davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Osceola times., 1884-03-22
The Horseshoe for Luck.

To the Editor of the FLORIDA Tmes-U Union:
Your correspondent was requested by
a lady 10 explain why good luck is in
sured by mailing a horseshoe over the
door. Even in this practical age the
superstition is shared by bearded men
who could get nights sleep in ceme-
terry. As proof, / may mention that G.
prominent lawyer in Palatka regards rs
the apple of his eye rusty memorial of
that lucky shape over the door of his
office. think the most ancient origin
is that given in the Sandoval Chronicle
of Fernau Gonzalez, wEo was born about
SS7, and was the champion of CASTLE in
the Moorish war following the Arab con-
quest of Spain. In the subsequent as
cendancy of Spain her c'lston might be
adopted by the rest of Europe and give
rise to the superstition. ! quote from
Twins translation:
at would be wronging the memory of
this great and good cavalier TO pass in
silence over one of his exploits in which
he gave singular instance of his piety
This was an expedition against the alci-
ent city Of Sylo. 1t was not place of
much value in itself, being situated in a
cold and sterile country, but it had be-
come a stronghold of the Moors, whence
they carried on their warfare. This
place the Count carried by assault, enter
Ing it in full aromor on his steed, over
turning and Staying all who opposed
him. In the fury Of his career he rode
-. "A IL T.
ed TO be mosque, with the pious in
tention Of Staying every infldel he might
find within. On looking around, how
ever, great was his astonishment at be-
holding saints,the blessed cross of our
Savior, and various other scared objects,
which announced church devoted to
the veritable faith. Struck with remorse
he sprang from his horse, threw himself
upon his knees, and With many tears,
implored pardon of God for the sin he
had unknowingly committed. While he
was yet on his knees several monks of
the order of st. Dominic approached,
meager in looks and squalid in attire,
but hailing him with great Joy as their
deliverer. In sooth this was convent
of San Sebastian, the fraternity of which
had mined captives among the Moors
supporting themselves poorly by making
buckets, but PERMITTED TO continue in
the exercise Of their religion
still filed with pious conjunction
for the tresspass he had made, the count
ordered that the shoes should be taken
from his horse and nailed upon the door
of the church; for never, said he, shall
they tread any other ground after having
trodden this holy place From that day
we are told, it has been the custom TO
nail the shoes of horses on the portal of
that convent-a custom which has ex-
tended to many other places"
The Osceola times., 1884-03-22
The Power OF Little Things,

The naturalist, it is said can tell US
much of the habits and structure of an
animal from one small bone. Some say
that the human hand marks character
and men have profossedto to say that hand
writing has great significance. Whether
all this be true or not, II is certain that
little things have great power Of expires.
sion to the cultivated mind. For instance.
if VIC enter house filled with bad odors,
We form at once an unfavorable opinion
of the inmates, no matter how costly
the surroundings. The picture on the wall
Of IL be only wood engraving with
out frame) tells tale. can remem-
Der in my early days makinga call upon
a family in very moderate circumstances.
whom | had been told were poor The
room entered was plainly furnished
but scrupulously neat. A few books
were on shelf, few flowers in small
vase and besioe this nestled beautiful
orange was fascinated, and the mem.
ory Of that call has followed pe through
life.
The Osceola times., 1884-03-22
A Hard Winter on the Poor.
Merchant Traveller.

saw, Cholly, how d'y' do"
"How d'y, Gus"
81 say, Cholly, how did you make it
with that rich girl you were talking of,
don't you know"
ats cold day, Gus, when get left"
Right you ah, Cholly."
"Yes, aud it was 200 degrees below
zero and falling, don't you know, when ]
called yesterday"
"Don't mention it, Gus. Give me a
cigarette, Of fel' to calm my shattered
nerves, don't you know"
Il haven't one, old boy"
Don't mention it, let's take glass of
Apolinaris straight"
"Beg pahdon. lend me dime ?"
Sorry, me boy, but I'm Invoke fiat
stwapped, don't you know"
"ls that so, Cholly? Well me boy. it's
going to be duced habd wintah on the
poah, don't you know, duced hahd."
Then they both smiled at couple of
pretty girls and tripped along down the
street with them, talking of the last re-
ception and keeping out near the curb
stone when they passed carmel shop.
The Osceola times., 1884-03-22
Cashmere shawls.

