davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1885-03-26
PRICE THREE CENTS.

could not GO OUT or doors without
meeting bands Of these dancers. II
spread rap dly, as by sort of infec-
tion, even to the remote villages in the
central province of Imerina; so that.
having occasion to visit distant part
of the country in company with an
Englishman, we found, even in remote
hamlets, and, more wonderful still.
near solitary cottages, the sound OF
music, indicating that the mania had
spread even there.
The rapidity of this spread was GER
tainly remarkable, but not to be COM
pared with what is related of the OUT
break of the child-pilgrimage of Erfurt.
when on the 18th Of July, 1887, LOU
children assembled. as if by instructive
impulse, without preconcert, and
unknown to their parents.
The dancing was regulated very
much 10y ,ie music, which was the
quickest possible. The patients were
fond of carrying sugarcanes about with
them. They held them in their hands
or carried them over their shoulders
while they danced. Frequently, too.
they might beseen going through their
singular evolutions with bottle Of
water upon their heads, which they
succeeded wonderfully in balancing.
The drum was the favorite instrument
of music, but others were used, and
all were acceptable.
The disease was rarely fatal; still
few cases of death undoubtedly hap
pened, and these only occurred, so far
as the writer is: aware, where the
patient was restrained from joining in
the dances. 1T would seem that these
persons actually: died from pent-up
passion or excitement. The dancing,
no doubt, was so far salutary. Tho
music served to regulate and control
the wild muscular movements that
might otherwise have proved injurious:
A most remarkable fact is, that the
mere physical exercise, prodigious and
long continued as it is in this disease
seems perfectly harmless. and we know
of no fatality connected Herewith.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1885-03-26

man Simms back, as John won't need
him any more to look after his dogs
and horses
"When John was forbidden the
house, you see, he put up job with
Simms. his factotum, to find employ
ment with the farmer, and carry on
the desired correspondence between
him and Margaret, and arrange for the
elopement. j. Simms received her
early on the morning of September
18th, dressed in boys clothes, with
cloak around her, which she at once
removed, and drove her in a gig to a
spot near the station, where John
joined them. On reaching Hull. John
said to himself. The old man viii
have the police after us, and l don't
want to travel to far away Then
down he went to the police head
quarters, and got the address of half a
dozen detectives. The second one he
visited suited him, and he took rooms
and board for himself and Margaret.
Then he got the license, and they were
married. The next was to make a
clean breast of it to the detective, and
as John paid good price for his
roOmS and q rounl ann in addition
he determined to see him through.
When information was given by me to
the police, the detective was one of the
first notified, and with great acuteness
he planned what followed, getting his
father-in-law-an old retired officer
to take the first hand, and skilltully
introducing his own son to fill out the
story, which, of course, was the sheer.
est fabrication"
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1885-03-26
Light Jet.

"Such nonsense!" said the teacher to
Johnny Crimsonbeak, when that young
man had informed him that he had
seen jet when it was not black. Il
tell you jet is always dark"
"Well, tell you we've got light jet
up to our house, and if you'll come up
there tonight I'll show it to you
what kind of je. is it? ?" at length
asked the pedagogue. beginning to
think the boy knew what he was talk
ing about.
'Gas JET" fairly yelled Johnny, as he
passed out of the open window sill.--
Yaake's Staiesman.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1885-03-26
Forest Fires.

