with love of beauty, confess to n hatred
of the all prevailing trousers and and to
a desire that knee-breeches shall pre-.
vail as evening male attire. Why not
Why should all men be as atrociously
alike as broomsticks? Why should
gentlemen and waiter so closely re-
semble each other as to be undis in
guishable? Why should color, grace,
and beauty be confined to one sex
when the history of costume tells us of
times when the dress of man charm ed
like that of woman Why do modern
artists shudder when asked to paint or
to model contemporary man? Because
of the angular hamm er-tail and the
ungainly trousers. / have heard a
clever merchant declare that the deca-
dence of sculpture was due to the dis
appearance of the human form and the
reign of unsuggestive clothes. Aye, it
was New York merchant who fell up
on his own garb and thus metaphoric-
ally rent its asuuder.
There is nothing whatever to be
brought forward in favor of trousers,
except that they serve to cover up Dad
legs. Men without calves, when array
ed in the broadcloth of the period, are
as pleasing as Apollos. But shall all
male beauty be sacrificed to the calf
less Can not art assist nature and
supplement proportions akin to the
meager pipe-tem? Men on the stage
are no better formed than those off,
yet they creditably endure the ordeal
of knee-breaches. kate Field in Or
Continent
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1882-03-23
Durability OF Wood.

Two things should not be lost sight of
in estimating the durability of different
samples of the same species of wood.
First, the proportion of "heart wood"
which the timber contains; or, in other
words, the length of time the wood has
been forming. sap wood" Of all our
trees is generally short-lived, while
'heart-wood" is relatively much more
durable; and this durability is in pre- por-
ton to the length of time which it took
to grow. Thus the specimens of Ca
talpa wood mentioned elsewhere show
ed twenty years to the isch. Had they
made the common growth of two or
three years 10 the inch, they would
doubtless have decaycd fifty or more
years ago, instead of remaining sound,
exposed to the weather of seventy
years.
The philosophy of this is that slow
growth Is usually more compact growth,
and also that every year adds the weight
OF sort of residuum mineral deposit to
the heart wood, which in process of
time renders il almost indestructlble In
certain species. Witness the Oak fam
ily-and especially the Burr Oak
whose heart is almost imperishable.
The Pine family fill their heart wood
with resin, which gives it great durabil-
ity.
The second fact is, that timber cut,
or killed. in midsummer is much more
durable than that cut in winter. Well
DO We remember the old girdled Oaks
that had stood for years; and occasion
ally tree killed by lightning in mid
summer. 1t required both a good axe
and tough muscle to work them, b.dy
and limb, into fire wood But tree
cut down in winter will decay and be
worthless in few years unless it be
peeled and seasoned the first sum-
mer.
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1882-03-23
How TO Sit Hens, and Their Care.
Western wis., Farmer.

Hens of medium size are generally
the best sitters and least likely to break
their eggs. 1t is good plan to place
some porcelain or china eggs under
her for few days TO see if she is con-
stant in her work. A convenient way
to prepare q nest is to procure an
empty -four or apple barrel, saw across
two slaves, between the upper and
lower hoops, and remove them; this
leaves a suitable aperture for hcr to go
on and off. A piece of old canvass
may be tackled to the upper edge of
the opening and allowed to trop in
front of the opening. Put about a
pajlful OF damp dirt in the bottom of
the barrel, then fill it with chaff or
broken straw until suitable nest is
made. Sprinkle on the nest tea
spoonful of dry sulphur, to keep away
vermin, and you will have a nest that
answers admirably. A board or two
should cover the top of the barrel.
After the hen has been placed on her
nest, which should be done in the even
ing, let her remain for twenty four
hours Every day at about noon the
curtain should be raised. and shelled-
corn, gravel and box with dry dirt or
ashes placed near She will probably
come off every day, for the purpose of
eating, drinking and busting. The
eggs should be examined every day,
while the hen is of, and if any have
been broken and Others soiled, they
should be cleansed with warm water.
In about twenty,one days the Matching
will begin. If any eggs have hard
and dry shell, so that the occupant is
likely to perish, carefully remove the
shell around the opening until the
chicks head is liberated, then place
under the hen. save scores Of chicks
every season by this method, which
would otherwise perish.
Do not take the chick entirely out.
if you do the umbilical cord will be
broken and the chick will probably
perish. If the weather be very warm,
see that the hen does not get lousy. If
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1882-03-23
A NEW ENGLISH DICTIONARY.
A Lexicon About Four Times a. Large
as Webster's.

