davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1882-03-10
The Rag.Picker.

That humblest of business, rag col
lecting. is by no means n small affair.
Individ al rag -pickers and rag-gather-
ers may do very little. but their aggre-
gate becomes immense. Some one has
lately put pencil to paper with the fol-
lowing estimates: The fifty million
people of the United States do not dis
card less than five pounds OF clothing
each year. This would give two hun
dred and fifty million pounds of rags.
The tailoring establishments, large and
small, do not in their cutting produce
less than the same amount, which,
being of better quality, commands q
higher price. Then this slatistician
claims that the domestic articles, such
as carpets, bedding, curtains, etc, dis
carded in the year will amount to an
other equal quantity of two hundred
and fifty million pounds. These al
together give seven hundred and fifty
million pounds of material for the rag
mans bag per year as the product of
the country-which means not an in
considerable business by any means.
That fortunes are sometimes made in
this business is proved by the following
true story: In an Eastern city, not long
since. an old man was found dead in q
miserable cellar. He was poorly clad,
and it was generally thought he died
from the need of proper nOurisment.
He had lived in that city number of
years. and was rag-picker. Among
the old rags in the cellar in which he
died were found deeds. bonds, ETC., to
the value of fifty thousand dollars.
Many cases not unlike this come to
Light from time to time. True, some
will say such men grow rich from their
miserly savings. But there must be
earnings as we'll as savings, for nothing
added to nothing will produce nothing,
though continued through q long life.
Fifty thousand dollars to a rag picker
for his rags and his interest shows that
both lines of his business must have
been profitable even though he spent
absolutely nothing for his living. Still,
all rag-pickers are not paid handsome
ly for their trouble. Contrariwise,"
as Tweedledee says.
Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1882-03-10
Dress Trimmings.

With the exception of steel beads, all
kinds of beads will be used again in
passementeries and other trimmings,
such as net with bead embroidery. Open
patterns of embroidery in the desi gns
called English and sometimes Saxon
embroidery are now imported in cash
mere and other woolens for dress
trimmings. Piece silks are also en-
broldered in the same way across the
widths for fronts of skirts, and the en-
broideries for garnitures vary from
those two or three inches wide to very
broad flounces that are covered with
this open-work. Fringes a foot deep
are made of chenille tied in meshes, and
with pendent strands that are each fin
ished with a large cut jet bead. Such
fringe is put in rows across the front
and side breadths of 4 dress, and the
jets are so large that they make a noise
like that of castanets as the wearer
moves. Black fringe is used to trim
not only black dresses, but those of COL
Ored satin as well-notably those of
dark ruby satin, and of pearl gray and
white. The sleeves in some Instances
are made of chenille netting without
lining. Beaded plush is one of the nov-
elites made into wide galloon for trim
ming great cloak of black satin or bro
cade, with plush Innings.
Among other novelties are flat nails
or spikes of gilt, silver, or jet, with
large heads, that are used to fasten the
fronts of basques, and are also thrust
into cuffs. The large gilt pins now
worn in the hair, and like hair-pins,
have had slightly ornamented heads ad-
ded to them, and are now used for fas-
tening up the drapery of over-dresses.
Not more than two of these pins are
needed on an over-skirt, and they are
thrust in lightly in order to show as
much of the pin as possible.-Harper's
B1-1r
Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1882-03-10
A Courteous Manner.

Brusque people underrate the im-
portance of pleasant manner. Look
beneath the surface, they say, to the
roots of character; pay no attention to
outwardappearance, tovoice or gesture,
tone or manners; they may be all de-
ceptive. and they must be all superficial;
it is what is said or done, and how it is
said or done, that is alone deserving of
notice. On the other hand, there are
some to whom manner is everything.
Each new acquaintance has to pass the
ordeal of their criticism. Is he polish.
ed. courteous. graceful, dignilied? Then
they are ready to receive him without
further question; he bears the stamp OF
their order. Is he rough. crude, awk.
ward, or shy? Then they care not to
examine the kernel that may be hidden
under so unattractive shell. Both
these views are imperfect and mistaken,
though each contains enough of truth
to make it plausible. To depreciate or
ignore fine manners is essentially abb
surd. Their charm is irresistible, even
to those who fancy themselves proof
against them. Yet it is not so much in
themselves or for their own sake that
they delight us as in the promise of some
thing better and deeper They are
signs or symbols of character, feelings,
affections, thoughts; and it is to this
that they owe their value and their
charm. .-Erchange.
Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1882-03-10
The Earth Drying Up.

