davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Brookings County sentinel. (Brookings, Dakota [S.D.]) 1882-1890, 1882-10-26
A Curious Fir-Tree.

From Popular Science Monthly
Swit2 erland has Its Old chestnut-trees
on the banks Of lake Lemau, and the
ancien5 linden of Fribourg, the history
of which is said to go back to the time OF
the conflict with Charles the Bold. NJ.
Louis Pire, president of the Royal Botani-
cal Society OF Belgium, has found a tir-tree
in the forest OF Alliaz, Canton Of Vaud,
which he believes to be still older than
the linden of Fribourg, and considers
entitled to be regarded as the Oldest and
most remarkable tree in the canton, if
not in the whole confederation. 1t Is
growing near the baths of Alliaz, at a
height of about thirteen hundred feet
above the hotel, and forty five hundred
feet above the sea, surrounded by a for
est of frs, which it overtops by more
than thirty feet. The trunk of this tree
is ten metres, or a little more than thirty
feet, in circumference at the base. At
about yard from the ground it puts out,
on the south side. seven offshoots, which
have grown INTO trunks as strong and vig-
orous as those OF the other trees in the
forest. Bent and gnarled at the bottom,
these side trunks soon straighten them.
eSL'So uP ohu AASS PSiPShuiSea4y - "ha
parallel to the main stem. This feature
Is not, perhaps, wholly unparalleled, but
another most curious fact is that the two
largest of the side-truuks are connected
with the principal stem by sub-quadran-
gular braces resembling girders. These
beams have probably been formed by an
anas,omosing of branches, which, com
mon enough among angiosperms, is ex-
tremely rare amoug conifers; but it has
been impossible to ascertain the manner
in which the ingrowing of one branch
into the other has been effected. The
adaptation by which limb, originally des-
tined to grow free and bear foliage, has
been converted into living stick of tim
ber, is a strange one, and affords new
illustration of the power of nature to fit
itself to circumstances. The space be-
tween the rough flooring formed by the
growing together of the offshoots, at
their point of departure, and the girder-
limbs, is large enough to admit Of build
ing comfortable hermit's hut within it.
Brookings County sentinel. (Brookings, Dakota [S.D.]) 1882-1890, 1882-10-26
Noble Discomfort,
(From the American Machinist.

Ifrom the American Machlnist.l
After ali, the old adage that recon.
mends contentment under all. circum-
stances, is a good many parts wrong.
just as selifshness has made the world
fit to live in, so discontentment with
present positions and circumstances has
melted people to fit themselves to live
in the world. Money, however much we
may be disposed to deny it, brings out
the best efforts of the individual. If q
mechanic is contepted with what his
present wages will buy, he has no par
ticular incentive to become more pro-
ticient; but, fortunately, he il not con-
tented. He has no moral right 30 be
coptented. 1t Is the fact that he is not
contented that continually urges him to
push ahead, partly perhaps for more
glory, but particularly for more money.
1t is to the restless, discontented that
We are mainly indebted for progress. 1t
is these who are searching after things
to satisfy themselves with. They make
new inventions, because they are not
contented to use old ones, for the simple
reason that their fathers used them.
Those who are contented with what
they have, usually have but little. The
discontented apprentice wants to
become journeyman and labors to that
end. He wants to be better workman
and still goes ahead. This don't make
him contented and he becomes foreman,
superintendent, proprietor, simply be-
cause he isn't contented with present
conditions. He isn't after honor SO
much as he is after something that more
money will buy. In his progress he not
only learns something himself, but a
good many others learn something from
him. The world Is better because he
was not contented to work for dollar
and half a day. The world may
probably will-make more out Of his
efforts than he himself, which is a good
thing for the world.
The old adage has done duty long
enough in its present form. 1t may do
for old fogie s, but then a thoroughly
dIscontented man never grows old. Ii
it is essential to preserve any of the
traditions of the ancient maxim it ought
10 be made to read: Be content to be
discontented.
Brookings County sentinel. (Brookings, Dakota [S.D.]) 1882-1890, 1882-10-26

