davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1883-04-26
A Disguised Dollar.

Yesterday the experts of the United
States mint in this city were called upon
to tackle a somewhat curious puzzle in
the matter of suspected coin. The pc
cuniary Sphinx presented its riddle in the
form of a daddy" dollar which had
been thrown out at one of the banks as
spurious. The rejected dollar was. first
measured and weighed by the cOiner, and
was found to be of the proper gauge and
of full weight, showing even an excess of
two grains over the standard. It was
perfectly executed and had the right
metallic ring. The color, however. was
against it. Instead of the silvery hue a
new dollar should have, it looked like a
nickel dollar Obviously, there were no
means of determining the spuriousness of
this coin save by assay, and it was &C
cordingly sent to the assayer, DR.. Al
brecht. On being carefully analysed it
was found to contain, in addition to the
silver and the copper of the amalgam, a
small quantity of nickel and also of mer-
curry Then the mystery was unraveied.
1t was a genuine dollar, nickel plated,
coated with one of the plating solutions
sold on the street corners by 'fakirs" and
peddlers. The solution in question is a
mixture of quicksilver and nickel or of
silver or of gold. In this case ii was an
amalgam with nickel, which, being
rubbed on a coin and then exposed to
heat, would have its quicksilver dis
sipated by evaporation, leaving a thin
coat of nickel on the surface of the sill
yer. The officials at the mint could only
account for this sort of tampering with
coin as a wild freak or idle experiment.
To gold-plate a nickel coin might be re-
sorted to for purposes of profit, but to
nickel-coat silver is an irrational proceed.
ing, only likely to be carried ON by &
cranky. O. Picaguns
Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1883-04-26

wires laugh. As the notes of the colo
NAL air fell away to echoes, the ''Sweet
Bv-and-By' succeeded in numbers that
soothed the ears of the transmitters al
most into slumber; then came the 'Bean-
tiful Blue Danube" and following was
the dulcet symphonies of "Annie Lau-
RE-" Then the harmOnies of all seemed
to combine and come sweeping down to-
gether In a strange medley-nOw soft and
low, now majestic and sweeping, like the
"harp of pines whenswept by the winds.
The effect was strange and enchanting.
The mystery connected with it added to
the interest, and held those who listened
captives to a wave of melody which
seemed to have come over the city and
taken possession of every wire.
The inquiries in regard to the strange
sounds came into the central Office from
every quarter, from every police station
in the city and from many suburban
Offices The explanation offered is that
some one who had in mind the test of
the telephones between Chicago and
New York by musical instruments deter
mined to try the plan of concertizing
among the subscribers Of the Chicago
Exchange, and "played'' into his phone.
That the sweet strains were heard with
more or less distinctness all over the city
is accounted for in the fact that all the
wires run to a switch-boardat the central
office, from whence the sounds were
transmitted by induction
The city electricians could give no
real explanation of the phenomenon, but
attributed it to peculiar condition of
the atmosphere, which increased the
power of Induction and conductivity.
The generality of the sounds on the wires
was best illustrated probably at the fire
alarm office, where there are hundreds of
wires from all parts of the city, and on
each one of them the music was plainly
audible. e. hicagO Daily Neacs.
Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1883-04-26
HOOdlums On a Tour.

