davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1886-04-21
A Curious Dream.

Agassiz had been two weeks trying
to decipher the somewhat obscure
impression of a fossil fish on the
stone slab in which it was preserv-
ed. Weary and perplexed, he put
his work aside at last, and tried to
dismiss it from his mind. Shortly
after ne walked one night persuaded
that while asleep he had seen his
fish with all the missing features
perfectly restored, But when he
tried to hold and make fast the i'm
age it escaped him. Nevertheless,
he went early to the Jardin des
Plantes, thinking that on looking
anew at the impression be shenid
see something which would put him
on the track of his vision. In vain
the blurred record was as blank
as ever. The next night he saw the
fish again, but with no more sails
factory result. When he awoke it
disappeared from his memory, as
before. Hoping that the same ex-
perience might be repeated, on the
third night he placed 8 pencil and
paper beside his bed before going to
sleep. Accordingly, toward morn
ing the fish reappeared in his dream,
confused at first, but at last with
such distinctness that he had no
longer any doubt as to its geological
character. Still half dreaming, in
perfect darkness, he traced these
characters on the sheet of pape. at
the bedside. In the morning he was
surprised to see in his nocturnal
sketch features which he thought 1t
possible the fossil itself should re-
veal. He fastened to the Jardin des
Plantes aad, with his drawing as a
guide, succeeded in chiseling away
the surface of the stone, under which
portions OF the fish proved TO be
hidden. When wholly exposed it
corresponded with MS dream and
his drawing, and he succeeded in
classifying 1t with ease.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1886-04-21
The Andersonviile Prison Pen.

The site OF the old pen is compris-
ed in a $50 acre farm owned by MIR.
Kennedy, bought by him since the
war. The farm is under cultivation
and is profitable to the energetic
owner. rhe pen proper was locat-
ed on both sides of a little creek,
called by the natives a branch, ="
running due east. The branch d.
vided the pen into a north and south
halt, and both halves sloped grad
ually down to it. Save q few posts
here and there and a slight ridge of
earth raised along the line, all traces
of the fence which once inclosed IN
army of prisoners are gone. My
guide made a stagger at locating the
historic "dead-line," but was him
self not satisfied with it. Many of
the wells dug by the prisoners have
been filled up. but a dozen or more
are still there, and have an average
depth of 80 TO 90 feet. liz a few
places holes are found in which
Kennedy said the poor devils used
to burrow to get away from the hot
sun. The pen was unprotected BY
shade. Considerable foliage now
grows on the site, all sprung up since
the war, however. Indeed trees
that grew since the stockade was
abandoned have been cut of Il size
sufficient to work up into IA and 10
rails each. Attic extreme west end
of the grounds bubbles : beautiful
spring of clear water which, the
guide said, did not exist when the
place was first occupied. 1t Is CALI
ed Providence Spring named be-
cause Of It's providential" discov-
cry. A franklin Smith, of Ohio,
who was a prisoner here and who re-
Gently visited the spot, told Ken
nedy that on the 18th of August,
1868, he was on the spot and there
was not even any moisture there,
and on the 18th, he was again there
to welcome a bubbling spring of ma
lures beverage. 1t is likely that in
digging some one OF the numerous
wells on the slope above, the water
course had in some way been inter-
rupted or changed and this bountit
ful spring was the result. At any
rate to the hungry and thirsty band
confined within the pan it was a YER
liable godsend. In the branch on
the west side of the pen site was laid
logs for the purpose of deepening
the water. Some of them have been
washed cut and Others still lie
where their hewers placed them
Cincinnati Enquirer.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1886-04-21
A Story Of kit Carson.

