davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1885-10-29
PRICE THREE CENTS.
Terrapin Farming.

Over $l,500,000 worth of diamond
back terrapin are taken out Of the
Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries eve
ry year. AS the price averages $50 a
dozen, this represents 100000 terrapin
annually. During the season 500 men
are engaged in catching them. They
are found on both sides of the bay,
from its mouth to its head, and they
are particularly abundant in the num-
erous rivers and inlets which branch
off from the Chesapeake. Like the
canvass back duck, the terrapin feeds
chiefly on water celery or watercress,
and the place where this grass grows
thickly is always terrapin feeding
ground. 1t is fact we'll know that
this celery is found in greater luxuri-
ance in the Chesapeake than in any
other body of water in the world, and
this explains why duck and terrapin
frequent its waters more numerously
than anywhere else.
Terrapin farming is an undeveloped
industry in Maryland, but where il is
judiciously followed it yields fair re-
turns. The first farm was started in
Somerset county by United States Sen
ator Dinnis, who began the enterprise
for his personal accommodation. The
biggest farm is in Calvert county, on
the PatuXent River, and it consists of
large salt water lake. many acres in
extent, and spacious enough to accom-
modate thousands of terrapin. In this
the proprietor placed number of ter
rapin and they multiplied rapidly. The
| hatcheries consist Of boards partly
| filed with sand, and are so arranged
that when the females enter they can
not get out until taken out. The
young terrapin are kept in the nursery
for ten months Or year. because the
old muSculine terrapins are said to
have a bad habit Of eating the tender
young members of their tribe. The
curiosity referred to by Uncle Eph
has enabled the proprietor Of the farm
to train the terrapin so that they re-
spOnd when he calls them at feeding
time. Another farm, in which some
New York gentlemen are interested,
has been started in Talbot county. 1t
has a sand beach for laying and hatch
ing, and it is surrounded by well
built board fence to keep out musk.
| rats.-Ne1O YORK. HeyGld
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1885-10-29
The BOres.


There's the man who lets you shake his limpy
He's bore.
And the man who leans against You when you
stand
Get his gore.
There's man who has fear
That the world is, year by year,
Growing worse-perhaps he's near
Bolt the door.
There's the fellow with conundrums quite an
tique-
He's bore.
And the man who ask you "What 7" whene er
you speak,
Though you roar.
There's the man who slaps your back
With tton-bursting whack-
If you think he's on your track,
Bolt the door.
There's the punster with his everlasting pun
Hos bore.
And the man who makes alliterative "fun'-
Worse and more
There's the man who tells the tale
That year ago was stale
Like as no. he's out of jail
Bolt the door.
Eugene Field
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1885-10-29
Practical USe of Tears.

The utility of tears to animals in
general, and particularly to those
which are exposed much to the dust,
such as birds which live amidst the
wind, is easy to understand; the eye
would socn be dirtied and blocked up,
had not nature provided this friendly
ever-nowing stream to wash and re-
fresh it. a very little fluid is neces-
sary to keep the eye always clean; but
here again we must admire the won
derous mechanism which works the
human body. for it is to be observer
that when, through some accident or
hurt, the eyeball has need of more
water than usual to cleanse il, nature
at once turns on more abundant sup
Fly of tears.-Scientufc Journal
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1885-10-29
The Dogs Escape.

A Dog, having Discovered a piece of
raw beef in an alley sat down to Cogi-
tate and Wonder. Was it really beef
or mutton? How did it get there?
How was it that Some other Dog had
not Discovered and Appropriated it?
He was not yet through with his
meditations when a second Dog rushed
in and speedily Devoured the Prize,
but the Meat was Scarcely down be-
fore he fell over and walled out:
"Alas ! but | am gOne-up Canine
The Meat was Poisoned !"
MoRAL.-Never accept Something
for Nothing without Stopping to ask
yourself where the Profit comes in
Detroit Free Press.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1885-10-29