The reason why cashmere shawl is
not injured by water is that it was very
thoroughly soaked before it left its nat
i've land. After one of these shawis is
woven it is washed to rid ii of the rice
starch in which the thread is dipped
after spinning, and in Kashmir the best
place for this is thought to be canal
leading from the lake. Some ruins in
large limestone blocks, are lying on the
washing place, and in one of these is a
round hole, about foot and half in
diameter, and foot in depth. In this
the shawl is placed, and, water being
poured over 1t, it is stamped on with
naked feet for about five minutes and then
taken into the canal by man standing
in the water; one end is gathered up in
his hand, and the shawl swung round
and beaten with great force upon q fiat
stone, being dipped In the canal between
every three or four strokes. This occu.
pies about five minutes. The shawls are
then dried in the shade, as the hot sun
spoils the colors, and in ten days after
ward the colored shawls undergo a SIM
liar process, ON the first day are spread
in the sun, and bleached by water
sprinkled over them. They then are
again treated by the same process as the
colored shawls, being stamped upon and
beaten q second time. and then bleached
till they are dry, and then for third
time beaten, stamped upon and finally
sun-dIied. In the second time of stamp.
ing soap Is sometimes used, but is not
good generally, and is never used for the
colored shawls, as the alkali might affect
the hues. The "pine" or "river" pattern,
as it Is sometimes called in the United
States, Is said to be derived from the
curves made by the river Jhelam before
it enters the city, and the fools cap or
cypress-shaped ornament is an imitation
Of the jewel worn in the cap by the
Eastern magnates. There are innumcr-
able other patterns, but these are the
favorites.
The Osceola times., 1884-03-22
Tongue-Tyinc.
Chicago Tribune.

An ingenious method of putting a
check upon chatter has been devised by
school.teacher, who was recently
charged in London police court with
assaulting one of his pupils. The de-
fendant, it appeared, being displeased
with a boy who persisted in talking
during lesson-time, fastened strap with
slip-knot around the tengue of the Of
fender and then tied the other end of
the strap by piece of string to char,
thus effectually preventing continuance
of the nuisance. After hearing the evil
dence the magistrate dismissed the sum
mons on the ground that the tying of the
boys tongue was not any real punish.
ment. The boy seemed to have been
very much given TO talking. and it was
therefore thought advisable TO degrade
him the same as by putting FOOLS cap
on his head or tying the arms of a boy
given to fighting. The London st.
James Gazette advocates similar con-
trivance for Irish members of parliament.
The Osceola times., 1884-03-22
Fitzgerald, the Pension Man, shot.
Florida 'rimcs-Union.


Colonel n. w. Fitzgerald, of notoriety
as Washington pension attorney. left
Fort Mason few days ago for the pur-
pose of shoe ing birds. On reaching the
banks of lake about two miles from
town bird flew up from the marsh.
the Colonel cooked both barrels, but only
discharged one barrel. The report of
the gun frightened up othe- birds that
were in the grass near by and the
Colonel, who was standing on some roots,
attempting to turn suddenly to get an
other shot, when he tripped and fell up.
on his back. In falling the muzzle of
the gun was accidently thrown against
his right foot and the trigger pulled,
which discharged the cartridge in the
other barrel, and the entire load, in.
cluding the wads, passed through his
foot about one inch above where the toes
join on, breaking two Of the bones and
tearing the flesh badly. A man who
was working in field near by ran t1 the
ColonePs assistance and took him to
Fort Mason, where he is doing well.
The Osceola times., 1884-03-22

well learned. She may paint little
play rather well on the piano, sing some
know little French; tumble through
confusing conversation in English, trim
a bonnet fairly, and with the aid of
dressmaker, dress with killing perfee.
ton.
She is attractive, elegant, agreeable.
possesses high principles, admirbly fit.
ted to be the wife of rich gentleman
But if she is brought to poverty, she dis
covers that she cannot support herself
by the use of her mediocre accomplish.
ments. She is not well enough accom-.
plished in these arts to command five
dollars q week.
Mothers Of the present day are crue,
if they do not bring up their daughters
in some occupation by which they can
earn living. Have them well taught
in some branch whereirom they can
gain subsistence in case of adverse of
fortune.
Train your daughters to work with
care and skill Teach them to DO every.
thing well. Qualify them as masters
either of the kitchen, washroom, piano
or dressmaking. Competency in either
of there branches commands for her an
income in which she can realize a good
support
The Osceola times., 1884-03-22
Up In Details.
Wall Street News.

