davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1884-03-28


An exchange says, "rhe Post
master General orders tha. no busi-
ness cards, handbills, or advertise
ments of any kind can be placed ON
the walls of the postoffice. The
reason given for the ruling is that it
is 'apt to excite a feeling that the
postmaster favors particular per-
sons" There is probably no truth in
the above, and yet it is not particle
more nonsensical than good many
many things Mr.. Gresham has done
or attempted to do since he became
Postmaster General.
Bay City asks Congress for pub
lie building costing SIoo, 1000. East
Saginaw makes similar request, and
Jackson asks for one costing $4,000.
John T. Clark, of Clinton, Lena
wee county, contracted all the butter
from his creamery for the coming
year to Detroit parties at 80 I-3 cents
pound. Mr.. e. has fine herd of
Jersey cattle.
Philadelphia has a savings bank
which has Sa5, 900, 900 assets.
New York Sun Dem says, "The
following is not impossible by any
means: For President, George F.
Edmunds, of Burlington, VT; for
Vice President, Robert T. Lincoln,
of Chicago. Ill. Platform: Union of
the East and West; cool Yankee In
tellect combined with warm Hoosier
Heart; Virtue from Lake Champlain,
REINFORCED by Vigor from Lake
Michigan; the Republican party dot
for day but for all time.
Texas farmers sold last year $780,
600, 900 worth of cotton, S53 900
worth of cattle, S7,ooo,ooo worth Of
wool and mutton and 81, 200, 900
worth of horses and hides.
Mrs. r. B. Hayes owns and per-
sonally superintends, at her home in
Fremont, Ohio, one of the best poul-
Try yards in the United States.
If the prohibitionists would work
one quarter as much for temperance
as they do for politics there would
not be saloon in the conptry.
The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1884-03-28
WHOLE NO. sel
CORRESPONDENCE
RUSH

Miss Mary Shay, of Rush, closed a
very successful term of school in dis
trict No. 2, of the township Of Ven
ice, last Friday; and will take charge
of a summer term there, also.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1884-05-14
AUNT REBECCA'S GHOST

II don't believe a word of it, said
Aunt Rebecca.
The wine-like glow Of sunset yet IL
lumined the great bay window; but
the rest of the apartment was already
shrouded in the gray shadows Of twl-
light, in whose misty indistinctness
the huge chairs of carved oak looked
like gigantic monsters from some for
eign shore. From the walls irowned
down dark old family portraits, and
the crimson hangings above the arched
doors waved restlessly back and forth
in the draughts of wind that swept
through the vast corridor
II don't believe word of it'' re-
pcated Aunt Rebecca, with more EN-
phasis than before. 81 ghost story
indeedl"
"Tell me about it, Violet" said
young Hazlewood, to whom the deeT
bay-window, with its far-off prospect
of snowy hills, veiled in gathering twi
light, to say nothing Of pretty Violet
Orme's close vicinage, were infinitely
more attractive than the more moderr
regions of Alnwick Place.
ut is not much of story said Vi
Oct, flushing up to her very eyelasheS
at the sound of her own sweet voice
only years ago, long before my grea
grandpa built this house, the site wa
all one unbroken wood, and there wa
q tradition that beautiful girl wa
murdered by her lover. Her grave
they said, was beneath tho founda
Lions of the house; but scarcely cred
it this part of the legend
"Of course not" interrupted Mis-
Rebecca, with toss of her false curls
81 have no patience with the relies O
old superstition"
"What arc you looking for, aunt
Have you dropped anything? Shall
call for Harris to bring a candle? ?
asked Violet, a moment afterward
coming to her aunts side.
Nothing, nothing" said Miss Rebe'
ca, with little embarrassment in lie
yoice. "Comc-don't stay hero an
longer in the biting cold, unless yo
both want weeks medicine and doc
tors visits"
"It's not cold, Aunt Rebecca,' pleat
cd Violet, ,"and the starlight is
beautiful on the stone pavement. Ju:
let us wait until that fiery plan,
mounts a little higher
But a peremptory summons froF
Col. Orme himself, who had just wal
ed from a comfortable nap beside tn
glowing fire in the library, to sort {
vague wonder as to "where Rebecc
and the young people could possib
! be-" speedily settled the matter.
. "Never mind, Violet" whispere
Charles Lakewood; by and by whe
your father has gone to his room ar
Aunt Rebecca is busy with her cur
papers in her own special dormitor
we can have a starlight stroll throug
!; the ghosts territory!'
; Violet gave him an arch glance
! she tripped after Aunt Rebecca in
,, the hall which led to Col. Ormt
brilliantly lighted library.
81 wish Capt. Hallewood wouldr
remain out there" said Aunt Rebe
ca, anxiously. "IIe will catch /
death of cold; and, besides--."
!. "Besides what, Aunt Rebecca"
= "Violet." sail the maiden lady,
{, wish you would 80 down and see
!; the housekeeper has prepared tn
e posset for my sore throat, that's
3 good girl. I think shall go to bed.
G Violet went TO execute her aun
behests.
"a How peacefully the distant hills a
t. i, valleys slept in thetr snowy mant
% that glorious December night, 1t
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1884-05-14
An Ancient Mexican Calendar.

