davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-09-02
Comfort.

COmI0rts
Hast thou DER the clear heaven Of thy soul
Seen tempests roll
Hast thou watchd all the hopes thou would st
have won
Fade, one by onef
Wait till the clouds are past, then raise thine
To bluer skies
Hast thou gone sadly through dreary night,
And found no light;
No guide, no star to cheer thee through tho
plain
No friend, save pain2
Wait, and thy soul shall see, when most for
Rise new morn.
Hast thou beneath anothers stern control
Bent thy sad soul
And wasted sacred hopes and precious tears3
Yet calm thy fears,
For thou canst gain even from the bitterest
A stronger heart
Has Fate o'erwhclmed thee with some sudden
blow?
Let thy tears flow;
But know when storms are past, the heavens
appear
More pure, more clear
And hope, when iarthest from their shining
rays,
For brighter days.
Hast thou found life cheat, and worn in vain
Its iron chain
Hast thy soul bent beneath eNlh's heavy bond?
Look thou beyond
II life is bitter there forever shine
Hopes more divine
Art thou alone! and does thy soul complain
1t lives in vain?
Not vainly does he live who can endure.
o be thou sure,
That he who hopes and suffers here can earn
A sure return,
Hast thou found nought within thy troubled life
Save inward strife ?
Hast thou found all she promised thee, Deceit,
And hope cheat?
Endure, and there shall dawn within thy
Eternal rest.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-09-02
WTOId a Lie With His TImger.V

A little boy, for a trick, pointed his
finger to the wrong road when a man
asked him which way the dOcter went.
AS result, the man missed the
doctor. and his little boy died because
the doctor came too late to take a fish
bone from his throat At the funeral
the minister said that the little boy
was killed by lie which another boy
told with his finger,
suppose that boy did not know the
mischief lie did OF course, nobody
thinks he meant to kill a little boy
when he pointed the wrong way. He
only wanted to have little fun. But
it was fun that cost somebody great
deal; and if he ever heard the result
of it, he must have felt guilty of doing
mean and wicked thing. We ought
never to trine with the truth.-Chu-
dretS FUeHd
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-09-02

The increase of insanity in the
United States during recent years is
quite amazing. One is inclined to
doubt whether the figures given can
possibly be correct; but they are oilici-
ally authenticated. Statistics show
that in 1865 the number of insane
people In the States was 24,042, a
small percentage. In five years the
number reached 81, ,432, and in 1880
the figures had grown to the surpris-
ing total of 9l,959. In all probability
the authorities have had until lately a
careless system of investigation, and
many lunatics have escaped enumera-
tion. Even allowing a liberal margin
for this, however, there seems reason
to believe that insanity has claimed
and is claiming an increasing number
of victims. The race of life is run at
greater pace than it WIS, and the
pressure is greater in consequence.
Many organizations give way under
the strain. 1t is said that the increase
has been most rapid in the Western
States, but no reason is suggested, and
it would be deeply interesting to know
why, for the causes which are in force
there are doubtless in force elsewhere.
The increase in insanity during the
ten years from 1870 to 1880 was ear
ly $50 per cent, it is stated. From
1865 it is still greater, and, though
this is far from subject of jest, it
may be wondered whether, if the pro-
portion is maintained, it will not soon
be necessary to calculate the small
percentage of inhabitants of the West
ern States who retain their sanity
London Standard.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-09-02

When Grant lived in Missouri he
found some one was stealing wood
from his land. He watched one night
and saw neighboring farmer cut a
tree, load it on his wagon and drive
off. Joining him farther along the
road Grant sang out: "llello, Bill =!
Going to st. Louis with your wood"
"Ye-es." What do you ask for it?"
about $4." "All right, I'll take it.
Draw it over to the house." Cant.
This loads promised" There's no
use holding off, You must haul this
to my house and pay me $40 fo the
rest you've taken. That will be only
half price" "lf | don't | suppose
You'll sue me before the squire?'
"No; we won't trouble the squire or
the public. Wen settle this now,"
and springing forward Gran. grabbed
the fellow by the collar This was
enough. The fellow hauled the wood
to Grants house but begged the cap
tain to keep still, That ended the
thieving.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-09-02
A Weather PrOnhet.

