davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Indianapolis journal., 1885-01-24
Spiritualistic Tricks.


With regard to ghosts, nothing is more simple
than to deceive half-a-dozen credulous persons
by making them believe that they are in the
presence of spirits. 1t is the easiest of easy
tricks. 1t is done either by the medium person
ating the ghosts, or by means of a confederate.
The medium requests his dupes to sit in a circle,
and one grasps his right hand and another his
left The medium then writhes, and manages
to slip away leaving the two to hold each others
hands, which, during his cOntortions he has
brought together The rest of course, is not
difficult
The spirit hand trick is performed in this way
the medium puts hand made of stuffed glove
up his leg, and attached by an elastic string to
his waist When the dark seance commences
he gets the hand down to the end of his foot,
exteEds his foot to the opposite side of the table
at which he is sitting, and waves the stuffed
glove about. If a little phosphorus is rubbed
on it, the effect is better. When the perform
ance has been gone through, all that the medium
has to do is to let the hand spring back under
meath his trouser. The floating trick is per-
.sarmed by taking off the boots and putting the
hands in .hsm. The hands are then waved
above persons hea-., who grasps the boots and
feels the arms of the coat wnlc.. lie o~Ges LOT
legs. Ot course SO long as people are pre-, %xeu
to pay money for witnessing these tomfooleries,
kraves will be found to practice them.
The Indianapolis journal., 1885-01-24
Scourged Into Paradise.

Burdette, in Brooklyn Eagle
True, my son, do not like to drive man into
heaven by terror of hell fire. 1t is not manly
or dignifed way to come into heaven on run
aud jump, with face distorted by fright, like
a man banging into his house just ahead of
thunderstorm. But still, isn't it better to scare
him into heaven on the run, like a scared dog,
rather than leave him out altogether2 If man
can't be got to turn his face heavenward any
other way, say shake him over the pit till he
smells birthstone. am not so good man, my
boy, that am liable to be translated. My good
ness is not SO excessively great that it hurts me
to carry it round. Butt want to be better every
day. l want to 60 to heaven some day hope
l will And if some good, big souled. strong
lunged, loud singing old Baptist revivalist, like
Elder Swan-God bless him-or Knapp or Ray
mond, should get after me and chase me into
heaven with frebrand, after 1 got in l would
turn around and thank him and bless him for
thousand years All! my son, after we get to
heaven thousands and millions of us will show
each other our backs to show how we were
scourged into Paradise.
The Indianapolis journal., 1885-01-24
"CHOKERS."
Ninety Different Styles of COllars-The End
less Variety of Neck TOrmentors.

Ninety Different Styles of COllars-The End
less Variety of Neck Tormentors.
Cincinnati Enquirer.
''You wouldn't hardly believe that there's
ninety different styles of collars"
The speaker was the travelling salesman for
New York collar and cuff manufactory talking
to an Enquirer reporter.
mo, it seems hardly probable"
''Yet it IS fact There are ninety different
styles manufactured by our house. You think it
hard to get the variety Well not very. A
different curve a different stitch, a different
mold or something of that kind Then in style
they swing back season, or five seasons, occa-
siOnally By the time you make III your mind
to wear the extreme it will switch back to what
you have just discarded"
whats all the rage in the way of q collar
nowl'
"a standing collar, with the points turned
back fat, just the tip, you know. It's an ugly
collar. though and people don't seem to like
them"
''What is the handsomest collarfp
'For young man the plain standing collar,
with ends meeting, is the most becoming They
won't do on fat man, though; as they make him
appear in perfect misery. For thick necked fat
men turn-down collar of most any style is all
right"
'Suppose you work off all the back stock on
crossroads towns at reduced ratesq'
'Thats where you are wrong; the cross-road
towns won't have it. A dry goods man who
wears colored shirt and no collar himself in a
little one horse town asks for the very latest
style, and you can't fool him. When he buys,
he buys the latest going
The Indianapolis journal., 1885-01-24
Stretching Shoes with Beans.
Boston Journal


A Florida youth who bought pair of shoes
without trying them on, found, on reaching
home, that they were just an eighth of an inch
too email all around. He thought, however.
that he would enlarge them sufficiently by the
'bean" process, so he filled each shoe to the top
with largo white beans-the variety that swell
nearly double their size--gave them all the
water they could hold. and left them over night
to the mercy of the beans In the morning he
found that they had increased IN size from No.
=. apparently No. s, and that the uppers had
raised up enc side, exposing huge &c ereyasse;
feet around. The next time he will pare down
his faat
The Indianapolis journal., 1885-01-24
The Congresssona, Nose Blower.
Washington Correspondence pittsburg Dispatch

