davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1884-05-17
wnnt Of HxnowIcdge In Music.


Ignorance and want Of taste in
hearers is sometimes a source of great
annoyance to performers who are
striving to produce effect. AS an il
lustration, we will mention fact that
occurred in Constantinople, An En-
glish band once performed for the
entertainment OF the Sultan and his
court. AT the conclusion he requested
them to play the first piece again, as
he liked that better than any OF the
others, They recommended with the
first piece on the programme. They
were quickly stopped, however, as it
was not the right one. They tried
another and another with as little sue
cess, till the wholey programme was
exhausted The leader then suggested
TO the performers that perhaps he
mistook their tuning the instruments
for piece, and they accordingly be-
gan to tune them again, whom the
incarnate royalty exclaimed; as
hallahl Heaven be praised!-that
is it'll"
A similar accident occurred to Sig
nor Ostinelli, heretofore well-known
throughout New England as one of
best violin players and teachers in
Boston. With several musical friends
he was out on little tour giving mu-
steal entertainments. They accepted
an invitation to visit village. where
they were teld they would find people
OF taste and education who would APP
preciate their performances and patron
ize them well. They went, but found
a small audience. Not disheartened
they determined to win golden ap
plause by astonishing the few, if moth
ing more. All their efforts seemed in
vain. Not q clap nor a stamp of ap
plause was ELECTED, but all were sstil
and demure as if at a funeral or {
Quaker meeting. At last Ostinell
said: "Wait leetle, / give dem 1dt
grand selo." He presented himscl
before them, violin in hand, expectin.
to receive that applause which alway
greeted his appearance on such occa
sions. He hourished his bow and ral
his fingers with astonishing velocit,
all over the finger board. He sawed
and sawed away, getting more ant
more excited, until he played as if TIN
very genius OF inspiration had scttle'
upon him. He fairly outdid himsel
IN the opinion of his musical compan
ions. But it was all to no opurpose-th
audiance sat unmoved and silent, q
il waiting for something not receiv
ing. The fantasia which he was play
in ended with an exquisite finale. II
bowed and bowed, and was moving ot
the stage when one of the audionc
called out; "Look a-here, meow yo
have been tuning your darned oil
fiddle about long enough; can't yo
give us q tune neow7"
The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1884-05-17
A Young Lawyer Starved to Death.

For the first time in recorded histo-
ry a lawyer has starved to death. A
youngman has just encountered that
sad fate in Concord, New Hampshire,
and, as the case appears to bo fairly
well authenticated, the sorrowful OK
ception deserves to be noted.
1t has long been asserted that New
England was going into decadence.
But no evidences Of the facts SO con-
vincing as this case have ever been
adduced before, Young lawyers have
gone from New England to every part
of this country. Instead of dying of
starvation it has been their clients
who have suffered, while they them
selves have bought out the towns Of
their residence or have gone on until
they have reached Congress or other
high honors their communities had to
confer.
1t may be said In excuse for this
case that the man was very young,
very modest and stranger. But no
New England lawyer ever before star
we'd even under these discouraging
conditions. 1t simply shows that the
decadence OF New England is absolute
and that the remnant of young lawyers
left in the State are not made of the
same kind OF stuff as those who have
gone out-Philadelphia Times
The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1884-05-17
Death I'm the Slope.

The Mount Pleasant Mine, Scran-
ton, Pa, is entered through a slope
POO feet long, and driven at an angle
of 33 degrees, through which the coal
is hoisted up.
Shortly after seven o'clock ono
morning party Of about six miners
started to walk down the shaft. When
about half way down, tho mon at tho
headhouse proceeded to lower empty
cars for the miners, according to Gus
tom. These cars are attached to q
wire rope by means of chain twenty
feet long, to the end of which stout,
though somewhat clumsy bent hook,
is affixed, and this in turn grapples a
link fixed in the end of the car. As
the workmen had just pushed the first
cur from the landing the graphing
hook became detached, and the car
dashed down the steep slope with
lightning-like rapidity, overtaking
David Owens, Evan Davies and Thorn
as Sterrit about midway in the gloomy
passage.
Owens and Davies were instantly
killed and thrown some forty feet from
where they were struck. ,Sterrit re
ceived a horrible cash across the fore
head and was rendered insensible. The
car jumped the track at this point
and knocked down some of the props
supporting the roof, causing shower
of rocks to fall down and smash the
ear and block up the slope. The men
accompanying those who we're struck
took refuge behind the track in a mar
row bed scooped out OF the rock, and
escaped unhurt.
The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1884-05-17
Tariff for Revenue Only.

