davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-02-21


A Bedouin riding past us at fuii
speed, carrying q long spear was n
sight for more than an hour and hall.
he took ell kinds Of fantastic shapes.
and as regards the distance he was oil
at any moment; the best range finder
aver invented could not have localized
him. At one time he was split mp into
three, with space Of something that
looked like q surface OF shimmering
water between each part-the legs OF
the camel dancing along over the plain
without any body attached to them'
and high over them the body OF the
camel and rider flying through the air,
and above them again the tuft oil
feathers surmounting his spear, looking
like bird in the air. What added
greatly to the dreariuess Of this horrid
waste was the total absence Of animal
life; not h.iump rufled the surface
of the CLASSY lakes; not even the pro-
verbal and familiar pelican OF the will
derness was to be seen by the side oil
them no wheeling vulturcs overhead;
even the swarms OF flies properly be-
longing to the caravan deserted. l
fancied that our "inside passengers
were reduced TO q policy Of mastery
inactivity" for time. 1t had come to
this that when You ask man to do any
thing he usually told you to wait till
he'd done scratching himself. The
csrcasses Of camels which We passed had
the flesh dried on TO the bones as hard
as wood. I shall never forget one
corpse-that of Internationally
quite indistinguishable. The body had
first distended to about three times Its
original bulk and then dried in that
form. turned it over as it lay on the
sand, and it was so light that l could
have lifted it with one hand. 1t made
creaking and drumming noise as l
moved it; very like the sound of shak'
ing rolled-up hide of sole leather.
arrived at two conclusions with reference
to that region. First, that the refrac'
ton Of light by the air was so remark
able that artillery would be rendered
practically ineffective. Second, that
would never go Sabbath days journey
into it again until I could do it on a
bicycle and have relays Of caravans sent
on loaded with lemon.squashes.-
Keane.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-02-21
INTERESTING FACTS.

The first locomotive built in this
country. 1880, was named the phoenix
The first glass mandatory in Amer
lea was established by John Heves, in
New Hampshire, in 1890.
The ancient Chinese used hydropathy
as q cure for certain diseases, among
others chronic rheumatism.
The compound lens microscope was
invented by the Jansens, spectacle
makers in Middlebury, in $780,
The African negro is remarkable for
his length OF arm and leg; the Aymars
Indian OF Peru for his shortness.
The monds oepuzuiis, one OF the AMI
malcules, is only twenty-four.thou.
sandth part OF all inch in diameter.
The substituting Of iron for bronze
in the casting Of cannon was first at
tempted in Queen Elizabeth's reign.
The microscope shows the hair to be
like coarse, round rasp, but with the
teeth extremely irregular and ragged.
The religious ceremonies Of the
Egyptians were preceded by abstinence,
and the sacrifcers $ere allowed neither
animal food nor wine.
The Icelanders embraced Christianity
in the year 1000, with the condition
that they might also continue their old
worship and the eating Of horssfesh.
The earliest mention Of a bridge in
history is in Herodotus, built by Queen
Nitocris across the Euphrates at
Babylon, to connect two parts Of the
city.
The sun is eclipsed when the moon
passes between the sun and the earth.
The moon intercepts the suns rays and
casts q shadow on the earth. The
moon is eclipsed when the earth is
between the sun and the moon /; the
earth intercepts the suns rays and casts
o shadow on the moon.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-02-21
kvARICIoUs PEOPLE.

A certain famous African explorer
was once the victim OF one Of those ex-
tremely distressing bitches which
amount to the complete and final separa-
ton OF those who would otherwise have
: been united for better, for worse. He
had fallen deeply il love with q young
Greek maiden whom no met in Crete.
lie afterward declared that never before
or since had he beheld so sweet and
beautiful creature. Having sought
ont the American consu! he revealed
to him the state OF his heart. The
consul, who had himself married q
Greek lady, babe him not despair, took
him forthwith to the house of his in
amorata and presented him to her
mother, who. was q widow. The nego-
tiations were conducted successfully /;
at the end OF week he was az accepted
lover, and in fortnight tie day for the
wedding had arrived. All This while
he had seen the young lady once a
day, always in the presence OF her
mother; and on the day before the in.
tended marriage he had been permitted
or the first time to take her hand and
imprint upon it a chaste salute. TIE
hour appointed for the wedding found
the bridegroom dressed for the core
mony and awaiting the happy moment.
There enter to him ct this juncture
three Greeks, whom he has never seen
before. and an interpreter, wto intro
duces them as brothers Of the bridel
elect. They produce parchment,
which the interpreter explains. 1t is a
deed of settlement, which binds the
bridegroom to pay so much year to
the mother and to each brothsr, and 30
much to his wife, and to disburse the
first instalments on the spot. In vain
the unlucky traveller explains that he is
worth nothing, and cannot pay. The
brothers look daggers, the interpreter
frowns; and the scene closes with the
arrival OF the consul, who with difficulty
gets his protege out Of the clutches OF
his importunate would-be relations, and
ships him of to Athens. he never saw
his beautiful Grecian maiden again.
Chambers Journal.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-02-21

