davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Middletown transcript., 1884-02-22
One of our Cane Cod Folks.

The libel case just tried before a Ply
mouth Mass jury is as novel in prin-
ciple as it was unique in details. 1t
seems that a Connecticut miss having
visited the Cape region turned her OBJ
servations of the natives and their
ways to practical account by writing
story called q" Cape Cod Folks" When
this tale appeared in print its contents
were found to be more in the line of
fact than fiction. The characters were
+" taken from life" and were drawn in a
way that would have made their iden-
tity unmistakable even if the author had
not saved herself the trouble of invent
ing fictitious names by adopting the
real names of those portrayed.
The natural effect Of the publication
was that series of complaints and no
tices Of libel suits poured in upon the
publisher, until it was deemed eXpedi-
ent to prepare a second edition, with
the most Objectionable features Of the
first eliminated. One of the most ag-
grieved of the "Cape Cod folks' was
Mr.. Lorenzo Leonard Nightingale, who
appears to have figured as the hero of
the tale. In one place he was thus
presented =
'sTeacher, this is our champion fiddler, in
ventor, whale fisher, cranberry picker and
potato bugger." The youth OF the tuneful
and birdlile name being thus suddenly
thrust forward, dotted his broad sou'wester,
took the hand held out to him, and, stoop-
ing down, kissed me, quite in a simple and
audible manner, on the cheek.
Whether the identity Of the com
plainant would have been disclosed to
his neighbors by the epithets ''cham-
pion fiddler y cranberry picker, ''po
tato bugger," &C., it is needless to con-
slider, for he was referred to throughout
the book in a variety of ways that could
leave no doubt on this point. He was
openly called ''Lorenzo Leonard Night
ingale," "Lorenzo," Lorenzo Leon
ard, 2 ''Ren, = "Rennie, y "Renzo'' and
''the nightingale. !" In the second edi-
tion he was rechristened Lorenzo Ben
ME Cradlebow," but this did not suffice
to lessen his grievance or stay his suit.
The judge charged the jury that as
matter of law publication in the form
of a fiction might be libellous, and the
jury found as matter of fact that the
living hero Of "Cape Cod Folks" had
been Iibelled to the extent of 81 ,095.
The case is to be appealed to the Su-
preme Court Of the Commonwealth,
but the present result of the trial may
prove instructive to writers of stories
as well as those individuals who may
find themselves figuring as characters
in fiction.-N. Y. Herald.
Middletown transcript., 1884-02-22

Mrs. MARY MILLER has success
fully passed the necessary examination
and is to receive a certificate that will
give her the right to command her
steamboat. This may seem novel po
sition for woman, but Mrs, Miller
has already shown that she is capable
of commanding her steamboat in way
highly creditable to herself and salts
factory to all concerned. During her
late husbands illness she assumed his
place as captain and discharged her du-
ties with ability, tact, grace, and dig
nifty. Naturally enough, when Captain
Miller died Mrs. Miller applied for a
license as master Of the boat, and every
body who believes that woman should
be given opportunity to enter every
honorable vocation for which she is
mentally and physically qualified will
be glad to read that Captain Mary
Miller is to get her masters license.
We venture to say that no steamboat
on the Lower Mississippi will be more
ably commanded than hers. Woman
does not often seek a position for which
she is not in every way qualified, and
you can always find her at her post of
duty and wide awake. If a woman had
commanded the City of Columbus that
unfortunate steamer would not have
gone three miles out of her course to be
pounded to pieces on the rocks at Gay
Head.
Middletown transcript., 1884-02-22
Correspondence Of the Transcript.
Washington Letter.