The good people Of former days had
a queer idea of what constituted a sim
full posture The New Haven colony
in 1869 passed statute with the fol-
lowing clause: "Whosoeyer shall in
veigle or draw the affections Of any
maide or maide servant, either to him
self or others, without first gaining the
consent Of her parents, shall pay to
the plantation for the first offence 40
shillings the second CA for the third
she shall be imprisoned or corporious-
ly punished. Under this law, at 4
court held in May, 1869, Jocobeth
Murtins and Sarah futile we're pros
eci,tcd "for setting down on 4 chest
together. his arm around her waiste
and her arm upon his shoulder or
about his neck, and continued in that
sinful posture about an hour, in which
time he kyssed her and she kyssod
him, or they kyssed one another, MS 80
witnesses testified"
The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1884-05-17
Judah u. 1senialnin Dead.

Judah P. Benjamin, the distinguish
ed lawyer and advocate and ex-mem-
Der OF the government ofthe Southern
Confederaey, is dead.
he died in his apartments, Avenue
Jena, Paris. He had been in failing
health ever since he fell, while descend
ing from q tramway can, several years
ago
Mr.. Benjamin was in his seventy
third year. He was born of English
parents OF the Jewish faith in the
Danish West hides, but was brought
upin North Carolina. He went to
college in Connecticut and practiced
law in New Orleans. Originally a
whig, he became Democrat in the
KnOw-Nothing excitement and was as
such elected to the United States Sen
ate from Louisiana in 1852. He left
the Senate with the secession of his
State and became Attorney General
and afterwards Secretary of State oI
the Coniederacy.. At the close of the
war he escaped to England, where he
was Immediately called to the bar an(
established so successful practice
that he was enabled, year or tive
ago, to retire with a fortune.
The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1884-05-17
ARantlnIl's Prospects.

Mr.. 'Randall's alleged widespread
popularity seems to have great difficult
ty in spreading itself beyond the con-
fines of the State of Pennsylvania. 1t
appears to dread exposure, and has to
be kept indoors to prevent it from be-
ing nipped by the late frosts "Pig
Iron" Kelly and Randall appear to
entertain pretty much the same kind
of patriotic sentiments. Thoy arc
both in favor of Pennsylvania first,
and the country at large afterwards.
There are great many Democrats
who believe that Randall is the Jonah
of the party, who will wreck the ship
and compel the crew, if any survive
to languish on the desert island of po-
litical defeat, unless the said Jonah is
urged to step overheard. He is an
infinitely more dangerous man to the
National Democracy than John Kelly
is to the party in New York State
The fault is really not with Randall
He is not to blame that the State O
Pennsylvania is not large enough tC
take in the United States, or that he
himself is not smart enough to take il
his own party, much less that very in
fuential individual in a closely con
tested election-the Independen
voter.
The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1884-05-17
A Trining Difference.

A jersey man called upon Newark
lawyer the other day and announced
that "his rich brother had drawn up Il
will and died, and that"
"Oh! / sec!" interrupted the attor-
ncy, "and you want mo to bust it.
Very well, sit; we'll plead insanity"
"Oh, no-he wasn't insane. You
soc the will leaves everything To-
ITO his second wife, or some church
or college. Have no fears, my dear
sir. can bust the business high-sky.
Well plead undue influence"
"But / influenced him myself
"Ah, that alters the case somewhat
but I'll prove to the jury that he was
afflicted with softening of the brain.
"For Heavens sake, don't do i'll"
"But l must and shall bust the
will"
"Then, I'll have to find lawyer
who can't for it's drawn in my favor
and want to beat the other heirsp
"Ah! Certainly! Thatalte the case
Your brother was sane, sensible and
in perfect health, and all the lawyers
this side of Halifax can't break thai
will Sit down, sirW
The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1884-05-17
The EEnreEn Of EHadI Ahmed,
East EEeY of Constantine.

