davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1883-12-06
NEWS ITEMS.

II Charley Ross is living he is IA years
OF age.
Silk culture is on the rapid increa9
along the Gulf coast from New Orled ,
to Mobile.
A devil. fish caught recently at Port
Royafe measured sixteen feet across and
weighed two tons.
The pearl fisheries of Lower CAlifor-
mia have turned out q pearl the size of Q
dime, one inch long and three feurths of
an inch thick.
A man named Radcliff, just dead at
Sheffield, had for years pretended TO be 9
bearded woman, and IVES Q great attrac-
ton to the curious.
The largest oyster shell in the world
is in the church Of St. Sulp;ce in Paris.
It weighs over 500 pounds and is used -
baptismal font.
Belgium has erected Palace OF JUS
tice about half the size OF st. Peters at
Rome, and one fifth OF the entire revenue
of the country will not pay for it.
Uncle Billy Sherman will find the
peace OF retirement disturbed by An Ohio
town, which has started off with q
4cCumsou CAuO 40 pIcSiucAsAnA OoOo.
California is the second State in the
union in point of size, but her popula-
ton when compared with her area, is
that the best of her lands are held by
land-grabbers.
The dancing masters Of the United
States are to hold o convention ct Phila-
delphia. December 9th. The position'
OF chairman will be interesting 80 all
will want for the floor at once. !
The comet of 1912 is coming back
again. It is understood it will put o
claim on the government for pension,
with arrears, on the ground Of having
been present during the last war with
England.
Fifteen years ago an Alabama man
who killed peddler told his wife in
moment Of confidence. and since then
has been splitting wood, building fires
and rocking baby. Now as relief he
asks to be hung.
An old Nimrod down in Texas fred at
fine buck. This aroused another, and
the two flew toward each other under
full steam. They collided, one of them
springing twenty feet in the air, and
then both fell dead.
An Albany peanut vender discovers
that he loses 400 peanuts day by the
people who take one as they pass by. As
members of the legislature have annual
passes to everything in Albany. the in.
ference is plain.
Poker has strong hold on Nashville.
One young blood bet his clothes on Q
flush and his adversary demanded his
garments on the strength of ''straight
flush" He reached home looking like
statue in the Louvre.
Pagan Bob Ingersoll at the close Of
the war borrowed 800 from . confede-
rate surgeon for some new clothes. Last
week he paid it back with check for
$500. Bob may scout at eternity, but
he evidently believes in time.
The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1883-12-06

A traveller for New York house found
. new firm down 10 jersey town about
three months ago. The sign over the
grocery read: Jacob Reber 4 Co." On
bis next trip down the sign had changed.
Il read: Jacob Rsber 4 Son." When
the traveller struck the town the third
time hs looked for the sign and discov-
cred that il read: "Hans Rebsr 4 Faith.
sr." The old man stood in the door, and
the traveller halted and said:
II ses that this nrm has changed
seain?"
Eyes, We make . ahange last vhsek."
"Whst's the matt can't you agreef"
"vhell, ycu SO. make der pudding,
my wife furnish der money und Hans
puts in his experissce. Il vhas lssdle
Mixed"
Going 10 maks any other ehapesi"
''6huss one more. Next week der sign
viii b.: ''Nrs. Jaeob Reher." She pays
- rent. hires Hans b. der Week, and
expects 70 boon nit der iall trade Ike
tundee."
Ensrson's L. blogTap6er infosms NJ
~ Ne post.philoseSbees fayorits
hoeuo ~ q aninnl no9ed SIR. Whioh
oxp1nins What Dmoeooo meant whon 10
Advised his rsadsrs y mitch bic wagon
y elas."
The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1883-12-06

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Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1883-12-19

