davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1884-05-14
LADIES' DEPARTMENT.


The London World says: A. new
fashion, imported from America, has
found favor in certain Partisan draw
ing-rooms. AS the guests arrive, IN
response to an invitation for n soiree
dansante, they are met at the door by
a young lady, who gives a small bou-
quet to each person, and insists that
the flower shall be attached to the but
ton-hole of the gentleman or the cor
set of the lady. Each gentleman Is
then expected to seek out the lady who
wears nosegay similar in respect to
his own, and he thereupon, after the
customary salutations, becomes her
partner for the rest of the evening.
This compulsory coupling, when Skill
fully organized, fayors many intrlgues'
promotes matchmaking, and affords a
good opportunity for the display OF
spite, by bringing unsympathetic per-
sons together.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1884-05-14

Whole families OF Swiss peasants, in
Guiding the man of the house, his
wife, sons and buXom daughters, are
employed together at hand looms. "A
checked taifeta under dollar will us
ually outwear scve al silks which range
in price from one to two dollars yard
and are made rs silks at this price
usually are, by the less durable pro-
cesscs Of the power-loom, where tho
weaver never stops to tie threat, and
the delicate fibre of the silk must be
tightly twisted to bear the strain Of the
rougher handling of wholesale work.
A goods equally as strong as tatIeta
is India foulard, sometimes called
handkerchief silk, These goods are
woven in q country where the heather
workmen have not yet learned the
clever shams which are practised in
the Christian lands. All foulard silks
are dyed and stamped after they are
woven, except in the case of pongee
silk, which is the natural color OF the
reeled silk-web. French foulards are
an inferior machine-goods, and are
mixed with large quantities of "chap-
Pc" or short silk, which is rough and
liable to break apart at slight strain.
Short silk differs from long silk
which is the continuous thread spun by
the worm and reeled off at the lilature
in being composed of the waste of
the llature. The silk which is broken
or tangled in reeling, the rough silk on
the outside of every cocoon, and the
six of perforated cocoons from which
inc moth has emerged, are all torn
apart and spun again by artificial
means, like cotton or flax. Chappe is
at best a species of silk "shoddy," and
is often mixed with cotton or some
other vegetable fibre to strengthen it.
Large quantities of foulard goods are
made in this country which are similar
to the French goods. The durable
"Louisine' summer silks are woven
with an even weft and wool, and arc
composed of raw or half-boiled silk,
part of the natural glue Of the cocoon
being left in the goods.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1884-05-14
Disillusioncd.

A Clifton girl who married poor
Young man and who has in consc.
quence been practicins domestic
duties has lost faith in the entire social
ystem. The other evening her
husband came in at six o'clock to
upper and handed her paper folded
MD sealed,
"Nhat is it dear ?" she said, tender,
".
"An insurance policy IN my life
darling, for $4,000"
"Why, love, you already have one
What did you want with another? p
CANCEL mine, l ate two pieces o.
that pie you had for dinner.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1884-05-14
A Railway Ladder.

Marshall Pass, by which the main
range of the Rockies is crossed, is a
great railway ladder. l do not pro-
pose to describe ia whole article by
itself would be needed for that. At
its foot you are 5000 feet above the
sea level; at its summit you are 10000;
yet on either side weather-bcaten
peaks rise nearly 1000 feet above your
head. If you will carelessy toss a
cord down upon the floor (only guard
ing against its making any crossed
'oops) you will have fair idea of the
way the track runs here. 1t is always
steep grade upward, but then to at
tain the regularity of ascent the train
must go away up to the head of the
deep indentations, and skirt the outer
most rim of the headlandS. There are
no tunnels, except the semblance made
by the long snow sheds; few deep
cuttings OF bridges. 1t is simply a
winding trail, accomplishing by many
and devious turnings the required as
cent of 217 feet to the mile, shown by
a straight line on the profile from the
Arkansas plains to the summit of the
pass, and down again to the valley OF
the Tomichi on the western side
Sometimes you can look out of the win
dow at two or three tracks below ant
two or three more above the steps
you have come and those which re
main; but intervening links are invisi'
bic and you wonder how you are to at
tail tluso ouoeossirely higher lovols
From one spot on tho Western slopt
six of these tracks are seen at once
down the opening made by a grea
ravine which the road crosses and re
crosses. This side is Kaleidoscope o
far-reaching views, changing with eacl
moment, for your headlight turns t.
every point of the compass in it
doublings; and while you admire tn
sky-kissed heights above, you ma,
turn and trembe at tho awful depth
just below. 1t is a railway in mid
air.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1884-05-14

