davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1885-12-17
SHE FIXED 1T,
low an Enterprising Widow Managed an
Ardent Admirer.

How an Enterprising Widow Managed al
| Ardent Admirer.
The three of us had been trampins
over the battlefield of Malvern Hill al
day long, and rs night came on there
was every evidence of steady. soak
ing rain-storm. We had to get shelter
right away, and we found it in small
farmhouse owned by widow. She
was willing enough to furnish us sup.
per, but when it came to lodgings sEs
seemed greatly embarrassed.
"You see," she said, '.my house Is
very small. Indeed, 1 have only this
room with bedroom Off
But can't we sleep in the barn?''
asked the Colonel.
81 have no barn"
"But you can 90 to bed and let us
sleep on the floor, can't your
''Y-e-s. but-but-"
ooh. you needn't have any fear OF
us. madam" protested the Colonel.
'It isn't that, sir, but
She blushcd like rose, but none of
lis could understand until she said:
"Well, to tell the truth, my beau
will be here tonight
''In this storm?'
"Oh, yes. William would come if it
rained pitchforks.
"Well, we won't hurt William
''No. sir, but we-that is, he will eX-
pect to spark me, and-and-"
Exactly" said the Colonel. II see
the situation. You don't want to dis
appoint William?'
No, sir; and l don't want to turn
you gentlemen out, either. You see,
sir, it's probably my only chance to
get married and it won't do to offend
William This is his sparkling night,
and he's got to come five miles,"
swell, we won't stand in the way;
we will hunt some other place"
''No, sir, you shall stay; but you see
how it it is. l think I can fix it. I'll
take this room, and you three can have
the bedroom.
What! Deprive YOU of sleep?'
''Oh, no. sir. William and | ALWAYS
spark till daylight. If you would only
fix it that way. sir.
We did. After supper we locked
ourselves in the bedroom, and taking
the pillows from the bed lay down on
the floor and slept like bricks until
called to breakfast. When we went to
breakfast the Colonel asked:
swell, did William show up?'
"Y-yes, SIR" she stammered. .and
he asked me to m-marry him! If we
hadn't fixed things maybe he'd have
waited a whole year longer. B-break-
fast is ready, and I'll never forget your
kindness to poor widowr'-DetroI
Free Press.
Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1885-12-17
A NOVEL ORGAN.
One Which Is Built: upon the Model of the
Human Throat.

One Which Is Built: upon the Model of the
| Human Throat.
One of the greatest novelties shown
at the Franklin Institute Exhibition in
Philadelphia is tie vocalian organ. II
has followed the process of producing
sound which is peculiar to the vocal
organs OF men and animals, and by
this method great sorority. purity and
strength are obtained by more compact
means than those employed in the pipe
organ. In the vocalian organ the wind
is conducted into the wind chest, which
represents the human lungs, by wind
trunk from the bellows below. Lead
ing out from this chest is throat, re-
sembling the trachea, and q short dis
lance within and across the throat is {;
peculiar reed, which performs the same
function as the vocal chord in the
human throat. The sound produced by
the vibration of the reed meets with a
contraction 4 little distance further
within the throat similar to that at the
faEces, whence it enters into the mouth
cavity. For low notes there are
large Threats and reeds and mouths
foot square and for high notes
proportionately short Threats and small
reeds and mouths, In each mouth
cavity is round hole, corresponding
to the nasal opening of the human sub
ject and performing the same function
for the vocalian that the nostril does
for the man, assisting the vibration
and modifying or improving the quail
ty OF the sound emitted. Economy of
space is one of the advantages of the
vocalian organ, the equivalent of eight
hundred notes Or pipes being packed
in compass not much larger than an
upright piano. Tie instrument has
three banks of keys, two and half
octaves OF pedals and twenty stops, by
means of which the sounds of all the
instruments commonly initiated on
pipe organs can be reproduced. The adj
vantages claimed by the vocalian organ
is tiat it remains in perfect tune Pipe
organs being subject to the influence of
changes of temperature, their pitch va
ries with heat or cold. and to the re-
fined ear they are seldom in perfect
tune. The merit claimed for the voca-
han Is that certain of its stops are even
inner than any known to the pipe Or
gan, and that in the matter OF power it
is equivalent to the pipe-organ, except
IN the heavier bass notes. which, in the
inventors opinion. do not require a
greater volume than that of the voca-
iian. Mr.. Hamilton's invention is an
altogether novel instrumen and is at
tracing q great deal of critical atten-
tion.-Cor. Chicago San.
Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1885-12-17
BIRMINGHAM.
Tho rounding and Developments az IN.
Magic City Of the South.

