davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-09-16
Old Age.

With every year the average duration
of life is increased, and we have more
old people on our hands. Naturally:
the question becomes of increasing in.
terest, How shall we secure n healthful
old age, and how can we prolong in
comfort this scniiity2
Sorsc curious information regarding
this subject, though more especially re.
G riding what may be called ''centcna-
rianism," has been published by gen.
tleman of Syracuse, n. Y, who, we are
informed, has collected the histories of
10, 900 people that have passed the age
of 100 years. According to this author
ity, the United States leads in centena-
rian longevity, while Connecticut is
ahead among the States. AS to sex,
women; as to occupation, soldiers.
sailors and farmers are the longest lived.
Among the professions, 100 ministers,
thirty doctors and ten lawyers reached
their centennial.
Of more practical and scientific char
acter are the statistics regarding longcv-
ity obtained by the British Collective
Investigation committee. These arc based
upon over 500 returns, and relate to per-
sons who have reached or passed the age
of eighty.
Professor Humphrey, Of Cambridge,
has given some interesting deductions
based upon the returns in an Grafton de-
livcrcd before the Medical society, Of
| London.
The first requisite for longevity must
be an inherent quality of endurance,
something which is Unborn and per-
haps inherited. 1t is noticeable that the
phthisical taint does not necessarily les
sen the capacity for longevity. Among
500 aged persons, nhthisis appeared in
fathers, mothers. brothers, or sisters of
eighty-two, that is, in about seventeen
per cent. In one case both father and
mother were phthisical.
A second requisite for long life is
freedom from exposure to casualties. 1t
is on this ground, in part, that more
women than men reach extreme age
Other reasons, however, are, perhaps, a
greater natural vitality, since even in
early life the mortality is less among fe-
males than males. 1t docs not seem to
be proved by the data collected that
short and small men and women have
any advantage over those who arc taller
and larger. The average height of old
Englishmcn is five feet six inches, that
of women five feet three inches.
Sir Henry Thompson, in recent arti-
Gle on "Dict iii Relation to Age" has
called attention to the harm that comes
from attempts to over-fccd old people.
They arc injured, he truly says, by the So
licitous relatives, who think
that in feeding there is sure
help for the waning strength.
The old need light diet to correspond
with the lessened work and slower nu-
triton aid waste of their tissues. .-Aedi-
| cal Ifecor0
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-09-16
Eel Farming.

A newspaper correspondent at South
Yarmouth, Mass, has discovered new
enterprise, which he describes as follows
Two gentlemen whose experience war
rants them in trying the experiment pur-
chased large fresh water ponG. and into
this they put thirty barrels of silt water
GELS of all sizes. At rough guess there
must be in the pond 20, cells at the
present time. Thee arc expected to in
crease in size or weight at least three
fold by the first of October, When they
will be taken out and shipra'l to the
New York market, where there IS always
great demand for them. IIcra ca the
seacoast no one ever thinks of eating u
fresh waller eel; its flesh is soft and very
fat, but they arc considered great deli.
cacy by city people, and the larger the
fish the better prices they bring. To
feed them 0, 900 'horse feet were caugh:
and kept in q pound in the river, and
twice week 700 pounds arc thrown into
the pond, and by this time the GELS have
learned to know they are fed, and the
water soon becomes alive with these
squirming specimens. The scheme has
not found much favor with the village
people generally, but perhaps when Win
ter comes the gentlemen most interested
will be the ones to laugh.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-09-16
rHENATIoNAL LEAGUE.
NEWSY GLEANINGS.

