davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Opelousas courier., 1884-12-13
Ghosts o.. the Mo,sntatn Top.

"The Spectre of the Broken" is
well known to all readers of travel.
Visitors to that mountain, which is
situated in the Hartz, sometimes see
their own shadows cast in gigantic
proportions on the rolling mists which
gather around the summit from the
deep. valleys on the western side. The
~peasantry Of old believed these appari-
tions were of the witches and spirits
who made the mountain their abode.
But it is known now that they are SIM
ply the shadows of persons observing
them thrown at a distance upon a
screen of vapor on the side opposite
the sun at its rising. Similar phe-
nomena have recently been discovered
on a mountain in Nevada by an officer
of the Coast Survey, who describes his
experience as follows:
suddenly, as / stood looking over
the vast expanse beneath me, / saw
myself confronted by a monster figure
Of a man standing in mid-air before
me on the top of a chiefly defined
mountain peak, which had but the thin
air of the valley below for a resting
place. The figure was only a short
distance from mi. Around it were
two circles Of rainbow light and color,
the outer one family defined as CON-
pared with the inner one, which was
bright and clear and distinctly rides
cent. Around the head of the figure
was a beautiful halo Of light, and from
the figure itself shot rays of colors nor
NAL to the body. The sight started me
more than I can tell. / threw up my
hands in establishment, and perhaps
some little fear, and at this moment the
spectre seemed to move toward me. In
q few moments I got over my fright,
and then, after the figure had faded
away, / recognized the fact that ] had
enjoyed one of the most wonderful
phenomena of nature. Since then we
have seen it once or twice from JEFF
Davis Peak, but it never created such
an impression upon me as it did that
evening when I Twas doing service as
a heliotroper all alone on top Of Ar
Dome
Ghosts Of this sort are merely forms
OF the mirage which is often observed
on the plains and ocean.-Deasrer Tai.
oane.
The Opelousas courier., 1884-12-13
Unique Dinner Plates.

The wife of Senator Harrison, OF
Indiana. has decorated eighteen china
Inner plates in a novel manner
which according to a correspondent
was wholly her own idea. On each
he has painted a bird OF a dlfferent
pecies, and on the bolder OF the plate
il verse in old English text OF poetry
written by one of the best authors
about that particular kind of a Dird'
This not only has the merit OF ofiSi-
nality, and so excites the interest aho
admiration of those who have seen the
plates, but has the further advantage
Us every verse is n which has oeeh
little quoted, of suggesting topics o.
conversation at a dinner party When
the plates are used, which is an ines
Unable boon on such occasions. MIS-.
Harrison says she was surprised to
find how much good poetry had been
written about birds, which alluded to
or described so many different species.
She says she found verses enough to
serve for another dozen plates entirely
different from those she has finished.
Gone into n Crazy Quilt.
II tell you they were gorgeous al
fairs. those silk scarfs and handker-
Chiefs" said a newly married man to
a reporter, "and now that | am a mar
ried man l cannot afford to replace
them by buying others"
"What has become of them?" que
ried the reporter.
81 left them all in my trunk, any
number of them; neekties and hand
kerchiefs which cost me all the way
from seventy-frve cents too $3.50. But
they have all disappeared, and recent
ly | summonea4lp courage enough to
speak to my better half about them.
~ Ii Y fOu MUM ShC cfSad, eL1o DS"o
tiful crazy quilt which | am work
ing on? I was out Of silk pieces and l
looked up your old trash and cut up
all your scarfs and silk handkerchiefs,
and l tell you some of them are lovely
patterns. | knew you wouldn't care
to use them any longer l am now
obliged to hustle around with two or
three black string ties" continued the
sufferer, land being the head of a FAM
lily l don't believe that | will ever be
the possessor of any more gorgeous
scarfs and kerchiefs; but l have the
consolation of knowingthat in three
or four years from now, if my wife's
patience holds out, l will have the
pleasure of knowing that a crazy
quilt is locked up in the bureau to be
exhibited now and then to callers and
tea parties.
The Opelousas courier., 1884-12-13

