davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1885-11-07
NO. 20.
The Oldest T.. 1g Fed River Eliot.

The Vicksburg Herc'a says:-
The steamer Cumberland, a stern
wheeler, re- sGly chased in Gin
ci1na,i by CO.. A. p. Seamen for
the upper Fed P'vec trade, arrived
here yesterday. Size is destined TO
Fulton. She IS 1876 feet loeg, 90
foot be- n, 10 ;nch cylinder, 4! foot
stroke. She is to connect with
railroads at Fa'ton. Capt. George
Alban. one Of the oldest steamboat.
men now living, arrived here ilom
Shreveport by rail Tuesday, to
meet the steamer Cumberland, aud
will plot her up Fed river to Full
ton, Ark. Capt. A'ban is an old
timer; in 1884 he was lcnn;ng
keelboats up Big Black river, this
State-there being Is Of them 11a-
ming in that liver that year; some
Of them would carry 500 bales of
cotton. The old man states he
was living at the city front on a
flatboat the day the gamblers were
hung in this city. The old veteran
has seen better days, and many
friends regret that now his lie is
nearing lis end, that he is not bless
ed with more of this worlds goods
Capt Geo. Alban went to Red
liver about 1886, at the time Capt.
Henry NJ. Sbreve was removing the
great Red liver 1afs, and was en-
gagged on one Of Capt. shreve's
snag boats as pilot; ant when the
raft was fally opened for na,iga-
tion, he became q pilot TO the upper
Red river in which trade he con-
tinued for several years. He was
at Shreveport when the town ives
first laid out in lots. Capt: A'ban
was also owner and master of many
steamboats, in the New Orleans aad
Shreveport trade for man! years.
He is now the oldest living plot
Of Red river.
THE following we'll worded
yarn is made the subject Of a re-
cent telegram from Austin, Texas.
It runs as follows: "Ju,ins Quest,
Of this city, on whose land BIT ed
treasure is repo led by him to have
been found in accordance with spi-
lltual!s.ic revelations, says the re-
pei is tue, and that some Of it has
already been sent to the bishop of
San Antonio, who, under the re.
qui,ements of the revelations, is to
have one half. He has the yeputa.
ZION of being a truthful man but
says he is not at liberty to reveal
the facts until the work is finished.
He says be- owns the land but the
main wheels are parties in St. Lows,
Chicago; Bosom, New Orleans, City
Of Mexico and other places. He IS
very confident chat there ere en-
lions in it," as he expresses it 20
the reporters. He is a baker, q
man Of family and has lived for
years in Austin. The digging for
The treasure.has been kept I mys-
teiy.
1 -DUL1NG the month O. October
| a p,on am
The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1885-11-07

The tro,;ing season at Fort
Worth opens With over 1875 crack
animals present. Oilers ere ex-
pected 10 give 70 take pa,t in he
races that have been annor need.
The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1885-11-07

-DUL1NG the month Of October
$3.50, 900 standard silver dolls S
were pat in circulation. This is
about 1,250,000 in excess Of ne
amount put in circulation dr. ;
The same month last yea.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1885-01-02
A yERITABLE MASCOT.

The special correspondent of the Buffalo
Courier has discovered q mascot which he
describes as follows: During the trial of the
great grape sugar suit of John j. Alberger
and Horace Williams against Cicero A. Ham
lin and Others. which under q change of
venue came before the courts of Genesee
county in December, 1880, President-clect
Cleveland spent ten days in Batavia as one
of the attorneys for the plaintiff. Mr.. Cleve-
land stopped ut local hotel, and during his
stay was given seat ut one OF the
dining room tables which he retained ut
every meal. One of the dining room girls
took particular pains to see that he was
served promptly and well, and whenever
Mr. Cleveland's name has been brought be-
fore the public as a candidate she has been
enthusiastic in his support In October.
1882, when the adjourned judicial district
convention was held here, the Hon. L. L.
Lewis of Buffalo, one Of the candidates for the
nomination. made the hotel his headquarters
during the deadlock that ensued, and occupied
the same seat at the same table that Gov.
Cleveland had retained. and was waited upon
by the same girl The result of the conven-
ton was Judge Lewis nomination and sub
sequent election. During the recent Repub-
lican congressional convention here Land
lord Collins, of the St James, was telling
Judge Sawyer of Orleans, whose name
was presented for nomination, OF the good
fortune OF the gentlemen who had occupied
tho scat referred to In his dining room, and
though Judge Sawyers chances of receiving
the honor did not seem to be great, he was
given the chair Mt the table that had seated
the other gentlemen. The days of the con-
vention wore away without any perceptible
improvement in Sawyers chances, until the
577th ballot, when the long and acrimonious
contest was brought TO close by tho selec-
ton of Judge Sawyer, and he has been elect
ed by round majority This dining room
girl, considering the good luck that has at
tended the aspirants TO office who have oc-
cupied the seat ut her table. lays claim to
being mascot Good fortune has surely
attended the three gentlemen whose names
arc mentioned
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1885-01-02
INTERIOR DEPARTMENT.
sEcRErAnY TELLrR's REcoMMENpArIo,