THERE are thirteen LoudouS in this coun
try.
BERLIN hotels are using paper (mache)
plates.
CALIFORNIA has an estimated colo:ed
Dopu alton OF I,3Ol
WlGGIHS, tha Canadian weather prophet,
predict, u very mild winter.
ELECTRICAL. headlights are now on the To-
c,Jnotives of O Western railroad.
\ CHURCH in Dakota has gone into the
farming business in ortcr to raise tunts.
Ir has been figured ont that 5.4OO. .O0o, 600
pa,snnrrrs were carried by tine worlds rall'
ways il !SS!
THE State census OF New Jersey gives q
total po.,l!atiOn Of l,216,S2 n net lncreaiS
since lS>U of l4s,i0J
No les, than ,SSj,O0 persons have visited
the International Inventors exhibition III
London since its opening
SOME of the gamblers driven out of Chica.
60 have established their games III boats be-
yond the city limits on the lake.
IN Massachusetts $4,000 depositors have
s4j1, ,m,J, 800 in tn. savings banks. i'll New
York the savings institutions hold S3I1,00o,-
OO0 of small deposits.
So many of tho boys sent to West Point
prove unable to pass tho examination for nd
mission that about fifty Congressional GS'
tricts are unreprrsented.
ONLY about $50 pounds of each beef ami
nal is fit for canning, hence to provide ",00,
on pounds of canncl beef, or 3oluoO cans,
would require 20 oo0 cattle.
THE false teeth of an elderly woman living
near Logan. Ohio. became dislodgcd during
a severe spell OF coughing, day or two ago,
aud slippel into her throat, choking her to
death.
FEMALE prisoners havs become 80 numer.
ous in tho city iail at Pensacola, Fla, that
they have b."a pas III an lnc!"'ure an
set to kin, st ,nc for STREET purposes to
pay their ijues.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-09-16
MUSICAL AND DRAMATIC

EMMA ABBOTT is taking walking exercises
to reduce her adiposity.
PATHS spare moments arc being devoted
to the writing of her memoirs.
Mr.. LESTER WALLAcK will play short
season through the country this year.
CLARA LOUISE KELLOGG has ha1a suc-
cessfu! concert tour through the Northwest.
WILLIAM CARLETON, well-known dramat-
tst and singer. recently committed suicide in
New York.
MISS ELLA RUSSELL, young American
soprano, has made very success I'll debut i'll
"Traviata" at Berlin.
TIE first prize for violin playing at the
Vienna Conservatorium this year has been
awarded to q lad Of ten years, Friedrich
kreisler.
Miss EMMA NEVADA has been engaged for
O concert tour III this country, beginning on
the 3lst OF next October at the Philadelphia
Academy Of music.
NINE. PATTI was askel to appear in "Il
Barbiere' and "Ln Traviata' at Munich with
King Louis of Bavaria constituting the entire
audience, but she fatty refused.
NGSETY-THREE farcical comedies to be on
the road this year. And they all expect to
make money. Well. there is line some
"uele iUOuI uOIe uilu JIG ulllltl Dle'tNl-
THIS country, 50 fertile in singers, has pro-
duced scarcely any composers. AMI Mr. 5. Il.
Pratt. of Chicago. is, so far as wo know, the
only American who has brought out grand
opera in five acts.
PAULINE LuCCA is venturing her fame or
q new opera by new composer. Tho namo
of the opera is "Cordelia," tho composers
So!oview, and the new work is to be given at
tho Impcria Opera house, Vienna.
LETTERS from Paris speak Of Miss Hattie
Eddy. of Philadelphia, who is Sstulying opera
with Mm". do Lagrange, rs the coming cant
atr"c Her voice is sll to bo superior to
that of any American who has visited Paris
for many years.
Miss BosroRp, n little American laly who
has Just entered her teens, is attracting much
attention as n violnist in Lonl III. She.mado
her debut ut Baron Won Bu:h'S at home"
playing slpcrbly n number of difficult pieces
which older players fear.
DAVID ID. LLOYD, the author of "For Con-
grcss, tho latest successful play in Mr. John
r. Raymond's repSrtory. severed his conn'c-
ton with tho New York Tribune several
months ago, and has sine devoted himself to
playwriting, doing his work in Paris.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-09-16