He was an uneducated man, and
at this time could barely write his
name. Some of his subordinates
were aware of this. In making req
uisitions on the commissary
of the post they got Kits name
signed to a demand for several
bottles of fine OLD rye whis.
ky. By night three fourths of the
command were drunk. Kit prompt
lv ordered an investigation of the
offenders. The evidence brought
things down to the commissary, who
produced Kits order. The old from
tiersman looked at it fer awhile du-
biously and doubtfully, and then as
he saw that il was certainly his sig
nature, he said : 81 don't under
stand this thing. out it seems some
how to be the fault ofmy education,
and the boys can CO." The prison
ers we're thereupon discharged, with
merely an admonition that the OF.
tense should not be repeatedly.
Y. Tribune.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1886-04-21

An old farmer from Amboy, o.
wego county, New York. took great
interest in trained dogs. Il used to
have a dog" said the farmer, (which
was the most knowing and intellec-
tual dog you ever seen. He could
tell what time it was by the clock
Just as well as / could. He would
run into the house in the afternoon
without saying a word to anybody
and look up at the clock, and if it
wasn't 5:l5 he'd 20 off about his
business. Then he'd come back
again, and the second it was 5:15
ned bark and start Tor the cows.
One day my woman thought she'd
see if the dog could be fooled, and
at | O'Clock in the afternoon she
turned the clock to 5. The dog
came in. looked up indifferentlv at
the clock, stopped, shook his head
and ran out to look at the sun. He
came back again, squatted down,
and eyed the clock as if he was wait
ing for a rat. When the minute
hand got around to a quarter past
he started off as usual, and before
We could stop him he had all the
cows up to the barnyard. drove
them back, and a more mortified
person you never seen than that dog.
He ran into the house, but the wo-
man had turned the hands back to
the true time. The dog jumped up
to the clock and acted as if he want
ed TO tear it 20 pieces. He always
seemed to distrust the dumb thing
after that"
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1886-04-21
Kate Field on Village Life.

Il am simply staggered by the
opaque stupidity of the average viii
lager" said Miss Kate Field, the no.
ted anti Mormon lecturer.
You see" she confined, Il am
just from Clifton Springs and had an
allopathic dose OF rural imhecility.
What causes this TRADE? Why the
sermon the Rev. DR.. Collyer preach
ed recently. He just echoed my
sentiments in every particular. His
subject was the advantages of the
city over the country. Take the
life of a small village. the very ma
ture of social intercourse is depress-
iIg, and ignorance stalks on every
cornerin unblushing effrontery. The
Young men are raised up TO know
few amusemeHts, to attend church
and follow in the straight and dull
paths of their fathers. What is the
result? As soon as they arrive at
mans estate they seek sociability at
the barrnom. They have seen life
all the way in a narrow, limited
compass. Prejudice is rooted in
their nature. The love of the true.
the good and the beautiful is a
stranger to their bosoms. Some of
the most revolving crimes are COM
mitted ia the rural districts. The
borny-handed farmer supposed to be
blessed with all the virtues, the very
pattern of natures noblest master
piece, is mean and sordid. He has
moved in a narrow rut all his days.
Corroding prejudice has sealed the
avenues to broad and liberal views.
He is so warped and dispRfd that
one might exclaim that1h re had
repudiated the brains IA craui-
um. If a man in The country has
any ideas he straightway goes to the
city. You may think ! am hard on
them, but ! really mean what | say.
The religion that is prevalent among
them is of the toughest sort. A.
physician relating his experience to
me OF his practice among the coun-
try folk declared that their ignorance
was amazing. He said it was diff
cult to be successful with them. they
knew so little.
Don't YOU think your utterances
rather severe?"
sneak the frnth Enl;ohten-
ment prevails most exclusively in
the cities. The opera, the theatre,
the lecture, the club-room and a
thousand things create even within
a small brain liberal views and drive
out prejudice. They are far better
resorts than the low bar-rooms in
the small country hamlets. Yet
there are those who have the amazing
audacity to get up and speak of the
primitive goodness and exalted Sir
tue hat hevers like an angels
blessing around the couch of the
villager."
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1886-04-21
The Amusemenrs of Presidents.