SECRETARY TELLER's RECOMMENDATIONS.
or the varied governmental concerns In
charge OF the interior department, the re-
port of its secretary presents an interesting
summary. Among the topics deserving par
ticular attention refer you to his observa-
tions respecting our Indian affairs, tho pre-
emption and timber culture acts, the failure
Of railroad companies to take title to lands
granted by the government and the opera
lions Of the pension office, the patent ofice,
the census bureau and bureau Of education
Allusion has been made already to the cir
cumstance that both as between different
Indian tribes and as between the Indians and
the whites, the past year has been one of
unbi oxen peace In this circumstance the
president Is glad to find justification for the
policy OF the government in dealing with the
Which were fully expressed in his first com
munication To the Forty seventh congress
lie secretary urges u new enactment or a
statute for the punishment OF crimes COM
mitted on Indian reservations, and recon-
mends the passage of the bill now pending
in the house of representatives. for the pur-
chase of q district of $4,000 square miles
from the Sioux reservation. Both these
measures are worthy OF approval. ! concur
with him also in advising the repeal of the
pre- emption law, the enactment Of statutes
resolving the present legal complications
touching lapsed grants to railroads, and the
funding of the debt of the several Pacific
railroads under such guarantee as shall in
sure its ultimate payment
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1885-01-02
Cost of Guns and Cunning.
Philadelphia Press.

Philadelphia Press
"What does shooting outfit cost ?"
II can sell you an excellent plain
steel double barreled breech. loader for
$15. Here is one. 1t looks we'll, but
it has no gliding or ivory about it. It
is d ten bore, and will last you as long
as O gun costing 1915. and there IL
great comfort in the fact that if you m
iure it, lose it in swamp, or leave it
out oil night in leaky wood-shed,
there will not be much loss involved in
the transaction"
Glow about ammunition ?"
"That comes n little expensive, but
still the sportsman who hasn't much
money can have good time on small
sum. Loaded cartridges that would
be suitable for this $15 gun cost from
50. so to 81 n hundred, according tc the
grade of powder. 1t would DO poor
sportsman who couldn't get "a worth OF
birds out of 100 shots, so the ammuni-
ton part of it ought to be at least self
supporting. For $3.50 set of tools
for rcloading the shells can be got, and
by using it they can be refilled at $2.75
to SO hundred"
"Aro breech' leaders the only kind Of
guns sold?'
"Not by any means. Lots of grang-
ers and backwoodsmen won't have any
thing to do with so new-far gled an
idea. They stick to the muzzle-loader,
with its dozen different kinds of perils."
"What is the safest kind of gun?"
The hammerless breech- loader. II
is superseding everything. There are,
of course, many different kinds, but the
principle is the same. There is no ham
mer projecting from the gun and, con-
sequently no risk of it being caught IN
your coat or in bramble and causing q
premature discharge. The triggers are
protected too, for there is sort OF
brake which you apply when you're not
going to shoot. Guns like that, hand
somely mounted, cost from Sl25 up.
They save time and trouble, for they
arc self cooking. Winchester rifles arc
as low as $lS.75 and as high rs you
choose to pay. Remingtons are from
$40 up, Billiards. the same price and
Frank Wessons from $25. They are
used in this part Of the country for
small game.
"They are making more ammunition
in this country than they did. That big
show case over there is o display OF
Eley's, the London cartridge manufac-
turer, which was shown at the centen-
uial. At that time American cartridg-
es were not equal to what they are now.
Large quantities are turned out by tho
gun makers of New England. The En-
glish wads and caps still prevail, how
ever.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1885-01-02
POSTAL AFFAIRS.
THE REDUCTION IN LETTER POSTAGE.
-

