davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1883-07-26
Long Finger-Nails.

According to the writer of an article
on Extraordinary Finger-Nails" in the
World of Wonders, it is the custom of
the Chinese, Siamese and Anamese to
allow the nails on all their fingers, ex-
cept the forefinger, to grow to great
length, and among the former they
sometimes attain the incredible length
of from sixteen to eighteen inches.
Among the Siamese so distinctive q
mark of nobility are long nails esteem
ed that the bellies and beaux wear silver
cases, either to protect their nails or
else to make people believe they are
there, whereas in reality they arc not.
AS regards the little finger, the writer
tells us that Ambassadors and visitors
of distinction from Asiatic States to Eu-
rope are often observed to permit the
excessive growth of the nail of the little
finger, and this is also common occur
renee with many of the people of India
and other parts of Asia. From Notes
and Queries.
Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1883-07-26

have an opportunity to perfect them
selves, and occupy the places of the
strikers. The change will involve great
inconvenience. and the service will be
slipshod and laundering for some time,
butifthe company should be determined
to hold out at all hazards, it can doubt
less worry through until the strikers are
worn out in the struggle. The chances
are all against the success of such a
strike at time when the labor market
is redundantly supplied, and when BUSH
ness is growing duller daily. Another
element may interfere, however, to as
sist the strike. The company is COM
mon carrier, and the circumstance that
their operators have struck does not
relieve it from the obligation of fulfill
ing its contracts with the general pub
lie. Default in these contracts may
bring down upon the company show
er of suits for damages which might
prove much more inconvenient than a
reasonable accession to the demands of
the strikers"
Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1883-07-26
KEROSENE OIL TEST.

State Oil Inspector Smith, of Adrian,
writes to the Adrian Record, explaining
why kerosene oil passes the legal test,
and still is deficient in illuminating
qualities. He says:
1.-THE question is frequently asked OF
oil inspectors, What is the matter with
the oil l buyP 1t is nasty, smoky,
gummy stuff, and don't give any more
light than n tallow Dip Having 'fir-
ed this question at the Inspector the
interlocutor oggles bin suspiciously, as
though he supposes he has hit the man
who is to blame. Why shouldn't he be
to blame-don't he inspect the oil
condem him? Oughtn't he to know
whether that air oil is flrst-class or notp
No, Ne hadn't, friend. 1t is not his bus
mess to know anything about it. 1t is
no more the business of an oil inspect
or to know the Illuminating qualities of
the oil he inspects than it is yours to
know about the mysteries of heaven,
except through revelation. There is
none too much light on either subject.
1.-THE entire duty of an oil inspector,
under tie law, is fulfilled when he has
ascertained whether the oil he inspects
will bear 100 degrees of heat, accord
ing to Fahrenheit's thermometer, and
branded it according to the result OBJ
tanned. Virtually, the law declares
that oil which endures q test of 12O
degrees without flashing when a lighted
taper is inserted in the testing cup, is
safe ia lamp and will not explode. 1t
confers no power upon an inspector to
determine the merits of the oil. and
gives him no other authority than to
ascertain whether the oil will flash at
less than the legal 120 degrees. If it
fails of this test, he brands it rejected.
If it successfully passes the test. he
brands it approved, as he is compelled
by the law to do, no matter if it won't
give rs much light as a tallow Dip
"Adulteration is resorted to as a
means of raising low lest oil up to the
legal standard, and the law unfortu-
nately does northwest an inspector with
authority to prevent it. An oil of good
luminous quality Of 100 degrees flash
test, can be made, but the cost would
be increased considerably over present
prices.
Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1883-07-26
Gus Williams Latest Story,

