davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1884-11-13
Barbaric Russia.

OF the barbaric features of the old
Russia, out of which Peter sprang, the
tortures attending judicial processes
were the most marked. His father was
considered unusually mild and gentle
for tsar, and indeed, had been named
''the most DebOnair;" but even under
his reign there were fifty official exc
cutioners in Moscow, whose hands
Were necessarily red with their CHASTITY
functions. Every judicial investigation
involved the infiiction of horrible tort
ureS all around; torture of suspected
persons to extort confession; torture of
witnesses supposed to know more than
they revealed; torture of criminals to
force them to betray their accomplices.
Sometimes it was inflicted by the al
ternate strokes of rods welded by q
couple OF eXecutiOners, who kept time
In hammering away at the bare back of
the PROSTATE victim, as smiths are ac-.
customed to hammer at an anvil.
Sometimes by the horrible fiail-like
knout, which cut deep furrow at every
stroke, till the back was ribbed and
crossed from top to bottom. Some
times by the continual dropping of boil
ing water on the top of the head after
it had been shaved. Sometimes by
roasting the naked back of the accused
over the fire, above which he was sus-
pended horizontally by wooden spit.
Hanging and decapitation were the
most common methods of inflicting
capital punishment, when their work
had not already been done in the tort
ure-chamber; but suspension from
hooks through the flesh, breaking alive
on the wheel, and implement on
stakes, were by no means infrequent.
Even private individuals enjoyeda a large
freedom to torture and kill their serfs
and dependents, of which ample ad-
vantage was taken; and as late as the
regency of Sophia, Peters half sister,
a special edict was required to deprive
creditors of the right to make perpetual
slaves of insOlvent debtors, and even to
MAIN and kill them at their pleasure
Quarterly ReUieO. i
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1884-11-13
NOOn.

The sultry noon sleeps on the drowsy hills;
On fragrant grasses ripening in his beams;
While swarthy Summer in SoluptuOus ease
Stretches her lazy length beside the streams.
The sun swings high athwart the oloudless
blue,
The air is scintillant with fervid heat;
AL nature drooRS like living things that faint
Zen birds are Silent in each cool retreat.
The flowers droop pensively; the languid
leaves
Scarce answer to the soft airs whispered
call;
Dimly their family quivering shadows lie,.
Where shimmering bars of golden sunlight
fall.
The sun-burned reaper with his brOws adrip,
Enjoys his midday rest beneath the trees;
Anon he bares his brawny breast and arms,
To catch perchance some family stirring
breeze.
The browsing cattle leave the parching fields
To seek the shelter of some shady nook;
Or, needless of the fragrant clover, stand
With hOofs deep buried in the cooling brook.
The rustic of the gray grasshopper's wing,
The wild bee humming on her busy round,
Are music sweet to half unconscious ears,
Mingling with the distant harmony of sound.
And SO, with idle pace. the droning hours
Stretch out their golden length with dreamy
grace,
Swooning in odorous airs and waning light.
Till night eufOlds them in its soft embrace.
Josephine Brinkerhoh.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1884-11-13
In the Adirondacks.