A newspaper correspondent, WrlIln8
from Switzerland, tells Of a curiou
railway as follows "The picturesque
and practical are often curiously utter
mixed. / CLEAN a few particulars of
funicular railway which connects Ter
ritet (Chillon) and Glion. The rail
way, which is on steep incline, some
think after the style of the one up
Mount Nesuvius, commences at an
angle of 80 degrees and soon increases
to 81 degrees. 1t is a single line with
a loop us a passing place half way.
There are two carriages on the line,
one of which asccnds while the other
descends. The ascending carriage is
drawn by the force of gravity of the
one which is descending, the latter be-
ing weighted by a reservoir placed un-
dcrneath being filled with water. The
reservoir is empticd rs soon as the car
rage has made the descent. The two
vehicles are connected with each other
by means Of a wire cable, which pass
es over a wheel at the summit of the
incline. by the passenger a remark
able illusion is experienced. Trees,
huts, houses, rocks, all seem to be
bent back, as though by some enchant-
ment. They are apparently standing
out of the perpendicular, and one can
scarcely help wondering that they dc
not topple over The deception is due
to the seats of the carriages, which are
constructed at such an angle that, not
withstanding the steepness of the gra
dent, tho occupant preserves his ordi
nary upright sitting posture. The lint
is 743 yards long, and the difference
between the level and its base ant
that of its summit is 984 feet"
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1884-05-14
y WORDS OF WISDOM.

Be not sorry if men do not know you,
but be sorry if you are ignorant OF men,
If you would not have atiliction visit
you twice, listen at once to what it
teaches.
There are n great many duties that can
not wait. Unless they arc done the mo-
mcnt they present themselves, it is not
worth while to do them at all.
There is nothing more sure, we take
it, than that those who are the most
alert in discovering the faults of a work
of genius are the least touched with Its
beauties.
No life can be well ended that has moi
been well spent; and what life has beer
well spent that has had no purpose that
has accomplished no object, that has re
qlized no hopesi
Virtue consists in making desire sub
ordinate to duty, passion to principle
The pillars of character are moderation
temperance, chastity, simplicity, self
control; its method is self denial.
The truly virtuous do not easily credit
evil that is told them of their neighbors
for if others may do amiss, then ma!
these also speak amiss; man is frall anl
prone to evil, and therefore may soon fai
in words.
Ccnsurc and criticism never hurt any
body. If false, they cannot harm you
unless you are wanting in character
and, if true, they show man his veal
points, and forewarn him against failur
and trouble.
A skeptical young man one day, con
vcrsing with the celebrated DR.. Parr
observed that he would believe nothin
which he could not understand. "Then
young man, your creed will be tn
shortest OF any man l know"
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1884-05-14
Engagement Rings.

The owners of stones for engage
ment rings are thus regarded in the
great world which occupies itself with
such small matters of taste and super
stition The diamond, of course, is
good all the year around. If it is sulli-
GENTLY pure it will warn the wcarer OF
the treachery of his beloved object by
breaking at the least blow OF steel
ferred by ideal poetic lovers, but it has
4 frightful secret influence, impellng
to trcachcry or death. The ruby, by
its color or brilliancy, is the image of
eternal flame, and is the best possible
omen. The sapphire means tender
ness and truth. In Poland the stones
are chosen according to the month in
which the engagement is made. The
ruby for July, the pearl for May, the
sapphire for January. For March the
turquoise, which will turn green upon
the Inconsistency of the giver. The en-
erald, in June, is for fidelity, and Rus
slams expect always to have one emer-
aid among the wedding gifts from the
husband, rs it is the omen Of certain
happiness, San Francisco AIgonaW.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1884-05-14
Fatality Row.

