davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1884-10-16

same time it is very tough and teRa
cious and will bear a very heavy strain.
1t Will, some day soon, be used prin-
cipally for buckets, bowls, pitchers,
and trays; also for OK yokes, AID for
almost all kinds Of water vessels. For
bread trays it is the finest in the world.
The wood grows among the cypress
trees, and is far more abundant. and
floats like cork. The water or will0w
oak is second emily to the live oak, and
is almost as evergreen; 1t takes the
coolest weather to make 1t shed its
leaves, and it is ALMOST as hard when
seasoned as the live oak, and for the
rim and spokes of wheels it has no SUI
perior. For ship building it is almost
equal to the live oak II have tested
the crushing capacity OF this wood, "
this Mississippian says land also the
transverse strength, and tits one-third
stronger than any white, post, red or
black oak. and only one-eigl tieth less
than live oak Aad jet this wood has
no market value
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1884-10-16
A Comedians Bons MOts.

/ shall never forget the reply Of an
''u;ilitarian, in a small company to
which | belonged. This party alluded
TO, name R., was waiting for mis-
summons in the green -room, when
v "a COMEDIAN entered in hur-
ry to look for Mr. Moss, who was
playing with US that night (it being q
benefD. The costumes of both were
so similar, that ", upon enter.
ing, seized R. by the arm, ex-
claiming:
Here, Moss, they want yoA;" but
instantly discovering his mistake,
added. "Oh, you're the wrong man y
to which R. replied
what do look as green that you
take me for Moss2"
The same individual, beng out Of
an engagement, undertook TO exc
cute a small Job in carpentering for
his landlady, to whom be it known
unto all men, he was slightly indebt-
ed for two things-viz., few shill-
ings rent and great many kind at
tentions.
A brother professional unexpected
ly called and surprised him at his
task.
What" said he, "have you re-
nounced the profession, and turned
mcdaniel"
"By no means, replied R. cal
though I have turned carpenter, I've
no inteBtion of cutting the boards
But you see, the fact is, | owe a triAe
here for rent, and my hostess being a
bit of screw, / undertook this little
job by way Of Offset, because, al
though not exactly addicted to vice,
l planely saw | could chisel the ham
merous old file out of few brads,
and so set owl square"
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1884-10-16
A Usurer Of the seventeenth Century,

Audley, lawyer and usurer, flour
ished in the reigns of James | and
Charles |. lie could at all times out
knave a knave. One of these incl
dents has been preserved.
"A draper, of no honest reputation,
being arrested by merchant for a
debt of 9200. Audley bought the debt
at f40, for which tbs draper immed-
lately offered him ESQ But Audley
would not consent, unless the draper
INDUCED sudden whim of his own.
This was a formal contract that the
draper should pay within twenty
years, upon twenty certain days,
penny per month doubled. A knage,
Ia haste to sign, is no calculator; and,
as the contemporary dramatist des
cmbes one of the arts of those citizens,
one part of whose business was
ITO swear and break-they all grow
rich by breaking
The draper eagerly signed. He after
wards grew rich.n Audley, silently
watching his victim, within two years
claimed his doubled pennies, every
month during twenty months. The
pennies had now grown into pounds.
The knave perceived the trick, and
preferred paying the forfeiture of
$500, rather than receive the visitation
of all the little generations of com
pound interests in the last descendant
of SO, 600, which would have closed
with the diapers shop.
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1884-10-16
4 Severe Punishment.

The Turkish Ambassador at the
French court in 1898, on one occasion
entered a jewellers shop and began
bargaining for diamond ring, which
he eventually bought. During the
transaction, one of the ambassadors
servants distracted ring without. as
he thought, being observed; but it so
happened that one of the jewelers.
children had seen it, and when the
parties had left told his father 1t
was now too late to verify this state
ment, as the Turks were out Of sight,
but the ieweller decided upon writing
to his Excellency and stating the facts
of the case, and asking him to inquire
into the matter. An answer was re
ceived shortly afterwards, requesting
patience on the part of the jeweller
for twenty-four hours.
Scarcely had the specified time
elapsed before the jeweller received a
box addressed to him, which on open
ing was found to contain-the head Of
the thief holding the ring between his
teeth
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1884-10-16
THE FATE OF PUNCHED SILVER
what is Done with 1t at the Assa,
01ice
New York Tribune.

