davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Opelousas courier., 1883-11-24
Wonderful Rag CARPETS.

Tt only shows what a woman can do,
says the San Francisco Gail, and there is
no disputing the fact a woman can do
more, when she makes up her mind to it,
than any man living. They tell OF one
Xerxes, who split a mountain In two with
one blow of his club, and they tell OF one
Hercules, who did divers and sundry
stupendous things, but these stories are
all too fimsy to stand the test of investi-
cation. One good woman, with a knit
ting needle in her hand and a few rags
at her command, will accomplish more
for the good of her fellow-beings in
twenty-four hours than the whole cata-
logue of ancient heroes and demi-divlnl-
ties of whom volumes have been written
and cantos sung. Nor need we &c
away from California to find these prac-
teal female head and hand workers.
At the rear of 2011 Dupont street
lives Mrs. Kate Hammer and her husband,
Lars r. Hammer. They are both Swedes
by birth, but Americans by adoption and
spirit. Mrs. Hammer has set an example
to the women of California and every
where else worthy of imitation. In their
unpretentious dwelling she has a small
apartment which she and her husband
call their s'rag parlor." 1t is filled with
beautiful articles of her handiwork,
wrought with the tatting needle, the
knitting needle and a little steel hook.
The product of the latter, especially, is
something to excite admiration. She
buys a few COMMON jute or grain sacks,
for which she pays ten cents apiece, and
a quantity of such little bits of common
material as dressmakers throw away as
useless, for the merest trifle. With these,
and the application of her genius and
manual skill, she manufactures a carpet
or rug which challenge comparison with
the famed fabrics that are imported from
the Orient.
The most conspicuous piece OF work IS
a carpet twelve feet square, in one piece.
With the exception of the base, or
ground, it is made entirely of little scraps
of cotton or other goods. 1t has a right
side and a wrong side, but the figures
show the same on both sides. The de-
sign represents a rural home embowered
among the branches. A stream flows
past the home, and in a small pond IN
the foreground swims a graceful black
swan. The carpet has the appearance
except upon very close inspection, OF
heavy Administer. 1t is soft to the tread
and will last an ordinary lifetime. It
wal made by Mrs. Hammer during her
leisure moments, and although it appears
to represent a vast amount Of labor, yet
the lady says it was the pasfime
of her leisure hours-the hours she could
spare from her regular housekeeping
duties-during a period of about six
months, and she does all her own house
work, even to the family washing and
taking care OF their child. This piece Of
work alone, to say nothing Of the lace
curtains, the tides, the ottomans and
sofa covers she has wrought, does credit
to the head that conceived the designs,
that wrought them, and the patient,
energetic will that directed the hand. It
Is doubtful whether she could ever rea-
lie by sale their real value; yet as curl
osities and as monuments of woman's in
genuity and patient labor they are well
worth seeing.
The Opelousas courier., 1883-11-24
Oddities Of Dutch Cities.

Amsterdam and Rotterdam look like
no other cities in the world. They have
hydrocephalus, like ~Venus-oceans OF
water everywhere. Amsterdam Is built
on some eighty islands, connected by
some 800 bridges across the muddy
bitches they call canals. The buildings
are all of Imprinted brick, with their
gable ends to the street, and they are
erected, like those of Venice, on millions
of piles driven into the mud. But this
alluvial deposit is not SO firm as the
sandy sediment in the Adriatic lagunes,
and so it happens that almost all OF the
houses here and in Rotterdam are out OF
plumb. You cross a bridge and in
stinctively hesitate to advance, for it
seems as If the buildings ahead were
about to tumble down and crush you.
On both sides of the street they bend out
ward toward each other, SO that their
cornices are two or three feet nearer than
their bases. You gather courage and
proceed. and further on you see other
houses bowling. Here is a tall topping
chimney, and around it in circle are
various houses saluting it. None of the
buildings seem to fall down-at least |
did not detect any in the act-but they
rise and engage in their bricky salaams
at almost every angle from the perpen-
dicular, and in utter disregard of the
feelings of wayfarers. Crazy little steam
boats traverse the dirty little canals;
great brick warehouses boldly bend over
and look down into their turbid mirrors;
merchantmen from Java stick their yards
up through the branches of sycamore
trees upon the banks; here and there
ships climb up the ladder-locks; here
and there Windmills churn the air and
pour the water out into the sea. This is
a queer old town. But I should think
the Hollanders would wash their canals.
". a. Crofat.
The Opelousas courier., 1883-11-24
Cost of Travel in Europe.

