davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1884-02-22
Singular Snakes.

A petrified snake IL feet long, 20
inches around, and weighing 375 lbs,
was taken out of a coal bank near
Albany, N. Y, few days ago. 1t is
of dark lead color and is wonderfully
preserved. In Sonora, Mexico, they
have lots of snakes. Among the rest
is handsome specimen, mixed red
and black, called the coral snake. 1t
is singular that in that country every
thing, instead of having longitudinal
stripes, as with us, has cross wise
stripes or rings. The snakes are
ringed, and it is said that all ringed
snakes are poisonous. The doves are
ringed around crosswise, instead of
length wise, and the trees are checker
ed around their trunks.
In one corner of the blacksnake's
cage is a little hole belonging to some
industrious rat A good fat toad had
crawled into this hole, and the snake
darted his head after him and speedily
swallowed him. But with this in
cumbrance he found he could not
withdraw himself. Then he at once
disgorged the toad, which finding him
self free, began to move off. This
was too much for snake philosophy,
and the snake again swallowed him,
and second time was compelled to
disgorge him, for he could not get his
head out. But he reflected. He had
learned something. He reached out
a third time, and grabbing the toad
by the leg backed out with ease.
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1884-02-22
SPRING FASHIONS.

Condor brown is very fashionable
color.
New towels have elaborate Roman
borders.
Belts and side-bags will appear with
the new spring costumes.
Dark red and dark green appear
to be the prevailing colors just now
for young ladies promenade cos
tunes.
The departure of the ungraceful
high shouldered sleeve is limited at,
that gives bat-shape to the back, and
an equally ungraceful sleeve will take
its place-the leg o'mutton. The grace
full flowing sleeve makes vigorous
effort at revival.
Serge, cashmere and finest Austri-
an wool dresses in pink-check patterns,
with stripes Of colored satin alternat-
ing, will be very fashionably worn
this spring on the promenade Many
of these costumes will be formed en-
tirely of the striped material. while
others will be made up in conjunction
with one colored fabric the polona Sc
or waistcoat and panels being made of
the latter materials.
A return of the Josephine and Hor-
tense couture is already inaugurated.
The hair is drawn high at the back,
and fringe of light curls falls over
the forehead. To make it perfect there
should be cluster of finger puffs ex-
tending back to the comb, and the
short loose hair at the back of the
neck must be curled or frizzed. The
hair at the sides of the head is waved
and drawn loosely back over band
of black velvet.
The price of materials of all colors
and qualities has been greatly reduced
to meet the exigencies of the season.
Hints are CLEANED that many of the
favorites of last year will return again,
particularly combination costumes.
For the upper portion of one of these
dresses fine wool stuff is used, such as
nuns yelling or Khyber cloth, aud
the skirt is of soft silk or satin, or the
overdress may be of silk having
designs of stripes, coral twigs, acan-
thus LEAKAGE, foliage, berries, similar
to the fine cotton fabrics recently de-
scribed
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1884-02-22
Vice Versa"

The Hartford boy Of II years who
took ut different times, $4,000 out of
his fathers pockets and filled the
house with printing presses bicycles,
oil stoves, snare drums, French cl ncks.
lap robes, and writing paper, would
be the champion infant phenomenon
We're 1t not for his parents AS curios-
tiles for any museum they beat him
out of sight, and ought to command
double his weekly salary.
They saw all this going on and
never had interest enough IN him, or
sufficient knowledge of human nature.
to investigate the source of all his
wealth. His building of a gymnasium
in the back yard did not occasion one
pang of curiosity in their breasts or
one dip to their inquisItiveness. 1t
was not until the fathers books would
not balance at the end ,of the year
that he discovered how his son had
been able to TURF the house into ba-
zaar.
Their relations somehow got topsy-
turvey The boy ought to have been
the parent and the parents the child
rem. Perhaps he possessed hi nself of
tuS hltASASat sSoiS w DISu the dulllOF OF
that clever book, ''Vice Versa de-
scribes, whereby a schoolboy was
turned into an old merchant, his faith
err, and the old merchant into the
schoolboy, and, much to his indigna-
ton and horror, was sent to school,
there to endure the affections and ex-
periences which the boy himself had
gone through. In the present instance,
however, the boy has gone to prison
and the parents are, probably, selling
| off at auction
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1884-02-22
Aston and his betrothed were known