When the French finally reduced
Constantine, one OF the Algcrine cit
les, in 1S4S, the palace OF Hadj Ahmed
excited general admiration, and the
woman OF his large harem caused un-
usual curiosity and,compassion, from.
tina tales spread Of his cruelty to them.
He sprang from u wealthy family of
the place, and had been Khalifa under
the Bey Braham-cl-Rabbi, but, excit-
ing the jealousy Of that ruler, fled to-
Algiers. There he won the goodwill
OF the pasha, and in 1926 become him
self Bey of Constantine.
His cruelties were the theme OF ev-
cry tongue. A summer-house used to
be shown in his garden where he was
accustomed to sit and smoke, while his
harem, all attired in their finest ar
ray, passed one by ono before him.
They were requested to keep their
eyes cast down, their arms folded
across their breast in modest atti-
tude. One day one of these women,
as she passed through the garden,
plucked an orange. The Hadj Ahmed
ordered her hand to be nailed up to
the tree.
One Of his four wives Was an Italian
girl named Aicha, carried off when
child, with her brother. She was a
queenly young woman, and, after the
French occupation, was instructed,
and in time married French officer.
Her influence had been great with the
Hadj Ahmed, yet when her brother,
after rising to high rank in the ar
my, discovered finally that his sister
was in the harem, the Hadj Ahmed
put him to death for daring to ask to
see her.
One day some OF the women found
a pipe, and, to divert themselves,
dressed one of their number in a tur-
ban and robes, and set her up to smoke
while they waited upon her. Hadj
Ahmed burst in upon the childish
scene, tore his mock representative
from her scat of honor, and had her
mouth sewed up as punishment for
daring to place his pipe within it, and
ordered her put to death.
From time to time, during his rule
two men would be seen at night, one
bearing to the height overlooking tht
valley of the Round u long box open
at each end, the other a white sacl
from which smothered moans escaped
Hating at three stones, the box wal
placed on the middle one the sacl
slipped in one end OF the box raised
and the sack shot down precipice o
six hundred feet Some hours late
men approached the sack on tho rock,
bank of the river, opened it, took on
woman's corpse, and conveyed it t
the grave.
This monster lived many years al
ter his overthrow, and died an objoc
Of horror.
The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1884-05-17
NO. 10.
Gnrll. j. E,iIden.

The Young Mems Democratic
League, of Cleveland, has resolved as
follows That in the opinion ofthe
Young Mems Democratic League,tho
stan dardbcarerwho can loadthe Dem
ocratic party to victory in the coming
presidential campaign, is the Hon. So
Tiiden.
Resolved That we do all in our pow
er to bring about the nomination Of
the Hon. S. j. Tilden, believing 1t to
be matter Of justice to tho American
people, the Democratic party and the
gentleman himself The endorsement
he received at the hands OF his coun-
trymen, at preveous election, but re-
fleets the sentiment and wishes of the
American people to-day. We believe
that the same sentiment which has
buried that monument of American
fraud, r. B. Hayes in eternal oblivion,
has endeared the man whom they
elected to preside over the destinics of
the great nation, to them in like do
gree.
The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1884-05-17
Josh Billings Guide to Health.

Be honest if you can, If you cant be
honest, pray for help.
Never run into debt if you can find
anything else to run into.
Exercise in open air, but don't saw
wood until You are obliged to.
Laff every time you feel tickled, lafi'
oncoin a while ennyhow.
Marry young, and if you make hit
keep cool and don't brag about it.
Don't swear--it may convince you
but it is sure not to convince others.
Don't jaw back-it proves that you
are rs big phool as the other phello.
Eat hash washing days and be thank
phui, if you have to shut your eyes to
do it.
Be kind to your mother-in-law, and
if nescessary, pay her board at some
good hotel.
Don't drink too much new cider
and however mean you be, don't abuse
a kow.
Never borrow what you are not able
to buy, and always have some things
you won'tlend,
Bathe thoroughly once a week in
soft water and kasteel soap, and avoid
Il
tite boots.
Never get in hurry you can wslE
a great deal further in day than you
can run.
Hold the baby half the time, always
start the fire in the morning and pui
on the teakettle
The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1884-05-17

"Did you notice what boor that
man was who sat next to your" asked
one lady of another as the pair step
ped off a Woodward avenue car the
other day.
"How?"
"Why he refused to pass up the fare
for the lady in lavender silk"
"Oh, well, you see they were divor-
ced only two week ago, and it couldn't
be expected that he would recover his
composure this soon. 1t is mean
trick in any divorced woman to expect
her ex husband to pass alimony up to
the fare box"
The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1884-05-17
General Grants Ruin.

