davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Osceola times., 1883-12-08
A PECULIAR PENNSYLVANIA LAW.
How to Buy Bread and Oysters without
Money.
Philadelphia Item.

Philadelphia Item.
1t will probably be a surprising piece
of news TO bakers that under the laws Of
Pennsylvania they cannot at law collect
a bill for the sale of bread. The reason
of this is that the law provides that all
bread shall be sold by the pound, and
that scales for the purpose of weighing
shall be kept on the counter or in some
other conspicuous place in all bakeries.
The law further provides that unless the
bread be weighed the sale is illegal and
the seller liable to fine of so and costs
for each offence, and that one half of this
sum shall 90 to the informer. The pro-
prietor of every bakery in Philadelphia
| is liable TO arrest, as in no case is the
bread sold by the pound, but by the loaf.
There is a city ordinance also which
directs that all oysters arriving at Phila'
delphia shall be sold by the hundred and
in no other way. At present all oysters
on the wharves are sold by the barrel,
and it is asserted by lawyers that no
debt contracted under this method OF
sale is legal. When it is considered that
there are not less than 100000 worth of
oysters sold daily on the wharves and
boats of Philadelphia, two-thirds OF
which are taken on credit, the impor-
tance of the law on this subject will be
appreciated.
in both the cases of bread and oysters
the laws are dead letter, but IN civil
actions they would be sufficient TO non-
suit the claimants of debts contracted
by such sales without regard to the JUS
tice of the claims. The fact is aptly il
lustrated by an event in the court life OF
the late Lucas Hirst, which was wit.
messed by Lawyer W. II. Brown.
Mr.. Hirst, one of the ablest of pleaders
at the bar, was also noted as man who
took advantage of every circumstance in
favor OF his client. Eight years ago he
was retained to defend in an action Of
debt retail grocer who had obtained
hundreds of dollars worth of bread from
, baker and then refused to pay the bill
In due time the suit came up for trial
The baker was represented by conceitec
young lawyer who would not deign tC
notice the presence of Hirst. He proved
his case completely and then rested.
Mr.. Hirst had asked the plaintiff bu
one question, and that was if he had no
, sold all the bread by the loaf, to whicl
, he answered in the affirmative.
Have you any defence to offer :?
asked the judge, addressing the counse
for the defendant.
II need none under the law" replie,
Hirst, coolly.
II am rather impressed with the idei
that you will find yourself without on,
when have charged the jury" answered
the judge, as he turned in his chair.
II will ask for a nonsuit as soon a
, your honor is acquainted with the law,
sarcastically rejoined Hirst as he handle,
the Judge the statute headed Bread"
The Judge, after perusing it quietly
handed the book to the Young lawyer 70
the plaintiff, with the question, in
subdued tone, "Haye you any answer t.
TO thatY
He had none, of course, and MI
lIirst's motion was granted.
The Osceola times., 1883-12-08
An Introduction to Coleridige.
"Cs,pero in Detroit Free Press. .

1t was case OF personal introduction
Everybody knows that many of the Wall
street boys are given to a free-and-easy
manner The broker in the case in
question is probably as free.and-easy as
any. A friend, who was one of Lord
Coleridge's escort, presented the broker
with the information that the party OF
the other part was "his lordship, Chief
Justice Coleridge." The broker prompt
ly took him by the hand and said:
How are you, Cole? Glad to see you. -
His lordship's face bore a look of sur
prise at first, and then a smile, and his
hand was withdrawn rs soon as he could
establish full claim to it. And the
broker hurried off to cover some shorts
in New York Genital, with which Mr..
Vanderbilt was just then squeezing the
bears
The Osceola times., 1883-12-08
Turning the Tables.

A good story is going about the clubs
concerning New York millionaire who
owns big stock farm in New Jersey
He has put in force strict rules about the
admittance of curiosity seekers, and il
one happens TO get in he is soon hustled
off.
The other day a neighboring farmer
called on business. He had never been
on the place before, and entering at a
gate he found open was strolling around
looking for the superintendent, when the
owner, who happened to be there, en-
countered MIN. Supposing him TO be
merely an idler or prying person, he
asked him what he was doing there.
The farmer, taken aback by such an
address, replied, Nothing"
DO you know at which gate YOU came
in7"
Il do, said the farmer.
well, then" said the owner, get out
there as soon AS you can;" and the farmer
walked out.
Shortly after the superintendent came
up, and inquired if Neighbor so-and.so
had been there. He was the only one
anywhere about who had timber they
wanted very much, and they wanted it
Immediately. He had promised to
come that morning TO see about the sale
of it.
Well" said the owner of the farm, 81
shouldn't wonder il kad Just sent him
off with flea in his ear. found a man
The Osceola times., 1883-12-08
An Interesting story About n WIZ.
DR.. Prime in Journal Of Commerce.

