davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-09-16
Making Slate Pencils.

In the northwestern part of the town
of Castleton, Rutland county, VT, is the
only mandatory in the United States of
white slate pencils. The stone as it
comes from the quarry is first sawed
into blocks from four to seven inches
wide, according to the length desired
for the pencils. These are split quite
easily with chisel into slabs little
thicker than the finished pencils-say,
5-16 inch. These are passed through a
planning machine and over an emery belt
make them fiat, smooth, and of
uniform thickness of about $40 inch.
Next they are pushed into the jaws of
crocodile" which consists Of pair of
steel plates, in the under one of which
are six rows of curved knives, each set
SO as to cut little deeper than the one
which went before it. These plough
out parallel grooves half way
through the slab, which a man then turns
and lays upon steel plate having ridges
which just fit these grooves. This slides
back under the six rows of teeth of q
second Crocodile" lying in wait along
side, which cut the grooves on the other
side, and leave the pencils side by side.
Lastly, they are broken and rolled for an
instant to point them, upon an emery
belt. A man can give this last touch to
about 8, 900 in day. The average daily
output is 1000, and the mill gives en-
ployment to some twenty five hands.
The old pan was to saw out square PEN
ellis from the slab with circular saw,
one by one. These were boxed and dis
tributcd among poor families, who whit
tied them round by hand at from a
quarter to half dollar per thousand,
The crocodile" has spoiled this bust.
ness,-Mep York Esening Post,
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-09-16
Dust Storms.

A recent number OF the Americ1n Me-
teorological Journal contains an article on
the motor Gus dust storms of Fekin.
These occur in the dry season, especially
in winter and early spring. They come
on at irregular intervals, perhaps six or
eight times in the season, and last about
three days. The wind Is westerly, most
often northwest, and blows fresh or
high. The condition of the streets of
Pekin, evil as that is, would not account
for the heavy clouds of dust that como
down with the storm. The mouth and
eyes have to be protected from the fine
dust, which penetrates the closest room,
and makes food to taste gritty. This
abundant dust is spread over large
area. 1t extends eastward from Pckin
to the sea, and southeastward it regular
ly descends as far south as the Yellow
river, and sometimes Shanghai, ten de-
grees of latitude away. The writer of
the paper says this vast quantity of
dust must come from the great des-
erts of Mongolia. A series OF
observations during one of these
storms showed fall in the baromct r.
The clouds, which the day before had
been unbroken, rapidly cleared away,
the sun was so obscured that it could be
inspected by the naked eye, and it was
also fct in ring. The wind showed di.
urnal variations. the air was dry and
one had a fecirg of malaise and ncr-
vousness. After the wind went down,
barometer remained high for day oil
| two, aniits descent there was another,
but much less marked, dust storm. T c
storm thus appears to have been a gale
accompanying an area of high pressure,
which came from the desert of GLbi and
travelled eastward. The dryness of the
wind and its abundant dust were in
part due to this desert, which lies west
and northwest of Pekil, and is not fai
away. In his great work on China Rich.
tho!cn discusses the geological effects oI
/ these storms which are observed through.
out the south and west of the Desert o1
Cobb, and further west are much worse
than at Pckin. .-NatuTe.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-09-16

An interesting experiment, showing
the influence of electricity onthe growth
of roots, has been made in Germany by
Professor Hodeieiss Plates of copper
were thrust upright into the earth and
connected by wire with similarly placed
zinc plates, about one hundred feet dis.
tant, an electric battery being thus
formed with the earth between such
copper and zinc in the circuit. Both
potatoes and beets, planted between such
plates, gave an increased yield--beets
fifteen per cent, potatoes twenty five
per cent-as compared with other parts
of the same field.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-09-16
A Washington Silk FactorY.