There is abundant evidence that the
amount of water on the surface of the
earth has been steadily diminishing for
many thousand of years. No one doubts
that there was time when the Caspian
Sea communicated with the Black Sea,
and when the Mediterranean covered
the greater part of the Desert of Sa-
hara. In fact, geOlogists tell us that at
one period the whole of the earth was
covered by water, and the fact that con-
tinents of dry land now exist is proof
that there is less water on our globe
now than there was in its infancy. This
diminution of our supply of water is
going on at the present day al rate so
rapid as to be clearly appreciable. The
rivers and smaller streams of our At
lantic States are visibly smaller than
they were twenty-five years ago, Coun-
try brooks in which men now living
were accustomed to fish and bathe in
their boyhOod have in many cases to-
tally disappeared. not through any act
of man, but solely in consequence of
the failure of the springs and rains
which once fed them. The level of the
great lakes is falling year by year.
There are many piers on the shores of
lakeside cities which vessels once ap-
preached ease, but which how hard
lyreachto the edge ofthe water. Earbors
are everywhere growing shallower.
This is not due to the gradual deposit
OF earth brought down by rivers or of
Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1882-03-10
Honest, But Not Too Honest.

Brother Gardner to the Lime-K Kiln
Club: "If l should find Il perfeckly
honest man-hOnest in his expressions,
honest In his dealings, sincere in his
statements shouldn't like him. He
would be Il lonesome object in dis aige.
lie would seek in vain fur companion
ship. While l believe dat honesty am
de bes' policy, | doan' look to see it
practiced beyond a certain limit When
trade mules wild man kinder like
TO doubt his word. | want to feel dat
he am keepin still bout de ring-bones
an spavins, an dat dc beast he says am
list turnin' fo'teen vars will nebber see
MS twenty first birthday no moar 1t
am mOnotonous to deal wild man who
am perieckly honest. If | lend man
money l want him to be honest nuif to
return it, but if he Kin trade me a
watch worth three dollars for a gun
worth seben | shall think none de less
of him. If men were SO sincere dat we
felt obleeged to believe whatehc- dey
asserted we should hev no use fur
theories an arg mentS. When | Glib
my note l expect to pay it. When l AK
man how he would like to trade his
wheelbarrOw fur my dog I'm not gwine
to inform him dat Caesar am all bark
an no bite, an he am not gwine to tel
me dat he borrowed dat wheclbarrow
in de night an forgot to return it. Ifa
grocer leaves me in charge of his sto'
lie gwine to sOt fur half an hour beside
box of herrings an keep nv hands in
my pockets all de time. Yet, if cat
same man sells ME a pound of tea he
expects me to try an pass off on him
half-dollar wild 4 hole in it.
"Contlner, my frcnS, to believe dat
honesty am dc bes' policy, but doan'
expect too much of so-called honest
men. You kin trust men wild your
wallet who would borrow a pitchfork
an nebber return it. You kin lend
your hosS to man who would cheat
you blind in tradin' obercOats. You
kin send home par O dead ducks at
noon day by man who would steal
your live chickens ut midnight. When
| lend nv naybur Mocha coffee L like to
wonder if he won't pay it back in Rio.
When de ole woman buys kaliker on a
guarantee she rather hopes it will fade
in de washin'. solemnly believe dat
de world am honest nutf jist as it am.
When you gin your word stick to it if it
busts de bank. When you do a job of
work do it well. When you make a
debt pay it. Any man who am mo-
honest dan dat will want you to cut
penny in two to make out his shilling;
he will ring you up at midnight to re-
turn your mouse-trap; he will take one
shingle from your bunch an oiler you
de one-hundredth part of what de bunch
cost; he will borrow your boot jack an
insist dat you borrow his wash board to
offset it. We will now purceed to biz
ness. ."--Detroh Free Press.
Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1882-03-10
Good Advice.

