davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1885-03-26
The Presidents Private ONCE.
From Carp's Washington Letter TO the Cleveland
Leader.

Leader.
It is also a large room, and the
president sits at the back OF 1t before
the windows, behind a fiat mahogany
desk. A tall, hne-lookirg, well-dress-
ed man, with hair that is fast turning
gray, nc rises and shakes our hands
He motions US to seats, and we are at
once ia TIE midst of business. AS
this goes on | think of the history that
has been c. acted in this room. ! see
the various cabinet meetings from the
day of Adams TO that of Arthur, and
wish the walls were monographs and
could give np the history they have
seen. In this room Andrew jackson
fought the battles of Peggy Eaton,
mere Martin Van Buren, laid his fox
like plans, and here John Tyler fought
for his rights all along through his
stormy administration. Here II was
that Daniel Webster laid down his
policy as secretary of state, and here
the bony Calhoun stormed and Henry
Clay counselled with John Quincy
Adams. Here it was that Buchanan
hesitated and was deceived by his con
federate secretaries plotting against
the government, ard in this very room
Jefferson Davis laid out tAe policy of
Frank Pierce, while he acted as his
secretary. Here it was that Lincoln
LAID out his war schemes, and i'll this
room the plans were laid which put
down the greatest rebellion in the his
tory of the world. Here, too, john
sen prepared for his Impeachment
trial, Salmon 2. Chase schemed for
the presidency while ne held the
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1885-03-26


CASTILLO, the Circus Man, Telling "a
story of Pioneer Days on the slope
A strange Thing I'm Human Life
Collection OF Curiosities i'm the
Funny Line
San francisco News Letter
Dan CASTILLO, of ''nickel plate cir.
cusn fame, is somewhat of satirist.
Some time since he was a patient
listener to several narrowing yarns
related by some of the California
pioneers, ia which hair breadth escapes
and personal exploits figured promin-
emily. When Dams tun came TO
spin tale he volunteered the follow
ing,
Several years ago myself and FIVE
companions started up into the Clear
water country for the purpose of kill
ing a grizzly bear. One day we struck
camp in an immense canon, calculat-
ing or the morrow to scour the sur
rounding wilds for the 'varmints'
which we knew were lurking in the
vicinity. We had scarcely set our
tent-pegs and kindled our fire when
we observed, to our horror, a large
band of Indians, arrayed in fierce
war-paint, descending the opposite
slope Of the valley. A hurried con.
sultation was held. We were too
small in numbers to think of giving
battle to the approaching foe, and,
therefore, ii was decided that our
party should separate, each taking a
different direction, hoping that tie
savages would abandon further pur-
suit. The arrangement was immedi-
ately acted upon, and / chose for my
route of retreat a seemingly easy
path, which led down the canon. You
can bet that the grass did not grow
under nay feet, but imagine my horror
when, looking back, / saw the entire
troop of red devils in wild pursuit OF
me, having forsaken the balance Of
my party and apparently concentrated
all effort toward my capture. 1t was
a thrilling moment. | strained every
nerve and muscle and ran with the
velocity Of deer down the wild
canon, bounding over rocks and leap
ing past the trunks of fallen trees.
Suddenly / was compelled to halt.
The canon had come to an abrupt
termination. In front and on every
side nothing but perpendicular walls
of rocks hundreds of feet high met
my gaze. l had entered natural
BASIN the only way of egress from
which was the canon down which
had Just travelled. Looking back,
saw that the Indians had reached the
mouth of the pit, not twenty feet
away. I struggled wildly for liberty,
but escape there was none
We'll, " asked an anxious listener,
as CASTILLO paused in his narrative,
what did you dol"
Doc" echoed Dan, what in h
could do3 I died right there" And
the gathering of spinning pio-
neers adjourned for the evening.
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1885-03-26
Must be True, You Know.
Merchant Traveller.