OF all calendars to an inquiring and
curious mind, the oldest and most in
teresting is probably that of the ancient
people of Mexico. When disturbed by
the Spaniards, the MeXicans (though
cruel cannibals) were developing civil
ization. Their picture writing was
passing into the condition Of phonetic
signs, but it had not yet reached the
Egyptian stage. The Mexican caleb
dar depended on the combination of
numbers with pictorial signs. Arabplt,
a reed, flint and Il house were the
chief and most frequently recurring
pictures. They had cycle of lifty-two
years, and Mr.. Taylor observes that
their calendar may be illustrated with
a modern pack of cards, laid out in
rotation of the four suits. In the
ordinary calendar periods of twenty
days had names like our months, and
each day was a rabbit day, reed day,
flint day, or house day. The ritual
calendar was different and much more
complicated, and the curious thing is
that it resembles the queer calendars
of Central and Eastern Asiatic peoples.
Among Mongols, Thibetans, Chinese,
series of signs are combined in much
the same way to reckon years, months
and days. The Mongols have cycle
of sixty years, recorded by sort Of
zodiac Of twelve slgns-mouse, bull,
tiger, and so forth. Fire, earth, iron
wood and water are combined in rota-
tion with these, and insteal of calling
this year of grace 1884, the Mongol
perhaps calls it "malp, fire, bull year,
for the notions of male and female
come as copiously into this system a;
into the Vedic ritual. Humboldt ant
other authorities have inferred that The
Mexican calendar was carried Ovel
from Asia with the Mexican civiliza-
tion. But the minds of early mer
work 50 much alike when dealing will
the same set of facts that even coinci
dences as curious as these between tn,
Mongol and Mexican calendars may b.
original and not borrowed. Peopl
may say that no two sets of mind
would hit on the same eXtraOrdinar,
complexities. Bat men do everything
first in a complex way simplicity onl.
comes slowly, in machinery, calcu!a
ton, society and everything else, il
company with high civilization.-Lon
don Daily Ne,cS
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1884-05-14
WHOLE NO. 2l7l.