Astor and his betrothed were known
as singularly modest and dig nified
couple, who would have attracted lit
tie notice had it not been for the great
wealth of Mr.. Astor's family.
The wedding which followed was
one of the grand social events of the
day, and after an extensive tour the
happy couple returned to the Astor
country seat on the Hudson. where
the event was again celebrated by
family gathering and reception after
he English custom. Within the year
following the happy marriage of his
son, William B. Astor died. The large
estate, estimated at $40, 900. 600, was
divided between the widow and her
two sons.
Mr. J. J. Astor and his wife rose
rapidly in social splendor, and soon
became the leaders of New York So
ciety. Both devoted much of their
time to charitable purposes, and it Is
said that soon after their marriage the
charitable donations from Mr.. Astor
and his wife amounted to upwards of
500. 900 annually. Shortly after the
death of the senior Astor beautiful
baby was born to the new household,
who in after life received the entire
affections ana devotions of the fond
parents. This, their only child grad
ually grew to be man of noble char
acter, and was at an early age sought
to fill one of the highest representa-
tive positions of the nation.
Mr.. Aston at the age of 81 con-
tinues to visit his business Office daily
and .superintends the control of his
vast estate, while his wife, several
years his junior. finds time to visit
daily the half dozen or more chart
table institutions which she has as
sisted in organizing and supporting
for upwards of score of years.
Socially, Mr.. John Jacob Astor and
the once diffdent and reserved
Southern belle take the lead. The
broad halls of their spacious mansion
on Fifth avenue are thrown open
twice week regularly to the elite of
New York society. and a sumptuous
repast is served. The old family man
sion and specious grounds on the
Hudson, around which many fond
memories are entwined, still remains
a summer resort for the aged couple,
and in the warmer months serves as
a refreshing and quiet retreat, where
they are refushed by the fond recol-
lection of earlier days.
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1884-02-22
Bagglng 12s Geese at One Shot
Carson (Nev } Appeal.

The other morning Hy Downs, the
tunnel-tender of the Virginia and
Truckee railroad, near Washoe lake,
went out about 5 o'clock 60 shoot
geese. He soon discovered a large
flock on the ice in the lake, and crawl
ed on his hands and knees over the
ice through the tules to get shot.
Downs is a thorough sportsman, and
never takes advantage of goose that
is not on the wing. Coming within
shooting distance, he rose up and ex-
pected to see the birds fly, but they
did not. Then he waved his hat, and
a few of the geese tapped their wings,
but did not bulge an inch. He then
walked up, and there. to his astonish-
ment, found 1913 birds frozen fast In
the ice. 1t appears that they had sur
sounded an air-hole for water the
night before, and had been waddling
about in the overflow and slush until
the cold wave came up towards even
ing, and before they knew it their
feet had become fast In the ice. Some
were dead. but the majority were liv-
ing. Later in the day he went down
with a cart and baSged the lot.
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1884-02-22
LITERARY NOTES.

Professor Hunt, of Princeton, has
in press treatise ON the principles of
written discourse.
Bjornstjern Bjornson, the novelist,
has just completed two dramas, one
entitled "a Glove" and the other
Beyond his Powers"
A fine illustration of the poem,
"Grandmother's Clock" serves as
frontispiece for the February number
eff Our Little Ones.
Hon. Wayne MacVeagh con-
tributes to the March Century a pa
per on ''The Next Presidency" in
which the writer's ideal President is
pictured.
William S. Gollsberger, of New
York, announces a new romance en-
titled ''Prusias," by Ernst Eckstein,
the author of "Quintus Claud1us, -
Clara Bell is the translator.
Hawthorne's works are being added
to Behn's Library, two volumes hav,
ing already appeared, and the third,
containing "The Marble Faun" and
The Blithedale Romance" being
just ready.
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1884-02-22
A COlored Couple Reunited After a
Separation of Forty Years.

