davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-01-07
LADIES' DEPARTMENT.


The recognized authority on matri.
lnony, the New York Home Journal,
gives the following as the touchstone
to the true husband: A girl will act
wisely if she pays considerable atten-
ton to the general opinion which, in
nine cases out Of ten, is held of the gen,
tleman. who has asked her hand, by
his professional brethren or his bust
hess acquaintance. 1t Is, in short
not the man who is agreeable among
women, but he who is we'll liked by
his own sex, who is the man to choose
as husband.
There are certain persons, however
of the opposite sex who are almost as
good judges of mans disposition as
those of his own, and they are his sis
tiers. A girl can always tell how a
man. stands with his sisters, and II
they are really fond of him she may
feel almost sure that he will make a
good husband.
A mother, Of course, always speaks
well of her son; it is not what she says
of him, but his behavior to her, that is
to be looked to.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-01-07

A very dangerous counterfeit of tho
American fve,dollar piece was recently
sent to the United States mint in San
Francisco for examination. In size and
weight and general execution it was q
very close resemblance-so much so that
several parties in the coiners department
In the mint at first pronounced tho coin
genuine. The color was like that OF
gold coins alleged with silver The
legend "In God We trust" on close ex-
animation, was not quite as distinct as
the genuine coin. In all other respects
The die was perfect, even to the small
IS" for San Francisco, under the head.
When broken, the coin disclosed the fact
that it was double counterfeit, it hay
ing been made to do duty as counter
felt four.piaster piece of the Phil
lipne Islands. Pulling of plating
on both sides the words Lies Hispanas"
and the devices of the coin were dis
tinctly seen. When sssayed it was found
that the original piece was of native
platinum, The plating to raise the weight
from "a to So, or to make tho difference
between the Manila and American coin,
was an alloy of silver and copper. This
had been electrotype or washed with
gold. The whole was so nicely calcu'
lated as to make the specific gravity OF
gold, and the ring of the coin was per-
feet. The probability is this coin is but
one of large number; that it was manu-
featured somewhere where labor is cheap,
say Hong Kong; that either from de-
lection or some other cause, q quantity
of the first counterfeit was left on hand
and was utilized by increasing the size
and restamping with an American die.
Whatever may be the history, it is a dan
ge' --'s counterfeit.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-01-07
Drawing on the Imagination.

Poor German tutor-''Know you
what l do when hunger have? Then
draw l at home on my slate with chalk
a white sausage. When right severe
hunger have, draw l two. Then drink
l once from my mug of beer, eat a
piece bread and rub from the sausage
on the slate piece.away.. Then drink
1 again, eat again piece bread and
rub again from the slate piece
sausage away-till the last morsel
away is So pictursaI myself; in, l
have the sausage really eaten. = Behold
you, it is all only imagination on the
world, '-RQmbler,
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-01-07

Some weeks ago, says a paper, in
answer to a correspondents query,
Walter Pyle of Philadelphia, submit
ted the word Observation-Disclosures"
as the longest in the English language.
A Catasauqualady then sent "honor-
Observation-Disclosures" alleging that
it occurs in Shakespeare, and hence is
the longest word. 1t doesn't appear
in Webster, needless to say, being
merely coined word, and so has no
claim to be considered word at all.
Another correspondent sends "dilati-
tudinarianism," ignoring the two i'm
portant considerations that it is not
found in the dictionary, and has but
nineteen letters two less than Mr..
Pyle's word.
A Kansas lady gives "incomprehen.
sibility," saying it cheats 'dispropor-
tionableness' by one syllable. Still
the latter contains but nineteen letters,
as in he previous case.
Another suggestion is "infralapsa-
rlanism," which has but seventeen
letters. No word has yet been found
to equal tho one substituted by the
Philadelphia man,
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-01-07
The NarWhal's Horn,

