davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1884-01-10
Fault OF Our 80 DOL system.

We school me children too much
that is to say, we keep them at school
all the year round; We continually force
their perceptive and memorizing facul-
ties, and give no time for the play of
their reflective faculties. In other
words, they don't reflect upon what they
have learned or attempt to apply 1t in
their own minds. We cram them with
too many studies. How else is
the fact to be accounted for that a
child in the country, having but
four months schooling in the year, will
come to Boston more matured in his
education than one who has had nine
months schooling in the year? In our
city schools there is too much teaching
and too little learning. BY thas l mean
to say that the great press of studies
placed upon the young mind by
oral teachings for few minutes
at d time, and different study most
every hour in the day, tend to break
up the continuity of the pupils thought,
and the oral addresses and lectures re-
ceive but little attention from the tired
minds OF the pupils.
The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1884-01-10

Immense quantities Of laughing mat
ter, too, are kept from the public by
secrecy in divorce cases. Funnier facts
are hidden than the fancies of the
humorists. Did Mark Twain ever write
paragraph with more merriment in it
than could be evolved from a set Of
shaving apparatus offered as evidence
by husband in support OF the a'lega-
ton that his wife was uncongenially
deceptive? It seems that he meant to
marry gentle, refined, and entirely
feminine creature, and believed that he
had done so; but the honeymoon was
scarcely over before he found that his
wife had many coarse points that had
not been visible in her as a maiden.
One specification was that she had
naturally considerable of mustache,
which he construed as an indication of
Objectionable mannishness. He did
not exactly allege that she was
to blame for the blemish, but
he regarded her concealment of it
before marriage as characteristic OF
her general dishonesty toward him.
She had kept her upper lip so neatly
shaven that he did not suspect the in
cipient mustache, so common among
brunettes, and, when he at length saw
her shaving like a man, he was greatly
shocked. And yet the outfit, which he
had seized and brought to his lawyer,
along with the usual bundle of inter
cepted letters, suggested a pleasing
daintiness in the operation. The razor
was the smallest l had ever seen, its
blade being hollow ground until little
was left OF it, and the handle of pearl
was inlaid with gold. The strop had
case of embossed leather, and a finely
carved handle. The cup was costly
specimen of japanese pottery, with an
ivory handled brush in it, and a half
used cake of soap that had not only
Welded lather, but was delicately per-
fumed. Inasmuch as photograph OF
the accused wife showed an altogether
charming face. it did not seem to me
that the husbands revelation of her
toilet processes was very damaging to
her character
The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1884-01-10
One Of Iincolu'- stories.

Secretary Lincoln has enough OF his
fathers nature b. enable him 10 make
good stories and TO tell them well.
When he was in Chicago with Arthur,
he, with a number of other gentlemen,
was enjoying an after-dinner chat, when
he told this story, illustrative of the
craze in Chicago for entering the
plea of solf-defense: Three men quar-
relied in room above a saloon, when
one of them fell dead from heart dis
ease The others were fearful that they
would be charged with murder, 80 one
went to the saloon and enticed the bar
tender ont, while the other carried the
corpse down and placed it in a chair
with its head on a table as if sleeping
off a drunk. When the bartender re
turned the two men took drink, saying
the drunken man inthe chair would pay
for it, and went away. The bartender
soon shook his customer and demanded
his pay. The corpse fell over on the
floor. and as the bartender stood trem
bling with fear. the two men returned
with an officer. The bartender, antici-
rating his arrest. quickly said ." He
struck me first"
The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1884-01-10
Thaddeus stevens Grave.