The Founding and Development Of IN.
Magic City Of the south.
Birmingham, the magic city of thu
South. was Incorporated December 10
1871. and is beautifully situated in
Jones' Valley, Jones County, Ala. and
is the county seat at present. The
former capital town of Jefferson County
was Elyton, distant about two miles. now
a suburb of the city, containing num-
Der of fine residences. James r. Powell.
John T. Miller and Samuel TAFT were
the original promoters and founders
of the new city. They saw their chance
to make fortune, and had the nerve
and means to 60 in and win BY buyinp
up the lands about the time the South
& North Alabama & Chattanoooa
Roads were being built through this
then wild and comparatively unknown
section, for, until then, little if any.
thing was known of the vast mineral
wealth here deposited.
The gentlemen previously named.
! after a careful survey of the lands, for
the purpose of ascertaining beyond
doubt the extent, quality, ETC.. of the
coal, iron and limestone, were fully
assured of the almost inexhaustible
quantity and of the superior quality of
the same. Immediately they set about
forming a company or syndicate for the
purpose of developing the lands and
bringing into market these rich depos-
its that had lain hidden for unknown
ages. A location for a city was care
fully and judiciously selected, surveyed,
and, as our friend, BOSS" Shepherd
would say, laid out in a comprehensive
plan, with the eye of faith to the future
greatness of the embryo city. The re-
ports at first were doubtfully received,
so incredible they seemed. 1t was
hard for the staid old iron masters of
Pennsylvania and other mineral re-
gions to believe that such vast deposits
of minerals could exist in the South,
and that it could remain here or else
where for so long time undiscovered.
Shrewd and enterprising iron men and
capitalists of New Castle, Pa, and
Wheeling, w. Va, came on to see for
themselves, and were convinced of the
truthfulness of the statements made.
They purchased lands and erected fur
naces, mills, etc. The result has been
marvellous. The taxable property of
the city of Birmingham was in 1883,
1852, 900, and in 1884 had increased
to s3,3O2,1S6. The city is lighted with
a superior gas manufactured from coal
procured in the immediate vicinity.
Water of s. good quality is furnished
from clear stream that flows near by.
A paid fire department is maintained.
while tie police and sanitary are all
that could be expected. The city
boasts OF pretty opera-house, capable
of seating 1860 persons, one of the
best arranged places of amusement in
the South.-Birmainghans (Ala.J Coz.
Washington Star.
Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1885-12-17
Violating His Contract.

PA" said Bobby, who had been al
lowed to sit up little while after din.
ner with the distinct understanding
that he was TO ask no foolish questions,
''can God do everything?'
Yes"
''Can He make two-foot rule with
only one end to it?'
Zone more question like that" said
the old man, land you will be packed
off to bed"
Bobby nodded sleepily for ten min
utes and then asked:
'Pa, can a camel 60 seven days
without water?'
"Yes.'
"Wen, how many days could he go
Il ne had water."
The next thing Bobby knew he as
IN Ded--N T. Sun.
Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1885-12-17
THE GREAT pESIDERATUM.
Can Power and Electricity BE Produced
Direct from Coal.

Can Power and Electricity BE Produced
Direct from Coal.
The problem of problems in the world
of scientific research just now is how to
produce power and electricity direct
from coal. Steam sets free only four
teen out of possible hundred atoms
Of force in a given quantity of coal;
hence the waste of power in the CONF
bustion of that carbonized material.
Thomas A. Edison, the great American
inventor, thinks that some means will
yet be devised Of getting electricity
direct from coal. At present it is gem
Grated by steam, but in making the
steam more than four-fifths of the pos
sible power of the coal is wasted. 1t is
this that prevents electricity being used
is far more costly than oil. The annual
charge for certain lighthouses on the
English coast was about $500 when
oil was used. The cost of the electrical
machinery in the same lighthouses is
over S11, 600. Were it possible to get
all the electrical power there is in 4 ton
of coal, there would be revolution in
transportation. Great heavy loco
motives would be no longer needed.
The noise and smoke and fire of en-
gines would be abolished, and the great
space in steamships occupied by ma
chinery and coal could be utilized for
profitable cargoes. The solution of
this problem wo;ild open new era in
the history of intercommunication be-
tween distant localities.
lNonthly.
Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1885-12-17
won't I just lick You, though! I'll licA
xo,, ill fhov call an amhuionoo.