In the upper jaw of the young mar.
whal are found two small tusks, which
in the female regularly remain unde.
veloped throughout her life. In the
male the left tusk grows into spirally
grooved rod, sometimes attaining the
length of ten feet. A large narwhaIs
tusk has no small commercial value,
for the ivory is very hard and solid,
will take high polish, and keeps its
beautiful whiteness long time. Sew.
eral ingenious speculations have been
made in regard to the use of this re.
markable growth; killing fish for food
and breaking breathing holes
through the ice are two uses suggested
which fail to account for the long tusk
being confined to the males. The
females certainly cannot live on air
alone, nor without air, and they cannot
count on always having a male near to
wait upon them. 1t is more probably
to he accounted for by the same rea-
sons which explain the possession of
horns, tusks, or name by the males
only of some land mammals. Rarely
the right tusk is developed instead Of
the left, and sometimes the female has
a weapon like that of her mate. One
female has been taken with both tusks
developed, ole being seven feet in
length, the other five inches longer.
Like his fellow-gladiators of the sea,
the narwhal will occasionally thrust his
gigantic foil into the side of ship,
where it usually breaks off, and, fitting
the hole like plug, seldom causes a
leak. Narwhals are generally seen in
herds of fifteen or twenty; they will
come close about a ship, apparently
from curiosity, and it is one of the
most entertaining sights of the north
ern seas to watch them plunging about,
spouting spray from their blow-holes,
and clashing their long weapons to.
gether as if fencing-Popular Science
Monthly.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-01-07


"Gath" knows almost everything, of
course, but he is mortal. In the TIT
june, Sunday, he predicted that the
next census would show the center of
population to be between Indianapo-
lis and Chicago. This is almost i'm
possible. For century the center of
population moved westward with Won
derful by regular strides. 1t was
on the eastern shore of Maryland in
1890, and in 1880 it was not ten miles
west Of Cincinnati and a tride south
of the bank of the Ohio river. 1t has
never since been as far north as it was
in 1890, having moved above and be-
low the 39th parallel, but never TWEEN.
ty-nve miles from it. 1t will not gel
SO far north or west as indianapolis
this decade, much less move on tow.
ard Chicago. The wonderful growth
of Dakota and the northwest gener.
ally is matched by the progress of Tex.
as and the new southwest, while the
foreign immigration which remains in
the coast cities, and the advancement
of Georgia and other eastern state:
will tend to keep the imagined center
In the same general course it has beer
travelling for hundred years. and tt
prevent any great acceleration of it:
rate of progress,-Boston Herald,
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-01-07
Black tho Standard Color.

AS usual, black is the standard color.
The woman that can afford but one
handsome dress season wisely
chooses this as always suitable, al
ways fashionable and least likely to be
recognized through all possible muta-
tons. She who Can indulge in several
costumes is equally certain to have
one or more OF them black, and every
well-selected bridal outfit includes at
least one handsome black suit for
street and afternoon.
Next to black in the color scale
comes red, which, in all its tnts of
rose, ruby, garnet-ox- blood-and
dahlia, is extremely popular. Brown
holds its own with seal, goldea browns
and reddish browns for the favorites.
Olive is also in high favor. There are
many blues, and gray has not lost .its
prestige of last year, when everybody
wore it. Yellow is relegated to even
ing wear, and for this is very popular.
Harmonies in black and gold, dark
blue and gold, red and gold. ETC.,
figure among French fancies, and bril-
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-01-07
Fish Walking on DRY Land,

