davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-03-31
The Foreign Element,

The composite nature of the Amer1-
can population is shown in various ways
by the tables of the census of 1880,
which, in this department, may be re-
garded as reasonably correct, however
many faults there may be in other de-
partments. The figures concerning the
great cities of especial significance, be-
cause each of them is center of politi-
cal power, and their population is con-
.tinually growing by the influx of for
eigners seeking political advancement,
and of natives from the rural districts
who seek more active spheres for their
ventures in legitimate business, in spec
ulation, and also in politics. Looking
through the census tables, we find that
Philadelphia has a larger proportion OF
native Inhabitants than any Of the large
cities, except some of those in the South
ern States like Baltimore. New Orleans
and Louisville.
In New York the foreign inhabitants
are about 40 per cent, in Brooklyn
about so, in Boston about 81, in Chicago
about 10 Tor the same rs New York; in
Buffalo and Jersey city about SO, in
Cleveland and Newark nearly 40, in
Cincinnati about 3d.. while in Philadel-
phia they are only about % per cent. of
the whole population. On the basis of
these facts it may rightly be claimed
that Philadelphia is more distinctly
American than any of the cities named.
Comparison with New York exhibits
the composition of the two cities in
more detail, and we give this condensed
table showing the countries of which.the
respective inhabitants of the two cities
were natives at the time Of the census of
1890 .pas
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-03-31
A Little Girls BRIGHT Saving.

One of our Fife Lake citizens drank
part of glass of water the other day
and placed the cup on a table, where
the remainder of the water soon be
came unpleasantly warm. In little
while his daughter, whose name has
been recorded on The family record only
three short summers and an equal mum.
Der of long winters. climbed upon &
chair and tasted the water. She quickly
took the cup from her lips, and her face
expressed the most extreme disgust.
whats the matter dear?' inquired
her father.
"Oh, Eat wassar is ossul nastyr'
''No, it isn't; / just drank some Of
it. y
"Well, oo' drinked re cold all out OF
it, zen Fife Lake (Mich.) Comet.
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-03-31
THE NATIONAL GAME.
Ten Million Dollars Invested in Base Ball
PeraphernaIia.

Everything points to very exciting
and lively time among tl,es base bali
| players of this and other cities fsays the
New York J0ufmaL), not only among
| the professional, but also with the anna
/ teur clubs. Those who are i'm posi-
/ ton to know something about the
movements of the PLAYERS say there
| was never such a ssboom'' ms there is
| this year.
| A reporter of this paper called upon
| Peck q Snyder for information as to
the extentof the trade and the amount
| of money invested in the business dur
| ing the season. 1T was ascertained that
| fully 100000 base balls would be man
ufactured in this country this year, not
| taking into account the number made
| in Canada.
What do these balls cost on an av-
eragePn
about $l2 per dozen for good balls;
some are to be had for less, but these
are the balls used BY professional play
ers. You NAV safely state. that fully
So, 600, 900 will be spent in balls alone
Then there is large amount of money
spent in bats. belts, hats and in fact for
general outfit for baseball players.
A great deal of ingenuity is required
in making a base ball, and II great deal
OF science has got TO be brought into
play to make them perfect. In the cen
ter is fine round piece of Para gum,
which is covered by fine stocking yarn.
This is first stretched by machinery to
its tension. Then it is wound BY hand
so tight as to resemble solid piece of
material. The winding is done by
single strands alta time, which makes il
compact. A round of white yarn is then
put in and the whole covered with
plastic rubber cement. When this be-
comes hardit preserves the spherical
form of the ball, and prevents the inside
from shifting when the ball is struck by
the bat More yarn is put over this cement,
and finally the cover is added. q. The COW
ering is generally of thia horsehide, as
COW or goat skin becomes wrinkled and
wears loose after little knocking about.
The sewing is done by hand, catgut be-
ing used instead of thread.
Before the ball is completed it has
to go through many hands, as no one
man makes it from the beginning TO the
end. One does the winding; then an
other fits the cover over it; but few
become proficient in the art of sewing
on the cover
. How long does it take to make
them?"
"A dozen good workmen ought to be
able to turn out twenty-five dozen in a
day, and for this they get good wages.
Some of the manufacturers put carpet
listing in the balls, but this can be easily
detected when the batting begins. This
is only done in cheap balls, such as used
by the boys. These are made in cups,
which revolve by fast-moving machin-
cry. The insides are made of scraps of
leather and rubber then carpet listing
is woven around the ball. 1t takes
about ten minutes to turn out one OF
those balls complete"
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-03-31
Forrot tina De4a;la.

