davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1883-11-28
Women I'enCers.

A man with u waxed mustache,
mild blue eyes, and bald head stood
N a martial attitude in his fencing
academy, aaI tWrled a stick in his
nand. It the atick-was about three
feet long, half an inch in diameter,
and had Il laSkct hilt, which electu-
ally protected the hand of the man
using it.
This is the implement that ladies'
handle in fencing" said the professor
balancing it deity on one finger.
"Why don't they use the foil:"
They are afraid of it. Besides, they
1on't like to wear masks, which rum
pie the hair
'llave you many women pupils?'
"Nine come here. and | have two
families whom | visit twice a week.
My outside pupils have gymnasiums
Of their own, and Two Of them are
quite expert with the sticks. | don't
aim toteach them fencing-simply the
short.stick exercises. They do not
thrust at each other with intent to
strike, but merely for the side arm
movements used in parrying, 1t is
all very nice and gentle"
"Then they do not learn to fence as
men dog
"Oh, no. They scream if you at
Tempt anything aggressive. What they
want is the exercise of the thing 1t
gives them good colof makes their
arms full, their wrists strong, and
rapidly increases their strength. 1t is
particularly good for girls who lack an
erect and--shall | say jaunty?"
Eyes, if you choose"
Eyes, iaunty carriage" said the
professor stepping about on his toes,
and toying carelessly with his waxed
mustache.
"IIOw do women dress when in
1nlging in small stick practice:'
"In the blooming-I mean bloomer
costume commonly used for gymna-
SUM exercise, knee breeches, long
stockings, full waist, no belt, and long
skirt. Usually girls are satisfied to
go through the simpler movements of
the exercises, and stop there, but once
IN a while girl comes along who be-
comes ambitious for the real art of
fencing. A little practical experience
usually disheartens her. There are
however, half a dozen women in New
York who are reasonably expert"
"Women cannot compete with men,,
them"
"Oh. no. They have not the build
or endurance. The exercise tires them
out. The sticks satisfy them usually"
-NelO York sun.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1883-11-28
The True Gentleman.

The following sketch of the true
gentleman was found in an old manor
house in Worcestershire, England, writ
ten and framed, and hung over the
mantel-piece Of tapestried sitting
room
The true gentleman is Gods ser
want, the worlds master, and his own
man. Virtue his business. study his
recreation, contentment his rest, and
happiness his reward. God is his faith
er the church his mother, the saints
his brethren, all that need him his
friends. Devotion his chaplain; Chris
tianity his chamberlain sobriety his
butler temperance his cook hospi-
tally his hOusekeeper Providence his
steward charity his treasurer piety
his mistress of the house: and discretion
his porter, to let in or out as most fit.
This is the whole family, made up of
the virtues, and he is the master of the
house. lie is neceSsitated to take the
world on the way to heaven. but he
walks through it as fast as he can, and
all his business by the way is TO make
himself and others happy Take him
in two words-a man and Chris
tan"
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1883-11-28
EnniiiOn NOtes,

Cloak clasps are small and very ar
tistic.
Escurial remains the iayor.te lace
Of dressy women.
Clinging draperies remain in favor
with society girls.
Kittens heads alOrn many notify
felt and velvet hats.
All kinds of laces, even the old style
llama, are fashionable.
Gauntlet gloves with cuffs of velvet
and plush grow in favor.
Fichus plastrons, and large collars
Of lace are immensely fashionable
A fashionable necklace is set with
;olored stones, no two Of which ar
alike.
Cut steel, jet, silver, gilt, and jew
elled buckles alorn many dressy bon
nets and hats.
Tapestry woods and checked chevi-
DTS are much worn BY young ladies
who like color
Sapphire blue, pigeons gray and
claret are the rlyri'ite crlors for chill
lren's dresses.
Lace of all kinks is very fashiona-
bic, and considering the "rrat demand
for ii, it is inexpensive
Every one now has Il tailOr-matlc
costume. They are Tie most sensible
and stylish for street wtaf.
Chenille fringes are yerg handsome
when used discreeily that is to say,
sparngly--on wraps AM costumes.
Buckles are finding flyui both in
millinery aud dress maain.; y pleas
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1883-11-28
ing combination is steel set with false

