davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-11-11
The Fourth Finger.

It is generally known fact that the
burth, or ring finger, of the human hand
not on a par with the other fingers, it
,eing the weakest, least flexible and the
most rebellious in action Scientific
men explain this feebleness by the theory
hat the lateral tcudons joining the ring
niger to the others composing the hand
n measure paralyzc its movements.
TO the majority of persons it matters of
course little that one of the fingers should
be of inferior strength to the rest; but
'or the pianist or the player on any
,tringcd instrument it is frequently a
considerable inconvenience. AS art can
in the present day remedy most defects
that incommode us, a foreign medical
man has thought that something might
be done for the ring finger in the case of
musicians. He informs those therefore
especially interested in the matter that
If they wish to have flexible, strong
fourth finger, they have but to submit to
surgical operation, which consists in
dividing the tendous of the same This
operation, he says, is scarcely worth call
ing one, so slight is the pain it occasions
the patient, who loses scarcely any blood
by the process. The advantage-and he
considers it an appreciable one-fo,
those who are professional pianists,
harpists or violinists, or who practice
frequently on the piano, is that, after
the operation, the finger becomes as FREQ
as the Others, being able to work upon
the keyboard or strings with equal force
and with the same facility.-London
Standard.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-11-11
SBrGVn Brcad.o

No river is wide enough to keep
lovers apart when the old folks op,
pose.
An Indiana man recently found a
snake in his bed tick. 1t is surmised
he went to bed with his boots on.
A magazine writer alllrms that
there is no such thing as absolute 81
lence. If he is married he is right
about it,
The mule has the name of being
som, on tho kick, but is docility itself
compared to the man who gets the
wrong gas bill.
The papers are discussing the ques-
ton, "How to tell good egg;" but it
seems to us the easiest way is to break
it open and smell it.
Somebody has been trying to prove
by figures that there is one COW for
every four people in the country, but
folks familiar with the gauzelike cream
of the clearinghouse can never be
brought to believe it.
Tho world is said to be growing
wiser and better with a steadily in
creasing ratio, and yet an occasional
hole in the toe of q sock will be likely
to create more or less discomfort and
lll-feeling for some time to come.
1t is said that scientific eXplana
ton has been given to account fol
dreams that occasionally come true
but nobody has been able to make out
why it is that a mosquito will leave
fresh meat any time to lunch on mar
as old as proverb and tougher thar
a cowboy. Chicago Ledger.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-11-11
Recipes.

Ome1et SouRe Add to the yolks OF
six eggs tablespoonful of flour, pep.
per and salt; stir well together; add
the whites of the eggs and fry in
saucepan in which has been melted
three ounces of butter
Goldfish Mtnced. Flake up cold
boiled cod and to three cups Of fish
add one large mashed potato, small
piece of butter, one.half teaspoonful
Of corn starch, one beaten egg; make
into small cakes and fry in butter.
Bread Pudding. Soak the soft part
Of bakers loaf in a pint of warm
milk add a tablespoonful of soft
butter, tablespoonful of thick cream,
the rind and part of the juice Of a
lemon and two we.l-beaten eggs.
Flour large cupful of dried cur
rants, CRATE nutmeg over them and
add to the rest. Bake in well-but,
tered custard cups and serve With
pudding sauce, either hard or liquid.
Hominy Mmhns.-A teacupful Of
boiling water poured upon two table
spoonfuls of uncooked hominy. Sim
mer fifteen minutes add cup and
a half Of boiling milk and cupful OF
white Indian or cornmeal. When cool
add two we'll beaten eggs, two table
spoonfuls Of sugar, salt, and tea
spoonful of baking powder. Pour
into the muffin-pans, which have been
previously heated and buttered, and
| bake afteen minutes.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-11-11

Straw mating may be cleaned with
a large coarse cloth dipped in salt and
water, and then wiped dry.
Thoroughly wetting the hair once
or twice a week with a weak solution
Of salt water, will prevent it falling
out.
The long swinging glasses are COM
ing into favor, and bureaus, dressing
tables and walls are amply supplied
with mirrors.
Cayenne pepper blown into the
cracks where ants congregate will
drive them away. The same remedy
is also good for mice.
If mating, counterpanes. or bed
spreads have oil spots on them, wet
with alcohol, rub with hard soap, and
then rinse with clear, cold water
Stair carpets should always have
three or four thicknesses of paper put
under them, at or over the edge Of
every stair, which is the part where
they first wear out.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-11-11
Captain Delaney, who has been the
hrrcntod weather nroDhct in France aver

