davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1884-12-18
+" The Skin of the Teeth"

The Republican organs are finding
consolation in the assertion that the
Democrats were only successful in the
election of Cleveland "by the skin of
their teeth
This saying has grown out of the
smallness of the Democratic plurality
in this State. A little over a thousand
votes is certainly narrow margin in a
poll of about one million and a quar-
ter. But it must be remembered that
Garfield carried New York in 1880 by a
little more than $1,000, so that the
Democratic gain was actually over
22,O0O,.. without calculating the in
creased vote.
The truth is that the Republican cam
didate only escaped n most ignomin-
ious defeat ''by the skin of his teeth. "
In Michigan, where Garfield got near
" 81 900 majority, Blaine managed to
squeeze through with less than 5000.
In Iowa, instead of $4,000. which was
Garfield's majority, Blaine got a scanty
1850. He came within an ace of los
ing Wisconsin. In Massachusetts, But
ler's fraud alone saved him. If he had
not escaped defeat in these States by a
scratch Mr.. Blaine would have been
left with only fourteen States at his
back.
Of course, in such an event Blaine
would have been just as indignant as
he now is about the injustice inflicted
on Northern States by allowing South
ern States to vote as they please in 8
Presidential election. But really .sthe
skin of the teeth plea applies to the
Republicans as wei as to the Demo-
Gratis, in regard to the footings of the
recent election. Blaine suffered defeat
A little more would have been annihi-
lahon.-M T. World.
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1884-12-18
Providence in American Politics.

Now that the election of Governor
Cleveland is conceded and there can be
no possible doubt of it, the Republican
press is saying all the good things of
him that it possibly can, and is thereby
exhibiting the good nature, the common
sense and the patriotism that belong by
right to American citizenship.
The good things do not amount to
much. The utterance is generous be-
cause there is really lack of material
upon which to found a larger one. Were
Bayard or Thurman the President elect
far more would be said for them. A
man who has been National man less
than three years has rather attenuated
record upon which to base great ex-
pectations. To go from a Mayoralty
to the Presidency within that time
seems. now that one looks back at it,
like q romance from Jules Verne. 1t
shows that, as Mr.. Greeley once re-
marked, fame is in some measure an
accident, and that politics and candi-
dates are to a large exent creatures of
change, chance and opportunity.
But the people do not made mistakes.
There is nothing they value so much as
homely worth, and they are more apt
to accept it when it comes without dis
PLAY. No Presidential candidate was
so little advertised as Mr.. Lincoln, and
at the most critical period of our his
tory he made perhaps the best President
we ever had. The little that is known
of Governor Cleveland is good. He was
a thoroughly honest Mayor, and the
rings of Buffalo were afraid of him. He
has heen thoroughly honest Governor.
His sturdy common sense, his legal
ability, his evident desire to do the best
thing possible for the people whom he
serves, have been conspicuous in his
every official act. He is not brilliant
to the superficial observer he is COM
monplace. But in the eyes of the peo-
pie his solid value has shown out of his
unpretentious surroundings with a
steady and never wavering light. He
is not shrewd as a politician except as
honesty is unavoidably shrewd. He is
not given to bargaining or diplomacy.
He is simple, honest man after the
manner of Mr.. Lincoln, and the polit-
zeal brass band would naturally pass
him by sooner than almost any other
man. His garments are innocent of
gold lace. His walk and speech are
unstudied, and his appearance before
the world is that of an unpretentious,
unambitious, unexpectant citizen. And
yet the people have made him President
and are confident in doing so they have
done good thing. 1t is characteristic
of them and they never yet made Sc
rious mistake.
1t was urged by speaker early in the
oop,x,asvso with the eases of WaShirr
ton and Lincoln especially in view, that
Providence directed these things and
the people were unconsciously the
agents OF Providence. It is not an un-
reasonable proposition. How happens
81 that so many modest and unpreten-
lious, but worthy. men find themselves
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1884-12-18
HOW SILK is MADE.

