davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1884-09-03
MASON g. uAMIIN PIANOS,

MEssRs MASON IIAMLN bid fair to become
as famous for Their Upright Pianos rs they have
long been for their world-rcnowned Cabinet
O guns. Having experimental several years at
great expense, and with the assistance Of proba.
bly, ms able corps OF experts rs can be found in
any factory in the world, they have succeeded
in producing II piano which has ELECTED the
wnrmcst cncomums from the best Judges. The
distinguishing feature about it is an important
improvement in the method of "stringing' the
piano, whcn originated in their own tavtsry.
The string, are secured by metallic iastenngs,
instead OF by the friction of pins set in wood, as
has been the case, and the advantages resulting
are numerous and highly important; among
them are the following. Wonderful beauty and
musical quality of tone, far less liability of got
ting out OF tune greater reliability in trying
climates, and greater solidity of construction
and durability. Mason & lhmlin have made
l5D,OoO organs They can hardly expect to make
rs many pianos, but they will doubtless DO
called upon to make n very large number
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1884-09-03
Str. nge Conveyance Of Cholera.

The cholera appeared at Albano
near Rome, on July ID, 1866, under
very singular circumstances. 1t was
on the occasion of some religious cere-
mony that attracted great number of
visitors from the Eternal City, who
were gathered together in the grounds
of the Papal Castle of Guadolfo. 1t
was after the ceremony and the crowd
were walking through the grounds,
admiring the beautiful fountains and
listening to the music of a military
band. All at once some of
them perceived in the sky, COM
ing from the direction of the African
coast, u great black cloud, divided
down the middle so as to resemble the
two wings Of an enormous bat. A
feeling of intense cold overpowered
the spectators. In less than an hour
hundred and four persons had been
stricken down by the disease. The
cloud seemed to be charged with
cholera as other clouds with electricity.
Scientific men explained this curious
phenomenon by asserting that the
cloud had formed over great stagnant
pools in the neighBorhood of Tunis,
that are filled with the excrement of
countless hosts of locusts and grass
hoppers. The disease did not spread
beyond the gates Of Albalo.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1884-09-03
Something AbOut Locks.

In the middle ages, locks for church
and cathedral doors were often rare
specimens of art metal work. Elabo-
rate scrolls, tho images of saints, and
other ambitious efforts of the true
artisan of those days, entered into the
design of locks which were really an
ornament to the magnificent doors and
cabinets of those times. A design for
the escutcheon surrounding the key.
hole frequently had the figures of two
angels with outspread wings. Locks
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1884-09-03

The unique present that Mtesa, the
King of Uganda, offered to one of the
missionaries at his capital, while ago,
has highly amused that Suvu man S
English friends. Mtesa's is tie pow
erful despot whose sway extends ovel
the country north and west of Victora
Nyanza. The writings of Spcake
Grant and Stanley have made him the
most celebrated of African potentates
When Stanley saw him, eight years
ago he was at war. and his forces
numbered over 100000 men. In 1877,
at Stanley's urgent request, mission
aries were sent to Mtesa. For many
months they lived on the fat of the
land, but at length the novelty Of hav-
ing white men at Rubaga wore away,
and Mtesa began to neglect the guests
whom he had welcomed so royalty.
When they found they were in danger
of starving, in the midst of plenty, one
of them took their protest to the king,
He listened in apparent sorrow, and
then gave an order to one of his at
PENDANTS, who at once Withdrew. Pre-
sently in marched fourteen of the bux-
ON bellies of Uganda and made their
obeisance to the king.
Here said Mtesa, 81 give you
these women for your wives. | cannot
feed you any longer, but your wives
will plant your garden and cook your
God, and you will lack for nothing.
Take them and CO.
But" protested the poor mission
airy, eve don't want wives. We want
food. Besides, the white mans laws
do not permit us to have more than one
wife apiece, and we don't want wives
any way"
eff you come to live in my coun-
try" replied the king, angrily, "why
don't you do as we do? If you don't
wish to live as we live why don't you
leave? Here are these women if you
want them. If not, you may get your
food the best way you can"
That ended the interview. The
bellies of Uganda did not become the
wives of the missionaries of the
Church of England. The poor men
were admitted no more to the Kings
presence, and they would perhaps have
died of their privations if the ENJOYS
whom Mtesa sent to England in 1879
had not OPPORTUNITY returned. They
had been received by the Queen, and
feted by the government, and they
took back such wonderful stories of
what they haa seen that Mtesa thought
it polite to take the missionaries into
favor again, and he has since treated
them well. lie is still alive, though
the reports of his death, year ago
inspired good many not very COM
ELEMENTARY obituary notices in the
newspapers. -Byooklyn Eagle.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1884-09-03

