davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1885-11-20
A Bird Study.
From the Atlantic Monthly.

T. rom the AtlanClc monthly.
The mocking-bird's emotions were
SO intense and SO originally displayed
that he was B. constant source OF in
terest. A hand glass lying face up
gave opportunity for an annxsing ex-
hibition one day. Leaning over 1t, he
pulled out every feather, opened his
mouth, and tried the glass with his
beak at every point. Meeting no sat
isfaction, he turned to leave it, but
first peeped slyly over She edge to see
it the stranger were still there, no
doubt unable to get over his surprise
at seeing q bird in that position and
ready to meet his bill at every point.
The same glass standing up brought
out different demonstration. He
stood in front of it and swelled
himself out, while the feath-
ers of the shoulders and breast
were erected. Then he opened his
mouth wide and attacked the
reflection, but was astonished to meet
the glass. He touched the bill of his
double with his own, and moved all
the way to the bottom OF the glass,
not takingit away, but apparently try
ing to seize the one which opposed his.
He lowered his head as though to take
hold OF the eremy's foot, then pulled
Himself up as straight as soldier,
wings and tail constantly Jerking with
excitement. After indulging for some
time in these proceedings, he lodged
around behind the glass, plainly ex-
pecting to pounce upon his opponent,
and surprised not to do so. Several
times he drew himself up, swelled out
his breast, and clustered before the
glass. Once he flew up with the retlec-
tion in the manner Of quarrelsome
cock, and upon reaching che top OF
the glass naturally went over and
landed behind, without an enemy in
sight. Upon this he stared q moment,
as if dazed, then shook himself out
and few away in evident disgust.
The deliberate, leisurely dressing
of plumage with which many birds pass
away the dull hours is an &C.
cupation in which the mock
ing-bird never had time to indulge.
He was a bird OF affHirs; he had too
much on his mind for lettering. Anew
sudden, thourough shakes, q rapid
snatching of the wing and tail feathers
through the beak, or, after O. bath, a
violent beating the air with both
wings while holding tightly to the perch
with his feet, suaiced for his toilet. Not
withstanding his apparent careless
ness, his plumage was soft and exquis-
tie in texture, and when wet the downy
breast feathers matted together and
hung in locks, like hair. Through a
common magnifying-glass each tiny
barbule was seen to be ringed with
gray and silvery white, so finely that
the rings could hardly be seen.
Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1885-11-20

brokfeYa nacg M Il, = 4; u, ! I I, IA 81
ana then m T.ai IN !, -,
slistd assl sa -. ~ ~.
f;dnt l.nr,p u 81
dad Vhan ., !, J.. J, 4; 95 'i1tsls' ne Waas
Aha,,t i raa s., ) s., 81, 4 !, &,
replied ~ ]. = .i's
An ravar hae u y B, 8; i, {,
ur,,, sau Taff "a &C.. ] ~ s ssla
M - ~. os Is = iieW
up raa;c a., i II /, ], IS
lieioaa n,eet;nna md ~ fart ~ e'I ~ -
.lieve he's uits ! sh;n;n, IT, ~ -.
sa,,;lS 4, ~ s''lioiis
ssAh he,1IN raad Is !, i, J, s .,,,,, B. a
fear thn,,ch +l,ar.,,s 49,, go
GOOD "a him Ha waa az. a,va,rs 'o = l had
lot. hlt nv har lnyad ~, 5b q ~
lis an. Wen nv time i ,att;na II "rt
and il VOL, viii oct ma : "a wvar 2ers =
once, In settle ahnnt tha tr nc IaJ :.
the sooner tha lhattar thara,s ~ +;,,e.
- lose 81 For tba,rast = ,r;,I ~ s'n I,e
over, ~ shall M So ~ - W. 500 80
thnt T am certain AIN IA a. eann ~ wv ~ ~,
hear Of n Want 10, So - -, o.. as, wv ~
Taff and tell HIM Iii : ~ "a ~ $50 eu
tall h;r, tla+ w., haia ~ 49, ~
word that + = ~ t,.,,o'' ~ Taas'Sn
admits INV hov,s cla;no te Sn @', a1,on NC
him to take his nlaca w;tbn,,t . da,aw
Won have nv ordars - d;scIosa arary'
fhing--evervth;nri Rmt va, viii hayo
no tronble. and T sho,,ld Ill . TO ,;a IN
the Old chnrchvdrd al home beside nv
mother, Yon,lI do al his foS ny ny
Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1885-11-20
A Story OF Arthur Gilman.
from the Boston Evening Record,

