davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1884-05-09
The Speed of a Flying Duck.

1t may be interesting to the reader t.
know the speed at which many ducks fly
down wind:
Nallard, from As to 50 miles an hour.
Black duck, from 35 to so miles an hour.
Pintail, from 30 to 80 miles an hour.
Widgeon, from 65 to 70 miles al honr
Wood duck, from IS to 20 miles an hour
Gadwall, from GO to 70 miles an hour.
Re5he3d. from so to 80 miles an hour.
Blue wingtail, from 80 to 400 miles an hour
Green wingtai from 50 to 100 miles al
uour.
Broadbill, from s. to ITO miles an hour
Canvas back, from s. to 12) miles an hour.
Wild geese, from 3D.. to 80 miles an hour.
For the above table l am indebted tc
Mr.. w. D. Cross, and old duck shooter
and careful student of the habits Of
water fowl. l have not the slightest
hesitancy in believing him right, for the
experience of others with whom have
shot ducks, coupled with my own, more
than corroborates the assertions. When
I have held ahead of string of blue
bills, say at least ten feet, and kill the
fourth or fifth duck in the string, have
been strongly impressed that the speed
they were flying was like the traditional
creased lightning, remembering that the
charge of shot left my gun (No. 4 shot,
say with an initial velocity of 1900 to
1000 feet per second. 1t will be seen
that long experience and good Judgment
Is necessary to know where to hold the
gun in order to become good duck shot.
-Pittsburg Chronicle.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1884-05-09
Wedding Customs,

In Sweden the bride has her pocket
filed with bread. 1t is supposed tina,
every piece she gives to the poor on
her way to church averts misfortune
In Norway the bride herself hand
round some drinks, that all the com
pany may drink long life to her; the
wedding feast lasts some days, and the
guests have no desire to let their mod
Grafton be known.
In Liburnia it is the custom Of the
bride to retire from the table before
the end of the dinner, and throw over
the bridegroom's house hard cake
made Of coarse flour; the higher she
throws the happier she will be. In
Circassia there are always set upon the
carpet in one of the rooms in the bride
groom's house vessel of wine and a
plate Of dough; and the FIRST thing the
bride does, on entering, is to kick over
the wine and scatter the dough with
her hands about the room.
In some parts Of Russ a the brid
and bridegroom, during The banquet
which always takes place on the eve
ming OF the wedding day are separated
BY a curtain. The parents of the couple
exchange rings, and a basket of cheese
and small loaves are blessed by the
priest.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1884-05-09
FACTS FOR THE CURIOUS,

i
Whales were eaten by persons of the
upper classes in Europe as late at least
as the latter part of the thirteenth cen,
fury. The tail and tongue, dressed with
peas or roasted, were priced as choice
| delicacies. The Princess Eleanor dc
Montford paid, in 1865, the sum OF
twenty-four shillings for 400 pieces OF
whale" to be used as food in her house,
hold.
The latest novelty in New York city is
paper soap, which is mainly for the use
Of travellers, The sheets of paper, which
are put up in the form of small book of
about three inches square, are coated with
soap and are said to be just as good as
the regulation article, in addition to being
much handler. There are fifty soap sheets
In each book, costing in the aggregate
about as much as an ordinary cake Of
soap.
A twenty-months'-old child in Gran
iteville, CAL, while standing in the door
way of its home, was charmed by a rat
tlesnake, which coiled itself in front of
him. 1t was but two feet away and was
gently moving its head backward and
forward, and looking at the child with
eyes like two flames. The child's sister,
twelve years of age, pulled her little
brother away, when the reptile glided
swiftly out of sight. The child seemed
stupefed for some time aftcrward.
An Englishman proposes ''reform>
in printing by emitting 'the" from the
copy. In chance copy of the London
Times he found "the" occurring 200
times in the first column of the first
page; he calculates that it occurs 1000
times on every page of every copy of the
Times, making 16, 900 times for each en-
tire copy, equal to SO, 200 letters. Reck-
oning that every line in London Times
numbers forty letters and that column
is made up Of $50 lines, 5000 letters are
consumed in setting up column, which
brings the calculator to his grand result
that an ordinary copy of the London
Times devotes eight columns of its space
to one little word "thc"
A great many persons say "God bless
us " when they sneeze. The following
explains the origin of the practice: Ac,
cording to the rabbinical theory it was
originally ordained that men should
sneeze but once, in that act, possible
only when the time of death had come,
giving up the ghost. But the patriarch
Jacob, feeling that such sudden call al
lowed no time for the settlement of
worldly affairs and for preparation for
the hereafter, prayed for exemption from
the rule, and in answer to his prayer was
allowed to sneeze and not die The
change was regarded as great benefit,
and I" all the princes of the universe, when
they heard it, ordered that for the future
sneezing should be accompanied with
wishes for its prolon CATION" Hence the
custom which has prevailed among all
nations of uttering some form of saluta-
ton ON the occasion of the act. A very
common ejaculation among old English
people on sneezing is "God bless us!n
which generally sounds more humorous
than reverential under the circumstances.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1884-05-09
Paper Noses.