The Doodlebugs are going out OF
town. They are Fastening for the
train. Mr., Doodlebug is getting them
off. He is full of business, as becomes
the head Of the family.
"IIere, Emeline, take this little
valise and the baby and go on. I'll
catch up with you before you get to
the station. Hold on, I'll just hook
this hat-bo on your fingers. There
now. that'll carry nicely; got the baby
all right? Tommy, you and Billy and
little sister run along with mother
great heavens, Emeline, don't let that
child run across the street alone; take
hold Of his hand, can't you? Tommy,
come back and get this umbrella and
bag of lemons! Emelinel Emelinel
You've forgotten the lunch basket
Billy, run here quick and take this
lunch basket to your mother! Now,
Emeline, do hurry, or you'll miss the
train. Never mind the rest of the
things; Ill carry them"
Four minutes after Mrs. Emeline
reaches the station, having wrestled all
the way with a baby, three children
and four packages. Mr. Doodlebug
arrives, carrying a rattan cane weigh
ing four ounces. lie is 50 tired he has
to 60 into the smoking car and sleep
all the way to the station.
The Doodlebugs? Imaginary peo-
pie? Not by a long chalk, my dear
sir. They live right here in Burling-
ton, and everybody knows them. No.
/ don't know that he is considered
much more selfish than some of his
neighbors. Mrs. Doodlebug thinks he
is a model husband Yes, ! have heard
some Of her neighbors say she is fool.
But she isn't, | don't think. She is a
woman, and consequently loves her
husband too well to club him with a
coupling pin every once in a while for
his own good. She would carry more
things for him if she had more arms.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1884-09-03
SCIENTIFIC SCRAPS.

1t is only three years since the cat
tie industry was introduced in Mon
tana, and already the stock interest
forms One-third of the total property
valuation. Next year it will form
fully one-half,
Leather car wheels are made in
France. The inventor is M. de la
Roche. Unframed buffalo hides are cut
into strips, and these are built up into
solid disks, which are strongly held
together by two iron rings after they
have been subjected to hydraulic
pressure.
Plates of cast glass have been sub
stituted for copper in the sheathing of
an Italian vessel, the joints being
made tight with a silicate mastic. The
advantages claimed are exemption from
oxidation and incrustation.
The horse steps on what corresponds
to the nail of the middle finger, and its
swiftness is conditioned on the solidi-
ty of the extremtes of the limbs.
Horses of the greatest speed have the
shoulder Joints directed at consider
able angle with the arm.
The Dutch have not controlled the
nutmeg trade for many years. They
tried to conhne the growth of the
nutmeg to the Banda Islands, which
they owned, but the nutmeg pigeons
carried the nuts into all the surround
ing countries, and the trees grew and
hourshed in spite of the would-be
monopolists.
An American has invented a novel
rifle. He uses an accelerating charge
of gun cotton instead Of powder, and
a hollow steel arrow or bolt for bull
let. The bolt may he charged like
percussion shell or filled with chemi-
cal compounds. The latter are two
in number. one being an in1ammable
fluid like Greek fire, and the other a
liquid that bursts into highly poi
sonous gas.
An animated controversy has been
carried on for some time in the col
umns of London paper us to whether
vultures discover their prey by means
Of sight or smell. No two writers
seem to be able to agree upon the point
Many curious instances of the marvel
lous power of the vulture for discov-
ering carrion are quoted. These birds
have been known to travel twenty
miles after the carcass of dead COW
buried under u heap of leaves, while
after battle in the open desert the
air was full of them.
The latest Investigations of NJ. Bloch
into the rapidity of perceptive power
seem to show that studied vision is
quickest in its operation and auditory
perception occupies the seventy-second
part Of a second longer. Touch re-
quires the twenty-lirst part of second
longer for transmission than a visual
perception.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1884-09-03
A TOUCHING INCIDENT.