In some foreign lands walking fish
are common enough. We have Il fish
found in the seas around Ceylon of so
grotesque an appearance that it looks
more like a wild dream of an artist
than a representation of a living OBJ
ect. This singular creature is one of
group in which the carpers form
arms that support the pectoral fins
and thus enable the fish to walk along
the ground almost like quadruped.
On the rocks of Ceylon, washed by the
surf, there are other little walking fish
which run up the wet stones with the
utmost ease and rapidity. BY the aid
Of the pectoral and ventral fins and
gill cases. they move over the damp
sand, ascent the roots of the man
groves and climb up the smooth face
of therocks in search o. flies. Many
of the fresh water fish of the same
Island possess the power of leaving
their native element and returning ia
it again after long pilgrimages on dry
land. When the pools they inhabit
get low in the summer season they
start off, and, led by au as yet unex-
planned instinct, to the dearest cOnSid-
cradle body of water. The fish most
often seen on shore excursions is q
species of perch. 1t grows to about
six inches in length. Aided by an adj
mirable apparatus gifted by nature tc
its head, the little creature issues bold
ly from its native haunts and proceeds
on a toilsome march to- its new habita
ton. The expedition is made at night
or early in the morning, while the
grass is wet with dew. In its distress
however, it is sometimes compelled tc
move by day.-UGSterY
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-01-07

liant brunettes array themselves in
canary color or shine Respondent in
white and gold.
There is, to borrow the athletic
term, great feeling for shot or chene
effects. Many of these are exquisite,
combining not only two, but three, or
even four tints. Red, gold and gray
gives the effect of sunset cloud; gray
and red produces the new shade
known as smoked rose; red and gold,
blended with bronze, suggests a con-
flagration; brown and gold, with a
touch of green, the plumage of some
tropical bird. Lighter tints show
blendings of pink and cream. blue and
cream, lemon and rose, etc. Many of
these shot silks are brocaded with
velvet figures, small or medium sized,
in one or other Of the tones of the
fabric, and sometimes. to increase the
color effect, all the shades of the
groundwork are brought out in the
embossed velvet figure, which always
on these goods stands out in full re-
lief.-Inter- Ocean.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-01-07
A Wcstphalian Wedding.

A ragged crew of itinerant music
ians, whose second hand attire and
various instruments are a study in
itself, precedes the procession. The
happily united pair follows, the BRIDE
groom in coat of white linen, with a
wedding favor in his buttonhole, a red
waistcoat with silver buttons, breeches
of yellow leather, white stockings and
buckled shoes The bride with the
wedding crown on her head, flowing
ribbons falling on her shoulders and
down far below the waist. A kind
of seventeenth century ruff encircles
her neck, the velvet bodice is braided
with gay colored silk sleeves and
aprons are of the whitest linen, well
contrasting with the petticoat OF
darker color. The bridesmaids are in
close attendance upon the newly
married couple, and arrayed in their
best, gay colors predominating in their
attire. The bride-groom's father and
mother, with the more important
guests, such as the forester of the
district, march in the rear of the pro-
cession, the burly father-in-law mark
ing his own Importance and substance
by wearing two or three jackets, one
over the other. The children of the
neighborhood assemble in force to
line the route Of the procession and to
take part in the fun, and every old
musket or horse pistol obtainable is
put in requisition to make the pro-
gress on the road as noisy as possible.
A substantial meal awaits the COM
pany at the homestead, the strict dis
cipline among the farm servants is for
once relaxed, and merrymaking is
kept up through the rest of the day
and unit! the small hours of the next
morning.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-01-07
CLIPPINGS FOR THE CURIOUS.