Eyes, punched coins are a srea,
nuisance, but they came to grief II
last, said the rotund old messenger at
the assay office ia Wall street. "Whv
we buy them here by the peck ana
melt them up into silver bars. What
do you pay? Just what the silver
comes to IN cein, less l per cent But
we never buy less than 800 worth Of
old silver. Many people come here
and expect we are going to give them
a new piece for sGme punched dime or
quarter they have. usually send
them across the street to j B. Col.
gates bullion office. We get a queer
assortment of old silver herc-worn
out spoons, old family plate, watch,
cases, medals, iawelry, refuse from
jewelers. shops, etc. You SEQ there
may be a good deal of sentiment cling.
ing to bar OF silver when you think
your grandmother's spoons or the pin
you gave your girl may be melted up
IN it
1t happened that the reporter had a
punched quarter with the hole neatly
filled up with lead, which had been
recently passed off ON him, sandwich
ed between two other quarters in max
ing change. Stepping over to Col
gates office he was told that the piece
was worth IL cents. eve take in
such coins every day." said the clerk
as he tossed the bad coin into a pile OF
Others and handed out the IL cents,
Il think a good many of them come
from the West Indies. They do not
mind punched money down there.
Another broker said: This punch
ed money is vexation to the public.
You have to scan every piece of money
you receive to make sure you are not
being swindled. Then nothing makes
you so mad as to have some one shove
a piece of money which you suppose
is all right back at you and say
punched, and look at you as if you
were a counterfeiter or thief. 1t is
ten times as easy to take such piece
as to get rid of it. You couldn't pass
them on blind man or an ignorant
fruit-dealer, and about the only thing
you can do is to put them into the con
tribution box or give them to beggars,
and then you feel like mean fellow.
l tell you punched money is q bigger
nuisance than you think. This devise
of filing the holes with lead is poor
one. If the lead is scraped bright one
might be deceived in the dark, but the
fraud is easily found out if you look
closely. Other ways of tampering
with coin are to file it or bore into the
edges or sweat it. This last is usually
done to gold coin, and is simply shak
ing it in bag to get the gold dust that
comes off. There ought to be severe
penalties for tampering with coins. It
is the meanest kind of robbery"
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1884-10-16

On one occasion, in New York
police court, special jury was needed,
and the panel was filed with ex de-
tectives loahng around the courtroom.
After hearing the testimony and ar
guments the jury retired, and in few
minutes reported ready and were
brought in.
what is the finding of the jury?"
inquired the court, after the usual pre-
linsiuaries.
Nothing, may it please the court, +"
responded the foreman.
''Nothugl' echoed the judge in
surprise.
That's all your honor"
Haven't you found a verdict2'
"No, your honor.
Really, gentleman, this is the most
astonishing experience 1 ever had on
the bench. What's the matter"
"Well, your honor, we are all de-
tectives, and '
That's enough, shouted the Judge
"Mr. Sheriff, discharge the jury and
impanel one that can fiud something. "
A table prepared by Commissions
Butterwortn shows that, of the nearly
800, coo patents issued by the govern
ment, the various lines Of machinery
and industries have received the fol
lowing number:
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1884-10-16
Horticultural Notes.