There never was a time when first
rate English novelist was more want
ed than now. Never was the literary
output so immense; never, during the
last forty years, has there been a
greater lack of the finest ore. As one
turns over the pages of the novel after
novel that each week brings into the
world, one feels more and more invad.
ed by despairng regret for the
days when the workers were fewer,
and the work done of higher quality
for the days of Thackcray and
George Eliot, or even for the days of
"Framley Parsonage and "The Last
Chronicle of Barset." We have, in
deed plenty of clever writing. We
have men and women among us who
can turn out an admirable chapter,
or carry us through a light, amusing,
and even brilliant conversation. We
have Mr.. Wilkie Collins for plots,
we have Mr.. Black for sunsets, we
have Mrs. Oliphant, whose variety is
ineXhaustible ana whose industry is
beyond praise. We have Ouida, who
would thrill us with sympathetic
emotion if we could for a moment
forget the lime-light and the spangles.
We have Mr., Henry James and Mr..
I!owells, unrivaled painters in
miniature. We have Miss Broughton
whose characters as Mr.. Trollope has
said, stand upright on the ground"
but whose world is singularly I'M
pleasant one, and not much like the
world in which poor humanity is
destined to live and move. And
what is to be said of the twenty or
thirty other writers whose books
have achieved some kind of
popularity, and of the three or four
hundred who annually try to achieve
it and fail? What we miss in almost
all contemporary English nove!ists,
even in the best, is just that last
quality which marks out the very
good from the good. They fall short
of artistic greatness. Either their
views and experience of life are very
limited or they lack the power of
grasping character, of keeping it
firm and consistent, and of preserving
its due relations to otner characters,
or their handiwork is heavy. They
want breadth or they want finish.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1883-12-19

A statistical report lately addressed
to the Russian Minister of the Interior
estimates the damage done by the
wolves in forty-lve European Coy
ernments of Russia during the year
1873 at 700,500,0 600 roubles. The Gov
eminent of SANTANA was set down as
the greatest sufferer, to the extent OF
100000 r0ubles; next came Vogolda at
100000 rOubles, and 50 on. The Po-
lish and Baltic provinces and Archan-
gel came off best. But competent
judges consider this estimate of wollish
mischief as much too low. 1t is calcu-
lated on the basis of low average
value for all Russia, as if the price of
an OK or sheep was about the same
everywhere throughout the empire. 1t
also sets the absolute amount Of mis-
chief at far too low figure.
Probably 100000 roubles, or $l2-
100000 would more nearly represent
the value of the domestic animals an
nually destroyed by wolves in Europe
in Russia. TO this should be added
the value of the wild animals destroyed
by them. The reindeer alone killed in
Siberia would represent a high figure,
Then there is the loss of human life,
which never can be accurately known
In 1873 the police reported l6l persons
killed by wolves.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1883-12-19

The complementary value of pepper
stands very high, and among European
people, English are perhaps the most
addicted to pepper. This complementary
spice may be procured under the two
designations of white and black pepper,
the distinction, however, not being in
the botany, but in the mode of prepar-
alton. Black and white pepper come
from the same plant, All pepper is
black originally, but the blackness re-
sides in a superficial skin. If the berry
is ground entire, then, of course, the
powder will be dark colored but if the
cuticle be removed previous to grind
ing, then the powder will have tint
more or less approaching white, though
never quite white-in this consists the
only difference between white and
black pepper. The black pepper plant
is indigenous to the East and West
Indies, and it also grows in Sumatra,
Java and other islands of the Indian
Archipelago. Two crops of berries
are produced in the year, but the sea-
son of ripening is very irregular. If
wholly-unadulterated pepper is re-
quired, it should be bought whole and
ground in a domestic mill. Bought in
a state of powder 1t is almost Invariably
adulterated,. special ingredients being
sold for this purpose. The two chief
are known in commerce as 2. ID. and
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1883-12-19
Who Made the First American Flag.

Mrs John Ross was the first maker
and partial designer of the stars and
Stripes. The house where this flag
was made is still standing, 239 Arch
street, below Third, Philadelphia 1t
is little two-story and attic tenement
formerly No. so, and was first occupied
by Mrs. Ross after the death of her
first husband.
A committee of Congress, of whom
Col. Geo. Ross was one, accompanied
by George Washington, in June, l776,
called upon Mrs. Ross, who was an up
holsterer; and engaged her to make tho
flag from "A rough drawing, which, ac-
cording to her suggestions, was Drawn
by Gen. Washington in pencil, then
and there in her parlor.' The flag thus
designed was adopted by Congress, and
was the first star spanged banner
which ever iloated ON the breeze.
is related that when Col. Ross and
Gen. Washington visited Mrs. Ross and
asked her to make the flag, she said,
81 don't know whether | can, but I'll
try" and directly suggested to the gen
tlemen, thai the design was wrong, in
that the stars were siX-cornered and
not five pointed, as they should be,
This was corrected and other altera-
tons made.
Mrs. Ross maiden name was Griscom.
After the death of her first husband,
Mr.. Ross, she married Ashburn, who
died a prisoner of war in Mill Prison,
England, and her third husband was
John Claypole- The latter a lineal de-
scendant of Oliver Cromwell. Mrs.
Ross first husband was the nephew OF
Col. George Ross, oneof the sfgnersef.
the Declaration of Independence.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1883-12-19
Clara Louise KcilOgg's First Song.