There is superstition among old mem
bers about sitting in certain row of
seats in the House, on account of the
dcaths that have occurred among the oc-
cupants of this fatal line. An old mem
Der in speaking of Fatality row said:
"No, you couldn't get Inc to sit there.
I'm not ready to die yet"
Then lowering his voice to an awful
whisper, he continued, looking cautious
ly about:
''Thero are lots of members in the
House you couldn't get to sit there,
either. Why, when the seats are drawn
at the opening of Congress, some OF the
members who know about the fatality
that hangs about those seats are uncom-
Portable until they are all gone, for fear
it will fall to their lot to get one, and
when when it comes to choosing between
these and the otherwise less desirable
seats in the rear they always take back
seat. Haven't you noticed how those
seats are generally the last taken by new
membcrsi Well, it's fact. The old
men are particularly nervous about sit
ting there.
"Why is this Fatality row more than
any of the others!" asked the reporter.
"Why? | guess if you'd count over on
your fingers and see how many members
have died before the end of their term
who held seats in this row you wouldn't
ask, and I guess you'd bea lits!c dubious
about sitting there, too. Just count them
over, commencing, say, with the Forty
fifth Congress. Mackey and may be one
other are the only members who have
died within that time who did not hold
seats in this row. There was Fernando
Wood, Haskell, Hartridge, Williams (oi
Michigan), Bev Douglas, and one or tive
others whom | can't name just now. Gar
field also sat in thisrow. There is some
thing in it, tell you, I would not like
to sit there. - WASHINGTON Star.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1884-05-14

There are few things as wonderful
rs birds nests These little creatures,
which one would suppose good for
Nothing but to pour forth their sweet
songs, are really capable of building
"houses without hands," these are
built for the purpose of rearing and
protecting their young. The materials
used for the nest are different with
different birds, but they are generally
straw, twigs, wool, thread, or moss. l, d.
once saw a nest made out of some very
fine lace, taken from the clothes-llne or
our ncighbors.
The styles of building their nests are
nearly, if not quite, as numerous as
those employed by man in building
houses. Some English author has
classified them into twelve distinct
groups: miners, ground-builders,
masons, carpenters, platform builders,
basket-maSkers, weavers, tailOrs, felt
makers, cementers, dome-builders, and
PARASITES. These names indicate the
Methods usedin building. Under the
read of miners come the common bank
,wallows. The hawk is both aground
and platform-builder. The robin is a
mason, and the wood-pecker is car
oenter. The martial eagle, Of Southern
Africa. builds n platform said to be
strong enough to hold tho largest man.
VIC magpie and crow are baskct-mak-
ers, and hang their nest from some
twig or branch where the leaves
entirely conceal them. Ofthe wcavers,
the Baltimore Oriole is perhaps tho
most familiar example.
There are many other examples Of
the wonderful! ways in which birds
construct their nests. Who teaches
hem how to do al these things Is a
question we cannot answer We
know, however, that they must have a
natural impulse which leads them to
do, without reasoning, what is bcsthor
their own safety.
A short time ago read n story
about magpie, which was accustomed
to receive dainty bits from the mouth
If its mistress. One day it came and
Yerched on her shoulder, and, putting
It's beak between her lips, the grateful
bird dropped large, fat worm into her
mouth!-BanL Of Merry.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1884-05-14

sateen in a silk design can scarcely be
distinguished from satin foulard.
One of the latest novelties in millin.
cry is the Egyptian bonnet. A black
lace square frame is covered with q
web of jet and gold cord, AT the sides
is a shirring of coquilicot crepe. Aig.
rette and tips, shade, supply the garni.
ture.
People who can bear violent con-
trasts are trimming black cashmere
with Irish point. The effect is good
when the happy medium is adhered to,
but when there is much of the garni.
ture the result is rather displeasin'
than otherwise.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1884-05-14
Royal Elephant Fights.

