davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1883-10-04
Arastras Run by Sand.
Los Angeles Herald. 4,

Los AngelOS
The Mexican arastra has always been a
cheap and inexpensive method OF extracting
placer gold from our cai1ons, but some
power was necessary. Mules and burros
were used and sometimes Indian power, but
now new discovery has been made which
is being used with great success in Mono and
Inyo counties and is run by flow of sand
It would be of immense value for mines on
our deserts, which are not now worked on
account of dryness, etc, but where there is
an overwhelming supertluity OF sand. Suttl-
cient water is necessary for drinking pur
poses and to properly moisten the ore. The
arastras are operated by sand, which drives
d large overshot wheel On the wheel sand
takes the place of water The regulator is
sand, pile of which has been raked up to
the works The windmill runs belt con-
tanning great number Of buckets and these
carry the sand up to big tank just as grain
elevators carry wheat in Touring mill. A
stream of sand being let out upon the over
shot wheel it revolves just as it wonld
under the weight of a stream of water and
the arastras move steadily on at their work.
When there is much wind sand is stored up
for use when calm prevails, as the arastras
are never idle. After a sufficient quantity
of sand has once been accumulated there is
no more trouble on that score, the same be-
ing used over and over. Who will try this
inexpensive but promising process in our
Southern California placers during the dry
season.
Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1883-10-04
Rhodes Big Diamond.

The arrival in Paris OF Mr. Porter Rhodes,
with his diamond weighing $50 karats, or
435 karats more than the Koh-i-noor, is
reported. Competition for the acquisition OF
the gem Immediately arose between the
Empress of Australia and Mrs Bonanza"
Mackay, with the chances decidedly in the
latters favor, so the correspondent in the
London Globe thought.
Il shall have good nights rest when I've
got rid of that bauble," said Mr.. Rhodes
talk of hundred weight on your back
I've got a ton weight on my mind" He
relates that at first, for four months, the dis
covery of the stone was kept secret, but at
last it leaked out, and then the diggers were
so wild with curiosity to see it that he put
it on exhibition and took in $4,000 in en-
trance fees, which sum he handed over to
the managers of the hospital on the diamond
fields. Then" he says, my first thought
was to steer homeward, and was speedily
on my way to England with my treasure
carefully concealed. As loyal English
man, / resolved that Queen Victoria should
be the first out of South Africa to see the
stone and to break the seal of the envelope
which contained it."
The stone was found at Kimberly, South
Africa, in 1880.
Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1883-10-04
The Wrong Judge.

They have some very good judges in New
York. Judge Van Brunt, who recently sailed
for Europe, is one of the best OF them. The
night before he sailed a sharp attorney came
to his house to ask him to sign judicial
order in an important case. The man plead
ed the great urgency Of the case and the fact
that he had but little time to carry his point,
else he would not have come to bother the
judge when he was about to leave the coun-
try. The Judge looked over the papers hast
lily, and saw that the affidavit upon which
this order was based was month old. This
did not look like a very pressing case. why
dosyou come to me in this irregular way ?'
he said. why did you not come to me in
chambegs?'
The man said he had no time. and that it
was not convenient The judge replied Il
shall not sign this order. It is not conven-
lent for me, upon the eve of long depart
ure, to make any such order"
The caller turned to 60 AS he reached
the door he turned and said: Il shall expose
you, sir, in the newspapers I know enough
about you to make you sick"
Ordinarily this is enough to make any
New York official come down. Van Brunt
called the man back in very pleasant tone
of voice. The man turned, and as he did so
Van -Brunt, who is a powerful man, seized
him by the collar, threw open the front door,
and kicked him clear Of the steps to the
sidewalk. Put that in the newspaper, too"
said the judge, as he closed the door.
Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1883-10-04
A Rich Strike.

