davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1883-05-12

Atlanta. The Bulletin about year ago
gave q sketch of Parsons, who is very
remarkable blind man. He had his sight
shot away while in the army, and no"
draws pension Of elghty.iiye dollars a
month from the government He Is man
about forty five years old, and is married
and enjoys II happy home. He recently
painted his own mouse, and butt around il
with his own hands what is said to be the
most D. rfec. and beautiful picket teace in
Atlanta. Joe is "a great lover of horses,
and though he cannot see them, is SAID to
be one of the best judges Of horse.ilesh in
this section Of the country. He can, by
running his hand over horse, tell his size
I, the half of an inch, his weight within q
few pounds and give his exact color. In
the foot race he beat Mcclure, who seemed
little timid. Joe, IN one part ot The
stretch, broke into a lively run, and bea
his opponent home, after turning four cor
ners, twenty-five yards, The race was Wit
nesst by big crowd, who cheered Justify
-Bi00mtRgt0R Bulletin.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1883-05-12

zing. Telegraph poles on the side of
the track looked like row of corn
stalks, the trees appeared to be mud
bank, and all the time the exhaust OF
the old machine sounded like the hum
of humble bee. tried to yell out.
but my tongue wouldn't move. He
went around curves like bullet, slip
ped an eccentric, blew out his soft plug,
went down grades fifty feet to the mile,
and not COMPOUNDED brake seat. She
went by the meeting point at mile and
half a minute, and calling for more
steam. My hair stood up like cats
tail, because l knew the game was up.
"Sure enough, dead ahead of us was
the headlight of the special In daze
| heard the crash as they struck, and l
saw cars shivered into atoms, people
mashed and mangled and bleeding, and
gasping for water. | heard another
crash as the French professor struck
the deep keys away down on the lower
end of the southern division, and then
came to my senses. There he was at a
dead standstill. with the door of the fire.
box of the machine open, wiping the
perspiration off his face and bowling to
the people before him. If l live to be
thousand years old I'll never forget
the ride that Frenchman gave me on 4
piano.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1883-05-12
Blew His Own Horn.

Mike was arrested for disturbing the
quiet hours of the night. at is this
way, sor," he said to the judge. 81
,sked lyer Yesterday how he could get
along so well an me cit along so bad,
an 'ah, seq re, its by blowing me own
horn An must blow me own horn,
seq l. An the same seq he, an | got
a horn, yer honor, an whit out on the
street an bowed it, an policeman
arrested me. You cant fine me, sor,
for it was the lawyers advice l was
takin'."
Were you under the influence of liq-
nor at that timep'
II was, sol"
well, I'll discharge YOU on the charge
of blowing your horn"
"Your gintleman, livery inch nv
yer
But I'll fine you ten dollars for be-
ing drunk
But a man wild no sinse entoirly. "
ArGotjSulr Tr0i.eIer.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1883-05-12
Will Posts Set top End Down 0utlast
Those Set Ton End Up.

1t is firmly believed by many persons
that posts set in the ground in Il posi-
ton the reverse of which they stood
while growing in the tree, will last
much longer than when set top end
up" In the spring of 1879 | selected
seasoned sticks, three feet long. These
were split in two, and then cut in two
crosswise, making four pieces of each.
One set was placed in well drained
sand, the other in clay soil. In every
case two pieces were set side by side,
with earth between, one as it stood in
the tree, the other reversed. | tried
thirteen kinds of timber. Some of these
were young wood with the bark on. All
contained some heart wood. Those set
in sand were examined in autumn OF
1881. In case of the beach, sugar maple,
|ironwood, black ash, and black cherry,
the piece reversed or placed stop end
down. was somewhat most decayed. In
case of red maple, American elm, but
ternut, and red elm, the piece set
"bottom end down" was tritle the
most decaycd. In case of Eastwood,
white ash, white oak, and blue ash,
there was no perccptlble difference. In
autumn of 1882, the posts set in clay
soil were examined. In case of the red
maple, sugar maple, American elm,
Eastwood, butternut. red elm, the piece
set top end down. was most decayed
In case of beech, white ash, black ash,
black cherry, the piece set "bottom end
down was most decayed. In case OF
ironwood, white oak, blue ash, there
was no perceptible difference.
infer that where one piece decayed
more than the other it was caused by
some trilling difference in the sticks.
The freshly sawed ends in each case
were placed uppermost, and came an
inch or two above the ground.
In some cases one half of a stick Gone
piece certainly the reverse of the other)
lasted considerable better than its other
half As will be seen, it was sometimes
the stop end down which lasted better
sometimes the "bottom end down. and
in some cases there was no difference in
durability. W. j. Beat.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1883-05-12
Remarkable Change in Boston Woman's
Hair,

