davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Copiah signal. (Hazlehurst, Miss.) 1882-1883, 1883-09-07
DUHxrfON or LIFE.


Tho duration OF tho life Of man hns
been subject Of discussion for ages in
all civilized lands. Life seems. and is,
indeed. 30 very short to those who can
really enjoy it. and who arc anxious to
achieve something, that there is nut
ural longing in the human family Tor its
extension. Quacks. cnarlatans, and ad'
ventnrers have always taken advantage
Of this desire and turned it to their
profit. Casanova, st. Germain and
Casliostro traded extensively on it, pro
tending to have lived for centuries, and
to be immortal. The elixir Of If, and
the waters Of tho fountain Of perpct-
ual youth were myths Of tho Middle
Ages. and appealed to tho crcdulous
long after. Men of much learning and
rarc scientific attainmcnts have had
faith in tho potential longevity that has
never been attained. Button declares
that every person who docs not die
by accident should turn his hundredth
year. Hufeland, the eminent German
physician, contends, in his renowned
cart of Prolonging Life" that it may
reach 200 years. SO very little is known
Of the laws of human being and continu.
ation that their possibilities suggest
endless and curious speculation. 1t IL
by no means improbable that in this era
Of scientific progress and discovery, GER
tain momentous truths may bc arrived
at, which shall be the means Of length.
cning life. 1t is altogether reasonable
to suppose, however, that the race lasts
o, long now rs it has ever done, II 1t
does not last longer. 1t is natural
tendency OF tho average mind to regard
the past rs superior to tho present, al.
though whatever We know OF the Kos.
mos teaches US that things do not i'm.
prove backward. The many accounts
we have OF extraordinary longevity in
ancient, and even in later days, must be
received with large allowance. for most
OF them nrc plainly faischood'. Pliny's
story # men in the reign Of Vespasian
who lived to DO l35 and 140
must be set down with tho
rermcnt about Henry Jenkins
living in Yorkshire, England,
some two centuries since. at l6o. and
If Thomns Parr going to his grave
At l52. They arc obviously gross exns.
yerations, having little more foundation
IN fact than Barnum's advertisements
that Joice Hcth was lGl, when an au-
topsy proved her to be not over 80.
There have been instances of persons
staying ON this planet for ITO or III
wears but they are q very select few.
mi have hardly ever been veriii IL The
ntmos. limit of asccrtained life seems TO
be Jog to lOS. and very rarely do they
Who are credited with such age actually
reach it. Nun usually claimed, with his
,upreme egotism, to be the longest
lived of animals. But the pike, the
row, the elephant and certain species
f the eagl, are rcputed to outlast him.
-Ncw York Times.
The Copiah signal. (Hazlehurst, Miss.) 1882-1883, 1883-09-07
UENaY cLaYs DOC.

MIR. Clay had a fine Newfoundland
dog tha. was presented by an admirins
friend who lived in Nova Scotia. The
dog was very intelligent. and the "SaSc
OF Ashland" trained him with his OWL
hand to perform n number OF wonderful
tricks, one OF which i, a. follows: IL.
one OF the pastures in which Mr.. Clay
allowed his finest stock to run was fine
well, with u large trou h attached, by
means Of which the cattle were supplied
with water. The water was drawn from
the well 10y tie bucket and-spindle sys-
tom, but it required great deul Of
manual labor u keep it in operation.
To avoid this Mr.. Clay constructed n
small treadmill. attached it to the spin
die of the well With an iron crank, and
then trained the dog to walk the tread.
mill. In this manner the trough was
kept constantly filled with water, and
the clever dog became 30 accustomed to
the performance that, without ,he ncces.
sity of being bid, he made it his duty t.
watch the we'll constantly and SEQ that
the trough always had in it sutlicicn
supply of water to keep the coppers o:
the bloo,ed stock cool. Mr.. Clay lovei
the dog, and was fond of watching him
GO through the performance. He woult
always have the performance exhibite
to his visitors, and when the good ol
canine finally gave up the ghost he hao
him respectfully buried, and erected III
the head of his grave an elegant marb!'
Sab.
The Copiah signal. (Hazlehurst, Miss.) 1882-1883, 1883-09-07
VINO SHOULD NOT he 4 WIFE.

