davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-05-17

should have lifted every man a foot
high, but no one moved. When he ad-
vanced to the bar and asked for glass
Of double-and-twisted death ut forty
rods, his voice and manner should
have driven the bartender down
through the floor, but he didn't sink
an inch.
This Is my day for gore!". beloved
the stranger as he held up the glass
and surveyed the audience.
Nobody seemed to care.
"Who put Tiger Jack under the
sodp" he demanded in an awful voice.
Nobody answered.
"Who run Bloody Pete out OF Dead
woodl Who made Awful Smith take
water at DenverP"
One man said something about the
weather, but no one minded the in
quiry. ... ..
"And I've come down from tho
mountains to get a dozen scalp-locks
for new table-clothP' howied the
stranger" I want q dozen .levcn
wouldn't do me! Whoop! Whoopee!"
At this point one Of the men who
had been trying to catch . nap got up
and walked over to the stranger and
took him by the ear and led him to the
door and gave him lit. As he re-
turned to his chair one Of the crowd in
CURED:
"Who was hep"
dunno, but he made me tired"
was the reply. and the entire affair
dropped without another word
Goodbye, Catamount Sam, Panther
Jack and Buckskin Bill! You've had
your day. It's no use ringing up the
curtain on empty benches. s.-Detroit
Free Press.
Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-05-17
The Presidents Private once.

It's large room and the president
sits at the back of it before the win
dows, behind a flat mahogany desk. A
tall, fine-looking, well-dressed man,
with hair that is fast turning grew. he
rises and shakes our hands. He mo-
tions us to seats, and we are at once in
the midst Of business. As this goes on
I think of the history that has been en-,
acted in this room. see the various
cabinet meetings from the day of Ad-
ans to that of Arthur, and wish the
walls were monographs and could
give up the history they have seen. In
this room Andrew Jackson fought the
battles of Peggy Eaton, here Martin
Van Buren, laid his fox-like plans, and
here John Tyler fought for his rights
all along through his stormy admins
tration. Here it was that Daniel
Webster laid down his policy as Secre-
tary of State, and here the bony Cal
houn stormed and Henry CLAW conn.
Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-05-17

vailing dread Of fire which its imminent
risk creates--a dread deducting so
much from comfort and peace OF mind,
particularly among the people who
work or live In tall and unsafe build
ings.
All competent students of the sub
ject are agreed that this tax on life and
treasure Is largely avoidable-avoida-
BILE by care in construction and use of
buildings, and attention to tried and
proved means of extinguishing fire.
The fire-tax is the onerous one paid by
the nation, and il was but natural that
the first scientific attempt to reduce it
should have been made by a class of
capitalists upon whom the cost of in
surance was most oppressive.
The textile manufacturers Of New
England have shown how best the risks,
losses, and expenses of fire can be re-
duced to minimum. In 1885, when
Hon. Zachariah Allen, of Providence,
establis cd mutual insurance among
the mills of Rhode Island, the rates
charged by stock companies varied
from l ! to y per cent. Even at these
high figures the business was unprofita-
BILE, and the placing of risks often
matter of difficulty. Within the fifty
years since 1885, the cost of insurance
to the factories Of New England has
been reduced to two-sevenths of one
per cent This, too, while the ordinary
rate of insurance throughout the United
States is nearly one per cent on prop
erty considered to be on an average
less hazardous in character. I will
endeavor to state how this result has
been brought about. George lies,
in Popular Science Monthly for Apra.
Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-05-17
The Fire Test.

Last year was not extraordinary In
its fire record. 1t bore no such calam-
ity in its course as 1871 or 1873, when
the nation was called to mourn for
Chicago or Boston. Yet there is good
reason to believe that during 1884 fires
cost the United States $l6O, 900, 600.
This enormous SUN includes estimates
of the amounts paid by insurance COM
panies for losses and expenses; of the
losses for which there was no insur-
ance; and of the outlay in maintaining
fire departments in towns and cities.
The devastation by fire during the past
year equaled in value the insurable
property in, say, so large and wealthy
a city as Buffalo. Still more woful
than the destruction of property by
fire were the suilerings of thousands
by bodily injuries, and the losses Of
hundreds of human lives. OF minor
but considerable importance is the pre-
Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-05-17

