davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Easley messenger. (Easley, S.C.) 1883-1891, 1884-05-16
lORIGINAI..)
IS THE OAKS. !"

''rhe Oaks in solemn majesty ascend,
Rearing aloft their ponderous arms;
IN vain the tempest's 8 force has striven
to rend
The. sinews proof 'gainst Boreas'
harms.
4 century's SHOWS have lent each moss
grown limb.
A gnarled and hoary splcndor,
And as we paused beneath the giants
grim,
Our language could not render
The stern, yet graceful beauty in each
curve,
Which walked to fancy's sight,
AS in the swaying wind they gently
swcrvc,
Visions cthcrcally bright;
They reused from ncmory's dusky cell
A sense of joys long past,
And soft rs music from uistlant dell
Thcy whispered rest at last.
| love the sOmbrc grandeur OF those
trees,
love their rugged pride.
| love. when evening wvoS the twi-
light breeze
TO finger there, by he' angelic side
Near Charleston. ). G., May ;}r,i.
The Easley messenger. (Easley, S.C.) 1883-1891, 1884-05-16
COMMUNICATED.
Some Things About Easley.

Nix. EDITOR: 1t is very natu-
raj for every fond heart to feel
that "charm from the skics' which
hallows his native home, and his
pride is cNcusahlc, if he thinks the
music Of his hearthstone
'The great wave that echoes round
the world,
but the impression Of q stranger
being impartial, if favorable, is a
greater culogy than this. In sym
pathy with this sentiment, if you
will allow us, we will add our mite
to the good word Of your late visi-
tor, Richmond, whose tribute, the
advantages Of your charming it,
tie town SO justly deserves. In
our several sojourneyinys from
Home Sweet Home, we have never
felt the possibility "elscwherc' so
nearly, as was met in the few hours
we spent in your midst. 70 pass
over the trim surroundings. the
air Of the great outer world~push
that marks the movements Of the
citizens and the business das h Of
the "iron horse,' truly, the wave
that echoes round the world--the
progress in the direction Of educa-
tion and the general appearance
Of thrift and advancement, we are
constrained by pleasant expert
cnce. to dwell particularly upon
the advantage Easley enjoys in the
manner Of an hotel. is not surpri-
sing the traveller, who has once en-
joyed the attractive appointments
availed himself Of the exquisite
cuisine, makes his business ar
engagements suit to ''stop over 50
often for hcknows what awaits his
travel -whetted appetite, in the
delicious dishes which so bounti-
fully cover the capacious table and
The Easley messenger. (Easley, S.C.) 1883-1891, 1884-05-16

III you propose to serve God
at all, have the manlincss to begin
now.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-06-12
The AunticS.

In one Of his amusing letters to the
Toledo Blade, pet. Y. Nasby' writes:
''The pure feminine negro is seen n
and about New Orleans in all her old
time glory. You see them in the kitch-
ems, on the street, in the horse-car,
everywhere anybody is seen, and there
is a similarity that is wonderful. They
are almost universally feshy, without
visible necks, the head resting on q
comfortable cushion of fat on the shout
ders, with enormous arms, partly bare,
and no waist whatever This applies
only to the middle-aged and old. The
young ones are as slim and iaunty as
need be, and why they should accumu-
late flesh as their years roll on is q
mystery. But they do grow fat with
their increasing years. They are album
dainty fleshy at so and still more SO at
CO. What they would be at 100 may
never be known.
Old and young, fleshy or lean, the
love of color is over all of them, and
the color they wear must be pronounce
ed. Their blacks are the blacklist of
anything on earth, their yellows cannot
be too yellow, and the various shades
of red must all be as bright as possible.
No one color satisfies them. They
! mingle all of them, and the more that
can be crowded into pattern the bet
ter it pleases them.
1t is a pleasant sight to see an aged
negress rolling along the street, bear
ing basket or bundle, her mouth half
way open SO that the laugh which is
very close to the surface may find the
Al Al Ii Il
gOod-humored twinkle in the eye and
lurking in the wrinkles about the
mouth, her short petticoats displaying
two ankles immense in size, and about
her head the inevitable gaylv-colored
handkerchief wound in the shape of a
turban.
Without this turban the dress Of no
negro would be complete. 1t takes the
| place of hat or bonnet, and is as uni
versal as the petticoat or shoes. In
deed, it is more the thing than shoes,
for, though one may lack in the matter
of shoes, she always has the turban. 1t
is bound closely about the forehead,
just below the hair, or rather wool,
line, and tied or pinned neatly at the
back of the head. Under this wealth
of color the shiny black face, the daz-
zling white teeth that always show, for
the laughter either begun, in progress,
or just ending, display them, make q
not unpleasant picture. So jolly and
good-natured are they that one does
not wonder that white children, cared
for and almost reared by these colored
women, came to love their 'mammys''
in childhood, and continued the liking
SO long as they lived.
The streets of New Orleans would
not be complete without the negresses
and their turbans. They fit the bright
sun and the flowers and the foliage ex-
ceedingly well, and make q sort of va
riegated finish to the picture. And
that color will always be there. The
race is increasing with great rapidity,
and there is no reason why it should
not. The young require very little care
in that delicious climate. They are
turned off to shift for themselves at a
very early age, and q pickaninny is as
little trouble to its mother as colt is
to its dam.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-06-12

