davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1882-01-12
The Fraukfng Privilege.

The 'franking privilege" is by no
means, as some suppose, an American
product. Over two hundred years ago
in England the right was claimed by the
House of Commons, and was taken ad-
vantage of, and continued till 1889. In
France it was long considered the proper
thing. In the United States its first ap-
pearance was in 1776, when it was
granted to all private soldiers actually in
service for letters written by and to
themselves. The ordnance in 1882, re-
pealing previous legislation in regard to
the postoffice, made free all letters,
packets, and dispatches to and from
members and Secretary of Congress,
while actually attending, the Com
mander-in-C Chief and separate army
commanders, the heads of the depart
ments of finance, war, and foreign af-
fairs of the United States on public
service, as we'll as single letters di-
rected to any officers of the line in &C
tual service. From that time the priv
ilege was extended and enlarged until
the spasmodic reform of 1845, after
which it was still further increased. The
act repeating the privilege was passed
january 81, 1873, and was in force July
/, 1873,
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1882-01-12
Home Influences Developing,

My Lady-"No, no, General. Do
not talk to me of school and college |!
There's nothing like home influence for
boys. My precious darling has never
left my side since he was born-just
twenty.one years ago this very day,
General-and he has kept the heart of a
child, and never given me an hours
anxiety in all his innocent life p
The General -"Ah, he'll soon be
wanting to marry the lady's maid, or
something of that sort. See if he
doesn'tl"
My Lady-"Good Heavens. CTo
footman, who enters.) adams, where
is Parkerp
The Footman "She just stepped
out for minute this mornin', my Lady,
to git some 'air-pins, she said. But
they do say down stairs, as Master
George were waiting for her round the
corner with four-wheel cab and small
porkmanteau. Leastwise, she never
come home, nor Master George hasn't
neither. Lunch is waiting, my Lady"
London Punch.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1882-01-12
The Crater of Ponocatapetl.

In letter to the Philadelphia Record,
Mr.. Nathan e. Perkins describes at
great length the ascent of the Mexican
volcano Popocatapetl, having reached
the crater after toilsome elm b, and de-
scended as far as he could without a
rope. From this position good view
was obtained of the crater-walls. Tie
bottom was hidden by ascending smoke
and steam. The lower walls were hung
with large masses of sulphur interspersed
with icicles hundreds of feet long.
";The crater is about one mile across,
and has the appearance of alarge funnel
whose sides are but little inclined, and
to be three distinct rings, which divide
{ it into four zones, the largest being that
nearest the mouth. From the summit
the City of Mexico, although over 100
miles away, was plainly visible, and,
surrounded by lakes as it is, seemed like
a magnificent gem set around with
pearls. The whole great valley of Mex
leo can be seen at glance. At our feet
lay Ameca, over thirty miles distant,
with its luxurious growth Of tropical
plants, orange groves and banana plan
tations, and on the right Pueblo and the
old cities of Chilulo and Tascalla, with
their 365 churches and spires. The dis
tant mountain of Orizaba, nearly 200
miles away, the snowy peaks of Melen-
cha, the White Lilly and several others
in the distance, stood arrayed beforeme.
I felt fully repaid for my toll in having
climbed the highest mountain in North
America, whose summit is about 18, 600
feet above the sea-level."
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1882-01-12
Rather Enthuslastic.

The Wilmington Oel Daily Repub-
Hcdsa lately contained the following item
of popular interest: DIR. J. F. Speck,
who is connected with the Wilmington
Evea:y Evening, speaks rather enthusi-
astically of st. Jacobs Oil. DIR. Speck
states that he uses the Oil in his family
as household remedy, sort of univer-
sal panacea for all aches and pains, and
has always found it to act most happily.
His attention was called to it by the
many testimonials in its favor, and he
one day used it upon himself for sore
throat. Two applications were sufficient
to effect q cure. He also used it on his
little girl for sore throat with gratifying
success. The same child had scarlet
fever this winter, which left the tendons
of one leg much contracted. The little
prattler couldn't walk without assistance
and suffered much inconvenience and
pain. Several applications of st. Jacobs
Oil restored her limb to its normal con-
dition, and she has not experienced any
trouble since. DIR. Speck states that he
has also seen the Oil act charmingly in
toothache. He thinks st. Jacobs Oil is
a sterling remedy, and does not hesitate
to recommend it for rheumatism, etc.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1882-01-12
The POt-Luck Club.

