davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1883-01-04

One Oh the pleasant OccdSlOuS VI Gllo
holidays was a presentation to Prof.
Messmer, the Oldest musician in the
state, which took place last evening.
In the days of chivalry, knights and
their ladies welcomed the musician
and the minstrel with good cheer.
This custom was well and most agree
ably perpetuated by the band of which
the professor is a leading member,
and must have been most agreeable
surprise to him. The professor was
quietly invited to assist in selecting a
wardrobe, ostensibly intended for one
of the donors, but in reality designed
as a present to himself, and it en-
braced a full stock of clothing for
himself, including everything apper-
tanning to gentleman's wardrobe.
This tribute of esteem from MEM
bers of his band to one who-s music
has been appreciated in the nations
and the isles of the earth, now in the
eighty-Seventh year of his age, was in
keeping with Christmas chimes, and
the donors, whose names we take the
liberty of publishing, were in full
paccord with that grand old sentiment
of our Masters, that lit is more
blessed to give than to receive" The
names of the donors connected with
this pleasant incident are: Prof. Hert-
zog, William Besserer, Prof. Klotz,
Prof. Saeltzer, j. B. Nef and Leslie
Price.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1883-01-04

Yesterday, about noon. Shelf NJ. NJ.
Hornsby tried to arrest Dan llstard,
who was mounted on a fit race
horse. He encountered him birth of
town and called on him to sutender,
but Custard responded by pulng his
revolver and firing one shot, Capt.
Hornsby. He then put = TO his
horse and placed 4 - Iween
himself and = ".
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1883-01-04

During the past year tire were
issued in the county clefs office
543 marriage licenses; Ing the
present month sixty-seven. nd dur
ing the past week twenty. he total
amount of fees is SSl4.50. Mo says
the world will soon be depdllated ?
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1883-01-04

The pamphlet published by DR.. J.
w. Burt on insanity, its causes and
cure, is very scientific and highly in
teresting production, and deserves to
be read by all who are treating this
class of disease. DIR. Burt was report
ed, on several occasions, as being a
candidate for the superintendency of
the lunatic asylum, but this is not
true. He says he cannot give up his
valuable practice for any public posi-
tiOn
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-11-10
Examples Of PrOdigiOus Memory.

A conductor must have prodigious
musical memory if he can, as Herr
Richter usually does, conduct such a
score by heart, never forgetting to
beckon to any instrument at the very
second wanted l say a prodigious
musical memory, because the faculty
of remembering is by no means a gen
eral, but special one. One man may,
as Richter for instance, know q number
of scores by heart, another may be able
to keep an incredible number OF figures
in his remembrance, and not be able to
retain the smallest musical motif. The
Emperor Napoleon I'LL, who never for
got man he had once spoken to, could
SO little remember musical theme that
you might have played the same thing
twice over to him and given it two diff
terent names, and he never would have
known it. An example of the most as
founding memory is the winner of the
National Chess Tournament, Mr.. Zuck-
ertort. He is oabable not only of play
ing Il game of chess by heart, i. e.,
without ever looking at his board, but
being told his adversary's move, in
stantly replying with his countermove
and keeping the position, however al
tered, in his head; but further, he
played sixteen games at the same time
in the same way, that is to say: before
each of sixteen tables sat player with
board, and they informed him after
each other of their respective moves;
he replied, and never confounded one
position with another, one game with
another, never made false move, but
twice detected, where on purpose false
moves were made to test him, the wrong
direction. He performed an especially
curious feat in the house of friend
where there was whist party, playing
a game of chess by heart with some one
in the adjoining room, and when the
cards for whist was dealt, he looked
once through his cards then put them
away, and each time his turn came he
mentioned the. card he wished to play,
all the while continuing his chess game,
and never keeping either his chess or
his whist partner waiting one minute
for the necessary move Temple Bar
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-11-10
He Got the Best Rooms.