like that. Chances. man, excIaim-
ed the lawyer. This is Mr.. Bolusi and
he wishes TO sign his will. That is all.
/ merely wish You to witness his sigma
ture. . ''Oh, that NAV be all right"
responded the apple merchant, .'but /
heard you say the other day that the
general rule of law is that a person
having pecuniary interest in a will is
disqualified from acting as a subscrib-
ing witness thereto. Perhaps Mr.. b.
lusi has remembered me. Good day,
gentlemen. The fact was, the man
could not write.
An uptown pastor, who enlivens his
Friday evening talks with anecdotes,
is so fond of a joke that he would rath-
er tell one at his own expense than not
tell one at all. This is his latest: al
was writing by my study window, and
a little Irish child was busying himself
by throwing beans ut the window. Los
ING ali patience, / rushed out Of the
house, determined to brighten the boy.
1t happened that his mother was COM
inc after him ut the same moment, and
we met by his side. | stormed ut the
child, and then, as the mother seemed
excessively stupid, gave her q piece
of my mind. Finally, as a grand and
overwhelming conclusion to my scold-
inc, | said: "A little discipline now
with your children will save you much
pain, if not disgrace, in the future.
Tha>k of that, madame; that is. if you
ever do think" Think, is it?' she re-
piled, / think if you go back to
your bedroom and wipe the ink aft av
your nose you'd be prettier, even if
you didn't make so much av sensa-
ton 1t was not soft answer, but it
had the effect of turning away wrath"
-Hdrper'S Bdzar.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-06-12

lutionized, for L see him wherever / 90,
mingling with the people, and even
lately proving around the slumS in
order to improve the condition of the
wretched London poor. Deeds, not
words. are what tell in a mans life re-
cord, and the preiudices which once
existed regarding him are being bat
tered down, and that, too, by his own
transformations conduct. And his po-
sition in the country is rather trying
when one reflects on it. For he is not
absolute King, while he has to act King
practically, as it is impossible for him
to shine as q quiet English gentleman. =
Alexander Dumas, like Ernest Re-
nan, his contemporary, has found life
enjoyable, and for the past fifteen years
he says he has been the happiest man
alive. ''Can you imagine, y he remarks,
ga greater happiness than persistent
love of labor, the desire to be useful,
the entire possession of ones faculties,
and control OF his will and conscience
admiration for what is fine, indulgence
for the silly, and severity for ones self?
The happiness of which [ boast is made
up of these things. You would hardly
have guessed it. It's a question of age
and surroundings. Ifyou but realized,
my young friend, how, when once you
get into this order of ideas, everything
is simplifed, and what repose, balance
and happiness you may find! AS you
get advanced in life, | hope that you may
be able to realize these things. About
that time you will realize that the earth
and all it contains, even including nat
uralism, is diminishing, diminishing,
fading away! One day you will take it
in your hand, as a child takes a ball,
and, after having weighed it lightly,
then you will cast it from you, saying:
Really, it is too small; there must be
something larger than thatn
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-06-12
How the Popular Toy is Made.