slonsdSsoms New and startling Truths.
The ST. Louis express, on the New York
Central road, was crowded one evening re.
Gently, when at one Of the way stations, an
elderly gentleman, accompanied by young
lady, entered the cars and finally secured
seat As the conductor approached the pair,
the young lady arose, and In pleading voice
saidi
please, sir, don't let him carry me to the
asylum. am not crazy; am little tired,
but not mad. Obi no indeed, Won't you
please have papa take me back homer
The conductor, accustomed though he was
to all phases Of humanity, looked with as
constituent at the pair as did the other pas.
sengers in their vicinity. A few words from
tho father, however, sufiiced, and the con.
ductor passed on while the young lady turned
her face to tho window The writer CHANGED
to be seated just bedind the old gentleman,
and could not forego the desire to speak to
him. With sad face and trembling voice
the father said:
"My daughter has boon attending the
seminary in distant town and was succeed
ing remarkably Her natural qualities, to-
gether with great ambition, placed her in
the front ranks of the school, but she studied
too closely, was not careful OF her health, and
her poor brain has been turned. lam taking
her to private asylum where we hope she
will soon DO bettern
At the next station the old man and his
daughter left the cars, but the incident, SO
suggestive of Shakespeare's Ophelia, awak-
ened strange thoughts in the mind Of the
writer 1t Is an absolute fact that while the
population Of America increased thirty per
cent. during the decade between 1870 and
1880 the insanity increase was ouer one hun
bred and hirtB-fue per cent. for tho same
period. Travellers by rail, by boat, or in car
riages in any part Of the land sec large and
elaborate buildings, and inquire what they
aret
Insane asylums!
Who builds them1
Each State; every county; hundreds Of
private individuals, and in all cases their
capacity is taxed to the utmost
Why'
Because men, In business and the profess
sions, women, at home or in society, and chill
dren at school oyertax their mental and nor
vous forces by work, worry and care lhlA
brings about nervous disorders, indigestion
and eventually mania.
IL is not always trouble with the head that
causes insanity. 1t far oftener arises from
evils In other parts of the body. The nervous
system determines the status of the brain.
Any one who has periodic headaches occa-
sional dizziness dimness of vision; O
ringing in the ears; feverish head !;
frequent nausea or n sinking at the pit OF
the stomach, should take warning at once
The stomach and head are in direct sympathy
and il one he impaired the other cannover be
in order, Acute dyspepsia causes more in
sane suicides than any other known agency
and the man, woman or child whose stomach
is deranged is not and cannot be safe from
lao Mt of IN,
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1884-09-03

A Marlborough On. Y, y letter to the
New York Times says: Charles NJ
Purdy is one of the leading commission
merchants in New York who handle
the fruit products of the Hudson
Valley. Mr.. Purdys residence is near
Marlborough, About 50 years ago Mr..
Puray's mother, then a young woman,
while rambling along the bank of the
Hudson here, on what is now the
Thomas r. Buckley estate, was bitten
by rattlesnake on the leg. The
poison caused great pain and the limb
was discolored very much, and the old
settlers said that the only thing to do
was to mount Il fast horse and to ride
to the Marlborough Mountain and coax
an old Indian woman, who lived there
then all alone in u cave, to come and
cure her. This was done, and the life
of Mrs. Purdy was saved through the
medicine furnished by this old squaw.
1t is simple remedy--a small cupful
of the juice of the plantain weed, which
is to be found along every road and in
nearly every door yard in the country.
Mrs. Purdy gave these facts to the
Times correspondent for publication
expressing the hope that inasmuch as
the plaintain juice undoubtedly saved
the life of Mr.. Purdy's mother the
same service might be made available
to others if publicity was given to the
facts.
/. Inquiry made among farmers and
country people generally elected the in
formation that plantain weed is used ex.
tensively for poulticing, to heal up run.
ming sores and to break up cases of
chills and fever. DR.. A. ii. Palmer, of
this town, says that a handful of plan
tain leaves made into a cup of tea
breaks up severe attacks of certain
malarial disorders when other specifics
fail. Old inhabitants say plantain
leaves years ago were considered a sure
cure for hydrophobia. Wood choppers
on the Plattekill, Marlborough, and
Shawangunk Mountains say that they
have long known that plantain juice
would prevent fatal results from the
bite of rattlesnake. loads and other
animals know the medicinal properties
of the plantain weed, When bitten by
Il snake they invariably hop to where
the specific can be found.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1884-09-03
Too smart.