People sometimes lose their noses by
disease or in fights, and some have lost
them in war. For noseless women the
most appropriate noses are made of
wax, anil the best ones cost sl75
though a fine one can be got for SIS.
A nose Of papier mache may be bought
for IS. Noses made of this materia,
are enameled and are deceptive, and
for poor man they answer all the
purposes that are required. waxen
and paper noses are, in cases of disease
preferable to those that are made by
the planting of flesh on the diseased
part, for several cases are known
where the transplanting of the flesh on
the nose has endangered mems lives
Paper World.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1884-05-09
A Sheet.irOn Hen.

The Chicago Inter- Ocean is responsible
for the following. "Charlie Kugle, an
ingenious fellow in Barnesville, O., has
constructed sheet-iron hen that promises
to lay him golden egg. 1t is finished
up to life, full size, cackles, clucks, and
looks with one eye at time so naturally
that it will deceive the oldest hen hawk
in the county. 1t is so arranged that
when q hawk, mink, or polecat pounces
on to it the back springs open and the
wings fly up and force the assailant on
to ravenous buzz saw that makes /, 700
revolutions per minute. After moving
half minute the saw stops, the hen
closes up, folds its wings, and begins to
cackle as though it had just laid an egg.
One winding up will answer for three
massacres, provided the rather delicate
machinery does not get clogged up with
too much blood, bones end feathers. He
set freshly-painted one out in the sun
to dry last Wednesday which attracted
the attention of fine old cat belonging
to doctor who had been poking good
deal of fun at the fool thing. The hen
is there. but the cat is hence"
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1884-05-09

transplanted from the prairie. hover
around the modest domlcile. true In
dices TO the female spirit that rules
within,
The novelty Of their situation seems
to charm these women pioneers; their
face and form arc the embodiments of
happiness and health; they as heartily
enjoy a tramp over the prairie in search
of the boundary line of their claim as
the society girl enjoys trip in a
dogNcart or sail on the lake. They be-
come adopts in the use of tho rifle and
shotgun; they learn to handle the
harvester rs deftly rs their masculine
neighbors, and ride the sulky plough
with as much grace as her refined
sister would ornament tricycle.. The
majority of these pioneers are school,
mistresses, who pursue their Greek,
Latin, astronomy, botany or chemistry,
during their leisure moments in their
prairie home during the summer and
pursue their vocation in village or
city school-room during the winter
months. Thus they preserve their
health, keep up their studies and slow
ly but surely build up for themselves
home that they can point to with
just pride as the fruit of their own
labor.
The hardships and trials which these
brave little pioneers undergo are
enough to shake tho courage of the
sterner sex. Mrs. Ball, a young wild
ow. came to the Territory twoye
ago, built her claim shack, which was
twice blown away by tornadoes and
once burned to tho. ground, but
through her indomitable will she is
still there and says she is bound to
stay. Miss Nellie Uline, daughter of
Col. Uline, Of Chicago, has her home
stead near Devils Lake, is tireless
pedestrienne, Il crack rifle shot and
possesses accomplishments that fit her
for the leadership of any refined society
in which she may move. Miss Hoov-
er, the Misses Pringle, Miss Flynn
Miss Bruce, Miss Marks, Miss Olsen
Miss Shottwell and the Misses Phelps
who through their pluck and perse-
verance have gained fine homestead
and built up a little fortune of &c.
700, are but a few of the great army of
women who deserve tho highest praise
for their fortitude and determination.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1884-05-09

