davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-10-28
The Crow and the Ram.

An old Crow was watching a flock
of sheep grazing in valley, when
large Eagle suddenly flew among them
and carried eff a young Lamb.
ut seems to me that l ought to be
able to do that" remarked the Crow;
"Ill try it at any rate"
With these words the Crow flew
down, lit on the back of large Ram,
and after violent exertions succeeded
in flying away with him to the top of
a neighboring mountain four miles
high. After being deposited, the Ram
remarked in tone of playful noncha'
lance.
"Well, having gotten me up here
what do you propose to do with me
you black piratep If you don't gel
down this mountain in a hurry, III
butt you into mince-meat." The poor
Crow, accepting the situation, fut-
tered sorrowfully down the mountain
side. and supped in the valley on a be.
lated fishing worm.
MORAL: Don't undertake an army
contract before carefully estimating
the probable net profits.-LUe.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-10-28
WHOLE NO. 2243.
Terrapin Farming.

Over $l,500,000 worth of diamond
back terrapin are taken out of the
Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries eve
ry year. As the price averages $50
dozen, this represents 100000 terrapin
annually. During the season 500 men
are engaged in catching them. They
are found on both sides of the bay,
from its mouth to its head, and they
are particularly abundant in the num-
erous rivers and inlets which branch
off from the Chesapeake. Like the
canvass. back duck, the terrapin feeds
chiefly on water celery or watercress,
and the place where this grass grows
thickly is always a terrapin feeding
ground. 1t Is a fact well know that
this celery is found in greater luxurl-
ance in the Chesapeake than in any
other body of water in the world, and
this explains why duck and terrapin
frequent its waters more numerously
than anywhere else.
Terrapin farming is an undeveloped
industry in Maryland, but where ii is
iudiciously followed it yields fair re-
turns. The first farm was started in
Somerset county by United States Sen
ator Dinnis, who began the enterprise
for his personal accommodation. The
biggest farm is in Calvert county, on
the Patuxent River, and it consists of
a large salt water lake. many acres in
extent, and spacious enough to accom-
modate thousands of terrapin, In this
the proprietor placed number of ter
rapin and they multiplied rapidly. The
hatcheries consist Of boards partly
filed with sand. and are so arranged
that when the females enter they can
not get out until taken out. The
young terrapin are kept in the nursery
for ten months or ayear, because the
old masculine terrapins are said to
have a bad habit Of eating the tender
young members of their tribe. The
curiosity referred to by Uncle Eph
has enabled the proprietor of the farm
to train the terrapin so that they re.
spond when he calls them at feeding
time. Another farm, in which some
New York gentlemen are interested
has been started in Talbot county. Il
has sand beach for laying and hatch
ing, and it is surrounded by a wei
built board fence to keep out musk
rats-Ne,O York Herald.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-10-28
A ROOnerang Joke.

Sam Ward was once seated opposite
4 well-known Senator at dinner at
Washington. This Senator was very
bald, and the light shining on the
breadth of scalp attracted Wards at
tention.
"Can you tell me-" he asked his
neighbor, "why the Senator's head is
like Alaska
al am sure | don't know"
because it's great white bear
place"
The neighbor was immensely tick
led, and he hailed the Senator across
the table:
"Say, Senator, Wards just got off q
very smart thing about you"
"What is it?"
"Do you know why your head is
like Alaskan
"No."
"Because it's great place for whits
bears"
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-10-28
A Whale and Thrasller Fight.

The following are extracts from a
private letter from Connecticut gen.
tleman to friend in this city:
My sea voyage from here to Vic
toria, British Columbia, was more
than usually pleasant, as the George
w. Elder sometimes known as the
Rolling Noses from the fact that she
will roll at all times and under any
circumstances) kept an even keel all
of the three days.
"The only feature of interest was
the very uncommon number of whales,
which for two days surrounded the
ship. 1t seemed that there was con-
vention of whales met for some fshy
purpose, and they were not only dis
posed to display their dimensions, but
to show us some other characteristics
they have in common with all created
things. We also saw one of those
! fights which the whale has with the
thrasher, fish with long, sharp jaws
and keen teeth, who fastens himself
into the mouth of the whale and then
beats him with his long-drawn-out
body, resembling tail, until the poor
monster is worn out with his efforts
to shake him off, and gives up the
fight. Then the thrasher leisurely
eats out his tongue and departs for
pastures new.
"The blows given by this thrasher
could be heard for two miles, and the
whale made the sea boil in his vain
efforts to shake off the murderer. He
would dive, but it was of no use, for
the thrasher could stay under water
any length of time, while the whale
must come to the surface to breathe.
The last we could see through the
glass the thrasher was pounding and
the whale rolling, pounding the water
with his tlukes, and sometimes throw
ing his huge body almost entirely out
Of the water.-HarVort Times.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-10-28
Orchids.