MANY remarkable tales have been told
of nersops who by reason of fright or
other causes, have found that their hair
has turned white in single night, But
there is not, we believe, anywhere on
record case where n person went to
bed at night in a calm state of mind,
rested soundly until daylight, and
awoke in the morning to find that dur
ing sleep his or her hair had changed
from ebony To silver. That is to say,
there never was such case until recent
ly,when just this sort OF an incident oc-
Cured in Boston. The subject was a
lady, who retired ut her usual hour,
takin. with her to her room another
and an elderly lady. visitor, who had
arrived late in the day, and for whom
no other accommodation could be ar
ranged. The subject Of this incident
was noted for the linencss and beauty
of her hair, which was said by good
iudrcs who had been abroad
and were acquainted with the appear
ance of ravens-to rival the ravens
wing in blackness and lustre. Being
blessed with a good conscience ana hay
ing eaten nothing indigestible at supper,
the lady slept peacefully during the
night and awoke refreshed in the morn
ing
But on looking toward the mirror
she saw that her hair, instead of being
block. as when she went to bed, was
plentifully streaked with gray. She
sprang up mt once to assure herself by a
nearer survey, and had just become
convinced that her first view was cor
rect, when at that moment her elderly
companion, who had already dressed
and gone down stairs, entered the room
and, with the words, ut was SO dark
when got up | put on the wrong
SWITCH replaced upon the bureau /;
block and glossy coil. Catching VI
then the gray tresses that had for mo-
ment so alarmed the younger lady, she
deity arranged them in their appropri
ate place, and again quietly withdrew
boston Journal.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1883-05-12
The 0nly Time.

"Were you ever broken up in taking
great risks?n was asked of the man who
claimed to have had $3.50, ZOO in pork at
one time.
YES. once, and only once" he an
swered. land that, too, was only.a S2j,
600 risk.
as that so? Give us the particu.
lars"
"Well. it was along about the time
the war broke out Ny mother-in-law
lived up in Albany at that time, and /
had so. 900 insurance on her life. One
day, about four o'clock in the after
noon, got dispatch from my wife
reading: She can't live over an hour
Gentlemen. from that hour until mid
night | suffered rs | never expect to
again.
Afraid she would die. eh?'
mo, sir; I was afraid she wouldn't
and / wanted that money 10 put into
army beef. "-HIdH Street Daily Ne'cS.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1883-05-12
DraWbridpa Safety Switches.

The NewYork. New Haven and Hart
ford Railroad Company has adopted a
set of drawbridge signals which, it is
claimed, will render it impossible for an
accident to occur. These signals are
worked by series of levers, five in
number, the first two working sema-
phore signals ut distance of 1900 feet
and 800 feet, respectively, from q
bridge. The other three work the
switches of the siding and the lock OF
the bolt which holds the draw in place.
Before the bridge can be unlocked, that
vessel may pass through the draw,
these levers must be worked in their
order. 1t is impossible to work them in
any other way, the interloclling prevent
inc the draw-tender or signalman from
moving the higher numbered lever till
he has first moved the lower number.
He cannot. when the draw is closed, re-
place the levers except in the regular
reverse order. 1t follows that danger
signal must first be shown at Il distance
of ! 900 feet from the draw, and if that
warning to bring his train under con-
troll for stop is neglected by the engi-
neer, the signal is again given at 800
feet distant. Should this warning be
neglected, the engineer will find his
train shunted to a side track, and thus
prevented from plunging into the open
draw; for the draw cannot be opened
unless it has been previously unlocked;
it cannot be unlocked until the safety
switch has first been unbolted and set
for the siding; the switch cannot be set
until the home signal has been set for
danger, and the home signal cannot be
set for danger until the distance signal
has been so set These operations are
repeated on the other side of the draw,
which is fitted with . bolt at each end.
Supplemental apparatus is provided, 50
that the signalman may know at dis
lance of II miles that a train is APP
preaching, so that the draw may not be
opened and trains delayed unnecessa-
rily. 1t is further claimed that when
the draw, even if closed, should be I'M
locked, the safety switch cannot be
thrown on the main line either by acct
dent or design, and therefore no train
can possibly run into the draw. BY
this apparatus the impossibility of u
drawbridge accident is secured indie
pendently of the engineers.-New YORK
Uor11
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1883-05-12
How They Play the Piano in New Orleans