Tho Beautiful Product of Nothing but a
Worm.
Do you ever think, children, when
your pretty sashes and ribbons are tied
on, and you look at them admiringly;
that the glossy, beautiful silk is made
by sooras? Some of you may have
seen silk-worms, but many do not know
what an interesting story their little life
makes.
Last winter there was sent me tiny
package of what looked like gray seeds,
or beads. had to keep them very cold
until the mulberry leaves were well
grown. Then put the seeds in warm
place. In day or two there were myr-
lads of tiny little creatures crawling out
from the seeds or eggs At once they
began to eat the leaves of the mulberry.
Day after day they ate, and grew, until
they were as large as my little finger,
and longer They ate so much that we
were all kept busy feeding them. They
would seize leaf, and leave nothing
but the veins in few moments. If you
ever saw skeleton bouquet you can
imagine how they left the leaves.
But one morning they did not seem
so hungry. They wandered about, and
climbed up the bundles of straw 1 had
set for them. In little while many Of
them began to spin the most beautiful
silken threads, very much as q spider
does. Back and forth, over and over,
in loops like figure 8, went their queer
hooded heads. By and by each one
could be seen inside beautiful silken
veil, or shell, about the size of large
peanut. The worm continued to spin
until the veil was too thick for us to- see
through; but we could hear his ''click,
click, click, as he worked. The, worms
have to be killed in the case. Ii they
are allowed to live they will break the
delicate threads.
We did not kill them all, however. /
wish. you. could have seen the room
when we gathered the cocoons, which
is the proper, name for the peanut
shaped home of the silk-worm. All
along the ceiling, behind the, window
curtain, on papa's desk, in baby's rub
ber-which she forgot to put away be-
md the pictures-on the cord, under
the broom. on the floor, around the
door-knobs -cocoons, cocoOns, every
where; countless numbers were also
hung, like pretty birds eggs. i'm the
straws. From these, after a few days,
came beautiful white moths. not at all
like the ugly worms.
From the cocoons in which we. killed
the worms we reeled the delicate
threads from which all oursilk is. made.
Is it not indeed a curious; storYp-Our
Little Ones.
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1884-12-18


lifted into the public view as the result
OF crises or ordinary circumstance,
while the many with thrice their chance
for fame and every opportunity to
achieve it are thrust out of sight as q
result of things that appear to be of
trivial Importance The power that
notes the sparrow's fall is not too large
Tor governments, and the man for every
crisis OF our history has apparently APP
peared at his appointed hour, and gem
orally from the unnoticed rank and
place. There is great political and
military Nazareth, and thus far it has
never failed. Whether President Cleve-
land comes from it is yet to be delnon-
strated; but there is solid satisfaction
as result of the election, from one end
of the country to the other, which be-
speaks the utmost faith and confidence
in the coming Administration.-M r
Graphic.
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1884-12-18
A THREE DOLLAR DOWRY,

An Unsuccessful Town in Ruins-The JoIl
Jeily-Fishermen of China.
We found the island inhabited by
two foreigners of the lighthouse staff,
800 Chinese and 1000 goats. The island
is mass of rock, in three ridges con-
verging near the center of the island,
and there is only a thin layer of earth
over the rocks, sufficient to grow a
crop of grass for the goats. Here and
there on the slopes of the hills there
are small patches of cultivation. The
permanent residents OF the island, the
zoo Chinese and 1000 goats, perhaps
manage to exc out subsistence from
the fruits of the earth; but the island is
chiefly noted for the jelly-fsh trade car
ried on in the spring, and during that
season thousands of Chinese come FROM
Ningpo and also from adjacent islands
and take up their temporary abode on
the North Saddle. This explains how
there are SO many houses in ruins all
over the island A North Saddle
house is not of much account anyhow;
and the ruins left by the jelly Jelly fish
ermen are simply bamboo frames;
few squareyards of mating thrown over
the frame roof will put the house into
good order again. There are no walls
to this temporary abode; only sloping
frame and nothing more. The
houses are perched in clefts of the
rocks, and there is not much room for
the children to run about. A large
number of sampans were lying up
turned, high and dry on the top of the
rocks forty to fifty feet above the sea.
They belong to fishermen, and are left
there till required next yearin the jelly
fish season. The principal resident of
the North Saddle is native who was
for many years ''boy' in pilot boats
and tug boats. He can speak pidgin
English, and is looked up to by the peo-
pie on the island as a man of great ex-
perience, having often been to see that
wonderful place, Shanghai. He has
gone into the jelly-fish trade. He was
sick and unable to come on board.
The natives who did come on board
stared as if they had never seen for
eigner before.
When l was up at the lighthouse on
Friday afternoon, there was a China
man employed scraping paint off the
stones at the house of the tower. He
was singing to himself, as happy as
king. He had actually given up stu
alton in Shanghai and succeeded in get
ting into the light service at the North
Saddle because he was in love with
young girl, a native of the island, The
marriage was expected to come off
shortly. The dowry of the bride was
reported to be So, to set them up in the
jelly-fish trade. / was told so by the
Captain, and it must be true.-Cor. Ce-
IestidE Empire.
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1884-12-18
PITH AND POINT.