WASHINGTON, D. G., Feb. 20, '84.
Wool, sugar and whisky is not a
pleasant compound to take internally,
but this is the composition which is
Just now being applied to Congress
pretty freely. The woolen manufac-
turers, the distillers, and the sugar
planters have each delegation here to
represent their respective interests be-
fore the Committee on Ways and
Means of the House, which is prepar-
ing bill to extend the bonded period
for distilled spirits, and tariff bill.
| Since the introduction of Mr.. Nor
rison's tariff bill not only the infant
industries, which require nourishment
till they can stand alone, have been re-
presented before the Committee, but
even the owners of big coal mines have
sent agents here to explain the awful
calamity that would fall upon this peo-
pie if coal should be placed on the free
list as proposed in Mr.. Morrison's
tariff bill. A member of the House,
who entertains very strong protective
tariff views, said that just such a traY-
esty upon protective tariff made 1t
more enemies and was more likely to
kill it than anything else. He said !:
The idea that the vast coal fields of
this country, more extensive than any
in the world, require a protective
tariff, is the most absurd feature in the
old tariff law"
There are at present on the Private
Calendar of the house 100 bills, tout of
5000 introduced reported from the
different committees. In each one of
these the evidence has been examined
by the Committee and printed report
in favor of the claim submitted.
Friday in each week is set aside for
the passage of bills on the Private Cal
endar but although Congress has been
in session three months, it has passed
but one of these bills (Fitz-John Porter
bill.) and has devoted every other Fri
day either to discussing its rules or i'll
contested election case. BY the
time the rules are fixed and all the
contested elections disposed of SO that
they have complete rules and full
House, it will be time for Congress to
adjourn and 60 home for new cleo
tion. A modern Cervantese would
find ample material here for travesty
on how they (don't) legislate at Wash
ington.
Notwithstanding the opposition man.
ifested in some quarters to the bill to
establish bureau Of animal industry
and to prevent the spread of contagious
and infectious diseases amovg domes-
tic animals-cattle, sheep, hogs and
horses-a careful canvass of the House
shows that the bill viii pass if it is not,
like almost everything else there, talked
to death. LOTUS.
Middletown transcript., 1884-02-22
PhiIadeIphia Election.

At the municipal election held in
Philadelphia on Tuesday, the aggregate
vote for Mayor was 149, ,987, giving a
majority of 1871 for VIM. B. Smith,
Rep, over Samuel G. King, Dem, and
Committee Of One Hundred. The ag-
gregate vote for City Solicitor was 120,-
264, giving a majority Of 1870 for
Charles F. Warwick, Rep, over Fur
man Sheppard, DEM, and Committee
of One Hundred. The aggregate vote
for Receiver Of Taxes was IA, ,642, Civ
ing majority of Is, ,736 for John Hun
ter, Independent Republican, Democrat
and Committee of One Hundred, over
the combined scattering vote. The Re-
ceiver Of Taxes returns show %, ,766 for
George G. Pierre, 1905 for William Nc
Mullin, 5000 for Daniel Leeds, Prohi-
bition, and 476 scattering.
Middletown transcript., 1884-02-22
Literary Notes.

E. V. SMALLEY will contribute
paper on 6 Some Tendencies of Modern
Journalism" to The Manhattan for
April.
THE Fort Wayne Hoosier, in which
the bright things of "Will Wayward"
appear to soothe the feelings Of melan-
choly world, is a welcome weekly visi-
tor to our exchange table.
r. J. BURDETTE has resumed his
g Roaming Robert" series in the Bur-
lington Ha,ckeye. Besides talking to
an audience five nights in the week, ne
writes five or six columns of mighty
good reading.
THE New York Morning Journal,
though but little more than year old,
has reached a circulation Of lO2,574.
The success of this bright paper
founded by Mr.. Albert Pulitzer, is
without parallel in the history of Ameri-
can journalism.
THE HARPERs pay good salaries to
good men. Henry NJ. Alden, the editor
of the Monthly, and George W. Curtis,
the editor of the Weekly, receive SlO,-
400 a year each. A good many young
men, fresh from college, would be will
to take either of these places for the
even $4,000.
THE MANHATTAN for March is
beautiful in its art and varied and en-
tertaining in its literature. The from
tispiece is mastery engraving OF one
Of the finest pictures Of the Spanish
painter, Fortuny, whose sparkle and
dash the engraver, Frank French, has
reproduced with remarkable fidelity.
The leading article is on " Dartmouth
College,"
THE April Manhattan will have for
it's leading article paper on Edwin
Booth by Henry G. Pedder, with
engravings in the best style Of art, de-
picting the famous actor i'll several of
his leading parts. 1t will contain also
a paper by Matthew Arnold on " Litera-
ture and Science" and profusely
illustrated article on "Rothenburg, :"
quaint old German city, little known
to travellers.
THE 81. Louis Magazine for March
opens with very entertaining paper
on St. Paul's Cathedral, by Henry
Fuller Walker. Charles H. Burleigh
contributes an interesting short story,
Alexander N. De Menil, Mary F.
Flicker and others contribute poems.
The g Home and Society," department
is as bright as usual. The "Polish
Jew is continued. This bright maga-
zine is constantly adding new names to
its list Of contributors, and as it is
bright and enterprising it well deserves
the success it is winning.
Middletown transcript., 1884-02-22
Items.

