davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1884-12-18
HOIncly Girls.

''Wby arc you homcly girls always
the best scholars, tho best workers,
and mako tho best wives?n This uues-
ton was propoundcd by au obscrvant
and intelligent gentleman, who has
been twice led to the hymenial altar
and is ready to be sacrificed again.
''ls such really tho casep'
Il have reason to know that it is. 1t
is natural enough, isn't itp The girl
who Is handsome in feature and form
concludes very early in life that these
are her stock in trade, and with them
she enters tho matrimonial market.
Ninc times out of ten she is soon off tho
hooks and ut the head of 4 house. Her
homoly sister has scarcely entered her
teens until she discovers she is mado
to stand aside for the prctty-faced girls.
All that ncatness of dress. elegance of
manners. and proficiency in tho arts of
making ono's self attractive she does,
deliberately and for purpose, per-
haps, or possibly for no other reason
than, Iopsy-likc, she grew that way"
"Iho chances are she does it solely
for tho purpose Of compensating for her
lack of physical beauty"
''My observations lead directly to
the opposite conclusions. replied the
intelligent observer. "Therc is among
the great laws of nature one known as
tho law of compensation, and | am
thoroughly convinced that to it the
homcly girl is indebted for the tastos
and disposition that prompts her to
mako herself useful whom she cannot
be ornamental.
"Then, if you had the choice of two
ladies. one beautiful and the othor
homely, you would tako tho homely
onep"
"Experienco and observation both
teach mo that would be tho wise thing
to do. The first impulse would natur-
ally be to tako the prcttcr Of tho two.
but l would give the first impulse timo
to pass of, and act upon sober second
thought"
The old gentleman may be entirely
right i'll this matter. Detroit Times.
The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1884-12-18
"A Very Hot Taxpayer.

'Is this the United States Weather
BureauP' exclaimed an excited indi-
vidual in a melted collar and hot-as-
blazes frame of mind, rushing into tho
United States Signal Service Office on
tho corner of Wood street and Fifth
avenue last Wednesday.
Yes, sir. this is an Office of the bu-
roau." replied the gentleman in charge.
"Oh, it is. is it." sarcastically ex-
claimed tho perspiring indivic ual. "It
Is part of the institution, is itP Well,
sir, it's swindlc! A barcfaced swim
die on the taxpaying citizens, sir!
That is what it is, sir!' And tho hot
man grew SO terribly hot that his face
looked like n bloom just ready for the
squcezcrs.
81 DO not comprehend you, SIR" re-
pied tho signsl-servico officer, with
dignity.
80. you don't. don't youp You don't
comprehend meP o, no, of course not.
Certainly, you don't That amt what
VIC taxpayers pay out our money for,
o be comprchendcd. What did YOUR
bureau promise Saturday. Didn't YOU
say q cold wave was on its way here.
and that it would reach us Sunday, and
the weather would be cooler, didn't
your"
''Well, sir, what if we didP'
What if you did! OF course you
did. You know you did. You can't
deny it. Where is itp"
I'm suro do not know" exclaim-
ed tho official abruptly. "Wo do not
arrange the weather."
"4ou don't! Why, what are wo tax
payers getting for our money, thenP"
exclaimed tho hot man.
Tho bureau simply furnishes mete-
geological information relative to tho
state of the weather." answered tho
official, with dignity.
'1nformation! Great Scotland, do
you think man has to bo shoveled in
to blast-furnace before he knows it
Is hot? DO you mean to say wo tax
payers support this bureau to tell us
what the thermometer is whom our
shirt-collars are running into our boots?
If you can't regulate tho weather,
what are you forP A blind mule with
his tail broke off knows when it's hot
and cold without your telling us. What
arc Wo taxpayers getting for our mon
eyP" and the wild man turned HIM
self out on tho sidewalk, n red, hot,
Kissing globule of wrath. h.-Pitts6urg
Ch3 o11iclo
The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1884-12-18
DECEMBER 18, 1884.
Nail Language.