has been released on bail in bonds Of $4,000.
He will be tried on an indictment Of murder In
the second degree at the next term Of the st.
Loui. criminal court. II is still Q question
whether 1t was case OF self-defense or not.
Sheriff Woods and two citizens we're killed in
O battle with Nebraska horse thieves at
Mindful.
O. Hmger, Of Detroit. superintendent of a
mine, was murdered at Panama on the night
Of the 18th.
VIM. Saube, besotted gardener residing in
the outskirts OF Cincinnati, shot bis son and
then cut his own throat.
Two cousins named Travis qusrrelled at Lex
ington. Ky. One OF them was killed.
While Samuel Herricks was chastising his
wife at st. Louis. on the 14th, her brother, Ed.
Michaud, rushed into tho apartment and shot
his irate brother in-law. Mrs. Herricks was
jealous OF 14year-old girl named Nettie
Wolf, and III dispute touching the matter
husband and wife fell out. Herricks NAV not
recover, and his spouse and her brother are in
custody.
In saloon row at Cedar Rapids, Ia, Charles
Sedlacett was fatally shot by a saloon-keeper
named Bill Swab.
William George, a merchant Of Reeds Land
ing, Arkansas, was killed by unknown as
sassins.
Brookings County sentinel. (Brookings, Dakota [S.D.]) 1882-1890, 1882-10-26
THE ENGLISH NAVY.

Great Britain has not only a strong
navy but great and costly one. A
parliamentary return, "or, as we should
say, a treasury report, shows the
amount of tonnage built annually by the
government in her maiesty's dock-yards
and by contract between 1866 and the
present time. Including ali kinds of
shiPping-ironclads, and ordinary iron,
wooden and composite vessels-the total
is 322, 300 tons, and the cost has been
over S75,000,000. AS compared with
the money which the United States has
spent on its navy to no purpose, this is
a small amount. In 1867 there were
built 1880 tons, in 1868 $4,000. In
1877 the construction of "a, 900 tons cost
$7,000,000. During the last fiscal year,
which ended March 81, there was spent
100000 in building 1O,7O0 tons of
armored ships, and 50, SOC, 900 in build
ing 4,700 tons of unarmored ships. No
armored vessels were built by contract,
hut of unarmored craft 3,100 tons were
80 built, at a cost of about 81, 900, 900.
In return for all this expenditure the
empire has navy that can float and can
fight; the United States, though spend.
ing more money on its naval establish
ment, has nothing whatever toshow for it.
Brookings County sentinel. (Brookings, Dakota [S.D.]) 1882-1890, 1882-10-26
ST LOUIS,
West India SuperstitIons.


X il very unlucky to tell the name Of
boat before it is launched. | recollect
once when a worthy old creole, a con-
nection OF the French savant Geoffroi
st. Hilaire, and who, as | hope, still
owns a small island III the Grenadines,
was about to launch sloop, l asked
what name he proposed to give it. He
led me to where | could see strip OF
canvas covering the stern, and told me
it was not good to tell the name before
tine vessel was afioa;. A calabash turned
upside down III boat is a sure forerun-
ner of Ill-luck, either in weather or fish
ing. The oil obtained from a shark 5
liver rubbed over the skin is a protection
against the attack of shark. Fish
brought into place where arrowroot or
other starch is being prepared prevents
a proper separation Of the starch sedi-
ment from the impurities suspended in
the water used. To turn your boots up
side down brings loss of money, and to
open an umbrella in house prevents
your ever marrying. Never wash your
hands i'll water which another person has
used unless you first make the sign of
the cross over it. When glass cracks
! suddenly in house it fopetells death,
and horse stopping before house snd
neighing is also a sign Of death. II q
| cock crows in house a stranger may be
expected. In the South American colo
pies no good Catholic cuts banana
across. The fruit when SO cut shows a
mark which is thought to resemble a
crucifix. The number of years it will
take before a pine plant bears fruit de-
pends on the number of chops" given
with the hoe before placing the plant in
the ground. Black people, as a rule,
before drinking pour small quantity of
the liquid on the ground. "When hen
drink she lift she head to God and say,
Tank you;' when man drink he drink
and says muffin"
Brookings County sentinel. (Brookings, Dakota [S.D.]) 1882-1890, 1882-10-26
The Passing Fancy.

One of the most absurd of passing fan
cies in household decoration is passi on
for horns-not the branching antlers of
deer, but the horns of neat cattle, VIII ich
Just now fill the shop windows ad
nauseum. Somebody brought a big
horn home and had it mounted in brass.
1t made striking ornament and various
other people, Of course, had to have
horns like it. The dealers there upon
procured them by wholesale, and, being
unable to find any rational use for them
have invented all sorts of irrational uses,
such as fashioning them into chairs.
Anything uglier, more uncomfortable, or
altogether more revolving to good taste
than an arm. chair made OF horns it would
be hard to imagine. but no doubt they
sell, being "the latest thing out" 1t is
to be hoped that the revival of medieval
symbolism has nothing to do with this
fashion for horns.
Brookings County sentinel. (Brookings, Dakota [S.D.]) 1882-1890, 1882-10-26
TRUE ECONOMY.