There is news from England which
ought more to interest and entertain
the world than any wranglings over the
eastern question, shooting of crowned
heads, or the construction Of tunnels
through mountains or under seas. II
is more than ever probable -
SC probable as to be almost an
assured fact--that this language we
speak will possess in the lifetime OF
most men now living a dictionary
worthy of its literature ana its renown.
A quarter of a century ago tie English
Pathological society undertook to pre-
pare such work, got we'll into it, then
lost its leader in Herber Coleridge,
tried again to revive the undertaking,
but failed successfully to do this until
1865, when DR.. Murray an editor,
found himself possessed of nearly two
tons of material that had been collected
before him, and The Clarendon Press of
Oxford had undertaken to publish the
dictionary. The news we now have is
of the work that has thus far been &C
complished, and of promises that in ten
years it will all be finished, with the &C
tual publication this very year of the
first part, some ago pages, containing
the letter "a" The society began
first in 1859 to make appeals to read
ers-that is, persons to read books aud
make quotations and several hundred
volunteers were soon enlisted for the
cause. Other appeals have, from time
to time, been made since then, until
these two tons of material are the result.
Late readers have supplied DR.. Murray
with more than 500 600 slips; from one
reader alone he got $4,000 slips, and
from another 10000. He has in all
$500, 900 quotations, representing more
than a thousand readers. He has
built in his garden an iron building,
where this material is classified in owe,
thousand pigeon-holes and made sure
of safe-keeping. Americans have aid
ed him substantially; he finds in them
san ideal love for the English language
as glorious heritage, and a pride in
being intimate with its grand memories,
such as one does find sometimes in a
classical scholar in regard to Greek"
slight example Of how great the
value of this dictionary will be is seen
in a statement he makes that ne finds
writers constantly engaged in laborius
calculations of points 'of which the
full explanation lies ready at hand in
our pigeon-holes waiting to be edited
and published" Should the work be
printed in uniform accordance with the
portions now ready for printing, the
Dictionary would fill twelve quario vol
umnes of 1000 pages each; but many
reductions could be made in the length
of quotations, reducing the work to
about four Volumes, which would
leave it four times the size of Webster
and about one-half the size of Littre
Unlike most other dictionaries, it will
thus be the work of many hands, in
stead of one, 50 that from this fact, as
we'll as from the advancement made in
scholarship. DR.. Murray will find it
quite unnecessary to write preface,
like DR.. Johnson's admitting that a few
wild blunders and visible absurdities
might for time furnish folly with
laughter and harden ignorance into con-
tempt -New York Times.
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1882-03-23

she should, dust:.a little Persian insect
powder under the wings and the fluff
around the things.
Many may say that with 80 much
fussing, there is more trouble than
profit; but assure those who wish to
raise chicks, that without the closest
attention to all the smallest details, they
will not succeed. The care and raising
of chicks will be reserved for subse-
quent article.
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1882-03-23
FAREWELL TO OSCAR.

O Oscar Wilde,
.Esthetic mild,
With hair well lied
Aud shirt-f front 'biled'
And hands unsiled'
0 poet and scholar,
You charge but a dollar
For sight of your collar,
Which we willingly pay,
And bless the bright day
foa happened our way.
Midst Ireland's commotin
You seized on the notion
To cross the wide ocean
To teach great nation
Its proper relation
And aesthetic station.
We hear you with pleasure.
Your wisdom wc'll treasure,
We're glad beyond measure
To obey your commands,
And whiten our hands,
And loosen our bands,
Aud cease from our labors
And live on our Deighbors
tThe vulgar, "bejabers").
mo need to be dutiful,
So we're beautiful"
THAT wo'd just suitafool.)
But air yew aesthetic!
Or peripatetics
Or only emeticl
Dear Oscar, good-by,
We're too busy to cry,
And too hurried to buy
Usa collar. Shoo-hy.
BURR LEsaUE.
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1882-03-23