1t may seem difficult to keep a camp
in provisions. But it is not. The
owner of a camp before coming into
the woods buys as many non-perishable
goods is he thinks he will need-gro-
cerieS, hams, bacon. canned vegetables,
fruit, etc..-and ships them ahead.
What is wanted in addition can be
bought at the nearest trading point.
Long distances do not seem to be
counted in this region so long as
journey can be made by boat and carry.
Our nearest trading point is Saranac
village. mile and half below Lower
Saranac lake. Last Tuesday some
purchases were to be made. So we
started out with boats and guides to
make them. A row of two miles and
half across the Upper Saranac brought
us to the famous Bartlett's carry. This
is not over half a mile long. At the
other side of this our boats were put
into Saranac river, a shallow stream in
this dry season. Down this we rowed
for half a mile until we reached Round
lake. For three miles we rowed across
this beautiful sheet of water, and then
ran into Saranac river again, to float
down it for couple of miles. There
would have had the pleasure of shoot
ing had the water been deeper. As it
was, we had to walk over the stones
and let our boats down by strings. The
river let us into the Lower Saranac
lake, famous for its islands, and it took
long pull of six miles to bring US to
the lower end. Here we found we'll
known retreat of sportsmen known as
Miller's, to which a great many persons
come to secure guides before plunging
into the wilderness A whole fleet Of
boats was stored in the boat-house at
the dock. We leave our. own boats
here and walk a mile and half to
Saranac village, where country stores
well stocked with all sorts of dry goods,
provisions, ETC., give us a chance to
lay in our stores. From this place, too,
fresh meat is shipped twice a week to
the camps and the habitations far
around. We found in this littie village
one of the best-kept hotels that can be
desired. Think, on sitting down in
such an out-of-the-way spot, of being
offered a bill of fare containing vermi-
celli soup, roast beef and veal, chicken
pie, and boiled ham, a variety of vege-
tables, and for dessert apple, peach,
cranberry, and pumpkin pie, and pud-
ding-and all cooked to perfection.
The landlady waited on us herself, and
urged each delicacy on us in spirit of
genuine hospitality. This village has
a great many invalid boarders in
winter, and one hotel here is only open
in the winter season.-PhiiddelDh
Telegraph.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1884-11-13

Lettuce. says the Lancet, is neglect
ed vegetable, although it constitutes q
prominent ingredient in every good sal
ad. At one time lettuce was supposed
to possess soporitic qualities, but Of late
years it has, perhaps too hastily, been
disestablished as drug in the reper-
tory of the therapeutist. Some are now
strongly insisting that lettuce should be
more generally used as food, and sug-
gesting that the leaves should be boiled,
after which treatment they are said to
be as palatable as spinach. If this be
the fact it is worth knowing, as spinach
is necessarily excluded from the diet of
oxaluric patients. and it is in precisely
this class of cases ths soothing proper
ties of the lettuce would be valuable.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1884-11-13

In Paris the Avenue FricbIand, an
aristocratic quarter has no number l3.
The owner of the house that ought to
have the unlucky number petitioned
the Prefect of the Seine and actually
obtained permission from him TO num-
ber the mansion Ill bis" Artists in
the French capital are notoriously su-
perstitious. When by chance thirteen
Of them are about to sit down to din
ner, some of them are sure to go in
search of another guest to drive away
the bad luck. Theophile Gautier gets
pale when salt-cellar gets upset. On
all the Paris railroads and in the omni-
buses the number of passengers is
sensibly reduced on Fridays. Friday
is regarded as an unlucky day for rid
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1884-11-13

The mercantile marine of Russia, the
Minister of Finance reports, consists OF
6,S83 vessels, of which 5,779 are sailing
vessels, with a capacity of 657 ,574 tons,
and GOA steamers, with a capacity OF
Ill, 1902 tons, and propnlsiye energy
of 3O,612 horsepower. In the foreign
trade are engaged 1,287 vessels, includ-
ING lOS steamers; the White Sea con-
tributing 10 steamers and COZ sailing
vessels; the Baltic, 81 steamers and 271
sailing vessels, and the Black Sea, and
the Sea of Azoi, 67 steamers and 500
sailing vessels
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1884-11-13
Strange PlayfelloWs.