ing combination is steel set with false
gems
All sorts of fanciful figured pieces
and heads in steel, gilt, silver, and
other metals ornament both hats and
bOnnets.
Titan red, a lovely shade verging
on auburn, bids fair to be the most
fashionable bright color of the incom-
ing season.
Carrickmacross collarettes and deep
cuffs are very popular garnitures for
plain, untrimmed dinner dresses of
dark velvet.
Collarettes of real lace are made in
point in front, which is a short or a
long point, according to the taste of
the wearer.
While there is no longer any de-
mand for the cheap jets, jet trimmings
of finest quality are employed by New
York modistes.
There is an active demand for real
laces again. All laces are from 10 to
~ per cent. cheaper than were the
laces of last season.
Real sealskins, dyed almost black,
are brought out for ladies in mourn
ing, and for those who prefer an en-
tirely black costume.
Plain colors prevail in hosiery.
Black stockings remain popular, but
it is fashionable now to match the hue
of the dress in the hosiery.
Wool, silk, and velvet are all COM
bined in one costume, and yet this is
so effectively accomplished that the
result isperfect in its way.
Pompadour lace is very beautiful
and inexpensive, and is brought out in
collars, cuffs, and deep ilounces from
two to ten inches or more in depth.
Flat crosswise folds, hanging Xix
tucks on the skirt, is a style just now
in fashion, and suited to materials not
adapted for full trimmings.
The English fashion of cropping the
hair all over the head and forming it
into little loose rings has again reached
this country, and many women are
foolishly sacrificing their rich tresses
TO the moloch of the present mode,
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1883-11-28

How much more we might make of
our family life, of our friendship, if
every secret thought Of love blossomed
into IL deed. We are not now speaking
merely of personal caresses. These
may or may not be the best language
Of affection. Many are endowed with
IA de!icacy, Righteousness Of physical
organization, which shrinkS away from
too much Of these repealed and over
powered, but there are words, and looks,
and little observances, thoughtfulness,
watchful little attentions, which speak
Of love, which make it manifest, and
there is scarce family that might rot
be richer in heart wealth for more of
them. 1t is Il mistake to suppose that
relations must, Of course, love each
other becaus" they are relations. Love
must be- cuitiVajrT, and ran he increased
by iud,riu,;s culture" Il! wild fruits may
double their hcuing under the hand of
gardener, ana love can dwindlr and
die ont By neglect, ~ ciloic, flower
seeds planted III puJr soil dwindle and
grow single.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1883-11-28

A little more than hundred years
ago, there was not single white man
in what is now Kentucky, Ohio,
Indiana and Illinois. Then, what is
now the most llourishing part of the
United States, was almost as little
known as the heart of Africa itself.
1t was not till l776 that Boone left
his home in North Carolina to become
the first white settler in Kentucky
And the first pioneer of Ohio did not
settle there till twenty years later still.
A little more than one hundred years
ago, Canada belonged to France and
Washington was a Virginia colonel,
and the United States the most loyal
part of the British empire; and scarce
ly speck on the political horizon in
dictated the struggle that in score or
more years was to lay the foundation of
the greatest republic of the world.
A century since there were only tour
small newspapers in America; steam
engines had not been imagined;
locomotives, and steamboats,, and rail
roads, and telegraphs, and postal cards,
and friction matches, and revolvers,
and breech-loading guns, and stoves,
and furnaces, and gas for lighting
dwellings, and sewing machines, and
reapers, and mowers. and horse rakes,
and seed drills, and steam plOws, and
India rubber shoes, and anthracite
coal, and photographs, and chrome
paintings, and kerosene oil, and the
safety lamp, and the compound blow
pipe, and free schools, and spring mat
tresses, and wood engravings, and
Brussels carpets, and lever watches,
and cotton and wooden factories, in
anything like the present meaning of
these terms, were utterly unknown.
a century ago the spinning-wheel
was in almost every family, and cloth
ing was spun and woven, and made up
in the households; and the printing
press was a cumbrous machine, work
ed by hand; and nail, or brick. or
IA knife, or a pair of shears or scissors,
or razor, or Il woven pair of stockings
or an axe, or hoe, or shovel, or lock-
or KEY or a bar Of rolled iron, or a
pane Of glass Of any size, was not made
in what is now the United States.
Even in 1890 there were only seventy
five pOst-o.lices in the country, and the
whole extent Of our pOSt-routes was
less than nineteen hundred miles
Cheap postage was unheard of, and
had any one suggested that transmits
sion of messages with lightning speed,
he would have been thought utterly
insane.
Will another century see as many
discoveries and improvements in
science and in the arts, and in the APP
plicaton of both to the progress of
civilization, and the enterprises of
business AMI the comforts of life
We sometimes think we have almost
reached the limit of these wonderful
improvements, but who can say that
the next century will not witness as
great advances on the present as the
present has on the past?
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1883-11-28
PEARLS OF THOUGHT.

