davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
, 1884-02-28

NV. Potts in The Critic

~ ~ - Az SAAbAS-l
1t Is with some hesitancy that / venture to
~criticise a writer who has given so much
pleasure as Joel Chandler Harris, In whom
one feels a national pride. There is no less
authority for attributing the banjo to the
Virginia negroes than Thomas jefferson,
who, in his "Notes on Virginia"
printed in 1884, describing the colored
race in that state, says: AIN music
they are more generally gifted than the
whites with accurate ears for tune and time,
and they have been found capable Of inn
ngining a small catch" In a foot-note the
author says: "Tho instrume mt proper to
them is the banjar, which they brought
hither from Africa. and which is the origin
OF the guitar, its chords being precisely the
four lower chords Of the guitar" This is
from the rare hrst edition Of Jefferson's
"Notes" The later editions not being Access
sible at any present writing. 1 am unable to
say whether the statement is repeated, or ad.
ditional particulars given.
At the period of 1884 travelling anegro
minstrel shows" were unknown. As to the
.bones," they seem to he an adaptation Of
the c%astanets, generally supposed in this
country to be Spanish, which are somewhat
similar. The latter were introduced to Eu-
rope from the east, and are a high antiquity.
They were probably brought into Spain by
the Moors- j have heard them used on the
banks Of the Nile several hundred miles in
the interior of Egypt, as recently as two
years ago. The knmengha, an instrument
something like the ancient viol, with two
stringS played with a bow, is also said to be
ancient. have heard it played with much
ability, in perfect tune and time, at Luxor
and other parts of Egypt Such an instru-
ment among a race brought in contact with
western civilization would naturally DO sup
planted by the violin.
, 1884-02-28

Now that the provisions Of the 30
by reason of having been advertised.
the opposition. which met the bill at
Its inception, has since been turned
INTO friendship and support. Its pro-
visions are so wise, so generous and of
such manifest good 10 our territory
that ardent supporters are to be found
upon all sides. The sentiments Of the
community are causing q very strong
advocacy in its favor.
In view of the fact that a two-thirds
majority of votes is necessary to carry
said bonds is a strong point beside the
additional fact hat no road can apply
for any bonds until 1t shall have actu-
ally surveyed indicated the road which
must necessarily cause the expenditure
OF many thousands OF dollars. Besides
the conditions precedent to the issue of
bonds are SO numerous and SO strin-
gent that no railroad can possibly take
undue advantage of any county through
the provisions of the bill. The fact Is
that, III Europe, the official endorse
ment of railroads in Wyoming by its
legislature, will bring into our terri
tory many millions of capital now lying
idle.
This money will seek profitable in
vestment in the far west of the United
States through such timely and sub
stantial encouragement. Nothing seems
to be better calculated to bring Euro
pean gold to our regions than the bin
10 question.
1t has been supposed that because
the bill limits the bonds to roads which
shall connect within our territory or
intersect with the line OF the Union
Pacific therein, that it is a Union Pa
cifc measure. Such, we understand,
is not the case.
The idea of the bill in thus limiting
its application is to retain in our terri
tory all the good which is to be Sc
cured from railroads, 80 as to prevent
any foreign roads tapping Wyoming
latterally frum the north or the south.
, 1884-02-28
pne.i rns.ii riIs.,iI

Sure cure for blind, bleeding and
itching piles. One box has cured the
worst cases Of 20 years. standing. No
'one need suffer dye minutes after using
Williams Indian Pile ointment. 1t
absorbs tumors, allays itchings. acts as
poultice, gives instant relief. Prepared
only for piles, itching Of the private
parts, nothing else. Hon. j. F. Coffen-
bury, Of Cleveland, says: II have used
scores OF pile cures, aud 1t affords me
pleasure to say that 1 have never found
ANYTHING which gives such immediate
and permanent relief Is DR.. Williams
Indian Pile oiutment.n Sold by drug
gists and mailed on receipt Of price. 81.
FRAZIER MEDICINE Co, Props.
Cleveland, Ohio.
Gray y PEARsE, sole agents.
, 1884-02-28
THE rank aud die Of ths republican

THE rank and hle Of the republican
party are generally composed OF good
men and true, but the rotten rascals
running their machinery prove to be
their contamination, just as one de-
cayed apple in a barrel tends to spoil
the whole number. However, they
a escape their pestilential surround
iLes by rallying under tie bright
banner OF the pure democracy.
, 1884-02-28

