davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1883-09-05
A Priceless Diamond.
From the New York Herald.

From the New York Herald.l
Mr.. Porter Rhodes, the fortunate
owner of the priceless diamond that
bears his name, is at present in Paris
awaiting the result of a competition
between two millionaires DESTROYS of
possessing the jewel. The stone was
found in his mine at Kimberley, South
Africa, IN the beginning Of 1880, and
made a great sensation among the dig
gers when the discovery was made known
about four months later. Mr.. Porter
Rhodes was obliged to satisfy their
curiosity by exhibiting the diamond.
Accordingly he placed it In a friends
Office, charged sovereign for admission,
and in this way received 9100 within
the first two hours. Altogether he made
by the exhibition $500, which he gave
to the local hospital. On his arrival in
England he was honored with an invita-
ton to Osborne, in order that her
majesty might inspect the stone. He
was afterwards taken to Osborne cottage
and had an interview with the Empress
Eugene. MIR. Porter Rhodes considers
that his diamond as far surpasses the
Kohinoor In putty as it does in weight,
the Indian stone weighing 1861 carats,
the Cape diamond about $50 carats.
He said to his interviewer:
ct shall have at least fulfilled one
mission shall have convinced the
world that the Cape diamonds are as
radiantly pure and blue-white as the
Dresden drop and the Braganza.
shall upset one popular delusion."
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1883-09-05
FEMININE CHIT-CHAT.

THERE is a society woman in London
who is 70 years old, and she isn't tired
of it yet.
THE most devoted wife in London is
a lady who threw hymn-book at her
husband and put out one of his eyes.
A CHICAGO girl who was badly squeezed
between the bumpers of two excursion
cars says it feels just like being Rugged
by an Indiana man.
The high school girl severely repri-
handed her brother yesterday for using
the phrase "not to be sneezed at. F"
She says he ought to say occasioning
no strenutatory commissions.
A GIRL in Tennessee who has fine gray
eyes makes them appear blues and bright
by wearing hats lined with dark blue
velvet and eating Jumps ofsugar on which
she has dropped little cologne.
The latest new song is entitled "Save
the Sweetest Kiss for Mother" That's
good doctrine, but the young man will
continue to leave 1t with his girl, just
the same, till the mother calls for it.
AN Indiana widow not only wears
weeds but insists upon drinking moth
ing but black tea, and has discharged
all the wh.ue servants since her hus-
bands death and replaced them with
colored help.
A WOMAN who was on an excursion
boat going to Long Branch tainted away
thirteen times in As rninutes, and then
drew pistol and threatened to fire be-
cause some one suggested cutting her
corset-strings.
A LADY inAtlanta, Ga, was discovered
the other day attempting to swallow a
small puppy. It is strange that some
people are so fond of sausages that they
can't even wait to have 'em cut up in
proper shape.-Batrli92gtora Free Press.
AN old woman took seat in Grand
Rapids church at the time of the usual
evening services, and went to sleep.
About midnight she awoke, locked In
and alone. Her cries made frightful
echoes, and she was nearly dead with
terror when released.
"YoUR daughter 1t is impossible /!
Why, you look more like twin sisters.
ono; L assure you she is my only daugh-
ter, replied the pleased mother. And
the polite old gentleman spoiled it all
by remarking, "Well, well, she GER
tainly looks old enoug h to be your SIS
ter ! {"
SENTIMENT in the Bots de Boulogne.
Romeo and Juliet are promenading on
beautiful summer evening. Romeo,
raising his eyes to heaven, exclalms,
"What an admirable spectacle! Look
at those thousand stars that sparkle I"
Yes" replies Juliet, they remind
you of the lanterns on the carriages +! ,
WHEN Virginia belle was once sur
prised by her father in the parlor of a
hotel at the White Sulphur Springs su p
porting upon her shoulder the head o
middle-aged admirer, she at once di s
armed the impending rebuke by K
claiming: "Surely, father, this is o
the first time you have seen an old head
on young shoulders ?"
"SMoN, you've been drinking again.
1 smell liquor on your breath, and it
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1883-09-05
Got His tobacco
From the Philadelphia Press

