davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-03-11
"Heads" and "IailS,"

A correspondent having asked what
constitutes the "head of coin, the
New York Journal Of Commerce re-
plies
One of our contemporaries, a few
days since, in answer to similar
question, asserted that the side bearing
the date is always the "head" or OBJ.
verse side. This is an error, since the
dating of coins is comparatively a
modern invention, while the tossing of
coins to decide disputes or to settle
mooted questions is very ancient, and
the expression "heads or tails" has been
in use longer than the custom of in
scribing on the coin the year of issue.
There was also a very old English
expression equivalent toit, and known
as "cross or pile" in allusion to the
English coinage which bore on one
side cross, and on the other a device
which was on the pile or punch used
in making the coin. The Romans
used to toss the coin and called out
"capita aut navim'-heads or ships
in al]usiOn to coins bearing on one
side the head of Janus, and on the
other the prov Of a ship. The most
important device on coin, without
regard to the date, determines the side
bearing it to be the diverse, or head,
and the other is the reverse. or tail
II there is on one side of coin head
of god or goddess, man or woman, and
no such figure on the other, the side
bearing it is always diverse, or head,
no matter what is on the reverse.
If on one side is kings head, and on
the other the head of his queen or of
an inferior person, the former is the
diverse and the latter the reverse. If
the devices and inscriptions on the two
sides are of equal Importance, neither
side is "hard" in the technical sense.
Such coins are very rare, but where
one is used and there is any doubt as
to which side is the more important
and therefore is the diverse, the
parties to the toss should agree before
hand upon the distinction so as to
avoid all possibility of dispute. 1t is
a common trick with those who are
INSCRIPTIONS in their methods of gain
to carry such a doubtful coin, and
always insist that the side which falls
falls uppermost gives the victory in
their favor.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-03-11
Love and Peas.

Peas are sacred to Freya, almost
vying with the mistletoe in alleged
virtue for lovers. In one district of
Bohemia the girls 60 into field of
peas and mako there garland Of five
or seven kinds of flowers, (the goddess
of love delights in uneven numbers, J
all Of different hues. This garland
they must sleep upon, lying with their
right ear upon it, and then they hear
voice from underground, which tells
what manner of men they will have
for husbands. Sweet peas would
doubtless prove very effectual in this
kind of divination, and there need be
no difficulty in finding them of different
hues. If Hertfordshire girls are lucky
enough to find pod containing nine
peas, they lay it under gate and
believe they will have for husband
the first man that passes through.
On the borders unlucky lads and
lasses in courtship are rubbed down
with pea straw by friends of tho
opposite sex. These beliefs connected
with peas are very widespread.
Tombstone it will be remembered
gave two peas to Jane Smile, saying,
with weeping tears, wear these for
my sake. '"-Belgapia.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-03-11
A Valuable Bride.

Says the Tucson (Arizona) Star
Mrs. Jesus Castro, an aged Mexican
lady now residing at American Flag,
in the Santa Catalina Mountains, is
perhaps the only woman who, literally
speaking, ever cost her husband her
weight in gold. 1t is SAID that in the
early gold-digging days of California
she was resident of Sonora, in which
State she was born and grew to
womanhood. When about the age Of
seventeen paternal uncle, but few
years her senior, returned with his
companions, gold-laden, from the Ell
Dorado Of the West, and became des-
perately enamored of her. He sought
her hand IN marriage and was accept
ed, but the church refused, because of
tho near relationship existing between
them, to solemnize the marriage. Per-
suasion being in vain, he tried the
power of gold to win the church his
way, and succeeded only by the pay
ment of her weight in gold. She at
the time weighed III pounds, and
against her in the scales the glittcring
dust was shoyeled. Her allianced hus-
band still had sufficient of this worlds
goods to provide a comfortable home,
and they were married. They lived
happily together, and she bore to her
husband eleven children. In the course
of years he died, and she married again,
Mr.. Castro being her second husband.
The above is fact, and not fiction, as
living witnesses can prove.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-03-11
Soaring Them or.