President Cleveland is the only
President in our history who seems
to have no amuseInents whatsoever.
George Washington a noted for
his muscular development. He was
fond of jumping, and to the last day
of his life kept a pack of hounds for
hunting. He could dance upon oe-
casion, and he was careful enough
of his health to go TO bed every night
at 10 O'Clock. Jefferson was a great
horseback rider, and be rode
throughout the country about Wash
ington during his Presidency. He
usually spent two hours in the sad
die, and be was fond drinking with
his fellows. At his home at Mon
ticello ne paid great attention to
farming, and he often walked about
the streets of Washington while In
the White House.
When Cleveland was inaugura:ed
the press was full of wonder at his
getting up for breakfast at s o'clock
in the morning, aud the whole ma
ton patted him on the back for 1t,
as it were. Still Washington got up
at day break, and Jefferson crawled
out as soon as the light struck his
chamber. John Adams, who was
as fat psoporiionately as Cleveland
is. used TO take a walk from the
White House around the Capitol be-
fore his breakfast. which by the way
he took as early as Cleveland, and
his son John Quincy, was wont to
90 down to the Potomac and take q
good swim before breakfast.
Both of the Adamses were great
walkers, and while John Quincy
Adams was President he used to
walk ont to the race course, two
miles from here, and back again
whenever any great sport was on
hand. Andrew Jackson was 3 hard
worker, but he was a democratic fel-
low, and be liked horse racing, cock
fighting, and a coed social smoke.
He often attended the cock fights on
the Washington Heights. above
Sixteenth street, and at one OF the
great races Of the days Of his Presi-
dency he had a borse OF his own
admitted in the name of mis- private
secretary, Major Donelson. Presi-
dent Harrison was a great walker,
and he did much ofhis own market
ing during his short stay in the
White House. He would get up
and 60 to marke; before breakfast,
and, though he was an old man, he
often went about without an over
coat. Frank Pierce was another
great horseback rider, and he was
accustomed TO gallop through the
streets OF Washington at midnight
on a fine blooded steed. Buchanan
was a great beau socially and he did
some walking. Lincoln drove about
somewhat, and it was not uncom-
mon to see him on the streets here.
He liked the theatre, and a box was
always reserved for him. Grant
walked up aud down the broad
pavement in front OF the White
House for an hour or two every
morning, and his love OF horses and
driving amounted to a passion. He
was not averse TO having fellows call
upon him in the evening, aud be
partook of much social enjoyment.
Arthur kept his house filled with
guests, and took a long drive into
the country daily.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1886-04-21
the First Time He Saw Federal
Cavalry.

John S. Wise bore the last mes
s.ce that ever passed between Gen.
Toe and JEFF Davis before the sur
render. Lee had sent him a mes
sace from near FArmville, through
orsat dangers and difficulties. Wise
had reached Davis and delivered the
message. and was eDdeavoring TO
reach Lee with the last message
from Davis. The country was swarm
inc with the Federals. closing In
nnon the doomed Confederate army
AZ Appomattox. Wise was fired at
half 4 dozen times, and escaped by
the skin of his teeth in many In
stances. Oace the sound of bugle
In the distance admonished him that
Yankees were coming. Yankees
were ahead whom he had first dodg-
Cd and lis only hope was TO hide.
He hurried his horse into a thlcket.
and fastened him. Then, full OF
boyish curiosity, for he was but a
bow he crept TO a log lying along
the brow Of the rising ground upon
which he was, and peered over. BE-
vond was the river. and down the
hither bank came 5000 or lo,UOOoi
Sheridan's cavalry. The young sol
dier's ewes stuck out, aud he GELD
his breath as be gazed upon the
grand sight.
Rank after rank, in perfect line
and order. as far as he could see, in
oniog trot. the masses of b~lre-coat-
"a cavalry came on, broken only
occasionally by the rumbling guns
and caissons of a battery. The bu-
plers played merrily, the sabres rat
tied. the carbines glistened In the
sur. the men laughed, sung and
tested. In all the pride and piano.
nlv of war these splendid souadrons
swept hv like a dream before the
eyes of the bareiooted and ragged
young rebel peeping oyer the rot
ten log. These were sheridan 5
dreaded raiders, the seasoned yeter-
ans of a hundred raids and battles,
who had swept in fire and blood
through the valley Of the Shenando-
ali. who had fought Lee n front and
rear. whose guns tad Weakened the
echoes at every Virginia hamlet and
crossroads VINO had fallen like a
thunderDoit on Picket, Bushrod
Johnson and Fiiz Lee at Eve Forks
and scattered them ike reeds, and
nov eagerlv and remorselessly were
hunting down the flying enemy to
the last scene OF the great war.
The boys thoughts went to the
cavalry of his W side-the worn
Out hacks. the mules, the rope brl-
dies. tie ragged horsemen, the de-
liberalization and despair-and he
said:
Great God! what have we fools
been lighting ?" Said he to me
with a laugh when he told the story,
III could have seen that sight ear
lier. | would have felt like saying :
." Good evening ; | am going home.
-CiRcipRaii Commercial Gazette.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1886-04-21