A young married man of this city dis,
covered freshl opened box OF face
powder on his wifc's toilet table, "To
this complexion have we come at last,
he said, and flung it out of the open
window.
1t alighted safely on the head of gen.
teman who was going to church in his
Sunday best, and enveloped him from
head to foot like spring snow storm.
"Come down and be murdered, y he
yelled up to the man in the window,
shaking his fist and describing war
r.uUo.
"Come up and I'll fight you," shriekcd
Vhe powder ma. line above.
The wife appeared as paciiicator,
armed with whisl broom she descended
to the sidewalk, and her husband had
the satisfaction of seeing her carefully
dust OIL the strange man, while she made
soothing apologies in invisible tones.
And the husband has concluded not
TO interfere with his wife's toilet lela-
tons in the future 'r'gH Pre- Press.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1884-09-03

According to a Mexican paper the
first wheat raised in the New World
wa sown by the Spaniards on the
Island of Isabella, January, 1884, and
OF March the 80 the ears were gath
cred. The foundation of wheat har-
vest of Mexico is said to have been
three or four grains carefully cultiva-
ted in 1880 and preserved by a slave
Of COrtes,
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1884-09-03


Dressy nantes are short, scant and
high shouldered.
Braids of all widths will be fashion
able this autumn.
Tucking continues to be favorite
trimming on all materials.
Spencers of black banded lace are
worn with black silk or colored skirts.
Yokes are immensely fashionable
both for littio children and young
ladies.
Wearing light sashes witt dark
dresses is the passing fancy in Parisfat
present.
Lace rullles should trim light sum-
mer silks, foulards, all India silken
stulls and surahs.
Bows for white dresses embroidered
in colors have many loops and contain
all the colors of the embroidery.
English stitched dogskin gloves,
with mousquetaire wrists, are very
popular for travelling and driving.
The latest French fancy is the use of
black lace on white cashmere or silk,
and that of white lace on black sllrah,
Bronze sandals over stockings of the
same color, will be worn with creamy
white nocks, almost as much as black
shoes.
For excursions and travelling red
and blue and plaided handkerchieGs are
worn around the neck instead of RULES
or collars.
Wash dresses are made with either
yoke or vest of white embroidery,
and have short shirred overskirts that
are readily Numbered.
Medici collarettes, erected on fine
wires, are made of lace and are large
enough to form a background for the
head and its high couture.
Polonaises are draped in many &c.
centric and some graceful styles and
sometimes remain undraped.
Lace-like effects appear in the vel.
VET DiUcne ueSiSlIs Oi INC impUrLit-
lions of velvets for fall wraps and
dress.
Greater variety than ever pre-
walls in the outlines of garments,
wraps, jackets, and nlantles,
this fall.
Large plaids, large bars, medium
plaids, small checks, and blocks both
large and small appear in the new
plaided French woods.
Velours frise, velour fourrure, We.
lour lame. velour cisele are some of
the many names for the new velvet |
brocades brought out this season.
Pretty delicate embroideries in
punches and sprigs, done in feathery
light designs, appear on the dark
and neutral grounds of new fancy
Among fall wraps come short jack
cts fitted into the figure in the back,
loose, pleated Fedora fronts, lace Dor
lered and with shoulder knots of rib
bon loops.
Among the first importations of
foreign goods are novelties in rich all
wool French plaids, showing new
,olors new combinations, and admir-
able shadings of the various colors.
Skirts will be tucked. nounced, ruff
led, braided, bordered with gold-dot-
ed velvets and other fancy fabrics in
Jroche wool or silk, accordion and box
oleated according to fancy.
The Austrian military jacket of
white cloth, gold braid and buttons,
md collar and cuffs of purple velvet,
5 the high novelty at European seaside
escorts. 1t was introduced by the
Princess Metternich.
Plush broche is thing of the past;
n its place come furry and curled pile
'elvets, cut and uncut, and with cisele
n chselled pile of various lengths,
% initiate the chiselling of stone in
ornate Gothic architecture.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1884-09-03