The Amador (Cal.) Dispatch furnishes the
following account of rich mining strike: A
pocket of quartz of almost unparalleled rich
ness was found less than 100 feet from the
surface in the Neville or Mammoth mine
three miles south of Jackson, Amador county,
on the 9Th of September, in which was found
from $4,000 to 100000, and being about
two tons in quantity. Much of this might
justly be termed huge chunks of gold instead
of gold-bearing quartz. Some of these i'm
mense pieces of almost solid gold were about
as heavy as man could easily lift from the
ground. The largest piece was of oval shape,
sixteen by twenty-five inches, and six or
seven inches thick. This gold is almost
black, and of the same character as the for
mer rich strikes found in the same mine, and
which have heretofore attracted the interest
and attention of the mining men of the
United States. We have no doubt but that
this is the richest find Of gold of this kind
ever known in the United States at one sim
gle time.
Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1883-10-04
A Story Of Henry Clay.

The Paris Messenger tells this story
When John Quincy Adams and Henry Clay
were at Ghent in 1914, in association with
Albert Gallatin, James A. Bayard and Jona-
than Russell, appointed to negotiate treaty
of peace with Great Britain, they were on
very intimate terms of friendship and occu-
pied the same apartments. Mr.. Clay was
always very gallant man, and in many re-
spects the very opposite Of Mr.. Adams, who,
though studiously polite to every lady,
avoided even the appearance of familiarity.
The young girl who had charge of the rooms
of the Peace Commissioners was very pretty
and modest, and was treated with great re-
spect by all Of them. But Mr.. Clay would
now and then indulge in compliments to
her beauty, and on one occasion playfully
solicited from her kiss. Of course she re-
fused the favor but in relating the incident
to his associates he could not forego joke on
Mr.. Adams, who had what are known as
watery or tear-diffused eyes. As Mr. Clay
repeated it, the conversation following the
refusal of the kiss ran as follows:
II presume you would not deny Mr.
Adams such favor"
Indeed l would" she replied; II have
Just done so, and left him with tears in his
eyes,"
Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1883-10-04
Various Things.
Boston Transcript

Boston Transcript
The coolest thing in the world-The
kitchen oil-cloth to your bare feet on win
ters night.
The hottest thng-A raisin lying in am
bush in a mouthful of hot plum pudding.
The dullest thing-A funny newspaper.
The longest thing-Your friends favorite
story.
The shortest thing-The memory of the
perpetual borrower.
The biggest thing-The fortune you eX-
pect to make by speculation.
The smallest thing-The fortune which
you do make.
The toughest thing-The young wife's pie
crust.
The sottest thing-The conversation which
passes between duck and dearie.
The highest thing-The mercury in the
thermometer. about this time
The hardest thing-The bit of bone that
you come right down on when eating
chops.
The easiest thing-Lying
The tightest thing-The marriage-tie, that
is to say, it used to be, but now II is the
lOosest.
The prettiest thing-Look in the mirror
and you will see it.
The brightest thing-The Suns light shot
into your eyes as it comes reflected from
the piece of looking glass in the hands ofthe
mischivOus small boy
The silliest thing-Thinking that wealth
produces happiness Wouldn't you like to
be knocked silly, provided the money came?)
The freshest thirg-You know him; he is
everywhere However he will get salted in
time.
The stalest thing--Common sense.
The quickest thing-The flea.
The slowest thing-An amateur drama by
amateur performers
The heaviest thing-A long sermon on
hot summer afternoon.
The lightest thing-A lovers VOW
The thickest thing-Your tongue when
coming home from the lodge"
The thinnest thing-The story you tell
your wife the next morning.
The wettest thing-The foot of the small
boy with new pair of rubber boots
The dryest thing-You have just been
reading it.
Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1883-10-04
Woman's Health and Worry.

