davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-02-20
Bad Blaze at Troy, n. y

TROY, n. Y, Feb 90 "A fire burned OUT
the Gurley building on Fulton street, early
Thursday morning, and DESTROYED the stock
of Coon q Co, collars and cuffs, and OF the
J. Leroy Pine Co, leatheT and rubber halt
ing, The losses on building and stock viii
reach $4,000; nearly covered by in5ur.
ance The ladies Of THE Devii's Auction
Company were stopping in tha Everett
house. al joming the burning builiins, aEa
were greatly alarmed.
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-02-20
Communication.

WETUNPKA. Ala. Sept, -, ls4.-About
years ago became afflicted with a very disagree
bic skin disease. with large. dry sores and many
pimples on my face, hands and shoulder. The
sore on my shoulder eat ont hole nearly an inch
deep and the canccrous appearance of one Of the
sores near my eye alarmed me very much. Tried
all kinds OF treatment but found nothing that
seemed 10 affect the disease finally decided 10
try ; ). :. on advice of = physician, and in u
short tine the scsbs dropped from the sores and
left my skin smooth aud well. l consider $. S. 5.
the greatest blood medicine ever made, and the
only thing that will cure the disease with which
was afflicted l think my trouble was the result
Of atcrrible attack Of m2larial fever contracted
while farming in the Tallspoosa river swamp l
can be found at my Office in the court house st
Wetumpka You Csn refer TO ne.
J. l.. RHODES,
Dep. Sheriff Elmore Co., Ala.
Treatise on blood and skin diseases mailed free
TEE SWIFT SPECIEIC Co, AtiEnta, ca,
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-02-20

Mrs. DUDLEY regrets that she did not
shoot Rossa's tongue of, knowing very
well that ROasa without tongue would
be quite AS harmless as Rosa without a
head
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-02-20

BURGLARS took the trouble to break
into hank in Almira, which shows that
there are people who still have confidence
in bank. cashiers and presidents.
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-02-20

CLEVELAND, Ohio, Feb. IA special 10
The Press from AshtabuIa, Ohio, states that
an explosion of natural gas took place at the
harbor Thursday morging. whereby enc
nan was killed and two others fatally in-
jured Particulars are lacking.
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-02-20

ME. CLEVELAND is just now engaged
in preparing an inaugural address, Which,
but for the Rev. Burchard, would be DIES
livcred by Mr.. Blaine.
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-02-20

The B. Sc O's depot in Washington is
its own. None but B. & o. trains arrive
and depart in it, and there can be no such
confusion as must exist in other depots.
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-02-20

The British soldier at the Cape of Good
Hope who wrote to the Board of Guar
dams at his home for suitable wife re-
ceived 1872 responses from willing maids
and widows.
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-02-20

THERE are number of very good boys
in the democratic family now that Mr..
Cleveland is about to cut a watermelon.
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-02-20

1t is the Detroit Free Press that re-
marks: 'St. Louis is tickled because let
tiers directed to that city will reach it il
the county is not put on
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-02-20

The barber of the House of Commons
of Canada is proud of the fact that he is
the dead picture of Billy Florence, the
comedian.
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-02-20

When you reach the B. & 0. depot you
may depend upon it your Inauguration
ticket will be good for any train. On some
other roads to Washington this may not
be the case.
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-02-20

" For notices Interference 70 SpecisL nc
siOns, changes Of time, ard other items Of inter
i'll connection with Tie Chicago, Milwaukee &
Paul Railway, please refer 70 Tie local columns
this paper.
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-02-20

An accentrlc old gentleman in Wash
ington finds great delight in keeping up a
home for elderly and debilitated cats.
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-02-20
MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING.
Internal Arrangements of Danein
Monkey the Cause of a Scare.

Monkey the Cause of Scare.
GREEXsBURG, Pa, Feb. 20.-The suspicious
locking hox found in corridor of the court
house, and supposed to be an attempt to
blow up the building with an informal ma,
chine, was found to contain the clock works
of a dancing toy monkey, with a piece of
rope hanging out Of the end, which had been
singed so as to give it tha appearance Of hav-
Ing been set off, but it failed to burn.
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-02-20

A remedy for Indigestion, Consump
ton, Dyspepsia, Weakness, Fever, Ague
ETC., Colden's Liquid Beef Tonic.
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-02-20

WE suspect that General Butler is up
in the garnet practiciDg on roller skates
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-02-20

Fresh American oysters" is now ia
miliar sign in many places in London.
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-02-20
R0CE ISLAND & MERCER Cs,. ?
THE
TIE
CHICAGO,
MILWAUKEE,
arp ST. Paul
ewes SzzsEszzzsss
RAILWAY COMPANY.

