davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1885-09-17
ESTIMATING DISTANCES.
Rules Valuable te Soldiers in Time of War
IFrem the st. Louis Glebe.1

IFrom the St. Louis Globe
It constantly happens that men de-
tacbed from the main body Of an army
are called upon to determine for them
selves their distance from an object to
be fred at. Experience abundantly
nroyes that soldiers, by continued prac-
tice. may learn to estimate distances up
TO 500 or 800 yards with considerable &C
curacy by simple, rapid observation.
Every soldier is supposed to have good
eyesight; he, therefore, after a little
practice in sight estimating, learns the
following facts
At thirty yards the white of mans
eve is plainly seen, and the eyes them
selves up to eighty yards.
At 100 yards all parts of the body are
seen distinctly, slight movements are
perceptible. and the minute details OF
the uniforms can be distinguished.
At $50 wards the brass buttons on the
blouse can still be separately dlstln-
guished. .oo
are confused. and the rows of brass but
tons look like yellow strips.
At 800 Yards the buttons are no longer
visible.
AT 400 wards the face is a mere dot,
but movements of legs and arms are dis
tinct.
At 600 yards details can no longer be
distinguished, though the files of a
squad, if the light be strong, can be
counted.
At 800 yards the men in squad can
not always be counted, nor their lnd1-
vidual movements distinguished.
At 1000 yards a line of men simply
resembles broad belt; the direction of
their march can, however, be readily de-
termined.
At 1900 yards infantry can be dis
tinguished from cavalry.
At 5000 yards a mounted man looks
like mere spect or dot.
The estimating drills are first con-
Quoted on smooth, level country, and
afterward on rough, broken ground.
The above drills are supplemented a
little later in the season by skirmish
practice, when the soldiers are advanced
or retreated on the run, before line of
targets the size of men lying down,
kneeling, and standing, when they load
and fire at the sound of bugle, depend
ing entirely upon their own judgment as
to : what distance they happen to be from
the objects fred at. 1t teaches them to
be quick and observing, and, above all,
to depend upon themselves for the
manipulation of their sights and the
handling of their pieces. The esti-
mating distance drills are usually kept up
for two months, when the soldier is
practiced indoors at aiming, pointing,
and pulling the trigger.
News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1885-09-17
The COneeit of New York.

Blakely Hall, in the San Francisco
ArgOnaat, says: To men who were born
here and have lived here long New York
is miles and miles away so superior to
any other city in America that he never
thinks of uttering them or mentioning
them in the same breath. This may be
the sublimity of conceit-perhaps it is
but the fact remains that New Workers
consider there is but one city in Amer
lea. They may travel all over the world,
but when they return to America they
live in New York In the same way
we observe that if man makes a great
fortune in Chicago, Milwaukee, Cleve-
land, Cincinnati or Pittsburg he comes
here, for many of the magnificent palaces
on Fifth avenue have been purchased by
Inen- from other Ss~ies who made haste to
come here as soon as they had made vast
fortunes. L don't know whether they
like New York or not, but they seem to
stay. 1t is true that a man does not
amount to much here unless he is good
deal of man, but still the advantages
of life in the most popular city in the
Union are too numerous to be over
looked. A man worth $40, 900, 900 is of
Importance, if only on account of his
wealth, in Cincinnati. But $40, 900, 900,
unless it is strongly backed by social
graces and other advantages, will do lit
tie or nothing for a man in New York.
l know that this statement will not be
accepted, because it is the general i'm
preston that wealth opens the doors to
society in New York; still such is not
the fact. There are hundreds of million
aires along the avenues who live magnifi-
Gently and spend enormous incomes, yet
whom nobody knows or cares to know,
Not long ago list of the number of
men who were worth more than S., 000,-
600 was published in one of the papers
here. There were hundreds of names,
occupying considerably more than a
column and half, and it is no exagger-
alton to say that fully fve-sixths of them
were entirely strange to the ears of New
Workers.
News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1885-09-17
Riding a Cannon Down Hill.
A REBEL SOLDIER FINDS THE MAN WHO
SENT A BAYoNET WITH HIM.

