davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1884-08-23
Told by the Fishermen.

The south branch of the Potomac is
lust now alive with black bass that take
either the fly or live bait.
AT Greenwood lake, N. Y, the bass
are not taking the fly we'll this season,
but the bait fishers are having excellent
luck.
The largest stingaree ever seen on the
jersey coast was taken near Seaville on
Wednesday last. 1t weighed over 300
pounds, and measured 5 feet across the
back.
Seventeen salmon, the largest weigh
ing over 80 pounds, were recently taken
in Nova Scotia waters, above Sherbrook,
by Lawson B. Bell, of New York, and a
friend.
A trout weighing few ounces over 8
pounds, and q inches long, was taken
with fly in Lower Richardson Lake by
F. III. Chappell, of New London, Conn.
1t took twenty minutes to land 1t.
A party fishing in Moosehead Lake,
Me-, saw red squirrel swimming toward
them. Coming to the side of the canoe
it made two attempts to jump aboard,
but failed. The paddle was extended to-
ward it and the squirrel mounted 1t and
came aboard. After running about the
canoe he prrched himself on the bow
and ti.'n ju,Ipcd into the water and
swan ashore.
Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1884-08-23
Agassiz and His Father.

A good story is told of Agassiz, the
great naturalist. His father destined
him for commercial life. and was i'm
patient at his devotioni to frogs, snakes
and fishes. The latter, especially, were
objects of the boys attention. His vaca-
tons were spent in making journeys on
foot through Europe, examining the diff
ferent species of fresh-water fishes.
"Ifyou can prove to me-" said his
father, that you really know anything
about science, l will consent that you
shall give up the career l have planned
for you."
Young Agassiz, in his next vacation,
being then eighteen, visited England,
taking with him letter of introduction
to Sir Roderiek Murchison.
"You have been studying nature, i" said
the great man, bluntly. "What have
you learned2"
The lad was timid-not sure at that
moment that he had learned anything.
81 think" he said, at last, 81 know lit
tie about fishes.
"Very well. There will be a meeting
of the Royal Society tonight. | will
take YOU with me there"
All of the great scientific savans OF
Europe belonged to this society. That
evening, when the business of the meet.
ing was over, Sir Roderick rose and
said:
Il have young friend here from
Switzerland, who thinks he knows some
thing about fishes how much, l have 9
fan " to try. There is under this cloth 8
perfect skeleton of fish which existed
long before man." He then gave hin
the precise locality in which it had beer
found, with one OF two other facts con
cerning it. The species to which the
specimen belonged was of course extinct
"Can YOU sketch for rue on the black
hoard your idea of this fish," said Sin
Roderick.
Agassiz took up the chalk, hesitated
moment, and then sketched rap
idlv a skeleton fish. Sir Roderick held
up the specimen. The portrait was cor
rect in every bone and line. The grave
old doctor burst into loud applause.
"Sir," Agassiz said, on telling the story
"that was the proudest moment OF my
life-no, the happiest, for l knew nov
nv father would consent that should
give nv life to science"
Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1884-08-23
The Match Trade.

The domestic match trade is suffering
from The effects of foreign competition.
When the internal tax on matches was
removed the manufacturers were left
without adequate protection. This
seems like singular statement, but it
is nevertheless true, the internal revenue
tax serving to discourage importations,
because it compelled importers to in
vest large sums of money for stamps be-
fore they could put their wares in the
market. The result was an increase of
Importation from S2,234 worth in 1882
to upward of $500,O00 worth in 1884. A
further result is the closing for an indefi-
mite period of the largest Philadelphia
match factory, and scores of idle mecha-
MICS. Anappeal to Congresses for higher
duties will probably be Intellectual, as
the match manufacturers invited popular
disapproval by their course in keeping
prices exorbitantly high when they had
command of the trade.
Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1884-08-23
The Honest Countryman.
San Francisco Post.

There is a cheap clothing dealer in
Kearney, near California, whose conf
dence in mankind has received severe
setback. The other day an honest
looking countryman walked into his
store and said:
"You remember that secondhand
over-coat / bought here for IS yester-
day?"
l"Never dakes pack anythings ven vonce
solt. my frent," said the hand-me-
downer.
"Oh! that's.all right, just wanted to
say that / found this $500 bill sewed in
the lining. Perhaps the owner may call
for it."
"Of gorse he vill-he has call already
my tear frent," exclaimed the dealer
eagerly capturing the money. "You ish
Won honishiman. Here, lgif you feefty
tollar ash reward. Dot will pc all right.
When the honest customer got around
the corner he murmured softly: guess
I'd better take this fifty and skip up to
Portland before that Sheeney tumbles &c
that counterfeit. It's getting m: 1hty
hard to shove the queer" round these
parts, and that's fact"
Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1884-08-23
Asking Questions.

