davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1883-08-31
A Family of Swimmers.

Thuriow Weed, in his autobiOgra-
ply, relates the feats of John Quincy
Adams as swimmer, while president
of the United States. A probable ty-
biographical error makes the date 1885,
instead of 1925. There is a supple
ment to this story, which we think has
never been put in print. John Quincy
Adams was a great swimmer-few eX-
celled him. He was in the habit of
leaving the White House before day
light to take his Potomac bath. Abner
Forbes, an old Boston schOOlmaster,
was a private tutor in Washington
during the greater part of the Adams
administration he also was an expert
swimmer, and being a warm political
adherent of the Adams faction, he was
admitted in degree to the confidence
of the then president. Mr.. f. related
the following incident some forty years
ago: 1t was the daily habit of Mr..
Adams to swim across the Potomac
from the Washington to the AleXan-
dria side early in the morning before
any Qsie was stirring, and this habit he
purse n. even as late as November
when the mornings were frosty. On
one occasion Mr.. F. accompanied Mr..
Adams. The latter had Il particular
spot where he divested himself of his
garments, and then took the water.
Some wags or enemies of the president
had discovered the fact, and on this
particular morning after he had ''struck
OUT seized his clothes and walked off
with them. On Mr.. Adams return
from the Alexandria shore he found
himself sans everything, and had to
wait shivering in the cold air till II
messenger from the White House had
brought him IA suit of clothing.
The natatorial instinct is strangely
exhibited in the whole Adams race
down to the present generation. 1t is
related of John Adams, when on his
first mission across the water, that fire.
quently he would plunge from the ship
in mid-ocean when it was calm, and
play about the ship like a porpoise,
often remaining in the water for an
hour. 1t is also related of John Quincy
Adams that he could float on his back
without perceptible motion longer than
any other man of his day. 1t is prob
ably this vigorous physical develop
ment of. the AdamseS which has kept
their mental faculties unimpaired for
generations.- Boston Traveller.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1883-08-31
Reliainns Readina.
True Religious COntentment.

When we see an external good with
held, or an evil sent upon us, we can
not possibly be contented with such a
thing in itself considered, and for its
own sake: but the whole attitude is
changed when we recognize this as
being the expression of Gods will, and
to be accepted for his sake.
One fact which comforts us, is that
God never continues to will for us any
thing which is in itself evil and bitter,
beyond certain point: he may at any
moment show us that this point is
reached, by opening way whereby
we may legitimately escape from the
suffering. With this view of the mat
ter, Christians contentment in no
way interferes with his making effort
to change his present circumstances
for those of greater ease and comfort,
provided always he keeps every such
effort subject to Gods guidance and
Gods will.
Then even while the trouble lasts,
he knows that because it is by Gods
will it is not by accident, nor malice,
nor forgetfulness. At the very worst,
its bitterness is that of medicine, not
of poison. 1t is among the call things
which work together for good. And
the good" for which it works, is that
of cOmpleter inward holiness, of fitness
for heaven, and abundant entrance into
its eternal fulness. For my own sake.
nothing but a short-sightedness, which
is as foolish rs it is sinful, can hinder
my cOntented acceptance of anything
which God wills to send for working
out such good to me.
As II Christian, too, cannot forget
that my circumstances are appointed
Just as they are, for the sake of pro
noting the honor and glory of my
blessed and adorable Redeemer, Jesus
Christ. | have, therefore, no wish to
! alter them i'll any way which would
make them cease to honor him, or lessen
his glory. The gratitude which is i'm
piled in godliness, has great efficacy
i'll producing contentment with the
Slviour's will 5. 5. Times.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1883-08-31
The English Sparrow Must Go.
HOW A STATEN ISLAND WIDOW CATCHES
AND EATS TIE BIRDS.

