davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1882-09-07
The Egyptian Artillery.

1t is impossible to state with any de-
gree of certainty how the forts were
armed, but it is manifest that they were
mainly defended by smooth-bore guns
throwing solid spherical shot. The g.
inch 12-ton muzzle-loaders which the
Egyptians are known to possess have
only velocity of 1,249 feet, and pene-
tration of 81 inches at 1000 yards. The
English muzzle leaders of the same
weight and calibre have, on the other
hand, velocity of 1,42O feet. and pen
etration Of 1912 inches, under the same
condition: while our new 9.2-inch B. L.
M. guns have velocity of 1868 feet,
and penetration of 1876 inches at 1000
yards. Some of the forts, it is true, evil
IDENTIFY mounted ritied guns; but, wheth-
er smooth-b bored or rihed, they were of
energy, than the guns employed against
them.
Although, as matter of fact, the
Superb and the Invincible are said to
have been injured, and casualties are
reported on board the whole of the arm
or-clads, with the single exception of
the Monarch, which, being a turret ship
would present q clear weather deck
when equipped for action, the compare
tive insignificance of the losses and ins
juries demonstrates that the majority of
the projectiles fell short, and that even
when they hit the mark there was no
burst" On the other hand, in their
attack upon the forts the Intlexible and
the Temeraire had double advantage,
the Importance of which it is impossible
to over-eStimate. The immense range
of their turret and barbette guns enabled
them to begin the action at the distance
varying from 5000 to 5000 yards,
while remaining themselves complete
ly outside the radius of the hostile fire
London Truth.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1882-09-07
The Japanese He'll,

From the descriptions l have seen OF
the Buddhist place of torment. as de-
lineated by the aid of artists oonceits.
they believe in actual torments of hor-
rible character in recompense for an
evil life, though Just Whist they consider
deadly sins is to the affiant as yet un-
known. / have had, through the cour-
tesy of friend who has collection of
rare curios, the opportunity of looking
at series of nine Kakemonos, former
ly belonging to some temple in the in
terror, which depict the horrid state
that awaits the condemned on the other
side of the river. The first in order of
these nine paintings is the central one,
the other eight hanking it, four on each
side. This simply represents the per-
sons of four priests, clothed in their
sacred robes, seated on separate divans.
Two are in advance of the other two.
One of them holds in his hand pack
age resembling a closed book; another
has in his right hand bead rosary; the
third one has his hands palm to palm
as if in prayer, while the fourth one
holds in his left hand two feathers. and
in the right is grasped double-ended
trident. As my friend did not have the
hCy W tAc olS nIAGduCt VI u1o bAcdSuAos
am unable to give it. On the right
hand of the top of this Kakemono is
mass of clouds, and on the left water
scene, with the sacred mountain Fuji
Yama in the distance. The other eight
paintings are all devoted to showing the
various modes of punishment inflicted
by the demons, of most revolving aspect
Horned devils, and hoofed ones-devils
of all colors, but all most beastly devils
are portrayed as inhabiting range
of Jagged mountains, full Of rent and
chasm and deep abyss, into which they
are driving the luckless ones, who
crouch and shiver in their nakedness.
Each of these eight pictures represent
mitered priest sitting in Judgment, on
either hand standing an attendant, and
in front of his dais are the crouching
suppliants for his favor. There is on
some of them grinning devil in wait
ing to receive in charge the doomed.
One gives view of the demon from
seat in his cave, blowing stream of fire
from his mouth and nostrils upon the
victims that other devils are driving in
to his place, Yokohama Letter Gm San
Francisco Chronicle.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1882-09-07
A Pathetic Love Story.

