davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1884-02-14
Improving an Opportunity.
CLARA Belle in Cincinnati Enquirer. !

liId Dtllt Ill 1luclIlllttl
Perhaps you have already wondered what
We're the circumstances that brought me into
their sleeping presence. | dashed into their
chamber to give them warning that they
were to be serenaded in half an hour by a
party of young fellows. They live up on
Washington Heights, part of the city where
such things are feasible. 1t was to be n total
surprise to them, and so | desired to give
them time to prepare themselves for grace
full astonishment. Well you ought to have
seen how quickly they took on their waking
aspects.
The dullard was homely again, before she
had scarcely got out of bed; and Miss Vi
vacity was herself as soon as her eyes were
open and her mouth shut. And then the pro-
ceedings grew interesting to a student of girl
nature.
The plain one dressed herself carfully in an
ordinary evening house costume. and, when
the singers We're invited to refresh, she
said that she had been kept up unusually late,
which accounted for her complete toilet. The
other didn't throw away the opportunity in
any such way. She mussed her hair in the
most artfully becoming manner; she brought
a glow into her cheeks by a dash OF cold
water and brisk rubbing with a towel; she
donned a white robe in the carefullest man.
ner, making it look as if thrown on heller
SHELTER, and she stuck her bare feet into the
cutest little slippers that could be made to
hold them. She was thus an embodiment of
bewitching inelegance when the serenaders
piped up. After they were in the parlor, and
her sister and had greeted them, 1 went out
and drew her in. Do you imagine that there
was one of those simpetons who had the re-
hottest notion that she intended to let them
see her! Nary chap Her manner of hud-
ding her gown and shrinking behind chairs,
of furtively smoothing her hair, and, above
all, of managing to expose n tiny bit of her
bare foot while appearing to be anxious TO
hide it-these receptions just set their hearts
going bumpety bump.
The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1884-02-14
Club Life va. Home Living.
Prof. Swings Lecture.

l. Ioi t"lIi5 lLCCbWC.J
The theory which the present is putting
together asks that the model young man
shall look and advance toward home Of his
own. He will neither remain unmarried nor
be a mere boarder at some hotel or club.
These two forms of exstence-hotel and
club-are revealing their defects from year
to year. There is a place for these institu-
tions, and they will always exist, but the
voice of those wisest and best and happiest
is sounding in favor of that dear old home
which made England and helped make the
moral power of our land. Allured by mag
nificent public houses and by club life, the
most attractive spot on earth-the home
has in the last half century suffered little
neglect, but the land shows signs of peni-
tence, and "home" is sounding again to the
heart with much of its old music. Simpler
styles of house building and cheaper and
more attractive decorations have been de-
vised volumes have been published upon
homes FOR the many and for all, and out OF
this awakening of the idea there has come
something of actual reform.
There must be transient homes for the
transient thousands but the tens of thous-
ands of cottages springing up by road and
lake and river and sea and in the suburbs Of
all the cities, assure us that the young man
of to-day is seeking home. He investigates
the past of his friends; he asks them their
convictions, and of tn, army of these inter-
esting members of society all, with the rarest
exceptions, are looking forward to that part
OF human existence that is within cottage
walls. With the advance of mental culture,
with the decline of vice and the love of grass
and flowers and books and of pure COM
partnership this sentiment of home is turning
into a passion. Go to the humbiest clerk or
bookkeeper whose heart is not palsied by
some vice, and he will tell you that home
is the sam of his dreams. 1t is the best
sentiment of the continent.
The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1884-02-14
The Husbands Opportunity.
Outing