An economical widow living in
quiet street ut Clifton, l.. l., has made
an effective contribution to the general
question Of whether or not the spar
rows shall he eXterminated She eats
them. In the rear basement window
of her house the lower sash has been
removed, and, instead, Il wire cOntri
vance has been placed there. This is in
the form of IA half-cylinder, which is so
delicately balanced that rs soon as IL
sparrow alights on projecting bar its
weight carries the wheel half way
around, when it is stopped suddenly
by the end striking projecting knob.
That startles the bird, which finds it
self carried by the semi-revolutiOn of
the wheel into large cage inside the
room. The sparrow finds score of
Its kind in the cage, that are kept
there as decoys to interest other spar
rows in the neighborhood. a liberal
quantity of grain is kept scattered near
the outside of the seductive reel, and a
well-tilled cup of it rests directly be-
meath the bar on which the birds hop
for the purpose of procuring hearty
meal but the movement of the wheel
which is very gentle at tirst-trans-
| forms the bird into Il maker instead of
a partaker, of meals.
"Why should | not eat them ?" the
lady said to reporter. "Did not the
! Lord send the ravens to feed Elijah
| know the law forbids killing them,
but it does not apply to ones own
premises. Besides, do they not will
fully intrude themselves in my house
1t takes about thirty of them to make
one pie 1t is delicate dish to eat
The little things are as plump and fat
and sweet as any bird known to the
epicure. If they were not i'll such fine
condition and did not live so well they
would clear trees of caterpillars and be
too busy hunting food to fight and
make as much noise as they do, will
their chipping and chattering. But
there are not very many in this neigh
borhood, | believe. | learned to make
use of them on the table by seeing my
mother do it in England, where these
cages and reels are quite common.
never entrap them when they have
young. 1t would be cruel to leave the
little ones on the nest to starve. But
keep the grain out all the time, ant
the old birds bring the fledglings t.
such an easy feeding ground quite
naturally, so that | generally get the
whole family finally.n
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1883-08-31
Who Would Not be a Doctor

Quite Il number of our young men
are studying for the medical profession.
We do not wish to deter them from
this laudable pursuit, for ii physicians
calling is one of the most honorable,
ennobling, humanizing, and useful in
the world. But all is not gold that
glitters, and the following are some of
the sweets of il doctors life: If he
visits a few of his patients when they
are well, it is to get his dinner; and if
he does not do so, it is because he cares
more for the fleece than the flock. If
he goes to synagogue regularly, it is
because he has nothing else to do; if
he doesn't go, it is because he has no
respect for the Sabbath nor religion.
1t he speaks revcrently of Judaism, he
is Il hypOcrite if he doesn't, he is Il
materialist. Ifhe dresses neatly, he is
proud; if he does not, he is wanting in
self-respect. If his wife does not visit
you, she is "stuck up" if she does, she
is fishing for patients for her husband.
If he has good turnout, he is eXtrav-
agant if he uses II poor one on the
score of economy, he is deficient in
necessary pride. If he does not write
prescription for every tritling all
ment, he is careless if he does, che
deluges one with medicine.n If he
makes parties, it is to sOft-sOap people
to get their money if he does not
make them, he is afraid of IL cent. If
his horse is fat it is because he has
nothing to do; if he is lean, it is be-
cause he isn't taken care of. If he
drives fast, it is to make people be-
lieve somebody is very sick if he
drives slowly, he has no interest in the
welfare of his patients. If the patient
RECEIVERS, it is owing to the good nurs-
ing he has received if he dies, ''the
doctor did not understand his sickness"
If he talks much, "we don't like a doc
tor To tell everything he knows" or
''he is altogether too familiar :" if he
don't talk, ''we like to see a doctor
sociable." If he says anything about
politics che had better let it alone y
if he don't say anything about it, '.we
i like to see a man show his cOlors.n II
he does not come Immediately when
sent for, che takes things too easy =
if he sends in his bill '.he is in a terri
BILE hurry for his money" If he visits
his patients every day, tits to run NJ
bill if he don't, it is unjustifablt
negligence. If he orders the SAME
medicine, it does no good if h,
changes the prescription, he is il
league with the druggist. If he uses
any of the popular remedies of the day
it is to cater To the whims and preju
dice of the people, to fill his pockets
. if he don't use them, it is from profes
sional selfishnCss. If he is in the habi
of having frequent consultations, it il
because he knows nothing; if he oh
jects to having them, on the grounC
that he understands his own business
5 ''he is afraid of exposing his ignoranc'
; to his superiOrs." If he gets pay 70
) onehalf his services he deserves to b,
5 canonized. Who wouldn't be an NJ
! d. The Hebrew Standard.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1883-08-31
Was Charles Francis Adams
Right.

