davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1885-02-19
Mexico's National Drink.

The stranger in Mexico always COM
plains of thirst, according to Philadel-
phia Press correspondent. The rapid
evaporation makes his throat and tongue
very dry. As the water is poor and un-
healthfui, pulque shops, substitute for
beer saloons, are frequent. There are
said to be 1000 licensed pulgue shops
in the City of Mexico, beside numerous
bar-rooms where other beverages are sold.
Pulque pronounced poolkee) is the ma
tional drink and is the fermented milk
of the cactus. Eighty thousand gallons
are said to be sold in Mexico every day,
and double that amount on Sundays and
saints days. It is sort of combination
of starch and alcohol, looks like we'll
watered skim milk and tastes like yeast
It cost put penny glass, or two cents
quart, so that it is within the reach of
the humblest citizen and he drinks vast
quantities of it. Five cents worth will
make peon Gas all the natives are called)
as happy as a lord, and ten cents worth
will send him reeling into the arms of a
policeman, who secures him an engage
ment to work for the government for ten
days without compensation. But it
leaves no headache in the morning and
is said to be very healthful. In the
moist climates one might. drink large
quantities without injury, but all the
usual intoxicants are harmful in this lati-
tude
The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1885-02-19
Stories of Senator Evarts.

The Albany correspondent OF the Buff
falo Commercial, gives two stories OF
United States Senator elect Evarts. One
relates to an effort made by him when
secretary of state to induce Mrs. Hayes
to relax her total abstinence notions SO
far as to allow wine to be used by the
foreign ministers at state dinner. Mrs.
HAYES refused the request, adding that
the ministers must be ''sociable with
water" II have never known people to
be sociabfc with water" replied Mr..
Evarts with smile, and then he coughed.
81 have never known people to be soci-
able with water-except in bath. p" The
other is old, but so good it will bear repe-
tition. It relates to the purchase OF q
donkey by Mr. Evarts in Spain for the
amusement of his dozen children at
home. .'The first morning he arrived at
our farm in Vermont" said Mr.. Evarts,
che lifted up his voice and sent forth
the most wonderful bray ever heard in
that region. One of my little girls came
toddling out of the house and looked at
him. Then tie creature brayed again.
oh, what melancholy brute, she said
never mind. papa will be here to,mor-
row, and then you won't be SO lone
Some.'D
The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1885-02-19
POPULAR SCIENCE.


A French Investigator has found that
the sugar beet gradually loses its sugar
when grown second year, the quantity
being very small when the seeds are fully
ripened.
All ruminant hoofed beasts have horns
and cloven feet. If the hoofs are even
the horns are even; if odd, as IN the
rhinoceros, the horns are odd, that is
single or two placed one behind the
other. Recent creatures with feathers
always have beaks. Pigeons with short
beaks small feet, and those with long
beaks have large feet The long limbs
of the hound are associated with long
head.
No two individuals have exactly the
same anatomical structure: and nearly
every one has in him some bony promi.
hence, supernumerary muscle, or abnor-
NAL blood vessel which tells the tale OF
his descent. Scarcely one body is per
fectly normal in every part. Some have
as many as thirty or forty variations
in their bones, muscles or arteries. Varia-
tions occur more frequently in negro and
Indian subjects than in those Of Euro
pean descent.
It Is said that earthwOrms two feet in
length have been found in the British
isles, and various species as large OF
larger are known to exist in South Amer
lea, Western Africa, Australia and New
Zealand. The largest species known,
however, inhabits South Africa. Forty
years ago, specimen was described
which measured six feet two inches in
length; but it seems to have been nearly
forgotten until The other day, when o
gigantic creature of the same species,
nearly five feet long and half an inch in
diameter was sent 10 the London Zoolog-
ical gardens from Cape Colony.
An English scientist claims to have
proved, by investigation and expert
ment, that, in respect to health, the
electric light possesses advantages over
all other illuminants now in use-the
latter, with the single exception Of cleo
tricity, having a vitiating effect upor
the atmosphere. The various artificia
lights, according to this authority, diff
| fer very widely in the important fact
that they are all more or less deficient ir
| the rays at the violet end of the
| spectrum, commonly called the actinit
rays, and which most probably exercise
a very powerful effect on the system
even the light of the electri: are, which
is richer in these rays than any other, is
| still on the yellow side of sunlight, the
incandescent electric light being mex
best in this respect, after which comes
| gas and oils. AS to gas, it is shown b,
these experiments that each gas burner
consumes more oxygen, gives off more
carbonic acid and otherwise units NOR
al for breathing, than does one human
being-this excessive heating and al
vitiation combined being the main caus'
of injury to health from prolonged work
ing in artificial@lght
The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1885-02-19
"RailrOad Dick"