Two remarkable adventures arrived
here on a cattle train to-day. Their
singular appearance as they stepped
across the street to cheap restaurant at
tracted attention. A brakeman said that
they wese the smartest boys in America.
'They have just slipped in from San
Francisco" he said. 'They didn't have
anything but nerve when they started
and their capital has grown"
The two boys were found in the res
taurant eating beans. One of them told
this story: ''There was ten of us when
We started from Frisco, but, except me
and Jimmy, the rest of us was spilled
out on the way from Reno to Chicago
Jimmy and me-his name is Jim Shaid
and mine is Bob Elliott-we started for
New York, and that's where we're goin'
to get before we stop. Ten of us started,
and there was not 81 in the crowd. It
was picnic getting up to Sacramento.
On arriving there the Chief of Police
gave us five hours to get out of town.
We took the first freight train East. Ne
and Jim got on the bumpers, and the
rest of the fellows hung on to the break
beams under the cars. You'd ought to
see them when they got into Reno. They
looked like Custer massacre, the sand
and gravel had cut their faces SO. Four
of them had enough, and they went up
to Virginia City. Four more dropped
out at Winnemucca and started back. A
young fellow that was travelling emigrant
East gave us the point. The emigrants
are hauled by the freight trains, and
they change conductors about every hun
dred miles, at the end of the freight di-
visions. To beat them, all you've got to
do is to get ahead of the train one water
station beyond the beginning of the di-
vision. The snap is to hop on the train,
borrow conductors check from an emf
grant, stick it in your hat, and ride to
the end of the division. If you can't
borrow one, steal it, and repeat as often
as you strike a new division, and you'll
get there. Eth, Jimmyw
ri should SMILE" said Jimmy, as he
Kicked back his chair and rose from the
table. "That's the way we did it plum
through to Chicago" added Bob, as sac
pair walked toward the door. ''Then we
watered cattle for drOvers on the train to
Pittsburg, and the cattle men fixed it for
us to Philadelphia. Well strike New
York in day or two, and then we'll take
in Wall street and hunt up our friend Jim
Keene. - Philadelphia Cor. N y. Sun.
Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1883-04-26
A Rat and Ferrets.

A somewhat remarkable incident Oc-
Cured one day last week in a celebrated
local rat-pit A well known citizen in
vited a few "spOrtive" gentlemen to that
classic arena to witness the proves at
rat-killing of several fne-looking ferrets.
Accompanied by their entertainer, the
party proceeded down dirty close lead
ing off to a not-tOo-pleasant street, and
arrived at what may be appropriately
designated "Black Hole,'' which was
dimly iIlumined by sickly, solitary gas
light. The fixtures consisted of a large
circular iron tank, about four feet in
diameter and three feet six inches in.
height, placed in the center of the cellar,
while two or three chests, with strongly
fastened iron gratings for lids, formed
the other apparatus Round this circular
tank the spectators speedily ranged
themselves. The attendant was a mid
dle-aged woman of average height, who
inquired whether it were one or two that
were wanted. On receiving her order
she took pair of long iron tongs, nearly
all handle, and opening the grating of
one of the chests, brought out a rat
firmly caught in the tongs and threw it
into the pit A ferret was then dropped
beside it, and a gentleman stood, chrO-
nometer in hand, ready to note the time
taken in the contest At first
both animals leisurely surveyed the
situation, and made several abortive at
tempts to scale the walls Of their prison.
Finding escape in this manner hopeless,
they began to creep cautiously around
the Enclosure, and at last came face to
face and steadily eyed each other.
Neither, however, seemed inclined to
begin the combat, and ultimately the
ferret fairly turned tail and retreated to
the farthest part of the circle. The sides
of the tank were now sharply ratified with
a stick, and again the natural enemies
came opposite each other. But the rat
was the first to begin the attack. Emit
ting a sharp, Kissing sound, it made a
rush and caught the ferret by the back,
when both struggled together and rolled
over each other until the rat was shaken
off. One or two good bouts of a stand
up, give-and-tak character followed, to
the delight of the fancy, when the MIN
BILE rodent again assumed the offensive
and chased his formidable enemy in
gloriously all over the pit till it was res
cued. What is still more remarkable is
that four other ferrets in succession were
! afterward defeated by the same rat. The
whole five ferrets were then put into the
pit together, but the invincible rodent
attacked them In turn and chased them
round the Enclosure. The rat was certain
| ly a splendid specimen of his kind, and
proved a veritable wallace Wight
among the tribe of troublesome pests.
When taken from the pit he was little
/ the WorRe for the encounter, and was
generously allowed to live-at least until
! some other day. One of the defeated
ferrets had killed two rats in the same
pit few minutes observation-disclosures
| lScohand) Herald.
Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1883-04-26
A Curious Scot.