Captain Delaney, who has been the
accepted weather prophet in France ever
since he predicted the Jersey earthquake,
has just published his meteorological
alamac for 1886, and unless he is all
wrong in his calculations, next year
promises to be an "anuee terrible" and
that not merely from the meteorological,
but also from the political point of view.
For, according to NJ. Delaney, there is
an intimate connection between cosmic
and political disturbances: a theory
sufficiently indicated in the name
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS he has
given to this branch of his science. He
confidentially predicts several uncom-
monty destructive earthquakes in the
course Of next year. Our planet is, he
as ascertained, exceptionally troubled
in this way every twenty-eight
years; and the year 1886 COM
pletes one of these cycles.
He further expects that Saturn will
make US present of n portion of his
ring in the shape of comet, which will
probably outshine the great comet of
1858. The subterranean disturbance
will continue for some nine months out
of tho twelve. May will be the worst
month of the twelve, the period of max
imum perturbation being the first three
days of that once merry month.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-11-11

Mrs. Jenny Caldwell Nixon, who
superintends the department OF
womcn's work at the American Ex-
position in New Orleans, is anxious to
make a specially of the inventions of
women. In letter inviting through
the press contributions in this line
from women in all parts of the Union,
she says "For many decades Ameri-
can ingenuity has astonished the slow
European. Laborsaving machines
seem to be already made and perfected
on the mind of the native Yankee, to
be produced at short intervals for the
surprise and delectation Of mankind.
The American man has by no means a
monopoly of this wonderful gift.
female patentees increase in number
every year.
at is my wish and intention to give,
in the American Exposition in New
Orleans especial prominence to patents
granted to women. 1t is earnestly
urged upon every woman who has
been happy and gifted enough to in
vent any useful and ornamental thing
to send specimen of her production
to the exposition, where it will take a
proud place at the very head and
front of 'Woman's Work. Where it
is impossible to send the article itself,
a certificate of a patent will be re-
ceived and exhibited"
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-11-11
Warm Shelter for Stock.

Of the various ways through which
IT is possible for the average dairyman
to enhance his profit, the most eff
fectual is first to reduce the cost of
producing his milk. This he can do
in variety of ways. One way of
doing so lies in the improvement of his
milking stock. This is certain but
slow way, and must be the work of a
few years. And then another way,
more rapid; and that can at once be
available, consists in reducing the cost
Of keeping his cows.
This, again, he may do in different
ways; first, by securing greater
warmth and more comfort for his
COWS in winter The heaviest item of
expense which he incurs consists in
wintering his cows, and the more they
are exposed to tie cold, the heavier
that item becomes. Cows eat more in
winter than at any other time, simply
because more heat is absorbed from
their bodies by the cold air. For in
stance, we all know that hot water
will cool faster on a cold day than on
warm one. Therefore the animal
heat must be kept up to an uniform
standard, and the extra loss of
warmth must be restored by more
fuel, in form of feed, and this in
creases the cost of keeping and the
cost of producing the fall and winter
supply of milk. Keep the COWS warm,
and they will eat DO more in the win
ter than at any other time, and they
will require less extra food for winter,
just in proportion as they are made
warm and comfortable, and by just so
much they will turn out milk at a re-
duced expense. There is profit in
keeping COWS warm in winter. 1t
costs much less to tone down the cold
Of our severe climate by providing
warm, comfortable buildings for COWS.
If the owner has not secured them al
ready, the sooner he gets them the
better, and not he furnishing extra
food year after year, to restore the
heat needlessly lost by the exposure of
his COWS to the cold air.-Nat;onG
St0ckmNn.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-11-11
LADIES' DEPARTMENT.
what a Lily Society Is.