In the reunion of the ex-Confederates
at Fort Worth, Tex, two G. A. r. posts
pitched their tents in the centre of the
camp, and there was an exuberant good
feeling between the old soldiers who
had fought each other. The following
interesting story is related by visitor to
the reunion:
When l was at the G.. A. r. tents l
heard a story which impressed me as
very dramatic. A Union soldier named
McNamee was the reconteur, with an
ex-Confederate named Strong. 1t was
at the battle of Pea Ridge, and Nc
Nance said: 81 was with the battery
which was browning a slope; the rebels
made dash at us and got the guns
We came back at them and fought fist
and skull in the battery, pulling the
cannon this way and that. We got two
of the guns back, and the third one was
jerked up to the edge of steep ravine
One Johnny got behind it and gave it
an awful shove, jumping on the carriage
at the same time. picked up musket
with fixed bayonet in it and threw it
at him. The bayonet caught him in the
shoulder and went through, but he rode
that gun down the hill, and when he
got to the bottom he shouted up to me
to go to very bad place."
''Do you think you'd know your mark,
stranger if you saw it agin2" asked
Strong.
81 don't know"
"Well, here it is" and, pulling off
his shirt, Strong showed the wound of
the very bayonet which the other had
thrown at him. ''And l rode that gun
down the hill" he said, land l pulled
out that bayonet and got safe into our
lines. Ofcourse the men shook hands,
and were sworn brothers from that time
forward. This is but one of the many
scenes which | have noted, and which
time and space will compel me to save
for subsequent letters.
News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1885-09-17
HIGH-PRICED CIGARS.
Twenty-Five Cents VIII Pay for as Good
Smoke as is to be Had.

''For twenty-five cents each," said the
proprietor of one of the largest and
most fashionable cigar stands on upper
buy as good a cigar as one wants to
smoke. The difference in flavor between
that and one that costs one dollar is too
slight to be noticed almost. You can't
make great many young men believe
that, though. used to have a wealthy
young customer, who quarrelled with
me once because 1 didn't keep a cigar
that sold for more than fifty cents.
81 told him would order some for
his especial benefit. After he had gone
took fifty of the twenty-fve-cent
cigars, wrapped them carefully in tin
foil, and put them in an old box with a
tag stating they cost one dollar each.
''The next day he came in, and asked
me if had filled his order.
Il told him that at great personal in
conveniance had done SO. and tlief, 7
handed him out one of the dollar brand.
He took five, and never could be in
duced to smoke any others.
" They cost great deal, he used to
say, but the flavor is SO fine they are
more than worth it,"
81 want medium strong cigar"
said an old gentleman, who now en-
tered the store.
Eyes, SIR" responded the cigar man,
as he handed out a number of small
cigars. The old gentleman laid down a
quarter on the counter and took six CT
gars.
'''-> TAT isu't the kind of a man who
pays dollar for twenty-five-cent cigars, +"
we said.
No." answered the dealer. she
leaves that sort of folly for his son. He
is the father of the rich young man l
told you about"
News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1885-09-17
Married His Own Sister.
AN OLD AND TOUCHING STORY IN REAL
LIFE REToLD.

Several years ago pitiful story was
told of how man came to marry his
own sister and live with her for years
without knowing that she was rela-
tive When boy he had gone to Cali
fornia, where he stayed twenty years, ac-
quiring a comfortable fortune from the
mines. He finally returned to his old
home, but found no one to welcome
him. His parents were dead and his
only sister had disappeared. The now
middle-aged Californian again turned
his steps westward. While in Chicago
he met some old friends. through whom
he became acquainted with progresses
ing young woman who was employed in
a dry goods store. The two became
warm friends, and at the end of short
acquaintance he asked her to marry him.
The lady hesitated at first, although
she acknowledged that she loved him.
Finally, on being urged to give her rea-
sons, she told her history. She had run
away from her home in the East with a
young man who turned out to gam
bier and rake. After a few years of
wretched existence she was released
from marital bondage by the death of
HeI uuSDdnu, WIZ was hllIeu III d
drunken row. Since that time she had
supported herself as best she could. If,
when knowing these circumstances, her
friend should urge his suit she would
marry him. The gallant Californian at
once demonstrated his willingness, and
said that her sad history should never
again be mentioned.
1t never was; they were married and
lived happily together for many years in
California, in their old age they came
East, and on visiting little town in
northern New York learned for the first
time that they were brother and sister.
The poor woman's heart was broken by
the terrible intelligence and she died be-
fore leaving the scene of her birth. A
few months later her husband followed
her to the grave. Only one child was
left, a weak-minded dwarf
News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1885-09-17
Bound to See Her Husband.

