davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1885-07-30
The Evolution of Punctuation,


Caxton, the first English printer,
had three punctuation marks-the
comma, the colon, and the period--but
says Mr.. Blades, an excellent author
ity in relation to CaXton and every
thing concerning him, it is doubtful if
he had any idea Of the principles of
punctuation. The earliest known
manuscripts are without any points,
nor is there any division between the
words. The confusion resulting led
to the separation of words by single
dot. Then space between the words
superseded the dot, which was made
10 perform another service. viz. to
show the division of Il sentence. The
Greek grammarians were the first to
recognize the limbs of sentence.
A clause they called Il comma, mem
Der of sentence a colon, and COM
plete sentence Il period. Little atten-
tion, however, was paid to these
divisions for long time. I1lius
DOnatus, who nuuriShcd in the fifth
century, and wrote n grammar which
served all Europe until after the in
vention of printing. was the first to
distinguish these divisions by placing
a dot at the bottom of the line, where
our full point now is, to designate the
comma; in the middle of the line,
where the hyphen is. for the colon;
and at the top of the line, where our
aroStropho is, for tho fun point. 1t
was not until well INTO the sixteenth
century that printers began definitely
adopting ALI acknowledged system Of
graduated points.-PTtHters CtfcuidT.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1885-07-30
Chasing the Pipe.Line Scraper.

One of the many odd callings which
the production and pipeline transpor-
tation of petroleum have made neces-
sary, is one known as "chasing the
scraper," says an Olean On. Y. letter
to the New York Sun. Crude Pc
troleum is run from the oil regions to
the reineries at the seaboard, a dis
tance of 300 miles, in iron pipes. 1t
is forced over the high hills that in
tervene by powerful pumps. Much
of the way it runs by its own gravity.
These pipes are constantly becoming
clogged by sediment and parafline.
To clean them out an iron stem, two
feet and half long, to which are at
tached circular steel scrapers, fitting
loosely in the pipes. is placed in the
pipe at regular periods. This is forced
along the line by the pressure of the
oil behind it. 1t is necessary to keep
track of this scraper, in order that its
exact location may be constantly
known. so that if it is stopped by any
obstacle it may be readily discovered
and the obstacle removed The noise
made by the scraper against the iron
pipes as it moves along their interior
would not be heard by an unframed
ear, but certain employees of the Pipe
Line Company are able to follow it on
its journey by the noise, and never lose
it's situation These men are the
scraper chasers. They are stationed in
relays three or four miles apart along
the line. One chaser will follow up
and down mountains, across ravines,
and through streams and swamps un-
til he reaches the end Of his section,
when another man takes up the chase
and follows it until his relief is
reached, and so on until the course of
the scraper is run. The work is one
of hardship and danger, owing to the
character of the country through
which miles of pipe line is laid. If a
chaser by any mishap is thrown off
the track of the scraper and it be-
comes clogged before he can recover
its position in the pipe. the cutting of
of the pipe for long distances is fire.
quently made necessary, that the mis-
sing object may be found-a work
that is accompanied by much expense
! and labor,
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1885-07-30

as the portions of the neighboring field
that had yielded 30 much gold. He
resolved to work the little mound the
next day. His companion, however,
was anxious to be off to the latest dig
gings, where the excitement was at the
highest pitch. But the first miner
who had resolved to ex-
plore the solitary patch Of the deserted
digging, persuaded his partner, and
together they set to work on the old
stump. They began by undermining
one side Of the stump, but before they
had dug in three feet they discovered
an enormous nugget, one of the most
valuable that had been found in the
whole digglngs. They continued their
labors and uprooted the stump, but
did not find another grain Of gold.--
San Francisco Call.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1885-07-30
Her Little Man.