There are now 325, 700 pensioners OF
all classes, and of these 225, 900 are the
soldiers themselves. The remainder
are widows, minor children and de.
pendent parents, including 1900 suryi.
vors of the war of 1872. and nearly
5000 widows of the soldiers whC
served in that war,
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1884-09-03

Victims Of youthful mdisc,etions suffering
from nervous debility, lack Of selt-contiden,e
impaired memory, and kindred symptoms,
should snd three letter stamps for large illus
vra'Ci treatise, giving means of certain cure,
With Numerous testimonials Address Worlds
Dspcn3iry, Medical Association, Buffalo, y.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1884-09-03

NDREPARED with the utmost skin from IMPOR-
Il TED GINGER, CHOICE AROMATlCS amt
the purest and best of MEDICINAL FRENCH
BRANDY, from the world renowned winners
Messrs. OTARD, DuPUY 4 CO., C0GNAO, rem
derlng 1t vastly superior to all other "Gingers' all
of which are made with common alcohol largely
impregnaed with poisonous fusll oil and strengthened
With cayenne pepper.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1884-09-03

Thy coffee fields of Brazil cover
100000 acres, with S00,000,00O trees
that is 400 per acre. Each tree av-
erages one pound of coffee per annum,
the industry employing 100000
hands.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1884-09-03

French cooks have way of bleach
Ing aged chicken so that when nicely
broiled and daintily served, they mas,
Iucrale nicely Us the spring article
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1884-09-03
SANFORD'S GIN c.

U1NMPE FRUIT Impure Wato-, unheahy Gil
~ mate L'nwhoesomc Food, Malaria, Epidemic
and Contagious diseases, Cholera Morbu5' Cramps
Pains, INDIGESTION, OrrhGi, Colds, Chil'S, Smpe
Fcvers, Exhaustion, Nervousness, or loss OF Seep
that bcsct the traveller or household at THIS season.
are nothing to those protected by timely use Of
SANFORD'S GINGER, the Delicious Summer
MediClnn.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1884-09-03

kEELER n Co, the leading Furniture deal
crs OF Boston issue special catalogue of Fur.
nhuro which will be mned upon application
So to 81 Washington street, corner Elm.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1884-09-03

HAY-FEvER. After trying in VAN for eleven
years to euro my Hay Fever, | purchased
bottle of Ely's Cream Balm, which entirely
relieved me.-R. w. HARRIS, Letter Carrier,
Newark, n j. Price so cents.
For twenty years WIS sufferer during the
summer months with Hay Fever. procured
a bottle of Elys Cream Balm, and was cured by
its use. CHARLOTTE PARKER, Waverly, NJ Y.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1884-09-03

A New York clothing house makes
suits to order for SIS or $50 and takes
them back at the end of thirty days at
half price for similar suit made new
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1884-09-03

Dairymen often wonder how their more ia
vored competitors get such high prices for their
butter the year round. 1t is always by having
uniform gilt edged articles 10 put the "gilt
edge" on, when the pastures do not do IT, they
use Wells, Richardson " Co.'S Improved Butter
Color, Every butter maker ctn do the same
Sold everywhere and warranted MS harmless as
Hnt. md ncrlect in nncInitlnn
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1884-09-03
Instantly Relieved.

Mrs, Ann Lacour, of New Orleans, La,
writes; 81 have son who has been sick for
two years he has been attended by our lead
ing physicians, but all to no purpose. This
morning he had his usual spell Of coughing,
and was so greatly Frustrated in consequence,
that death seemed imminent We hal in the
house bottle of DR.. VIM. Halls Balsam for
the Lungs, purchased by my husband, who
noticed your advertisement yesterday. We
administered 1t, and he was instantly re-
baye1 y
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1884-09-03

y London bill-poster goes about on
tricycle. with brush and paste-pot
attending to his business.