THERE certainly will be one great
good arising from the assembling Of
the national democratic convention in
Chicago, and it Is that it will speedily
neutralize much of the vileness, vic
iousness and wicksdness left behind by
the rotten radicals who meet Eve weeks
prior. However, the naturalization &C.
curing later in the season will promul.
gate greater benefits and this, to the
political atmosphere of the whole ma
ton,
, 1884-02-28

The prohiritionists don't propose to
remain in the background during the
presidential campaign. They intend to
put forth candidates Of their own
selection, and their delegates being
presumably all sanity fellows, they
cannot do less than TO nominate
st. John, OF Kansas, for the head OF
their ticket, with Saint George Francis
Train as its tail.
, 1884-02-28
The Hottest spot ON Earth

lNdoAAOiS hcIAlusl
One OF the hottest regions of tho earth Is
along tho Persian gulf, where little or no rain
falls At Bahrin the arid shore has no fresh
wster; yeta comparatively numerous popula-
ton contriyes to live there, thanks to the copi-
ous springs which bust forth from the bottom
Of the sea- The fresh water Is got by
diving. The diver, sitting in his boat, winds
a great goat-skin bag around his left arm, the
hand grazping its mouth: then be takes in his
hand a heavy stone, TO which Is attached a
strong line. and thus equipped. he plunges in
and quickly reaches the bottom. Instantly
opening the bag over the strong jet OF fresh
water. be springs up the ascending current,
at the same time closing the bag, and Is
helped on board. The stone Is then hauled
up, and the diver, after taking breath,
plunges in again. The source OF these
sopious submarine springs is thought to be
N the green hills Of osuan, some 500 or 800
miles distant
, 1884-02-28

The Omaha Herald contains the an.
nexed question which is decidedly per-
tinent in its character: with pro-
lection as a test of membership of the
republican party, how can such jour
nails as the Chicago Tribune, New York
Herald, Times aud Post, and the
Beechers aud Shermans. and the thou
sands of educated young men in every
northern state OF the union, longer fol.
low or fellowship such a partyYi,
, 1884-02-28
Waters Jackets, at

The copartnership heretofore existing
between John b. Thomas aud Edward
A. Page. under the style aud firm name
of Thomas q Page, is this day dissolved
by mutual consent, Edward A. Page
retiring from said firm.
John b. Thomas assumes all liabili-
ties OF said firm. and is alone author
lied to sign the irm name in the settle
ment of all accounts.
JoHN b. THOMAS,
EDWARD A. PAGE.
February Is, 1884.
, 1884-02-28
SONG OF A SHIRT.

There are dozens OF stories about him
which l suppose are wrongly credited. He
often told one that perhaps you have heard.
When he first ran for congress, in 1880, he
had a big, wild district. He was young, a
Wing, and was running against a big major
ity. He canvasSed his district ON horseback,
and one night stopped with n mnn that he
knew was against him. Corwin had no hope
OF converting his host, but talked pleasantly
all the evening. He retired in the SAME room
with the man and his wife, common enough
In those primitive days Of log cabins and big
hre-places.
The next morning he was surprised when
the old man said 'Corwin, I'm going to vote
for you Glad to know 1t, Corwin also
wanted to know the cause OF the sudden con-
version. He found out. The old man re-
marked, Wal, now. IN tell you. I'm a
plain man and my wife is a plain woman.
Now when the other candidate was here a
week ago tho ole woman watched him go to
bed, and sir, III DO did II he didn't pull a
woman's night gown from his sack and put
it on. Yes, sir, a woman's night gown.
Now, l don't believe In such tixius for a man,
and l said to my wife that any maa who
wore a woman's gown was not fit to go TO
congress. Now, we watched you last night
and saw that you jumped into bed with
your commou shirt on, and, sir, I've made
up my mind to vote for you Corwin caught
up the humor in the old fellows honest
speech. He FURNISHED up the story and told
it ull over the district In every speech no
made. He so ridiculed his opponent, de-
scribing how ho got into and u Of his
shirts, that, although in a strong Democratic
district, Corwin was elected"
his GREATEST SPEECH.
-He was a great orator even then, was be
notr'
"He always was You know his Mexican
war speech was one of the finest efforts ever
heard. And how prophetic IL was. too, as
we read it by the light Of later events. But
the grandest speech that Corwin ever made
was never published, and but 900 people
heard it. 1t was delivered In the court house
at Lebanon about the time Corwin was so
condemned for his attitude on the Mexican
war. He had been burned in efigy all over
the country, and he came home sore and sad.
II can remember what a speech he made to
his own neighbors that day in explanation of
his course. 1t was the most eloquent speech
Of his whole life. / can remembsro one figure
he used. He related the old Persian supersti-
ton that a good angel sat ever on the shoulder
OF every mnn- That this good angel recorded
the good acts OF his charge with joy. the evil
acts with pain and blackness. But II the
man repented ere the sun went down. the
angel dropped a tear, which blotted out for
ever the Ill deeds OF the day.
And so Corwin said he hoped the record
ing angel Of this country would drop a tear
upon the outrages Of tho Mexican war and
blot them ont forever. The last words
Of this metaphor Corwin did not utter
, 1884-02-28