In one of the large towns on the Penn
sylvania railroad there lived, uutil year
or two ago, an old negro named " Rail
road Dick"
Dick S self-appointed task in life was
to.ss see de trains in SAFE" In front of
the station at this place run eight or ten
tracks, which cross busy thoroughfare.
Dick made it his business to meet each
incoming train, and run before it to
clear the track of any chance impedi-
ment. Passengers would hold their
breath in terror to see the STOPPING,
ragged figure, with white hair flying and
arms outstretched, running in kind of
dog -trot before the engine, in the posi-
BILE danger of being crushed to death.
No remonstrance or reproof could com
pei old Dick to give up his perilous
task. 1t had not been a useless one.
Twice he had removed distractions from
the track which would have wrecked the
trains. Once he had dragged man,
who had fallen upon the rails, to place
of safety, aud three times he had saved
the lives of children.
cole Dicks got his wohh, sah!" he
would say, when told of his danger.
1t never left the station. The railway
officials made protege of the old man,
and gave him comfortable room ii
which to sleep back of the engine house,
and standing order for meals at the
restaurateur's. But Dick preferred tc
take his bread and bone in his fingers;
to be eaten as he squatted on the floor OF
the station.
':Dem paid fcllahs takes turns, but
I'se always on guard" he said.
Dick probably grew stiff and feeble
from old age, and the time came at last
which everybody had looked for. He
was caught by the cow-catcher of an
engine, thrown against the rocks, and
carried to his room dying. He fingered
for a few hours. With each roar and
shrek that announced an incoming
train, he would struggle to rise.
''De's lots of chillren OH dem tracks
Lemme go! Ole Dicks got his work to
dol"
When told that he must die, he lay
silent for long time, and said finally
'Pars like de's nobody to take up Jes
my wohk. But de Lohd'll see to it, u
and so, closing his eyes, his work was
over.
The toughest employees on the road
were better men for having known this
poor. unselfsh negro, who, simply and
according to his light, faithfully did the
work which he thought had beeu
given him to do Youths Companion.
The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1885-02-19
Zuni CuriOsities.

Colonel Stevenson, of the bureau of
ethnology, has formed the largest and
most divers collection of objects illustrat-
ing the home life, industries and religi-
Gus customs of the Pueblo Indians ever
made. In addition to the articles in
this collection (Which amount to five
carloads and consist of pottery, woolen
fabrics, weapons and stone implements
photographs and colored sketches were
secured in great number, illustrating the
customs of the Pueblos. Many curious
cave shrines never before visited by
white men were explored places to which
for centuries the Zunis have been in the
habit of making annual pilgrimages,
with great ceremony, to deposit idols,
plumesticks and the skulls and bones
of sacred animals. A pack train party
visited, under the guidance OF
Zuni priests, curious salt lake, whence
the supply of salt used by the tribe
is obtained, and from this poiut the
travlers rode $50 miles west to lake,
where, according to the Zunis, the de-
parted spirits of the Pueblos are all
transported. TO the latter place the
guides could not be induced to 60,
though they pointed it out from dis
tance. The lake, which is but few
hundred yards in diameter, is surrounded
by curious conical hills formed by sedi-
ment from innumerable springs. The
springs are now dry, except such as are
beneath the surface of the water, but
some of the caves have open caverns,
into which one can penetrate by covered
way 900 or 300 feet. Colonel Stevenson
says the Zunis, while still curious peo
Pile, unlike any other race in the known
world, have changed considerably since
he first made their acquaintance, dozen
years ago. by reason of their more fire.
-ouent intercourse with the whites. They
are usually in trouble of some kind,
their unresisting nature rendering them
easy victims. Their cattle, of which
they have had considerable herds, are
are stolen by cowboys.
The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1885-02-19
NUMBER 13.
.aE BlvoUAC or THE STARS.