". Y. independent: A woman whose hus-
band was rich and who lived in a lordly
house, was asked for subscription of 81 or
So to well known charity. Il don't know
I'll ask Mr. Smith" She really hadn't 1t,
unless he would give it to her Another
said: "Td give anything, if only had a
little money that was my own, that l could
do with as pleased She had had some
money, but it was all in the common stock,
and she only had money as she needed It,
1t is not long since a man sat bewailing his
blindness "Oh, if could only live 1t over
again. His wife was dead. They had be-
gun life quietly, and he had grown prosper
ous, but not more LIBERAL and, not telling
his wife, she went ON with her usual habits
of economy. A familiar friend said to him
one day: Your wife does not dress well
enough And so he began to think 1t
might be so, and times were better with
them. but he never took her into full part
nership, and now that it was too late, he was
sorry.
1t is always clothes. There is extrava-
gance; but not so much in proportion as
might seem. What he asks, do women
want with so many dresses? They never
wear them out" That depends. There is
an amount of good done, which men would
hardly appreciate, in passing garments from
one to another Many poorer woman is
looking and feeling more respectable and
comfortable in the spare garments of her
more fortunate sister. Also, so long as men
are scattering money in stock; lending, in
dorsing and losing, drinking expensive
wines, and burning away their lives and
their cigars at the same time, let them not
indulge in this one base economy of pinch
ing their wives. 1t is a point on which
woman is proud, or we should hear more of
it, She must be pretty far gone really to
complain of her husband. And to complain
to him would be still harder. She knows
too we'll that it would be of little avail.
1t seems to be thought good Joke that a
man should be penurious and mean toward
his WIFE
Witness the story of one who asked:
money? Where's the % cents gave you
Yesterday Or the man who wanted
change for 81 bill. His wife was going to
Cleveland and would be sure to be wanting
money to spend. Or the farmer who said: :
"Do put on better shawl 1t looks as if
could't afford to dress you decently." There's
the slave or chattel principle.
Perhaps we have said enough. Women
will say "amen." And men? There will
be no one to say: Thou art the man." 1t
is doubtful if one heart will be touched.
it's true.
Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1883-10-04
The Ilges Case.
Washington Special Telegram.

At the request of the President, Secretary
Lincoln sent to Adjutant General Drum for
the proceedings in the case of Lieutenant
Colonel Guido Ilges, 18th Infantry, and re-
ceived the papers this morning. Secretary
Lincoln had an interview with President
Arthur, and was asked, as he was leaving
the department, as to the present status of
the case. He said:
II have the papers in the case and will
examine them carefully, as l do all cases re-
quiring the Presidents action. l will not be
ready to submit the case to the President at
the Cabinet meeting, but will some time
next week"
A legal question is raised with reference
to the Ilges court martial, which is thought
in some quarters to be fatal to the verdict.
Two of the members of the court, having
been on the previous trial, were objected to
by Colonel Ilges, and in such cases it has
been the invariable custom for the officers
thus challenged to either state that they had
no prejudice against the defendant, or to be
excused by their own request from service.
In this case one of the officers asked to be
excused, but his request was not granted as
usual by the court, and the other said moth
ing, thereby inferentially admitting that he
did entertain prejudice against the defend
ant. 1t is regarded by good military law
yers as being an objection of a character
which would disqualify juror, and thus
vitiate the verdict on this account it would
not cause surprise if the sentence of the
court, which, it is understood, was dismissal
from the army, would be set aside.
Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1883-10-04
An Engine Run by Water.Gas.

The novel locomotive that will be run over
the Valley Road for while without pound
of coal going into her fire-box, made the run
up from New Haven to-day to the repair
shops of the Consolidated Road in this city.
This afternoon the inventor of this new pro-
cess OF making steam DR.. Holland, of New
York, exhibited the engine to the engineers
in the yards and other parties interested.
The locomotive is the first and only one
OF its kind ever built. 1t was put up about
year ago in the Grant Locomotive Work S
I at Paterson, n. J. 1t is a handsome engine,
of the same grade as the ones used for fast
passenger service on the New Haven Road,
and weighs thirtyfo tons. It differs from
these only in the construction of the fire
pot and boiler. Water-gas furnishes the
means oflocomotion instead ofcoal. There are
four retorts in the fre-box, two each for oil
and water. The CRATE contains 55S gas. Jets.
When the engine is first started the gas is
made from the cold water in the retort, but
when the guage registers from twenty to
thirty pounds Of steam the water is shut off
and the steam is taken from the boiler. This
saves heating the water twice. Even if the
fire goes out the engine will run right along
for some little time. Once, when they were
running it on the Erie Road, the engineer
put out the hre ran some little distance, ana
lit it again without decreasing the speed of
the train. This afternoon the engine was
run into the round house without particle
of fire in the tire-box.
The inventor says that by connecting a
pipe with one of the 55S gas jets in the fire
box he can amply light the cars in the entire
train, and by connecting another pipe with
another jet he can give brilliant headlight
to the locomotive. A good Illuminating gas
can be carried right through the train, which,
in case of accident, can instantly be shut off
by turning a valve, doing away with danger
of fire.
1t is claimed that one of these engines will
do more work with less wear and tear than
the coal-consuming locomotive, and more
economically. They require no back pres
sure of steam to force the fires, and this
would do away with the flying cinders that
make every open window in the train ANUS
ance
Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1883-10-04
Mary Anderson and the Prince.