Opelousas. ST. Landry Parish, La.
THIS Institution will resume duties Nor
day, September Sd, 1888, under the i'm
mediate SUPERVISION of Mrs. NJ. Nj. HAYES
and Mrs. M. A. Davis, with competent as
sistants. The scholastic year consists Of
forty weeks.
TERMS OF TUITION;
Preparatory Department: per month $50
Academic 800
Music, with use Of piano. 500
p~ardinp. including washing. light and
fuel, 16IW
Embroidery, wax flowers, painting,
drawing, each, extra, 1906
Incidental fee, 1.0J
DISCIPLINE: p
TIE government of this school is strict buii
parental; no hard tasks or restrictions are
imposed, but every student must comply with
the rules, and must prepare up TO the meas
'ure of her ability. the lessons assigned.
Our course of study and mode of instruc,
ton are to train the mind 10 habits OF correct
thinking and thorough investigation. No
stu lent will be allowed to enter higher class
,es without thorough preparation. Parents
and guardians may rest assured that the
manners, health and morals of their ceildren
and wards shall receive due attention.
No deduction for absence, unless In case
of protracted illness. The location of the
town is healthful and easy of access. The
boarding department is under tins Immedi-
ate charge of Mrs. Hayes. Roarders willpro-
vide themselves with blankets and towels.
For particulars address
MRS. Nj. M. HAYES,
july 28'33-nov 27'79 Principal.
The Opelousas courier., 1884-12-13
Another Great Worlds Fair,

The great Worlds Fair, that is to
open in New Orleans on December /,
1884. will be worth going to see. It
already promises to surpass the Worlds
Fair of London in size and the Phila-
delphia Centennial of 1876 in variety
of exhibits. The monster building
will be 1873 feet long by 905 feet
wide. The largest structure ever
erected heretofore was the London
building of 1882; that contained 1,4OO,-
900 square feet. The main building at
New Orleans will contain 1,65OOOO
SO. fleet. It will be 60 feet high,
with a tower lis feet, and will
have a music hall in the centre which
will hold 1900 auditors. The plat
form will accommodate 600 musicians
Of course, there will be a horticultural
hall, art gallery, and ornamental gar
dens; but the chief interest will be in
the cotton exhibits. Indeed, this fair
is regarded as the centennial of the
cotton industry in this country. The
United States to-day yields IS per
cent. of all the merchantable cotton in
he world. In 1884 the production of
cotton in the United States was mere
~ experimental, and a'few bags were
shipped for the first time to England,
whose total trade in cotton was then
11,250,O00 pounds consumed and man.
ufactured. Great Britain now has
100000 900 spindles and the United
States makes 2,15O,000 yards of cloth
yearly. The first cotton factory in the
United States was built in Rhode Is.
and in 1871, at which time the pro
duction of cotton throughout tn,
lworld was 490.25O,OoO pounds. Ii
1888 the United States produced
6,949,756 bales, or 3,405, O7O.41C
pounds, of which we consumed 1,117..
8338,963 pounds and exported
1921, 313,992 pounds. To help thi.
enterprise, Congress has advanced
100000, and the subscriptions will
swell the amount to 100000. Thi,
exhibition will be a great thing for tn,
country, for it will show that cotton i
King, at least so far as the South i
concerned. This great fair will con
tinue for six months.--Demorest.
The Opelousas courier., 1884-12-13
Terrible African Ants.


The basllikonai ants must be a terri
Bile plague. They travel night and day,
in armies miles long. The elephant
and gorilla fly before them; the black
man runs for his life as soon as the ants
are seen. It is related by a traveller
that as he was going up one of the
mouths of the Zambesi, he saw a whole
village suddenly deserted by the inhab-
ltants. who fed with all they could
carry of, a proceeding which, as there
was no foe In sight, rather puzzled him,
I'LL he found they were fleeing from the
ants. When these ants enter a hut
hey clear It Of every living thing in 4
Few minutes. Huge cockroaches, al
most as large as mice, centipedes, mice
and rats are instantly devoured. a
strong rat is killed in less than a
minute, and in another minute its
bones are picked. A leopard, dog OF
deer IS soon dispatched and devoured,
for they kill by their numbers. They
are quite half an inch long, and one
variety is SO strong that it will bite
pieces clean out of the flesh. They
possess. however, one meritorious quail
lty-they MORALLY hate, and, whenever
They can, put to death the mischieyous
white ants, which make such destruc-
lion In houses. In addition to these
md the sand ants, which bite like scor-
pions, leaving a distressing pain behind
them, there are several varieties OF flies
which sting horribly, such $ the
igogonai-small gnats-whose bites 90
through the tough hide Of the negroes,
causing 4 terrible itch; the ibolai-fies
or gnats-Which sting as though with
4 needle. and whistle Al they dash al
you; the richouma, which iii them
selves with your blood before you know
they are there, and then leave an itch
ing that lasts for hours, varied it inter.
walls By certain sharp stabs Of pain; the
sloway. or nestrbuilding dies. not quite
SO big as a bee, which cling to a man
even IN the water, and assaii the natives
with such ferocity that II a canoe, BY
chance. toucn one of their nests, tn
men Instantly dive overheard.
The Opelousas courier., 1884-12-13
The Rese wife of AU.

