davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-08-05
Sand Ayalanches.

On the south shore of the Baltic the
sins of reckless forefathers are being
cruelty visited upon their defendants
Two hundred years ago the coasts Of
Prussia were defended by bulwark Of
magnificent beech forests that resisted
the inroads of floods and dunes, but
about the time of the Great Elector the
work of devastation began and continued
until some ten thousand square miles oil
woodlands had been turned into naked
sandhills. Now nature is getting her
revenge. Year after year the rains and
strong floods have washed out the re.
naming vegetable film of those hills,
leaving nothing but sand and gravel,
which gradually accumulated in tower.
ing dunes and at last invaded the land.
ward settlements with perfect avalanche
of drift sand. Seen from the village Of
Schwarzort, fifty miles northeast OF
Koenigsberg, the destruction-de
sand-ridge looms up to height Of 1870
feet, naked and steep, ever rising by ad-
ditional deposits brought in by the sand,
laden sea-storms, and ever threatening
to discharge those deposits upon the
southern valleys. The sher-hamlets
of Atnegein and Karwaten were literal.
ly submerged by a single storm, and the
little town of Pillkuppen h d twice to
be moved, with all its buildings and
fences. The remaining vestiges of the
ancient woodlands are unable to stay the
mischief A fine forest near Schwarzort
has been turned into sand bank
crowned by the withered tops of beech
trees, which years work of the entire
coast population would fail to rescue
from their sand-grave. .-Dr. Felis L.
n C,r1H
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-08-05

The Washington correspondent of the
Cleveland Leader and Herald says the
foreign diplomates at the national capital
are better paid than our ministers at for
eign courts. The British minister occu-
pies one of the biggest houses in Wash
inton, and one which has more rooms
than the White House. Hc has an al
lowance for entertaining, and he receives
salary of $50, 900 year. The German
nation owns house there, and its min
lister gets $40, 900 a year. The japanese
minister receives $50, 900 yearly, and he
is one OF the most valuable men in the
diplomatic circles. The wealthiest for
eign minister is the representative of
China, who always goes about in Chinese
costume, and who has the reputation of
being great statesman at home. This
man is Chang Yin Huan, and his father
was when he died one of the richest men
in China. Mr.. Huan has half score Of
almond-eyed celestials to help him, and
he pays s11, 900 year for house rent.
The Turkish minister wears English
clothes and red fez cap when he ap-
pears on state occasions. He is a dark
haired, dark-skinned man, with oriental
features. He lives much of the time at
New York, and his salary is $40, 900
yearly. Baron de struve, the Russian
minister, is put down as getting $50, 00o
yearly. He Is o very able mau.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-08-05
Wholesale POiSOnings.

The frequency with which people VINO
partake of picnic ice cream find them.
selves poisoned suggests the theory that
adulteration is being carried to more
dangerous extreme than ever before. As
most of these troubles occur in the coun-
try where the principal materials of which
ice cream is compounded are naturally
pure it might be worth while to subject
the favorngs used in the cream to a
critical analysis. These are put up in
cities as rule, and it would not be sur
prising it they were found to be the
cause cf the illnesses which arc reported
with such frequency.
1t is a we'll known fact that it is chem
ically possible to make almost any fruit
flavor out of acids of various kinds, and
it may be that some unprincipled manu-
facturcr has put on the market tlavorings
made by similar processes. Adultera-
tions have become so common that no
effort should be spared to discover the
real cause of the numerous wholesale
poisonings which occur wherever food is
carelessly prepared for large numbers of
people. One successful prosecution
against swindling manufacturer would
be worth millions TO the country
Chicago Herald.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-08-05
Bread from Birk.