Boston Saturday Evening Gazette.
A gentleman who returned home from
London last week says Mary Anderson has
had a more cordial reception there than has
been given to an American actres, for many
years. He also tells a story which, if cor
rect, cannot fail to increase the respect of the
American public for Miss Anderson 1t
seems that upon her arrival she was invited
stories were told of her beauty and wit that
made the Prince of Wales very anxious to
meet her. Miss Anderson was informed of
this flattering expression of His Royal High
ness, but, most unaccountably, as it seemed
to her English friends, she showed no desire
for the presentation. Finally .entleman
who knew her very well was asked by the
Prince to say to Miss Anderson that he would
be pleased if she would indicate time when
it would be agreeable to her to receive an in
PRODUCTION to His Royal Highness. She re-
piled that, while she wished to show no dis
respect to the future ruler of England, she
must decline to receive him. Such reply
had never before been made to a request for
an introduction by prince OF the blood, and
she was asked to explain. "An introduction
to the Prince of Wales can do me no good
professionally, and | know very well how he
regards actors generally. Personally, l have
always maintained my own dignity and self
respect, and l do not mean to put myself in
any position voluntarily where l may be
compelled to forget them. Therefore l must
decline to be presented to him. l have gone
thus far in life without breath of scandal
attaching to me- and 1 do not mean to do
anything that might change that condition"
This settled the matter. The story got out
in London and was widely repeated, and it
was noticeable after that that the Princess of
Wales invited Miss Anderson to her garden
party an honor she has never before conferred
on any actress of the English stage. 1t is
pity some of the American girls who are
getting themselves very much talked about
in connection with the Prince of Wales
couldn't follow Miss Andersons example.
Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1883-10-04
THE DISMAL. SWAMP.
Popular Errors in Regard to IT. How
II is Situated.

The Dismal Swamp, says an exchange, is
not vast bog sunk low into the ground, in
to which the drainage of the surrounding
country flows. On the contrary, it Is above
the level ground some fifteen or twenty feet,
as was demonstrated by actual surveys. In
stead of being a reptacle into which rivers
and streams enter and flow, it is, i'll reality,
an immense reservoir that, in its vast sponge
like bulk. gathers the waters that falls from
the heavens and pours them into five differ
ent rivers, which flow onward to the sea.
Any one would imagine that the ''DismaT
was veritable charnel-house that spreads
it's masma throughout the country. On the
contrary, it is the healthiest place on the
American continent The swamp is formed
entirely of green timber. There is absO
lutely no decomposed wood ; one sees large
trees lying all around in the forests and
swamps The two principal woods that
grow in the place are juniper and cypress.
which never rot They fail prone to the
ground like other trees; but, instead of the
wood decomposing, it turns into peat, and
lies indisoluble by air and water for ages,
perfectly sound. There is nothing in the
swamp to create miasma; no rising OF the
tides and decomposition of rank vegetables;
no marshes exposed to the burning rays of
the SUM- All is fresh and sweet, and the air
is laden with as sweet odors as the fragrant
woods in May, when the sweet odors OF the
flowers mingle with the pungent scent of the
pine and dogwood. In the ante-bellum days
all the planters were anxious to hire their
slaves to shingle-makers in the swamp on
account of its healthfulness. Mr. Reddick,
a we'll known contractor, says he worked a
gang of fifty hands for fifteen years in the
Dismal, getting out shingles, and in all that
time there was not single case of fever and
ague. l have seen numerous atfidavlts of
overseers and contractors who have lived in
the swamp their whole lifetime, and they
never knew death caused by miasma or
solitary instance of ague and fever. The air
is pure and sweet, and the water, tinged to
a faint wine hue by the juniper, is as potent
a medical drink as are the famous watering
places of the Virginia mountain spas" 1t
is often used by naval vessels going on a
long foreign cruise, on account of the health
ful properties, and also because it keeps
fresh and clear for years. 1t is strong and
invigorating tonic, with very pleasant
taste.
Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1883-10-04
Pension Claim :.
season.