The complaint that Willard was too
big man to understand the details of
railroad management, and that he really
never knew anything of Oregon Trans
continental outside of making mortgages
brings to mind the case on the Ohio
road. 1t had president after president,
and each one cooked his foot on the Of
fee desk and let her rip. She had rip
ped" until the directors finally got togeth-
er and decided that the right man must
be found pretty soon or the road must
90 to the wall. They were consulting in
a room looking out in the passenger de.
pot. a train came in eighteen minutes
behind time, and the train DISPATCHER
booted the conductor out of the door.
fired the engeneer out of another, and
run the fireman under freight train.
He then backed the train out and was
coming back from the yards when the
directors met him, and one Of them ask
ed:
"Mr Thomas can YOU accept the pres.
idency of this road?"
wait minute" was the reply. and
the man shunted three cars, cnfied a
switchman, drove two loaiers out of the
yard, and then returned aad said:
why, yes, i suppose so-and the first
thing shall do is to fire you all out of
here. Don't let me see you around here
again for six months"
In year the road was paying diyi-
dend
The Osceola times., 1884-03-22

hands Thcv were very pretty, but no
nicer thai vop sce in poorer peoples
houses"
$50 the queen handles the needle too?"
"Oh, yes. She is quite handy with it
and her daughters embroidery. work
takes the prizes when on exhibition.
Why, would you believe it, one day the
queen saw my apron-string pull out, and
she sewed ii on for me, and told me IL
was not every young woman who had an
empress and queen for her seamstress.'
"Did YOU ever hear her lauch?"
"No. sir never all the time | was at
the castle, which was six months. She
smiled sometimes, but laugh--well
there never was anything like a laugh
came from her lips, and l used to wonder
if she would be very sorry when she
came to die. She used to remind me
sometimes ofa sister of charity she was
SO quiet like, and when saw the young
princess all the time with her solemn
mother used to think wouldn't trade
places with her."
"What about the queens familiarity
with her family"
"She is not as friendly as she might
be, but usually she is no more dignified
than plenty of American ladies'"
"What about the John Brown stories?'
81 don't believe anything like those ]
hear The queen had him near her all
the time, but just as faithful servant,
and he was very good to her and useful
to her, too for she has not been strong
for long time" o.
81 thought you said she was all o. k?"
"She is in most everything, but she's
big and fat and old, and she can't get
around at all gracefully or easily, so
Brown used to help her"
did the prince of Wales come TO see
herr"
"Yes; both him and his wife and the
other children used to call, but the
daughter. law was not very much in
love with the old lady. / think she
wanted them to understand who she
| was"
"Did you ever see the prince of Wales?'
"Once only, and then for just a mo-
ment as he passed me in the hall. Hit
mother was watching him all the time
and one day when he was expected, SHE
told me to 60 home for a holiday.
overheard her to say one day somethin!
about her bad boy, Albert"
How long we're you at the castle?"
"Only six months. You see my fathel
wanted me to go to school, and so he tool
me away, and intended me to 90 bacl
again when | was twenty, but before tina
| was married in America"
"Were you paid much wages?'
"Not much; gottwelve shillings weel
and home in castle. Some of th'
servants received much more and som,
much less, and we had half holiday
now and then, and the queen Away
gave us little pin money on those days
"Would you have returned if yol
hadn't married."
"Yes, sir, because it is quite a goo,
place at the castle. We are sure of (
good home ALWAYS; for they never breal
up housekeeping and the wages neve
fail"
"What about ="
"Don't ask me any more questions now
want to see how those have givel
you look, and then, if like them, yor
shall have some more. Good-by."
The hint was so that directit puncture,
even the pachyde.matous cerebral mem
brance ofthe reporter, and he echoe
good-by and left.
The Osceola times., 1884-03-22
Visit Your Neighbors.