The other evening the Countess of
Aberdeen entertained over two hun
dred girls employed in the various
works and factories in Aberdeen who
are members Of the "Lily" society for
young girls. After service of song,
tea was served by number of ladies
who had kindly consented to assist
Lady Aberdeen.
Then her ladyship spoke to the
young people, after which Prof. Henry
Drummond gave an address. He said
he had seen many things in the world,
but he had never seen a lily band be-
fore. There was not another any
where, he believed, except in Aber-
deem. He compared the life of his
hearers to the growth of lily, and
upon asking all those who were water
lilies-by which he meant teetotalers
to stand up. the whole audience at
once sprang to their feet. lie warned
them against the evils of intemper-
ance and told them never to marry
any one that drank. AS they left the
hall each girl was presented with a
small book by Lady Aberdeen
London Court Journal.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-11-11
Wall Street Slang.


Stockholders have dialect of their
own that is caviare to the crowd.
Like the trade marks and SHOP
terms of merchants, it must be ex-
planned to be ineligible to the multi
tude. 1t is pithy, pungent, scintillat-
ing, and sometimes rank. 1t precisely
characterizes every variation and as
pect of the market. A broker or oper-
ator is "long of stocks" when "carry-
ing" or holding them for rise;
"loads' himself by buying heavily,
perhaps in "blocks" composed of any
number of shares--say 5000 or 10000
bought in lump, and is therefore
"bull," whose natural action is to low
er his horns and give things hoist.
lie forces quotations when he wish
es to keep up the price of stock;
"balloons" it to height above its In
trinsic value by imaginative stories,
fictitious sales, and kindred methods;
takes "a flier," or small side venture,
that does not employ his entire capt.
tai; "hies kites when he expands his
credit beyond judicious bounds; "holds
the market" when he buys sufficient
stock to prevent the price from declin-
ing; "milks the street" when he holds
certain stock so skillfully that he rails
es or depresses prices at pleasure, and
thus absorbs some of the accessible
cash in the street; buys when the
"market is sick" from transportation,
keenly examines ''points"-theories or
facts-on which to base speculation;
"unloads" when he sells what has
been carried for some time; has q
swimming market" when all is buoy
ant; spills stocks" when he throws
great quantities upon the market.
either from necessity or to "break,"
1. e., lower the price. He saddles the
market" by foisting certain stock
upon it, and is "out of" any stock
when he has sold what he held of it
-Ha,per's Magazine.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-11-11
Largest Locomotive In the World.

W. A. Croifut says in New York let.
ter to the Detroit free Press: have this
week met Mr.. e. G. Corthell, chief en-.
gineer of the Tehuantepec Ship railroad,
which Captain Eads has projected to
open the isthmus below Mexico SO as to
take ships from one ocean and drop them
quietly into the other, and asked him
whats newl"
"Wcll," he said, eve have found out
this week exactly how we can draw our
ships. Captain Eads has always been
asked: How can you drag the great
ships over if you get them on the twelve
rails you propose to lay down. He has
replied, with engines feeling certain
that engines Tor the special work would
have to be built. But we have just re-
ceived letter from the chief engineer
of the Mexican Central railroad, which
will not only astonish you newspaper
men and non.experts generally, but will
surprize even railroad men. 1t shows
that they are manufacturing in Mexican
shops the largest locomotives in the
world"
lie handed the letter to me, and from
it quote as follows;
81 send you herewith blue prints OF
some of the engines we have just made
for the Pacific and Gulf branches of this
road, which will have three aud half
per cent. grades QS5 feet to the mile)
and twenty.degree curves. The drivers
are flexible, moving independently of
each other and OF the cylinders and
boiler. Is Figure seven represents
the engine under consideration. This
engine can carry weight of 1870, 900
pounds and haul G,000 tons at speed of
ten miles an hour on straight and level
track; 1900 tons up aone.half per cent.
grade, and ! 400 tons up one per cent.
grade
''But I would call your attention to
the consolidated type of engine repre-.
sentcd by figures 8 and 8. This en-
ginc has sixteen drivers, will pass a
curve of twenty to twenty-five degrees
with case, can carry weight of $40, 900
pounds and its drivers can haul 5000
tons at ten miles an hour on straight
and level track, 5000 tons up one half
per cent. grade and 1900 tons up one
per cent. grade.
"These are tremendous motors" said
Mr.. Corthell, "as civil engineers and
railroad men will fully understand.
Three of these last engines will draw the
largest ship that sails the sea up the
heaviest grades on our line. One of
them will draw it sixty per cent. of the
distance; and one of them will draw at
least three fourths of the vessels all tho
way from ocean to ocean,"
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-11-11
Cat Parties.