OVER billion and seventeen million
dollars taxes on distilled spirits have
been collected by the Government since
1862.
CEDAR KEY, Florida, has a popula-
ton of three thousand, and but four
deaths occurred there during the past
twelve months.
THE Pennsylvania Railroad Com
pany has agreed to ship, free of cost, all
packages of wearing apparel and bed
clothing to the sufferers by the floods in
the Ohio Valley.
AFEARFUL storm struck Ambersons
and Lodiga, Alabama, Tuesday after
noon. A large number Of houses were
blown down and IA persons were re-
ported to have been killed.
FLORIDA orange trees that were
stripped of their leaves by the recent
frosts are again showing fringe Of
green along every limb and twig, and
in 6 fortnight will probably be in full
foliage. 1t is now seen that the dam
damage done by the cold was restricted
to the whitening of the leaves,
Middletown transcript., 1884-02-22

and audible manner" not where it
would do him the most good, but under
the fair authors ear. The jury found
that Lorenzo Leonard Nightingale was
libelled to the extent Of 81, ,095, but
we fail to see the justice of the verdict.
To be sure, girl doesn't often when
she is kissed tell about it, and es-
pecially in print, but when she does
take it into her head to publish the
particulars in her own charming way,
the man who did the kissing ought to
enjoy them, if he has any taste for good
reading as well as good kissing.
Middletown transcript., 1884-02-22

IT WILL appear to most readers that
Mr.. Lorenzo Leonard Nightingale,
50 pleasantly described in "Cape Cod
Folks, y is much too sensitive. 1t is not
every young man who can win distinc-
ton as champion fiddler, inventor,
whale fisher, cranberry picker, and
potato bugger, !" and have it put in a
book. Instead of getting mad about
it. and bringing a suit for libel, Lorenzo,
it seems to us, should have bought a
number Of presentation copies for his
friends. At any rate, we do not see
how he could be mean enough to bring
an action for damages after having
been permitted to kiss the fair author
and then to read her charming account
of how he did it so gracefully. To be
sure, he only kissed her on the cheek,
but perhaps he was too bashful to look
for better kissing. No doubt he just
shut his eyes and made a sort of wild
dive and put in his kiss in " simple
Middletown transcript., 1884-02-22

"I see you have got that black bottle
filled again Y remarked Mrs. Splatterby
the other day, as Splatterby was hunting
around for the sugar. EYES," replied
Splatterby, a little something is good to
have about the house is case of sickness -
II don't think whiskey is a good medi-
cine," said Mrs. Splatterby. "And why
isn't it, I would like to know ?'' asked
splatterby with some degree Of feeling.
" Many of the most eminent physicians
recommendit." Well,'' said Mrs. Splat-
terby, with a composed cast of counte-
nance, if it is good medicine it don't
agree with your system. I notice that you
are never well while there is drop of the
stuff in the house."
Middletown transcript., 1884-02-22
The Nightineale,s Song.

