davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-01-18
some Close Figuring.
detroit Free Press.l

Early yesterday forenoon a colored man
halted pedestrian on Monroe avenue
and asked for cash contribution, ex-
planning
"Up at de house de water has froze up,
de fiah has gone out dar's muffin to eat,
an de ole woman am cryin' wild de cold as
if her heart would break.
He was given quarter, and half an
hour afterward he was in the corridor of
the post office and saying, in the presence
Of his first benefactor
"Up at de house de water has froze up,
de fab has gone out, dar's muffin to eat,
and de old woman has gone to bed to keep
warm.
The story was next told at the corner of
Jefferson avenue and Griswold street, and
it ended up with
can de ole woman has gone ober to O
naybors to keep from freezin."
About 10 o'clock the man entered an
insurance Office in which the gentle
man is employed and asked for ten cents,
saying
II wants it to help pay my fare to
Chatham"
"See here, sir You are the man who
said the water had frozen up, the fire was
out, there was nothing to eat, and your
old woman was crying in the cold. Why
do you tell different story now p
"Well, sab, / reckon kin explain all
about it. In de fust place de ole woman
cried. / reckoned on her keeping dat ur
about half an hour, an den it was safe to
say she'd gone to bed. 1 gin her twenty
minutes to lie dar an den L reckoned OF
her gwine to de naybor's. In de co'se o.
half an hour de naybor's probably set hel
up to leave me an skip fur Chatham, an
now I'm akin fur money to follow on an
try an prevail upon her to return as soor
as dis blizzard has passed ober."
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-01-18

People past middle life will recall the
fact that when they were young money
seemed to be worth more, thatis, it would
buy more of given article than it does
to-day. In 1919 500, 900 WAS regarded as
quite a competence, and an income of
thousand dollars year made the recip-
lent comparatively wealthy person.
Since then money has cheapened. More
of it is required to purchase the same
amount of goods. Indeed, this cheapen-
ing of money has Leen going on since the
middle ages. Two English pence would
buy sheep in the reign of Henry the
seventh. This was because there was so
little gold and silverln circulation throug-
out the then civilized world but all the
discoveries and improvements in banking
have, to the great advantage of mankind,
tended to make money cheaper.
The Spanish conquest of Central and
South America poured vast quantities of
silver into the channels of trade Then,
more recently, gold WAS discovered in
large quantities in California, Australia,
and elsewhere Then the bill of exchange
and the institution of national banks have
added greatly to the sum. total of the cur
rency of the commercial world, tho gen.
eral effect of which has added to the pros
perity of nations for debtors have been
relieved by the decrease in the actual val
ne of money, business of all kinds is stim.
mulated when prices are advancing, and
then the leisure class is forced to go to
work to keep up their standard of living.
Bnt the recent practical adoption OF the
commercial nations of the gold unit OF
value, is tending to make money more
instead of less valuable. All over the
civilized world there has been steady
fall in prices for ten years past.
Every leading commodity can be pur-
chased to-day for less money, that is less
gold, than it could in 1873 The fall IN
prices is merely apparent the real phe-
nomenon is the increase in the value OF
GOLD, which has been made the yard
stick to measure prices at a time when
the yellow metal was getting scarce, that
is to say, the gold mines of the world are
giving out. The coinage for the last
seven years has been double the amount
actually produced by the mines. Cotton
and WOODEN goods in this country are
cheaper than they have been krown III
our history, and everybody in trade is be
ginning to realize that steady contrac
ton in prices is going on, People shoulc
be careful how they go into debt, for az
money grows desrer, that is, more val
nable, the debt practically becomeI
heavier.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-01-18
THE sEBAsTOPoL TODAY.
The Neglect into which This Place Ha,
EaIIen.