New YoRK, May 10,--Gcorge Jones,
OF the New York Times says General
Grants fund of $250,0O0 is absolutely
safe. don't know where his enemies
find their lies. The funds is invested
in Toledo and Wabash second mort
gage bonds, interest payable quarterly,
and guaranteed principal and interest
by the heirs OF the late Governor +. d.
Morgan. Hitherto we have paid in
terest annually. The first of May of
each year has found the General in
possession of $15, 5,140 interest in full
on the investment. Hereafter We
shall pay him quarterly, not. only be-
cause he needs the money, but because
we do not mean that any one else
shall lay hands on it. General Grant
could not touch a dollar of the princi-
pal even if.he desired to do so, any
more than | could. He can will it,
however, at his death to his
heirs. / was with General Grant
on Sunday last, and he was in com
plete the ignorance of the impending
disaster. Other than this fund he does
not possess.a a dollar, and more than
that, he is deeply and irretrieveably in
debt. What he did in Wall street, he
did for his sons, and it seems too bad
that this man who has.done so much
for his country, should be left in hie
old age dependent on anation he help
ed to save.
The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1884-05-17
Me Did Not.

ADO you drink anything MiggT
asked merchant of his head book
keeper.
"No sir" came back the prompt an
swer
The merchrnt relapsed into silence,
but presently spoke.
M'm sorry to doubt your word,
Migg, but I'll swear | saw you drunk
yestosday,"
II have no doubt but what you did
sir"
"But didn't you say just now that
you did not drink anything?"
II did sir"
"Then, how came you drunk?"
"You will observe" answered the
book-kecper, "that you asked me if
drank anything; to that question an
swer emphatically no; for if | drank
anything | would soon be poisoned
am quite choice with my drinks
and kill nothing but pure ole ry'
whiskcy."
The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1884-05-17
IsemsB Bultler.

The Globe prints the substance of a
private letter from Appointment Michi-
gan politician, declaring that the But
Ter sentiment in that State is rapidly
extending from Nationals to the Dem
ocrats. "a year ago." he says, mot
twenty men thought of him as Presi-
dent. Now, everything is changed,
not only the Nationals are heart and
soul or.him, but the Democrats are
working up to his availability as can
didate, the leader seeing that Butler is
really the peoples choice" He feels
confident that he will get a fair share
of the Michigan delegates to the Dem
ocratic Convention in Chicago; only
one or two Democratic papers are op-
posed him, and several have already
declared for him. The Detroit Even
ing News, an independent paper, with
the largest and most general circulation
OF any Michigan paper says, III Butler
we're in the White House, he would
have brought the whole gang of star
reuters to justice, though eycry man
in Congress on both sides, and every
scalp lawyer in New York and Wash
ington rose up in their defense. Oh
for four years OF the horo OF Tewks
buryW
The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1884-05-17

How He Does It~-Sharp clerk.
There isa beautiful piece of goods
Miss. It will make up very handsome
and ! am sure will become either you
or your sister.
Lady purchaser, blusliing. Why
ahem-so it is. Yes, | think ! can
trust TO your judgment Suppose You
cut me off twenty yards.
As they are leaving the stbre--Wlly,
mamma, why didn't you tell him | was
your
Lady.-Hush. Do he still, Maud.
You chatter to continually.
Sharp clerk, to man at the m !,
counter. Did you see me word, her.
Twenty per cent gu that; it's thAt
stun left over from last Spring.
The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1884-05-17
Hints TO Young Mothers.

Some mothers do not know what to
do with the baby on the nurses seven
ing out" Various plans of disposing
of him have been suggested to us.
One way is to put the kitten to bed
with him, and then go to the theatre.
This, however, has been objected to by
Mr.. Bergh as being cruel to the kitten
Another method is to let his papa
walk up and down the nursery while
he sings him to sleep in his arms this,
however, is bad for the baby's morals,
as he is apt to pick up many strange
and curious interjections from his
father. The most popular method is
to leave him alone upstairs with the
door shut, while you drown any possi-
bic noise he might make BY playing
Baby Nine on the piano in the
parlor.
The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1884-05-17

The performances of the locomotive
whistle we are told have been system
atized on western railroad. Seven
whistles are TO indicate "down brakes"
thirty-two whistles, "up brakes;" forty
whistles and two snorts, "back-up."
The Instructions add an case Of
doubt, whistle like tho d-l;' at
street crossings, whistle considcra-
bly," Again. always whistle before
dinner. Require the fireman to keep
the whistle-valye open during dinner.
After uinner, whistle and squirt water,
then back up. Then go ahead with q
whistle, squirt and sing"
The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1884-05-17
rhe Largest Ganin the Country.