In the March Century John Bur-
roughs describes his 'Hunt for the
Nightingale" in England, with the fol-
lowing results of an almost fruitless
chase 'When my patience was about
exhausted, was startled by quick,
brilliant call or whistle, a few rods
from me, that at once recalled my bar
ber with his blade Of grass and knew
my long sought bird was initiating her
throat. How it woke me upl 1t had
the quality that startleS it pierced the
gathering gloom like rocket. Then
it ceased. Suspecting l was too near
the singer, l moved away cautiously
and stood in a lane beside the wood,
where loping hare regarded me few
PAGES away. Then my singer struck up
again, but l could see she did not let
herself out just tuning her instrument.
1 thought, and getting ready to trans
fix the silence and the darkness. A
little later, a man and boy came up
the lane. I asked them if that was the
nightingale singing they listened, and
assured me it was none other. Now
she's on, sir now she's on. All but
she don't stick. In May, sir, they
makes the woods all heccho about here.
Now she's on again that's her, sir !;
now she's off; she wont stick And
stick she would not. 1 could hear
hoarse wheeling and clucking sound
beneath her notes, when [ listened in
tentIy. The man and boy moved on.
1 stood mutely invoking all the gentle
divinities to spur the bird on. just
then bird like our hermit-thrush came
quickly over the hedge few yards be-
low me, swept close past my face, and
back into the thicket. l had been
caught listening; the offended bird had
found me taking notes of her dry and
worn-out pipe there behind the hedge,
and the concert abruptly ended not
another note; not a whisper waited
long time and then moved off +; then
came back, implored the outraged bird
to resume then rushed off, and, as it
were, slammed the door Indignantly be-
hind me. 1 paused by other shrines,
but not a sound"
Middletown transcript., 1884-02-22

"You needn't turn up your nose at
me!'' said the Trade Dollar to the Stan
dard Dollar, when they met the other day
in a small pocket. I" / am just as good as
you are and two cents better.'' az don't
care if you are" returned the Standard
Dollar, with Bland smile, "you are not
moving in good society now, and you
wouldn't be here in this pocket if the
owner OF it had had his eyes open. Oh,
you may as well make up your mind to
the enevitable. " You'll never move in
our set again till they melt you over and
bang your hair like mine is. Good bye /;
I'm going out to pay for the drinks.
You'll hear some unpleasant remarks
from the fellow who owns this pocket
when you go out and the bartender shoves
you back.''
Middletown transcript., 1884-02-22

THE New York Morning Journal ex-
presses the belief that President Ar
thurs formal entry for the Presiden-
tial race has upset a great many politi-
cal calculations. "Mr. Blaine is in
tears. Mr.. John Sherman is plunged
in the most profound grief for the fu-
ture Of the country. General Logan
despairs of the Republic. The old
Half-Breed organs are distressed to
death. The Stalwarts are, however,
measurably happy. The old 306 medals
NAV again become fashionable. -
Middletown transcript., 1884-02-22

THE buildings of the defunct PENN
sular Agricultural Association were
sold yesterday for an amount much ex-
ceeding that of the floating debts of the
association. We congratulate the man
agement on their ability to thus wind
up the affairs Of the association with
out loss to those who had indorsed the
associations paper, OF to those to whom
it is indebted.
Middletown transcript., 1884-02-22

AT a caucus of Democratic members
of the House, held in Washington, on
Wednesday, a committee was appointed
to confer with committee Of the Sen
ate in relation to the organization Of a
Democratic Campaign Committee. A
resolution was adopted declaring it to
be the sense of the caucus that no Dem
ocrat should absent himself from the
House without leave.
Middletown transcript., 1884-02-22
SflistellaneOns 9drer's.
se, 1854.
ReynOldS&CO.

