davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1884-02-07
Bismorclk's Superstition.
TChicaoo HeraI6

Many distinguished persons in all
ages have suffered from the influences of
superstition. Of living men, Prince
Bismarck is cited as an example Of its
force. He will never commence an
undertaking on Friday, nor sign any
important document on that day. Ia
hesitatcd to accept the title of count
because there had been great mortality
among the counts in Pomerania. He is
said to have predicted tho month, tho
day and even the hour Of his own death,
lilo ls very greatly Interested in astrol-
ogy, and has been known to commend
those who Get their hair cut at the
wano of the moon, although, as this is
a very common German superstition,
ho is scarcely answSfable for it.
The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1884-02-07
The Chinese in Orc con.

Portland Cor. Baltimore Americana
We all made another visit among tho
Chinese quarters, and found that tho
Willard party had almc g. depleted their
stock of curios, leaving for us n lot of
dried meats, fish, and such uninviting
and unsaVory things. These Chinese
shops are to me great curiosities, as aro
the Cinnamon who conduct them. You
often see the finest of Chinese goods,
like silks and crepes and general as
sortment of the costliest articles, mixed
up with butcher shop and vegetable
store. When you go in to >uy you are
at once surrounded by ten or dozen
OF the Celestials, who chattet like mag
pies, and seem to be engaged in con
sultation as to who you are, 5r whether
they will allow you to purchase their
goods or not. When bargain is
struck they all seem to bcidelighted,
and peculiarly child-like md bland
expression covers their idiitic- looking
faces that resembles q str eak of sun
shine over the Snake river ft Ainsworth
station. They arc very hon est in their
dealings, and ono China,nan ran six
squares to give mo bundle / had left
behind.
The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1884-02-07
Tne Tragcdles or the Nest.
[John Burroughs in Tho Century I

The song birds nearly all build low :;
their cradle is not upon tho tree top.
1t is only birds of prey that fear dan
ger from below moro than from above
that seek the higher branches for their
nests. A line five feet from the ground
would run above moro than half tho
nests, and one ten feet would bound
more than three-fourths Of them. It is
only tho oriole and tho wood pewee
that, as rule, go higher than this.
The crows and jays and other enemies
Of the birds have learned to explore
this belt pretty thoroughly. But tho
leaves and protective coloring of most
nests baffio them as cfrectually, no
doubt, as they do tho professional
oologist.
The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1884-02-07
Rules for Riding.

In mounting, faoo tlIe near side of
the horse, The near side 10 the side
nearest yourself. If YOU stand on the
rfSnL side OF the horse, which is tho
wrong side, when you mount you will
face the crupper. Then everybody will
know your name is Johan Gotlieb Erni-
sigelfolger. If you cannot mount from
the ground, lead the horse to the fence,
climb upon it, say whoa" two or
three times. and jump over tho horses
ears. You will light somewhere on his
neck, and you will have plenty of time
to adjust yourself while the horse is
running away.
Another method of mounting, largely
practiced by young gentlemen from tho
city, is to balance yourself on one foot
on the fence, and point the other leg at
the horse, in the general direction of
the saddle, saying "whoa" all the time.
The horse, after this gesture has been
repeated few times, backs away, pulls
the alleged rider off the fence, and
at rapid gallop. This gives the rider,
he wants for week. If by some mira
Gle you manage to get into tho saddle,
hold on with both hands and say "whoa +"
The Easter the horse goes the tighter
you must hold on, and the louder you
must ''holler"
If you arc from New York or Phila-
delphla, you will shorten the stirrups
until your knees are on level with
your chin. Then as you ride you will
rise to your feet and stand in the atti-
tude of man peering over fence to
look for his dog, and then suddenly
fall In the saddle like a man who has
stepped on banana peel. This is tho
English school. It is hard on the horse
but is considered very graceful. A man
can not wear false teeth, however, and
ride in this mannor
The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1884-02-07
THE MAJORS SNEezE.