At the funeral of "Old Josh Eddy,
the colored mlser, in Philadelphia, one
OF the speakers commended his life as an
example of frugality, and said its influ-
ence should promote economy among all
the colored people. No more complete
y mistaken idea could have been ex-
pressed, says the New York Mail and
Express. 1t is such mean, despicable
misers as Old Josh that set many people
against all saving. So solicitous are
they lest they Hppear miserly that they
are apt to go to the other extreme and
be extravagant. As rule, the children
of misers are either as miserly as their
parents or recklessly spendthrift. If
they do not inherit all the meanness of
their parents, they are likely to be so
disgusted with them that they spend all
they get, and when they come into pos
session of the fortunes which misery has
boarded for them, their wealth vanishes
like snow under n summers sun. Old
Josh Eddy was Il great fool, who lived
Ike pig, did no good with his money
while he lived, and a squabble over the
$l50,0O began among his relatives as
soon as he was dead. His life lends
about as much attraction to the practice
of economy as case OF smallpox does
to thoroughfare. True economy is
the avoidance of wastefulness and the
application of ones possessions to the
worthiest uses. The truly economical
man reduces his work to a science, and
so wastes no energy and makes all that
he is and has go for the most they are
worth of the best things. The miser is
as much fool as the spendthrift. There
is great need of the encouragement of
economy in this country, but it is the
economy of the French people, who
make little go far ard permit nothing
to go to waste, and not the penmious-
ness Of the detestable miser
Brookings County sentinel. (Brookings, Dakota [S.D.]) 1882-1890, 1882-10-26
A Skilled Hand at a Sermon.

Two well-known ministers were talk
ing together about their sermons and
the general effect of their preaching.
One of them accused the other of preach
ing too long, and OF being too fond of
using big words. The brother thus ac-
cused defended himself as best he could,
and said that he spoke within the com
prehension Of his auditors. His accuser
bade him read the first page of sermon
taken at random from the large black
tin box in which he kept them. On
hearing the page read, he said: "Well,
suppose we translate that into English. I"
ThSpwner of the sermon was Indignant,
believing as he did, that his "good Eng
lish," was as good as could be made.
But the other took the manuscript and
marked out all the long words and put
shorter ones i'll their places. Then he
reconstructed twoor three involved SEN
tences and made them SO that almost any
body could read them. The result of
this trimming and pruning carried
throughout the sermon was that the
manuscript which was gauged to occupy
forty minutes in its delivery was cut
down so that it could be delivered in
thirty minutes. There are many able
ministers who could profitably take a
hint from this. Some of them wonder
why their congregations are 10 sleepy
while the preaching is going on, and
happy when it is done.
Brookings County sentinel. (Brookings, Dakota [S.D.]) 1882-1890, 1882-10-26
NUMBER 81.

I was in livery stable at Marietta
when O man came in with O bottle OF
prepared Jamaica Ginger. One Of the
colored men employed about the stable,
who hadn't lost a day for years and who
looked as rugged as q mountain, looked
at the bottle three or feur times and
then asked:
"What ye got dar, Kurnel2"
"Something for apoplexy," was the
reply.
"Would ye mind givin' me sip Of it,
kase my apoplexy has been takin' on
in de moas' drefful manner for de last
week?"
"You can take pull if you wish to. "
The cork was drawn and the negro
lifted up the bottle and took three heavy
swallows OF the fiery stuff. The next
three minutes were the longest and hot
test ones he ever saw, but as soon as he
could speak he remarked;
All! but dat stuff seems to hit de
right spot! I reckon it will cure up my
apoplexy all right, an like huff l may
light on somethin' else good for con-
gestion Of de lungs an water on de
brain!"
Brookings County sentinel. (Brookings, Dakota [S.D.]) 1882-1890, 1882-10-26