1 hear good story of two we'll
known Americans. They had been ac-
customed to visit Europe in May, and
had competed with each other for the
best berths on the Germanic or Bri-
fannie. A having been done by B two
years in succession, thought he would
be all right in 1884 Accordingly, in
March last he wrote engaging the Capt
aims room and three of the best state
rooms for the first voyage of the Ger
manic in May next year Flushed with
the certainty of triumph, he incautious-
ly mentioned the circumstance to a
friend. Pleased with this stroke of real
smartness, the friend spread the story,
which came to the ears of B, who i'm
mediately cabled to Liverpool to secure
for himself 1.-THE Captains room and
three best state-rooms on the German
les first voyage out from New York
in May, 1884" When in due course
AS letter arrived by mail, an answer
was sent by return expressing profound
regret that the berths named had been
already allotted This is the simple
record of a business transaction. and |
have seen both the telegram sAd the
letter. Londoa Daily NepS
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-11-10
The Tallest Trees.

Though there is every probability
that California's big tree will maintain
its supremacy as the most massive col
umn in the worlds forests, it must
yield the palm of altitude to Australia's
eucalyptus In the valley of the Watts
River, in Victoria, many fallen
trees have been measured as they
lie on the ground and found
to exceed $50 feet in length. One
mighty giant had fallen so as to form a
bridge across deep ravine. 1t had
been broken in falling, but the portion
that remained intact measured 435
feet in length, and as its girth at the
point of fracture is nine feet, its dis
coverer estimates that the perfect tree
must have measured fully five hundred
feet. Its circumference five feet above
the roots is tifty-four feet. Another
gum-tree on Mount Wellington was
found to be 102 feet in girth at three
feet from the ground. Its height could
not be estimated, owing to the density
of the forest, but its next neighbor,
which was ninety feet in circumference,
was found to be three hundred feet in
height. In the Daudenong District of
Victoria an almond-leaf gum-tree
Eucalyptus amygdalina) has been
carefully measured, and is found to be
430 feet in height. 1t rises $50 feet be-
fore throwing out a branch; its circum-
ference is sixty feet. Tasmania also
produces specimens of eucalyptus
which are 800 feet in height, and which
rise 200 feet ere forming a branch.
One near Hobart Town is eighty-six
feet in girth, and, till ten years ago,
lowered to height of three hundred
feet, but is now ruin. The question
of supremacy is, however, confined to
altitude, for the untidy-looking eucalyp-
tus, with its ragged and tattered gray
bark hanging about it in such a slovenly
fashion, can never contest the palm of
might or majesty. with these stately
cedars whose magnificent golden-red
shafts tower on high like the fiuted mar
Bile columns of some vast cathedral-
AL the Year ROund.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-11-10
Petite, Pretty and Pert.

That he IS eccentric no one will deny
after hearing of his last little adventure
with lady friend, who, by the way, is
petite, pretty and pert-three character
istics most happily combined in her
case. AS for him, he is blonde, with
a round-eyed face wearing an express
sion at once shrewd and laundering.
That he is shrewd he often proves, but
that he can commit the greatest blum
ders with the most ehild-like innocence
is equally well known to his acquaint-
ances. An evening or two since, dressed
in his Sunday best, he called on the
young lady in question. After discuss
ing the common topics of the day, sud-
denly, with no warning, except an
uneasy twisting of his chair, the hero
of the tale eXclaimed "Miss M,
might ask you very important ques-
tionP" This i'll the most uneasy, sepul-
chral voice imaginable.
"Why," said the young lady, some
what startled at. the solemn turn of
affairs, 81 don't know as there would
be any serious objection if you have an
important question to ask
well" drawing a little closer and
in more confidential whisper, "do you
think this a propitious time?''
There's no one near to hinder that
| see, +" was the coquettish answer, as
the young lady glanced about the room
where nothing more substantial than
the "moon's pale beams" showed any
signs of motion.
'And do you-do you think that
that you could grant the requestP'
"Why, really, Mr.. Show can you
expect me to answer before know the
question:"
'Yes-true- really-well well
"Well what?' with Just the slightest
impotence in her voice.
"Well, you Ae / had been thinking
for some time that Tiff there was
really no objection, / would like to ask
you with what-what sort of powder
you clean your teeth. | have noticed
how nicely" but the slamming of
door as the young lady whisked out
OF the room broke short his sentence,
and, after awaiting her return for some
fifteen minutes, he took his hat and in
mild surprise wandered homeward.
The next day he told his most intimate
friend that Miss M was a little off
the night before, but he couldn't think
OF anything he had said or done to
OFFEND her.-BoSt0n Globe.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-11-10