In the last century, waen the wool
trade o. the Bilac was confined to the
Russian ports, the now thriving towns
in the Cuff of Bothn,a were poor Fl hing
villages, and the bread Of the people was
commonly made from the inner bark of
the fir-tree. Their staple gram was oats
and rye; but IN time of scarcity, bark
bread was used at other times, bark
meal was mixed with corn-meal, as q
matter of economy.
Until recently, the making of bark
bread from the fir-tree was common in
the north of Sweden and Norway, and in
the northwestern parts of Finland. TIE
bark was stripped from the trees in the
spring, the only time of the year it is
easily removable; that of the trunk of
large trees was most preferred, as it was
less strong than the bark of small trees
or branches. LinneIs, the great natural
ist, when passing through the woods of
Helsingland, in Sweden, in 1872, says:
"The common and spruce frs grow here
to very large size. The inhabitants
had stripped almost every tree of its
bark" The outer or hard scaly bark
was carefully removed, as the inner bark
was the only part required. The bark
was then dried in the sun, and stored for
winter use, season that embraces six
or seven months of the year. Prepara-
tory to grinding, the bark was rendered
friable, thick, AID porous by being
warmed over a slow fire. 1t was then in
part given to their swine in sranulated
form, by way of economizing corn, the
swine by this food being rendered ex-
tremely fat. Other parts were cut up OBJ
liquely, and given to their COWS, goats,
and sheep. When ground, this bark
meal, as it was called, was stored in bar
reIA-Chambers' Jourasl.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-08-05
Big HailSiOnes,

After the haistorm of the other even
ing a seventy-niner met Amos Steck at
the st. James. biggest hailstoncs |
ever saw" said the friend. "Oh, non
sense" said the bluff Amos; ''if you
hadn't mentioned it l wouldn't have
known We had any hail. Just little
frozen rain-that's ALL" "You have
seen larger haistonesl" asked the
seventy-nincr. 'Look here! in '5S,
right here in Denver, over there at that
old house of mine-it was in the country
then-I have seen the hail so thick that
the ground was not visible in any direc-
tion, and as for size, used two of the
hailstones for weight on my front gate
for over two weeks after the stormp-,
DMrer NeRs.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-08-05

The fence question is one of great
Importance, as we have in the United
States 6, 900, 900 miles of fences, which
have cost nearly 81, 900, 900, 900, and
have to be renewed nearly every fifteen
years. 1t, however, interests most of
the farmers, who have the bulk of the
labor to perform, and expense to meet
and the timber to furnish for their con-
struction. The consumption of the tim
Der for this purpose interests every phil
anthropist. It is reported that Ken
lucky requires annually 100000 of
trees to keep up her national fence, the
old Virginia rail.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-08-05
Losing n pOSi.Nilcc.

In the carly days of Michigan, when
many of the post offices were carried in
the hats of the postmastcrs, postmaster
in Livingston County was out in the
woods one day and lost several letters
from the hat. A day or two after that a
pioneer named Bailey came to his house
and inquired if there was any mail for
him.
"There was letter for you, Bill, but
I've lost it." was the reply.
"When ~
"Tother day in the woods"
swell, l want that letter"
''But yc can't git it. I'm sorry I lost
it, but that's all can do"
''Then I'll have you removed from Of
feel
"Look a-herc, Bill Bailey" said the
official, as he began to skin off his coat,
81 was appointed to hold this post office,
and Pm bound to do it. As private
citizen have no hard feelings agn you;
as postmaster lost letter writ to you
by your sister in York State; as a repre-
sentative of this great and awful govern
ment, want to say to you that if hear
two more words of sass from your throat
Pll suppress the insurrectioa by hanging
you to the nearest tree, 50 help me God,
sir!"
Mr.. Bailey was, however, permitted to
and he found it and the inSurrcction was
suppressed. Detroit Free Press.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-08-05
Dame Natures Economy.

