davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Opelousas courier., 1884-12-06

hear him still running, however, and
thought he had got off; but the next
morning we found him lying dead at
the edge Of the jungle a quarter of a
mile away, with three bullets in his
body"
There was a pause when the colonel
ended, broken al length,b by our hostess:
"But really, now, colonel, aren't you
making fun of US? Could a pinch OF
snuff really dive away one OF those
terrible tigers?"
"Well," said the colonel, smiling
slyly, 'if you don't believ, it. ask this
gentleman opposite inc, who was my
tent companion that night"
"Dr. G-!" echoed the whole
company, amazed.
"Just So" said the missionary, with
a hearty laugh; land DIR. O.
wished himself anywhere else, l can
assure YOU. But as | was much the
fatter man of the two, it's perhaps
just as well for me that the colonel
was so handy with his snuff-box.
DaUid Ker, in Young People.
The Opelousas courier., 1884-12-06
signals we're excellent, and the speed
attained was not less than twelve, per
maps fourteen, words per minute.
What CN3e Then Do?

Between forty and City years ago
there existed among American boys a
much greater capacity for turning
their hands to any practical matter
than is found among them today.
The boy at that period did "chores
about the house. He vas familiar
about the stable. Even in town or
village he could milk the COWS, har-
ness the horse, or mend a broken
picket. He learned early the use OF
the tools in the barn, and probably
spoiled more or less good lumber. "A
little older he learned a trade, or went
to sea. There was not 80 much
style as now, but more practlcaolll-
ty. More boys could handle the axe,
chop wood, and 81 the bucksaW'
\ great many American boys now
a do none of these things. Every
thing is done for them. They are
ABOVE grCASnlng horses, mllklng COWS
or mending pickets. A trade IS de-
spised. They grow white-handed, well
dressed, conversant with the polish and
veneer of society, but often useless in
practical matters. Many of them can
not drive a nail nor tie a square knot.
If the harness break on an out-of-the-
way piece Of the road, they are help
less. They cannot ever make a fire.
They cannot use an axe or Ratchet.
They cannot chop down tree or point
a stake. For the most trifing bit of
carpentry they must send for a me-
chanic. They areincapa0le of cooking
the simplest meal. They cannot plant
a potato or corn patch. They are use
full where? At a desk in a banking
house or a lawyers office. They are
entirely professional" They are al
ways dressed up to the prevailing
and W no overalls OR working
clothes.
The Opelousas courier., 1884-12-06
conversation. 1000 1rues Los.g.

A member of the staff of the London
T~ezegraphist recently paid a visit to
the office of the Indo-European Tele-
graph Company, London. for the pur-
pose of experimenting. He made his
visit at q favorable time when he could
get full use of the wires: and this is
what he says:
The clerk in charge Of the wire, Mr..
Blagrove, informed US that we were
through to Emden, and with the same
ease with which one "Wires" from the
city to the West End, we asked a few
questions of the telegraphist in the
German town. When we had finished
with Emden, we spoke with the same
facility to the gentleman on duty at
Odessa. In a few seconds we were
through to the Persian capital (Tehe-
ran). Z. FL. N. (Teheran said "Call
Kurrachee," and in less time than it
takes to write these words we gained
the attention of the Indian town. The
operator at Kurrachee put US through
to Agra, and to our astonishment the
signals did not fail, and we chatted
pleasantly for a few minutes with the
clerk on duty there. To make this
triumph of telegraphy complete. Agra
switched us on to another line, and we
Wer soon talking to a native telegraph
ist at the Indian Government Cable
Station. Calcutta. At first the opera
tor sat the other end of the WIRE
could not believe that he was really in
direct communication with the En-
glish capital, and he exclaimed in
Morse language: "Ale you really Lon
donw Truly this was q great achieve
ment. Metallic communication with
out a break from No. IS Old Broad
street, London, 70 the telegraph Office
il Calcuttal 1000 miles Of wirel The
The Opelousas courier., 1884-12-06
Acorn Ra.end.

The Indians scattered along the foot
hills of the Sierra, says a Nevada cor
respondent, are a quiet, inoffensiye
people. Although they often indulge
in the food of civilized nations. the
acorn is still a favorite article of diet
in every well-regulated wigwam. The
process of converting this bitter nut
into anything like palatable bread is
curious.
Under the branches of a grand old
pine / found them at work. They had
shucked and ground in the usual man
ner a large mass Of the acorn meat; a
number of circular vats had been hol
lowed out OF the black soil, much the
shape of a punch bowl. Into these
was put the acorn pulp. At hand
stood several large clothes baskets
filled with water, and into these they
dropped hot stoaes, thus heating the
O@E-
The Opelousas courier., 1884-12-06
Recipes.