There will soon be biography of
Miss Kellogg, written by Mrs. Kellogg.
The circumstances attending the sing
ing of the first song by Miss Kellogg
are thus related by the mother:
Louise was but nine months old.
We had just buried a little one in the
South, and had fled nOrthward to es-
cape the infection of disease there
prevailing, very fatal among the
children. We brought with us a SER
want girl that had care Of the children,
and was always singing a favorte
song, couched in the quaint and queer
music of the plantation. One day
little Louise was sitting upon the
floor, when, to my utter establishment,
she commenced singing in perfect time
and tune the song alluded to, which so
frightened me that | called out to my
mother, The baby will die! Oh, my
God, the baby will die" Mother came
fastening into the room, expecting to
find the child in the agonies of death,
only to eXclaim, Nonsense. What ais
you, daughter? There is nothing the
matter with the child. See, it is crow
ing at you now But, mother | eX-
claimed, that nine months babe has
just been singing wonderfully the
nurses song, and it is going to die; [
know it is" and | went almost wild in
my alarm. But the baby did not die,
and thank God that it didn't, for it
was born to bless--as only music can
bless-the hearts of the world. This
story of our daught ar's first song"
said Mrs Kellogg, "however improbable,
judged from ordinary events, is never
theless true. could not account for
it at the time; | cannot fully do so
now. | did not then know how to in
terpret so unusual a happening, except
as a warning. In the light of subse-
quent events | may now perhaps guess
at Il more possible solution"
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1883-12-19
row brims prevail in many Of the
stylish winter hats.

row brims prevail in many Of the
stylish winter hats.
Beautiful evening dresses are made
of English Grape combined with silk
muslin, and trimmed with Indian EN-
broidery.
The new hammered-brass goods are
having run. These include Lamps
candelabra, inkstands, umbrella-stands
and candlesticks.
Real sealskins, dyed almost black,
are brought out for ladies in mourn
ing, and for those who prefer an en-
tirely black costume.
There are no absolute rules in fash
ion as formerly; people nowadays fol-
low their own individual fancy within
certain limitations
Children wear wool hose this season,
and in shades darker than the dress
rather than the pale-colored or black
silk hose of the summer.
Wool, silk, and velvet are all COM
bined in one costume, and yet this is
so effectively accomplished that the
result is perfect in its way.
Pompadour lace is very beautiful
and inexpensive, and is brought out in
collars, cuffs, and deep flounces from
two to ten inches or more in depth.
Evening gloves are of undressed
kid, in soft, pale tints, and reach to
the elbow or to the shoulder. With
the very long glove no sleeve is worn.
For elderly and middle-aged ladies,
nothing can be more beautiful than
the reception and dinner dresses of
gray satin embroidered with smoked
pearls,
The large protruding capote is the
shape most generally adopted by wo-
men of fashion this winter, on all
occasions when the Fanchon is not
admissible
Soft silk and Surah evening dresses
for young ladies are trimmed with
Moresque lace, the Valenciennes lace
being used on the heavier silks and
light velvets.
The dress par excellence for the
street in New York is the plain tailor
made costume of ladies' cloth with
close-litting, wadded over-jacket of the
same material.
Little misses not yet in their teens
wear the poke or old-iashioned sea
lash" These are in felt, with soft
velvet crowns, in full velvet, plush, or
Ottoman satin.
The straight high dog collar is
affected by ladies with long, slender
Threats. These dog collars are gener-
ally of dark velvet, stiff, with gold,
silver, steel, or pearl embroidery.
Eidcr-dOwn flannel comes in all col
ors and in stripes. 1t is admirably
adapted for dressing gowns, baby
cloaks, and the like, being very warm
and at the same time light in weight.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1883-12-19
LADIES' DEPARTME NT.