How Famous "Threc Tim o !. Three,
Ayerted N Military DisastoI.
unter Ocean "Curbstone Crayons.A2
Tho sneeze was one of the oldfaSh.
ioned whoopee-oo-whoop, three timess
three order, and as the stalwart stranger
gave himself up to tho performances
very much as frisky horse would let
himself loose in kicking exploit,
the hackmen and the people generally
gathered about in smiling encourage
mont. AS the sneezer rightedrhimself
after tho storm, and was wiping his face
with his handkerchief. I was sur
prised to SEQ my friend, the captain, step
forward with eager spryness, and hear
him shout, with the joyfulness of man
who had made q discovery, "Why, how
do you do, majorp
Tho two men clutched each other and
shook each other by the hands and the
shoulders, and finally made me under
stand that they hadn't seen one another
for nineteen years. The major had
changed greatly, and he asked, in be-
wllderment, how til y eartnEn knew him.
by your sneoze," was the answer.
There is no other sneeze like that in
this country, you know. And when I
heard it ring out, L remembered that
tlmo at Guyandotte, you know, and I
know Major Mitchell VIVA before me-"
Then turning to mo the captain said:
That was our first scouting expedition
early in the war. Wo landed in tho
evening to look up some guerrillas who
had mado dash that day to the steam
boat landing. The regiment divided,
and tho men went scampering over tho
country in gleeful recklessness. Soon
it became very dark, and both battalions
lost their way. Moving forward in line,
one battalion came suddenly on body
of troops formed to receive them, with
sEirmi0hors out. Neither officers nor
men were clear as. to what tho regula-
tlons called for in such case, and thore
was hurried, excited conference. The
troops might be our own men, but they
ignored every challenge, and we know
that they, like ourselves, were ready to
fire. There was q minute of terrible
suspense, everybody excited everybody
IN doubt. Then suddenly there rang
out from the ghostly line in the distance
the majors double-shotted sneeze. 1t
was like tho ringing of joyful knoll,
and in our relief both battalions fairly
danced as roar after roar of laughter
succeeded the sneeze. It was narrow
escape from q mistake too common then,
OF one Union regimont rcrrius q n,lr-
derous fro intv another. Tho majors
sneeZe saved us, don't YOU sce?"
The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1884-02-07
Their Pettine Propensities,

Tho New York journal has been as-
certaining tho petting propensitics of a
number. Of leading actresses, from
which it is learned that Mrs. Mckee
Rankin's favorito is Mexican dog, Ada
allman's q squirrel, Agnes Elliott's q
monkey, Mime. Ponisi's q cat called
Metnusalom, Agnes Booths q parrot,
Alma Stuart Stanley's a dog, given to
her In California; Ada Dyas cultivates
white mice, Rose Coghlan divides her
affection between q pug and Skye
terrier, Fanny Davenport keeps fish in
on aquarium, Alice Harrison inclines
to numerous dogs, Ettie Henderson
dotes on poultry, Mary Anderson has q
passion for flowers and curious shrubs,
and Sarah Jewett has nol,et but her.
E5lf.
The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1884-02-07
Taxing Bachelors.
cincinnati Enni,irer /

The colonists in America were not
SLOW IN adopting measures of taxing
bachelors, for in 1896 the local autltori,
ties OF Eastman, in Massachusetts,
voted that every unmarried man in tho
township should kill six blackbirds or
three crows yearly while he remaihed
single, and that as penalty for hot
obeylng the order he should not Not
married until he had DESTROYED t6e
requisite number in area. In 1bG
the assembly of Maryland laid tax
OF shillings year upon all bachelors
above 20 years of age who were nos.
sessed of $500, and of 90 shillin9s n
year upon all bachelors and widoW,,tts
without children who were above th,t
age and possessed of $1,000.
The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1884-02-07
A,Curlons Mower.
[Chicago HeraId.1

ID. M. Taylor, of Indianapolis, has
succeeded, after fifteen years constant
effort, in producing q bloom on the
Damperil or Australia glory pea, o
great curiosity in tho horticultural
kingdom. The flower is Of striking
beauty, the petals forming an outline
of the human face surmounted by O.
helmet. The leaves of the plant fold
up at night like those of the sensitive
plant. 1t grows in dry sand; tho least
moisture applied 30 either leaves or
root being fatal.
The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1884-02-07
SECONDHAND SCHOOL BOOKS.
Dealers Who Sell to New Genera
tions the Books That Others Haye
Used.
Now York Sun.1