The Lumber World makes the aston.
ishing assertion that the loss to this
country through forest fires is now not
less than $300,000,000 a year, simply
through the destruction of available
timber, without counting the addition!
al loss from the annihilation of tho
seeds scattered on the surface, and the
scorching of the ground, which often
renders it sterile for generation. This
enormous sum, about equal to the
interest on the public debts of all the
civilized nations of the world, is, &C,
cording to the report of experts,
annually thrown away forever by the
people of the United States, without
the smallest return in the way of com
fort or satisfaction, but, on the ontrary'
at the cost of many lives each year,
simply through the carelessness Of boys
and hunters, and of those more intelli-
gent persons who ought to know
enough to keepa sharp watch over these
destructive animals. Next to human
beings of feeble intellect, railway
locomotives do most injury in forest
countries, and the Lumber World
inquiries seriously whether the owners
of such locomotives should not be COM
PEELED, in the public interest, to furnish
them with spark arresters during the
dry season. The idea that railway
companies are responsible for the value
of timber destroyed by fires set from
their locomotives undoubtedly has
some effect in preventing legislative
interference with their management;
but it is 50 difficult to fix the kindling
Of a forest fire with certainty upon
locomotive sparks, to say nothing Of
the obstacles in the way of collecting
large debts from newly established
railway corporations, that the safer
way would be to provide as far as pos
BILE against raising the question Of
responsibility by compelling the use of
spark-arresters. Against animated
incendiaries forest patrol might be
tolerably effective, but it would be still
more useful toprovide in some way for
the removal of un1erbrush from the
woodland. Trees by themselves are
not easily kindled, and the mischief is
usually done through the ignition Of
dry leaves, ferns or bushes, which
burn long enough to char, and at last
to kindle the branches of the trees
above them.-American architect.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1885-03-26
spring Song.


Tar In green and wooded dell,
Where the maple boughs do meet,
Rustles-shall truly tell,
Gentle whispers, low and sweeti
o, sounds most dear,
What songs you sing, ...
What tales you bring
OF summers coming near.
Every leaflet sings in praise,
To the leaf its neighbor;
AN breathe deep in their own ways,
Gay and free from labor,
Breathe the holy air OF peace,
Perfume ne'er was rarer.
Nor sping day fairer,
Fen in storied Greece.
Birds and leaves on every boush
Sway and toss in splendor,
Upward scars my soal-till now,
Oh, so weak and tender,
Summers sun brings lasting balm,
Gone is winters biting blast,
Rain is now all over past,
Following storm-the calm.
From the German.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1885-03-26
LONDONDERRY, THURSDAY MARCH 26 1885

unto wine, but Sir William Thompson
has gone more definitely into the
matter and informs us that sunlight is
about seventy thousand times greater
than the light of the full moon. This
is all right, we presume. Sir William
goes further, however, and lets US
know that, if the face Of the moon
were painted black and covered with
candles standing packed in square
order touching one another, and all
burning normally, the light received
at the earth would be about the same
in effect as it really it.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1885-03-26
His Delicate Musical Mission.

"Does yer old man work on the dock
now?"
"N-a-a-w. He is musician"
as he the man that swallys the
clarinet in the band?"
"N-a-a-w; he don't swally the clar-
met in the band. lie stands on the
sidewalk and keeps time wid his fut."
SVtiags,
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1885-03-26

A French paper gives a graphic
sketch of the manner in which nearly
one-half of Paris was built upon the
hollow ground beneath. The cata
combs are old quarries, some of which
had ceiling solid enough to build up
on. But in many other cases the top
ground had to be blown down before
the work Of building could be begun
and it was necessary also to fill in or
bank up the soil. In other cases the
houses were reared on the top of veri-
table piles, like those of Amsterdam.
The uses to which these hollow tun-
nels have been put include not only
the storage of dead mems bones and
mummies, and the accommodation of
sewers, but also the storage of wines
and the growth of mushrooms. 1t is
not perhaps generally known that the
thing which people were most afraid
of in Paris during the latter days of
the Commune was the fact, whether
real or supposed, that the leaders of
that desperate insurrection had filled
the catacombs with gunpowder and
dynamite, and could at any moment,
If provoked to extreme measures, pro.
duce the effect of an earthquake up
on both banks of the Seine.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1885-03-26

Korti, the headquarters of Gen.
Wolseley, is situated on the left bank
of the Nile, 1000 miles south from
Cairo. That point is just south of the
Big Bend in the Nile. which there
runs to the westward, turning soon,
however, to the northward. Ascend
ing the Nile from Korti, the direction
is northeast to Abu Hamed, where the
direction is again southerly.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1885-03-26