IIOW ILGJ Idy lut ldlJ III NC" OltooAO'
The following is from the New
Orleans Tines Democrats: II was loaf
ing around the streets last night, said
Jim Nelson, one of the Oldest locomo-
tive engineers running into New Orleans.
land as | had nothing to do | dropped
into Il concert and heard slick-looking
Frenchman play a piano in u way that
made me feel all over in spots. As soon
rs he sat down on the stool | knew by
the way he handled himself that he I'M
derstood the machine he was running.
He tapped the keys way up on one end,
Just as if they were gauges and he want
ed to see if he had water enough. Then
he looked up, as if he wanted to know
how much steam he was carrying, and
then the next moment he pulled open
the throttle and sailed out on the main
line as if he was half an hour late.
You could hear her thunder over
culverts and bridges, and getting faster
and faster, until the fellow rocked about
in his seat like a cradle. Somehow /
thought it was old 49, pulling a pas
senger train and getting out Of the way
of special The fellow worked the
keys on the middle division like light
ming, and then he fell along the North
end of the line until the drivers went
around like buzz saw and | got eX-
cited. About the time | was fixing TO
tell him to cut her of little, he kicked
the hampers under the machine wide
open, pulled the throttle away back in
the tender, and Jerusalem jumpers!
how he did run. couldn't stand it any
longer. and yelled to him that she was
pounding on the left side, and if he
wasn't careful he'd drop his ash pan.
But he didn't hear. No one heard
me. Everything was flying and whiz-
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1883-05-12
Lime Juice in the Treatment Of Diphtheria

Lime Juice in the Treatment Of Diphthsria,
NJ. Czartoryski, NJ. d., of Stockton,
California, writes rs follows to the Lon
don Lancet:
During a prolonged residence in the
interior Of China, | became acquainted
with the fact that the Chinese place
great reliance during epidemics of
diphtheria on the internal use of the
fresh juice of lines. and Of the fruit it.
self, which they consume in enormous
quantities, in every conceivable form--lS
lemonade, with native spirits, cut in
slices, etc. - during attacks of this
dreadful disease, with apparently most
successful results, it hardly ever failing
to effect a cure. The Chinese consider
it a specific, and will, in case of need,
do anything to obtain supply.
Since | have come back to California,
as also in Louisiana, / have used lines
and their juices in m practice as q phy-
eician with most successful results in
eases of diphtheria, even in the most
desperate. cases. As soon rs | take
charge Of a case Of diphtheria, | order
! lines TO be administered as freely as
possible, in any manner the patient can
be prevailed upon to take them, especi-
ally in the form of hot lemonade, sweet
ened with white sugar or honey, or cut
in slices with powdered white sugar.
Besides lime juice (Which / suppose
acts by importing an excess of oxygen
to the circulation, and thereby prevents
formation of vibriones, etc, and so has
almost a specific effect on disease), |
prescribe whatever drug may be indi-
Gated to relieve symptoms as they de-
velop, and impart strength by appro-
pirate stimulants and nourishment
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1883-05-12
Farmers as Business Men.