tions the hooks That Others Have
Used.
Now York SUM-
"The trade in secondhand school
books, through q regent industry" said
dealer, "has grown into considerable
proportions, and to-day there is not an
important city OF village in the country
which has not it's dealer in second
hand school books. Here is my last
catalogue and prico-list, which will give
you some Idea OF the magnitude of the
business"
The catalogue contained list of
more than thirty thousand textbooks,
mostly standard works, all listed at
about one-half publishers s prices.
'Where do you get your books ?" the
reporter asked.
'"There are many sources. Publish
ers frequently introduce their books
into schools by taking the textbooks
already in use and allowing something
for them. We could formerly get these
books for O little advance on paper
dealers prices, but many publishers
now guard against this by having chop
plng-blocks and cleavers in their estab-
lishments and chopping each book in
two crosswise. There is no way
i'll which such book can be made
salable. The old plan of tearing off
covers was no safeguard, since we can
recover school books of medium size for
twelve cents per hundred. We get O
great many books, most of which are
unused, from teachers in district
schools, to whom they are mailed by
the publishers. But of course ma
jority of the books come from the
pupils themselves, who ore glad to part
with them, on Old school book having
no value to most of them. Then we
get an immense number from the smaller
dealers in other parts of the coun-
try. Our larger New York houses
have men constantly out for that pur-
pose. 1t may be that secondhand
dealer in Omaha will be the man to
supply me with the particular text
books / need to complete my stock.
Publishers try to meet our competition
by constantly changing their editions
But these changes react again, both
teachers and pupils in many schools
beng opposed to the changes and adj
herring to the old editions. The only
textbook, which is not much changed
with each new edition is 'Webster's
Spelling book, ,'of which O million copies
a year are published, and which has
been changed in no important respect
since it was first published in 1900.
You can buy one of the latest edition
for cents, but one of the first would
be worth more than So. Five years is
the average life of school book.
After that time the editions have so
much changed that the book is value
less.
The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1884-02-07
n.usslan '.5cno01 T5IscIpI1ne.
[Cor. London Globe !

Appearances are certainly not in fa.
vor Of the view that there is any scri.
Gus lack of discipline in the middle and
elementary schools of the empire To
judge by the regulations, the gymna.
SUM, for instance, is quite a model OF
strictness and propriety. The scholar
is kept in order by rules from the very
outset Of his educational career in one
rules regulating his attendance of
church and his behavior during divine
services; rules showing him when he is
to have holidays and when to return
from them; under what pretexts he may
forsako his cla@s, AID with what dill.
gencc he M mako up for timo lost
during ill.cas; rules fixing his behav-
ior to his teacher in and out of school
hours; and variety of other rules in
culcating politeness, honesty, truth,
early rising, etc.
Relaxation must bo .indulged in care.
fully; amusement he cannot have at all
if it can only take the form OF
Theatrical representations harmful tC
tho moral sentiments" Masquerades
he must not visit, nor must he enter the
wine cellar, the coffee tavern, or the
confectioner's shop. He is held tc
cleanliness of person and forbidden tC
smoke tobacco or drink spirits. Long
hair is an abomination with the school
authorities, and if the pupil has un.
Willingly encouraged tho growth cf
beard, .ho can only hopo to escape
punishment by a timely visit to the
barber's shop. Ornament of oil kinds.
in fact, is forbidden, and so into the
same category with the unnecessary
beard arc thrust tho unnecessary ring,
walking stick, and eycglass. Saluting
tho emperor whom met in the street is
provided for by very strict regula.
tion, the observance Of which has fallen
into desuetude of late years rather
owing to want of opportunity than lack
of will.
OF course tho scholar has n uniform.
This is indispensable. It teaches the
military idea how to shoot, and it gives
material assistance to the police, who
are empowered to enforce the reeula.
tions prohibiting tho visits of studenta
to masquerade balls, wine cellars, and
other Objectionable places Of resort.
The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1884-02-07
Webstcr's SpeIline-RooIs,

lMaBaZlno OF American History,
Although the Webster Spolling-Book
is not so common in the New England
and middle states as it was thirty years
ago, and in many places has entirely
disappeared, tho trado in it does not
abate. AS long ago as 1847 tho claim
on the cover was "ono million copies
are annually sold," and precisely the
same claim is made by,its publishers
to-day. But the great bulk Of the edi-
ton now, L think, goes to the south and
west. The aggregGtedssales from tho
beginning of its publication down to
date, amount to the astonishing number
of 75,000000 million copies.
The hundrcdth 'bifth:year of o school
book, still in successful life, is not an
ordinary affair. But this year tho
friends of Wcbstor's Spelling-Boo can
celebrate that anniversary. Few among
those that are now happening are moro
worthy Of honor.
But what pleasant memories remain
with those who long ago studied Web
stcrs Spclling-Book! Thesvery pages
IN their precise form arc pictured for
us on indoliblo tablets. It was q great
triumph when the young student got to
Baker" for it was tho first step away
from monosyllables. But it seemed
like long road to him before he would
get to ''immatcriality" and "incompre-
hensibility." How or when he was 60
do it seemed incomprehensible enough
then. Those who, in beginning to read.
discovered that "Sho fed the old hen !"
"Ann can hem my cap" "Fire will burn
wood and coal" "a tiger will kill and
eat man." and other similar facts. little
thought that in all after life nothing
they might learn would ever seem 30
touching and significant. -
The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1884-02-07