From the Boston Evening Record.
: A number of architects were talking
the other day oftne peculiarities Of the
bright men OF the profession in Boston,
and they agreed that the late Arthur
Gilman, who designed the City Hall,
Arlington Street Church and Horticul-
tural Hall, took The palm for daslaing
selfconfidence. The way in which his
practical humor cropped out amid
seemingly adverse conditions was re-
called with two good stories. Though
he made good deal of money he
managed to spend good deal more,
and the result was that he applied on
a certain occasion to take the Door
debtors oath. To be able to take this
oath person has to satisfy the mag
istrate that he is not worth $50 in the
world outside certain exempted or.
ticles of property. The questions put
to Mr.. Gilman by the counsel for the
creditor elected the fact that he was
boarding at the fremont House, then
kept by that prince Of landlords, Pa
ran Stevens, at the rate of $40 a
week. 81. q. s435j s5ss #S
4 is not this q high price for man
who hasn't got $50 in the world?'',
asked the lawye The architect hest.
.tated about answering this trouble.
some question, but on being told by
the judge that he must reply to it, he
exclaimed: IS
les, Your honor, have often told
Mr.. Stevens that he was charging mea
great deal too much, and I wish your
honor would present the matter to
him IN this light g q. u
The GOODNESS 81 this speech convulsed
its hearers, and the Judge, who knew
Gilman well ia his social relations,
could not refrain from joining III the
merriment The Witty architect was
allowed to take the oatth 85.zs5!
Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1885-11-20
ssUnder the Weather., -

A St. Augustine correspondent Of
The Philadelphia Record, whether in
tentionally or not, gives what may
pass for sly thrust at the injustice
to the occupants of the soil who pre-
coded the present "owners" when he
says: "After the purchase of Florida
from Spain it took g. seven years war
with the Seminole Indians to procure
a quiet title and peaceable possession"
And he shows, further along, how the
invaders cannot conquer the climate
which he suggestively declares, "weak-
ems knee-joints and kills ambition"
It is not given to man to shape the
weather, but the weather does shape
the man. The invincible sunshine and
the warm compulsive rains soon have
their intiunce upon the going and COM
ing OF the swiftest goers and Corners.
It is not reasonable that g. person
who can pick his breakfast from an
orange-tree and gather dinner of bat-
nanas should develop the energy OF q
differently situated person who must
plant his potatoes. and hoe and dig
them before he can have the pleasure
of eating them. So the Northerner
who comes down here and builds him
a house the first month OF his stay,
and plants his grove the next gradu-
ally finds himself falling into slipshod
ways. His fences get to be disreputa-
BILE; his house is not fresh painted; his
walks are neglected; his garden goes TO
weeds; and he and his wife and his
children settle into the easy untidiness
which BELTS the. latitude. 1t is the
latitude which governs If the May
flower had landed at st. Augustine
instead of Plymouth Rock, possibly
the Seninoles would have been sooner
exterminated; but the Yankee devel-
oped on the meagre and stony soil of
New England would have been q non.
existent parsonage. He could never
have been brought forth in an orange
grove nor fed on sweet potatoes. His
mental, moral and physical fibre ac-.
quired their accidental tollghness in
the hard schooIo necessity. !"
Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1885-11-20

Ten physicians, who have had an ]
opportunity for personal observation
report diyersely as to the deadliness
of leprosy. Four feel certain that it \
is absolutely incurable. three are in
doubt, and three believe that chaul.
moogra oil may prove 9 specific, as 7
they have seen remarkable results
from its use. B. .55 ;s5
Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1885-11-20

The largest profit b q German rail-
road in 1854 Was 8. SO per cent. Four
other roads earned over 9 per cent.
Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1885-11-20

! striking" So.
General Hazen gives chapter to the
lessons Of the war. The Importance
of defensive works for infantry was
| understood long before the civil war
ended. AT Chickamauga the work of
logs begun after daylight ON the sec.
| ond day sufficed 20 defeat Polk s corps
! with comparatively little loss on the
Union side. Security of person gives
the soldiers composure and delibera-
ton. He aims carefully, and fires at
| his mark; while without cover he is
! excited, seldom aims at all, and often
fires high in the air" The increased
range of rifles adds to the Importance
OF the protection. In offering troops
the Government must have q con-.
slant regard for capacity. Merito-
! rious conduct in battle should over.
ride seniority in rank or any other
consideration. General Hazen's con-
victions on this subject are thus ex-
pressed: ITO be q good officer, one
must first be q good man; and the
same qualities that fit one for other:
lvocatlons, such as intelligence, culture,
mathematical training. and an ac-5
qua1ntance with affairs make the
good officer. The. old militia OF
parade officers, soldiers OF the Mexi-
can war and show brigadiers SO much
sought for at first, were, as a rule,
utter failures, while the young men Of
mark in all depart ments of civil life
nearly always succeeded as officers.
Men accustomed 70 the exactness Of
the connting.r DOM, and. used to deal
ing with men ii large concerns, like
railroads, rolling mills and lnanufact-
cries, could be counted on with most;
certainty In short, the good, efficient
man made q valuable md successful
officer When officers are at last OBJ.
Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1885-11-20

