davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-08-04
.Can Imagination KILL"

This is, perhaps, hardly the correc,
form of question that the British ana
Colonial Druggist puts to itself in dis.
cussing the death of the young woman Of
Hackney under circumstances in which
Keating's insect powder largely figured.
AS the powder appears by DR.. Tidy's ex.
per.ments to be perfectly harmless, the
suggest on is not unnaturally made that
the deceased, who W; possibly of q hys.
terical, highly imaginative turn of mind
took the powder in the full belief that by
its means her death might be accom-
plished. The writer of the article in ouI
contemporary, we think wrongly, bring.
forward two remarkable instances Of
what may lie regarded as practical jokes
with melancholy examinations. In the
case of the convict delivered up to the
scientist for the purpose of psyche.
logical experiment (the man was strapped
to table and blindfolded, ostensibly to
be bled to death; q siphon containing
water was placed near his head, and the
fluid was allowed to trickle audlbly into
a vessel below, at the same time that q
tr.fling scratch with needle was inflicted
on the culprit's neck; it is said that
death occurred at the end of six minutes),
fear must have played no inconsiderable
share in the fatal result, and we do NOT
know whether all the vital organs were
in a sound condition, though they were
presumably So The old story of the
case of a college porter is also one in
point. The students entrapped him into
room at night, mock inquiry was
held, and the punishment of death by
decapitation decreed for his want of con-
sideration TO the students. 1t is small
wonder that, under the dominion of fear
md belief in the earnestness of his tor
mentors, the sight of an ok and block;
with subsequent blindfolding and neces-
sary genufcSion, a smart rap with wet
towel on the back of his neck should
have been followed by the picking up Of
q corpse. .-LondOn Lancet.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-08-04
Warm Land for Corn.

The corn crop needs tropical heat for
time to reach perfection. Many facts
60 to show that much of the benefit from
cultivation and manuring for corn is due
to the effect these mems have in making
the soil warm. In early spring the more
frequently the ground is stirred the more
permeable it is to the entrance of the
Dir, which at this season is always much
warmer than the soil. In fact, plowing
and cultivation turn under considerable
air spaces together with warmer soil on
the surface. The heat from this rises as
the soil settles, thus warm ng the whole.
Coarse manure helps in the same way,
and by heating, at the bottom of the fur
rows it continues to warm the soil
through the season. Every farmer
knows how vigorous a growth is given
tocorn by rotting sod. This may be
hatencd by frequent cultivation early in
the season. In this way the worse the
Is othe greater the advantage of free uent
cultivation. Good corn is thus grown on
land infested by quack grass, the culti-
vation being then necessarily performed
once, and if possible twice, week.
After rains, especially on heavy soil, the
cultivation can hardly be tco frequent,
providing the soil does not pack together.
Every time it is stirred it is opened to
admit more warm air. Every blade of
quack grass put under the soil helps to
furnish more warmth, and thi; in turn
makes latent fertility available for corn
roots.
Soils for corn should be loose as posi-
BILE, and this condition is secured
wherever they are full OF vegetable mat
ter. A dark color a'so adds to the
warmth, and for this re: son the black
prairie soils of the West, full Of decay
ing grass roots, were long unexcelled for
corn growing. 1t is probable that every
where, as land becomes more compact by
long cultivation, the best conditions for
growing corn easily will be more infre-
quent. But knowing what the corn crop
requires it will not be difficult to supply
them. A clover sod rots Immediately
afttr being turred under. Besides this,
its roots penetrate the soil deeply, and as
soon as severed from the top by shallow
blowing, their decay keeps the soil both
moist and warm. Corn rarely suffers
from drought on clover sod, if we'll Guilt
vated during the growing season. There
is moisture in the sub-soil until late every
season, and the deep tap-roots of clover
make it available. Cultioator.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-08-04
A Southern Rice Field.

