davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Connecticut western news., 1885-08-26
History of Coinage.

If we put aside the inartistic and uninteresting currency of China and Japan every existing piece of money can trace it's ancestry back to a con- mon source in the seventh century be- fore Christ. The descent of all Greek coins from the issues of Pheidon and Cresus, and the connection of the Roman system with Siculo-Greek standard are well known; but it will be a revelation to many readers to find how modern and medieval series- Asiatic and European alike-derive their origin either from Greece or Rome. India learnt the art of coin age from the Bactrian successors of Alexander the Great; Arabia's first emission were debased copies of the Athenian tetradrachm. Parthia imi- tated the Seleucid kings of Syria, and the Sapors and Chosroes of restored Persia continued the Parthian issues, only to be copied in turn by the earli- est of the MahOmetan Khalifs. The "dinar" and "dirhem" of Haroun-al- Raschid show by their very names a descent from the denarius and drach- ma, no less than the 'tsou" and "livre," of Louis XVI. testify to perpetua- tion of the "solidus" and "libra"-
 London Ac1degtN,
Connecticut western news., 1885-08-26
HoM to Kill the Blues.

Generally speaking if you are trou- bled with "the blues" and cannot tell why, you may be sure it springs from physical weakness. Instead of lying on the sofa and courtlng painful ideas, if you are a despairing lover, a hypochondriac or a valetudinarian, you should be up and stirring yourself. The blood of a melancholy man is thick and slow, creeping sluggishly through the veins, like muddy waters in a canal; the blood of your merry chirping philosopher is clear and quick, brisk as a newly y-broached champagne. Try, therefore, to set your blood in motion, Try, rather, what a smart walk will do for you; set your pegs in motion on rough rocky ground, or hurry them up a steep. cragged hill; build stone wall: swing an axe over a pile of hickory or rock maple; turn grindstone; dig ditches; practice "ground and lofty tumbling;" pour water into selves with the Danaides, or, with Sisyphus, "up the hill heave a huge round stone," in short, do anything that will start the precipitation, and you will soon cease to have your brains lined with black, as Burton expresses it, or to rise in the morning, as Cowper did. "like an internal frog out of Acheron, crowned with the ooze and mud of melancholy."-Prof Mathet0s.
Connecticut western news., 1885-08-26

The interchange of commodities be- tween nations has many apparent ec- centricities. Russia sends flour to the United States, and competes success fully with our own millers; America sends cutlery to Sheffield and manu- factured cottons to Manchester; France buys wine in Ohio and California and cotton seed oil in St. Louis, returning the former to New York as claret or Burgundy and the latter as pure olive oil, and so on the peculiarities of com mercial exchange continue through long series of articles of both luxury and necessity. With the present cheap systems of expeditions transportation, constantly being improved in every direction, it would seem that the time IS approaching when it will be impos- sible to be sure where any article we eat, drink, wear or otherwise use had It's origin. The only thing certain is that the people who show the most en- ergy, ingenuity and business capacity will certainly lay the rest of the world under tribute. In such conflict as this implies the future prosperity of the United States is assured
Connecticut western news., 1885-08-26
HUMOROUS.
A door belle-thc pretty maid scr

A door belle-the pretty maid scr want.
 Good terminal facilIties-a pair of good stout boots.
 A one-legged man will never be troubled with wet feet
 A ship is called 'she" because it al- ways has the last word. The ship ip bound to answer It's holm every time
 Cueumbers sliced are said to remove freckles. This is not wonderful. They have been known to remove" whole families.
 The only difference between going a-llshing" and 'been fishing is tbe number of backaches and self-denun- citations.
 "It is not always May" tho poet sighs. It is we'll that 1t is not Some thing In the world ought to be allowed to get ripe
 "What arc the last teeth that comeT asked a Lynn teacher to her class in physiology. "False teeth, mum ]" replied boy who had just walked up on the back seat
 A report of base ball game says. "Larkins knocked Fulton. tho new pitcher, all over tho field" This must have been an agreeable change for the umpire. It is a long lane that has no tuIn In lt.
 It is said that the marquis of Sails bury's hair Is all on the back of his head. In this respect the marquis differs from most fashionable women. They generally have some one else'a hair on the back of their heads
 There is no blank so blank as the blank that appears before q man when he gets up in public assembly and forgets what he was going to say unless it is the blank which appears before an amateur in a skating-rink when his legs begin to spread and he don't know which one to follow.
Connecticut western news., 1885-08-26
Stenography.