been contriyed to meet the new dan.
ger, and portable lightning rod has
been originated by Mr.. Delane. inven-
tor of the Synchronous Telegraph.
This is described as consisting of cop
per cords for the body with branches
for the arms and legs, the whole con-
Meeting with metal plates fastened to
the soles Of the shoes. There is also q
metal chain which can drag upon the
ground when both feet are raised.
Details are not given in regard to in
sulating the body or the general ap-
pearance of the mechanism. 1t is
perhaps immaterial within cartain lin
its what shape the projecting wires
take, so that there is great scope for
decorating ideas. The real worth of
the invention will be tested and re-
cognized by electric light men, who,
when they adopt it as wearers, may
also become marked objects of atten-
tioD
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1885-10-29
A Whale and Thrasler Fight.

The following are extracts from a
private letter from Connecticut gen.
tleman to friend in this city:
My sea voyage from here to Vic
toria, British Columbia, was more
than usually pleasant, as the George
w. Elder (sometimes known as the
Rolling Noses from the fact that she
will roll at all times and under any
circumstances kept an even keel all
of the three days.
"The only feature of interest was
the very uncommon number of whales,
which for two days surrounded the
ship. 1t seemed that there was con-
vention of whales met for some fishy
purpose, and they were not only dis
posed to display their dimensions, but
to show us some other characteristics
they have in common with all created
things. We also saw one of those
uSuto WlllCu Ilc WudIO Hdo "llu tuO
thrasher, fish with long, sharp jaws
and keen teeth, who fastens himself
into the mouth of the whale and then
beats him with his long-drawn-out
body, resembling tail, until the poor
monster is worn out with his efforts
to shake him off, and gives up the
fight. Then the thrasher leisurely
eats out his tongue and departs for
pastures new.
"The blows given by this thrasher
could be heard for two miles, and the
whale made the sea boil in his vain
efforts to shake off the murderer. He
would dive, but it was of no use, for
the thrasher could stay under water
any length of time, while the whale
must come to the surface to breathe.
The last we could see through the
glass the thrasher was pounding and
the whale rolling, pounding the water
with his flukes, and sometimes throw
ing his huge body almost entirely out
! of the water.-HarGord Times.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1885-10-29
Greatest Diamond in tho World.

Our Amsterdam correspondent tells
the story of the immense African dia-
mond-weighing 457 carets in the
rough-which is in process of being
cut by Mr.. Jacques Metz, one of the
largest diamond cutters of that city.
The stone is said to have a somewhat
curious history, and, though its exact
birthplace is only a matter of conject-
ure, it is known that it was found by
somebody in one of the four mines of
Kimberley. in the Cape Colony, South
Africa.
1t is said that in June or July of
last year one of the surveillance officers
of the Central Mining Company in the
Kimberley mine found the stone, and,
being exempt from search, carried it
through the searching house unper-
ceived and sold it to four irregular
dealers for $4,000. Before leaving
the province the new owners had u
night of drinking and gambling, which
ended in two of them becoming its
owners instead of four. The two
owners escaped the secret police and
reachedCape Town. where they found
a dealer who readily paid them $4,000
for the stone. There is an export
duty Oh diamonds shipped from Cape
Colony of one quarter per cent, but it
appears that this stone was smuggled
out of the colony by passenger on
the mail steamer and brought to Lon
don, where its presentation at Hatton
Garden created great sensation.
A former resident at the Cape mines
managed to form company of eight
persons, who bought the stone between
them for 1925, 900 cash. on condition
that the seller or sellers should receive
ninth share of the eventual profits.
The real value Of the stone has been
estimated at London at above 81, l,O00.-
900. According to the rules of valua-
tiun of the famous Tavernier diamond,
its value would be $4, 1863 The
correspondent says that the art of dia-
mond polishing existing in Amster-
dam for more than three centuries has
been brought to such perfection that
it is expected that this stone, weighing
in the rough 457 carats (and said to be
whittier and purer than any of its his
torical predecessors), will lose in work
ing much less than other famous
stones; that it will be more rapidly
finished, and it has every chance of re-
naming the largest and finest diamond
of the world.-Manufact,uing JeaCeler.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1885-10-29
When to Cut Wood.