"a Philadelphia hotel clerk philosophers
as follows: 81 have found in my quar-
ter of century experience behind the
hotel desk queer class of travellers,
who are always expecting letters and
kilograms, and yet have never been
known to receive single one. There
is an important look about fellow who
steps up to the register and puts his
name down, and then with a pompous
air inquiries: "Any letters for me?" He
knows as well as the clerk does that he
never expected any, but then it impress
ses the man behind the desk with the
idea that he has great man under his
roof. have seen guests who wele in
the habit of inquiring every couple OF
hours for letters; but they never received
any. The business man steps up to the
desk and waits for his letter to be hand
ed him, or else inquiries in low tone
of voice: Anything for me?"
Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1884-08-23
A Pacific Coast shark Story.
Alta California.


Last Sunday Judge Rix and Charles
Dahl visited The Bridges" on ducking
expedition, and. finding the sport bad,
deserted the gun for The rod, and began
paying attention to the finny denizens
Of the tide-water sloughs in that locality
Judge Rix's first catch was a two foot
shark, and noticing the dorsal fins OF
several others of the species around the
boat, Dahl rugged shark tackle out OF
bit of copper wire and hay rope. With
the inside of a sandwich for bait he
speedily caught man-eater some five
feet in length, and after hard struggle
managed to land him in the boat.
Judge Rix weighs 300 and Dahl 175
pounds, and when to this weight was
added guns, game bags, and other ac-
countrements and very lively piece OF
fish meat, the burden for a light shoot
ing boat was trife preponderous.
His sbarkships first plav was to chew
UP a row-lock. A second later he had
full possession of the boat, in which he
floundered about until be got Dahl's
cartridge belt between his jaws. He
tampered with it fully minute before
the event of his life transpired. Then
his jaws closed convulsively on cart.
ridge in such manner that one tooth
caught percussion cap and exploded it
A small handful of No. 6 shot traversed
the sharks in'ards and came out at his
back, killing him instantly.
Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1884-08-23
A LightwoOd Knot.

The following bit of wit upon the part
of North Carolina girl comes to us
from the Greenbrier White Sulphur
Springs, the fashionable Virginia water
ing place:
Among the regular habitues is Colonel
B. a well-preserved, handsome old
beau of uncertain age. His society rec
ord is brilliant, and through he has
raised many hopes, yet season after sea-
son has ended and the Colonel has
yielded his liberty to none. His special
strength is pride of family, boastirg as
he does, in season and out of season, not
onlythe bluest South Carolina blood
but the most direct Huguenot descent.
During the past summer there appear
ed fitting about the broad piazza and
through the long drawing-room bright
dashing girl from the "Land of the Sky"
The Colonel, as usual, began the
scheme of monopoly, and the ambitious
young belle seemed nothing 10th to ac-
cord to him the coveted position as chief
of staff. 1t began to be whispered about
that the Colonel was really in earnest
for once in his life. Those who knew
hi N best and watched him closest were
sure that he was ON the eve of victory.
His gait was more martial, his manner
more lofty than ever before, and the
| poor, ancestral Huguenots were dragged
to the front without mercy.
Unfortunately, bit of eavesdropping
in the dim star-lighted seclusion of what
the Colonel thought to be a deserted
corner of the piazza told the story of
such woeful discontinue that he fled
the place within twenty-four hours af!er-
ward. He had evidently proposed in
his n ost pompous and condescending
manner, and had heard with amazement
quie: negative from the young lady's
| ligs.
"But, think-I am sure" said the
Colonel, hardly able to control his indig-
nant pride, "you do not understand
you do not appreciate, Miss. the honor
that has been conferred upon you, that
you so lightly decline. l am Hugue-
not of South Cardinal"
"Ah, Colonel, it is you who forgets,
said Miss - with her most roguisl
smile. "You do not appreciate the hon
or to which yon aspire. am a Light.
wood Knot of North Cardinal"
Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1884-08-23
An Ancient Graveyard.