won't I just lick you, though! I'll licA
YOU till they call an ambulance
The reporter who witnessed this san.
Culinary affair ''wrote it up forthwith.
A day or two later a gilded youth ap-
peared at the newspaper Office and de-
sired to be placed in communication
with the writer of the story. He told
the reporter that his aunt, a wealthy
and philanthropic maiden lady, had
read the tale of the chivalrous little
Amazon, and desired to see her with a
view to adopting her and giving her
an education. Therefore the reporter
and the gilded youth went forth to
seek her. They found her in Ann
street playing pitch-penny with four
ragged boys. This somewhat damp
ened the ardor of the gilded youth, who
decided to see his aunt again before
bringing gambler into the family.
The aunt was of the opinion that
course of The Shorter Catechism
would eradicate all desire for pitch
penny from the child's mind and inn
bue her with preference for sewing
Observation-Disclosures that estimable
lady made one of the greatest mis-
takes of her life. The little girl was
infatuated with the idea of going to
live in fine house, and her parents,
who had half dozen more children,
were easily persuaded that it would be
to her advantage.
The philanthropic lady took the child
home, and she received bath and a
new outfit of clothing. For the first
day she was perfectly happy with her
dolls; and but for the fact that she
brought in strange dog from the
street and organized a fight between
that animal and her benefactress'
favorite cat in the parlor. her conduct
was exemplary. The next morning she
had to be washed by main force, and
before night she was pining for the
street and her old acquaintances. The
following day she was miserable in
spite of all attempts to amuse her. and
at night she escaped, exchanged her
dress in a cellar in Ann street for one
that allowed greater opportunities of
ventilation and joined her old compan-
ions. She was twice taken back, and
the last time she remained a month,
but her spirit was too wild to be tanned,
and at present she is selling papers at
the Brooklyn Bridge entrance. Her
case is an extraordinary one, however,
for numbers Of little girls who have
been taken from the street have grown
up to responsibility when adopted into
comfortable homes.
Many of these children earn enough
to help out the domestic finances con-
siderably. One little girl ten years old,
who sells papers in Park row, told the
writer chat she made fifty cents some
days, and that she was enabled to pay
her own tuition at q parish school, be-
sides helping her mother. She is one
OF eight small children of a bricklayer
who lives in a tenement house in Oak
street, and she reads and writes re-
markably well. But it is hard life
the little ones lead, and he who needs
the timid appeal: ''Please buy a
paper" may always feel that he has
not squandered his money, even if he |
should tell the small girl to keep the
change from his dime o. nickel.-N. |
S,y,,
Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1885-12-17
PUNGENT PARAGRAPHS.

Bronze is very fashionable hue
nowadays, but brass has not entirely
gone out.-Boston Budget.
The energy and perseverance ex-
hibited by a tramp in evading work
would make him rich in five years if his
toes We're turned the other way-PhI-
adelphia CAL.
"A Massachusetts gunsmith adver-
tises "a perfectly safe boys gun But
a perfectly safe boy is very unsafe when
he has Il gun.-Norristo,c Herald.
The man who mortgages his prop
erty, while the money lasts, lives on
the fat of the land, while the man who
loans the cash has to be content with
the lien.-LotoeH Citizen.
"A would-be wit once said. speak
ing of the fair sex: ..Ahi it's woman's
mission to make fools of men, land
how veyed we are" said frightened
lady present, ''to find that Nature has
so often forestalled us. ~. Y. Ledger.
There are said to be twenty-five
different causes for headache, which,
strangely enough. is about the number
of popular alcoholic beverages. But,
of course there is no connection
Merchant Trareler.
"A California blacksmith is danger
ously i'll with CHAMBERS, contracted
while shoeing Il horse. And a Penn
sylvania woman is suffering from Il
sprained ankle, contracted while
'.shooing' hen. There seems to be
fatality about this shoeing business.
-Norrtstown Herald.
"A man who has kept account of
the number of kisses exchanged with
his wife since their union consents to
Its publication, as follows: First year.
$4,000; second year 5000; third wear,
$3.50; fourth year, 800; fifth year. 2.
He then left off keeping the record
Fort Worth f7er.J Gogette.
A New Yorker said to gentleman
from the Lone Star State: Il am
thinking of spending the winter in the
South. Is Texas a healthy place.? Is
the air gOodoh "Well. Should smile.
You will get to be one hundred years
old in almost no time down there in
that climate. We have the most WON
derful climate in the world. ''-Teras
Sitiings.
Mother, said young wife.
''would you mind cooking the dinner
to-day? 1t would please John, 1 know.
He complains SO much OF the new girl
that l shall discharge her the moment
l can get another" Certainly" re-
piled the old lady, cordially. At din
ner John SAID to his wife: ..Mary.
that new girl seems to be gettin' worse
and worse. "-Cook's Journal.
An old bachelor was rather taken
aback day or two since as follows.
Picking up a book, ne exclaimed. upon
seeing woodcut representing a man
kneeling at the feet of woman: ..Be-
Tore l would ever kneel to a woman.
would encircle my neck with a rome
sad stretch it." And then turning to
3 Young lady. he inquired; ..Do Won
not think it would be the best thing
could do?" ut would undoubtedly be
ne best for the woman was the .ar-
'astic repiy.-Bosscn Bulletin
Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1885-12-17
SCHOOL AND CHURCH.