TIVE rag, tag and Lob-taiI Of the
greenback party will be gathered in by
the old-rags men on May %, at Indian
apolis. The best use to make OF the
soiled fragments of these political
paperists would be to send them to a
pnlp-mIll-their proper place for final
dtanOsitIon
, 1884-02-28

Ayers Sararparilia is the best medi-
cine for every one 10 the spring. Emf
grants and travellers will find in 1t an
effectual cure for the eruptions, boils,
pinples, eczema, etc, that break out
on the skin-the effect OF disorder In
the blood. caused by sea-diet and life
on board ship.
, 1884-02-28

How many Of the radical candidates
for the presidency could touch the pot
OF political honesty without causing
their hands to become smirched with
the foul SCOT of Official rascalityp
, 1884-02-28
JOB PRINTING

Done neatly and promptly and at
reasonable rates at the LKADxR job
roomA
, 1884-02-28

London Spectator: One of the most marked
md least noticed changes in our modern
world is the ability to read and hear de-
tested opinions with pauenee and u
nimity.
, 1884-02-28

"Little Joker" is the best smoking
tobacco.
, 1884-02-28

1@
81 have heard he had strong will and great
determination"
"Very much, and l laugh as / remember a
story he once told OF himself, which illustrates
his disposition. When an urchin of 10 his
father put him at work lingering the logs
in u 'deadeuing.' While thus employed
young Tom found out that the wild turkeys
had n regular trail through tho deadening to
n stream of water. They went to drink ut q
certain time headed by a big gobbler who
always went ahead to SEQ that the way was
clear. He did this by mounting a log, look
ing about. and then giving an all right
gobble, tho retinue would continue.
Young corwin resolved to catch the old
fellow. He lay down behind the log and
caught the king turkey by the feet. as no
Jumped up to survey the situation. He was
almost too much for the boy of 10, and
dragged him through the briers and brush
until both were exhausted. Then torn and
bleeding the boy dragged his prize to the
house. He feared his fathers wrath on
account of his torn clothes, but the old man
laughed. He admired tho boys pluck, and
hardly believed that the boy had caught the
gobbler, almost ms big as himself. When a
little older Corwin was quite ~pugnacious.
His father kept a still house and sold his
whisky In Cincinnati. Tom was generally
sent with the wagon, and many a time he
heightened tho journey by stopping to fight
with some boy along the road or q rival
driver. Even when he became governor
and senator he referred to these events of his
youth with delight.
, 1884-02-28
TOM CoRWIN.
Durbin Wards R-eooIlections OF 1.-THE
Wagon Boy OF Ohio"
A Philosopher nnd limos n Prophet
---GobblInE the Turkey GobbIer
His Mexican War speech
1.-The End.


