davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-12-30
FACTS FOR THE CURIOUS.

Some spiders have as many as thirteen
eyes, but the majority have only two.
The tallest man in Washington Terri
tory is John Hutchinson. He stands 2
feet 4 inches in his stockings.
Prairie grass is now turned into paper:
A mill at Quincy, No., has used 400, OOG
tons of the grass for that purpose since
June.
All told, there were 2,26t collisions
between Union and Confederate troops
during the war. In this enumeration
the minimum of Union troops is 500 and
the maximum 100, OO0.
According to DR.. Gael Seller, some
persons have a defect of smell analogous
to color blindness. One person finds
that to him violets smell like garlic,
everything else smelling normally.
"a writer in Harper's Weekly states
that gas starting from the we'll at a
pressure of 200 pounds loses seven
pounds in every mile Travelled, so that at
the end Of thirty miles it would be in
operative.
Knives and daggers were formerly part
of the curious customary accoutrements
of brides. The custom is easily &C.
counted for when we consider that women
anciently wore a knife suspended from
the girdle.
The modern idea of absolute partner
nership between husband and wife is not
to be found in the old English law.
There exists still a form of con-
tract, made in the time of Edward
l., in which o man engaged to sell
and deliver his wife to another man,
and a historical document speaks OF a
thought wife delivered in q halter" as
late as 1882.
The oldest scandinavian laws punished
the murder of a humble maiden more
than that of a chief. The weaker sex
was protected in innumerabie ways; md
even as late as the twelfth century a
simple kiss forced upon a maiden was
punished with a fine or exile, and in the
fifteenth century a law of Copenhagen
ordered the adulterous woman to be
buried alive and the guilty partner to be
uecaplCaCeu.
It has been shown that the odoriferous
molecule of musk is enthusiastically small.
No power has yet been codceived to en-
able the human eye to see one Of the
atoms of musk, yet the organs of smell
have the constituencies to detect them.
Their smallness cannot even be imag-
jned, nd the small grain of musk un-
dergoes absolutely no diminution IN
weight. A single drop of the oil OF
thyme, ground down with q piece of
sugar and a little alcohol, will commu.
nicate its odor to twenty-five gallons of
water. Haller kept for forty years papers
perfumed with one grain of ambergris.
After this time the odor was as strong as
ever.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-12-30
A Mountain Lion Killed by q Horse.

A communication from Lander, w. T.,
gives an account of q battle between a
Black Hawk stallion and a mountain
lion. The stallion was owned by Charles
II. Ferguson, a well-known hunter,
camped on the banks of a tributary OF
the Wind river, up. in the mountains.
He had selected a small bunch of cotton
woods as his temporary home. These
gaye him both shelter and irewood. A
little distance frem the camp there stood
an enormous cottonwood, apart from all
others, beneath which he picketed his
stallion. One night recently Ferguson
was aroused from a sound sleep by o
neigh from his stallion. The sound
seemed to be one of rage rather than
alarm, and hastily arising Ferguson is
sued from his tent and looked in the
direction of the horse. The animal was
standing in the iull light of a bright
moon and seemed to be intently regard
ING an object in the branches of the tree.
AS Ferguson's gaze followed that of his
horse the branches were violently agi-
tated, a wild yell was heard, a dark OBJ,
iect hurled itself through the air, and
the horse had an enormous noun
tain lion for a rider. The horse
sprang madly in the air, uttering
a scream little inferior to that
of the lion in shrillness and savagery.
Though he returned to the ground again
with a tremendous conclusion he failed
to shake the lion from his firm position.
Dark spots of blood now appeared on
the stations shoulders and neck. The
lion was tearing his way to the jugular:
The horse apparently realizing his full
danger sprang straight into the thick
tangie CT boughs. The lion was torn
from his bloody seat and cast backward
with great violence. The stallion passed
through and turned to confront his foe
in the open space beyond.
The lion speedily recovered himself,
and sprang once more into the branches,
and from thence made another leap to-
ward the horse; but he missed his aim.
The lion began a series of circles nearer
and nearer the horse, and finally made
another leap. With the rapidity OF
thought the stallion changed front, and
his hind feet, heavily shod, struck tho
assailant full in the breast. The stricken
animal rolled over and over, giving vent
to yclls of pain and rage: Once more ne
made an attack. This time the animal
rushed to death. The heels of the pow.
erful steed we're fairly between the green
ewes. and the mountain lions skull was
crushed. 1t had been fractured from
side to side. A few convulsive strug-
giles. a stiffening of the powerful limbs
in death, and the stallion stood victo,
over the corpse OF the lion. Ferguson
took the skin of the lion home as 8
trophy.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-12-30
Longstreet's Story About Stephens.