Mr.. Winks--"GoOdncss me! There is
young couple looking at that vacant
house next door, and they've got baby
looks awful cross, too"
Mrs. Wink5-."IIOrrors! What shall
we do? Can't we scare them off some
way? Go tell them The roof leaks and
the walls are damp and tell them the
last tenant died of smallpox"
"l'd like to, dear, but it wouldn't do.
The Landlord would sue for damage"
"Oh! mercy; bat something must be
done. Mr.. Wjnks, before they decide to
take it. On. do think Of something"
Il have it. Run down to the piano
and sing Sweet Violcts.' "-CaN.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-03-11
Rise OF the Middle Name.

One Of the myriad currents Of the
great social streams has lately whisked
the once lonely and Insignificant mid
die name out into the full tide of pop
ularity, and is sweeping it on conspic-
uous in all the glory of its entire
length and massiveness, says the Cleve-
land, Ohio. Leader. The initial which
long did duty as its representative has
suddenly become acquainted with its
half-forgotten fellows, and wonder
full expansion of signatures has result
ed. John B. Smith is now John
Brown Smith, and Mary S. Brown has
become Mary Smith Brown, and so on
without limit. Writers are giving
their admirers the benefit of all the
names they have, and from celebrities
like Thomas Bailey Aldrich, George
Parsons Lathrop, Louise Chandler
Moulton, Frances Hodgson Burnett
and Harriet Beecher Stowe to the Reg
inald Wilde Schmidts and Beatrice
Langtry Gilhoolys who scribble for
aashy weeklies, they refuse to cut
down or condense their appellations,
no matter what may happen to the
rest of their copy The result has
been a certain gain in the British
stateliness so much desired, and a
parading Of family connections highly
interesting to gossips, and quite sug-
gestive of ancestral pride. 1t is this
last phrase of the middle name craze
which is most significant With the
growth of wealth and hereditary prom
inence in society the aristocratic drift
of feeling among Americans of large
means and fashionable notions has be-
come very marked, and each genera
tion born and bred in luxury finds it
more disagreeable to look back to the
days when the family was poor and
and humble, and easier to imagine the
gulf that time has opened between the
rough Puritan chore girl and the Bea-
con street belle, the New Amsterdam
butcher and the Fifth avenue dandy,
too wide to cross even in thought,
much more for the plebeian multitude
to bridge So out come coats of arms,
made to order, and crests and middle
names.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-03-11
SCIENTIFIC SCRAPS.

DR.. B. ]. Jefries holds that the three
primary colors are red, green and VIC
let; that blindness to violet is rare, and
that color blindness is practically con-
fined to red or green.
The number of fossil plant species
now known is estimated to be mot less
than 5000, and may be considerably
greater. A catalogue of all which have
been described down to the present year
is being prepared at the National
museum.
The highly priced edelweiss, suppos.
ed to grow only on the Swiss Alps, and
another Alpine flower called in Swift
erland the mannertreu, have been found
in the Tacoma range, in Washington
territory, the former at an altitude Of
5000 feet above the sea level.
The discovery was recently an
nounced Of fossil air breathing ami.
NAL Of an earlier age than any before
known-a scorpion from the upper
Silurian deposits of Sweden. A cock
roach's wing dating from a still more
remote period--the middle Silurian-
has since been found in France.
Flying fish do not fly is the assertion
of DR.. X. Mobius, a German zoologist
The muscles of their pectoral fins are
too small to sustain the weight of the
body in the air. The impulse to which
they owe their long shooting passage
through the air is delivered while they
are still in the water, by the powerful
masses Of muscle on both sides of thei
body.
Considering its extent, America i,
better supplied by the clouds than Eu
rope and Africa. In the tropics Of thu
Old World the annual rainfall is abou
n inches, while in tropical South
America it is 155 inches. In the cas-
tern United States it is 40 to 50 inches;
but west of the Tooth meridian to the
Sierra Nevada it is mostly u to 1G
inches. The annual average of Great
Britain is IS inches; that of France,
20 to q inches, but about the Alps il
is mostly IS to so inches. Farther
from the coast, in Central Germany and
Russia, it is only Is to 20 inches. The
moistest climate known is in India al
Cherrapongee, where over a small area
the yearly fall Of rain is more than SIC
inches, or about 81 feet.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-03-11
The Spears of the Arabs,