Twenty-eight times, says the Novoe
Vremia, the earth has run around the sun
since the last bomb burst over the 'au-
gust city" of Sebastopol, and yet the
ruins of houses, churches, and forts are
as fresh and plentiful as if they had been
made but yesterday. The least sea breeze
raises the clouds of dust and sand, and
the unhappy city stands sad repreach to
Russian neglect. And yet it is holy
place. There are the historical earth
works, and Malakoff Hill saturated with
Russian blood. There fought, suffered
and died, nay, marched to a sure death,
hundreds of thousands of Russian soldiers.
There is the historical grave of a legion
of Russian heroes, but no proud mausol-
cum crowns that tomb. 1t is covered
with yellow grass, thistles and heaps of
dust Alas such grave never suggests
the thought "In glorious death there is
immortal glory" No, 1t rather says "Na-
tions, like men are ungraueful"
has not done anything to assist in the re-
ties have seemed to thwart every sign of
life there. Sebastopol is one Of the best
commercial ports in the world, bat the
ministry OI tne neNy pIeeuliy slicho I,
every piece of land indispensable to the
merchants. Aud SO the Sebastopol OF
to-day is neither a commercial nor a navaI
port. Before the Ciimean war there were
in Sebastopol 80, 900 inhabitants, and now
it hardly counts third of that number
Certainly, under the present circumstan
ces, the Sebastopolians cannot rebuilt
their city with their own means.
Nature has made Sebastopol and the
Crimea in general a real gem. Winter il
not known there, and delicate sen i-tropi
cal fruits and the beautiful sea make it {
most desirable resort for invalids anC
tourists. 1t is our Italy, or our Florida
But our countryman are SO accustomed
to frosts, snow and ice that they do no
appear to care at all for the semi 'tropica
paradise the Crimea,. In Sebastopo
there is a small cape called "the Cape o
Free Contemplations. We wonder wha
thoughts are in the minds of our country
men who visit that cape. In view of tn
ruins, of the dust and dirt of the CAUCUS
city," Of the forgotten grave of 10000
heroes, of the rare natural forts not utl
lized, does it not occur to them that Rus
sia is playing the part of a stepmothe
toward her bravest and most unfortunat
child, Sebastopol.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-01-18
Divine Compassion,

Long since, dream OF heaven had,
= AND still the vision haunts me oft
see the saints in white robes clad,
- The martyrs with their palms aloft
Hut hearing still in middle song
Inc Ceaseless dlssonance Of wrong,
And shrinking, with hid faces, from the strain
oi sad, beseeching eyes, full OF remorse and pain
The glad song falers to wall
The harping sinks to low lament
Before the still uplifted veil
see the crowned foreheads bent,
Making more sweet the heavenly air
With breahngs OF unselnsh prayer;
Aud Voice saith 80 Pity which Is pain
Love that weeps, I'LL up my suiIerings which re-
main
"sha souls redeemed by me refuse
To share my sorrow in their turn?
Of, sin forgiven, my gift abuse,
Or peace with selfish unconcern?
Has sanity ease no plying care
Has faith no work, and love no prayer
While sin remains, and souls in darkness dwell,
Can heaven itself be heaven, and look unmoved on
he'll?
Then through the Gates of Pain, ] dream
wind of heaven blows coolly in;
Fainter the awful dscords seem,
- Inc smoke OF torment grows more thin,
Tears quench the burning soil, and thence
Spring sweet, pale flowers of penitence;
Aud through the drcary realm OF mans despair
Star-crowned, an angel walks, and, 10 Gods hope
is there
Is 1t a dream ? Is heaven so high
That pity cannot breathe its air
Its happy eyes forever dry,
Its holy lips without prayer?
My God my God If thither led
BY Thy free grace unmerited,
No crown nor palm be mine, but let me keep
heart that still can feel and eyes that still can
weep.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-01-18

1t is a well-hnown fact that spiders
have power of discrimination, and are
able to distinguish between friends and
foes, approaching those whom they have
found to be friendly while avoiding stran-
gers One lady succeeded so well in tam
ing spiders to recognize her, that they
came down to be fed whenever she entered
the room where they were kept. DR..
Moschken of Leipsic relates that in Oder
WITT, where he lived for time, he noticed
one day in a rather dark corner of the
ante room tolerably large spiders web,
| in which well-fed spider had made its
home, and sat at the nest-opening, early
and late, watching Tor some flying OF
creeping food. He was accidentally sew
e1al times witness to the craft with
which it caught its victim and redered il
| harmless, and it soon became regular
duty to provide it with flies several times
day, which he'laid down before its dool
with pair of pincers. At first this feed
ing seemed to arouse small confidence
the pincers, perhaps, being in fault, fol
it let many of the flies escape again, ol
only seized them when it knew they wert
within reach of its abode. After awhile
however, the spider came each time ant
took the flies out of the pincers, and spul
them over. The latt6r business was some
times done 80 superfcially, when file
were given quickly, one after the other
that some of the already ensnared file
found time and opportunity to escape
This game was carried.on by him TO
some weeks, as it seemed curious. Bu
one day, when the spider appeared raven
Gus, and regularly flew at each fly offere,
to it, he began teasing it as it had go
hold of the insect, he pulled it back agai
with the pincers. 1t took this exceeding
ly i'll the first time however as the fl
was finally left with it, the indignant spid
er managed to forgive him, but whe
later he took the fly quite away, thei
friendship was destroyed forever. o
J the following day it treated the offere
flies with contempt, and would not move
and on the third day it had disappeare
: from its abode altogether. Month.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-01-18
white places with feather dry quickly
outside the window.