Gus Williams passed through the city
last week on his semi-yearly visit to
Hot Springs. Gus was pretty sick, but
not too sick to tell his latest story. Two
friends who had not seen each other fol
some time met in the street, when one,
an lrishman, asked the other, Ger
man. where he had been keeping him.
self.
''Oh, l hat bin in te hospital" said
the German.
can for fwhy?" asked the other.
81 hat de chim-chams.
"Ye don't tell me. An how long hav.
We bin out?"
"Aboud an hour. Bud we're hat you
bin all de wiles yourself, oudp"
"In the hawspital, too"
Chimney Grismus, you don'd told
me. Wy, watts dc matterp"
"The Jams"
''De chim-chams?"
''Just that, Dutchy.'
''Und how long haf you bin oudP"
"About half an hour"
81 say, Dutchy, how did the thray-
minis dale wild we? Did We see shnaiks,
or alleygathers, or fwhat?"
''No, did mt saw no schnaiks. ober
dc place vas full nit bullvphants und
tigers und oder Wild animals vot chump-
ed at me und ran to cad me up. How
vas it init you, Irishp"
"Oh, l had very mold case this
tonne. l imagined l was SEEM a bay-
tie on me left showlder. Uv'rv tonne
luked there there was the baytle. I'd
british it off wild me hand loilc that an
turn me eyes away, an think it was
gone, but fwinevcr me eyes thraveled
back to me shoulder there was that bav-
tie sittin' there making mugs at me like
Choinaman at the head of a Sunday
school class. / was always a brishin'
him off an thrying not to LUX at him.
but devil damn me if 1 kud get red ay
the crawlin' brute"
"You don'd say SOP How long vas
you oud of de hospidalp''
"About half an hour"
"Vell," said the German, taking the
lrishman by the coat and whispering
into his ear, "you ain'd cured yet.''
can fwhy notP" cried the other in
alarm.
"Pecaus," said the German. pointing
a shaking finger at the others left
shoulder, "dot peetle is dere yet.''
Ting-a-ling-a-ling. Close in.-Chica-
go Herald.
Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1883-07-26
Microscopic Animals in Bricks,

The weathering of brick walls into a
friable state is usually attributed to the
action of heat, wet, and frost; but from
recent observations of M. Parize, the
real destroyer is microscopic creature,
and the action played by the weather is
only secondary. He has examined the
red dust of crumbling brick under the
microscope, and found it to consist
largely Of minute living organisms. A
sample of brick dust taken from the
heart of solid brick also showed the
same animalcule, but in smaller num-
bers. The magnifying power of the in
strument was 800 diameters. Every de-
caying brick showed the same kind of
population, but the harder the brick the
lever are noticed.
Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1883-07-26
Never Looked on il in that LIGHT

Use done left de Yergers," said Ma
Tidy SNOWFALL to Amanda Crow.
"Whoffor you left 'em? Didn't dey
pay you your wages?"
80, yes, dey paid me my wages, an
Mrs. Yerger has nebbcr gibben me any
sass, but left 'em all de same"
"Well, den, whoffor you left emp"
al left 'em kasc of late Mrs. Yerger
has got so puny and weak dat her silk
dress what l has been wearin' ter
balls and parties don't fit me no
noah"
Hits save yer right, Matldy; eff you
hadn't carried off to your folks ali dc
groceries, Mrs. Yerger nebber would hab
fallen off so much in flesh. Ye was in
jurin yo'self, Matildy."
81 nebber looked on it in dat ar light. t"
TEXAS Siftinqs.
Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1883-07-26

There arc strong probabilities that
the agreement between the British gov
eminent and DeLesseps concerning the
Suez canal will be rejected.
The Hon. William S. Howells, for
nine years American consul at Toronto,
Canada, has resigned his position. He
is about to settle upon small farm in
Virginia, and earn his living by the
''sweat of another mans brow" Con-
sui Howells believes that Canada will
be annexed to the United States, and
that the Canadians will do honor to
the name of American citizens.
Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1883-07-26
Silent Wires.