1t was during the winter of 1854,
while Butler was in command of the
forces at Bermuda Hundreds. Va,
that our mess had their dining
room on the dock at the landing
Our shipping clerk at the post shall
be nameless, because be came from
Hartford, and was a "case," we
used to say that what he couldn't
steal must surely be fastened down."
asked us one day in early February
at breakfast, how We should like
shad for dinner. 1t is easy to sup
pose the answer. He then admins
tered an ironclad oath to all to
know where the shad came from,
and at dinner odd Black Ben as.
tonished us by a delicious broail of
early James River chad. After din
ner, while realizing the pleasure of
good digestion and an ample feed,
we drew the shad story out of u
skipper. The day before he had
learned that the "ryal" citizens of
Norfolk, Va, to express their good
feeling toward Gen. Butler. were to
send him up a barrel of the first
shad of the season. The letter of
transmittal did not reach the Gener-
al until the day on which we had
dined on shad and "hxins'.' On
the afternoon of the same day the
Generals orderly and supply wagon
were at the dock to take TO head
quarters the toothsome present from
Norfolk, The barrel was there, the
ice was there, and some shad but
= Black Ben " carried the keys Of
the dining-room lockers, and what
ever went into those lockers staid
there for the benefit of the Quarter
masters employees mess, and Ben
vas loyal. Our Hartford shipper
was never stumped," and he and
the orderly spent the rest of that az
fernoon looking up those shad, but
it was impossible to find them. The
next day the orderly from head
quarters returned with orders >
that the shad be forthcoming, but
our : case couldn't be cracked, and
to this day the General doesn't know
what became of his shad.-Bridge-
Standard
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1886-04-21
A Terrible Ordeal

The following is n Union Colonel'5
story of the battle at New-Hope
Church. May q, 1864: II was the
most severe ordeal which my ner-
yous system has ever undergone.
When we began the advance we
naturally expected that the artillery
would open upon Us as soon as We
got within range, and that, having
swept forward until we werein reach
of the fire of musketry. that would
open upon US also. | had been
through so much of this that | had
ceased 10 show it, and always relied
upon the excitement of the occasion
Carrying rae forward but here We
ran some 200 yards or more, and
there was not a cannon shot. An
other 100 yards, and still no explo-
slon of bomb shells or anything of
the kind | now began TO feel a
little strange. Another 100 yards
aud still no sign OF life. and my ner-
vousness began te give place to a
desire 20 halt. Another 100 yards.
and We were certainly within range
of musketry.; but still there was no
signs of life IN the intrenchments in
front of us nothing 20 give cause
for apprehension, apparently, except
the waving Of the Confederate flags
above the works as a light wind
blew. Now, over me began to come
a mortal feeling of dread. a feeling
which | never felt before and which
| can scarcely describe, | would
have turned and fled but for fear of
disgrace. which was stronger even
than the horror of death. But l
knew what was coming, and deter
mined by my example to inspire
my men 10 brave 1t. no matter how
terrible it was. At length We were
within scarcely more than % wards
of the intrenchments, when from all
along the liae protruded forth, be-
meath the head logs. scores and hun
dreds of muskets. | could see them
as | gave a quick glance down the
whole front, and those immediately
before me particularly seemed wav-
ering slightly from side to side. There
was no mis,aking L. | knew that
every holder of a musket was pick
ing out his q This continued
for but a few moments, when above
ali other sounds, distinct and clear.
| heard the command given, Now,
men, fire. Instantly from along
the entire line there seemed, like a
lightning fash, to bust forth a sheet
of flame and smoke. was struck
and fell senseless for an instant, but
when | recovered mysslf and turned
to look. there seemed TO be scarcely
seven men OF my entire regiment on
their feet. Then the fury of the
combat rose above every other sight
or sound. The whole forest and
mountain seemed to be on fire. No
army in the world could have stood
before it.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1886-04-21

Perfect soundness of body aud
mind Is possible only with pure
blood. Leading medical authorities
of all civilized countries endorse
Ayers Sarsaparilla as the hest blood
purifying medicine in existence. 1t
vastly Increases the working and
productive powers of both hand and
brain.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1886-04-21

Ayers Cathartic Pills are suited
to every age. Being sugar-coated
they are easy to take, and though
mild and pleasant in action, are
thorough and searching in effect.
Their e~fficacy in all disorders of the
stomach and bowels is certified to
by eminent physicians, prominent
clergymen, and many OF our best
citizens.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1886-04-21
An Editors Luck.