"Ah. Miss Paul. said lank TO a
sarcastic girl to whom he had just
been presented. II believe you know
my fwleuA Fitsclaiwence.
"Oh, yes, l met him at Saratoga
last summer.
"Ah, Miss Paul, Fitz is a chawnm-
ibg fellow, don't you knowi WEAKLY,
now, Miss Paul, don't you think he IS
noah delightful fellow than those
Cincinnati menl'
"Oh, he's very nice, she answer
ed, but / think he told me s story.
No. Why Fitz is the very son OF
twooth, Miss Pal. What could he
have said2'
He said lou were not nearly as
big a fool as you looked.
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1885-03-26
IN THE EAST.
HATTIE TYING enrswoLD.

Behold the day is done and through the alr,
From the Bluezzin's tower the call 20 prayer
Bow. bow to Allah, most compassionate
Fr 81 w t6o1,sand mnarets doth nightly tell
n Is 10 Allah man iutrusts bis fate
Chime on. still chime, oh musical soft bells
Time never will oUtgrow this need Whlch owen
Within mems hearts or IN prayers obsoiele'
But as the deed grows greater, greater TOO
VIII be the prayer, 70 worship ana 70 90,
These too win round the circle, full, complete.
Columbus, Wis.
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1885-03-26
THE SLEIGH BELLE.
ST. LOUIS SPECTATOR.

Hear the sleigh belle, how she chatters
with her beau
How abe chatters, chatters, chatters,
OF innumerable matters,
While the horses heel bespatters
Her with snow.
See the sleigh belle with her lover
How they feel
Like a pair OF colts IN clover
This sweet sleigh belle and her lover,
Underneath the dainty cover
OF the seal.
See the people stand and stare
At the belle.
As, with loosely flowing hair,
And a smile beyond compare,
She is speeding through the air
With a swell.
Oh! such weather suit,for riding,
Though lis rough,
And the sleigh belle loves the gliding,
And such merry, merry sliding,
With her fifteen fingers hiding
In her mum
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1885-03-26
What Hermit's Hut Contained,

A party of men explored the hovel
Of old Cyrus Fitch, the hermit of Nc
KEGS Rocks, who was sent to the work
house on Monday last. The hut con-
sisted sf sticks and limbs of trees piled
up aud covered with old umbrellas
aud carpet. The party tore down the
novel and found over 1000 papers,
two large Colts navy revolvers, and
an old sword, long bladed dirk knife
and other Implements of warfare.
Receipts for money amounting to
SOS, 600 and an invitation to the first
annual bali of the Waverly Historical
Society, at Courtney's Station, July,
4, 1864, were also found. The contents
Of the hut Were piled away in a
shanty. An effort will be made TO
have Fitch sent to an insane asylum.
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1885-03-26
A Reckless Course.
Arkausaw Traveller.

A young lawyer, stepping out the
back door of his office, saw a negro in
the act OF stealing his coal scuttle.
Say, there, what are you going to
do with that scuttle2'
who, me-"
Yes, youW
Law. boss, 1 amt seed yer in some
time, How vessel has growed sence
dat time. Yer air a great lawyer
now, / reokons,' dropping the scat
tie.
What were you trying to steal
that thing for, you trifiing rascal2"
Sometimes l kahn hep but think
de white gennermen is goin' crazy.
Err pusson o er 'vestigatin mine
kahn pick er cuts thing ter 'zauin' it
widout hahn er white man 'cuzing
him wild stealth Look heah, ne
added as he moved away, "yer'll git
picked up one O. desc days widout yer
draps that reckless cause o yourn, F"
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1885-03-26

There has been much stuff and non
sense written about Mexican beau
ties The truth is senorita Of our
sister republic is rarely pretty. She
IS apt to be obese when not yet 20
years of age, and, for her taste in
dressing, she hasn't any. Most Of
them use a pasty sort OF powder on
their faces, and have little discretion
in the use of colors, AS rule, a
Mexican girl is ugly when snartly
dressed, and only looks really well
when very young and careless OF
fashion.
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1885-03-26