Since the new science of reading
character by the handwriting has como
in, it Is oven said that the care taken
of the nails affects tho handwriting.
The long, almond-sbapcd nail is q
great support to the middle finger,
which guides the pen. One can hard
ly imagine y person with short, stubby
fngcr-nails, which arc covered with
skin. writing the long, graceful Eng
lish hand which SO delights the recip-
icnt of tho noto from n grande dame.
1t is said that poets and people with
imagination are apt to have long, taper
fingers and beautiful fnger-nails. They
have a handwriting in which the long
up-strokes and down-strokcs cut into
tho limo above and beneath them. The
heads Of their capital letters arc large
This handwriting shows ardor and i'm
pulse. When it has . markedly down
ward movement this handwriting
shows n tendency to melancholy. An
aptitude for criticism is shown among
the people who bite their nails. They
arc cynical and severe, uncharitable
and bitter They writo n small,
cramped, and illegiblo hand How
ever, there may be good-naturod crit
les, men with versatility of comprchcn-
'iOh' my "oulu luSc SlllSll DuL WCll-
shaped nails, and their handwriting
would be somewhat angular, showing
penetration and finessc.
The nails of u musician are, of course,
to be observed, although tho piano
sometimes Injuries them. The great
mus clans have Il sloping hand writing.
There is, however, an ccccntricitv Pc
culiar TO the handwriting of executive
NFiinncGnI in Of
Beethoven. Tho inger-nails of math-
omalicians are apt 10 be square and
not beautiful. Tho handwriting of such
persons show quiet movement of the
pen. Tho lines arc straight with the
paper, the up-strokcs and the down.
strokes are short, while the capitals
are small and angular. Diplomacy
has long. supple hand, and 4 long,
beautifully-kcpt, slender fingcr-nail
But the handwriting of n diplomatist is
not apt to be clear; 1t always looks like
Il snake gliding away. There are no
clear, gigantic capitals like John Han
ocE's-none of the fine curves suo-
gestive Of generosity and expansion;
all is compressed and impenctrablc.
Certain inileXibic natures express
themselves both by lngcr-nails and by
the handwritng-both are blunt and
determined. The Chinese have such
long fnger-nails that one might almost
write with the ends Of them. The ten
acity OF the Chinese nail, which does
not break, shows that they have moro
lime in their bones than wo Of Il differ
ent race. AT one time. when good
Queen Anne bit her finger-nails, it was
the fashion for all the English arstoc
racy to bite theirs, and in those DAYS
the English tingcr-nail was not what il
Is now. Fashion cXerts Il potent inilu
ence on man, savage or civilized. .-Har.
pcr'S Bdzudr.
The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1884-12-18
Scene on tho Plains.

Ono Of the most startling and roman
tic features of border life occurred re-
Gently on the Wild Horse prairie, thirty
miles north of Los Angeles, whom n
band OF wild horses, under the lead of
noble sorrcl stallion, came galloping
over tho plains to rcconnoiter COM
pany of surveyors engaged in making
survey of the tract. TIE band dashed
toward Captain Keller and his party of
surveyors till within about 500 feet,
when the leader halted in grandly
proud and defiant manner, with neck
curved, nostrilS distcndcd, erect, and
all on dr"i, parade, and all the band
ranged themselves on each side Of him
like Il squad of cavalry in q battle
charge. After surveying the scene for
few moments the leader gallopcd
proudly away, followed by tho band in
the most graceful and digniicd man
ncr. The scene was most romantic,
and the picture Of the lordly leader,
with his most obedicnt subjects in their
fleet and graceful motions, was worthy
other band Of wild lorscs on tho same
prairie, under the leadership of a dark
mahogany bay stallion. with black
manu. lhll ana Knees LII InlS Dand
there arc two white horses, while the
rest are bay and sorrcl mainly. Few
people are aware that at the northern
base of Sierra Madrc. only thirty miles
from this city. wild horses roam in
their native beauty and crop the rich
grasses that grow on Wild Horse prai-
ric. Yet such is the fact. and their
slick appearance and graceful motions
are the admiration OF all bcholders.
Los AngcEcS (Cui. ErDrcsS.
The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1884-12-18
Matrimonial Tests.

Tho following "points" are derived
from the experience Of an English la
dy of good social position, but limited
means, who, for several years has been
taking "clients" in need of husbands,
to watering places during tho season.
In ten years she scores twcnty-three
successes and nine failures, this fisher
of men. 1t appears that dark girls 90
off best in spring and autumn, and
blonds at mid summer; that the mar
ket is apt to DO dull in tho beginning
of tho season, and to grow brisk to-,
ward its close; that very young, fair
men like brunettcs best, but vecr slow.
ly toward their lighter sisters as tho
fair men grow older, and that the con.
verso is as true of very young dark
men, that bruncttcs almost rs invaria-
bly, prefer fair men, irrespective of
age, and that tho prediction of
blondes is commonly an opposite one;
that blonde girls work off very ill in
raw, Goldfish weather; that to couple q
fair and dark girl in walking, driving.
etc, is generally, but not always, GOOD
policy, since the intended victim some.
times falls in love with each in success.
sion, and ends by taking neither; and,
finally. that while mountains and lake,
prove lively incentives to Irritation. a
early periods, the seaside was decided
ly tho stronger in the way of landint
the fish rs the leaves turn and the dav
grow shorter.
The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1884-12-18
Mosquitoes.
A correspondent writes
Courier.