A correspondent of the Philadelphia
Ledder writes the following account of
a strange funeral he attended among
the Berkshire hills, Massachusetts:
b. and / drove to the church and
went down into the little ravine behind
it. Here we stood for while waiting
until we saw slowly ascending the hill
a solemn procession. Two huge oxen
came tlrst, drawing wooden sled, on
which was rude coffin, covered with
black cloth. On either side of the sled
walked two rough countrymen with
long whips; Immediately after, with
tear-stained faces, walked the near rel
atives of the dead man. We joined in
the procession, and soon reached
beautifully wooded knoll Just outside of
the small clean yard. Here was the
newly-dug grave, and as the patient
beasts toiied to the side of the great
yawning hole. we formed in circle
around it. The coffin was lifted from
the sled and in silence lowered in its
last resting place. Not word was
spoken, and the oxen from time to time
turned their great heads as though to
have one last look at the master who
had cared for them in all these last
y
ed they should carry him to his grave
All stood silent as the earth was shovel
ed in by the sturdy coatless men; only
the rushing torrent of the mountain
stream near by, and an occasional bird
note in the stiffness. At last the work
was complete, the spades laid upon the
sled and the huge beasts were slowly
turned into the path, we following, un-
til we reached the little homestead at
the foot of the ravine. The oxen were
unyoked and quietly walked into field
and stood gazing at the solemn process
ion that wound past them on to the
piazza of the house. A few words were
spoken, the key turned in the door, and,
with p "Well, we shall all miss Uncle
Ira, )" each went his homeward way.
And now for the strange story of the
man whose ending was but in keeping
with his lonely life. Fifty or more years
ago stout New England boy had ac-
cumulated acre by acre, and his savings
enabled him to build o comfortable
house and barn in one of the most beau
tiful spots of all Berkshire. House and
homestead were made ready for his
wife. He thought he had won the
heart OF a neighboring beauty, but it
was the old story; new wooer from
town carried off the faithless damsel,
and so for fifty years the man lived
alone-literally alone-with his ami
mails. Not until three weeks ago would
he allow woman to come near him;
then he had grown weak and worn with
age and disease.
His relatives from year to year called
upon him at times, and he was con.
stantly going into the village and doing
all the good he could in his own pecu-
liar way. An anchorite, but not her
NIT, he lived outside of the world, out
side of the church, and his last COM
mands were that he would die as he had
lived. No clergyman was allowed to
come near him, and he selected the spot,
outside of the graveyard, for his rest.
ing-place, knoll which overlooked his
lonely home. 1t was curious episode
of steadfastness and simplicity on that
beautiful June morning among the aw
full hills.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1882-09-07
Southern Salt Market,

Mobile has become an important salt
market, supplying a portion of the West
with that article for various purposes.
The salt is brought to that port from
Avery's Island, eight or ten miles south
of New Iberia, small town on the eel
ebrated Bayou Teche. The salt is a
solid rock mass, assaying ninety-nine
per cent. of pure salt. 1t is without
flaw, fissure or seam, and is composed
of an aggregation of cubes of one-eighth
to three-fourths inch. The salt rock
weighs one hundred and twenty-eight
pounds to the cubic foot. Wherever
struck in the various borings the solid
salt always appears directly underly-
ing the surface, and is as solid and pure
at its surface as at the bottom of the
mine, seventy feet below. The deposit
covers an area of one hundred and tor
tX acres.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1882-09-07
Paid 6 Bill.

A Detroit lawyer took in new boy
the other day, and as he had suffered to
some extent from the depredations of
the former one, he decided to try the
new lads honesty at once. He there
fore placed S15 in bills under weight
on his desk and walked out without a
word. Upon his return, half an hour
later, the bills were gone and seventy
FIVE cents in silver had taken their
place.
Boy! when 1 stepped out to get a
draft on London / left $15 under this
weight
Yes, sir.''
"And now 1 find only seventy-fve
centsr'
''Yes, sir, but you see you hadn't
been gone five minutes when man
came in with bill against you of $14.-
25, and l paid it. guess the change is
correct"
"You-you paid bill?"
Yes, sir-there it is, all receipted.
The man said it had slipped your mind
for the last four years, and So"
He didn't get any further before he
was rushed for the stairs, and he isn't
in the law-business any more.-DetrOtt
Free Press.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1882-09-07
De King of Fruits.
ny UNCLE JOEL.