Georgia now beasts of farmer who
raised a potato weighing thirteen
pounds.
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1885-03-26
AFTER A GRIZZLY BEAR.

sport i'm the Glorious ClImate-Dan
CASTILLO, The Circus Man, Telling "a
story of Pioneer Days on the slope
A strange Thing in Human Life
Collection of CuFiosities in the
Funny Zine
Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1885-06-26
THE WRONG GIRL.
The Perplexing Situation In which an
ElOper Found Himself.
Iscaford (Md.) Enter priset

tScatOro (Md.) Enter prise.I
On large farm nearly in sight of the
quiet ii tie town of Fedtralsblrg, Md. re-
sides bl))ming young girl of twenty
two summers, aisO her cousin, two years
her senior. Both o. them have beaux
whom their stern old father and uncle
does not approve of. The lover No. and
his sweeth cart, unbeknown to the other
parties, had made all their arrangements
to seal of in the sill of the night and get
married. This was also the plan of the
contracting parties No. 2.
The ladder VS. hidden back of the gar
den for thu purpose scaling tie walls at
the proper tims. Ia the bewitching hours
of the night lover No. placed the ladder
to the window OF girl No. 9. The night
was dark j1st at that time. She made her
exit out OF the window and into the arms
of her supposed knight, and was hurried
of to the carriage near 10y. Not a word
was spoken. The carr age was gained
and the lash applied to the horses.
When they arrived at the house of the
preacher, who was waiting to tie the knot,
the gallant knight then discovered that he
bad got the wrons girl. OF course there
were some salts and inward cuss words,
and the tug OF war came-how to get the
weeping girl back undiscovered. Lover
No. met with an accident by running his
buggy az eainst a post and carrying away
his port wheel, and failed that night to
arrive at the house. The old man has
bought a thirteen-dollar gun, and is
niS htly in ambush for the raiders.
Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1885-06-26
A Klss Blocked the Street.

Two old ladies were reluctantly bidd ne
each other good-by opposite the entrance
to the Brooklyn Bridge when the crowd
was thickest yesterday afternoon. One of
them had hailed Third avenue car The
car stopped. and the driver talked aloud be-
cause the bell was not rung for him to
start his horses again.
''Now, madam, look alive" said the
conductor, ;impatiently, while he fingered
the bell rope. I'VE can't wait all d W.
Eli! Get along out of that" roared
the driver OF car In the rear.
"Hil hi! hip yelled others as the line
rapidly heightened and the street became
blocked.
"Now, mum, will you move on?n shouted
the driver Of truck who wanted to cross
the bridge.
But, oblivious to the surroundings, th.
two old ladies continued kissing each other
farewell. Finally q policeman seized one
of them and threw her into the car, and
barely rescued the ether from being run
over .ly an express wagon The car in
which her friend was rolling up town Was
well on its way before she rec )yered suffi-
cient breath to tell the polio, man that she
wanted to 80 to Forty ninth street, and
HIT her companion wanted to cross he
.idse.
Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1885-06-26
FAITH CURE.
a Young Tennessee Belle Restored TO
Health by Prayer Turns Away FROM the
Foliies OF the World