"a large rice field" says Judge Henf
dcrson, Commissioner of Agriculture o
Georgia, resembles a map of large city.
I mean skeleton map, such as real es-
tate agents frequently distribute when
advertising lots for sale. The canals and
bitches of various sizes suggest the lines
of lots. Or, it might be likened to a
backgammon board. The squares IN q
rice field are checked off with almost as
much regularity. Mr.. Moynelo's Planta,,
ton, which l recently visited, contained
about 1, 600 acres, of which 900 were in
cultivation. The number OF miles OF
bitches in the 900 acres was 1900. Some
of the bitches were called canals. They
were large enough to float boats, which
served the same purpose of carts or
wagons in wheat or cotton fields. Ihe
dykes must have cost many thousands OF
dollars. My attention was called to one
trunk on a canal which alone cost S7OO.
The number of trunks drawbridges,
and bridges of various kinds, must also
have cost many thousands of dollars.
Superadd the cost of labor in clearing
the immense forest growth which origi-
nally darkened aud encountered the plan,
tation, and it will readily be understood
that rice growing is an expensive busi
ness"
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-08-04
Chinese Execution Ground.

This is a small, open court about forty
feet long and twenty-five wide, writes .
correspondent from Canton. Is ls used
as q pottery when not needed for execu-
tions. and as 1 strolled in the ground,
covered with earthen jars and vessels, it
seemed to give the place an air OF peace
full industry rather than of bloody execu-
tions. Stepping carefully among the
pots and jars, 1 stood on spot colored
deep, dark red by the blood of prisoners
recently dccap:tated. Turning with a
shudder from this spot, gazed along the
walls of the court, and my eyes rested on
pile of cage-like boxes stacked up on
one side. In each of these ghastly
head of a Chinaman showed through the
bars, looking distorted and horrible.
Near these cases were the crossed beams
to which persons are tied for decapita-
ton. There are two modes for decapita-
ton practiscd. One is to make the pri-
soncr kneel, and the head is struck from
the body while in this position. This IS
the usual mode of decapitation. An
other is by tying the prisoner up to
soft of cross and then striking off the
head. In this position the women are
always executed. One sentence OF capital
punishment is to cut into the eyebrows,
checks, and feshy PARTS of the arms and
breasts in such way that the flesh will
hang down in strips, and then the head
is struck off. The sentence ls usually in
fiictcd on women committing adultery,
and on parricides.
In the hair of the condemned man is
placed paper on which is written the
nature of the crime for which he is being
executed
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-08-04
The Puzzle of the Egg.

Mr.. Matthieu Williams, in one Of Ms
lectures, says: Every one who eats his
matutinal cgg. cats sermon ard mira
Gle. Inside Of that smooth, symmetrical,
beautiful shell turks question which has
been the Troy town for all the philan-
thropists and scientists since Adam.
Armed with the engines Of war-the mi
croscope, the scales. the offensive weapons
of chemistry and reason-they have
probed and weighed and experimental; !;
and still the question is unsolved, the
citadel uncackcd. Professor Bokorny
can tell vol that albumen is composed
of so many molccul,s of carbon and nj
trogen and hydrogen, and can persuade
Won of the difference between active and
passive aliumen, and can show by wen
drrfully deli. ate cxpci imcnts what the
,ldchydes have to do in the separation OF
cold, from his complicated solutions; but
he can't tell you why from orc egg comes
a little rid hin, and from another BAN
tam. You leave your little silver spoon
m hour in your egg cup, and it is coated
with u compound of sulphur. Why IS
that sulphur there? Wonderful, that
evolution should provide for the bones of
the future hen! There is phosphorus
also in that microcosm; and the oxygen
of the air, passing through the shell,
unites with it and the acid dissolves the
shell, thus making good, strong bones
for the chick, and at the same time thin
ming the prison walls. Chemists know a
good deal now about albumcn, and If
they cannot tell US why life differen-
tiates itself therein and thereby, they can
tell you how not to spoil your broak-
fast.n
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-08-04
POPULAR SCIENCE.