Has that woman call TO he wife
who thinks moro of her silk dress than
her children. and visits her nursery no
oitener than once o day2 Has that
woman coll to be wife who cries for
a cashmere shawl when her husbands
notes are being protcstcdf Has that
woman call to be wife who sits read.
ing tho last novel while tho husband
stands before the glass vainly trying 10
pin together buttonless shirt bosom :
Has that woman call TO be o wife who
expects her husband to swallow diluted
coffee. soggy bread, smoked ten and
watery potatoes six days In sevena
Has sho "all 10 be a vito who firls
with every man she meets, and rcuerves
her irown for her home fresids2 Has
she coll to be wife who comes down
to breakfast in abominsble curl papers.
soiled drcssing.gown and shoes down
at the hecl' Has she call to bs vito
whose husbands lovo weighed naught
ia tn. balance with her nextdoor neigh.
bor's damask curtain or velvet carpet :
Has she call TO DO o wife who would
take advantage of moment OF coniuyal
weakness to e1tort money or exact o
promise3 Has she call to be wife
who takes o journey for pleasure, leav.
ing her husband to toll In close Office.
and have an eye, when at home, to ser
wants anil childrcn7 Hn. she coll to
DO wife to whom gool husbands 90
ciety is not the greatest OF earthly bless.
ings, and house full OF rosy children
its Lest furnishing and prettiest adorn.
mentf
The Copiah signal. (Hazlehurst, Miss.) 1882-1883, 1883-09-07
NJ oE,rh EL uAAYER.

Tho elderly couple were slit ns by the
table reading by the drop.lighi, the 70
ie,ion Of which just s,rved to bring out
the silver sheen that had gathered on
their heads with the passing years.
Dropping her eye glasses fur y moment,
she said somewhat suddenly: "You
are qni,e sure that George will like his
situation. are you notP
"Oushs tol!ke It. Absolutely nothing
to do, and quite good salary attached,
responded tue old gentleman.
ooh, that's so nicc. George always
did nothing in such q genteel manner,
I'm sure he'll succeed" And she COM
placently rock d in her chair ss abe
thought OF tho good results Of her ton.
der bringing up Of the youth.-Ne''
Rapcn Rt0istcr
The Copiah signal. (Hazlehurst, Miss.) 1882-1883, 1883-09-07
n LONG LlSEiGE.

A man applied to tho Hersld's ca.
lege for ceat Of arms, and was ssked
any Of his ancestors had been renown,
for any singular achievement. T; .
man paused and considered. but eoui'
recollcct nothing.
"Your father ?" said tho herald, ali.
ing his memory, "your grandfather
Your grcat.srandfsthera"
"No," returned the applicant. .
never knew that I had o greatgrand
father or grandfather"
"Of yourself? asked tbs creator q
dignity.
"I know nething remarkable OF my
self" returned tho man, "only being
locked up in Ludsats prison for debt
I found means to escape from an upper
window; and that, You know, is no
honor In o mans 'scutclieou."
"And how did you get down'" said
the herald.
"Odl enough" retorted the man ;"l
procured . cor.l, fixed II around the
neck Of the statue of King Lud. on the
outside Of the building, aud thus LOT
myself down."
"I have it saiil tho herald. "No
honor Lineilly descended from King
Lud and his coat Of arms will do for
you. wish many Of our great men
vere as well descended"
The Copiah signal. (Hazlehurst, Miss.) 1882-1883, 1883-09-07
A cows CCD

Tho situation, tho structure and the
size Of the rumen or paunch point It ou
q tho irst and general receptacle for
tho food, Which receives in the mouth
only sufficient mastication TO enable the
animal to swallow it When swallowed,
Il is then received by the ramen, and
morsel after morsel is taken until this,
the first Of the animals four stomachs,
Is comparatively full. A sense Of reple-
ton precedes ruminntion, during which
act the animal generally prefers . re-
cumbent posture. 1t is not to bc sup
posed that oil tho food taken is again
ruuinated; it is only tho bulky or solid
portions that undergo the process
When the rumen is moderately full, Il
will contract ON its contents, and first
soueeze out tho fluid portions, which
will pas onward into The third or fourth
stomachs, while the solid part will be
embraced Ivy the esophaguS or stomach
pipe, and returned to the mouth. BY
the term "loss Of the cud" Ia meant
cessation Of tho chewing Of tie cud,
which OCCURS Is symptom OF most IN
,srnal diseascs Of cattle.
The Copiah signal. (Hazlehurst, Miss.) 1882-1883, 1883-09-07
AN ARKANSIs JURE.