In all the toy, game and sporting
goods stores the new supply of balls
Tor the game of base ball has been laid
IN, and the balls, lying in pasteboard
compartments and rolled up in tinfoil.
+ having their coverings colored red
or blue, are as pretty as so many Eastr
eggs. The first-claSs regulation ball
for this year is no different from that
in use last year. 1t costs $1.50. and
sells at wholesale at the rate of SIS q
dozen It weighs about five ounces,
and when thrown on a board floor
sounds like q young paving stone. 1t
is just about as solid and as heavy as a
turnip of the same size, and, though it
is perfectly round and smooth. and the
stitches are almost even with the leath-
er, it stings the uncalloUsed hands of
its catcher as if it were red hot or COW
cred with prickers.
Base balls are dear because they are
made by hand, and they are made by
hand because they must be wound very
tightly, carefully and evenly. The basis
of each one is little lump of Para
rubber, round and weighing an ounce.
Wound around this in every direction
is worsted yarn. In some balls, after
thick layer of yarn is wound on, the
ball is dipped in rubber, then more
yarn is wound on; then it is dipped
| again, and finally yet more is wound
on and then the cover is fitted over it.
One ball affected by many profession
ais has thin skin of concrete midway
between the cover and tho rubber.
Girls make all the balls. The process
| is something like that of making GER
tain mixed drinks, wherein the bar
tender puts in lemon to make them
sour and sugar to make them sweet.
Players want what is called dead
ball, that is one that won't bounce
much. A stone will bounce more than
base ball ought to. So the rubber is
put in to make it bounce just a little,
and the yarn is wound tight and con-
crete is added to stop it bouncing al
all. Thus the happy medium is reach
ed. Sometimes nodded vulcanized
| rubber is used.
The best balls are covered with horse
skin because it is strong and tough.
Many of these are sewed with catgut,
but in damp weather the catgut loosens
and therefore at such times these balls
are used which are stitched with fax.
Professionals have agreed upon the
best form of balls and have ruled that
it shall accord with these specifca-
| tons:
The ball must weigh not less than
| five nor more than five and one-quartel
ounces avoirdupois. 1t must measure
| not less than nine nor more than nine
and one-quarter inches in circumfer,
ence. 1t must be composed of wooden
yarn, and shall contain not more than
one ounce of vulcanized rubber in mold
form, and shall be covered with leather.
Base balls can be purchased for 5,
10, 20, % and so cents. Many of these
are machine made. They are stuffed
with odds and ends of leather, wound
up with cord, pressed into shape and
covered with common leather. The
! second time one is hit with bat it as,
sumes the shape of an egg. A little
| later it still resembles an egg-one
| that has been hit with q club.-Neet
| York Su9a
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-06-12
Teaching Health to the Young.

We have never found the slightest
difficulty in obtaining evidence, after
strict examination, that lads and Iasses
may learn very thoroughly as much of
the structure of the body and as much
knowledge of it's functions and by
gienic requirements as fits them for I'M
derstanding clearly and intelligently
such vital matters as the nature of
breathing, the nature of foods and di
gestion, the circulation of the blood,
the work of the muscles, etc. Boys
and girls are naturally interested in
science; and they are generally de-
lighted with the study of the nature of
their own bodies, and can learn more
OF the laws of health in year at q
tender age, if properly taught, than in
ten years after they are old, and their
habits fixed and not easily changed.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-06-12
A Tree With Hands.

Lieut.. Houghton, VINO has recently
visited New Guinea and several other
groups Of islands in the Pacific, re-
ports the existence of q prehensile tree.
1t appears to be 4 species of ficus,
allied to the well-known banyan tree,
which throws out from its branches air
roots, that eventually reach the ground
and take root there, and in their turn
become new stems which perform the
same function; SO that single tree
will eventually extend SO far as to
form complete forest, in which the
stems are united by the branches to
each other. The prehensile tree in
question, similarly throws out from its
branches long, flexible tendrils, which,
touching the ground, do not take root
there, but Irvine around any article
that may lie within their reach. After
a time these quasi branches contract,
so that they fail to reach the ground;
but the finger-like processes continue
to closely grip the article round which
they have twined themselves, and
which are consequently suspended in
mid-aiI. In this way articles of con-
siderable weight may be picked up
from the ground and held in suspen-
sion.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-06-12