RAILWAY COMPANY.
II owns and operates nearly 500 miIss Z =,
onghly equipped road in Iililois, Wisconsin. lev,
Minnesota and Dakota.
1t is the Short Line and Best Route BE-
tween all principal points in the North,
west and Far West.
For maps, time tables, rates Of passage m
freight. etc, apply to the nearest sjG. ar sg,r
Of the Chicago, milwaukee It ST. Paul Es wy,
to any railroad agent anywhere in the In "
States or Canada.
S. S. MERRILL, AVN. CARPETTE.
General Manager, Gen. Pass. IL Tat 81
R. MILLER, GEO. II. uEAFFUEu
Asst 9eGI Manager. Asst Gen. Pass. Ar
MILWAUKEE. FIsC0SsIN
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-02-20
SHE WAS OUT ALL NIGHT, -
But Ran Down the Thief Who Stole
Her Money.

But Ran Down the Thief Who stole
Her Money.
INDEPENDBNCE, Mo, Feb 2l.-Mrs. Mil
ton Gregg, of North Baltimore, Ohio, las
been visiting Mrs. Rchcreel,, her mother,
here, for several Wseks She de,
aprsared, and when last seen,
she was in company with gipsy woman,
and foul play was suspected She came
home at noon Wednesday and said that
last SATURDAY. the gypsy had told her fortune
and at the same time stolen S20 and silk
handkerchief from her Tua.day
evening was the first TINS sac had seen the
gypsy since the theft. and in order to re-
gain her money she started III pur-
suit without informing her folks,
though not dreaming that ,he would be away
during the night. She caught tho woman,
but was lSed on uutl Kansas City was
reached When daylight appeared she had
The gypsy arrested, sind not uutil then
realized the jeopardy her life had been in all
night
Missing Lake Steamer Heard From.
SoCTH HAVEN, Mich, Feb 20 The
steamer Michigan OF tho Detroit, GRAND
Haven & Milwaukee line, about which SO
much anxiety has been felt, is lying ice
bound twenty-three miles out little to the
north Of hers. The clerk and stew
ard and fifteen of the crew
crossed the ice 10 shore Tuesday
| eight miles north The clerk bscams ex-
hausted five mics from Shore but help was
rendered from some of the farm houses and
he was carried the remainder Of the dis
;ance They report thirteen men aboard,
with three weeks or more provisions and
ninety IONS Of coai. The ice extends west
ward of the toat as lar as the eye can see.
| All started for Grand Haven,
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-02-20
RAILROAD TINE TtR!s
CnECAGs, ROCK ISLkss & ptm
THE TABLE JEx5 |, 1sss
To AND rRaH cEIrL,.
TO AND FsiSa kASsAs err
CHICAGO, bCHilN9TON = ecI4.

-, = o,,is zyf,r.-s AhE.yt
;t,,Ii,,-- E-sscr,..,. 81 81 y Ifye-
S :t,5-iiI, ~. A. = g5F1
q n-sis $50 -, ,. a. y Saer n
Denver & Kan. Cif7 Ex....3:jl p. e. Iy.l-
Il. y. MACK. 4,.,,
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-01-07

One Of the most remarkable of the
American elephants, specimens Of
which have also been found in
Europe. was the Dinotherium, a huge
creature standing on legs ten feet in
height, and attaining length Of
nearly twenty feet, The tusks, in
stead of extending out of the upper
jaw, were in the lower jaw and grew
downward, giving the animal very
singular appearance. We know that
the elephants of to-day use their
tusks to lift and crush their enemies
but in the Dinotheriun, the tusks
actually point at the owner What,
then, was their use?
In answer to this, we find that the
huge animal was a water-lover, and
probably made its home on the banks
of streams, living a life similar to
that of the hippopotamus. With this
knowledge, use for these great
recurring incisors is readily seen.
They were used as pick-axes to tear
away the earth and dig out the succu-
lent vegetation that 1t fed upon; and
at night, when partly floating, they
might have been buried in the bank,
forming veritable anchors for the liv-
ing and bulky ship. When attacked
by its-perhaps human enemies, we
can imagine the great creature strug-
Cling from the mire, lifting itself to
dry land by striking its tusks into the
ground and using them to hoist its
ponderous body to the bank.
In Malta, at about the same period
Of time, there lived a Lilliputian
elephant, that when full-grown was
barely three feet in height. Its babies
would surely have been a curious
sight. Imagine an elephant that
could be carried about in your over
coat pocket, and you can then fern an
idea of this baby elephant of those
far-off days.-St. Nicholas.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-01-07