which is popular for dressing Ia des
hair, are now four dollars pound, ON
account of their scarcity. I win gladly
give your father that price for them,
and would il he had Q hundred times
as many more. Twenty-Five pounds
will net him one hundred dollars"
He declared afterward that he never
in his life saw such happy girl as
Jennie was at that moment.
lyon see there's only two hundred
dollars needed to clear the debt off,
she cried. "T've part Of one hundred
.--fjfty--that Aunt Elinor gave me for
my dress the coming year. OF course
I intended to give father that; but he
hiss only twenty-five laid away, and /
have thought-what il We could make
out one hundred, there was the other
dreadful hundred"
"The ounce seeds secure that. Your
Fifty and your fathers twenty-five make
seventy-fve. Then, if your mother
and yourself will make twenty-five dol
lars worth OF ounce preserves for
market l will secure its sale with an
acquaintance OF mine, who is dealer
in fresh and preserved fruits" con-
cluded Mr.. Childbirth, who, though he
would gladly given Jennie's father the
comparatively small sum needed, would
not for the world have offended the in
dependence OF the little girl he admired
so much.
Jennie could hardly wait until morn.
ing to rush to her father, throw her
arms around his neck and tell him the
whole story.
Mr.. CHILDBIRTH stood by enjoying the
scene and confirming the truth Of her
statements. He told the honest farmer
how many countries had been ransacked
to supply the demand for ounce seed,
and assured the good man that it was
not a fairy tale until he was forced to
believe.
Mrs. Ford wept for JOY.
81 thiuk-I do think, Jennie, that
father would have fretted himself into
his grave before long il it hadn't been
for"
"My bangs T. laughed Jennie. ooh,
I overheard him scolding about them
that night-poor father but Cheste,
liked them, and I really did not
think ought to give them up
when they are so becoming to me"
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-02-21
MUSHROOMS.

Apoor lad living near Philadelphia
was invited couple OF years ago by q
wealthy friend in town to dine with him.
Among the dishes new to him on the
table he noticed that one which he
particularly relished was set down on
the menu as "Filet de b@lf aux cham
pignons." A sharp scrutiny showed
him that the champignons" were
only mushrooms, such rs he had some
times gathered on the sheep walks
These, however, as his friend explained
to him, were Of finer quality, and had
been cultivated and canned in France.
They sold at retail, his friend explained
to him, readily at sixty cents can.
Strolling through the market next day
the boy saw one or two-quart baskets
OF native mushrooms marked at the
same price.
"Is there much demand for these
things p he asked. 1--WE do not
think much OF them in the country"
"They are considered rare deli.
cacy," said the man. "But only cpl
cures can afford to buy them"
The lad passed on with new thought
in his brain. Why could he not grow
mushrooms? He was poor, to be sure,
and had little time to spare from his
regular work, and had no land. Here
was a crop which he had been told
could be raised in o cellar; one for
which there was already a demand
which could easily be increased, and
no supply. He went home, and during
the next few weeks read every book he
could find on mushrooms, laid out beds
in a back cellar, manufactured his
spawn with few old mushrooms and
the manure heap, aud last fall filed the
market with his boxes OF tiny silvery
buttons; blushing, delicate pink. They
were of precisely the same quet.iy as
the French canned champignons, only
they we're dewy, fresh, and sold at
twenty cents. Epicures eagerly filed
their baskets, and others who never had
tasted them, in the prevailing high
prices OF all kinds OF food, tried the new
cheap vegetable and came again and
again. The crop fairly took the mar
ket, and the boy has already laid by q
snug sum toward going to college. How
many boys would have munched cham.
pignons and while eating have thought
only of the tasteI
This lad will be sure to succeed; not
because he makes '1ucky hits" but be
cause he has the keen eye to see pub
lie need, and the energy to meet its
demands.-Youth's Companion.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-02-21
TEA BROKERS.
A LUCRATIVE BUT HAZARDOUS BUSINESS