First Londoner-'I ear they ave
h'another h'election hover hin
H;america this year"
Second Londoner-''H'o, yes; We
know they Railways ave h'every tourt-
cen years"
Did you ear 'ow the h'election
turned h'out?''
Hit not come h off yet, but l ears
rs 'ow the Conservatives and the Radi-
Gals as set their 'earts hon their
man.
DO the noble lords come from Coun-
ty New York or from county Castle
Garden?''
hi don't know, but / ears there
was h'a riot in Cincinnaty, and so [
fawncy they come from county Cali
forny. or maybe county Texas"
H it's hall very queer, h'isn't h'it?"
''Yes, but don't you know the
americans are very wise in making
their President prepare for their duties
by ard study"
..Ye doan't say sop
AYE; they make 'em 90 through
han H'electoral College. "-Philadel-
phiG Gail.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-06-12
Novel Costumes in Algiers.

The charm of Algiers is in the vari-
ETY. and novelty of its costumes. We
see crowds of Arabs, some lying under
the shade of the houses, others mount
ed on little asses, or slipping their coffee
as they sit cross-legged in the doors of
the cafes. We meet the kabyle with
his water jug on his shoulder, the mag
nifcent negress under whose blue haik
we can see the yellow skirt and red
scarf, and whose imposing figure well
carries off this brilliancy of color; the
handsome Turk; the multitude of He
brews, their striking features sur
mounted by the triple turban; the jew
esses, who, especially on Saturday, ap-
pear in rich silks and cloth-of-gold
saiks and stomachers. Add to these
the gay zouaves, and the white-robed
forms of the Arab women, with their
full trousers, and sometimes only one
eye visible beneath their wells, and we
have before us picture ever changing,
and of never failing entertainment
The place du Government is consider
ed the center of Aigiers; and around
this open square, under the shade OF
palm trees, moves this motley throne
Rural hospitality take some
more of the vegetables, Mr. Blood, for
they 60 to the pigs anyway"
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-06-12

Dr.. Eberhardt is exceedingly fond of
a Joke The other night he determined
to scare his boys, who were up town,
out of their wits when they came home.
SO he took big board out on the pi-
azza, and with stick of phosphorus
drew fiery coffin on the board. with a
devil in it. after the manner of the X.
K X. He became absorbed in his
work and neglected to watch his phos-
phorus. and the first thing he knew it
ignited and before he could let it loose
the skin was burned off the fingers of
his right hand. HartWelt (Ga. SIN.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-06-12
EXC overnor Hendricks Hospitality

just then Mrs. Hendricks turned
the laugh on the Governor by relating
this anecdote. She said: ''All his life
Mr.. Hendricks has been fond of enter
tanning his friends at his home. When
we first set up at housekeeping we had
but little and often that was less, but
Mir. Hendricks went right on with his
hospitable habits One day he came
down and told me that he had invited
4 friend to supper with us that evening,
and that he would like something extra
for the meal. | was Mortified. We
had barely enough for ourselves, and I
told him the supper could not be given
unless extra supplies were purchased,
but he said he had no money. | was
just ready to cry when he happened to
remember that q gentleman living about
three miles in the country owed him 4
small fee, so he said he would take q
walk out there and get it, and we
would feast our friend. The day was
hot, the road dusty: but out he went,
collected the fee, and the banquet came
off. | thought that experience would
have cured him of inviting friends
without knowing whether we were pre-
pared to receive them, but it did not"
docs he embarrass you in that way
noW?" | asked. ooh, no. For quite q
number of years [ have so arranged
my household that he cannot surprise
me. ="
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-06-12

Nora Perry perpetrates the following
in the Manhattan for May:
Come out then, in the early glow
Vi early Springtime's buds and blow,
Come out and near the grasses grow.
For heavens sake, Nora, let up. 1t
would have made sunny-tempered Job
swear to read it Sunday night and
then 90 out on the street Something
like the following is not SO good po-
etry, but 4 plagued sight nearer the
truth:
Come out, then. in the early snow,
And hear the big bul-lizard blow;
Come out and freeze form head TO toe
Peoria transcript.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-06-12

The Prince of Wales takes much
active interest in agriculture, and is
almost invariably 10 be seen at ag-
ricultural meetings, says an English
exchange. de is a competent authority
on the sowing of wild oats if experience
teaches man anything.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-06-12
Americanisms Abroad.