During the past 800 years. it Is stated, some 200 systems of shorthand have been devised and published, The older forms were usually mere ciphers, or a representation of the or- dinary methods of spelling by the use symbols for letters, whereby no great advantage in the way of breyity was attained. Hieroglyphics, or picture writing, were also chased as short hand; also, a plan of omission of the vowek, which might be called abbre- viated long-hand. The first system of shorthand which attained the objects sought for-breyity and accuracy was that of Isaac Pitman, first pub lished in 1849. This mode of short hand was the first to be known as photography or sounds rather than letters. Other systems since intro duced have continued this plan. Gus tom has of late years adopted the word of shorthand, which comes to us from the Greek, and means narrow or close writing; in other phrase, shorthand.
Connecticut western news., 1885-08-26
No Marrying There.

Samuel" said Mrs. Tolblitter, as they were walking home from church, "how did you like the preachers de- scription of heaven?"
 "First-rate, my dear," said he, with energy.
 "If what he said is all true, and of course it is, what do you think you will like the best when you get there Sam uel?''
 "The arrangements for securing peace" said he, with glibness.
 "Now, Samuel, what do you mean by that?"
 "They don't have any marrying there, my dear" said he, edging off a little.
 The discussion took warmer turn at once --ohfpaco LedRsr
Connecticut western news., 1885-08-26
What Sailors Read.

An odd sight on South street, New York, which on ono side is lined with docks and shipping and on tho other is closely packed with ship chandler's shops, commission brokers offices, sailors lodging houses, saloons and cheap restaurants, is n book store. It is n small box.like room on the ground door of building just below wall street, and occupies half the store with q sallmaker. It is said to be the only place of It's kind to be found the entire length of the long street As a rule, a crowd of Idle 'longshor- men is to be found in front of it while within. looking over tho books in a half interested manner. may be seen representatives of the better class of seamen to be found in the neigh borhood.
 "Its curious fact" said the pro prietor to reporter for Metropolis tan paper" that seaman don't care . rap for all the sea stories that other people are crazy about Why you can't sell one down here. The reasonf Because they know all about the sea themselves, and enough about it. too. "
 "What do sailors readq" was asked.
 Sailors read2 Why, young man, sailors don't read They're too poor to buy books. If you ask me what the captains read perhaps I can toll you. The American captains read novels mostly and light yarns, much more than they do solid booka I've been 40 years selling them books, and I can tell you that the American cap tains, as a rule arc not well read, They don't like solid reading like the captains of other countries. but pro fer light reading. But they don't buy many books of any kind nowadays, be- cause Uncle Sam's navy ts too poor. As an example look at that pile of magazines. There are nearly 1000 in this little room. We used to sell lots of them, but now we sell scarcely any. and it's the same with every thing else"
 "What do you sell to them mostlyp"
 Sailing books and charts and some blank books always have to have on hand Thom's, Bowdich's and Norie's nayigators and Maury's and Finlay's sailing directions Other books that sell are Warren's House hold Physician and Bible A book that they like is Holman's Illustrated Family Bible, which contains over 2,000 pictures I always keep a stoOiS on hand of the old standard English novels and great many standard works, such as De Quincy. Dickens, the Scottish Chier and the Children ! of the Abbey"
Connecticut western news., 1885-08-26
\ CANAAN, CONN.,. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26

The casual reader of the newspapers forms no adequate idea of the annual loss of life and property in this coun. try by violent wind-storms. The year 1884 was remarkable in this respect The records of the Signal Service de. partment show recorded during that year IFS tornadoes in the United States, SS occurring in Georgia, 9 In South Carolina, IS in Alabama, l2 in North Carolina, and 10 each in Iowa and Wisconsin. Lightning occurred in 2S of the tornadoes. Their average width was 1,037 feet, and their aver age length was 9610 miles. Their velocity averaged 42 miles per hour. The tornadoes averaged 45 seconds in passing a given point The tenn. perature before the tornadoes was generally warm, and generally they were succeeded by cooler weather. Their greatest frequency was between 4 and 5.3o p. m. The largest number of tornadoes occurred in July. Over 1000 buildings were destroyed by tor nadoes during the year. The most extensive tornado was in Minnesota, September 9, the estimated losses by which were $4,000,000. Contrary to the general opinion, it will be observed that more than half of the tornadoes occurred in the Southern States.
Connecticut western news., 1885-08-26