Tho German newspapers state that
startling experiments have been made at
Berlin with a new description of shell,
charged with gun cotton, which pro-
duceS most extraordinary results. No
kind of defensive works, no matter how
solid, it is stated, are capable of resist
ing so destructive projectile.
The curious suggestion has been made
by Mr.. Francis Galton, of the London
Anthropological Institute, that some of
the colors of the Italian mosaic workers
be employed rs standards for describing
the tints of the skin of the various races
and tribes OF mankind. These colors
have great durability, mosaics in St..
Peters at Rome having shown no signs
of change after more than century. A
great variety Of tints is available, there
being about 500 appropriate to the flesh
of European nations alone.
1t is possible to keep the adult lobster
alive for q long period in a moist, cold
atmosphere. At45 oF., in proper de-
vice, HOLSTERS have been kept alive and
IN good condition for fifteen days, and
in a moist atmosphere only, their gills
not having been immersed in water dur
ing the whole period. This discovery
renders it possible to transport living
adult Holsters across the continent, and
to stock the waters of the Pacific coast.
1t is also possible to pack the lobster
eggs in scaweed in a similar manner and
to transport them fo- long distances.
BY recent soundings the London Geo.
graphical Society has asccrtained that
the ocean-bottom in the North Atlantic
is formed Of two G cat valleys. One
reaches in width from the tenth degree
of east to the thirtieth of west longitude,
extending to the equator, at a depth OF
lot less than $4,000 feet; and the other
lies between the thirtieth and fiftieth de-
grees of west longitude. The interven-
ing mountain n-chain with a maximum
breadth of nearly 500 miles. extends
northward toward Iceland and southwark
to the Azores, and is volcanic in charac
ter at the ends.
The spectroscope capable of indicat-
ing the millonth part of u milligram of
sodium-has been regarded as the most
delicate of all means of analysis. Its
keenncss proves to be far surpassed, how
ever, by that of the sense of smell, late
European investigations having shown
that the nerves of the nose arc sensibly
affected by one 460, 900, ,O0Oth part of a
m;lligram of mercaptan-a milligram be-
ing only .O154 of grain. And if such
be the delicacy of human smell, what
must be the minutcness of the smallest
particle which may produce an impress
sion ON the nose of dool
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-08-04
On the part of God, but it il ouJy our mental

on the part of God, but it il only our mental
and spiritual incapacity.
Some of you have been disappointed this
summer-vacation are'apt to b, disappoint-
ments, but whatever have been your perplex-
tiles and worriments know that MANS
heart deviseth his way, but the Lord di-
recteth his steps" Ask these aged men in
this church if this is not 80. It
has been 80 in my own life. One
summer started for the Adiron-
dacks, but NV plans were so changed
that landed in Liverpool. I studied law,
and got into the ministry. ] re olved to 60
as missionary to China, and stayed in the
United States. thought would like to be
in the East, and I went to the West-all the
circumstances Of life, all my work, different
from that which I expected. "a mans heart
deviseth his way, but the Lord directeth his
steps"
So, my dear friends. this day take home
this subject. Be content with such things as
you have. From every grass blade under
your feet learn the lesson Of Divine care, and
never let the smallest bird fit across your
path without thinking Of the truth that 'fve
sparrows are sold for two farthings, and not
one of them is forgotten before God" Blessed
be His glorious name forever. Amen.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-08-04
Recipes

GREEN CORN PUDDING. Cut the corn
from six ears of corn, add one quart Of
milk and three or four eggs. Season
with pepper and salt, bake as custard.
Nice either hot or cold.
SLICED CUcUMBERs.-Lay the cucum-
bers in cold water for an hour or more.
Peel, slice thin and evenly, sprinkle with
pepper and salt, and pour on a small
quantity cf vinegar. When serving lay
u sriall lump of ice on each dish.
GINGER ALE.-Two pounds brown
sugar or one quart molasses, two table
spoonfuls cream of tartar, two of ginger,
two sliced lemons, two gallons boiling
water. Stir well, and when milk.warm
add half pint of yeast. Stir again and
let it settle in lightly covered vessel
twelve hours. Strain, bottle, and put
in cod place. 1t will be fit for use in
two or three days, and will only keep q
week.
COLD MEAT PUDDNe.-For cold meat
pudding rub one-half pound of beef
dripping into one and half pounds of
-four, with little salt. Moisten the
paste with water and roll it out half
an inch thick Mince any kind of cold
meat; season It and add few spoons of
gravy. Spread the minced meat on the
paste and roll it up. Tie it up in cloth
buttcred and Toured and boil for an hour
and half.
BOILED POTATOES. and put into
boiling water, with a tablespoonful of
salt. Let boil till la fork will pierce them
readily; drain, cover with towel to ab-
sorb the steam and render them meally.
Potatoes are really better if cooked with
their "jackets" on-simply cutting off an
end or peeling a narrow strip around the
centre. 1t is perfectly proper to serve
them so, if more convenient than to peel
them, and they are certainly more pal
atable.
CABBAGE SALAD.-Shave hard, white
cabbage into strips; take the yolks of
three well-beaten eggs, cup and half
of good cider vinegar, two teaspoonfuls
of thick cream, one teaspoonful mustard
mixed in little boiling water, salt and
pepper to suit the taste. Mix all but the
eggs together and let it boil; then stir
in the eggs, rapidly turn the cabbage
into the mixture, and stir well. Make
enough for two days at once, as it keeps
perfectly, and is an excellent relish for
all kinds of meat.
FAMILY APPLE PUDDNe.-Make q
biscuit crust with one quart of flour,
three small teaspoonfuls of baking pow
der, butter or lard the size of an egg,
teaspconful of salt Qess if butter is use0
and milk enough to make soft dough:
Fill deep baking-dish with sliced
apples, sweetened with molasses and
favored with cinnamon, nutmeg and
pounded dried lemon peel. Cover with
the crust aud bake in moderate oven.
The oven door may be left open a few
moments when the pudding is put in,
and closed as soon as the crust rises.
Serve with hard sauce, or if eggs are
plenty, use egg sauce, to make which
rub one small cup of butter and two cups
of sugar to o cream, tn IN stir in three
eggs beaten very light, and two table
spoonfuls boiling water and flavor with
lemon
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-08-04
RELIGIOUS READING.
Face To Face.