The orchid family of plants is pecul-
iarly interesting on account of the
strange forms assumed by its flowers.
Many of them initiate in perfection
the butterflies and bees and the curl
Gus winged insects that inhabit the
tropics The plants themselves in
tropical climates are frequently dry
stems, parasitic upon the trunks of
trees; but in the towering season they
burst out into the most superb and
gorgeous blossoms, that set a whole
forest ahame with their colors. For
these reasons they are most highly
priced by the florists, and fine group
of orchids is considered one of the
choicest treasures of great botanical
collections. In our own country we
have about seventy-ive species, some
of which are very snowy and hand
some. But the orchid fancier goes
farther afeld for his beauties He
must have them from the wilds OF
Australia or Van Dieman's land, or
from the jungles of India, from the
banks of the Amazon or from the is
lands of tropic seas. Linnaus knew
only 100 species of orchids; Persoon,
in 1906. knew Az; sprengel, in $780,
had enumerated about 800; and in
more recent times the number has
risen to nearly 5000. The genera
also, are very many in number, but
those which are most popular with
cultivators are comparatively few
although they contain great number
of species. Utica Herald.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-10-28

even to the grievous report that he
had only married me for my little
fortune.
"Did you believe that?" he asked,
gravely.
81 tried hard not to believe it, but
just now l seem to myself such a per-
feet type of total depravity that l
wonder you took me under any cir
cumstances."
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-10-28
Greatest Diamond In the World.

Our Amsterdam correspondent tells
the story Of the immense African dia-
mond-weighing 457 carets in the
rough-which is in process of being
cut by Mr.. Jacques Metz, one of the
largest diamond cutters Of that city.
The stone is said to have a somewhat
curious history, and, though its exact
birthplace is only matter of conject-
ure, it is known that it was found by
somebody in one of the four mines of
Kimberley, in the Cape Colony, South
Africa.
1t is said that in June or July of
last year one of the surveillance officers
of the Central Mining Company in the
Kimberley mine found the stone, and,
being exempt from search, carried it
through the searching house unper-
ceived and sold it to four irregular
dealers for $4,000. Before leaving
the province the new owners had a
night of drinking and gambling, which
ended in two of them becoming its
owners instead of four. The two
owners escaped the secret police and
reachedCape Town, where they found
a dealer who readily paid them $4,000
for the stone. There is an export
duty on diamonds shipped from Cape
Colony of one quarter per cent, but it
appears that this stone was smuggled
out of the colony by passenger on
the mail steamer and brought to Lon
don, where its presentation at Hatton
Garden created great sensation.
A former resident at the Cape mines
managed to form company of eight
persons, who bought the stone between
them for S225,00 cash. on condition
that the seller or sellers should receive
ninth share Of the eventual profits.
The real value Of the stone has been
estimated at London at above $1,000
900. According to the rules of valua'
tion of the famous Tavernier diamond
its value would be S4, l66,9SO. The
correspondent says that the art of dia'
mond polishing existing in Amster.
dam for more than three centuries has
been brought to such perfection that
it is expected that this stone. weighing
in the rough 457 carats (and said to bt
whittier and purer than any Of its his
torical predecessors), J, will lose in work
ing much less than other famous
stones; that it will be more rapidly
finished, and it has every chance of re
naming the largest and finest diamond
of the world. Manufacturing JeDeler
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-10-28

In Northern Michigan, and other
regions where the sand is deep, the
road-makers construct passage-way
of clay at one side of the highway.
Thus, in dusty weather the teams take
the clay road, and in wet weather the
natural sand. One or the other always
offers fine thoroughfare.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-10-28
CHILDREN'S COLUMN.