Cat parties are the latest entertain
nents. Recently young girl, the
happy possessor of fine Maltese cat,
invited a number of her friends to
bring their pet cats to 5 o'clock tea,
each cat TO have ribbon about its
neck, corresponding to that worn by
its mistress. At the appointed hour
the cats made their appearance, in
charge of their respective owners.
After the feline introductions had
taken place, some of which were the
reverse of friendly, games were intro
duced, and soft balls, toy mice and
other objects dear to pussy's heart
were provided. These pastimes, how
ever, I grieve to say, were sometimes
marred by vigorous slap when two
strangers came in collision, and once
the belligerent pussies had to be sep
arated by friends. When tea was an
nounced a table furnished with sau-
GERS of milk and small cakes, with
cushioned stools, was disclosed. The
floral decorations consisted of catnip,
lavender, grasses and bright flowers
The cats, placed on their respective
stools and attended by their mistress
es, partook of the good cheer set be-
fore them. Their behavior was quite
correct. With their forepaws on the
table, they Tapped the milk with be-
coming propriety. When all were sat.
isfcd, there was comical sight. Each
pussy Logan making her toilet, and
the face washing was decorous in the
extreme. After leaving the table. a
sprig Of catnip was given each kitty,
and the feline happiness was complete.
These sprigs were tossed in the air,
caught and lovingly carcssed. AS eacl
kitty departed, 1t was presented with
its ball or toy mouse as memento CT
the party.--Near York Commercial
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-11-11
Inst Escaned n Nuel.

"No," said Kentuckian In response
to a question, II never actually fought
a duel, but l came very near it once"
"Tell us about it, Colonel" said .
breathless listener.
at was some years ago, when duels
were much more common than they
are now, when a mans honor was a
sacred thing and to be defended at any
cost. received a challenge from a
gentleman who claimed that l had
insulted him, sitting that I must
either make full apology or fight.
l, being the challenged party, had the
choice of weapons, of course"
"And you chose"
81 chose to apologize. That's the
nearest ever came to fghtin' a duel"
concluded the Colonel.-Ne,o York
Times.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-11-11

Cows will kick some of them; and
leifers with their first calves, are ex-
pert at it. An unhandled, "ungentled"
COW, takes as naturally to kicking, as
Leghorn hens do to scratching. The
calf should be placed on the cows left
side, and encouraged to suck, but
whether it does or not, let the mixer
at once begin to milk. Saving the
milk is of no Importance, so, if the
heifer is nervous, keep the pail away,
and milk on the ground. If she kicks
soothe her, and begin again. Do not
let her think her kicking has any eff
feet. A rail may be placed so that
kicking may be disagreeable perfor-
nance, and sometimes a cow may be
placed close to a rail fence, which de-
tends the mixer from the blows of a
really vicious kicker and the milking
still 60 on. The COW will ordinarily
yield to circumstances, and stand still
after while; at least, the pressure of
the milk in the udder, which may
cause Inflammation, can thus be re-
lieved. If the COW continues nervous,
and will not be pacilied, the thing to
do is, to tie or strap her legs. This
may be done with light rope like a
bed cord. 1t is passed once around
the left leg below the hook, tied by a
"half-hitch' (half knott, then twist
ed few times, and another hitch
turned in it, and finally passed around
the right leg, and tied in bow-knot,
so that it can be quickly united. A
COW so tied cannot kick, but she is al
most sure to take short steps back
ward, and when she gets to the end
of her tie-strap, or back as far as she
can 60 in the stanchions, her hind legs
may be strained far back, and as her
positian is a very unsteady one, she
may fall down. To prevent this, a
rape may be passed twice around the
tie-rope, carried forward, and fastened
to the manager. This will prevent
the backing, and the COW will proba
bly, soon give up, and stand quietly
american Agriculturist
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-11-11
A man in Galveston, Texas, lost over