A correspondent writes his trials
and tribulations from mosquitoes as
follows: II live in Ammo Arundel
County, Maryland. near Patuxent Riv-
er. on farm which is known by tho
name of Terrapin Island. On account
OF dry weather the mosquitoes are in
abundance. Sunday night, August 81,
thoy seemed TO receive roinforcements,
and attacked my house. From loss of
rest by the insects mysolf and family
were determined to sleep tho next
mig mt if possible. Being mechanic, I
had made frame to 20 over my bed
stead and covered it with MOSQUITO
not. But tho tormenting mosquitoes
soon drove us from under the nettino.
camc to the conclusion that the not
ting was not fine enough. l pulled tho
bed from the bedstead to the floor
'ook the frame and placed 1t ovor the
bed. and used five quilts One |
placed over tho top of the frame, four
around the sides, and secured the
corners well. Then, thinking wo
wculd get nap, myself, wife, and
child laid down, but in less than thirty
minutes the pests wero under the COW
ers so thick that tho very noise would
waken person without biting. I
would be thankful to know what way /
can manage them. - baltimore Sun.
The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1884-12-18
Musk.

According to DR.. Macgowan's COL
lation regarding the history Of musk rs
presented by Chinese writer's, the musk
deer is found throughout tho noun
tains of Yun-nan, Szcchwan and Thib-
ct. This little animal is SO timid that
it often dies OF fright. 1t feeds on iuni-
per leaves and reptiles. In tho spring
its peculiar glnndular pouch is greatly
swollen and in1lamcd, and the sccrc-
ton is always voided by tho deer on
the same spot and covered over with
earth. In such places deposits of musk
OF superior quality arc found, amount
ing sometimes 10 twenty pounds in
weight, and of so pungcnt nature
that if carried through n garden or
wood it prevents qualification. This
valuable substance no sooner leaves
tho hands of the hunter than skillful
adultcratc it for the
Wholesale dealers. who further so de-
b2so it for the trade that there is final
lJ in the mixture offered very littlo in
decd Of genuine musk, say only about
10 per cent. Musk is said TO bo dcs-
tructiYc to intestinal worms and an an
tldOtc to tho V"nCM Of sCrDcnts.
The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1884-12-18
Romance and Reality OF tho Swiss
Cottage.

my wife, VINO has always had ro-
mantle ideas about tho Swiss cottages,
thought she would like to stay over
night in one. l had seen them, but she
would not believe what | said about
them, so, rs our train arrived at Geneva
lato at night we concluded to stay over
in sweet Swiss village and get our
first peep at Mont Blanc from tho
morning train. We stayed in pictur-
esquc Swiss hotel, in lovely Swiss
village. We will never forget it. The
floors wcro bare and had not seen water
for scvcnty-two years. The tables in
the diningroOm wero of dirty pine
without table cloths. About IL O'Clock
we felt something biting us. My wife
said, it is tlcasr"
mo, | said. they arc bugs"
'tlens, I'm sure, said my wife"
After discussing the question for
ten minutes, | got up and lit tallow
candle and, for tho tirst time in our
lives, we found we agreed perfectly.
We were both right. There were
9,S76, 43l lleas and 7,O42. 842 bugs in
each bed. 1t is needless to say that we
sat up the rest of the night, and went
into Geneva the next morning all iaded
out. Since then my wife has not re-
spccted Claude Mclnottc's poetic de-
scription of his Alpine home. The
Swiss cottage, on Il 'osc examination,
invariably turns out to be q great barn
full of cattle, hogs and men. Tho only
exception to this is when the owner.
living near or in town. has his business
in his house. The wagonmakor, IRON
easter and tanner always lives in ono
corner of his shop, foundry or tannery.
The hrick-makcr even lives in one cor
ncr of his kiln. u Cor. Utica OJScrvcr.
The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1884-12-18

Tho largest dredging machine in the
world has been finished and will be
used in the Sacramento and San Joa-
quin swamp lands in California. Sho
has been named Thor, and modelled af-
ter tho best dredges now in uso on tho
lsthmus Canal, cutting ouS channel
and building IL lcvco at tho same :irnc.
The Thor is 101 feet long and 81 feet
wide. and has 81 iron buckets with q
capacity of II cubic yards each which
can be filled and cmpticd tourteon
times por minute.
The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1884-12-18