The latest tale OF presence OF mind
in an emergency comes from Aibu-
querque. n. NJ. 1t appears that the
editor OF the Albuquerque paper had
been more straightforward in some
of his printed assertions than is cns-
tomary in that community, and that
after considering the matter eleven
citizens of the place concluded that
the best thing to do was to lynch
him. After the far Southwestern
way, they did not conceal their IN
t~ention, and the fact came to the
ears of the editor that on a certain
night those eleven citizens would
hang him. He lived alone in q log
house, consisting OF a single room,
with a cellar underneath. He had
but one companion, a pet grizzly
bear, and it occurred to him, and
this is where he showed his presence
of mind, that he would retire to the
cellar aud leave the upper room to
the grizzly. They always keep
lyncblug appointments In the south
west, and the eleven citizens arrived
promptly with the rope. The door
was not opened when they knocked,
SO they battered it in with the ut
most cheerfulness and a few oaths
and rushed in over its fragments to
secure their man. They had neg
lected 10 bring a light with them,
but they had 40 difficulty in finding
what they supposed to be the indi-
vidual they were looking for. He
resisted more than they had antici-
pated, but they were resolute in the
matter, and what happened 10 the
darkness was of an extraordinarily
lively character. From a brief ac-
count of the affair which has got
into the newspapers, it seems that
the lynchers did not retire until
three of them had lost an eve apiece,
one a foot and three fingers, while
another was deprived of all that por-
ton Of the left arm which apper-
taius below tie elbow. Theremain-
ing six were more or less mutilated,
hut were not MANNED for life. The
Albuquerque editor has. at the pres
ent time, the most tremendous rep
utation as a fighter in the Territory
of New Mexico, the subscription
list OF his newspaper Is going up,
and there is talk Of running hin for
sheriff. His pet bear hangs around
the cabin as usual, fighting flies
and chewing on old buos heels, and
is as sleek aud innocent Of demeaE-
or as the president of i railroad com
pauy.- Toledo Biade.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1886-04-21

I'm attend to it 5000 Don't
cheat yourself in that wav. Your
hair L growing thinner, DRYER and
more i~iieless every day. Save it
and restore its original color, soft
ness and gloss by using Parker's
Hair Balsam while you may.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1886-04-21

Through our luxurious and per-
vurted modes of living, and from q
score of causes besides diseases of
the kidneys and urinary organs are
now among the most common and
fatui in has country. Men suffer
from them most frequently and
most intensely. Their victims are
falling exhausted by the wayside of
life every day, Doyou fer this end
for yourself. IF so, we can assure
you of help by means of Dir. Ken
nedy,s FAvorite Remedy.D
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1886-04-21

You have often seer women with
marked blueness or pa,eness Of face,
vi;iated appetites, and q craving for
unwholesome food These are
signs ola disordered liver, and the
trouble must be corrected or worse
results are cure to follow. Hus-
bands md fathers cannot afford to
treat this matter lightly. DR.. Ken
nedy's "Fayorite Remedy" which
dispels liver disease, costs less than
sick wives and daughters. You will
find it a very profitable investment.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1886-04-21

| have been troubled with catarrh
of the head aud throat for the last
five years. About three years ago |
commenced the use of Ely's Cream
Balm, and from the first application
! was relieved. The sense of smell
which had been lost, was restored
after using enc bottle. | have found
the Balm the only satisfactory rem
edy for catarrh l have used, and it
has accomplished a cure in nv case.
Fl. L. Meyer, Waverly, N. Y.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1886-04-21

Parker's Tonic keyti 10 "A home IS a
sentinel to keep sickness out Used
~discreeily, it Keeps the blood pure,
and the stomach, liver and kidneys
in working order. Coughs and
colds vanish before it. II builds
up the health. No wise mother will
be without il.