davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-02-09

WASHINGTON, D. G., February o.-1AM-
For Tennessee and the Ohio Valley. slightly
warmer and fair weather, followed In the
western portions by local rains, variable
winds stationary or lower barometer.
For the Lower Lake regions slightly warm.
or and fair weather, southerly TO westerly
winds, rising followed by falling barometer.
The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-02-09

The following shows the range Of the ther.
mometor, as observed at schnepPs drug store,
Opera House corner yesterday. L
The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-02-09
= SD -
POPULAR MONTHLY DRAWING.
B5lsI[IiIIII1siIIitI
l[EIi{IJIf1I!EIS!I
n The Cltv Of Louisyille, 0
Whole Tickets So. alfTlcksts, o. i e.
Tickets, $50, IS Tickets. 800.

Remit Money or Bank Draft In Letter. ar sena he
Exprea Don't send By Rcgistered Isttes ~ posg
once order, orden Of q and upwards b. R1prSss
On Se tGnt a. our expense. Address All ORDER u
y. thfoAHhDhAN, Courier Journal Bulldlnr.
The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-02-09

The first news from Pittsburgh was that
the river was rising with q feet inches in
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1883-01-31
Poison in Potatoes.

1t seems as though we were bound to
undergo a certain amount OF poisoning,
eat what we will; and it is, upon the
whole, perhaps a happy thing that we
are as q rule, able to submit to it with so
little interference with our mental COM
posure. A pharmaceutical journal quotes
the opinion OF an eminent analyst, from
which it appears that decided symptoms
of poisoning res ult more frequently than
we are aware of from any considerable
consumption of potatoes. Among the
poorer classes, who live largely on
potatoes, such symptoms are said to be
common, more particularly when the
tubers are very young or very old.
Such potatoes, we are told, contain
considerable quantities of solanine.
This poison was found in very I'M
mistakable quantities in the stomach of
man who had been, for two or three
days previous to his death, living on
nothing but raw, unripe potatoes, and
there seems to have been no room for
doubt that this diet accounted for
the presence of the poison. 1t is said
to be found chiefly, if not entirely, in
the skin of the potatoes, and is soluble
in boiling water. We may therefore,
we suppose assume that very young or
very old potato, boiled in its skin must
be to the same extent permeated by
solanine, and that such potatoes must
be unwholesome to an extent that may
become serious if partaken of in very
large quantities
Another unsupported source OF poison
is said to be maize, or Indian corn. A
disease as fatal in Italy as consumption
is in this country, is attributed entirely
to the exclusive use of this cereal,
which is thought to be especially
dangerous if ground in damaged
condition-damaged, we suppose, by
incipient decay, though that is not
stated. There is said to be one remark
able fact connected vita the disease
known as pellagra-which is thought to
have its origin in this source: Sufferers
from it who commit suicide always do
so by drowning-a fact explained by
the pleasure afforded by the sight or
touch of water, which constitutes a
symptom of this disorder.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1883-01-31
Kindness VS.. Force.

The question whether brutes can best
be subdued by force or kindness has not
been settled by two recent occurrences
in New York and Brooklyn. In Brook
Ign the other night young woman
while feeling for a chair in her dark
bedroom touched q mans head.
At first she thought it was her
brothers who was playing a trick on
her. But this lair being curly and the
hair on his head straight, she at once
stopped little, grasped the person by
the throat, threw her whole weight two
hundred pounds) upon him, and then
screamed for help. Her father came IN
just in time to rescue the burglar from
her grasp, for he was almost done for.
The same evening in New York, Miss
Linda Gilbert, known as the prisoners
Friend" was aroused from her sleep by
some one trying to lift the window.
"Now," she thought with pleasure,
81 shall have chance to watch one of
my black sheep at his work"
He entered the room and caught
sight of her watch on the bureau, which
he seized, and turned to leave.
She slid noiselessly out of bed and
put her hand on his shoulder He drew
back in surprise and dropped the
watch.
"Hello!" she said, "don't you know
you are robbing one of your iriends?"
"N-no" he stammered. 81 don't
know who you are"
g.NVnn Tn, I ;,l, C;ll>c,t
care your he asked, looking straight
in her face. 81 have heard OF you, but
you never saw me in prison | have
never been in prison. l must go; 1
haven't taken anything"
"No, you must not co. she said,
"You must sit down awhile; want to
talk with YOU"
He sat down, and looked as pleased as
child, He looked sickly, ard said he
was threatened with hemorhage of the
lungs. His wife suffered with ague and
his children were sickly. He had been
on strike and after that could get no
work. His family were starving. and
one day he stole watch, and had
stolen two Others since. He began to
think it was the only way lie had of
living. He had meant to steal enough
to take his family somewhere in the
country. He could not support them
in New York.
Miss Gilbert called her secretary and
they went the kitchen, filled market
basket with things to eat, gave it to the
man, together with a five dollar bill
and some advice, and he went out by
the front door with as glad face as any
one could wish to see.
She tried to hunt up the mans family
in Mulberry street, but could not find
them. She presumed she mistook the
number he gave. Most people are IN
favor of shooting burglars, but she is
not
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1883-01-31