At meeting of the Pot-Luck Club
each male member, according to promise,
contributed specimen of the handiwork
In the culinary art, and the result was
quite novel. q
Here" said the artist, sketching the
twentieth letter of the alphabet, is a
drawing of ct" His contribution was
highly esteamed.
"And here" said the printer, produc-
ing handful of type, sis some 'pi' Of
my own making" He said this in a crusty
tone.
Sand I've brought hot goose" said
the tailor, dropping his iron on the
table. He was greeted with Kisses.
"And ], said the poet, with Milesian
accent, proffering a manuscript shave
here some tender-loins. His offering
was voted very beefting.
"And hope" said sad and timid-
looking member, presenting his wife,
"you will relish this rib" And then
he added in a stage of whisper: "I
can spare her, therefore she is a spare
rib"
The carpenter now stepped forward
and said he had prepared ga little
plane board, placing the board on the
table as he spoke.
The shoemaker said he thought some
OF the members needed little brain food,
therefore he had brought " "sole," also
tongue" The former was pretty
scaly."
'And here" said smart young man,
with goneness in his voice, introducing
his best girl, sis little drunk" He was
pronounced Htoo fraah - and bie erir.l orova
him the cold shoulder all the rest of the
evening.
Then newspaper humorist cast his
eyes over the assemblage, called it q
rare meet" poured somed gritty sub.
stance out of a cone-shaped piece oi
paper, and made Joe Miller turn over in
his grave by remarking: "The best
can do in the culinary line is the sand
which is here"
The club Immediately adjourned out
OF respect for his gray-haired pun, say
ing that they didn't want any "taffy y
In their dessert. The Judge.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1882-01-12
A Battle Between Birds.

A gentleman from Stone County gives
the particulars Of remarkable incident
which he witnessed while crossing White
River on the ferry just above the mouth
of Sycamore Creek. When nearly half
way across the stream an enormous eagle
swooped down on flock of geese, which
were swimming in the river some eighty
rods below the boat. The fowls, upon
observing the eagle approaching, in
stinctively dived under the water Just as
the bird struck the wave. Bafled in the
first assault the eagle flew slowly up
ward, and when the geese came to the sur
face, darted downward again, and bury
ing its talons in one of them, attempted
to bear it sway. The goose struggled
violently, while its companions swan
around uttering shrill cries and the per-
sons on the ferry boat watched the
strange scene with keen interest. Once
the eagle lifted its prey clear out of the
water and seemed on the point of convey
ing it to the mountain cliff that rose
grandly in the air on the other side of
the stream, but the struggles of the goose
forced the captor downward. When
water was again reached the goose made
supreme effort and plunged below the
surface, dragging the eagle after it and
causing the latter to loosen its hold and
rise upward with fierce stream.
The eagle next attacked another goose,
but with the same result, being COM
PEELED to relinquish its hold when its in
tended victim plunged beneath the
waves. This strange contest lasted fully
thirty minutes, at the end of which time
the eagle gave up the fight, and, rising,
scared away to the mountains westward,
while the flock of geese swan further
down the stream. None of the flock
were killed, but the water in the vicinity
was dyed with blood, and the surface of
the stream was covered with feathers for
considerable distance. Rock
Letter to atlanta Constitution.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1882-01-12
Punctuation.

Punctation is an art, and one that has
been learned in comparatively modern
times. The Greeks did not know the
meaning of it. and left no space between
their words. The Romans put up kind
OF division without any apparent
method. Up to the end of the fifteenth
century only the colon and the comma
were introduced, and the latter at that
time only as . perpendicular figure.
We are indebted to Aldus Manutius. an
eminent printer, for the comma as we
have it now, and in 1870 he introduced
the semi-colon into printing, and pub.
lished set of rules for the guidance of
writer's. 1t is not known by whom notes
OF interrogation or exclamation were
first used, but inverted commas ('o were
brought into common use by French
printer to supersede the use of italics
but the English adopted them to specify
quotation,
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1882-01-12
USEFUL HINTS.