white places with feather dry quickly
outside the window.
Pieces of cheese cloth make the very
best kind of busters. Hem the edges,
and have large enough supply so that
one set can be washed each week.
If the boys shoes are stiff from having
been wet, rub them ut night with little
castor oil. This will soften them and
make them comfortable again.
Grease spots may be removed from
wall paper by putting clean blotting pa.
per over them and pressing it with hot
flat-iron.
If cayenne pepper is sprinkleG plenti-
fully in the resort of rats, they will re-
retire from thepremises.
After sweeping and getting the carpet
as clean as possible, it may be frightened
by going all over it with clean flannel
cloth dampened with water in which you
have put a little ammonia. Too much
will take the color out of the carpet. A
tablespoonful of ammonia to one quart
of water is about the proper proportion.
Steel is always source of care in the
household. Steel knives more particu-
larly have been found SO troublesome
that plated ones which do not cut half as
well have almost driven them from the
mar ket, and yet every one knows that
steel cuts better. Every housewife is in
terested in knowing that they can be kept
from rusting if they are dipped in 6
strong solution of soda-one part water tc
four parts soda, then wiped dry, rolled il
flannel and kept in dry place.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-01-18
He Couldn't Read, But,

A stalwart granger stamped into Yer
mont newspaper office, the other day, and
inquired, in tones which might have been
heard three-q quarters Of a mile against the
wind if the editor was IN. Unfortunately,
the editor was, and as the granger blocked up
the entire doorway, it was impossible for the
man of brains 10 have immediate business in
the press room.
'"Wall, you're the man | want to see,
then" continued the granger, fourishing a
big buckskiu glove, padded with fist that
would have made a prizc-fghter tremble.
Il understand that you've ben sayiu' some
yourn. Now | want you to jest fetch the
thing out and read me every word of it, as it
stands. J calate I've got as good right 10
know what it is as other folks"
a CLEAN of hope shot across the editors
troubled soul. Cant you read yourself p
he inquired.
"Wall, guess | wouldn't be askin you to
do it for me if | could Twas the scornful
reply. The editor breathed silent prayer
of gratitude, aud hauled the files down from
the wall. "Here we have it," he said, cheer
fully, beckoning the granger TO approach
This is the paragraph, doubtless, to which
you allude: "Wc regret to hcar-shem!- =
that is, We are Pleased to learn, that our
ahem! respected townsman, Mr. W.-K.-
has been caught in-that is, ahem has
evinced in another one of his little acts of M
that is of high-minded philanthropy, in re
fusng-that is, of course, in consentlng, yol
know, 10 support the, the, ahem the"
"Ioung man, said the granger, tenderly
"Iou are striining yourself. Please stel
out into the other room with me a mo
ment."
The editor made a bolt for the composing
room but the granger just gave on
fell swoop and gathered him in. There wa
sound of rendlng garments and pied type
bumps and whacks, and kicks, and yells q
mortal agony, and then quiet ensued, aud
large man i'll coon-skin oyercoat steppe
into the street, and looked up at the buildp
as much as to ask "Are there any NOR
brains in this institution that want chanc
to spread themselves ?" Luckily for th
printers it was publication day, and the
were all away on a toot. But when the
returned, and beheld the editor they a
affirmed that he was the worst looking on
of the lot.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-01-18