Baked SWeet Pototoes.-Peel and
slice a quart of sweet potatoes, max
ing the slices about quarter of an inch
thick and letting them fall into cold
water as o as they are cut; when
all are done put them into an earthen
baking dish in layers, with quarter of
a pound of butter and a palatable sea-
soning of salt and pepper, and bake
them for three-quarters Of an hour, or
until they r tender; then serve them
in the dish in which they were baked
Ham Toast.-Chop very fine hat a
pound of cold boiled or roasted ham,
mix with it the yolk of a raw egg and
enough cream or cream sauce to moist
en- it a little, and season it highly with
salt and cayenne; toast as many small
slices of bread as are required to hold
the ham, arrange them in a dripping
pan, put a little mound of ham on each
slice, and quickly brown the surface
in a very hot oven, or before an open
FIRE; serve the ham toast either hot or
cold.
Fried Tomatoes Peel the tomatoes,
cut in slices about half an inch thick,
dip each slice into white -four, then
into beaten egg. sprinkle pepper and
salt owe each slice and fry in hot lard
These make a good garnish.
P9fet-Two eggs well beaten, two
tablespoonfuls of sugar, small piece of
butter; beat well together and add
one pint of milk. When all are mixed,
add one quart of -four into which has
been stirred three teaspoonfuls of bak-
ing powder. Bake quickly in creased
pans.
Potato PGnc0Ees.-Pare and CRATE
six large potatoes. Chop fine n small
onion and mix with the potatoes; add
two beaten eggs, a pinch Of salt, one
pint of milk, flour enough to make a
batter, and n and one-half teaspoon
fuls of baking powder.
The Opelousas courier., 1884-12-06
Ae Erenissg 7ss,ae.


When fades the sunlight in the Western sky,
When dimly shadows fall on sen and land,
When breezes whisper Of the day gone by,
And home the hlackbirds fly, a chattering
band;
Then, lonely heart, faint not, but be thou
strong,
Thy life shall also have its evening song.
s~ihoreward OF dusk the sea-gull takes her
fight;
And slowly an se tiny tide-waves break
Honeward Too zsiBs return again at night,
And fishing dorys safest harbor make.
TITS evening hours that bring the wanderers
home
Yake courage, heart, thine eve shall also
come.
All eve the laborer turns from toll and care;
And, as the noisy ring Of actions cease,
Soft chime the vesper-bells, for praise aid
prayer,
And all tho earth is wrapped in rest and
peace;
Oh! weary soul, thy rest shall surely come,
Some evening-time thy God shall lead thee
home.
Maud Meredith, in Demorest.
The Opelousas courier., 1884-12-06
OIL In ~PensssuIU0niH,

There are 10000 oil producing wells
in Pennsylvania, yielding $4,000 bar
rels of oil a day. 1t requires 5000
miles of pipe line and 1000 iron tanks
of an average capacity of $4,000 bar
rels each to transport and store the oil
and surplus stocks. There are nearly
100000 barrels of oil stored in the
region in tanks. The money actually
invested in petroleum production since
1860 is estimated to be more than $425,-
O0O,O 600, of which 5000, 100000 was cap
ital from New York city. The specu-
ulative transactions represent more
than $400, 100000 annually. The low
est price crude petroleum ever brought
was ten cents q barrel in 1861. In
1859. when there was only one we'll in
existence, Colonel brakes Pioneer, at
Titusville, the price was twenty-four
dollars a barn.. The Standard en-
ploys 100000 men. The product of its
reineries requires the making Of $4,000
oak barrels of forty gallons each, and
100000 tin cans, holding five gallons
each, every day. The first American
petroleum ever exported was in 1862.
Charles Lockhart, of Pittsburgh, sent
nearly 100000 gallons to Europe in
that year, and sold it for $1,000 less
than the cost of transportation. IN
1883 nearly 4OO.oOO,0o0 gallons were
exported, for which $60,0O0,000 were
returned to this country.
The Opelousas courier., 1884-12-06
A Rattle sUith Big Snakes.