A young curate having preached DE.
fore his vicar for the first time, asked
that worthy at the close of the service
which passage in his sermon ne thought
the best, to which the vicar made reply;
"Your passage from the vestry to the
pulpit was very fines but commend me
to that from the pulpit to the vestry for
downright, heart-relieving effect"
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1882-03-23
At darkey camp meeting last sum
mer, an old sister shouted:
| wish ] vas a June bug
Fly away 70 hebben. -

Fly away to hebben.n
A more practical sister spoke up and
said; Look out sister, jaybird ketch
you fore you git dar." A young and
very enthusiastic sister jumped up and
shouted: zone can't hold me | Two
can't hold me Three can't hold me
Take Mr.. Buffkin and he can't hold
mel (Mr. b. was her sweetheart). In
a experience meetin' one of the sis
ters said she had been TO hebben. An
other asked ''if she seed any niggers
dary 'Lor, sister, you don't s'pose
went in de kitchen, does your
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1882-03-23

AtTenoa ali dead bodies may now
be legally burned instead of buried
The crematory furnaces are in full
working order.
Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1882-11-09

gress carried my trane. The President
gave me a bokay Of roses. My fealngs
were happy, 'speshly when | gave my
white saton dress to poor woman with
10 children. and bought me pink one
with nice pink roses embroidered onto
t."
When Kate had written this much,
she stopped to rest and think of some
more events Under another date, she
wrote
II wore reeth of white roses to-day
maid of purls. A beggir child came,
and took rose out Of the reeth and
gave it to her, The Prince smiled at
me, and called me an angil.
IL sat under tree and read thick
book in an hour. Reading is nice"
1t took Kate long time to write all
this. When she had finished she said {:
"There, that's what ] call events"
While she was trying to read over
"Evenz and Fealings," she fell fast
asleep, dropping her pen and making
big blot on the page. There Mamma
and Papa found her when they came
from the party.
They had hearty laugh over the
poor little book, and after that when
ever they spoke of stilted, unnatural
person, they said: "He reminds me of
Kate's diary. Mrs. AZ. r. Butts. in st.
Nicholas for Neo mber. esq
Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1882-11-09


TRAvEL.-Among the rich oppor-
tunities which advancing civilization
opens up 10 us with more and more
liberal hand. is that of travel. Once a
journey of any length was laborious,
tedious and expensive undertaking,
seldom attempted save in the interest
OF business or duty. Now it is a ma
tural and practicable recreation for
thousands in moderate circumstances,
and one from which even the very
poorest of our citizens is not wholly de-
barred. Not only does this quick and
easy transit invigorate an business
life, and unite the nations of the world
in mutual interest, otherwise impos-
sible, but 1t is likewise most efficient in
improving private character and pro-
noting the happiness of private life.
Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1882-11-09
Natures Undertakers.

How often do we hear the query,
"What becomes of all the dead birds p
The secret of their mysterious dsap-
pearance was but just how half told by
the buzz of those brown wings, and the
other half is welcome to any one who
will take the trouble to follow their
lead. The beetle is one of mans meal
culable benefactors. 1t is his mission
to keep fresh and pure the air we
breathe. He is the sexton that takes
beneath the mold not only the fallen
sparrow, but the mice, the squirrels,
and even much larger creatures that
die in our woods and fields. Beneath
that clump of yarr0w found just what
| expected small, dead bird-and the
grave diggeIs were in the midst of
work. Already the rampant of fresh
earth was raised around the body, and
the cavity was growing deeper with
every moment, as the grave-diggers ex-
cavated the turf beneath. Now and
then one would emerge on tour of in
spection, even rummaging among the
feathers of that silent throat, and
climbing upon the plumy breast tOpress
down the little body into the deepening
grave. These nature-burials are by no
means rare, and where the listless eye
fails to discover them, the nostrils will
often indicate the way, and to any one
DESTROYS of witnessing the operation,
without the trouble of search, it is only
necessary to place in some convenient
spot of loose earth, the carcass of some
small animal. The most casual observer
could not fail soon to be attracted by
the orange spotted beetles.
Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1882-11-09
Beautiful Figure.