"The geoduck has only one rival, the
great tridacna that we had brought on,
but this is more like our Little Neck
clam in its make up; that is, it has 9
strong, thick shell, and, like many
shells, powerful teeth-like projections
that fit into each other. 1t is the
argest known shell, weighing SOC
pounds or more, while the meat Of the
animal alone tips the scale at thirty
five or forty pounds. They are found
in great numbers in the Torres Strait
and burrow, as it were, in the cora
rock, their mantles and fringes show
ing and looking like great sea anemo
nes. Though the shells are common
they are rarely secured, as no one care'
to dig in the water a week to get ont
out.
"They burrow into the coral rock
and their byssus by which they faster
themselves is so tough that it require
repeated blows Of hatcheJ 10 sever IL
Where they are found they are used a
food, and the shells are cut up by tn
natives and used as knives, daggerS
etc, while certain oval parts cut fror
the shell are bound upon the forehea
as ornaments.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1884-05-14
Tho Fascination of the Geld Mines.

An old forty-niner says of gold hunt
ing: "It's the fascination of it. Lor'
man, when you've struck it pretty rich
and can see yer gold right in front of
you; when you're piling it up every
half O. the day, with nugget now and
again as big as bullet to cheer you,
and then when the evenin' comes and
you count it up and find a hundred odd
dollars just picked out o the earth that
day-well, there amt nothin' like it.
Then when you don't strike it rich you
always think you're goin' to next day,
an it's just as exciting hearin' other
men tell in the cvcnin' what they pulled
out as it is countin' over your own
Why, I've been three and four months
at a time without making dollar and
without cent in my pocket; but gee
whitaker! the excitement of it dom
give q man twice to othink how hard W
he iS."
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1884-05-14
A Restless IilY.


Ine most restless of towns in the en-
chanting land have their hours of still
ness and repose. The "Movimento" OF
Naples never ceases. The city seems
not to rest either by day or by night
You are in your room, reading, very
late. Just beneath your window some
body is twanging guitar and bawling
canzonetta with the usual rhyming
of "cuore' and "amore," forte and
"morte,' the usual exordium about
bella Napoli," and the usual perora-
tion about Santa Lucia" Does the
minstrel outside think that you will
open tho window and fling him sold
at 2 in the morning? But you retlr:
to your couch and are up again, say al
1T is midwinter-to see the sunrise
What is that shrill ululati0n floating
over the Bay Of Naples-a sound mor1
discordant than melodious, but yet mol
altogether unpleasing? Is it the CRY
of peacock? But peacocks don't III
about the Mediterranean Sea at A. "
1t would be safer to surmise that tn.
shrill note may be that of the fable
halcyon. However, you lend your ca
more attentively to the note. Upo:
my word it is the squeak of Puncl
Two tattered losels in red nightcal
and the usual imperfect pantaloons
have rugged up in boat Punchs shoy
of the most primitive kinda bit o
ragged blanketing stick or two and
couple of red ochre-smeared puppet
and they are rowing about the bay
performing. Maybe some liberal Jacl
Tar from a foreign merchantmen i
the port will fling the floating Pulci
nello a copper or two. The entertain
ment given by these abnormally matt
final histrionics is, l apprehend, int
mately associated with tho all-absorl
ing question of quattrini. Behind 81
Moyimento" is LA Miseria.' Both ar
equally dependent and consequent o
, the other. ldleness, protligacy, thrift
lessness and crime bring about tn
movement, and the end of the move
ment is misery.-London Ielegraph
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1884-05-14
SCIENTIFIC SCRAPS.

The analysis made by Dr. Rousch
volcanic ash from the krakatoa erup-
ton shows the principal constituents
to be ordinary pumice-stone, with
fragments ranging in size from that OF
impalpable powder to upwards OF one
millimetre in length.
According to Prof. Wanklyn, the
manufacture of gas from lined coal Is
a success, as it reduces the amount OF
sulphur compounds to three grains IN
the hundred cubic feet, and increases
the Weld of ammonia and tar by the
abolition of the lime purifiers.
At the Munster Agricultural School,
COWS were fed on ensilage for week
and on mixed food for week. Inc
milk was analyzed and the butter
weighed which had been produced IN
each instance, with results almost
identical, the experience proving that
ensilage was not inferior to ordinary
food.
The st. Louis Medical Brief states
that DR.. Rasori recommends the use
of a tuning fork in the treatment OF
neuralgic pains, the instrument to be
applied, while vibrating, over the
course of the painful nerve. The sit
tings are said to last about half an
hour when the pain is usually relieved,
The English Mechanic says: "Al-
though the average speed of trains in
the United States is twenty per cent.
below the mean speed of trains in
this country, all things considered, the
service controlled BY the American
engineers compares favorably with
anv in the world. The American
engineers at erst copied English
builders, and made locomotives with
single drivers; bu, rs is their wont,
they quickly mad, improvements, and
we are not disposed to dispute that
the American locomotive of today is
one of the most perfect pieces of
! mechanism wrought out by the hand
aul miRl of man."
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1884-05-14
Vanity Fair.