Down in nm exty, mely rural district Of
Arkansas m old man was arrested foi
stealing hog. The proof was 20 tive,
End court was surprised when the plea
Of not guilty was introduced. Tie Law.
yer for tho defense, . man well known
for his trickery rnther than his ability.
seemed particularly dcs;rous Of selecting
q jury that would not show Partially 10
decision. The prosecuting attorney. .
young and inexperienced man. agrced to
overy iuryman selected by the defense.
and the Judge. although lie might hav,
thought tho defense stepped over tha
bounds Of judicial courtesy, said moth.
ing. The arguments ,wcro concluded,
leaving in the minds OF the people no
doubt IN to the verdict. for one OF tho
wituesscs, q man whose word no one
could dispute, swore that be SOW the do
fendant when he stole the animal. The
jury retired, and, after few moments,
returned verdict Of not guilty, in
cxnct opposition to tho charge Of the
court
When the court adjourned the Judge
approached the lawyer for the defense
aud renarkel:
"Look here, my friend, I mover heard
Of such verdict. / cannot, a. an i'm.
partial disseminator Of Justice. allow %
fragrant m outrage TO be perpetrated on
this community. That inan is an guilty
Is Judas, but, IL you will tell mo the se
cret Of the acquittal, Ill allow the &C..
dict TO pass"
"Yuu nee, Judge, some Of the inr:..
mcu was rather young and some ralh"
older"
"Yos, bu. wha. docs tl.at sion!fyT
at signifies that I run in tho o'd
mans twelve sons on the iury."-Lit'a
Rock G0=cftc.
The Copiah signal. (Hazlehurst, Miss.) 1882-1883, 1883-09-07
wnar wOULD HAPPEN THEN.

The following story, which il many
years old, is located in Methucn, Mass.
A young man married and brought his
bride home to live with his mother.
The two women, as is sometimes tho
case, did not agree we'll together, and
they Quarrclcd 30 much that it at last
attracted the attention OF the Bap.
tist Church, Of which both were MEM
bcrs. Finally the pastors wife sought
the younger woman and demonstrated
with her.
"Sistcr c." shc said, "why do you
and your mothcr.in.law 1.-Two 10 unhnp.
PLY tosether2 You are both members
Of the same church, worship together,
and go to the communion table toyeth.
er. What do you expect to do when
you get to heaven together?"
"Oli," replied the dauShter.in.law,
"sheU bo changed. "-LopeH Courier.
The Copiah signal. (Hazlehurst, Miss.) 1882-1883, 1883-09-07
SoyKY AND Icyoni,cE.

Tho consolation of wen u without
learning is quits sufficient for q goo'l
many grandcr proprietor. than tho OH
Who figures ia tl,is descriptive item
Riches are ma,lo to cover up q multi
tulc Of def 'i'aicics--anl good MANY
sins. A Chi"aso papcr say, that CO...
orcd man, living in that city, lung out
ssigu Oh Lila lo ise reading:
"For sail" II, happened to bo al the
cato when wLite man camo along aud
said:
"YouIl never get an of.sr for your
house with any such spelling ~
that"
The owner OF tho place was greatly
puzzled 70 improve the orthogap!iy, bu,
finally took hi. wifss a.lvico and made i,
real. "Fur SELL"
This seemed to bs oil right for q day
or two. ani thon q schoolboy hlltoi
and sail:
"If you don't ax that sign. oil the
school children will DO laughing a
you"
There was another convention OF the
family to 500 where tho mistake csmo in.
md tho sign was male to read. "Fur
Sail" 1t Aadu't been mp an hour
when an old colorcd man came. along
and qucried:
"Doos you mean dat dis place am iu,
snl.y? What you gwiuo to glib do place
TO Sally furi"
cam you fnlin' fault wild Cat sigui" "
asked tho other.
"well, I doaa' quito cotch on to de
spellin'."
"You ioan', eh, Has you got 500
to pay cash for dis placo?"
"No. sah."
"Den you p,s' on an shetur. Maybe
I dcaa' spell iist do sime ~ you do, bu,
I'za got prospects Of handlin' s700,
willie you have got boat knees ont 10 Dc
weather. ! dOsa' ker to use high. flown
languag, an' have TO war shoe on one
fut uu' butte on ,lc odlcr. Go long, ole
man. Youths Companion.
The Copiah signal. (Hazlehurst, Miss.) 1882-1883, 1883-09-07
coNsUMPTI0y or MATCHES.