As Thomas Neil, Justice OF Peace a
Bridgeyille, N. Y, was walking along
the road, he saw four reptiles summing
themselves on a rock. He carried a
heavy walking-stick, and, believing that
he could kill the snakes without diff
Guilty, approached them for that pur-
nose. One of the ~serpents crawled
away in the bushes, but the others pre-
pared to defend themselves. Squire
| Neil killed one of them by a lucky
llow, but before he could strike either
of the others one of them sprang at
him, instantly coiled itself about one
of his legs, and moved rapidly upward
toward his body. The remaining snake
then crawled away up the road and
Stopped a short distance off, as if to
watch the result of the fight. The one
that had attacked Neil reached his
waist before he could stay it's move
ments, and then, by a lucky grasp, he
caught it with his left hand around
the neck. He put all his strength to
choking the serpent, and succeeding in
compelling it to loosen its folds. Neil
then threw it to the ground and struck
it, dealing a blow that evidently
stunned 1t.
He had no time to follow up his ad-
vantage, for the snake that had retreat
ed up the road came gliding swiftly
back TO the aid of its companion. The
Squire met it half way, and as it came
toward him, with its head raised in the
air. he struck it with his cane and
stretched it full length and apparently
lifeless in the road. The Squire now
thought the battle was over, but what
was his surprise to see another snake,
probably the n that had crawled
away at the beginning Of the attack,
coming toward him from the bushes.
He aimed a blow at this one, but it
avoided it, and, with a movement SO
quick that Neil had no time to strike
another blow. wrapped itself around
his arm and glided toward his neck.
In desperation Neil dropped his stick,
and made a clutch at the snake, and
caught it around the body, just below
the head. As in the case of the one
that had coiled about his leg, he forced
this n to uncoil itself by choking it
with all his might. Still holding it by
the neck, he picked up his cane and
pounded it on the head until it was
dead. Hethen turned his attention to
the other two, and was surprised to see
that they had both regained conscious
ness. and were crawling slowly away.
He followed them and killed them both.
Three of the snakes were of the blue
racer species, and were each six feet
long. The fourth one, which was the
one he killed first, was acommon black
snake, four feet long. The same day
man named Taylor killed a blue-racer
near Germantown that was seven feet
long-the largest ever known in this
region.
The Opelousas courier., 1884-12-06
WING he Was called sold Horse,

"How are you, old boss 2" somewhat
disrespectfully remarked a man to
Deacon Gilpin as he entered the store.
'Sirl | do not like to be classed
among the quadrupeds."
"Oh! ye don't. Ell? Well, / called
you old boss cause | see by that bill
you sent me yesterday that you was a
pretty good charger"
The Opelousas courier., 1884-12-06
Amecdote Of Webster.

it was q pleasant dayin spring, when
Daniel Webster, solitary and alone
with gun in hand, espied several ducks
swimming out toward the center of
the lake, after he had in vain secured
the old hills roundabout for many
hours in the search of game. so Sc
creting himself in the bushes until
they came up within fair range, he let
'em have it with both barrels at once.
and laid low on the surface DC the
water a couple Of pair of beautiful
teals, which he was not long in carry
ing away with him. He had not gone
cut Of sight of the water, however.
before MI. Akin. hailing him, held up
In his hand a check for $500, which
he had just received as a fee in some
auit Webster had tried, exclaiming:
.sHera is something | have brought
you worth more than your ducks
Upon explaining what It wa, Web
ster replied;
"You are mistaken, Aiken, sadly
mistaken. These birds are worth to
me double the amount of your check;
for besides the sport havuhad in
catching them, they have given me
new life and spirits in th open air;
while money only reminds me Of
sleepless nights, mental wor j and anx-
ietys and the drag Of my profession.
And what manner of mssa isit. lei
me ask, that shall say Wslster was
not Tight-American Ri
The Opelousas courier., 1884-12-06
Fellows i'm Peach Trees.


It is only a few years since the ma
jority of our pomologists secuted the
idea of the discovery of any remedy for
the disease of peach trees known as
syellows." Most of them believed
that it would attack healthy, vigorous
trees as readily as the week and feeble
and that when it once made its appear
ance in an orchard it was almost GER
tain to kill every tree in it. But with
in the past three or four years there
have been some discoveries made in
regard to this disease which shows that
it is not incurable, and, furthermore,
thati it does not attack perfectly healthy
trees. In a recent report from the
Horticultural Department of the Massa-
chusetts Experiment Station, muriate
of potash is recommended as an almost
certain remedy for this disease, if it is
applied in season and before the trees
are too far gone. Furthermore, the
gentlemen making the experiments re-
ported upon say that in their opinion
the fungous growths generally found
in diseased plants are only developed
after the tissues have become de-
ranged or injured by some external
cause, or by exhaustion from over
bearing, etc. In other words. yellows
does not attack trees until they have
become diseased and feeble.-NeU
York Sun.
The Opelousas courier., 1884-12-06

The consolidated fund.-" commonly
known as "consols,' was formed in
England in 1876 by VI t 1g the aggle.
gate, general and South Sea funds. In
1916, the exchequers of Great Britain
and ireland were amalgamated,' MAX
ing the consolidated fund Of the
United Kingdom.
The Opelousas courier., 1884-12-06
Opelousas, Sept. 6, 1881.
OPELOUsAs FEMALE INSTITUTE,
Opelousas. St. Landry Parish. La.