The following incident has not only
the merit of being true, but it's principal
actor was a clever American woman
whose name is we'll known in connection
with successful labOrs in the lecture field
and in original research into certain ab-
struses of which she is mistress. Its
drOllery could hardly be appreciated by
anybody not native-born American,
but others may find entertainment in
sharing the confusion of the Scotchman.
Miss Gray-the name will serve as we'll
as anOther-had been separated from her
party in Switzerland for day, but was
to join them by diligence from X. She
experienced much difficulty, at the time
of embarking, in discovering which of
half a dozen vehicles, apparently all
starting at the same time, was the one by
which she could reach her destination;
and when at length she entered one she
Was still somewhat uncertain where she
should be landed by it. She found an
American gentleman and his wife already
seated, and another countryman of theirs
soon entered, followed by a brisk and
trimly-built fellow, whose dress, air and
brogue were all strongly and unmistak-
ably Scotch.
As all the travellers shared the I'M
certainty regarding the correctness of
their selection of this particular diligence,
each in turn questioned the other, and in
this way conversation was started which
as they proceeded on their journey,
gradually extended to other topics. Miss
Gray wore over her shoulders a Roman
scarf, and, observing it, the Scot re-
marked:
"Your route must be something like
mine, since you have been in Rome and
are going on this way
"But have not been in Rome"
"Surely that scarf was bought there"
ooh, no." she replied; Chat came
from a place much farther off than
Rome"
Farther off than Rome? he queried.
"Where then? From Venice?'
"No."
''From Naples?"
"No," was again the answer; and a
decided negative met half dozen other
guesses, until he said:
From St, Petersburg, then; it must
have come from st. Petersburg"
"No, nor from st. Petersburg, either;
but from place farther off than ST.
Petersburg"
Farther of than st. Petersburg!'' he
echoed; "but there isn't any place that it
could have come from farther off than
st. Petersburg"
"I think" said Miss Gray, noticing the
smiles of her countrywoman, that this
lady can guess"
81 think" the lady replied, as the
Scotchman turned an ineuiring look to
her, that the scarf was bought in New
York"
eyes. so it was"
"Oh, in New York." said the Scot.
E'You have been in the States then"
eyes"
Chow do you like themF'
Naturally like them much" Miss
Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1883-04-26

Gray answered, ''since was born there"
"Ah, now you are joking" her fellow
traveller said. "You can never pass
yourself off for an American woman.
There are unmistakable signs to the con.
trary.
"Indeed, and what are they?"
"Well, in the first place, if you WON'T
be offended, you have too fine teeth for
an American"
Two or three other reasons were added,
the evidence being conclusive to the
mind of the gentleman presenting it that
his neighbOr was attempting to amuse
herself at his expense.
''No, tits useless" he concluded. 'The
rest of our party, you can see for your
self, are Enthusiastically from the States;
but you are quite as Enthusiastically a sub
ject of her majesty"
VERY good" said Miss Gray. "You
acknowledge that this lady and these
gentlemen are Americans. [ give you
my word that they are perfect strangers
to me, and that to the best of my knowl-
edge never saw them until took my
seat in this diligence. Now I will tell
you little story that will prove that l
am an American; and they shall be the
Judges. If they add their word to mine,
you can hardly deny my nationality any
longer"
The Scotchman, with some curiosity,
agreed to this, and Miss Gray gravely be-
gan as follows:
"There was once gentleman who had
fine landed estate, richly provided with
trees In these he took much interest,
and especially was he careful of thefruit
trees, among which was a fine cherry
tree. He had little son of whom he
was very fond, and to whom he gave
many toys, among other things a little
hatchet."
"She is an Americana She is an
Americana exclaimed her three compa-
triots, " laughing heartily. "There is no
doubt about that"
"Doubt about that?' echoed the
Scotchman, completely puzzled. "What
do you mean? She hasn't told anything
to indicate it. A gentleman with a
landed estate in England would be fond
of his fruit trees and his son. Pm sure I
can't see what you mean"
'But you see Pve convinced them that
I am an American" Miss Gray returned.
''That isall I undertook to do"
''But you haven't told the story yet"
he persisted. Chat doesn't mean any
thing. What is the rest of it?"
ooh, I only said I'd prove my nation
atty" replied Miss Gray. ''This lady
can finish the story for you, if you wish.
I've done all attempted"
ooh. yes, can tell it," responded the
other; and with the help of incidental
interpretations in the way of ornamental
ton and amplifcation from the others,
she went on with the story, down to the
very last word of the immortal declara-
ton of the supernaturaIly honest hatchet
owner that he positively could not tell
lie.
The bonny Scot, by this time thor
oughIy confused, had begun also to be
little ill-tempered, being convinced that
his tellOw-traVelers were numerically
quizzing him.
al cannot see," he said with some
severity, ''what amusement you find in
laughing at me. The whole thing seems
to be as silly as it is rude"
"But my dear sir" exclaimed the
American lady, ''the boy was George
Washington. Don't you see the point?'
1t is doubtful if he did, but at least
Miss Gray had carried her point of prov.
ing her nationaity.-BostOn Courier.
Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1883-04-26