There appears to be some difference
of opinion as to the best time to cut
wood. F. B. Hough, late Chief of the
Forestry Division of the Department
of Agriculture, says that where it is
desirable to get new growth from
the roots or stumps, the timber should
be cut little before the season when
the growth begins. In a climate so
varied as that of the United States it
would be quite impossible to fix this
time by a general rule, and even in a
given locality it is likely to vary in
different years. In the Northern
States he thinks the latter part of
winter is the best. In mild climates,
where there is no fear of heavy winter
frosts, the cutting, he says, may be
done at any time after the fall of the
leaves; or, in broad-leaved evergreens,
as soon as the movement of the second
sap has ceased. Timber, however,
lasts longer and seasons more readily,
in his opinion, when cut in the season
when vegetation is suspended, or in
deciduous trees, when the leaves are
off, and the growth of the year is end
ed. In cases where the wood is to be
peeled, all timber, he says, should be
cut in early summer for by being peel
ed it will be saved from the injuries
likely to occur from the attacks of bor-
ing insects, and it will also season
more readily. COniferous wood will
remain white and the lumber will be
lighter in weight. Prof. W. J. Beal,
while acknowledging the difficulties in
the way of reaching the truth, thinks
favorably of the practice in Russia,
where the foresters cut down their
trees just after the spring growth is
completed, and before the bark has
frightened too much for peeling They
then strip off the bark, but allow the
upper branches, with their leaves to
remain. These leaves will evaporate
IA large portion of the sap in the trunk
of the tree before they dry up, and the
bark, having been taken off, the trunk
seasons rapidly, and the general Rus
sian opinion is that it makes more val
liable timber for any purpose than that
which has been cut in the winter.
Poles should never be cut when the
bark will peel, as their utility and val
ue would be lessened. The first Ma
poleon ordered that timber for ship
building should be felled sin the wane
of the moon, between November l and
March 49," as it was thought to be
more durable when cut at that time;
but many of the opinions of the first
Napoleon have little weight in these
days. If the cutting is for firewood,
the time makes but little difference,
provided the timber is at once split
and piled where it can season rapidly.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1885-10-29

1t is fearful to think what an enor-
nous expense it would be for Patti to
bring up a child. She would have to
sing it to sleep every night for about
three years and at the regular rates
this would amount to S5,O0o,O0O.
Then, if she would have to sing one
or two extra verses to it each night,
the amount would rise to S7,500,000,
providing the child was in good health.
Allowing the usual third of sickness,
she would have to sing to it all night
for 1856 days, say five hours at time.
Four thousand dollars for a few
minutes singing is her usual price.
One night of sickness would there
fore cost $40, O,000.-Toronto Nail
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1885-10-29
Orchids.

The orchid family of plants is pecul-
iarly interesting on account OF the
strange forms assumed by its flowers.
Many of them initiate in perfection
the butterflies and bees and the curl
Gus winged insects that inhabit the
tropics. The plants themselves in
tropical climates are frequently dry
stems, parasitic upon the trunks Of
trees; but in the towering season they
burst out into the most superb and
gorgeous blossoms, that set whole
forest ahame with their colors. For
these reasons they are most highly
priced by the florists, and fine group
of orchids is considered one of the
choicest treasures of great botanical
collections. In our own country we
have about seventy-tiye species, some
of which are very shOwy and hand
some. But the orchid fancier goes
farther afeld for his beauties. He
must have them from the wilds of
Australia or Van Dieman's land, or
from the jungles of India, from the
banks of the Amazon or from the is
lands of tropic seas. Linnaus knew
only 100 species of orchids; PERSON,
in 1906. knew Az; Sprengel, in 1880.
had enumerated about 800; and in
more recent times the number has
risen to neaily 5000. The genera,
also, are very many in number, but
those which are most popular with
cultivators are comparatively few,
although they contain great number
of species. Utica Herald.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1885-10-29
A Trusted Citizen,

"Who is that old duffer?" asked the
new groceryman of the milk man, as
a well-dressed man went by.
"Why. he's one of our most trusted
citizens" was the eloquent reply.
How do You make that out? He
has been owing me bill ever since ]
came here.
That just how we make it out"
laughed the milk man gleefully. and
the groeeryman scratched his head till
he caught on.-Merchant 7'rdueler.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1885-10-29
topics OF THE DAY.

