davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Penn's Grove record., 1884-03-01
The Value of Alaska.

Senator Ingalls,, OF Kansas, Is au-
thority for the ruthless and sweeping
condemnation Of Alaska as ''the most
worthless territorial acquisition any
government was ever afflicted with
1t is certain to those who know much
about Alaska that 1t is not nearly the
worthless territorial acquisition" that
he brands 1t. In the first place, Alaska
is very large-larger than all that terri
tory which forty years ago "a known
as the "Great American Desert"
whereof the State of Kansas is a part,
and forty years ago not esteemed more
highly than the Senator now holds
Alaska. In the second place, Alaska
has very valuable fisheries of salmon,
cod, halibut and king salmon, as yet
but little developed, but enough to in
dictate that in a few years. with a suit
able government for that territory, they
will be worth as much as those Of New
F0undland and Nova Scotia, both for
food supply and the creation of a mer-
camille marine on the American coast
of the Pacific. In the third place
Alaska is covered in many parts with
the best forests in the world.
Alaska has mines of gold, copper,
iron and coal, not much developed as
yet, but enough to encourage the hope
that, after the gold mines south Of
them in our country shall be exhausted
Alaska will become n Of the greatest
producers of this metal In the world.
It's climate is on the coast less rigor-
Gus than that of Newfoundland, or
Sweden, or Norway, or the Baltic coast
of Russia. There are good reasons for
the belief that wheat a be made a
profitable crop In parts of the Yukon
valley. And the cedars of Alaska are
better and infinitely more i%nexhaust-
able than the famed cedars of Lebanon.
Such a country, covering as it does an
area of more than half a million square
miles. having a long coast line, good
harbors, many habitable islands, mines
IF the precious and useful metals,
forests without end, fisheries and great
rivers, albeit its depths are as yet I'M
explored, is not to be condemned out
of hand as the Kansas Senator con-
damDS il
The Penn's Grove record., 1884-03-01
Some Majestic Brutes.

The average visitor to the geological
gardens looks yer the fence, sees a horn
projecting in a sort of oblique vicious
ness out of the door of a shed, says:
"Oh! its only a bull of some sort" and
passes on. Sometimes, however, he
stops, for the bull, as he calls it, turns
out to be a very large buffalo, and in a
very bad temper. The truth is that on
the other side of the fence is another
bull, " the sacred zebu of India, who
is also very much out of temper, and
the two animals being just able to sniff
at each other through a chink are tor
mented by a desire to get into the same
enclosure and fight it out. Now, Meth
er of them knows what kind of an ami
NAL is on the other side Of the fence.
The African buffalo has never seen an
Asiatic zebu in all his life. But that
does not matter to either of them. All
they ask for is no fence between them
and 40 favor. But as the society has
imported these animals at a large ex-
pense, and keeps them at considerable
cost, this is the one boon which the
combative animals should never expect
TO have granted. They'd do not, of course,
understand this: The consequence is
that they make their lives a burden to
themselves by butting and prodding at
the wooden palings, under the idea, no
doubt, that if they only go on long
enough the pailings will fall and they
will then be able to butt and prod each
other. Each in his way is a great beast
quite apart from the generous spirit
in which they challenge unknown ad-
versarieS-and they represent together
n of the noblest families of wild ami
mails. They are the descendants of the
reem, the animal that had such wide
horns that Noah $50 the Talmudists say
could not get it into the ark, and had
to tow it behind-and of the urls,
which Julius Caesar says was only a tri-
he smaller than the elephant. And to-
day they are the brothers of the Ameri-
can bison, ''the majestic brutes that
roam in herds which shake the EARTH"
and of the gigantic gore of the Indian
swamps. 1t is not true that the latter
snuff up chunks of stone with their
noses and then discharge them with the
force OF eatapults at those who attack
them, but it is beyond doubt that they
have no hesitation whatever in ''going
for'' anything that stands in front of
them.
The Penn's Grove record., 1884-03-01

were quite frequently made with border
clans. and their feuds with n another
were always taken advantage OF by the
Wardens of the Marches when it was
possible to do 50. The Himalayan hill
tribes are very primitive in many re-
spects. They are very fond of tobacco,
which they chew like Yankees, and
some of them can only tell the .ength of
a Journey, or the distance between two
places, by estimating the number of
plugs of the weed consumed on the way.
The Akas of Assam are among the most
incorrigible of the professional robbers.
There are two clans of them, designat-
ed respectively ''the eaters of a thou
sand hearths," and ''the the thieves
who Turk in the cotton field" These
suggestive names no doubt express tn.
character Of the Akas quite faithfully
Mr.. Hunter says that they are "Gerce,
black, understood and ill-fed, y and they
are the terror and scourge of the low
lands. Hitherto only small expeditions
have been sent against them; but since
they have grown so bold as to kidnap
English officials as well as native cattle,
it is probable that that their subjuga-
ton will be seriously undertaken before
long. Among these people, neverthe-
less, it is possible that interesting relics
of aboriginal tradition and legend might
be found by patient inquiry, for there
can be no doubt that the hill tribes of
the Himalayas claim a very remote an
tiQuity.
The Penn's Grove record., 1884-03-01