teAAu ~ LOlu lllHl-UNey re III CuAC DOX
now. I shouldn't have spoken-what
would have been the good?' It would
have broken my fathers heart, and
furnished our old name; and the girl
was dead, >had been lying dead among
the sedge and bulrushes for hours be-
fore we found her. All the ruin that
could come upon the Mannersleigh
family would not bring her back again,
so determined to keep silence, simply
because could not see the good Of
speaking. ~. tssa. -.>5.~>..'. 9 N
II had been all that day sitting
with my lord, but happened to be
the first to find the poor girl, lying
face downSin the water, and as / turned
her over / tore open the bosom Of her
gown, in doing it, when there fell out
a letter in Taff's handwriting, asking
her to meet him in that place at a in
the afternoon. I conceale d it instinct
lively, aud seeinpher hand clinched up
on something, forced it open and
took from It q locket which 1e
had worn on his watch chain at
luncheon knew ii, because we had
all noticed it. There WAS q bit OF
broken chain attae hed to it, evidently
where she had clutched at it in the
last agony Of her struggle with him.
|I showed the letter and the 3locket to
him that very night, and then, owing
TO the gossip OF ore Of OF the servants
who had seen me take the Iocket, or,
rather, had seen me take something
out Ct her hand, / was put up on the
trial IS first witness. As soon as i
saw il the report that it was known I
had the locket, ! made up my mind
to clear out OF the way at once, tor,
though ! could keep silence. could
not give false evidence could easier
bear rum and social extinction for
myself than I could break my fat TIERS
heart By putting q rope round my
Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1885-11-20

!IAAAO oAO AiSiA0AVo Va VAo pttSL--AllCA-
dents which he most likely needed no
stimulus to remember, and which
would now be crowding back, upon
him, as the past does when we have
nearly done with the present. :
So she went up the creaking little
stairs with the baby in her arms, leav-
ing Lord Archie standing in the midst
OF the group of aw-stricken and be-
wildered youngsters. bespoke to one
or two of them, the eldest boy amongst
them, and found that Marcus Oxford 8
little :anecdote had been liberally
doctored in the matter Of pronuncia-
ton and accent, and that he in COM
mon with all others, spoke very well
indeed, and il not quite up to his own
standard, still very much above the
average Of q better class Of children
than those living in that part Of War
,necliffe. h 4 s.. SID. 4:
I And then Mrs. Arnitt appeared
again, and said the sick man was very
anxious to see his lordship il he would
go up. So Lord Archie went up
alone. III 81 81 5g II
It was q poor little room in which
he found himself when he reached the
top OF the creaking stairway, but it
was clean and orderly. The quilt mp
on the bed was white, il coarse, and
there was q pleasant faced middle
aged nurse in . white cap sitting be-
side the patient who rose and made
her obedience when he entered under
the low doorway. Arnitt made q sign
to her TO leave them, and Lord Archie
advanced 10 the hide 81 the bed.
ny, Arnitt' he said, m very
sorry TO find you % iii; what ever
have you been doing to get ike this?''
~ We about come to the end 81
the journey said the sick man IN 4
painful undertone scarcely more than
q whisper. Is
San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1885-09-03
poriraIi nf Mrs. Sam Hou.ton.