Returned and bearded traveller, rush.
ing up to former acquaintance with en-.
thusiasm: why. How are you, old
manP"
Short-sighted and absent minded for
mer acquaintance (doubtfully) EhF
How do you doP''
''Why, man alivei Don't you remem-
Der Bob Traverse
Yes, yes. Forged check, didn't
he.
indignantly: Mo-
(Refiectively): MOP Cut his wife's
throat, wasn't it?''
mo, sir. =
'.Dear me, of course not He was the
man who embezzled the trust funds and
went off with Thompson's wife, wasn't
hep
(Furiously): mo, sir; I am Bob Trav-
ers''
(Mildly): tsYou don't say so. Well,
what was it you did, anyhow
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-03-31

EeG w EkSN EzAO4 % LkSE
Dt'tng Cars fer eating PURPOSES only. oneoEhe
! rt all hours OF the day.
ana MiSa3ur! rivers at all points crossed bY this
line and transfers are avoided at Council HiunR
| Kansas city, Leavenworth. and Atchison, cOns
neett9ns being made IN Union Depots.
THIS GREAT THROUGH LINE ARE Az
= AZ GHIoAGo. with an dlvsrcins lipcu FOR tue
At T;NaLEgoqn with the L. s. & IA g.. ana p
~ WAsIIIaGToN EiEIazrs. with p. c. 3 So
ALTA SALE, with III Cent. R.R.
W; III. Mid; and T. p K W. Rda. = --'' q - .
AZ ASEnPolsT, with the Davenport Divisloa
AZ WEST LlBERTY, with the r., C.R.&NR~
It bEs NOISES. Win Is Il N. & 3. b. Il. n.
Al COUNCIL BLUFFS with Union Pacf0c n n
At OMAHA. with b. & hao. RI r. Il. IN NebA
AtCoLUMBUs j NcrEoN,w with B., r. q n. REl
AZ OTIUMWA. with Central IoWaR r. We.
81. L. q Pac.. and G. 3. Q. r.. Rds.
An kEoKUK. with Toll Peo. q VVnr.. wan n,
Louis a Fac.. and 81 4, Keo: 4 NV. h. Rdas
- CAMERON. with ii. Sc. j. II. n.
at ATcHIsoN with Atch Topeka 4 Santa Faa
Atch y keD. AID Cen. BF. u. p ii. Rda
r, As lyEApENWoETH. with Kan. Pao, ana Kar.
AtkASsAs CITY. with all lines FOR the wsus
n through co FEORKA. mrs AFOFEwa
and LEAVfEN w NJ TaH -
|. ~ tareas Rock leland Routes'' arc seid Sv
sr h0ass ticket oaaes. address,
Lie ST. JOHN.
Gem TiGsas ana RasS'aFRA,
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-03-31
Striking Head Lines