VII the world ever get over the idea
that Friday is an unlucky day? That
more than can be proved. But admit
ting all that is claimed, there have been
many events occurring on this unlucky
day that were decidedly the reverse Of
unlucky. OF course, a long list might be
given, but a few, connected chiefly with
American history, will do. On Friday,
August 3. l492, Columbus sailed from
Palos, on his memorable voyage of dis
covery, and on Friday, October 18th,
he discovered the first land, the island
which he called San Salvador. On
Friday, March 5, 1896, Henry VIII
commissioned John Cabot, and this
commission is the first English state
paper on record concerning America.
On Friday, September 7, 1895, st. Aug.
Justine, Fla, was founded-the oldest
town in the United States. On Friday,
November 10, 1920, the "Mayiower'
made land at ~Princetown, and on the
same day the Pilgrims signed the COM
pact which was the %forerunner of our
constitution. On Friday, December ~,
1920, the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth
Rock. On Friday, February d, 1892,
Washington was born. On Friday,
October 16, 1875, Bunker Hill was
seized and fortified. On Friday, Oc-
tober 8, 1777, occurred the surrender at
Saratoga. On Friday, September %,
1850, Arnold's treason vas discovered.
On Friday, October 10, 1881, Cornwall
lis surrendered at Yorktown, and the
war for independence ended in COM
plete victory. Other events might be
named. In the Var with Mexico the
battle of Palo Alto began on Friday.
The northwestern boundary question,
which threatened war with England,
was settled on Friday of the same year.
On Friday the C%onfederates captured
Fort Sumter, and precipitated the war
for the Union. The Port Royal forts
were taken by the Union forces on
Friday; the battle of Pea Ridge closed
on Friday, slavery was abolished in the
District of Columbia on Friday; Fort
Pulaski was taken, Memphis was taken,
Fredericksburg bombarded, the battle
of Gettysburg was ended, Lee defeated
at Five Forks, the Union flag restored
to Fort Sumpter, all on Friday.
The Penn's Grove record., 1884-03-01

"Plush is used to a large extent in
making picture frames" a frame ma
ker said, especially the smaller frames.
Some are made entirely of it, and some
have borders only. A fiat gold leaf
frame, with bands of silk plush next to
the picture, makes a very pretty effect"
"What colors are most used2'
"Red and old gold, The red, how
ever, seems to be liked better. On the
small easel frames used for photographs
blue is also used. Oil paintings are
rarely put in frames with plush on them.
Engravings, water color pictures, and
painted china generally have plush
framing"
"What quality of plush is made
up?"
Chiefly good silk plush. Some very
common frames are made from cotton
plush, but their inferiority is too pal
pable to deceive any one. Squares of
plate looking-glass with bevelled edges
are set in plush frames. They are large
and small, and there are great numbers
sold. There are large establishments
where hundreds of them are made
daily. They are very snowy, and they
set off a room even more than a picture.
| don't believe that there has ever been
50 much plush manufactured as there
is at present. Not only is 1t used for
frames, but for covers of albums, ladies'
satchels, and lots of other articles. 1t
is much cheaper, too, than it was"
"Do you think that its use for frames
will be permanently"
cts hard to tell. Very lately there
has been a demand for bronze and sill
yer frames. Figured brass frames
seem to be well liked. L have no doubt
that plush will be in fashion for q long
time to come"
The Penn's Grove record., 1884-03-01