Considerable interest having been
aroused by the announcement of the es-
tabishment of silk factory at the Agri-
cultural department, Star reporter
called upon Mr.. Philip Walker, special
agent of the division OF entomology, who
is charged with carrying out :he details
of the work, and elected the following
information:
For three years past Congress has ap'
propriated sum of money to be used by
the commissioner of agriculture in en-
deavoring to establish the cultivation of
silk in the United States. Part of this
money has been employed in looking
over the ground and making experiments
preliminary to the more systematic ones
which it is now the purpose of the COM
missioner to undertake. These new ex-
periments will be conducted under tho
authority of clause in the last agricutu-
raj appropriation bill authorizing the
trial, at some point in the District of
Columbia, of some new machinery for
reeling silk from the cocoon automati
cally.
The silk industry of the United States,
in most of its branches, is one which has
been established upon firm foundation !;
bat for raw material of the best class the
silk throwster and weaver have been
obliged to seek foreign markets. There
are two grades of this raw material COM
monty called spun and raw silk. The
former is produced from silk waste and
pierced cocoons, and, after preliminary
| operations of maceration and carding, is
spun somewhat after the manner of cot
ton. This operation has been success
fully carried out for some years by several
important establishments in Connecticut,
Pennsylvania and elsewhere, and the in
dustry may be said to be firmly estab-
llshed.
But as good unp;erced cocoons are no,
used in this work there still remains no
outlet in the United States for this pro.
duct, and the officials of the department
of agriculture have found that it was
necessary, in order to make the culture
of silk success, that they should also
assist in the establishment of market
for the, choicest product of the silk-raisel
the whole OF unpierced cocoon. From
these cocoons is produced raw silk. L
is needless here to go into the details Of
the process by which the continuous fila
ments of several cocoons are unwounG
and united into a strong, elastic, anc
well-rounded thread of raw silk, though
it is this kind of work that is to be per
formed in the annex to the agriculture
building during the coming year.
Washington Star.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-09-16

A circumstance that recently occurred
in California reminds one of the late Mr..
.Esop's fable concerning the indignities
offered the sick lion, if we may substi-
tute captivity for feebleness. A little
elephant in travelling managerie took Q
great dislike to the lion, and the Other
night, in Vallejo, got loose, grabbed the
king of beasts by hind leg, and tried tc
pull him through the bars of the cage
The uproar that followed was tremen
dous, and it required the whole of the
circus fcrce to get the little fellow away
and chain him fast The lions leg wa:
badly wrenched.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-09-16

What has the young female farmer of
the West to say to this' Ten years ago
q paper box maker died in New Orleans,
leaving his widow with nothing but Il
knowledge Of the trade. She went to
work in her attic room making boxes,
and was so successful in getting orders
that she soon had moe than she could
do. She hired help, added room after
room, and now employs thirty-fivc hands.
She travels for her own house, taking
long drumming tours through Texas and
Louisiana, and is getting rich fast.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-09-16
Enrth WaYcs.

A capital way to discover the passage
of earth waves is by means of the oil in
kerosene lamp. If the lamp be of glass
and half filled with kerosene oil, when
the shocks come ripples will be seen to
advance regularly along the surface of
the oil These are not ripp.es like those
made by jar of building, etc. They
run across the oil steadily, not tremu-
lousy, and follow one another with reg
ularity. Such is the reporters expert
encc. The test was made several times.
The oil being at the level of the eye its
motion is easily seen. The shocks here
came from the west, perhaps little
north of west, as this oily tell-tale indi-
Gated. -Raleigh (N c. AeIrs.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-09-16

]. Pierpont Morgan has received, as
subscriptions to the Mrs. Hancock fund,
since his last report S2,32l, through
Charles Macready, of New Orleans, from
friends and admirers of General Han
cock in New Oileans and louisiana, and
$50 from the "Boys in White" of Rich
moud county, N. Y, which, up to late
date, brought the total up to SAG, 396.5O.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-09-16
PRICE THREE CENTS.
Blue Skies.

Sad twilight trails h r heavy clouds
Into the niglt. One sIllel zons
OF IN st, in nea or circling shrouls,
Sweeps tus III hills our love has known,
Cold ba I go sobbing overhead
When harkl the west winds herald crios,
And by his sweet persuasion led,
D hold one far faint sparkle sped
TLro' rifted mist', l keep glad eyes,
Dream happy things. Above are spread
Blue skies!
Life eager heart of mine is storm;
Thou canst not part the lowering years.
c oser and deeper phan.oms form.
Thy near hos.zon wells in tears.
The world drifts from thy yearning sight,
But bark! what free wind hither fis,.
Singing of strange unseen delight
Astar shines in the death-w ack's fight.
Dream thou of morn and Paradise;
Over thy grave shall watch tonight
Blue shies
Ellen Fl. Butler
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-09-16

His papa was Clergyman who strictly
enforced the rule that the young scion
should attend Sunday service despite his
tender years. Imagine the feelings of
this dominic parent, when pausing at his
study door, he discovered the young
man in the act of expelling large bum
blcbec, waving his small arms frantically
in the air aud crying: "Sl-h! sh-h! Get
out of herel Get out, / tell YOU, or
papa'il preach you to death. ."--Wiaaeap-
ol>> Tribuns,
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-09-16
Consultations.