The tea brokerage business. says
New York letter, was begun in small
way forty years ago, and has been con-
stantly increasing until 1t has become
an immense speciality. The commission
is half-cent pound, and the smallest
amount that broker will sell is five
packages. He obtains samples from
the importer and gives his customer an
opportunity Of carefully testing the
article. Hence, in tea-broker's office
the kettle is always boiling, and the
center table has its extended array OF
tea cups. Tho drawing is carefully
weighed, aud for one must turn silver
half dime, this being the usual weight.
Generally score Of samples are tested
at the same time in order to make COM
parison. The tea-traders first try the
aroma, and then sip it in order to get
he flavor. W hat nicely Of taste must
be required to fix values in Mis rapid
manner. An expert tea-taster, how.
ever, will not only designate the price,
but often specify the part OF China in
which the crop was grown. Tea-tasting
is said to be a gift, and some can never
succeed, while others all at once display
skill. A good faster must be Of rather
nervous temperament, because tea sp'
peals to the nervous system, and the
business is, therefore, one in which the
latter is severely tried and sometimes
shattered.
Tea brokers are sometimes obliged
to taste three hundred samples in
day, and during the business season
two hundred is an average. One reason
for this excess is found in the fact that
n broker may be employed to buy the
entire stock for some important house.
Hence he must exercise great care but
while he makes great profits his health
suffers to a corresponding degree. The
constant effect Of such stimulant IN.
deed cannot be escaped. Tea enters
the system by inhaling, and also
through the mucous membrane, and
lastly by the stomach. The result, as
has been stated, is distressing to the
nervous system, the consequences being
varied according to personal idiosyn'
cracies. They are, however, OF sufficient
importance to have q place in the medi-
cal record. The tea-broker must also
resign the social nature OF tea-drinking
and when he comes home at night with
mouth irritated with professional
tasting, how annoying must DO the an.
nouncement that "tea is ready" The
leading tea.brokers arc rich men, but,
as in many other specialties, they have
to pay for their success.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-02-21
AN EXPLORER DEAD.
WHO THOUGHT THERE WAS NO OPEN
POLAR SEA.

The late DR.. Isaac ]. Hayes was born
in Chester county, Penn, March o.
1882. His parents designed him ior
the medical profession, and he was sent
to the University Of Pennsylvania from
which he was graduated with the adj
dition Of NJ. d. TO his name, in May
1853, ct the age of twenty-one. Before
his graduation he applied to DIR. Kane
for permission to join his second expe-
dition to the Arctic, and on May 20 ne
secured the coveted appointment as
surgeon of the expedition. During the
second summer the Advance was frozen
in the ice and there was no possibility
of freeing her. Provisions were run
ming short, and il was finally decided
TO divide the crew, one part to remain
with DR.. Kane in the Advance and the
other to attempt the passage south TO
Upernavik in boats. DR.. Hayes was OF
the latter party, which left the brig
August 26, 1854, dragging the little
boat Faith over the ice in search oil
open water to the south. The record
of that perilous journey. with its suffer
ings, is given in DR.. Hayes book, en-
titled "An Arctic Boat Journey" pub
lished in Boston in 1860. After three
months OF terrible suffering the party
was obliged to give up the project and
return to the brig, for which they
started November %, reaching it De-
cember 20.
Upon the return OF DR.. Kaae's e1pe-
dition, DR.. Hayes announced his con-
viction that, notwithstanding the fail
ure TO reach it, an open polar sea did
not exist, and he set about raising the
money to orgsnize an expedition to dis
cover il. In December, 1857, he pre-
sented his views to the American Geo
graphical and Statistical society, and
during the succeeding winter he lee
tured throughout the country and at
the Smithsonian Institution in Wash
inston. subscriptions for new polar
expedition were collected by scientific
societies in Europe and America, the
principal subscriber being Henry Grin
nell, OF this city, and in 1860 the
schooner United States, Of l33 tons
was fitted ont, and DR.. Hayes placed in
command. He sailed from Boston with
a party OF fourteen men, July 10, 1850,
and arrived in the same port October
% 1861, having reached higher point
than any other explorer, except Sir Ed
ward Perry. He joined the army as
surgeon, and Giterward published vol
umes entitled "Open Polar Sea" "Cast
Away in the Cold" and 1.-THE Land Of
Desolation."
He was q member OF the New York
legislature from 1875 TO 1850. He was
a member OF the New York GeogTaphi-
cal society, and his last public appear
nnce was TO deliver n lecture before that
body on Commerce" about two
months ago. He was also a member OF
the New York Press club.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-02-21
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.
A LEARNED BUT ECCENTRIC NAN.