There have been altogether twenty.
one Vice Presidents elected by the peo.
pie. OF these, four have died in office,
three have risen to the presidency by
election, and four have become presi'
dents by the death Of the president.
The signal officer on the summit Of
Pixies Peak says the highest velocity OF
the wind ever recorded there was ITO
miles per hour, when the instruments
broke and cordwood began flying down
the mountain. The guide adds that
seventy-fve miles per hour would lift
a mule out Of the trail.
A writer in a French medical jour.
nal proposes that cities be supplied
with fresh country air. A large field
in the country is to be surrounded with
a high wall and planted with balsamiC
trees to absorb the dust, and the air
from this field is to be conveyed
through pipes into every city house.
"Hail Columbia" was written by
Joseph Hopkinson in the summer of
1898, and it was first called the "Presi.
dents March" 1t was always sung
when Washington came into the the
alter, and one of the objects Of its
production was the cultivation of a
patriotic spirit among the people Of the
new republic.
Recently the fortunate possessor Of
a stone of niney-two carats, valued at
$500, 1000, lent his diamond for scientific
investigation. The stone was exposed
for an hour to the direct action of the
suns rays, and then removed to a dark
room. For more than twenty minutes
it emitted light strong enough to make
sheet of white paper held near ii per.
fectly visible.
One of the queer sights in the streets
of Japan is the rows of wooden sandals,
old and new, large and small, which
are seen outside of the doors Of the
houses, where they are left upon enter
ing. They have separate place for
the great toe and make loud, clack-
ing noise. 1t is surprising to see how
quickly the people step in and out of
them without even stopping. Straw
slippers are also worn, and travellers,
starting on journey, take a supply Of
several pairs, in order to have new
ones ready when the old ones give out.
They only cost l! cents pair.
The Wintun Indians of the Sacra
mento valley, according to Major
Powell, believe in three worlds, and
that each has its peculiar class of in
habitants. The sky is smoke, while tc
the majority of the Indians it is ice
and a few think it quartz crystal
Mountains were made by the burrow'
ing of the mole god. Light and dark
ness are maiden goddesses. Rocks
and other inanimate things were once
living, and some rocks now live and
speak, this being the Wintun explana
ton of echoes. Whirlwinds are little
spirits seeking water to drink. Dis
eases are caused by mythical animals
Bits of negro folk lore are found
among many tribes of Indians, from
whom the slaves must have obtained
them.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-01-07
TONS.

You can always tell boy whose
mother cuts his hair by the way he
stops in the streets and wriggles his
shoulders When fond mother has
to cut her boys hair she draws the
front hair over his eyes, and leaves it
there while she cuts that which is at
the back. The hair which lies over
his eyes appears to be surcharged with
electric needles, and that which is
silently dropping down under his col
lar band appears to be on fire. She
has unconsciously pushed his head
forward until his nose presses his
breast. In the meantime, he isseized
with an irresistible desire to blow his
nose, but he recollects that his hand
kerchief is in the other room. Then a
fly lights on his nose, and does it so
Unexpectedly that he involuntarily
lodges, and catches the point of the
shears in his left ear. AT this he CON-
mences to cry and wish he was man.
But his mother dOsen't notice him.
When she is through she holds his
Jacket collar back from his neck, and,
with her mouth. blows the short bits
of hair from the top of his head down
his back. He calls her attention to
the fact, but she looks for a new
place in his head and hits him there,
and asks him why le:. didn't, nses.his
handkerchief Then he goes. out and
wriggles to get the hairs out, OF his
neck, and Wonders what '.,the ,otilsl
boys will say to him. - philadelphia
Press.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-01-07

PAIN AND DREAD attend the use of most Ca
tarrh remedies. Liquids and snulfs are unpleas-
ant as well as dangerous. Ely's Cream Balm is
safe, pleasant, easily applied with the finger,
and a sure cure. 1t cleanses the nasal pas-
cages and heals the inAamed membrane, giving
relief from the first application. 50 cents at
druggists. &C., by mail. Ely Bros Oswego N.
IHAvE been great sufferer of dry Catarrh
for many years, and l tried many remedies
which helped me, but l had none which did
me SO much benefit as Ely's Cream Balm, it
completely cured mem. j. Lally, 80 Wood
ward Ave-, Boston Highlands. Mass.
IHAvE been troubled with Catarrh from boy
hood and had considered my case chronic until
about three years ago procured one bottle Of
of Ely's Cream Balm, and Icount myself sound
to-day, all from tho use of one bottle.-J. r.
Cooley, Hardware Merchant, Montrose, Pa.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-01-07
IaYaur Rlnnd Pure z

\ For impure blood the best medicine known,
,ScovilIs Sarsaparilla, or Blooi and Liver
Syrup, may be implicitly relied on when
everything else fails Take it in the spring
time, especially for the impure secretions Of
the blood incident to that SEASON of the year;
and take it at all times for cancer, scrofula,
liver complaints, weakness boils, tumors,
swelngs, skin diseases, malaria and the
Thousand ills that come from impure blood.
To insure a cheerful disposition take this
well known medicine, which will remove tbH
prime cause and restore the mind to it,
natural equilibrium.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-01-07
G.. NJ. d.