There was successfully cast last week
at the South Boston Iron Works, in
fulliillment of contract with the
United States Government, the largest
gun ever constructed in this country.
When fully completed it will be about
thirty feet in length, of twelve-inch
rifle bore and win weigh 212,000
pounds. The cost of the gun will be
S2S,O00, or one-half the sum a steel
would have cost. 1t is calculated to
he able to throw projection q distance
OF six miles.
The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1884-05-17
Giving Himself Away.

"Where were you last Sunday, Rob
bie?" asked the teacher of one of the
brightest scholars in her Sunday
school class.
"My mother kept me at home"
"Now. Robbie, do you know where
little boys go to whom they play truant
from Sunday school?"
eyes, man."
"Where?"
"They 60 fshin," exclaimed the
boy, letting the whole feline family
out Of the envelope.
The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1884-05-17
A Nip-and- Tuck Fight With Satan.

Tho thirty Mohanmedsns travelling
with Forepaugh's Show FIVE times a
each day piously knoel, turn their
faces toward the east and repeat a
prayer. We should think it would be
necessary for man travelling with a
circus to pray at least FIVE times day
if he wished to retain his grip on re-
ligion.-Norisioun Herald
The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1884-05-17

'Papa, WHAT'S the turilT2 asked a
congressmanis little hoy Gazing
compassioAately at the youthful
knowledge.seeker and sadly shaking
his head, the father replied "My @,n,
| cannot tell lie; / do not know"
The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1884-05-17

Charles A. Gardner, of Rochester,
n. ", who died on the eve OF his we'd
ding, left the bulk OF his estate, valued
at 100000, to his intended wife.
This property was left by his father,
Judge Addison Gardner, in trust for
his son. 1t is said there will be a
contest on the ground that Charles
A. Gardner could not will trust
A few day ago man in New York
was fined $4,000 for giving tobacco to
giraffe in Central Park. Almost
simultaneously tavern keeper in
Chicago was fined S. for selling whis-
key to children. From these two
facts it would appear That the preser
Sation of the morals OF the giraffe
stands higher than the protection oI
children.
The Portland daily press., 1884-10-11

Bosron. oct. lo.-Tne FOLLOWING we're b..

BOSTON, Oct. 1o.-The following were tc-days
quotations Of Butter, Cheese. Eggs, 30:
Pork-Long cuts, 18 5O@19 90; short outs 10 90
gle 80: backs S19 50@20 90; light backs cog
&15 80; lean ends at $40 5O@20 90 prime mess,
new, IL 60@18 so; extra prime 15 50G$16; mess,
Lard ct S14@Shc W fb for tierces; S% @9c for
BIB pais.
Fresh Beet-Fair steers at s@1o14c % n; choice
binds at 14lsc;second quality l2a131ac; light SO
lie; good heavy fores at TIA goc; second
quality at 6@7c: rattles at 446c; ribs at 6@lOc;
rumps S4161ac;rounds at iQ99c; rump loins 13@
zoo; loins l8@24c; light l2l6l7c.
s0esns--choice large hand picked pea at 76@
/ 30 v bush; choice New York small hand-picked
do at e0@1 95; small hand-picked pea. Vermont,
at 81 0o92 05; common Ito good at 81 50@1 60i
8O@1 SO. and choice screened do 1 e09l 65;com.
mon Desns OO@2 16i German medium beans at
6Oa1 rs. DO pea at / 1901 80; choice improved
ysllovsyes OF 10@2 Id; old-fashionedsyelIo
ApPiss~we quote Green Apples st IL DOGS ooy
Dbl Evaporated Apples ct 406c % ID.
Hay-Choice prime hay quoted i8 0O0S1 9Y ton:
medium to good hay at SIS 009$17 90; Eastern
fine s1S 0O@s16 90; poor s11@$I3; damaged Sc
$1S 56@s19 90; oat straw s99s1o y ton.
Buttsr we quote Western and Northern ereame-
ries ut 28@ SOC for extra and 20@27e for good and
choice; Franklin County dairy 2b@27e; New York
and Vermont diaries 23@25c for choice fresh, 2O@
csc for choice, i69 1Sc for fair and good, and 10
6z16c for common; Western dairy lat 10000 for
choice; i6@16c for fair and good imitation cream
cry at 1s@z2c; Western iadle packed 14@16c for
choice and 8@12c " fb for common and good choice
grades arm; demand moderate.
Oheese-we quote at 11@12c for choice and 81s a
10lsc for fair to good; o@S for common.
Eggs at 1s923o y dos.
; Potatoes e at 4o966c y bush Sweet potatoes $50