There are few real business men
among farmers. How many farmers
keep cash account, and know at the
end of each month how much money
they have received, from whom they
have received it; or how much, to whom
and for what the money was paid out?
If farmer wishes to understand his
business, he must treat the business part
of his profession in business manner,
and he cannot do this unless he keeps
book, pen, some ink, and is careful to
write down correctly all his business
transactions.
| have been in farm houses where 1t
took about half an hour to find the pen
and ink with which to do little writ
ing. have known men actually who
have to go to neighbor's house for pen
and ink. 1t is an easy matter to keep q
purchase account in addition to the
cash account and everything which is
bought can be written down, and if
paid for it can be marked paid, and the
same entered in the cash account. BY
referring to the purchase account we
always know what bills have not been
! paid and we can make our calculations
to meet them, and thus avoid unpleas-
ant duns. We can also keep an account
of our sales, and when anything is sold,
write il down in the sales account, and
| if we receive the cash we mark it paid,
and enter it on the cash account Is be-
fore. 1t would no doubt be worth many
times the trouble, and every farmer
would have the satisfaction of knowing
at the end of the year just how his money
came, where it went and what his year 5
work brought him. 1t would open up
new fields of thought, induce him to make
greater eXertions and make him more
frugal, more intelligent, less penurious,
and greatly improve his manner of
transacting business.
The merchant makes good his bad
debts off the easy-going, careless farm
er, by n skillful management of the book
account. The farmer may know that he
got 50 much for his cattle, his wood,
his grain, his hogs, or whatever it may
be, and he NAV know that he paid his
taxes, his store bills and his many doc
tor bills, but he will be likely to feel
that his money slipped away and did
him very little good, and, of course, he
becomes stingy and mean. / once knew
man of whom it was said that when
he paid anybody money he always held
it out and looked in the opposite direc-
tion--he hated to see the money 60.
Let the farmers wife keep her &C
count also, and thus add dignity to Ia
Dor, and we will not hear the growing
husband ask herwhat has become of the
money he condescended to give her,
She will take a just pride in keeping an
accurate account of her affairs; and tho
handling of the funds necessary in the
management of the household will make
her position dignitied and respectable,
instead ola endless routine of drudgery.
have been keeping Il diary for the
last six years, and find it very success
full. The time of putting in crops has
been noted, and the observations made
on NE seasons, the weather, the crops,
the stock and teamwork are so valua-
BILE for reference that ! would not do
without it for many times the trouble
of lecping it.--Americdn Farmer.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1883-05-12

Surely the press and public should
not allow themselves to be fooled by
humbugs like Virgins and Vennor.-
Their predictions have turned out to be
worthless, as might have been known,
as they had no facilities for making
weather forecasts at all comparable with
the weather bureau at Washington. The
latter has signal stations all over the
country, they can tell where storm is
raging, and generally, can predict its
course, thus anticipating local condi--
tons of weather. But Virgins and
Vennor have no such machinery attheir
command, and yet their absurd fore
casts are published by the press far and
wide. The manner in which they de-
ceive the public is very simple. Storms
are constantly raging over different
parts of the earth's surface. 1t has
been found for instance that in the Feb
ruary of every year there is an average
of nineteen storms or more. 1t is quite
safe, therefore, to predict that on a GER
tain day ''blizzard,' or some unusual
weather disturbance, will take place.
If, at the appointed time it should be
pleasant weather on the Atlantic Coast,
there is pretty sure to be tempest of
rain and wind in the Mississippi Valley
or west of the Rocky Mountains. Then
these bogus" weather prophets claim
that the forecasts were verified Wig
gins it will be remembered, predicted a
phenomenal disturbance on the ninth of
February, and later on the eleventh of
March, but, as if to discredit him and
his kind the weather was exceptionally
and unusually fine nearly all over the
continent. His excuse was that he
meant that there would be q storm rag
ing on the Pacific, instead of here in
the East. Let us hear no more of these
humbugs. - DcmoreStS Monthly.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1883-05-12

The editor of the Colorado Register
call has in its time reported twenty-five
hangings and executions throughout
the United States, and he can recall but
three cases where the men who died
with rope around their necks did not
proclaim from the balcony before the
trap was sprung that they had
found the Sweet Fields of Eden and
were going straight to the Shining
Shore
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1883-05-12
A blessing to All Mankind.

In these times when our Newspapers are
flooded with patent medicine advertisements
it is gratifying to know what TO procure that
will certainly cure you. Ii you are Bilioas,
blood out of order, Liver inactive, or gerer-
ally debiltated, there is nothing iD the world
that will cure y0u so quickly as Electric Bit
tiers. They are a blessing to all nanio d,
aud can be had for only fifty cents botic Of
&. G.hriup p
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1883-05-12

All over the land are going into ecstasy
over Dr.. Kings New Discovery for COnsump
tion. Their unlocked for recovery by the
timely use Of this great life Saving remedy,
causes them to 90 nearly wild in its praise.
It is guaranteed to positively cure Severe
Coughs, Colds, Asthma, Hay Fever, Bronohi
It's, !loarseness, Loss Of Voice, or any affrc-
ton Of the Throat and Lungs. Trial bottles
free at e. Behring's Drug Store. large size
81 40 i9l
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1883-05-12
Free or Cost.