The threatened strike of telegraphers
began promptly at noon,
on Thursday July 10. Washington
time, in every large city both in the
United States and Canada. Several
days ago the Brotherhood of Telegraph
ers gave warning that unless the man.
ayers of the different companies acceded
to the demands of the operators, they
wound strike. 1t was thought thai u
compromise would be effected, and the
threatened strike averted. But that
the operators are determined is shown
by the promptitude with which every
operator stopped work when the hour
arrived. The principal grievances of
the strikers are the low wages paid and
the number of hours of labor required
of them. They also state that they have
no chance of promotion, when vacan-
cies occurring in the better paid posi-
tons the managers employing other
men instead of promoting those from
lower positions. All this the managers
deny, and claim that their employees are
as we'll paid as any other class of labor
ers. 1t is hard to tell what will be the
outcome of the strike. The managers
are confident of being able to pull
through with the force who rem. aimed at
their posts, while the operators claim
that in order to work successfully their
wires competent operators must handle
them. The strikers are very orderly,
not single disturbance having occur
red. The strikers are supported by the
Knights of Labor, and say they are pre-
pared to stay out three months, and
longer, unless the companies yield.
Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1883-07-26
The Strikers.

Concerning the strike OF the teleg-
raphers, an exchange pertinently says:
"While the telegraphers' brotherhood
hold to their resolution with remarkable
fidelity, it Is nevertheless more and
more apparent daily that they will ulti-
mately be beaten in the contest with
the company. While. it is true, that
the dispatches which declare the offices
to be tolerably well manned emanate
from the company and are probably
slightly colored, it is nevertheless ap-
parent that the company is meeting
with considerable success in filling the
place OF the strikers. Every railroad
station and village which contains a
Geographic instrument has among its
population from half dozen to dozen
young men who are moro or less "a
miliar with its use, and these will now
Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1883-07-26

White Sulphur Springs, M. T., has
curiosity in the shape of hermit dog.
This remarkable specimen of the canine
race resides in hole in the ground, on
the bank of Smith River, north ol the
town. Here some animal had burrowed
a hole in the ground some distance, and
here the dog had taken up his abode.
He forages for food, principally during
the night but has occasionally been
seen in the daytime. When pressed he
aies to his hiding-placc.
Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1883-07-26

There are some persons who cannot
take q joke, but Brown is not one of
them. One Of the boys acquainted with
Browns frequent change Of abode ask
ed him which he thought was cheaper,
to move or pay rent. 81 can't tell you,
my dear boy" replied Brown; II have
always moved"
Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1883-07-26

The President of Honduras is making
atour OF the United States.
Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1883-07-26

- SNsi 'NANhoOs his 10 thO NOV oiiOot
under the new anti. Chinese law.
X. G. Mitchell, editor of the Duluth
(Minn.) Tribune is under arrest, on a
charge of attempting to secure 5000
acres of land, covered by 10000, 900
feet of pine lumber. Mitchell has OBJ
tanned a widespread notorietv by his
bitter anti.religious utterances.
M. w. Wilkinson, a well-to.do and
highly respected farmer living near
Ellsbary, LincolnC Co. Missouri was assas-
sinated by an unknown person who en-
double-barreled shotgun while he was
asleep. A thousand dollars is offered
for the arrest of the assassin.
At the negro editorial convention ut
st. Louis, the wisdom of those present
was manifested i'm discussion of the
reluctance of the colored race to learn
the trades. In the country colored
men are farmers, and In the city, men,
ials. OF the 10000 colored people in
st. Louis not one is learning a trade.
Mr.. Nehimiah Smith of California
puts in claim for a piece of land in
Chicago valued at about $3.50, 200, 900.
Lawyers have looked the matter up,
and report that the property is occu-
pied by persons who have no legal
claim to it. 1t looks as though the
Garden City would have to "whack up"
with the man from California.
The telegraph is in successful opera
ton in Venezuela.
Under the new Scott law $4,000, 600
a year will be paid into the treasury of
Ohio.
The European powers are increasing
the quarantine against Egypt. owing to
the prevalence of cholera there.
A number Of New York dress and
cloak makers are on strike. What's
to become of the country, anyway.
Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-11-23
CAPITAL POINTS.