By all means let the young married
couple leave home and board with stran.
gers, unless they begin housekeeping on
their own account. The first year OF
wedlOck is trying one, and should be
free from any danger of interference by
relatives, however well-meaning. There
never were two persons SO near alike but
what they were different, and had their
different ways and eccentricities. A
woman may think she knows a man Just
as well as il she had been through his
head number of times with lantern ;
but let her me to live with him from
day to day, from week to week, in sun
shine and in storm; when dinner is
ready at noon and when it is late ; when
his bootjack is on the nail, and when it
is lost ; when stove pipes are up, and
when they are being put up; and in all
other trials and reverses of life. I tell
you she will come across little impatient,
obstinate streaks in him she never laid
eyes on before little selfish, overbear-
ing streaks. And the same with her.
He may have been firm as rock in the
belief that he was marrying an angel,
but the very first time he brings unex-
pected company home on washing day
he will find he hasn't. They may be
awful good-principled, well'meaning
folks nevertheless, but there are rocks
they have got to sail around, and they
want elbow room. Give it to them with.
out question or complaint. Exchange.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1883-01-31
The Great Desert.

A picturesque range of nights in
Egypt runs north and south, and the
scene is diversified by mountain passes,
isolated groups of rocks, sandy dunes,
and precipices where calcarious spars
glitter in the sun like a crystal mirror
or like clusters of diamonds; these were
the monotonous yellow-and.gray level
of the desert, where, however, great
number of dwarfed plants and creeping
creatures contrive to exist; while the
bleaching bones of camels now and
again in some perilous spot serve to
show the traveller that ne has not missed
his way. A journey across the Sahara
is no doubt q toilsome and anxious
business, but the air of the desert is so
pure and light that it is a pleasure
merely to breathe and how delicious
is the rest, after weary days march,
when evening cools the air, and stars
innumerable look down from the clear
sky on the wanderers tent 1 have
crossed wide tracts of deserts, and l
count the hours of undisturbed musing,
of the still position of rature unbroken
by sound, and of beneicent repose
that 1 have enjoyed there, as among the
happiest of my life. 1 have often heard
the great African traveller, Heinrich
Barth declare that he never felt better
or lighter.hearted than in the desert.
On no other spot on earth may man
attain more perfectly collected mind,
or to concentration of all his energies
and faculties; and it is not mere accident
that represents the founders OF most
Oriental religions as having their reve-
lations in the desert. The fearless and
proud Arabs of the Western Sahara, on
their swift high-bre horses, are rarely
to be met with in the Libyan desert; on
the contrary, the tribes living near the
Nile, who escort travellers with their
camels, as drivers or as servants, are a
very wretched and by no means wild
people. However, more manly bear
ing, aud greater feeling of independence
distinguish them very conspicuously
from the fellaheen, on whom they look
down with great pride, calling them.
selves Arabs, IN memory OF the cradle OF
their race whence their more glorious
ancestors came into Egypt, and accom-
modating themselves with great diff
Guilty to the fixed agricultural life Of
the descendants OF the old Egyptians,
who earn their bread by the sweat OF
their brow.-Erchdnge.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1883-01-31
DEFENSELESS HARBORS.