Young Tennessee Belle Restored TO
Health by Prayer Turns Away From the
Foliles OF the World.
Nashville CTenn spes'all
A beautl al and talented young belle of
this city who for a number OF years was q
leader in fashionahlB soc ETY., was taken III
some time ago with a malady that bafied
the skill Of local physicians. The young
lady gradually lost streagth and Lam
guished until death . semsd imminent. As
last resort she was taken 70 New York
20 consult the most eminent physicians In
that city, but even the wisest Of them was
unable 90 'athom the secret Of the myste-
rious trouble and afford the young lady
any re ie'. While In New York the suffer-
er was induced to try the "faith cure"
practiced by certain persons there. The
idea toDk complete possession OF her. She
returned home aud continued her prayer
for health. For four moaths she had not
bsen abe 10 walk a single step, or even 10
make the effort without assistance. One
Sunday morning while her family were
attending divine service, an anssseT came
Co her prayers and health re urned in
stantly. When her parents returned from
church, TO their Joy they found her whom
s"'F "o' A0's PiOsIate anu neipiesS upon
her ted rs we'll as when she was leading
tho gay routs Of society months before
To-day the house which was once the scene
o. gayety Is a house Of prayer. The young
woman called her companions about her
and, after relating the miracle which IA tn
had wrought, Immediately organized a
prayer-meeting, which meets weekly at
her home. In this way she dedicates her
new-found health to the service Of Him
who gave it
Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1885-06-26
4 GLIMPSE OF STREET LIFE.
A Tramp Who Had dressed Brick"
Pasted ia His Hat.

l''aIan About Town" in n. Y. Star.l
"Say, boss, could you TIL me how l
m ght get a passage ticket to Norway"
was the salutation l received from a tall,
hin tramp the other dav.
Hive you friends in Norway"
"No sir" he promptly rejoined, with a
suggestive twinkle in his eye, "Dut Pm
out Of work, and ih'nK could strike a
good opening ov r there"
"What is your trade, or what could you
hope t. do in Norway"
Pulling of his hat. he took from the iu-
ner band OF it the half OF an oil PLAYING
card. on " hich n newspaI or clipping was
carefully pasted. lie handed il to me, an
1 read as follows:
''In Norway hotels, cigars, ciCaret es,
stationery, seltzer water, wine and similar
articles are placed accessible to guests at
I'll times, and when settling time comes
the landlord takes the word of the guest
as to how much of ea b he has eaten or
drunk"
'Oho!" said I, "are you frank enough
to tell me that you would like to 20 over
and play tue de 'dbeat on thess honest and
hospitab'e eopls?"
"Never" exclaimed my tramp, with a
tCne and gesture that Lawrence Barre
could hardly excsL "You Sc a, sir, as
on as this thing gets widely known,
there will be a regular rusa of fakirs,
ank cashiers and such to Norway, AMI
they will bankrupt the POOR natives. If 1
can g,t over aheal OF the crowd, I can
warn the hotel-keepers and earn th, ir
eternal gratitude. Psrhips, sir, you could
give me a dime to help toward tting a
steerage passage"
had to laugh as dropped him dime.
"Nuw," l added, "won's you tell me
squnrrly how you make out on this
racket"
"Wen, boss, when 1 meet a gentleman
who can enjoy little joke, even when
it finds birth with poor devil in a shabby
coat, he generally helps me along. l. 1
asked him at the start to help a Door
man. he wouldn't listen to me; but the
cheek AMI novelty of this racket tickles
him. You may believe me or not, but I'm
halter ous of a job, an I've never been
in jail or the poor-hou e. BY and by,
when business improves. expect to 90
back to my trade l had TO invent this
little gag to keep me going ia the mean
time. l found this paragraph in a Phila-
delphia newspaper"
Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1885-06-26
A DIvERTINo YARN.
Man Who Claims to Have SwaIi owc "a
Three Pounds of Tacks.