THE REDUCTION IN LETTER POSTAGE
The report of the postmaster general &c
quaints you with the present condition and
needs of the postal service. 1t discloses the
gratifying fact that the loss Of revenue from
the reduction in the rate of letter postage, as
recommended in my message of December,
1882 and effected by the act of March 3,
1888, has been much less than was generally
anticipated My recommendation OF this
reduction was based upon the belief that the
actual falling off in receipts from letter post
age for the year Immediately succeeding the
change of rate would be s., 000. 900. 1t has
proved TO be only $2,275,O00. This is a
trustworthy indication that the revenue will
soon be restored to its former volume by
natural increases OF sealed correspondence
/ confidently repeat, therefore, the recon-
mcndatIon of my last annual message. that
the single rate of postage upon drop letters
be reduced TO one cent wherever the pay
ment of two cents is now required by law.
The double rate il only exacted at offices
where the carrier system II in operation, and
Il appears that at these offices the in
crease in tax upon local letters defrays
the cost not only of its own collection
and delivery, but of the collection and deliv-
cry of all other mail matter, and this is an
lrrcgularity that ought no longer to exist
approve the recommendation OF the posi-
master general that the unit of weight in the
rating of frst-class matter should be one
ounce instead of one half ounce, rs ii now is
In view OF the statistics furnished by the de-
partment. it may be well doubted whether
the change would result in any loss Of
revenue. That 1t would greatly promote the
convenience OF the public is beyond dispute.
The free delivery system has been lately
applied to five cities, and the total number
81 offices in which IL is now in operation il
100 Experience shows that its adoption
under proper conditions Is equally an accom-
mediation TO the public and an advantage to
the postal service II is more than
self-sustaining, and, for the reasons
urged by the postmaster general, may
properly be extended. 1t Is the opinion of
that officer that it is proper to provide
means whereby exceptional dispatch in
dealing with letters In free-delivery offices
nay be secured by the payment OF extra
ordinary postage. This scheme may be
made elective by the employment OF a
special stamp, whose cost shall be commen-
suratc with the expense of the entire extra
service. In some of the large cities private
express companies have undertaken to out
strip the government mail carriers by afford
ing for the prompt transmission Of letters,
better facilities than have hitherto been at
the command of the postoffice. IL has
always been the policy of the government 10
discourage such enterprises, and in no better
way can that policy Dc maintained than IN
supplying the public with the most efficient
service that, with due regard To its own best
intcrcsts. can be furnished for its recon-
mcndatlGG.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1885-01-02
THE CIVIL SERVICE.
WORK OF THE Law AND COMMISSION.

On the Goth Of February last transmitted
to congress the first annual report Of the
civil service commission, together with com
munications from the heads of the several
revenue departments Of the government,
respecting the working Of the law under
which the comission has been acting The
good results therein foreshadowed have been
more than realized The system has fully
answered the expectations Of its friends in
securing competent and faithful public ser
wants, and in protecting the appointing Off
GERS of the government from the pressure of
personal importantly and from the labor OF
examining the claims and pretensions of
rival candidates for public employment The
law has had the unqualified support of the
president and OF the heads of the several de-
partments, and the members Of the commits
sion have performed their duties with zeal
and fidelity. Their report will shortly be
submitted, and will be accompanied by such
recommendations for enlarging the scope Of
the existing statute as shall commend them
selves to the executive and the commission
ers charged with the administration.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1885-01-02
Charmed by a Black Snake.
m the Huntington penn. } News.

