davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1884-03-20
nNORATE ORDER.-state of Michigan

0. L. JoRDAS. Airy for Assignee and Trustee.
The Opelousas courier., 1884-11-15
Dense Popwlo@ion of Africa.

Africa, says an exchange, is not the
thinly peopled land that America was
before the Latin, the Saxon and the
Celt settled there in millions, but is al
most everywhere thickly inhabited
We have all heard so much about the
degradation of the negro that we are
apt to fancy him greatly the inferior
Of the "noble red man." In certain
physical characters the negro OF the
Soudan and the Hottentot and Bush
man of South Africa are below the
Indian, but the first of these are far
more civilized than any North Ameri-
can Indians save those of Mexico and
Peru; and the great Bantu race to
which the Zulus and the natives OF
the Congo and Zambezi basins belong
is composed of finely built and intelli-
gent men. Negro and Bantu alike are
not wild nomads, living poorly on what
the soil affords, as do the Somall OF
Eastern Africa, and the tribes of the
Sahara, as we'll as a large part OF the
natives of the Americas, but are cultl-
vators of the soil, living in villages
that are often neat and homelike to
look at. The population is even now
more than twice that Of the two
Americas, but the country is cursed
with constant war. with domestic
slavery, and with a foreign traffic in
slaves. The future of Africa is in the
hands of the white races. The natives
are ready to trade, and have products
of value to exchange. All that is
needed to establish with them reia-
lions beneficial alike to white and
black is consistency and fairness in tho
treatment of the latter by the former.
The Opelousas courier., 1884-11-15
Partridge Against Snake.

j. FL. Fry, a New York travelling
salesman, while trout fishing in Pres
ton, Penn, heard a commotion in the
bushes near the creek, and cries such
as made by young chickens when they
are lost. He peered through the
bushes, and saw a hen partridge and a
large black snake engaged in ferco
combat, Huddled together a short
distance away was the partridge's
brood, peeping in terror. The partridge
attacked the snake with her beak and
feet, and struck also blows with her
wings. She moved with such rapidity
about the snake that, in spite of the
quickness with which this reptile is en-
abled to throw its folds about anything
it attacks, the snake was foiIed in all
its attempts to encircle the bird, which
seemed to be seeking to blind the SER
pent by striking at its eyes.
In its efforts to get the bird within
its coil the snake seemed to glide over
and under her like a flash, but, no
matter which course it took, the par
fridge never failed to slip away from
it and and deliver a telling blow upon
it. Once the snake retreated several
feet as if flying from the bird, and the
latter followed it closely. Suddenly
the snake turned and rushed back at
the partridge with its head raised more
than a foot in the air. The bird dashed
forward to meet the serpent, and de-
livered a blow with its beak which
struck the snake square in one of its
eyes. This was apparent 10 Fry, who
stood within ten feet of the contestants,
by the snake instantly dropping its
head to the ground and rolling it rom
side to side as if in great pain. The
bird did not lose a second in following
up her advantage, but pounced ON the
snake close to its head, and, with
surprising rapidity. inflicted wounds
with her beak which seemed to daze
the snake, and it glided first in one di-
rection and then in another, making no
further effort to defend itself, and yet
apparently unable to find a way to es-
cape. The partridge kept up its effec-
tive striking on the neck of the snake
until the head was almost separated
from the body and the reptile ceased
to move.
Fry advanced at this point in the
battle, but the bird continued to,tear at
he flesh Of the snake until he was near
enough to touch her, when she became
awareo of his presence for the first time.
She retreated hurrledly to the spot
where her terror-stricken brood were
huddlsd, and calling them after her
The Opelousas courier., 1884-11-15
Ha,sd Work ana Head Work.

It has been the fashion to separate
hand-work from head-work, as if the
two were incompatible. One was for
laborers and mechanics, the other for
professional and literary people; one
was for the POOR, the other for the rich
But we are gradually learning that
their harmonious union is the only
means of the perfection of either. Rus
kin says truly, "We want one man to
be always thinking and another to be
always working, and we call one a
gentleman and the other an operator:
whereas the workman ought often to
be thinking and the thinker often to
be working, and both should be gem
tlemen in the best sense. The a
of society is made up of morbid think
ers and miserable workers. : It is only
by labor that thought can be made
healthy. and only by thought that
labor IAN be made happy and the two
cannot be separated with impunity."
The Opelousas courier., 1884-11-15