NEVER lean the back upon anything
that is cold.
NEVER begin journey until breakfast
has been eaten.
SPIRITS of ammonia diluted with
water, If applied with sponge orfannel
to discolored spots on the carpet or gar
ments, will often restore the color.
SKM-MLK and water, with q little bit
of glue In it, made scalding hot, will
restore old rusty black Grape. II slapped
and pressed dry, like muslin, it will look
as good rs new. -E s4 y
A PASTE made of whiting and benzoin
will clean marble, and one made OF
whiting and chloride of soda, spread and
left to dry Gin the sun if possible) on the
marble will remove spots.
CELERY boiled in milk and eaten with
the milk served as beverage is said to
be cure for rheumatism, gout and a
specific in cases of smallpox. Nervous
people find comfort In celery.
NEVER stand still in cold weather,
especially after having taken a slight
degree of exercise and always avoid
standing upon the ice or snow, or where
the person is exposed to cold wind.
A FLANNEL cloth dipped into warm
soap suds and then into whiting and
applied to paint will instantly remove
all grease and dirt. Wash with clean
water and dry. The most delicate tint
will not be injured, and will look like
new.
To REMOVE grease from white goods,
wash with soap or alkaline lyes. Col
ored cottons, wash with lukewarm soap
yes. Colored woolens, the same, or
ammonia. Silks, absorb with French
chalk or fuller's earth, and dissolve away
with benzine or ether.
FoR salt-rising bread, stir up quite
thick in the usual way, using cold water,
and place upon the sitting-room coal
stove over night; it will be light enough
to sponge the bread by morning, and If
quite help when the days are so shori
for raising the emptyings my family
prefer this rising. When one has not q
warm-enough place to set their milk pu
hot water in to raise the temperature
To make light wheat loaf, take the
thick buttermilk from the bottom of you
buttermilk dish stir just as you can
allowing one heaping teaspoonful OF SO
da to q pint basin OF buttermilk. Po
pie is nice made in the same way, only
put about one third sour cream. Apud
ding made in the same way with driet
cherries and steamed in the cake disl
with hole in the center is nice. Th'
advantage of the hole in the center i
that the steam passes through the cente
of the pudding into the steamer. Ea
this pudding with sugar and cream
nice tart apples will answer very wei
for frIlit a a -
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1882-01-12
HOUSEHOLD HELPS.
From thu American cuitivator.I


RroE MUFFrNs.- mullins baked
In gem pans are very.nice, and are very
easy to make. A pint of sweet milk and
hree eggs, thickened with tablespoon
ul Of -four, and cup of rice, steamed
until 1t is tender, are needed TO make
them. % leEF f-f-lrs % o. sf.4s1 &C. .
CHocoLArE CARAMELs. .--One cup Of
sweet milk, one cup of molasses, half a
cup of grated chocolate, piece of but
ter the size of walnut stir constantly
and let IL boil until it is s-thiek, then turn
it out on buttered plates; when it be-
gins TO stiffen mark IL In squares, 30 that
II will break readily when cold. igh ~.
SPASIsH FRrrrERs. Gut some slices
Of bread into any shape you like pour
q very little brandy on each piece. Nix
two eggs with two spoonfulsv of -four and
a little milk cover the pieces ofabread
with this batter; let them rest, for half
an hour, then fry in lard or butter, and
serve hot. with q, little pressrvs on each
fritter.
BARLEY SoUP.-Two or three pounds
Of beef from the skin, two pounds OF
cracked bones, an onion, four stalks Of
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1882-01-12
Single Women.

A clever old maid once said that 1t was
far better to be laughed at because you
were not married than not to be able to
laugh because you were. There is
sound logic in that. It Is we'll for
woman to marry if she meets a good.
true man who loves her and whom she
loves but if she be not suited, better,
far better, that she remain single. The
majority of old maids are helpful, Iowa
BILE and sweet-tempered, and fill their
allotted niche as acceptably as do their
married sisters. Are they not more to
be honored than they would have been
had they married merely for home or
eous ideas upon this subject. They feel
almost disgraced if they have to arrive
at a mature age, and are not yet able to
write Mrs. before their names. Their
whole ambition is to get a husband, by
hook or by crook, but get him somehow
they must. Consequently they take the
first man who offers himself, whether he
really suits them or not. Now. girls,
do not marry in haste. Get the best
education possible, help about domestic
affairs, and enter upon some trade OF
profession for which you have taste
and master it. Skilled labor is always
we'll paid. Don't spend your time re-
pining because you cannot see the COM
ing man. If you never see him, you
can live useful, happy lives. You think
if you had husband you would have q
strong arm on which to lean, sharer oi
sorrow and trouble. Alas many g
slender woman has had not only te
stand alone, but also serve as prop fol
children and husband, and very few
wives find in their husbands all the
sympathy and companionship they de
sire. If you are good for anything yor
will not be hurt by remaining single
neither will you be elevated by becom
ing "John's wife," Do your duty il
life and you will count for one in th'
world. whether married or single.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1882-01-12
THE MAN WHO WON.
Opinions Of Things English by an Ameri.