At. the agricultural convention called by Commissioner Colman, of delegates from agricultural colleges, the com missioner gave utterance to these words concerning experimental work at colleges: He said there was nothing which would so attract and rivet the attention of the agricultural public to the colleges as experimental work. On the college farms should be tested every variety of fruit, cereals, grasses, timber trees, and even domestic ami mals, and those found in all respects adapted to the locality should be dis seminated by the college. Thus one college farm would be trying expert ments for hundreds of thousands of farmers, who would enjoy the benefit and not suffer the losses in money, la bor and time of making the tests for themselves. He could see the neces- sity for a great national experimental farm also, which he would have estab- lished near the capital, and if he might go further, he would establish upon it a permanent national or worlds expo sition, where the products of this and other nations might be exhibited side by side. These views were indorsed by the convention, and resolutions pass ed requesting congress to make appro- priation for this purpose to all agri- cultural colleges
Connecticut western news., 1885-08-26
Gen. Grant In Washington.

Gen. Grant was the most conspic- uous public man who ever lived in Washington. He was known to every man, woman, and child in the district before his name was before the people for the Presidency. While General of the Army his headquarters were at the corner of Seventeenth and F streets. He used to walk to and fro morning and evening along with the procession of clerks, and with nothing but his well-worn military cloak in winter and the familiar figure in sum- mer, and the cigar always, to distin- guish him from the crowd. He was usually absorbed in himself, and walk ed mechanically, though while going to work very rapidly. While Presi- dent he was the same sort of a man. He loved horse dearly, and some times drove a four-in-hand drag, but he usually walked or took street car. In either case he was always the cynosure of many curious eyes. He had evidently become accustomed to this, and paid no attention to it as long as people kept out of his way or did not force themselves on his person al notice. When they did he was an- noyed and would turn abruptly upon his heel to escape. He always acted on the street like any other private citizen who wanted be let alone. This was so evident that the men, big and little, respected it, and the President of the United States could often be seen sauntering down the crowded avenue alone
 He was known to have walked from the Capitol to the White House on a pleasant day, when the whole city was out, without suffering single inter- ruption. Yet if he saw men raise their hats to him he never failed to re- turn the saluta During such walk nearly everybody would stare and turn and stare again at him as he passed. He seemed to walk among the crowds to be alone. Of late years he has apparently shaken off much of this taciturnity, and when he visited Washington could be seen about the Willard lobby chatting with friends and listening and laughing at their stories, and telling stories of his own in return. He mistrusted those who wanted to make show of him, but patiently suffered the tortures of bore dom at the greatest receptions ever given at the White House. When he took a notion to attend dinner party, he went, without regard to the cus- tomary etiquette of the White House. which prohibits the President from indulging in such things.
Connecticut western news., 1885-08-26
Grants Autographs.

While at Mt McGregor it did not escape the generals attention that everything he wrote was carefully preserved by those to whom he ad- dressed his slips. One night he show ed that this amused him by pleasant allusion to it in note to Dr. Douglas. "I notice." he wrote, "that when any one gets a slip it is carefully folded up and saved. No one throws one away. I think I shall have to stop writing, or some day will be hauled over the coals for my English"
 "Whateyer may be the criticisms on what you have written, General" Dr. Douglas promptly replied, mo one can assail your English"
 The general smiled, and his output of slips was not thereafter stinted. Every one, of course, wanted enc. Dr. Douglas was the envy of people at the hotel, as he went about with memo randum book thick with slips, and he was besieged with applications by mail for specimens; but he rarely parted with oneN-NetC York Times.
Connecticut western news., 1885-08-26

the critter would run right up on the shore, but he came about when not more than mile away, and would have taken us out to sea again only I cutthe line
 "That harpoon in the corner which I spoke of before is the very one he carried away with him. You can see my name on it, if you don't believe me The ship Anna Rogers of New Bed ford killed the whale two years after, and finding the harpoon in it's back sent it to me. I was sorry that whale was dead, because it had been a good friend to us. I never used the har- poon again, but kept 1t on land as a relic"
Connecticut western news., 1885-08-26
"Nos always, MT. ArundeA' answer.

