davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1884-05-28
About the "First Floors"

The Building and Engineering Times
of London, England, the leading archi-
t%cctural journal of Great Britain, gives
the following interesting account Of how
the people of Great Britain came to call
that floor the first floor which Americans
call the second floor:
In the London edition of the Detroit
Free Press, Mr.. Luke Sharp gives a most
humorous account Of the venerable city
of Chester, as seen by him during half an
hours stay between trains. Speaking of
the famous Chester rows, which appear
to have interested him more than any
thing as being the evident progenitors of
the New York elevated railways, he per-
tinently asks why English people call the
"second floor the first floor" the
Americans cnlling what with us is the
ground or parlor floor the ''tirst floor ~
In order to satisfy Mr.. Luke Sharp's very
legitimate curiosity, we must travel very
far back in the history of house building
AS far back, in fact, as the pile
houses of the ancient lakc-dwellcrs.
Houses built On piles in the water at
some distance from the shore of a lake
are Ineligible enough as a means
of safety and isolation from human and
other enemies. AS civilization advanced
and the danger of sudden attacks ceased
these lake dwellings became gradually
transferred to dry land, the spaces be-
tween the piles being at first left open to
the four winds OF heaven, entrance to
the apartment on the first and only floor
being gained by means of q rude ladder
or q notchcd tree trunk, gradually the
spaces between the piles were flied, and
an additional room. so to speak, was
gained, which was at first used as a
stable, a granary, or store-house rs in
Turkey, Greece, Southern Italy and
Switzerland, where the upper story is
truly the first floor, the lower portion Of
the house being simply paved with brick
or stone, or in many cases lett in its orr
rinal eaIthen condition. In his Notes
by a Naturalist, on the Challenger" page
800, Professor Moseiey, apropos of the
pile dwellings * he inhabitants OF New
Guinea, Observation-Disclosures the modern
peasants chalet from the watery
homes of the ancient lakemen, the
present balcony being simply a survival
of the old platform 10 which the lake
dwellers climbed from their canoes. The
origin of the New York elevated railways
is. therefore, very mucllmo remote than
even the respectfully aged Chester rows.
1t is strange that ,hc Americans should
call the ground or parlor floor the rcz-de-
chausscc, in fact, the first" floor. To
be strictly logical. they should call the
kitchen or parlor floor the ""frst" floor.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1884-05-28
WhittlingS

Some men are born fools but most fools
are made to order.
Everyone praises a success, and most
people think they can plan one.
If the greatest man who has ever lived,
should tell the truth. he would tell you,
that how he came to he so great is a
wonder great to him.
1t is oltcner the case, that what a man
forgets educates him moro than what he
remembers.
1t does not require great tact to write
a long letter, but to write q good post
script to it, does.
Patience is half-brother to laziness.
Whenever q man is anxious to contide
a secret to you. you can rest assured that
he has contided it to a dozen other people
before.
The man who has a good deal to say,
always says it in Il Jew words.
There is no fattery so pure, and so
powerful, as to listen attentivcly to
others.
How are you to find out what kind Of
d man your neighbor is, when he cannot
ever tell you himself.
Critics and authors are q distinct class.
There is a dozen good authors to one good
critic.
n man is poor, just in proportion as he
warts what he not got, and cannot get.
This world was not made for any one
in particular. and I feel sorry for those
who think so. They will discover their
mistake some cloudy day.
My friend, when your relations all
think you are a fool, your success is al
most assured.
Destroy the looking-glass and You
would put civilization back at least two
thousand years.
Don't forget, my snobbish friend, that
you have got to die just the same as the
rest of US, and you cannot bury yourself
either.
Next to a snow-storm, for a decided
nuisance, comes a holiday, in a great
city.
When a man does drop out of sight in
a great city, you not only never hear from
him again, but you cannot even find the
hole he fell through.
1t is the strongest possible argument
for our immortality that nine out of
every ten human beings believe in it.
Politcness has no creed.
About half We know, we guess at, and
the other half, somebody has guessed at
for us.
4 man Of a great deal of character
cannot hide it. He will betray it even
when he sneezes.
Every ladder has a top round to it.
Our characters we make, our reputa-
tons are often made for US.
1t is no disgrace to be bit by a dog the
first time, but the second time it is.
Very intelligent people carry a large
share of their brains in their faces.
There is no slavery like idlcness; there
is no burden like it. Every pound of 1t
weighs twenty ounces.
A man is young just in proportion as
he feels so; o woman, Just in proportion
as she looks so.
There is not to-day a score Of first-ratc
critics living.-Zeks FalrchaM, mthe Man.
haitian.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1884-05-28
THE E FAITH.
My God is good, and will not leave me,
When / die:

i ne 6oI1o E0AAF
-.
My God is good, and will not leave me,
When / die:
His love, | know. will not deceive me-
With cruel doubts He will not grieve me,
When on deaths bed l lie.
My God has done too much for me
For death to end
In gloomy night upon the shore,
The hope he gives forevermore
To foe and friend.
Soft floats my soul on lakes of light,
In spirit land,
Beyond the shadow and the blight,
Beyond the each of human sight.
By angelsfann'd.
Who makes my spirit all devout:
Who bends my knee:
Who dwel,s within and guards without,
And saves my soul from hayward doubt
By all | see:
The mountains noi, the Wales embrace.
The vault above.
The soul which fills the boundless space,
And yields me thought and sense and grac'
In Gods sweet love.
Pure in spirit. if mar will pray,
And look to God,
The heart of conscience will be gay,
And reason 5 s.ept.r hold its sway
With gentle rol.
In faith and love all COOL is given,
For naught to sever:
While holy prayers the skeptic's ~leaven,
The souls the ljghtning-rol of heaven,
Immortal ever.
HUM Furrar McDsrmo,t.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1884-05-28
BUSINESS MEN.
Rfskinr Health and Life-Statement- OF d
WeYf.Known Oficial OF Lowell, Mas.
OIL. Chronic Kidney ase Cured BY DE-.
David keInedy's Favorite hemeo'' o.

R''Stsfk Hsss1n aaa or LssWefi, Ms:.s.--
chronic Kidney, Die ease Curcd ~ ";
David kennedy's Favorite hemeoy, OK
Rondout, n. I.
"I must have other help or die" exclaimed
City Assessor Francis Coward, OF Sumner
street, Lowell, Mass, to his Physician. Like
80 many other public men, MIR. Coward was
in early life strong, stalwart, and q perfect
stranger to physical infrmities. But the ex-
elements of a busy life, and the nervous
strain caused by business engagements, to-
gether, perhaps, with some inherited ten
dency TOR the tendency is often inherited)
had made him, he says, ''as most OF my friends
in Lowell are aware, q great sufferer from
kidney troubles. As a matter OF course l
procured the best OF medical attendance but
without real benefit" Hea also had intamma-
ton of the prostrate gland. Utterly discour-
az. d, he invested a dollar in DIR. AVID
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS REMEDX,of
ROndOut, N. Y. That vast or threeyears
ago. Under date Of Feb. 13. 1884,. he says:
"My health is the best 1t has been for years.
l still use FAVORlTE n EME DY OCCASION
ally. I always keep it in the house. have
had many letters OF inquiry about my case,
and l always recommend it as one o. the best
of medicines for such troubles, for ! nave
used most all other medicines for similar
troubles without benefit Such an emphatic
Endorsement from such a source ought to De
PERFECTLY convincing to all sufferers. ".
Kennedy has used EAVORITE REMEDY
in his practice for twenty years. 1t Is purely
vegetable, on-alcoholic, safe, sure, efficient
20 folroo n, I;~o ,foJ Trv r. H.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1884-05-28
He Guessed 1t.

Travelling men rs a rule are not apt to
make ':bad brcaks.n but sometimes they
do. The other day. on a train coming
INFO this city. one Of these gentlemen
wanted to sell out for a torn two-cent
stamp, but found no purchasers. On the
train was Il particularly lovely young
lady. seated by herself, while in the seat
in front was a perfect specimen of a
wcll-to-do planter. The moist weather
had probably affected the old fellows
corns. as he had taken off both boots
and planted his feet on the seat in front,
The relief he had experienced had caused
him to drop into n sweet slumbrr, and
we'll. it was Just about this time that the
drummer sat down in the seat by the
young lady and commenced TO make
things pleasant, after the peculiar style
of drummers in general.
'Old party in front seems pretty COM
Portable, don't hc!" said he.
Yes, sir, he seems to be enjoying him
SELL"
Makes himself at home; don't hc2
These old guys take Il parlor coach for n
regular dresSing-room. Just look at the
style of those country socks, will yon!"
"Thcy look comfortable, though" said
the young lady.
ayes, they do: but just look at the
style Of EN-. I'll just bet they were
knitted by hand out in the country some
where
'sWhat makes YOU think so ?"
ooh, they are so dizzy, You know.
Why. I wouldn't disgrace my feet by put
ting them into such old ham covers. Id
Just like to know who the old sEoozcr is
and who made those socks"
well. sir" said the maiden, Gas you
seem so anxious, III just tell yon. The
gentleman you have so politely called an
0ld snoozcr is my father. and / knitted
those socks for him myself. and as know
YOU would love to get acquainted with
him, III just wake him up and introduce
YOU. Have you a card I"
But the drummer had flown, and though
the next station consisted of only three
houses, Il travelling man and three large
trunks got oil.
Moral-You can't most always m
times tell who the pretty girls father is.
-EransrW .i,yus.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1884-05-28
HUMOR OF HI DAY.