Washington Correspondence Pittsburg Dispatch.
heard a gentleman remark, the other day,
that you could always tell gentleman by the
way he blows his nose. This may be considered
a society item. 1t is not my way of ascertaining
whether or not man is gentleman. His def
milton, however, reminded me of a good story
told on a member of the House. He had often
been offensive to those who sat next to him by
his manner of blowing his nose with his fingers
and expectorating in a reckless manner under
the desks. In the language OF my society critic,
he was no gentleman. His neighbor happened
to be Southern gentleman of great neatness,
and if he carried a sixshooter, he also Car
ried handkerchief He was excessively
annoyed, and was often divided in his
lnind as to whether he should pull the handker-
chief or the revolver on his tormentor. Finally
he decided on the more peaceful course, and
purchasing dozen good handzerchefs, placed
them on the no gentlemans desk AS it was
just before the holidays the no no-gentleman was
not surprised or offended He simply exclaimed
by Jove Somebody has made me a nice
present
Very nice, indeed remarked the donor. ga
very sensible practical presentW
Yes, think So Have no use for them my
self, but I'll send 'em home to my wife for a
Christmas present"
And to the dsmay and disgust of the donor,
he called page and had the parcel done up. ad-
dressed, and promptly franked it to his wife as
part of the Congressional Record
The Indianapolis journal., 1885-01-24
CORK FREsCOES.
The Costly Record of g Goodfeilowship Written
the Wall


The Costly Record of fGoodfeilowship Written
ON the Wall
New York Sun.
''Save that Gus, and stick it on the ceiling"
A white aproned waiter had just pulled the cork
from bottle of champagne in the wine-room
back of the stage in Roster & Balls concert nall
when Mr. Bial fired the above order at him.
Four guests in the coy room looked straight
up at the ceiling, and then joined in a sirnulta-
neous exclamation of surprise and admiration.
Traced on the ceiling were all sorts of pretty or
namental designs, and the names of popular
of these designs with other names interviewer
made entirely of champagne corks
Some had clistening metal tops and others were
strung with cordlike stendrils To add to the
unique appearance of the room, the wall lights
which were electric loops were enclosed in real
champagne bottles, sealed with plaster of Paris
which were held in hands modelled in bronze
Tiny champagne baskets, packed with corks,
stood on brackets between the bottles.
What do you call it. Bial?' cried the guests.
This is the cork -room," Mr. Bial said. slipping
MS wine and smiling, land the only.one of the
kind In the country There are IL. 900 corks all
told in the fancy work as it stands. They are
the corks of the / 0Ou rrsttles of champagne
which have been drunk in this i,,ri since it was
@staohshed The names and designs wera nut
up in cardboard on the ceiling frat and v1ar,.
then nlled IN with corks as fast as the bottles
we're emptied. Each name is made mn az the
corks OF bottles emptied in toasts to the owner
OF the name 1t was happy thought and il
has worked out into a remarkable ornamenta
ti0n Of my Office
The Indianapolis journal., 1885-01-24
STRANGER THAN FICTION.
An Old COlored Man and His First Love-A
New Enoch Arden.

New Enoch Arden.
Barnwell (Ga.) Sentinel.
Away back, about the year 1857, an old coored
couple, to whom had been born several children
were forced to part by the sale of the wife and
children to parties who took them out of the
county. The old man says that he never heard
anything more of his wife, aud becoming recon
ciled to the situation. found another who ex-
pressed willingness to share the sorrows of his
declining years. To her he was married, and
with her has lived to the present time.
A few days ago the little cabin of this couple,
who now reside in our town, startled by the
announcement that wife No. had arrived at
point fifteen miles from here, and would
be glad to have visit from her former
husband. 1t seems that the last wife in
sisted that her request should be complied
WITH and in a short time the husband was
brought face to face with the wife he had not
seen for nearly thirty years. Since his return
he tells us that from this wife he receives the
good news, long hoped for, concerning his chill
dren-that they are all married and doing well,
and that the wife of his better days travelled
two hundred and fifty miles ''all for me-" and
still boasts of warm spot in her heart for her
first husband. The old man is in the awful pre-
dicament of being between two wives and says
that he must have time In which to decide
whether he will take the first or cling TO the last
by whom he has no children.
This is rather remarkable occurance, and one
calculated to put wiser men than the old darky
to thinking. He needs at least a half dozen
mathematcians to figure out which of the two
wives he belongs to.
The Indianapolis journal., 1885-01-24
TECUMsEH SHERMAN.
The Wicked Deception Practiced on Him fS
the Wife of Col. HOyt.