General L.ongstreet tells the following
good story: "On one occasion certain of
the Confederate leaders were discussing
the matter of putting the negroes into
the army. I was against the policy, but
those above me sent me over to Aleck
Stephens with instructions to try to con-
vert him to the policy of putting the ne
groes in. I rode over from camp to
where Mr.. Stephens was, and after a
short conversation brought up the sub.
ject I was to speak with him on. No
sooner had I done 80 than he hoped up
and made me a speech of over an hours
length. You can imagine my feelings.
When he concluded and sat down we
talked of other matters for awhile, and
then I causually mentioned the negroes
again. Up jumped little Aleck and
made me another speech of an hour or
SOS length. I, a lone auditor, sat it
through. He finished, sat down, and
we had a short conversation on some
other topic. A third time I ventured to
speak of the negroes, and up hoped the
great commoner and made me another
speech. When he sat down I stole a
glance at my watch. 1t was 2 o'clock in
the morning. I babe Mr.. Stephen good
night and rode back to camp. l re-
ported that I was perfectly willing to 60
on with the war;, but if anybody wanted
Aleck Stephens argued into anything
they'd have to send some n else-not
me."-AAanta (Ga.) Constitution.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-12-30
General Grant at West Point.

"a military life had no charm for me,
and / had not the f%aintest idea of stay
ing in the army if l should be gradu'
ated. which I did not expect. The en-.
campment which preceded the com.
mencement of academic studies was very
weary and unintercsting. When the
2Sth of August came, the date for break.
ing up camp and going into barracks, ]
felt as though 1 had been at West Point
always, and that if I stayed to gradua.
ton, I would have to remain always. l
did not take hold of my studies with
aviditv. In fact, rarely ever read over
O lesson the second time during my en-.
tire cadetship. I could not sit in my
room doing nothing. There is a fine
library connected with the academy
from which cadets can get books to read
in their quarters. 1 devoted more time
to these than to books relating to the
course of studies. Much of the time, ]
am sorry to say, was devoted to novels,
but not those of a trashy sort. l read
all of Bulwer's then pub ished, Cooper's,
Marryat's, SCOTS, Washington lrying's
works, Levers, anu many otuels lnaI 1
do not now remember. Mathematics
was very easy to me, so that when Janu-
airy came I passed the examination, tax
ing a good standing in that branch: In
French, the only study at that time in
the first years course, my standing was
very low. In fact. if the class had been
turned other end foremost, I should
L,r, toor noor tho hoo6 never SlC-
ceeded in getting squarely at either end
of my class in any one study during the
four years. 1 came near in French, ar
tiilery, infantry and cavalry tactics, and
conduct" - Grants autobiography.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-12-30

An analysis of the figures above shows
that Denmark is the largest consumer OF
spirits and Canada the smallest. In the
consumption of wines France is far ahead
of the others, and Canada again the low
est. In the beer column Belgium is first,
Great Britain second and Germany third.
Switzerland is third in the consumption
of spirits, second in the consumption of
wine and fourth in the consumption OF
beer.
In France there ere a score of different
kinds of cordials which are largely
drank and which were not included in
the estimate of consumption; neither
was the win de sucre, of which %, O0O,-
900 gallons are annually consumed by the
French people.
The position of the United States, as
the eleventh in the consumption Of spir.
its and seventh in the consumption of
wine, is somewhat weakened by its COM.
ing in as the sixth in the consumption of
beer.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-12-30
Yellow Fever from Mus0uit0es.

DR.. Carlos Finlay, of Havana, has
been experimenting on the in%ocuIability
of yellow fever. The disease was found
to be transmissiblc only from the third
to the sixth day. Out of eleven inocu-
lations six were successful, n doubtful.
and four negative. The NEGOTIATIONS
were brought about by the use of mus
quitoes, which were first caused to sting
patients suffering with the fever, and
afterward allowed to sting the persons
whom it was intended to %inoculate.
Whatever may be the result of DR.. Fin
lays inoculatory experiments as against
yellow fever, the case with which a dis
ease may be transmitted by the mere
sting of a small insect is an important
addition to the history of how zymotic
diseases arc spread.-Ne~ Yurk Sun.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-12-30
A "Shiner" in an Oyster Shell.