1t was September, 1879. The train
that bore Bode Hawkins to college
caught him away from the arms of his
mother and the kisses of his sisters.
Very glum was Bode Hawkins. and
very reluctant he to go to school.
Jaw, shaw !" he grOwled: 81 don
kare to go, nuther, so what's the use
Dog gone the collidge, it don't do no
good, and | won't know no more
wen | come back than | do wen 90
away. I'd ruther drive team'r learn
trader sOmethin'. bod fetch the thing,
anyhow" June, 1888. Ambrose Hawk
ms returns to his ancestral halls on the
farm. His family weep for joy. All
rush to embrace him as he steps from
the train. Ambrose Hawkins gazes
tixedly at them through the oriel win
dow that includes one eye, and deli
cately extending two fingers for them
to grasp, he murmurs Jaw, fathaw!
gently, my deah fellah, gently; easy
on the rings, We knaw. Bless you, me
mothaw-how, no thanks; kiss YOU
when we get home, We knaw. How do,
brothaw, brOthaw-well, bless me soul,
but aw I've forgotten the boys name.
Sistah deah, will you kindly hand
these brawses faw me boxes to the
luggage mawstah ? Avis this-this
the vehicle 2" And all the way home
the old man didn't say word, but he
just drove and thought, and thought
and drove, and nearly all that night he
sat up twisting hickOries and laying
them to soak in the watering trough
down by the cow barn. And he told
neighbor next morning that Charles
Francis Adams was right, and that she
had about -four years of college larnin'
to unlarn for Bode afore the boy could
holler mt yoke of steers like he used
to, but the boy seemed to be comm
round all right, and he reckoned he'd
do, by-n-bY."-l Burlington HawkeNe.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1883-08-31
SquibS.
FOx's martyrs-POultry
Early birds-MOrning cocktails.

FOX's martyrs
Early birds-MOrning cocktails.
Mrs. Youngwoman wants to know
how to tell a fresh egg from alstale one.
Taste it, gOOsey, taste it Burlington
Hawkeye.
1t makes a Mt. Washington guide
wish he was dead to have the tourists
remark that the view from the summit
is "rather neat."-[ Boston Post.
"Yes," said the level-headed school
boy, "Pm at the foot o. my classes and
| calculate to stay there. Then | don't
have to stand the wear and tear of
anxiety for fear I'll lose my place"
A Berlin dispatch says: "No minis
ters will be present at the interview
between the emperor of Germany and
gust l." That's it, the world over.
Don't mix your religion with your bus
iness.- Boston Transcript.
(Scene, country inn)-Tourist {:
Confound it, woman! There's chick
in this egg!" Laudlady: "Well, sir,
you are lucky one! In few weeks
could have had half crown for that
fowl, and ere you get it for twOpence :"
(And still he was not satisfied.)
The speaker who alluded to his can
didate as "the war horse that snuffed
the battle from afar," climbed up to the
composition room with club after
reading it in the paper as "the ward
boss that snatched the bottle from Il
barr Boston Commercial Bulletin.
"That reporter gave you great
racket" said an Austin gentleman to II
singer who had participated in an am
ateur performance. 81 know he did,
but Pm going to stop his mouth" :"
Are you going to shoot him 7" "No !;
I'm going to invite him to dinner" u
Texas Siftings.
1t was IA cOlOred preacher who said
to his flock: 1--WE have a collection to
make this morning, and for the glory
of heaben whichever of you stole Mr..
Jones' turkeys don't put anything on
| the plate" One who was there says,
Every blessed niggah in de church
came down with the rocks"
Two young fellows stood in front of
"A billboard the other night, intensely
perusing the announcement of the
| Boston Ideal opera company. Finally,
one remarked, "What is the Boston
IDEAL anyhow The other looked
ut him half contemptuously for mo-
ment, and replied in a deprecatOry
tone: Don't you know what the 'BOs-
ton IDEAL isl Why, you ninny, it's
baked beans"
A New York woman, living opposite
IA milk store, brought suit against the
dealer to restrain him from carrying
on his business so near her house, be-
cause of the hideOus din which he
raised all day but the judge refused
to restrain him. When a nervous
woman can't stand the racket made by
"A pump handle it is a mighty mean
Judge who won't order milk dealer to
substitute hy drant.-L NOrr. Herald.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1883-08-31
SardillcS.

Nearly all of the fish eaten in America
as sardines come from Maine. They
are small herring. Sometimes only a
bushel or two are taken at Il time, and
ut others so many rs to endanger the
net. The degree of deXterity with
which they are cleaned is astonishing,
especially as it is done by very young
children. After this they are placed
on large gridirons, and suspended over
hot fire to boil. The boxes are pre-
pared with attractive French labels in
dicating olive oil, hut this is false, as
the oil is cottonseed. The packing is
another operation at winch little peo-
pie are expert. \ fish is seized in
each hand and laid lengthwise in the
box. first Il head at the outer end and
then tail. After the boxes are full,
small quantity of oil is poured in,
and then they are passed to men who
solder them tightly. They are next
thrown into an immense caldrOn, where
they are boiled two hours, thus COM
pleting the cooking process, and dis
solving the bones of the fish. One of
the establishments in Lubec prepares
about / 1000 boxes daily, and there are
nineteen such places in Eastport, be
sides many others at seaport towns.
The actual cost per box including all
expenses is said to be five cents. n.
Y. Sum
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1883-08-31
A Blind Mathematical Wonder.