are used to call attention the fact that this is an
advertisement of the CHICAGO, MILWAUKEE
X ST. PAUL RAILWAY.
Its ElGHr Trunk Lines traverse the best por-
tions of Northern Illinois, WISCONSIN, MINNEsoTA
DAKOTA and Iowa.
Located directly its lines are the cities OF Chi
caso Milwaukee, Ia Crosse, Wnona, ST. Paul,
Minneapolis Madison. Prairie da Chen Mason
city, Sioux City, Yankton, Albert Lea, Aberdeen,
Dubuque Rock Island. Cedar Rapids and Council
Bluffs as we'll as innumerabe other principal busi-
ness centres and favorite resorts and passengers
going West, North South or East are able to nse
the CHICAGO, MILWAUKEE II ST. PAUL RAILWAY to
the best advantage.
Ticket offices everywhere supplied with
maps and Time Tables which detail the merits of
the line and ageAts stand ready to furnish infor
nation, and sell tickets at cheapest rates the
Chicago, Milwaukee x st. Paul Railway.
s. s. MERRILL, A Y. II. CARPENTER,
General Manager Gen Pass. & KIT ct.
j. T. CLARK, GEO. II. HEAFFORD,
Genl. Sup't. Asst Gen. Pass. Agt
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-03-31

unfaiiiusg ard fnfaNg.
5 5 ~ curing Epilepfie
Fits Spasims, ront4lf.
sioIH, SC Wins Dance
Alcoholism. Opium Eaf
ing, HpernatOfTh0r9
Seminal Weakness. I'm
potency, Syphilis. Ss.rof
ulaand ALI Nervoug urei
blood Diseases. Todsirr.
RyTnen, Lawyers. Lite
ary Men. Ncrehaufe
bankers, Ladtes and nj
whose aofientary en-
psoLmcut causes Nerv
Gus FroEtratioa, Irrpn-n
iatities OF the blood.
stomach. bowels or
Kidneys, or who re
eulre n nerve tonic, APP
patiNeF or sfimuiant.
SAMARITAN NERVfEE
Is Invaluable Thous-
ands proclaim ID tho
most wonderful 8nvig
GRANT that ever susfni1-
ed the sinking system
For sale by ali Drug
gists.
VI MEDICAL Co.
sfOV,n. ~. .Fn.a-.l H'r..
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-03-31
Total population. SAT, ITO 1,

UIdI pUpuIUtIoIl q A'0 y -Do
Here it is seen that the people of for
eign birth in Philadelphia are consider
ably less than one-fourth of the whole
population, while in New FORK they are
nearly three-fifths The Irish predomi-
nate over the other foreigners in both
cities; bat New York has nearly twice
as many of them as Philadelphia, and
they are almost one-sixth of the whole
population. OF Germans, New York
has nearly three times as many as Phil
adelphia, and the proportion of other
foreigners is as great or greater, except
of English; for while there are 26,315 of
these in Philadelphia, there are only g.
$40 more in the much larger city
Philadelphia Bulletin.
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-03-31
ROCK ISLAND & MERCER co., r. r.
ROCK ISLAND & PIORIA
kAILW a n.
SHORTEST ROUTE THE
EAST AND SOU III

Trains leave Rock Island
4OO a. m. Way Freight.
S45 Fast Express
40 D. M Mail and Express
$50 - Through Freight and Accommodations
Trains arrive at Rock Island
23Oa m Through Freight and Accommodation.
AS D m Mail and xpreSS-
$40 - Fast Express.
400 - Way Freight.
The FAST EXPRESS, leaving Rock Island at $50
A. m arrives Peoria 1a.2O p. M, at Springtle ID
4 % p M, at Decatur 4u0p M LAC ksonviiie 80
n M Alton 20 p. M, 81 Louis $40 p. m and
Tcrre iiaute II 80 p. M, THE SAME DAY Making
this the BEsF and QUICKEST route To all points
southeast
The / 80 o IN. train makes close connection at
tlalya with c. Il q. for points west; arriving at
taesburg at 425 p. m, at Burlington o.4O p m. at
keokuk ii. - p. m, and at Quincy 1D.O5 p. M
ArrlS in al Peoria ut 6.3U u. m, making close
connexions with the /. r. & W. and T. p w
for In annapolis, connecting there with all fast
trains for ihc east ana south.
sF-FAST TINE SURE CONNEC1IOES, aud
rates as low as by any other route.
Il. :. CABLE, A. \. MORTON,
t4en'l SupI Cfen' Tkt. ACT
The 80 p. M. Accommodation leaves every day
except sunday
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-03-31
ROCK ISLAND Il PEORIA RAILWAY.