1t is strange, says the Philadelphia
Nems that so many people do not know
how to cook corn. They cook it too
long. 1t should be popped in pot Of
boiling water-no salt-and lett there
for ten minutcs-bc sure the water is in
a great rage-then taken out and wrappc |
in large napkin until you arc ready to
eat it. Boiled longer than ten minutes
the milk hardcns in the kernels, and 1t is
not q tenth part rs palat lblc, and it is
much less digcstitlc.
Half u tcaspoonful of cornstarch dis
solved in tablespoonful of cream and
added to an omcct of five eggs will keep
it light and bit of co:nstarch will also
prevent scrambled eggs from becoming
watcry, as they often do "that last mo
mcnt on the fire. but be careful not to
use too much in either case. An egg
well beaten and rubbed over the lower
crust of pics will prevent the juice from
soaking through, and the juice of fruit
pies thickcncd with little cornstarch
will not boil over.
Rust can be rcmorcd from steel as
follows: Rub the article with Kerosene
oil and leave it to soak for day. Then
procure fine flower or emery and mix
with kerosene oil and scour the surface
with rotten stone. TO preserve from
rust. heat the steel and rub paralinc. No
steel articles should be kept in cellar
or damp place, but il dry attic OF
closet. If they must be kept in cellar
they should be we'll coated with paraf
fine and wrapped in cloth or paper; oiled
paper would be- preferable.
One of the best salal herbs goes 10
waste as a weed and pest of the garden.
Children know enough to cat sour grass
with it's tender acid leaf. French cook,
number it among the most excellent field
salads, and doctors say it is soothing for
the blood, preventing rheumatic and
gouty disorders. 1t ought to be brought
to market by the bushc. for every fed
has patches of it, and it IS better than
spinach or sorrcl for purees and bonne
femme soups, or it may he stcwed with
sugar in porcelain as delicate order Of
pieplant.
For coffee stains try putting thick
glycerine on the wrong side and wash
ing it out with lukcwarm water. For
raspberry stains weak ammonia and
water is the best. Stains Of fruit on
good table linen can be removed with
out injury by using the following with
care: Pour boiling water on chloride of
lime, in the proportion of one gallon to
a quarter of a pound, bottle it. cork it
we'll, and in using be careful not to stir
it. Lay the stain in this for moment,
then apply white vinegar and boil the
table linen.
The happy owner Of cow can always
provide some d:sh for desert upon short
notice. Here are directions for 'tritle::"
Cut several slices of sponge cake in small
pieces of regular shape, say an inch
square; put them into deep china bowl,
cover with rlcn boiled custard, reserv-
ing the whites of the eggs to whip for
the top, or if the COW produces cream,
use the whites of the eggs in the custard
and whip pint of cream for the top of
the bowl; flavor with vanilla and sweet
en- slightly; add the sugar while whip
ping the cream.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-09-16
Didn't Get the Knife.

General Grants early schooling was not
extensive. lie was not studious, but he
would take book of biographies of great
men and dcvour it by the hour. lie was
always punctual, but, though nc had
rough native courtesy, lie seldom spoke
to any one. lie usually sat on IL stump
and watched the boys play, but would
always Join in a SNOWFALL fight. lie was
extremely obstinate. lie had one fight
with the schoomastcr and won it. Some
of the boys attempted to take Grants
knife from him. The schoolmaster took
sides with the boys and ordered Grant to
give it up. which he refused to do. The
teacher took long black hickory switch
and logged the boy till his arms ached.
Grant neither begged, tlinched nor sur
rendered, but clung to the knife, and the
master had to give in st last and let
him keep it.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-09-16

A Strange Disease DepOpulating a
West Virginia County.


West Virginia County.
A Wheeling Nv. Va.) dispatch states that a
panic prevails in that portion of Clay coun-
ty lying along Sycamore creek, arising from
the frightful ravages of strange anil fatal
disease which has broken out among tho few
inhabitants of that locality. So far about
fifty persons have been attacked, of whom q
score have already died. The local ply
sicians seem powerless to afford relief. A
local paper says:
"Every hour brings the sad news of another
death. At first the malady was thought to
be flux, but it is now believed to be another
and more fatal disease. A vague, horrible
fear has begun to fill the breasts Of some. 1t
may no, be cholera, but tho symptoms
are very much like it. An instance
Of tie fatal effects of the disease is af.
forded by tho family of Justice Size
more, a wellknown citizen. Three of his
sons are already dead, and rs they lie i'll their
coffips three more are writhing and scream.
ing with the awful torture which carried off
the Others. We havo been unable to learn
the exact number of deaths, but the reports
are most alarming. 1t is chiefly confined to
who are attacked anl die within an
hour, seemingly paralyzed with pain"
The Sycamore creek region is very sparsely
settled with a class of hardy mountaineers,
and as the region is one of pure water and
healthy mountain air. the outbreak seems un-
accountable. The symptoms seem to suggest
the terrible disease that last year ravaged
number of counties in the extreme south
western portion of the State and one or two
over the line in Kentucky,
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-09-16
Horrors of HaYti.

