davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1884-02-21
Getting Acquainted with a CoMhor.

VI shall never forget my first intro
duction to COWBOY" said David Van
Drouver, of Cleveland. 1T was III tho
heart of Texas. / had been travelling
all day, and coming up with little
shanty, called tavern, toward even
ing determined to stop there for the
night. My horse was put IN the barn.
or rather tied to stake in the middle
of the prairie, and then l went into tho
hotel There was only one room, with
dry-goods box at one end, which
served as a bar. was told that
might bunk on a buffalo-role which lay
in the corner. Being very tired, | soon
fell asleep, but In the middle OF the
night was awakened by some one kick
ing me in the ribs Get mp thar said
gruff voice. What what's the mat
terY l asked, somewhat timidlv. i
want You to get up and take n link
with me, and be purity quick about it,
too, was the reply. Through the dim
light of smoky kersosene lamp coui1
family see the figure of a man, which,
with one look, knew to be a cowboy
But | never drink, my friend sud ].
Now look ahcre, stranger No man
ever refuses to drink with me mono
than once in his life, he answered. sug-
gestingly touching the butt of uae u
his revolyers. | concluded that dis
erection was the better part Of valor Ii
this case, and so, without any moro ado.
| rose and took drink When We ha:
finished | offered to treat also, but he
wouldn't have it. He said he only
wanted to see if / thought myself too
good to drink with him. Well, what
do you think of me?' he asked,
putting his hands upon his hips and
staring me plump in the face. Well,
sir, said 1, 1 don't know ~ / hayo
known you long enough yet to form an
opinion Come, now, that won't go
down. / want to know what You think
of me, and you might as well answer
now, or forever close your clam and
again his hand fell upon his revolver
As had no shooting irons with me-.
they being under the buffalo robe, ]
saw that / must answer him quickl;-.
We'll, said |, from all appearance, /
shouldn't wonder if / thought as much
of you as do of the President OF Tie
United States Bully for You; tai.o
another swig, and again ] was obi .ge!
to swallow the stuff, one dose OF which
was enough to kill an ordinary man.
After this, that man was one Of the hes.
friends / had .
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1884-02-21
Business at Pittsburgh.

PITTSBURGH, February 1S.-There
will be almost general resumption Of
work this week in the iron mills, the
glass factories and the river coal mines.
Many mills that were flooded out started
up last week, ami the balance will be
running in few days. All the glass
factories will be in operation by to- NOR
row, after a sever-months' suspension
on account of strike. The river coal
mines, which have been closed nearly
all winter, owing to depression in trade,
resumed to-day, where no attempt was
made to reduce wages. In the third
and fourth pools number of pits are
still closed because the men refuse to
return to work at Rss than the district
price of 81 cents Tor the third and 3
cents for the fourti pool. The resump-
tons give employment to many thou
sands of men. Tie railroad miners at
Scott Haven strucS against a reduction
on Saturday and he mines were shut
down.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1884-02-21
TarantulaS.

There are several varieties OF taran-
tulas. The one from which they all
take this name, the "lycosa tarantula,
is the largest of European spiders.
named from laramie, Italy, where they
are very numerous. It's body is from
one and half to two inches long, ashy
brown above, thorax marked with gray
and abdomen with three-cornered spots
and curved streaks bordered with
white, with patch Of saffron color be
low all, crossed by black band It
has one spiracle or breathing aperture.
on each side. one pulmonary sac and
snare its prey, but captures it by run
ming it down, and it lives III holes lined
no more severe than that of some
kinds of wasps, and is certainly
not nearly 50 dangerous to life as it is
tabled to be. The notion that its bite
produced u sort of delirium and was
curable only by dancing to lively music
till the sufferer fell from sheer ex-
haustion was superstition. For a
good illustration of this ugly insect see
the cut accompanying the word ~taran
lula" in Webster's Unabridged Die
tionary.
There is variety of tarantula in our
Southern States. called "lycosa Caro-
linensis" by naturalists, which is even
larger than its European namesake, be-
ing about two inches long and having
legs spreading at least four inches. 1t
has whitish legs, white sides, whitish
dots and lines on the belly, and is of a
mouse color on top and black or dark
colored underneath. Like the italian
tarantula, it spins no web, takes its
prey by pursuit, and lives in holes lined
with sort of silk. 1t is peculiar in
carrying its young on its back, and it
seldom bites.
There are certain spiders of the
genus mygale in the Southwestern
States, which are sometimes improperly
called tarantulas. ocean.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1884-02-21
Hygiene of the Brain.