ofthe olive. They said that Neptune
having adispute with Minerva,a as to tne
name of the city of Athens, 1t was de-
cided by the gods that the deity who
gavethe best present to mankind hould
have the privilege in dispute. Neptune
struck the shore, out of which sprung a
horse; but Minerva produced an ollVe-
tree. The goddess had the triumph:
for it was adjudged that peace,of which
the olive is the symbol, was infinitely
better than war. to which the horse
was considered as belonging, and typl1y-
ing. Even in the sacred history. tne
olive is invested with more honor thar
any other tree. The patriarch Moan
had sent out a dove from the ark, u
she returned without any token OF
hope. Then she stayed yet another
seven days, and again he sent forth the
dove out of the ark; and the dove cam
to him in the evening: and, 10, ~ ~
mouth was an olive-brancl: i-''c&ed
off: so Noah knew that the waters
were abated from the earth"
The veneration of the olive, and also
the great duration of the tree, appears
from the history of one in the Acropolls
at Athens. DIR. Clarke has this passage
in his travels, in speaking of the Temple
of PanIrosus--"Within this bulldlng,so
late as the second century, was preserved
the olive-tree mentioned by Apollodo-
rus, which was said to be as old as the
foundation of the citadel. Stuart sup
posed it to have stood in the portico OF
the Temple of P%androsus (called by him
the Pandroseum from the circumstance
of the air necessary for its support,
which could here be admitted between
the caryatides; but instances of trees
that have been preserved to a very great
age, within the interior of an edificein-
closed by walls. may be adduced."
The Opelousas courier., 1884-11-15
7he OliUe.

There is something peculiarly mild
and graceful in the appearance of the
olive-tree, even apart from its associa-
irons.
In ancient times, especially, the olive
was a tree held in the greatest yenera-
ton; for then the oil was employed in
pour ng out libations to the gods, while
the branches formed the wreaths of the
victors Of the Olympic Games. The
Greeks had a pretty and instructive
table in their mythology, on the origin
The Opelousas courier., 1884-11-15

bEfAtAt GCCFY DUy 0BaOteGtb ASttFBta
Every boy should learn to lift him
self by the hands, and to hold on for
some time. 1t is not necessary to go
to a gymnasium to learn this. Boys in
the country in climbing trees are soon
able to lift themselves by the hands
1t is well to have a pole placed hori
zontally, just high enough to allow
the feet to clear from the ground.
With this and a rope Of a good size
hanging down from a secure fasten-
ing, many useful feats may be
learned. The pole or rope may be I'M
der a shed or in the barn. To lift the
body by the hands and to move along
on the pole, and to hang by n baud.
and to swing in various ways, will
greatly strengthen the arms and
hands. The rope will allow of the
more difficult feat of climbing it.
Learn to climb the rope,by the aid of
the feet, pressing the rope between
them. After this learn to go up,
using the hands only. In going down
never slide, but go down hand-under-
hand, otherwise the hands may be
badly hurt. One who can command
himself while On a rope may attime
find the ability to do % very useful
1t is easily acquired, and the time
spent in such exercise is by no means
wasted.
The Opelousas courier., 1884-11-15
The HNy Crop,

George Alfred Townsend says in the
New York Tribune: l was talking to
an agricultural implement builder who
has been, in the midst of the apparent
decline of things, extending his works.
Said l: "On what principle do you ex-
pand your business?" upon the in
crease in the hay crop" said he. Hay
is worth, on the average, probably $40
a ton, and we make, say, 5O,00O,O00
tons of hay per annum."~ "Heavens!"
said /, "that amounts to 5000 ,000."
''Of course it does" said the builder;
''but you must recollect that hay is
probably the second crop of Importance
in this country-corn, l suppose, being
the first. Youasa always get rid of
your hay, because you can feed it into
beef, and the beef can be exported if
the wheat cannot. My machinery not
only cuts the hay and keeps it turning
after it is cut, so that it can speedily
dry, but it stacks it at the rate of a ton
every few minutes, the gathering ma
chine carrying the hay to a platform
apparatus up which it is carried and
put in the stack. In some portions Of
this country hay commands only So a
ton, but l think it will average $40 a
ton all around, and there is none too
much of it. New York state leads in
the hay crop, and Pennsylvania comes
nnyt"
The Opelousas courier., 1884-11-15
Recipes.