In Pawtucket, r. l., an ancient grave
yard has been discovered while work
men were making the excavation fer
cellar. Seven bodies were found, each
lying with its head TO the west, and in
one of the graves were found TWO curl
ous looking bottles, which had been de-
posted parallel with the head of the
corpse, with the bulbs Of the bottles on
TIE shoulders and the neck5 of the bot
ties were at the ears of the corpse the
face of the corpse had been covered with
"a copper vessel. In ano.ner grave was
found an odd-shaped spoon, the handle
of which was broken with the shovel of
the workmen in excavating. In another
was found single bottle, which was al
so broken in excavating. The remains
are not believed to be those OF Indians;
neither can they be those Of the early
colonists. Perhaps they are all that is
left of the crew of that Norseland ex-
plorer whose record is left in Runic let
ters on the Newport cliffs.
Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1884-08-23

"Have you complaint, M adam?" said
the judge, soothingly.
Il should say had, judge" snapped
tie applicant. "I'll just tell what that
brute Skinderson--Pm Mrs. Skinderson,
more's the pity-what that brute Skin
derson's been doing. Flesh and blood
can't stand it no longer"
Didn't beat your" inquired his honor.
II should like to see him try it." said
Mrs. s., with an indignant sniff. ats a
heap worse than that, Mr.. Court, heap
worse. This morning was talking with
the aggravating thing for over two hours
Just arguing with hiEa, mind you, about
a new paper for the parlor-when what
do you suppose he did?"
Tried to shoot himself?" hazarded the
judge.
Il Just wish the brute had. No sir;
the mean wretch rang for district tele-
graph messenger boy, and when he came
Skinderson lay down on the lounge and
says,>yith. one of those cold, tantalizing
smiles Of his'n, Martha, Pm worn out now
and Pm going to take nap. Just wran-
gle with this boy for an hour or two, and
when / wake up I'il relieve him. If he
gives out meanwhile, just ring up anoth-
or"
Pm afraid you couldn't get divorce
on that said the court refectively.
Couldn't, eh?" cried the victim of do
mestic infelicity, in rage. "All right;
I'll 60 straight home, and If Skinderson
hasn't woke up yet I'll dump some hot
ashes on his head. I'll fix him yet"
with which consoling anticipation she
sailed out.
Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1884-08-23
FASHION NOTES.

Chantilly is the coming lace.
B0nnets grow smaller, hats larger
Shot silks will be worn another season.
The skirts of little girls dresses grow
longer.
The fall fabrics show spotted and
sprigged designs.
1t is said that trained dresses will bc
worn again in the fall.
FastiliOus women declare that lace is
becoming too popular.
There is decided preference for vel
low flowers at the moment.
Woolen braid rosettes and bands trim
many pretty seaside hats.
ColOred muslin and lawn toilets rival
white for August wear.
The mother Hubbard bathing suit is
suitable for slight figures only.
Spanish laces are to be set aside for real
old ChantiIly. revived for fall wear 81
Dark blue serge remains the fayoriic
fabric for yachting and mountain suits.
All little girls dresses are made now
with skirts that reach well below the
knees.
Pretty checked tafieta glace silks sell
as low as 81 cents the yard in Twenty
| third street.
The baby waist is worn by nne-tenths
| Of the young ladies at Saratoga this sum-
| mer.
The Marie Antoinette fichu of lace or
muslin, elabOrately frilled with lace, is
revived. ---..-.-...
The three-cornered kerchicf drawn a
la paysanne over the shoulders is correct
for country wear.
The jersey, in future, will take the
form OF well-fitted corsage, unlined,
but shapely and well trimmed.
White and ecru serges, sprinkled with
black or brown spots, are used for skirts
of fall suits, with jersey waists.
| Dust cloaks of gray alpaca or mohair
may be cut either to fit the figure or like
a raglan or long round cloak With a
CAPE.
Waistcoats of white pique or white
corduroy are fashionabiy worn under the
cutaway jackets of cloth travelling and
utility suits.
The latest productions of the embroid-
cry machine look more like lace than
embroidery, and are in fact, fine speci-
mems ofpoint coupe.
White corduroy and white cheviot
dresses are much worn at the seaside and
mountain resorts this season on account
of the unusually cool weather.
The Fedora bathing suit is the novelty
in this line ofgarments this season. 1t
has Fedora front waistcoat, short har-
lequin sleeves, and long trousers.
A monkish-looking long cloak of gray
or brown alpaca, or mohair or some light
wool, is the latest novelty i'm the form of
a cache poussiere in France. 1t is long.
round, and pleated in full to straight
collar around the heck, and has hood
lined with bright silk. .......
In spite of efforts of foreign modistes
to make the long-pointed corsage de
ri9ueur on all house toilets and streets
costumes, the majority of American
young ladies wear white lawn and wash
dresses, made with full puffed waists and
yOkes, and a belt at the waist.
Dresses of tulle, in which there is Just
tinge of gray, when spangled with sill
yer and crystal beads, are specially suit
able for summer festivals. To loop the
draperies of such dresses with motifs
representing a flight of bright-winged
butterflies istasteful as well as chic.
Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1884-08-23
VISIT TO AN OSTRICH FaRM.
The Success Of California Enterprise
Curious Use of Cinnamon.