Not only in beings of high degree, but
in animals of low estate, do we meet with
illustrations of the economy Of power and
the saving of needless expenditure of
force and energy which dame nature
practices The study of human anatomy,
which, of course, is one of many points
with the comparative science applied to
lower life, reveals not few instructive
examples of this saving tendency in life's
ways. The human head, for example, is
nicely balanced on the spine, Compared
with heads of lower type, this equipoise
forms prominent feature of mans
estate. The head mass of dog, horse
or elephant requires to be tied, as it were,
to the spine. Ligaments and muscular
arrangements of complex nature perform
their part in securing that the front ex-
tremity of these forms should be safely
adjusted. But in man there is an
absence of effort apparent in natures
ways of securing the desired end. The
erect posture, too, is adjusted and ar
angcd for on principles of neat economy.
the type of body is the same
as in lower life. Humanity appears
before us rs modification, an evo-
luton, but in no sense new creation.
Man rising from his "forelegs" s"-arms be-
ing identical, be it remarked, with the
anterior pair Of limbs in lower life-and
speedily there cnsues an adaptation of
means to ends, and all in the direction
of the economical conversion of the low
er to the higher type of being, The head
becomes balanced and not secured, as
we have seen, and thus saving of mus
cular power is entailed. Adjustments of
bones and joints take place, and the
muscles of enc aspect-say the front-of
the body counterbalance the action of
those of the other aspect, back; and be-
tween the two diverging tendencies the
erect position is maintained practically
without effort. SO also in the petty de-
tails of the work nature has not been un-
mindful of her Saving clause" We
see this latter fact illustrated in the dis
position of the arrangements of foot and
heel. One may legitimately ann ounce
that man owes much to his head; but
the truth is, he owes great deal of his
mental comfort and physical economy to
his heels. the heel bone has become es-
pecially prominent in man when COM
pared with lower forms of quadrupcd
life. 1t projects far beyond the mass OF
foot and leg and thus forms stable full
crum of support whereon the body may
rest. Here, again, economy of ways and
means is illustrated. .-Longman
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-08-05

Marvellous as is the telephone, its util-
ity has made it as common as grocers'
sugar, and in consequence it does not get
the credit it justly deserves. People
have ceased to wonder, and find them
selves unconsciously demanding more
than the little instrument can perform.
This was the case of well-known archi-
tect the other day when telephon ng to
the stone-yard about certain piece OF
work. He had asked the stone-yard
il he knew the exact shape of the stone
that had been ordered and on receiving
negative answer had promptly replied,
"It is just this way" drawing the shape
of the stone on the wall alongside of his
telephone. He looked silly when he dis
covered his mistake, and quickly told
the stone man h, would call down and
tell him about the stone. Rsko6oth Sun
dag Herald.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-08-05

An extraordinary museum has been
opened in the Rue Vanquelin, in Paris.
1t constitutes the new headquarters of NJ.
Pasteur, and here are to be found cow
houses, sheepfolds, fowlwalks, rabbit
hutches and dog-kennels. They are all,
moverover, fully occupied. On one floor
is laboratory, where the vaccine soups
and preparations are made up. Above it
museum, where specimens connected
with the new cure are exhibited. There
are operating rooms and rooms for post
mortem investigations and dissecting pur-
poses. Two of the kennels are devoted
to dogs in various interesting stages of
early or advanced rabies. "Hen cholera
is communicated, watched and cured in
the fowl-house. The cattle exhibit va
rious stages Of vaccination. Human be-
ings have also their provided quarter. A
spacious waiting room is set apart for
patients, who troop in daily in pic
turcsque groups, representing all nation
alitics.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-08-05

1t is said that the slums of Berlin are
worse if possible than either those of
Paris or London. In the German capital
a small number of houses are occupied
by one or two families, but the great
majority contain more. Twenty
hundred contain from 16 to 20 lodgings,
10000 from 20 to 80 lodgings, 10000
over 80 lodgings each. Seventy-fve
thousand of these lodgings are composed
of one room only and inhabited by no
fewer than 27o, 1000 persons, which is an
average of nearly four persons per room; {;
$1,000 other lodgings are composed of
two rooms and occupied by $50, 900 in
habitauts, while the remaining 80, 900
lodgings arc formed of three rooms, in
habitcd by 14O, people. In the
poorer quarter the houses are so packed
together as to be almost deprived Of
1ipht
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-08-05
HUMOROUS.