Three travellers met in the Rrander Pass,
BY the bubbling Brander spring;
They shared their cake and their ~venison,
And they talked Of many a thing.
Ofbooks, and song, and foreign lands,
Of strange and wandering lives,
And by and by, in softer tones,
They spoke of their homes and wives.
~ married the Lady Of Logan Brae,"
Said one with a lofty air;
"There is ma in a. the north countree
A homo wi better share
Of gold and gear, and hi ! and loch,
Of and farms to rent,
There's many a man has envied me
And I'm MAR than weel content"
fDream of woman as bright as day"
The second traveller said;
'Dream of a form Of perfect grace,
OF a noble face and head,
OF eyes that are as blue as heaven,
VI moving, Hut-oioWh Aaii'
That is my wife; and though not rich,
Oh! she is wondrous fair"
+. The third one said: II have a wife,
She is neither rich nor fair;
She has not gold, nor gear, nor land,
Nor a wealth of nut brown hair;
But oh, she loves me! and her love
Has stood through every test.
Beauty and gold are good, but, friends,
We know that love is best"
They filled their cups inthe spring again,
And they said, right heartily:
"Here's tc tn loving, faithful wife,
Wherever her home may be-
And soon they took their different ways,
One thought in each mans breast:
"Beanty il good, and gold is good,
But a true love is the best"
The Opelousas courier., 1884-12-13
a With n NJ tssion.

Rev. C. II. Sturgeon says: L have
heard that a woman who has "a mis-
sion" makes a poor wife or a bad
mother; this is very possible and at
the same time very lamentable; but
the mission Iurge S not at all of this
sort. Dirty rooms, slatternly gowns,
md children with unwashed faces are
swift witnesses against the sincerity
Of those who keep other vineyards and
neglect their own. | have no faith IN
that woman who talks of grace and
glory abroad and uses nosoap at home
The Opelousas courier., 1884-12-13
OPELOUS1S, Ia.
In tho Hands Il the Russiaa Police.


Tn Russia, every one who has the
misfortune to fall into the hands OF
the police as a political offender nc
matter how trivial his offence may be
lis, in n~inety-nine cases out of a hun
~dred, alost man. the preliminary de-
tention is made at the arbitrary pleas
ure OF the prosecution, which, in Russia
is another name for the police; they
can arrest and detain whom they will.
No blame attaches to a mistaken ar
rest; on the contrary. the more the
arrests the greater the merits OF the
prosecutor. For instance, at the time
of the trial of the hundred and ninety
three in 1873, there were, over and
above this number of the accused,
about fourteen hundred persons arrest
ed. OF these, half were set at liberty
after a few months, but the remainder
were kept in prison during the whole
four years that the case lasted, save
only seVenty-fye who died, some by
suicide, some Of consumption, some
insane. And in more recent times,
when the white terror followed upon
outbreaks of revolutionary terrorism,
and especially in the reign of Alexan-
der III, who invented a species of po-
litical pro-consuls, such as Strelmikoff,
to devastate towns and provinces and
arrest right and left-the seventies
have been ven greater. But / have
no positive figures at hand. The nor
NAL penalties for political crimes are
simply Draconian-ten years at the
galleys for a single speech, or for read
Ing or preserving a proclamation. And
whenever a pro; g tuition follows an
outbreak, The tril u lal receives special
orders to aggrayate the penalties, so as
to make "a salutary example," and the
verdicts become legal assassinatio ms of
the most monstrous character. The
lad Rosovsky was condemned to death
and actually hanged at Kiev on the 5th
of March, 1890, Tor merely having in
his house a proclamation of the Execu-
tive Committee. The same judgmen
was passed on the student Efremoff
for having lent a room in his house 10
two revolutionists who were concert
ing a plan of escape, without even
taking their young host into conf
dence. But his sentence was commu-
ted to a lifelong condemnation to the
galleys. it~3onsequence of his having
the weakness to appeal for mercy
Drobiasgin, Maidansky, Lisogub
Tchubaroy, were all hanged-some for
having subscribed money to the reyo-
iutionary cause, others for conveying a
box, OF which they did not know the
contents, but which was proved to con-
tain notes for a circular drawn up by
two or three youths, ~offenses, one and
all, which the actual law of the country
Furnishes only with exile or a few
years imprisonment. contemporary
ReUieu.
The Opelousas courier., 1884-12-13