BE- calling at G. Behring's drug store yot
eau get n sample bottle of DIR. Bosankot
Cough and Lung Syrup which will relieve thu
most obstinate cough or cold, and show yol
what the regular 80 cent size will do. Wher
troubled with asthma, bronchitis, dry, hack
ing cough, pains in the chest, and all diseas
es OF The throat and lungs, try sample bot
lie of this medicine.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1883-05-12
RuckIen's Arnicn SalXe.

The greatest medical wonder OF the world.
Warranted TO speedily cure burns, bruises,
cuts, ulcers, salt rheum, fever sores, cancers,
piles. chilblains, curns. letter, chopped
hands. and ali skin erUptiOns, guaranteed 10
cure 10 ever, instance, or money refunded
% cents per box. For sale by G. GehrinE.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1883-05-12

4 married man in Rochester, according to
the Post OF that city, took a young LADY to
the theatre one night, and after the first act
excused himself for moment, as he wanted
to 90 out to ''see a man" lie didn't come
back. Instead OF seeing a man. he saw a
woman. II was his wife, waiting for him at
the door.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1883-05-12

Diabetes, Bright's Disease, Kidney, URN
airy or Liver Complaint cannot he contracted
by yon oryour family if Hop Btte?s are used,
and II YOU already have any of these Hop
Bittrls is the only medicine that will posi-.
lively cure You. Don't forget this. and don't
get some pulled up stuff that will only harm
Won.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1883-05-12
Our Great Source of Wealth.

There were in the United States in
1880, 4,00S,907 farms, embracing 2S4,
771,0 acres of improved land. Sup
pose there should be equal to lone acre
more planted in corn to each farm,
the result would be at forty bushels to
the acre, 160,000,000 bushels. These
figures serve to show what farmers are,
by little extra effort, capable Of ac-
complishing.
This country is great in resources and
varied in climate, and few facts from
the census show that we have not over
rated the agricultural interests in theil
relations to the wealth and industry OF
the nation. Here are the figures:
Number of farms. 4,OOS, Wl
Improved land. ............... PSI, ~ ,0f
Value of farms. ............. III, l9l, 096, 81
Value of Implements. Aug, ~, 10;
Value of live stock. .......... l,500, i64, 60'
Value of farm products...... 2,2lS, 40, ST.
There are millionaires in cities and
rich merchants and manufacturers, but
the great wealth, and that which does
not Shift much and is reliable, lies in
our farms, and these, as we have al
ready said are the basis of all industries.
1t is business, too, that is not likely to
be overdone, and never had farmers q
better prospect ahead or greater induce.
ments to plant one acre more, than in
this wear, 1883. Cincinnati Commercial
Gazette.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1883-05-12

Mrs. Barnhart, cor. Pratt and Broadway,
Buffalo, was for twelve years q sufferer from
rheumatism, and after trying every known
remedy without avail, was entirely cured by
Thomas Electric Oil.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1883-05-12
A yysnderful Ritnd Man

Two blind men ran a race in Peoria co
Sunday afternoon. The course was around
the court house square. The contestants
were James McGuire. Of that town. and
Joe Parsons, who, VT believe, resides 10
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1883-05-12

Ayers Hair Vigor restores the original
color, by its stimulating action at the roots
produces a vigorous growth, and gives the
hair that beautiful lustre which results only
from a strong, healthy condition.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1883-05-12
ON THIRTY DAYS TRIAL

TIE VOLTAIC BELT Co, Marshall Mich. vIR
send Or. Dyes Celebrated Electro Noltsc Belts ard
Electric Appliances trial FOR thirty DAYS 10 uer
young or old who afflicted with nervous debltc
lost vitality and kindred troubles guaranteeing spsT
and complete restoration Of health and manly Vecs
Address as above y. B.-NO risk is incurred as thsr-
~ days trial Is allowed. dscEliY
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1883-05-12

VIM. Lademorea, l0i North st Chicago,
H., says: II have used Browns Iron Bit
iers, aud lind 1t to be the best tonic | ever
uspd "