At Vanity Fair, as we bow and smile,
AS we talk of the opera (aftcr the weathc),
AS we chat of fashion, and tint, and style,
We know we are playing part together.
You know that the mirth | wear borrow;
know your smile is mask TO sorrow.
We know that under tho silks and laces
And back of beautiful, laughing faces,
Lie secret trouble and dark despair
AT Vanity Fair.
AT Vanity Fair, on dress parade,
Our colors are bright and our sabres cleaning;
But you know my uniform S worn and fraycd
And ] know your weapons, despite their
seeming,
Are dull, and worthless, and badly battered;
That close inspection will show how tattcrcd
And stained arc the banners that flaunt above
us,
That comrades hate, while they swear they lovc
U.S.
That, robed like Pleasure, walks gaunt-eyed
Care,
At Vanity Fair.
At Vanity Fair, as we strive for place,
As we push, and .ostlc, and crowd, and hurry,
We know the result is not worth the race
We know the prize is not worth the worry;
That in fighting for self we must wound each
other;
That much of our gain means loss for another;
That the crown OF ay,lcavcs fades while it
presses
The brow of the victor, with thorns-not cares
scs;
That honors are empty and worthless to wear
At Vanity Fair
Yet, at Vanity Fair, as We pass along,
We meet brave hearts that are worth the
knowing;
Mong poor paste jewels that deck the throng,
We see solitaire somewhere glowngi
We find grand souls under robes of fashion;
Meath light demeanors lurk strength and pas
sion;
| And fair, fine Honor and god-likc Resistance
In halls OF pleasure may have existence,
And we find pure altars and shIincs Of prayer
AT Vanity Fair.
Ella Wheeler.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1884-05-14

young lady, 81 wore my long cashmere
mantle, for l was afraid of colds, and
it was tied at the throat with red
ribbons, and"-.
"And Aunt Rebecca took it for
granted that you were the murdered
heroine of our family ghost story" said
the colonel, archly. "But allow me to
ask, young people, what you were so
much interested in?"
"Well, sir" said Lakewood, "I had
just asked her if she would marry me
don't run away Violet--and she said
Yes, that is, if could win her faith.
er's consent"
"Wcll?"
"And I'would like to know what her
father says to the propositions" ?" added
the young officer, laughingly, detain-
ing Violet, who was struggling to es-
cape"
"IIe says" answered Col, Ormc,
"that your intrepidity in facing the
ghost deserves some reward, and he
Likewise suppose5 that his daughter
must be allowed to have her own way.
Take her, Charley, and don't spoil her!
No thanks now, but let me go and see
after your Aunt Rebecca"
Papa" she whispered, as he arose,
with his hand on the door.
Wcll, my dear?'
"Don't tell Aunt Becky that
that
"That you were the ghost? Just as
you please"
And he went, chuckling, to inquire
after his sisters health. There is NJ
evidence that he ever did betray Vic
let S secret; but two things may he re
garded as settled facts in the records
of Alnwick Place -onc is that Aun
Rebecca strenuously denies the eXis
tence of ghosts, and abhors the yer.
sight of her niece's white mantle will
cherry trimmings; the other is, that SHIT
is particularly careful never to pas
through the solemn old haunted hal
after sunset. t.--BOlC Bells.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1884-05-14

Look at stone over which you
lave stumbled only long enough tc
recognize it quickly when you come
that way agal-.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1884-05-14
Drinking Oh Shoes.