The Rochester meteorologist, X, {. Maine
reports that the light, since its appearance
on November "a. Las huctuated in
brightness with the appearance and dis
appearance of storms on the sun. Be-
tween December and there was period
of comparative quiet on the sun aud the red
light was not seen. 1t returned with solar
disturbance. On December it reached
great brilliance and faded away as the sun
spots disappeared. On December 81 great
sun spot area came into view by solar rota
ton and the light became very brilliant, be.
ing most intense on the evenings of Decem-
Der "a aud 25. These solar storms passed
out of sight on January / and there was ar
ordinary sunset on the evening of the I'd. Or
Jan. a great solar disturbance was brought
into view by the suns rotation, and on that
evening the light appeared again. The con
clusion is that tue light is of electric origin
and is the result of prolonged solar disturb
ance which affects the upper air.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-01-18
Uriah and Jriahs " lie.

Uriah Wales has been an enthusiastic
member OF the Free Christisn church IN
Coalton, Penn, for the last 80 wears. His
wife was formerly in the habit of ridiculing
his professions, and 10 years ago he declared
that be would never speak to her until she
was converted. He kept his word, and for
10 years all communications with his wife
were conducted through his son. Last week,
says current item, Mrs, Wales was convert
ed, and her husband arose in the church
ami said he had been widower for 10
years, but that NOW he thanked
God he had a wife II was then Mrs
Waless turn, and she improved it by rising
in her seat and saying that she cid not be-
lieve a man who was truly religious could
have deliberately ignored his wife for ten
years, and asked that special prayers be Of
fered for the conversion of her husband.
She then turned to him and said;
"Uriah, get on your knees, ask forgiveness
for your sins, and be awakened to the error
Of your ways Twill lead you to the Lord
myself" She walked toward the seat where
he was sitting. He arose hurriedly and
went out of the church. Since, then he has
not been seen, and no trace of him can be
found
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-01-18
The American pig in France.

Owing to the prohibition Of the importa-
ton OF American pork into France the ports
Of Havre, Bordeaux and Mlrselles are
shown, from the offi2ia reports, to have
lost last year trade to the amount Of nearly
so, 900, 600 francs. An article in La France
SAYS: "The war against American pork
was begun and continued ia the interest Of
ring of protectonist pork packers and raisers
at Nantes, who want 10 nonOpDllze the
home market themselves. If the United
States restricts or prohibits the Importation
Of French wine another enormous loss will
be inflicted on French commerce, and this at
the very moment when Dur economic dis
turbauce and diminishing exports are great
est. In the event pf such prphlbltou, t.37,-
500 900 will b. lost, thus making t1tal Of
f. l00 600 600, and lhus paying deary for the
protection of u few pork packers OF Nantes y
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-01-18
A Confederate Anecdotc of Gen Sher-
man.

General Joseph E. Johnston, who COM
manded the Confederate forces engaged in
resisting the advance upon Atlanta, once
narrated the following incident, which well
illustrated the impression Sherman had
made upon the minds of the Southern
soldierv at that time as commander Of
resources and ready cxpedients. Johnston
stood on Kenesaw Mountain watching
with his glass the movements of his enc
my's wagon trains on the great plain to
the northward. A staff officer came rid
ing up with the news that the cavalry had
got in the rear of Sherman's army, and
had burned a number of railroad bridges.
The officer had been forced to make de-
tour of two days to get around the Union
army. Scarcely had he finished speaking
when a whistle was heard and moving
train appeared in the distance, showing
that Sherman had already rebuilt the
bridges and reopeued his communications.
| Walking past group of soldiers lounging
in the shade, few minutes later, the
General overheard them, discussing
Sherman's chances of success. Said
one of them: 'We'll make il
Moscow campaign and destroy his whole
army" "How can you make it Moscow
| caulpulBu Wllnoul any Suo" asheu LIE
less enthusiastic comrade. 81 mean that
we'll cut his communications, destroy ev.
erything and starve him out. Well burn
all the bridges "Don't YOU know he
carries duplicate bridges along with him 2
"Well, we'll blow up the big tunnel.
"Oh, hell - exclaimed the other man.
with look OF disgust: won don't know
old Tecumseh Sherman. He's got du
plicate tunnel too l"-E. V. Smalley, it
the January Century.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-01-18