"You seem to have good stock of
bananas on hand" remarked Chroni-
Gle reporter the other day to down.
town merchant, as one of his porters
passed, carrying bunch which would
have shamed the grape clusters of Ca
naan.
"Yes, we have. The demand for the
banana is pretty large. This house
and another one take half ship-load
twice month"
''How many, then, come into town
during month";"
"You may safely say that San Fran
cisco receives from Honolulu at least
10000 bananas month, there being
49O, 600 every two weeks, of which We
take 225, ,OOO."
"What is the average number of ba-
nanas to bunchp'
'They run from 100 to 125 to a
bunch, and each ship brings from the
island about 5000 bunches-a pretty
good consignment, isn't itp just look
at this bunch. There is not a speckled
fruit in the whole lot, and there are at
least 200 there Oh, we sell that
bunch at $4-wholesale price. The
retailer only makes slight profit on
Ihio IL uit- ~ 10 HuIuly "oilu taihiuS
bout. He will take that bunch and
sell the bananas at the rate of three for
dime. Thus upon the purchase he
will clear $2 60. OF course there are
other banana lunches which we sell
cheaper, but you need not imagine that
the man who is keeping store is max
ing fortune out of this speculation"
"How long does it take before you
sell out 225, ,000p"
almost Immediately. Every one of
those punches has already been sold.
Perhaps three days after the arrival of
a ship-load we will not have single
banana in the warehouse. San Fran
cisco Chronicle.
Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-05-17

Let us inquire how far Cuvier's
statement that "evcrywhere Aristotle
observes facts with attention" is true.
In describing the elephant, Aristotle
tells many things correctly, but some
very incorrectly, SO that it is a question
whether he ever saw this animal in his
life. He ailirms that it has no nails on
its toes, though he correctly refers to
the toes, which are scarcely distin-
guished. The nails of the elephant are
one of the 'points' which the natives
of India always regarded as marks of
well-bred animal, and are usually con.
spicuous. Let us take another point,
the 'gray-headed error" that the ele-
phant has no joints. Aristotle says,
"The elephant is not so constructed as
to be unable to sit down and bend his
legs, as some persons have said, but
from his great weight he is unable to
Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-05-17
The Boom of the Banjo.
"There is a noticeable boom in b,

"There is a noticeable boom in ban
JOS, which believe is going to assume
large proportions. The real value Of
the banjo.is not yet widely known, and
cannot be discovered from its use on
the stage. Its finest effects are not
seen there, even in the hands of the
most artistic players. The public
needs to be educated to its superb range
Of tone, and to that end / am intro
ducing musical novelty in the shape
of a banjo orchestra. No other orches-
ira of the kind, l believe, exists any.
where, and the audiences we appeared
before were delighted with the musical
effect We have twelve banjos, which
range in size FROM the small piccolo
banjo to the big professional instru-
ment. Prof Thomas j. armstrong,
PHILADELPHIA.
Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-05-17
Longevity OF Actors.

A certain eminent divine of this city
preached scathing sermon not long
since against the theater. In his
discourse he mathematical not only
the stage, but those who labored there
on. He contradicted the longevity Of
theatrical people,; not only Of those
who were on the stage, but those who
were off it. By citing numerous in
stances he endeavored to show that
this class of persons died at an early
age, generally victims to their own
folly. Statistics, however, contradict
this popular belief.
Longevity among actors and actress
es. opera singers, dancers, and drama
tic writers, it appears, comparing them
with other professions. calling for life
of slavish intellectual toll, is at . prem
ium, and so far as children are con-
cerned there cannot be found case on
record where child has sickened and
died of stage labor.
Referring to reliable statistics found
at the Astor library the other day, q
reporter Of the Mail and Erpress found
that tho average life OF actors and
actresscs-i. g., those who attain any
prominence-is rather above than be-
low IS years. Macready, the trage-
dian, lived to see 30. Roger Kemble
was active at 81. Mrs. Robertson, the
mother of Tim Robertson, the
author-actor, and Madge Robertson
Mrs. Kendall-died at the good old age
of 81. Charles Kemble. son Of Roger
Kemble and father of Fanny Kemble.
fought the world at the age of 70,
while John Philip Kemble. the Kemble,
lived to see &c. Kitty Give, Sweet
Kitty" attained the age of "a. Mrs
Davenport added to her lifetime ten
years to the allotted three score and
ten. -f'-
Charles Mackln. the comedian, who
played Shylock as only q comedian
could play it. lived seven years over a
century. Mrs. David Garrick, the
danseuse, was within three Of the 100
mile post when she died. Miss Foote.
aftcrward Dowager countess of Har-
rington, enjoyed life for over 70 years.
Blackstone died at the good old age OF
78. and Charles James Mathews gave
up the fight at 70. Mrs. Charles Kcan
lived to be 70 and Fanny Kemble II.
Sarah Siddons died when rs, and the
grandmother of Lester Wallack lacked
but ten years Of a century at her death.
Henry Wallack, an uncle OF Lester,
lived to be 70, and Lester's father saw
73 summers Thomas King. the origi.
nal Sir Peter Peazle, was "a when he
d led. John Collins, the Irish como.
dian, saw three score and ten, and j.
II. Hackett was even more than this
John Brougham was laid away il
Greenwood at the age Of 70. Char
lot.e Cushman had passed her 7Ott
year, and Mrs. Pope was nigh on to 81
when she was called to her last &C
count. George Holland was buriet
from the Little Church Around thu
Corner at the age Of 70, and Mrs. Yer
non had passed her 10Th year when sh'
died. Of those who labOfed In the In
tercsts of the drama may DO note.
Colley Cibber. who diad at 81 Sbsri
Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-05-17