Tho swan and the Duck.
"Quack, quack !" said the Duck,
But the Swan made no reply;
He doigned passing look,
Then glided proudly by.
"Qunck, quack VIII 1t Is tho matter
Are you denf and dumb' Quaok, qnock"
But the Swan was always silent,
Though voice he did not lack,
Still the Duck kept on; "Qnack, quack "
Ho was perfect inthot note:
What it meant cannot tell you:
'Tis not hard to learn by rote.
At last the Swan broke silence,
And thus gave his answer back;
otis better to say nothing,
Than TO only say, 'Quock, qnack y"
Emily Carter, in The Fountain.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-10-28
A Trusted Citizen.

"Who is that old dufferp" asked the
new groceryman of the milk man, as
a well-dressed man went by.
"Why, he's one of our most trusted
citizens" was the eloquent reply.
"IIow do you make that out? He
has been owing me bill ever since ]
came here.
That just how we make it out,
laughed the milk man gleeIully. and
the groceryman scratched his head till
he caught on.-Merchant 1rapeler.
St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-01-15
HOUSE OF REpREsENTATIvEs.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 14.-In the house to
day Mr.. Randall sent to the clerks desk and
had read letter received from the secretary
of state informing the house that one Of the
certificates of the electoral vote OF Oregon
and one Of the certificates Of the electoral
vote OF Iowa not having been received by the
president pro ten Of the senate, It became
incumbent on him 70 send a special mes
senger - each oa those states as required by
law. The secretary requests that an ap-
preparation be made to pay the expenses and
compensations Of these messengers.
The speaker laid before the house a mes
sage from the president on the same sub
Ject.
NoTE: The missing certificates are dupli-
Gates required to be sent by mail. Their
nonreceipt will not affect the counting Of the
electoral vote, as certificates have already
been received from Oregon and Iowa by
messenger, but the law under which the sec
retary Of state has acted is mandatory.
Mr. Randall then intrnduced bill which
passed appropriatiug 81 800 for compensa-
ton and expenses Of these messengers.
Mr.. Mills introduced bill to create a
revenue for a commissioner. Referred.
This is similar to the bill introduced in the
senate By Beck on the sta inst.
Mr.. Miller introduced a hill to refund the
bonded debt Of the United States at 2jI per
cent. interest, 10 reduce the taxation on the
circulating bank note currency, and TO Sc
cure such currency against unnecessary dis
turbance and fuctuatioU, by applying the
national revenues economically 10 the pay
Under special order the house proceeded
10 the con nsideratiou OF business reported from
the committee on foreign affairs. The first
bill considered was the French spOliation
claim bill
After short discussion the bill was passed,
yeas Isl, NAYS IL. Il refers claims 10 the
court OF claims for eIamluatiOn and report
% congress.
Mr. Wait called up the Chirese indemnity
fund bill, and after 8 short explanation the
bill passed. II authorizes the president 10
cause the residue Of the Chinese indemnity
fund TO be converted into coin, and cause
the sum of s5S3, 400 10 be returned 10 the
Chinese government, and tie balance COW
cred into the treasury, provided that before
payment 10 China the secretary Of state shall
psy from the fund 10 the executors OF c. r.
He'll sl3o, 900 on account q the loss Of the
vessel ''Kenjeor.''
On motion Of Mr. RardaT the senate
amendments 70 the bill for the payment Of
messengers sent for certificates Of electoral
votes 70 Oregon and Iowa were eoneurred
In.
The house then adjourned.
St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-01-15
National Cattle Trail.

ST. LOUIS, Jan. 14.-The bill which Is to
be introduced in congress for the establish
ment Of cattle trail from Texas to the
British possessions provides that the secre-
tary Of the interior shall appoint three com
missioners to lay out and mark by meter
and boundsa quaran tined national trail an q
grazing grounds. The trail not to exceed
six miles in width aud to be narrowed at
places to q mere roadway. The grazing
grounds TO be established at intervals along
the trail and not TO exceed twelve miles
square. Both trail and grazing grounds to
be strictly quarantined and no cattle TO leave
it so long as they have any signs of Texas
fever among them. When the commissioners
make their report, the secretary Of the in
terror Is 10 file map Of the trail as laid
out, aud then to give public no
tice OF its establishment and the
withdrawal Of the public land occupied by it
from either sale, location or settlement for
the term Of ten years. Ten thousand dollars
Is appropriated for the work When this
publication is made the trail Is 10 be open at
zll times Of the year for the driving upon IL
OF any live stock By any person, firm or cor
poration.
St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-01-15
THE POOLING SYSTEM.
What is Being Developed Before the
New York State Railroad
Commission.
Especial Telegram to the Globe. |