Some years before The late wal otis
Burton, a former resident Of Bangor,
Maine, left there to seek his fortune IN
the West. He drifted to Missouri.
where he met an accomplished young
lady with whom he fell ia love. She
was pleased with him, but before he
made his passion known she moved to
a distant part of the South. About
this time the war broke out and the
two soon lost all traces of each other.
Burton joined the Union Army, and
was soon afterwards wounded, and as
1t was supposed ne would die, a letter
was sent to his mother informing her
that her son could not live. He, how
ever, was blessed with a g6od constitu-
ton and recO vered. He went back to
his regiment and was detailed with a
company to take supplies across the
plains. The party was attacked by In
dams ana every man in the force ex-
cept Burton killed. He was reported
to have been slain with the rest. The
Indians decided to let him live and
took him a prisoner to their retreat in
tie mountains of the Southwest. He
gradually recovered from the wounds
he had received in the encounter, made
himself agreeable to his captors and
adapted himself to their way of living
After he had been in captivity six
months or more he was allowed more
liberty, and now began to watch for a
chance to escape. The Indians had
stolen a number of ponies, and among
these "a n which Burton's practlced
eye showed him was highly bred,
swift, and gifted with speed and endur-
ance. This pony was cared for and
petted by Burton, and, he was al
lowed to ride him. One day he strayed
away further than usual, and though
not acquainted with the country, made
a dash for liberty. He was closely
pursued, but the gallant little pony had
the ''bottomD for a winning race. He
rode for three days, and then began to
see that he was getting out of the hos
tile county. In the distance he saw a
house which he knew must be Inhabi-
ted by whites. He shouted with joy,
feeling that he had gained freedom at
last. He knocked at the door of the
house ana a surprise awaited him. 1t
was opened by a women he had loved
in lang syne. He was at once recog-
nized and received a hearty welcome.
Burton told his adventures and narrow
escapes to a willing listener. She, too,
told her story. She had married a
Confederate officer who was afterward
killed in battle, and she now owned
the farm she occupied. Is it necessary
to tell the rest? They were betrothed,
there was a merry wedding, and the
happy couple are now living in a South
west State. Surely in real life are ro-
manassas strange and more interesting
'Than those woven by the fertile brain
of the novelist.
The Penn's Grove record., 1884-03-01

A recent expedition against the Akas
of Assam has recovered from them two
English officials whom they had cap
tured in one of their raids. Since it
was thought worth while to telegraph
this from Calcutta, it may be worth
while to state who and what the Akas
of Assam are. The foothills and spurs
of the Himalayas, on the northern
boundary of India, are inhabited by
many so-callsd hill tribes, who are. per-
hsps, aborigines, but certainly are much
less civilized than the jewellers in the
plains. Many of these hill tribes have,
from time immemorial occupied posi-
tions analogous to those of the Scottish
Highland clans up to the eighteenth
century. That is to say, they have re.
fused allegiance to any of the neighbour
ing potentates, have maintained a saw
age independence, and have subslsted
principally by forays upon the lowlands,
and the 'lifting'' of cattle, The Bri-
fish Government has tor years been en-
deavoriRg to quiet these Indian moss
troopers and border royers, and has sue
ceeded in engaging one tribe, the Abas,
to act rs a sort of irregular police, to
keep the peace of the border. Here,
too, the resemblance to the Highlanders
is borne out, fer similar arrangements
The Penn's Grove record., 1884-03-01
Awaiting His inevitable Fate.

Silas Rohrbacher, OF Hunters Range,
LuZerne county, Pa, mas sold his prop
erty and removed to another county
because Of his superstition that the
slayer of a white deer is are to die
soon or meet some other misfortune.
Rohrbacher and his son discovered a
white doe in the woods on Tuesday of
last week. 1t was lying PROSTATE on
tho ice and unable TO gain a hold by
which 1t might recover its footing.
Rohrbacher resolved to rescue the deer
from its position and at the same time
give 1t a place of security until the
snow had melted IN the woods. His
son went home and returned with an
empty feed bag ana two pieces of rope.
The bag was drawn over the does head
and her feet were tied with the ropes.
She was then lifted and carried to Rohr-
bacher's clearing, where it was turned
loose in the cattle shed with a COW and
a yoke of steers. 1t 500 became re-
conciled to Its position, and fed with the
cattle.
On Thursday last Rohrbacker went to
lhe shed to throw down hay to his cat
tie. As he opened the door a gust of
wind caught 1t and threw it vide open.
The doe caught a glimpse of the woods
through the open door and sprang
towards it. As the deer went past him,
Rohrbacker mechanically raised the
long-tined bay-fork he had in his hands
and thrust it at the deer. The tines
struck it In the side, and were buried
to the handle in its body. The tines
broke off as the deer leaped out of the
door and remained in its side. The doe
jumped the high log fence around the
cow-yard, and ran for a huLdred yards
down the road, when it staggered to one
side and fell heavily on the o
Rohrbacher ran to the spot and found
the doe dead. Almost crazed, he hur-
ried away to where some choppers were
at work in the woods, and told them
what had happened, and said that he had
sealed his doom. One of the men took
the deer's body into the woods, removed
the skin and threw the carcass in a
swamp, the meat beng unfit for food at
this time. The skin was sold for $40.
Two days later Rohrbacker left the
neighborhood.
White deer are exceedingly rare, not
more than a dozen having been seen III
the mountains of tins region. They
are always does and are said to be
larger than thu red doe. The last n
killed in Northern Pennsylvania pre-,
v1ous to the above mentioned one was
shot by three hunters in 1872, and the
believers in the white deer superstition
refer to that killing as a positive proof
of their belief. The hunters were
Hornbeek Simmer of Wilkesbarre, Chas.
Haney OF Luzerne county, and Lyman
S. Bevans of Port Jervis, n. Y. They
started the white deer on the Shohola
creek and each shot at it and hit it,
killing it. Simmer at that time was
proprietor OF the Exchange Hotel at
W~llkesbarre, wealthy and the picture
of health. Bevans was a prominent
merchant in his town and Haney
was largely interested IN coal mining
Sinner died a bankrupt after a painful
and lingering sickness about a year
afterwald, BeYans ia led in business
and blew out his brains and Haney
died from small -pox, a poor man and
al me.
The Penn's Grove record., 1884-03-01
Funeral Reform.