The Fourth Presbyterian Church,
New York, has had but seven pastors
in one hundred years.
Seven female ministers were men,
bers of the general convention of the
Universalist Church in Brooklyn re-
Gently.
Evangelist Moody says that church
fairs are an abomination. He would
rather worship in q barn than a church
built by such methods.
Many kindergarten teachers agree
that the first choice among colors Of all
children under seven years of age is
yellow. This admits Of few exceptions.
~ =. Sun.
Miss Catherine L. Wofe's latest
gift to the Protestant Episcopal Church
is $75, 900 for the erection OF a clergy.
house on the ground of the General
Theological Seminary in New York.
The Boston Young Mems Christian
Association has over seven hundred
young men enrolled in its eighteen
evening educational classes. Few coli
leges have larger number of students
than that.
There is talk of establishing dairy
schools in some part of New York to
teach dairymaids and others how to
make butter and cheese. They are to
be modelled after those in England and
Ireland.-Troy Times.
An arrangement has been made in
Worcester, Mass, whereby the books
in the public library are placed at the
disposal of school children during the
regular school hours and are freely
loaned to teachers and scholars in con.
nection with their studies.
An eminent clergyman was asked
for series of brief papers ION what
he knew about preaching" He replied:
1.-The papers required will be very brief
and very few. but if you should ask me
to tell you what l don't know about
preaching, l would reply, life is too
short. Chicago Inter Ocean.
The professorship of biology held
by Professor Huntley in the School OF
Science in South Kensington, London,
has been abolished since he resigned.
The salary was $4,000 year. and the
chair was considered lone of the few
prizes open to biologists" so that its
abolition finds little favor among men
of science.
The Baptist Weekly says: .'As a
mercenary measure, designed to tighten
the burden of church building, memo
rial windows are becoming somewhat
popular; but the object is often too APP
parent, and these transparencies are
found to be suggestive of economical
management rather than of hallowed
memories of departed WORTH
The annual '.hon'' sermon was re-
Gently preached in London. The origin
of this service dates back some two and
a half centuries ago, when. according
to tradition, Sir John Gayer, who was
at one time Lord Mayor of London.
left sum of money for the purpose of
concentrating his remarkable escape
from death while journeying in Arabia.
"A recent address by Mr. Moody to
the students of Mortified, Mass, con-
sisted of these two words: ..Consecrate
and Concentrate" and he added motto
that he saw in England:
do all the good you can.
To all the people yOn can,
In all the ways you can,
As long as ever you can"
Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1885-12-17
KANSAS
GRANDMA.