dan knowles, 10; Meyerbecr, ~; Kos-
siui, 10; Haydn, n; Handel, "a, and
Braham, ~. To this list Of venerables
will some day he added :. d. Chippen-
dale, Ben Webster, Barry Sullivan,
Mrs. John Drew, Mrs. Judah. Mrs.
Germon. and Mrs. Gilbert. who all
own to a long life. to say nothing of
John 4. Owens, q. w. Couldock,
Charles Thorne. Sr., James 4. Muir
dock, Dave Bidwell, John +. Ford,
and p. +. Barnum, all of whom aru
"getting on In years. IN. Y. Mail
and Erpress.
Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-05-17
Going Like the Indian.

He looked In at the door, saw six or
eight men around the stove. and then
he drew back to arrange his toilet. In
back Of his neck was bowie-knife. In
his eye the Lightning lurked, and
around his mouth was an expression to
freeze the blood. When he entered the
saloOn II WAS with war-whoOu which
Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-05-17

Dakota is no longer "tenderfoOt"
territory. The inhabitants are begin
ming to have "old settlers bunions-
reunions, we mean.'-Nil.0aukee We.
c0nsiis.
Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-01-17
GLOOMY PROSPECT.
Nicaragua Covered with Treaties.

Nicaragua Covered with Treaties
A Washington special says: 1t is ru-
mOred here that the reasons for refusing to
confirm the Nicaragua treaty are getting
more numerous than eyer. The BuIwer-
Clayton treaty is not the only obstacle.
Other unrepealed treaties are in exist
ence between Nicaragua and other ma
tiOns. Among them the following are
named:
4 treaty of friendship, commerce and
navigation between her Britannia Majesty
and the republic of Nicaragua, dated
Managua, Feb. IL, 1860. The perusal of
this treaty will show that should we
build our own canal, so called, we will
find England entitled to the same privi-
leges as those we are supposed to get by
the Nicaragua treaty. In Diplomatic
circles it is said that this treaty is still
IN existence. This may account for the
tenor of article Mn, in our Nicaragua
treaty. But il is also said that France
has treaty OF similar nature with Mica
ragua, dated April II, 1859, which also
still remains in force.
Besides these treaties in the way, it is
said that the American Atlantic and Pa
cific ship Canal Company claims to be
still in possession of the rights granted to
il by Nicaragua in its contract of Aug.
y. 1919, and amended by convention OF
June 10, 1857, and explanatory articles of
Oct. %, 1857. Although Nicaragua claims
TO have abolished the privileges of the
company by a decree signed by PatriciO
Rivas on Feb. Is, 1856, IL Will be seen that
the original contract OF 1919 was amended
in 1887. SOFT would seem that Nicaragua
considered this abTOgatiOn Of no effect.
Whatever other loose conventions, con-
cessiOns. OF contracts may yet be found
in existence. besides these treaties and
the concession for navigating the San
Juan river purchased by Mr.. Pellas, now
a strong advocate of the canal, time will
reveal.
Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-01-17
WARRING COMPANIES.
A Season of Low Transatlantic Pas
senger Rates at Hand.