The Queens Stairway, the lake that
flames up like vast sheet of damp
sulphur when an oar is thrust into it
at night, the pineapple jungles the
sponge fishers, the gardens in plain
sight beneath the sea-these are all
very interesting, though it would
seem that the climate, the luXuriant
vegetation, and the ravisling beauty,
combined with good hotel to start
with, ought to be enough. To the
man who was there five hours it con-
stantly returns to his mental sight like
a dream or vision, Of something al
most too reposeful, too beautiful, and
too strange to be real. The rrettieSt
spot of the whole island, without
doubt, is the little cove at Waterloo,
two miles or more from the city. I'M
agine placid little bay, whose water
is colored like the rainbow, framed in
a horseshoe of white sand, fringing the
shelving sides of hollow like a huge
broken bowl of verdure. Picture this,
decked here and there with stately
palms and broad-leayed plants, orna.
mented with a pretty, toy-like fort,
and few tropical country houses.
Add the blue and white sky above the
gaudy water and beyond, where sky
and water blend together, the dark.
blue ocean,
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-01-07
4 Cultured Canine.

Sir John Lubbock, the naturalist,
continues his curious experiments with
his dog, and he hopes in time to make
the creature as accomplished as the
average biped. 1t is about eighteen
months since he began the education OF
this wonderful poodle CYAN His
idea was that the dog, if he wanted
anything, should ask for it, and as his
bark might not be ineligible, a series
of cards were arranged by which he
might make known his desires. Thus
a card labelled Food" Is laid within
his reach, and when he is hungry he
takes it up in his mouth and brings it
to his master. In the same way, if he
wants to go out, he picks up card
with the word "Out" upon it, and
brings that up. Another and very
tavorite card with him is Labelled
"Bone," for its presentation is followed
by the bestowal of a toothsome morsel.
The pieces of cardboard are about ten
inches long and three inches wide.
Having succeeded in teaching the ami
nal so far Sir John has been lately
trying experiments in order, if possible,
to teach it to distinguish color But
this has hitherto, he says, proved
failure. One circumstance, however,
initiates against the success of the
education movements Johns re-
cent marriage to young and beauti.
full woman. Before that event Van
used to sleep in his masters room and
many opportunities for giving lessons
were found. Now Van is banished to
his own mat and has grown sulky. AT
all events; the color experiment has
failed.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-01-07

ut was in that era said Mr.
Brocket, the white whiskered auditor
of Alexandria, "in which Washington
had his quarrel with Lieutenant Payne,
We We're standing at a window on the
second floor Of the market house and
looking down into the great open court
which it surrounds. The court is filled
with hundreds of little wooden booths,
where the farmers bring their produce
and display it for sale on every market
day. The meat stalls are in the build
ing Itself, but the whole is of compare.
lively recent date, and in Washington's
time the place was an open marke,
space.
THE cause of the trouble" continued
Mr.. Brocket, "was political. There
was a contest for the Virginia Assem-.
bly,, and Payne held one political theory
while Washington hell another.
Payne was hiAself a candidate
for the Legislature against Fairfax, OF
Alexandria. Washington supported
Fairfax, aud when he met Payne b:
had hot political discussion with him
on the spot which you see just below
you. Pay e considered himself insult
I'd by one Of WashiHgton's remarks
and knocked him down. The moment
the assault WAS over the story went
like lightning through the town that
Colonel Washington was killed, and his
troops, who were stationed with him at
Alexandria at the time, rushed in.
They would have male short work OF
Payne if Washington had not prevent
ed them, and, pointing to his black eye.
told them that it was his affair and he
knew how to manage it. They thought
this meant duel, and the next day
the town was on the qWi Uics in regard
to the affair. The following morning
Payne got note from Washington,
asking him to cone to the hotel.
Payne, expecting duel did so, but he
found Washington with hs head tied
up, III an amicab'e mood. lie said as
n,,4 4 ~ L.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-01-07
"The Shakemakers OF the Sireras,