Austria isthe most expensive country
to travel in. Hotel bills in Vienna are
higher, on the average, than in any other
European capital. Italy is cheap, when
you strike a bargain. France is reason
able, and here also you must bargain, but
in Germany one will find living very
cheap. In Dresden for 81 a day
capital board can be obtained, and in
Munich the same. Switzerland is mod
erately cheap. Along Lake Geneva first
class accommodations can be had for
$3.50 to So a day. Travel in the eastern
countries is expensive. From So to $5 a
day for hotel expenses are the usual rates
in Cairo and Alexandria. Another heavy
expense in Egypt is the dragoman or in
terpreter, for which 81 to So per day
must be added.
Railroad and cab fares are a very inn
portant item. Second-class coaches in
England are good enough for anybody,
and cost about three cents a mile. In
Germany the rates are the same, al
though the accommodations are notqulte
so good. In Belgium three cents a mile
is charged for frst-class, two cents for
second class and one and a half for third
class. In Holland, the land of dykes,
fares are higher, and two-thirds of the
railroads are run by the government.
Cabs are cheaper in Germany than in
England. In France they are reasonable,
but,in Naples one can ride from one end
of the city to the other in a cab at Q
three-minute pace for fourteen cents, and
it will cost no more whether you put
three. in a cab or one. In England it
will cost twenty-five cents for half the
distance, and in Germany about the
| game
The Opelousas courier., 1883-11-24
Changes ON Land and Sea.

That the falling drop will wear away
the stone, is a saying which rev auui'
persons have not been able to verify by
observation but it is not so generally u
derstood that falling drops OF rain Will
wear away a mountain or wash away d
continent. Rain, frost and ice nave
ground down the SUBMITS OF the loftlest
mountains; and there are few high peaks
now in existence which have not been
much higher, and which are not being
steadily leveled by atmospheric agencies.
In colder climates SOLID glacier rivers are
also found, which mining imperceptibly,.
but with irresistible force, hollow out
valleys and grind down the superincum-
bent rocks. The sea also devours the
land rapidly. Furthermore, innumerable
rivers, streams and springs are perpetual
ly looscning the soil, rasping down the
rocks with sand, and bearing Oil bill
lions of tons of solid matter to the sea
bottom, where the whole mass is squeezed
by the terrific hydraulic pressure into
stone, marble or solid strata of some
kind. The Mississippi alone carries an
nually to the sea S13, 500, 600, 900 pounds
of mud. All the habitable land of the
globe is being continually ground and
wasted away-planed down to the
ocean-level while the sea-bottom is
being as steadily filled up. The deposit
of foraminiferal shells alone-not includ-
ing other remains-is sufficient, rs
Huxley has calculated, to create a bed OF
limestone in the bottom of the Atlantic
and Pacific oceans 800 feet thick suppos-
ing these oceans to have existed for only
100, 900 years.
Were it not for internal forest the time
would come when all existing land would
be leveled with the ocean, and there
| after planed down still further by the
| action of the waters, so that the entire
! globe would be one shoreless ocean. The
| coral islands would form no exception :;
for the coral -builders cannot live above
water, nor could their islands ever have
reached the surface but for subterranean
upbeavals. Thus the tendency of the
worlds crust is to become uniformly
smooth and level, and to surround itself
with an envelope of water. But within
the earth enormous forces are constantly
at work to counteract this tendency
forces which manifest themselves In
volcanic action, in seismic action and in
/ other and ever more mysterious actions.
-Neao Orleans Tinaes-D Democrat.
The Opelousas courier., 1883-11-24
Cairo hY Night.

At every fifty yards or SO blaze huge
bonfires of sulphur and tar, n instant
lighting up the street clear as day, as a
mass of flame shoots into the air, and
leaving it dark as pitch in the next, as
fresh fuel is thrown on and volumes OF
sulphurous smoke roll forth. The town
has a deserted look, and few people are
about the streets. Here o couple of
Arabs with their long falling robes move
silently along, there a patrol of English
police, mounted on their big English
horses, elank down the center of the
road. At the door of a brasserie or cafe
sits one of the mattresses, exchanging a
few words. with some French or Italians.
The Opelousas courier., 1883-11-24
Florentine Funerals.