The chief of army engineers, in his
annual report, points cut with great
clearness the relations between torpe-
does and Notifications considered re-
spectively as parts of general system
OF sea. coast defense. Torpedoes alone
cannot be relied on to Keep out the
ships of an enemy, because, unless they
be covered by the fire of Notifications
he can at his leisure grapple for and re-
move them. They are, however, an in
dispensable adjunct to Notifications.
under the conditions OF modern war, rs
in their absence the enemy's ships
might run by the Notifications without
being sufficiently damaged to make
them harmless. Properly combined
aud adequately served, the two consti.
tute the perfection of modern harbor
defense. To effect such combinations
involves good deal of detail. The
channels and fairways of our harbors
have to be surveyed and mapped, and
the proper points for planting the torpe.
does, either singly or in groups, laid
down on the prepared plans. The cleo
trical apparatus for controlling the tor
pedoes must be obtained and properly
stored. Assuming the existence of the
fortifcations-an assumption without
foundation in our case subterranean
ways leading from the works to low
water mark must be prepared, through
which to run the wires connecting the
electrical Instruments on shore with the
submerged torpedoes, and these must
be thickly arched over with masonry
and covered deeply with earth to secure
the safety of the wires from destruction
by the enemy's fire. In the fortitica'
tions chambers must be prepared, hid.
den from the view of the enemy, and
protected from his shot and shell, in
which to place and work the electrical
instruments. Little or nothing OF this
absolutely essential preparation for the
defense of our harbOrs las been accom-.
plished. We have some torpedoes and
one or two suitable Notifications, but no
steps for effectively combining them
have been taken, owing to the want OF
any appropriation for the purpose. Our
old casemate defenses, which in their
day were as strong as any in the world,
are now obsolete, and their masonry
scarps would offer no adequate resist.
ance to the fire of the powerful riiled
guns Of European war ships. OF case.
mate works, with iron fronts, or with
massive shields of iron for the protection
OF guns and gunners, we have none.
In short, nearly the whole of our sea-
coast is practically defenseless. Our rich
cities, our navy-yards, and our depots OF
army supplies are all at the mercy Of
any powerful maritime nation that may
declare war against us. Many things
needful in time of war can be impro
vised, but effective sea.coast defenses
cannot be. They are u work of time
and if they are to be had at all we can
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1883-01-31
not too soon apply ourselves to thei,
preparation.
Shaking Up.

The province of Murcia in Spain had
pretty lively shaking up short time
since. Twenty-Five successive earth
quake shocks were felt there, severa
houses were destroyed, and consterna
ton prevailed among the inhabitants
The day before there was a heavy
earthquake shock in Bohemia. No
long since southern Illinois and western
Kentucky we're shaken. Since thu
beginning Of the year there have also
been shocks in New England and Cana
ola.
These disturbances of the earthi
crust occurring in rapid succession, at
tract attention to the theory that earth.
quakes are sometimes, at least, the
result of causes affecting large portion
of the earth, or perhaps the whole
globe. Various so'called earthquake
cycles have been pointed out, but il
cannot be said that any one of them has
been satisfactorily established. 1t il
impossible to predict earthquakes, and
the utmost that careful observation has
SO far proved is that there are certain
periods when earthquakes are unusually
numerous. All sorts of theories have
been invented to account for these
periodic disturbances Of the earth. Some
have ascribed earthquakes to the infu'
ence of comets, although The idea is
about as well founded as that of the
astrologers that comets foretell wars
and famines. Others have thought that
earthquakes may result from the varying
force OF attraction of the sun, the moon,
and the other planets upon the earth.
There is, at least, some appearance OF
plausibility in this theory, but the
whole question is yet open, and q great
deal more information is needed before
it can be in any degree settled.
There is, perhaps, no other display OF
natural forces, not even excepting vol
canic eruptions, so frightiul as great
earthquake. Earthquakes have destroy.
ed many thousands of human beings and
laid waste whole cities and provinces.
They are entirely beyond human control,
and experience has shown that they are
just as likely to occur now as they were
centuries ago. The questions what
causes them, and is there any means OF
ioreseeing their visitations, are there.
fore Of great interest, and we have
reason to be thankful that in this part
of the world the solid ground is not
often shaken, and that when an earth.
quake shock is felt it does little dam
age,
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1883-01-31