A sensation was caused in police cir
cles of Richmond, Va, by the discovery
that one of the prisoners in the City
Jail who was attired as man was a wo-
man. The name of the prisoner is Hen
rietta Xix. Her husband deserted hel
in Boston few months ago. Learning
that he had come to Richmond, the wife
donned male attire and shipped on
board of vessel at Boston as a cook
about two weeks ago.
Upon reaching Richmond Mrs Hix
discovered that her husband had been
arrested and committed to Jail for rob-
berry. Determined to gain access to him
and share his prison cell, the woman
stole small amount of money. She was
arrested, and without arousing the sus-
picions of the authorities as to her sex
she was placed in the same cell with
Xix. The ruse was discovered Satur-
day and the husband and wife were
placed in separate cells. Xix confirms
the woman's story, and says they were
married in Boston about two years ago.
It is probable that Mrs. Xix will be par
doned by the Governor She is young
and good looking.
News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1885-09-17
LIFE IN A LIGHTHOUSE.
The Experience of a Lighthouse Keeper
on the Coast of Labrador.

Mr.. Faucher, q coast of Labrador
lighthouse keeper, tells two incidents
characteristic of its life:
''Just imagine that toward the close
of the fall, at the first snow, my family
was attacked by typhoid fever. The
first stroke of the disease was to put
seven of us in bed, and very soon all
the others followed. I was the only one
able to work. My nearest neighbor (at
Egg Island) was twenty miles off, and
as bad news travels without much wind,
this lighthouse was avoided even by In
dams as an infested place. One man,
however, was touched by my misfor-
tunes, and volunteered to help me.
Things went better then for a while
but as we were then at the last days of
navigation, fogs and snow combined
against me, and obliged us to fire the
cannon every half-hour, or every quar-
ter-hour. The vibration was terrible in
the tower, seventy-fve feet high, and
our patients could not endure it. 1t
was necessary to go up the five stories
of the tower, transformed into an in
Urinary hospital, before every shot, to
GAC pun 1CIlOWSj anu DUAL NNboOA
into the ears of the most nervous. Days
and nights thus passed, without bring
ing else than pain, anxiety, and sleep
lessness. Laurent and l were ready to
lose our senses, doing the service of the
light and the hospital like machines,
when the Lord took pity on US, and in
His mercy sent us some rest and JOY, In
a general convalescence. The light at
Egg Island shows a revolving white
light, visible fifteen miles, and giving
flash every minute and half. Cali
sailors know how important it is that a
flash light should revolve with mathe-
NAUTICAL accuracy; otherwise one light
might be taken for another, and wreck
might be the fatal consequence of such
an error One night, toward the close
of the autumn of 1872, pivot broke in
the clock-work regulating these revolu-
lions. The season was too far advanced
to get help from the Ministry of Marine
at Quebec; the only thing to be done
was to replace the machine by human
energy, and the keeper and his family
devoted themselves to the task. During
five weeks of that autumn and five other
weeks of the next spring, man, wife,
girls, and boys turned the machine by
hand. Cold and fatigue stiffened the
hands, sleep weighed on their eyelids,
but nevertheless they must turn, without
haste and without rest, all through
those long watches, in which the order
was to become an automaton and keep
turning the machine. Not one, from
the child to the master, either COM
planned or shirked his duty, and the
light at Egg Island continued each min
ute and half to flash its protecting
light over the tempestuous Gulf"
News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1885-09-17
A Story of the Cholera.