Advice is cheap and easily obtained;
but not good advice; that is not so easy
to give. The handspring of advice
which is really worth having is an
earnest and sincere desire for the good
of the one we counsel. apart from all
selfish considerations. This is a rarer
thing than we imagine. 1t is much
easier to wish that another may be ben
Gifted through our means than to take
keen satisfaction in all the good that
comes to him from any and every
source. Yet until we can do this we
are not in a condition to give him ad-
vice, for it will be SO tinged with refer
ence to self that it will not reach his
case. This disinterestcd regard is the
only channel through which we can
really find out what is the right thing
for him to do in any given case; for
only by thorough sympathy can we so
enter into his individuality as to see
things from his point of view. 1t is not
very much TO the purpose to tell him
what We would do in his circumstances,
merely substituting our own will for
his. nor yet to pronounce dogmatically
and without hesitation upon his duty.
We have to consider what he should do;
and if we have real and honest desire
to aid HIM, and sincere sympathy
with him, we shall be able, for the time
being. to step out of ourselves. to for
get our fancied superiority, our pre-
judices, our self-interest and self-will-
to put ourselves to a great degree in
his place. to realize his abilities and
disabilities. his knowledge and ignor-
ance, his advantages and disadvantages.
his possibilities and impossibilities.
There is no iron rule that can be laid
down for all alike; what is easy for one
is hard for another; what is reasonable
to expect from one is too much to ask of
another. If we would direct anyone
how to reach far distant city we must
first know from what point he will start;
so if we would advise anyone wisely
concerning his conduct in life we must
know whereabouts he now stands. in
order to show him the right direction
to take. If we could fully realize the
great difficulty of so approaching the
peculiar position. character and feel
ings of another as to find out what was
really the best thing for him to do, we
should be much more reluctant to give
advice than we now are.
Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1882-03-10

refuse from city sewers. The harbor
of Toronto has grown shallow in spite
of the fact that it has been dredged out
SO that the bottom rock has been
reached. and all tie dredging which
can be done to the harbOr of New York
will not permanently deepen it. The
growing Shallowness OF the Hudson is
more evident above Albany than it is in
the tide-water region, and. like the
outlet of Lake Champlain. which was
once navigable by Indian canoes at all
seasons. the upper Hudson is now al
most bare of water in many places dur
ing the summer. In all other parts of
the world there is the same steady de-
crease of water in rivers and lakes, and
the rainfall in Europe. where scientific
observations are made, is manifestly
less than it was at a period within mans
memory.
What is becoming of our water? OBJ
viously it is not disappearing through
evaporation. for in that case rains
would give back whatever water the
atmosphere might absorb. We must
accept the theory that, like the water
OF the moon, our water is sinking into
the carth's interior. N T. Times.
Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1882-03-10
IS A Little Fast"

A murder trial which is now in prog
ress gives us view of the habits and
temptations of the lower middle classes
of this country. A pretty young girl,
the child of respectable parents, was
found murdered. The young man with
whom she has been most intimate is
put on trial charged with the crime. 1t
is proved that she had been in the habit
of driving alone with him, of going with
him to the theaters and public gardens
at all hours, and of remaining out all
night at places of amusement. Yet
witnesses testified in the trial that she
was considered by her own class to be
virtuous girl, simply fond of fun, and
a &" little FAST Her mother, even,
seems to have entered but feeble pro-
test against her absence from home all
night.
Hardly a week passes in which the
daily papers do not give accounts of
young girls who are missing from their
homes. They usually are found by
their friends or parents, sometimes res.
cued morally unframed in distant cities
to which they have wandered with a
vague longing for adventure. But as a
rule, the rescue comes too late. The
adventure has ended in death, like this
for which the young man is on trial to-
day, or in ruin far worse than death.
In our country towns, too, cases of
immortality frequently occur that never
find their way into the papers. There
is an outbreak of despair in some quiet
farmhouse, fury of scandal in the
neighborhood, a young man is disgraced
and sent away, to begin, perhaps, his
life over again elsewhere. But a girl,
more innocent than he, remains be-
hind. She is the victim. Contrition
and despair avail nething for her. Her
life is ruined.
We would not allude to this subject
did we not know that the Companion
enters thousands of homes of the very
class in which these tragedies most fire.
quently occur. That they do occur is
in part due to the circulation of foul,
exciting novels and low story-papers
among these boys and girls. The prin-
cipal cause, however, lies deeper than
this. 1t springs from the neglect of
parents to interest themselves in the
amusement of their children. Such par
ents clothe, feed and provide their chill
dren with work, but they give little
thought or attention to their reading or
their recreations. In their leisure
hours, when they are most open to
temptation, the young people are turned
loose together. Drives, walks, dances
and kissing-plays kept up half the night,
are the recreations of these unframed
young people who are totally ungarded
by their parents. If it is no discredit in
the eyes of parents or neighbors for q
girl to be loud, fond of beaus and ga
little FAST" who is to blame if ruin fol-
lows?-Youth's Companion.
Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1882-03-10
The Wrong Girl.