WASHINGTON, November 22-The Sec
retary of the Treasury has authorized the
payment, without rebate, of the three per
cents embraced in the 122d call, maturing
December 1st. The amount outstanding
is about $l4550,000. The Secretary also
authorized the payment of the threes en-
braced in the 124th call whenever pre-
sented for redemption priof to maturity,
February lst, with interest to the date OF
presentation.
1t has been decided to continue Ship Is
land quarantine station during the winter.
A court-martial has been ordered to meet
at Fort Smelling for the trial of Capt. Nc
Kibben, of the Fifth Infantry, on the
charge o. duplicating pay accounts.
The report that Secretary Teller had de-
MED the right Of appeal to McGarrahan,
in the New Idria case, is mistake. The
case viii be argued on the 5th of Decem-
Der.
The papers in the case of Mrs. Belva
Lockwood, which were recalled by Com
missioner Dudley, for the pupose of adding
recommendation that criminal prose
cution be instituted, were to-day sent by
the Attorney-General, upon the request
of Secretary Teller, to the District attorney
for presentation to the grand jury. The
charge is that Mrs. Lockwood collected
and retained moneys due pensioners.
A dispatch was published this morning
from Allentown, Pa, announcing that
Snyder, Assistant Acknowledgement en-
gagged in the prosecution of the election
cases in South Carolina, had rendered his
resignation for tile alleged reason that the
government did not give its officers proper
assistance and encouragement. Snyder's
| services as assistant special counsel fol
prosecuting the South Carolina cases wert
dispensed with on the 30th of April last
| and he has not been connected with tn,
cases since.
Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-11-23

Our guests from Kansas City, Spring
field and other towns on the Kansas City,
Springfield and Memphis railroad have
come and gone-and have gone not only
well pleased at the manner and method
OF their entertainment, but astonished
that Memphis is so large, so handsome,
and to find that her people are not only
pldclSy and gritty, but cultured and liberal
to n degree. Nothing that newspapers or
magazines or books can say can ill the
memory or satisfy the mind as personal
inspection does. What one sees one
knows. Our guests had heard great
deal of us that was creditable, but they al
init they had not heard the half. They
have seen us and know us. They
have seen the city historic be
cause OF its suffering and its endur
ance, and they know it. They have taken
10y the hand the plucky merchants and
gritty business men who rebuilt their for
tunes aud the city's out OF the ashes OF
despair, and hereafter they will be able to
speak of them and for them rs they de
serve. The Kansas City, Springfield and
Memphis railroad is fact. After year.
OF talk, and hope and effort it is the bond
that binds two cities that not unlike il
their situations and surroundings are
hereafter to grow together, each helping
the other and vieing only in the race o
progress to wealth and population. Mem
phis greets Kansas City hopefully and
cordially rs genuine well-wisher, and
pledges friendship that the coming year
will, let us hope, only make stronger anC
iirmer, richer and more enduring.
Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-11-23

The New York World argues from all
the signs in the political heavens that
} Arthur and Lincoln" will be the Repub-
lGan ticket in 1884. Arthur, it says, sis
now in undisputed possession of the Solid
South which he holds through the power
OF the Federal patronage. The Republi-
cans of the Southern States give no elcc.
toral votes to the Republican party, but
Arthur feeds them with offices, and they
will supply him with 3O6 votes in the Re,
publican National Convention. Again his
lucky number turns up-306l Luck gives
him his own State. Since Folger was
massacred the Half-Rreeds have collapsed
They never represented anything but pre-
tentiou sness, fmpudence and buster
They are now swallowed up by the ma.
chine, reconstructed or in process of re-
construction, with Johnny O'Brien at its
heai. New York may add the larges
part oil seventy-two votes 10 the Arthur
list Then Arthur will carry Off the prizt
and the nomination. Can there be grea
doubt that he will obtain the require,
number? Cannot Secretary Frelinghuy
sen give him some of New Jerseys eight
cen? Cannot Logan and Lincoln hanC
over the forty-two from Illinois? vii
the Attorney-General, the Postmaster
General and the Secretaries of the Nav,
and Interior contribute nothing?"
Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-11-23
HELENA, ARK.
Destructive wind-StOrrn - The Tr
NuisaRce-&lreefI I.RInns Wanted