Stevens had purchased and paid for
lots in the Lancaster" cemetery before
he knew that its charter limited its ten
ants to those in whose veins ran no
African blood. He then negotiated for
ground in Woodward Hill' cemetery,
but ascertaining that they, too, didn' t
think black man good enough TO
moulder to dust in their graveyard, he
exclaimed: lis 1t possible that they're
a set of fools, too Mrs. Smith says
that the directors then offered to have
the obnoxious limitation stricken out of
Stevens deed, but the old man de-
clared he would have nothing to do
with them or their cemetery, and that
he would rather be buried in Potters'
Field And so this consistent cham
pion of the oppressed turned to the less
pretentious burial ground, where he
now lies. beneath that craven tablet
whereof all the world knows and hon-
ors.
The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1884-01-10
How YlOndOncrs Dress

The streets generally were thronged
with people, principally gentlemen.
English ladies seem to walk but little
in the streets. The London gentlemen
are fine looking set of men. They
dress remarkably we'll, wholly in Prince
Albert coats and white vests and ties.
They wear the glosslest, most shining
hats. what we call "stovepipes," which
make them look taller and better
dressed than the "beanpots" of America.
Nearly every gentleman has either a
rose, jasmine or atuberose iu his button
hole 1t may be their dress or their hats
that give the impression, but English
gentlemen look taller than Americans.
Their physical development is good !;
their faces handsome; their features
clearly cut Most of them are clean
shaven, except u small mustache and
nea, side-boards. There are very few
boards TO be seen among the better class
of yong Englishmen.
The streets of London are enlivened
with relocated soldiers. They are a
fine looking class; their dress very
bright in color and we'll cut. On the
streets they usually wear a cap, re-
sembling smoking cap, which they
jauntliv perch on one side of the head,
and in their hands carry 1.-the or slen-
der walking cane. Their walk is very
regular and their bearing military; and
on account of the number one sees
they contribute quite feature among
the city sights.
The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1884-01-10

The performances by the Davenport
brothers and other spirits are clumsy
compared with the acts of the far north
west Indians. The coniurors are legion
that will permit themselves to be
bound, not merely hand and foot, but
the whole body swathed with thongs,
withes. ropes and rawhidcs, and after
ward tied up in net, and then release
themselves almost instantly on being
placed in a little medicine lodge" OF
skins. constructed for the purpose, the
bonds being thrown out through an
opening in the top, without knot being
apparently disturbed.
The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1884-01-10
An Old l'hyatcian's Views

l believe, however, that it is not the
liquor alone which produces the diseases
generally attributed to it. 1t is rather
in the fact that those who are supposed
to fail in physical health by its use, or
who use it to excess, do so because they
create by their course Of life or labor a
morbid demand for the stimuiant. 1
have already shown how board of
trade man NAV rush off to get q drink
to prevent reaction from excitement.
1t is so with many other vacations.
Take a compositor on morning paper.
He will work all night, and have his
slumbers broken in the day. He rises
unrefrt shed. He must work again,
and, utterly Frustrated, suffering from
nervous losses, he drinks to restore him
self. He continues this course for years,
and becomes wreck. Whether from
the drink or the work for which he may
have been constitutionally untitled L
could not say, unless could determine
what would have been the result had he
followed either course and left the other
alone.
| am inclined to think, however, that
the effects of liquor on n person
following nervous and exhaustive vo-
cation, especially if it be used to brace
up to greater efforts and harder work,
is far more injurious than when used
by such men Us those who first peopled
the west, and who drank it frequently
and sometimes to excess. Their sys-
TENS were strong enough to throw off
its effects. Their occupations did not
cause nervous prostration, hence they
did not develop seeming necessity in
the system for it. 1t is not the pecuh-
arity of modern liquor or the depravity
of the present generation; it is the ex-
haustion induced by the terrible outlay
of vitality in exciting business that
makes drinking what it now is with q
large class. My advice to all workers
is to go slow. Do not brace up that
you may overwork. Rest; that is ma.
lures own magnificent and unri-
vailed remedy, that will cure when
nothing else will. Take to the woods,
the fields, the open air. Throw physics
to the dogs, and do not sell your health
for money, for you cannot buy it.
The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1884-01-10
A MARYLAND ESTATE.
How the Negroes Were Provided for
Their Allowance Of Food and
(lOtbinR