1t is possible, according to French
authority, to foretel the weather,
sometimes ten or twenty hours in ad-
vance, by Observing and comparing
the sounds emitted by a telephone
connected by leads with two iron bars
stuck into the ground few yards
apart. In case of a Thunderstorm es-
especially, a noise like that of silver
ing leaves increases until flash Of
lightning occurs, when the sound
resembles that of rain or hail falling
on grass.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-09-02
CHILDREN'S COLUMN.
A Rnrn-Ynrd Riot.

learned agood lesson when was
q little girl, says lady. One frosty
morning | was looking out OF the
window into my fathers barn-yard,
where were many COWS, oxen and
horses waiting to drink. The cattle
all stood very meek and still till one Of
the cows, in turning around, happen
ed to hit her nelghbOr, whereupon
the neighbor kicked and hit another.
In five minutes the whole herd were
kicking each other with fury. My
mother laughed and said, "See what
comes of kicking when you are hit"
Just SO have seen one cross word set
a whole family by the ears some fros-
ty morning Aiterward, if my broth
crs or myself were Il little irritated,
she would say, Take care, my chill
dren, remember how the fight in the
barn yard began. Never return a
kick for a hit and you will save your
selves and others IA great deal Of trou-
ble."
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-09-02
And so, between hysterical sobs ana

And SO, between historical sobs ana
smiles, and everybody talking at once,
and asking questions that no one
dreamed of answering, they went in
under the bower of roses and honey
suckle, and presently John hobbled
from the field on crutches, and the
story was told all over again.
And when Mary slipped out into
the kitchen to get an early supper. old
Mr. Brown followed here and there,
and she was folded tight in her faith
er's arms again, while the tears
streamed downed both their faces. 1t
was as if she had been raised from the
dead.
"My child" whispered the old man,
81 hain't been the best of fathers to
ye; | ha' shut my eyes and my heart
when Iought to ha' been the one to
help ye; never ye mind bout that
money; don't ye say one word bout it,
and we'll knock this old rattletrap
down tomorrow, and III show ye
how to build a housel"
And so he did, and a very comforta-
ble house it was, where John did not
have to stoop when he went in and
out of doors And would you believe
it? The letter, all the more harsh for
being so brief, never did reach its des-
tination. Old Mr.. Browns chiro-
graphy was Of a very inferior sort,
and the postmaster couldn't puzzle out
the address, much as he desired so to
do; then the letter was forwarded to
the Dead Letter Office at Washington,
and in due time was returned to Mr..
Brown, who quietly and satisfactorily
consigned it to the names
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-09-02
Friendly Lions.