Some er pa'shel ter de apple, oddahs clamor
fer de plum,
Some fin enjoyment in dc cherry, oddahs make
dc peaches hum;
Some git fastened ter de onion, oddahs Iub the
a'tichOkc,
But my taste an Watermelon er boun' by a
pleasant yoke.
Some fin pleasure in the orange, oddahs
choose de cant aloupe,
Some are fon OBJ de banana, some de buckle
berry scoop;
Dar er timber in de pumpkin 70 de richest kind
oh pies,
But de speck led watermellenI Obi how full
hit fills my eyes.
Yo' must climb ter git de apple, er de cherry,
'er de peach,
An mus alns when yo' eat dem, keep a doctah
widin reach;
But de mbly Watermelon makes hits bed upon
de groun,
And de darkey, not de doctah, in de moonlight
makes the roun.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1882-09-07
WHOLE No. 1872.
The LAWYERS Trade,

80 1 am doomed?'' said the client
just found guilty of murder in the first
degree and condemned to be hanged.
Guilty? Hanged?" howied the law
yer. What are you talking aboutP
Evidently you have never been tried be-
fore for MURDER
No" said the prisoner; this is nv
first oilense."
''Why, man." said the lawyer, ''the
thing has but just commenced. Being
found guilty is now by the law consider
ed only the preliminary stage of crimi-
nal trial.
''Bnt what will you do now?"
do? You have twelve or fourteen
chances for life," said the lawyer
''tirst-Application for new trial.
''Second-Stay Of proceedings.
FThird-We shall find some new wit
nesses who will prove that you are quite
another man as compared with what
you were when you committed the deed.
''Fourth-There are forty-five excep-
tions to the rulings of the court.
''Fifth-If these fail we shall clap ON
a certiorari.
t'Sixth-If that fails we shall try the
old habeas corpus.
''SeventA-Then there is the insanity
dodge. That opens new field alto
gether for saving your neck. We can
make you insane. have in reserve
corps of experts who can make any
body out insane. Sentence you to the
asylum. you know, for life, and let you
out by the back door in less than year,
when the public has forgotten all about
the case.
Naturalization the Executive for
pardon.
'Tenth-The writs in reserve There's
the writ of corporealibus aurora borea-
lis. Do you understand LatinP' &
Prisoner-'.Not Latin
Lawyer-''If that fails there's the writ
OF pulcherimds amo masculinibus, which
means it is sin, anyway, to hang q
lovable white man-like yourself. Then
there's the writ of nil desperandum in
quandary, which means any port in a
storm. See?h
Prisoner-'1 don't see exactly. But
| know you must be learned man, and
l know there's heap of power in them
there writs. How muchp'
Lawyer-"Well, it costs heavily to get
them out, especially those last named,
for they are the choice and fancy varie-
ties A thousand dollars will smooth
things and procrastinate the gallows for
the present.
Prisoner-''Judge, $500 is all 1 can
raise just now. Won't that answer?'
Lawyer-''For half the time mention
ed, yes. You are saved for six months"
N Z. Graphic.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1882-09-07
Clocks.

Clocks were timely and striking in
vention, commonly used to prevent the
sun from getting ahead of its record,
and to provide people with an oppor-
tunity TO wonder how far wrong they
are.
The facial expression Oike some men)
invariably betrays the internal construc-
ton, and any disturbance depicts itself
very plainly: A clock never travels on
the square; it always goes round, and.
generally trusted. and yet they contin-
ually 90 on ''tick."
They are also an exception to the rule
OF busy hands being out of mischief. for
although no one will dispute that the
clocks hands are busy, yet they can
raise more trouble between a railroad
train and man than any thing else yet
invented. Railroad clocks are always
kept wrong, as this prevents the station
master from explaining the difference
between the trains and the time.
Clocks are very selfish. If they don't
have q good time anywhere they go,
and they 90 everywhere, they will cause
every body near them to have poor
time, too. Clocks are well enough in
their places, but just let them get loose
once! When clock begins to run
down, and you are afraid Of losing time,
just turn the key on it to prevent its es-
cape. This treatment usually winds up
the movements of the clock for the time,
and that most etfectually.
Some clocks are connected with a
noise which is to all appearances entire
ly innocent of any connection with the
time of the clock At least the attempt
to regulate it by the time has been prac-
tically abandoned as hopeless.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1882-09-07
The Inspiration Theory.