Water colors are not used in paint
ing towns red, because water colors are
not fast colors.
Never put hot iron directly upon
silk, Send the silk to the WasherWom-
an. She will do it for you.
mo woman is educated, = says S.
w. Burnap, s.Who is not equal to the
successful management of a family. s.
When you see man leave his club at 9
p. M, and run all the way home, you
can make up your mind that his wife is
highly educated.
-Housekeepers who have white mar
BILE stoops to keep clean. can save time
which has been dipped in boiling hot
water and soda A good deal of soda
should be put into the water and al
lowed to dissolve. The plan has the
advantage of being inexpensive, as
medicine for colds, consumption and
pneumonia are now quite cheap.-A7-
kaasa,o Traveller.
These crazy spelling reformers are
trying to persuade people to spell kiss
with one s. The attempt will be
failure. The man who lifts finger, SO
to speak. to shorten kiss, will bring
upon himself the hatred of the rising
generation. The tendency is rather to
add more SIS. That is, to make the
kiss a yard, yard and half or two
yards long, or as long as a strong
young man can hold his breath.-Bur-
dette.
Now that paper shirts have been
introduced, according to the Dry Goods
Bulletin, it will be in order to print a
sensational novel on the back of set
of shirts. Then when man reads the
first instalment he will go right off and
buy the whole set and sit up with his
shirts at night until he has finished the
story.
Madame said husband to his
young wife, in little alteration which
will spring up in the best regulated
families, s.when a man and his wife
have quarreled, and each other consid-
ers the other at fault, which of the
two ought to advance toward a recon-
ciliation?'' 1.-The better natured and
the wiser of the two,' said the wife,
putting up her mouth for kiss, which
was given with an JUNCTION. She was
the conquerer.-N. 7. Ledger.
Poor john" said a trustful wife,
''has SO much to do at the Office that he
ID OltOu CoIlpGiico w Woih
care you sure that he spends the even
ings at his office?' asked another mar
ried lady who was making an afternoon
call ..my husband said that he thought
he saw him at the French opera the
other night ooh, your husband
must have been mistaken, am sure
responded the trustful wife, ''John
doesn't understand word of French"
Detroit Post.
"A remnant of lace lay upon what
is known as the marked-down counter
of large shopping establishment in
this city, and during wait of fifteen
minutes the following remarks concern
ing it were made by lady customers,
each one drawing attention to it by the
use of the word s'sweet:" .'Isn't it too
sweet for anything?" What sweet, |
lovely piece of lace!" sWhat did you |
call ita 1t is a sweet pattern
s'Wouldn't it look too sweet and lovely |
on my lawn?" ''Oh, mother, do buy |
this for me; it would be so sweet on my |
blue dress" eyes, and guess it's a |
sweet price, too. ''-Rarper's Bazar.
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1884-12-18