The following curious story is taken
from the Madrid Correo =
In Ulea, Murcia, there was attacked
Upon the 18th of July a man over middle
age, the father of family, and also his
little boy, aged eleven, called Jose
Gomez The father died, and few
days after, at six in the afternoon, the
boy died also, and was carried imme-
diately to the churchyard at the time
when the gravedigger was finishing his
days toll He viewed the last arrival
and although the grave was almost filed
up he threw in the dead body and went
away. Upon the next morning, as he
opened the cemetery gate, the first thing
he saw was Jose Gomez, almost naked,
Just as he was buried, amusing himself
'Hullo!" exclaimed the astonished grave
digger, ''who took you out of that?"
Nobody" replied the boy, cheerfully;
81 came out myself" ''Bueno good; ;
come here, wish to speak to you" Ell
chico Cthe little one), believing that he
was to be treated to another burial, be-
gan to run, and did not stop until he
reached his mothers cottage, whom he
frightened out of her wits, as she believed
he had come from the other world.
'sWhere is your father p was the first
question put by the poor woman. "Oh,
he stayed there; but give me something
to eat, mother, for | am very hungry"
The mother broke out into cries and
lamentations, and the neighbors crowded
in and tried to surround the chico, who
fed and endeavored to hide himself, be.
lieving firmly those attempts were pre-
monitory of another funeral. In the end
he was caught and put to bed all the
time protesting that his one malady was
hunger. So they gave him his breakfast,
and now he is the pride of the village
as heruns about stoning dogs, which, it
seems. was his favorite recreation before
he was attacked by cholera.
News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1885-09-17
The Poet.
BY WILLIS Fl. COOKE.


One sultry, summer day, when l was
over-heated, nervous, in hurry, and not
very well, an embryo poet, whom l had
the misfortune to know, accosted me on
the busy street of a large city as |
stepped out of the post-office, and told
me that he had something to read to
me-"
1T won't take me a minute" he
added, as l glanced at my watch and
perceived that l had just five minutes IN
which to meet gentlemen, by appoint
ment, at place several squares distant.
Pm not in hurry-no great hurry, -"
said, concealing my vexation; for l
acquit him of the deliberate cruelty he
must have been guilty of had he realized
what torture he was about to subject me
| to.
"Step over here,n he said,n leading
the way to one of the doors of the post
office, through which a stream of people
continually flowed, and placidly leaning
against pillar, although I think he had
less need of support than 1 had, for
felt like swooning. ''The fact is" he
went on, taking roll of manuscript
from his pocket, 81 place great deal of
reliance on your judgment in matters OF
this kind, and would like your opinion
of my poem"
He announced his subject as "The
Moonlit Valley" and began
ooh, pale moon, with thy gentle silver light,
| Thou"
Please, sir, give me penny to buy a
loaf of bread, " said ragged girl at this
| mnmpnt hnlliror ho11 i,,o c11TN.
| pllcatlng manner, while she nudged the
poet with the other.
mo, Pve no penny" he replied petu-
lantly, as the girl darted out to the mid
die of the sidewalk, to intercept a
benevolent-looking old gentleman.
''Confound the child I'll begin again,
SO that you won't lose the sense of it. "
ooh, pale moon, with thy gentle, silver light,
Thou shinest in the va ley wondrous bright!
oh, valley"
Gould you tell me, sir, where to find
the deaf and dumb asylum ~ asked a
stranger, stepping up at this moment
and addressing us both at once. Thank
tul for the temporary relief, | gave him
the desired information.
THANK you," he said, turning away.
oh, valley, how love your verdure green,
A mutual acquaintance joined us with
familiar exclamation,
Hello! How goes it ~
''Hellop was the poets elegant re-
joinder. 'You are just in time. Listen
to this. I'll begin again:
ooh, pale moon, with thy gentle, silver light.
Thou shinest in the valley wondrous bright!
oh, valley, how 1 love your verdure green,
Much more than anything I've ever seen I!
Behold how glorious are thy radiant"
''Black 'em, mister Only five centsr'
began to feel dizzy and faint. Just
then there was considerable excitement
on the street near us, occasioned by in
harmonious elements in the respective
views of two boot blacks. There were
beginning open warfare, and when a
couple of policemen rushed up to quell
the disturbance, the scene became so
animated as to absorb the poets atten-
ton for a moment, and thereupon 1
plunged away through the crowd, wild
with JOY, and made my escape.
News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1885-09-17
A Frightful Lightning Bolt
THIRTEEN PERso s KILLED AND TWENTY
FIVE INJURED IN AN ITALIAN FARM
HOUSE.