Letter in Springfield Republican.
During our stay IT Los Angeles we Wis
ted the ostrich ranch, some twenty miles
below. 1t is the only one in the country.
The place was started two or three years
ago by party of English capitalists who
brought over thirty two birds. Remote
as they are now from their nltive wilds,
they seem to flourish well, and the ven-
ture, begun at first under somewhat
doubtful circumstances. is tuI ming out a
successful undertaking. These immense
birds are kept in corrals. A common
board fence, higher than the ordinary,
surrounds each corral, and divides them
There is space or open lane between the
pens-a driveway for teams, and to carry
food to the birds. They eat wagon load
of shells in one day, beside large
ahssunt of coarse food, vegetables. alfalfa
or ciovergrass, etc. The cost of each is
81 600, and their weight is from 300 to 400
pounds. They lay seventy-6ve eggs each
year, and egg is valued at 500. Their
feathers are plucked twice year, each
plucking gaveraglngS $500. The eggs weigh
two and a half pounds. It requires four
strongmen to hold one of these pets while
plucking their plnmes. 1t seems cruel
process, and no onder the birds resist SC
bard. They are savage and dangerous il
attacked, and can only be handled altel
a sack or stocking leg has been drawn
over the head. They drive them into d
corner, and slip a. quietly as possible be.
hind them to draw the covering rapidly
on-some feathers are pulled out easily
others are cut, and one has to understand
his business to prevent the bird from
bleeding to death.
When the eggs are to be gathered 8
Chinaman is called into the arena. The
ostrich seems to have taken a fierce dis
like to the smile of the heather Chinee
and is so taken up with his efforts to at
tack him that men slip in unnoticed anC
take possession Of the eggs.
Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1884-08-23
/ BALL AND A HAMMOCK.
The Two Playthings Cause the Daisies to
Hang Their Modest Heads and litter.

The Two Plsythings Cause the Daisies to
Hang Their Modest Heads and litter.
Burdett's Ardmore Agones.
The little Base Ball rolled under the
tree and leaned up against clump of
white clover.te rest.
"Well / am little tired" he said,
with the air of q man who is pretty well
satisfied with himself and doesn't care
who knows bow smart he is. pm not
very big in circumference, but Pm busy
and get there in way to a@toDish hu-
manity."
"What have you lOnc?" drawled the
East India Hammock, languidly, making
lazy effort to swing little in the even
ing breeze.
''Done?" said the little Base Ball scorn-
fully. "What have | done? Since 2
o'clock have been at it. / broke the
short-stop's fingers, knocked the eye out
of the catcher, skinned the pitchers
hands, doubled up the umpire twice,
drove the wind clean out of the second
base, broke six panes of glass and wo-
mans head in the school-hOuse, and
knocked a spectator cold. What have
done? / haven't laid around all day, a
limp mass of protoplasmic network"
And he smiled in bitter triumph, as he
thus displayed his college training.
"Never mind" drawled the Hammock,
"do not be discouraged. Yor are begin
ming very well and will doubtless be able
20 accomplish something when you are
older and have had more experience"
The little Base Ball, dumb with amaze
ment, fairly bursted its seams with
wrath, but ere it could speak strong
man. weighing 264 pounds, sauntercd un.
der the tree and swung himself into the
Hammock. 1t was all done so suddenly
that the tree hadn't time to bark. A
swift movement of the Hammock, like
the rotary whirl of buzz-saw, human
form tossed into the air like a cork snd
hurled to the ground with noise like
the fall of a bale of hay on the deck Of 8
wharfboat, and the little Base Ball wa.
driven into the ground like fly in {
currant cake.
"Alas" it said, in the tone of crushed
man, as it watched the moaning human
limp painfully towards the hotel. "Alas
my pride is, forever humbled. l will
never again sneer at gentleness. l will
never despise the hand of steel in tn
velvet gauntlet again."
His swinging conrade laus he'd mock
ing laugh.
"Similia similibus cure ranter," sh,
| said-''it is the mild power subdues"
A smothered sob, ending in pitifn
wall, was the only reply, and the stron
tree boughed itself to hear the Base bawl
Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1884-08-23