| Won wanted ii to go to lEing ChristuaaS
/ quicker1, and string = good deM 0fOorul
and tied : good many apples, inst ~
May did.
i Christmas, which il alMGSt IS mnCh
fun; and Mays papa went to thorwon0
| lot and brought homo tree, trim NJ
| tie fir, with dark green. glossy boughs.
He planted it straight and firm in tiny
tub. filed with sand, which May stuck
fun Of twigs and bits Of evergreen.
| $50 nice for Mamie to wash her dolls
clothes in said she. Its just big
enough. She meant the tub.
Then she hung the apples and candy
horns on the branches; and the strings
of popcorn, like little snow wreaths.
and the gifts.
There was warm shawl for Mrs.
Day, q dress for each of the three little
girls q doll with red hair for Mamie.
tea set for Bess and pretty work-box
for Nora.
That night, when the stars began to
come out. Mays papa took her on the
big hand-sled, with the tree, and away
they flew down the long hill to the lit
tie black house. Papa set the tree on
the step. Then he Knocked gently.
and whisked May away from the door,
What do you suppose Nora and
Mamie and Bess said and did when they
peeped out and saw the tree?
ssThey just hollered and hollered, and
hoped up and down." cried May to
mamma, whom papa had drawn her
home again. eAnd then they all took
it in and shut the door; O, mamma, I'm
so glad did!''
And, after all, Santa Claus paid the
big white house a visit; of course he
did. For it wasn't really he who made
the Days Christmas tree, you know-it
was only little Mayp eane. lido Carrie
tom
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1884-12-18
THE OIl- REGIONS.
Fire and Water Initiating Against Theil
Prosperity.

Fire and Water Initiating Against Their
Prosperity.
Fire has been fully as destructive an
enemy as water All through the oil
regions the utmost care is, required in
dealing with this element A lighted
cigar ignites the gas fiaring up from a
well. Instantly mass of flame shoots
to the top of the derrick a hundred feet
above, widens out on the ground as far
as the oil and gas extended, and de-
sends into the. well, destroying it for
ever. Thousands of dollars in proper
ty, perhaps two or three lives have been
destroyed by one single flash. Several
times not only the city but the whole
valley has come near being burned out.
In 1862, for instance, the gas from q
flowing well on the Blood farm, border
ing on Oil Creek, caught fire, and al
most before the frightened operators
could take breath thirty acres were in
flames. The scene is described as hay
ing been grand and terrible in the ex-
treme. Intense heat and clouds of black.
smoke mark the combustion of petrole-.
um. Most of the wells were then con-.
nected with the creek by q stream Of
waste oil flowing down to it. The burn
ing oil poured into the creek, fioatexi,
down with the current, and assembled
to the wells, exploding them. Many
storage-tanks were also ignited by the,
heat. A pail black as night soon. set
tied on the district. illuminated by FREE.
quent flashes and explosions like parks,
of artillery. In the center ran the.creek.
river of fire. To subdue the petrole-.
uIn-fame is an utter impossibility: water.
only adds to it's intensity. The onlv
way is to confine it and let it bnrn itself
ont. This plan was pursued with tic
Oil Creek fire. whick gradually died
away from want Of fuel, bus not unAiI
scores of wells and million 81 dollars'
worth OF property had been DESTROYED.
Another disastrous fire occurred in iS63.
when a boatman with a lantern vent
into the compartment of a bulk-boa Is
see i 1t was leaking. The gas exploded,
and in breath forty boats loaded with
OIL were ablaze. The citizens had
learned by this time what to az, n such
emergencies. They rallied and pushed
the burning boats out into the Stream.
a weird scene followed; frequent fiashes
with explosions lit up the mont and a
the burning oil spread over the water
the GREATNESS spectators beheld river
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1884-12-18

there was difference Of eighteen
petWcen the vote cast for RapaI1o,
democrat. and for Andrews, Repablic-
az. Tor Judge Of the Court 81 Appeals
=, , ~ Me ~ 1ork, out Of total Vete &c
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1884-12-18

As the New York World says, in
reference to this matter, the explana-
ton is that when Mr.. Blaine wrote his
letter of acceptance he hoped and ex-
pected to carry at least five Southern
States. When he made his Augusta
speech he was the disappointed. and de-
feated candidate who had failed to car
ry single Southern State and who had
been rejected by four of the Northern
States. The instincts of the base, rab-
ble-rousing politician, are clearly re-
vealed in the extracts quoted. Indiana
State Sentinel
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1884-12-18

To scour knives easily, mix small
quantity of baking soda with your bricx
dust and then hire somebody to do tia
securing.
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1884-12-18
READING FOR THE YOUNG.
GIVING ACCOUNT TO SANTA.