That there are romances as touch
ing IN negro life as were ever told is
proved says Rome. ga. } paper, by
the story of celored couple named
Uncle Levi and Aunt Aggie, who
lived in Cedartown valley. The story
is: In 1919 Levi belonged to Mr..
Sparks, who then resided in Morgan
County In the same county resided
DR.. E. E. Jones. Among Dr. Jones
slaves was fine looking mulatto girl,
whose smile was courted by every
young male slave in the community
Shea was named Aggie. Livi and
Aggle met often at corn shocking
frollcs. They were partners in dance
and play, and nearly every Saturday
night he would obtain a pass to visit
her. They were married in 1913, and
" l was so happy when went away
every Saturday night to see my
young wife," said Uncle Levi They
had only been married year when
Mr.. Sparks moved from Morgan to
Polk County. carrying the broken
hearted husband with them. After
live or SIX years OF separation, believ-
ing they would never see each other,
Levi married one of his masters wom-
en-. But, boss, | never loved her
like Aggie," was the old mans excla-
nation. Aggie, too. married, and
both raised large families. Neither
knew whether the other was living.
At last came the downfall of the Con
federacy and freedom of the slaves
Upon inqNiry Uncle Levi found that
his old love was still living and
married He went nobly to work for
his second wife. Ten years ago Aunt
Aggie's husband died and left her
without a provider. News reached
Uncle Levi, and he sent word to MS
old love to come and live with him
and his wife. This Aunt Aggie re-
fused to do. Years flew fast, and the
two grew old Two years ago Uncle
Lewis wife died, and after MOURNING
a few months he sent for Aunt Aggie.
She came, and after separation of
forty years they were united. Aunt
Aggie is now sixty and Uncle Levi is
SEVENTY
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1884-02-22
Iowa County Democrat
AN IDYL.

/ saw her first on day in spring,
BY the side Of q stream, as fished along,
And loitered to hear the robins sing,
And guessed at the secret they told IN song
The apple blossoms, so white and red,
Were mirrored beneath in the ssreamlet
flow;
And the sky was blue far overhead.
And far In the depths Of the brook below.
I lay half hid by messy stone
sky.
heard a step-I was not alone;
And vision of loviness met my eye
saw her come to the other side,
And the apple blossoms were never more
fslr;
She stopped to gaze on the sunlit tide,
And her eyes met mine in the water there
She stopped In timid and mute surprise,
And that look might have lasted until now,
ween;
But modestIy dropping her dove-llke eyes,
She turned her way into The meadow green
| stood In wonder and rapture lost
At her slender form and her step so free,
At her raven locks by the breezeS tossed,
As she kicked up her heels in the ar Tor
glee.
The apple blossoms are withered now
But the sky, and the meadow, and stream are
there;
And whenever wander that way VOW
That some day I'll buy me that little black
mare.
&C. G. Buck, in the Manhattan for March.
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1884-02-22
About Women.

CONTIGUOUS: Woman is the master
piece.
Herder: Woman is the crown of
creation.
franklin: He that takes a wife
takes care.
Voltaire: Women teach US repose,
civility ard dignity.
John Quincy Adams: All that I
am my mother made me.
Mrs. Willard is SAID to h ave about
$500, 600 in her own name.
N. p. Willis: The sweetest thing
in this life is the unclouded welcome
of wife.
Leopold Tchefer: But one thing on
earth Is better than the wife-that is
the mother.
Richter: No man can either live
piously or die righteous without hav-
ing wife.
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1884-02-22
A RUSSIAN HEIRESS.
Princess Helen and Her billions.

The queen Of the fete, says the Lon
don Truth, was a Russian girl of 16,
the Princess Helen H, grand
daughter on the paternal side of
famous Slavonlc poet, and in many
respects remarkable young lady. 1t
occurs to me that a sketch of such an
original girl of the period would be
read with interest Princess Helen was
too reealcitrant to school discipline to
remain in any Swiss, German, French
or English pension, and so was
brought up rowing over Southern and
Central Europe with highly accom-
plished mother, albeit of Kalmuck
race. This lady had learned as child
Homer, Dante, Shakespeare, Milton,
and the Bible. She broke her head,
when she grew up, against all the new
PHILOSOPHERS which have been discuss
ed at Moscow since the death of the
Gar Nicholas. One of her philoso-
pliers was Herbert Spencer, whose
system she amalgamated, perhaps I'M
known to herself, with Rousseau's.
This illustrious lady, in her wander
jahr in Southern Europe, had with
her not only Helen, but her husband
and three sons, a couple of servants,
and a whole squadron of blood and
Orloff horses, which the different
members of the family took turns in
grooming. She wished to see the
world just as it is, and really to rough
it in Wilhelm Meister fashion. A
Nihilist, aspiring to propagate his gos-
pei in factories and villages, could
not have shown more tenacity in hold
ing on to the programme that she
wanted to carry out.
In summer the nomads bivouacked
like gypsies in the forests and other
wild places. They had tents and
wheeled vehicles to transport their
camp furniture and heaps OF books
which were there their sole link with
civilization. In winter they lay by
in village inns. DURING all the four
years they never passed through a
large town or slepG IN a fine hotel.
Helen and her brothers became handy
and enterprising. Their mothers
kept up their Russian, and taught
them English, French, German, and
Italian, which they speak fuently,
and brushed up her rusty Latin and
mathematics. 10 prepare the oOts lOf
civil service and military examination
at ST. Petersburg. The sons and
eldest daughter have grown up; she
has re entered the pale.of civilization,
and resides In a villa near Paris,
where she keeps fifteen horses two Of |
which are devoted to the service OF !
Victor Hugo. She has translated his |
works into Russian, and for his pleas |
ure, Shelley's and Swinburne's into |
French. Helen is mistress OF the |
villa, and go 10 market. and music
al class unattended. With her
..nomadicr experience size fears no
msn. and yet feels lawfully shy
Her expectations are most brilliant,
as her material grandfather stands,
IN point of wealth, on line with the
Demidoffs- Before Alexander Ill
came to the throne he owned about
100, 900 serfs- Whenever he had q
shooting party at his Oural residence,
he used to send about 2, 600 OF them to |
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1884-02-22