(sHoBTEsT ROUTE THE EAST AND VEST
LEAVE ARRIVE,
Fast Express 49,. 600 A. NJ 100 p. NJ.
Mail and E,.....1:0 5 p. NJ 12 :35 p NJ.
Accommodation, ........ z 100 p. N. goo A. NJ
Wav Preight 100 A. NJ 400 p. NJ.
The As D. m. train makes close connection
at Galva with the c. B. Il O., for points west; ar
irving at Gaesburg at 4:25 p. M; Burlington $40
p. m; Keokuk 1928 p. m; Quincy 1895 p m ;
also making close connection at Peoria with L. Il.
q w, and Il P e W, roads for all points east
and south-
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-03-31
Administrators Notice.

Estate of Frederick RadIof, deceased.
The undersigned, having been appointed Admin
istrator with the will annexed, of the estate OF
Frederick Radloff, late of the county of Rock Is
land State of Illinois, deceased hereby gives no
tce that he will appear before the county eouri
of Rock Island county, at the office OF the Cler6
of said Court, in the city of Rock Island, at the
April term on the Third Monday in April next
at which time all persons having claims against
said estate are notified and requested to attend
for the purpose of having the same adjusted
All persons indebted to said estate requested
10 make immediate payment to the undersigned
Dated this Isl day of March. A. D.. 1883.
JOHN T. HASS. Administrator
INCH 2-1M6W WITH the W III annexed
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-03-31
CHICAGO, ROCK ISLAND g. PACIFIC r. Y,
81 THIS GREAT CONNECaTTN

kO UhEA A1SkN LINN
Its main line runs from Chicago 80 Courctl
0eneseo, Moline. Rock Island. Davenport, West
Liberty. Iowa City. Marengo, Brooklyn, Grinneli.
Des Mcines (the capital OF Iowa. stuart, ATTAIN
Ec, ana Avoca with branches froln Birea1
Junction TO Peoria; Wilton junction to Musca !.
tine Washington, Fairfield, Eldpn. BelknaS.
Centrcville, Princeton Trenton. Gallatin, Came
rcD. Leavenworth, At.Shison, ana Kansas City;
washington 90 Sgoarney, Oskaloosa. and KNOX
etlle; Keokuk 10 Pennington, BonapaTte, Benz
eonsport independent, Eldon. OttS-rnwA, Eddy
vile. OslSaioosa- Pella. Monroe, and Dies Moines;
TTinrerses; Atlantic 70 Lewis and Audubon; and
Avoca TO Harlan. This IL positively the only
Railroad, which owns ard operates through
line from Chicago into the State of Kansas.
man Palace Cars attached, are run each --ay daily
between CHICAGO and PEORIA KANSAS CITY,
COUNCIL BLUFFS, LEAv ESWORTH ard ATCHI-
son. ThrouRh cars arealsor run between Nj lwau-
Rock Island Short Line"
The " Great Rock Island" 10 magnihcently
equipped Its road bed is SIMPLY perfect. 1rG its
WHAT win please you most viii be the pleasure
OF enjoying your meals, wnlie passing over the
beautiful praires of Illinois and Iowa, In one OF
our magnificent Dining Cars that accompany ali
Through Express Trains: You Get an entire
tor SevenLy-fve cents.
Approaching the fact that majority OF che
,seopie prefer separate apartments for dlnerent
purposes land the immense passenger business
of tfis line warranting it,, we are pleased 70 am
nource that this Company runs Pullman Palaces
Sleeping Cars for sleeping purposes. and E0LGce
PULLMAN PALACE CARS arc gu
CGUECKEl BLUFFS. KANSAS CITY.
Oil Ticket Agents tn the United States
. For information nat Obesakn8b1e at "a
-. H. CABLE.
Vice Preaident anc 0er9 Asnag@
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-03-31
CHICAGO, BURLINGTON X QUINCY.
MINIATURES l. ST. PAUL.