The following account of the remark
able friendship between the elephant
Queen" and little Don Melville is tax
en- from the article by John r. Coryeu
in st. Nicholas for October: ''When he
could just toddle, Don would run up to
Queen with a chuckle of delight, and
putting his white, plump little arms
around her great brown, hairy trunk,
would tug away with all his little
strength, as if he believed he could pull
that living mountain over.
''And, strange to say, he actually ac-
complished his object, for Queen hu-
mored the little fellows fancy. Sway
ing and rumbling with delight, she
would gradually allow herself to come
to her knees, and finally to fall over on
her side. And it was touching to see
how all the time she kept her eyes low
ingly on the beautiful baby, taking care
that no movement of hers should even
disturb him!
"When she was at last PROSTATE, Don
would look around as if to say, See
what l can dot Then he would imi-
tate what he had seen the trainer per-
form. He would Chamber and climb
until he was on Queens head, and
conqueror. He was quite likely to
thrust his little fist into the elephant s
eye or to swing his foot into her mouth,
but not a motion would the patient
creature make while he sat there, for
she seemed to know that he was not
very secure in his high perch.
Sometimes Don would carry his
picture-blocks to Queen, and together
they would build houses. Don would
put on one block, and then Queen
would take one up in her trunk and put
it in its place as carefully as if she had
been used to the game all her life; and
when Don would kick the house down,
as he usually did when it was about
half built, his merry laugh and her
thunder-like rumble were something
worth going miles to hear.
1T never seemed to occur to Don
that there was anything odd in his COM
panionship with the gigantic creature;
and had it entered his little head to do
so, there is no doubt that he would
have proposed walk in the fields with
her, with as much innocence as if sha
had been small dog"
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1884-11-13

Milkman--"Twoquarts? Yes, mum.
Here it is. Only 16 cents, mum"
Housekeeper-''But stop. Isn't there
something the matter with this milkP"
Milkman-''O, no, mum. Perfectly
pure, mum. Don't it look tempting
now, mum?" Housekeeper-''Well, I
must say it does make my mouth
water"
81 tell yet wot, boys" exclaimed old
Ben, the toughest man of the camp;
81 tell yer wot, boys, it made a TELLER
feel kinder water round the lids to hear
that little chit of thing a-settin' up
thar like an angel a-sayinF her prayers
so cute; Mary had little lamb, or
sunthin' er thet sort. ."-PdrtS Free
Tongue.
Talmage says that there was never .
suicide who was not either mnatie ol
an infdel. -
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1884-11-13

Not one out of thousand lightning
rods at present upon our buildings is of
any use, says Professor Trowbridge in
Science for the simple reason that the
rods are not led into moist ground and
therefore offer great resistance to the
passage of an electric discharge.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1884-11-13

Cyclonia is the name given to an In
diana baby who was born during q
frighlful cyclone In Jamaica two years
ago.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1884-11-13
PETER FLATH.

Nlsthier and Merchant Taller, Hats Caps
and Furnishing Goods. FheRix Rl0ek, Asin
street, ,havenna, Ohio.
0ei. II. 1ees. tY.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-11-28

Close votes are nothing new in this
country. Mr.. Hendricks knows that we'll
enough. Or, if he does not, he need 90 no
farther than to the gubernatorial vote of
Indiana in 1872 in order to refresh his
memory. He was elected governor of Ind
lana that year by plurality of only has
votes. As early as 1874, in the contest be
tween Adams and Jackson, there was a
difference of only 100 in Maryland's vote
on these two candidates in favor of
Adams, but it did not occur To Old Hick-
DRY to incite his minority to sack the cit
les and tear up the soil of Maryland. Four
years later that State voted on these same
candidates, and though there We're nearly
-, 900 additional votes divided between
them, Adams still led by ISL. In 1892,
when Clay and jackson We're the rival
candidates, Delaware gave Clay but ll6
more votes than jackson got, and in Mary
land there was an actual difference of only
four votes, Clay getting ~, 100, and Jack
son 10, 1856, The vote in New Jersay that
year stood Clay, 1892, jackson, 23,656,
IA triting yet all-important difference of
464 votes. In 1896, when Harrison and
Van Buren, were the petitioners of suffrage,
there was difference i'll Connecticut of
only 16SVOtes, in Louisiana of 210, in Mis-
sissippi of POI, and in New Jersey of 245.
In 1910, when Harrison ran against Van
Buren,, there was difference in the vote
in Maine of All, in Michigan of 1873, in
Pennsylvania of 1885 in total vote of
PSI ,O91, in Virginia of 1892 Between Clay
and Polk in lS+i there were differences in
Louisiana of 10l votes in New Jersey S23
and i'll Tennessee, Folks home, Clay led
him by Just lib volts. In 1878, between
Taylor and Cass, the difference between
votes for the two was in Alabama 9sl in
| Delaware 523, in Iowa 1909, in Mississippi
6l5, and in Virginia l462.
/ The race of Pierce against Scott in lS5,
was correspondingly close in some States
the advantage being in Delaware twenty
/ five votes, in Louisiana 1892, in North
Carolina $50, and in Tennessee 1850. In
the memorable and remarkable contest Of
| 1860 Lincoln only had 657 votes the better
of Douglas in California. In 1864 McClel
Ian got only 6l2 more votes than LincolI
in Delaware. In California in 1868 Grant
received but 500 more votes than Seymour
and in Oregon but lG4 majority. In 49,:
again, between Greeley and Grant, Della
ware held her party votes within 9OG o
each other.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-11-28