"countersign," but he trusted to the
sentries knowing him although they
were not his own mem and allowing him
to pass.
He was 80 far right that the first man,
having recognized him, was satisfied
with the answer "Friend" to his chal-
lenge, and let him get on the bridge
but the second sentry was more partic.
ular and demanded the countersign.
OF course the colonel could not give it,
and though he explained the situation
and stated who he was, the sentry stood
firm. Seeing no other alternative, the
crest. fallens field. officer determined to
beat retreat and return to the canton
ments for the night.
But here fresh difficulty arose, for
the first sentry, who had previously
allowed him to pass, had by this time
awakened to sense of his position,
and-thinking, no doubt, with his com.
panion at the other end of the bridge,
that this opportunity, of keeping guard
over superior officer was too good to
be lost, and q chance that might never
occur to him again-refused to let him
return without his giving the "parole. D
The position was dreadful one.
Imagine an elderly field officer of ire,
proachable character, and in command
of a regiment, being thus kept under
guard by two sentries at an hour of the
night when all respectable people should
be in bed ! But there was no help for
it, and for some little time the gallant
colonel had to submit to his fate. And
he might have remained there until the
small hours of the morning had he not
been rescued by the fortunate arrival of
a friend, who was also returning to the
camp from the cantonments, and who,
giving him the information he required,
freed him from arrest.
Moral-A word in the mouth is worth
two in the order-book. CaSSePS Maya.
zine
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1883-01-31
Peculiar Button,

A short time ago the father-in-law Of
Irwin d. Buchanan saw brass button
glistening on the walk as he stepped
from his home ia Williamsburgh. He
picked it up, and, looking at its lace,
saw the words Cincinnati Police As
he gazed upon the words man ap-
preached and said, politely:
"Pardon, sir, that belongs to me-"
He took it from the finder, began to
brush and pat it, as he soliloquized:
"Ah, would regret very much to lose
you, the last and only souvenir of those
happy days of my life"
"You place great store on that button"
remarked the finder.
"Ah, sir, indeed l do" the stranger
replied, and then he told story which
over q dozen residents of Williams
burgh have since heard him declaim.
He spoke of home in Cincinnati, and
of his appointment on the police force.
He pictured the Joy which came to him
and his wife as little by little they saw
money accumulate in the savings bank.
Then, exhibiting a bank book in which
there was large sum to his credit, he
continued
"But the bank broke, and I was set
wild. Worriment of mind brought
about the loss of my place, and 1 came
to Williamsburgh in the hope of getting
work."
The finder OF the button furnished
the stranger with money and provisions,
and interested his son.in-law in his
behalf. Work was found for him, but
he would not accept it. preferring to
go about patting his little brass button
and telling his story. Among those
who have seen the button are Chief
Smith OF the fire department, Chester
Burroughs, John Perry, and Policeman
Phelan. The latter says he would give
two days pay to find the man dropping
that button. -Ne'o York paper.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1883-01-31
About Umbrellas.

An umbrella is a necessary nuisancei
it is unhandy, and always in the way
As you 60 into crowded boat or car,
in nine cases out of ten you get behind
some wretched fool who carries it under
his arm, with the point sticking out sc
as to menace your eyes. If his idiocy
is extreme, he keeps turning to all
points of the compass, so that the de-
structive point swings round a circle
and makes escape from it almost impos
sible. An umbrella is always in the
way and, except for sun or rain, OF nc
use. The idea of making it subservt
some other useful purpose is certainly
to be hailed with delight. An Englisl
house has brought out tourists umbrel
las, useful as protection against the solal
ray and the weeping cloud, but which
can also be made into stool to rest thu
weary pedestrian. This is accomplished
by having two light but strong semi
eiliptical frames, that fold down at TIN
handle, and are not SO clumsy as tt
interfere with the comfortable handling
of the umbrella. When person i
tired, the ierrule of the umbrella i
stuck into the ground, the ellipse i
opened out, and, as it is held open by
strong spring, seat is afforded.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1883-01-31
Iissed.