Dixons "Poots and Poetry OF Tx
n" is being issued by Swindell' OF
Austin. 1t is sold exclusively by
subscription. 1t will DO ready Ion
delivery in October.
II has one most commendable fea-
ture-we mean not merely a bio
graphical sketch and specimens OF
her poetic efforts, but a portrait oil
the second wife OF Gen. Sam Hous'
ton. Considering her personal merits
and how much she did towards re-
deeming her husband from evil
courses, ma king his domestic life a
happy one, and establishing his fame
on high and honorable basis, 1t is
10 us most amazing that her portrait
has never appeared in connection
with any life OF Houston. Tho fact
is every way discreditable to his bi'
ographers. Her portrait represents
a noble and propossessing face, beft-
ting ono 30 good and true.
San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1885-09-03

Since writing our article of Friday. re.
specting the appropriation of smile used
by us dozen years ago, hkening the birth
of tn San Marcos river to Minerva springing
armed cap-a pie from the head of Jupiter,
or the natural adoption of the smile by 9th.
ers, we are informed that the one who wrote
to the Times-D Democrat, of New Orleans, is
a well-known and gifted literary lady OF
our town. OF course, If we had known
this no such reference would have been
made to that letter, though our article, as
may be seen, was more playful than serious.
In sooth, il was not at all remarkable
that the old Greek fable, with which every
school-boy and girl is presumed to be famil-
lar, should have been suggested to many by
the scene, but we thought We were warranted
in twitting certain sophomorcal literary
pretenders with the fact that we had about
dozen years the start of them in this very
striking application of the simile.
San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1885-09-03
Caldwell County.

The assessor OF Caldwell county
communicates the following interest
points to the Lockhart Register:
"Ed. Register-The assessed value
of property real and personalin Cald-
well county for 1885 is S3,357,106
which is Sl91,915 less than the as
sessment of 1884. The greatest loss
is in the value of cattle, merchandise
and money on hand. The value of
cattle is less $4,000, mdse., $50, 900,
and money S14600. The total tax,
state, school, and county is S2G,966,
and for 1884 it was S27,174 The
rate of taxes for 1885 is CT IL cents
on the 800, rs cents being the state
advalorem, 12t the school and 30 cts.
the county tax The rate for 1884
was G5 cents on the 800. Therear
2422 polls this year and there were
2310 last year.
For the benefit of the readers OF
your paper 1 will also give the taxa.
bic wealth of the colored people OF
the county. They pay taxes on 49,
281 acres of land, valued ut S98,965,
on town lots and blocks worth
S4,O4O and on personal property
worth $55,453, making a total value
of S158,453.
Very respectfully yours,
j. N. L. McCURDY,
Tax Assessor of Caldwell Co.
San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1885-09-03
Stealing Our Thunder,

Soon after our arrival in this place,
in the summer of 1873, we wrote a
letter back to q Richmond Qnd.) news
paper, descriptive of our river springs,
etc, in which occurred the following
passage:
"The San Marcos river is q great
natural wonder, well worth going a
long distance to see. About a half
mile above the town it surges up from
the rocky base of the mountains, d
full-born river, as Minerva sprang,
armed cap-a-pie, from the head OF Ju-
piter, in classic fable.
A portion of the article was repro
duced in our Extra on Hays county
ETC., which we notice has been pirated
in different ways by various penny-a-
liners. Partic ularly has this been the
case with respect to the comparison
above respecting Minerva, etc. The
compiler of a write-up of this region
for the St. Louis Republican last sum
mer, adopted it, and in the last Ores
set are two articles which do the same,
one by w. Goodrich Jones, copied
from the New York Observer, the
other letter purporting to be from
this place to the New Orleans Times,
Democrat. This is not the first time
our enterprising Young friend Jones
has thus honored us.
II is to be said in favor of the writ
ers referred to, that our article having
appeared anonymously, Intentional
"cabbaging" on their part may not
be presumed. But upon the whole
we thought it best to assert our right
in time, lest at some future day there
might spring up question OF author
ship rivaiing that which prevails as to
beautiful Snow etc.
San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1885-09-03
Marti ndale.
MART1NDALE, Tex, Aug. 20, '85


ED. FREE PREss:-As have seen nothing
from our village in your valuable paper for
sometime, thought would send you n
few notes.
Our farmers are getting out their cotton
rapidly and hauling it to the gins rs fast as
they can, and rushing it on the market as
quick as it gets into the bale. So, not
withstanding the drought has cut the cot
ton crop somewhat short, the farmers,
merchants, ginners and all are happy. The
piokers are less happysthan the rest because
they only get tifry cents per hundred and
board themselves, which is really right hard
on them.
The Baptists commenced q prolracted
meeting here to-day. The Christians close d
one Wednesday night; the preaching was
done by Mr.. Houchins, assisted by Mr.
Pritchet. Our whole community WAS i'm
pressed with his earnest manner of present
ing what he believed to be the truth. By
the-way, your Staples Store correspondent
ought to have been out to hear him, es-
pecialy when he preached on the name he
believes all Christians ought to wear, ''the
name of Christi, Let us have more respect
for 30 respectable body of Christians than
to call them by nickname they disclaim
and will not wear.
We are needing rain badly; the dust, oh,
the dust
More anon. JUSTICE.
San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1885-09-03
TO ADVERTISERS.