Because dark clouds have crossed tho sky
Shall the sun refuse to shno'
Because the morning has teen wet
May evening not be q el
Sometimes the night has rayles, been
Shall ars forget to 81 st,nl
Although the winter has been drear,
To summer birds We listen.
Ny life has metimes rayless been,
Enshrouded sorry grief;
May never time assuaging hand
Bring softly sweet relief,
Afhough my soul be overwhelmed
With buffettings Of sorrow.
Shall my weak heart er stronger grow,
Or see glad tomorrow.
Ah, yes, God showers the selfish soul
With sorrows bitter rain;
The purest heights are often reached
Through suffering AMI pain;
And deepest griefs in love were meant
To purify and strengthen;
The souls that opens toward God
Grows as life's Shadows lengthen.
Helen N, IVinslo1D
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-09-16

So LONDONDERRY, VT THURSDAY SEPTEMBER l6 1885,

dentistry cost but little. 1t 10 the work
and skill for which the patient is obliged
to pay. You will excuse me-" said my
informant looking at his watch, "as /
have an engagement at my office at this
hour"
A laboratory can be fitted up with all
the necessary tools for the practice Of
dentistry at cost of from 5000 to $500.
--Brooklyn Eagle.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-09-16
Living Oar Enemies,

A village priest was lecturing one of
his rarishoners.
"Auguste, poor brandy is your greatest
enemy"
"Ah, your reverence, have you
there ! Are you not always saving In
the pulpit that we should love our enc
mics n
"True, but l didn't say that YOU
should swallow them. n--7M -Ri.s.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-09-16

A smart individual at Chico, CAL,
Dragging about how he could endure the
pressure of any carriage running over
his open hand, illustrated his remarks by
placing his hand in front of the hind
wheel of a carriage that was passing.
When tie carriage had passed the smart
individual had two bndly smashed fin
gers that may have to be amputated
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-09-16
Another smart American

Another smart American woman has
been discovered. She lives in Washing
ton Territory, and her name is Mrs.
Annette Wynne. This lady is the pro-
prietress of fine farm, which contains
420 acres, much of it in state of culti-
vation. Here she conducts stock and
dairy business, all the work being done
under her supervision, She is also
owner of large number of town lots iE
Tacoma, the business connected with
which she personally attends to.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-09-16

Cocoanut culture is growing rapidly
along the lower coast of Florida. The
Keys from Biscayne Bay to Key West
contain many thousand new trees, and
there are tens of thousands from one
to five years old.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-09-16

A Saratoga barber has made quite a
reputation as performer on the
harmonica. There is nothing extraordi-
nary about this. BARRIERS have unusual
fAcillties for practiciag the mouth
organ.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-09-16

furnished on application. Births, Marriages
and Deaths Published free. Obituary noticed
cards of thanks, etc., cents line.
Address SITTER OFFICE, South London.
derry, VT.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-09-16
VOL III. NO. 40.
The LONDONDERRY SITTER.
Issued Every Thursday Evening from
sIFTEI: Gflioc.
So. Londonderry, VT.
TIGIslIS.

To subscribers in Wmdham County and
elsewhere where bundles are scnt, only ONH
DOLLAR a year, Outside Of Windham County,
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-09-16

a black or blue pencil mai,k oppo-
site this paragraph indicates that your
subscription has expired, while red
mark shows that your subscription or
renewal has been received.
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1886-04-27
DAMAsR SETS.
TOWELS.

Large variety of Huck and Damasll Towels ::
All-Lincn Colnrcd Borders. only s1.oO per Doz
~ by 80 All-Lincn FIuck Towels.
splendid quality. with and
without Colurcd Borders. 80. s200 per DOz
20 by 40 AI-Lincn TIuck Towels.
extra quality. Fancy Borders, $3.50 per boz
At $500 per doz.. we have the following OK
ccllcnt bargains. best value yet shown:
81 Ivy IS Rleached Huck Towels.
"a by &c Blcachcd ITuck Towels,
% by - Cream HucE Towels.
90 by ~ Blcnchcd Double lIncl Towels.
20 by ~ Bl"ac!Icd Barnslay FIuck Towels.
% by Is Cream I!oIey-comb Towels (All Lincn)-
The above come with and without Gnlored
Borders, also Plain and Knottcd Fringe.
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1886-04-27
DIED.