The Wicked Deception Practiced on Him fS'
the Wife of Col. Hoyt.
Washington Letter.
General Sherman spent last week here and en-
tered into the social gayeties with his 'old-tme
zest and activity. Of course he received a great
deal of attention, and particularly from the
young people, with whom he is a favorite The
young ladies are devoted to him, and it seems to
be his privilege to return the devotion.
where is General Shermanl" asked lady at
the British Legation ball, missing the warrior
from the groups of settled folk in the drawing
rooms.
'Oh, he is in the ball room among the pretty
girls, replied General Sheridan.
Apropos of the Generals admiration for young
ladies, the wife of his cousin Colonel Hoyt,
put up pretty deception on him not long
ago. General Sherman called on Mrs. Hoyt one
day, and while in the parlor she said ''Oh.
General, have a beautiful girl in the next
room must present her, for she will be de-
lighted to see you; you must kiss her, too, for
she is very nice"
The hero of many battles expressed his readi-
ness to meet the young woman, and also mis- en-
tire willingness to obey what he said seemed
very like a command. Mrs Hoyt went out, and
soon returned with her little one -year-old girl in
the arms of her nurse, and with grave formality
presented Miss Baby Hoyt' to General Sher-
man. The soldier who was never surprised by
the enemy was surprised by the baby. But he
enjoyed the fun as much as Mrs. Hoyt
There is no doubt but that General Sherman is
fond OF Washington. 1t would be strange If ne
were not. He says, brusquely. "a week is
enough of it." but nobody believes him. No
other city can have the same hold on his patriot
ism and affection as that which received him after
his March to the Sea-" and no other streets
can have the same associations as those
through which his comrades walked foot
sore and with tattered flags, but victor
ious hearts. 1t is true that his family prefers
st. Louis, as he often remarks, but it is true that
he prefers Washington, though he declares "a
week is enough of It," "One weeks as good as
million, you know" he says, "for they are all
alike. Why. it's just like coffee-mil the old
fashioned mill you sit down to. The first turn
of the crank is very novel; But you
keep on round and round, and it gets to be the
same thing, and mighty hard work, too, / tell
you. By the time you have ground q peek of
corn in coffee mill, as L have, there isn't any
fun in it,"
He was the center of little group at his
brothers house the other day, where. during
Mrs. Sherman's afternoon reception, he had as
he said talked all the time.' The crowds had
gone, and for some minutes he-had been watch
ing his chance to escape to the smoking room to
enjoy the cigar which he hid behind him. But
when one squad" went out another entered, and
there was no getting away General Sherman's
memory of faces is unfailing, but he is not al
ways so sure of names.
The Indianapolis journal., 1885-01-24
What Made a Masher Mad.

DetrCt Free HreS5.
They sat on opposite sides of the streetcar,
and he settled himself back for a long stare at
her. He began at the feather in her hat, and
had got down as far as her throat when she
could stand it no longer She didn't ring the
bell and leave the car in a huff, neither did she
change her seat to avoid his impudent gaze.
She had already paid her fare. but she felt for
her purse took from it aslver dollar, and ex-
tending it to the fellow, she sweetly asked:
"Wili you please pay my fare9"
"Aw-oh-certainly, with pleasure he re-
piled, as he showed the dollar to the driver.
Driver shook his head.
'Change." shouted the man.
mo good-thats a counterfeit"
The man turned red and green and blue and
crushed strawberry. He inspected the dollar
and saw the driver was right After a painful
moment he slipped it into his vest pocket, fished
out dollar bill, and when the change had been
given him he handed tho lady 95 cents and re-
trea led to the back platform to swear
Il will send it to some charity" whispered the
lady to her left-handed neighbor. ''The object
was to get rid of his impudent presence 1t is an
experiment that never fails"
The Indianapolis journal., 1885-01-24
High Art Criticism.
I0ndon Truth

There is picture of Venus being courted by
Adonis at Burlington House What do you
think of it9' said friend to me. II see nothing
beautiful, | replied, ''in blousy, naked Flem-
ish wench, with pinkish skin. and thighs the
size of an elephants legs, nor in youth whose
head is all askew." My friends glance conveyed
"a me that he regarded me as poor fool, want
;no - taste, refinement and appreciation of
oa,no ,.s -. is this sol What is there in this
Sictnre that an one should admirel What
pleasure can any one - there ss1,Ts Was q diving
wench and her adorer1 The .os,snn ,rb;ns
lion by Landseer. There is 49, =
says that live jackass is worth mo. 'nan Whv q
dead lion. But live lion costs about f5U. .a;,
then. should representation of the dying
nal, produced by putting different c0lored paints
The Indianapolis journal., 1885-01-24
.wHAT YOU MIGHT CALL NERVE"