Trains No Z. 8, 0 and 30 are Maquoketa Branch.
Trans and T. Accommodation for oxford juno
zion; and 2, Passenger, for Cemar
EE ID. w. HOEMES, Agent
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1883-12-13

tempt to conquer the rats failed. They
were running the financial prospects
of the island The first attempt to in
troduce the animals destructive to
rats failed. The refile ant killed rats.
but it also killed birds, chickens, land
calves. The aquattoads were quite
as great an evil as the rats, as they
killed birds and chickens and destroy
ed eggs. Ferrets We're destroyed by
the native chigoes. Fox terriers were
cut by the sharp edges of the leaves
of the sugar cane. Then mongoose
were introduced and in a short time
the rats were exterminated. The
Mongoose breeds rapidly, and he
soon spreads over the island. "
What Will you do with this pair
of mongooses2"
Il shall breed and use. them in my
business. One mongoose will eat
all the rats in the biggest house in
town.
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1883-12-13
The Largest Materfall

A paragraph is going the round of
the papers to the effect that America
has long been the Posssssor of the
largest tree, the largest cave and the
largest waterfall in the world. This
is quite mistake as to the waterfall.
and it will probably surprise many Of
ourreaders to learn that South Africa
pos sesses a waterfall very much larger
in every respect than the Falls of Nj
agara. A memorandum in the hand
writing of the late Mr.. Thomas Balm
es. +. r. G.. S. :, runs as follows: ''The
widh of the Victor Falls is 1900 yards,
or 40 yards more than a mile; the
hight is 400 feet, and the hight to which
the spray-cloud rises is about ], 200
feet. Niagara is $50 feet high and 600
yards wide, or 100 yards more than
half mile. So that the Victoria Falls
are nearly twice as wide as the Falls
of Niagara and more than one and one
half times as high
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1883-12-13
Snakes IN Nebraska.

According to science the number of
snakes killed near Falls City, Neb.,
during the late overflow Of the Nehe-
ma River is almost beyond belief.
They were driven by the water from
the bottom Ian DIS to the higher grounds
and especially to the embankments
thrown up for railways. 1t is estima-
ted that 2, 00s snakes were killed with
in a mile from town, They were
chiefly garter snake s, but water moe
easins, blue racers, and rattlesnakes
were also killed A horse confined in
a pasture in the cyerhowed district
who, when found was discovered to
have several sn axes in his name
The overhowed district would not
average more than mile in width,
and it is astonish ing WHARF so many
snakes found hi diag-places. Nearly
all the snakes in this country are
confined to the creek and river bot
toms.
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1883-12-13
Mr.. Isaacsen's MOngOOses.
New York Sun.

New York Sun.
Il have just received the only
mongooses that have ever come to
America, and | wouldn't sell them for
a thousand dollars apiece" said Mr..
Isaacsen, yesterday, as he led the way
to pen about four feet square, in
which two little animals were moving
about briskly. Mr. Isaacsen is a des-
troyer of vermin by profession. and
an enthusiast by nature.
Look at them" he exclaimed. as
he tossed a bit of meat into the pen.
"They are the inveterate enemy of
the rat. They kill foxes and beasts of
all sorts. and eat snakes. They attack
all animals in the same way. They
spring upon their prey and eat into
the back of the neck, and then up the
head, and go on until the animal is
entirely consumed Nothing can
shake them off. They eat rats entire
ly up in marvolously short order
Everything is eaten-bones, flesh,
hair and tail A rat will fly from a
mongoose with the widest terror, but
it is useless. The mongoose always
catches it.
The piece of meat that Mr.. Isaa9sen
had thrown into the pen was seized
by one of the mongooses. The an
imal was a trife larger than rat,
and was covered with brown hair
about half an inch long Six or seven
stripes of white hair ran around its
body, and its face was black. Its lit
tie eyes twinkled brightly. The tail
was short. The ferocity Of the mon
goose when il seized the meat was ex-
traordinary. 1t has four claws on
each foot that look like curved
single nails. 1t sunk its claws into
the meat, and, with ferocious tug,
rent the close fibres apart. AS it did
so, it dived in between its paws with
its sharp nose. and, with a rapid mo-
ton of the Jaws, ate a hole into the
meat until half its head was imbed
ded. Then it abruptly withdrew its
head, thrust its claws into the hole it
had made, and tore the beef again.
Again it began to eat, and in a mo-
ment more it had torn the chunk of
beef intwo pieces. The female mon
goose came forward and began to eat
one
Are you sure those are the only
specimens ofmongeese in American"
'Mongooses, my dear sir Yes, l
am positive. | sent for them myself
TO Calcutta nearly year ago ] read
an article in the Sun, Dec. rs, 1889,
about the introduction of the mon
goose into the West India, and sent
at once for a pair. They arrived in
the ship Marietta a few days ago.
The Captain didn't feed them crumb
on board. They lived during the
whole trip on the rats they caught.
The mongooses were very successful
wien they were introduced into the
Island Of Jamaica. The island was
so oyenun with rats that the people
gave up cultivating tie soil Extea-
slye farms were neglected Every at
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1883-12-13
Not Human Beings.