In his last official report, Hon. Noah c.
Mcfarland, Commissioner of the General
Land Office, makes this significant ad-
mission which is designed rs warning to
Congress and the people;
"The time is near at hand when there
will be no public lands To invite settle
meut or afford citizens of the country an
opportunity to secure cheap homes.
Meanwhile vast stretches of unCultiNated
lands are everywhere observable, title to
which has been acquired by eyasions of
law. The numerous methods of disposal
now existing and the laNity of precau,
tiOnary provisions against misapprOpra-
ton are resulting in Il waste of the public
domain, without the compensation at
tendant upon small ownership for actual
settlement
These are words of very serious i'm
port, for they deal with the most impOr-
tant issue to which the earnest attention of
Legislators can now be directed.
The following corporations received
large land grants ON the express condition
that, if not completed within the time
specified, all lands not earned and patented
to them should then revert to the United
States:
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-11-28

We print the following interesting let
ter, by permission of Col. Walker and of
the writer, who is Boston man.
MONTPELIER, VT, Nov. -, 1854
co., 4. F. walker:
Ny DEAR SIR was much interested
last evening in reading your address at
the soldiers Reunion, held in this town
ON the 9th, particularly your reference to
the Monitor which you truly say was
IL master-stroke of inventive genius
You add 1.-THE price, S215, 600, was payable
only in case She should be able to with
stand the fire of the enemies batteries ut
the shortest range
You will excused stranger for the criti-
cism-but it seems to me you should have
given credit to the two men, John \.
Griswold and John +. Winslow, of Troy
\. Y, whose faith and patriotism prompt
cd them to advance the money ncco ssary
to build the Monitor, and who made the
"Tnrifty Contract under which the
"wOrk was pushed as if for life
Mr. Erickson had no money he could
get no encouragement in Washington
In the departments faith was lacking and
'rcd-tape' Astounding. In this dilemma
Mr.. Erickson went to Mr.. Win4ioW, vino
he knew had vast mechanical knowledge
as well as means. They went to Mr.. Girls
void Mr.. Griswold said "Winslow il
Mr.. Winslow went to Washington, called
on President Lincoln-tOld him they
wanted Il hcdrjng." He said "to-mor
row morning at 10 o'clock at the War De
partment.'
Mr.. Lincoln was one of the first to ar
rive. There was no furniture in the
room they assembled in, except n larg,
table, and some empty boxes. Mr.. Lin
coin seated himself on a low box in a cor
ner with his hands clasped around hi,
knees. which almost touched his chin
while the heads of the departments stooC
around the table on which Mr.. Winslow
had spread the plans, and proceeded tt
explain them.
Mr. Lincoln became Interested He
arose from his lowly eat-separating hi.
limbs from his body ''as one would open
jack knife" and took position where ht
could see rs we'll as hear.
When Mr.. Winslow had finished al
eyes were instinctvely turned to Mr.. Lin
coin.
He said, Gentlemen, it seems to me
there is something in it, as the girl sale
when she pulled on her stocking"
/ Then the order was given for the frs
| Monitor-to be paid for trhcn she hdc
Sdrcd NcW York city ana the other dc
tcncclCSS cities Of the East.
| have written more than intended
but always warm up when | think how
much-in the Providence of GOd-was don,
by Il few men to save the country's integ
rity. am yours, very Respectfully,
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-11-28