Clothing.
Fred Douglass, in his autobiography
thus describes the management of a
Maryland estate, in the times of slavery
"The men and the women slaves on
Col. Lloyd's farm received as their
monthly allowance Of food eight pounds
of picked pork or their equivalent in
fish. The pork was often tainted and
the fish was of the poorest quality
herrings-which would bring very little
if offered for sale at any northern
market. With their pork or fish they
had one bushel ofIndian meal, unbolted,
of which about Is per cent. was fit only
to feed pigs. With this one
pound of salt was given, and this was
the entire monthly allowance of full
grown slave, working constantly in the
open field from morning till night
every day in the month except Sunday,
and living on o fraction more than a
quarter of pound of meat per day and
less than peck of corn meal per week.
The yearly allowance Of clothing con-
sisted of two tow-linen shirts, such as
the coarest crash towels are made Of
two pairs Of trousers, one for summer
and one for winter: one winter jacket,
one pair of yarn stockings, and only
one pair of shoes. The slaves entire
apparel could not have cost more than
So year.
THE little boy, and girls were nearly
. all in a state Of perfect nudity. A
coarse blanket, such as cover horses.
WAS their only bed. The little children
stuck themselves in hoies and corners
about the quarters, often in the corner
of the huge chimneys, with their feet in
the ashes to keep them warm. More
slaves we're whipped for oversleephg
than for any other fault. Neither age
nor Sex found any favor. The overseer
stood at the quarter-door armed with the
stick and cowskin, ready to whip any who
was a few minutes behind time. Young
mothers who worked in the field
were compelled TO take their children
with them, and 60 leave them in the
corner of the fence to prevent loss of
time in nursing them. But in the great
house of Col. Lloyd the table groaned
under the heavy and blood-bought
Injuries, gathered with painstAking
care at home and abroad. Fields. for
ests, rivers and seas were made tribu-
tary there. Fifteen servants waited on
the grooming table, some armed with
fans to cool the heated brows of the
a!abaster ladies there. Splendid
coaches were in the stable, beside gigs,
phntons, barouches, sulkies and sleighs,
silver-mountcd harness and thirty-tive
| fine horses
The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1884-01-10

\ coach in which "a banker of Penn
sylvania is travelling with his family is
described as follows: The outside has
seats Tor three in front and two back !;
two large lamps are ON each side of the
front seat. and one large headlight is
ON the dashboard. Here ulso are n
clock, an AK, knife, II pistol and other
things On the left side of the coach,
near the box, is a private locker con
tanning viands. On top Is large
willow trunk, Immediately back Of
which the tent, camp chairs and
blankets are stored. Undr the back
step is place for another large willow
trunk, hanging behind which is q step-
ladder to Ire used by ladies when taking
seats on the outside of the coach. In
side the boot all'kinds of cooking uten-
sis are packed. On the side of the
coach are willow cases for canes, UNI
brellas, fisSrng rods and guns. Inside
are two roomy seats facing each other,
accommodating six persons In the
cushions Of the doors are map pockets,
and on the cushioned walls hang y Their
mometer, o barometer, II compass, q
clock, night lamp and match box, and
near the top are racks filled with note
paper and envelopes. The vehicle
weighs only 80 pounds, and tho rams
are handled by the owner, who generally
makes from twenty-five to forty mihs
daily. The party so into camp ut II
o'clock. The horses are then picketed
and the camp fire is kindled.
The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1884-01-10
PRAY FOR Me.

More things are wrought by prayer
Than this world dreams of. Wherefore, let
thy voice
Rise like fountain for me night and day;
For what are men better than sheep or goats
That nourish blind life within the brain,
If, knowing God, they lift not hands of
prayer
Both for themselves and those who call them
friend;
For so the whole round world is every way
Bound by gold chains about the feet of God,
The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1884-01-10

"Why do you maze such face in
taking that medicine?" asked wife of
her husband. You pour it down
Tommy
YES, because | am stronger than
Tommy. Ii Tommy were stronger
than l, he would doubtless pour it down
ne."
The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1884-01-10
The COmlug TrOttcr.