The following is a verbatim report OF
a discussion of the theological aspect of
the late State tragedy, overheard last
winter in Washington, while the trial of
the assassin was in progress. l thought
it was excellent at the time. and think
SO still:
First theologian (colored)-'DeL Lord
mout 'spired Guiteau. He mout a
done it eff ED bin mine ter"
Second theologian (eolored)-''Ob
kose He mout. De Lord mout of done
it. Kase de Lord kin do anything He's
a mine ter. But dat's de very reason
why He didn't do it. What for d'you
'spose de Lords gwine to 'spire man
to break His own commandment, Thou
shalt not killg 'Spose de Lord did want
to ''move de President He don't
want no pistle! Eff de Lord want to kill
a man all He's gotte do is jes ter wink
at him, and dar he is! Indicating with
an appropriate gesture the prostration
of the victim.) He don't want no pistle
to kill a man-de Lord don't. And
dat's de reason why don't b'leVe He
'spired Guiteau."
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1882-09-07
a Ring-Dove Romance.

About three weeks ago one of my
male ring-doves suddenly disappeared
one evening, leaving his mate alone
With the burdens of two eggs laid only
few days before. The mode of his
disappearance was altogether mysteri-
GUS and has not yet been cleared up
AS he did not appear next morning,
concluded that he had been seized by
some Of the neighboring cats which
prowl about the house in the evening.
Eleven days passed and no sign of him.
Meanwhile the female remained faith
full to her charge, leaving her eggs only
few moments twice day. At first
she called for her mate when the hour
came at which she ought to be relieved;
but in few days, comprehending, asit
seemed, that she was a widow, she be-
came silent and brooded alone over her
eggs. 10 my surprise, however, on the
morning of the twelfth day, soldier of
the Alpini brought me the missing
male, saying that he had been found by
another soldier in the woods near the
quarters, that is fully mile off. The
poor little birds tail looked rather rag
ged, and he seemed as if he must have
been in captivity some where, but he
recognized me at once and came to me
without trouble. l carried him to the
nest where his mate was sitting and
placed him beside her, wishing to see
what he would do. To my disappoint-
ment he did not seem to recognize her,
and jumped out again, placing himself
upon g rod in front of it. I ought to
say that the nest, being in hole
in a wall. is somewhat dark, and
that ring-doves do not see without
good deal of hight In minute or two
the female came out of the nest and
placed herself beside him. There they
recognized each other in an instant, and
such recognition he never saw! The
two kissed each other hundred times.
With cries of the widest delight they
f1uttered round each other, and at last
in their own way, embraced each other.
The male then entered the nest. looked
at the eggs, called the mother to come
and sit on them, went in quest of twigs
to make the nest more comfortable, and
at the end of an hour came and took his
turn on the eggs. The female then
went out, perched ON a vine, and care
fully trimmed her feathers. Since then
the family life has gone on in the ordi-
nary way. The young doves came out
two or three days after the fathers re-
turn, and are already as large as chick
ems just hatched.-Letter from Italy ias
Boston AdCertiSer.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1882-09-07
PineanDles,

We are having, the present season,
the largest pineapples ever brought to
this market, enormous fellows, selling
for 80 cents and 81 each. ''How is it,"
/ asked of dealer, ''we never had fruit
like this beforea' Because" he an
swered, "they were not grown. 1t is
only of late they have taken to culti-
waiting the pineapple by clipping off the
young ones and cutting close the trees,
growing only few on each, after the
manner of grape-growing for wine.
Hitherto pineapples grew wild, and no
care was taken of them" If they get
such great pines in England as we are
having, possibly they fall down and
worship them. Brother Bull has al
ways venerated ''the pine" as he calls
it. He values it so highly, that he sell
dom. buys one outright. He rents a
pine for his grand dinners, and, as the
custom is well understood, nobody thinks
of cutting it, though jokers have now
and then insisted upon a piece, to the
sore discontinue of their hosts. Pine
apples, like those we buy for a few pen
MES each. cost an untold amount in En-
gland The perfume of the pineapple
is so much liked by some persons that
they hang the fruit in their rooms. 1t
does not take long for the delicate odor
to pervade an apartment.-Pf0gfesS.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1882-09-07
He Wnnld Lose in Pork.