"A Methodist elder Of Fort Worth,
Tex, recently whipped bully, and
the Methodist of that town thus ap-
preciatiyely describes the incident:
"The elder took him one square blow
between the lockers without stopping
his pace, and it took twelve rowdies,
three dippers of water and two quarts
of whisky to revive the patient and
get him off the grounds"
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1885-03-26

The United States has 1900 dentists,
who use ton of gold and five tons of
other metals and make 100000 arti-
ficial teeth annually. Only one Amer
ican in eighty is found to have perfect
teeth, AID one-third of the population
make more or less use of the artificial
product
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1885-03-26

The latest phase astronomy has as
sumed is rather humorous one. 1t
relates to the computation of the
comparative power of sunlight and
moonlight, The poet has told us that
moonlight unto sunlight Is as water
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1885-03-26

A, clhb at Bolton, England, is known
as the Wife Beaters' Club, and applies
its revenues to paying the costs and
fines OF members tried for thrashing
their wives. In recent case it fur
nished SO to defray the expenses of a
gentleman who had been amusing
himself by jumping on his helpmeet.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1885-03-26
TOPICS OF THE DAY.

1t is said that during the last twenty
years there has been taken from the
Sierra foiests on Lake Taboo and the
Truckee basin timber amounting in
value to $50, 100000, and paid for at
the Virginia, Nevada, mines.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1885-03-26

The Japanese appear to have hit
upon the expedient of providing fire
proof storehouses for the reception of
furniture and other valuables. AS a
security against the vast confagra-
tions which. during the winter
months, are so prevalent in Japan,
the most perishable and valuable
articles are kept in freproof store
houses known as mud godOwns." "
These structures are built of mud, or,
to speak more correctly, of clay,
Some of them take as many as three
years in building; double frame
work of bamboo or slight boarding is
run up, and the intervening space
about eighteen inches or two feet
wide, is filled in with mud, which is
gradually packed and allowed to dry
by the action of the atmosphere. AT
a great fire which occurred at Toxic
last month, and ragged for nine hours
destroying large number of houses
not one of the mud godowns s'-and
there were several hundred of them
was injured throughout the entire
area of from two to three miles ir
extent laid waste by the conaagration
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1885-03-26

The states whose banks have been
counterfeited are Vermont, Massachu-
sets, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New
York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Ohio,
Indiana. Illinois. Michigan and Wis
consin. OF these New York has the
largest number (ifty-three), or nearly
fifty per cent. Illinois comes next
with twelve The finest counterfeits
are a IS bill on the Merchants Ma
tional Bank of New Bedford, Mass; a
500 bill on the Pittsburgh National
Bank of Commerce, the old $50 green
back, and $40 Treasury note, series
of 1875. Counterfeiting in America
has been reduced to a practical science,
and is the most completely organized
system of rascality on earth. Its
members include both sexes, all ages,
and nationalities. Counterfeit money
frequently passes current for years,
but in the end some one has to lose it,
and it generally falls on those who are
least able to bear the loss.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1885-03-26

One English clergyman has just de-
clared that he leaves house as soon
as he sees a novel in it, believing that
no spiritual good can be there effected;
while another has committed himself
to the statement that the permission
given to the japanese to worship their
idols in the Japanese village now ex-
hibiting in London will bring down
the curses of heaven upon the city.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1885-03-26

Last year over a million and half
of cats were killed for their skins,
which have become valuable as fur
lining. The industry of cat skin col
lecting is of very recent growth. If
within so short space of time the
casual destruction for their hide of a
few stray cats has assumed the respec-
table dimensions of a solid traffic esti-
mated in round numbers at hundreds
Of thousands of skins, what will 1t be
a decade hence? About the superiori-
ty of cats skins over RABBIT, rat, or
squirrel skins there is no question.
The cost of production, too, cannot be
called excessive, seeing that each skin
is stolen, and the whole original out
lay is one stout stick for despatching
puss and sack to carry her home in,
while the total working expenses are
the wear and tear of shoe leather in
tramping the streets for prey.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1885-03-26