All earnest effort is being made in
England to secure funeral reform.
There IS a Church of England Funeral
and Mournitg Reform Association,
headed,bythe ArChb shops of Canterbury
and York, and a recent circular letter
issued by it points out three reasons for
reform, viz. the growth of a mistaken
idea Of death through the long-establish-
ed mourning and funeral observances:
the NEED of an organisation to give NOR
al support to those who otherwise could
not Withstand the tyranny of custom or
fashion; the extravaganza and waste
o~ccasioned among the poorer classes by
the ambition to have pompous and cost
ly funerals. All these reasons, it need
hardly be said, are as applicable in this
country as in England, and a funeral
reform association would be welcomed
here by all sensible people.
The Penn's Grove record., 1884-03-01

A FOUR year-old child complained to
her mother that her ''button-shoes" were
hurting" "Why. Matte, you've put
them on the wrong feetl' Puzzled and
ready to cry, she made answer.
"Wiat'n / do, mamma? They's all the
feet I've gotl'
"YEs," said Dadofallowski. III al
ways think of a physic an when l see
one of those horrid gin mixtures. ="
"Makes you sick2" "Oh. no. but it's a
fzz 1 shun."
CHEEKY PAssENaER-"Any fear o my
disturbing the magnetic currents, cap
tain, by goin' heal the compsss1' Gap
tain-"Ot no, sir. Brass has no effect
on it whatever, Sir"
The Penn's Grove record., 1884-03-01
LIEE

Life is an unsubstantial cloud,
That seems a moment to enshroud
The bright, immortal spirit,
Then fades away,
Nor leaves one ray
We now inherit.
Life Is a dream of gaudy shows,
Where many a brilliant object glows
In soft de}usive brightness,
Till color fades,
And all its shades
Blend into whiteness.
The Christians life is not a dream,
But it's an e~vanescent CLEAN.
Which, like the hueS of even,
Fades soft away,
And its last ray
Is lost in heaven.
The Penn's Grove record., 1884-03-01

There are two conditions necessary
to all effective sympathy-a kind heart
and delicate perceptions.
The great friend OF truth Is time; her
greatest enemy IS prejudice, and hui
millty her constant companion.
A deep and profound knowledge of
ourselves will neve fail to curb the
emotions We may feel at the foibles of
others.
The Penn's Grove record., 1884-03-01

And Gladys, the predestined old maid
Of the family, was the first to be mar
ried, after all.
"Gladys always was luckyl" said her
two sisters.
The Penn's Grove record., 1884-03-01

AsAMoR, ANXIOUS 10 get the views
Of the press on the subject, wrote to
difere Mt editors, asking: What do you
think of knee.breeches2 Would you OBJ
ject to appearing in them2" One re-
ply, filled with bitter indignation, he
disc overed owed its venomous spirit to
the fact that the writer was q woman.
The Penn's Grove record., 1884-03-01

mixing water At Meals.