Everybody who has visited menag-
erie knows that the lion is capable Of
being taught. A lion exhibited in a
Dutch menagerie would leap through
barrel covered with blazing paper.
lie was so tame that his keeper took
his food from him several. times, with
no resistance save Il slight clutch and
growl.
f a lion is captured when young,
and treated with kindness, he becomes
attached TO his master, and will follow
him like dog. Anderson, the Swe-
dish naturalist, saw, in the hut of an
African trader, one who was not only
fond of his owner, but lived on the
most alfectiOnate terms with dogs,
cats and other domestic animals.
Layard says, in his Ninereh and Ba.
Jyl0n, that the pasha Of lIilah, the
town built on the ruins of ancient
Babylon, had tame lion, who was al.
lowed to stroll unattended, through
the bazars. lie had only one bad
habit; when he was hungry, he would
take possession Of butchers stall,
drive out the butcher, help himself to
a Joint, eat it, and then depart.
i he had a fancy to breakfast on
fish, he would 60 down to the bank OF
the Z pirates, wait the coming of Q
fisherman Uuat. stare "vvoy tho nwno-,
pick out the largest fish, and break his
fast at his leisure.
The pasha encouraged his pet to get
his daily rations by this method, as it
relieved him from paying fshermen's
and butchers bills. When the lion
had appeased his hunger, he woulG
stretch himself in the sun and allow
the Arab boys to play with him, as if
he were large dog.
The captain of an English frigate
kept huge pet lion, which he had
reared from cub, that was so tame as
to be allowed the run of the ship
"Prince," as he was called, was more
attached to his keeper than to his
owner. One day the keeper got
drunk, and the captain ordered him to
be logged. The grating on which the
keeper, stripped to his waist, was tied.
stood opposite Princes cage. While
preparations were being made for the
flogging, the lion kept walking around
his cage, stopping, now and then, to
look at his friend and at the boats
vain, who stood, "cat' in hand, wait
ing the word.
At the first stroke of the knotted tails
on the mans bare back, the lions
sides resounded with the quick lash
ings of his tail. His eyes glowed with
rage when he saw the blood begin to
flow. With a roar of thunder he dash
ed himself against the cages bars.
They bent, but did not give way; and
the lion, finding that he could not
break out, rolled on the floor, shrek
ing as if in agony.
"Cut down the man" said the cap
tain to the hoatswain.
Go to your friend" said he to the
bleeding keeper.
When the man entered the cage, the
lion seemed beside himself with joy.
lie caressed him with his paws, licked
gently the mangled back, and then.
folding him in his huge fore-limb,
looked as if he dared the whole crew
to take his friend from his embrace
The YoutHS Companion
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-09-02
Serpent and Fiddler.

Uncle Billy Adams was furnishing
the music for gathering at the resi-.
dence of wel-known planter in
Dooley county, given in honor Of a
visiting young lady from Augusta,
The night was warm, and the win
dows were thrown open. Miss Alice,
weary of dancing, noticed the bird
cage hanging among the vines which
grew over the veranda, the inmate of
which was aroused to its sweetest
strains Of song by Uncle Billy's fiddle.
Tapping her finger lightly upon the
cage. Miss Alice felt the vinebuds
playing about her hand. "My God -
exclaimed one of the dancers, as he
looked toward the girl, "look there ~
A shrek from Miss Alice, and she fell
to the floor. As she fell a huge snake
was seen circling down her arm from
the cage across her shoulders, and as
she lay PROSTATE gathered itself in a
huge coil upon her bosom. With its
mouth wide open, its fangs set, and
pressing its head closely by the girls
cheek, the moment was one of intense
excitement. The Ominous rattle was
heard when Uncle Billy's fiddle gave
forth one of its liveliest airs, and the
reptile quickly crawled off, wriggling
its way toward the music and out of
the house. 81 dess knowed dat 'ud
fotch um," said Uncle Billy, as he
caressed his instrument. "Does creep
in creeturs is a might fond of music
The reptile was followed and killed,
when it was found to measure eight
feet.-GIObe Democrat.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-09-02
TIMELY TOPICS.

In France there is hardly any
growth of population; and the French,
so far from appreciating this condi.
tion, are doing their best to alter it.
They in fact put "bounty" on large
families by causing seventh children
to be supported by the State.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-09-02

The remedy for corpulence, accord
ing to the Lancet, is in the method of
eating and drinking. If we only ate
more deliberately, it says, we should
find half of our accustomed quantity
of food sufficient to satisfy the most
eager cravings of hunger. Let men
of all classes who lead healthy lives
resolve to eat and drink slowly.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-09-02
WHOLE NO. 2235.

lowing precedent established some
years ago in this State. The anala-
gous question has also been Iaised in
criminal cases. But there it has been
held that a prisoner cannot be COM
PEELED to submit to an examination of
his person when such examination
may afford evidence against himself.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-09-02

One curious revelation of the last
census was the growth of the female
population of the large cities. 1t was
shown that New York contains about
$4,000 more women than men; Boston
has "a surplus of $4,000 women; in
Baltimore there are 1900 more
women than men, and so on in several
others of the large Eastern cities.
Fifty years ago it was the men who
came to the cities to pursue their
careers, while the women stayed at
home; but more recently, women,
both in this country and in Europe,
have been crowding to the business
centres.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-09-02