The Chinese in Colorado are likely
10 become partly civilized through the
efforts put forth in their behalf by
philanthropists of Denver. A great
many of the Chinese in that city at
tend Sunday-school. and night schools
have lately been established where
they are taught to read and write. A
teacher is required for every pupil,
and each teacher must possess an in
Unite fund of patience and persever-
ance, for most Cinnamon are rather
dull. A man greatly interested in the
Chinese recently gave large number
of them a party at his house. They
came in their Sunday best, nearly all
wearing the American costume, and
were far more self-possessed aud easy
In their manners than one would sup
pose they could be.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1885-03-26

DR.. j. H. Roberts writes from Libe-
ria,s Africa, to the Boston Medical and
.Setryicdl Journal that he is convinced
thAt the medicinal herbs grown in GER
ta climates are especially adapted for
thu cure of diseases which prevail in
them, though they may be useless e,se-
where. He finds the plants of Liberia
much more successful in African fever
than the best of drugs prepared in
more highly civilized countries.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1885-03-26

An agriculturist of Oakland, Cal, is
making a determined effort to intro"
duce the cultivation of tea in that
State. He has over 1000 tea plants in
very thriving condition. and when
they arrive at the age of four years he
will obtain Japanese labor and pick
and cure. He does not entertain a
doubt of success. He has also a num-
Der of camphor trees that are growing
we'll.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1885-03-26

Horses an. Carriages at all hours. Persons
earned 20 al surrounding points upon arrival
of trains. Special accommodations TO excur.
sion parties. Good teams and attentive dli.
terA "
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1885-03-26

GLOW did feel? Can't you guess ?
Why, of course, I'd been done-regu-
iarly done. l was there when the
couple arrived, and the old man re-
ceived his daughter with open arms.
and shook John heartily by the hand.
"'We are coming to live with you.
ather,' Margaret saiG, and John is
,oing to man lgo the farm for you, ana
~e are going to have that nice young
Morning journal and courier., 1885-05-28
Episcopal Services.

Bishop Williams will preach the ordina- tion services at the Berkeley Divinity school in MiddIetown June Sd. The candidates are F. H. Church, F. Gardiner, jr., s. M. Hol- den, J. H. McCrackan, s. H. Watkins and w. W. Webb. Rev Sylvester Clarke, of Brideeport delivers the address before the alumni This is the centennial year of the first ordination in America, held in Christ church (now Holy Trinity, Middletown, August 8, 17S5. At that time there were six candidates for ordination as this year.
 The centennial of Christ church, Middle Haddam, Conn, will be celebrated June IF.
 Bishop Williams will deliver the address should Adopt Another Whistle.
 For some time the wheelmen of the city
 have been using a call whistle similar in de- sign and of same tone as that used by mem
 bers of the police department, and in conse- auence the policemen often have considera-
 ble running about to locate the call given by bicyclist to fellow rider. Last evening 8 rider went up one of the leading avenues at a rapid rate, endeavoring to catch up with friends in advance. He was not. getting along as fast as those he followed and so he blew several blasts with his whistle. In a moment or two around the corner came 8 night policeman in an old hat and "garden pantaloons" Of he went at full speed in the direction from which the sound came He did not run far before a friendly citizen informed him what the trouble was. The officers are heard frequently to complain of the unnecessary runs caused by the thought less use of whistle of the same tone as the one used by the police when assistance is needed. If the wheelmen would adopt some other toned whistle our faithful guardians of the peace would be saved considerable an royance
Morning journal and courier., 1885-05-28
made it the Greatest Judicial Tribunal in the