Or. Prime in Journal of Commerce.
| had rather interesting experience
with old Mrs. Norton once. She married
Mr.. Norton on the death Of his first wife
and the moment she came into the house
the war began between the new wife
and the wealthy mans son, which has
lasted until now Mr. Norton soon died.
and when, years afterward, the widow
was very i'll, was called to write her
will. hurried to the death bed with
paper and pen found a stand and
candle placed them at the head of the
bed saying few words TO her told her
| was ready TO prepare her will if she
would now 90 on and tell me what she
wanted to do | wrote tn introdu tory
phrases rapidly, and leaning over toward
her, said; "Now, 90 on, Mrs. Norton"
Her voice was quite faint and she seem.
ed to speak with an effort She said:
First of all, / want to give the farm to
my sons, Harry and James; just put that
down "But," said |, "vou can't do that
Mrs. Norton; the farm isn't yours to give
away"
"The farm isn't miner" she said in
voice decidedly stronger than before.
"No, the arm isn't yours You have
only life interest in it,"
This farm that I've run for guin' on
forty-three years next spring, isn't mine
to do what | please with III Why not,
judge? dixie to know what you meant"
"Why, Mr.. Norton-your husband
gave you life estate in all his property,
and on your death the farm goes to his
son John, and your children get the vii
lage houses
And when | die John Norton is TO
have this farm whether will or no?"
Gust So"
Then ] amt going to die" said the
old woman in clear and decidedly ring
ing, healthy voice. And SO saying she
threw her feet over the front Of the bed,
sat up, gathered a blanket and coverld
about her, straighened up her gaunt form
walked across the floor and sat down in
great chair before the fire The doctor
and ] came homa. That was fifteen
years ago. The old lady's alive to-day.
And she accomplished her intent. She
beat John after all. He died four years
ago in Boston, and don't know what
will he left"
The Osceola times., 1883-12-08
Peculiarities of Language.

The Hindoos are said to have no word
for friend"
The Italians have no equivalent for
humility
The Russian dictionary gives a word
the definition Of which is mot TO have
enough buttons on your footman's waist.
coat" second means "to kill over
again" third earn by dancing !"
while the word "knout," which we have
all learned to consider as of exclusively
Russian meaning and application, proves
upon investigation to be their word
"knut," and to mean only whip of
any kind"
The German call thimble a Finger
hat" which it certainly is, and grass
hopper "hay-horse." A glove with
them is a "hsndshee," showing evident
ly that they wore shoes before gloves.
Poultry is "feathered cattle;;" while the
names for the v-ell-known Substances.
Oxygen nd hydrogen" are in their
language, "sour stuff" and water stuff"
The Osceola times., 1883-12-08
\ WiId-Cst's Pluck.

A1Eter ip an English magazine gives
the following description Of fight he
witnessed IN scotland between a Wild
cat and halfdozen shepherd dogs;
The cat, suddenly surprized by the dogs
happened 10 spring upon broad ledge
oi rock whence there was no escape ex-
cept over and through his assailants
They instantly surrounded him. The cat
for time acted solely on the defensive
striking at such of his assailants as ven.
tured within reach, with strokes 50 quick.
ly delivered and so keenly sent ONE
that the dog always leaped back with
howl Of pain.
As he gradually became convinced of
the seriousness Of the encounter, the ca,
The Osceola times., 1883-12-08
A Wonderful story.

For wonderful stories read the Paris
Figaro. Here is one Of them:
DIR. de la Pommerais was executed in
June, 1864, for a murder of the Palmer
type. On the night before his execution
he was visited by Surgeon Valpeau, who
after few preliminary remarks inform
ed him that he came in the interests OF
science, and that he hoped for de la Pom
merais cooperation.
"You know" he said, "that one of the
most interesting questions of physiology
is as to whether any ray of memory, re-
Election or real sensibility survives in the
brain OF man after the fall of the
head" AT this point the condemned
man looked somewhat startled; sut pro
fessional instincts at once resumed their
sway, and the two physicians calmly dis
ctssed and arranged the details of an ex-
pertinent for the next morning. when
the knife falls" said Vslpeau, al shall be
standing at your side, and your head
will at once pass from the executioners
hands into mine. / will then cry dis
tinctly into your ear, 'Couty de Ia Pom
merais, can you at this moment thIce
lower the lid of your right eye, while the
left remains openY" The next day
when the great surgeon reached the con-
demned cell, he found the doomed man
practising the sign agreed upon. A few
minutes later the euillotine had done its
work, and the head was in Valpeau's 5
hands, ana the question put. Familiar
as he was with the most shocking and
ghastly scenes, he was almost frozen with
terror when he saw the right lid fall,
while the other eye looked fixedly at him.
"a gai a." he cried frantically. The lids
moved. but they did not part. 1t was all
over.
The Osceola times., 1883-12-08
n o BILL 1T Y
ARKAURAS.