Squire Patterson, wearing an air OF
deep concern, approached his friend,
Farmer Glover, and without speaking,
leaned on the fence and sighed.
whats the matter, 'squire?"
q don't know what this country's COM
in to. What would you think if your
daughter should run away and marry an
ignorant hired man?"
"Oh, don't know. squire, but l would
not take it to heart If were you. l
would try to think chat it happened for
the best"
+ "Would you forgive the girl?" asked
the squire.
"Yes, l believe / would. There's no
use in holding out, you know. Wher
did it happen?"
lust while ago."
"Who performed the cermony?"
II did"
"Nhat! Then you could not have
been opposed to the marriage"
"Oh, it makes no difference to me-
replied the squire. "for you see, it's youl
daughter instead of mine."
Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1884-08-23
The Terrible Sequel.
N. Y. Graphic.

Mr.. Jones: an stand it no longer,
madam. I'll lie down on the bed and
blow out my brains. Don't attempt to
6issuade me, woman. I've made up NY
mind"
Mrs. Jones: 81 don't want to dissuade
you, heaven knows. But you ought to
think of me little. You might at least
have the decency to drown yourself OF
take poison"
Mr.. Jones: "Drown myself or take
poison"
Mrs. Jones: "Yes. Just think how
embarrassing it would be for me to have
the Coroner search all over the bed.
clothes and not find any brains. Just
imagine what his verdict would be, and
how that odious Mrs. Smith would say
I told you So"
Jones concluded to postpone the job
Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1884-08-23
TERMS: $500 PER YEAR.
NOBLESSE OBLIGE.

IL am weak and and you are strong,
Why then, why then,
To you the Drawer deeds belong;
And so, again,
III you have gifts and have none
IL have shade and you have SUI,
'1is yours with frccr hand to give,
Tis yours with truer grace to live.
Than |, who giftless, sunless, stand.
With barren life and hand.
We do not ask the little brook
To turn the wheel;
Unto the larger stream we look.
The strength of steel
We do not ask from silken bonds,
Nor heart of oak in willow wands;
We do not ask the wren to go
Up to the heights the eagles know;
Nor yet expect the lark's clear note
From out the doves dumb throat.
'Tis wisdom law, the perfect code,
BY love inspired;
OF him on whom much is bestowed,
Is much required.
The tuneful throat is bid tn sing.
The oak must reign the forests king;
The rushing stream the wheel must move,
The beaten steel its strength must pTOyc.
'ris given unto the eagles eyes
To face the midday skies.
Youths Companion.
Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1884-08-23
What He Was.
N. Y. Graphic.

N. Y. Graphic.
Ignorant Foreigner-I thought you
called this republic?
Washington ofice-holder-1t is. Why
do you ask?
81 met man at the Capitol to-day
who said he was a King" ...
"Oh, guess not. You must have mis-
understood him. What did he say?"
"He said he owned State and the
people all paid fealty to HIM. He invit-
ed me down to see him and offered me
the freedom of the whole ranch, what
ever that may be-"
"That does sound big, but l guess ne
isn't King exactly"
"He is very well informed, too. He
knows the Prince of Wales and danced
with the Princess Beatrice. He said the
Queen wanted him to marry the Princess
and he calls Bismarck old Bis"
"Oh, know who he is now."
Who is her"
"Tom Ochiltree. knew he wasn't a
King"
"What is he?"
"He is only liar"
Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1884-08-23

for him to ask the Lord to give him any,
thing else because he ought to get it for
himself.
Fortune turns faster than mill wheel,
and these who were yesterday at top,
may find themselves at bottom to-day.
True glory takes root, and even spreads;
'all false pretenses, like flowers, fall to
the ground; nor can any counterfeit last
long.
Ii is the flavor of man which gives the
beauty and comeliness to woman, as the
stream glitters no longer when the sun
ceases to shine.