davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1884-03-13
Waxing Hardwood Floors.

Eyes, I deal in antique furniture, and
get up new furniture on antique models,
and repair things, and so on, but my
principal business is in waxing floors
hardwood floors, of course. This is
increasing all the time. l don't have
much to do with the floors of dancing
halls, because the men having charge
of them get into the way of waxing the
floors themselves. 1t is in private
houses that my services are in demand.
Three years ago there we're very few
waxed floors in New York residences,
but they are oil the rage now among
New Workers. who live in good style.
Some have them because they are nice
for q german or q small social party !;
but they are also popular among those
who do not dance, for they give an air
of richness, of we'll keeping and are 80
much cleaner than carpets ever can be.
When you sweep carpet You send up
n cloud of dust and tibers from it, but
that cannot be the case with waxed
floor, which gathers no dust, and the
more it is swept and brushed and pol
ished the smoother and brighter it be-
comes. A hardwood floor should be
waxed thoroughly three or four times a
year, besides rubbed occasionally by
the servants of the house.
ITO wax floor properly we first
clean 1t with turpentine, so that not a
speck of dirt Is LETT either on the sur
face or imbedded in the exposed pores
of the wood. If the wood is rough we
sometimes scrape it and give it coat
of shellac, to fill the pores. When it
is perfectly hard. dry, and smoothed,
we apply the wax in one of two ways,
either hard or melted, with turpentine.
If the Inter, it is laid on with brush,
left TO dry two or three hours, and is
then polished with brushes The wax
used IL common beeswax. Here is one
of the brushes, very large, fiat, and
made with very stiff bristles. They
cost "a pair, and are made large, so
that if desired one Of them can be fixed
under the foot by means Of strap,
and the polishing done by wageing the
leg to and fro. That way of brush
ing is employed in dry waxing, which
is much the hardest, and requires most
vigorous polishing.
Dry waxing costs about four times
as much az the other, and will last two
or three times us long. In either case
the wax has to be polished right into
the grim of the wood. 1t will not do
to put oil on q waxed floor, as II will
render the surface gummy and sticky
and nasty. If properly done, oiling
makes floor nice, but is never so good
as waxing, and costs nearly as much.
Raw linsecd oil, mixed with turpcntine
for drier, is used. Pricee Well,
that depends upon the size of floor,
and to some extent on its condition.
One say IA feet by 16 feet will ordina-
rily cost 50 for oiling, 81 to $40 for wax
ing, and $50 for dry waxing. There
are some floors here that have waxed
regularly for eight years past. "-Ne,o
York sum.
The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1884-03-13
COntesting Wills.

Unless it il quite manifest that the
heirs have been treated In a manner de-
faint of equity and justice they seldom
contest will. When the hand of the
dead has been laid too heavily on the
living public sentiment Is in favor Of
releasing the merciless grip. The will
is broken and the property equally dis
tributed among the heirs. This fact is
full of significance. 1t indicates that
the wishes of deceased persons do not
command the respect that they once
did that the will, when not based upon
an equal distribution of property, has,
In fact, become decadent institution.
Democracy, with its concomitant of
equality, cannot tolerate anything
savoring of entailment and primogeni-
ture. 1t permits people to accumulate
large fortunes, but not to hand them
down intact to the eldest born or
nearest heir, or a favorite relative or
friend. The will which often attempts
to O greater or less degree this sort.of
thing is antagonistic to the spirit of the
age Equal distribution, not concentra-
ton of wealth, is the demand of democra-
ey. Another fact has tended to loosen
the foundations of the will. Not infre-
quGftly the testator, failing during his
life to revenge himself upon some
hated relative, seeks to accomplish his
detestable object after death. He either
deprives that relative of rightful share
in the estate, or makes conditions re-
pugnant to justice, often to decency and
self-respect- In such case the will is
almost certain to be broken. The hand
of the dead must not be permitted to
strike the living. The conclusions to
which these considerations lead US is
plain. A will not based upon equity
and justice is almost certa n 10 be
broken and the estate distributed
equally among the heirs. But if will
in the first place makes the equal dis
tribution, it is simply perfunctory
document Had it not been drawn up
at all the laws would have made tho
same disposition of the property
Rochester Democrat.
The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1884-03-13
Scott Debating "IyanhOe."