S-. cd calm, quiet voice. and Minnie Dartford stoOo before him, her white dress sbimmering like the robes of a phantom in the semi-darkness, "for at least the lesson of their folly may teach them to be wiser in time"
 Miss Dartfordp' echoed Herbert Arundel, dropping his cigar as he started, aghast, to his feet; while his companion looked on as if he would very much like to disappear through the cracks of the floor.
 "I have unwillingly been compelled to listen to your edifying conversation of the last few minutes" Minnie went relentessly on. "and you yourself can easily imagine how completely have been enlightened thereby. I suppose I ought to be angry with you; but l can only feel thankful for the fate which has been averted from me Good evening, MT. Arundel, and good by"
 And, with a low inclination of her head Miss Dartford passed from the room, and Herbert Arundel never saw her morei
 He left town the self-same evening carrying with him the interesting consciousness that he had overplayed his part and thwarted his own plans.
 And Clarence never knew what had opened the eyes of his capricious little charmer. He only rejoiced that she had once more taken him into favor.
 "Well," said Aunt Sylvia, on the morning of the day on which Minnie Dartford became Mrs. Clarence Lee, q do believe Pm the happiest old woman alivep'
 "And Pm the happiest young one, Aunt Sylvia" laughed Minnie, 50 there is pair of us!''
Connecticut western news., 1885-08-26
A Prophet in His Own Country.

q tell you, my dear" said an old gentleman to his wife on the summer hotel veranda
 "Don't tell me anything, sir" retort- ed the lady, with emphasis.
 "But believe"
 "Bahl What do your beliefs amount to?"
 "But think"
 "Bahl You flatter yourself. What are your thoughts worth?''
 "But. my dear, know"
 Don't talk to me about what you know. What you don't know would fill an encyclopedia. Everybody knows you are stupid old, senseless, worthless dotard. You don't know enough to come in when it rains"
 "Who is that old gentleman over there" asked visitor of the hotel clerk.
 Don't you know himp Why, he ia the Chief Justice of our Supreme Court" s"--PUek.
Connecticut western news., 1885-08-26
A Rensnn fnr Selling.


 Indignant purchaser-See here, siri I don't want this horse you sold me. He balks. I can't get him over the bridge.
 Jockey-That's the reason I sold him. Why did you come to me for the horseP
 q saw your advertisement in the paper"
 "I thought so. gave you my req sons for selling him."
 "Yes. TO be sold you stated, for no other reason than that the owner wants to go out of town"
 "Well, if you can go out of town with him it win be more than I can do."-Philddelphia Call
Connecticut western news., 1885-08-26
Something About SunstrOke,

In a circular issued by the New York board of health occurs the fol- lowing in regard to sunstroke:
 Prevention-Don't lose your sleep; sleep in cool place; don't worry; don't get excited; don't drink too much alco- nol; avoid working in the sun if you can; if indoors, work in a well-ventila- eed room; wear thin clothes; wear a light hat, not black; put large green leaf or wet cloth in it; drink freely and sweat freely; if fatigued or dizzy knock off work, lie down in cool place, and apply cold water and cold cloths to your head and neck.
 Cure-Put the patient in the shade; loosen his clothes about the neck; send for the nearest doctor; give the patient cool drinks of water or black tea or black ccffee, if he can swallow. If his skin is hot and dry prop him up, sitting against tree or wall; pour cold water over the body and limbs and put on his head pounded ice wrapped in cloth or towel If you can't get ice, use wet cloth and keep freshening it. But if the patient is pale and faint and his pulse is feeble lay him on his back, make him smell hartshorn for 8 few seconds, or give him teaspoonsful of aromatic spirits of ammonia or tincture of ginger in two tablespoonful of water. In this case use no cold water, but rub the hands and feet and warm them by hot applications until the circulation is restored
Connecticut western news., 1885-08-26
ADVERTISING RArEst
Growing Old.