"Here comes my little man." The
voice sounded pleasantly on my ear,
and turned to look at the speaker.
She was a ruddy checked woman of
some 40 years, plainly but neatly
dressed; clean, comfortable looking
body. She was standing at the gar
den gate of small house, and the
words spoken were not spoken to any
visible person. l then looked ahead,
and 10 and behold! her little man was
approaching. He was little, feeble
looking body, rather shabbily dressed,
with little round red nose and twink
ling eyes. ! should put him down as
clerk with by no means gigantic
salary. There was nothing romantic
or particularly lovable in his appear
ance, but at the moment the face of
the woman was beautiful to look upon
by the reason of the pleasant and
strong affection that beamed from it.
"Her little man." He ought to have
been proud of it, and dare say he was.
1t is good to be somebody's little
man, or big man, if you like that bet
ter-to feel that your heart is filled,
and not empty and withering for
want of the glory of the warmth and
light of true love. If, as many of the
poets have sung, the nearest approach
to Heaven is true and honest love of
one dearer than all, love that neger
wavcrs and is returned in all its satis-
flying fullncss, what long way from
| Heaven must an old bachelor be,
with his heart full of nothing but
missing shirt buttons, smoky club
rooms. cheerless lodgings and yiXenish
( landladies.
We laugh at the pictures of those
old bachelors sewing on their buttons,
and making their own Cruel. but some
of these pictures darken into very
somDer background, as the weary and
uncared for old fellows gradually drop
into petGlant decay
Nobody's little men. l know some
of them by sight. Day by day they
may be seen wearily plodding through
the same streets, with the same pipe
and the umbrella, and the same look
of grim dissatisfaction on their faces.
Deeper down dip the corners of their
mouths, higher up so their shoulders
and thinner grow their noses and
cheeks. They go home and there's
never Il kindly soul with pleasant
smile, or kiss Or word of love. No
body's little men. - Detroit Free Press.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1885-07-30
Two Temperance Towns.

"If you want to strike real tenn.
perance town, 60 to Fayal, in the
Azores. Drunkenness is Il rarity
there, and yet wine and spirits are
sold everywhere. The climate of the
Azores is perfectly delightful, rarely
below 35 and never above so. Fayal
is an interesting little town of 10000
people, and the principal exports are
oranges, wine and oil.
'Speaking Of temperance towns, !
would also commend you to Cantania,
Italy. which has population of l00,-
600, with scarcely a drink OF whiskey
OF brandy in the town. Everybody,
high or low, drinks the native wines at
meals, but nobody drinks between
meals, and drunken man has not
been seen in Cautania for years, ex.
cept now and then British sailor. =
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1885-07-30

goodly portion lodging on Giles shirt
front, while he, with the others, was
enjoying another hearty laugh.
"Did l ever see sich pack Of fools ?"
"There's no uss crying over split
milk, judy"
"Spilt milk and woman in barrel
of soft soap are two different things,
and you'll find it out so afore you get
through"
81 always told you, Judy, If you'd
do a little less scolding, and use a
little more soft soap, you'd make a
good many more friends than you do
now."
"Wal, guess I've got enough out
this time to suit you, and don't you
never say soft soap to me again as lonq
as you live"
After spending great deal of time
and strength, Mrs. Stutson was at
last as far out of her dilemma as the
wash bench, and commenting upon
her personal appearance.
"Who ever see sich a looking crit.
ter? Caliker dress all split, shoes,
stockings, and the hull rig"
She then ordered Jabe to get a tub
of water and Martha to bring clean
clothes. Mr. Stutson had already gone
for the meat rack, thinking it would
have been cheaper to put it up in the
first place than have been hindered in
this way, and wishing women folks
would mind their own business and
let the men folks alone.
"Jest look at this cellar bottom"
Mrs. Stutson exclaimed, land this
bench and thingsl lt'll take hull
day to clean it up as it ought ter be,
and all this because the men folks
didn't tend to things they'd orter."
But from that day to this. whenever
Judy begins to scold. Mr.. Stutson
says, "a leetle more soft soap, judy"
and Judy is silent.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1885-07-30
Encouraging Arizona Genius.