Opelousas. St. Landry Parish, La,
THIS Institution will resume duties Nor
day, Sep ember Sd, 1883, under the i'm
mediate supervision of Mrs. M. M. Hayes
and Mrs. NJ. A. Davis, with competent as
%sistarts. The scholastic year consists of
FORTY weeks.
: TERMS OF TUITION;
Preparatory Department, per month $50
M7sic. With nse OF piapo, 500
fuel. 1906
draviug' each. extra. ia0
Incidental fee. los
The government of this school is strict but
parental; no hard tasks or restrictions ara
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 lnstruc-
ton are to train the mind to habits of correct
thinking and thorough investigation. No
student will be allowed to enter higher class
es without thorough preparation. Parents
and guardians may rest assured that the
manner health and morals OF their celldreD
and wards shall receive due attention.
No deduction for absence, unless In case
of protracted illness. The location of the
town is healthfui and easy of access. The
boarding department is under tle immedi
ate charge of Mrs. Hayes. Boariers will pro.
vide themselves with blankets and towels.
For particulars address
MRS. M. M. HAYES.
july 2e'33-nov 27'79 Principal.
The Opelousas courier., 1884-12-06
Crushed Aanfaa.

q understand that the young man
who comes to see you has the reputa-
ton of being quite a masher,' said a
father to his blooming daughter.
"Why, pa, | am surprised that you
should"
"oh, I have no fault to find. but II
he is a masher, you might take him
into the kitchen at night to mash some
Of the water bugs that are overrun-
ming the house SomeroiLe Journal.
The Opelousas courier., 1884-12-06

A. old Mormon threatens tslat If the
&ReMapapefH 90 not withari their
onbl61oEne female correspond sats from
IL Lake city he will marry Wlla.s
Iuf, a~shersupon d spiseful scribe rrillaYAs
that II HE did 10 the natl 4 ioi.sl III
eren with one Mormon At lpstf
The Opelousas courier., 1884-12-06
FARM AND HOME.
How tn Transplant.

There is no part of gardening that
requires more care and skill than the
transplanting of plants so as to etaro
their growth as little as possible. AS
a preliminary to this operation, the
young plants should be uncovered II IN
hot-beds and exposed to the full power
of the light and air that they may be
hardened and ready for the change.
The ground about the roots should be
kept thoroughly wet for a short time
before the plants are removed, as this
causes the earth to cling to the roots
more firmly, and gives them life and
vigw. Most plants do better if trans
planted in cloudy or rainy weather,
but if this cannot be done they should
be set out at nightfall and shielded for
a few days from the direct rays of the
sun. The cavity for the roots should
be large enough to admit of their in
sertion without cramping or crowding
together. Let the soil around b
thoroughly loosened and pulverised so
that the new roots to be formedwillhave
a free growth. When the roots have
been set in the cavity pack some fine
soil directly about them nearly to the
surface and fill On top with rich, loose
earth. Water frequently until the
plants begin to grow again. By exer-
cising a little care, such plants as cab
bages, celery, rutabagas and tomatoes
may be transferred to the open ground
with no p%erceptible change in tlieir
rate of growth.-NeU York Observer.
The Opelousas courier., 1884-12-06

Bay window parlor cars are the
latest things on wheels.
The Red Cloud chief., 1884-04-25
Alarm Among the EmperOrs.