Growing oidl The pulses measure Keeps its even tenor atilli Eye and hand nor fail nor faltor. And the brain obcys the wills Only by tho whitening trcsscs, And tho deepening wrinkles told. Youth has passed away like vaporE Primo Is gone, and grow old. Laughter hushos at my presence, Gay young voices whisper lower, IfI dare to finger by it,
 All tho stream of life runs slower. Though love the mirlh of children, Though prize youths vlrgin gold, What have Ito do with cithcrl Time is tolling-I grow old. Not 30 dread the gloomy rivor That shrank from SO of yorci All my first of love and friendshiF Gather on the further shore. Were it not the best Co join them Ere feel the blood run ooldi Ere hoar it said too haphly,
 "Stand back from us--you nro oldlT
 --.fH fhs Year Round
Connecticut western news., 1885-08-26
Local News a Speciality.
To-Day.

o swcet To-day! too sweet to last
 Beyond few short moments space, And then the vision of thy face Becomes memory of the past.
 Ah! stay thy feeting feet, I pray, A little longer, sweet To-day. o sweet To-day! why must thou go. The sky is blue, the earth is fair, And summers lurking everywhere; There's music in the winds that blow. An! stay thy flying feet, pray, A little longer, sweet To-day. O sweet To-day! 'tis not too late; I would not lose thee yet a while; There's pleasure in thy sunny smile; I'm happy and can laugh at Fate.
 Ah stay thy flying feet, I pray, A little longer, sweet To-day. o sad To-day, that once was sweet! The past is gone bey ond recall; The future lies within pall, No moro thy dear name Trepeat
 In vain begged of thee to stay A little Iongor, sweet To-day. .Mdrion Homer in Iot0a Topics.
Connecticut western news., 1885-08-26

The National Museum at Washing ton has received some relics of the first iron furnace in America. This was at Falling Creek, in Chesterfield County, Virginia, a few miles below Richmond, but on the opposite side of the James. The works were begun fin 1919, but in 1922 were destroyed in an Indian massacre They were never renewed. and the next attempt to manufacture iron was made by Gov. Spottswood, near the present site of Fredericksburg, about 1726. To this the plantation of George Washington's father, Augustine, contributed much ore
Connecticut western news., 1885-08-26

The plan of assisting the poor work ingmen of London by furnishing them with funds to emigrate seems to have been almost complete failure. The leader of the movement reports that there are no less than twenty-four societies in London for aiding emi- grants, but that they do not raise more than s20.00O year for the pur- pose, and only helped 2,11s persons to emigrate last season. The trouble is evidently of twofold character; too many societies, and too little public sympathy with their work. The Spectator says there is feeling among the rich that the labor market of Eng land is already thin enough.
Connecticut western news., 1885-08-26
Origin Of the Liberty Cap.

The Phrygians were people from the shores of the Euxine Sea, and they conquered and took possession of the entire eastern part of Asia Minor. To distinguish themselves from the na- tives, the conquerors wore close lt- ting cap, and had it stamped on their coins. The Romans took the fashion of wearing caps from the Phryglans. but they were only worn by freedmen. When a slave was set free, a red cap called the pileus. was put on his head, and this was token of his manu- mission. When Saturanius took the capital in the year 263. he had a cap set up on the top of a spear as promise of liberty to all slaves who would join him. Marius used the same expedient to incite the slaves to take arms with him against Syla. When Cesar was murdered the con spirators carried cap on a spear as a token of the liberty of Rome The statue of the Goddess of Liberty on the Aventine Hill carried in her hand a cap as an emblem of freedom.-St Louis Globe Democrat.
Connecticut western news., 1885-08-26

Children In Congo are the property of the mothers relatives. The right of inheritance is from uncle to nephew, and a mans slaves and real property go to the eldest son of his eldest sister, or the next of kin in such line. A wise nephew usually leaves his fathers house and lives with his uncle to keep his eye on his future property.
Connecticut western news., 1885-08-26

The interest factor is one of the most potent features in all business transactions. Money will double it. self at ten per cent. in about seven years, at nine per cent. in eight years, at eight per cent. in nine years, at sev- en per cent. in ten and half years, at six per cent. in twelve years, at five per cent. in fourteen years, at four and half per cent. in sixteen years, and at four per cent in eighteen years.