The human brain is the most wonder
full object in the world, and its power
may be quadrupled by wise culture.
The first condition of healthy brain
is exercise. Hard work is necessary to
bring it up to its best,
The brain is composed of flesh and
blood, subject to physiological law, and
is not spiritual organ controlled by
laws beyond our reach. Its first
need is an abundance of good blood.
1t is fundamental in the physiology OF
the brain that the blood shall be pure.
If We lessen the supply of blood to the
brain, or send poor, thin, badly-oxygen-
ated blood there, the organ will act
feebly.
This brings up the question of the
health of the stomach. The brain
worker must not abuse his digestive
organs, either in quantity or quality of
food. Attention has often been called
to the necessity of phosphorus for
brain workers.
No thought without phosphorus is no
more true than would be no thought
without air, water, etc. A lion or tiger,
well fed, consumes more phosphorus
than man, but does he think more
The beaver, noted as being one of the
most thoughtful of animals, secretes
very little phosphorus.
The most perfect diet for a thinking
man or woman is not essentially differ
ent from the diet most proper
Tor growing boy or girl. There
should be plenty of nourishment of a
kind easily digested and assimilated,
but not taken in sufficient quantities to
overload the stomach. The brain does
not work well when the stomach is
filled with food, especially if indigesti-
bic. A few moments of rest before a
meal, no FRAMEWORK at meal times, nor
for short space after, are important
conditions.
do not advise alcoholic stimuIants
to brain workers. While in few cases
they apparently give greater power to
the brain, yet, as rule, their influence
is only bad. If you take stimulants
when you are tired, and need nourish-
ment and sleep, in order that you may
increase nervous exertion, you are draw
ing on your reserve of vital capital.
Muscular exercise is a most impor-
tant means of brain hygiene, but should
not be too severe or too long continued
Gentle exercise to keep the blood cir
culating and bring plenty of air into the
lungs is sufficient. Very hard and long
continued physical labor dulls the brain
and renders it less vigorous, for the
reason that the muscles drain off too
much of the blood, thus robbing the
brain of its needed supply.
ct is essential for the brain-worker to
have frequent days OF entire rest from
mental labor. During these periods
considerable physical exercise may be
taken, and plenty of good nourishing
food be eaten, to FIJI up the circulating
vessels with new blood, with which
new work may be done.-Dr. Die
LelUis.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1884-02-21
Composition OF Soils.

Soil consists of an organic and an
inorganic or mineral part The first is
derived from the roots and stems of
decayed plants, manure and the re-
mains of animals; the latter from the
waste of the rocks.
Sandy and poor clay soils are most
deficient in organic matter. though
fertile soils are not always plentifully
provided with it.
The inorganic or mineral portion of
the soil includes many substances
which exist in different proportions in
different soils. Sand clay and lime
represent more than 80 per cent. of the
substance of most soils, and as one or
other of these prevail the soil is cal
careous, clayey or sandy. The most
active constituents of the soil, such as
phosphoric acidand the alkalies, occur
in small quantities, as do the less i'm
portant constituents, magnesia, chlorine
and sulphuric acid.
Silica exists in different proportions
in different soils. and chiefly in an in-
soluble form; fertile soils contain it in
soluble form. 1t is in the form of
soluble silicates that silica does it's
work as plant food. Its use in the
form of sand consists in its influence on
the texture of the sand.
Alumlna gives substance and stiffness
OF texture to the SOIL In combination
with silica it is clay. The larger the
per cent. of alumina in the soil the
more difficult is its cultivation.
Phosphoric acid is contained in all
good soils, but only in small quantities
as compared with other constituents.
1t exists in combination with lime, iron
and alumina. Phosphate of lime is its
most common combination.
Potash is present in large quantities
in soils derived from rocks. 1t varies
greatly in different soils. Soils rich in
alumina are generally rich in potash.
The most common classification of
soils is based on their composition, and
the names applied to them take after
their predominant ingredients. Thus,
where sand, clay, lime or organic
matter predominates in q soil it is
sandy, clayey, calcareous or vegetable,
as the case may be. A mixture of sand
and clay Is called loan.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1884-02-21
The Management of Servants.