Two painters were employed to fresco
the walls of a magnificent cathedral /;
both stood ON rude scaffolding con-
structed for the purpose, some eighty
feet from the floor. One of them was
80 intent upon his work that he became
absorbed, and in admiration stood off
from the picture, gazing at it with de-
light. Forgetting where he was, he
moved backward slowly, surveying
critically the work of his pencil, until
he had neared the end of the plank on
which he stood. At this critical mo-
ment his companion turned suddenly,
and, almost frozen with horror, beheld
his imminent peril; another instant and
the enthusiast would be precipitated
upon the pavement beneath; if he spoke
to him it was certain death--if he held
his peace death was equally sure. Sud
denly he regained his presence of mind,
and Selling wet brush, fuag itagainst
the wall, scattering the beautiful pic
ture with unsightly blotches of color
ing. The painter flew forward, and
turned upon his friend with fierce i'm
precautions but startled at his CHASTITY
face, he listened to the recital of danger,
looked suddenly over the dread space
below, and with tears of gratitude
blessed the hand that saved him.
So We sometimes get absorbed in
locking upon the pictures of this world,
and, in contemplating them, step back
ward, unconscious of our peril, when
the Almighty dashes out the beautiful
images, and We spring forward to la
ment their destruction-into the out
stretched arms of mercy, and are saved.
Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1882-11-09
Sir Joshua Reynolds.

This distinguished painter having
heard of a young artist who had be-
come embarrassed by an injudicious
matrimonial connection, and was on
the point Of being arrested, immediate
ly hurried to his residence to inquire
into the truth of it. The unfortunate
man told him the particulars of bis
situation, adding that forty pounds
would enable him TO compound with
his creditors. After some further con-
versation Sir Joshua took leave, telling
the distressed painter he would do
something for him, and when he was
bidding him adieu at the door he took
him by the hand, and after squeezing
it in friendly manner hurried of
with that kind of triumph in his heart
which the generous can alone expert
ence, while the astonished artist found
that he had left in his hand a check
for one hundred pounds.
Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1882-11-09
SPECULATIONS.

GOOD morning, Dir. B. fine dayp Eyes,
fine dayw "Think it'll rain to-day% swell,
hardly think it'll rain to day; still, 1t may; hope
not"
"Howdy do, Mr.. G., cold, isn't it?" swell,
yes. should say II was cold" slave some
snow, 7 reckon? Wouldn't wonder at all /;
still 1t doesn't look like snow"
"Hello K. going to get freeze, ehg" "No,
think not; this winds going to blow up thaw."
That's where you're wrong. 1 tell you it's
going TO freeze"
The above are some OF the empty whiins and
speculations so often Oh the tongues OF the
people. Questions OF vital importance and
with which they are Intimately concerned, such
as health, modes Of living, and the treatment of
diseases, are passed upon little, if at all. How
much more sensible would DO query say like
this:
"Well, Mr.. B., how is your case OF dyspepsia
coming 90? Have you found remedy for it?'
Or like this: "My liver and kidneys filg in their
work. Is there medicine that will assist
them in meeting natures requirements?"
II M. b, or the other party accosted had
used Burdock Blood Bitters he would reply
"Yes, have found remedy, true and GOOD
one that has merit and is honest"
Let us add that the reputation OF Burdock
Blood Bitters is founded upon the solid floor Of
Fact, nailed down ana clinched by sincere Con
viction. For all disorders arising from or as
ISOLATED with the blood and stOmsch, this med
icine IL peculiarly adapted, and gives unvarying
| satisfaction
FA3RAND, WILLIAMS d Co., Wholesale
Agents, Detroit Mich.
Is there ever a hard question in morals thai
Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1882-11-09