All accounts agree that the Gar OF
Russia ami the Emperor Of Austria arc
in a constant state of bodily fear of as
sassination. The killing of the head of
the spy system in Russia, by the Mini
lists, has made the Car halt crazy. He
does moi know whom to trust. Some
thing must be done to give the Russian
people the rights of free speech and
the press. In Austria the work nc peO-
pie have revOlted against the police,
and have killed several of the most OBJ
noxious officers. The workmen clam
that the police will not allow them TO
meet or state their grievanc $. and in
vent imaginary crimes to have innocent
men punished. How much wiser We
are in this country in allowing the ut
mos: freedom of speech and of the
press, The very people who have
pro ed dangerous in Europe do no harm
in this country. Her: John Most was
considered 81 ~incendiary a person in
= ngland that his paper, the FreiFut.
was seized and he was imprisoned. This
same anarchist has been IN the United
States for over n year, making imam
matory speeches and calling or the
working people TO kill the capitalists.
but no one heeds him. When the red
eral Republic of Europe is established
we viii neal no more of Nihili,ts or in
cendiary Socialists. The poor of Eu-
rope are not treated Justly by the
powers that be, and hence the danger.
-Ucn1oreSt'S MoUthiU.
The Red Cloud chief., 1884-04-25
The Situation.

This anomalous quiet on the eve of a
Presidential campaign does not signify
that Republicans are u~nconcerned.
They are thinking. The hopeful feat
ure of the day is that the masses are be-
ginning to be more trustful Of their
readers. Not before in twenty years
have they felt more contidJ n e. not only
in consc entiOus leadership but also in
its au- urieS OF success. The question
Is to who shall be nominated at Chicago
is in mind, but the masses of the parry
are not troubled over it. They fee that
there are 4 thousand men in the land
any one of whom could with honor and
satisfaction I'LL the Presidents chair.
The personality of the contest is not 4
disturbing elem Mt. for the IA tn abides
that whoever the nominee may he Re
will be worthy of cordial support. Ii is
well for the party that such a feeling OF
confidence prevails. 1t should he en-
cOuraLed and intensified. The hold that
Abraham Lincoln had on the popular
The Red Cloud chief., 1884-04-25
Disturbances at the North Pole.

Congress has pra 'tically decided to
send out an expedition TO relieve
Lieutenant Greely and his party. and
bring them back to their own country.
Old sea captains say that in al! proba-
bility an expedition could now reach
the North Pole. There have already
been disturbances in that region of q
very unusual character. Icebergs rare
" make their appearance in the North
Atlantic before June or July: in May
they are very rare; but this year they
made their appearance early in Feb
ruary. and vessels were DESTROYED by
them off the banks of newfoundland
during that mont. The recent heavy
fog and rainy weather have been attrib-
uted 10 the presence Of these icebergs
N mid-ocean at this unusual Seasru of
the year. The earthquake volcanic
eruption last summer at Java NAV have
had its analogue somewhere in the
frigid zone. breaking up the huge fields
of ice, driving the bergS far out at sea.
Volcanic eruptions and no sprin 3 OF
water are a. liable to make their ap-
pearance in the fri d Is in the tOrrid
one. There is abundant evidence OF
continuous vOlcanc C action as far north
rs Iceland. Should these guesses of the
sea captains prove true. perhaps the
road may be opened this summer to
some po Mt nearer the Pole than has ever
been reached. 1t is n curious fact tha. we
know moro about the Polar region OF
the planet Mars than we do about that
OF our own earth. With a very ordinary
modern telescope the amateur astron-
omer can distinctly see the extent OF the
zee ocean which surrounds tie poles of
Mars. But we will never be allie I eX-
plain our poles fully unit | some motor
is invented which will enable us to nav
ioate the air.-UemOrCSt'S NOnLiiy.
The Red Cloud chief., 1884-04-25
Who Osman Digma Is.

Osman Digma's whole relation to the
revolt and the amalgamation in hum Of
religious, political and me camille as
pira.ions are hard to comprehend. A
broker and trader. and principally n
slave-trader in Suakim and Jeddah. he
received a financial blow. when. some
six years ago, a British cruiser captured
two slave-dhows full of victims, on the
way to Jeddah. Osmsn Digma's trade
then ieil from bad to worse. his house
property in Suakim was all mortgaged.
and he became hopeles,ly involved. Be
ing OF no great distinction by birth. his
selection bv the Mehdi 10 lead q relig-
ious rebellion in these parts is not in
accordance With the structure of Arab
society and f, cling. and is attributed to
the accident that Osman Iigma, in one
of his incursions far south for slay es.
met the Mehdi, who formed \ high es-
innate of his ability and Of his influ-
ence. acquired through successful trad
ing.
Ii this history be Trustworthy, pas-
sions for other OBJ ects than holiness are
the keynote of Osman Digmas chara-
ac,er and motives. and il is against all
probability ii he will cast his goods
and ms position into the broken bal
q c of battle. He is no ignorant Ia
matte. and he can not h as Ii bel eve
The myths which he mult;plies in order
20 control his tollowers.-SuaSim Coz.
LonG0n Tunes.