Talking of old shoes" said the doc
tor, as he bit off the end of one of tho
Detroit Journal reporters cigars,
"they come handy in various ways
Old boots and shoes are made into
Jamaica rum, also into the richest OF
iellies. Not only are old shoel
utilized but cast-off linen is used t.
make coffee and sugar."
"Oh, come, now!' exclaimed the re,
porter, "you are trying to stuff me-"
"No, l am not. All these years
while you have imagined that you were
slipping coffee from Brazil and rum
from the West Indies, you have simply
been drinking cast-ott shoes and worn
out linen"
"Go tor
"Fact! The jelly spoken of is made
by boiling an old boot and shoe in
soda, under a pressure of about two
atmospheres. The tannic acid in the
leather, combined with salt, makes tan
nate of soda, the gelatine rising to the
TOP. From this, with suitable flavor
ing material, the jelly is readily made
The shirt coffee is made from old shirI
linen. and sweetened with cuff ant
collar sugar, both coffee and sugaI
being made in the same way. Tit
linen, after being washed, is treated
with nitric acid, which, acting on tn,
Ignite contained in the fiber, produce:
glucose, or grape sugar. This, wher
roasted, makes an excellent coffee, ant
is sweetened with unroasted glucose
"Then you will have one believe tha
he may have been drinking coffe
made from the shirt of his hated rival
may have spread his despised mother
in-law's old shoes on his breakfas
toast, and quaffed rum made from tn
brogans of atramp?'
Exactly SO. Yon may be invited t.
dine with me some day, when my wifi
will doubtless say: Wouldn't you lik
a little of Bridget's old shoe for you
hot biscuit, or will you have a drinI
of the doctors old shirtT'
Doctor said the reporter, solemn
V, ais all this true?"
Certainly" said he, "you don
think I'd tell lie: and. by the wa!
wouldn't you like Santa Cruz sour?
"N-no," said the reporter. and h
hurried home, looked in the glass, an
saw that he was looking very pale an
haggard.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1884-05-14

ieTS in with the price pay for one
name. Price ty mail, ST.
We will send to every one ordering the printing
Dfice of us, The Journal e Science, illustrated
popular monthly, printed on fine paper, ONE YrAR
cents. Address JOURNAL OF SCIENCE, 1863
Randolph ST., Chicago, iiis'
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1884-05-14
Rutland siness Cards.
BERWICK HOTEL.

Q + NICIVA1kDSON,F FrOFr,
RUTLAND VERMONT
Heated Throughout by Steam,
Good Sample Rooms, Billiard Room an'
Livery Stable connected with the Hotel.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1884-05-14
4 PRINTING OFFICE FOR ONE DOLLAR

S0Ltp NObs
3 E r FAMILY
FOkT T for mark
ing Linen, Cards,
Books, &. Com
Lincs tho convent
cnco'of mctaliy
with the ilexibility,
durability aud ele.
lgancc OF the rubber
stamp. For One
Dollar you set
everything shown
In the cut, with Us
to $50 letters, lnk'
Holder, Pas, Twee-
Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1884-01-19
"VOman's Health journal"

Contains valuable information ON the
diseases of women only. Published
by lady physicians who have made
these peculiar weaknesses Of the sex
their sole study for years. 1t gives
the causes, symptoms, and sure home
treatment for Prolapsus Uteri or Fall
ing Of the Womb, inflammation and
liberation of the Womb, and all dis
placements. Leucorrhea or Whites,
Irregular, Suppressed or Painful Men
situation, Flooding, Sick and Nervous
Headache, Indigestion, Dyspepsia,
Heartburn, Weakness in Back and
Stomach, Scrofula, Pains in Side, biz
illness, Kidney Complaint, Barrenness
Nervous Prostration, Depression OF
Spirits, General Debility Of Women
and Change Of Life. Sent on receipt
of six cents in stamps. Address DR.
Rush's Medical Association, Nunda
New York, s2oly
Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1884-01-19
A Commercial Editors Advantage.