race 10 race.
Sad mortal! couldst thou but know
What truly it means to die,
The wings of thy soul would glow.
And the hopes of thy heart beat hlgn;
Thou wouldSt turn from the PyrrhonlSt
schools,
And laugh their jargon to scorn,
As the babble of midnight fools
Ere the morning Of Truth be born:
But I, earth's madness above,
In the ngdom of stormless breath
I gaze on the glory of love
In the unveiled face of Death.
l tell the his face is fair
As the NOON bows amber rings,
And the gleam in his unbound hair
Like the flash of u thousand Springs;
His smile is the fathomless beam
or t. star-shine's sacred light,
Whom the SUNNI rs of Southland dream
In the lap of the holy Night:
For I, carth's blindness above,
In the kingdom OF ha!cyon breath
gaze on tie marvel of love
In tue unveiled face Of Death.
In his eyes O heaven there dweils-
But they hold few mysteries now
And his pity for earths farewells
Half turrow. til oh ming brow;
Souls taken from Times cold tide
He folds TO his fostering breast,
And the tears of their grief are dried
Ere hey enter the courts OF rest:
And still, earth's madness above,
In u kingdcm of stormleSS breath,
! gaz. on the Ii hit that is love
III the unveiled face OF Death.
Through the splcndor of stars mpearled
In he glow of their far-otf grace,
He is soaring word by world,
With the soul in his strong embrace;
Lone others, uns;ir'ed by wind,
At tho assage of Death grow sweet,
With the fragrance that floats behind
The flash Of his winged retreat:
And ], car:h'S madness above,
'Mid kingdom Of tranquil breath,
Have Cazed on the tustre of love
In the unveiled face OF Death
But beyond the st, ,rS and the sun
can follow him still on his way,
Till The p arl.whte gates are won
In the calm Of the central day.
Far voices of fond acclaim
Thrill down from the place Of souls,
As Death, with touch like flame,
Uncloses the goal of goals;
And from heaven Of heavens above
God speaketh with bateloss breath
My angel Of perfect love
Is tn angel men cali Death.
Paul Fl. Hoync, in Hurper'r Magazine
for Nay.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-08-04

The st. Louis Globe Democrat, in an
article upon the "Children of the slums, J.
says: "Among the causes of the ruin OF
children is prominent the unlimited sale
Of intoxicating liquors"
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-08-04

Tea years ago the alm>houscs Of New
York were inspected, and a personal in
terview with nearly ten thousand inmates
showed eighty-fve per cent. of the men
to be Incorporate, aad 212 per cent. of
the women; fifty-fve per cent. had in
temperate fathers, and eighty-two per
cent. intemperatc mothers.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-08-04
HOUSEHOLD MATTERS.
A Useful Table.