Crime, according to the statistics
recently published, is increasing in
this country with remarkable speed
as there was but one criminal to to
every 8, 432 inhabitants in 1850, while
in 1870 there was one to every $50
meanwhile crime is decreasing in
Great Britain.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1885-10-29
The Reason Why.

Jones (just returned from three
years tour abroad - just met Robin
son. How pale and thin he looks.
When | went abroad he was the pic
ture of health. Was he crossed in
love? Did the girl to whom he was
engaged jiit him?
Brownie. She married him
NctC York sun.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1885-10-29

even to the grievous report that he
had only married me for my little
fortune
"Did you believe that?" he asked.
gravely.
81 tried hard not to believe it, but
just now / seem to myself such a per-
feet type of total depravity that |
wonder you took me under any cir
cumstances."
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1885-10-29

Statuary hall, in the capitol, of the
house of representatives at Washing
ton, is becoming even now crowded.
Within the last ten years space has
been given here to various states that
wish to place in the capitol statues
representing their leading men who
I have acquired national fame. The
last addition to the collection is the
statue of Gen. Garfield, presented by
the state of Ohio.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1885-10-29

In Northern Michigan, and other
regions where the sand is deep. the
road-makers construct passage-way
of clay at one side of the highway.
Thus. in dusty weather the teams take
the clay road, and in wet weather the
natural sand One or the other always
offers fine thoroughfare.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1885-10-29

In the British Medical Journal, DR..
Fothergill says that a patient dying of
exhaustion is generally dying of star
walton. "We give him beef tea, calf's-
foot jelly, alcohol, seltzer and milk;
that is, small quantity of sugar of
milk and some fat. But the jelly is
the poorest sort of food, and the beef
tea a mere stimulant. The popular
belief that beef tea contains
the very strength of the
meat is a terrible error; it has no food
value"
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1885-10-29

Sportsmen should be careful not
to eat of meat from animals which
have been much tortured by dogs
during the death agony, DR.. Detmars
of the National Society of Microsco-
pists, in examining samples of the
meat the eating of which had killed
several persons in Momence, ILL.,, found
changes which were clearly attribu-
table to frenzied condition of the
animals from which it was taken.
The Doctors opinions upon the sub
ject were formed after careful micros-
copical examinations of hundreds of
samples of meat from cattle slaught-
cred in Chicago while there were in a
frenzied condition from fright.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1885-10-29

A broad tract of land in Lisbon,
Maine, known for years as the "Pine
Woods" is now one of the most high
ly valued lots of land in that State.
Two years ago it could have been
bought for $5 an acre, and to-day $25,- :
900 an acre is its estimated value. 1t
is owned by E. N. Chamberlain. who
leased it few months ago to e. II.
Caylor, Of Columbus, Ohio. Mr.. Cham
berlain is to receive a royalty on the
product of a paint mine that it con-
tains. The value of the earth COM
prised in this tract of land was discov-
cred through observation of the fact
that the mud clinging to the wheels of
vehicles driving through it dried on
like paint and was removed with diff
Guilty. The earth is yellow, and has
been pronounced by Prof. Stanley, of
Bates College, to be a variety of si-
emma.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1885-10-29

"What sort of lightning rod do
you wear ?" may be in the near future
pertinent qu stion. The occasional
discharge of cloud electricity was all
our ancestors had to dread, and against
this they found protection in the metal
points which showed the fiery fluid
desirable routes to travel earthward.
We run additional risks from the
treasures of lightning stored up around
us, and death is the penalty for the
unwary. Personal safeguards have
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1885-10-29