Some campers on Lako Winncpcsau-
Kce got the mastery over the mosaui-
toes by burning camphor gum. Alter
trying every other drug thoy had ever
heard of, thoy tried tho camphor gum
with gratifying success. I'm two
minutes, says the one who describes
the scene, 1.-The multitudinous hum had
ceased; in five minutes not one of our
winged prosecutors remained within
the walls of our tent. Then, making
everything comfortable, ana carefully
covering our one wiEdow with mo-
squlto bar, we vert TO bed and slept
tho s'ccp OF the just. with never q bite
nor hum from our Odious foes" This
remedy was tried in New Jersey re-
Gently and did not work satisfactorily.
The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1884-12-18

A citizen who applied to the fire.
marshal the other day for building
permit WAS refused on tho ground that
the fire limits prohibited tho erection
of such structure. After spouting
his Indignation in round terms, he
added: II wouldn't be found dead in
such city rs this" "As for that, e"
slowly replied the marshal, 'it won't
make much difference where you die
you'll probably come within the fire
limits"
The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1884-12-18

Everybody knows how tho sudden
cessation of " numbering band Of
music causes remarks TO be shouted
out in tone like locomotives 8
whistle. Tho other night at West
Point hop the band crashed out n few
final bars and suddenly stopped, when
the voice of . lovely little lady in pink
was heard yawping at the top of her
lungs; Don't my new hustle hang
like o daisyP"
The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1884-12-18

nc LONDON STANDARD has discovered
ET";. SIi"t aeVorce Is now so common in the
oim om'tou '" , otates that married people be-
gu 10 look at the matter very much as
servants regard a change of placo.n
The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1884-01-19

8 y 81 . q Z T. o. - .
premises have lately been used fol, the
storage Of waste paper. E 81
AN oculist tells % Boston reporter that
every yard OF dotted veil that Ia sold Is Of
leas! $50 In the pockets Of bis brethren.
English sparrows are tough citizens, but
the cold weather in New England was q
little too severe for them, hundreds being
frozen 10 death.
A brook and lake near Northwich, Ches.
hire, have been swallowed up In a cavity
formed by pumping brine, and It Is feared
that they will melt the rock salt and cause
serious subsidcnces Of the earth In the near
future. ~
The Moorish Jews eyade the law which
iorbids them to kindle fire on the Sab.
bath by putting their dinner In iar and
setting Il In a hot oven Friday night. The
dinner consists Of sailed iocusts very often
but It IL hot. asT n
An invalid lady residing at San Rafael
Cal., who was directed by her physician 10
take a daily aun bath Of several hours' du'
ration OH tho lawn, has diverted hersel
by patient and ingenious efforts to tame
couple. OF humming.birds. After two o.
three months Of acquaintance tho littl'
creatures are now 30 trustiul as TO BiI
honey from spoon held In her hand.
The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1884-01-19
PERSONAL.

Fourteen negroes will occupy seats in
the Mississippi Legislature.
~ OF the seventy-eight Senators thirty have
been members Of the House.
Ex-senator David Davis is now Presi.
dent Of the Illinois State Bar Association.
Blaine is the choice for President among
many Of the Pennsylvania rural cenmu.
mites.
Mics Clara Louise Kellogg confesses te
a kindly regard for the pleasing game Of
poker. -
Congressman Balford, OF Colorado, has
hair the color ola ripe tomato. He bears
the name Of funny maa."
The Kentucky Legislature hos appropri.
ated $1,000 for monument to JudQe
Elliott, who was shot at Frankfort in 1873
by Gen. Buford.
Prince Bismarck, lean ard thin, his face
yellow from jaurdice, and expressive oil
great suffering, his gait uneasy and con-
strained, seems at length 10 be really on
! the sick list.
Mr.. Henry Irving has had better success
than we predicted in airing his poetic lega
amid The rude bretzes OF Chicago. 4
gross income for one week OF $1,000 is in
itself poem.
The father Of Senator Allison, OF Iowa,
who died last week at the age Of S., had
3 been life long total abstainer from the
use Of. tobacco and intoxicating liquors,
and never had been afflicted with any
disease.
Hon. George Bancroft, who has the free
dom OF the United States Senate floor as a
special privilege, and is occasionally seen
there, is described by correspondent as
old Rip Van Wrinkle dressed like a Russian
nobleman.
z George W. Cable. we'll known as the
author Of the "Old Creole Days." and who
/ is now having fine success in giving public
readings from his own books, once lost his
place Oh the New Orleans Picay,ine for re-
fusine to labor on Sunday.
y Miss Ella Wheeler, the Western "poet-
ess OF passion" is said by Chicago re-
porter to be "young, perfectly formed
and rather small lady, who carries her
Z iour-and-thirty years as q light.wristed
: Hebe might have carried brimming wine
: cup. Her face has beautiful outline; the
RailaelsQue oval Of its contour is renarka,
BILE for al American counlenance, and
that countenance housed in remote Wis.
( Consin hamlet"
The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1884-01-19