Tor Cajetani ) a little commune of the
Fro none jurisdiction of Italy, near
Rome. On the gath of July a party of
ing corn on the threshing floor in front
of the farm of Mr.. Ascani at that place.
This spot was on the top of a high hill,
surrounded by rocks and precipices.
There is no house ON the premises, only
little hut, looking like sentry box at
distance. About sunset furious storm
burst upon the company of threshers
The small building could hardly hold
| five persons comfortably in the upper
room, and five or six more in the lower
one, which is a SOFT of grotto. The la
borers, both men and women, hurried to
obtain what shelter there was, and those
who got in the building were packed
| like sardines in box A board was
held over the door to keep out the wind
and rain by the shoulders of the men.
Many who could not find room inside
stood with their backs against the walls
outside, under the cutters of the little
roof
Suddenly bolt of lightning struck
the little house, tearing the roof and
smashing the door. The thirty-eight
persons who had squeezed inside were
all Frustrated. Thirteen were killed
and twenty-five badly wounded
People who had witnessed the disaster
from distance ran to the spot. They
found the bodies of the dead scattered
around, while the wounded were moan
ing and crying for help. The sight was
so terrifying that many ran back again,
and the mayor of the commune could not
find any one to watch the corpses So
he had to do it himself. The neighbors
were wild with terror Doctors had to
be summoned from distant places to take
care of the injured. Many of the sur
vivors have become crazy, laughing and
crying alternately.
Thunder storms have been very fire.
quent around Rome this month, and
many people have been killed by light
ming. The little city of Daliano has
been severely visited by storms which
have destroyed the vineyards and olives,
and killed two farmers by lightning.
The whole population has been reduced
to the verge of starvation.
News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1885-09-17
Frauds ON French Banks.

Some public attention has been at
tracted in Paris by a trial for frauds
which had been opened before the As
size Court of the Seine. The accused are
Victor Guinet, who resided for time in
London, and then assumed the name of
Guinet Gordon, and an Italian, who is
said to be ''Recidivist" named Kappa
terra, but who gives the name of NAL
we're, and saws that he knows nothing of
the criminal with whom he has been
identified Both men have been living
extravagantly, keeping horses and car
riages, and ordering costly entertain
ments. They had no legitimate source
of income, but they have obtained with
in a short period upward of 200, 900
francs by fraud from banking houses.
Their mode of procedure was ingenious.
They began by making small deposits,
which enabled them to come frequently
to the office of the bank, and to loiter
about while business was being done.
They seem to have thus obtained the
names and addresses of several deposi-
tors, and even the numbers of their checks
and the amounts of their deposits. They
then contrived to get into correspond
ence with these customers and to obtain
letters from them. By chemical pro-
cess they effaced the text of each letter,
leaving the heading and signature, and
converted the document into an applica-
ton for book of blank checks. Some
days later check was detached, filed
up with forged signature, sent by
porter to the bank, and cashed. For
some time the police were unable to dis
cover the perpetrators of these frauds.
On the 9th of February, however,
banker cashed a check, which was after
ward recognized as forgery. Some re-
ceipt stamps were stuck upon it, with
the word ''annule" written with two
'1'sn instead of one In letter written
on the same day by Guinet to the same
banker, he misspelled the word in the
same way. The cashier remarked this
coincidence, and in consequence Guinet
and Zappatera were apprehended. In
their house was found collection of the
instruments and chemical substances en-
nlova1
News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1885-09-17
A Sharp Trick to EIude Arrest.

A notorious sport and gambler, some
time ago opened gambling room ar
ranged so that the tables would be half
in Pennsylvania and half in New York,
and by simply showing his tables over a
short distance he was able to elude the
officers from both States; but stimuli
taneous rush of officers from both sides
resulted in his arrest The gambler was
fined fifty dollars in New York State.
Returning once more to the old stand,
ne adopted new plan. He boarded up
the Pennsylvania side and opened up
the New York side. The tables were
placed on the Pennsylvania side, SO that
now, although entering in New York to
gamble, the playing is done in another
State, and should the Pennsylvania Off
GERS come in u requisltion would be ne
cessary to take them from the New
York side of the room, while New
York officers have no jurisdiction. The
officers are puzzled how to get at him.