idE BlvOUAC OF THE STARS.
Oft when gaze upon that field sublime,
Which st1rry night unrolls:
Then seem its high lights, unsubdued
time,
The tent-iights of great souls,
That always with base things unsatisfied.
Unmoved by doubt or fear,
IN splendid toll throughout those spaces eide
Climb upward year by year.
countless throng that fills the heavens with
fire,
And glorifies the night,
Ascending paths that, winding ever higher,
End by the throne Alp-white.
The great, the noble Of the earth are there,
From the heroic past.
The loyal-souled, the upright and the fair,
In that procession vast.
And every morn, from spirits sight with
drawn,
Come watchwords to that host,
Echoed from star to star, as guns at dawn
Along guarded coast.
And hymns are sung, like paans loud and
clear
Before triumphal cars,
Half hearl within the worlds thick atmos
phere,
The awful HYMNS of stars
Oh. higher, higher up heavens wondrous
arch
Each eve these bands trace,
While in the shining ranks that lower march
New climbers take their place.
Full many height there is to climb, know
In life that hath no end,
But look up where nights bright beacons
glow,
And deathesS souls ascend
And heart and mind with newer strength ar
fed,
Until | feel again
That from those altitu les the noble dead
Still guard the lives of men.
% 2. Foster, II. Youths Companion.
The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1885-02-19
A Remarkable Death.

Robert Jones, a colored lad, aged
nineteen years, living near Edwardsville.
ILL.,, and by occupation woodchopper.
came to his death recently in most
singular and remarkable way. Having
arisen at his usual hour and eaten a
hearty breakfast, he started to walk over
to the place where he worked, seemingly
in perfect health. About the time he
reached the main road he was suddenly
overtaken by something which can
hardly be explained, bleeding from all
the openings in his body and blood
oozing from every pore OF his skin. He
only lived few minutes, and was dead
before medical aid could be secured.
What caused this remarkable bleeding at
all his pores is yelled in profound mys-
The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1885-02-19
The Old Liberty Bell.

The old bell which Philadelphia has
sent to the New Orleans exposition has
had noteworthy history, apart from the
one great deed which gave it world wide
fame. In 1751, the Pennsylvania as
emily "a Quaker convocation, under the
rule of the Penns) authorized a commit
tee to buy bell for the State house. In
the letter sent by this committee to Rob-
ert Charles, of London, ordering the
bell, are these words:
''Let it be cast by the best workman
and examined carefully before it is ship
ped, with the following words, well
shaped in large letters, around it, BY
order of the Assembly of the Province
of Pennsylvania for the State house in
the city of Philadelphia, 1852 And
underneath, Proclaim liberty through
all the land unto all the inhabitants
thereof"
AS Philadelphia and the province gov
erned by Penn was at that time literally
the only spot in the world where abso-
lutte freedom prevailed there was singu-
lar pertinence anu significance in this
inscription.
On the arrival of the bell it was hung,
and runs to try the sound, but, having
been badly cast, it cracked on the first
stroke of the clapper. The good Qua
kers then resolved to recast it themselves,
which they accordingly did in 1853. In
1777. when the British threatened Phila-
delphia, it was removed to the little Mo-
ravian town of Bethlehem for safety.
Even then, the people who were fighting
SO hard for their freedom invested with
kind of sacredness the bell which had
rung out to proclaim liberty, not only to
this land but to all the nations of the
world who should shelter here It was
broken several years later, and has since
occupied place in the old State house
at Philadelphia, next to the room in
which the Declaration was signed that
made us free people.-Touth's Conspan-
ion.
The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1885-02-19
A Great Edifce.