A German economist has taken tn,
pains to examine comparn i've statistic
concerning tho use of matches, anu ha
como ~ the conclusion that G1rman.
surpasscs all other countries in theil
consumption, which he set' down to til.
almost universal custom of smoking. IL
Germany, the daily consumption Of
matches is from ton to fifteen per head
Of the population; IN B.lgium. about
nine; III Euglani, eight; in France. ss.
Their CONSUMPTION diminishes steadil
md naturally from 10th TO south. Th
total daily consumption for all Euroi &
il estimated ut two niln,rls Of match g,
Which gives an average Of six Or sevei,
Der head. Reckoning the weight II II
match at n decigramme. TINS consump
ton will present daily sorpt on Il
1000 k.loSrammes Of wood. Go that
Europe uses up annually the imm-ns'
quantity of 7a, 500, 0o0of kilosrammes. oi
more than 50, 0i5 o..s' weight in matches
alone.
The Copiah signal. (Hazlehurst, Miss.) 1882-1883, 1883-09-07
lLAxsUioE OF our UrS.

Charles Dudley Warner, speaking oi
American literature and its individuality.
saws "In the novel Of distinguished
Englishman, which was recently pub
lishcd (it in no, by rst.class English
literary man, for Disraeli is not first
class English writer), there is found u
dialect which 1 cannot understand. In
tom Brown at Rugby there is also
dialect. there are expressions that no
American can appreciate. Hence 1t
need not be thought surprising that m
Englishman cannot understand our pc
culiar expressions. We must 60 on ana
produce what we can. We must have u
national literature. It will DO onl.
gained as thus developed. We expect {"
peculiarly in the French and German
literature. Why not in ours? Thei'
literature is impreSnsted with monarch
ical IDEAS. Ours should teach republi
canisln. Our House OF Representatives,.
which is not 10 friendly to tho litern,ure
Of the land rs il is to the steel trade,
might take o hint from this thought.
Those wise men at Washington, from
whom ve take our manners, aud who
mold our laws, should remember that
for City years this country has been
swayed and affected by the ii eratuic
afforded il. That literature has been
essentially English. Through its teach.
ings has grown up some inhdel,ty to the
Decla, alton of Independence. Is 1t not
worth the while Of our Representatives,
even at some p,cuniary cost, to foster II
literature which shall encourage free
institutions?
The Copiah signal. (Hazlehurst, Miss.) 1882-1883, 1883-09-07
rur suELLrl., or THE WORLD

In tho expression Of affection, the
sense OF smell, there is reason to DO.
ievc, i, older in uso or dignity than that
Of tasto or touch. Ola Mongol father a
traveller writes: "He smcllcd from
time to tmo tho head Of his youngest
SON, mark OF paternal tenderness usual
among the Monsols instead Of embrac.
ing" In tho Philippine islands, We are
told, "thc sense of smell Is developed to
so great . degree that they are able, by
smelling nj tho pocket-liandkerchiefs to
tell to which persons they belong; and
lovers, nj parting. exchange pieces OF
tho lineu they may be wearing. and dur
ing their separation inhale the odor OF
tho beloved being" Among the Citta-
gong hill people. seSain, i.is said, "tho
manner Of kissing is peculiar. Instead
Of pressing lip to lip. they place the
noso aud mouth upon the cheek aud in
hale tho breath strongly. Their form
OF s.cech is not Give mo kiss, but
Smell me-" In the same way, accord.
ing to another writer, "the Burmese do
not kiss each other in tho Western
fashion, but upply tho lips and nose to
the check and make strong inhalation.
Moreover, the Samoans salute by o
"juxtaposition of noses, accompanied
not by a rub, but by hearty smell. y
There is scripture precedent for such
customs. When blind Isaac was in
doubt whether tho son who came 70
him was Jucob or not, "ho smelt tho
smell Of his m;ment, and blessed him. "
-English Magazine.
The Copiah signal. (Hazlehurst, Miss.) 1882-1883, 1883-09-07
A LUnr of CARBON.