Before my mind there comes tonight
My dear old Grandma's face:
see her sitting by the fire.
In her old accustomed place.
see those dark and lovely eyes
Look full into my own.
see her smile. and hear her voice
In soft and tender tone.
She lays her aged hand in mine,
And speaks of days gone by.
She tells me of her many friends,
While tear-drOps dim each eye.
She speaks in tender. loving tones
OF those whom we call dead
Recounts their many acts of love-
and kindly words they said.
She tells me of the. living ones
Who're scattered far and wide,
And grieycs because they can not meet
Around the home hreSide.
She tells me of her dear old home
Fer Death had entered there:
OF youthful days, when hope was strong,
And life seemed bright and fair.
She speaks of many sorrows borne,
OF trials hard to bear;
OF failing health and Bonded form,
OF years of pain and care.
And now, in half impatient tones,
She says '.She wonders why,
When folks have past their usefulness,
They're not allowed to die"
No one hes past life's usefulness
! While love beams from the eyes,
While pleasant smiles and cheering words
Bring Heaven to Earth so nigh.
There's nothing else in all the world
Can thrill my being
As happy smiles and love-lit eyes
And tones so soft and low.
As ], in fancy. gaze upon
NV dear old Grandmas face,
think: .Who else i'll all the world
Could really fill her place"
More than fourscorc weary years
Have weighed her down with care:
Have made her steps so slow and weak,
And bleached her lovely hair.
Iknow full well that soon they'll say:
Your Grandmas laid to rest.
The tired hands will folded lie
On u cold and pulseleSs breast"
But Grandma ne er can die ITO mel.
For mcmorys magic power
Will c'er surround me with her love,
Nike fragrance from q flower.
~ childhoods hour she tended me,
In sickness bathed my brow;
With mild reproof she taught me right:
Can forget her now:
lCan forget those handsome eyes,
So filled with loves own light;
Or the gentle voice and loving words,
When made my childhood bright!
Earth may claim the feeble form,
Bur Grandma 5 lovely face
In the sacred halls of memory
Shall naVe an honorcd piicc.
Mrs. H. +. iidrr isOn. an Chicago Herald
Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1885-12-17

Baked Bread Pudding: Soak pieces
of dry bread in milk; when soft mash
them. and add four eggs. butter, sugar
and spice, cinnamon or nutmeg, and
rasins if preferred. Bake one hour and
a half.-THe Cook.
Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1885-12-17
-Ourself and wife were nleassd

-Ourself and wife were pleased t.
meet and form the acquaintance of Mr.,
and Mrs. Walter E. Cansdell. of Cam
eron. on our way to st. Joseph last
Thursday night. Mr. CHS the brilliant
editor of the Princeton Telegraph. Mrs.
Cansdell and Mrs Bear enjoyed them
selves hugely together, while their old
men were out with the remainder OF
the boys imparting crimson glow to
the town of old st. Joseph.
(No.) Times.
Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1885-12-17

"A disappointed man is Thomas A.
Edison's father, who says he didn't
think his boy amounted to much when
he left home to sell newspapers on the
cars.-PhladeLpaia Press.
Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1885-12-17

--Toads in hot-bed or greenhouse
destroy. it is said, many harmful in.
sects.
Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1885-10-22
The Millionaire Mackays,

The superiority of the aristocracy Of
wealth over the aristocracy Of birth was
never better illustrated than in the case
of the Mackays, writes the Washington
correspondent Of the Cleveland Leader.
Mrs. Mackay's fathers name was Hunger
ford, and years ago he played the part of
a BARRIERS apprenticein the little town OF
Waterford, N. Y, and John w. Mackay
himself was, in about 1s45, saloon
keeper in Louisville, his bar being a
counter Of pine boards and his liquors
drank out of glasses as thick as chem
lists mortar. He went to California at
the time Of the gold fever, and by hard
work and sharp bargaining made himself
one of the richest of the gold million
aires. Now his wife has for years been
one Of the most noted characters and
most feted of all the Americans abroad,
and his stepdanghter has been married
to one Of the noblest princes Of Italy.
Mrs. John M. Mackay is said to be a
woman Of great good sense and some
accomplishments, allied to form and
face by no means bad looking. Her
father had risen to the title of major
in New Orleans before she was first mar
ried. Her first husband was doctor by
the name Of Bryant, and I have heard
somewhere that he was rather dissipated
At any rate he moved with his wife to
Nevada City, and there died, leaving his
wife and the little girl, who has lately
married the prince, in very poor circum,
stances. Mackay, it is said, heard of
her case, and raised subscription among
his feIlow-miners to help her along. In
rendering the money to her he met her,
and his friendship soon ripened into love.
He was growing rich when be married
her, and since then his ventures have
prospered right along. He is now said
to be worth fifty millions, and be spends
his income as freely as any millionaire Of
the land.