Industry is the companion of honor
and honesty.
Our vanity is the constant enemy of
our dignity.
jealousy is always born with love,
but it does not always die with it.
To know men is, perhaps, always to
render ourselves fit to manage them.
Habits are soon assumed: but when
we strive to strip them off It's being
llayed alive.
Everybody sees the cloud on the
horizon, but who thinks of the clear
blue sky above it?
There IS fellowship among the vir.
tues, by which one great, generous pas.
sion stimulates another.
The heart is like Il musical instru
ment of many strings, all the cords OF
which require putting in harmony.
A loving heart and pleasant coun
tenance are commodities which mar
should never fail to take home with
him.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1883-11-28
ENGLISH LOdpinp HOusps,

And here, let me plead for the Eng
fish lodging system. You rent room
anywhere, and the price given includes,
besides its care, the preparation OF
your meals Two things are needful
for your comfort--that your landlady
be honest and that she be fair cook,
You order what you please, day by
day, having of course, regular accounts
with diary and bakery. At the end of
each week your bill comes up, and you
pay for exactly what you have had,
Your meals are served in your room 90
one has always two-at the call of
your bell. Your only care is to think
ont bill of fare, and your landlady is
always ready to help you in that She
may even take a motherly interest in
your purse and shake her head when
YOU order salmon or Strawberries in
American ignorance of their prices.
There are perhaps a dozen other lodg-
ers in the house, but you have nothing
to do with them, and Mrs. Brown
knows her trade too well to confound
your butter with your next neighbours
or bring you the wrong cut of beef.
She has 4 store-room to match her
lodgings, and each number" has its
shelf with the same number on it.
Small families can live 50, in us entire
privacy as in their own homes, but
with no care of house, and no COM
plant of the table possible, since they
have just what they order. llaW-
thorne speaks of it as uncomfortable
for strangers, who must undertake all
the responsibilities of housekeeping on
an instant's warning, and cannot even
get cupof tea till they have made ar
rangements with the grocer" But he
adds that 1.-The sense of being at home
and to ourselves" is greater than can
be attained in hotels or boarding hous-
es. Doubtless there is a crumpled
rose-leaf somewhere, but it certainly
gives one everywhere home secluson
and comfort. and one recalls the yari-
Gus dodgers Of Dickens, from Pick
wick to David CopperGeld, with a
new sympathy in their experience
Lippincott
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1883-11-28
Guests.

Don't invite them if you don't want
them.
Don't run into debt to entertain them
in style.
Don't wear your Sunday dress when
you are cooking the dinner.
Don't show them off too publicly il
they happen to be distinguished indi-
yiluals, and don't hide them if they
are poor relatives.
Don't change the complexion of your
family prayers to match the religion to
which they happen to belong.
Don't tell them every minute to make
themselves at home, but make your
house so home-like they can't help feel
ing at home.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1883-11-28