From the earliest period the sneeze
has been the subject of much learned
discussion. Every one who has followed
its progress in the opinions OF different
with which it has been regarded. Up to
thepresenS day it has been treated super
stitiOusly and often has been looked upon
with dread, to be guarded against with
mysterious rites. Now it has gained a
place of favor. He who is most apt to
sneeze is the healthiest, say the doctors;
a sneeze sets the blood circulating and
throws off cold which is impending. =
Uedern PlolOman.
Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1883-04-26

The Cincinnati Enquirer denounces
one of the noble brotherhood of tramps
because he refused to saw wood for his
dinner" But who could blame him be-
cause he didn't want wood for his dinner?
Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1883-04-26

The trades unions of England are
now making protest that sounds strange
to the American ear; it is, that girls
under fourteen shall not be allowed to
work with sledge and anvil in the black
smith shops.
Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1883-04-26

Eyes" said the fond mother, 'T have
such dread of the ocean that can't
bear to think of my sons going to sea,
and to prevent it shall enter him at the
Naval Academy at Annapolis"
Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1883-04-26

The reading of hypothetical CUES
ton asked in a will case before the New
York City Surrogate took nearly forty
minutes. Mr.. Evarts cross-examined the
man who answered it.
Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1883-04-26

-sNo, sir" she said, with emphasis on
the sir, ''my husband won't be candi-
date for the Legislature next year. He
has learned more deviltry during the few
weeks he has been In Boston than ever
before in all his born dayE-Post
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1883-11-24
LEGAL NOTICE,

In the Probate Court for Salt Lake
County, Utah Territory.
In the Matter Of the Estate of Harriet
81. Dunbar, deceased.
IT APPEARING TO THE JUDGE
L of said Court, by the petition
this day presented and fled by
David @. Dunbar, the Administrator Of
the estate of Harriet 81. Dunbar, de-
ceased, praying for an order Of sale of
real estate, that it is necessary to sell the
whole or some portion Of the real estate
to pay the debts outstanding against the
deceased, and the debts, expenses and
charges Of administration.
It is therefore ordered by the Judge of
said Court that all persons interested in
the estate of said deceased appear before
the said Probate Court on Saturday, the
first day of December, AID. 1855, ct
day, at the court room of said Probate
Court, 1T the County Court House, in the
City and County vi Satt Lake, Territory
OF Utah, to show cause why an order
should not be granted 10 The said admin
istrstoT to sell so much of the real estate
Of the said deceased as shall be necessary.
And that copy Of this order be pub
lished at least ten successive days in the
SALT LAKE DAILY HERALD, q newsps.
per printed and published in the said
County and Territory.
E SMITH,
Probate Judge.
Dated November is, 1888.
Territory CT Utah,
County Of Salt Lake,
l, d. Bockholt, Clerk of the rJbste
Court in and for the County of Sal, Lake,
in the Territory of Utah. do hereby GER
tify that the foregoing is full, true and
correct ny of an order to show cause
why an order of sale should not be
granted in the matter of the Estate Of
Har let 81. Dun bar, deceased, SIS appears
Of record in my office.
In witness whereof, / have
hereunto set my hand and
[sEAL affixed the zeal Of said Court
this 10th day of Novem Der,
AID. 1888.
D. BoCKHoLT.
MO Probate CLERK.
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1883-11-24
NOTICE.