Mr.. David A. Edsall, of 125th street,
between Fifth and Sixth avenues, is ex-
hibiting a curiosity which may prove in.
teresting to the ichthyologists. 1t is a
tiny tish-only n inches long-of the
''shiner" variety, that was found alive in
a Rockaway oyster. The Oyster was
opened by one of MI. Edsall's employees
with Il "side" knife, a method of forcing
the shells apart without breaking them.
The fish was lying on the oyster in the
"deep" shell, and the impression of its
shape was plainly seen on the mollusk,
and of a portion of its head on the inner
edge of the shell. The fish at first was
thought to be a large snail. Upon being
placed in fresh water it showed signs of
life. Then a small quantity of salt was
thrown into the water, and in half On
hour the ''shiner" was one of the liveli-
est fish ever seen. 1t has continued to
be so.
Tough, yes he is a tough one," said
Mr.. Edsall, las he has been handled a
hundred times and twice picked up from
the floor, where he fell when being e1-
amined."
''There may have been other fish of the
kind found in oysters" added Mr.. Ed
Edsall, ''but I have talked with dozens
of oyster dealers and oyster openers, and
they invariably smiled. Upon my assur-
ance, however, that the finding Of the
fish as told by me was the truth, they
expressed the greatest establishment and
looked upon this particular tiny member
of the fnny tribe as a veritable curiosity.
The oyster from which the fish was taken
was four inches long, as the shells, now
in my possession, will show. "-New York.
Herald.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-12-30
Ingenious Rascality.

Roose, Henshaw & Co., butterine
manufacturers, of Chicago, noticed
lately that the amount Of oil rendered
from a supposed fixed quantity of leaf
lard which they bought of the Inter
national Packing company at the stock
yards was a good deal larger some days
than it was others. Detectives were
employed to investigate the anomaly,
and arrested Jack Flatters, a man en-
ployed in the butterine factory; Thomas
Parker, q butcher; Harry Evans, who
owned Parker's shop, and a fellow named
Jack Curtis. The four men were the
contrivers of an ingenious scheme by
which they have swindled the butterine
firm out of at least 81, 500. The firm
takes from the packing company 10, 900
pounds of leaf lard every day, and it
was Flatters's duty to haul the stuff
from the stock yards to the butter
inc factory. The lard was weighed at
the stock yards and again for the but
terine firm in North Wells street.
After leaving the stock yards Flatters
would drive to Parker's shop and there
leave $50 to 400 pounds of the lard.
Into the cavity thus made in the load
Evans and Curtis would crawl, and.
covered up with a tarpaulin, he weighed
with the lard at the North Wells street
place. Then the load would be driven
around the conner, where the two men
would climb out and run away. The
thieves grew fat and lazy on the profits
of their stealings and neglected now and
then to remove part of their load. On
those days the load of lard would yield
an excess of oil. All the thieves con.
fessed when arrested.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-12-30
Household Hints.

In cleaning silver kerosene may be
used with advantage.
Wall paper may be cleaned by cover
ing the top of a broom with a cloth and
gently sweeping over the paper.
White eider.down flannel, embroid-
cred in blue and having white wool lace
around the edges, makes a pretty and in
expensive carriage robe for a baby.
TO clean a fur jacket, if very dirty, it
will be necessary to wash it we'll with a
soft sponge and hot soap and water,
Zone pound to a quartz then again with
warm water only. Shake we'll out, and
brush we'll down with a clean clothes
brush and dry in a warm room. An.
other way: Lay the jacket on a table
and rub it we'll with bran made moist
with warm water; rub until quite dry,
and afterward with dry bran. The wet
bran should be put on with flannel, and
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-12-30
Diplomatic Liberties.

Apropos of the hilarious performances
by a member of the Chilian embassy in
Washington on periodic occasions, writes
a correspondent, it is interesting to state
how these diplomats manage to enjoy
life. liberty and the pursuit of deviltry
unchallenged. They cannot be reached
or prosecuted for any offense short of
overt crime. This comical precedent
was established several centuries ago
during the reign of one of the Stuarts.
A certain diplomatic periwig from the
London red. He wanted to charter the
town and run it for his own amusement.
In the interest of law and order the po-
lice put him in the lookup till his wine
worked OF. This was thought a fatal
infringement of the laws of international
courtesy. The British authorities were
sharply called to account by the diplo-
mats sovereign for stopping his repre-.
sentative's right to brandish firearms and
found a private graveyard in Great
Britain if he wished, and the result was
an English law of parliament granting
diplomats fullimmunity from arrest. To-
gcther with other things, we have
adoated this pious enactment. 1t works
we'll for the diplomat. For instance, a
Russian came to Washington several
years since as attache to his legation.
He went into the most gorgeous extrava-
gance and played the respondent social
swell. He furnished his house and filled
his wine cellars in the most lavish style,
all on credit, and bought costly works OF
art on the same terms. Then, after
neg!ecting to pay his creditors, he had
an auction one day, and the prices paid
by society tuft hunters were so large that
the creditors were debarred from com.
peting in open market for their OWL
goods. They were informed at the State
department that the person and property
of a diplomat were sacred. Soon after
that another limb of diplomacy, left
temporarily in charge of the Brazilian
legation, tried his hand on the mixed
beverages of the United States, and
ended by tearing things up in the highest
style of South American art. The police
were called in, but refused to pollute
the body of this superior demi-god with
their touch.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-12-30
Statistics OF D.ink.