ISpeclal 10 tue Nt0De.l
New YORK. Jan. 14-The state railroad
commissioners met In the cham Der Of com
merce to-day, to hear complaints Of mer-
chants, the Traders x Travellers union, anL
other organizations, against the present pool
system OF shipping freight. The Hon.
ChAuucey VI. Depew and Traffic Agent Hay
den represented the New York Central *
Hudson River railroad and Merchants Dis
patch Transportation company, Royal c. Villas
cared for the interests Of the New York
Lake Erie & Western railroad and q repre-
sentative OF the West Shore road was also
present. The complaint Of the merchants is
that, under the present pool system of ship
ping freight, they have no choice in selecting
the roads over which they desire TO have
their goods shipped. Il was asserted that
when goods left this city no calculation
could be made as TO the time they would ar
rive At their destination. as in many in
stances freight Is transferred from one road
10 another without either knowledge dr con-
sent Of the shipper, and these transfers not
only delay the goods, but frequent handling
injured them. The transfers we're made, Is
was alleged, for the purpose of eguagzjns
the percentage. -
The merchants opened their case BY .specf-
fyiug instances Of damage from the system
in use. Il was shown thst merchant had
shipped a quantity Of goods to Piqua, O., on
November l, that did not reach its dvstlna-
ton TN December 10, owing TO frequent
transfers. Another statement was 70 the
effect that shipper was charged eigbty-threr
cents hundred weight for goods shipped 70
Indiana when TIE regular charge was only
sirtv-seyeu cents, and that the increase wa
because they had gone in a round-about way
Shipments were made by Il b
Claaln & Co. 70 Pittsburx on No
yember Is, December 10, IL aud Is, and
ell the goods arrived in bunch on Deem
h<r 2S. The merchants submitted other in
stances where goods hsd heen diverted from
a direct route They said they bad no objec-
ton to any pool that might Be formed By the
railroads. All they wanted was to have their
goods sent directly TO the points for which
thev are Intended They say that the spring
begins about February aud they wanted the
question settled before that time because Il IS
hard for thea 70 retain their trade st points
4 great wav from New York. such as ChieaEo
unless they can deliver the guods to the huyrr
when he wants them.
Nr. ChSuneey NJ Depew spoke in defense
Of the railrosds. He said: Equal rates
cannot be adopted in any better v.y than by
The system Of pooling adopted here Daring
the past year only ah percent ofthe freight
has been transferred. think the pool sys-
TEN Is as free from friction as any method
that could be advised =
Pool Commissioner Fink then entered into
lOaE defense Of the pool system. The
board % railroad commissioners ksve given
eOsA sidss two weeks - present thsir cases
St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-01-15

Cancelled, eight declined, four resigned be-
fore completion Of the probationary period,
one was dismissed and one died. Eleven
have been reappointed at the end Of the pro-
bationary period, and these are all who have
completed the six months trial In the war
department slxty-three appointments have
been made since January 16, 1884. of which
three were made under the rules without a
competitive examination. Since the law
went into effect there have been
eighty-four appointments under it in the war
department. OF these declined to accept,
failed to report after being sworn, l was dis
charged for absence without leave, were
cancelled for failure to report, resigned be-
fore the expiration Of the probationary pc
riod, 81 were promoted before two weeks
after their probationary period expired, 2S
are on probation and resigned after being
regularly appointed.
St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-01-15
HOW IT WORKS.
What Has Been Accomplished in Two
Years Under the Civil Ser
vice Law,
fspeeisl Telegram to ehe Globe.

fGbrNlad AcAsEEAGl " eAe SiOoc.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 14.-Frdzy viii be the
second anniversary Of the civil service Law,
aud viii mark the end Of eighteen months Of
the application Of the law. The commission
will get It's. report out within few days after
the 1G;h. In the treasury department there
were appointed under the ls~ in the year
1854 l06 men and 90 women. Fifty-seven
persons were appointed 20 500, 23
TO $1,000, and 4j 10 $1,000 places.
In the interior department. 214 appointments
have been made under the ls1, and Only two
Of these were women. The greater part Of
the l5O special p~nslon examiners in the
field, recently appointed, came under tbrse
214 appointments. For several months after
the IA~ vent into effect no original appoint
nents we're made in the department, vaean-
eiss IN other bureaus bciug filed
by transfers from the census cGce,
and these transfers are stfn made OF
the 2l4 a22cintDsnts eight we're rsToksi OF
St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-01-15
GOLD DISCOVERED