No rogue e'er felt such terror of the
law as does man whose wife knows how
to jaw.
Why is an old war horse like a good
book-keeper9 Because he is famous
charger.
Why is man who can't learn by ex
perience like laure? Because he is an
evergreen.
A traveller recently returned from
Alaska tells of bear being killed by
mosquitoes.
Fish is good brain food, except in in.
stances when it doesn't find anything to
assimlate with.
Some men are like toads-you have to
poke them with stick before they make
their biggest jump.
An astronomer now states that the
moon is on fire. This is in rebuttal of
the green-cheese theory.
"There's very little change in mems
trousers this year." remarked tailor as
he failed to collect bill
The greatest mental effort that dude
makes is when he has to determine
whether to take out his cane or his UNI
brella.
The mule has the full allowance of
vertebr8 in the backbone. There are
times when it has more than full allow.
ance of bray.
Watering place girl$--those on their
ninth annual summer resort tour, and
still unmarried-are very fond of wit.
Messing match games.
When is it that man feels at home
and yet doesn't feel at home2 When he
gets in at 2 a. m. and has to grope along
the wall to find the stairs.
A little girl of three years. noticing tho
lightning for the first time, came rushing
to her mamma, crying: ooh, mamma,
did you sec the sun flying by9"
There don't seem to be much use for
muffs in this sort of weather. but, ac-
cording to all reports, the baseball
players have them in abundance.
Do not laugh at the gentleman with
the bare poll, my son. 1t is not nearly
so bad to have head that is bald on the
outside as to have head that is bald on
the inside.
A Western firm guarantees wife to
every man who purchases of it suit of
clothes, and it guarantees fits. If you
don't get them in the clothes you'll get
'em from the wife.
''You are a regular dude" rudely OBJ
served young man to an expensively
dressed stranger the other night.
"Wrong, my friend" rcpliel the stran-
ger politely. 81 make dulles. Pm a
tailor"
Father-"No sir, it shan't be said of
me that wanted my girls to get spliced
so bad that l had to- go out and lasso 'em,
and bring the young men in. One Of the
girls-'.No, father Nobly said! Give
me the lasso!"
Annie and Emily were enjoying their
first bath in the glorious surf at Old
Orchard. 1t began to rain while they
were in the water. Emily started 20
wade ashore. "Where are you going 2"
asked Annie. CATER my rubbers," said
Emily.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-08-05
A Priuce OF Coachmcn.

The following is from Long Branch
letter to the New York Herald: Tn,
American coachman, whatever the plac,
of his nativity, is the best paid man Of
his class in the world. His wages range
from $25 to $50 per month and "found.n
The average is probably about $40. The
meaning of the word "found" in the
contract depends largely upon the liber,
ality of the employer. Often it extend,
to the entire length of his good nature as
well. For example, one case was dis.
covered that caused surprise. This man
occupied large corner room, furnished
with comfortable spring bed, piano
and several easy chairs. His half dozen
pairs of boots and shoes were placed out
side the door at night to be blackcned,
and q barber came to his room every
morning to shave his face. He only
overlooked" the grooming of the six
horses in his care. The work was done
by menials in the stables, whom he paid
ouS of his allowance. He affected hot
sea-water baths, and had his clothing
sent in hamper once week to New
York laundry-'just like the family"
When party of the proper kind could
be made up he had his little rubber at
whist or tritiel with "that blarst,d
American game Of poker" Now that he
could not form combination with the
butler at the mansion in town to sample
his masters wines and liquors, he drank
rather cheaper claret-but less of it. The
moment he returned from drive he
changed his clothes and laid aside the
implements of his occupation. When he
knew the horses were cared for he lit q
cigar and strolled down to see Mr..
Drexcrs, Mr.. Seligman's, Mr.. Curtis OF
Mr.. Kennedy's men. In nearly every
case was telephone communication with
these friends possible, and he always
availed himself of the latest advances oi
science. Another idea of his was nev
to place himself beyond reach by the
same means. Therefore he confined his
intercourse to such friends as had tele
phones in their stables.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-08-05
Comfort in the Rain Storm.

The health-siving properties of rain
are not appreciated by the general pub
lie. Rain is an essential to physical
vigor in Localities that have any extensive
population. Man and his occupations
lade the air with countless and unciassi-
fed impurities. The generous, kindly
rain absorbs them, even as a washer
woman extracts the dirt from soilcd
clothes The ammoniacal cxhalation, the
gases resultant from combustion and de-
cay, are all quietly absorbed by brisk
shower. People talk about "dry
climate" but it is snare and delusion.
There is nothing in it. A very dry
climate will never support large popu-
iation, for it would soon become so
poisoned that it would be fatal to the
human race. A scattering few might IN
habit it, but not the multitude. --Roctes.
ter Union.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-08-05

1t is statement worth thinking on,
says an exchange, that "the man who
places ten dollar advertisement in his
local paper and flatters himself that he is
liberal advertiser, will be surprised to
learn that yearly advertisement one
column in length, in the Chicago Tribune
costs the advertiser $25, 900. The New
York Herald receives for its lowest col
umn $4,000, and for the highest
1884, 900; and those papers, it is stated,
are never at loss for advertising to fill up
their columns"
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-08-05