CASTOR it was learned that no blood
had been found ON the floor below the
one where NJ. Bertrand's body was
found, and where Richet had testified
that the prisoner had struck his mead
on the counter.
The officer who first discovered the
prisoner testified that on the spot where
Gourard's head rested there was a great
pool of blood. NJ CASTOR then called
the surgeon, who testified that the
wound on the head of Gourard could
not have been made as Richet had
sworn-that it was inflicted by club
or some heavy instrument.
With this evidence the young lawyer
rested his case and it went to the jury.
The jury retired and after an hour
absence returned into the courtroom
with verdict of not guilty The
great, the rich reward of NJ. CASTOR
was the almost frantic joy of the mother
and son.
"The God of the widow and orphan
has sent you to us, sir in our distress,
and His blessing will descend upon you
through all your days"
'Some day l shall reward you" said
young Gourard. The glittering drops
which stood in his eyes evidenced his
gratitude. And thus the mother and
son took their leave of their generous
benefactor.
Years rolled on; the coup detat OF
December 2, 1851, had made and UNI
made many. M. Pierre Castor had de-
voted all his energy and eloquence
against the usurper. But, like many
others, he had been crushed. His great.
practice in the law, that he had been
years building up, had been swept
away, as had been his fortune and his
friends. AS he sat down one day in his
own dingy Office, bordering over his
misfortunes and crowding his brain for
some means to obtain sufficient sum
with which to start again in life-for he
was still young mana gentlemanly
appearing man entered. a
''Do you not remember me, NJ. Gas
toni"
81 do not, was the reply.
"My name is GouIard-Henri Gou-
rard-whom you once defended on
serious charge in this city"
Another glance at the visitor con-
WINGED CASTOR that it was the prisoner
he had defended four years ago.
Gourard then in a few words in
formed his benefactor that he was a
well-to-do wine merchant; fortune had
smiled upon him and given him pros
perity. After conversing halt an hour
he rose to take his leave.
Here is small package that my
mother, my wife and myself have made
up for you. l trust that it will con-
vince you that my words to you have
not been forgotten. May God bless
you; good by"
He was gone.
With trembling hands M. CASTOR
opened the package. 1t was with diff
Guilty that he could suppress his emo
ton. There spread out on the table
were 5000 francs.
"This is indeed a rich reward. In
turn | say God bless the widow and Or
phan."
With this small fortune M CASTOR
soon built up his practice and regained
his friends, among whom he cherishes
none dearer than Nine. and Henri
Gourard.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-11-10
African Ants.


Among the luxuries of travel in
Western Africa armies of ants and
yenomous flies may be safely reckoned
on. Crocodiles, mosquitoes and serpents
are such commonplace matters in COM
parison that it is not worth while to
dwell upon them.
The bashikouai ants must be a terri
Bile plague. They travel, we are told,
night and day, in armies miles long.
The elephant and gorilla fly before them;
the black man runs for his life so soon
as the ants are seen. 1t is related by a
traveller that as he was going up one of
the mouths of the Zambese he saw
whole village suddenly deserted by the
inhabitants, who fed with all they could
carry off, a proceeding which, as there
was, no foe in sight, rather puzzled
him, till he found they were
fleeing from the ants When these ants
enter hut they clear it of every living
thing in few minutes. Huge cock
reaches, almost as large as mice, cent?
pedes, mice and rats are instantly de-
Voured. A strong rat is killed in less
than minute, and in another minute
its bones are picked. A leopard, dogl
or eer is soon despatched and de-
vouAed, for they kill by their numbers.i
They are quite half an inch long and
one variety is so strong that it will bitel
pieces clean out of the flesh. They pos
sess, however, one meritoTious quality
they mortally hate, and, whenever
',ay can, put to death the mischievousi
White ants which make s. destruction
in houses.
In addition to these and the sand
ants, which bite like scorpions, leaving
distressing pain behind them, there
are several varieties of flies which sting
horribly, such as the igogonai, small
gnats, whose bites 90 through the
tough hide of the negroes, causing a
terrible itch; the ibolai, flies or gnats,
which sting as though with a needle
and whistle as they dash at you; the
richouma, which fill themselves with
your blood before you know they are
there, and then leave an itching that
lasts for hours, varied at intervals by
sudden sharp stabs of pain; the sloway,
or nest-building flies, not quite so big
as bee, which cling to man even in
the water and assail the natives with
such ferocity that if a canoe by chance
touch one of their nests, the men in
stantly dive overheard. These seem
the most spiteful of all. The spots
where they bite remain very painful for
two or three days after. Household
Words
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-11-10
Inscriptions Found in the CatacOmbs,
Rome,