It is doubtful whether the male head of a
family often appreciates the opportunity he
has for diifusing sunshine at home, or COM
prehends how much of gloom he can bring
with him in a troubled face and moody tenn
per from the office or the street. The house
mother is within four walls from morning
till dinner time, with few exceptions, and
must bear The worriments of fretful children,
inefficient servants, weak nerves and unex-
pected callers And she must do this day
after day, with monotonous regularity. The
husband goes out from the petty details of
home care. He meets friends. He feels the
excitement of business competition. He has
the bracing influence of the outdoor walk or
ride. If he will come home cheerful and
buoyant l,s presence is like refreshing
breeze. He has it in his power to brighten
the household life, and add to the general
happiness in a way that no man has the right
to forget or neglect.
The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1884-02-14

every day, taking hold OF them with its BILL
shaking them as a dog does rat, and then
throwing them over its head; of a
young man in Alabama who for
several years being destitute of beard had
hard knot in his neck cut open
and found a beard all rolled up
and nicely packed away in this wen; of
Bridgeport Comm professor" who has in
vented brass belt with nipple from which
he noiselessly projects pellet, and WHICH, in
the presence of witness, killed dog in flf-
teen minutes without the animals Knowing
it was hit, and finally Of a st. Louis man.
who, by means Of two plates of glass one
thirty Of an inch apart and filled in
with glycerine, has made telescope with
which he is able to soc a carmine sea, strange
bat-like birds and insect men with rudiman-
tary arms and wings, or antenna, were
fishing in the sea.
The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1884-02-14
How to Handle Kerosene.
THE Continent.

Kerosene becomes more deadly every year
rs the hours of evening lamp-lght lengthen
and the frequent lighting Of fires becomes a
daily duty. The fact that these accidents are
utterly unnecessary renders them the more
lamentable. In the hope Of preventing some
Of thee accidents, We state few facts which
everybody ought to know.
l. II is not the kerosene that explodes but
an invisible gas that rises from it.
?. II oil is poured into a lamp that needs
filling, this gas rises out of the lamp or the
can, or both, and exp des, often with deadly
force, il there he any fire within reach.
g. Pouring oil from can upon burning
fire or into lighted lamp ought to be fol-
lowed by a terrible explosion Sometimes it
happens that no explosion occurs, but the
risk is frightful.
1 The only safe rule is never to pour oil on
burning fire or into lighted lamp
Now, you may give Bridget the most posi-
tive orders with regard to the fires, but when
no one is at hand in the early morning hours,
the temptation is strong to assist the smoul-
dering blaze by the aid OF a little kerosene.
She has done it without injury formerly, why
The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1884-02-14
THE LAND OF TONOUIN.
A Perfect system of Water Carriage
---Beautiful Landscapes, strikingty
Like Egypt
TCor. London Standard. !

Cor. London Standard.
There is probably no other country in the
world that possesses so perfect system OF
water carriage as Tonquin. The Red river,
some fifty miles about Hanoi, branches out
into about twenty different streams, and
thenceforward to the sea these are connected
and sub-connected by network of subsidiary
channels. But, although styled only chan
nels in comparison with the main branches
they are really navigable rivers. as broad,
most Of them, as is the Thames at Richmond
1t is hardly an exaggeration to say that
vessel might make her way by compass from
one part Of Tonquin to another Steering
her course, she would find canals and chan
nels always available AMI leading in the
requisite direction
Up one of these streams the Rurimaru
steamed in the early morning. She had on
board stores for the army at the front, and
we carried a couple of hundred infanterie de
marine. Fine young men they were, and
well behaved, but not set up in discipline and
soldier-like appearance, according at least to
English ideas. The tide was at its lowest ebb,
and our steamer found that there was barely
enough water in the smaller channel which
she first eSsayed. So we went about, and,
descending TO the sea, half-dozen miles
away, entered one of the other mouths of the
SOngkoi, whence issued stream full half a
mile in width. As the sun rose high in the
heavens, and as the country became visible,
the striking resemblance which Tonquin
bears to Egypt at once became apparent.
There are the same extensive alluvial flats,
intersected everywhere with similar irriga-
ton canals. The SOIL like that of Egypt, is
formed of deposits from the river which, like
the Nile. yearly overhows its banks, and is
kept within bounds only by an extensive
series of earthworks. Then the water, as in
Egypt, is deep red in color, and posse sses the
property, like that of the Nile, of refertiiiz-
ing an exhausted soil
The landscapes of the two countries are also
strikingly similar. As far as the eve can
reach are clumps of palms and villages in
Vulnerable, standing out like islands in sea
of green The fields for miles are under rice,
and there is no more beautiful tint in nature
than the brilliant verdure of the humble
paddy. The district through which we pad
died seemed to swarm with inhabitants.
Everywhere hundreds. even thousands of
them, We're to be seen busily at work in the
fields; and along the banks Of our canal they
stood in an endless lne-men, women and
children-as they gaped at the passing
steamer. The water, the mud, and the naked
men that wallowed in the latter were all Of
the same reddsh-yellow tinge. They pos
sessed, each of these, a strictly agricultural
aspect, to which the rich cross beyond
formed fitting background
The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1884-02-14
MEN AND OTHER ANi.iALS.
The Tastes. Vices and Pecuiiarities
Which They Have in Common.
CINCINNATI Enquirer.