beat the woods for game. The fair
translator OF Shelley and Swinburne
was brought up according to the pre-
cepts laid down for boys education
in Emile" Although a prospective
helress of great wealth. she had to
dress in the coarse garb of peasants
child, and to spend many hours day
IN genuine and very fatiguing agri-
cultural tasks and dairy business.
She used to be taken 10 those dan
gerous. and exciting wolf hunts in
sledges in which the hunter is really
the hunted This virile and original
education formed a sprightly and
original little woman, who seems to
be made of spring steel and impression
able nerves, to wear her heart under
her sleeves, to be led in all things by
instinct, and to be lighted by enthusi-
asm. To preserve her illusions she
avoids crowds, and cultivat.s poets
and intellectual socialists, who would
go To any length short of the dagger,
poison, or dynamite to come to their
ends. She is scarcely less fond of
dogs than horses, and has in her col
lection a genuine ''mops, such as
The Beauties" painted by Lely were
wont 10 bear In their arms at the
Court of Whitehall.
The Princess Helen (she liked to be
called Lily, and, when child, bit her
nurse for calling her by her real
name) was in white cashmere, with a
lace ruff at the neck. Her dark brown
hair was arranged in single, long,
thick braid which descended below
her waist, and was tied with a white
satin bow. This snowy simplicity
made its mark, and went we'll with
fine dark eyes, full of life, good nat
ure, and strong intellect and will.
The figure was 1.-the, and moved with
ease, showing conflicting qualities
modest dItfidence and decision.
| There was wild SAVIOR in it, which
gave TO her piquant and a pungent
charm Kalmuck blood was distinct
ly traceable, but so corrected by Slav
as almost to be source of curious
beauty. The address and bearing
were lady-like. 1t was said of Rachel
that she filled the stage directly she
advanced from the wings. Likewise
the moment the Russian girl entered
the room, all the grown-up people felt
she was somebody. Herbert Spencer
would have felt justly proud had he
seen the effect she produced.
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1884-02-22
RAILROAD NEWS.

Railroad business in Dakota is seri
ously interfered with by snow.
Elisha P WILDER, a nephew OF the
late Asa A Packer, has been elected
President of the Lehigh Valley Road.
The annual meeting of Directors
of the Louisville, New Albany and
Chicago Road will be held in New
York, when new officers will be elect
ted.
The annual meeting of the West
ern Passenger and Ticket Agents As
sociations, of Cincinnati, has been
POSTPONED owing to the flood.
The Wisconsin State Treasury re-
ceived semi annual taxes as follows:
From the Wisconsin Central Rail
road IA, 096. 40; from the Milwaukee.
Lake Shore and Western, s., 731. 81.
The Central Trust company of New
York has brought suit against the
New York City and Northern Rail
way Company, and the New York
Loan and improvement Company
and othersto foreclose mortgage of
-, oo0, 900 given by the railroad COM
pany in 1850.
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1884-02-22
The Champion High.Kfcker.