His name was Augustus Smythe; he
was a clerk in dry-goods store, and
didn't earn enough to starve decently
on, but with that sublime assurance
which distinguishes the la-de-dah young
man of the day, he was paving atten-
ton to the prettiest girl in Detroit. He
managed, by not paying his washer
woman or tailor, to take her to operas
and theaters, but as times were getting
hard, he concluded to marry her and
save the expense of boarding. BY some
process of mental arithmetic known to
the genus, he decided that what was not
enough for one was enough for two, and
forthwith he concluded to pop. He
knew that his persistent visits had kept
all other young men away, so he had no
fears of trial. When the time came
and he found himself in the company of
his Laura in her papa's comfortable
parler, he leisurely seated himself by
her on the sofa, took her little dimpled
hand, used only to tinkle the piano with,
and said, in bronze voice:
"Dear Miss Laura, have concluded
to marry"
Laura started, as he intended she
should. Then he resumed, grandilo-
quently: 81 want dear little girl
about your size, with great big heart,
just like yours, to share my lot"
els it on Jefferson Avenue?" MUIR
INJURED Laura.
"NO, dearest, it is on Croghan Street /;
but what are localities to hearts that
love? l want girl who is good-tem-
pered, smart, economical, and who
loves Me! Darling, do you know of
such one?'
Laura family: "Yes, oh yes, am
sure do"
"One who would rather live with me
in poverty than dwell with some other
man in riches? Who would esteem it a
pleasure to serve me, cook my meals,
keep the house tidv, and listen for my
footsteps? Who would rise early and
sit up late for my sake?" ..-
"Oh, how beautiful" murmured
Laura; just like dear, self-sacrificing
mani"
gel?"
Yes, do" responded Laura, fer
vently;" but you must not call me your
angel, for she might not like it; she's in
the kitchen now washing the dishes,
and she told mother she'd just as leave
get married this winter rs live out, if she
only felt able to support a husband.
She's just the girl you want, and she'll
love you within an inch of your life."
But Augustus Smythe had fed into
the outer darkness; the too muchness
Of the occasion overcame him like a
summer cloud.-DetroH Post and Trib-
une.
Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1882-03-10

ors to the opening of the exhibition--I
put on my new hat and went out for
walk
1.-The streets were very crowded that
day. and | hadn't gone far when |
caught sight of a man with a hat like
my own. lie came toward me, and
said, in an undertonc. as he passed,
without looking at me:
"A fine day for business, comrade,
and NJ police ahout'
Il don't think | ever got such start
in my life. If the man wasn't crazy,
there was only one possible explanation
for his words. and that Il very unpleas-
ant one. indeed. But wasn't left long
in doubt, for as turned into the Tui-
leries Gardens l saw several more of
my hats among tho crowd. One of
them sd!ed up behind me and slipped
something into my hand. whispering:
"' Pocket that, quick
"Now that was gold watch. a
purse and several jewels, so it was not
very difficult to guess for what kind of
customers my twenty-five hats had been
made. In another moment was run
ming. as if my life depended on it, to the
nearest police station, and there l told
my story.
"To work went the Inspector at
once. and within twenty-four hours all
the twenty-five hats We're snug in
prison. But their loss was my gain,
for the affair male sach stir that nv
shop became quite fashionable. and
that year and the next l drove trade
that enabled me to retire much sooner
than l had expected. There's the first
dinner-bell. Shall we 60 down?"-
GOlienDdus.
Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1882-03-10
The Domestic Tyrant.