Robert Freeman showed the editor
Of the Hartford Press a stem of pie
plant % inches long and 81 inches in
circumference. The leaf proper has
a spread Of 8 feet 4 inches in diameter
and the whole weighed a tnfe over
four pounds
"A writer in scientific Journal
ridicules the idea that apples sweat
aud that they must undergo a sweat
ing process before they are put in bar
rels in order to keep well. He states
that only injury comes from leaving
apples in piles in an orchard, and that
the moisture found on them comes
from the atmosphere. He recommends
placing them in barrels as soon as
soon as they are picked
If you are going to set a new
orchard remember that it is an excel
lent way to prepare plan Of the or
chard, showing the position Of each
/ tree, its variety, etc. If a tree dies it
can be replaced by one Of the same
sort. Some fruit raisers keep a book
in which they register the age and
variety Of every tree in their orchard,
together with any items in regard to
itsgrafting, productiveness, treatment,
etc, which are thought to be desr-
able.
The HUDSON river peach crop for
| the present season is a disastrous fail
ure all through the valley. Where in
/ former years the total yield was reck-
oned among the million baskets, not
over 80, 600 will now be gathered. Il
! is. perhaps safe to say that the river
/ growers will thus loose over $500 600,
and the loss will fall heavily upon a
/ large number who have devoted a
large share of their land to peaches,
| in many cases on borrowed capital.
But the grape prospect IS different.
This now promises one of the largest
ifnot the largest, products ever grown
ON the river
IF sheep are keptin apple orchards
/ they will destroy the fallen fruit con
tanning the codling moth larva even
better than pigs. The first crop Of
larva fall with the apples while they
are very small and somewhat bitter
/ ia taste Pigs will not eat these un-
I less starved 10 it and viii leave many
untouched, preferring to eat grass
Sheep relish these small apples very
much, and will run around at all
hours of the day to gather them as
they fall. Later in the season the
pigs will eat the fallen fruit readily
enough
Victor Hugo has written, The
! beautiful is useful as the useful, per-
haps more so. The truth of this
+ saying become more apparent upon
reelection than most people suppose.
The assoc iations of flowers, Of pleas
ing verdure, of breezy landscapes, Of
works of art, are iaterwoven with our
natures to an almost incredible eX-
tent, even in the case Of those who
professedly Gisclaim any love for the
beautiful. With the little ornament
commonly seen about farmers houses,
most farmers are more IN sympathy
than they themselves suppose and
were it suddenly taken away with no
possibility eff its beng returned they
would miss is more than they are
aware.
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1884-10-16
A PRINTER,s ESSAY.

To Hiss Catherine j., OF D-I-h
Ans-A now mean to write
= u, sweet XIII,
The girl without
The belleOf U-T-k.
I1-der II you got the 1
/ wrote L B4
sailed IN the Rk-D-A
Ana sent by I'm Moore.
Nv MT head win scarce conceive
calm IDA bright;
But. ST miles from you, ! must
NJ This chance 10 write.
g. list. should NE NV u,
BIZ mind % not.
If any friendship show, = sure
They shall not . lgot
Bnt friends and foes alike DIX,
And you may plainly q
In every funeral RIA
Our uuc.e's LEG.
From virtue never D-N-ai
Her influence B9
Alike induces lO-ieruess
or Ltude Divine.
a IL you cannot cut q --
or cause an
hope WI put a
2it
RU an-X alton 2
NV cousin. heart and
He Offers in @
a broad Of land.
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1884-10-16
Going to Congress.
Bill Arp in Atlanta Constitution.

Bill Arp in Atlanta Constitution.
/ heard Zeb Vance telling how he
captured the votes of the backwoods
settlement in North Carolina when
he first ran for Congress. He said he
had never been in the settlement and
didn't know the beys. He didn't
know their politics nor their habits
nor their religion But he sent them
word that he would be there to see
them on a certain day, and so he rode
over the moustains and got there and
foNnd sixty of the sovereigns at
cross-road grocery, and he got down
and ne hitched his horse and began to
make their acquaintance and crack
his Jokes around, aud thought he was
getting along pretty well with them;
but he noticed an old man, with shay
gy eye brows and big brass spectacles,
sitting on a chunk and marking in
the sand with a stick The old man
didn't seem to pay any attention to
Vance, and after a while Vance con
cluded that the old man was the bell
wether of the flock. and that it was
necessary to capture him, so he sided
up close to him and the old man got
up and shook himself and leaned for
ward on his stick and said solemnly,
"This is Mr.. Vance, / believe Eyes,
sir, said Vance. 'And you hare
come over here to see my boys about
their votes, / believe" eyes, sir,
that's my business.
"Weu. sir, said the old man,
''afore you proceed with that business
I would like to AK you few ques-
tons.
Certainly, sir, certainly said
Vance.
what church mout you belong
to2' said the old man.
That was sOckdolger Vance
didn't belong to any church. He knew
the religion and meeting vas a big
thing in the baokwoods, and con-
trolled their politics, but he didn't
know what their religion was, for
North Carolina was powerfully spot
ted, and had nest of EpiscopalIans
in one place and Presbyterians in
another, and Baptists here and Metbo
dists over yonder, and they never
mixed, but were all one way in
settlement, ana so ne was in dilem-
ma
But he squared himself for the
responsibility, and says he:
well, now, my friend | viii tell
you about that, for It Is fair ques
ton. Ofcourse it is. Well, you see,
my grandfather came from Scotland,
and you know that over in Scotland
every body is Presbyterian.
Here he paused to note the effect,
but saw no sign of sympathy with his
grandpa.
But my grandmother came from
England, and over there every body
belongs to the Episcopal church He
paused again, and the old man mark
ed another mark in the sand and spit
his tobacco away off.
But my father was born in this
country IN a Methodist settlement,
and so he grew up o Methodist
Still no sign of approval from the old
man, as Vance took his last shot and
said: But my good old mother was
a Baptist, and 1t is my opinion that
man has got to 60 under water to get
TO Heaven. Z
The old man walked up and, taking
him bv the hand, said Well you
are all right, Mr. Vance and then
turning to the crowd, said Boys.
he'll do, and you may vote for him /
thought he looked like a Baptist
And the old man slowly drew a flask
from his coat tail and handed Is TO
Vance to seal his faith.
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1884-10-16
Chaxge or See ne.