The Pail Mall Gazette reproduces an
article by the late George Eliot on
Servants Logic" which appeared in
that journal eighteen years ago. 1t
concludes thus: Wise masters and
mistresses will not argue with their
servants, will not give them reasons,
will not consult them. A mild vet firm
authority which vigorously demands
that certain things be done, without
urging motives or entering into ex-
plantations, is both preferred by the
servants themselves and is the best
means of educating them into any i'm
provement of their methods and habits.
Authority and tradition are the chief,
almost the only, safe guides of the
uninstructed--are the chief means of
developing the crude mind, whether
childish or adult. Reason about every
thing with your child, you make him a
monster, without reverence, without
affections. Reason about things with
your servants, consult them, give them
the suffrage, and you produce no other
effect in them than sense of anarchy
In the house, a suspicion of irresolute-
ness in you, the most opposed to that
spirit of order and promptitude which
can alone enable them to fill their
places well and make their lives re-
spectacle"
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1884-02-21
GINNING.

vlIp pi'eil,as, discs r4-l tff'' .ig
entou. The sciences and alts # ,lcfi;iy
and practical forestry, Of chn4ii,fr aiid
practical pharmacy, are moss ~ on
cerned in the productan of Chs most
invaluable of remedies The CO. nrce
Of the. world has taken inehoaa ii
hand, and there are nov al uiatc II
the tree not unworthy r. - an.ed he
sides those Of coff c asl t. The
value Of the crude bark iHpof; i t.
England alone in - cas- ne..i p,
O0O, 900 sterling. The os:gna q "a
tive cinchona region OH the d zap
eastern slopes OF the indies IA Peru il
still source Of wealth, ami still
greater source of wealth are the new
plantations on the Andes III B,i ia.
The Ind.an Government ls4s "a IS
fully cultivated the bark on large
scale in thu Ailgliiri Hills II a3r S,
and more recently At Oar il NJ n the
Himalayas; while q crowd OF private
planters have followed IN the came en-
terpFise in Coorg, Travancnre and Cey-
Ion. Tie Dntch Government, who
were the pioneers OF cinc1oia cult.Ta-
ton, have found the climate and soil OF
Java well adapted for the species anil
varieties of trees most rich u quinine.
Jamaica is the latest field to which this
new and ever-increasing industry has
extended. -Pop1tldr Science MOnfh{B.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1884-02-21
WhiskV i'm Bond.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 49, 1t is not
improbable that the movement for the
extension of the bonded period on WHISKY
now in warehouse may take greater
proportions. There is growing feel
ing in favor of general and indefinite
extension of the bonded period so that
all manufacted spirits may pay taxes
when they are, drawn for consumption
instead of at he end of three years, as
is now the cas-. One strong objection
that has been urged by many against
the Willis bills that it would be special
legislation for the benefit of few
people only. aid apply to very small
class of good. The proposition to
make all spiris taxable on withdrawal
from warehouse s for consumption would
be general in its character snd would
suit those wlo are Directing to the
Willis bill on hese grounds.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1884-02-21
A Conscientious Conductor.