A man in Galveston, Texas, lost over
two inches of his left clavice, or bone
joining the shoulder and breast bones, in
gunshot accident, and local surgeon
decided to try to fill the gap with pieces
of bone taken from dogs. He cut
through their flesh to tho bone, from
which he clipped such pieces as he
wanted. Twenty or thirty dogs were
thus mutilated and tortured. The man
suffered greatly, too. The flesh had
to be kept, by cutting and burning, from
healing over the wound during q whole
month, and every few days the ends of
the bone were built out with small pieces
of bone obtained from fresh and healthy
dogs. A fair proportion of these gratis
grew fast, and in that way, slowly and
laboriously, the space of more than two
inches was completely filled in. The
patched caviclc is now in use, and about
as serviceable as its mate, though half an
inch shorter and hardly match in shape.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-11-11
FOR THE FARM AND HOME.


The Poultry World says: "Bone
meal and crushed shells may be used
generously in feeding fowls. That is,
if the crushed oyster shells and granu-
lated bones are mixed and placed in a
box inside the hen-house, where the
birds can have access to these articles
freely, they will eat of them no more
than they need. If these are mixed
with the food given, either with the
dry grains or in the soft mash, much
of both is wasted, to say nothing of
the additional trouble caused in pre-
pairing it thus. Fowls devour no
more of the oyster shell particles than
they naturally require to assist diges-
ton and to help in forming the shells
of eggs. OF pounded bones they will
eat more; but if both are left where
they can always get them handy, they
will not eat too much of either for
their good
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-11-11
The IkeMeMnI of NIgOr.

The most important stop in this process is
the restoration of tho functions OF digestion
and assimilation TO full and uninterrupted
exercise, since it is upon their activity alone
that the system can depend to rcl lcnish its
dwindlmg store Of energy. Among tones
which the voice Of tho people and high pro.
iessional Endorsement approve rs reliable,
Hostettcr's Stomach Bttcrs hns long been
recognized os the best Its properties rs a
indicated stimulant commend it TO all per-
cons suffering from tic effects Of fatigue, incn-
tai or bodily, MS az immediate means of coun.
teractng their effects; and in cases where loss
Of vgor is attributable to such wea kening
chronic causes as dyspepsia, affections of the
kidneys and bladder. md the inirmates PC.
cuiar to age, it produces permanently beneti.
cial results. Those twin obstacles to health
and vgor, liver complaint and constipation,
arc also removed by it. 1t also prevents and
"urcs malaral disease.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-11-11
ColOrs In Millinery.

NJ Chevreul, an eminent French au-
thority who has made special study
of the science of color harmony, has
made some excellent observations, es-
pecially valuable in their application
to millinery. He says
"a black bonnet, with white, pink
or red feathers or flowers, suits fair
complexion. 1t does not so badly
with brunettes, although the effect is
not so good, but they may add orange
or yellow flowers or feathers. A dead
white hat is only suitable for tlorid
compilations, whether blondes or bru-
netteS. Gauze Grape or tulle bonnets
suit all compilations. A white bonnet
for blonde should have white or pink
flowers blue is still better. Brunettes
should avoid blue and rather choose
red, pink and orange. Light blue bon
nets are especially suitable for fair
persons they may be trimmed with
white flowers, or even yellow or Or
ange, but not pink or violet. For
dark persons who venture to wear a
blue bonnet, yellow or orange IS indis-
pensable, A green bonnet sets off a
pale or slightly colored complexion
1t may be trimmed with white, red or
pink flowers. A pink bonnet should
not he too near the face, but should be
separated by the hair or by Il white OF
green inside trimming, the latter color
especially. White flowers, with an
abundance of leaves, produce a good
effect on pink. A dark-red bonnet is
only suitable for persons with a high
ly-colored complexion. Avoid yellow
or orange bonnets. Violet is not to
he recommended unless separated from
the face, not only by the hair, but by
yellow accessories also. The same pre-
caution should he taken for yellow
bonnets, which can only be worn by
brunettes, with blue or violet trim
mings."