"The Shakemakers OF the Sireras.
Living just above the foothills and
in the midst of the virgin pine forests
of the Sierras are a class of industrious
people little known to the world. They
live an isolated, happy life far from
the busy world, of which they know
little and care less. These are the
"shakemalsers." They exist usually in
couples, and make their home for the
time being where the finest sugar pine
grows, and whence the products of
their labors can he conveniently hauled
away. They are jolly, happy lot,
these "shakemakers" of the Sierras.
They work at will, and by way of rec
reation divide their leisure time be-
tween deer and bear hunting and the
nearest country store. The modo Of
making "shakes" or clapboards is sim
pie. The tree felled is sawed into
suitable lengths, and then is split into
thin boards or shakes by means Of a
froe and n mallet. The shakes sell
here in the mountains at S4 TO $3.50
per 1000, and are always in demand
A shakemakers' camp is one Of the
most picturesque scenes to be found
on the coast, and the voluntary reclu.
ses who spend year after year in these
mountain solitudes are the iolliest lot
of bachelors on earth. A majority Of
this almost unknown race of men are
old miners and young men from the
foot-hill farms. Wild. brave, unedu.
Gated and kind-hearted, they include
within their numbers hundreds of the
best frontersmen and the noblest types
of manhood. San Francisco Er0mt-
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-01-07

~Nhh t"t'
Among the many strange pets
which Frank Buckland, that strange
man and ardent naturalist, kept in
his house a rat or two was always in
cluded. Rats" formed the subject
of his first magazine article. One
special rat he saved from an ant-eater
in the Geological Gardens, and car.
ried it in his hat to his home, where
the rat was given a cage on the man
tel-piece opposite the cage of Judy,
marmoset.
Both Judy and the rat would stay
all day coiled up in their own cages,
When the gas was lighted, however,
both slowly reused up and ventured
out. Judy would wander over to
the rats quarters, and when his back
was turned, would steal his food.
The rat, on the other hand, would
sneak into Judys cage, and pick uE
forbidden tid-bitsD One day the ra,
came home and found Judy stealing,
whereupon he pitched into her, and
would perhaps h ave killed heI
had not Mr.. Buckland, hearing her
screams, come in time to save hel
life.
One characteristic of the rat was iti
curiosity. He would get upon his
owners writing table, and cautiously
examine every object in hope Of find
ing something worth carrying off. A
sugar-basin stood there, and its con-
tents were greatly to the little
animals liking. His plan was to
stand up on his hind legs steadying
himself, tripod fashion, by the help OF
his tail, tip the basin over, and then,
picking up lump, make off with it.
This rat would never eat where he
could be seen; he always ca -ried his
food to his house. TO do this with the
sugar he had to get upon the mantel-
piece, eighteen inches above the table,
and little ladder was set up for his
accommodation. After Mr.. Buckland
had shown him once or twice, he soon
learned how to climb it, and would
curry pretty heavy weights. He would
steal whole rel herring, for instance.
and after several trials to get it well
balanced in his teeth, would scramble
up the ladder with it, waving his tail
from side to side like a balancing pole.
The herring was too long to go
through the round door of his house,
so he would drop it, and then going
inside, would reach out, catch the fish
by the head, and drag it in lengthwise
with great case. The first time he
encountered this difficulty, however,
it puzzled him for few moments.
This rat made its nest of old envel.
opes, which he tore into small pieces
Young People.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-01-07
WHOLE NO. 1902.
PEARLS OF THOUGHT.