The large majority of Inscriptions are
brief and general. Thus q have trans
lated the most of them): "Felix sleeps
here. Irene in pace" with dove
carrying in its beak an olive branch.
"Susannah, may you live in God. Lo-
Gus March, Here lies Marcia. put to
rest in dream of peace" Then we
find more distinctive phrases, giving
glimpses into life and character, and
painting invariably the saddest picture
of the times. ''Virginius remained
with us but short time" "Here lies
Gordianus, deputy of Gaul, who was
murdered, with all his family, for the
faith. They rest in peace. His hand
maid, Theophila, set this up" Gentle,
loving Theophila! There was no one
left but thee to remember poor Gordi-
anus, and perhaps his little children,
whom thou didst tend. And how didst
thou escaped Thy name, clover of
God, proclaims thee q Christian; but
thou vast perhaps too obscure a victim;
none cared to ask thee of thy faith, and
thou vast sent homeless and friendless
forth, yet not before leaving this stone
in memory of thy beloved master and
his; and thou who didst also love God
didst surely find His love sufficient for
thee! "Petronia, priests wife, the
type of modesty. In this place lay
my bones. Spare your tears, dear hus-
band and daughters; believe that it is
forbidden to weep for one who lives in
God" Are these her own last words,
or such as she might have utteredo
Simple memorials OF coniugal affection
and high religious trust, they speak
more eloquently of faith and purity
than any doctrine of celibacy. The
church of the first three centuries reads
a lesson of simplicity, tenderness and
piety which after ages have been slow
to follow. Good Words.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-11-10
THE LITTLE MESSENGER OF
LOVE.

10 Twas a little sermon preached 10 me
By sweet, unconscious child
A baby girl scarce four years old, 4
With blue eyes soft and mild
1t happened on rainy day;
|, seated in a car,
Was thinking, as | neared my home,
OF the continual jar
And dlScOrd that pervade the air
OF busy city life,
Each carin g but for number one,"
Se1f-gain provoking strife.
The gloomy weather seemed to cast
On every face shade,
But on one countenance were lines
BY sorrow deeply laid.
With low-bowed head and hands clasped close,
she sat, so poor and old,
Nor seemed to heed the scornful glance
From eyes unkind and cold
1 looked again. o. sweet indeed
The sight that met my eyes!
Sitting upon her mothers lap,
With baby face so wise,
Was wee child with sunny curls,
Blue eyes and dimpled chin,
And young, pure and loving heart,
Unstained as yet by sin.
Upon the woman poor and sad
Her eyes in wonder fell
Till wonder changed to plying love.
Her thoughts, oh, who could tell!
Her tiny hands four roses held;
She looked them DER and DER,
Then choosing out the largest one,
She struggled to the floor.
Across the swaying car she went
StraiRht to the woman's side,
And putting in the wrinked hand
The rose, she ran to hide
Her little face in mothers lap,
Fearing she had done wrong,
Not knowing, baby as she was, ...s
That she had helped along
The uphill road of life soul
Cast down, discouraged quite
As on the woman's face there broke
a flood of joyous light.
Dear little child! she was, indeed,
A messenger of love
Sent to that woman's lonely heart
From the great Heart above.
This world would be a different place
Were each to give to those
Whose hearts are sad so much of love
As went with baby's rose.
Louie Primo. in HdTper'S YOnll PeOple.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-11-10