Destructive wind-StOrm The Tramp
Nuisance-street Lamps Wanted.
Special to the Appeal
HELENA, November pa terrific wind
storm passed over this section last night,
coming from the northwest. Telegraph
wires were prostrated and rendered use
less, trees tumbled hither and thither, and
much damage done throughout the coun-
try. Helena was saved from serious dam
age by the hills which tower over her on
the west.
Prohibition, which is gradually taking
possession of the adjoining counties, is
sending a heavy business in the liquor
traffic TO this city and Memphis. The jug
trade from this place amounts almost to a
carload daily.
The attention of the proper authorities
is called to the fact that the office OF
coroner for this county has been vacant
| for over six months past without ever
having been declared so.
The Egyptian darkness that encompasses
this place on cloudy nights is growing op-
pressive and destructive. Though a city
of the second class, there is not street
lamp in the place. Save the sickly light
from an occasional lantern there is not q
| light to be seen on the streets after dark
Vehicles forced abroad after night are
| frequently overturned, endangering life
and movable property, and pedestrians
are left at the mercy of these and other
| things.
Beggars and tramps, driven from the
larger cities in the North by organized
committees of protection, are pouring into
this country. Unless prompt measures fol
| the suppression of these trifing vagabond'
are taken by the authorities in our cities
vigilance committees will soon be necessar,
for the protection of society.
Dock Love, professional crap-shooter
was shot and killed by Charles Moore
another professional in the same line, a
Caroline's Landing, Miss, yesterday.
The County Court has announced itsel
ready TO receive bids for county convic
labor, to be awarded in January next.
Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-11-23
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
What g Will Most Likely Treat Of!The
Tariff Question.

The President is busy with his message.
He spends as much of his time as possible
at the quiet Sailors Home, and the docu-
ment is gradually taking shape. 1t will be
about the usual length, and a statesman
like paper, such as the President is fully
capable of writing. The most important
measure which it will discuss, will be the
questions growing out of the condition OF
the national finances. No1natien ever be-
fore found herself so embarrassed with
riches. The three per cent. bonds are the
only ones now remaining outstanding that
can be reached for several years, and they
are being called in in a manner that alarms
the bankers, who see that with the disap-
pearance OF these their life-blood is
ebbing away. "What shall be done
to perpetuate the national bank
ing system, the best system
ever created" will be one of the topics
treated upon in the message. The Presi-
dent Joins in the general belief that the
system is a valuable one, and ought to be
perpetuated, and that the question how it
shall be done should receive the careful
attention of Congress. Whether it shall
be by reducing the revenue still further,
or by inventing some rev security for
them, is not fully determined. The result
of the first half year of the new tariff
shows that it will not reduce the income
from that source more than about 1885,,
600, 900, and the falling off in internal
revenue will probably not be so great as
was anticipated by many when the tax or
tobacco was cut down last year. 1t will
not be at all surprising if the President
should advocate further reduction in the
internal revenue, for the income goes OF
at an alarming rate, and he will not favol
any further tariff revision at present. TIL,
Postofiice Department and the effect o
the late reduction in postage will receiv,
some attention, and the question of re
ducing the rates on drop" or local letters
and of increasing the amount allowed Il
be carried for single rate, will probabl,
be suggested. Attention will be called t
the pending Mexican treaty, and the pro
priety of action thereon suggested. TIL,
treaty seems to meet the approval of mos
people who have studied it, and it will
probably be confirmed during the comin
session with little opposition. The Presi
dent will not forget the Mississippi river
and will call attention to its needs, and
is not improbable that the result may be
separate Mississippi river bill.