3
Men and animals have much that is
common between them. In many points
some animals exhibit the passions,
tastes, vices and peculiarities that stamp
men. Obstinate men, those gifted with
/ that quality which Sterne says in man
! is styled perseverance, in n mule OBJ
stinacv, are like the Arctic putin, or
Lapland mouse. The former seizes the
end of bone that is thrust into his
hole, and will not loose his hold till
drawn out and killed. The latter
wander from mountain to mountain,
and will turn ont for nothing. They
have ewes, Vet run against trees, stones,
rocks and animals, and bite and contend
with every animal they meet. They
cross rivers, and at last reach the
ocean, plunge in and are drowned.
A Jealous wife resembles a green ma
cav If its master cares for dog or
Q cat. nothing can exceed its violence
and fury. Nor will it be appeased un-
til Its master returns and lavlshes all
his praise upon IT. \ petulant girl has
all the airs of the jay; hippant beau
the vanity of the magpie. Selfish men
are like the one-horned rhinoceros, IN
capable of either gratitude or attach
ment. A quick-tempered man, forget
ting and forgiving the next instant,
finds his counterpart in the Cape ante
, lope: fierce when asSailed, yet taking
food the next minute from the hand
that struck it. \ domestic man is like
the antelope of Scythia, who will not
eat unless surrounded 10y her mate and
little ones.
Some men are like the great bat of
Java, when wounded and unable to
avenge the injury, he wreaks vengeance
on his wounded limb The japanese,
out of revenge to others, often rip open
their own bellies, and many men cut off
their noses to spite their face. Sneaks
are like the Tanoua parrot of Guinea.
When he is going to bite you he ex-
hibits a disposition to caress. Lazy
men living on the exertions of others
find their parallel in the Taurus Arc
ticus. He loves fish, but he rever
catches them. He waits until another
bird has done the work, then scares the
bird and secures the fish he drops
Horace Greeley and the vegetarians
were like the slaygssh, an animal of
Hindostan, which attacks with igor
wolves, tigers and all the fierce animals,
vet lives on roots, herbs and fruit The
vegetarians attacked every system and
every theory.
The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1884-02-14
a Tale OF the sum mer IA me.

During the past summer, a handsome
young man and mischievous young lady
were among the guests at the White Noun
tain hotel. The young man was teased by
his friends on account of his habit of lunch
ing just lefore going to bed. One evening
he found Il large paperbag Of crackers on
his table. Rashly jumping to the conclu-
sien that the mischevous young lady had
made him the gift, he went on tiptoe to the
door of her room and tossed cracker
through the open transom The room was
dark but the crackers fall was followed by
a slight scutiling He paused moment
and then threw second and a third
Each time rustling was heard. but no
one spoke. Having tossed the entire
contents of the bag into the room the young
man stole away, and as he left the corridor
met the young lady coming to her room.
Troubled in his mind, he made inquiries the
next morning as to the effect OF his lombard
ment, and learned to his horror that the first
cracker thrown had landed on the head of
the young lady's grandmother, an infirrn old
lady of nearly 50, who was at the mo-
ment knesaing by her bedside engaged in her
devotions Much alarmed, she had risen to
her feet only TO receive a second shot She
had then retreated to corner but being
further assailed and not being able to form
any idea of the nature and origin of the mys-
FERROUS missiles, she had finally crept under
the bed, where she was discovered in for
lorn condition by her astonished grandchild.
The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1884-02-14
A Little Sketch from Real life.