turn out to be useless. Out of hundred
new varieties imported there will be hard
ly more than half dozen worth cultiva-
ton in this country, or, at least, in the
Eastern and Middle States. But, if you
want to know more about that subject,
you had better consult Gabriel Marc, of
Woodside, who imports thousands of roses
every year, and what he and his son
Charles do not koow about rose-growing,
nobody in this country knows. He will
not only give you a chapter of disappoint-
ments if you want it, but one of triumphs,
and probably will tell you of some coming
roses, SO entirely new that even florists
have not been allowed to see them"
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-01-18
They Are Made valuable NO Matter
How Old.
[From the Philadelphia Record }

from the Philadelphia Record.i
-,"Here comes the cggman," said pro.
duce dealer on Water street, as Michael
Metzler drove up in his wagon. The
mere fact Of his being an oggman would
not cause further inquiry, but Metzler's
business with eggs is somewhat pecul-
lar one. He deals in all sorts of hen
fruit-the freshly laid those that have
travelled from the west and been on the
road so long MS to be unfit for table use
cracked, specked or odoriferous; those
that have been frozen, and anything but
one that has become dried. When there
is railroad accident to produce train
Metzler is generally the first man on hand
to capture the eggs. He searches the
produce stores high and low and when he
has laid in stock of wares an invitation
for a ride on the front seat of the wagon
would most probably be declined.
The eggs are divided up between tan
ners, morocco dressers, confectioners, and
fine papermake1s. The tanners take the
yelk and never question the freshness OF
the produces the confectioners and paper
men are eager for the foaming white.
Vast quantities Of the yelks are used, and
only recently has it been possible for the
leather men to obtain them in quantities.
Twelve years ago the morocco and kid
men were compelled to crack their own
eggs, and the white was thrown away.
Nichols Liebeck conceived the idea OF
supplying them and using the rest for the
purposes named above. The yelks are
mixed with -four and salt, and dough is
made. This is used for sizing and dress
ing. Lebeck was followed in business
by Metzler, and these are believed to be
the only two in this city, although there
are dozen in New York, some of whom
have lucrative and extensive trades. 1t il
impossible to use machinery in breaking
tie eggs on account of the care that is tC
be exercised. The yelks are carefully
separated from the white.
Folks who are fond of good things from
the confectioners should bear in mine
that only the most recent of egg products
are sold to them. At least, that is th'
supposition. The paper men are not 81
particular regarding age. The white
which they secure must be clean, for if {
single steak of yelk should creep in, thei
when the paper is sized it will have vel
lowish streak through it. These parts o
the eggs are disposed of by the gallon a
nominal figures, and the egg men ar
familiar with most of the dealers. Jus
what prices are obtained the men refuse t,
state.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-01-18
An Ingenious Liar.

A pretended newspaper correspondent
temporarily stopping al Lowell, Mass, has
during the past week sent several highly
sensational dispatches 10 the New York,
Pittsburg, Chicago and Cleveland papers,
which have been widely copied. The first
of these fictions purported to describe an
elopement from North Chelmsford, abound
ing in dramatic situations. The second
sensation was long account Of triple
tragedy in North Audover, in which hus-
band killed his wife ard the latters para
mour and then killed himself. The third story
described the deadly encounter of the son of
an English earl with a she bear in the
wilds of Maine, both being found dead. The
details ,of this adventure were decidedly
"fshy." The latest fabrication was tele-
graphed from Lowell Tuesday night, giving
sensational account of physicians eXpe-
rience with an Andoyer ghost which
proved 20 be an insane Frenchman. The
Lowell Times says There is not one iota
Of truth in any of the yarus referred to above
and all have originated in the fertile brain OF
one Thomas Addison, who has been in this
city since November, being detained mere by
his mothers illness. He is about 80 years
old and smart appearing. ing interviewed
he admitted the authorship o those romances,
and said he did not send them as legitimate
news, Dut SIMPLY 10 cater 70 ne ului
bid and sensational tastes OF New York
and Western people. lie got well paid and
that was all he cared for. In asking lnstruc-
tions from the various papers, he always
made distinction between different classes
of articles Ii the facts were true
he would term his matter legitimate
news; if fiction, he would tenn 1t a
story. lie exhibited score Of kilograms
from New York and Western papers ln-
structing him to send on his stories. lie also
made the assertion that one-half Of the sensa-
tions which the Northern papers publish OF
narrowing and romantic incidents in the
South and West are manufactured by rs ac-
compllshed lials as himself