Temperance advocates are pleased,
disinterested persons amused, and in
jured dealers dumfounded by blow
at the very low dregs of the saloon
business in New York. The stale
beer dives, so numerous in the worst
quarters of the city, get their beverage
by draining the kegs set out in front
of other bar-rooms. Their keepers
have Systematically made morning
rounds to fill their buckets just before
the removal of the kegs by the brew
ers' wagons, and this sloppy stuff was
subsequently retailed to the most mis-
erable drinkers at a cent Il glass. Now
a vinegar manufacturer has contracted
with the brewers to get the leavings
from the kegs, and wagons, provided
with tanks, go over systematically
arranged routes every morning. This
is going to eliminate characteristic
feature of New York intemperance.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1885-10-29
VOL. III. NO. 4S.
Che Gun0on0rrrn 5iftcr.

AN INDEPENDENT REPUBLICAN NEWSPAPER,
ISSUED EVERY FRIDAY MORNING
PROM
9K'er Office. so Londonderry, VI.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1885-10-29

will be furnishe to all subscribers everywhere,
at the extremely low price of One Dollar per
annum, invariably in advance. Outside OF
Windhnm Co., in single wrappers, $l.l6 year.
ADVERTISING RATES.-Fiity cents per
inch, first insertion, 20 cents Tor each add-
tional insertion. Nothing inserted for less than
so cents.
Additional information furnished upon appl-
cation. Births, Marriages. and Deaths, pub
lished free, Obituary Notices, Cards II Thanks
etc, so cents to s 90.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1885-10-29

The Government astronomer of
Hong kong has published an account
of the phenomena which precede ty-
phoons The first signs are feathery
clouds in the sky of the cirrus type,
looking like fine tufts of white wool,
and which travel from east to north.
These appearances are accompanied
by a slight rise of the barometer, clear
weather, heat, and light winds. The
barometer then begins to fall; the heat
becomes oppressive there is a swell
on the sea, and the sky assumes a
threatening appearance. AS the storm
approaches these effects become more
marked, while the wind gradually in
creases in force. Near the centre of
the storm the wind blows with such
violence that no canvas can hold
against it, and the rain pours down in
torrents. Still nearer the centre, the
sea is lashed into such fury that this
is the most dangerous position for
ships. Typhoons are most common
during September and August, but
they are met with all the year ronni,
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1885-10-29

SS5HEn;erea at the Post-oflice at South
Londonderry, as Ccond-c ass matter.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1885-10-29

HORSES an. Carriages at all hours. Persons
earned 10 all surrounding points upon arrival
Of t:ans. Special accommoda' ions TO excur.
sicp l,gi Ties. Goud teams and attentive dli
yery. IL
Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1885-12-19
INCREASE.
Incidental Mention Of People aud TheiI
Affairs from Standard Contributor.

Hard times and worse coming,
some say, but we hope not.
Rainy and windy weather since
December began. We had quite
gale in this section on the night of
the Sth, blowing down trees and
fences, causing us some trouble. Next
day several persons were out laying
up rails and repairing damages gen.
orally.
Wheat looks well and a considera-
BILE amount has been sown.
People are done gathering corn, ex-
cept our neighbor, John Blanks, and
he will be done by Christmas. John
will have more corn than Carter had
Of oats. Corn is tolerably fair, perhaps
as good as was expected.
Road overseers are working the
roads in places,
Fatted hogs are rather scarce, but
we will have enough for home con-
sumption and few to spare. Our
neighbor Butler Smith isbuying hogs
to ship. We understand he has nearly
a car load.
Some gentleman from Wilson
county was around a few days ago
buying cattle.
Our old friend Claiborne Groves
has sold his horses down in Dixie,
and he and his partner, Mr.. Sam
Thomas, will buy mules to take
South. Mr.. Groves has not yet re-
| turned.
Elijah M. Lusk has finished his
barn, and it is a good building. He
says hecan drive a team into the upper
story and turn the wagon around and
drive down again with all ease. Amt
that whopper?
Corn huskings are now in vogue in
our section, and we presume the boys
have plenty to eat, and perhaps some,
thing else.
Parson Conner is soliciting subscrip
tons to finish New Union church