lmbedded deep in the gravel
ofa dark Brazilian mine,
Two precious diamonds Of rarest worth
Awaited their time to shine.
And as one without the other
By q miner was borne away,
II said. "How l pity your wretched fate
Down here in disgrace TO stay
you might ss well be pebble,
For your worth is nothing here;
Oh. how you mus, envy my happier lot
To go to a higher sphere %
IL envy you not" said the other;
BE your station ever so high
Not where, put what, we are is the law
And you are no more than !.
"However our spheres may differ,
We are made of the self-ssme stun
Ifyou arc polished diamond,
Am diamond In the rough.
Il may not attain the lustre
That your different lot will give;
bat n with - true and noble end
IN my humble sphere live
Though you are found in Ialace.
And in the gravelly earth,
Yet the law that nature governs
Makes each Of equal worth"
The Osceola times., 1883-12-08
The Kings shirt.

\ hundred years ago, the court of
France was ruled by an etiquette so pom.
pous and cereMonious as to make the
kings life burden to himself and lest
to IA philosopher. He was never alone.
except at rare intervals. The eyes of
forty or fifty persons saw him dress and
undress, and the operation of putting
on his shirt was something fearful.
The grand master of the wardrobe
drew off the kings nightshirt by the
right arm, and the first valet of the ward
robe by the left arm, and both of them
united in handing the nightshirt to an
officer of the wardrobe.
Another valet of the wardrobe then
brought clean shirt, but he had no
right to hand it to the persons who were
to put it on the king. The honor of
handing the clean shirt TO those persons
was reserved to the sons and daughters
of France, or, in their absence. 10 the
princes Of the blood of those legitimate
ed, or in default of these, to the grand
chamberlain or TO the first gentlemen of
the bedchamber.
The shirt having been regularly and
formally delivered, the first valet of the
wardrobe and the first valet de chambre
held up the garment by the right and
left sleeves respectively, while two other
" lets extended dressing gown in front
Of the king to serve as screen. Behind
this screen His Majesty at last got the
shirt on his back.
Every day, Immediately after being
dressed, the king said his prayers. And
il is TO be hoped that he never failed TO
offer up devout Thanksgiving for having
passed safely through the process of put
ting on his shirt.
The Osceola times., 1883-12-08
The President Ms n Boy.
Washington letter in Troy Times.


| never see the courtly form of the
president at the White House or on the
street but that think of the circuln-
stances of the presidents birth, in 1880.
His father was then poor, itinerant,
hard shell Baptist preacher in the bor-
der town of Fairfield, Vt His parish
ioners said they would build him house.
They turned in and did il They perch
ed il on barren hill top, log framed,
and covered with coarse boards. II was
20x24 feet, only one story high, with an
attic lighted only by one narrow win
dow. There was no cellar, no paint
nothing except frame and bare floor.
This old shanty is now n skeleton barn,
used to store hay in, and, if things 90
with it as they have, it will be in ruins
soon. ! wondered, as | looked at that
desolate place, with not house in sight,
whether the elder Arthur. living on his
house rent and $3.50 year, ever dream
ed that his son would draw $4,000
year as p esident of the United States
Boston bellies speak Of Sptz dogs ~
saliva canines."-N. Y. Star.
The Osceola times., 1883-12-08

Senator and Mrs Beck and their dauph-
ter and her husband, Major Goodioe,
VII 90 to housekeeping in Washington
tbs month. Mr.. George Beck, whom
his parents visited in August on his
ranch in Wyoming Territory, near the
Yellowstone Park, will spend Christmas
with them. He is dong finely raising
stock on his ranch and has comfortable
dwelling house there, built of stone.
The Osceola times., 1883-12-08