Gray tulle, gray Grape and gray SILK
muslin in pale pearly shades form
many pretty Fanchon and capote bon
nets, worn with gray taffeta glace
silk carriage and reception costumes
The bonnet is then trimmed with
violets, roses, or forget-me-nots put on
in punches, according to the color with
which the silk is shot.
The Opelousas courier., 1884-12-13

shading his eyes from the sun which
blazed over a distant peak, he survey
ed the ravine below, and then led his
men down the dangerous slope. The
last man had descended, and the sher-
if and an adviser were debating as to
the proper course to be taken, when
from up among the rocky lodges putfs
of smoke arose, and the sharp crack OF
the rife and the jarring bang OF the
shotgun threw the men into confu-
sion. Two men fell from their horses
and were borne away by their CON-
panions. Each man sprang from his
horse and took refuge as best he
could. The surprise was complete,
hough it might have been expected,
nd several minutes elapsed before
the sheriff's men returned the fire, and
when a shower of bullets and shot was
sent up rafting among the rocks, no
effect resulted, for the benson boys
and their lawless friends were safely
concealed from view. Again a volley
came from above, but by this time the
sheriff's men were under the protec-
ton of rocks, behind which they
crouched. Duke benson, leader OF
the outlaws, recognizing the useless
ness of firing under such circumstan-
ces, craw.ed from his niche of conceal
ment, Drawing the fire from below, n
posted himself behind a rock overlook
ing nearly every position taken by the
pursuers. Taking deliberate aim he
fired, and Jack Simons leaped into
the air and feel dead.
Great Lordr' exclai med the sheriff,
"this will never do. Lay close, boys;
or he'll kill you. Don't run. The
other fellers will kill you before you
can reach shelter"
Duke benson coolly surveyed the
situation, and selecting another mark,
he fired. Old John Patterson turned
over, dead. Duke was preparing for
another shot, when, far up the noun
tain, a rifle cracked. Duke wrlthed
from behind the rock, and fell on the
sharp rocks below. rhesheriff's men
shouted. Jack benson sought his
brothers position, but the rifle. far up
the mountain, cracked again, and
Jake rolled out and joined his dead
brother. The remaining outlaws,
with one impulse, scrambled from
their hiding places and attempted to
climb the rugged steep, but the sher-
ifs men, taking deliberate aim, shot
them down.
"Well, fellers, how air yer gettin'
along down thar"
sits old Cornstalk," exclaimed the
sheriff.
"That's about the size O it," and
the old man climbed down. Eyer see, [
didn't like the way yer was cuttIn' o
the kerds, MI. Sheriff, an | thought
I'd whip 'roun' and see how the land
laid. Been hangin' 'roun' on yer out
skirts all the time. Say, believe /
heerd somebody talk erbout a rifle
what was stold durin' the Brooks
Baxter scrimmage?"
No one replied.
sNow, sheriff, did you ever hear
SIGH a repot?"
81 have always understood" replied
the sheriff, "that your rifle was n
owned by Davy Crockett"
"Correck, said old Cornstalk. "Now
let's take care O. the po' feller5 what
have suffered in this here transax-
shun."-Opie p. Read, IN Tecas Sift-
ings.
The Opelousas courier., 1884-12-13
LADIES DEPARTMENT.
a ROnnet Sonnet

The fashions in bonnets are constantly chang
ing
In style and material, texture and hue,
And somebody's fancy is ever wide ranging
I%nventlng, of course, some atroclty new
Some styles are quite hateful and others de
lightful;
In broad-trimmed and narrow-brlmmeo
Handicapped and fiat,
But the latest invention is certainly frlgh'iui
The %conical, S3gar-loaf, six-story hat
Some, viIe journal.
The Opelousas courier., 1884-12-13

have secured the services of Mr.. Walton
AISandoz. a competent and experienced
druggist, and will be prepared to fill all pre-
attention to all matters in my line of busi.
ness. l respectfully solicit a share of the
public patronage.
r. NJ. IITTELL,
Proprietor.
Opelousas, Sept. 6, 1881.
The Opelousas courier., 1884-12-13

~Anotllsr ex exiilion to the pole, b
Nth tllae man, a "A wendod Lis was III
- barber shop. oAseianafs SQfpa
0gA
The Opelousas courier., 1884-12-13

The estimate Of cultivable wheat
acreage in India is 26.488,O0O acres.
The Opelousas courier., 1884-12-13

One steel rail ii made every hall
minute at Steeltpn, Pa
The Opelousas courier., 1884-12-13
OPELOUsAs FEMALE INSTITUTE,

Opelousas, Sept. 6, 1881.
The Opelousas courier., 1884-12-13

PERFUNERY, soaps, ETC., ETC.
The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1884-09-02

Col. T. B. French has given
up the proprietorship Of the Irving
House.
The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1884-09-02

MASTER Julius Ariail, who re-
Gently graduated with the highest
honors at the Baton Rouge Univer-
sity, speaks of shortly leaving this
Parish and permanently locating at
San Antonio, Texas, where he
will take up the practice of law.
We recommend our young friend
to the Lone Starites, and trust he
will meet with every success imag-
Unable.
The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1884-09-02
OFFICIAL.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE CITY
COUNCIL.
ALEXANDRIA, La, I
Aug. 80, 1884. !