pounds per inhabitant. If Englishmen
did not consume more meat than the
average for the French and Germans,
the supply would come from within the
limits of the United Kingdom. A table
of the meat production and consumption
shows that while in the United Kingdom
there is an average per inhabitant of
sixty-nine pounds produced and one hun
dred and nine pounds consumed, Russia
produces two pounds per inhabitant Of
more than it consumes; Austria, four
pounds; Italy, Spain and Portugal, two
pounds; Holland, fourteen pounds, and
Denmark, forty-eight pounds. The
statement of slaughter is based on the
assumption that sixty-seven per cent. of
pigs, thirty-eight per cent. of sheep and
goats, and twenty-one per cent. of
horned cattle are included in the total.
Thus, while the United Kingdom is in
terested chiefly in the matter of meat
supply, the rest of Europe needs to
think about it, for in comparatively
few years the surplus of certain states
may be changed to deficit.
Brookings County sentinel. (Brookings, Dakota [S.D.]) 1882-1890, 1882-10-26
------------------------
A Patent Medicine Paradise.

If the negros of the south could read
there would be such demand for patent
medicine, porus plasters, pills and stom-
ach bitters as would force every manu-
facturer to double his help and capacity.
The negro is always ailing. No matter
how healthy he looks or how strong he
seems, he believes himself afflicted. II
he could read almanscs and circulars he
would think SO twice as strongly.
A Dalton, Ga, I saw big fellow pick
up q barrel of -four as easily as could
have lifted twenty-five pound sack, and
when l compliwepted him on his strength
he replied:
Yes, bosA, / seems powerful strong,
but you doAn' know what hard time /
has OF. J.ze got lber complaint, dispep-
sia and consumpshun, an i reckon ]
won't neber see snow fly agin."
/ asked him what remedies he had
betsn using, and he replied that he had
teen taking the dust of burnt leather
and mixing ii with cold tea. Nothing
whatever allied him, but il he could have
got hold OF ten dollars he would heye
used eight of it in buying medicines.
Brookings County sentinel. (Brookings, Dakota [S.D.]) 1882-1890, 1882-10-26
LIGHTNING RODS.

The English Home Office has issued
set of rules for the proper arrangement
of lightning conductors, abstracted from
the report of the lightning rod confer
ence of 1882, that gives more informa-
tion to persons interested in the subject
than could be obtained from an army of
"lightning-rod men," The material of
the rod, it is recommended, should be
copper, weighing not less than six
ounces to the running foot, the electri-
cal conductivity of which is not less than
80 per cent. of that of pure copper,
either in the form of rod, tape, or rope
of stout wires. Iron may be used, but
it should not weigh less than two and
quarter pounds per foot run. Every
Joint, besides being well cleaned aud
screwed, scarfed, or riveted, should be
thoroughly soldered. The point of the
copper terminal of the conductor should
not have sharper angle than 80 de-
grees. A foot below the extreme point
a copper ring should be firmly attached,
in which should be fixed three or four
sharp copper points, each about six
inches long. 1t is desirable that these
points should be so placed that they
will not rust. No gen eral rule is given
for the number of conductors required,
except that the space protected by a
conductor is, as rule, a cone, the ra-
dius of whose base is equalto the height
of the conductor from the ground. The
rod should not be bent abruptly round
sharp corners. The conductor should
not be kept from the building by glass
or other insulators, but attached to it by
fasteniDgs of the same metal as the con-
ductor itself is composed of. All metal
lie spouts, cutters, iron doors, and other
be electrically connected with the con-
masses of metal about the building should
ductor. Wherever possible the lower
extremity of the conductor should be
buried in permanently damp soil.
Hence proximity to drains and rain wa
ter pipes is desirable. 1t is good plan
to bifurcate the conductor close below
the surface of the ground. Iron conduc-
tors, galvanized or not, should be paint
ed. 1t is optional with copper ones.
When the conductor is finally fixed, it
should in all cases be examined and
tested by qualified person, and this
should be done in the case of new build.
ings, after all work on them is finished.
Periodical examination and testing,
should opportunities offer, are also very
desirable, especially when iron earth
connections are employed,
Brookings County sentinel. (Brookings, Dakota [S.D.]) 1882-1890, 1882-10-26