1t may be interesting to our readers
to know where the bodies of our Pres
idents lie. OF the twenty-five that
have occupied the chair from 1889 to
date, but three are living, Rutherford
b. Hayes, Chester A. Arthur and
Grover Cleveland, the others are in
tered of follows: George Washing
ton, at Mount Vernon, Va; John and
John Quincy Adams, at Quincy, Mass. !;
Thomas Jefferson, at Monticello, Va.
James Madison, at Montpelier, Va. !;
James Monroe, at Richmond, Va; An.
drew Jackson, at his old mIermitage"
home, eleven miles from Nashville,
Tenn; Martin Van Buren, at Kinder
hook, N. Y; William Henry Harrison,
at North Bend, Ohio; John Tyler, at
Richmond, Va; James X. Polk, at
Nashville, Tenn; Zachary Taylor, at
Frankfort, Ky, Millard Fillmore, at
Buffalo, N. y; Franklin Pierce, at
Concord, N. H.; James Buchanan, at
Lancaster, Pa; Abraham Lincoln, at
Springfield, Ill.,; Andrew Johnson,
Greenville, Tenn; James A. Garfield,
at Cleveland, Ohio, and Ulysses S.
Grant in Riverside Park, New YORK.
City
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-09-02

A traveller describes natural bridge,
almost as interesting as the Virginia
curiosity, spanning a cannon, about
twenty miles north of the point where
the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad
crosses the boundary between New
Mexico and Arizona. This bridge is
sixty five feet long and fifteen feet
wide at the narrowest point. 1t con-
sists of tough grit rock, underneath
which the softer sandstOnes have been
worn away to depth of twenty-five
to forty feet beneath the arch. Near
by is petrilied forest. The stone tree
trunks lie just beneath the soil, or
half exposed, fallen in all directions.
This point had never before been Wis
tied by white man.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-09-02

The Supreme courts in several of
the Northwestern States have recently
rendered opinions which are likely to
work an important change in the trial
of actions to recover damages for per-
sonal injuries. BY the general prac-
tice heretofore followed the existence,
nature and extent of the injuries al
legged have been determined mainly by
the evidence of the complainant and
his own medical witnesses. But in
the opinions to which we have referred
the principle has been affirmed that
the plaintiff may be required to sun-
nit to a personal examination by
physicians chosen by the defence or
designated by the Court, Decisions to
this effect have lately been rendered
in Iowa, Wisconsin and Nebraska, fol-
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-09-02

The present population of the city
of Buenos Ayres is estimated at 400,-
900. One of the local newspapers
predicts that in few years it will be
the New York of the southern hemi-
sphere Emigrants are arriving in a
steady stream, and if the proportion
of the first six months of the year is
kept up, their number will be 100000
before the lst of January next. Ital
ians form the great majority of the
incOmerS.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-09-02

A movement is on foot to erect a
monument over the tomb of ex-Presi-
dent William Henry Harrison at
North Bend, o. 1t is on natural
mound in the midst of a pasture lot,
and it overlooks the Ohio River. A
dilapldated board fence, enclosing II
space fifty feet square, separates the
burial place from the pasture field.
Within the enclosure are two or three
old cedar trees. The tomb itself is a
structure of brick, all underground
except the gables, and it is covered
with roof of shingles, that are now
dilapitated and rotten. Even the
brick walls that show above the
ground are covered with a green
mould. A sloping cellar door covers
the steps which descend to the vault,
and even these doors of iron, exposed
to the summer rains and winter
SHOWS, are eaten through with rust.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-09-02