A Season of Low Trans Atlantic Pas
senger Rates at Hand.
CHICAGO, Jan. 16.-A lively war in
passenger rates between the trans-AtIan-
tic steamship companies has been inaugu-
rated here, which promises to reduce
fares for ocean passage to a very low
figure. The immediate cause of the hos
tilities was the displacement by the
Hamburg-American Company of Charles
kosoninski ~ Co., their general Western
passenger agents, by the establishment
in Chicago of a branch office of the New
York passenger agents of the line. Will
liam Rene, managing director of the
company, at once transferred his interests
to Carrs Hamburg Line and Kosoninski
" Co. were made its general passenger
agents. The change has resulted in a
fight between the two lines, in which all
other Atlantic lines must become in
vOlyed.
KosOninski & Co. have started the ball
by issuing circular cutting the rate 81.
The packet company will meet this rate,
and as the Carr Line representatives have
instructions to drop 81 below its cOmpet-
ltor, there is no doubt that it will do so
at once. Other lines will necessarily be
drawn into the melee, and a season of
phenomerally cheap ocean travel seems
assured
Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-01-17
A RAILROAD ON THE CONGO.
The West African Conference Very Apt
to Adopt Gen. Sanford's Suggestion.

The West African Conference Very Ant
to Adopt Gen. SanfOrd's Suggestion.
LONDON, Jan. 16.-Earl Granville, the
English Secretary of State for Foreign
Affairs, has written a letter to the Old
ham Chamber Of Commerce in which he
says: England understands the Congo
declaration to mean that imports shall be
admitted into the Congo country free of
taxation for an indefinite period, unless
after twenty years the powers shall give
their unanimous sanction to revision of
this arrangement"
BERLIN, Jan. 16.-There is now a fair
prospect that the West African confer
ence will give its official approval to the
proposal advocated by Gen. Sandford of
building a narrow gauge railroad to con-
meet the upper and lower reaches of Con-
go river. Henry Nj. Stanley has made a
powerful speech before the special COM
mittee to which the railway project was
offered. His strongest argument was
that the railway would guarantee
the safe arrival of cOlonists at interior
States and he made the startling state
ment that 30 per cent. of the emigrants
who now go from Europe to settle in the
Congo country died of fever or exhaustion
in consequence of the hardships and pri-
vations encountered in the journey from
the coast to the settlements upon the
upper Congo.
In the conference to-day the proposal to
construct the railway from ViVi to
Stanley Pool was again actively discuss
ed. The prospect is that 1t will eventu-
ally be adopted. The opinion gains
ground that unless means of transpOrta-
tiOn to the interior of Africa are provided
the labors of the conference will be very
limited in practic results.
Henry NJ. Stanley cOnclusIYely proved
to the committee that the railway in ad-
dition to the enormous commercial ad-
Vantages it would afford would be a
means of insuring the safe arrival OF new
cOlOnists in the interior.
Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-01-17
FLORIDA.

DeLand has a literary club of thirty-sIx
members.
a school house has been commenced at
Green Cove.
\ Fort Myers squash measures over three
feet across It.
Several families have recently settled at
Greenwood and vicinity.
The hotel registers show large arrivals from
the East, West and North.
Less acreage has been prepared for planting
trees than usual 40 AltamOnte, owing TO the
scarcity OF money.
Lawrence &. johnson, OF the United states
survey. Is I'M Gainesville 20 examine the de-
posIts IN that section.
Cotton has about ceased coming in in Middle
Florida, and the merchants there are now
giving their attention to pinders.
AT Orlando. Wednesday. at a meeting of
the citizens and members Of the Bar. Judge
d. F. Hammond was declared their unani-
nous choice rs next Judge Of the Seventh
Circuit.
The rum0r as to the loss of the fishing smack
Challenge, OF Mobile, reported as being lost
ln the late storm. turns out to he a mistake.
The Challenge weathered the storm, and is
probably now safe in Mobile.
house in Apopka burned down last sat
urqay under suspicious circumstances. The
body OF the owner, a woman named DOnally.
Who had separated from her husband and
ruins The husband buried the remains with
out putting them in coffin, or even a box.
There Us "A suspicion of murder and arson.
a alrs. Wright living on Pine street. Jack
SonFiflc- claims that she was robbed Tuesday
afternoon OF SiU0 Uv two men whom she
SAYS, she noticed hanging around her house
yesterday On being notified, Marshal Nina
LauI arrested every suspicious character he
Coulu und in town and carried them before
her but she failed 20 recognize any of
Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-01-17
Marine HosDitaI SUrgeoDs