"How did ] become superintendent
answered the railroad official "Why,
it was this way: / was conductor of
the morning passenger express, and
one day, as we were coming down by
the junction. we struck misplaced
switch and ran into freight train that
was standing ON the siding. As we
were running about thirty-five miles an
hour, of course it piled things up a
good deal. Our. engine was smashed
all to pieces, the smoker telescoped
the baggage car and the forward pas
senger coach ran up the heap aud
rolled over. l was standing on the
platform at the time the thing hap
pened, and luckily was slung off about
thirty feet beside the track. When |
picked myself up everything was con-
fusion, the air was filled with clouds OF
escaping steam, and about fifty passen-.
gers were somewhere in the wreck
OF course, it was what you might call
an emergency but there's no such
word as that III the comuany's diction-
airy. | had my orders and knew what
to do. The roof of the smoking-car
lay near me, and I heard a man CRYING
out from underneath it. After about
ten minutes work, / got the stuff all
cleared away and reached him. He
was very weak and grooming. oh,
heavens!' he said, this timber presses
on me so. | can't move. Both my legs
are broken below the knee Think
you'll be here TIL the next train +? /
asked, oh, yes, he moaned. Then
you'll need a s5op-over check, sir /
said, and / made out pasteboard and
gave it to him. Young man, he said,
Il observe that you have neglected to
fill in the day of the month; but, under
the circumstances, your omission is ex-
cusable. i am Director OF the com
pany, and if survive your attention to
duty shall be rewarded The old
gentleman pulled through and is now
Vice President. That's how / became
superintendent, and"-he continued,
musingly, as he fingered his lantern
watch-eharm-"I believe in the old
saving, that the company has rights
which the public is bound to respect
and rules which they must conform to. !"
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1884-02-21

Representative O. B. Potter, of New
York, has introduced a new funding
bill, designed to greatly lessen the
amount of interest payable upon the
national debt, and supply a basis for
the national banks to insure their cur
rency which will be reliable and I'M
changing. He claims that if the bill
becomes law, it will effect the refund
ing of the entire national debt at q per
cent. interest, without changing the time
when any part of it becomes payable.
1t will invest the public revenues in re-
duction of the rate of interest and the
premium upon the national debt, at per
cent, compound interest, compounded
quarter-yearly, until the debt is re-
funded. 1t will remove all present con-
traction and all chance of future con-
traction or disturbance in the currency
by providing uniform % per cent.
bond as a currency basis, and providing
that these bonds shall not be paid until
other bonds more burdensome to the
government are paid. The government
will pay only 1-20 per cent. after de-
Quoting taxes received upon all bonds
held by national banks. 1t will leave,
Mr.. Potter claims, the national currency
undisturbed, to perform its useful func-
tons in the way of business and trade
until the national debt shall be paid,
and will preserve the option of the gov
eminent which it now holds to cancel
its bonds by their payment. neither in
cIeasing nor extending the debt. 1t re-
duces the several present classes of
bonds drawing different rates of interest
to single bonds Of uniform rate and thus
prevents them from reaching Spremium
at which the government cannot profit
ably purchase them in extinguishment
of its debt. While it reduces the taxa
ton upon banking, it secures a still
greater reduction of interest upon the
bonds. 1t insures the payment of the
national DEBT in way to secure the
greatest practicable saving to the coun-
try by effecting the cancellation first of
the bonds paying the most burdensome
rates of interest. 1t invests public
money at per cent. compound inter-
est in payment of the debt, instead of
investing it as now, when calling bonds
which secure national currency, upon
which the government pays per cent.
less l per cent. tax on circulation for 90
per cent. of the bonds, so that the actual
interest paid by the government is but
little more than LILO per cent. All
banks will Immediately exchange their
bonds and all others as soon as the gov
eminent shall have the means to call for
them. These are the main advantages
claimed by the author tor his bill, and
they are advantages which, if to be Sc
cured by its passage, will constitute it
beneficent measure, and one which
the business portion of the country may
well desire to have adopted
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1884-02-21
Ohio Candidates.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 1S.-There is a
growing impression that Ohio men will
not figure largely ein the coming presi-
DENTAL race. Appointment Cincinnati
politician here on q business trip, who
has been for soale. time past in New
England, says lie thinks all the Ohio
candidates out OF the race and out of the
question "Hoadly, Payne and Foster"
he said. ''are al dead so far as the
Presidential question is concerned, and
by their own hand at that. Hoadly and
Payne are In the same boat in regard to
the question of bribery and corruption
in politics. Hoadly's record before and
after the election killed him for the
nomination. Payne stands no possible
show, think, since his out-and-out pur-
chase of the Legislature. and Mr.. Foster
has not only ruined his own chances,
but very seriously injured those of his
party. However, if the Democratic
Legislature continues its present course
the Republicans will be very likely to
carry Ohio next year, but Ohio will
have no Presidential candidate this time
unless the choice should happen to fall
upon General Sherman, which is not at
all probable. :"
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1884-02-21