Vegetable Soup Chop a small
tender turnip, four potatoes, two
onions, a teacup of cabbage, one-half
cup of carrot, a few green or dried
boiled beans. Boil the cabbage and
carrot half an hour, then add the other
vegetables and boil another half hour
In sufficient water to make a good
soup. When done, add cream and salt
for seasoning, or milk and butter, and
thicken with a little rice flour or corn
starch. An egg well beaten may be
added last, simply letting it scald for
a moment. Squares of toasted bread
Or cracker crumbs may be used for
~thickening.
Il Light cake.-One pound -four,
one quarter pound butter. one quarter
pound sugar, four eggs, a very little
soda, as much milk as will make a
thick batter. Bake in a shape, butter,
anu serve not.
Gingerbread--Rub a quarter of a
pound of flour, then add half an ounce
Cor less if liked of ground ginger and
quarter of a pound of moist sugar;
then stir in three-quarters of a pound
of molasses and a teaspoonful of a r
Donate of soda dissolved in as much
milk as will make the mixture rather
stiff.
DGndezion Salad. - Choose very
young tender dandelions; cut off all
the roots, wash them thoroughly in
several cold waters, the last of which
should contain a tablespoonful Of salt;
then shake them dry in a clean towel;
put them into a salad-bowl, and dress
them with oil and vinegar-one spoon
full of vinegar to three of oil-and a
little salt and pepper.
The Opelousas courier., 1884-11-15
FARM N HOME
rs. =, o.t Pron,nbre Animal.

Inc NkUSG X u
The most profitable animal is not
| the one that excels in the production
| of milk, butter or meat without re-
gard to cost, for the superior excel
lence is based upon the proftaDienesS
| of the animal in relation to the eX-
pense incurred. The ordinary farmer
does not care whether his cow be a
large Shorthorn or a small Jersey, pro-
vided the profit realized therefrom De
in proportion to the labor and expense
compared with the production. Thus
if the tests that are frequently being
made of the capacities of the Jerseys
as butter producers demonstrate no
thing but the ability of that breed TO
produce, the tests are valueless, but II
it be made plain that the breed IS ca
pable of converting a certain amount
of food into a saleable product in a
greater degree than is the case with
other breeds, then the tests are criter-
ions Of Judgment, and made the stand
ard of comparison for computing the
relative ratio to what degree a pro-
p%ortionate amount of provender may
be changed in form and become a sale
able product. Bat is this the case in test
ing noted cows? We think not. So
far we are satisfied that the Jerseys
are the butter producers above all other
cattle, but it is still a matter OF COL
troversy as to what amount OF 0 IS
required in order to produce a pound
of butter.
Suppose the method of testing COWS
be made in a different manner, and in
stead of recording the fact that the
Princess II. produced twenty-eight
pounds of butter per week we be in
formed that a certain cow produced an
amount Of butter on q given proper
ton of food consumed. 1t will be of
no consequence then whether the cow
produced ten pounds or twenty, pro-
vided she gave a large profit on the
amount of food required for the pro-
ductio1 of the butter credited to her,
whether her production be great or
but little, and instead of tracing peli-
grees by COWS of large records, let us
lay the foundations upon COWS that are
capable of yielding the greatest guam
tity at the least possible cost.
We admit that a cow that is capable
Of assimilating a large quantity of food
is a valuable cow, but the quantity
should be in proportion to the produc-
ton of the animal, and until we are in
formed fully in regard to the true
merits of the COW as regards her value
(leaving out of the question the "faney"
or fictitious estimate) to the farmer as
a machine for converting n kind of
product into another, the tests are only
matters of competition for notoriety,
and afford no light on the actual
merits of the animal for the purposes
of the dairy.-Farm, Field and Fire
side.
The Opelousas courier., 1884-11-15

with a few clucks, led them away into
the underbrush. Fry examined the
snake and found that besides the fatal
wounds it had received in its neck,
both of it's eyes had been put out by
the partridge. The snake was nearly
five feet in length, and had in its
stomach the partially digested remains
of a large rattlesnake.
The Opelousas courier., 1884-11-15
A SDNNfSb RvPNEJGSf-