Opinions Of Things English by an Amerf.
A rich American who is reported to
have won large sums by betting on horse
races in England gives his opinion as fol-
lows "The English are very slow
people. You can't get barber to shave
you there on Sunday or holiday, nor
after o'clock in the evening, and none
of the stores are open till o'clock in
the morning. You might suppose, from
their long connection with the turf, that
they would be very alert on good horse;
but I saw Baron Rothschild' s mare Nellie
win q race, and not one cent had been
wagered on her. saw the horse some
time before the race, and was struck with
her perfect form, and I put $50, 900 on
her, and won it with ease. She just had
walk-away from the rest After it was
over they all saw what they had missed.
Foxhall is the greatest horse in the world
to-day. The English must have known
that there was something in Foxhall, yet
they won next to nothing on his per-
formances, and let the Americans take
away their money. s-,.,.~.
England is finished country. It is
like park in every part, with the ex-
ception of Ireland, whose bogs and dis
order are rather repelling. You see no
ash barrels standing around the towns of
England, no old newspapers and rubbish.
Coming home, the unfinished character
of America is very noticable-the SLOW
emily condition of the streets, the naked
railroads running without fences across
the landscape. England is completed.
We seem to be only about one-third fin.
ished. You compare an English railroad
Here they are mere wooden shells, with
one man, perhaps, doing all the work
selling tickets, checking baggage, every
thing. There you see little army o
railroad guards, and the larger stationl
are massive hotels and crystal guarc
houses. l think that Germany and Eng
land are the superior countries il
Europe, and they stand pretty close Il
each other in achievements and ability
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1882-01-12
Grapes as Food. .

According to the views entertained by
DR.. Hartsen, of Cannes, in France, the
organic acids in grapes deserve moro
consideration, dietetically, than they
have generally received, and their nutri-i
tive value has been as commonly under
rated. It is known that they are changed
to carbon1c acid in the blood, and possi-
bly, careful researches will show that
they are convertible into fats. It is
thought that they should be ranked with
the carbohydrates as food i; they have
also been found a valuable diet in fever,
and the well-known " grape cures " In
the Tyrol prove their benefit in other
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1882-01-12
Explosive BALLOONS

There has long been a suspicion that
the pretty little toy balloons of various
colors, which children love to convey
about the streets at the end of string.
and fiaunt in ones face in street cars and
railway trains, are not as innocent and
harmless as they look, and recent mis-
hapin London strengthens this suspicion.
A gentleman wss waiting for tram car
to approach, when one Of these balloons.
iioatlng In the air behind its proprietor,
touched the end OF his lighted Cigar. A
loud explosion instantly followed and
simultaneously the beard, mustaohe and
eyebrows disappeared from the gentle-
mans face, together with considerable
amount OF exposed cuticle. II Proyi-
dence had not afforded the eyes q better
protection than sinful mortals deserve
the unfortunate smoker would have lost
his sight also.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1882-01-12
RESCUED FROM Death.

William j. Coughlin, of somerville, Mass, In
the fall of 1876 taken with bleedngs of the lungs
followed by severe cough lost my appetite and
flesh, and was confined to my bed. In 1877 I ad-
mitted to the hospital The doctors said had hole in
my lung big half dollar. At time a report
went around that was dead. gave up hope, but a
friend told of Dr.. WILLIAM HALL's BAIsAM
LUNGS. got a bottle, when, to my surprise, COM
menced to feel BETTER and to-day feel better than for
three years past write this hoping every afflicted
with diseased lungs will take DE-. WILLIAM HALLs Ball
SAM, and be convinced that CONSUMPTION CURED.
can positively say has done good than all tn
other medicines have taken since sickness"
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1882-01-12
Why He Felt Mean.