Ever since her daughters wedding. OF
Octaber 4, the wife of Pay Director Wat.
mo1gh has been i'll with sciatica. Hel
sister, Miss Sheaff, is with her at her
home in Washington. Mrs. Watmoueh
is unable to leave her room.
The Osceola times., 1883-12-08

ResurrectIonists have twice tried to rob
the grave Of Mrs. Nose, the fat woman.
near Baltimore,
The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-11-30

Mrs. Dahlgren is credited with almost
fabulous profits from her novel on WASH
ingtOn society.
Oliver Wendell Holmes has his name IN
more autograph books than any other man
i'm the country.
Mgr. Yannutelli, whom PiuX TX. called
his "prieSt and a half" is going as the
new Nuncio to Lisbon. He is giant.
William p. Glidden and wife have given
an Episcopal church to the town of Dana
riScotta, Maine. The church was conse-
Grated few days ago.
John Dalton Locke, who died at White
stone, l.. l., yesterday, began life as ped
der OF tin, but left an estate worth 81 $780,
600. He was the head man in the j. ID.
Locke Company.
Mr.. Adee. chief OF the Diplomatic Blu
reau ut Washington, is accused of a lite
rary trick. The Chicago Inter ocean
charges that Mr.. Adee's friend, William Y.
Buttes, " the cowboy poet" is Mr.. Adee
himself.
| Bishop Hurst, of Des Moines. is TO pre-
side over the conference at Zurich. Switz-
eriand. commencing June 25, 1884: over
the Sweden Conference ut Upsala, Sweden.
july 9th; over the Norway Conference nj
Bergen, Norway. on July 23d, and over the
Denmark Conference at Frederickshayen.
In Denmark, August 3, 1884.
The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-11-30
DIR. George w. Bagby.

In the death Of DIR. GEORGE W. BAGBY,
which Is announced in another column OF
the Dispatch this morning. Virginia loses
another journalist who has made marked
impression In the sphere Of letters. DIR.
BAGBy belonged ~ that class OF Virginia
literary men Of whom the late JoHS X.
THOMPSON was perhaps the foremost rep
rcsentative. and who, with the exception
OF THOMPSON, perhaps, may be said to have
lost their opportunity through the exlgen-
cies OF our civil war. DR.. BAGBy felt that
this latter had been his fate, and TO
that feeling. coupled with i'll health, Is due
the fact that his ripest years were not
his most fruitful in literary productions
save in the field of newspaper CORE
spondence. As sketch-writer DR..
BAGBY originated phase Of satire, as far
as Virginia Journalism Is concerned. His
keen sense OF the humorous and his appre-
citation OF the foibles OF friend and foe
alike led him 10 indulge in = style OF writing
that was sui qeneris. Some Of mis- efforts
in this direction are uneXcelled, and have
become the property OF The literary world.
But with DR.. BAGBY as with many
others whose wit has given them reputation,
his memory should be embalmed in the
fragrance Of his more serious moods. His
descriptive work was mastery. and when
be wooed nature she responded in her
loveliest garb. Frequently his most eX-
trayagant humor intermingled with touch
ing flashes Of poetic fancy and the sweet
est and purest sentiments, and beneath his
satire drifted an. undercurrent Of noble
thought that asserted itself when least eX-
pccted. and robbed his pen of malice or
any intention TO wound. The best work
he has left us portrays the mans bright
intellect guided by warm and generous
heart.
The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-11-30
More of Brewster.

The Washington Post says it is given
out that Attorney-Gener BREWSTER in his
forthcoming report will recommend a panel
Of jurors composed OF so many citizens
from each OF the several States, on which
to draw for the trial OF important Govern
ment eases, the recommendation being
based upon the assumption that an honest
Jury is not TO be obtained inside the Dis
trict of Columbia.
The Post is surely mistaken. The Fede-
raj Constitution provides as follows:
"In all criminal prosecutions the ae-
cused shall enjoy the right TO q speedy aud
public trial by an impartial jury OF the
State and district wherein the crime shall
have been committed, which district shall
have been previously ascertained by law
Several features characterize the above
proyi.ion, which is in the 9th article OF
amendments to the Constitution:
1. The jurymen must live in the state
wherein the crime was committed. With
In the meaning OF that amendment a Ter
ritory or the District Of Columbia is O
State. This must be so, or it necessarily
follows that the rights OF citizens Of the
Territories and the District OF Columbia
are not as well guarded as are the rights Of
citizens OF the States. Therefore,
2. The " district" mentioned is either n
State or part Of State, or else a Terri
tory or part OF Territory, OF else the
District OF Columbia. There are two such
districts in Virginia. Consequently man
residing in Richmond, and committing n
crime here, cannot be tried in Abingdon.
or harrisonburg. or any other place outside
OF the " district" in which Richmond IL
situated. OF course be can be tried in
Abingdon II he commits the crime there
let him reside where he will. But the Jury.
men will all have 10 be men residing In
the Abingdon district. Therefore,
.. As the District OF Columbia is not
part Of Virginia, nor OF Maryland, the
only two States 10 borders upon, II must
be a district Of itself, and crimes CON-
'initted there must be ascertained by Jurors
residing there.
The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-11-30
Mr.. Blaine Redivivus