When the world sees a trotter cover
a mile in one minute and forty seconds,
feat accomplished by more than one
thoroughbred, it will see wholly new
type, so different from the present ami
NAL that the theory of evolution will
never stretch far enough to cover tho
prodigy.
The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1884-01-10
BEWARE, PROUD WORLD.

Beware proud world now thou despisest
The humblest of thy creatures, lest
In melancholy's sunless mine
He chance upon u stee! divine
Whose edge shall clcave your torturing
!hain,
And break your sCeptred gods relentless
reign
The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1884-01-10
For uis Rival

"Yes," said the doctor, WANTED that
patient as tramp wants rum, but ! sent
MIN over to DIR. Tombs just to make
Tor lbs think had moro business than
c, uld handle"
The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1884-01-10
a Fortune Waits.

A fortune awaits the man who will in
vent a penholder that you can't stick
into the mucilage- bottle, and mucilage-
brush that won't go into the inkstand.
The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1884-01-10

The number of old arms on hand In
the government arsenal at Washington
will aggregate 100000 Of all kinds.
They are being sold at prices ranging
from 20 cents to 81 each.
The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1884-01-10

Instead Of saying. "a .d-give-
away We would advise you to say "A
donation"
The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1884-01-10
Anti American.

Bismarck has not only ostracised the
revered American hog, but he has
given orders t. suppress as 'pernicious
literature" all pamphlets calculated to
attract immigration to this country.
The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1884-01-10

The savings banks of California have
deposits to the amount of $56, 900, 900.
The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1884-01-10

There are people so cross grained
that they wouldn't like things If they
suited them exactly.
The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1884-01-10
DEFEAT.

~ Edgar Fawcett in Harper's.l
by bitter pil rrimage he sought to win
Those far dim towers that he would roam
within.
Through paths of peril, loud with dying
groans,
Down chnsms of failure, white with human
bones,
Past brakes of tieachery, whence the tiger
sprung,
Der swamps of envy, where the scorpion
stung,
His eager feet pressed onward to attain
The Turing bourl of that desired domain
And there at last, worn fugitive Of fate,
He clutched the mighty clarion at the gate.
A moment more, and while its proud peal
roS.,
The towers would rock, the portals would I'M
close
But then, even then, by some foredoom pro
found.
He dropped dead ere his lips had walked one
The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1884-01-10

[Clara NJ. Green in The Continent.
There came thought, one day,
Unbidden to my mind,
Then quickly vanished, leaving but
Its memory behind.
A second time there came
A thought l cannot say:
Something stopped to recognize
But quickly thrust away.
1t came again-this time
Entered with gentle tread,
Just paused to let me know it, then
All trembling turned and fled.
A presence thrilled nay sense;
A flame my spirit caught;
l raised my eyes to his, and there
All! there l read my thought
Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1884-04-21
WHAT MEN NEED WIVES FOR

1t is not to sweep the house, and
make the beds, and darn the socks,
and cook the meals, chiefly that a
man wants wife. If this is all he
wants, hired servants can do it
cheaper than wife. If this is all,
when young man calls to see a
lady send him into the pantry to
taste the bread and cakes she has
made; send him to inspect the nee
dlework and bedmaking; OF put
broom into her hands and send him
to witness its use. Such things are
important, and the wise young man
will quietly look after them. But
what the true man most wants of a
wife is her companionship, sympathy
and love. The way of life has many
dreary places in it, and man needs a
companion to 90 with him. A man
is sometimes overtaken by misfor-
tunes he meets with failure and de-
feat; trials and temptations beset
him; and he needs one to stand by
him and sympathize. He has some
stern battles to fight with poverty,
with enemies and with sin, and he
needs woman that, while he puts
his arm around her and feels that
he has something to fight for, will
help him to fight; who will put her
lips to his ear and whisper words of
counsel, and her hand to his heart
and impart new inspirations. All
through life = through storm and
through sunshine, conflict and victo-
ry; through adverse and favorable
winds-man needs woman's love.
The heart yearns for it. A sisters
and a mothers love will hardly sup
ply the need. Yet many seek fol
nothing further than success in
housework. Justly enough, half OF
these get nothing more. The other
half, surprised above measure, oh.
tain more than they sought. Their
wives surprise them by bringing {
nobler idea of marriage and disclos
ing treasure of courage, sympathy
and love.
Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1884-04-21
DUTIES OF AN EDITOR.
Always to be good natured.