When tho stars are merry twinkling
Through the windows OF the night,
And tho moon in all her glory
Walks alone her azure hight,
II recalls face I've known
When wandered not alone.
IL reminds me Of n sorrow
That the stars can never still;
Ola heart berclt and broken,
That no other voice can thrill
How / strive, with longing eyes,
For glimpse beyond the skies!
There methinks in all her beauty
She looks down each starry night,
Standing by the gates of jasper,
In her robes of snowy white:
Fancy only it may be-
Though truth it seems to mo.
When around me falls the evening,
With its tranquil veil of rest,
And the voice loved is silent,
Sealed .hc lips my own have pressed,
In the shadows sadly drcar,
Down my check oft rolled tear.
When the stars have ceased to glitter
In nights deep cerulcan crown,
When the moon puts of her splendor,
And no more on earth looks down,
Then will forget that lace,
From my heart this love erase.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1883-01-31
THE ONE
GREAT
MEDICINE.

without doubt there are now, and have been for
years past several medicines Of remarkable merit be-
fore the pubc--medicines which have been used, in
very many cases,wth excellent success The names OF
these will readily recur TO our readers and they
the names Of preparations whose WORTH for certain
purposes no one Is supposed TO deny. But we are
fully justified by undenable and notorious facts In
saying, and we DO unhesitatlngly say, that the one
great medicine of the present day-the medicine, we
mean, which now stands pre-emlneht above all
others-s the famous VEGEIIsE Of Mr.. Ii. X. Ste
yens Of Boston. Some Of the undenlabe facts re-
speCtng this famous medicine are these:
First 1t is astOnishitrgly efficient in really curing
the various diseases fOf WHICH " II especially COM
pounded and intended.
Second, It acts with celebrity which is generally very
SURPRISING. A single bottle has often either cured
the user Of serious difficulty, or brought about a
most agreeable change, while very few bottles have
in thousands OF Instances ei ctcl the complete cure
of a longstandng disease which had previously baf-
fled the skill OF the best physicians.
Third it acts directly upon the blood, Of which II Is
the only powerful and thorough purifier.
Fourth, the testimonials in support OF these facts
and the extraordinary worth Of this medicine are
from we.l-knOwn and respectable men and women,
and, in many instances, from persons holding the
highest social positions They are not certificates
from unknown and irresponsible individuals, We,
ourselves, know the very high estimation In which
Yegene is held in one OF the best families in the
city.
There Is, in short, and can be- no doubt or mistake
whatever about the unprecedented and surprising
eflcac, value and success OF the Vegctnc. AS pu.
rlller II the blood and quick renOyatO and invig-
orator OF the human system, physical and mental,
no medicine, as is now generally conceded, has ever
been devised and COMPOUNDED at all equal to III; and,
as speedy and thorough cure for such complaints as
catarlh cough, stomach weakness and fantness, loss
OF appetite, dyspepsia, cancerOus humOrs scrOfula,
rheumatism, kidney and some other equally serious
complaints, NegGno altogether surpassej any and
all other known medical preparations The rapidity
with which this great medicine has won its way into
all parts OF this country and various foreign ones
since It's discovery and introduction, not many years
of Its intrinsic excellence. Providence On. ~ Ga
gettc.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1883-01-31
DallgerOuS.

. Explosive mixtures are often pre-
scribed by doctors not well informed in
materia medica. Chlorate of potash,
permanganate of potash, and glycerine
is one of them. A pomade of chloride
of lime, sulphur, and other substances
will detonate when rubbed in a mortar.
Hypophosphite of lime or soda, when
triturated alone, sometimes explode.
Pills of oxide of silver are apt to de.
compose with tremendous explosion.
Tincture of iodine and ammonia form
the iodide of nitrogen-a violently ex-
plosive substance which, agitated with
water, is nearly certain to detonate.
Chlorate of potash and tannin are likely
to act in the same way. A dentiIrice
containing chlorate Of potash and cate
cbu has been known to explode in the
mouth,