When the editor of a strictly com
mercial paper wants to heap Goals Of
abuse on an enemy, ne has at his COM
mand a larger stock Of insulting cpl
thets than any man in the world. He
can brand his foe as a desiccated CO.
coanut, a canned vegetable, stuffed
pepper, or bad sal addressing. He
can villify him as smutty- nosed Off
shore mackerel, or decayed piece OF
Limburger cheese-in fact, he can al
lude to hi,n as anything from a string
bean to spoiled sardine. Then again,
it he wants to pay lady IA compli-
ment he can compare her to sweet.
superfine, extra mixed, French gum
drops, nonpareil crushed sugar, OF
golden pumpkln-sauce, to blackberry
jam or egg tumble, and so on with.
out end. And if he wanted to droT
into poetry at three half pence an hou'
extra, he might tune his muse up te
any pitch-e. g.:
| Stove-po.ish Is not brighter than my love;
Sweeter she than all the syrup crystal drps
| She is spicor than the nutnug or the Glove,
And redder than canned cherries are her lips
She is maple sugar in a lovely case;
| No oyster half so luscious Ger was seen,
She's assorted honey put i'll vase
! She's melting as the finest geiatne.
Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1884-01-19
None but First.ClasS Goods.

In watches, silverware, and jewelry
one should have the best or none
Messrs. Shurley & Co., Chicago, are
making a speciality Of fine goods, and
if you need anything in watches, In
dust and waterproof cases, solid sill
yer or triple-plated ware, solid gold Or
rolled gold jewelry, send to Shurley
& Co.; they will send a single article
at the dozen price. They are vouched
for and endorsed by the United States
Express Co., American Express Co.,
Southern Express Co., f. w. Palmer,
Postmaster Of Chicago, Gen'l A. G.
Smith, Ex-State Treasurer, and many
others. Goods sent on approval, with
privilege of examination, enabling
you to do your purchasing at home
Remember, Shurley 6 Co., u State
street, Chicago, Ill. Send for thei1
new and beautifully illustrate cate
lo.ues. o0w3ll
Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1884-01-19
ILLEGAL ASSESSMENTS.

The applications Of two widows for
a remission Of the taxes on their prop
erty were before the Board of County
Commissioners at this meeting. The
widows complained that their property,
while exempt under the law, had been
assessed, sold for delinquency, and
that persons now held, or would hold,
county deeds for it. The Board, while
admitting the Justice of the claims,
averrcd thcms, Ives to be powerless in
the premises
All that remains to the compartments
is therefore suit in the District Court
to remove The cloud upon title cast
over thelrpropertv by the county deed.
This will be very expensive, but no
other recourse seems available. The
widows referred to have, however,
another remedy. 1t is to proceed
against the County Assessor and his
bond,men. The statute positively en-
empts widows and orphans irow
taxation, and the assessor has no right
to assess tie said property. If he does
so he violates the law, and must be ac-
countable for it. Here is the section
which exempts widows property to the
value of 81 900, from taxation. 1t is
found on page 4,9 OF the Revised
Laws of Idaho, and is Subdivision OF
the section relating to property that is
exempt:
Sixth.--rhc property Of widows or
orphan children not to exceed the
amount Of one thousand dolIais to
any one family.
The law is plain, and the Assessor is
familiar with it, because the editor Of
thr ZINES pointed it out to him last
October, before the delinquent list was
prepared.
This assessing tie property of wild
ows and orphaus IS picayunish busi'
ness: an! the law exemptlng eucl
property t ON taxation should be
upheld