~ n"p ,'''.,.
Nnis Wy u.mss r's" s",,uns, s..'D' .us
Susna Wv NJ | =.
As~' -" sAss'
,.,n,
. 80 -
nHo ns p, n,,,'a',
~ -. ~. 'h,,,,,,
80, .,',',,i. iI,h,nin, hnrisi
-. W s.aul - =. '.',.,,s
The Copiah signal. (Hazlehurst, Miss.) 1882-1883, 1883-09-07

HERE We have il ut last. An eminent
electrician has been making q study
OF tho heretofore unnccounted-f,r a..
fection existing between the average old
Dig and the Cat, and advances o rather
strange theory ~ the result of his in.
vestigation. He says that the aged ca
niue is naturally rheumatic. and every
time he licks the cat, or passes his paw
afsc,ionatsly alorg her back, he Is sim
ply doctoring his rheumatism by the
all Of the electricity in tho cats skin
aud h ir. Tho dog does not regard tie
cat 80 much as y friend - . magnetO
slcctricsl machine.
The Copiah signal. (Hazlehurst, Miss.) 1882-1883, 1883-09-07
FATHERS and sons arc not usually ~

Fathers and sons are not usually -
intimate % mothers and daughters are.
Each seems to 60 his own way, regard.
less Of the tastes Of the other. II tho
son starts for . walk in ono direction,
the father starts In another. II In tho
mother who goes with her son to tho
theatsr; il Is the daughter who goes
with the father. Yet when father md
son are good fellows together-hunting,
sailing, walking, smoking and gossiping
without the company Of third party
sight Of them is o very chacring one.
A father was asked what were his sons
opinions in politics, and ho replied :
"Charlcy'sP How should I knowf ]
never got acquainted with him."
The Copiah signal. (Hazlehurst, Miss.) 1882-1883, 1883-09-07
fHE waaLeBoHs TRADE.

Tho whale is the largest fish tlat
s~ims in the sea and il is probably the
most useful. II il, Of course. captured
for its oil, but there is part Of its body
which commerce has male on extensive
use Of 10 the enrichment CT many meu.
In the upper jaw Of the whale are thin,
parallel la,ninU. varying in size from
three 70 twelve fec. in length. These
are called whalebonc. and all above six
feet in length is called size bone. q
quality ~hich commands the highest
price. Whalebone once brought very
high price. especially when hoopskirts
were more in fashion than tn y are to-
day. Tho Duteh formerly received
$500 for \ tom Of whalebonc. but since
1853 il has never brought anything Exc
that price. In 1918 it brought $50 q
ton, in 1874 from s5)D to S5i5. aud 1914
1t varied from sl,OS0 for Southern to
81 $50 for Northern bone. As the whale
becomes scarce q course Shalebone will
riso in the market, and at present ,he
Dutch and the Scotch whalers are doing
. very poor business. The Americans
also complain. nnd now that this is tho
case the inventive genius Of man in try.
ing hard TO find tho best whalsbonc.
This il obtained from Greenland whale.
Prom the mouth Of Que Of these mon.
s.crs from 1900 to 5000 pounds are
often taken. The manufacture Of whale-
bone into articles OF use and ornament
il not 80 extensive as one might imsg-
ina It Is principally confined 70 New
York anil Boston, four manufactures
teing in the former and three In tho
latter. When tho raw wha'sbone is
hrst received as tho factory the hair is
cut o6 the slale. They are then soaked
in water until they arc soft, after which
they are scrsped Of all the gum that ad-
heres to them. They arc next put in q
stesm box. where o workman straight
ems them With knife; they are Anal y
polished, and are then ready to DO made
r,ss Of for any purpose that tie dresser
mny seo At. whalcbone is principally
used nowadays in the manufacture OF
whips and corsets. Umbrella frames
used to be made altogether Of whale
bone, but since its scarcity aud high
price steel is mostly used for this pur-
pose. whalebone hats and whaleboue
ribbon have just come into vogue. The
former look very beautiful aud arc very
comfortable on the head. Whales, Ike
seals, do not get time 70 grow, for they
are slaughtered nisrcilessly. young and
old, in the pursuit Of we>''h 80 old
ones arc often killed before the yorGs
uo ablo to take care Of themselves, and
tho result Of this cruelty Is o loss OF
thousands and thousands o: whales and
seals in . year. Mankind will have to
10 moro thoughtful in the work Of
slaughter II IL wishes to DO better COM
pensated by these animals. and the
whale must be let slone for q few years
n the ladies arc 10 have Hne corsets and
tho gentlemen nne valkins.sticks and
riding vhips.-Brookiyn Edoie.
The Copiah signal. (Hazlehurst, Miss.) 1882-1883, 1883-09-07
FROM TIE SUBLTME TO THE RI
OICULONS.