At Locust Grove" the residence of Robt.
Y. Shirley. Esq. on April 9th. 1886. MARY G..
BAYLOR. wife of late RObt w. Baylor. i'll the
72d year of her age.
Her last years were full of sorrow and sharp
grief. She had seen the red flash of war that
stretched from ocean to ocean. bathing in blood
the fair fields of her native State. and that was
the steel that pierced her heart. Time seemed
to have no softcning influence. She asked not
to stay. but looking forward and upward to
that peace. blessed peace, where the crown OF
eternal life. full of Incense of the ever bloom
ing paradise of God. would he hers-h"roic.
christian mother. She went down to the grave
when all nature was sprn"ing into new life.
Her last hours were soothed by the tender care
of loving children.
In BerryviIc, March eth. 1856. EUGENE
BOSTON. youngest son of VI. q. and Julia NJ.
jackson. aged year. 6 months and ~ days
grandson of the late William Langdon of kaGlc-
town.
"a precious one from us hes gone.
voice VIC loved is stillcd;
A place is vacant in our home
Which never can be filed"
:'But of such is the Kingdom of heaven"
In Berkeley county. March 18th. 1856. MARY
NEWKIRK RHINAMAS, aged 81 years. Z
months and IS days.
At his residence in Snickcrsvilir: Eoudoun
county. Va. April 18th. 1886, ME&LlAC Sill
COLT. in the 9th year of his age.
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1886-04-27

The Directors of the Jefferson
County Mutual Fire Insurance Com
pany met on. the goth and reelected
the following officers, viz: r. P.
Chew, President; Fl. B. Davenport,
Treasurer; and r. A. Alexander,
Secretary. The report Of the COM
nittee appointed at the last meeting
of the Board was received and the
Directors expressed satisfaction at
the condition of the company. Since
it was organized in 1878, it has paid
$4,000 in losses and has given insu-
rance at one-half the cost of stock
fire insurance companies, has never
assessed its policy-holders and has a
cash surplus on hand to meet losses.
This company will write moderate
lines on first class property; its books
are open for inspection, and on APP
pficatfon to the secretary, or any one
of its Directors, full information will
be given The policy of this compa-
ny's directors has been to use every
care in the selection of risks, and the
success of the company proves that
policy-helders were wise in their Sc
lection of directors.
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1886-04-27

We are pleased 10 learn that our
young former townsman Mr.. Fred. B.
Young, of Memphis, Tenn, who has
been on q visit to his friends here, has
received an important and lucrative
appointment under the Chief Archi-
teet of the U. S. He is made Assist
ant Supervisor Of Repairs of U. S.
Public Buildings, and is assigned to
the superintendent Of repairs to the
custom house at st. Augustine, Fla. :,
at a per diem of 5000. He will
probably be sent from there to Chat
tanooga, Tenn, TO superintend the
erection of an important new govern
ment building, on pay of $500 per
day. He brought to Washington with
him the highest endorsement OF his
sterling worth and capacity from the
best citizens of Memphis, where he
has resided (with the exception of a
brief interva) for seven or eight
years past. We are always gratified
to chronicle the advancement of JEFF
terson boys, and especially that of a
worthy self-made young man, as in
the present instance.
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1886-04-27
The OnIY Authentic Edition.
4 Sell Goods Cheap !!
TOR THE CICH!

FOR THE CASH!
4 Nd only ask Won to give me atrial. ard be
~ Convinced. | sell a tine Syrup at ~ cts;
Pure Sugar Good- at 50 cts. very cheap: Pure
y. o. Mula<ses: Green Coffee AT l2I. cts.. Till
give perfect satisfaction. Try orr so ct Tea.
\ iius. lot Of Canned Goods inst in. Matches.
Bakfn.. Powder soda. Spices. Candy. Extracts.
Essences. all fi:,yrrs: LamD-. ChiinncyE. Burn
crs. Coal Oil. Cakes. CIrlatine. CUTa starch. -
kinds Washing Soap. Toilet soap. Starch. To-
barco-:, fine line. can suit the tastes Of all
Our two for-fv Cigars cannot be heat Flour.
Corn Meal Hnniny. uckwheat Flour. Meats.
Poultry. and a full line Of Groceries and Pro-
visions. Nice Sugar cured Eani-. all sizes. At
1917 cts. ! have Il lot of Sugar-cCrcd Break
fast Bacon that will sell 10 cts in full piece:
Suyar-curcd shoulders. n couple hundred rs.
& cts.: Drv Salt. CTS Fresh Meats. will only
ask trial on prices. Being at little expense,
can aud will sell goods ON small margins for
the CASH. II viii enable me tn buy for cash.
aud save collars for them that pay the cflsh.-
It is the Only true way frEfransGrt business. the
only true way to EUcccss. the only way tn keep
off wreck ard ruin. and it will De the only way
in q very few years 10 do business. The credit
system has had its day. and spot cash, small
profits. ard people living within their mean.
success aud happiness will be the next in tile
future. G. T. WALL.
January 10. 1886.
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1886-04-27
Winchester Presbytery.