The worlds annual production of beer.
sold at the rate of five cents a mug. would
amount in value to over $4,000, 600, 900.
The United Kingdom leads the world as
a beer manufacturing nation. From re-
cent estimates the annual brew OF the
United Kingdom is IS, 900, 900 barrels.
Germany produces 33, 900, 600 barrels,
United States 16, 900, 900, Australia
gary 10, 900, 900, Belgium 5000, 600,
France 1000. 600, and all other countries
1G, 600, 900 barrels, or a total tor the
world of 1874, 600, 900 barrels. Old Gam
brinus could not wish for a better show
ing.
But beer is not the only beverage drank
in the United States and Europe. The
nations which use the least beer are often
the largest spirit consumers, According
to the report Of the federal council OF
Switzerland that hitherto model republic
is wofully incorporate. So is Denmark
and the Netherlands. The following
table shows the annual consumption per
capita in the various countries of spirits,
wine and beer, by quarts and decimals
of p,ortc.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-12-30
On Behalf of the Hogs.

From a well-considered article in the
New England Fiarmer', we CLEAN the ap-
pended paragraphs: Left wholly to
himself the hog is q very clearly dis
posed creature. He likes grass, fresh
fruits and sweet grain very much better
than he likes these things after they are
half spoiled by decay. In the open
field he keeps his feeding place and
sleeping place free from his W filth.
He takes cold, and gets fcvers under pre-
cisely the same conditions that would
bring a cold or fever into the family of
his owner, and he is subject to contag.
ious diseases that affect him very much
as other contagious diseases affect a
"We have seen many pens the past
summer, and they can be seen every day
in the year by those who will look for
them, where the soft mud and sinking
filth a foot deep extended over the whole
area, so there was not SO much as a
single dry straw to sleep on. The hogs
must sleep in water, and ct in soft mud
made not only filthy, but poisonous, by
their excrcments. In such pens farmers
often throw ears of corr to be eaten in
the mud, and then when the animals
become sick from exposure to cold or
wet, or poisoned by their filthy food the
owners wonder what made thtm sick.
"Con6ned in a smali pen hogs should
have at all times clean, dry places to eat
and to sleep. No animal is ever gaining
profitably to its keeper when that animal
is bodily or mentally uncomfortable. A
little muddy water to wallow in will not
seriously injure a hog, if it can have a
dry place to lie in. Muddy water is
better than none, especially in hot
weather. 1t is believed by many that
the pigs legs should often be wet to
keep the tissues open and active. At
any rate, water is agreeable to the hog,
and if he is fed largely upon dry food,
pure water is indispensable to good
health"
"Farmers who would grow a specially
fine article of pork could obtain prices
somewhat above the average market.
especially if they would patiently build
up a reputation for choice goods. Select
a good breed, give good, clean, whole
some quarters, feed upon healthful food
only, keep them growing thrifty from
birth, and kill while they are still grow
ing, say from seven to ten months old;
let the public know what kind of pork
you offer, and there will be little diff
calty in finding buyers that will pay
enough above the prices for which ordin-
airy pork sells to make the business fairly
profitable"
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-12-30
Farm and Garden Notes.

Many farmers practice feeding apple
pomace, from their cider-mills, to cattle.
If you want to fattcn sheep rapidly
and with but little grain, keep them
quiet.
English farmers say that sheep and
LIQUID manure carts are the best rent
payers.
Protect stock from the weather and
give plenty Of clean bedding in stables
and cow-sheds.
Grass grown on nutritious soil is often
as good for horses or cattle as poorer
grass fed with grain r~ations.
Sod Is apt to be plowed too deep in
the spring, bringing soil to the surface
that has not been benefited by exposure
Ito the air and frost.
DR.. Lawcs does not think he can keep
q large herd of live stock by ensilage.
He prefers mangles as giving more food
per acre than the average silage crop.
The old plan for storing eggs in ashes
lis again being recommended. The ashes
must be sifted and perfectly dry, and
fresh eggs placed therein SC as not to
touch each other.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-12-30
The Wish Bone.

We'd had the apples an tho pie.
An folks wuZ feelin' jolly.
Erasmus held the wish-bone dry,
An offered half to Polly.
They wished, she give q basIlful laugh,
Then p~ulled-he got the biggest holt.
Sho laughed agin an blushed right red,
An, gosh! but she looked pretty:
give lost my wish" she smllin said,
sNow isn't that a pity"
She seemed to take it so to heart,
He wished he'd broke the smallest part.
sLets tell. Don't mind the charm" seq he
"Although perhaps we break it,.
I wished a kiss you'd give to me-.
SEE she: II wished you'd take it."
1 guess 1 needn't tell to you
Tbat both them wishes then kim true.
Chicago Rambler.