We have all along maintained that Mr..
BLAINE was not by any means dead man
politically. Therefore his letter which we
publish this morning does not surprise us
at all. He saw a chance. as he supposed,
TO make political capital, and he at once
NOUS, and will find many advocates. 1t
relieves his friends in Pennsylvania of the
necessity of following up their own absurd
proposition, which he exposes with an un-
sparing hand. Thus he kills two birds with
one stone. He comes to the rescue OF his
friends, and though killing off their scheme
or rather by killing it of. does them Il
great favor, at the same time that he makes
capital for himself everywhere.
But does he make capital for himself !?
Undoubtedly. We have repeatedly said
that il is the army OF spies, informers, and
electioneerers, rather than the tax upon
liquors, that the South, and Virginia par
ticular'y, would get rid Of. Mr.. BLAINE
saw that these despicable characters "muSt
go" unless diversion in their favor could
be made. This diversion could not be
made so long as all the money they collect
ed went INTO the Federal Treasury, and so
he shrewdly offers to the several States
bride amounting in the aggregate to about
20, 100000 of dollars year as the price OF
allowing those electioneerers to keep their
offices. Virginia is offered S2,G00,0O0 a
year-about all she needs for her State eX-
Denses. VIII not all internal-revenue OFF,
,ials rally to MIR. BLAINE's standard ?-to
say nothing of the temperance people.
But we have not room to discuss Mr..
BLAINE'S letter to-day.
The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-11-30
MATTHEW'S COUNTY.
DEMOCRATIC OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES ROAs
AND SPEECu-MAKING-A PLEASANT AZ
FAIR,

DEMOCRATIC JOLLIFICATION-OlSTE ROAST
AND SPEECu-MAKING-A PLEASANT AZ.
FAIR.
Correspondence Of the Richmond DisDatch.l
MATTHEWS COURTHOUSE, VA.,)
November 20, 1888.
On Saturday there was a grand Demo.
cratic Notification held in Point Comfort.
Of this county, and the recent great vic.
tory was celebrated with much enthusiasm.
There was quite a large crowd present,
numbering several hundreds; and the
beamlng cOuntenances of the people and
the manner in which they shook hands and
talked were plainly indicative Of the Joy
they felt.
Enthusiastic and stirring speeches were
made by the following gentlemen and in
the following order: senator b. +. Bland.
Mr.. John Is. Donovan, Mr.. George Hun
ley, Mr.. 4. Browne Evans Jour reelected
representative TO the House OF Delegates),
and Mr.. q. Il. Garnet, chairman OF our
county Democratic organization. Senator
Thomas j. Christian and Mr.. Robert
McCandlish were also expected to speak,
but owing TO other engagements they
could not be present.
Much enthusiasm was aroused by these
speeches, and Nh. Evans was triumphantly
borne from the stand in a chair on the
shoulders Of the people, two Democratic
negroes who had voted for him helping to
bear him onward.
A large quantity Of oysters bad been
provided. and after the speaking there was
a good. old-iasbiohed oyster roast. Every
thing passed off in a most pleasant man
ner, and the occasion was just what 1t was
intended to be-a real iollification. JOY.
The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-11-30

"GONE DIMMYCRATIC." "A Washington
city paper relates an anecdote which de-
scriDes the feelings of good many CO.
alitionists Just now. A post-oilice in
spector, just returned from trial in North
Carolina, states that while he was waiting
in court for the case upon which he was
engaged. to be called jury came into the
room, and he noticed that seven were
white and five colored. He finishes his
story as follows:
Gentlemen of the jury, have you agreed
upon q verdict?' asked the clerk in that
solemn manner which pertains to court
clerks. 1--WE am, sir" responded an old
gray-headed negro man. who had been
made foreman OF the jury either out OF
sport or because of bis white head. "What
is the verdict" asked the clerk. Why,
Jedge," said the colored foreman, looking
up to the Court, " de jury am gone Dim
my cratic"