From the Philadelphia Press.l
About week ago Assistant District
Attorney Kinsey sent large arm chair,
that had been occupied by Governor
Pattison when comptroller, to the peni-
Tertiary TO be recaned. 1t was returned
promptly. Mr.. Kinsey sat down in it to
read newspaper. While IDLY swinging
his hand to and fro his fingers touched
slip Of paper that had been fastened to
the arm of the chair, and was almost
imperceptible. He detached the slip,
and, opening it out, saw that it was a
message from the convict who had done
the repairing. The prisoners name and
the number of his cell were given, and
the communication continued: 81 got
three years from Willianspor.; got %
months TO do yet; Will get out May 26,
1885; done this chair and made good
job of it. This ought to be worth some
tobacco to whoever it belongs. Good
by. Old man time is rolling on; don't
forget, whoever gets this note" Mr..
Kinsey purchased five pounds of chewing
tobacco of the best quality, put it In a
pretty box and sent it to the convict,
with his compliments.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1883-09-05
Vanderbilt Pulled the Bell Cord.
TCor. st. Louis Republi,


"Who's Johnny Walker? Why,
Johnny's the worst, or the best engineer
that ever pulled lever. He's tn only
man ole Vanderbilt ever pulled bell
cord on"
Chow was that?" somebody asked.
"Why, you see,' was the reply,
evan erbil' and gang of big uns come
down from Leadville. Johnny was on
the engine, and he heard ole Van likes
fast travelin'. So he said to some of the
boys, 'I'll make his hair lift his hat, an
he did, too. He slung her way back,
an he pulled her wide open, an she
few. was on the train, and it kept me
mighty full of business to stay on. We
dashed down through the canyon and
aroun' every curve without a single
slowing up; an there the New York fell
Ter sat, hangin' onter the window frame
with t'other. They were goin' forty
miles an hour, but aroun' the curves an
through the close places it looked like
they we're goin' about hundred. The
ole man couldn't stan it. He let go his
hold on the seat long enough to jerk the
bell cord so hard he almost cracked the
bell. The train came to a stop and the
engineer was sent for. Johnny grinned
and went back. Then Vanderbilt he
asked him what he was goin' so fast fur,
an Johnny said we wasn't goin' only
about fifty miles an hour! ana said that
was the way they allus went down the
canyon. TIL old man said, We'll,
please go a little slower this time, cause
me and my friends wants to look at the
scenery"
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1883-09-05
HOLDING THE FORT.
A Minister who is Charged with Abuse of
His Wife Protecting His DOmicile by
Force of Arms-His Fellow Citizens
Anxious to Dress Him With Tar and
Feathers-A Bloody Battle In Prospect.

ERIE, Pa, August ga first class
tragedy is brewing at Union City over
the Rev. Meyer scandal. The allega-
lions that the minister starved, beat and
abused his wife and forced her to COM
NIT infanticide, from which she has be-
come insane, although strenuously de-
MED by the reverend gentleman, are
daily strengthened in the estima-
ton of the people by let
tiers and statements of friends,
relatives and neighbors. Hand
bills were posted all over the town to-day
calling on the people to turn out Satur
day with tar, feathers, and handrail
for the purpose of tarring the devil.
The noon mail brought a letter TO the
reverend object of all this excitement.
In it he was warned to shake the dust of
Union from his feet before Saturday
or be lynched. His reverence has
fortified his domicile, and defes
the band Of twenty-seven vigilantes
which the letter informs him has sworn
to avenge Mrs. Meyer. He has quite
an arsenal of firearms, and swears to
blow OFT the brains of all who lay vio-
lent hands on him. "My yard will be
strewn with the dead carcasses of these
avengers before I am TAKEN" he says in
a manifesto. Serious trouble is expect
ed, and the county authorities will have
to take measures to prevent bloodshed
if Meyer holds the fort Saturday.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1883-09-05