Presbytery met in Berryyile, Va,
April Goth, and was opened with SER
mon by Rev. VIM. ID. White, of Har-
per's Ferry. Reports were made by
all the churches as to the state of re-
ligion and attention to the benevolent
work of the Presbytery, and these
gave encouragement and qualification
to all who heard them. One remark
able feature was that the churches
gave more money to different OBJ
jects than they have done before,
when business was more prosperous
than now.
The late General Assembly advised
Presbyteries to vote tie amend the
constitution of the church so as to
permit ruling elders to be made mod
orators of church courts, and foreign
missionaries singly to ordain other
missionaries but Winchester Pres
bytery voted against both changes
The Assembly has also been for sew
eral years proposing changes in the
Directory for Worship; Presbytery
voted against this change also.
Rev. VIM. D. White obtained per-
mission to resign his pastoral charge
of Harper's Ferry Church, to take
effect 18th of June next.
Three young men, Messrs. Demory
of Harper's Ferry, Graham of Win
chester, and Stribling of Martinsburg
were taken under the care of Pres
bytery as candidates for the ministry,
and the two latter will 90 to Union
Theological Seminary in the fall.
Rev. George W. White of Moore
field. Rev. Chas. Ghiselin of Shep-
herdstown, Ruling Elders Judge Arm
strong of Romney, and Blackburn
Hughes of MIartinsburg, were elected
principal commissioners to the Cen
eral Assembly al Augusta, Ca, in
May. with Rcvs. George. w. Finley
and J. Harry Moore, and Ruling FL
ders DIR. II. G.. Somerville and George
Glass as altcrnates.
Petersburg, in Grant county, w.
Va, was selected as the place, and
Wednesday, 9th of October, rs the
time of next stated meeting of Pres
bytery, and an adjourned meeting of
Presbytery will be held at Round Hill
church, Frederick county, Va, on
May 21st, for the purpose of receiv-
ing and installing Rev. L. E. Scott
over that church.
A commission. consisting of Revs.
j. r. Graham, II. NJ. White, A. G..
Hopkins and ruling elder J. L. Davis,
toorganize achurch at Stones Chapel,
Clarke county, Va, was appointed.
The good people of Berryville ex-
tended most cordial greeting and
liberal hospitality to Presbytery, and
the various churches of the town gen
erously threw open their houses for
worship. The meetings of Presbytery
were largely attended by citizens and
visitors from neighboring counties,
who were glad to avail themselves of
the courtesics afforded by the S. V.
r. r.
The Presbyterian church seems to
be very strongly united and is very
vigorousin the prosccutionofitsw work.
On Saturday about noon the Pres
bytcry adjourned. and the members
that evening returned home.
The Church and Presbytcry en-
joycd the special pleasure of visit
from Rev. Dr. Chas. White, who
preached Sunday morning to his old
congregation.
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1886-04-27
From Ripon.
Ripon. April 10. 1SS

..r Ripon, April 10, 1886.
Mr.. Editor The large and mag
nificent depot which is being erected
by the S. V. r. r. Co. at this place
is now near completion, and will be
ready for business sometime this
week. It is the wish of the people
here that the Co. will put a telegraph
operator at this point: but nothing
definite has been heard whether it is
their intention or not. Our live and
entcrprising merchant Mr.. Chas. J..
Berry has been on a trip to Florida.
He gives a glowing account of the
" Land of Flowers" Our village is
slowly improving. Mr.. Thos. West
the purchaser of the Hefiebowcr
property has been improving the
looks of his residence by the erection
of pretty and neat little porch, it
being erected by Messrs. Cockrill &
Ridgeway of your town. The far
mers are all busy with their spring
work, blowing, &c. The wheat of
this entire ncighborhood is looking
splendid and at present there is a
prospect for large yield next har-
vest. A5IICrs.