A correspondent of the Rousekepe'
give the following table showing the
time required to cook different fruits for
canning and the amount of sugar re-
quired:
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-08-04

Since 1890 Pennsylvania has had six
teen Governors, eight OF whom were
Germans.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-08-04

Farm and Garden Notes.
Short hay crops mean cheap cattle in
the fall.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-08-04

True humanity consists not in a
squeamish car it consists not in start
ing or shrinking at tales OF misery, but
in disposition of heart to relieve it.
True humanity appcrtains rather to the
mind than to the nerves, and prompts
men to use real and active endeavors to
execute the actions which it suggests
c. J. For.
Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1886-10-13

If such is the case, then the said lots
and streets are only imaginary. The
lots are said to be four rods wide and
eight rods in length. Several of the
lots are SO badly cut that they are
useless as separate lots and the frag-
ments left can only be added to other
lots. The land to be taken from Mr..
Ripley by the railroad will be little
over an acre. For this route the
railway company offered 800. Mr..
Ripley considers his property dam
aged at least $4,000, but is willing to
settle for 81 800. The gentlemen who
are obliged to procure the right of
way, believed they were offering full
value for the land taken when they
rendered 500. The matter is now
before Judge limerick and n settle
ment will be made according to law
this week.
Mr.. Ripley had obtained informa-
ton which led him to believe that the
railroad graders would enter his land
Monday, September 9th. He con-
suited with a lawyer; the injunction
papers were got out, and it was the
intention to have Judge limerick
sign them as soon ms the hour of II
o'clock at night had passed. The
Judge was not in town then, having
gone to Bay City the day previous,
so when the graders commenced work
on the road through Mr.. Ripley's
land, he could, as far as we know,
do nothing to prevent them, except
to forbid them trespassing on his
land. Mr.. Ripley was then offered
the 500.
Judge limerick returned that Mon
day night; the injunction papers were
got out, and Mr.. Ripley regained
his land, put fence across the track,
and will hold possession until the
law settles the question.
Our diagram was made according
to descriptions given us by Captain
Ripley, at our request.
Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1886-10-13
First Railway Train into the City,

Last Monday the track of the d.,
B. G. e. A. r. Il. was laid to Wash
ington avenue. The week previous
the track had been changed from a
narrow guage to Il standard one.
About eight o'clock Monday night,
hundreds of citizens had assembled at
the terminous on Washington avenue
to see the first train enter Alpena city.
The Germania band was also present.
A large bon fire was started. At
nine o'clock, local time, the train con-
sisting of engine No. II with one
express, one baggage and two passen-
ger cars arrived ut the terminous.
Both sides of the track for consider
able distance were lined by people.
The mill whistles at Campbellville,
sent their greetings, the spectators
cheered, the band played and the iron
horse was warmly greeted by all pre-
sent except dog, which, taking
offense at the locomotive, made
spring at it and came near getting
under the wheels. When the train
had come to stop, the passenger
coaches were invaded by the curious.
To old residents of Alpena the arrival
of the first train was a memorable
event. 1t was something more than
the mere arrival of locomotive and
a few cars-it meant that Alpena was
now connected with the rest of the
world; bound by an iron tie that
storms of winter could not sunder.
1t meant that there was no more
dreary staging in winter time when a
person has to leave town on business
it meant regular mails, more business
and it fulfilled the expectations of
years. To the citizen who has seen
Alpena grow from trapper's hut, the
arrival of the first train was notable
event never to be forgotten.
Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1886-10-13
Meteorological Report

During the week ending Monday,
Oct. 18th, 1886, the meteorological
report of the weather at Alpena city,
was as follows:
Highest temperature, rs degrees, on the sth.
Lowest temperature, IS degrees on the 9Th.
Average temperature, 81 degrees.
Highest barometric pressure, 1924 inches.
Lowest barometric pressure, 30.033 inches.
Total rain fall 900 inches.
Prevailing wind, from the southwest
Total movement of the wind 773 miles.
Greatest daily rain fall 600 inches.
Highest velocity Of the wind, &c miles. from the
southeast, on the 5th.
Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1886-10-13
To Be Found.

At the Variety Store, Dock street, the
largest assortment of crockery, glass
ware, and lamp goods of any place in
the city. Hammocks, croquet sets,
base ball goods, stationary, banker
chiefs, hosiery, and notions, corsets,
table and pocket cutlery, tinware,
wooden and willow ware, bird cages,
and useful household articles too
numerous to mention, and all sold at
low prices by
LANGwoRTHY a. HIsER.