The day opened for US, hot earlier
than 9 o'clock, with a characteristic
Spanish breakfast-an u%nctuous, abun-
dant meal that would have made the
governor of Barataria smack his thick
lips, but seemed rather oppressive to
our less robust appetite. A leg of
mutton, cunningly stuffed with cloves
of garlic in every fold and Granny, and
a thick sopa or soup, of the consisten-
cy of porridge, and yielding, on rough
analysis with a spoon, eggs, bread
crumbs, minced meat and flour, made
up the solid body of that breakfast.
Refreshing liquids were conspicuously
absent, so were butter and cows milk,
for the herds were up mountaineering
for thesulnmer season on the highland
pastures around the Maladetta, and
milk, beyond the niggardly supply
from the town goats, was not to be
had even for distinguished strangers
We had wines of two kinds, one sweet,
the other fennel-favored, and both
abominable, and chocolate, of course,
was not wanting. very rich and aro-
matte. no doubt, but no more entitled
to rank as a liquid or a stimulant than
molasses. The meal on that morning
as on every succeeding one, and as the
dinner every evening, was wound up
with cheese and a plate of sugar al
monds, doing duty for the postres or
after dishes Of Spanish gastronomy
Antonio always directed personally the
operations of the serving-woman dur
ing meals, and the superb air with
which he would order ON the lump of
leathery Spanish cheese and the hand
full of sweetmeats, with an imperious
-"Los postres, Theresar'-was gene
rally too much for our gravity. Dinner
was made up in much the same way
as breakfast, and the only striking
variation on the first days menu we
had in the course of our weeks stay in
Venasque was an occasional oua-Irish
stew, with the potatoes left out-a
dish of stewed lizard or Pyrenian
chamois, and two trout as large as a
dudgeon, which an enterprising Span
ish youth had discovered in theEssera.
Garlic apart, however, the food was
good and clean, and the never-failing
attention of Antonio and his household
made us all confess that the garlic and
wine, with human kindness, were
better than the proverbial stalled OK
without it, We got rid Of the garlic
for all that. 1t was a delicate thing to
manage without wounding nationai
sentiments, but we carried our point
smoothly enough by setting down our
distaste for the vegetable to a defect
in our insular education. Tinsley'
Magazine.
The Opelousas courier., 1884-11-15
Hinfs.

Camphor in water cures hiccoughs.
Always keep a supply of Irvine,
,halk and putty in the house.
Medicine stains may be removed
from silver spoons by rubbing them
with soft ashes and soap suds.
Brass ornaments may be cleaned by
washing with rock alum which has
been dissolved in hot water
Potatoes for salad should be be cut
up while hot, and the parsley and
onion, pepper and salt should be added
Immediately.
The Opelousas courier., 1884-11-15

A~
! However, / locked and barred all the
| doors and windows, as usual, for some
road agents had been around those
| parts about that time, and had stood
! up and robbed several ranchers; and,
as / told you, 1 was all alone. Some
how, I couldn't go to sleep when, after
that, | went to bed. After tossing
! around for awhile, / got up and sat by
The fire, brooding over nay trouble, and
trying not to think Of the poor devil
shivering out there in the cold and rain
somewhere. l looked at his pack sit
ting up in the corner, and wondered
what made it so long. AS watched
it [ fancied Isaw it move"
saw it move?"
exactly, I wouldn't believe my
eyes at first, but after watching intent
I ly for a while, 1 distinctly saw the front
of a hand pressed against the canvas
from the inside. Like a flash then |
understood the whole thing. The ped
dler was one of the road agents gang,
and, knowing 1 had considerable money
about the house, they had adopted that
plan for smuggling n of their crew
inside the house. After 1 had gone to
| sleep, the fellow inside could let in the
rest and finish the job. I walked
quietly across the room, took my gun
from the antlers, knelt down a few feet
from the pack, aimed square in the
center, and pulled the trigger"
go on" murmured the listener,
with a shudder.
but the gun didn't 60 off," contin-
ued the Ian ilord, clearing his throat.
1.-THE nipple was rusty and wouldn't
work, so l laid down the rifle and got
an axe from the kitchen. 1t had been
newly ground that day, and when [
lifted it over my head, l counted upon
cleaYing that pack, robber and all. clear
to the floor. Just as | raised the x
and braced myself for the blow, IL
saw a ghost"
"a ghost?"
Eyes, sir. The pack opened, and |
saw sticking out Of its top the curly
yellow head, blue eyes and rosy cheeks
of my Nellie when she was a little tot
of four. The shock staggered me so
that / sank on my knees. l wiped my
eyes, and wondered if l had not gone
crazy. / was almost certain of it.
when the ghost stretched out a pair of
chubby white arms. and said:
":Deevnin, dranpay"
"Ah!' said the guest, with relieved
sigh, 81 begin to SEE. And what did
you do then?"
g" don't exactly know" said the
landlord, softly, shut if there is any
thing that will bend a stiff. stubborn
neck quicker than the arms of a little
child, I'd like to know what it is. l
put the tired little prisoner down by
the fire, opened the door and held out
my arms"
"And the mother"
Eyes," nodded the landlord, "they
were both there; and. mister, ] guess
that's the end of my story" and the
old man wiped his eyes. "You must
excuse me, stranger, but that was a
wet evening, and somehow l haven't
got quite dry since."-San Francisco
Post.
The Opelousas courier., 1884-11-15
DoTEse.
inc sports witching gown
With a ruffle mp and down