A Chicago LADY who has just returned from
a trip to New York gave Tribune reporter
a little sketch from real life which recalls
Howell's charming creation OF Helen Hark-
ness in "a Noman's Reason" Mrs. Her.
bert c. Aver, of Chicago" she sail twas
only few months ago wealthy society
lady, but her husband, well-known iron
merchant, failed for $4,000, 900, and all his
estate went to his creditors. His wife, who
was many years his Junior, was not to be
crushed by the reverses of fortune, but taking
one of her CHI /: dren with her, she went to New
York, where another child was at school, and
determined to do something toward earning
living The experiment of writing book
or of attempting to do magazine work would
oblige her to wait too long and that
she could not afford to do.
She remembered, however, that dur
ing her days of luxury she had spent much
time in selecting bric-a-brac for her home,
and the idea struck her that the taste which
she had thus cultivated could be turned to
advantage When her determination was
made known she received tempting offers
from several leading New York houses.
In fact, there was lively bidding
for her services, and finally Messrs.
Sypher & Co., of whom she had been
a liberal patron, succeeded in capturing her
at handsome salary and commission. She
is to buy as well as sell for them, and they
talk Of sending her to Europe, and perhaps
to Asia, TO exercise her taste in buying for
them. Mrs. Aver, l understand. has re-
ceived encouragement from her Chicago
friends who admire the spirit which she has
shown in the midst of reverseS and the ELL
deav ors she has made to secure independence.
They recognize the fact that Mrs. Aver illus
trates that principle Of self-help which il
dear to all Americans"
The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1884-02-14
A Moueei Characteristic.
british Quarterly Review |

With many good qualities, anfwith
almost superabundance of religion,
the Mongols have no love of truth. and
are wont to deSpise a man who cannot
meet the stress of daily events 10y an
apt lie. On one occasion. travelling
with a guide over the desert, Mr. Gill
mour was frequently asked whether
he carried a revolver He con-
stantly made the truthful reply
that he did not. This SO aroused
the fear and excited the Indignation of
the guide that his employers sad state
became matter of deep thought, result
ing in this solution. He suggested
that TO all future queries Mr.. Gilmour
should reply: Surprising / have,
what then? Surprising l have not,
what them" The cauny Scotch wit of
the missionary led him TO learn lesson
even from Mongol II saw no harm
in this form of answer, agreed TO use
it, and have often since STAYED off in
the same manner impertinent ques-
tons.
The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1884-02-14

not again! so the nose of the can is tilted
over the range or CRATE, there is flash, a
scream, and poor Bridget will never have
another chance to disobey orders, Perhaps
it would be better, if Bridget must be allowed
access to the can at all-the suggestion is
timidly made-to show her how she may aid
the fire with comparative safety All she
has to do is to pour a spoonful or two of the
oil into cup or something of the kind, and,
setting the can down at safe distance, pour
the oil from the cup upon the fire. 1t is not
likely that she will suffer much injury
from the comparatively mild explosion that
may follow,
The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1884-02-14
Incon vrnient to Interview.

The honor Of an audience with the
king of Burmsh involves some neon
veniences. In spite of the friShtful
sun of that country it is strictly for
hidden to open parasol after passing
the first palace gate. and then one must
cross an enormous courtyard bare
headed. without any shade except a
little fan. One must also either avoid
passing before the central gates of the
palace building, or else do so with the
body bent almost at right angles. FL
nallv. when YOU come to the side door.
by which alone it is lawful to enter,
You must leave your shoes at the bot
tom of the stairs and walk for several
hundred yards over the scorching
planks until you reach the throne hall.
where YOU must squat. taking care to
hide your feet Is much as possible until
the king deigns to issue from his pri-
vate apartments. When he does come
he speaks from behind a screen, and a
confidential attendant repeats his au-
Gust words
The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1884-02-14
The Daniel Gabriel ROssetti" style.
New York Journal