Foreigner IN Florence says in the
Century The dead are carried to their
last resting-place at night. No must
be shocked during the day, while in the
midst of sunshine, and light and gayety,
By & reminder Of ON inevitable doom
by d thought Of how some day there will
be no sunshine or gayety for us IN this
bright world.
IL funeral Id Florence is one of the
saddest of sad ~spectaeles, with its pro-
cession Of priests and boys in draggled
gowns that once were white. carving
large candles, which drip their Waxen
tears along the road-or would do so, If
they were not caught as they fall in little
cups, carried by more boys and priests,
chanting, or rather whining monotonous-
II, as they step briskly along, witha most
Indifferent air. One can Judge some
what OF the wealth Of the departed by
the number of candles furnished. The
shorter the purse, the fewer the candies,
until at last the very poor are thrown
into d cart, carried outside the gates Of
the ctr, and shnfied into d pit, one on
top of the other- sight to make the
angels weepi
One of the most grievous characters
tics, to me, Of q FIorentine funeral IS the
absence of any relative OF friend of the
deceased. Not one creature who loved
or cared for him to fellow him to his
journeys end, or to she'd one tear over
the grave of d lost companion; left, To be
almost thrown into the ground BIZ few
The Opelousas courier., 1883-11-24
The I.;6gest Cattle Ranch.

Charles Goodnight has the largest cat
tie ranch in the N@orlda at the head of Red
River. Texas. He began buying lind
four years ago, getting 100000 acres at
thirtY.fve cents an acre. The price has
risen to Sc an acre. He is still buying.
He controls 100000 acres. To inelose
his lands $50 miles Of fence IS required.
lie has 40. 900 cattle
The Opelousas courier., 1883-11-24
Hard to Pronounce.

A young Scotchman named Car
michael was recently taken to a Polish
party and introduced to the Misses
Czartoryska, DziaIuska, Ciechano-
wiecka, Dzierbitzka, Poradowsky, Bic
likowitz, Zainoyski. These Polish Ia
dies could not manage his name at all,
and gave it up in despair, exclaiming !:
6 Gar-mi-ehael-oh, no; it is impossible.
How absurd for a charming young man
to have a name that nobody a pro-
nouncein1Detrot Free Press.
The Opelousas courier., 1883-11-24

Ii. a. Mills has growing on his place
in Orlando, Fla, q gourd vine which
measures 1872 feet IN length.
The Opelousas courier., 1883-11-24

ii the three fan districts Of Japan 100
900 persons make fans.
The Opelousas courier., 1883-11-24

The shipments of California fruits to
the East IRE 50 remuneratiye that more
attention viii Be paid 70 the business.
The Opelousas courier., 1883-11-24
An Eccentric Physician.

For the past thirty-fve years there has
resided on Jefferson street, in the city of
Dayton, Ohio, an eccentric physician of
the "yarb . practice, who has succeeded,
with all his peculiarities, in obtaining
quite a number Of patients. At this time
he must be eighty-fve to ninety years of
age, is bent with age, and yet moves with
alaerity in his calling. His sign would
indicate that there is no use of any one
dying, which reads:
Not n of my patients has died in
twenty-five years.
To this sign there is an annex, which
is attached to the top, and which is raised
when a funeral procession is passing his
door, on which IS printed the words:
"Not My Fatient.n
Still below the first sign he has coalrted
the MUSES. and made an addition, which
says:
No pay, no cure;
Half pay, half cure;
Full pay, work well done;
Md r,,s.oc 8 70 14rro11ohf c11ah nc oar ha
The Opelousas courier., 1883-11-24
done by none.

Many strangers who visit Dayton not
only walk around to take a look at the
doctor, but also to read his sign. Every
yea or two he obtains some horrible
woodcuts referring to the death of
prominent citizens-some his nearest
neighbors-showing the terrible manner
of their early deaths, which might have
been prevented if they had only applied
to him for skill. The cuts are Of the
cheapest style, while the figures in the
collins and the the mourning widow and
children are monstrosities to contemplate
as an artistic work Cincinnati Enquirer.
Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-05-21
Made q MAN ncHin,.

Mr.. G. @. Wheeler. No. % Austin street
CAmbridgeport. Mass, makes the following
remarkable statement. On April a., 1888, he
writes as follows; 4 have been troubled with
kidney disease for nearly twenty years. Have
suffered at times with terrible pains in my
back and limbs. used many medicines, but
found nothing reached my case until took
Hunts Remedy. 1 purchased bottle of A.
P. ellison. $50 fremont street, Boston, and
before had used this one bottle found re-
lief and continuing its use. my pains and
weakness oil disappeared. and feel like a
new man, with new life and vigor. Hunts
Remedy did wonders for me, land have no
hesitancy in recommending II to all afflicted
with kidney or liver diseases, as am posi-
tive that BY its use they will find immediate
relief. You may use this letter in any way
you choose, so that the people may know Of
a sure medicine for the cure of all diseases Of
kidneys and liver -
Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-05-21