Monsignor Capel has had Il good deal of
fashionable society in this country. He has
got the credit of some conversions in sun
dry circles, and he has dipped into polemics
in several easy little works, among them IL
treatise on the subject Catholic" This
last was inspired by the proposition in the
Episcopal convention to change the name
of the body from Protestant Episcopal >
to Holy Catholic" concerning which the
monsignor showed the weakness of the po-
sition of advocates of such a
change. and the lnapplicability of the
term Catholic to IL body Of its Character,
and naturally urged the claims of the
Roman church to that title and the reun-
ion of those who had such Il desire to be
Catholic to that venerable Jurisprudence.
In this discussion he said Admitting for
arguments sake, the validity of her or
ders, whence does the Protestant Episco-
pal church derive her mission and jurs-
dction For Capel holds that while the
imposition of hands conveys the sacra-
ment of orders" whose effect is direct
from God" the mission, which in
cludes jurisdiction, is derived direct
ly from God through the church
as the successor of the apostles. This
is "A pretty piece of hair-splitting, and
Rev. DIR. j. II. Hopkins took up the cud-
gels for his church, asserting that "mis-
sion is the gift given direct by God in
every valid organization as III every valid
sacrament" And thus the battle RACES.
1t does not pay to follow the minor phases
of this controversy, though it may be
noted, as an amusing illustration of the
monsignors estimate of his own impor-
lance, that he telegraphed peremptorily to
DR.. Hopkins, insisting that he should stop
the sale of his pamphlet to correct his
false statement" or he, Capel, could hold
him responsible for damages - and that
DR.. Hopkins stood on his dignity and re-
fused to have anything more to say
to Capel until he should withdraw his
threat, This is a sad pass for dignif-
ed ecclesiastical dispute to reach.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-11-28
Double Taxation.
[ Morrisville Citizen,l

The largest share of the State press that
say anything about double taxation are in
favor of Il law that will place the burdens
where they belong. That there is opposi-
ton to the law in Massachusetts there is
no doubt, but where a law is exceedingly
popular with class of people for whose
benefit it was enacted, and who are siren
uously opposed to its repeal, there is but
little show for calling it Il failure and hold
ing it up before our Legislature
as Il measure directly opposed
to poor taxpayers interests. There
is no reasonable ground for OPP
y sitiOn to the enactment OF law IN \ err
mont that will put the taxes on real estate
where they belong. The only possible objec,
ton that the money lender can have is that
the Fictitious value of mortgaged real es
tate will be taken from the list and the rate
of taxation be raised proportionately, but
this will be more than offset by the in
creased value of the security, making the
loan a safer and better investment. To-day
there are thousands of i'll Vermont
that have"gone back on the mort gage, and
the owners do not want them. Many are
already abandoned. More will follow
their fate We do not claim that the en-
actment of the law in question will at once
arrest this great depreciation in property
but we do claim that its tendency will be
in the right direction, and that i'll the end
it will be of mutual benefit TO borrower
and lender.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-11-28
THE BUSINESS OUTLOOK.
II. IL. Clafin Regards it rs Promising and
Laments the Currency of Depress-
ing Reports.

Mr.. H. b, Claflin of the great New York
firm of II. b. Clafn & Co., said about II
rumor that he had discharged over two
hundred employees from the suit depart
ment owing to depression III trade; 81
have not discharged anybody and do not
intend to unless for some specific cause, as
the inattention or incompetence of indi-
vduals AS for the depression in bust
ness | am sure | have seen nothing Of it
and know nothing Of it. On the contrary,
within the last eight or ten days, since
the result of the election has been gen
orally accepted, / have noticed very
marked improvement in trade. Our bust
ness has certainly improved and / have
no doubt the business of other firms
has felt the same stimulus. There
was a time shortly before and shortly after
election when there was some stagnation.
In fact, have not for many years known
election excitement take hold on business
so much as it did this fall. 1t is long since |
have seen men so absorbed in politics, so