This is The way young lady Sabbath
school teacher in New England town
cxhorte,l her class Of boys: Snow, chill.
drcn, il you'll be good children, read
your Bible, say your prayers, 60 to
charcli. and never say naughty words
you'll 60 to heaven, and that will he per.
iectly splendid. But il you are not good
children, il you don't read your Bible.
and say your prayers. and go to church.
aud il you do say naughty wonls. you'll
90 hell. AMI that will DO perfectly
ridiculous."
The Copiah signal. (Hazlehurst, Miss.) 1882-1883, 1883-09-07

TIN Boston Commonwealth repor's
that nm intelligent young man, fitted TOR
Harvard College. ind standing deserved
IL high in his classes, astounded an
snti.slavery leader. recently. by the
question: "was thero any movement
soaiust slavery before the wari"
The Copiah signal. (Hazlehurst, Miss.) 1882-1883, 1883-09-07
rnE Catholic ssandard calls attention

TnE Catholic Standard calls attention
to tie show bills posted up so profusely
in our cities containing pictures sug-
gostive Of impurity. II says: "Thc
public have an unquestionablo right TO
bs protected from the exhibition and
obtr,ision OF lascivious pictures. and It
Is the duty Of the civil authorities 10
suppress what q plainly injurious to
c,orality."
The Copiah signal. (Hazlehurst, Miss.) 1882-1883, 1883-09-07

Al YOUNG man who was arrested In
New York, aud signed his name with .
"cross," was asked by the magistrate
why he didn't go to school and learn
something. The youth Of "mark F"
promptly replied that he was "afrdd Of
diving from over.stuly."
The Copiah signal. (Hazlehurst, Miss.) 1882-1883, 1883-09-07

SMALL miserics ike SIN III debts hit u
In so many places, and meet us at 81
many turns and corners. that what the,
wnnt in weight they mako up in mum
bor, and render it less hazardous to
stand tho firo of one cannon ball than q
volley composed Of such a shower Of
bullets
The Copiah signal. (Hazlehurst, Miss.) 1882-1883, 1883-09-07

wHEs Feuvi.. ~..s alnioner to Louis
XIV, his Majesty Mas ustonished to
lind one Sunday, instead Of q numerous
congregation. only him and the priest
"What il the reason Of this :" asked tho
King. "I caused IL 70 be given out
sire," returned Fenelon, "that your ms
iesty did not attend chapel to-day. that
you might know who came to worship
God. aud who TO Aatter the K,"''."
The Copiah signal. (Hazlehurst, Miss.) 1882-1883, 1883-09-07
.xrxAL AND VEGETABLE Pssra

Australia suiicrs from both animaI ana
,eget.blo plsgues II has groaned un-
,ci n rnbbit peat, and kind Of water.
,rcss, which somebody thought would
10 "such good thing" but which has
served admirably to choke up streams;
and now It Is In mortal dread ofthe Ian.
,ana, o shrub resembling . gigantic
raspberry bush, which was imported fos
= garden ornament from France. Birds
ike the seed and scatter IL in oil direc-
tons. und the shrnb threatens to grow
dcnsely aud become an insuHerabls
uuisapce.
The Copiah signal. (Hazlehurst, Miss.) 1882-1883, 1883-09-07

A MINISTER remarked, just before tho
sermon: "I should like 10 remind the
congregation that wo, have . prayer
meeting OF the chapel every Thursdsy
evening. regardless Of tho weather.
Those Of Ms who were there last week
were lod to feel that there must be .
scarcity Of umbrellas among the people
- whole" -