lSSs
As | go back and forth between Columbus
and Cincinnati l always hear the brakeman
call out "Corwin and Waynesville, Corwin
and Waynesville.' and / remember that the
little station on the Miami railroad Is the
only recognition on the map Of Ohio Of Tom
Corwins greatness Not even a postoffice
has been called for him, and why the railroad
station Is so called, / know not
Durbin Ward was on the train with mo
the other night. The call out OF the train
man reminded mo that Durbin had been a
law student and partner with Corwin, and
/ remarked the lack OF homage In not nam
ing an Ohio postofice for such a distinguished
statesman.
coRwIN's oESIua.
ale was the greatest man / ever knew
said the general, raising up in bis sent with
enthusiasm kindling in his voice. Ale was a
philosopher. Yes, and almost a prophet He
was far seeing with a grand scope OF intellect.
All, my young friend, we have no such great
men as Corwin now.
Ale often told me of his early struggles.
He was the son Of old Judge Corwin, a Bap-
tist deacon and welI-to-do farmer, who lived
near Lebanon. The old man was quite
prominent, and was once associate Judge Of
the old circuit court which, in those days,
was composed OF three judges, two of whom
were not lawyers The old judge had an
elder son, Matthias 1t was customary then
for the eldest son to be the scholar, so Mat
was sent to college, and came home edu-
cnted. Tom was then n boy, destined,
as he supposed. to be a farmer. However,
his knee-cnp was broken once while on n
trip to the northwest region, and be was laid
up in bed for seven months. In fact he
was lame from that injury all his life.
Well, 1t was this accident that made him a
scholar. He had read everything in the
house while sick, and ono day he had hs
brothers Latin books brought to him. Ho
commenced to study Latin by himself. and
commenced by translating a paragraph
with the aid Of a dictionary and grammar.
He determined that II he could master this
first paragraph he would continue the
study. II not, he would abandon it forever.
He succeeded, and from that time on be-
came a close student, and finally entered
law"
, 1884-02-28

PoLAcK's.
St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-10-29
4 Foolish Practical Jokes

This story, by the Ortonyille Herald, shows
the power of Imagination on the physical
system, and that a st. Paul party is likely to
get into trouble over his little joke:
e Last week Mr.. P. j. Giesner, who accom-
panied party from St. Paul that came here
to hunt, was induced by them to help play
practical joke upon one of our young men.
1t was arranged that Mr.. Giesner should pass
as one DR.. Miller, man eminent in his pro-
fession, who had recently come from Ger
many. The pretended doctor was
introduced to the mild eyed youth,
who, by the way, is the picture of
health. The friends Of the young
man then asked the doctor for his profess
sional opinion as to his physical condition.
The Doctor, after looking at his tongue, feel
ing his pulse and asking numerous Ques-
lions, gravely informed him that he was
surely on the verge of sickness, but would
leave him bottle of medicine, which was
duly sent from the drug store. The young
man took it all in as good joke and when
the medicine came, set il one side, resolv-
ing of course, not to use it, but during the
day he was induced to change his mind by
numerous of his friends (who had been let
into the joke making remarks regarding his
health. Quietly pocketing the medicine
he retired to an inner room and
took the prescribed dose. 1t didn't
seem, however, to have the desired effect,
for as uight approached he appeared really to
be sick and his friends becoming alarmed
told him the joke. To say that he was wroth
would hardly express it, and he resolved at
once to have the pretended doctor arrested
and fined for practicing medicine without a
license, and informs US that the papers are
drawn up for that purpose. The matter at
this writing presents very serious aspect for
Mr. Giesner, who is a very nice gentleman
and great bear hunter, with heart as big
and brave as a lion. We hope, however,
that the young mans better sense will pre-
vail and that he will let the matter drop, but
he seems determined at this writing to pros
ecute.
St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-10-29
Watehina "a. Polificians-

c. F. Kindred has retired from the presi-
dsncy Of the First National bank of Valley
City to relieve the matter of any question as
10 his right 10 cast one Of the seven votes Of
Minnesota for Blaine
The recent Democratic convention in Nor
ton county is attracting good deal of atten-
ton and comment from its singular course
lin coufniug its nominations to Democrats
It is the only instance of the kind reported
in north Dakota.
Towuer, one OF the new counties in the
north, was overlooked in the districting of
territory for the legislature, and is not in
Guided in any district II proposes to elect a
member for Itself aud let him rustic for his
seat.
Gov. Pierce has figured it out that Dakota
is large enough to make two states each nine
times the size of Massachusetts,. He has
learned good deal of geography OF late
All the indications are that Cass county
will give large majority for johnson and
Pyatt, the Independent aud Democratic can
didates for the council. Reports from other
counties are that they viii run about as well
there. Mr.. Pyatt is from ,RichlAnd. and that
county has also an excellent show to secure
two members Of the house. Il win be big
feather in its cap ii itcsu secure half the en-
tire delegation Of the district when il has bu.
one fifth Of the votes.
St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-10-29