An early solution oil the Mormon prob.
lem.-that Is 10 say tho cleaning out oil or.
ganizsd and defiant law.breaking under
the namo OF polygamy-is not beyond
hope. The outlook WIS neyerso encourog.
Ing. The Edmunds bill was something, II
nothing more than q reminder from the
National Government that 1t Is coguized Of
what 10 going on In Utah. An'aroused
public sentiment Is helping on to the end.
Governor Murray's message, addressed
formally to a "solid" Mormon Legislature
but in fac! intended for tho country, has
really drawn frs. blood in this new war for
freedom and decency ana law.
Our dispatches have told Of that patriar-
chal polysamist Of eighty.iour years who
turned from tho Governors mesasgs in
dismay and hanged himself, leaving three
widows 10 mourn his sudden taking of.
We are at liberty to imsgiue that tho wild.
ows are young aud buxom, and that they
are not entirely withou! consolation. Dan
iel Morris-tha. is the name oil tho Nor.
mon nartyr-has set his co-religionists an
example worthy Of their invitation. It ia
decreca that the polygsmists must 30, and
+ the rope walk Is about IS good route as
they can tako. l. has tho great merit Of
! being direct. There Is an accumulation Of
testimony (not indeed in all cases from
experts) to show that translation by hang.
giug, II the job be neatly done, is q com.
Epiratively painless process.
While the Government would hesitate
to insist that every polygamous Mormon
shall hang himself, it could with becoming
delicacy offer to furnish to every applicant
s; citing the same in the spirit Of broken
and contrite heart, as fine an article Of
rope as ever graced a gallows. II this plan
c,uld be made fashionable-if once could
get well started among the dnt families OF
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS would be a rapid,
happy and inexpensive solution OF the Nor.
mon question:.
Some cheese.paring economists oil. the
Holman school may object to the large out
lay for rope-as though good rope would
exhaust on a single Mormon its almost
limitless capacity for good!
The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1884-01-19
. = ~ ~. = - -. :
DHfBS RyFORM.
Hlnts 20 Women who Want TO Live Long
as. ~ I"lg and bo aapby. y p '

Alntn 10 W OEuou W NJ "aut " LAVoAouk
and bs Happy.
The restoration Of the disused nlghtcap
to its primal honor and usefulness Is In.
aisted upon as condition precedent to q
well.balanced circulation Of the bleod, and
placid enjoyment Of sleep.
Flimsy honeycomb ssocklngs are to be
discarded, and the eld.time knitted wool
hon, generous In length and weighty in
quality, such as Aunt Jerusha, in the coun.
try, still makes and dons, are named as
among the thingn that promise health and
length OF days 10 the wearer. 1-===----
Contrary to our notions OF prudence in
this regard, the plunging Of the feet into
cold water lust before one reiircs for the
night, Ia epjoined with emphasis; and a
warning Is given against the exhilaratlng
but banelul and insidious cup Of tea, con.
jurer.up Of distretsiul dreams and dis
turber Of sound repose. On the heels Of
this, as a sudden blast against the loving
sense OF beauty, come boo!e! Nothing short
oil heavy double soles and heavy uppers will
appease the exaCtions Of this insatiato re-
al CASSpblOA 10 kOsCuy AOn0bcIf III
behalf Of high.topped rubber boots, which
on occasion may be exchanged for the
artistic double. decked calf.skins. The ex.
tremities thus environed and encased, and
armed against the thousand and one ills
that: follow In the footsteps Of prunella,
kid and pebble goat, intelligent and vigi.
lent careiulness In clothing the remainder
Of the body is a supreme necessity II We
would live long and be happy.
The coraet, more deadly and destructive
than the jawbone among the Philistines,
has killed lis tens Of Thousands; hence,
women are besought to abandon the cor.
set; they wear them at the peril Of lives
dear to fathers, lovers, mothers, and other
SURVIVING relatives and friends.
OF imminent moment likewise is the
gown. The gown must be 60 cut and
fashioned that the form shall have free
course in every movement, and for indoor
work and out door walking should begin
close at the throat and end several inches
above the ankle.