The new cathedral of Moscow cost
more than $40, 000, 900. It has been half
century in constructing. but the Won
der is not that the time is SO long, but
that it has been so short. The great ca
thedral of st. Saviour's is erected as a
memorial of the deliverance of Russia
from Napoleon Bonaparte in 1912. Less
than three months after the retreat of
the French the Emperor Alexander |. is
sued decree that the church should be
built, and few years later the founda-
tions were laid. It took twenty years to
erect the building and cover it in, and
the scaffolding was taken down in 1853.
The scaffolding alone cost $50, 900. 1t
has five great gilded copper cupolas, sur
mounted by crosses, the central one of
which stands $40 feet from the ground.
The whole building is faced with mar
BILE and the interior is pronounced the
most exquisite in it's decorations in Eu-
rope. There are magnificent paintings,
s!egant windows, costly candelabra, and
the floor and walls are inlaid with many
varieties of marble.
There is nothing in the world to equal
the gorgeous splendor of the altar and
it's Accompaniment, and the cathedral
coyers $4,000 square feet, and will ac-
commodate comfortably in its central
area-for it is in the form of Greek
cross-1O, 900 worshipers. The bells
for this church cost $500 The
largest weighs twenty-six tons, and the
smallest only thirty pounds. Galagnan1s
Messenger.
The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1885-02-19
The Princess of Wales.

A London letter to the Boston Herald
says: The Princess of Wales is adored
by the English conservatives and radi-
Gals alike, and it was lucky dav indeed
for the heir apparent when he took the
sweet and high-minded daughter Of the
King of Denmark to wife. Her popu-
larity is rivaled only by that of MIR.
Gladstone, and it is even greater than
his, for London is hers, heart and soul.
as well as the provinces. To look at this
pretty and girlish woman no one would
imagine that she was forty years of age
and the mother of several children, in
Guiding two great boys, one of whom
has just attained his majority. AL
though H. R. H. holds herself so we'll
that, when seated in her carriage or in
the box of theatre she seems tall
woman, yet, in reality, she is petite.
The princess dresses her hair rather high
and wears high heels. She is always at
tired to perfection, and usually in white
or black in the evening and in very quiet
colors during the day, but her costume
at night, however simple, is set off by
the most magnificent jewels, so that she
literally "blazes like jeweled SUM-" H.
r. II. is somewhat deaf, although not
seriously SO. The, present writer has
seen her many times in public, and has
always been impressed with the grace
and delicacy of her type of beauty and
the unaffected goodness that seems to
surround her like an atmosphere. The
princess is always cheered to the echo
and fairly mobbed by the enthusiastic
public. I have seen her seated in the
royal coach, returning in state from
Buckingham palace to Marlborough
house, preceded by out-riders, diadem
on her fair brow and gorgeously attired;
again, at a garden party, accompanied
by her little daughters clinging to the
skirts of her gown, as she walked along
between the ranks of ladies courtesying
and men with their heads uncovered !:
again, driving in Hyde park late in the
afternoon with the little princesses, or
sailing out to the royal yacht anchored
off the Isle of Wight, the ribbons of her
sailor hat futtering in the fresh breeze,
her dress simple blue serge, and still,
again, selling roses for charity at the
fete held in the Horticultural societv's
grounds in South Kensington. The
princess is familiar, but always isolated
figure in English daily life. The people
recognize in her all those virtues which
her life does so much to reveal, and fol-
low her good example in overlooking the
past and putting faith in the future. Ger
tainly, moreover, there is no reason to
complain of the present. There are no
scandals in their beautiful chateau.
The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1885-02-19
FOR FEMININE READERS
Points of Beauty.