Pardon Tillinghast of Danielsonville,
CT, who is entirely blind, barely dis
tinguishing day from night, has re-
Gently performed some wonderful feats
in mental arithmetic. His attention
was called to some facts in regard to
the combination of figures AZ, ,S57. If
multiplied by , the product is 2S5, III
the same figures and in the same order,
only starting with another and chang
ing the first two to the extreme right.
Multiplying by 3, 4, >, a like result is
obtained, that is, the figures are the
same and succeed each other in Il sim
liar way. This led to IL careful study
of these figures, and he soon found
that preceded by the decimal point
they are the decimal equivalent of -.
He found, too, that this is the repetend
of IA repeating decimal. His thoughts
were in this way turned to the fraction
II, and he performed mentally the OPP
Grafton of reducing its square, l-49, to
IA repeating decimal having repetend
of IL places times as many as that
of -. Then he took the cube of II,
equal to I-3l3, and performing the
prodigiOus feat OF turning this into Il
repeating decimal whose rcpetend has
29l figures, or six times as many as
that of 40. All this, of course, with
out mark to aid the calculation OF
the memory. 1t filled leisure hours of
number of days. He would work
the division ten places at one operation,
holding in memory the result, includ-
ing the remainder, for hours or days,
| till he could work the next ten, and so
on until he had the entire repeteGd.
The necessity for frequent provings of
his work added to it's complications.
| The mathematicians of those parts
doubt whether this mental effort has
ever been excelled, at any rate by a
| blind man.
The worlds history is a divine poem,
of which the history of every nation is
IA canto and every man a word. Its
strains have been pealing along down
the centuries, and though there have
been mingled the discOrds of warring
cannon and dying men, yet to the
Christian, philosopher and historian
the humble listener-there has been a
divine melody running through the
song which speaks Of hope and halcyon
days to come Garfield.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1883-08-31
HiInble-LOng.

How many words are used by little
folks, and by larger ones too, without
IA knowledge of their meaning! There
are glimpses, now and then, of the
blunders which are made through a
hearers misapprehensiOn of a familiar
phrase or common word but the
half is never suspected by any preach
er, or teacher, or parent. Mamma"
recently asked bright little boy of
six years old, d,-"mamma, what is a
himbleP" "a himble7" repeated his
mother wOnderingly. "Why, where
did you hear that word ?" "Why, it's
in my Sunday school hymn, Little ones
to himblelOng. What is himble ?"
There was Il CHEEKY sound to that word,
as it jingled ont in the Sunday school
singing Little ones to Him belong;"
and, if it was anything reasonable, that
he would "himble" as long as the rest
of his class. Wise questioning brings
out a good many such blunders as that
but, as a rule, the children have to do
the questioning.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1883-08-31

Eight months ago John GOuton of
EversOn, Pennsylvania, while drinking
water from spring, at West Oyerton,
swallowed Il small lizard. 1t often
came up in his mouth and gave him
much trouble. The other day, he fast
ed for twentyfour hours, after which
he ate a handful of salt, and laid down
beside a pail of water. The lizard
came up into his mouth. He closed his
teeth on it, grasped it with his hand,
and threw it to the ground. 1t was
five inches long.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1883-08-31
The Haunted Man.

The Haunted Man is taking his hol-
iday sadly. Wherever he goes he Is
pursued by trouble and veXatiOn. He
is making a tour of pleasure with his
wife and children, but everything turns
out wrong. Others find amusement in
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1883-08-31

Telegraph poles are exactly ten rods
apart, and thirty-two of these poles
consequently make n mile. In order
to find out how fast a railway train is
going, all that is necessary is to record
the time, and when you have counted
thirty-two poles you have gone mile,
and your watch will tell you the time
taken to cover the distance.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1883-08-31

But you stand by and see them, and
you offer not word of rebuke. You
are your brothers keeper. Every
night we cannot be sure but that some
souls eternal destiny has been spoken
by our lip and stamped by the seal of
our deed Charles F. Thwing.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1883-08-31
st. Johnsbury Church Directory.