The "Big Woods" Of Minnesota well
deserve the name, for they cover 5000
square miles, or 3,20O,00 acres of sur.
face. These woods contain only hard
wood growths, including white and
black oak, maple, hickory, Eastwood,
elm, cottonwood, tamarack, and enough
other varieties to make an aggregate
of over fifty different kinds. The hard
wood tract extends in a belt across the
middle of the state, and surrounding
its northeastern corner is an immense
pine region covering 2l,000 square
miles, or 13,440,000 acres.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-09-02

Getting into debt in Mexico is a Sc
riOus business. II q debtor is unable
to pay on the day his debt is due he is
arrested and chained to post for five
days. Then an officer looks at him to
see if his punishment has enabled him
to pny his debt. Of course it hasn't,
and 50 the debtors labor is sold to the
government for forty cents day until
the obligation is discharged, The
government sends him with gang Of
felons to silver mine, and he does
not see the light again until the debt
is discharged.
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1885-04-10
Drying Cows.

Mr.. George Simpson, an English
dairyman, says be has found, to
his cost, that the ordinary practice
Of drying continuous mixers CIV
ing from twelve to sixteen quarts
daily does not answer at all. In
stead of attempting to dry COWS
giving quantities Of milk he now
finds it better to turn them In a
loose box and feed on oat straw.
By this means the flow of milk is
reduced, and gradually they dry
themselves off, without any evil
effects following. The practice of
suddenly checking the flow OF milk
of good mixers by the ordinary
method has resulted in his case in
three of his COWS slipping their
calves within forty-eight hours
after the drying process bad be-
gun. 1t has been observed that,
where it has been attempted to dry
large mixers suddenly, the uterus
and breast became infiamed. Dairy
men will find it highly important
to pay particular attention to their
cows, especially those of the
Guernsey and Jersey breeds, which
are great mixers.
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1885-04-10
diabetes Cured.

New Orleans Picayune, Jan. 20, 1891.
Mr.. Matthias Doll, business place No.
u North Peters street, residence Royal
street. between Jeanne and Bartholomew,
New Orleans. has been a most intense
sufferer from kidney trouble (diabetes) for
the last six long and weary years. lie
said to us: "Even earlier than that I fire.
uuently suffered from pain in the back,
and frequent making Of water, but gave il
no thought until about the time stated,
when the almost constant desire TO make
water became uncomfortable. The pain in
the back. and sometimes in the legs, made
me so lame at times that could scarcely
walk. Iconsulted one Of the best doctors
in this city. and was under his constant
treatment for one entire year without de-
irving the least benefit. then consulted
from time to time, during the last FIVE or
six wears, six other physicians, each one
standing in the front rank Of the medical
profession in New Orleans, and though j
sometimes was a little relieved OF some
excruciating suffering, yetupon the whole
| was not only no better, but in many re-
spects much worse. My limbs became so
swollen and sore that could not cross
my legs when sitting on a chair-all OF
which. they said, was caused by diabetes.
| then tried some highly lauded patent
medicine. But they all turned ont to be
humbugs. had given up all hopes OF
ever getting relief, much less being cured,
when noticed in the papers some won
derlul cures that PERUNA had made in
this city. as prescribed by DR.. Hartman,
giving the name and address Of each per-
SON treated. / called to. see him; he at
once prescribed his PERUSA, which is not
over three weeks. ago. | am so much
better that If would not improve any
more. | would not for any amount that
had not placed myself under his treat
ment All my pain and lameness is gone.
The swelling and stiffness in my legs has
disappeared, and instead of making water
every fifteen minutes, now make It once
in three hours during the day, and only
twice in a whole night. ! am, indeed,
cutie we'll again. Don't hesitate, don't
saw humbug, but get the PERUNA at once
and take it as its printed label directs, or,
4 YOU think this is only an advertisement,
and not strictly true, call and see me and
see for yourself"
Mrs. Huldah RIPPLE, Smethport, Nc
Kean county, Pa, writes: DR.. ,. B'
HARTMAN, & Co, Columbus, o. have
used your PFRUNA and it has done me
great deal of good. Have recommended It
to many Of my friends, who have since ex..
pressed themselves as wonderfully pleased
Nth lie virf1esn