A FoRTUNE.-The Marquette Gold Co.. has
jnst been organized under the laws of the state
Of Michigan to work the mine. We are poor and
must have money; will sell shares at so cents
each mot assessable). Soon as we get 100
stamp mill up, the ore can be mined and milled
for 81. so ton, the dividend on one hundred
shares will be about 900 year. Vein from
10 to 20 feet wide and all carries gold. All
money received goes 10 working to mine. We
have the richest iron and copper mines, and
now expect the richest gold mine Now L. your
time 10 invest in gold mine before the shares
get u q high price. The profits on few hundred
shares, which will be sent 10 your address, will
keep you in ease the rest Of your iife Send
money 70 the Treasurer and be will return you
certificate for number Of shares you pay for.
j. Y. SPEAR, Sec. and Treasurer.
Marquette, Mich
References: T. o. Hampton. William Hicks,
A. ". shsnght. IA
St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-01-15
STATE LEGISLATURES.
A Sick Man in Illinois Adds Interest
to Coming Proceedings.
Naming Senator IN Pennsylyania-Wis-
cOnsin Ready for Work.
ILLINOIS.

sPRINeFIELD, H., Jan. 14.-After another
days fruitless effort on the part of the Demo-
Gratis to oust Mr.. Haines from the temporary
speakership and proceed to permanent
organization, the house adjourned till 10 to-
morrow morning.
PEORIA, H., Jan. 14.-Representative
Downs, who came home during the recent
recess of the state legislature, was taken i'll
and is now confined to his room with neu-
ralgia. Two physicians are attending him.
To-day telegram was received from Senator
Bell saying it was imperative that Downs
should go to Springfield Immediately. His
physicians held consultation and decided
that Downs could not be moved without en-
dangering his life, and refuse to allow him
to 90.
St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-01-15
CAPITAL MURMURINGS.
A Detailed Statement of the Principal
Recommendation For Rivers
and Harbors.
Ex-senator Window Testifes Briefly Before
the Swain Court Martial.
Lieut.. Darlington Desires the Secretary of
War to Investigate Gen. Hazen.
RIVERS AND uARRops.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 1.-THE committee
on rivers and harbors has nearly completed
its bill. No appropriation will be made for
Hell Gate, New York, the committee taking
the ground that all the money asked fon last
year for completing the work at that point
was appropriated. The appropriation for the
Mississippi river is as follows.
St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-01-15
CHICAGO FINANCIAL.
[speeial TeIegram 70 the Globe. !

Especial Telegram 10 the Globe.
CHICAGO, Jan. 14.-This was another quiet
day at the banks, with only moderate move
ment Of general business. Financial circles,
however, are not impatient or downeast, but
are quietly waiting for favoring breezes from
without. New York exchange was quoted at
25940 cents premium, with fair outside
demand. Orders for currency shipments
were light and receipts the same. Sterling
exchange was 81 S2C94s6. The bank clear
ings were s6,s14, 900, against s7,9o5, 900
yesterday.
St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-01-15

Special Telegram % re GoSe.f
MINNEAPOLIS. Jan 1.-THE dwelling Of
George BIacke. the ex-polfeman, No. 722
Madison street northeast, caught fire about
midnight aud vas partially burned The
damsge TO the house Is abo1t $500, damage
70 the furniture s4OO, insured for g., 200.
St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-01-15

NEW HAVEN. Conn.,, Jan 14--Dr. Carer
stopped shooting tonight At 12 O'Clock with
3I.i5a hits. his days vOrk wss 10, 500
shots, with s.s7S hits. he begins again To-
morrow morning. He il afA above the sy-
srAzs required q complete the task
St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-01-15

droves Of excellent packing grades were
made up at S4.35@4, 40, with common selling
as low as S4.25. Cattle are 15920c lower
than on Monday and sheep have declined
25G30c per 100.