An Arizona paper makes the follow
ing announcement: I'VE will pay SIC
for a good epic poem of one hundred
lines on the 'Scourge of the Seventeen
Year Locust said poem must be sound
in wind and limb, but it must not be
all sound; a little sense is desirable.
All metaphors must be new and appii'
cable TO the snbject. No more than
one poetic license to ten words will be
allowed. Rhyme not absolutely neces,
sary, hrt reason sine qua non. No
parodies allowed. We reserve to our
selves the right 10 work over the
poems of all unsuccessful candidates
into editorials on the need of new
navy and the failure of the wheat
crop"
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1885-07-30
Yhc ncnlh Of SIccn.


Two of Vierurdt's pupils, Moning-
hotf and Picsbergcn, have made the
depth OF sleep the subject of an inves-
tigation. They worked upon the prin-
ciple that the depth Of sleep is proper
tional to the strength of the sensory
stimulus necessary to awaken the
sleeper-that is, to call forth some de-
cisve sign Of awakened conscious
ness. As n sensOry stimulus they
made use of the auditory sensation
produced by dropping lead ball from
given height. The strength of the
stimulus was reckoned in accordance
with some recent Investigations OF
Veirordt, as increasing, not directly as
the height. but as the 0.50 power of
the height. For perfectly healthy
man, the curve which they give shows
that for the first honr the slumber is
very light; after one hour and fifteen
minutes the depth of sleep increases
rapidly, and reaches its maximum
point ut one hour and forty-live min
utes; the curve then falls quickly tc
about two hours and fifteen minutes
and afterward more gradually. AT
about four hours and thirty minutes
there is second small rise, which
reaches its maximum at five hours
and thirty minutes, after which the
curve again gradually approaches the
base line until the time of awakening
Experiments made upon persons moi
perfectly healthy, or after having
made some exertion, give curves of
different form -MedicaL AdG0cats.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1885-07-30
A Day Of Memories.
On day like this, when the streets arc wet,
When the skies are gray and the rain is fall

On a day like this, when the streets are wet,
When the skies are gray and the rain is fall
ing,
How can you hinder an old regret,
For JOY long dead, and hope long set,
From rising out of its grave and calling
Calling to you, with voice so shrill
That it scares the reason and stuns the will.
On day like this, when the sun is hid
And you and your heart arc housed together,
If memories come to you all untold,
And something suddenly vets your lid,
Like gust of the outdoor weather,
Why who is at fault but the dim old day,
Too dark for labor, too dull for play?
On day like this, that is blurred and gray,
When the rain drips down in ceaseless fash
ion,
If dream, that you banished and put away,
Comes back to stare in your face and say
Mute, eloquent words OF passion;
If the whole vast universe seems amiss,
Why, who can help it, day like this?
Ella Wheeier U'licor.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1885-07-30

Twenty years ago the number of
insane persons in the United States
was only 24,042. In 1870 it reached
47,432, and in 1880 treatment was re-
quired for 81, $50 lunatics, From 1870
to 1880 the increase of insanity was
nearly $50 per cent, while that of the
total population was about 36. The
proportion of insane is greatest in
New England, while the increase has
been most rapid in the western states.
In the state of New York there are
35 institutions for the care of these
unfortunate people, accommodating
ll,343 patients, while i. is said there
are 1000 provided for at home. In
America, apart from several large
county asylums, there are so state and
40 private institutions for the care of
the insane, with proper capacity for
about 10000, but containing SO, 1872,
thus leaving probably $4,000 to be
cared for elsewhere.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1885-07-30
TOPICS OF THE DAY.

The population of Europe has in
creased in century from l45. 100000
to 350,oO0000. Englishmen have null
tiplied fivefold. the Russians fourfold,
and the Germans less than threefold
while Frenchmen and Spaniards have
added only about so per cent.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1885-07-30

England with population of 25, ,000.-
600, sends 5000 students to her two
universities; Scotland, with 100000,
has $500 university students; Germa-
ny, with 4S,000,000, sends 23.500 to
her numerous universities; and New
England, with population Of 4,l00,-
900, has 1000 students in her eighteen
universities and colleges.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1885-07-30