FoRT WORTH, Tex, August 81
Texas is just now suffering from a
.drouth, and unless rain comes soon the
loss, which is already immense through
the damage to cotton, will amount to
millions by the death Of stock for want
of water. In some sections it has not
rained for some months, and the grass
has dried until it is as crisp and brown
as cured hay, and all the streams and
wells have SO dried up that it is almost
impossible to get water for household
purposes, rot to speak OF watering
the thousands of cattle that in
some localities roam over the prairies.
This deplorable state of affairs does not
exist SO much in this immediate vicinity,
where, though now very dry, we have
had occasional rains, and there is as yet
plenty of water In the running streams,
but advices from the west and south
west are most disheartening. Farmers
who thirty days ago were confident of
a yield of near bale of cotton to the
acre, will now be content If they get one
to ten acres, and thankful if they make
enough from their entire plant to buy the
bare necessaries of life. In the districts
visited by the drouth, the cotton stalks,
that should now be lusty and filed with
maturing bulbs, are dry and withered,
and about all that can be made from
them is such bolls as matured before the
moisture all left the earth. But the
farmers IN western Texas represent but
an insignificant part of the wealth of the
country, and besides, they harvested a
fine crop 0f small grain and will get
fair yield OF corn, SO they can manage
to pull through even if the cotton crop
is total failure. Where the blow
falls heaviest, and unless heavy rain
falls soon there will be no need of it
for many, is upon the cattlemen. Their
ranches are for the most part In poorly
watered sections at best, where thou
sands OF cattle are dependent on
slender stream of running water, or
pools scattered here and there over the
prairie. Aside from the water upon the
ranches, it is probably many miles to
the next stream, and when that is
reached, it, too, is upon a ranch, and
only through the courtesy of its owner
can be obtained. In such time as this
every man looks out for himself, and
woe to the rancher who finds himself
compelled to start across the plains with
his herd in search of water. He may
have to drive two, three,
four hundred miles, and his
entire line of march will
be marked by the skeletons of cattle
that persisted. A gentleman just in
from the range tells me in some portions
of the range cattle are dying at the rate
of twenty-five per day from ca ,h herd,
and as stock cattle are worth from $40
to S25 per head on the range you can
gain some idea of how much the range
men are losing. The same state of af-
fairs exists n southern Texas, and
stockmen Of San Antonio and at other
points accessible to railroads are ship
ping their herds by train to the northern
portions Of the Panhandle, where, it is
understood, the drouth has not been SO
severe and water is more plentiful.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1883-09-05
He Got a Raise,
[From the Boston Times

From the Boston Times.l
A young Journalist who received his
early professional training on the New
York Sun, related an incident of his ex-
perience with Charles A. Dana. The
young man had been sent out to inter-
view a prominent democrat upon the
political situation, and stumbled across
a radical republican, from whom he also
secured an interview, which he placed
upon the managing editors desk. AS
theopinions expressed by the republican
were wholly at variance with the plat
form of the Sun, the managing editor
put decided damper upon the enter
prise of the youthful reporter, and Mr..
Dana happening to overhear the CONVEX
sation, addressed the innocent scribe:
Haven't you been here long enough
yet to know the policy of this paper ="
''The only policy I know, sir" said
the young man, sis that the Sun shines
for all. +"
Very true" replied Mr.. Dana, "but
you must know that most of our readers
can't stand the full light of the orb of
day, and we have to give them only
such light as is reflected by the moon. !"
ooh, you want me to give them moon
shine, do you sir?" cooily retorted
the unbashed Knight of the quill.
Mr.. Dana turned upon his heel with
out a word, smile lurking about his
lips, and left the room. Two days after
ward, when the reporter went to the
office for his pay, the cashier informed
him that it had been raised 50 a week.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1883-09-05
The Domini on the Fence.
[From the Christian Advocate

In great strike in the East, where
the capitalists were arrogant and the
strikers desperate, Baptist minister,
who had both in his congregation, was
asked to address a meeting of the
strikers and capitalists. He consulted a
capitalist as to what he should say. The
answer was, "Urge them to yield, for
we never will" Then he went to a
leading striker. Z" WHAT ought I to
say % &c Tell the owners to give way,
for we never will till we drop" In that
situation the minister assembled the
platform and made a speech that har-
monized everything. Tt was quite long,
but afterwards great debate arose as to
what he had said. At last it was re-
ferred to him. He replied: g Gentle
men, I saw that neither would listen to
reason-it was a question of endurance.
[ made up my mind to say as near to
nothing as | could, but in a most excel
lent spirit. F"
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1883-09-05
ATrjp from New York to Texas.