Lockhart says that Sir Walter Scott
dictated the greater part of the Bride
of Lammermoor, the Legend OF
Montrose," and "Ivanhoe" to William,
Laidlaw and John Ba lantyne. "Goo
Laidlaw." he adds, entered with such
zest into tho story, as it flowed from
the authors lips, that he could not
suppress EXPLANATIONS of surprise and
delight: Guide keep rs a'!-the like o
that-eh, sirs! ell. sirsY" Mr.. Laid
law used to shake his head at this pas
sage of Lockhart Il remember" he
said, "being SO much interested in the
part of Ivanhoe' rel.ting to Rebecca,
the Jewess, that L exclaimed: That III
fine. Mr.. Scott! get on--gct onl' He
laughed, and replied, "Ay, Willie, but
recollect have to make the story i
have more than once heard Dir. Laid
law relate this anecdote; adding, that
Sir Walter was highly pleased with his
character of Rebecca, saying, L shall
make something of my Jewessp"
The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1884-03-13
HUMOR.



AN old gentleman who got tripped
up while trying to cross the ballroom,
remarked, as he slowly crawled to
perpendicular, that il was always pleas
ant to DO thrown in the company cs
young people.
ARE you near-sighted, miss?' said
ON impatient fellow 10 a young lady
who did not choose TO recognize him.
yes" she retorted; ~at this distance
can hardly tell whether you are an ape
or puppy"
ARE you to take astronomy nexs
term, Els:e?" inquired classmate OF
her young friend. Hardly. But Au-
gustus is giving me splendid astronom-
zeal lessons during the vacation.
isn't that nice! Has he textbooks
and an ntlas?" "Oh, Louise, my DEAR
he says I'm all the world TO him. and
when lean my head on his shoulder
he is my Atlas."
II THOUGHT said tho senior BoGgles,
as he produced o suspicious-looking that
bottle from his sons valise, shat there
was nothing but your surgical instru-
ments in this bag. ~That's what said,
this ?" THAT? Oh, that's my eye
opener, dad; very useful instrument,
very useful; indispensable, 1 assure
you"
A BOY was sent to milk the COW, and
after he had been gone something over
two hours his father started out to look
him up. He found him sitting patient
~ on three-legged stool in the corner
Of ten-scre lot. What the mischief
are you sitting there forr' demanded
the nate father. why don't you do
your work and get back to the house?'
Because answered the boy, "the
teacher said to-day that all things como
TO him who waits, and / am waiting for
the cow"
"OUoHr not to laugh at my own
jokesl" exclaimed Poots, whose wife
had just ventured to give him that
piece of advice; "Pd like to know why
not2 Who knows as we'll when TO
laugh as the man that makes the joke,
I'd like TO know?" THAT'S SO, resumed
Mrs p. II didn't think of that, and,
come to think of it, don't suppose
anybody would know anything about
your Jokes if you didnt start 'em of
with laugh" Then Poots, man-ike,
got mad and went down town with his
hat ON wrong end foremost. CincSa-
natl Saturday Night.
UNSUCCESSFUL American-I don't
see what is to become of me; have not
dollar left. Friend-Hsve you tried
lecturing? U. A.-Yes. and nobody
came. F.-You paint well? U. A.
Nobody will buy my pictures. F.-You
are also remarkably fine actor?
q. Al can't get any engagement F.
Then, why don't you return to your
first lover q. A-The magazines de-
cline anything take them now. F.
Ali see what the trouble is and how
to overcome it. z. A.-Well, tell
me, for I am becoming hopeless.
F.-You must trade the clothes you
have on for q secondhand English suit,
and learn to drop your h's.-Phitadet
phi0 Call.
The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1884-03-13
Paris Art Galleries.