A correspondent of the Boston Tran
script, writing from Florence, says:
Yesterday Lady w. asked me what
that Americanism, i should smile
meant. In despair | boldly retorted
that [ had never heard that American
ism Owe read it, to be sure), when she
informed me that she had heard Bos-
ton gentleman-and she gave me the
name of one of Boston's social leaders
use it at 4 ball, and to q young Eng
glish girl; it was at q very grand ball,
and given by peer, too, in England.
When scenery pals upon us, when art
grows burdensOme, when curious ways
and manners about us cease to interest,
here in these pensions, filled with an
equal number of English and Ameri-
cans, conversation turns on American
iSms in speech and etiquette. People
of every other nation forgive the pecul-
iarities of people of every other nation,
save the English, who won't forgive us
anything that we do, if we do it differ
entity from themselves. The Russian
ladies about us smoke cigarettes, which
the English regard c0mplacently, be-
cause it is the custom of their country,
and no English woman expects Rus
slams to follow her standard; but we
poor Americans can't do the least thing
un-English without condemnation.
The moment you open your mouths
we know you are Americans an Eng
lish lady said to me yesterday, rs if we
ought to be ashamed of the fact, and
in consequence feel inclined to keep
our mouths shut. Before YOU open
your mouth know you are English, |
thought, yeti do not demand that you
should aim to look like u.s. "
The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1884-03-14
Subscription, One Dollar per Year.
PRESBYTERIAN TEMPERANCE.

The following official letter has been for
warded to the GAZETTE for publication by
Rev. j. DeHart Bruen, upon behalf of the Tenn
perance Committee of the Presbytery of West
jersey. 1t clearly defines the position of that
church on the issue of prohibition.
Tote Clergy tile Pres6yteryof West Jersey.
DEAR BRETHREN At recent meeting of
the Temperance Committee of the Synod of
New Jersey resolutions were passed, instruct
ing each member of the committee to look af-
ter the interests of temperance in his own
Presbytery, and to urge in each case the Pres
byterial Temperance Committee to the full
performance of its duties and to report upon
the condition of the work at the next meeting
of the Synodical Committee.
DR.. Thomas Ryerson, of Newton, was ap-
pointed committee upon literature, and in
structed to submit list of temperance books
and tracts for the approval of the committee,
in order that such books, when approved,
might be recommended for general circula-
ton. In accordance with the above instruc-
tons, would respectfully urge upon the rev.
erend clergy of the Presbytery of West Jersey
the duty of frequently presenting this great
subject both from the pulpit and in the Sab
bath school, and of securing the circulation of
carefully selected temperance literature. I
would urge further that you endeavor to arouse
the sentiment OF the communities IN which
you live by means of public meetings and lee
lures In view of the action of the synod de-
nouncing liquor selling as crime and ap-
proving its legal prohibition, and in view of
the facts of the great struggle, would ear
nestly recommend that you instruct the voters
who listen to your teaching, in regard to their
duty in this work, especially in attending the
political meetings of their several parties, and
opposing by every honest means the election of
men in sympathy with the liquor trade, to Of
fees in the city, county or state, or as dele
gates to nominating conventions, and that
they seek to nominate and elect men who will
fearlessly and earnestly work for the abolition
of this liquor business, as inimical to the in
terests and rights of both church and state,
fruitful source of misery, crime and death,
temporal and eternal. and as involving cruel
and tyrannical trespass upon the rights and
personal liberty ola vast number of citizens
(often helpless women and children) nearly
related to its victims l would further sug-
gest the formation Of local branches of the
State Temperance Alliance, and your hearty
cooperation with its work in order that its
action may be wisely directed and energet-
ically pushed Respectfully,
Your Committee on Temperance and member
from the Presbytery of the Synod's Com
mittee j. DEHART BRUEN
CLAYTON, Feb. 2Sth, 1884. Temp Gazette