The FREE PRrss In leading local news
paper, the best Advertising medium'and mas
the best printing Office between Austin and
San Antonio. IL circuiates considerably
North as well as South a 1--we paper 40
voted to the development and progress Oh
the country. Jehersonian Democrauc IN
politics. San Marcos, the county seat ~ a
growing town OF some zooo ihhao''nh's-
II is situated on the International ana GREAT
Northern Railroad, running from 81. LOUIS
via. Austin, the capital OF the sua.e' anu
San Antonio, her largest CITY, into Mexico.
San Marcos Is thirty miles from AuS''n anu
fifty niles from ban Antonio Hn ho'oa
for its religious and educanohai prNnegoS,
San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1885-09-03
THANKS, AND A REQUEST.

Although q large number OF our
subscribers are behind, more or less,
with their subscriptions; yet, owing
to the stringency of money matters,
we have not, as our readers know, for
many months sent them any bills or
reminders OF indebtedness. That q
financial improvement is ut hand, we
have had cheering evidences within a
short time, in the voluntary calls OF
subscribers to settle their dues, for
which we hereby tender them hearty
thanks; and now venture to suggest
to all others who owe this office on
any account, to come forward, as they
may find it convenient, and do like
wise. We assure one and all that We
need all that is due us.
We will take this occasion to re-
peat, what we have thoughts and said be-
fore, that we do not believe any paper
ever had o more solid and reliable
class of patrons than the FREE Press
All that we desire in this connection
is, a good many "more of the same
sort"
San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1885-09-03
Agents MAnted.

We want a good active agent for
The weekly FREE PRESS at every post
office in the county, to solicit sub
scriptions for il. We also solicit the
kindly aid OF volunteer agents in ey-
ery neighborhood. We also desire
to engage the services of one or more
travelling agents. A fair compensa-
ton will be paid in all cases.
The prospects Of better times are
favorable TO success in canyassing !or
fhs old FREE Pass. Apply at or ad
dress this Office
San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1885-09-03
DAILY Of Saturday.
anIAg
AIlInS


This is the last working day OF the
San Marcos Summer Institute. The
exercises on tomorrow will be as
heretofore, while Monday will merely
bo the day Of formal closing. With
tho record of to-day, therefore, the
publication OF the DAILY FREE Pass,
the main purpose Of which was to
keep pace with the Institute asa par
tial record of its work, will cease.
We we're lod TO undertake the pub
lication mainly 10 aid commendable
movement in its inceptioni also, in a
less degree, TO keep pace with pro
gress and enterprise in this locality
In these respects only has it paid
Small as was the paper, its regular
appearance involved good deal oil
extra work and worry; and having
before quite as much as we could
we'll do, it was almost the 'last
straw, celebrating our scanty rem
nant of leisure, preventing our at
tendance at the Institute save occa-
sionally at night, causing a suspen'
sion OF neighborly calls, and alto.
gether adding materially to the trib
ulations of the cheated term. But
besides aiding in q good cause, we
have gained some valuable expert,
ence, and upon the whole are quite
content with the outcome.
San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1885-09-03
Close of Our Summer Institute.

The last DAILY FREE Pass appeared on
Saturday and gave the record of the lnsti-
tute to that evening; we will now mention the
subsequent proceedings down to the close.
Saturday night Mr.. DuBose delivered a
lecture, entitled, "Forecasting," anticipat-
ing the future of the Institute.
On Sunday morning he preached an in
teresting sermon from the text: Eye are
bought with price" At the close, two
additional memberships were taken, and
collection made. There was a large atten-
dance, and the interest remained undimin-
ished.
Rev. Mr.. Arnold addressed the children
at A o'clock p. m, and also preached Of
night. We learn his efforts were quite
creditable.
Monday morning Mr.. DuBose
..Folded his tent, like the Arabs.
And silently stole AWAY"
glad, doubtless, to be permitted to return
home.
We are informed the grounds will now be
closed to all public gatherings until tho next
session, but visitors will be allowed on the
payment of an admission fee of five cents
each. As soon as sufficient means are
raised, a tabernacle will be built on the Hill
and other improvements made.
The next session will begin in July, 1886
and continue two months, of which the
first is expected to do the work of
teachers institute.