Arabia is another country famou,
for the skill of its spearsmen, and trav.
ellers never weary of telling of thu
dexterous feats, the terrific appearance
Of the mounted Bedouins. The
Soudanese thoroughly understand the
use of the ancient national arm, and do
not hesitate to oppose the spear to the
bayonet. 1t is a desperate weapon,
indeed, in the hands of such brave
men as Osman Digma commands, but
the pitiless fire Of European rifles gives
The gallant fellows but little chance of
coming to the close quarters in which
alone their spears can be deadly. The
Zulus, when they rushed in on the
British camp at Isandlawana, flung
first a volley of the longer assegais,
and then closed with the stabbing one
before the British troops had time to
form for defence So, too, when the
troops Of Hicks Pasha and General
Baker let the Arabs get amongst them
the massacre was rapid and complete.
At El-Teb they tried hard to do the
same, but the Highlanders would not
have it, and the line of British steel
kept the host outside the square till
the guns and rifles, pouring in their
shells and bullets, compelled them to
retire. AT Abu Klea again the tactics
were similar. The enemy, "by a
cleverly executed movement, almost
disappeared from view" and then sud.
denly reappearing close to the British
troops, flung themselves headlong
against the square, hoping to force
their way into it, and in the melee that
would thus ensue to find the opportu.
nifty for effective use of their keen.
headed spears. The sight must have
been most imposing one, and calcu-
lated to shake the steadiest nerves, as
the two masses, 5000 mon in each
suddenly burst from their covert, and
with their wild cries of "For the
FAITH" came at racing speed upon the
European guns, brandishing above
their heads, as they rushed to death,
the spears which their leader once
told them were to drive the British
bayonets back to the Red Sea-Hour
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-03-11
Fashion Notes.

Ladies are again wearing seal rings
Decorative lamps and candlesticks
re in great demand.
Little girls wear the navy-blue
blouse again this spring.
Collarettes are made Of garnet vel.
vet, covered over with garnet beads.
The high couture is the preferred
mode of hairdressing in fashionable
society.
For new spring suits come clasps
FOR neck and waist of silver set with
colored stones.
English ladies have abandoned the
olng, and comb the hair so as to ex-
lose the forehead.
Woollen lace in a variety of .oolors,
hales aud widths is used in both
,gessMaklng and millinery,
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-03-11
Cotton monte cloth, sorlm, and the

Cotton monte cloth, sorln, and tho
crash on which Bulgarian embroidery
is done, are to be used for millinery.
Silk surah promises to be largely
used, and is decorated with the
medieval blocks, banners, shields and
bars.
Silver jewelry. both in plain and
oxydized finish, is very fashionable,
and likely to remain so for long time
to come.
Scotch plaids, the Madras bars and
the lengthwise stripes are repeated in
various widths and colors in the new
ribbons.
White Roman pearls, which so
cleverly initiate the genuine article.
are much worn, especially in form Of
necklaces.
The white lace for early spring
bonnets is the creamy Angora wool
lace, which combines well with velvet
or etamine.
A pretty table cover for the dining
room can he made Of felt lined with
colored canton flannel. II will also
prove durable.
All watered and notified effects are
to be revived for millinery, and it is
said that watered silks are again to be
worn in costumes.
The ottoman repped silks are shown
in soft pliable qualities in ribbons,
scarfs and in 'piece goods" as mil
liners term wide fabrics.
Jackets to match suits are heavily
trimmed with silver. gilt or bronze
braid around the cuffs, collars, and
down the front to form vest.
The Henri Deux shapes are repeated,
with the brim varied slightly on the
sides, while the back fits smoothly
over the high coiffure, and is without
any brim.
Striped woolens are shown for parts
of dresses, while the other combina-
tions have frise velvet figures on
wooden ground for the vest and front
breadths of dresses made principally
of plain wool.
The general design for spring suits
is that of short basques, with long
drapery and plain lower skirts and
this suggestion is given alike in dresses
of one fabric or for combination of
two materials.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-03-11

A considerable portion of the Amerl.
can petroleum shipped to Europe is,
after being deodorized, made into butter
and suet, which are used by the poorci
classes to some extent, but very largely
by bakers in the large cities, who Use il
in making cake. The confection
ers also employ it, 1t has great ad
vantage over butter in that in store cakes
or in candy the petroleum not only does
not become rancid and betray the age Of
the article, but acts as preservativc in
keeping the other ingredients of the cake
or candy from spelling, A recent by.
giene council, sitting in Paris, protested
against this use of our oil, but it is moi
thought its consumption in this way will
be lesseued, 70.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-03-11
Horrors Of the Rink.