Mr.. Cephas F. Robertson recently
came to this country from England.
He carried eleven hat boxes and valet,
and was full of brandy and soda and
enthusiasm. Three days after he ar
rived in New York he met an old friend
in the usual way on the Bowery. The
meeting cost Mr.. Robertson 81, 100. He
left the following day for Chicago The
morning of his arrival in that porcine
city he met another old friend who OBJ
framed from him loan of $3.50 on $195
worth of glass diamonds and cretified
check on Canadian bank which failed
two years ago. Mr.. Robertson then
undertook TO go to st. Louis, and it cost
him 800 to have a lawyer explain to a
judge why one glass of pale sherry,
which he had taken with casual &C
quaintance, should have so muddled
his brain and tangled up his legs that
he lost his watch and his reputation for
sobriety on the public street at IL A. NJ.
Mr.. Robertson got into Louisville just
in time for the most exciting horse-race
of the season, and was fortunate enough
to secure "pointer from too confid-
ing friend, which enabled him to lose
So, 700 in five minutes on what is called
in that depraved region "whipsaw. !"
He then drifted into Texas, and got
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1883-09-05

into friendly argument with cowboy
and into the surgical ward of hospital
on the same day. Flying to New
Orleans he went down with the "break-
bone fever, and then spent So, 900 try
ing to win the capital prize in the lottery.
he will now return to England, and will
convey accurate impressions of this
country to the British public life.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1883-09-05

INFORMATION has reached the Indian
authorities from sure source that a
Russian is at present resident at Cabul.
Although Russian subjects, such as
Bokharans, and natives of Khokand, are
known to have visited Cabul after the
war, this is the first time that Euro
pean has reached the capital of Afghan
istan since the British evacuation of the
country.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1883-09-05
Folklore about Teeth.

AIidwives, nurses and grannies have
great deal of folklore and learning
about teeth, says the Cincinnati Enqui-
rer. They tell you of charms to keep
away the pain, and have odd remedies to
aid nature and babies gums. In Sus-
sex they say that if you put on your
right stocking, right shoe and right
trouser-leg before your left, you will
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1883-09-05

JULIUs BEHLING, of Bradford, who
was announced TO jump from the Kin
Eau viaduct, writes to his mother who
lives IN Buffalo, N. z, that he is not
such fool, and viii not make the at
tempt. Mrs. Behling and julius sister
said that they were very anxious about
it until they received the letter.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1883-09-05

For soae time past the management
of Harper's Magazine III London has
been in the hands of Mr.. ". NJ. Laffan,
journalist, artist, itterateur. His many
friends regret to learn that he will re-
linquish his duties at No. 1873 Fleet
Street toward the end of the year, and
return to New York. He will be sue
ceeded by Mr.. Phayre, trusted officer
of the great house in Franklin Square. =
London Correspondence NeW York
Times
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1883-09-05
TEXAS PARCHING.

Water Very Scarce In the Big south
western State-Grass Cured on the
Root and Streams and Wells Dried
Up Cattle Mem Threatened with
Heavy Loss-The stock Dying I'm
Great Numbers.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1883-09-05
THE HILL INVESTIGATION.

Abstract OF the Report OF the Committee
-COnclusiOns Reached Hardly Salts
factory to Either Side-Hfll Not Guilty
of Corruption in Office, but Censur-
able for NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Severely Handled.
The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1883-03-08
The Best Bacon.

The best bacon is made from pigs
which will not weigh more than 7125
pounds when dressed. The rashers, OF
strips for the bacon, are cut lengthwise
of the pig and about half of the sides
are used. The portion next to the back
bone is fatter, and lacks in muscle, and
is not so good on this account. When
bacon is made from small pigs-those
weighing less than 100 pounds-the
whole of the sides are used. Red and
Black Berkshire hogs make the best
bacon because they have the largest
proportion of lean meat. Six pounds
of salt and four ounces of saltpeter
should be used for 100 pounds of meat.
Five pounds of brown sugar may also
be used, or two quarts OF molasses. If
the bacon is cured in barrel the salt,
saltpeter and sweetening should be
mixed and portion sprinkled on the
bottom of the barrel and some also be-
tween the layers of meat and on
the top, and water enough, after
the meat is packed closely, put on
to cover it. In a month the meat
will be ready to smoke. Too much
smoke will color the meat and give it a
rank taste. Another way to cure bacon
is to rub the above mixture on the flesh
side of the strips of bacon and then pile
it up one piece above another, and let the
mixture strike in. After three days rub
again and pile it up as before. A week
after rub again and pile it up, putting
the flesh side up every time. The MKT
ure should be divided into three equal
parts, to provide for the several rub
bings. At the end of month the meat
viii be ready for smoking, or before if
the salt has all struck in and the surface
has become comparatively dry, which is
an indication. After smoking, the rash
ers should be sewed up in bags made OF
cotton cloth and hung up in a dry, dark
place. If the bags are whitewashed on
the outside an.the better, as this will help
keep the worms out.-N. z. Tribune.
The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1883-03-08
The Common Fowl.