Mr.. Brewster's eccontricities, although
numerous, are never displeasing. Those
who have known him longest and best
say that his peculiarities Of dress be.
come more noticeable every year. As
far back as 1910 his stylish English
patterned costumes gained for him the
soubriquet Of "Beau Brewster" but
the exact period when his taste became
fixed on the peculiar cream-colored ap.
parel which he now wears is unknown.
His coats are almost invariably light
colored and his vests are OF velvet,
and being cut low expose q shirt
front OF the finest cambria ruff
fes; his pantaloons, be they
neutral tinted checks CT somber blacks,
are models OF the tailor's art, and his
gaiter tops are invariably the whitest OF
white. He wears standing collars, a
black stock, ratified cuffs and an old
fashioned fob chain with heavy gold
seal. His white fur beaver hats are
made on modification Of the old bell
style, and worn alike winter and sum-
mer. His hats, clothes and shoes are
made in London. In his study Mr..
Brewster sometimes wears blue cloth
Getaway coat, but he often appears in a
fancily embroidered velvet jacket, ont OF
the short sleeves Of which protrude his
ruflied cuffs. Notwithstanding the fact
that his costumes are OF antique style,
Mr.. Brewster could not be called any
thing but well-dressed man, and the
digniHed manner in which he carries
himself on a crowded thoroughfare
shows that he is aware of the fact and
doesn't care fig for contrary opinions.
His law library is said to have cost
him 500. 1000, and is one Of the finest
collections Of the kind in America. His
expenditures for books and works OF
art'have been lavish. As early as 1888
he began laying the foundation OF his
library by the purchase OF 81, 800 worth
of rare books at the famous Martndale
sale in New York. A prominent law
yer, speaking OF Mr.. Brewster's studi-
ous habits, said: "Why, when he was
preparing his argument in the case OF
the Girard bank vs.. the @. Fl. Boxer
estate he worked three days and nights
in his Library without leaving it. His
capacity for hard work is positively
marvellous"
Mr.. Breweter's home is plain, COM
Portable brick house, on Walnut street,
in n row filed with lawyers Offices, ard
il is furnished in luxurious, old fash
toned style from basement to garrett
Some years ago he developed great
taste for fine engravings, and during q
visit to Europe invested several thous-
and dollars in works Of art OF that kind
and they now decorate the walls OF his
COW home. He is learned man on many
subjects beside law, especially on eccle-
siastical history, and some of his lit
era,y efforts were historical sketches OF
famous Pontiffs and saints. His lecture
on ecclesiastical history, delivered for
charitable purposes, attracted a great
deal Of attention. -Phladetplid Times.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-02-21
ADVERTISING.
AND THE USES MADE OF IT.