Thieves IN the stage are always cau9ht
in the act.-Scissors.
A summary proceeding-Taking OFT
your flannel. -Chicago Eye.
Ell Mahdi has eighteen wives. and says
he went to war simply for a little quiet
and rest.-BSma1rk Tribune.
Sleep is very healthful. There is
nobody who knows this better than the
hired girl, especially in the morning.
RochlaAd Courier.
Do not let adversely discourage you,
my son. Were it not for the kicks which
it receives, the football would never get
I'D in the world.-Boston Transcript.
No, Laura; no. They do not open
the campaign with a can-opener. They
do il with Il corkscrew. How little, alas,
do women know about politics. "-Aawk-
eye.
There are Is, 900. 900 to 30, 900, 900
hats made annually in this country, and
when a man is the last to leave a banquet
he generally gets the worst one.-No'17s'
tOWn WeraM.
1t is said that water composes three
fourths of the human body. This may
hold good in some communities, but IN
others water does not enter largely into
mans composition. -Arhunsa~ 7'ureler.
THE AIRY SEASON.
This is the airy season
When the urchin WINS a pup,
And the little girl on thu branches
Has her brother put a I" Soup"
Soon passes this airy season,
And the pup is Gagged in the pound.
And the "scup rope flies or the 6ranches
And lands the girl on the ground.
Puck.
A Milwaukee girl got mad, chopped
off her finger and sent it with the en-
eagement ring upon it to her faithless
lover. As soon as the lover saw that
she could no longer play the piano he
rushed to her side and married her,
Philadelphia Gull.
It's pretty difficult for a high. school
girl to think of something to say when
She goes to write q composition, but as
o @ as she gets out of school and while
on the way home she can say a whole
newspaper full without thinking.-Ken-
tucky State Journal.
A new poctess from the West remarks:
eff love you give, no more I'll ask"
When this poetcss has gained q little
more experience she will learn that there
are times when a single cold potato pos
sesses more intrinsic worth than q whole
moonlight evening full of love.-Phih-
dolphin Gull.
THE %ULsTER's VAIL.
Once I was bright as a midsummer's morn,
But now l am faded and very much worn.
NV owner, a seedy and broken-up fop,
Has hung me right up in his pet "uncles'
shop.
The future, on which all my hopes had been
built,
Has nothing in store save al old crazy quilt.
-New York Journal.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1884-05-28
Cause of Earthquakes and Volcanoes