Walking down Broadway Is very pleasant
when you feel well, and T-K--never fell
better than when his friend asked him how
no got over that severe cough of his 50 speed
lily. "Ah, my boy" said T, "G, M. D
did it!n And his friend wondered what G.
M. D. meant He knew it did not mean 3
Good Many Doctors, forT---K---had tried
dozen in vain. II have it," said he, just
hitting the nail on the head, "you mean DR.
Medal deserved as my friend J-s
always dubs it. Sold by druggists.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-01-07

We accidently overheard the following dia
logue on the street yesterday:
Jones. Smith, why don't you stop that dis
gushing hawking and splitting!
Smith. How can II You know / am Q
martyr to catarrh.
J.-Do as did. / had the disease in it,
worst form, but am well now.
S,-What did you do for itl
il used DR.. Ssges Catarrh Remedy II
cured me and it will cure you.
S.-pve heard of it, and by Jove, III
try it.
, J.-Do so. You'll find it at all the drus
stores in town.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-01-07
Fashion Notes,


Velvet and felt bonnets arc embroi.
dered in tinsel and coored silk,
Simplicity is the keynote of every
debutante's toilet this season.
Braid frightened with tinsel threads
are extensively used for trimming
walking costumes.
The embroidered velveteens are
made up effectively with solid colored
cashmeres of the same color
In making dresses the sides are as
richly ornamented as were the fronts
of the skirts in former seasons.
Dove and pearl gray and wood color
are the most fashionable colors for
stockings to be worn in the evening.
Cashmeres of the dantiest colors
and light textures are extensively used
this winter for both indoor and street
! dresses.
The newest place for fancy pocket
handkerchief is in little pocket on
the right side Of the waist, almost up
to the shoulder.
A sealskin cloak reaching to the
feet, made half tight fitting, with a
ten-inch border, cuffs and collar of sa-
BILE, costs $500.
! Fleece-lined silk gloves are more
comfortable for winter wear than kid,
and are preferred by even the most
fashionable woman.
Brocades come with small designs
for basques and waists to be worn
with skirts of plain satin merveilleux
or plaid materials.
High crowns prevail in round hats
and the bonnets have coronets for those
who like them and have fiat crowns
for those who do not.
Some of the evening silks are bro
caded with white or light satin grounds
and metallic figures, generally floral
designs of silver or gold.
The winter house jacket is trimmed
with row upon row Of the narrowest
of velvet by those who consider lace
too delicate for daily wear.
Polonnaises are generally closed
down the front, and basques are cut
high on the hips, with pointed front
and pointed or position back.
The most becoming finish to the IN
becoming bonnets of this season is to
give them border of fur, plush, or
velvet, pulled around the brim.
Very wide collars and very deep
cuffs of velvet now come in sets which
are meant to be worn with many diff
ferent suits. Embroidery, metallic
cord or lace finish the edges of these
sets.
Some of the embroidered bonnet
crowns, instead of being powdered with
with many insects of one sort, are
sprinkled with shells, flies, bees,
beetles and butterflies arranged with
out method.
The mantles which English d. 49,
makers send home for widows fit close
/ ly in the back, but hang quite straight
/ in front, and extend almost to the hem
of the skirt. They are covered with
Grape except in the back.
/ Velvet and plush are the only ma
terials which the English dressmakers
use for the new Tam O'Shanters. They
arc made to match the large coats of
Indian red stockinet, and are not
thought too brilliant in color.
Even the jersey now has double
and in some cases a triple waistcoat.
Women's dress seems to be initiating
the Oriental fashion of wearing gar
ment over garment, but it is only an
imitation, and the three apparent
waistcoats fasten with one set of but
tons.