In q certain cathedral city, which
has been playfully called the actors
grave. ewo members OF an I'M
successful dramatic company found
themselves looking out of their lodg-
ings.
it was a cold night, aud In prefer
ence TO walking in the streets, they
managed to find a way into the
theatre. They pulled cut the green
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1884-10-16
A SCRAP OF PAPER.

"By the bye, have not yet asked
your name!
'Milliceut Bell, ma'am."
"MIhcent! An, that's my name.
Well. to prevent mistakes, l shall call
you Bell. OF course you don't mindF
ooh no, ma am"
"And Lqdg Lulhngworth says that
YOU can dress hair well, and that you
underst and your duties thoroughly as
a ladys maid
eyes, ma'am.
"Then, Bell, I shall want you to
come to me on Monday, as ] think l
told YOU, we shall leave town for
Yorkshire. and IN those few days you
will be able TO get into my ways; so
good morning; | shall expect you on
Monday.
Mrs Remington having thus con-
cluded the, to her, new task OF engag-
ing a lady's maid, leaned back in her
chair with the feeling of having got
through with her business satisfactor-
lily. such q nico-looking young
woman; and SO respectful IN her man,
ner; do hope Charlie will like her"
for Mile Remington was ia that first
very drst-stage Of married life
when all her ideas circled round and
conferred on the said Charlie.
Theirs had been a real love uatch.
Capt. Remington having met Miss
Duncombe at the house of mutual
friend in the most hospltable OF coun-
ties, Yorkshire, straight way lost ms
/ cart and his reputation Of being the
most adamant of captains and, despite
some opposition on the part of Dun
combe pere, who as is the way OF
fathers generally, considered his
daughter "a mere child, who couldn't
possibly know her own mind, MILL
cent Duscombe was ''wooed and mar
ried and a within to months OF her
meeting with Charlie Remington, and
installed in a charming little house IN
Mayfair the gallant 800th being
quartered at Knightsbrldge. Capt.
Remington had just got his leave, and
they were going down to Duncombe
for their first visit since their mar
rage, guu-cases, horse-box, lady's
maid, aAd the captains own man.
"Ohl Oh! how dreadfully provok-
tugln cried Mrs Remington the Tues
day morning following, as she read
through her letters, having sup 5liea
her lord and master with coffee and
all things neeoful
whats the matter. Mill-any one
deadqn
mo, but these dreadful tailor peo-
ple saw tbev can't let me have NV
travelling dress tO-morrow-th can't
vet tbc buttons On In time" and She
glanced around the coffee urn with a
face indicative of the Geepest des.
Dair
"Neyer mind. old GIRL wear anoth.
er: I'm sure YOU look lovely in any
thing - i'm tone of perfect sincerity
''or never mind the buttons pet 9th.
ers.n
"O},i hut Charlie I'm SO disap
uointed and vou've really no idea
what dress il viii be; and as 10 thC
buttons Oh. no. I couldn't recopcil,
mvsulf toapv others Charlie I won
der"
"Well 2"said Charlie. getting up'anC
STANDING N, n monarch fail f-surve,
style before Ibe BRIGHT lttle fire co5
ING admiringly at Ills pretty wife
Charlie " With the most supplicat
mo clasp Of the hand "wouid il h,
convenient II we nut Off our iourne,
till next davs Ii is such a dress il
travel i'm. So plain and quiet. lust wba
YOU said when we saw tha princess a
Baden"
'You uqconscionable little niece q
vanity - laughed her husband pinch
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1884-10-16
Some Yaluable Timbers.