lAtianta constitutional
'S ee that many" said one gentl ,mln to
another vest rday, at the same time point
ing to neatly dressed, round faced,
good-looSing son OF Erin who was passing
by.
"Yes. What about him."
"Why, that's d nnis O'Leary, a light
ming carpet-layer, and I'll bet he has
swallowed a peck of tacks in his time"
well I'M bet he hasn't" was the re-
ply. "I'll even bet that he hasn't swal-
lowed one"
Done" said the gentleman. as he
called Mr.. O'Leary back and introduced
him.
Dennis" said the gentleman, show
many tacks have you swallowed since you
began laying cArpets?"
"Oh, / don't know" replied Mr..
O'Leary, with a rich Irish brogue.
"Whyg"
''well, Just. said that. you had swal-
lowed a peck, and my friend here bets me
that You never swallowed one."
"Then he las lost, for have swallowed
lots Of tacks and nails.
''The deuce you havel Swallowed
nails?"
"Yes, have been laying carpets for
years, and guess ! have got GU side OF
three pounds o. iron since begun.n
Don't it hurt your"
Oh. no. Iramember distinctly the first
tack l ever swallowed I was then learn
ing ca-pet-laying. ] was helping to put
down a fac 'tlanket' in Vanderbilt's resi-
dence in New York. had my mouth full
taA kQ nd eli 4 81
1t was down almost before / knew it. 1t
scared me to death. l sprang to my feet
spit he tacks out of my mouth aud declared
that would die because L had swallowed
tack. The other workmen. all oil hands
with stomach's full of tacks, laughed at
me and told me I'd get used to it. You see
carpet-layer ain't got time to put his
finger in a paper OF tacks every time he
wants one, so he fills his mouth full and
they come handy. Well, after swallowing
that first tack 1 was careful how / filed
my mouth for long time but finally an
other and another tack went down until l
became accust Imed to it. ami now 1 don't
care a cent for swallowing a tack"
sand it 'on' hurt your" asked the re-
porter, who had listened with intert st to
Mr.. O'Leary's story, delivered in a rich
lrogue.
"Not one bit. Some OWLS luck,
guess-the tack goes down head foremost
and never 10 hsrs me. l never heard of
n carpet-layer being hurt by it. Why,
have swallowed huadred nails"
''What?'
81 said 1t. l have swallowed hundred
nails. So has any carpet-layer who has
worked The nail that is ussd for curtain
fastenings, etc, is a long slim nail, about
an inch long. 1 have had these nails slip
d 'wn like grease Once, and only once,
did have trouble. Then tack got lodged
in my throat. 1t bothered me little, but
just filled my mouth with bu ter, gave
gulp, and down went tack, butter and
all. But good-day," and away Mr.. O'Leary
went.
Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1885-06-26
A LOST PET.
The Natural Mistake Pennsylvania Won,
an Made.
ITaylortown tPa.l sDooiaI.I


lTaylortown (Pa) sDcciaI.l
George Carr and Miss lo lisa Graham.
OF this village, went slsi h-ridiug on sun.
day nigh. On tbs river road. two miles
fro hSre, a small animal ran across th.
road I'm front OF the h7rse, aud. jumpin,
on the fence, ssoppe th'rs. Carr got ou
Of the sleigh and ap reached the anina
which did not move away. The day DO.
fore a pet raecoou belon ging to a Lrotha
OF Miss Graham had disappeared. Car
was about to rike the animal on the fenc,
with the hutt OF bis heavy whip, whe
Miss Graham excla med;
"Oh. doI't! It's Mates lost coon. Catcl
II and give IL TO me-"
Carr dropped his whip and reached on.
10th hands 20 sjezs the supposed tam,
coon when the animal suddenly threw n .
head forward and caught the young mar
by the fingers OF both haads. and held o
so tightly that he could not shake It Oft
Carr was helpless, aud cried to his com.
pan ion to get out and aid him. She die
so, and was compelled O. beat the anmn
10 death wi b the whip before Carr coult
release his hands. The first two finger,
on the right hand and three on the lefi
were bitten 50 they remai ned hanging only
by three pieces OF skin to the hands, and
all five have been ampu ated. The ami.
mal proved g. he an opossum, the first one
ever seen wild in this vicinity.
Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1885-06-26
FIFTY CHARMING FRIENDS.
How n Lover of sweet Iasses aud Sea
shells Grows Old with Grace.