The ginseng plant, which is practi
cally held to be worthless in this coun
try, for medicinal or other uses, is
probably of more economic Importance
than any of the roots and herbs" of
field or forest that are recognized as
medicinal. One pound of the root
commands more money than bushel
of potatoes, and at certain times and
places more than a half-dozen bushels.
The exports of the root during the
past ten years have exceeded six mil
lion of dollars in value. Nearly all
has gone to China, where an extraor-
dinary idea of its medicinal value is
entertained. The Chinese use it as a
sort of universal panacea. but eSpeci-
ally as a tonic in caseo of debility.
The wealthy. who can afford it, use it
as a tea, and employ the most orna-
mentll and expensive urns for rrepaI-
ing it, while the lower classes are
happy in the opportunity of chewing
the root. 1t is held that the moisture
injuries its healing properties, and the
root is therefore carefully protected
from all dampness.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1885-07-30

When an important division is ex-
2rcted in the Bri tish Parliament. GER
Lain members on each side are charged
with the duty of getting their respec-
tive partisans to the chamber. These
measures are called "whips," and the
Importance of the notice served is in
! Gated by the number of lines en-
ployed in the underscoring always be-
meath the words of the message. The
excuses given by the absent Liberals
upon their party's recent defeat are
Ueing published. Eight say they were
Ill, four were out of the country, one
missed the train, and no less than four
were on wedding tours.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1885-07-30

The Current says that person
struck by lightning does not know it,
the fluid being much quicker than
thought. The nerves which convey
pain are rather slow in their power to
convey their Information. Stick
pin in the tail of an elephant and
quite perceptible interval occurs be-
fore the noble animal gives his opinion
of the man or boy at the other end of
the nervous system on trial Light
ming does its work before the victim
knows anything. Two men were
struck while taking refuge under a
tree. Both were carried into the
house and laid out for dead. One
of the men revived, and after weeks
of terrific suffering and intirmity, he
got out again and is still living. lie
said that he knew no more about
leaving been struck by lightning than
he was conscious of having lived be-
fore the flood. 1t was all news to him
when he was told of the fact.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1885-07-30

Prof. Tyndall, in IA recent lecture,
declared that Pasteur's researches into
the nature oe hydrophobia had proved
wonderful expansion of the discov-
cries of Jenner, and showed that ex-
periments with animals had been
turned to very profitable account. He
declared that never in the history Of
medicine had brighter day dawned
than the present, and urged that the
experiments on living animals be not
fettered by legislation,
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1885-07-30

The islands along the north Pacific
coast are mostly the tops of sunken
mountains, and vessels of heavy
lraught can get comparatively close
70 them-so close that, in sailing along
the shores in large steamer, one can,
by the aid of good field glass, distin-
;inguish most of the kinds of wild
lowers growing on the rock shores.
These channels are so narrow, and yet
50 deep, that one can sail through them
for days and weeks, and thus distin-
guish the flowers ON either side.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1885-07-30
Gle ion0on0crrp Sitter.

AN INDEPENDENT REPUBLICAN NEWSPAPER,
ISSUED EVERY FRIDAY MORNING.
FROM
:hter cH1cc, So Londonderry, VT
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1885-07-30

Horses an Carriages at all hours. Persons
earned 10 all surrounding points upon arrival
cf trains. Special accommodations TO excur-
zion parties. Good teams and attentive dl-
ters. LIZ
Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1885-02-24
THE QUINNIPIAC RINK.
It's Opening Last Night-A Lar
Turnout of PeOple-Features of Il
Occasion.