Unless Truth is Indeed Stranger Than Fic-
tion to at Least One New Yorker.
New York SUM-
II saw an exhibition of what you might call
nerve the other day up in Delaware county,
said Deacon Charles n. Bean, of the public
stores. II was up there ON business last week.
near Harpersfeld and an acquaintance took me
out to fish for pickerel through the ice On our
way to the pond we came to a couple of men
chopping in the woods. NY friend knew one Of
the men, and stopped to talk with him. The
other man kept on chopping. He had made but
two or three strokes with his axe, when it
flew off the handle The sharp blade whizzed
through the air, passed close to my friends
head, and, striking the other chopper, whose
name was Hagar cut his nose off close to his
face as clean as if it had been done with razor.
The man who lost it put his hand up to his face
In startled sort of way, and looked down at the
severed nose as if he could hardly believe his
eyes. When the full force Of the situation
struck him. he looked at his fellow chopper with
an expression of surprise and deep injury on his
face, and said:
"'Well, Jack, you're d-n nice fellow, amt
yer'
''Hagar then stopped and picked up his nose
and, pressing his handkerchief to his bleeding
face, astonished both my friend and myself by
resuming the subject upon which they had been
talking-which was the making of contract for
some chopping-as if nothing of consequence
had occurred to interrupt It, My friend, how
ever, started the other chap TO the viii
lage after DOCTOR and wanted to take
Hagar home at once on his blackboard. Hagar
wouldn't hear to this. and said he would cut
across to his cabin through the woods and wait
for the doctor. and he started off, without
any apparent hurry, carrying his nose in his
hand.
'When we returned at night we went out Of
our way two miles to inquire after Hagar We
found him chopping up fire-wood in front of the
cabin. There was a bandage around his face.
When we asked him if the doctor had seen him
he said
"'Yes, he's been here. He stuck the nose on
in its old place and bound it there, and said he
believed it would grow fast again, as he had
known of such things happening. Say, came
blame near getting mad at Jack when that axe
few off to-day. He's always cutting up some
dido or other
'Then we drove back to Harpersfeld I had
a letter to-day from my friend. He had just
come from visit to Hagar. He says the man is
getting along, and that the nose will grow fast
again, sure. Now, these are facts, and tell you
that Hagar struck me as giving an exhibition Of
what you might call nerve"
The Indianapolis journal., 1885-01-24
A snore Cnre.

Pittsburg Chronic le- Telegraph.
"A Boston inventor has perfected snore cure
1t is piece of wire, bent in the shape of Q.
doubled hair-pin On one end is small wheel,
something like chids pin-wheel, made Of silk
The wire is fastened over the upper teeth when
retiring. bringing the pin wheel in close pFoxm-
ity to the nose and mouth. When the sleeper
snores it starts the wheel to revolving, and the
points of the wheels rays, which have fine,
sharp, steel needle ends, whirling around rapidly.
tickle the snorer's nose and cause him to desist
The inventor has large orders from the numer-
Gus sleepingcar companies and has been made
Past Grand Mojuk in The East in the Society
for the Suppression of Profanity.
The Indianapolis journal., 1885-01-24
A BIT OF HISTORY.
How the Women of Wyoming Obtained the
Right to Vote.