inc sports witching gown
With rufle mp and down
On the skirt.
She is gentle, she is sly;
But there is mischief in haSsae
She's a firt!
she displays n tiny glove.
And dainty little love
Of shoe;
And she wears her hat a-tiiS
Over bangs that never wilt
In the dew.
Ills rumored chocolate creanSe
Are the fabric of her Dreams
But enough!
know beyond a doubt
That she carries tn m aboLO
In her muff.
With her dimples and her Gu,
She exasperates the girls
Past bellet;
They hint that she's a cat,
And delightful things like hF7
In their grief.
1t is shocking, l decl re!
But what does Dollie care
When the beaus
Come focking to her feet
Like the bees around u sweet
Little rose?
Miaturn Ieck, an the Mdahatta
The Opelousas courier., 1884-11-15
OF Importance to Letter. Writers.

OF Importance TO Letter. Writers.
Most persons have an idea that any
mi who sends a letter a telegraph
to the postmaster at the Office of deliv
cry and have it returned to him. Such,
however, is not the fact. The post.
master at the Office of mailing is tn
only person why can recall a letter.
This authority was recently given, the
privilege heretofore being exercised by
the Postmaster General. Therefore, i
the sender of a letter desires to inter
cept the missive or have it returned to
him, he must apply to the postmaster
at the Office where he mailed the letter
The Opelousas courier., 1884-11-15
E1aanOsaihEe.

Theodore-"Marguerite, dearest, as
I was coming up the street, I met
that ugly Jack Strong. He gave me
an awful scowl and said if l didn't
keep away from here he'd blow nv
brains out" Marguerite-"Oh, but
he didn't mean it, Theo; he isn't such
a bad man as that. ] couldn't believe
it Of him. The thing is impossible. :"
And it is from such harmless CONVEX
sation as this that two hearts are
wrenched asunder.
The Opelousas courier., 1884-11-15
OPELOUsAs FEMALE INSTITUTE.
O~pelousas, St. Landry Parish, La.

Opelousas. St. Landry Parish, La.
TNHIS Institution will resume duties Nor
l. day, September Sd, 1883, under the I'M
mediate supervision of Mrs. NJ. NJ. Hayes
and Mrs. NJ. A. Davis, with competent as
~5is:ants. The scholastic year consists of
forty weeks.
TERMS OF TUITION;
Preparatory Department, per month $3.50
Academic 800
Music, with use OF piano, 600
Boarding. including washing. lights and
fuel, 1906
Embroidery, wax flowers, painting,
drawing, each, extra, 1906
Incidental fee, 1.0I
The government of this school is strict but
parental; no hard tasks or restrictions are
imposed, but every student must comply with
the rules, and must prepare up to the meas
ure of her ability, the lessons assigned.
Our course of study and mode of instruc-
ton are to train the mind to habits of correct
thinking and thorough investigation. No
student will be allowed to enter higher class
es wi thout Thorough preparation. Parents
and guardians may rest assured that the
manners health and morals of their ceildren
and wards shall receive due attention.
No deduction for absence, unless in case
of protracted illness. The location of the
town is healthful and easy of access. The
boarding department is under tae immedi-
ate charge of Mrs. Hayes. Roarders will pro-
vide themselves with blankets and towels.
For particulars address
MRS. M. M. HAYES,
july 2e'33-nov 27'79 Principal.
The Opelousas courier., 1884-11-15

The total number of patents grant
ed for agricultural inventions is
$3.50,
The Opelousas courier., 1884-11-15

Mons. Vignal has conelu lied that
The germs Of consumption may Turk In
the dust OF rooms o streets, as he has
proven that the bacilli in the matter
expectorated By consumptivo patients
ne not destroyed BY being repeatedly
dried and moistened, and dust contain
nng such matter may be an agent of
atagion to persons p~redisrosed to.
disease d in whom The bacilli
md suitable soil for propagation. A
g~uinea-pig~ inoculated with the matter
III The condition in which i. is likely
exist iii the streets died In three
montbs from genuine consumption,
The Opelousas courier., 1884-11-15

have secured the services of Mr. Walton
AISandoz. a competent and experienced
druggist, and will be prepared to fill all pre-
scriptions at any time, and give prompt
attention to all matters in my line of bust.
ness. 1 respectfully solicit a share of the
public patronage.
R. NJ. LITTELL,
Proprietor.
Opelousas, Sept. 6, 1881.
The Opelousas courier., 1884-11-15
the mother

EYES," nodded the landlord. "they
were both there; and. mister. ] guess
that's the end of my story" and the
old nan wiped his eyes. you must
excuse me, stranger, but that was a
wet evening, and somehow l haven't
got quite dry since."-San Francisco
Post