During some Of the comparatively idle
days of winter, the farmer may combine
pleasure with profit by hitching up,
taking his family, and driving to some
one of his successful farm neighbors for
friendly visit. Such an act may be
looked upon by the man-oftoil as poor
excuse to get out of doing days work.
but we venture that he who tries the ex.
pertinent once will be very apt to repeat
1t as often as time or opportunity will
justify. In our neighborhood, and we
presume the same condition of atairse ex.
lists in nearly every locality, there are
farmers who have lived within mile or
two of each other for years, who hardly
know their neighbors from, stranger
when they meet upon the public high.
way or at town meeting, and as for going
TO the house, nothing short Of death ip
the family or some event OF great impor.
lance will ever bring them into the
frierdly relations which should exist be.
tween neighboring farmers. Visits of
this kind have two-fold object, first. 10
cultivate our social talents, and second.
the mingling with our fellow farmers and
becoming familiar with their methods we
cannot fail to gather information that
can be utilized sooner or later 10 our own
profit or advantage. Summer is not
time for the farmer TO be gadding about
visiting, but winter brings both time and
opportunity for pleasure of this kind and
happy is the man who improves spare
time in getting acquainted with his
netghbors and their methods of doing
work. = also gives an excellent oppor.
>2aa - diecassing questions Of local
The Osceola times., 1884-03-22
HOUSEHOLD HINTS.

Oxalic acid will almost always remove
stains left by mud which cannot be re-
moved with soap and water.
If baby is hoarse at night, take a small
piece of oil silk, rub little lard or
animal oil of any kind over II and hasten
II next his skin, over the chest. II may
be pinned with small safety pins to his
wrapper.
Sponges which are to be used in the
bathroom may be softened by boiling
for q few minutes in three waters. After
each time of boiling rinse in cold water
and put on the stove again in a pan Of
cold water.
A fastidious convalescent may be de-
luded into taking more nourishment
than he knows of, or is willing to take,
by having the yolk of an egg stirred in
to his morning cup OF coffee. Beat the
egg very light.
A pretty way to vary the baskets made
of Seine twine is to crochet them in
stripes like the tides, 80 that ribbon can
be run in. If you wish the basket to be
particularly ornamental and TO put in the
guest chamber, taxo three round poles,
paint them or grid them, tie them toge:h.
er at the top with ribbons, and hang tae
basket within after the fashion of a
gypsy kettle.
One of the most reliable receipts for a
white layer cake is this: One cup of
butter beaten to cream, with two cups
of sugar; add one cup of sweet milk,
three cups of -four, with two teaspoons
full sof baking powder mixed with it and
the well-beaten whites of three eggs.
This is also delicious If baked in a loaf,
with large cup of chopped raisins in il;
put them in last, reserving little of the
-four to sprinkle over them.
Excellent breakfast cakes are made of
three eggs, and teaspoonfnl of sugar, one
coffee cup1of sweet milk. one cup OF
warm water, thrse tabiespoonfuls of
yeast, flour enough to make stiff batter
Leave the whites of the egg until the bat
ter has risen, then add them: pinch Of
salt is needed. II started the night be-
fore. these cakes are delicious. They
will be as light as puffs.
The Osceola times., 1884-03-22
Coffee for Alcoholism.
Chicago journal.


According TO the statement ofthe vice
directors of the Rio Janeiro Faculty of
Medicine, in Brasil, where all the inhab-
itants take coffee many times a day, al
coholism is unknown it is further stat
ed that immigrants contract little by
little the fondness OF the Brazilsns for
drinking coffee, and their aversion for
liquors; and as the children Of these
immigrants never contract the fatal
habits known to their parents, it would
seem that the number of drunkards in
the country Is in inverse ratio to the
amount of coffee consumed. A South
American correspondent Of The Medic
al Times confirms the above, asserting
that the number of cafes in the large
cities, where multitudes of persons from
the highest down to the lowest go-is
enormous, while drinking saloons are
very few
The Osceola times., 1884-03-22
PEACE-MAKING.
Brother Gardner shows How FAMILY feuds
MAY lie Nippsd In the Bud.