WASHINGTON, Jan. 15.-The following
changes in the stations of medical officers
of the Marine Hospital Service has been
ordered: Post Assistant Surgeon J. A..
Benson, relieved from Cairo, ILL.,, and or
dered to duty at Chicago; Post Assistant
Surgeon F. NJ. Urquhart. relieved from
duty at St. Louis and ordered to tempo
rary duty at Norfolk, Va; Assistant Sur
geOn S. ID. Brooks, relieved from duty at
New York city and ordered to duty at
Evansville, Ind, in charge OF the station;
Post Assistant Surgeon r. p. NJ. Ames.
relieved from duty at Evansville and or
dered to duty at New York.
A strong movement is being made to
secure appropriations to maintain an
organization of the National Board of
Health. Floyd King and other Southern
Congressman are interesting themselves
because it is feared that cholera NAV
threaten the country, and they think
better to preserve the board and ma
chinery. There will be no attempt to
change its existing relations with State
boards, but merely to keep the Organiza-
tiOn alive in view of possible emergency.
The idea is that cholera, which would
menace Northern as well as Southern
ports, can be best fought under a uniform
system and with national power behind it. .
There will be difficulty in bringing the
matter up, but its friends are working
hard and may succeed. The board has
been without an appropriation for year.
Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-01-17

without getting up he barely opened his ewes.
oat lheF were open wide enough to see a
ramp ln the room with the coat, vest and
pants OF the sleeper hanging on his arm. As
the tramp must pass the cot in order to get
out az the door Mr.. sutton did not stir but
very quietly observed the tramp take out the
Hlle 5ota " sttcil iro M the vest pocket and then
Iepl1clnE IL when he had noted the hour He
then pulled out the engineers money. and
alicE satisfying himself that he had made a
prontap'e haul, he put the money hack and
-taIlet 70 leave As he passed by, Mr. Sut-
t'h leapeG from the cot as nimbly as a eat
an4 iof oftnnately got good hold in the tramp's
t'.iaf- ne rascal dropped the clothing and
Lle0 llsengage himself from Mr.. SuttOn's
Tsp, 1-- IN this he failed. With a view 10
turning hlm over To an officer Mr.. sutton
pu7heh the tramp out into the street kicking
nun ~ every step. He was carried as far as
filn street, when he made q final and des-
lerale effort 10 free himself and was success
iu-, running down Fifth street into the dark
ness.
Augusta Chronicle: Thursday morning a
Voung man came into the store Of Mr. l.. Svl-
Nestci anu bought IS worth Of clothing In
payment he handed Mr.. Sylvester a $50 hin
winch seemed 10 DC badly worn and arrested
MI sylVester'5 attention. He referred to the
condition OF the bill, but the Young man said
he had nc other money. Mr. Svlvesfsr
whispered 70 one Of his clerks to keen his eve
on the man, and told him he would % across
the street ana get the bill changed. He went
10 the National Exchange Bank and handing
10 10 asher Collin said: "Captain tell me
what is the matter with ulis Old feIlsve''
Captn Collin ran it through his fingers and
hci'l IL up 70 the light, ana then said: ''Why
t Is $ bin changed TO a $50:
where did you get its' Mr.. Sylvester eN-
pialnei the circumstances and called police
man. WhOm he took back to the store with
him and directed 70 arrest the stranger. This
man CAV his name as William Beaufort and
says he comes from Beaufort county, 5. {.
Lieut. Iwiggs. " 10 has the $50 bill in his pos
session. says Mr.. Beaufort said he dId not re-
collect from whom he had gotten the bill. 1t
mas very thin, transparent parchment
pasted over Its face, and on this is traced each
Woru and letter and line on the original bill,
except that "a Is put beside the and me
word five Is changed to $50. The fraud is at
once apparent 10 an expert, but is an IN
geniOus piece Of work and calculated to de
celFe men OF ordinary observation. Mr.
sylvester sWOrc out warrant before United
states Commissioner Samuel Levy.