Theseremarkabc items pour into our ouice
daily Mr.. II. S. FULLER, with the New Home
Machine Company, of Orange, Mass, VIII s'
MAY %, 1888: Il have used Hunts Remedy
in my family for over len years NY VIE
was troubled with ca!Nrrh of the bladder;
suffered intense lain in The kidneys ana
oins, and urination was accomplished win
the greatest of acoay. My friends thought
that she could not recover. We tried doctors
and medicine aud although better at times
shewould grow worse again. She was Obliged
to use the Iinal as many Hs fifteen times IN
night, and was growing worse daily. At
this time my attention was called TO Hunt
Remedy. anl concluded to try it; and AFTER
using one bottle she was good deal better,
the inhammatio nwas reduced. and the water
more natural. She began to gain IN appetite
and felt no pain in the Lack and Kidneys.
She could attend to her household work
without pain, ard this had been q great
burden to do, even the lightest kind OF work.
After using six bottles she was completely
cured. Since then | have had occasion to
use Hunts Remedy for kidney and liver com
plants, and found it to be just as represented
and | consider il a most wonderf u medicine.
[ would not be without Hunts Remedy IN
NV family: and | have recommended 1t TO
my friends here in Orange with equally good
tesultsn
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1883-11-28
LADIES' DEPARTM ENT.


Engagement rings are the natural
sequences of the summer campaign of
the bellies of the watering-pl .ces, and
many a young man IS at his wits end
to raise the accessory cash wherewith
to secure the preliminary token of
future domestic bliss. Ice cream
drives, boating, and pleasure excur-
'ions generally have depleted the
pockets of the devoted beaus, and in
many instances when the question, the
momentous question, was asked, it
was with fear and trembling that the
expected answer was received, On
leaving, the happy girl generally says:
when you get me my ring get me a
nice one, Charley, for | want to be
proud of it, and all the girls will criti-
else it, you know. Get q nice solitaire
with skeleton setting so the diamond
will show nicely. think Il pure
white stone is the best. That hateful
Laura has colored one, and | believe
it is full of flaws She is always show
ing it, anyhow, and if she hasn't a
scratch on her finger she is continually
liking hcrhair or arranging her collar.
l want a better stone than hers.
Won't you get it, dear?"
81 will, darling; I'll get you the
best in the market" and he departs
with sinking heart.
The next day he makes an arrange
ment with some ieweler by which he
gets an inferior stone at high price,
which he pays for in weekly install
ments. Visits to his girl and the
usual presents and theatrcals take
the remainder of his salary, and when
the wedding-day approaches, his or her
fond parent is obliged to hand over
the necessary funds to unite the twain
and send them off on their bridal tour.
On their return they generally settle
down, and the question of the engage
ment-ring and the attendant incidents
form subject of iocular conversation
between Them
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1883-11-28
Stralghten your old boots and shoes with
Lyons Patent Heel Stiffeners, and wear again.
Walnut Leaf Hair Restorer.

Il Is entirely different from all othels tt II
as clear rs water and as its name indicates, is
a perfect Vegetable Hair Restorer, 1t will inn
medately free the head from all dandrufi, re.
store gray hair to It's natural color, and produce
n new growth where ii has fallen of. 1t does
not in any manner all ct the health, which
sulphur, sugar Of lead and nitrate Of silver
preparations have done. 1t will change light
or faded hair in few days to II beautiful glossy
brown. Ask your druggist for it. Each bottle
il warranted &. q. GOODWIN & Co., Whole
sale Agents, Boston. Mass, and G. N. CRIT
TpNp,S Maui vnrk
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1883-11-28

At Wellsburgh, W. Va, is gas
we'll from which there is Il waste-pipe
supplying gas, which burns constant.
y, with a flame several feet high.
Around this flame myriads of beetles,
moths, and all sorts of night-hying in
iects gather and are scorched to death
Millions of them lie dead on the ground
around the waste-pipe. The result is,
lot a caterpillar can be found in that
whole region. If this be true, is it
not a suggestion to farmers and fruit
growers to erect in their orchards
,orches, and let the moths, beetles, and
other pests destroy themselves instead
If running the crops of the orchard
md garden.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1883-11-28
The Latest Bonanza In California.