Dearest Santa Claus: We got them,
Harry's gun and Charles ship,
AL our books, and dolls, and candy,
Eddie's rocHng-horse and whip.
But papa says, Santa, darling
That he thinks you'd like to know
What became OF all the presents
That you brought = year ago.
Cousin Ada got one too,
And within drawer she put it,
Where she keeps it nice and new:
But we couldn't treat our babies
In that cruel. heartless way.
why, suppose mamma had done So
Santa, what would people say2
Ada thinks we're so ungrateful
But we tried our best to be
Little careful. loving mothers,
But-well. Santa Claus, you see,
Babies do make lots of trouble,
And one very stormy day,
Nellie took hers to the Are,
Where it melted most away.
I kept mine good while longer,
But her clothes got soiled and torn,
And her hair got all unkrinkled,
Oh! she did look so forlorn.
linen mamma rocked over ON her,
Right upon her precious head,
SO cut Off one sweet ringlet.
And pretended she was dead.
Baby kept her rubber rattle,
And. O Santa, tbs the truth!
There's cunning hole; she bit it
With her very first wee tooth;
m afraid we've lost the puzzles,
And broke my coral ring
Time and change" mamma says, Santa,
VIII affect most everything"
Then that splendid book of pictures
How we little ones did shout;
But we read, and read, and read it,
Till twas every bit worn out:
Well, we didn't 'speet to keep it
Zactly new whole long year,
But we know most all the stories;
Santa, darling, do you care?
sANrA's REPLY.
Darling little girls: Your letter
Pleased me more than can ten,
And learn with satisfaction
That you use my gifts SO we'll.
Santa thinks that dollies pta,ted scith,
Stories rcdd and read again,
Will leave just the right impression
Upon busy heart and brain.
Mother tells me, precious girlies,
That you re growing every day
Kind and patient, sweet and careful,
In half unconscious way;
Never mind the treasures broken,
1t was but their outward parts,
If the choicest gifts of Christmas
You have treasured in your hearts.
Do not hoard such gifts, my darlings,
Use them, like your toys and books:
Ishall know how much you prize them
From your actions, words and looks.
Kate Laurence, in Youths Companions
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1884-12-18
A Dangerous Demagogue.

The country is to be congratulated
that Blaine was repudiated on the 4th
day of November. To round up the in
herent dangerous demagogy of his
character, it was fit that he make the
Augusta speech. He built better than
he knew. VIII our readers please COM
pare the following extracts-one taken
from that speech and one from his let
ter of acceptance:
From Letter of Ac-GFrom Augusta (Me.)
ceptance. Speech
The elements which, The eleven States
separated them North that comprised the reb-
and SOuth) are fast dis lei Confederacy had, by
appearing. Preiudices the census of 1880, T.
have yielded and are 100000 white popula-
yielding, while a grow ton and $500 600 col
ing cordiality warns ored population. The
the Southern andlcolored population al
Northern heart alike. most to a man desire
Can any one doubt that to support the Repub-
between the sections lcan party, but by a
confidence and esteem system of cruel intim-
are to-day more idation and by violence
marked than at anyiand murder, whenever
period in the SixtyiviOlence and murder
years preceding the are thought necessary,
election of President they are absolutely de-
Lincoln2 Eprived of all political
there be occasional and power. If the outrage
violent outbreaks inlstopped there it would
the South against this be bad enough, but it
peaceful progress, the does not stop there,
public opinion of the for not only is the ne
country regards them gro population diSfran-
as exceptional, and lchised, but the power
hopefully trusts thatIwhich rightfully and
each will prove the constitutionally be-
last. longs to them is trans
ferred to the white
population, enabling
the white population
of the South to exert
an electoral influence
far beyond that exert
Iad fxf hn
The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1884-07-25
Good News.

In an article on the RATES for Grain Trans
portion" the Fargo Republican Of Tuesday
last, says:
'The officers of the Manitoba company are
presumed to be business men, who would not
knowingly kill the goose that lays the golden
egg, and they can therefore, we believe, be
depended upon to meet the farmers in libe-
raj spirit, and make at least some concessions
in the way of rates. What this concession will
be we have no means Of knowing positively,
but from information received from an official
source are led to believe that it will not be less
than 10 per cent. This, upon the enormous
crop Of the present year, will amount to con-
siderable sum Of money saved to the farmers.
In recent conversation with the editor Of
the Republican, Mr.. Marvel said: The CON-
pany will reduce its wheat rates just as fast as
it can possibly do so, as its whole prosperity
depends upon whether the farmer has a fair
margin left after selling his CROP That is all
the farmers ask.'