Paris has two wonderful treasure
houses of art-the Louvre. in which no
picture is placed until the artist has been
dead at least ten years; and the Lux
embourg, devoted to the productions
of the living painters and sculptors of
France. Both were formerly used as
the residences of royalty. The Louvre
Is the most extensive, and IL u magnifi-
cent palace, the creation of series of
luxury-loying rulers from Francis L
to Napoleon III. 1t comprises sue
oession of buildings surrounding q
quadrangular court, which can be en-
tered from the streets through lofty
archways in each of the four sides of
the palace. The Louvre, with the
Tuileries, another royal palace which
WAS united TO it on the north side by
Napoleon Ill, but WINS nearly destroyed
during fhe siege Of Paris, covers an
area of twenty-four acres The lower
floors of the Louvre are devoted to
Libraries and museums of Egyptian,
Assyrian, Grecinn, and ENruscan an
tiquities. In the great halls above are
arranged, with most perfect taste, the
choicest works of art Of every descrip-
ton. Here one may walk for hours
over acres of floor made of smoothly
polished pieces of wood, through room
after room, lighted from above, with
eiings heavy with gilded decorations
and exquisite freecoes, amid cleaning
marble pillars, dazzling mirrors, and
every ndornment thar wealth or taste
could devise, with miles Of beautiful
paintings, the marvellous productions
of world-renowned artists, covering the
walls, while mosaic tables, elegant
vases, rich cabinets, and cases full of
rare and precious things fill up all in
terspaces. The gallery of pniptings il
one of the most extensive in existence,
numbering nearly 1850 pieces. Guido's
~Ecoe Homo kaphaers Holy Fam
1y,' "The Marriage ut Cana" by
by Veronese; @The Joiner's. Family"
by Rembrandt; and Murillo's "Con-
ception," are among tho chief works of
this wonderful collection. One large
hall is entirely filed with the paintings
OF Rubens. The gallery Of sculptures
contains somo of tho most beautiful
masterpieces of ancient statuary TO be
found in the world, among which are
the "venus of Milo and "The Fight
ing Gladiator. The Luxembourg is
less PROHIBITIONS in size, bat is no less
remarkable for tho beauty of it's adorn-
ments and the vaIue Of its collection,
which numbers among it's exhibitors
Rosa Bonheur, Muller, AIRY Schefier,
and De la koche--Erchange.
THE last Of his raoe--the distanced
horse
The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1884-03-13
HIGH Up IN A BALLOON.

Late on q clear autumn afternoon of
1888 the well-known Woodlands Gar
dens," in the city OF San Francisco,
could scarcely contain surging crowd
come together from all quarters of the
city to witness the ascent of monster
balloon. In that ascent our artist and
the faithful reporter were directly in
terested; nor was the fight into ether
(which they and the Captain Can expert
.enced aelonaut) of the undertaking
proposed by any means commonplace
affair, being no less than an attempt to
cross in mid-air the mighty range of the
Sierra Nevada, and land far on the
other side of that ire nendous palisade,
in Salt Lake City itself.
1t is hardly necessary to state that
xhis aeronautic feat had never been ac-
.complished. Undertaken, the truthful
writer regrets to confess, it had been,
and by the same venturesome trio, who,
sitting in shame on the roof of the cow
shed where they had collapsed at the
very outset of their trip, rallied at the
brick chimney which had wrecked their
air ship, endured the jeers of the throng
below with humility, and vowed to re-
peat the attempt within week. A
charity picnic afforded an excellent OPP
portunity. The balloon had been
patched, the temper of the trio re-
stored, and once again the immense
swollen bag toppled in air, pulling up
ward with all of its "a, 900 cubic feet of
gas.
Our party were fairly prompt. We
took our places amid the cheers of the
crowd. Everything was looked to
quickly. "Are you ready?" rang out
the question Ready; let go!' assent
ed the Captain. The cables were
jerked off; with the sweep of the hurri-
cane our aerostat shot up into space.
The ground, the crowd, the buildings
surrounding the gardens, the tallest
treetops outlying us, dropped like en-
chantment below-still further below
far beneath. Our undertaking was
we'll begun.
SO much has been said Of the impress
sions which the air voyager derives
during the first half hour of his ascent
that space may be saved here. The
thrill OF intense excitement as ell con-
nection with earth seems sundered; the
up-turned faces and black coats in the
concourse of spectators becoming black
and white dots; the universal "fore-
shortening" of all creation as one looks
down upon tall combine to produce
feeling that can never pail. The fas-
cination' of floating at so vast an alti-
tude a. u balloon can soon attain is de-
licious. Few persons are troubled by
giddiness. Confused sounds rise hull
ingly to the ear, one scarcely distin-
gIiishable from the rest. A kind OF in
toxication steals over the navigator. TO
live and move thus seems a rapture.
Small wonder that the mon who "bal-
looms" once will balloon again and
again, each time becoming more infat-
dated in tempting fate.
Our evening was perfectly serene and
cloudless. A geatle breeze waited us
northward. The earth became pale
green and gray map as we reached the
level of 2, 200 feet above the Bay of San
francisco, which stretched out glim-
mering toward the horizon. We could
discern the city, the Golden Gate, the
Farallone Islands. On the east rose
The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1884-03-13