NTWDHIl Tenn AVpUlL
The tupelo gum and the willow oak
are timbers that are destined to a com
merclal value never until recently
dreamed 81 j gentleman resid-
ing in Mississippi who has tested
them thoroughly says the first variety
is almost as soft and light as the cork
ef commerce, and Is the whitest tim
Der in the valley II is extremely
light and can not be split, and at the
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1884-10-16
A Cleyer frio.

On examining the parish accounts
in a village in Staffordshirc lately,
the three following curioslties appear
ed
One of the overseers had made six
ty-three weeks ia a year; and an item
IN the other overseer's accounts was
for church rats. This caused great
merriment, in which all heartily
joined, but none more so than the
constable, who Immediately after
wards produced his accounts, in which
was charge for holding a conquest
over a maa found dead.
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1884-10-16

Mrs. Mary Prayn went to China
thirteen years ago, and since then she
has established christian schools at
Shanghai anc Yokohama, Japan. Re
turning to her nativelaHd last month,
she is now critically III at her old
home in Albany, n. Y. Upon beng
aroused from unconsclousness a few
weeks ago she refused at first to be-
heye that she was not IN China
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1884-10-16
A Welsh Handful.

We have seen many specimens OF
the ludicrous produced by mis-spell-
ing, but the following genuine ana
nouncement Of lost sheep exceeds any
thing we ever read:
Lost Supposed to be astrayed out
of the near Cress Y Cylog OF VIM.
Morgan, 10 ship, in which was two
rams ard one black you; also a very
remarkall you that ass her he'd a one
side, as if herneck was disgoint, short
tails, and to or three q slit IN the lett
year of um all.
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1884-10-16

These aggregate 104 210, or little
over one third of the entire number
OF natentS issued
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1884-10-16

Mr.. Bergh has ia his possession
wills giving half million OF dollars.
to the Society for the Prevention OF
Cruelty to Animals, which IS now
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1884-10-16

M. Theirs. when in London, wrote
to the Chancellor of the Exchequer as
follows. Il wish to become thorough
IN acquainted with the financial sys-
ten, of England. When can you spare
me FIVE minutes
The Evening critic., 1884-10-11
An Exciting Scene.

most remarkable incident,,which occurred
In West Virginia during tho recent trip OF
&c Logan through that STATE, is related
train on which the ce-Presidential party
were travelling had stopped at a small station
on the Chesapeake d Ohio Railroad to give the
citizens OF tho place an opportunity 10 sec
and hear the soldier candidate OF the Republi-
can party, as had been done all along the
route where the circumstances or the pro-
gremme warranted. At this particular point
there were gathered about the rear platform
OF the car, on the steps OF which General Lo-
gan stood, crowd OF rough-looking natives
pressing eagerly forward to shake hands with
him. The General was reaching down, hold
ing on TO the car with his left hand ana dis
posing rapidly OF those who approached with
a land shake and a pleasant word, when q
lanR, red-faced mountaineer, without coat or
vest on and having his shirt open, exposing
his chest, reached out his bony fist and OK.
claimed: 'Lemme shake hands with the man
that raised tho first rebel regiment In I'LL
nois," Logan straightened up like flash,
ment and passion said: @Whats that"
. The West Virglnian repeated his remark,
the surrounding crowd having In the mean
time paused brealhlessly In expectation that
something was about TO happen. Making q
quick reach outward, but falling short as the
surprised fellow drew back, General Logan
shouted shs In rage and hoarsely: "Any man who
says ever did that Is an Internal liar" Tho
nun MADE some haunting reply, which set
Logan perfectly wild, for he instantly spat full
Into the fellows face and then felt rapidly
around In his pockets, evidently for something
to hit him With. He could lind nothing but a
cigar, which he drew forth, and frst breaking
H. throw the pieces at the now thoroughly sur.
prised object OF his wrath. "Get out OF thls,"
cried Logan, 'or II yon don't I'll pay this col.
ored man." pointing to the car porter, "a
quarter to Whip the life out OF you"
BY this time the train began to move, and ns
1t passed away from the astonished West Vir.
ginians they recovered themselves In time 10
express their admiration OF the fiery states.
man In ringing cheers, which were repeated
until the train was out OF sight-Specidl 20
NE CIn. Commercial. Gazekte Ock. ~