"A Montreal man discovered
young bear in awoodpile in his yard on
Maria Street, and went after it with Il
stick. He soon cornered the cub and
killed it. The youngster was about
two feet long and very young. How it
came to the heart of the city is a mys-
tery.-MontreaL Witness.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-11-10

Tar may be readily removed from
the hands by rubbing with the outside
of fresh orange or lemon peel and
wiping dry Immediately. The volatile
oils in the skins dissolve the tar so that
it can be wiped off. Chicago Times.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-11-10

The handsome monument recently
erected over the grave of Betty
Bonaparte in a Baltimore cemetery
bears the inscriptions: "After life's fit
full fever she sleeps WE'LL"
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-11-10

Philadelphia boasts of a young lady
who plays the piano with her feet. The
society for the prevention of cruelty to
,neighbors should suppress this young
woman before her example becomes
contagious. One timid girl with her
feet on the piano, banjo in her hands,
and the last rose of summer on her lips
can depopulate whole block in "a
evening Philadelphia Press.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-11-10

New York's gilded youths hide the
marks of dissipation on their faces by
liberal applications of rouge and lilly
white.-N. y. Graphic
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-11-10

"A acknowledgements gentleman
recently deposited his first vote at Ken
sington, Conn. Il Boston Post.
Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1883-05-10

However dull the season, prize-fght-
ers always do bang-up business.
Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1883-05-10
SUNDAY SENTIMENT.

THE Methodists of North Danviile Va.
are proposing to build a $4,000 church to
take the place of the present one which is
too small for the congregation.-Er.
THE Presbyterians organized a mission
church in Rio Janeiro in 1862, and now
have 80 churches in the Empire, with to-
tai of ,729 members, most OF them converts
from Romanism.-E1.
"LANGLEY" in the ErrE4iaer: "Rev. DIR.
j. B. Taylor leaves Wilmington, N C., in
sttsars, to make a stay of sometime in Europe,
and on his return some good church will
have an opportunity of securing in him one
of the best pastors in the whole land'
THE Cornet, as an organ accompaniment,
has been introduced into three of our Meth
dist Churches in Richmond 1t is all the
rage now. The secular press speaks in high
terms of its use, and says, that it has the ef-
feet to increase the congregation.-Dr. j. z
Ed,cards, IN S. C. Adrocate.
DIR. Deems is opposed to so much fanEiEg
in church: "We have often heard the re-
mark: 81 got little good of the sermon yes
terday, because of the lady next to me- who
famed me till was almost in a shiver."
What would you think Of your minester, if
he should fan himself while preaching ?''
That's the way the preachers do in China,
says DIR. 1ates.-Biblical Recorder.
Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1883-05-10
MAY MERRiMENJ.

OF all the unhealthy articles of food, sau-
sage still continues the wurst.
A RECENT writer declares that "the real
curse of this country is not whisky or poll
tics, but dyspepsia" Wonder what kind of
Il liver regulathr he has for sale ?-CAicaqo
Cheek.
"Here, now,' said mother to her little
boy, take this good medicine It's sweet AZ
sugar. Mamma, | love little brother" tbLa
boy replied; give it to him."-Arkansay
Traueler.
"YoU say your wife gets mad and raises
a row"' 81 should say she did She makes
enough fuss TO run freight train forty
miles an alour." "But if.you knew that she
was in the habit of getting mad, why did
you marry her?' Because if had held
back she would have got nadder than ever"
-Ieras Sytings.
"WITHoUr joking, will you tell us what
kind of thing dude is ?" asks a lady
correspondent. Certitiply. "a dude" is
no thing. 1t j. merely AZ apology for a hu-
man being, and ls too weak to be bad and
too tame to be wild.-g. 7. 4drertiser.
Editor Baton: Why is beehive like 4
spected potato? Because beehive is Il be-
holder, and beholder aspectatnr. Amateur.
And why is the point of bad connum-
drum like a grocer getting off a potato with
a rotten spot turned down? Because in u
measure, you can't see it. Baton.