"symphony in black and white" known
as Cousin Chawles, and done by
Bessie's own hand. This fortunately
missed fire, but o tiny vase containing
ono or two red blossoms, which haC
been left upon small writing table
directly under the picture, received the
full forge of the discharge, and fell in
fragments upon the carpet. STOPPING
to remove the effect of his bad marks.
manship his eye caught the upturned
basket, and what does he find therei
Numerous bits Of torn and crumpled
paper, which revealed the address, Mr.
Charles Barron; an envelope contain.
ing part of the address, as the writer
had not been, pleased with her hand
head commencing, Dear Cousin Char.
ley" Searching carefully through the
basket he found no other trace of Bes
sizes guilt, and folding these up in
small package he put them safely in
his pocket. He finished his toilet care.
fully and sat down by the window tc
think it all out. He was quickly inter.
rupted by q rustic Of starched muslins
and the quick patter Of slippered feet,
and Bessie came into the room in q
state Of wild excitement.
ooh, Fred, there is messenger al
the door. A messenger. I saw him
coming. 1t must be from Chawly. My
dream, my DREAM" and down went the
fearful face into tho depths Of pillow
IF 1T is messenger of death from
him let us admit him with open arms
gaid Fred.
ooh, how awfully cruel you are.
Chawly would never be so cruel tc
you. think you really wish he was
dead" and her tears were quickly dried
in the sudden heat of passion. She
looked at him with amazement. Then
he took the small package containing
the proof Of her perfdy, and, rising
up in his indignation, stood confronting
her:
"These small bits of paper tell all
want to know of you. It seems thai
though cousins may not marry, there
is no reason why they may not keep up
clandestine correspondence, dream OF
each other, and perhaps exchange
visits"
GA telegram" said Judith, through
the half-open door. Bessie sprang fo1
for it, and, tearing open the envelope,
read aloud:
HURON, d. IT,, Aug. -, 1851 was mar
ried this IL IN. Congrats will be received.
CHARLES BARRON.
ooh, I am so glad, cried Bessie; and
she danced oil over the room and
laughed and cried alternately.
How that horrid dream did frighten
me. It's safely over at last, but I won
der why they hastened the day. But
you don't know anything about it Fred
and now | must tell you the jolliest
secret. You know met some ladies at
Waukesha who had been to Dakota
Mrs. himball and her two daughters.
Well, | found they were acquainted
with Chawly, and it came out that
Chawly and Miss Lois were engaged,
and we had such nice time about it.
Well, as they were to be married on
fcep Il for ono of tbo tsH,sht w1rla 81,
day. But it was awful hard to keep.
Now that you know it, you must help
me write the letter of congratulation. /
have been trying, but nothing I can
think of pleases me. What's the mat
ter, Fred, you look so queer?"
That's the bell. Let us go down to
breakfast" was oil the conscience
stricken man could say.
The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1884-02-07
n Bankers Family Travelling Coach.
[Chicago TimoS]


A coach in which banker of Penn
sylvania is travelling with his family is
described rs follows: The outside has
seats for three in front and two back;
two largo lamps are on each side of tho
front seat, and one large headlight is
on the dashboard. Here also arc q
clock, an AK :. knife, pistol and other
things. On the left side of the coach,
near the box, is private locker con-
tanning viands. On top is n LARGE
willow trunk, Immediately back of
which the, tent, camp chairs and
blankets are stored. Undsr the back
step is a pl}ce for another large willow
trunk, hanging behind which is step
bladder to6e used by ladies when taking
seats o1the outside of the coach. In
side tlk boot all kinds of cooking utcn-
sils ore packed. On the side of tho
coah are willow cases for canes, UNI
brsllns, fishing rods and guns. Inside
arc two roomy seats facing each. Other
accommodating six persons. In tho
cushions of the doors are map pockets,
and on tho cushioned walls hang ther-
momcter, barometer, compass, q
clock, night lamp and match box, and
near the top are racks filled with noto
paper and envelopes. Tho vehicle
weighs only 1870 pounds, aad the reins
arc handled by the owner, who generally
makes flom twenty-five to forty miles
daily. The party go into camp at 12
o'clock. The horses arc then picket
and the camp fire IS kindIcd.
The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1884-02-07
Clean and Happy Butch People.