Fred A. Ansell resides at Little
Valley, Cattaraugus County, where
he was in born in 1866. He stands
six feet high and weighs 143 pounds
He has been known locally as high
kicker since he was years of age,
but it was not until recently that he
became known as the champion stand
ing hight kicker of the United States.
At National exhibition of kickers
from all parts of the country, held at
the city of Boston on Oct. 81, 1888, at
which there were siKty-fiva contest
ants present, he won the champion
ship by defeating them all by II
inches, making record Off feet Iii
inches. He has never been beaten in
a contest and expects to increase his
record as he is in steady practice.
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1884-02-22

The Marquis of Lansdowne, tobog-
gaming at Montreal, is thus described
by correspondent who attended his
reception: 1.-THE Marquis wore black
Prince Albert coat and brown trousers.
He is just the shape and size of Jay
Gould. He is very young looking, bat
is probably 35. His brown mustaches
runs into the patches of whiskers in
front of his ears. The whole top of
his head is bald, and he has big,
thin, hooknose. He bent his arm IN
front of his waist when he shook
hands, and bowed and smiled at each
encounter
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1884-02-22
An Eye for Business.

Sheriff Fletcher, of Little Rock, has
Just received a letter from a hang
mans rope mandatory of Cincin-
natl. 1T is with a feeling of pride,
says the writer, that we can offer
you the best hangman's rope In the
market We have given long study
TO hanging, regarding it as one of the
finer arts of civilization. Your geo
graphical location is favorable in this
way, and we doubt not that you
have handled many fine specimer s
therefore, 10 secure certificate from
you, we viii let you have lot of
ropes with our improved nooses, at
half price. a noted criminal recently
made speech In favor of our rope, In
which he SAID: Ny fellow citizens, /
would rather be hung with such a
rope as this than to live Hoping to
hear favorably from You we are yours,
etc.
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1884-02-22

The London Truth says that Lord
Garmoyle wrote Miss Fortescue that
one reason for breaking off their
engagement, was that the duke of
Richmond had said she could not Be
received at court. Truth taunts the
duke of Richmond with being the IL
legitimate offspring of Charles IL and
a French woman, Madame Carwell
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1884-02-22

ereryvnere are refusing to take white lardy look
ing butter except az grease prices Ccng1In-
ers want nothing hut giit edged butter. and buy
ers therefore recommend their patrons 20 keep
Uniform color throughout the year BY using the
Iasprvyed Butter Color made b. Wells. Richsrt
son & Co Burlington VI Il iS the only eolDr
that can be relied on 70 never injure the buftcrs
and 20 always give the perfect color. Sold b.
druggists and u1erchautz
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1884-02-22
A Narrow Escape.
PhiladeIphia Gail.

Sister" cried little boy running
into the room, ''your little pug dog
has bit me On the leg
WHAT" exclaimed the frightened
young lady. Beauty has bitten you
on the leg2 Let me see."
She hastily pulled down his stock
ing, and sure enough, there was the
impression of his teeth.
You naughty boy" said his sister,
shaking him violently. Don't you
know better than to tease Beauty I?
Some day he will bite big lump out
of your leg, and it might make him
deathly sick
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1884-02-22

Senator Tom Bowen, of Colorado.
has what is called poker face, and is
said to be the best poker player in the
world They say of him out in Den
vtr that when he wanted four jacks
once at poker, and had but three, he
quietly dropped his fourth card and
substituted his photograph.
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1884-02-22
Only Temporarily Disabled.
Norristown Herald.

A servant girl Ia New Haven stole
her mistress false teeth. The woman
told a policeman that ''Sheesh Gosh
swenshy shollash, ansh she swash
shush wresh ashdo shteesh fawshe
sheeth-H
"Wait till 1 find an interpreter, y
interrupted the policeman, thinking
the woman was newly arrived Hun
garian, but she was an American, and
when her teeth were in she could talk
the head off him
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1884-02-22
-
HardIO RSlicHe

Il is hard II believe that man was cured ct a
Kidney disease after his body = oileu as big
a barrel and he had been given up as incurahie
aad lay at deaths door. Yet such u cure was ac-
conn liShed by kdney-Wort in the person Of NJ.
NJ. DevereauX of lon,a, Mich, who says: After
thirteen OF the best doctors in Detroit had given
me up, was cured by Kidney Wort. lw2nt every
one 10 know what a boon il is
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1884-02-22

AT public meetingat Youngstown,
Ohio, committee was appointed to
proceed TO New York 10 welcome
Lieut.. HARDER, who brings home the
bodies or the Jeanette crew. Youngs-
town is Harberis home.