A little kindness goes a good ways.
God pities where mortals only
blame.
1t is foolish to be obstinate over
tri1es.
Few things are impossible to dill
gence and skill.
Faith is the medium between
despair and presumption,
1t is not 80 difficult to know ones
self, as to confess the knowledge.
Each departed friend is ma ynet
that attracts us to the next Vo id.
The serene, silent beauty of holy
life Is the most powerful influence in
the world.
No fault can be as bad as the feeling
which is quick to see, and speak of
the faults of others.
One Of the best rules in conversation
Is never to say anything that any one
present can wish unsaid.
Fully to understand a grand and
beautiful thought, requires perhaps as
much time as to conceive it:
We should never wed an opinion for
better or for worse; what we take
upon good ground we should lay down
upon better.
A cheerful way of talking will soon
chase away gloomy feelings in our
own minds, and we all know how in
spring to us are such words from
another.
Don't forget three little words-"lf
you please" Life is made up not Of
great sacrifices or duties, but of little
things. of which smiles and kindness
and small obligations. given habitually
are what win and preserve the heart
and secure comfort.
The loving heart is the strong heart
The generous hand is the hand to
cling to when the path is difficult.
ity everywbere--in business, in So
ciety, and in the church; but the first
and chiefest need for it is at home,
where it is the salt which keeps all
things sweet, the aroma which makes
every hour charming, and the divine
light which shines star-llke through
all gloom and depression.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-01-07
Enemies.

1t is said that bees and wasps will
not sting person whose skin is imbued
with honey. Hence, those who are
much exposed to the venom Of those
little creatures, when they have occa,
sion to hive bees or take u nest of
wasps, smear their faces and hands
with honey, which is found to be the
best preventive. When we are annoy,
ed with insult, persecution and oppo-
sition from perverse and malignant
persons, the best defence against theil
venom is to have the spirit bathei in
honey. Let every part be saturated
with meeliness, gentleness, torbearance,
and patience, and the most spiteful
enemy will be disappointed in his en-
deavors to inaict q sting,
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-01-07
WOODSTOCK VT. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7, 1885.

Tho Lover.
A little rain,
The sun again,
A shadow;
n summer day.
Some new.mown hay
A meadow.
A girlish face,
A matchless grace,
And beauty;
We spend the day
In making hay
Sweet duty.
Some finding flowers,
Some harry hours,
But fleeting;
A week Of rain,
And then again
A meeting.
One quick shy look
A ripping brook,
Some clover;
A sky Of gold,
The story old,
A lover.
A fair, sweet maid,
A short word said;
What is it?
] try my fate,
And not too late
To miss it.
The years have gone
And still loves on
That lover;
lie loves always,
days and days
Pass over.
A loving wife,
A long, long lsfe
Together,
Have made him bless
That shy sweet eyes"
Forever.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-01-07
CHILDRENS' COLUMN.


Song of the snowflakoo.
Swift and light, swift and light,
Falling, falling, falling
It seems as though the flakes OF snow
Were cheeriIy, cheerilY calling
"Grls and boys, ono and all,
Ills for you, to-day we fall.
"Oh the frolc, oh, the fun
We will have together
When the sun, the golden sun.
Gives us pleasant weather
Girls and boys, do not irown,
For the clouds sends US down
"sliding down and running up
Oh, the fun and laughter
Don't you know, little folks
That is what we're after
Girls and boy 8, shout with CLEO,
Soon the merry sport we'll see.
1lere we come, here we come,
Joy and gladness bringing;
Don't you hear the little song
We are softly singing!-
Girls and boys, one and all,
Ills ior you, to-day, we fall"
Mrs. r. NJ Turner IN ~ Y. Journal.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-01-07

During his boyhood days Governor
Richard J. Ogleshy, of Illinois, came
very near being drowned. In company
with friends some days ago he told his
experience in tho water He said {:
"When | was a boy l was bathing
with some friends and got beyond my
depth and was unable to swim. l had
heard that when person in the water
goes down three times he browns. |
rounted distinctly the number of times
sank, and when | started down the
third time I said to myself, Here goes
The third time; now Pm dead Every
event of my life passed before me with
q vivid distinctness, but without Great
ing any particular feeling. saw them
20 by as if they were a swift moving
panorama. was dead. knew that
| was dead, and sweeter death one
cannot die My consciousness sudden
ly departed, and | died without a
struggle or pain" He was rescued
Immediately after touching bottom the
third time, and after working with
him for nearly an hour life was re-
stored,
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-01-07

An elder in one of the churches was
last week making up club of subscri-
bers to Sunday-school paper. In his
rounds he called at house where he
found a little girl of z at home. He
explained his errand to her, hoping to
get her name on the list, and she repli-
ed: well, Ill ask mother, and I'm
quite sure she'll give me the u.oney,
for she says we must patronize the
peddlers who come along or they will
be driven to steal and rob-" He hasn't
gone back to see if she succeeded. De-
troit Free Press