Its Opening Last Night-A Large
Turnout of PeopIe-Features of the
Occasion.
The most notable social event that FAN
Haven has witnessed in long time was the
opening of the Quinnipiac rink last night
1t seemed as though the entire population OF
the place was present. Not only the Fai1
Haven people turned out, but also a crowd
from the city. So large was the crowd that
hardly more than one-half of the floor was
available for skating. At about nine O'Clock
the grand march, led by Major Lincoln and
daughter, began. They were followed by
about two hundred couples. On the march
were seen a number of New Ravens finest
skaters. After the march the sixteen young
ladies who have recently given such success
full fan drills in the city Kinks repeated the
drill much to the satisfaction of the large
audience. At the conclusion of the fan drill
an exhibition was given by Master Porter
Clark. He was followed by Miss Lille Sell
lew, who also gave an exhibition of fancy
skating. The music was under the direction
of Mr.. John Stack.
The rink is situated on the corner of Grand
and Bright streets. It is five feet shorter
than the Lincoln rink, but is the same in
width. The promenade for spectators is
about six feet wider than that of Lincoln's
rink Besides the gentlemen's cloak room on
the balcony there is also room for tables at
which can be seated three hundred people.
At the right of the entrance are situated the
managers room, skate room and gents dress
ing room. On the left are the ticket Office
and the ladies' dressing room. Moses P.
Gray, the popular lemonade dispenser, will
have a stand at this rink.
The residents of Fair Haven are much
pleased at the building of the rink, as a
great many of them have caught the skate
craze. The rink will be open every morn
ing, afternoon and evening. At about nine
Q clock word was sent to the other Kinks for
skates, a. all the skates had been let
Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1885-02-24
LOCAL NE Tvs.


A large crowd attended the grand masque
rade ball given by the Harugari Liedertafe
at Harugari Hall last evening.
Quinnipiac lodge, l. o. o. F., will pay
friendly visit to Pequonnock lodge of Bridge
port to night. The visitors will leave here
on the 7:15 train.
w. G. Cantwell, compositor on the
Morning News, while at work last evening"
hurst a blood vessel. The police ambulance
was sent for, and he was sent to the hospital
The women's branch of city missions viii
hold meeting at the mission rooms, No q
Church street, at 3 o'clock this afternoon
All ladies who are interested are invited te
be present.
The managers of the Day Nursery woulo
like the ladies of New Haven to know that
there are three capable and reliable laundres
ses, mothers of children, who desire work
They can be heard of at the nursery, No. "a
William street
Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1885-02-24
visiting in Colorado.

Mr. George NJ Grant of the building firm
of Chatfeld & Grant, who is visiting a friend
in Colorado who is large ranchman in Colo
RADIO and New Mexico, writes home that he
is much pleased with the country and states
that while we are shivering with cold in this
State he has no need of an overcoat. Mr..
Grant started from Trinidad in company
with his friend with team of two horses
and drove for miles over the prairie at the
rate of about forty miles day. He says:
':We drove over the Great Plain, which has
millions of acres. Here we saw thousands
of cattle and calves which have had no care
nor protection only such as nature could
give them. You would be surprised to see
how plump and fat these cattle are, living on
this grass that grows in abundance on these
plains. The weather was very warm and not
bit of snow. The mountains are always
covered. I found everything in regard to
cattle raising as has been stated and in my
opinion this is one of the best cattle growing
places in the country, and l will state that 1
have not in all my travels been able to see or
hear of any dead cattle"
Mr. Grant also visited Las Vegas and San
ia Fe New Mexico, about which he says:
F'Las Vegas is an old Mexican town with its
low adobe huts one-story high with fiat roofs,
one door, and hole for a window, which
they close up at night. These Mexicans are
strange people. In going through their town
you would receive but little attention from
them, in passing their houses no one would
look to see who was passing. When you
have seen one of these Mexican towns you
have seen them all, as they are all alike.
At the Hot Springs they have nice hotels and
their table is as good, if not better than in
the States. The climate is fine. Since I
have been here have had no use for an ov
ercoat We stopped in this place two nights
and one day and then went up to the old town
of Santa Fe, which is about 1000 feet above
the sea. The population of the surrounding
country is engaged largely in farming and
mining. Fruit and vegetables are grown here
by irrigation paid visit to the old San
Miguel church which was built in 1913.
They have everything in the way of improve
ments here that we have at home, such as
gas and waterworks, telephone exchange,
horse railroads, and grand hotels with first
class appointments We remained here about
five hours and then leaving New Mexico
started homeward.