BIEBER, CAL-Mr. Thomas 7, Ford, edi-
tor of the Mountain Tribune, of this place,
publishes that the great pain-cure, St. Jacobs
Oil, has worked wonders in his family, and
that he would not be without it, He states
that among all the people st. Jacobs Oil is
the most popular medicine ever introduced.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1883-11-28
(OurtshiD of Birds.

among the Birds" said New
York naturalist to reporter, "loye
antics are the most laughable. Some
time ago was watching some of the
birds in the Geological garden and you
would have thought they had gone
mad. They We're marching up and
down, one before another, raising their
wings and strntting around in regu
lar dance. Last season | saw in Flor
ida the same thing among wild herons
and at first thought the birds were
at play or daft. Where they We're
standing was II mere strip of white
sand about fifty feet long, and from
my place of conceallnent | could see
every movement. The females stood
together, demure and quiet, taking no
interest in the proceedings, while the
males danced before them in pairs and
trios, each evidently endeayoring to
Outdo the others, and when, apparent
ly exhausted by their efforts, they ap-
preached the waiting females, and by
careSSe5 with the bill cndeavOred to
make them make selection, curiously
enough the females seemed best pleas
ed with those that made the most eX-
ertion and went through the perfor-
nance with the greatest agility When
once captivated the happy pair would
fly away together, sometimes followed
by an angry rival, that, however, would
be driven back 10y the combined efforts
Of both
in I'LL the geological gardens where
these birds are kept YOU may see the
same performances, and perhaps the
most curious part Of it is not only Il Pc
cuiarity of cranes or herOns during the
season or time of Courtship, but is also
true Of atribe OF South American Ind
ans. Before he swain is even accept
ed as a lover he is obliged to go
through series of gymnastic perform
ances to test his physical fitness to un-
de take the responsibilities of mar
ried man. Feats Of leapng, running,
lifting and contortion are required,
the lover exactly initiating the heron
before he is accepted or refused, as the
case may be. In all birds we see the
same well regulated courtship, and
generally much resembling our own
actions during that interesting period
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1883-11-28

The Chinese seem to have very sem
,ible views about the value Of funeral
orations. If the Anamese Envoy,
while performing his official duties at
;he Chinese court, should happen to
lie, several academicians are charged
with the duty of celebrating his vir-
lies in funeral Grafton. This ac-
lion, however, instead of being
handed down to posterity as speci-
men of bombastic nonsense, is placed
n the defunct ENJOYS coffin and
buried with him
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1883-11-28

gives us great pleasure to state that the merchant
who was reported being At the point OF death from
attack of Pnsumona has entirely recovered by the use
Of Dr. WIN. Halls Bslssm for tho Lungs. Naturally
he feels grateful for the benefits derived from using
this remedy for the lungs and throst; and in giving
publicity to this statement scuated by motives
Of public bensfsotion, trusting that others may be
benefited in a similar manner
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1883-11-28

r. V. Pierce, NJ. d. Dear Sir,-My wife,
who had been i'll for over two years, and had
ried many other medicines became sound and
well by using your "favorite Prescription"
My niece was also cured by its use, after sew
eral physicians had failed 10 do her any good L.
Yours truly, Thomas j METuyIN,
IIatchcrs Station, Ga.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1883-11-28

A house built to withstand tomatoes
so the MianesOtd IriGHue says-is
hat OF a banker, the wealthiest man
n OSakis, MINI. All the corners are
acute angles. and the sides sink back
INTO other angles, giving this archi-
ectural freak the contour of a star
From the highest point of the roof the
cutters sink suddenly, making great
Expressions. This angularity was, it
IS said, inspired by the bankers wife,
who lives in constant dread of storms.
The corners were made very sharp, to
split tornadOes. The cellar walls are
Of unusual thickness and the timbers
)f the structure are anchored in them,
so that the house may not be blown
down without taking up the founda-
lions. All the weather boarding is
put on in oblique lines.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1883-11-28

A large dressed-meat depot is to be
erected in Pittsburgh this winter. 1t
will be a stock concern, with a capital
Of 100000. The idea of the pro-
moters is to crowd out all the city
butchers and dealers. The plan is to
rent and fit up butchers shops in vari-
Gus parts of the city, probably $50 or
200 of them, and supply them with
Western slaughtered beef brought
there in refrigerator-cars.