A r)yll E'epialt Iiyat in Bur
nah is thus described: "There were
fifteen elephants on side. A pair OF
them are never started alone at a
fight. The fights are always arranged
for the amusement of the mobiles, and
are great events. The battle is terrific.
The elephants are given toddy, made
out of the fermented juice of the palm,
which they drink out OF buckets.
Jersey lightning is like water compar-
ed to the stuff. 1t makes the elephants
reel and tumble about like drunken
men. They snort and trumpet and
create a terrible racket. In the fight
at Theyatmo the mahouts or drivers
straldled their necks and urged them
on. The beasts hal been maldenel
by prodding and beating and rushed
ut each other like mad. There were
some that wheeled around and ran
away, but those that kept on made
the earth shake when they came to-
gotker. They ran right into each
, other. They locked tusks, and gored
and dashed one another with theil
trunks. Tusks were run into elephant
shoulders six or eight inches. Th'
fights in India are the same, of course
In Burmah fights tako plaza between
elephants end tigers. King Theba'
| has men fight tigers. The Burmes
| in power are cruel. One king used t
make the people lie down for his pom!
to walk over"
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1884-05-14

The fashion of cropping the mar Is
fast gaining favor both in Europe ana
America, and it is quite wonderful to
discover how many ladies are willing
40 sacrifice their wealth OF shining
tresses to passing fancy. 1t is al!
very well while the fashion lasts for
the girls with Irctty faces TO transform
themselves into bcwitching little GU
pids. but alas when short locks are
pronounced old style, what then ? a
smart hair dresser can cut off the fin
est, longest head of hair IN about five
minutes, but the ultra fashionable vic
tim who is thus shorn, must remember
that it will take five years to get those
shining waves back again. The hair
lying in loose, fluffy rings all over the
head is pretty sight, but when one
has become tired Of it and decides TO
let the hair grow long again, the tran
sition stale is anything but agreeable,
when tho locks grow to about The
length of eight inches and hang
. straight and stubborn behind the cars
too short to braid or put up in any man
ncr ard too long to arrange in ''mon
tagucs' or fluffy haloes about the face
Ladies who cling to their luXurioD'
tresses, while looking, perhaps, a lit'l'
out of style, will soon discover tina
they have made hair-brcadlh escaD'
from much annoyance and, perhaps
from the loss of considerable temper
Te,v Yorl; Erening Post.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1884-05-14
An Appetite for Mice.

Some wonderful stories are being
told about one of Bridgeport's charac-
tiers, fellow named Joe Lander.
whose life has been spent in rowing all
over the globe. Years ago Joe shipped
before the mast on Norwegian bark
bound from Lisbon to South America,
and was shipwrecked on a barren is
land which forms one of the group of
the Azores. With two others he
reached the land. There they found
nothing but shellfish on which to OK
list. When these were exhausted the
sailors agreed to swim back to the
vessel and endeavor to obtain provi-
sions. Joe was the only one who
reached the wreck, the others having
become exhausted and gone down in
the sea. Joe managed to climb on
board that portion Of the ship that
was out of water, where he sank down
completely worn out. He lay in a
stupor for some time, and upon re-
turning to consciousness lie was covered
with rats and mice which had been
driven from their usual haunts by the
waves. In his desperation he seized one
of the mice and swallowed it without
the process of masticatiOn. 1t pro-
duced a peculiar sensation, but brought
renewed life, and as the story goes, he
lived on mice for long time, as all
hcprovisions Of the vessel were under
water and out Of reach. A passing
vessel finally relieved him from his
Imprisonment and landed him in
Liverpool. Afterward he drifted to
this country and engaged in various
means of making livelihood. Now
he is in the employ of the HOusatOnic
Railroad. His duties are to clean the
cars at the yard and in the houses in
the city. 1t is asserted that he still
INDUCES his strange appetite whenever
opportunity offers. Hurd's grain ele-
walton is infested with mice and affords
many meals to old Joe, it is said. The
little animals are caught by the en-
ployes and taken to Joe, who dcvours
one to satisfy his appetite, and stores
the remainder away between his fan
mel shirt and his body until hungry
again, when he will draw forth two
or three and swallow them without u
wink. 1t is further related that tho
eldest son inherts in measure the
curious appetite of his queer old father
st. Louis GloJe-Democrat.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1884-05-14