A New York jeweler was asked by
Sun reporter:
"What is the fashion in engage
ment rings?"
"Oh, there is no fashion in them
particularly, Any pretty ring set with
small stones does for the purpose.
Turquoises and pearls are popular just
now, and so are pearls by themselves.
Diamonds are the rage with people
who can afford them, and from that
the precious stones range downward
in price to amethysts, Engagement
rings cost from SIS to $3.50; wedding
rings from IS to SIS. Very many per-
sons have initials, dates, or notices
engraved in their wedding rings.
Mizpah' or Thine Forever are favor
ties, but the commonest custom is to
have merely the initials and date cut
in the inner surface of the ring,
Nothing is engraved in engagement
rings. The manner of wearing them
has changed, however, They used to
be worn on the index finger of the left
hand, you know, but the ladies think
that a little too much of an advertise
ment nowadays, and they wear them
on the third finger of the right hand.
That finger of the left hand is still the
one on which wedding rings are worn"
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1883-12-19
Propagation of Diphiheria by Chickens.

1t has been known for some time
that pheasants, pigeons, turkeys,
domestic fowl, and the like, were lia-
bic to be attacked by diphtheritis. The
Vienna Alegemcine Medicinische Zeit-
ung informs us that Prof. Gerhardt of
Wurzburg, has carried out series of
observations for the purpose of deter
mining whether the disease may be
communicated by this means, and has
come to an Affirmative conclusion. In
September, 1881, 1900 fowls were sent
from the neighborhoOd of Verona to
Nessclhausen, in Baden, where there is
a great tow[rearng establishment.
Some of them must have been affected
with diphthertis before they started,
and in the end 400 fowls died of it.
In the summer Of last year 1000 chick
ems were Matched from eggs collected
from many different places. Six weeks
after their birth diphtheritis manifest
ed itself among the young chickens,
and 50 badly that in short time they
all died. Five cats that were kept in
the establishment also become i'll of
the same malay and died. A parrot
that hung in a cage in the house was
also attacked, but recovered.
Last November, an Italian hen,
which had been painted about the
Jaws with carbolic acid by the keeper,
bit the mans wrist and foot Present
~ he became. i'll with a smart fever,
considerable swelling at the wounded
parts, and all the symptoms of trau-
matte diphtheritis. His recovery was
very tedious. This was not the only
case of the transmission of the disease
to men. Two-thirds of all the laboring
persons employed about the establish
ment became ill, with ordinary diph-
thcritis, and one man conveyed the in
lection to his three children. 1t is
worth noting that during all this time
no other diptheritc cases occurred at
Nesselhausen or in the neighborhood.
The inference seems obvious that all
these cases originated with the sick
fowls.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1883-12-19

Nelson Lyon, of Albany, n. v, has recov-
erei Judgment of ~,!41lO, AGAINST &, I.
Fisher u Co., in the $. circuit court, at
D troit, Mich, for an Infringement of lyons
Fat mt Metallic Heel Stilener. This Contrlv-
ance is on Of the mos, useful Of molern in
ventions, ard has achi vel a remarkable sale
over S15O.C coo worth, the testimony showed
having been sold since the ateut WIS granted
bying a grand total OF 3, S>S,OGD pairs. The
invention consists of a neat metal pate fast
ening to the outsi lie of boot or shoe heel
arranged to prevent Il he counters from break
ing over and tie heel from W airing down I'M
evenly The att rnoygcnerll of the United
States declared the Lyon Ta'ent invalid on
account Of an inrorma itv in the application
This was afterwarl c1lrlc ed by the com
missioner Of patents in accordance with q
succal act of Congress AUTHORIZING it. Ac-
ton was commenced in May, 1850, a Ter-
petual injunction was obtained in December,
an the case was referred TO a master, who
reported the damages as S3.S3l but on mo-.
ton the court double the same, and directed
Judgment to be entered against d'fen ants for
such double damages, with interest and costs
Get Lyons Patent Heel Stileners applied to
new boots or shoes before you run them over.
The best and oldcs; medicine for cure of liver
diseases is DR.. Sanord's Liver lnygortor.
owe always keep Piso's Cure Tor Consump-
ton in the house,
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1883-12-19