From the Huntington penn. News.
News has just reached here from
Roxbury, this county, OF q most re-
markable case of snake charming, which
occurred here on Monday afternoon.
Miss Elizabeth Carson, aged twenty
years, who was raised in the family of
Mr.. Samuel Sharps, a respectable farm
er of Roxbury, was directed by Mrs.
Sharps, on Monday afternoon, to re-
pair to blackberry patch q short dis
lance from the house and gather ber-
ries for supper. Nothing unusual took
place until the young girl had filled her
basket and was about starting for home
when she experienced q very peculiar
sensation in her left ankle, which APP
peared as though it were being wound
tightly with stout rope. Miss Carson
set her basket of berries down for the
purpose of examining into the cause of
her discomfort, when to her unspeak-
able horror, she discovered that huge
black snake had coiled itself round
her ankle, and was drawing itself up
tighter and tighter as to positively stop
the circulation of the blood in the limb,
and cause the unfortunate young girl
the most excruciating pain. She had
no sooner set eyes upon the reptile than
it charmed her, AMI she was rendered
powerless to free herself from her re-
pulsive tormentor.
How long she remained in this condi-
ton Miss Carson is unable to say, but
thinks it must have been over ten min
utes. Her liberation and escape is as
singular as the cause of her strange eX-
perience itself. The snake, it seems,
wound itself so tightly around her ankle
that the muscles of her leg were drawn
out of their natural position, and the
circulation of the blood having been
checked, the limb in its contortions was
moved, which had the effect of drawing
the eyes of the snake from those of its
victim, thus breaking the charm which
it exercised. Volition having returned,
Miss Carson pulled her sunbonnet from
her head, and windingi it around her right
hand she caught the snake by the head
and uncoiled it from her ankle and
threw it with such force against stone
fence near by as to kill it instantly.
1t was afterward found to measure five
feet three inches in length. Miss Car
son reached home in an exhausted con-
dition. Medical aid was promptly sum-
moned, and everything done to relieve
her suflerings, but it is feared that gan
creme will ensue on account of the
withered condition of the limb, which
is rapidly falling away. The muscles
of the ANGLE have been reduced to mere
threads, and the circulation of the blood
has entirely stopped. The only hope
that remains of saving Miss Carson's
life il In the success of the operation Of
amputating the limb, which will be de-
termined upon to-day at consultation
of the physicians who have charge of
the patient.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1885-01-02
THE SWELL SOCIETY GIRL.
Something Of Her Way OF LAYING ana
Manner Of Enjoying Herself Hugely.

Something Of Her Way Of LAYING ana
Manner Of Enjoying Herself Hugely.
The visitor to New York and the
average citizen who works for his living
seldom or never sees the really swell
society girl unless he catches glimpse
of her in her box at the opera house or
sees her roll by in glittering drag once
year on coaching day" Any ono
more thoroughly guarded than the girl
in question it would be difficult to ina
CINE. TO begin with, the season has
been so much shortened of late that
she is only in New York few months
in the year. Six years ago social festiv.
tiles began in September and no
one thought Of leaving town before Ju-
ly. Nowadays fashionable people new
er como home before November, and
the season is not fairly started before
December. It goes fast and furious
for five months. and then comes on the
Coaching Clubs parade in May, which
officially closes the season.
The society girl runs over to England
in May and catches the Londen season
at its height. About the second week
Of August she goes to Newport, whore
she remains till quite late in Septem-
Der. Thence she journeys to her IA
ther's country home and "builds up" in
preparation for the New York season.
She is called q bud-a debutante-in
her first year, society girl in her sec
ond and is pronounced passe in
her third. Her life is constant
series of entertainments. She rises
late in the morning, goes to 2
mothers brougham, returns in time to
make an elaborate toilet and be whIrled
through the Park ct 6, when she is
brought back to dress for dinner and
the subsequent opera, reception or ball,
or perhaps all three.
At an early hour in the morning she
steps out of the carriage, wrapped to the
chin in furs. and falls YEARLY into the
arms of her maid. Her manner is very
English" 1t is fashionable just now
to be brisk, wide-awake and Jolly. The
romantic girl, the novel-reading girl, the
spirituelle girl and the accomplished"
girl are all out of style. The girl of the
period is very bright, bit horsey and
| uHCOiuiuOuly itptIdCIlNc. IL hcf hoW VI
spirits is sometimes forced and palpabiy
unreal, who can wonder? What would
you have? Fatigue will overtake the
strongest of us.
Eventually she marries in her own
set, becomes one of the married wom-
an Beauties" rides to hounds, goes
yachting with her husband and brings
up family of well-bred boys and girls.
Rarely-very rarely, indeed bit Of
scandal furnishes her name. Whether
in London, Newport or New York she
is always as carefully guarded as prin-
cess. She never goes out without her
chaperone, and her mothers eye is ever
upon her And the father? Does any
one ask about the old man? He plugs
away steadily in town eleven months in
the year, making the money necessary
for the maintenance of the girl.-New
York Letter in Chicago Tribune.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1885-01-02