EARTHQUAKES and volcanic cruptions are
closely related to each other. like ice and
snow. Each may be the effect OF 4 dill
fcrent cause, or both may result from the
same cause, as there is evidently more
than one cause at work to produce these
effects. This statement will enable the
general reader to form a tolcrably clear
idea of my meaning, and yet l am o
satisfied with It myself. Therefore, l
will vary it by saying that Il chain of
causes seem to combine, the different
effects of which a!e earthquakes and
volcanic cruptions.
The most general cause OF earthquakes
is the tension and pressure of the crust,
bv which the oscillations and plications
thereof have been produced. The tension
and pressure have been caused by the
shrinking and contracting of the crust,
consequent upon it's cooling. Pllcatlons
are caused by q lateral or side, pressure,
in consequence of the contracting oil the
crust, whereby the strata, if of clay,
loan, etc., are thrown into waves, or
ridges, giving an appearance something
like a fated column. / will give Il IA
miliar example of the forces that produce
slight earthquakes, in order that the
young may have q clearer idea upon the
subject.
On building IL fire in a stove, when the
pipe begins to heat it will expand. At
first there is a tension so slight that the
iron of the pipe is able to resist it. but as
the heat increases the strain or tension,
overcomes the resistance suddenly, as a
stick breaks when the strain is too great,
and with a cracked sound. This is caused
by expansion; but similar phenomena
will result from contraction when the
heat is subsiding. Thus it is with the
errth's crust. The straining, by either
contraction or expansion, causes some
place to yield with a loud report, instead
of n "cracking," as in the case OF a stove
pipe. If this event occurs near a y
cane then an eruption cnsues. Also, as
there is a reflex action, terminating on
the surface of the ocean of internal tire.
an uphcaval Of the crust results, and II
there is an ocean Of water Immediately
above a tidal wave must be the conse-
quence. Furthermore, should this slight
shock of earthquake open a tlssurc in the
crust, from a fountain of water to the
ocean of fire, then the water being sud
denly converted into steam, with not
room enough in which to expand, other
shocks will follow, attended by up
heavals, earthquake waves and volcanic
disturbances. These will continue for q
shorter or longer period, and be slight
or heavy, according to the amount of
water precipitated, the size of the assure
and other conditions Portland (ur.)
West Shore.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1884-05-28
LenerS In India.

A stranger in India visiting a bazaar, or
any public place, writes a correspondent
OF the New York Mserce,', will be
shocked at the wreiched beings by whom
he will be Immediately surrounded, each
one asking an aims. Mothers arc in the
throng and thrust upon the notice Of the
visitor Il puny babe, a sightless child, or
one with a hideous deformity. Children
are leading about a blind father or mother.
The manned are there; and crawling at
his feet and his pity and pence
are creatures in all stages of wretched-
ness and deformity: The lcper, too, is
there, and holds up before the dismayed
visitor his hands frightful with the raw
ages of the pitiless disease that is con-
suming his life; or, leaning on II stick
and hobbling painfully along, directs at
tention to his stumps wrapped 10 loath-
some rags; or. if these members are
sound, he implorcs the visitor to look
upon his married visage.
Lcprosy in India is painfully prevalent,
and is found both in the mountains and
the plains. 1t is said that there are at
least 125. 900 OF these wretched sufferers
here, and one authority places the num-
Der at 200. 900. The last census shows
that the dicasc is spreading in some parts
of India. The census of 1880 gave the
number as 8, LAS. In the city Of Bombay
alone there are now 400 lepers.
The condition of no class of persons is
so deplorable as that of the lepers. Not
only are they the victims of a loathsomc
and incurablc disease. their life a ''livipg
DEATH" but they are outcasts, homeless
and helpless. When the terrible disease
makes its appearance in a member of n
household, the afflicted one is cast out by
his friends and hcnceforth has neither
name nor habitatiou. In the selfish creed
of the Hindu there is no place for compass
sion. How shall morta!s pity those with
whom the gods are angry? they coldly
question; and so from the home where
be has been loved and honored. the lepcr
goes out, a hopeless outcast. Henceforth
no friendly door opens to welcome him;
no voice in accents of kindness falls upon
his ear. Unable to toll, he bcgs from
door to door, and sleeps where the night
overtakes him; to satisfy his hunger
gladly taking such food as is Thrown to
him" no fear Of dc6lemcnt now, for
who so vile as he. And so the months
and years drag YEARLY on, the awful dis
ease doing its deadly work, until the
MANNED and Scared stump that remains
scarcely seems the tenement of a. human
soul.
The people of India provide asylums
and hospitals for animals, and to pet and
pampcr the sacred COW, or the revered
monkey, is regarded as an act Of great
merit, but to relieve the sutIerings Of
their stricken fcllow-creaturcs they feel
no responsibility.
But though the inhabitants of this
land are thus indifferent to the woes of
their countrymen, the children of
"Christian England" have been moved
to pity, and all over the land there are
now asylums for lepers.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1884-05-28
THE FLOWER POT.
BY q. C. D
@ III this lily,

like this lily,
fair. love, and
qually as
pure.
Your
be auty
is as "a re, love
and longer wi II
endure. Y ouare as
graceful, tc o, 10 We; 20
hands are just as White.
Your mi ssion Is rs true,
Low c, to give the world
- delight. Oh! could I only
share, | owe, the care
that you be
stow upon
this :
lily fair, love, how happy
would grow" "You're like the
flower pot, Will, for You are often broke
and also cracked q lot, Will, judg ing
by what you spoke. Likewise you or
but clay, Will, while /, a lily BRIGHT rom
you must grow away, VIII, to seek a higher
light" "But lilies wilt. Wilt thou?" sighed
VIII, "give me a leaf to hold
thee still ?" 81? Will"
-Ch1cago Sun.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1884-05-28
SCIENTIFIC AND INDUSTRIAL.