To the Stockholders Of the Crown Point
Gold and Silver Mining Company.
AT 4 MEETING OF THE STOCK.
a holders Of this company, held this
November 9Th, 1883, an assessment of /
cent per share was ordered to be levied,
payable at the Office Of the Company on
or before the Q0th) tenth day Of Deem
Der next, and it was further ordered that
all stock upon which said assessment has
not been paid at thstlds viz. Decem Der
10th, 1883, shall be declared delinquent.
PAUL A. SCHETTLER,
President.
ARTHUR STAYNER.
Secretary.
Salt Lake City, Nov. 5, 1883. ne
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1883-11-24

FOR DYSPEPSIA ana Liver
complaint. you Gcye a printed
guarantee OF every bottle 81 Shiloh's
Vitaiizer. It never faik to cure
Sold by q. C. III. l. nryg Store. db,
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1883-11-24
M. IA. E-aPMAN,

The Leading Clothe MAIN STREET Factory Island
% MERCER STREET, NEW YORK. All
The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1882-1884, 1883-02-15
THE LEGISLATURE.

Few measures of Importance to the
general public nave been acted on
during the last week. Legislation OF
purely local Importance seems to
have attracted the attention Of our
law makers. We hope another week
will not pass without action on the
bills important to the State at large.
Only eighteen more working days to
the end of the session.
The bill in regard to the Western
North Carolina Railroad will no
doubt elicit discussion. The propo,
sition of the assignees Of Mr.. Best.
who purchased the State interest in
the Western North Carolina road.
conditioned that the road should be
built to Paint Rock and Murphy, is,
that they be released from going t.
Murphy and stop on The Tennessee
river, on payment to the State SIX
hundred thousand dollars. We ex
press no opinion until we look more
into the proposition. The bill t.
amend the landlord and tenant ac'
has passed it's third reading in tht
House. A bill has been introduced
AMI, passed it's several readings tt
Halifax County a three weeks tern
of court instead of two weeks a
heretofore. We like this better thai
special terms and we are confident i
will Give the needed relief to tn
county and clear the civil docket
The special tax bill for Halifa'
County has passsd its second reading
in the Senate. We failed TO notice
in our last issue a bill introduced tt
charter the Weldon Canal Compan,
proposed for the State to forever ex
empt it from taxation, to grant tht
company exclusive use OF the water
power and other Objectionable fea-
tures. It is one ofthe 'boidest' prop
ositions ever made to a Legislative
body. We have no idea that serious
effort will be made to pass it.
The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1882-1884, 1883-02-15
HERE AND THERE.

The Supreme Court turned out
twenty lawyers last week.
Our farmers are at work in good
go,d earnest preparing their lands
for their crops.-Caucasian.
New York spent last year $3.478,-
248 for educational pur poses. The
teachers were paid $2,427,O0O.
1t is claimed that the United
States is worth $5O,0OO,OO0,0OO, or
$6,OOO.O 100000 more than England
and $l3,OOO,OOO,OoO more than
France.
DR.. J. L. Burrows. of Norfolk, Va.
gave lectures in Raleigh last week
on "The Fall of Richmond and
Its a Boy" He also lecturcd at
Wake Forest College.
William H. Vanderbilt has just
aided 100000 to his $l,OOO,OOO
endowment of Vanderbilt University.
The late Mrs. Atkinson, of Memphis,
left the same institution $4,000.
The meanest grocery keeper in
the United States resides at San
Francisco. He acquired this distinc-
ton by prosecuting woman ninety.
six years old for stealing three cents.
Goats are useful after all. A boy
not nine years old last year cultiva' ed
with one of the ''beasts" three
quarters of an acre Of land in
Georgia. and made 233 pounds of
! lint cotton.
The Southern exposition at Louis
VILE, beginning August l, 1888. will
cor tinue one hundred days. Over
100000 have already been subscribe
ed 20 the project and it's success is
assured.
No paper in the United States
more nearly meets the requirements
of y frst-class family paper than The
Arkansaav Truveler. large forty
cissat-column weekly, replete with
the best literature and the choicest
aE | most original humOr.
4 census bulletin states that NORTH
ca: DINA has 1902 manufacturing
les: Adjustments, worth $13,O45,639
err flowing 18, 100 hands who are
pail $2.74O,768 wages. They use
materials worth $13.O9O.937 and
turn out products worth $2O.O95.O 37
j February I'd. in the Senate, Sena-