An incident, related to illustrate the
simple honesty of the natives of a sister
state who are represented as being peo-
pie whose promise may always be re-
lied upon, is as follows: sin the rural
portion of the state referred to there is
man who is an acknowledged leader
in politics in his district, and among
his followers is fellow who has con-
siderable influence with the hummer
element. The first mentioned man has
among other worldly goods quite
number of hogs, and the other fellow
used to shoot one of the porkers when
ever he wanted some meat, because it
was easier to supply bacon this way
than to hustle for it. The boss politi-
clan knew full well who it was that was
killing his pigs, but, not wishing to lose
the support of the fellow, he never
prosecuted him. The thing got so mo-
notonoNs, however, that something mad
to be done to stop the slaughter; so one
day the boss said to the offender: Say,
look here. I want you to quit shooting
my pigs. desire to allow them to
grow to a proper size before they are
killed, and l want to kill them myself
If you will give me your word that you'll
not shoot any more of them, I'll agree
to give you five hundred pounds of
pork Il year. What do you say? Is it
bargain?" All right replied the 9TH
er; i give you my word that I'll not
kill any more of your swine on the
terms you propose; but after q
pause, Tll lose pork by it "-Cjnct,s-
matt E2lUUirer.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1882-09-07

Jacob Miller was walking over the
trestle of the Cincinnati Northern
Narrow Guage, in Deer Creek, the 9TH
err day, and when about half way he
saw train backing toward him at
high rate of speed. Looking about he
saw he could not reach Effiuent Pipe
street before being overtaken, and he
was at point on the trestle where
Jump to the ground would result in GER
tain death. Lying down lengthwise be-
tween the rails he trusted to the train
passing over without touching him. 1t
turned out that one of the beams hang
ing lower than the others. struck him
and very badly wounded his extrem-
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1882-09-07
Zylonite,


One of the most remarkable uses to
which paper has been put of late years
is the manufacture of sylonite, sub
stance which, at the will of the manu-
facturer, may be made in imitation of
horn, rubber, ivory, tortoise shell, am
ber and even glass. The uses to which
zylonite are adaptable are almost in
finite, but perhaps the most extraordi-
nary is the manufacture of cathedral
windows. The discovery was made by
an Englishman named Spills, about fiji,
teen years ago, but it was only about
five years ago that q company was
formed in London for its manufacture.
Within the last two years company
has been formed here. The basis of
zyl0nite is plain white tissue paper,
made from cotton or cotton and linen
rags. The paper being treated first
with bath of sulphuric and other acids,
undergoes chemical change. The
acid is then carefully washed out and
the paper treated with another prepara-
ton of alcohol and camphor After
this" it assumes an appearance very
much like parchment. 1t is then capa-
BILE of being worked up into plates of
any thickness, rendered almost perfect
y transparent or given any of the brill
liant colors that silk will take. 1t is
much more flexible than either horn or
ivory, and much less brittle. Combs or
other articles made of it in imitation of
tortoise shell are said to be SO perfect il
appearance as to deceive the eye Of the
most practiced workmen in that sub
stance The difference in the materials
can be detected only by tests. A plain
white tissue paper also forms the basis
of celluloid. and the treatment in the
early stages of preparation are some
what similar. The chief difference,
however, between celluloid and zylon-
ite is that the former cannot be rendered
transparent, and, therefore, cannot like
the latter be made to initiate SO many
different substances.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1882-09-07

Referring to a st. Louis papers Ia
ment that American boys do not learn
trades which are likely to pay SO much
better than average clerkships, the In
dianapolis Journal remarks that this
arises less from false pride than from
the extreme difficulty of procuring in
struction. ''Many parent can attest
that it is among the impossibilities for
boys to secure situations where they
can become skilled in any of the more
desirable trades. 1t is, in fact, a great
favor to take boy.h
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1882-09-07
Macbeth's soliloquy.
BY r, w. CRISWELL.

Is this dagger which see before me,
The handle toward my han'f
Or is the-hic-point toward my han?
fellow can't most always some-hic-some-
times tell.
Come let me clutch thee-Oho, you won't2
Well, then, I'll show ye who's runnin' the she
-hic-shebang!
have thee-hic--not; and yet see thee still
Hello! see two daggers, or I'm goati
Art thou not, fatal tOo-hic-toothpicks,
Sensible to feeling, as to sight? No;
That could not be--hic-ese could
Feel thee double, as double do I-hic-see
thee!
P'raps thou art but a couple Of daggers of the
mind,
A false cre-hic-creation, so to speak,
Proceeding from the heat-oppressed brain
By JO-hic-Jovel heat-oppressed brain is
good,
And will that word lay up in the vast
Macbeth!