One thousand shingles will cover one
hundred square feet of surface, laid four
inches to the weather; for the above,
about five pounds of nails will be re-
quircd.
The tensile strength of glass has been
shown to be between 1000 and 5000
pounds per square inch, and the crushing
strength between 6 1000 and 10, 900 pounds
per square inch.
The latest use devised for paper is the
making of carpets. A Connecticut man
is reported to have taken out patents for
processes By which beautiful and SUBJ
stantial carpets can be made of paper at
very low prices.
4 German paper says that a roof can
be made tircproof by covering it with n
mixture of lime, salt and wood ashes,
adding a little lampblack to give a dark
color. This not only guards against fire,
it is claimed, but also in n measure pre-
vents decay.
The power developed by the explosion
of a ton of dynamite is equal to 1868
tons raised one foot, or 45: G75 foot-tons.
One ion OF niiro-alvcerine similarly X
plodcd will cXer, a power Of G5.452 loot
tons, and one ton Of blasting gelatinc
similarly exploded 71,05O foot-tons.
The manufacture of perfumes from
Florida-grown flowers bids fair to become
an extensive industry in the State. Ono
firm at jacksonville is already at work.
1t is reported that a gentleman from
South Florida has patented a process for
the utilization Of the bloom of the man
grove and the sapodilla, and to extract
the sweet fragrance from the cassava
plant.
The gathering of old tomato cans in
New York pays handsomely. They arc
sent to Newark, where fifteen cents q
hundred is naid for them. The number
found daily in the garbage boxes Of this
city is tremendous now that quart cans
retail at eight and len cents apiece. The
Newark man puts the empty cans into
| furnace, where the solder softens so that
they can be rolled by machinery into
plates. These plates arc blackened and
polished, and used by trunk makers tc
bind the edges of trunks and cover uT
defects in woodwork. The original price
paid for the old cans is fully returned in
the sale of the solder thai falls from the
! cans into a receptacle beneath the furnace
through a grating on which the cans arc
hcapcd.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1884-05-28

According to a recent authority, a jap
ancse fish known as faku is SO poisonous
that death follows almost instantanc-
ously after eating only a moderate piece
of it. 1t is not infrequcntly the cause OF
death among the lower classes, who be-
Iicvc it to be possessed of certain marvel
lous properties, OIL account of which they
risk the danger of being poisoned.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1884-05-28

Although we have less pigs than pco-
pie, we have more than any other coun-
try on earth, and we have almost Il sheep
apiece, or nearly twice as many OF the
tleecy family rs the United Kingdom, and
we have more mich COWS than all the
British cattle together. We have about
as many horses as families, allowing an
average of five persons to each family,
and there is one mule for every thirty in
habitants. During its first century this
republic doubled its population every
twenty-five years, and Mr.. GrilGen, an
eminent English statistician, recently at
tempted to excite alarm by predicting
that our growth will continue at the
same rate until the soil will not be able
to support 50 many people,. 1t will not
be equally pcrplcxing to know how to
reduce the animal census, should there
ever he danger Of ov%crcrowding, as in
dictated by the present rate of increasc.-
New York Mail and Express.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1884-05-28
IN AFTER DAYS.

In after days. when grasses high
. O'ertop the tomb whor, shall lie,
Though well or i'll the world adjust
Ny slender claim to honored dust,
shall no: question o reply.
shall MT Sc, the morning sky,
shall not hear the night-wind sigh,
| shall be mute, as all men must.
In aft r days I,
And yet, now living, fain were 1
That some one then should testify.
Saying-He held his ZEN in truss
To Art, not serving shame or lust.
Will none!. Then let my memory die
In after days {!
Austin DObsOn, in Centur.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1884-05-28
Our Animal Census.

The number of people in the United
States increases about 1000, 900 a year,
but the number of farm animals increased
1000, 600 during 1888, according to n
report presented to the commissioner
of agriculture by Mr.. Dodge, statistician
of the agricultural department. The
attention recently excited
by the American hog gives especial in
tercst at the present time to the animal
census of the republic, which is as fol-