The progress of women has Just taken
another step. Mrs. Mary A. Miller of
New Orleans applied for a license as
master of steamboat plying on the
Ouachita river, and her application was
refused by the very distinguished Ken
meth Raynor, Solicitor of the Treasury,
but an appeal being taken, Secretary
Folger, after referring to the definitions
of the Revised Statutes where words
piled to females, says; ~ see no reason
then, in unwritten or in written law. why
Mistress Miller may not lawfully de-
mand an examination, and if she prove
herself duly qualified, have q license 10
serve as master Of a steam vessel.
Nor is there need of talk, pro or con, on
social status, or 'Woman's Rights, so
called. Having been put on Gods
footstool by Him, she has the right to
win her bread, in any moral. decent
way, which is open to any of His toiiing
creatures. She chooses to do SO, as the
master of steam vessel. 1t is an hon.
est calling. If she is fitted for it, though
clothed in shirts rather than breeches,
she has right to follow it, and no man
should say her pay. ''Let the local in
spectors, putting behind the small
thought of her sex, without antagonism
and without partially, make diligent
inquiry as to her character, carefully
examine her and the proofs she offers,
and if they are satisfied that her capa-
city, her experience, her habits of life
and character. warrant relief that she
can be safely inirusted with the duties
aud responsibilities of master of a
steam vessel, let them grant her a Ii
cense. according to Section No. 4,439.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1884-02-21
THE RUSSIAN MONKS.
Convent Which Possesses Costly I'm
perial Autograph.

According to tradition the Apostle
Andrew visited the place where the city
of kieff now stands, on the high shore
of the Dnieper, and. erecting cross
there. said: "In this country there shall
shine great Christian state" Ten
centuries later Vladimir. the great
Prince of Russia, baptized his people
In kietf, and shortly aiterward perhaps
on the spot trodden 10y St. Andrew, the
first Russian convent was founded. The
monks dug their cells in the grouad,
and thus the famous catacomhs were
made. / have visited these catlcombs.
While my monkish guide, with taper
in his hand, led the way aud pointed
out the last resting place of this OF that
saint, | wondered at the gigantic work
performed by Russian monks centuries
ago. To dig an underground c'l'. TO
spend a whole lifetime in it. to die and
be buried there-what faith must
these austere men have possessed. Dark
and narrow We're the cells they liz Il IN,
but they spread the light of { Christian
faith far and wide in Russia PRAYER
was their special vocation, but they also
worked hard. They destroyed the pa
gan temples and built Christian
churches in their stead. Their aca,iemv
was for centuries the only Institution
where theology, philosophy, and the
sciences were taught. In the eatacomhs
the monks mortified their flesh, PRAYED
to God that He would forgive slieir
sins and also the sins of the wo.ll at
large, wrote chronicles, painted holy
images, prepared vegetable medicines,
and buried the martyrs who persisted nj
the hands of Tartar khans, Russian
Princes, or pagan mobs.
Centuries have passed, aud what 10
we see in these catacombs? The holy
relics and dry bones of these old monks
are exposed to the sight of curious peo-
pie. The monks no longer live there.
They go there only for the purpose of
trade. Large metallic plates are put up
at the grave of each of the fifty canon
lied saints, and every day the monks
obtain piles of money from the lious
pilgrims who come there from MI the
Russias. They sell the tears OF st.
Theophilus, the weeper, the oil that
runs from the grave of st. John of
Many Suf1erings, and drugs f.om the
grave of st. Agapit, the Physician. In
this manner the kieff convent has gath
cred MANY millions of rubles. and be-
side it owns bushels of precious stones.
During the Crimean war, the Car
Nicholas borrowed from the kieff con
vent 2, 200, GOO rubles upon anote in his
own handwriting. Nicholas never paid
the money back Once when the late
Gar Alexander visited kieif the prior
seized the opportunity to remind him of
this debt 10 tine convent, showing him
Nicholas note. Alexander shed tears,
kissed his fathers autograph, and said:
Truly, holy father, it is my beloved
fathers handwriting. Oh, what treas
ure you havel Keep it in the sanctu-
airy, and guard it better than your own
eyes"
With that he returned the note to the
prior. 1t is the costliest autog,ap in
existence,-St Petersburg Cor. NeU
York san.