In Paris, more than in New York o. any
other great city there is deci led fashion in
beauty as well as in dress, which chan ,es as
regularly Us do the seasons, and whicn some
times takes very queer and curious freaks.
For instance, last spring the type of beauty
that was all the style was what was termed
the Daniel Gabriel Rossetti style This
type of beauty is assuredly one Of the most pc
cular avn. 1t was originated 10y the
Prin 'agan, who is great leader of
fashion in Paris, and who appeared i'll her
box at the opera one evening gotten up in
the wonderfully striking Daniel Gabriel
Rossetti style The most noticeable
features of this style of beauty is the
hair, which is dyed green, and arranged
in pyramid fashion on the top
of the head. Strange to say, the green hair,
though of course looking unnatural, is very
pretty and odd. 1t is dyed the most delicate
and lovely shade Of green known, namely,
Nile-green. The complexion that goes with
this hair must be like a soft. slightly-bushng
peach, all cream and white. The eyes are
black or brown, the lips their natural color,
and the eyebrows dyed to match the hair.
Floating gowns, white in color and composed
of airy, fairy tulle or faille, are always worn
with this type of beauty, Every woman in
Paris had the mania for appearing like a
Daniel Gabriel Rosetti beauty for a while,
but at present in Paris, which by the way
Victor Hugo calls the centre of civilization. y
green hair reigns no more, and Dame Fash
ion dictates that her daughters shall now APP
pear in as many different styles of b auty as
possible believing no doubt, that variety is
tho Srica ~ IT,,
The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1884-02-14
omen Lawyers In
fIondon Herald.

Italy is getting much ahead OF us as
America. La Signora Lydia Poet has just
been admitted to practice at the bar Of Turin,
and appeared for the first time in her harris
ter's gown TO plead the cause OF young
painter, whose pictures had been unjustly de-
tanned by his landlord, and much injured by
the damp OF the garres to which they had
been consigned. The lady barrister obtained
q great success for her humorous description
of the subject Of the pictures, and, amid
isuch applause, obtainei a verdict with
coodly damages in favor OF her client She
was escorted home, still enveloPed in her law
yer's robes, by large concourse of people,
who gave her "A serenade in the evening, in
which the tenor voice Of the young painter
was conspicuous for its deep expression
The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1884-02-14
Current Journalistic ExaEseration.

The great American liars from Erie, Pa,
and Texas have evidently formed a partner
ship and established branch offices in all the
chief towns and cities They are turning out
copy fast. We have only time to note the
story Of sparrow which catches six ducks
The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1884-02-14
ANOTHER HERO.
lArksnsaw Trav,sar.

Arksnsaw Trav,sar.
Old Jim
That's him
6tandin' down yonder along side the coon"
Can't see,
Not he,
For his ewes wus burnt out the fust o last
June
Didn't 20 in
'Mong smoke an din
Ter save child whar the flames growed
thicker.
Lost his sight,
In anotber fight
Trying tor down some fve-ceut ticker.
The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1884-02-14

But will tell You OF a mistake that many
mothers are making, and that is the putting
on the prettily immature figures of their
girls the epidemical jersey waist Nothing
could possibly b. more unbecoming TO a
child
Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1884-12-13
FOR SWEET cHARrrY,s SAKE.

No other organization in the city is doing
the charitable work that is being performed
by the G. A. r.. assisted by the Ladies Aux
Hilary society. Almost daily cases Of want
and destitution are relieved, and as the win
ter progresses they will be on the increase.
The wife of an old soldier, in INDECENT cir
cumstances, died yesterday. The relief
corps took charge of the funeral and fur
nished the coffin and hearse. Nosoldier nor
soldiers wife nor soldiers orphan should be
suffered 10 fill pauper's grave. Our char'-
ties should not be confined TO such alone,
nor should the organization alluded to above
be expected to shoulder the whole
burden. ON "Wednesday evening
of next week n charity ball
and musical entertainment will be given at
the opera house. In all eastern cities peo-
Pile in easy circumstances turn out en- masse
to encourage by their presence and financial
aid such worthy enterprise. An appeal is
made to the large hearted, open handed peo-
pie Of Wichita TO respond likewise, now
that an opportunity is offered them, and this
appeal should not be in vain You will not
be asked TO donate one cent without full
value received, for the entertainment and
supper win be well worth the price Of the
tickets. Were it even otherwise it would
be your unquestioned duty to help those Ia
borers in those voluntary efforts to raise
means to alleviate the sufierings of the poor
and distressed.