How n Lover of sweet IA-ses aud Sea
shells Grows Old with Grace.
tFiorida Cor Chicago Inter. ocetn.l
The other day paid visit Co General
y. E. spinner, the watch dog" as he was
aormtd. OF the United States Treasury. Hs
IL spending the late autumn of his life here
IN Fioridp. among hts hooks and pictures,
surrounded by millions OF wond rful
shells, which have been gathered from all
oceans. He has presented TO the Smithso-
nian Institution many specimens Of this
rare Election. The Gsueral has an album
OF 4 ty photographs Of young lad es, many
OF whom are his correspondents. He is
greatly beloved by the young who make
Of him a confident In their love affairs aud
engagements, asking OF him pat, rnal adj
vice
A few years sirce be brought from
wushing gton 20 his homo here the daugh-
Ger Of a widowed friend aud on the ever-
ing OF their arrival his boGt-house, with
its contents, was consumed by fire. In
trying 90 save some OF the valuable con-
Geological specimens the crystal OF his
watch was shattered, 80 on the following
lsorning he and his young charge star 81
90 walk over the railroad trsst ed fridge
90 the city for the purpose o. having the
watch repaired. a train came laundering
slonR and while descending 10 the foot
path below the terrified wirl let her r.eh.
hand upon the track aud the morciless cars
crushed H. Tho arm was amputaiei, bat
General spinner has mover recovered from
the grief OF the accident and can only
speak Of Il through tears. Tue kind. he lrt-
81 old man inmedia ely settled upon the
unfortunats chill the sum o. g., % and
besides Il giving her a thorou h educst on.
O1ce q week he resolves from her a letter
written In clear, bold chirography VITA
her lsft hand, slthou. h she us 3 false
arm aud hand for every other kind o.
work. even Tor the management OF her
irush. A hsaut al marine view hangs
upon the wall, vhioh - the work of her
ban,l, and the Geucrai appreciates4. more
than the othor valuable lossessions in has
sanCtunl
Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1885-06-26
THE ARTISAN OF CAERNARvoN.
Joseph shIrIS and the skiIIfuI Work That
He Does Ia His Mountain Hut.
IVooansxyilla fpo A g,,.ot.l I


GVOgansvilIe (Pa.) Special.
On the brow of the Caernarvon hills lives
nm old man named Joseph Shirk. He
owns n small tract OF wood land and some
cleared land which he has occupied for
over a quarter OF a century. His dwell
Ing Is a modest one story frame, aud the
passer-by, unacquainted with the man
within, would imagine him to be a simple
mountaineer or snail farmer. Blu. Shirk
10 ornething more.
On n number OF rude shelves in the lower
70 I'M Of h house he has arranged n large
number Of mathematical instruments, all
of which he made himself after his agri-
cultural toll was over for tho day. A
small stream running down from the
mountain side turns n wheel which fur
nishes h1n with power to turn n ru L. lathe
OF his own construction. The rom is a
regular machine shop, in which ths old
man turns out various Instruments solely
Tor his own Amusement. His last pro.
duction Is a civil engineers transit
he Is an expert i'm m king as
Economical calculations. Hs has tel
escopes, quadrants, globes, chains.
and other articles, all of which he made
In his machine shop. Around him
region is very viii and rough, yet old man
Shirk lives alons with nis ins lruments, and
passes his time merrly. At one time be-
was smart young scho 4 teacher, bu.
circums- ancss changed the course OF his
life and led him 10 n hermit's exis.ence OF
the bleak hills Caeruarvon.
Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1885-06-26
He Got Ev-n with Him.
[Danbury News.l

A D1nbury man was sire some one
was tampering with his meal barrel. He
drew a pencil line to show just how high
In the barrel the meal was and tn , next
morning the meal was fully two inches be-
low the mark. Then he had his idea,
which was to st a steel trap in the meal.
1t worked we l, and when he next visited
the place the trap was gone, and there was
q good dial OF blood about, at which he
Chuckled greatly and told his neighbor, who
praised his shrewdness, and together they
kept watch for some one with damaged
finger. Before they found him, this
shrewd man went in haste one morning 20
the barrel to take out meal There was n
cl ck, and he was caught in his own trap,
which the thief had returned and set last
as he did II a. first. He has had one finger
pet, and hopes IL save two more from am
LusatiOn-