A Fargr Dakota letter to the Chico
% Herald says: In travelling over the
pfairies one now and then comes
fcross lonely shack. which, with its
surroundings, wears an aspect of neat
ness, that distinguishes il from tho,
average cafeless.y thrown together
thanty that sutllces to prove the claim
ants right to the title of proprietor of
the 162 acres surrounding. IL Of
boards, the cracks are carefully battea-
Cd with lath; if of logs the crevicss are
closely plastered with mudI baF'iy
morning-glories cli3g around the door
way std creep aloagth humble caves
while small pIats. smiling With v.olets
lark spur, lSys-tell and heneysucsls,
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1884-05-09
WORDS OF WISDOM.
treat truths are often said in the fewest

Great truths are often said in the fewest
words.
He that maketh haste to be rich shah
not be innocent.
The truest end of life is to know tho
life that never ends.
Stand firm and immovable as an anvil
when tits beaten upon.
Anger is like rain: it breaks itself
upon that on which it falls.
The main strength and force of law
consists in the penalty annexed to it.
Good taste rejects excessive nicely; it
treats little things as little things, and is
not hurt by them.
Vanity refuses all wholesome food ana
lives entirely upon the poison of flattery,
upon which it th1ives luxuriantly.
Be at least as polite to father, mother,
child, as to others; for they are more i'm
portant to you than any other.
Persons extremely reserved are like ola
enamelled watches, which had painted
covers that hindered you seeing what
o'clock it was.
Every human soul has the germs OF
some flowers within, and they would
open if they could only find sunshine and
free air to expand in.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1884-05-09
AN INDIAN PONY.


An Amusing Experience ON tho Cattle
IL nges OF Nevada.
! have a little personal experience
with one Indian pony that may be read
with profit, rode once with some
cattle buyers through the stock ranges
Of Nevada. My pony Git was called
Bob) had drifted into Nevada from
Utah, and was known as buffalo hun
ter. Bob was as mean looking as a
sheared sheep, and as bullet-headed as
a political opponent. However, Bob
and got along very well the first day
of our acquaintance. got along. in fact
about fifty Nevada miles. which have
carefully estimated to be equal to sixty
five Christian miles. Tho next day
Bob was tired, or cross, or bored. He
regarded the wastes of sage brush dis
dainfully while l shredded my whip
upon him, and lunched Off the sage
brush while wore out ny spurs on
his shaggy sides. Then l led him a
few miles and he regarded me in big
eyed meditation. When I remounted,
which did only when my shoes were
worn out. Bob appeared so broken up
that felt sorry. I determined to 90
no farther that day than the ranch
house we We're approaching, for I did
not want Bob's life charged to my
cruelty. Just before we reached the
house herd of cattle reached lis. 1
may say reached for us. A big bull,
the biggest and widest bull I remem-
Der ever to have seen, selected Bob and
me for target.
Considering Bob's condition was
about to dismount and take my chances
afoot, when Bob started. l believe he
thought he was entered for the Derby.
You never saw such rate of speed at
tanned by such remarkable gait. Bob
would alternately roll himself up into
a ball and stretch out to three times
his normal length, his head would 90
out of sight into his shoulders and then
go out Of sight in the distance. Sud-
denly Bob stopped-very suddenly
so suddenly that it unsettled my dig
nifty and pose. Looking about l dis
covered the cause to be that the bull
had stopped. just as suddenly the
bull began charging the other way, and
Bob-that fool of Bob-began charg-
ing after the bull. If the bull had
been a peck Of oats Bob could not have
displayed more eagerness in the chase.
Between my anxiety lest Bob should
catch the bull and not know what to
do with it, and my uncertainty as to
my seat, I was very unhappy. Bob,
however, appeared to be having a real
good time. The chase was kept up for
miles, and until the bull suddenly
stopped short and swung his big
horned head around at Bob and me as
we came along. Bob lodged beauti-
fully, and then tho bull chased us
awhile. That thing was kept up for
hours. II the bull wouldn't chase us,
Bob would chase the bull; it was all
The same to him, just as much fun one
way as another. reckon we chased
each other, Bob and the bull and !
about fifty miles, when we happened
upon little oasis, and Bob and the
oull began browsing the unexpected
grass together in the most friendly
manner. excused myself and walked
pack to the ranch.-San Francisco
rrnH
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1884-05-09
Tnshson Notes.
Few pokes will be worn.
NI.,t Jo,ax. -