There is a cUlumoa notion that it is
INJURIOUS to health to drink freely of
water at meals, and W. have seen many
warnings against the habit the reader
being advised to abstain from drinking
until the end of the meal. An article
recently published III the Lancet, how
ever. leads us to infer that the idea We
have mentioned finds no sufficient sup
mort in medical authority. ITO moisten
food" says that journal, "and prepare
it for digestion, it is hardly necessary
to saw that it should be taken with a
meal; a couple of tumbleriuls at dinner
is not an excessive quantity for most
persons This language indicates that
water drinking at meals is not only
harmless but actively henescial.
The Penn's Grove record., 1884-03-01

do you know, sand a fort Lincoln
man to the young lady who was driv-
ing while out slelgh-riding, "that in
the east the other day two young peo-
pie were out Just as we are, and the
sleigh upset, and that little accident
was the cause of a wedding within a
week" Ten minutes later they were
foundering in the snow, but the girl
saws it was an accident.
"A citizen of schenectady, N. Y,
whose name was published a. the recipl-
ent of the capital prize in a Southern
lottery drawing, asserts that he never
had a ticket in the lottery.
A firm faith is the best divinity; a
good life the best philosophy; a clear
conscience the best law.
The Penn's Grove record., 1884-03-01

DIR. x. {. VESTS SERYR AND BRAIN TREATMENT, .
guaranteed specific for Hyst-rta d zztnsss Con yHlsishs, Fits,
Nervous Neuralgia, Headache, Nervous Prostration caused
b. the USE Of Alcohol or tobacro, WAkefulnssab Mental De-
preston, ~softening Of the Brain r-sulting IN insanity aud
leading to misery, decay aud death Premature Old AGE,
BArenness, Loss u Power a. either sex. Involuntary Losses
and spermAtnrrhmA caused bv over exsrtinn of tke brain,
sslfabuse or over-induigeuos. f4-h box contains one months
treatment ei box. or six boAes tyr g., sent BY nail pre-
al as, a-afp Of VrT.-
The Penn's Grove record., 1884-03-01
WE GUARANTEE SIX BOXES

40 cure any case. with each order rer-ivrd BY Us for SIN
boIss, accompanied with a., We viii send the purchaser our
written guarantee 20 refund TIE money 81 the treatment dsss
effect q cure, C narantess issued only by
kIsNER d aENDELsON, $40 Race Street. Philadelphia, Pa
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-09-05

ton of native industries, poverty, bankrupt
cy degradation and extreme misery have
marked her course. Her opium wars in Chi
ma are the most strocions events of this CEN
tury. The man who favors the commercial
policy of England is an enemy to his country
and to the human race. Should we become
the industrial slaves of England (what free
trade would soon make us). it will be an
iron bondage which we shall not be able to
bear. Who can foresee what blood ransom
we shall be compelled to pay for our free
dom. or if the Union will survive the shock :.
With Mr.. Blaine as our President we shall
have peace with England and with all the
world. We shall respect the rights of other
nations and they will respect our rights Oar
great industries will supply all our wants dur
ing the largest war. While we are indepen-
dent England will let US alone. II was In the
hour of our distress and weakness that she IN
suited us, made war against US BY her Alaba-
mas, and that Mr.. Gladstone declared with
jubilant voice to the British people that ''Jef
ferson Davis had created a nation." Wing
and Tory, Liberal and Conservative. Russell.
Beaconsfield and Gladstone were alike ready
TO strike US. insult US. tread upon us when we
were down; and their successors will patient
ly watch for another opportunity to be better
improved.
respect the personal character of the SIN
dependents, so far as l know them, but l
wish to except the quality of their patriotism
and common sense could give many more
reasons, but my letter is too long.
Very sincerely yours,
CYRUS HAMLIN.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-09-05
CaSSius Nj CLAY.

Mr.. Cassius NJ. Clay writes to the n. Y.
Sun letter in which, after relating how
since 1866 he has virtually acted with the
democratic party, he says:
Since lsS0-Sl | have not voted. desire
now to return to the republicans-to die in the
house of nv friends-to vote for Blaine and
Logan, the nominees of the republican party.
But the solid South avows the right and acts
upon it. as proven in the Danville and Copiah
murders. TO kill any voter who acts with the
republican party when it plesses them to do
so; and they have sealed their avowal with
the blood of free white men.
Forty years ago the voice of this bold
kentuckian. then young man, rang ont
like clarion against the shame and the
offences of the democratic party. Born a
wealthy Shareholder. he had Just Liberated
his slaves. and dared the threats of the
slaveocracy of the South. In his old age
he now comes forward and speaks his
convictions in favor OF the republican par
ty and its candidates. Clearly as he saw
the dangers of democratic rule forty years
ago, he sees them now. The evils threat
ened, as actually existing, have another
name today, but are the same in origin
and spirit. Freemen will give heed to his
warnings.