Firstworkingman (bursting into tears)
-" Lemme lone, tell you I want to die
and be buried; I'm only mean, miser-
able hound, and no good any way"
Second workingman-"B what
makes you keep ON blathering like that,
and weeping so? Do be a man."
First workingman-" I'm a mean,
miserable hound 1 tried to lick my
wife, and I'm no good anyway, because
she licked me 81"
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1882-01-12
SINCE 1865 Tennessee has acou

SINCE 1865 Tennessee has acquired
nearly 100000 additional population,
and has made crops every year of an
average annual net profit of $27, 500, 600.
Since 1860 Memphis, in spite of the war
and three epideaics, has grown from
$4,000 to $4,000, while Nashville has
creptup from II, ,O00population to rs, 900.
The growth of Chattanooga, Knoxville,
and other towns, has been at proper
iionatA rates
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1882-01-12

For dyspepsia, indigestion, depression of
spirits and general debility in their various
forms, also as preventive against fever and
ague and other intermittent fevers, the FERRo
PHosPHoRATED ELIXIR OF CAIIsAYA BARK, made
by Caswell, Hazard & Co., New York, and sold
by all druggists, is the best tonic and for pa
tients recovering from fever or other sickness
IL has no annal
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1882-01-12

A YOUNG wife lost her husband who
was about 10 years of age. "But how
did you ever happen to marry man of
that age?" asked one of her friends.
why" said the young widow, "you
see I only had the choice between two
old men, and of course I took the oldest. :"
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1882-01-12
The Axe ofMirneles

is past and DR.. Pierce's 'SGolden Medical Dis
covery" will not raise the dead will not cure
you if your lungs are almost wasted by con-
sumption. 1t is, however, unsurpassed both as
a pectoral and Alternative, and will cure obsti-
virtue of its wonderful Alternative properties. it
cleanses and enriches the blood, cures pimples,
blotches, and eruptions, and causes even great
eating ulcers to heal
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1882-01-12
A Testament n<v,.cr.. op,u,ou

The eminent author Prof: A. G. Kendrick,
D. D., IL. D., who i professor Of Hebrew,
ter, and was ono of the revisers Of the New
Testiment, in general conversation with num-
Der OF gentlemen, short time since, said |;
~ have received from the use of Warmers
Safe Kidney and Liver Cure very marked bene-
fit and can most cordially recommend II to
others"
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1882-01-12

THERE is something soft and tender in the
fall Of a single snowflake, but it always re-
minds us to look after our bottle of DIR. Bulls
Cough Syrup,-our old standby in the days OF
Coughs and Colds,-for we have always found
| it reliable
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1882-01-12

"PARr1Na is such sweet sorrow," re-
marked bald old bachelor to a pretty
girl, as he told her goodnight. 81
should smile," she replied, glancing
upon his hairlessness and wondering how
he ever did it.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1882-01-12
On Thirty DAYS, Trial.

The Voltaic Belt Co., Marshall, Mich, will
send their Electro-Voltaic Belts and other
Electric Appliances on trial for thirty days to
any person afflicted with Nervous Debility,
Lost Vitality, and kindred troubles, guarantee
ing complete restoration of vigor and manhood.
Address as above without delay.
P. S.-No risk is incurred, as thirty days
trial is allowed.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1882-01-12

The Nebraska City (Neb. Press says
st. Jacobs Oil strikes heavy blows for
good all around, and its virtues for rheu.
matte pains are lauded upon every hand.
Try it, all ye who suffer.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1882-01-12
DON'T Use Big Words.

In promulgating your esoteric cogita-
tions, or articulating superficial senti-
mentalities and philosophical or psyche
logical observations, beware of platitudi-
nous ponderosity. Letyour conversation
possess clarified conciseness, compacted
comprehensibleness, coalescent consist
ency and concatenated cogency. Es-
chew, all conglome1ations of fatulent
garrulity. ieiune babblement and asinine
affectations. Let your extemporaneous
descantings and unpremeditated expa-
tiations have intellieibility and veracious
vivacity, without rhodomontade or thra-
sonical bombast. Sedulously avoid an
polysyllabic profunditys pompous pro-
ixity, psittaceous vacuity, ventriloquial
verbosity and yaniloauent vapidity.
Shun double entendres, prurient jocosity
and pestiferous profanity, obscurant or
apparent. In other words, talk plainly,
naturally, sensibly, itruthfully, purely.
And don't use big words. ~ -. -