Captain Joseph L. Hayden, residing at No.
ga Fourth street, South Boston. Mass, for
merly Captain in the army. now with the
Walworth Ma nufacturing Company, South
Boston. writes. April q, 1888: "While living
in CambridgepDrt my wife was afflicted with
terrible pains in her back and sides. accom-
panied with great weakness and loss Of appe-
tite. She tried many so-called remedies
without avail. growing rapidly worse, when
her attention was called to Hunts Remedy.
She purchased a-bOttle from LoWell's drug
store. in Cambridgeport, and after taking the
first dose she began to feel easier. she could
sleep we'll, and after continuing its use
short time the severe pains in her back and
side entirely disappeared, ana she is we'll
woman. Many Of our relatives and friends
have used Hunts Remedy with the most
gratifying results. have recommended 1t
many times and as many times heard tho
same story. Hunts Remedy is all that Is
claimed for it. and real blessing to all
afflicted with kidney or liver trouble"
Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-05-21

of the colored teachers Of West Ten
nessee will be held at the lie Moyne
Normal School by direction of Thos,
ii. Paine, State Superintendent Of
Education, and under the immediate
supervision Of the Superintendent Of
Education Of Shelby county from
June 4th to 10th proximo. Prot. A.
j. Steele will be immediate conductor
of the institute, assisted by Rev. b. d.
Jones, of Memphis, and Miss Helen
NJ. Andrews, of the New York State
Normal School, Potsdam, N. Y.
Professor Steele announces that:
AT the close of the Institute it is
expected that examinations for certi6-
Gates will be held for teachers of Shell
by and other counties.
The following schedule will serve as
an outline of the work which will be
done. A more complete and definite
analysis will be prepared for direction
in study during the session. ges.
The Institute is designed and plan
ned to prepare teachers for the exams
nations which follow, and to give
practical methods and ideas in teach
ing and school management.
All teachers should come provided
with text books on the various branches
to be studied, and with all the prepa-
ration possible in the way Of special
study in the directions indicated in the
following outline. o
Teachers expecting to attend should
send application at once to the Con-
ductor, in order to secure seats in the
Institute.
Correspondence is invited from
County Superintendent concerning
the attendance Of their teachers, and
relative to the examinations.
Visits from school officers and those
in educational matters will
be most welcome.
1t is hoped that arrangements may
be completed for several night sessions,
with addresses from prominent edu-
Gators; but the chief feature of the
Institute will be practical hard work.
The daily programme for each day
will be as follows:
8 to 9.l5, devotions; 9:l5 to 9:55, |
arithmetic; 10 to 1910, history; 10;45 |
to lbs, grammar, ll;3O to ll:5O, !
orthoepy and photography; ll:55 to
1890, geology OF Tennessee Recess.
to l:30. general exercise, l:35 to 2;l5,
reading; 2:3O to 3, geography. a9 |
The colored teachers who take ad |
vantage of this opportunity cannot |
Eail to be benefited and to greatly in
crease their capacity for usefulness.
Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-05-21
THE FIRST
Through Ticket 20 Portland.
Oregon.
St. Paul Globe, 10th.

Res eAA UiVDct lVJus
Joseph ]. Brown, a former resident
Of st. Paul, but now a citizen of San
francisco, departed last evening for
the Pacific Coast, over the Northern
Pacific. lie purchased his ticket
yesterday at the Office of G.. X.
Barnes, general passenger and ticket
agent of the road, j. g. Pond
ticket agent, effecting the sale. This
is indeed an episode in the life of that
corporation, which will survive to
those principally interested, at least.
when many less momentous events are
forgotten. To Mr.. Barnes belongs the
distinguished honor Of issuing the
pioneer ticket across the continent bv
the new route; to Mr.. Pond the not less
distinguished honor of negotiating lie
sale, and to Mr.. Brown that Of beeom>
ing Its purchaser. The price paid was
wv. lie goes hence direct TO Gallatin
by rail, thence to the Missoula river
by stage, where he will connect with
trains on the western division az tho
.Vavi uiIeVI lOI f0rtland. ibis epoch
IN the history Of the Northern Pacific
makes another milestone passed on
the highway of progress and advanc.
ing civilization. 1t is sequel. as Il
were, in the history of the Northern
faclhc, the preface TO which was writ
years ago. That preface. great with
promise, was the harbinger of expec. .
tations which to day are realized
The promises there vouchsafed have
been observed through trials, tribula.
TONS and embarrassments that inva.
riably attend deserving undertakinSs
They have all been kept. and TO-DAY
the. Orient and 0ccident are brougbt
into closer communion, into more than
iraternal fellowship. The railroad road
editor OF the Globe tenders his CON
CALCULATIONS TO Mr.. Barnes and b;s
tidus Achates and INDUCES the hone
that their dispensation NAV he tbe
prelude TO a prosperity that shall he
continuous and golden.
NoTE-The eastern division win
reach Helena, Montana, about JIne
Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-05-21
SUNDAY LOCALS In BRIEF.