A claim has recently been filed in the
Pension Office in which the soldier alleges
the following disability: Mouth polnson-
ing as a result of sleeping in the moonlight
with his mouth wide Open." To arrive at
proper adjudication of this claim it will be
necessary for the claimant to establish the
following points: Was the soldier prior to
enlistment, free from lunacy, (see,) or were
his habits such that he could see Luna at ali?
Did he for three years prior to enlistment
live in town where gas-lights are not lit on
corporation moonlight nights, or is he sutfi-
GENTLY acquainted with the moon to know it
when he sees it? Can he obtain the testi-
mony of the man in the moon to prove in
currence in the service? How does soldier
know that the moon was shining If he was
asleep? Was it 'silver moon" or green
back moon? If it was silver moon" why
did not it roll on" and the soldier crook his
elbow and roll over? If it was greenback
moon, why was the soldier so green as to lie
on his back Was the moon in its first quar-
ter or last quarter, or did the soldier have a
quarter? Was the moon full, or the soldier
full or were both full 4? Were the horns of
the moon turned up, or the soldier turned up
on account of his previous horns? Had the
moon more than two horns, or had the sol
dier previously swallowed more than two
horns? Was the soldier in the habit of
sleeping with his mouth wide open, or did
he ever swallow anything stronger than
moon-ray with his mouth wide open? Did
the soldier, before going to sleep with his
mouth wide open, know the effects of the
moons rays upon commissary whisky? Did
soldier at any subseqent time try the effect
of sleeping in the moonlight on the princi-
pal that "similia similibus curantur ?" Was
soldier discharged with his mouth open or
shut? Has soldier since discharge been
moonshiner? An early reply with the re-
turn of this letter will greatly facilitate
settlement of the claim
Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1883-10-04
WHEN MY DAYS WERE YOUNG AND FAIR

HUGH FARRAR McDERMoTT.
DO not sing that song again,
For il fills my heart with pain;
| am bending to the blast
And il tells me of the past,
OF the years of long ago,
When my days were young and fair.
And my heart as light as air;
When one feeling filled the breast.
And one image gave it rest,
In the long, long ago.
Do not sing that song again,
There's a tear III its refrain;
II brings sadly back the time
When nay manhood felt its prime;
When the comrades, dear and true
Closer, warmer, fonder grew,
In the hour of friendships proof,
When the false ones stood aloof,
And their friendship was but show,
In the long, long ago.
Do not sing that song again,
] have lived my years in vain,
And my hair is thin and gray,
And / IN passing fast away;
On the dark and downward streams
I'm a wreck of idle dreams,
And ii puts me on the rack
At the weary looking back,
At the ebb and at the flow,
In the long, long ago.
Do not sing that song again,
1t distracts my weary brain;
An, too well, alasl ! know
1t is time for me to go,
And to leave to younger eyes
The mild mystery of the skies,
And this mighty world tread,
And the grander age ahead.
There's mist upon the river,
And there's bleakness on the shore;
And in dreams pass forever,
While sad music watts me DER.
Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1883-10-04
SEPTEMBER LIGHT.

1t lay across the fields at morn,
A tinted breath Just newly born
Of amber grain and tasseled corn.
A pink cloud floating idly by
Seemed sent to bear it through the sky
And lay il at His feet on high.
1t slept upon the hills at noon,
A drowsy spirit in swoon,
Lulled by tender, dreamland tune.
Attwilight across the sea
1t trailed its garments dreamily,
And seemed pleading prayer to be
A prayer from out the heart that grieves
Ger tangled vines and withered leaves,
And whispers low Accept my sheaves." ."
Beneath the moon l saw it last,
A something trembling, fading fast.
A yellow phantom of the past,
Pointing beyond the mist of tears,
To fields of full and ripened ears.
The harvest Of eternal years.