A Chinese placard posted over the
Yunan Province, next to Tonquin,
gives this interesting information
The European do not belong to the
human race They are descended
from monkey and from geese besides,
they much resemble monkeys.
Their hearts are like the
heart of the devil; there
fore they are called KouiTse, which
signifies European devils These
savages believe neither in heaven or
eartk, dc not honor their fathers or
mothers, do not venerate their ances-
tors; the sancity of family ties are
unknown among them. They are a
veritable herd of pigs, a pack of dogs
they are even talking about equality
they have no notion of social rank,
and make no distinction between
father and son. kind and subject. You
will ask, perhaps, how it is that such
savages could be skillful enough 70
make steamers, railroads and watches.
Know, then, that those who come
among US under pretext of preaching
religion, do tear out the eyes and the
brains of dying Chinese, and collect
the blood of our children to manufac-
ture into pills, which they sell to their
countrymeu in order to make them
skillful, Only those among them
who have thus eaten of our substance
become intelligent enough to make
those discoveries of which they are
40 yaiuplOriOus
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1883-12-13
Jolly testers Jokes.

Political pressure always smells OF a
moor brand of whiskey and bad
grade of plug tobacco.
A Western editor has the writers
cranap. not in his fingers, but in his
laws. While writing editorials his
mouth follows the motion of the
shears, and in this way the trouble is
brought about.
A Jersey man has been trying to
sell an eagle in New York, without
success. What the public wants are
not eagles, but samples of the rope
that was used in the last Jersey hang
ing.
The New York Morning Journal
remarked short time ago that the
baby is the oasis of married life. "
We have heard of bowling wilder
ness, but who ever heard of bowling
oasis2
The Pittsburg Leader announces
that Bismarck is able to sit on his el-
bow and drink cup of tea. 1t is not
surprising that man who can so
often get up on his ear should at last
be able to sit on his elbow.
When you Teet man these days
with a careworn expression on his
customarily happy face, do not mis-
Judge him by concluding that his
business or domestic affairs are in a
bad state. He is simply wondering
what on earth he shall buy for Christ
mas presents this year.
North Cardinals new code of law
fixes the fee for a marriage license at
three dollars. In very many cases
there are two souls with but "a single
thought whose hearts will have to
beat as two for year or so longer.
Such an excessive tariff amounts to
virtual protection of the men of North
Carolina
How he would manage it.-A wild
ow who has recently married again,
for the sake of appearances, made a
visit to the stonecutter charged with
keeping in repair the mausoleum of
her first husband She explained to
the said stonecutter that everything
must be in perfect order, adding
"Above all, don't forget to renew the
flowers" / shall not fail to do so. :"
And to put two large crowns on the
tomb. " Madame can rest easy
with a knowing air). | will SO ar
range things that no one can possibly
suspect Madame has taken a second
husband