TIE roller rink has many sins to an
wer for, b 1t it still remains a flourish
ing I.rie. ican institution. Something
must be dunc soon, however, for the
dashing professor of roller skating
lis us'Tping the place of the sad-eyed
coachman and coping with rich heir
esses. The rink must reform or co.
MinReabo!ig I'ribHle,
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-03-11
The Chinese STYLE,

Just outside of the west gate of the
Shanghai city is small hamlet where
lived an old man and his son. The
latter made it a practice of calling
upon his father for cash whenever he
was in want of it, until the thing got
rather monotonous for the father, who
demonstrated with his son, and being
saucily replied to, the father attempted
to apply "paternal correction" on the
son; the son, in rage, then caught hold
of the door bar and brought it down
with such force upon the fathers
skull that he cracked it and killed the
old man. The neighbors hearing the
row assembled at the door of the house
where the murder was committed and
captured the son as he was endeavor-
ing to escape. The members of the
fathers clan were then called together,
and at a solemn conclave 1t was de-
cided to administer on the spot the law
set aside for parricides, instead of ap-
pealing to the magistrate, which inva-
riably causes much delay, and perhaps
the murderer might effect his escape
in the meantime. So the parricide
was bound hand and foot, and just
without the hamlet hole was dug
and the wretched murderer consigned
to its depths. The mud was thrown
into the hole, and the members of the
clan stamped by turns on the grave
until it was on q level with the ground
and so, without leaving mound or
any,marks to point ont the parricide's
grave, the assembled crowd dispersed
silently to their daily vacations,
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-03-11
LADIES' DEPARTMENT..
A Spanish Marriage.

A Spanish marriage ceremony has
some peculiar features. Especially
notable is the fashion of velaciones.
During the mass said after the mar
riage ceremony, the couple, with their
godfather and godmother, kneel at the
foot of the altar; a silken cord is
thrown around the neck of the bride
and the bridegroom holds the ends of
it; then they throw a large strip of silk
cloth over the heads Of the newly mar
ried pair, after which lighted wax
candle is handed to them, and god
father and godmother as well; then
the priest besprinkles all four with
holy water, blesses them, and thus the
ceremony is ended. A Spanish lady
does not consider herself. thoroughly
married without a velacion.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-03-11
Tho Reputation OF a standard Article

The Reputation OF Standard Article
Is seldom injured by surreptitious rivalry
Imitators Of Hostetter's Stomach BItters have
not only lost money by attempting underhand
competition with 1t, but have actually con-
trbuted to enhance the estimation IN which
tho genuine medicine is held The public at
large has for many years been acquainted with
the eur marks that distinguish the real from
the spurious, and cannot be persuaded that
oher articles sold in n somewhat similar guise
are equally good. Fever and ague, conStipa.
ton, dyspepsia and liver complaint are not
durable by cheap local bitters, eye openers md
tonlc5, but the fact Is too well proven and too
generally known to admit oil conscientious dis
pute, that for these and other maladies the
great household medicine Is n safe and thor
ough remedy. Not only in the United States,
but in Mexico, South America and the West
Indies, its merits are widely recognized and its
reputation too firmly established to be shaken
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-03-11
Alum.