address clambered the network
of the bounding globe, and
clinging tightly to what slender hold
no found, adjusted it II was o feat K
tremble ~ in recollecting. In less thar
ten minutes after il had been accom-
plished We struck the tree tops again
and were hurled more mercilessly thar
ever among their creaking branches
until with one tremendous shock oul
basket struck the strong limbs of 9
mighty forest giant and held firm. tt
pull the ripping rope was the work oil q
second. With crack whole scam o.
the balloon parted The gas fell about
US in our wretched situation, nearly
choking us. Our late tyrant collapsed
and hing suspended from its colossal
peg. the pine tree. We were safe.
Upon tho remaining adventures o.
that luckless day neither reporter mol
artist is disposed to dilate. Our valiant
Captain, beng Injured to such untimely
ends to oil the pomp and circumstance
of glorious ballooning, was subsequent
ly seen to smile over the affair.
With vast difficulty we managed II
glide down the slippery trunk Of the
pine, whose only branches, among
which we perched, grew eighty feel
from the ground. We had landed Oh
the summit of spur of the Sierras
BY compass we took our bearings and
set out for shelter. Abound us rose the
wilderness pure and simple. There was
no trace of road or habitation, and we
were forced to fight our way through
the dense underground until nightfall.
Without provisions, and utterly ex
hausted, our little party threw them.
selves down under the 'thickets shelter.
and slept till the pallid dawn. 4 SEQ
ond day Of such fruitless wandering
meant something so nearly approaching
death that we hardly cared to contem
plate it as We trudged onward.
BY noon of the second day the
strength of one Of the party had given
out entirely. The other two were
manfully preparing to carry him be
tween them, when roaring brook was
struck. and feebly followed with re-
viving hope. 1t was scarcely quarter
of an hour before the expected fume
was discovered, at the foot OF steer
declivity. A solitary Chinaman stood
beside it plying q spade. We made oul
way toward him. At first our haggard
appearance and scarcely understood
tongue made the suspicious eelestial
little disposed to listen to us or have
aught to do with us; but, speedily be-
coming convinced that we had no de-
signs upon his claim, he lent wonder
ing and compassionate ear to the mar.
rative which our Captain communi.
Gated, and presently summoned oil his
pig-tailed fellowship to hearken and aid
us. We were, in truth, very kindly
cared for by our yellow. faced friends
during the two dayswhich we found
we must pass in that lonely'camp be-
fore mules and wagons and men could
be summoned from Nevada City, fifty
miles distant.
When they arrived the balloon was
looked up, and, ripped apart, forwarded
to Reno. The overland train was final
ly taken, and our trio speeded to San
Francisco. in defeat, but with thankful
souls. -Haaper'S Weekly.
The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1884-03-13
THE TALIsMAN AND THE LEIGH, A
kRAGMENT. .a..


II was lovely lady that on her sick he'd lay;
II was her loidiy lover that spurred for the ieech
away.
And met upon the highway. crouched on the
A wisherci whte-haired beggar that made for
aims her moan.
The icrdIy lover asst her his purse from saddle
my love 10 lying dying. and for the lecch 60.
In yondtr burg physic ans u many are, trow
Would that tn, skllitulcst OF ali among them
could KNOW
"Takc this:. tho crone. upstarting, placed on
OF dull and tarnished copper. mean and bat
swear his. an when thou ridest up to the
See for myself what company of guests doth
stand btfore.
And be ore the knight could thank her she van
And TIN re was narght hut q wee brown bird
sitting upon the spray;
And the light hearted lover onward he spurred
his cOurscr gray,
And krssod the battered talisman. and blessed
the kindly fay
Up the ringing street he darted TO the chief
physicians door :,
Heavenl what CHASTITY company was standing 1t
beforcl
The souls OF all the slain were there. ten thou
sand souls, trow
Like witoh-tircs in pallid night, a-wavering 10
anu fro.
On passed the knight to another leech, but be-
lore the door perdie,
Was quits as CHASTITY II not quite 20 great com
And mp aud down the burg he rode but every
where he went,
Watched the spirit OF each patient under a
monument.
"Alackl doth never leech have skillp" was his
dcspairing cry;
And must the Lady CuneGund In her youth
aud beauty diel
There Is but one physician left, and yonder at
his door
Oh. heavens! there floats single ghost-a single
ghost nOsnorel
-oh. blessing on the talisman and on the kind
Here Is the surgeon skilled shall charm my
lady's hurt away.
Hoi busk ye, Dusk ye, Master Leech, and ride
And thou shalt save precious life, and win a
priceless fee.
Up sprang the good physician then behind the
gallant knight,
And swiftly up tn sounding road clattered the
courser wight:
And me rrily the knight he sang and shouted In
his glee,
"A blessing on the kindly fay that guided me to
thee
Nov, by our good Saint Anthony. what is it
thou dost say?
Dost thou not know, Sir Knight, there Is no
goblin neither fay?
But tell ne truly who 1t was to me thy steps
did guido.
For how should poor leech be known through
out the country side?"
"Oh. trust me. trust me, Master Leech. thy fame
spreads far and near;
On every side of thy healing skill what miracles
we hear!
For though thy cheek doth lightly bear the rosy
SO, hue OF youth,
There is no doctor so renowned In all the land.
good sooth.
Sir Knight. 1t iii becomes thy rank to mock a
simple man,
Ono who doth practice Galen's art with all the
skill he can;
But only yesterday / hung my shingle out at
door,
And have had but a single call-one patient.
and no more"
Now by Saint Anthony exclaimed the knight
The remainder OF this interesting balled has
been lost.-Haper's Magazine
The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1884-03-13
Misapprehensiye Bravery.