A special from Knoxville. Tenn, dated the
18th inst, says: THE most terrible renconter
known to the annals OF homicide occurred at
~ O'Clock to-day in Gay Street, in this city.
General Joseph A. Mabry, Sr., Joseph A. Ma
bry, Jr., and Major Thomas O'ConnOr, all fell
in a conflict, and two other parties were
wounded. The difficulty grew ont of an cd
grudge. Yesterday, at the races, General Ma
bry approached Major 0'Connor with threats
at which O'Counor replied il was no place or
time for an affray, and that he was unarmed
This morning, rnmor goes, General Mabry sent
O'Connor word that he would kill him OH sight.
At 10 o'clock General Mabry passed down Gay
Street on the opposite side from the Mechan-
les National Bank, Of which OConnor WAS the
president. O'Connor stepped from the bank to
the middle OF the pavement, fired two shots
across the street in rapid succession, both TAX
ing effect, General Mabry falling dead.
O'Connor turned aud seized another gun as he
saw Joseph Mabry, Jr., who was rapidly COM
ing down the street, who fired upon him with
pistol, held in both hands, at a distance of
thirty ysrds. The ball passed through UCon-
nor's heart, but he nearly simultaneously fired
on Mabry, Jr, aud both fell dead. Major
O'Connor was a prominent railroad contractor
and accumulated great wealth during the war,
estimated at $4,000 OUO,
Brookings County sentinel. (Brookings, Dakota [S.D.]) 1882-1890, 1882-10-26
PROGRESS IN MILLING.

The London Miller says that, not
withstanding the revolution that has
been in progress in modes of milling dur
ing the last six or seven years in Eng
land, milestone millers have still vast
numerical superiority over those who
have adopted rollers, either in whole or
in part. "The number of fingers and
toes allotted to the average man would,
We believe, more than represent the
number of mills in which rollers are
used, wholly or in part, in this part of
the world" OF the work which the
milestone has hitherto been set to do,
the Miller thinks that the earliest grind
ing was always well performed. Granu-
latiop, also, for which they have more
recently been employed, has, under
proper conditions OF dress, truth and
balance, been efficiently accomplished.
Many of the advocates of millstones
claim, in addition, that these implements
have high qualification for the task
Of gradual reduction. This claim has
to be substantiated in practice by the
milestone millers. The problem to be
solved now is how to SECURE all the nour,
ishing parts of the wheat berry which
can be assimilated, with the entire alb
sence, or at least the smallest possible
admixture, of dirt or unassimilstive ma
terial. An amusing instance at once of
the power of prejudice and of unintelli-
gent interference by the state, is given
by the Miller. In France, in 1858, it
was, it seems, a criminal offence to
break wheat, not fvs or six times, but
even twice, because it was held that to
make -four by more than one reduction
of the wheat berry was prejudicial to
health.
Brookings County sentinel. (Brookings, Dakota [S.D.]) 1882-1890, 1882-10-26
SPEAKING Shine st Sea,

Immediately on hearing the cry Sail, :,
o." the signal flags, of which there are
eighteen. are brought on deck, and the
ensign is run up the peak halyards; or, il
not visible to the other vessel there,
they are displayed from some conspicu-
ous point. When the other vessel comes
near enough to see our ensign through
the glass, she makes il known by pulling
down her ensign. We next raise the
four Aass or pennants that denote the
name of our vessel, and when distin-
guished by them they follow suit. The
other flags used dencting the letters were
b. L. ID. C.-from Bombay, b. E. M
for Amsterdam, w. F. V.--seyenty-six
days out; these were answered by us,
and then we asked him to report us; he
replied, v. j. W.--with pleasure. Any
thing can be said by the use Of these
flags.
Brookings County sentinel. (Brookings, Dakota [S.D.]) 1882-1890, 1882-10-26
Bismarck,s DiscOm fisure.

The returns from the elections in Germany
indicate that 1898 electors against the internal
policy Of Bismarck have been chosen, against
s53 who will support him and the government
and 81 whose position is not defined. This will
give the opposition an.uudisputed two-thirds
majority and the opportunity to frustrste any
measure which the chancellor may introduce.
This Is practically one of the severest defeats
that Bismarck has ever suffered at the hands Of
the Prussan people. While Berlin, the capital.
always proved too democratic to give Bismarck
any popular endorsement in the shape Of an
electoral majority, the returns from the
provinces, the strongholds Of Bismarck, show
such a loss that he cannot control the Ofgaui-
zatiou Of the next PrIIssan diet, ,land with this
has lost his grip on the factions Of the reich
stag, heretofore friendly to him. Bismarck's
late moves in the direction Of imposing indirect
taxes to furnish funds for the enormous ex-
penses caused by keeping an army OF q half
million Of men constantly under arms. must
be considered the direct causes Of his crushing
defeat; especially the tobacco monopoly has
been obnoxious to the people