From the Detroit Free press.
Long enough before the triangle
sounded the yetran members were whis-
pering to each other that something was
up. Just what was to happen no one
could say, but Brother Gadner looked
solemn, Sir Isaac Walpole had his left
eve shut. and Elder Toots made no pre-
parations to fall asleep and tangle his
legs up with the stove.
"Gem'len," said the President, rs the
meeting opened, word has reached my
ears that Nelson Slabs and Judge Congo
doan't lie down tegeder like spring lambs
in de clover. / should like boat brud-
ders to step dis way
The pair walked to the platform,
shambling along as if goying to the gal
lows, and Brother Gardner continued:
81 understan' dat Mrs Judge Congo
gave a p rty few nights ago, an did
not invite any of de Slabs family. Am
dat so, Nelson?"
ayes sab; dey had de mos brilliant
kind of q blow-ought over dar, land al
though we has bin de bes' Of friends fur
vars we was not axed to lend our pres
ence to grace de occashun."
Has you axed fur any exlanashunsY'
"No sab. recon de judges family
feels above us, kas dey has got sewin'
masheen an we hasn't"
"Neson Slabs, had you gon to de
Judge an'axed de reson why you was
left out, dis hardness of feelin' would
not have occurred. | was dar wild my
ole woman. an, new nll bout it. You
was on de list to be invited, but it was
suddenly diskirhered by Mrs. Congo dat
she haden't but twenty one plates in the
house. She couldn't borry but eighteen
cheers. She had only sixteen cups and
sasers. She had already invited TWEEN.
ty-two pussons, an RAIDER dan see your
filmily standin,' round on one leg, wild
no plates 10 eat on, an muffin 10 drink
out of, she concluded to gin you de skip
and make speshul oyster supper fur You
some time soon. Dar's de hull reasons
and what has YOU got to say?"
For answer Slabs turned and extended
his hand to the Judge. They ahook.
"Go' an sot down." continued thu
President, "an' let dis be solemn war
min to you an to all de rest. Life an
full of trifles dat kin be magnified t
mountains. De man who journeys alonl
de highway mus not stop to pick NJ
ebery chip an inspect ebery straw. lie
us now purceed TO de bizness which ha
enabled us togeder."
The Osceola times., 1884-03-22
snowbaiIs Like n Lady's Nun.

A strange atmospherical phenomenon
was witnessed in West Barry county
Sunday morning, January IS. Gun Lake
and the surrounding country seemed as
if strewn with thousands of snowballs,
or snowrolls, resembling lady's mufr in
size and shape, though varying from
three to eleven inches in diameter and
from four to eighteen inches in length.
Through each afthese,seeming snow balls
was an aperture near the center, which
varied with the size of the ball The
phenomenon is supposed to have been
caused by the south wind, which blew
at the time. Nothing like it was ever
seen here before.
The Osceola times., 1884-03-22
why the Hired Girl Turned the widow
Coffee Mill.
Detroit Free Press.

We made one more discovery and
went home to our parents and guardians
in time to escape softening Of the brain.
Every night the hired girl ground the
coffee. This was particularly domestic
sort of duty, but somehow we got it into
urheads that she turned that mill for
the widows special benefit, and to the
tune of her dead "Dear James" And
then she groaned so much, and 80 long,
and at such odd hours, and in a fragmen-
tary way that was 30 exasperatins. Long
after we were in bed we would hear
that 'demnition prind,'-it was Clara
who quoted Dickens-and il became as
tiresome and dreadful as the tedious re-
citation of "Dear James" Perhaps they
are grinding his bones" ! suggested one
midnight as we lay awake and listened
| to the loud, sonorous, unmusical sound
Il would cheerfully assist them in
that case" said Clara.
perhaps perhaps"-but just then
the dull, monotonous noise ceased and
we fell asleep.
But the next morning we waylaid the
hired girl.
snow tell u.s. said Clara, in a deter
mined voice, "why you grind that abom-
Unable, detestable cotiee-mil at all times,
day and night, in season and ont Of sea-
SOM"
"Lor'w exclaimed the girl, don't yer
know"
"Of course we don't
Didn't she tell yer?'
"No, she didn't"
"Why, Mr.. Bulwinkle snored, and she
thinks che can't sleep if
The next day we went home.
The Osceola times., 1884-03-22
How Devils Bridge Gol Its Name.
Boston Globe.

An old sea captain Of the Vineyard
tells the following story in relation to
the name Devils Bridge: II, was going
when ! was a youngster. Many years
ago nv father told me about the island
being visited by the devil, and the peo-
pie in those days believed what am
telling you" The old fellow, said my
father, landed on the east side. There,
right over yonder-you see that point of
land?-well, that is where he frst land
ed. He was seen several days by the
few natives who reside on the southern
side, when, it is said, he took his depart
ure and as a memento he left one of his
on the rock where the City
of Columbus struck My father, / can
one beautiful summers day
took me in his smack out to Devils
Reef Bridge and pointed out to me, which
on calm day can quite distinctly be
seen, the footprint upon one Of the
most prominent rocks"