1t is stated in the columns of a
medical journal of recent publication,
that the use of arsenic as cosmetic is
attaining a dangerous popularity in
fashionable circles both here and
abroad. There are many women who
consider good complexion one of the
chief desideratumS life can offer and
one to be obtained at almost any cost.
1t is no secret that the poison when
taken in specific doses or quantities,
has the effect Of clearing the skin and
rendering it soft and eXquisitely tran5-
parent, but the after consequences of
its prolonged use ought to be seriously
considered for they are sufficiently
weighty and alarming to deter even
the greatest aspirant after lovelinesS
from tampering with so deadly Il beau
tilier. 1t is presumed that no woman
would be rash enough to deliberately
swallow arsenic except under profess
sional supervision, and it is said that
some medical advisers in this and
other cities at the request of their fair
but foolish patients, give arsenic I'M
scrupulously in the form of prescrip-
tons, which the lnsuspecting chemist
makes up, unconscious of the object
for which the dangerous mineral is adj
ministered. This is a very lamentable
declaration, yet if it is true, as an out
spoken but very sensible physician of
experience lately remarked, "These
fair fools will not only purify their
cOmpleXions but they will eventually
purify the world by getting out of it,
They will soon lie forever at rest, from
all the vanities of this world, with
countenance as white as the most fas-
tidious could possibly desire" Mar
Yorh Post.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1883-12-19
Cost OF Royalty,

The cost of the English royal family
is handsome sum, and makes the $50.
600 we pay the President, look small
indeed. The queen receives S2,O76,36O;
the price of Wales, $512,222; duke of
Edinburg, 1921 ,000; duke of Connaugkt,
SIS, 720; Prince Leopold, $3S, 20; Prin-
cess Wilhelm, S200i0; Princess Chris
tian, 500, Princess Louise, $4,000;
duchess Of Cambridge, Sl4,52O: grand
duchess of Mecklenberg- Strelitz, $24,-
900; Princess Teck, $lS,OS0; duke
George, 58,0SO; making a total OF
S3,029,022.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1883-12-19

d. p. d., the first signifying pepper
dust" and the second dirt of pepper
dust Both may be described as tho
swecpings, more or less contaminated,
of the warehouse in which pepper is
stored. In addition to the ordinary
peppers (black and white) of domestic
use, there is another kind called long
pepper. The fruit of this sort is not
shaped rs berries, but as elongated
cylinders with rounded elids. 1t is of
more use, however, as an ingredient of
cattle medicines than as condiment
for human stomachs
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1883-12-19

Real lace wells are being worn now
by brides in place of tulle ones.
Doulton and Hungarian ware are
preferred sorts in fancy china goods.
The jockey shape is this season one
of the most popular styles in scalskin
hats.
Feather fans with flower centers
and jewelled handles are very fashion
able.
Satin straps and iewelled buckles
fasten some of the latest Partisan din
ner gowns.
The elephant color is exceedingly
popular. Son.ber tints in plaids are
having run.
For tea-gowns there are figured
cashmeres in large floral patterns on
delicate grounds.
High crowns, short backs, and mar
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1883-12-19

The EconOmiSte EluhcaiS estimates
the wealth of some of the leading
members of the English aristocracy
as follows: The Duke Of Norfolk,
$45,OO0000; the Marquis of Butte,
$4,000, 1000; the Duke Of Buccleugh,
$50, 00O,00O; the Duke of Northumber.
land, $30,OO0,00O; the Duke of Devon,
shire, $29,0OO,o00; the Earl of Derby
&2S,000,0O0; the Duke of Bedford
$24, 100000; the Duke of Hamilton
$23,000,0O0; the Duke of Portland
$23,000,000 the Earl Of Fitz-William
500, 100000; the Duke of Sutherland
81, 100000.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1883-12-19

A young masher of the most ad-
vanced type said to great lady, on
introducing a friend:
81 have the honor to introduce to
you my intimate friend B-,who is
not such goose as he looks ii.
The friend, stung to the quick, said
to the lady with asmile "That is,
the only difference between u.s." and
the three burst into a hearty laugh.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1883-12-19

everywhere are refusing 10 take white, lNrdy
looking butter except nj "grcaso' prices, Con-
sumers want nothing but gilt-odscd butter, and
buyers therefore recommend their patrons to
lcep uniform color throughout the year by
using the Improved Butter Color made by
Wells, Richardson & Co., Burlington, W. 1t
is the only color that can be relied on to never
iniurc the butter, and to always give the perfect
color. Sod b. druggists and merchants.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1883-12-19

Dr. Pi rce;-A ncighbor Of our, was suffering
from "iemac weakness" which the doctors told
her could not be cured without supporter,
After considerable persuasion my wife induced
her to fry your "fuvoritc pIcscrptlon.' After
using one bottle she threw away the support or
and did a barge washing which she had not done
III two years before. JAMES MILLER,
1916 Jacob ST., Wheeling, w. Va.