The people are called together by beat
of drum. usually at midnight. The Ger,
cmony begins by administering oaths
cnjoining secrecy. Dancing then com
menccs, the excitement heing supple.
mcnted by copious libations of rum
till one or more of the wrctchcs falls
down in fit, when the spirit Of YOU
doux is supposed to have entered into
them. These orgies generally last three
days, but often much longer. On the
first night a priest sacrifices {, cock a;
the altar, the blood being drank warm.
Dancing then recommcnccs, and the
orgies 90 on till the individuals arc in.
capable of further cxcrtions.
On the third night the orgies con-
tinuc, when little child is brought in
the childs throat is cut by the priest.
the blood handed round and drank
warm; the body is then cut up and eaten
raw, that which is not disposed of being
salted for further usc.-"SpoH 0"l
7racel," Captain Hennely.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-09-16
The ue-BlOOtled Alaskan.

In Alaska each family has what is
called their totem polc-coat Of arms
to represent the descent and previous al
lianccs of their people. These poles
consist of carved images Of animals or
birds, and represent what their family is
supposed to have descended from and
into what families their children have
married, all images representing the de-
scent on the mothers side. Each town
of Indians is divided into two families,
called the Koc. .wau-ties and the kecksa-
ties, meaning warriors and civilians, re-
spectivcly. The head man OF each fami-
ly is the leader, but in descent strange
rule is followed; for, instead of rank and
property descending from father to son,
it passes from father to nephew on the
mothers side of the family. But in or
der for nephew to succeed to the rank
and properly Of his uncle, he must be
able to make a certain number of pres
ents to the members Of the family, and
then marry the chiefs widow-his aunt
no matter how many wives he may
have already.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-09-16
Utilizing the Monkey.

Perhaps the only attempts which have
been made to civiIizc the money is in
Malabar, India, says DR.. \. II. Ward.
a fine species indigenous in this quarter
is the Nelighcrry langur. The natives
here have tanning machines called the
punka. In other days the punka, which
consists of movable frame covered
with canvass and suspended from the
ceiling, was kept in motion by slave
pulling a cord. An English officer con-
ceivcd the idea Of teaching the langur
to do the work. lie took one of the
species and tied its hands to the cord,
while by means of another cord the ma
chine was kept in motion. The move
ment of the cord is up and down. and
of course, the monkeys hands being tied
to it, went up and down, and the animal
saw the machine move. Its master pat
ted its head and fed it with candy, and
the langur soon learned to think it fun
to work the machine. When I was in
Nlalabar securing specimens of this
species, saw thousands of them work
ing the punka, the Indians having i'm
mediatcly put the animals in captivity
when they saw their utility.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-09-16
In n Mexican Restaurant.

From the military plaza in San An.
tonia a haf.dozeu narrow streets branch
of. Down the narrowcst Of these,
which scem2 out q passage-way between
the rows of sombcr houses that line either
sidc-for this is 'greaser town'-is n
restaurant. The presiding genius of the
place is q fat and handsome Mexican
whose unctuous complexion glistens in
the glow of the charcoal fire that blazes
softly in q cavernous, horizontal slit in
the gigantic chimney. 1t is like no
other cooking arrangement that ever was
seen and the method of the chef lis be-
yond compare" Dozens of tiny sauce
pans and skillcts. set flat upon the Goals,
crowd the opening very much like inva-
lided teeth in some great ogre's mouth,
and in each of those little skillcts and
sauccpans is the portion for one person.
The treasures Of earth could not in
duce that oily cook to consolidate his
dishes and more especially to fry more
than one egg at time in his eggpa
his laws are fixed and unalterable, and
he rewards the protests Of his guests
against cold eggs served IN congealed oil
with Mexican indifference.
Thirteen plates for the thirteen wait
ing customers stand ready to his hand,
and the long-handled frying-pan makes
thirteen separate journeys with thirteen
separate eggs, the while that two assist
ants, degree dirtier, oilicr and less fat,
chop onion and CRATE cheese, which arc
spread finally over the chilled eggs and
cold oil and placed before the hungry
people, whom days anticipatory fast
has prepared to accept anything with
gratitude. In lieu of fork q very flat
pancake called "tortilla," is dolcd ont
to each one. Years OF practice are re-
quircd for the successful manipulation oi
this most useful article, which, when YOU
have done with as scoop and have dill
gently and successfully chased the parti
cles of food in the sea of oil that fills
your plate, YOU aic expected to eat as
final coursc--a most cleanly and labor
saving arrangement. -Iiome JOurnal
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-09-16
EIOuxchOId IkccfucS and Hints.