Aduent-Paddock Village Sabbath Services at
1880 a. m. las and G:3O p. m. sabbath school
II III. Prayer Meetings at 1880 p. m Sunday, Tues
day and Friday evenings.
Bdptist-Railroad Street Corner Maple Rev.
L. l. sanford, Pastor. Preaching 1880 >. N. :.
School II ~. Prayer meeting $50. Prayer meet
ing Wednesday evening at 7:30.
Free Bdptist-Main Street. Corner Prospect.
sabbath services 1890 AN, and $50 p. NJ. sabbath
School at IL NJ. Prayer meeting Wednesday even
ng at 7.3O.
Church Of the Messidh-t tUniversalist) Eastern
avenue. corner Cherry street Sabbath services
at Iu:3o A NJ. 6.3O 2. NJ. Sabbath School at L. NJ.
Wednesday evening meeting at 1870.
Methodist-Central street. Rev. +. W. Culver
Pastor Residence next to the Church. Sab
bath services at I0:30 and $3.50 NJ. Sabbath
School at II N. Wednesday evening meeting at
1.3O.
Church. Rev. Henry W Jones, Pastor. sabbath
services at 1890 NJ. and $50 +. NJ. Sabbath
school at las P. NJ. Wednesday evening meeting
at 7:j0.
ward +. Fairbanks. Pastor. sabbath services at
1890 A NJ. and $50 P NJ. sabbath School at l. NJ.
Wednesday evening meeting AT 1880
Presbyterian Church-Eastern Avenue. Rev. W.
K. Laird, pastor. sabbath services at 1880 a.
300, $50 y. IN. Sabbath school at II III. Prayer
meeting Wednesday evening 1870.
St Andrei0's-( Episcopal) Main street Rev.
f. :. Fisher, Rector. Services Sundays at
1880 a. m, and ; p. IN. Wednesdays at 7:3O p. M.
sunday School, at IL IN.
Roman Catholic-Cherry Street. Rev. j. \.
iiuissOnnault Parish Priest. Mass and 10 a /;
Ncspers and BenedictiOn at p. III. On the
second sunday of the month, service at $50 a M,
and =. III. At Lyndonvilc same day at 1890 a m.
T. n q. A.-Meetings at the hall of the Y. NJ. c.
A. Main street SUNDAY mornings at $50, Satur-
day evenings at 73O Young Mems meeting sun
day AT 80 y. Noon meeting every day at
rooms on Eastern avenue.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1883-08-31
st. Johnsbnrx Athenmmm

Library and Reading -RoOm,-Free to all. OpeI
from 4. N. to L. NJ; from to =. NJ, and from
20 : - Saturday evenings.
Art Gallery-Open Tuesdays and Fridays
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1883-08-31
TELEGRAPH Office.

Western Union aud VI. InterhdtiOnGl-in ST.
.Iohnsbury House. Open from a. m, to p. III.
sundays to 10 a. m, to p. IN. Night messages
at hal rates
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1883-08-31
w. j. BRAY,
CONTRACTOR AND BUILDER,
Lumber Yard and Office Opposite
Odd Fellows Block,
r. r. Street, ST. JohnSbury.

All kinds Of Building Material for sale. Rough
and Dressed Lumber, Clapboards Shingle, Lath,
Doors, Sash and Blinds Brackets Mouldings
Hardware, Nails, Lime, Cement. and everything
necessary for building AT the lowest cash prices.
3-tf
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1883-08-31
Complete Heating Apparatus
for SIS.

\ large size BOynton Furnace in complete repair
with duplicate CRATE, for s75. aud fifty dollars
worth Of pipe and registers thrown in" The fur
mace is nearly newand was taken out TO make place
for steam heater. Z. VI. STONE
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1883-08-31

Commencing Oct. g. the mails will close at the
Post Office follows:
Passumpsc K. K. Way Mail, South, $50 a. IN.
No Danville 900 a.
st j. 4 l.. G.. K. K. Way Mail, East 2.15 y. M.
It. j. y l.. &. X. X. Way Mail. West, 800 y. III.
Montpelier & W. River, K. r. Way Mail 2.3O =.
PassumpsiC Il. r. Way Mail. North, 400 p. M.
West Concord and st. JoInshury East. $50 a. III.
Waterford, W. Watfd and l.. Wat'fd, 400 y. II.
Boston, New York Conn. X. Val Mail 500 p. IN.
Collections will be made from the mail boxes
season for the mail south in the morning,
and at 1 p. m. Collections will also be made from
the mail box at corner of Railroad Street and
Eastern Avenue, at a m and 73O p.
CHAS. =. CARPENTER, ID. Z. NJ.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1883-08-31
East st. .JOhnsbury.

COnyregdtonal-Sunday services at 1915 a. III.
and e 30 p. III. sabbath school at l2OO. Wednes
day evening meeting at $50.
Uethodist.-Supplied by Rev. g. K. Burnham.
sunday services at l.30 y. III.