and thus enabling ourselves to obtain in re-
turn better market for our supplies OF
food, OF raw material and Of the
manufactures in which we excel 1t seems
to me that many of the embarrassing Gle.
ments In the great national conflict between
protection and free trade may thus be turned
to good account; that the revenue may be
reduced 30 rs no longer to overtax the peo.
pie; the protective duties may be retained
without becoming burdensome; that oui
shipping interests may be judiclously en-.
and above all such unity of interests estab.
lished among the states of the American sys
tenn as will be Of great and ever increasing
advantage to them all All treaties in the
line Of this policy which have been nego-
tiated, or are In process of being negotiated,
contain . provision deemed to be requisite
under the clause Of the constitution limiting
TO the house Of representatives the authority
to originate bills for raising revenue.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1885-01-02
CAPEL IN GOOD HUMoR.
Not Acquainted with "Btlly" Florence
Theatres -polittcs.


"Now, what do you want OF me sir ?"
was the salutation Of Monsiguor Capel,
his eyes twinkling under his bushy
brows, as he greeted NY. Tribune re-
porter vino called at John Mack's house,
No. 365 Fifth-ave. The reporter re-
piled that he wished to make few in
luiries about the Monsignor's trip
through the west, from which he had
just returned.
"You shall not ask me any questions"
said the prelate, talking 80 rapidly that
stenographer would have fed from
him in dismay," but wish to correct O
few stories that are floating around in
the newspapers. One is that met
'Billy'-'Bil'-.B'"-
"Florence?"
eyes, Billy Florence, and that he
offered to take me to the theatre. Now
have not yet the honor of Billy Flor
snce's acquaintance, and I have not
been to theatre in four and twenty
years. The fact is, was dining in o
hotel at st. Paul. not Chicago, and
there was an English company Of sing
ers there. One of them came over and
spoke to me, saying that they were dis
putting as to whether l was Capel or
not and it ended by their offering me a
box at the theater that night. I re-
fused on account of my habit, as have
stated. Now, did not say the devil
was preached at the theatre. / hold
that every man and woman must settle
Tor themselves whether the theatre does
them harm or good, because it acts diff.
ferently with different people. l be-
Iieve that tho theatre can be made All
immense power for good. Such it was
in the days of the old miracle plays and
in such instances as the passion play of
Oberam Morgan"
Chow about Shakespeare's plays?"
ooh, l believe in producing good
plays, classic works, anything thrt dis
seminates good literature and upholds
good morals. do not go to the theatre
but read the criticisms of the plays in
order to find out what strikes the popu-
lar heart. The stage holds the mirror
up to human nature now as much rs in
days gone by, and if n play does not
please people it fails. So I keep track
Of what the age demands in the drama
"Now, there's that other story that
have declared my preferences for one
OF the Presidential candidates. My
dear sir, it is not so. I have taken nc
sides in the contest, though have
learned the difference between Repub-
licans and Democrats. The former are
'ins' and the other outs am guest
in this country. 1t would be extremely
inappropriate for me to express any
views on your political matter here, and
moreover, do not NEEDLE in politics
at home, unless when some question Of
! morals or education comes up. never
tell any man how to vote and my own
parishioners do not know how I vote al
home. least my individual ballot in
| denendentlY. as every one should.n
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1885-01-02
UTAH.
srRISGrxr MEASURES srcopsrr,

bfKlNHENT MEASURES SUGGEbTED
The report of the Utah commission will be
read with interest 1t discloses the results of
recent legislation looking to the prevention
and punishment OF polygamy in that terri
tory. still believe that if that abominable
practice cannot be suppressed by law, it can
only be dealt with by the most radical legis-
lation consistent with the restraints Of the
constitution. again recommend, therefore,
that congress assume absolute political con-
troll of the Territory of Utah. and provide
for the appointment OF u commission, with
such governmental powers III in its judy
hands