The man who looks carefully tkrou gh
The advertising columns o. the Sunday
edition Of the New York Herald cannot
fail to find much that will amuse, In
terest, and provide food for thought.
The seventy. five or more departments
which appear under the Directory for
Advertisers" contain the multitudinous
demands and wants Of the people Of
great city. The domestic, the criminal.
the social, the gay and the sad life OF
he metropolis-all are more than sug-
gested to the ma. who looks with specu-
lative mind through the advertising col
umns OF a Sunday Herald. And quite
frequently the oddly OF the demands
Of some advertiser, or an eccentricisy
Of phraseclogy in his advertisement, en-
phasizes the fact that the advertising
columns OF newspaper afford glimpses
Of human nature that cannot be found
in other parts Of the journal. CHANGING
through the "want" columns OF recent
issue of the Sunday Rcratdwe came across
three advertisements that are curiosities
in their way. In the first some one
makes demand-certainly an uncom'
mon one - for the services OF
"several elderly bald and white-headed
gentlemen for studio studies" With
out copiecturing long as to the "posi-
tons" which the advertiser desires the
gentlemen devoid OF capillary covering
or possessing snowy locks to assume,
we give his advertisement in full:
XXrANrEp-sEyERAL ELDERLY BALD AND
w beaded gnfTetaea I LOT r,gl5
In the second advertisement he ad-
vertiser begins by quoting plaintivoly
from Hood; then he appeals to the
sympathetic by declaring that he is out
Of food and clothes; next recites his
linguistic abilities, and finally asks to
be saved from destruction. This is his
production:
a LAS FOR THE RARITY OF CHRlsT1AS,
n charity. II shall be thankful ior siaY Inen'
TO prevent absolute starvation; wrstfheG eiGrn ss
French. German. Italian and Spanish; WI any
one save me from destrGcuont SLASsiSAi" eAi'
OF ass Hudson street. Ne~ iofk
In the third advertising oddity the
advertiser-a bookkeeper out OF en-
ployment-could not do Justice to his
case in simple prose, and therefore pre-
sented his petition for work in poetical
form. Now, bookkeepers aud poets
have nothing in common, the former
in their efforts TO enlighten a practical
business world being dependent alto
getter for success upon a straightfor
ward presentation Of inconirovertible
facts, while the latter may roam at will
through the airy realms of fancy regard
less Of the rules OF arithmetic. There
fore it is to be feared that anybody
in want Of q bookkeeper would be likely
to regard this advertisement with dis
favor, and to look upon the advertisers
fear of becoming "half cracked D." as eI-
tremely we'll founded. This poetical
bookkeeper's advertisement reads:
DEFoRE Ny LIMBS GROW STIFF WITH AGE.
ID or with rheumatics r.cked.
Or 'ere by anxious cares oppressed. feel myself
half cracked, - -.
Won't some good firm. with BOOKS To hEEP.
employment kindly give. .
And help a well deserving man TO labor and to live
Address B0oKKEEPER. 100 Herald Office.
-New York Monthly Union.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-02-21

Fifty-two is remarkable number.
There are fifty-two cards in pack and
fifty-two weeks in The year. The five
books Of Moses were written l, 552 years
before the present mode of computing
time. The building of Rome was com.
menced 752 years before the same
event. julius Cesar made the first in.
road into Great Britain fifty-two years
B. G., and the king Of Great Britain
was carried to Rome A. D. 80. Con.
stantinople was taken By the Turks A.
D. 1852, and the new style was intro.
duced into England in 1852. The
highest Egyptian pyramid is 452 feet in
height.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-02-21
SORROW,

-; DO We pity Use who weep? The pau.
That finds resdy oatlet in the flow
of salt AMI bitter tears il blessed woe
And does not need our svmpathies. The rain
But hIls the shorn field for new yield Of grain,
While the red, brazen skies, the suns fierce
glow,
The dry, hot winds which from the tropics
blow,
DO parch and withcr the unshelteved plain.
10 anguish that thrO' long, remorsoless years
Looks ont upon the world with no relief
OF sudden tempes:s or slcv dripping tears,
The still, unuttere1, silent, smiling grief
That ever more doth ache. and ache, al she,
This is the sorrow vherewith hearts DO brcs4-
lila HAeeleT.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-02-21
CAUSE OF THOUGHT.

She laid her cheek on the easy chair
against his head and murmured: "How
I do love to rest my head against your
head, Augustus! |" "Do your said he.
els il because you love me% No;
because it is so nice and soft" Then
he lay and lay, and thought and
thou0ht-
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-02-21

Where is the use in puzzling ones
brains over such intricate problems as
the origin Of man and the WI ithe.ness
Of his future, when one cannot tell 80
simple thing Is how the small boy in
rubber boots gets his feet wet going
twenty rods over frozen ground?
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-02-21

The gentleman who caught q severe
cold from pressing his lips to maiden's
snowy brow, recovered quite rapidly
while looking in the sunny smiles Of
another fair damsel.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-02-21

Oregon produces four, five, six and
seyen-leaved clover.