Few pokeS will be worn.
Most bonnets are stringless.
Owl feather fans are fashionable.
Beaded net covers many bonnet
crowns.
Waistcoats of all kinds are in high
favor.
Feather fans take paccedcnce of all
others.
Little girls dresses are ungracefulIy
short.
Mushrooms arc used in the trimming
of hats.
Tullc wells Of all colors, dotted with
steel, are new.
Bonnet strings tied in cravat bows
are very unbecoming.
Surplice waists arc used on the soft
wool dresses Of young girls.
Large moths, dragon flies, and
butterflies arc the favorite motifs with
Partisan women.
Turkcy-red calico is much used in
summer for children's dresses.
The Hamburg embroidery is out
lined in delicate col0rs to match sum-
mer dresses.
Satin waistcoats covered with plait-
ings Of lace are very fashionable on
black silk dresses.
Ruby velvet wraps have white bead
leaves worked on each side of the front
and on the back.
Chenille fringes in two kinds, the
leech and the caterpillar, divide
fashionable favor
Stiff and angular hats have almost
entirely superseded the picturesque
pokes and Danichefs.
There is a revival of taste for black
Chantilly lace, even entire dresses of it
being worn on the other side.
Frise velvet grenadine is the favorite
fabric for lnantles and parts of sum-
mer evening toilets of ceremony.
Plush Gow CTS, with Rhinestone dew
drops in their centres. are novelties for
the garniture OF evening dresses.
Sheer white nansook dresses have
only one skirt, and are simply trimmed
with two or three worked flowers.
The most popular tailor-made dresses
are of three peiccs, the waistcoat being
separate from the bodice.
Mushrooms. grasses, and wheat ears
share with flowers and feathers the
place of orDamenting hats and hats
bonnets.
Velvet, cashmere, ,ad light wool
veilings, plain or embroidered, are
combined with taffeta, glace, shot and
plain silks.
Silk, satin rhadames, and velvet, bro
caded and plain, are all combined with
cashmere and other tight wool fabrics
in suits.
Frou-Frou buttercup Grape bonnets,
with pearl beads and white pompons.
ire among the prettiest little bonnets
seen this season.
Dresses for misses up to twelve
Years old are made in princess shape
With small rufile around the bottom
md deep puff above it.
Bonnet and hat ornaments in metals
'ome in the form of beetles, flies,
moths, birds, buckles and slides. and
reads of animals and birds.
Bonnets or mats entirely covered
With black, jet-be,ded net and trimmed
With ostrich tips take precedence of all
'thar headed net chapeaux.
The newest grenadine this season is
he Escurial lace, woven in taffeta and
ometimes satin designs. the lace
CURES having :hickly corded edges.
AS rule. only two materials are
sed IL ono costume, but The rule Is
frequently oro!ten in favor of velvet,
lhia elk, aGd lisocaGe all Ia one dress.
Ginghams in piein colo.s. trimmed.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1884-05-09

We commend to all girls who wish
or exp5ct to engage in any self-sup,
porting occupation. the following ex
tract from Elizabeth Stuart Phelps's
Sr!iole, entitled Supporting Herself,
In 81. Nicholas:
"But, girls, if you don't mean t.
make thorough business of the occr-
patton you have chosen, Fever, never,
aever begin to be occupied at all. Half
finished work will do for amateurs. II
will never answer for professionals,
Gne bracket you are sewing for a New
Years present can hang little crooked
on its screws, and you will be forgiven
for the loves sake found therein by
The dear heart to which you offer it;
but the trinket carved for sale in the
sorrento rooms must be cut as true as
o rose-leaf. You can be little shakv
rs to your German dec!ens!ons in the
Schiller ellb, which you Join so en-
Enthusiastically after leaving school. and
no great harm ever como of It; but
teach Schiller for living, and for
VERY dativc case forgotten you arc so
much money out of pocket.
people who pay for a thing demand
thorough workmanship or none. To
offer il complete work for complete
market price, is to be either cheat or
beggar. The terrible grinding laws
OF supply and demand, pay and receive,
give aud get, give no quarter to shilly-
shally labor. Tho excellence of your
Intentions IS nothing to the point. The
stress of your poverty has not the
slightest connection with the case. An
editor will never ray you for your
poem because you wish 70 help your
mother. No customer will buy her
best bonhct or her wheat -four of you
BECAUSE you are unable to pay your
rent When you have entered the
world of trade, you have entered a
world where tenderness and charity
end personal Interest are folciga re-
laticns. Not Tor friendships sake
DOR for PHYS sake, nor for chivalrys
sake, runs the great rallying-cry Of
This great wcrld--but only for value
received
ut is with sorrow and shame, but
yet with hope and courage, that 1
write it--thcre 's reason for the exten
yive complaint made by men, that
women do not work thoroughly. / am
afraid that, TIL time and trouble shall
have taught them better, they will not
Is it because they haze never been
trained? Il Is because they expect to
be married? That it is not in the
east because they can not, W. know;
for we know that some of the most
magnifcentIy accurate work in the
world has BEEN done by women"
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1884-05-09