Once on a time Dutchman and a
Frenchman were travelling in Pennsyl-
vania, when their horse lost shoe.
They drove up to blacksmith's shop,
and no one being in, they proceeded to
the house to inquire. The Frenchman
raped and called out, as de smitty
within" "Shtand back" says Hans,
"let me shpeak. Ish der blacksmit's
shop en- der houseY'
The cigarette has had many hard
things said against it, but nothing
nearly so damaging as the statement
just made, that "the smoking of cigar
cites has most injurious effect upon
the growth of the mustache.' If this
does not drive the cigarette from the
market then the young men of Amer
lea no longer yearn for the downy
upper lip.
Burke said: "Neve1 despair; and If
you do. work in despair"
Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1882-11-09

Dtue rs isev, most efsry day
I laugh me wild 10 IA der way
My schmall Young baby drie To play
bod funny leetle baby.
Ven i look Of dem leetle toes,
Und see DOT funny iestle nose,
Una hear der way dot rooster crows,
schmile like l vas crazy.
Sometimes der comes leetle schquall,
Dots when der windy Wind will crawl,
hiaht In bis lestle stchomack small.
Dots too bad for der bs y.
Dot makes him sing at ight 80 schyeet,
Unne barrie he must cad,
= und nust chump sBhrS on M Feet
10 help dot leetle baby. 5
Ne bulls M nose Una kicks my hair,
Un tRrhwls me Offer efery where,
Und shlob6ers me-but vet care?
Dot v9s my schmall young baby.
Around my head dot lee.le arm
Vor schq ms 80 nice aud warm
Ohl may ders never come some harm
To dot schmall lestle baby.
Charles F0lten adams.
Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1882-11-09
LITTLE KATE'S DIARY.

Little Kate Andre US had long wish
ed to keep diary. Her elegant Cousin
Maud, rom the city, who wore trails
and frizzes, and carried a wonderful
painted fan and white parasol trim
med with lace, kepta diary. She used
to sit at her table and write, after
everybody else was in bed. Sometimes
Kate slept with her and she would wake
up after her first long nap, and watch
Maud as she wrote. Kate thought she
looked very interesting in her long
white wrapper, her black hair hang
ing over shoulders, and her head sup
ported upon her hand. To sit up in
that way and write in diary was the
little girls highest ambition.
So, when Maud asked Kate what
she should buy for her after she went
back to the city, the child answered:
"a diary, please; one just like yours"
The diary came all right, wrapped
in buff paper, and directed to "Miss
Kate Andrews, care of James Andrews,
ESQ.,"
Kate was delighted. She meant to
sit up late that very night. Mamma
was going to party, and it would
be easy to sit up till nine o'clock at
least.
But, for fear something would hap
pen, she thought she would make one
entry in her new book in the afternoon.
So she went to Papa's desk, got pen,
ink, and blotter, and sat down in the
desk-chair with her left hand support
ing her head, in imitation of Cousin
Maud.
But what should she write? Her
mind was perfectly blank the moment
she got the pen in her hand. Brother
Ned set at the open window. studying
his grammar lesson.
"Ned, will you please tell me what
folks put in diaries mostly" she
said.
Events and feelings" said Ned
grandly.
Kate wrote across the upper
part of the first page, "Evenz and
Fealings," when she came to another
stop.
.Dut, Ned, what is eventsp" she
asked, after minute.
Eating your dinner is an event,
said Ned. "And sometimes they put
good resolutions into their diaries
And they write down the bad things
they have DONE" ~.
Kate became very quiet.
eff eating dinner is an event." sh'
thought, lit isn't interesting enough
| to put in a diary. / think COusil
Maud wrote about the friends VIII
came to see her, and, the books sh
read. But / shouldn't 'spose folk
would want to write it down whel
they don't do as they ought to.
want my diary to be nice reading"
So, under June /, 1881, she wrote:
"There is no evenz worth writin
down. When get time, 1 shall max
up some. About my fealings l haven
much Of any," E14 ME.
In the evening, after Mamma wer
to the party, Kate carried the pen an
ink to the nursery. Nurse, thinkin
she had gone to bed, sat in the kitche
gossiping with the cook. The lit
girl established herself at the table al
began to write:
"To-day, a man came and pade q
the rent. IL was a million dollars.
gave some to minister to build
meeting-hous and a chime Of bells.
, bought q white saton dress, with ,
awful long trane. A member Of Co