After the silk passes from the dyers
hands The manner in which it is woven
is of essential Importance. All other
things being equal, goods woven with
nm equal welt and wool is the most
durable, hence the strongest silk is the
old-fashioned taflcta or glance silk ofa
generation ago. Corded silks are beau
tlful, but between the reps of the goods
arc intersticcs for the dust to collect
IN, which, if allowed to remain, speed
lily cuts into the fabric and no corded
Foods can be made without some part
of the weave being heavier and exert
Ing strain on the lighter portion.
Tafreta silks, from the lghtness Of
their construction, arc usually hand
made goods. Largo quantities OF in
expensive striped and checked taifeta
known as summer silks, arc woven in
Switzerland in q circuit of about thirty
miles around the city OF Zurich
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1884-05-14

Dr.. Robert Newton, late president OF the
Eclectic college, of the city of New York, and
formerly of Cincinnati, Ohio, used Dr. VIM
Halls Balsam very cxtan,ivelyinhs practice,
as many of his patients, now living and re"
stored to health by the use of this invaluable
medicine, can amply testify. He always said
that so good remedy ought to be prescribed
freely by every physician as a sovereign
remedy in all cases of lung diseases 1t cares
consumption, and has no equal for all pee
toral complaints.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1884-05-14

Nothing is so economical as hand
some black, in spite of its first cost,
since it may be turned and returned
pnd made over again and again so long
as it holds together, and Mrs. Grundy's
sharp eyes may fail to recognize it after
each transformation. On the other
hand, a colored dress in any positive
shade becomes marked after it has
becn worn two or three times, and
however carefully combined or con-
verified into a new costume, is sure to
he "shadowed throughout its exist
encc. Black, however, unless worn as
mourning, is appropriate only for
matrons and ladies who have passed
The first blush. White, especially di-
aphanous white, is. universally becom-
ing when softencd by lace and trimmed
with bows and rosettes in colored RIB
non, IN the pretty faohivn now popu-
lar. Pale blue is becoming to blondes
and brunettes with clear compilations,
since it has q tendency to darkcn the
shadows. Pale pinl; and bright pink
suit olive compilations and hair of dark
reddish-brown tint. Yellow has &
tendency to make the skin look fair
many reds will lend it a positively
greenish hue; mauve gives it II yello"
tint, and light green can be worn onl,
By women with a perfect complexion
Indeed, the only way to tell whether
color is becoming is to hold n breadth
Of it about the head and neck, or if thi
is not practicable, throw it about TIN
shoulders close to the face
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1884-05-14

,, ,o,,oro srfFerer n lone time

have been overo sufferer long time
with kidney troubles, causing severe pans
in bmci ana sides and from the rscom'
mendntion If the Chief of Fire Department
Mr.. Ira Wood, formerly of Syracuse, who
had used Hunts Remedy with wonderful
sneedv relief in shorttim and it has com
pIetely cured me of The pains in the back.
have recommended it to oilers in the de
nn,tment, that have u5ed it with great sue
cess, and do not hesitate to recommend
TO any one troubled with kidney, liver O
hiodicr troubles. II. KIRKLAND,
Sup't Fire Alarm, Syracuse, NY, June Il, 90
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1884-05-14

Hon. A. w. Sheldon, Associate Justice,
supreme Bench of Arizona Territory,
writes as follows: at affords me great
pleasure to say, from my personal observa'
ton, and you know the scope OF such has
been very extended, that st. Jacobs Oil is
the great aud wonderful conQueror of pain,
The sovereign cure for all bodily aches and
pains, and Icheerfully bear thistestimony.'
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1884-05-14

The true and good never die. Science,
philosophy and art have their limited
epochs, beyond which they never stray.
But whoever saw the grave of dead
truth or the obituary notice of deceased
virtue3 1t is only error that sickens and
dies, and falsity, wrong, and vice which
society wears out and casts behind it in
its progress toward the realization Of its
divine i1pnl