One of the most extensive and destructive
fires reported was in the vicinity of Forman,
in Sargent county. The Chronicle, one of the
local papers, gives graphic description with
diagrams. A few paragraphs will show how
it got in its work; ''Last Sunday evening, as
the sun was sinking in the western horizon,
fire was noticed encircling this place, and
at no greater distance than twenty miles to
the north and west. The scene that imme-
diately followed was too horrible to be thought
lightly of. The whole heavens seemed as
one mass of seething. Kissing sea of fire.
The roar that accompanied the flames as they
darted upward was enough to startle the
pioneer and completely shatter the bold and
fearless tenderfoot The dense cloud of
smoke that lowered above the fire sent huge
coils upward that, as the flare Of the
flames shown against them, pictured to the
beholders standing below and shivering with
fear, grimacing demons as they fitted about
in their areal home in the skies.
A cry was raised and in a few moments
the citizens had turned out en- masse with
wet bags and coal oil torches and going to
the north and northwest limits of the town
along the wagon trail leading west, i'm
mediately piled the torches. The grass went
oA AihC PO"uOi' uuiuiuB d DdCh-HEt twenty
feet wide in an instant, reaching near a half
mile. Then to meet the creeping flames ap-
preaching from the north, double back-fire
was started by the torch-men and had just
been completed when the roar of the
flames were heard ascending the hill
only in a moment to flash in the tall
grass and meet the back-fre with the
swish peculiar to the conclusion follow
ing the discharge of a cannon. The fire to
the west was then about two miles distant,
but nearing at the rate of about eighteen
miles an hour, and when the north fire had
been safely met all hands went to the south
west trail, running to about twenty yards
north of the new school house. and started
a back fire on the north side Of the trail, and
then bringing the fire over the trail, it was
let to burn around the south side of the school
house, being watched by eight or ten to pre-
vent the fire spreading to the building. At
one time il seemed as though the blaze
would get the best of them, but the wet
sacks were applied and the flames subdued.
Other parties were sent in different direc-
tons and succeeded in checking the FIRE.
The damage done, however, was estimated
at $40, 600.
St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-10-29
Tho Enr,,,er,s Interests.

This paragraph by the Lisbon Herald in
dicates the tendency now that wheat is so
low: James Kennedy is starting quite a
stock farm three miles east of Sheldon. He
has $50 head of cattle there now and has
buyers in Minnesota purchasing like num-
Der. The enterprise will pay him better than
farming.
Bookings county will show at New Orleans
what it can do on the cabbage question
j. H. Iughson raised 300 that averaged
twenty-five pounds each, some of them going
forty pounds. For garden sass it is not be-
licyed that Dakota can be beaten.
The RHiattor in Faulk county, has this
item Of interest to farmers: y. E. Clark,
who has a fine farm of about 300 acres "a few
miles north of town, left for his former
home near Pit.sburg, Pa, last week, for the
purpose of purchasing stock He will buy
at least two car loads of horses and young
cattle, and possibly one car of sheep. He
received information that owing to the severe
drought that prevailed in western Pennsyl-
vania this summer, pastures burned up,
wells went dry feed scarce and high, and
farmers so generally discouraged that sheep
can be bought for dollar head. 1t has
bN1h RApNih ALHb SuCtp Cdu NC
kept in Dakota.
II corn can be grown successfully in the
Grand Forks country il can anywhere in Da-
kota. The Herald reports this: DR.. NJ. w.
Scott brought in to-day from his farm near
Arvilla, at Moore's Crossing, some speci-
mems of Indian corn taken at random from
the shock after dark. The seed was brought
by himself from northern New York last
winter ana is yellow flint corn, eight aud
twelve rowed. The ears are all above ten
inches in length, solid well filled. grains
ripened hard and as fine a lot of corn as we
ever saw in the south. 1t was planted in the
latter part of May and early in June, and
ripeued in ninety days, He has turned the
specimens over to Commissioner Bulge 70
be sent to the worlds fair, 1t will open the
eyes of eastern folks on the adaptability of
Grand Forks for corn raising.