A STOUT, able-bodied lady was aroused
the other night by noise in the hall
way, and on going down stairs she dis
covered man fumbling around in tho
dark. The lady Immediately assailed
him with the ferocity of tigress, and
elected him from the house in quite q
number of seconds less than no time at
all, and slammed the door after him.
As the man tumbled down the steps. on
to the sidewalk, he was gobbled by q
policeman. and promptly marched off
TO the cooler. The next morning sew
eral of her friends called and congratu-
lated her upon the heroism displayed
in throwing full-grown burglar out Of
tho house.
"Graciousl' exclaimed the lady.
growing pale and agitated, was that o
burglar?"
why, certainly, didnt you know
it?'
Know i'll Heavens, mol thought
Il was only my husband home again late
from the lodge. or wouldn't have done
what l did for the world. - eDas
Strings.
The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1884-03-13
A Petulant Passenger.

Kind sir" pleaded fashionable
lady to palace-car conductor, "won't
you please, please, please allow me Ia
take my ret poodle in the carp"
"No, ma'arn. can't do it, ma'am. The
company permits ONLY ono oar pet in
the coach, and that il on the floor now.
"Oh. you dear little angell' sobbed
the lady, as she kissed tho poodle's
nose, "the wicked man will make you
ride in tie baggage car, Pe." and
filed with anguish, she entered the
coach, sadly. sorrowfully and Alone
The Hoosier.
The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1884-03-13
Friendship Between the Great.

The friendship between great mon is
rarely intimate or permanent. 1t is q
Boswell that most appreciates a john
son. Genius has no brother, no CO.
mate; the love il inspires is that of q
pupil or o son. Bul,Uer Lvtto,i.
The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1884-03-13

PEOPLE are commonly 80 employed
in pointing out faults in those before
them as TO forget that some b hind
may ut the Same time DO dissenting on
their own.--DiitCu1a
The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1884-03-13

FLORIDA is good place for camphor
trees
The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1884-03-13

most unexpected sort.
"Throw out the BALLAST" called our
Captain. Rising once more, We darted
into dense cloud, and there drifted
with lightning speed still northward.
Water froze upon our cordage. There
was only one thing now to do. "Over
with all the ballastl" commanded our
leader. 1t was in vain. We shot down
perpcndicularly with the speed of a
bullet-l,500 feet in each second.
Presently the whining of the gale in
the tree tops of the mountain summit
became terribly audible. To land
under such circumstances was impos.
ible. Everything we possessed was
tossed overboardr-our spare clothing,
our provisions--stil to no purpose.
A moment or two later, with series
OF crashes, and bounds, and leaps thai
made us hold on like grim death itself
our basket was dragging through the
thick-set pine tops. Who could fitly
describe the frightful sensations thar,
ensued? With all visions dissipated Of
success in our expedition, and possibly
reaching Salt Lake City or anywhere
else alive, we crouched with clincheG
hold and set teeth in the basket DC
casionally, as we were borne across some
depression in the mountain sides, We
were free from collisions, and were
swept somewhat upward. 1 we'll re
member that during one of thes,
intervals our Captain, finding the rope
of the escape valve had becom,
entangled above. with mastery