Holland Cor. st. Louis Republican,
The truthful record cannot say much
for the taste of the Dutch in their do.
mestic architecture. The houses are
lofty and irregular, without lines of
beauty or advantages usually of lo.a-
tion. They are very clean and are White
with paint. The furnishing is grim and
uncozy, but it is pre- en2inently whole
somo. The flower gardens are,models
of neatness, if feotureless as to arrange
mont. Tho cleanliness of the people is
not only proverbial but is pursued to an
excess that amounts almost to mania.
One may rest assured of clean linen in
Holland. The houses are washed in
side and out. The chickens are washed,
the goats, COWS, oxen, mules and
horses are washed. Everything is
secured religiously. Vermin are consid-
cred disgrace. A Dutch housewife on
discovering cobweb, will not only
remove it, but will scour and scald the
place whore she found it and will insti-
tute hunt for the spider which is not
remitted until she has the insects
corpse under the dust. The houses
have big gilt letters upon their facades
to express the sentiment of their own
ers. They are all expressive of content
and full of kernels of philosophy of life.
"Lust en- Rust" indicates the pleasure
nnd repose of the owner, "Mijn Genoe-
jen" shows his entire satisfaction, "Miin
Lust en- Leyen" indicates that the home
is his pleasure and life, "Builen Zorp"
discloses that tho owner is without care
and "Vrengde biz Vrede" shows that he
has Joy with his place. Some have
longer titles with fuller sentiments.
The whole tone of the country life
leaves the impression that the people
enjoy this life
The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1884-02-07
PucbIos Thrashine Wre,+

I00I' fFTV0I SNVtlIII
In ono or two places the thrashing Of
wheat was going on by driving band
OF horses around an inclosed ring into
whlch the wheat had been thrown; and
at othor places mon wero tossing ovnr
the grain and throwing it into the mir,
TO tG, LOU tho wind blow the chaff away.
This is the only manner Of thrashino
whlch Ti the Taos valley dwelrers practice.
The process is slow, but time does NOT
enter into the calculation of these neo.
Dla N PSN
The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1884-02-07
The Wonders Of the Baby Oyster.
New York Journal1

Prof. II. j. Rice, employed to attend
to experiments in fsh-hatching, said
addressing Il reporter: II will show
you tho proboscis of an oyster, some.
thing rarely seen except by scientists
experimenting like myself You see
in this little bowl of water something
that looks like a piece of thin scale.
with fragment Of substance to it, ali
the size of q lady's fnger-naiI; we'll.
that's an infant oyster, about month
old. L will now place it under the mi
croscope, and you will then discover the
proboscis."
In moment the professor had adj
1qsted the lens, and the reporter looked.
he at once drew back III horror, and
grasped for the table. The professor
smiled. Through the tubes of the mi
croscopc the reporter gazed again, into
n wide sea, wherein lay q hideous mon
ster, and from its indescribablo BODY
there rose great serpentine coil which
swayed hither and thither as if search
ing for victim.
We are not certain of the functions
OF the proboscis Yet, but think that,
like an elephants trunk, it is made use
OF to catch and pass the food to tho
mouth. When the oyster is five months
old it loses its proboscis; that is, it is
absorbed and becomes part of the lips"
81 have counted the pulsations of the
heart" said the professor, "and it ran
from thirty-fivc to fifty minute; that
OF a full-grown oyster does not beat so
fast. will now show you its tentacles. :"
Again the lens was adjusted and the
monster examined, and from its sides
stretched away out into the sea were q
number of long arms, but without
hands or fingers, and the monster kept
stretching them out and pulling them
in.
The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1884-02-07
Great EdiHces Abroad.
[Demorest's Montbly1

IDVI'ROHN0Vo o LHUIIVIIIylI
In Paris tho law forbids the erection
OF houses moro than fivo stories high;
hence there are mono of tho eight and
ten story buildings in the French CAPT
tai, which are so numerousi in New York.
In English cities these great cdificea
are forbidden on the ground that no
land owner has right TO exclude his
ncighbor from the light and air.