No person more completely possesses
the power of creating misery, in his
house, than the domestic tyrant, embit-
tering as he does the lives of his nearest
relatives by his seltishness and exigeant
temper. The greatest essentials for hap
piness in social life are freedom and
trust; but these important elements are
banished out of the little homework
ruled over by one of these imperious
autocrats. He makes it a rule to exhibit
the most profound disregard for the
feelings of others, and by an indulgence
in covert sneers, harsh and insulting
words, the self-control of his victims is
sorely tried. Consciousness of power is
no doubt the cause of his overbearing
ways. The domestic tyrant always has
the highest possible appreciation of him.
self. His opinion admits of no question
being his opinion, 1t must be right,
and in an arbitrary manner he expects
his family to acquiesce, or to feign ac-
quiescence, with him on all points. He
looks upon himself in every sense as
superior being, far above his surround
ings. In his own estimation he is too
highly bred and too refined to support
the Inconvenience of daily occurrences
which are endured by others. His Or
ganization is too sensitive and finely
strung to tolerate small domestic trou-
bles. He. if anything, is only too gen.
erous and virtuous; he feels compassion
for himself alone, regretting that the
grandeur of his character is not sufii-
ciently appreciated. His most trihing
acts are magnified by him into examples
of stupendous liberality. In his COM
plete dissatisfaction, he Announces he is
onlytoo good in sacrificing himself, and
he laments that he does not receive the
admiration he considers his due.
He possesses in the highest degree the
power of woanding the feelings of 9TH
ers, and by his persistent efforts to NOR
tify their sensibilities, he appears to
treat that power as an accomplishment,
which he never neglects to display at
every opportunity. The inmates of
many an apparently happy home, if
questioned as to the background, would
bear testimony as to wrung hearts
caused by the domestic tyrant. No
wonder, with such a man for the head
Of the house, there is general sense of
relief when the front door shuts behind
him, and q feeling of suppressed joy
when he is away. Beside the misery
caused by him to his household, the do
mestic tyrant must really experience
Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1882-03-10
OLYMPIA WASHINGTON TERRITORY FRIDAY MARCH
amount of mental discom-

considerable amount of mental discom-
fort himself. He can not fail to per-
ceive the sort of change that comes over
the cheerful family party when he ap-
pears, or the kind of chill that his pres
ence brings. Instinct tells how care
fully topics of conversation are chosen
for the family meals, how much con-
straint prevails, and what strict avoid
ance of any subject there is that may
lead to wrathful questionings. Curl
ously enough, out of his home he is gen.
orally the genial, jovial sort of man, and
very likely is looked upon as rather
good-heartcd sort of fellow, for it is only
to his family that he shows his teeth
East dlld Vest.
Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1882-03-10

There is no permanent cure for
bone-spavin. 1t is caused bys diseased
growth Of bone around the joint which
cannot be removed and always remains
as q source Of irritation and lameness
when active exercise is taken. The
only alienation is by cooling the joint
by cold water applications. and then
blistering, which will give relief for .
time. but the lameness will return.
After time when the joint becomes
grown over and immovable. the lame
ness will be changed into stiff joint
~. Y. Times. .-
Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1882-03-10

"A jury convened by the Sheriff Of
Queens County, N. Y, declared Charles
H. Rogers to be of unsound mind. and
Judge Armstrong appointed the young
mans mother his guardian. His father
died about year ago. leaving an estate
worth $3.50. 900. and Charles az his only
heir. Is was shown by testimony that
he had no appreciation Of money in ex-
cess OF a quarter of dollar, and in all
his life had never asked for more for
any purpose. His mental weakness Is
in great part attributed to the excessive
use Of tobacco.
Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1882-03-10

Picked Onions.-Select small sill
ver-skinned onions. After taking off the
outside skins, remove with knife
one more skin, when each onion should
look quite clear. Put them into strong
brine for three days. Bring vinegar to a
boil,with one or two blades of mace and
some whole red peppers. Pour it hot
over the onions, draining them first from
the brine.