While thanking our numerous friends for
their liberal patronage in the past, we take
great pleasure at the beginning of our new
year in announcing to thsm and the public
generally that our arrangements tor business
are now much better than they have hereto
fore been, enabling us to offer better bargains
and advantages to purchasers than before.
Our general stock is and will ever be found
compile in all the novelties of the season and
in every description of goods in the most
desirable styles and qualities.
On our Bargain Tables will be found new
bargains every week for the next sixty days
of which our friends should take the benefit.
We commence this week with
Five Ladies Black Coats reduced from $500
to $3.75.
Four Ladies' Black Beaver Coats, trimmed.
reduced from $500 to $3.50.
Five Ladies' Black Beaver Coats, fur trim
med, reduced from 800 to $500
Four Ladies' Black Beaver Coats, satin trim
med, reduced from $500 to $3.50.
Three Ladies' Black Beaver Coats, plush trim
med, reduced from $3.50 to $500.
Three Ladies' Black Beaver Coats, plush trim
med, reduced from $lO.5O to 500.
Three Ladies' Black Pilot Cloth Coats, re-
duced from $Il.O0 to $50.
Four Ladies' Black Pilot Cloth Coats, reduced
from $500 to $3.50.
Two Ladies' Corkscrew Cloth Dolmans, re-
duced from $1200 to $3.50.
trimmed, reduced from $500 to $ll.0d.
One Ladies' Fancy Colored Coat, reduced
from $500 to $3.50.
One Ladies' Fancy-trimmed Coat, reduced
from 500 to $780,
Three Ladies' Fancy trimmed Coats, reduced
from $3.50 to $575
Four Ladies' Fancy-trimmed Plush Coats, re
duced from $500 to $500.
Three Ladies' Fancy-trimmed Plush Coats,
reduced from 500 TO 500.
Three Ladies' Fancy-trimmed Plush Coats,
reduced from $3.50 to $3.50.
Two Ladies' Fancy-trimmed Plush Coats re-
duced from $I1.0O to $3.50.
Two Ladies' Fancy-trimmed Plush Coats, re-
duced from $500 to $500.
Four Black Stockinette Coats, reduced from
500 to $3.50.
Three Black Stockinette Coats, reduced from
$3.50 to $3.50
Two Black Stockinette Goats, reduced from
$l2.00 to $500.
Five Black Stockinette Coats, reduced from
$500 to $l2.00.
One Black stockinette Coat, reduced from
$3.50 to 1915
Middletown transcript., 1884-02-22

AGAIN AND AGAIN The wheels of Time
turn with an exact regularity, and although
this is Leap Year, every month, on the second
Tuesday thereof in the city of New Orleans,
in the State of Louisiana, the Grand Monthly
Drawing of The Louisiana State Lottery
takes place in due form, with all guards for
the integrity of the act and its surroundings
that can be Secured by the high moral char
acter of GenI's G. T. Beauregard, of La, and
Jubal A. Early, of Va. The l66th Drawing
when S265. 900 will be scattered broadcast,
about which NJ. A. Dauphin, of New Orleans,
La, will tell you oil about on application.
Middletown transcript., 1884-02-22

WHEN that Michigan millionaire,
who was such great lover of humor,
bequeathed Mrs. Browne, the mother Of
Artemus Ward, the sum Of $1,000, he
did a commendable act, for Mrs.
Browne is poor and deserving woman.
Though Artemus was believed to have
considerable money at the time of his
death his mother got but very little of
it. The bulk of it "mysteriOusly dis
appeared.,'
Middletown transcript., 1884-02-22

MISS EVA MACKEY, daughter Of the
bonanza king, is good, sensible girl.
She is at the head of a society Of young
ladies who go about doing what good
they can among the worthy and deserv-
ing Door of Paris.
Middletown transcript., 1884-02-22

Some writer has said that person can
not thoroughly enjoy humorous sketch
unless he has himself at some time expe-
rienced the sensations described. There
is a good deal Of truth in that. No man
can laugh at joke about bumblebee
like the one who, in boyhood's happy
hour, has had nine energetic and active
bumblees in his hair. Possibly no person
who has not been kicked by a mule can
enjoy mule joke.
Middletown transcript., 1884-02-22