Pursuant to a call of the Mayor
the City Council met in special ses-
sion this day at II o'clock A. NJ. :
A full Board was present, with the
exception of Mr.. w. Leckie, Coun-
Gilman from the Fourth Ward, alb
sent on account of sickness. The
following resolution was offered and
unanimously adopted:
Reso1ued, by the Mayor and Coun-
Gil of Alexandra, that in view OF
the great public Importance OF the
contemplated railroad to extend
from Marienna, Ark, via Bastrop
and Monroe to this city; and in view
of the incalculable advantages and
benefits that our citizens and COM
munitv will derive from said road,
that the said Mayor and COUNSEL do
hereby guarantee to furnish for the
futherance of said enterprise the
necessary ground within the corpo
ration limits for depot purposes; Il
aid in securing the right Of way il
said limits; to relieve all propert!.
of said road from corporation take
: for the space of ten years from tn
completion of the road and to 9th
erwise aid and facilitate the com
:, pletion Of the said railroad.
Board adjourned.
W. C. McGIMSEY,
!. a p. RACIAL, Mayer.
s5ecretMg
The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1884-09-02
Parish Executive Committee:

j. G. White, F. seip,
Jonas Rosenthal, r. P. Hunter,
Jas. Andrews, w. E. Taylor,
T. G.. p. Hooe, Ben. Turner,
G.. w. Bolton, Jas. L. hickman,
j. J.. Connella, B. NJ. Hayes,
n. r. Roberts, K. 3. Smith,
JOS. Meeker, John Phillips,
Oscar Barnidge, S. D. Williams,
Crawford Smith, N. L. McGinnis,
]. Z. Blackwell, Lewis Iexada,
II. A. Blanchard, R. L. Luckett,
VIC. James, VIM. Harris,
A. f. Watson, Willie French,
The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1884-09-02
CRlTRIARY CDLLEGI.
JACKSON, Id.

"OPENS FIRST MONDAY IN
~ September, 1884. Ample Fac
ul,y. Excellent Preparatory De.
partment. Complete Classical,
Scientific and Business Courses. :
Composition and Execution a spe-
cialty. Morality and Relisi"" made
prominent. Prompt attention III
sickness. Refined and cultured SO
ciety. Telegraghic connection,
Access by Mississippi Valley Rail,
road. For terms If Board and
Tuition send for Catalogue.
D. M. RUSH,
AM, 10 ,s4. President
The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1884-09-02

- NUM- IlAAoA hhe~SAS" ASSSH' w. W -
learn that the Commissioners of our
Charity Hospital have some time
since been commissioned by Gov.
McEnery, but, as yet, have failed
to organize or meet, and take the
initiative steps regarding the build
ing of the same. Come, gentlemen,
act in this important matter, and
let the Hospital be commenced on
at once. There is danger in delay.
Ar the "Proxy Convention"
held in New Orleans on Saturday
last, and composed Of a bakers
dozen Or more of the sugar planters
of Louisiana, together with a few
other CHECKERS" against the Demo
cratic party, Messrs. VIM. Polk ant
Joel Matthews were represented b.
proxy. This. same movement j
gotten mp IN favor of Blaine ant
Logan, and those of our sugarplan
tiers who countenance it, are of tn
, opinion that their interests are in
sured in the election of the Reput
: lican nominees. Of such, luckil!.
: there are but few.
Mn. Matthews, a brother of OF
$ fellow-townsman Joel Matthew
g has had one Peters, a white ma
arrested on affidavit and lodged
). the Parish Jail. Peters is charge
n with circulating the report to Il
) effect that Matthews had stolen h
pocket-book containing money
: For this Mr.. Matthews is procee
:. : ing criminally against Peters, cha
y ging him with libel. Peters is
horse trader we believe, and h
or lived in the Bayou Bouef secti
Of for some time; Mr.. Matthews is w
1t and favorably known all over t
n. Parish. The case will be tried I
ii fore Judge Blackman some til
Of during the present week.