Report of New York Suffrage Meeting.
At last. when Mrs. Blake made a flank move
ment and routed the two male wranglerS, the
tall man with the long. expressionless face was
introduced as Governor Lee the first Governor
Of Wyoming also Journalist, and now legal
practitioner In this city.
As soon as he began to speak his long face
lighted up and grew positively handsome the
CLASSY eyes burned with enthusiasm, and he
made as hearty, graceful and witty little
speech as ever | listened to. Altogether he was
great surprise to everybody who did not know
him.
Among other interesting things he told the in
ner history Of how they enfranchised women in
Wyoming 1t was not. as some might naturally
believe. the result of superior acumen or liber-
al -mindedness on the part of Wyoming law max
ers 1t was simply a gigantic advertise
ment for the Territory. The Governor
aaid he was sitting in his office one
day. when slouching, angular, tobacco -masti-
eating member of the Legislature entered, and
said: 'Gov'enur, I'm worried and down hearted.
This terms drawin' near its close and I've
done nothin' to make my constituents think I'm
a great fellow, and I'm afraid they won't elect
me again. Hang it, what can do9 There's
nothing particular anyone can do. / wish /
could think of something to DO that would set
them all talking about me-"
'I'll tell you what to do,' said the Governor;
.Introduce bill to enfranchise the women.
That will make you talked about all over the
United States
But what if it should pass!" said the noble
Solon in dismay.
MAKE it pass You want it to pass" replied
the Governor. ''Why don't you know that such
thing that would advertise Wyoming all
over the world! Talked about Why, man,
you would cover yourself all over with glory"
The idea was so novel and astonishing that the
ambitious legislator could not turn it over in his
limited mind all at once. He went home to
think about it. In day or two he returned,
beaming and hopeful He had decided that he
would do it, and he chuckled with satisfaction at
the thought of the glory he about to accu-
mulate by the masterstroke of diplomacy. The
governor drafted the bill, and when the noble
lawmaker called for it he pocketed it with the
remark that after suffrage had been granted
women, and the Territory had reaped all the ad-
vertising advantages which woulo accrue there
FROM it would be easy enough to take the bal
lot away from 'em."
The bill was introduced and talked r1p on the
score of its advertising merits, and, as we all
know it passed. Then when woman suffrage
became fixed fact the very men who had la
bored for it began to talk about repeating the
bill. But" said Governor Lee, sit is not easy
to deprive people of vested right and they
were obliged to accept the work of their own
hands, which in this case was remarkable in
stance of the mysterious way" in which God
moves to perform wonders.
The Indianapolis journal., 1885-01-24
st. Paul Pioneer Press.

st. Paul Pioneer Press.
On Christmas day a party of six St Paul
young people went up to Minneapolis for wild
lark After visiting the Opera-house, roller
rink, refreshment parlors and other places SIM
ilarly attractive, they finally sought brief rest
in the spacious parlor of the West. A moment
after their arrival there strange gentleman en-
tered, and, seating himself at the piano, began
to run few scales. To him the boldest of our
young gentlemen said:
"Can you play, sir2"
''Oh, yes; drum little.'
would you mind playing for us to waltz9"
mot at all"
So pleasant was the waltz that its repetition
was requested again and again, and finally,
when our young people subsidized 'breathless,
Mr. Pianist was rewarded with an "Oh, thank
you; you play very nicely AS he was with
drawing the hotel clerk entered and was in
terrogated by one of the young ladies'
do you know who that gentleman is who just
played for us?r
''Oh, yes, miss; that is Josehy"
The Indianapolis journal., 1885-01-24
Evansville & Terre Haute Railroad.
Via Vandaiia Tinal

Leave indianapolis t7:15 am, 1855 am p, 10 45 pm
Ar. at Evansville. .f4:O0 pm, 7:O5 pm p 725 am
Leave Evansville 1905 am 1890 am p, S:15 pm
Ar at Terre Haute. 1000 am, 2:I7 pm r, l59 pms
Ar. at indianapolis 1880 pm, 44O pm p, $50 am
fDaily except Sunday AL other trains daily. z
parlor car; s. sleeper.
Via l. s. ST. l.. Ryl
Leave Indianapolis. .t7:1O am, 10:55 pm
Ar at Terre Haute t1O:40 am, 800 pm D. 400 an,
Ar. at Evansville. .t4:00 pm. 7:05 pm p. 7:25 am
Leave Evansville .t6.05 am, 1890 am p. s:15 pm
AR at Terre Haute. IL 600 am 21 2 pm p, 3l:5J pm
Ar. at Indianapolis .t3:l5 pm. 6:25 pm p 3;i5 ans
tDaily except Sunday. AL Other trains daily.
parlor car; 3. sleeper.
The Indianapolis journal., 1885-01-24
Frowns or Smiles?

Where do they go, wonder,
The clouds on a cloudy day,
Whom the shining sun comes peeping out
And scatters them all aways
knowl-They keep them and cut them down
For cross little girls who want frown.
Frowns, and wrinkles and pouts--oh. myi
How many t would make--one cloudy sky!
1 think should like it better
A sunshiny day to take
And cut it down for dimpes and smiles
What beautiful ones twoilld make.
Enough for all the dear little girls
With pretty bright eyes and waving curls.
To drive the scowls and frowns away,
just like the a cloudy day
Sydney Dayre. IN February st. Nicholas.