In the face of all that has been done TO
improve the breeds of poultry, it cannot
be denied that the common fowl is still
the fayorite with farmers. This is due
to several causes. The common fowl
receives but little attention, and from
long usage to exposure, has become in
stinctiVely habituated to the farms that
contain poultry as a custom rather than
a profit. The improved breeds are bred
for certain qualities, and, unless the con
ditions are favorable, do not come up to
popular expectation. Ii placed under
adverse circumstances, they disappoint
when compared with the common fowls,
but it is due more to failure on the part
of the improved breeds than to merit in
the common kind. No common fowl ever
lived that can compete for eggs with the
Leghorn blood. There is another point
in favor of the majority of common
fowls, which is that many of them are of
the very best blood, being crosses of
several breeds. They are a mixed, mot
ley crowd, and on any farm we may visit
there crops out the signs of Brahma,
Cochin, Leghorn, Hamburg, or Polish
blood. This is one of the causes of sue
cess, for experience has demonstrated
that a crossed fowl has greater strength
and vigor than a pure-bred one. Tie
crossed fowl is better adapted to general
purposes. and while they are not bred
for special results. experience teaches
the average farmer, who has no time to
bestow on them, that they suit him better
than any other. He supposes they pay
better because be has not given the Others
affair Fiah~lTastfea Fsya1aF,
The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1883-03-08
Russian Folk Lore.

A certain woman had daughter of
her own and step-daughter. She long
wished to get rid of her stcp-daughter.
At last she said to her husband, "Take
your daughter away from my sight;
her in the open field to the cracking
frost. The father wept and walled,
but at length he yielded, placed his
daughter on his sledge, drove her out
into the open field, and there deposited
her. Then, having crossed himself, he
fastened home, SO as not to witness his
daughters death. The poor girl, left
alone, shivered and uttered silent
prayer. Up came Frost and said,
Maiden, maiden, / am red-noaed
Frost" ''Good-day to you. Frost, she
replied; II suppose God has sent you
for my sinful SOUL" Frost had intended
to smite her, but he was pleased by her
way OF speaking, so he took compassion
on her and threw her a warm cloak.
She wrapped herself up in it and re-
manned sitting there. Twice did Frost
come again to visit her, and each time
she pleased him so much by her sage re-
plies that he made her all manner of
presents. She decked herself with the
gold and jewels he gave her, and sat on
the box which had contained them, sing
ing songs. Meantime her step-mother
was baking cakes for her funeral feast.
When they were ready she sent her hus-
band forth to fetch his daughters body
home. When he had been gone awhile
the house dog barked from under the
table, The old mans daughter is being
brought home all in gold and silver,
but the old woman's daughter has no
suitors. F" In vain did the step-mother
regale it with cakes in order to make it
change its tune. 1t barked on as before.
When the girl arrived in all her glory
the step-mother was at first astounded.
Then, after hearing what had occurred,
she ordered the husband to take her own
daughter out to the same spot in the
open field and leave her there. He
obeyed. Presently Frost appeared, and
addressed the girl as he had addressed
her predecessor; but no good words
could he get from her. so he flew into
rage, and froze her to death. When her
mother sent for her after time, the
house dog beneath the table again be-
gan to bark, this time exclaiminr:
'tSuitors are coming for the old mans
daughter, but the old woman's daughter
is bag Of bones" The door opened.
and the girl was brought in dead. Her
mother wept and walled, but it was too
ate.-N0teS and Queries.