with many rows of white washing
braid. are favorite utility dresses for
the mountain and seaside this summer.
The old-fashloned gypsy bonnets.
with lace plaitings inside the brim.
and laden outside with wreaths and
sprays of rare French flowers, are
pretty head-gear for young ladies.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1884-05-09

A Washington Market New York J
butter dealer says in reference to but
terine: Counterfeit butter may look
nice and smell sweet when first opened,
but after it is exposed to the air for a
-while,a slightly unpleasant smell can
always be detected. If a little of it is
rubbed between the fingers it will turn
white, while the genuine butter will
not change color"
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1884-05-09

bu1efv Over,
Is an old adage and as these words secm to
apply to my case use them. For several
years have been terribly troubled with my
kidneys and liver. 1 had intense pains in
my Ions, back and hips. 1 could not lie
down, or sit down at times as the pains were
more than could bear. l was treated by
physicians here in Syracuse that did me no
good, and also tried several medicines that
gave me no relief. finally went to one of
our druggists here in Syracuse, and was
recommended TO use Hunts Remedy. /
purchased bottle, as found it had been
used with wonderful success here by Others,
and had not used one bottle before began
to improve, could rest, which before had
been unable to obtain; the pains in my
limbs and back were all gone, and it GER
tainly has dons eli that was claimed for it in
my case. In fact, Hunts Remedy has made
complete cure, and mort heartily recon-
mend il to the pdbiic for kidney troubles in
general. You are Mt liberty to use my name
for the benefit Ct others that may be in
doubt as TO the great me.is of Hunts Rem
edT. Gratefully yours, A. WOODRUFF,
With the Dry Goods hors, OF D. Mccarthy
d GO. Syracuse, n, y. June II. 1883
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1884-05-09

A sect is said to have been discov-
cred in Rostov, South Russia who
poison children with narcotics. 1t was
founded by woman who murdered
her children in order to relieve them
from earthly suffering and procure for
them celestial happiness.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1884-05-09

FOR DYSPEPSIA, INDIGESTION, depression Of spir
Its and general debility in their various forms !:
also as preventive against fever and ague and
other intermittent fevers the -Phosphor-
ated Elixir of Calisaya," made by Caswel
Hazard 4 Co., New York, and sold by all Drug.
gists, is the best tonic and for patients recover
ing from fever or other sickness it has no equal
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1884-05-09

The best test Of human life is the amount
Of good it has been and done to others. Mrs.
lydia Z. Pinkham may be given q seat of
honor among those who have hoped to change
sickness into health, and to transform the
darkness Of suffering into the sunshine Of rest
and hone.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1884-05-09

The estimated total cost of fires and
insurance companies in the United
States is $150,000,000 year.
In Mexico flour is $40 barrel; corn,
81 bushel; beans, 81 bushel; and
potatoes, So bushel.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1884-05-09

A eucalyptus tree on a farm in Ala
media County, Cal, was recently cut
down, and was found to have sent its
roots fifty feet to well, piercing its
brick wall and filing the cavity with
a dense mat of fibres.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1884-05-09

Mr.. l. Carpenter, 463 Fourth avenue, New
York, after running gauntlet of eight
years rheumatism. used st. Jacobs Oil, the
great pain reliever, by which he was en-
trely cured and has had no return of his
complaint,
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1884-05-09
a Fatal M istake

would be not 10 take DIR, II. v. Piercs's "Gol-
den Medical Discovery" Il you arc bilious, suf-
ierng from impure blood, or fearing oonsump.
tion (scroirlous disease Of the lungs.) Sold by
all druggists,