made it the Greatest Judicial Tribunal in the World"
 The use of the revised version of the scrip lures was begun in Batten chapel Tuesday morning. Prof. Dwight has presented the college with an elegant copy of the revised version for this purpose.
 The seniors will begin the review examina- tions in ethics tomorrow morning in the old chapel. They will be in writing.
 Prof. Sumner will meet any juniors wish ing to hear an explanation of his courses in political economy at 9:45 this morning, room 200 old chapel
 At last Wellesley college has started an athletic organization in the form of 8 tennis club.
 The University of Pennsylvania has chal- lenged Columbia to row 8 1-2 mile straight away race on Lake Quinsigamond, July 1st.
 The counsel for Otis Strong and w. ". Crehore have been here taking the deposi- tions of those who were in the train at the time of the Glee club accident in December, 'S3. Mr. Strong has sued the company for $20, 900, and MT. CrehoTe for $15, 900. The case will probably be tried next fall.
 The ball game between the clubs of Tenn pie and High streets yesterday afternoon, re- suited in victory for the former of 12 to 10. Lux '8S went to Amherst with the nine to play centerfeld. This makes three fresh- men on the nine.
Morning journal and courier., 1885-05-28
sHELLEY,s FATE.

Further Light as To His Death-Let-
 ters and Other Things Found on The
 Remains.
 MADISON, Conn.,, May 27.-Further devel- opments in the case of Charles E. Shelley, of Madison, have brought to light facts which prove beyond question the identity of the body found near Weber, Colorado, on the 7th day of last April Upon his person were found two letters from his father, MT. George A. Shelley of Madison, several from the lady to whom he was betrothed and letter from a cousin living in this city Also there were letters that were not mailed addressed to MT. Shelley and other parties in Madison. These have been forwarded to Connecticut and make the identity certain. In letter dated April 4, 1884, he wrote to his father that he was going to Denver and expected soon to return home. At Ogden, about twenty miles from Weber, he exchanged tickets for Dem yer. Near Weber there was breakage on the cars and a necessary delay of several hours, during which the passengers were permitted to stroll. It is known that Shelley had money with him and also his baggage check and ticket. His body was found in April about a mile from Weber in clump of bushes one hun dred feet from the road The verdict ren- dered at the inquest was suicide, and under the circumstances this was probably the only verdict that could have been given. A pis- tol was found lying on his breast, which is a very unnatural position for case of suicide, and no baggage check or clue to it has been found. The baggage, which must have gone to Denver and which would, in all probability, have been forwarded to Connecticut, has not been seen or heard from. Only about four dol lars in money was found him. These facts show that he was undoubtedly the vic tim of foul play, tracks of which were well covered, what little property there was left on his person or near him serving only to lead from the true state of the case toward 8 conception of suicide. The young man was one of great promise, much loved in his na- tive place and highly esteemed in neighbor- ing cities where he had been employed. His father expresses many thanks for the kind ness and sympathy which the people of Mad ison and vicinity have manifested, both be- fore and after the identity of the body was established.
Morning journal and courier., 1885-05-28

Court adjourned until June 15.
Morning journal and courier., 1885-05-28
The Bristol Burglars.
The Bristol burglars have been arrested Avon and have made A confession in det

The Bristol burglars have been arrested Tn Avon and have made confession in detail. The Waterbury American says:
 They gave their names as Joseph Carney of Corn
 wall eighteen, and Stephen Williams of Southport,
 nineteen, and according to their version of the
 ploit they entered drug store, jewelry store and barber shop in UnionviIle Friday night and ob- taired considerable jewelry, lot of gold chains and razor, but unsuccessful in their at tempts to enter other places They went to Meri- den by way of Southington and came from there Sunday morning, arriving in Plainviile in proves to belong to MT. Dow. carpenter. Thus equipped they proceeded to Forestyie, but the will lage not being quiet continued to Bristol. where they began their operations at O. L. Penffeld's ket about 11:30, and with their supplies they paired to the lumber yard for refreshments and rest, shavng made the entire trip on foot The re mainder of the nights work was then finished, be ginning next at Hammock's saloon and visiting Merrimans drug store and William Reynolds in Forestville They say they both went into the latter place and without any light
 hunted for valuabes; first finding the safe open the
 revolver secured, then the gold watch and some
 silver pieces in the safe till, but they deny any knowledge of the two $10 bills missing from the l safe It seems from their confession that they would have owned up to taking the $20 if they had
 found it and their theory that another party visited | the premises after their escape may be correct They have been examined in UnionYille and held il $500 for trial there.