An old Spanish writer has fixed the
standard of female beauty by an enum-
Grafton of thirty good points The pos
session of these points is essential. Here
they are:
Three things white-the skin, the
hands, the teeth.
Three black-the eyes, the eyebrows,
the eyelashes.
Three red-the lips, the cheeks, the
nails.
Three long-the body, the hair, the
hands.
Three short-the teeth, the ears, the
fe t.
Three broad--the chest, the brow, the
space between the eyebrows.
Three narrow--the mouth, the waist,
the instep.
Three free-the fingers, the hair, the
lip.
The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1885-02-19

ever. They are worn with white, black
and colors.
Cloth costumes grow in favor and
lighter clothes are on the counters for
spring wear.
Silver and gilt threads in the braids
worn on cashmere suits make them styl-
ish and dressy.
Lace dresses, made uf piece and border
lace, over silk, are among the prettiest
and most useful of evening toilets.
Black silk tulle over black China silk
is very pretty for evening wear, with
pale yellow roses at the belt or upon the
bodice.
Fur trimmed dresses are worn, but
velvet and plush are More used than any
thing for cloth or cheviot suits except
braid and machine stitching.
1t is not unusual to see fur used as d
bonnet trimming. One very pretty capote
has high plated crown of cardinal
velvet, while the brim is Of beaver fuf.
Fancy tea aprons of muslin al lace
and of Turkish towels embroidered in
tinsel and color are affected by fashion
able New York hostcsses at ) o'clock teas
or for afternoons at home.
White kids, which have been aban-
doned of late years, are again worn.
The mousquetaire, too, has enjoyed its
season of popularity, and it Is to be re
placed by the close buttoned glove.
New plaids are as often large as small,
and in fact all checked, barred, plaided
and block pattern goods come in graded
sizes from the smallest to the largest
and in every imaginable combination o.
color.
A band of fur forming fichu around
the neck, and stopping at the point o.
the bosom is considered very chic
worn with cloth suits, when only {
jacket or no wrap is demanded by The
weather. z-.
The holoIsus or Mother Hubbard slip
is the popular little girls dress in Europe
There it takes the name of the sasl
dress; but it is is subject to many varia
tions in the superimposition of draperies
plastrons, and sash belts.
The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1885-02-19
An Eccentric Girl;

The eccentricities Of an unnamed
young lady in New York who made her
debut this winter are causing d vast
amount of gossip. At recent private
ball she was sitting next to Mrs. Herman
Jones at supper, when Danny Fearing
brought that lady an ice. "Oh, wish
l had an ice," calculated the damsel in
question. 'May not bring you one?'
politely inquired Mr.. Fearing. ooh,
yes; only bring me twice as much as
that. Oh, by the way" she added,
turning to Mrs. Jones, as the surprised
man went off, ''you might as well pre-
sent that fellow to me; l don't know
him." When he returned and the intro
duction had taken place, she noticed
that he had bottle of champagne in his
hand. "Oh, want some of that!'' she
cried. .Let me get you glass;" said
Fearing, moving away. "Oh, never
mind that, + was brought up on the bot
tle," was the reply tHold your hat in
front of me, > and seizing fhe wine bot
tie she put it to her lips and drained off
a respectable portion of its conten's with
the case and grace of a southside boat
man.-7'roy Times.
The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1885-02-19

A very pretty woman, who has rea j.
peared in Washington this year, Is Mrs.
George Spencer, wife of the Senator
from Alabama. Six years ago society
was excited when<thss sSeaatsr7went over
to New York, married Miss Nunez, a
member of theatre company there and
{ brought his bride here. She was Mis-
sissippian by birth and related to several
generals of theConfederate and Egyptian
service, and is still very beautiful
woman of the slender Spanish type. AS
she appeared the other day, making some
afternoon calls upon ladies in the same
hotel where she is staying, she was the
striking figure of the occasion. She
wore a long black velvet dress, an i'm
mensc black Rubens hat covered with
black plumes, very long black g'oves,
add carried large fan Of black ostrich
-feathcrs, which, in its graceful motions,
seconded the wonderful play of her large
dark eyes under the thin arching brows
She held whole company Of ladies
spellbound and fascinated, and that is
the last and most crucial test of any
pretty woman's talents. When she sat
down they formed a semicircle before
her, and she carried them with her by
storm. Except for an occasional ques-
tion they let her have it all her own way;
and she was as bright, sparkling and fas-
clnating to all those women and be-
witchcd them as completely with her
smiles and her black eyes and clever talk
as if they had been so many susceptible
men. Only the entrance of Mrs. Logan
broke the spell, but as they are two
famous friends they simply joined forces
and the charm was doubled. = Globe DEM
0crdt.