The Wool Journal says it does not
know single argument in favor of
sheep washing. The practice was inau-
guratcd at an early day, and it is relict
of old times, when the wool shorn from
the small focks in the Eastern States
was largely used up at home. Then it
was necessary to wash either before or
after shearing, to prepare it for carding
or spinning. Those days are past, and
both the sheep and their owners ought
to be glad of it.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-08-05
lie Settled the Business Thoroughly.

lie Settled the Business Thoroughly.
Mccoy, when he came to Scott coun.-
ty, went to work for farmer named
Hit, who had very charming daugh-
ter Emma. A young man whom Farmer
Hit had repeatedly driven from the
place continued to come around, paying
his addresses to the daughter, until
finally the farmer, despairing of keeping
him away by any milder means, hired
Mccoy to thrash him every time he came
near. Once or twice, or may be more,
the young man came, saw the girl, took
his thrashing, and departed. But one
day there came the end of this sort of
thing. Mccoy, returning from town,
where he had gone as driver and escort
for the daughter, approached the father,
saying:
"Well, Mr.. Hit, I've settled this bus:-
ness of that young fellows coming
around here to see En-"
"What do you mean" asked the
farmer.
81 mean that he won't come any more,
an you can bet on it."
"Why, Mac, you haven't killed him,
have your asked the farmer, fearfully.
''No. Better than that"
"What thcn?"
'1've married En-"
The old farmer flew into a dreadful
rage, but Mccoy had the girl, and there
was no getting her away from him, so
Farmer Hit, like sensible man, made
the most of it and gave his son-in-law a
piece of land, which he is now tilling,
while 'Em" minds the babies like duti-
full Chicago Nens.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-08-05

The Montana newspapers report that
all the woodyards in that territory on the
Missouri river arc now controlled by
Indians, and the price of the wood has
been fixed at So per cord for cottonwood
and 81 for ash, and cash must be paid.
Any captain who attempts to get wood
for less than these figures, or who 'stands
the aborignes off," is reported. No
white man is allowed to cut and sell
wood on the reservation.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-08-05
PrOYerb vs.. ProIcrb.

Father-'I wish, John, you could be
contented to settle down and live like
other people, and not 60 rowing all over
the country. You must remember that
rolling stone gathers no moss
Son-"True enough. Governor, but "a
setting hen never gets fat, Fire
Press,
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-08-05
PRICE THREE CENTS.
A Simple Song.

"If could stand,n the poet said,
"Upon yon mountains distant crest,
And catch the songs from overhead,
My soul no more would sigh for rest"
He stood upon the lonely height,
And heard the singing Of the spheres;
He caught the music in its flight,
Aud sent it ringing down the years
But no one listened to the strain
That echoed ON the far-away;
"Alasm he cried, my toll is vain,
Toogrand these songs for such as they
And then he softly touched his Tyre,
And sang song so wild and sweet,
OF bleeding hops and dead desire
And 10. the world was at bis feet.
James c. Rock,ocU in the Current
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-08-05
A Reyengeful Artist.

Dauber, the artist, has private grudge
against Bondclipper, the banker. Con-
versing with friend on this subject,
Dauber remarked:
"'d like to play him trick that
would make him perpetual object of
ridicule."
'Fll tell you how you can do it."
"How?"
paint his portrait. That will make
him squirm "-Sitings.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-08-05
II Matters How lis Spelled.

Office Bore-Helloa, Bascombe; you
missed me drcadfully, Pm sure.
Busy Editor-Yes, Mr.. Graves.
'Pm just home from little trip to the
Yosemite"
"Ah, indeedl Well, Pm glad to see
you're back"
1t sounded all right, but the bore
wondered whether the apostrophe was
there or not. Call.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-08-05
LONDONDERRY AUGUST
One nationality's meat may be another's

One nationality's meat may be another's
poison. As an experiment, company
of Japanese soldiers were fed on bread
and soup, with an addition of beef at
supper, for one month. At the end Of
that time each man had lost in weight
from three to seven pounds. Imagine a
company of American soldiers submitting
to be fed on rice for month, as an ex-
pertinent, though!