Always to be good natured.
Always to be outside rustllng for
items.
Always prompt to be at church on
Sundays.
Always to be at his desk writing
copy for the paper.
Always religiously to cater 10 the
conflicting prejudices of the commu-
nifty.
Always to have plenty of import
ant local items whether anything hap
pens OF not.
Always to ''hist" in the grammar,
or punctuation and spelling, for illit-
crate or careless contributors.
Always instantly to pay his bills
and take 'sstand off, from all who
are pleased to pay some one else
first.
Always cheerful, to hold himself
accountable for the mistakes and
blunders of other people, and meek
ly submit to abuse therefor.
Always to know exactly what is
going ON Sundays, as well as week
days, and get out an extra in case
anything of interest OCCURS.
Always to serve God and the dew
il, blow hot OF cold water to suit the
public, and then attempt to crawl
into heaven under the edge of the
canvas.
Always to be round at all hours OF
the day and night, in and out of all
kinds of places, on the alert for news
and at the same time be regular in
| his habits.
Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1884-04-21

FoRGOT TO TASTE IT.-'sWell,
Ebenezer,'' said a good citizen of
Putney to his son, who had lately
emigrated to the great state of Illi-
nois, and had now come home to try
and induce the old gentleman to
move out there and settle.
ssWell, Ebenezer, how's the land ?"
s'First rate father,-rich as mud.
Grain grows so fast you can feel it
tickling your hand.''
'How's the climate p
''Lovely as summers eve. Nei-
ther too hot nor too cold. People
are so healthy out there that they
don't have but one graveyard in
county,
"Good religious privilege?''
''First rate,-if you take 'em with
you
''Is living cheap,-food and cloth
ing and so forth p
"Yes stree! It's cheaper to live
in Illinois than it is to die in Ver-
mont"
''Well, Ebenezer, how's the water
out there?"
ssDod blast it dad - exclaimed the
| young man, jumping up and slapping
his thigh, ''if didn't 60 and forget
to taste it sure as you live -
Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1884-04-21
When Women Shall Vote

When the long fought battle is over,
And the well-earned victory won,
Without the blare of trumpet,
Or the crash of a single gun.
With no field of reckless slaughter,
Where lie an unnumbered dead,
(Aceldema is growing green
In this war where Love has lead.)
When the coast winds cease their blowing
And the tide comes rushing in,
Each crested wave shall be chanting
The praises of those that win.
And casting pearls and corals
AT the happy victor's feet,
Writing Oh sandy reaches
Of broad -breathed freedom sweet.
When the golden gates of morning
Swing a little more ajar,
And behind in the wondrous glory,
Melts out the morning star,
Shall be seen the loving watchers,
Who have needed sleep nor rest,
That from their toilsome vigils
A sick world might be blest.
When the plants of superstition,
No longer theirpoison spread,
When their noXious growth is strangled,
And their obstinate roots are dead
When their deadly Upas shadows
Are replaced by the Tree of Life,
Whose leaves shall heal the nations
Whose fruit with joy is rife,
And Easter lilies forever,
Shall Danish a season of Lent,
When of what the world shall be doing
1t need never more repent,
And through their blossoming sweetness,
Mankind shall look up and say,
And sing of the new creation,
sold things are passing away"
Mrs. s. d. Bingham
Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1884-04-21

Always do his level best to pro-
mote every public enterprise, to do
what he can to put money into
other peoples pockets, and se-
renely carry home a pound of
liver for breakfast.
Always to give S1.50 subscriber
from S. to s25 worth of puffs, which
brings the subscriber double those
amounts of cash in his business,
while he would not and could not be
hired to return the favor in kind to
the editor, even to cents worth.