~ only made one resolution on the
first Of January" said the man on the
soap box at the grocery store the other
evening, "and that I've kept and intend
to keep to the end Of the year" "What
sort Of a resolution was it ?'' asked the
man on the mackerel barrel. cit was a
resolution to not 60 in debt" "There
will be no difficulty about you keeping
that resolution, Il said another member Of
the congregation, " everybody in town
will help you stick to it."
Middletown transcript., 1884-02-22

RICHARD GRANT WHITE ON THE
" HUB. ."-Fhe dome of the Boston
State House is the reverenced sign and
token, seen from afar, of the only true
capital city-that is, a seat and center
of government, Of society, Of literature,
Of art, Of commerce-inall America. "
1t is indeed a mere protrusion heaven
ward Of the hub of the universe the
globed and gilded tip of that axis
around which all that is best in our
Western world revolves, ever has re-
volved, and it seems ever will revolve,
SoculG Spculorum. the March
Century.
Middletown transcript., 1884-02-22

COMMANDER WINFIELD S. SCHLEY
has been selected to command the
Greely Relief Expedition instead of
Captain Kirkland, an examination
showing that the latter is not physically
strong enough for such a service. Cap
tain Schley is a native of Maryland, 45
years of age, and has not been on the
sick list since he entered the navy in
1853.
Middletown transcript., 1884-02-22

BY an explosion of fire damp in
coal mine near Uniontown, Pennsyl-
vania, on Wednesday, twenty men were
killed. 1t would seem that this year is
to be one of many calamities.
Middletown transcript., 1884-02-22

If there is one thing more than another
that fills with unspeakable joy the heart
Of the village editor who is his own busi-
ness manager, bookkeeper, city editor,
reporter and assistant mailing clerk in
one, it is free ticket to look through a
telescope, 600 miles Of bad walking away.
Middletown transcript., 1884-02-22

If that Michigan millionaire wanted to
give some of his money to deserving
funny man, why didn't he bequeath five
thousand dollars to the humorist who
never made a joke about mule or a
Chicago girls feet?
Middletown transcript., 1884-02-22
So 90 A YEAR, IN ADVANCE.

To CoRREsPoNDENTs.- NTs.-Communications on
topics of local interest are always welcome,
but to insure insertion they mustbe briefand
to the point. We do not hold ourselves re-
sponsibIe for the views of correspondents.
Anonymous articles will receiveno attention.
tor.
Middletown transcript., 1884-02-22

The Supreme Court of Illinois has
affirmed the decision Of Judge Rogers,
of the Circuit Court at Chicago, declar-
ing the constitutionality Of the Harper
High License law, which imposed a
uniform rate of $500 for alcoholic
liquors and S150 for beer.
Middletown transcript., 1884-02-22

The first counterfeit of the new FIVE
cent nickel was detected at the Sub
treasury at Boston on Tuesday. The
base coin is an alloy in which the
principal ingredient is lead. 1t is a
good imitation, but can be detected by
the dead ring.
Middletown transcript., 1884-02-22
.Trifies Light as Air.

"Virtue is its own reward, but 1 have a
place that this will just FLIP said Eli
Perkins when informed that the old Mich
igan millionaire philanthropist had willed
him five thousand dollars.
Middletown transcript., 1884-02-22

THE Worlds Fair Committee, Of
San Francisco, has prepared memorial
to Congress asking an appropriation Of
S2,OOO,00O.
Middletown transcript., 1884-02-22

CHARLES FoLLEN ADAMS, the
author Of "Leedle Yawcob Strauss"
aud other charming poems, is a hand
some man with an iron gray mustache,
of which he is quite proud.
Middletown transcript., 1884-02-22

THE Democratic National Commit
tee met in Washington to-day to select
a time and place for holding the Ma
tlonal Convention.
Middletown transcript., 1884-02-22

IT IS said that the prospects for an
excellent wheat crop in the great grain
producing section Of California were
never better than at present.