The funding of the old city debt
progresses quietly. t8e III
Tom Avant is now ex>Deputy Sher-
if, for allowing Dan Fleming to get
away.
Mr.. II. 2. Ricketts,, late local of the
Avalanche, and later of the Appeal,
went south Saturday by the steamer
City Of New Orleans, and will doubts
less accept position on the Galveston
News. tr 81
Judge Greer overruled motion for
new trial in the case Of IL. w. Pur-
nell, and the sentence of $50 fine and
10 days in the county Jail stands
against him for adjudication before
higher court.
Aman named 7. A. Tabor, shot
some time since at Water Valley,
Miss came here for treatment few
days since, went on spree Satur-
day, and two officers were required to
tow him'to the stationhouse.
The death list in the city last week
aggregated q persons. 10 white and IL
cOlored. OF the number, 5 died Of
consumption, 2 of congestion, 2 Of
diarrhea and 2 Of fever. Last year
for the same week 30 persons died.
Four churches are In course of con.
struction-the First Presbyterian, the
Jewish synagogue, the Hernando street
Methodist church and the Ebenezer
eolored Baptist. The colOrsd people
have recently completed Asbury
chapel on DeSOto street.
A young man named Claverie, once
connected with the pOstOffice and
more recently with the express com.
pany, disgraced himself by cowhiding
another young man named M. w.
Luff, late Saturday evening on the
north side OF Court Square.
The horse thief, Henry Bell, sem
fenced to the penitentiary on Saturday
for three years, and charged with
having stolen one horse several times
over near Walden, Miss, besides the
horse he stole near Collierville, is
white man about As years old, and
emigrated from about GAINESVILLE,
Tenn, some time ago.
The Criminal Court adjourned for
the January term on Saturday, and
opened its spring term toSday. The
petit jury presented a brief paper to
the Court, very complimentary to
Judge Greer, and pronounced him an
efficient and learned Judge; also say
that though in Judge HOrrigan the
county oil Shelby lost one ofthe bright
est luminaries that ever adorned the
bench in any State, the people have
in his place man fearless in the dis
charge of duty and learned in the law.
Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-05-21
CHICAGO.
Shooting Affair in q saloon
Movements of the Wander
bilt Party.

CHICAGO, May 2l.--Anthony Con.
nally, saloon keeper, and Robert
Bruce, alias Harry Curtis. Of no
recognized occupation, met in the
formers saloon last evening. After
drinking together Curtis shot Con-
nally, the bail (of large caliber) pass
ing entirely through his body. Cons
nally then shot Curtis through both
thighs. 1t is thought both will die
Curtis says Connally and another man
held him up some days ago and robbed
him of one dollar.
W. H. Vanderbilt and d. M. Oald.
well, President and Vice President of
the Nickel Plate road, reached this
city to-day on a tour of inspection.
They leave for New York tomorrow
morning. ~
Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-05-21
THE TOBACCO REBATE.
Employing Attorneys Does Not
Hasten the Collection, and
Entirely Unnecessary.
specinl 70 the Courisr.Jonrnal.


WASHINGTON, May 16.-Oficials of
the Treasury Department say that it
is not necessary that dealers in
tobacco, who have claims for rebate
Of taxes and tax-stamps, should ems
ploy attorneys to- collect their claims;
that all claims will be considered in
the order fled and that the fact that a
claimant is represented by an attorney
will not hasten the consideration of his
claim in any way. 1t appears that a
number of claim agents of this city
have been sending out circulars in
large quantities to tobacco dealers,
offering their services in the collec-
ton ofthe draw back or rebate Of the
tobacco tax for fee Of from FIVE to
ten per cent Of the amount of the
claims. Some Of these claim agents
have stated in their circulars that
they possess certain advantages In
Fastening the payment ofsuch claims.
The practice of the Internal Revenue
Bureau is to treat all claimants alike.
The money to pay the claims of retail
dealers has not been appropriated.
Manufacturers Of tobacco can be paid
in stamps, SO that there will be no de-
lay in paying them.