Native alum appears in the form O.
an efllorescence or argillaceous rock in
various parts of the country, especially
in the Silver Mountain district, Alpine
county, California, but the deposits are
too light to be of much practical value
Some years ago a discovery was re
ported of what was termed an alum
ode, on Howell Mountain, Napa
county, California, remarkable for its
extent and purity, but as little alum
from that locality has ever found it
way to market, it is probable that the
account of the discovery was much ex
aggerated. The existence of native
alum is reported in other parts of Cali
fornia and also in Colorado, but it Is
extremely doubtful if it has been found
anywhere as mineral in quantities OF
available bulk. Artificial alum, or the
alum of commerce, is manufactured
commodity, and the supplies consumed
In this country are both the imported
article and that manufactured in few
Eastern chemical works. During the
census year ending May 81, 1880, tn,
production of alum in the United States
was nearly thirty million pounds, valued
at 1908. los. The production Of artifi
cial alum in 1882 amounted to between
10000 and 10000 tons. which at two
cents pound would be worth s640,G0Q
to 100000. The process of manu-
facture is very simple, consisting in
mixing the alum clay with sulphuri'
acid, dissolving the sulphats of al
umina thus formed, and then adding
solution Of sulphate of ammonia and
crystalizing the resulting salt. Th,
principal manufactures in this country
are in New York City, Buffalo
Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, boston
Journal Of Commerce,
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-03-11

The Nevada gold-scekers have dis
covered a new use for fowls. 1t is a
common sight there to see men and
women carrying hen under one arm
and a basket of chickens under the
other When they reach their destina-
tion the hens arc pickctcd, and, being
already hungry, begin to scratch and
eat. After three or four days honest
toll they are killed and their c~aws ex-
amined for gold. As much as S. has
been found in ono Craw,
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-03-11
Splendid IIOn0rs.

The public should note the fact that
the only proprietary medicine on earth
that ever received the supreme award
of Gold Medal at the great Information
al World Fairs, Industrial EXpositions
and State Fairs, is st. Jacobs Oil. AT
ter the most thorough and practical
tests, in hospitals and elsewhere, it has
universally triumphed over all compel
itors, and been proclaimed by Judges
and Jurors, including eminent physi-
clans, to be the best pain'curing remedy
in existence.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-03-11

that the multitude of diseases of scrofulous
nature generally proceed from a torpid con-
dition OF the liver The blood becomes i'm
pure because tho liver does not act properly
and work Off the poison from the system, and
the certain results are blotches, pimples, erup-
tions, swellings, tumors, ulcers and kindred
affections, or settling upon the lungs and
poisoning their delicate tissues, until tlcera.
ton, breaking down and consumption is es-
tablished. DR.. Picrces "Golden Medical Dis.
purifying the blood, cure all these diseases.
The Government has so far granted
to railroads upwards of l80,000,00O
acres of land.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-03-11

FoR DYSPEPSIA, INDIGESTION, depression ofspir
its and general debility in their various forms,
also as preventive against fever and ague and
otherintermittent levers, the "ferro-P hosphor
ated Elixir OF Calisaya," made by Caswe
Hazard 4 Co., New York, and sold by all Drug
gists, is the best tonic and for patients recover
ing from fever or other sickness it has no equal
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-03-11

when neglected or improperly treated often
degenerate into cancer. By our new and i'm.
proved treatment without knife, caustic or
salve, we cure the worst cases in ten to thirty
days. Pamphlet, references and terms, three
letter stamps. Worlds Dispensary Medical
Association, SOS Main street, Buffalo, n. Y.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-03-11

The japanese have new dictionary
Of the Chinese language, comprising
no less than forty volumes.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-03-11

Where's thY sense in spending money for n
doubtful affair. when a sure and reliable
thing is offeredl Hop Porous Piusters for
all aches, pains and soreness The greatest
strengthened known 25c.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-03-11

The permanent population of Wash
ington is estimated at PIP, 900, and the
transients in town at 10000
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-03-11

The nncients were acquainted with the vr.
tue Of petroleum. Hcrodotus refers to it and
speaks of wells being found in Zantc. Now
adays everybody has heard of it through Car
boline, the great Natural lInir Restorer
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-03-11

In England the New Testament can
be bought for a penny, half Of the
cost to publish it.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-03-11

The Andrews Parlor Folding Beds receive the
highest commentator wherever used, in Ho-
tells, in Boarding Houses and Private Families.
Keelcr's, SO to 81 Washington street, Boston
through OH Itch.0
"Rough on Itch cures humors, eruptions,
ringworm, tettcr, salt rhcum, frosted feet,
chilblains.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-03-11

Life Preserver.
If you arc losing your grip on life, try
Wells Health Remover" Goes direct to
weak spots.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-03-11

Don't hawk, anil blow, and spit, but usc
Dr.. Sage's Catarrh Remedy.