A tablespooful of powdered alum.
7prinklcd into a hooshcad of water and
stirred, will. in the course Of few
hours, prccipitatc to the bottom ali the
impure particles and leave the water
clear and pure as spring water. -Four
gallons would need but teaspoonful.
A new way to make apple pudding is
to make a batter Of -four. sweet milk,
and one egg, with baking powder, in
proper proportion. Pare and core six
tart apples, stew them in very little
water until they are quite soft; then beat
the apples into batter. THIS IS to he
baked in buttc,ed carthcn pie plate; 1t
should be- deep p.a c. This is to be
eaten with cream and sugar, or if cream
is an impossibility, use butter instead.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-09-16
PROMINENT PEOPLE.

Miss CLEVELAND already has made so, 900
from her book.
LORD TEyNYSoN, the pet laureate, is sew
enty.six years of age.
NEAL Dow, the Prohibtionist, has turned
his eightieth year.
ALI. the relatives of eH-Eice.PreSident
Wh,,!cr have died during the past ten years
NINE monuments to Grant will be erected
in this country unless some Of the present
projects fail.
JOHN b. COUGH, who has just completed
his sixty ei ;hth year, is said to be seriously
failing in health.
LUDWIG, tho mad king of Bavaria, is
thou hit by a London clitor to look like
Byron, whom some regard as the mad poet.
BoSToS'S famous lawyer. Sidney Bartlett,
is eighty-six years old and estimated worth
Sla.C0JO01, chiefly derived from excellent rail-
road speculation.
PRESIDENT CLEVELAND keepsa scrap book
of excerpts from the newspapers III order TO
I've informed Of all sorts of pub ic opinion 1t
IS on. c.rrk's sole employment TO collect and
preserve these things.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-09-16
DISASTER ON A LAKE.
A Party OF Seventeen Thrown into
Cayuga Lake-A WOman'S Fate,

A Party OF Seventeen Thrown into
Cayuga Lake-A WOman's Fate.
A strong wind was Blowing at Cayuga
Lake, N. Y, the other day when party of
seventeen started to return from Aurora
across the lake to East Varick, about four
miles, on largo catamaran, in charge OF a
,olored man named Cooper. The catamaran
was not properly ballasted, and when in
the middle OF the lake, two miles from
sither shore, she was struck by heavy wave.
For some reason the hatchways had been cut
in the deck Of the floats, and one Of these
latches washed off, and the boat filled with
water canting the craft over on one side.
The whole party was thrown into the lake.
All, however, succee led in regaining the
raft except Mrs. Riegel, ofsVarick She
was carried away from the rest. Ths acci-
lent was seen almost ut the moment OF its
occurrence, and several boats started for the
wreck All were rescued except Mrs. Riegel.
She wore heavy silk dress, and when thrown
overheard the skirt made balloon about her
1ead and the waves twisted the tops Of 1t to-
rethcr. She was not drowned but suifocated
IN the half hour her head had been thus en-
,aSnd.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-09-16
THE CAROLINE ISLANDS.
Spain Planting her Flag on tho Dis
Dufed TcrritOrys


A Madrid dispatch states that Spanish
men-of.war have arrived at Yap, the chief
island of the Caroline group, and planted the
Spanish flag, no German vessel being in
sight.
1t is also stated that the Emperor William
of Germany, through feeling OF sympathy
with King Alfonso has made personal In
reference in order to obtain prompt settle
ment of the Carolines affair favorable to
Spain. Spanish merchants and other con-
sumers of German products threaten to boy
colt all German goods. Firms in Wuerzberg
and Elberfed have received notices from
commercial houses in Spain severing business
connections with them.
A French paper states that all Spanish Off
GERS now on furlough have been ordered to
reioin their regiments. The same paper IS
authority for the statement that several
large Spanish mercantile houses have can
celed all their outstanding orders for German
goods. The members of the Spanish colony
in Paris are indignant at Germany's occupy.
ing the Caroline islands, and protest against
what they call Germany's usurpation and
perfidy.