davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-10-21
Killing an Alligator.

A gentleman who spends his winter in
Florida told the writer the following
story on himself: "Coming down TO the
bank of the bayou one afternoon l saw
an alligator summing its ugly carcass in
my way and sent bullet into the vulner-
able spot under its shoulder. The
reptile stirred lazily and slid off into the
water. Amazed at the slight effect
produced went away in disgust. As
/ padded about tho next day in my
boat near the spot l discovered the same
alligator in the same spot on the bank
and directly in front of it wild turkey.
I wanted the fowl for my supper and |
dislikcd to think the alligator had
beaten me. Posing my rife ] hesitated
an instant between the demands Of pride
and appetite, and, deciding to Kill the
gator, banged away. The turkey flew
off with screech and the gator never
budgcd. By this time l was 'maddcr
than battcn' and padded up to stir
up bis laziness, when reckless poke
revealed that l had been shooting
dead carcass. The shot of the day be-
fore had got in its work and the alli-
gator had crawlcd out (as is their habiO
to die in the sun. Then wished had
shot at the turkey. ."--DetroH Free Press.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-10-21
The Worlds Greatest Desert.

One-half of the earth's solid surface is
buried in the abysmal regions of the
ocean, and exists at undulating plains
beneath a watery covering from two to
five miles thick. On this land at the
bottom of the deep sea, the director of the
Challenger publications tells US, the con-
ditions presented are most uniform. The
temperature, near the freezing point of
fresh water, does not exceed soven de
grees in range, and is constant through
out the year in any locality. Sunlight
and plant life are absent, and, although
animals OF the large types arc present,
there is no great variety of form or abun-
dance of individuals. Change of any
kind is exceedingly slow. At the great
est depths deposits are chiefly a red clay
mixed with fragments of volcanic mat
ter, remains Of deep sea animals, cosmic
dust, manganese-iron nodules and zeoli-
tic crystals. No analogous deposits have
been traced on dry land, although the
continents arc mainly made up OF rocks
which must have formed under the sea
near the coasts. Throughout all geolo-
gical time the deposits of the continent
bordering waters appear to have been
forced up into dry land through the con-
traction of the earth, while the abysmal
regions have remained the most perma.
nent areas of the earth's surfac.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-10-21
A Story About n Serial.

A lady of some literary distinction, re-
siding in Boston, was engaged to write
serial story which was to appear in in
stalments in a certain publication every
month. The publisher bought pig in
poke, but knowing the lady's talent and
experience as writer of stories, he ran
the risk. The story ran along for seve-
raj numbers, and fully satisfied the pub
lisher's and EDITORS expectations. But
after some twenty instalments had ap-
peared the publisher came to the con-
clusion that he was getting rather too
much of good thing, and so the lady
was requested to cut the story short and
print it in one more number. This the
lady resolutely declined to do. So what
were the publisher and his editor to dol
They put their heads together and an
outsider was employed to dispose of all
the characters in the book, marry them,
slay them, or send them into oblivion, as
the exigencies seemed to require, but
all in asingle chapter. The indignation
of the lady who had written all but the
last chapter of the story can be better
imagined than described when the final
instalment appeared in the publication.
She brought suit for damages against the
publisher, naturally enough, but it never
came to trial, as it was satisfactorily
settled out of court Boston Herald.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-10-21

One of the most remarkable human GU.
riosities ever seen has just been exam
ined by M. de Quatrefages, the French
naturalist. He is Provincial named
Simeon Aignier, and is thirty years old.
Aignicr, thanks to his peculiar system of
muscles and nerves, can transform him
self in most wondrous fashion. At one
moment, assuming the rigidity of a
statue, his body may be struck sharply,
the blows falling as on block of stone.
At another he moves his intestines from
above and below and right and left into
the form of large football, and projects
it forward, which gives him the appear
ance of colossally stout parsonage. He
then withdraws it into the thorax open
ing like cage, AMI the hollow look Of
his body Immediately reminds one of Z
skeleton. Aignier successfully initiates
q man subjected to the tortures of the
rack, as also man hanging himself, and
assumes a strikingly cadaverous look
What most astonished NJ. de Quatrefage!
was the stoppage of the circulation o
the blood, now on the left and now OF
the right side, which was effected b.
muscular contrac. ion.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-10-21
Hunting Gulls.

The gulls, and there are millions OF
them about the mouth of the st. Croix,
furnish profitable sport for the Indians.
They take their soft, beautiful breasts
to the watering places and sell them at
rs cents to 81. so each to the ladies for mil
lincry and decorative purposes. Gulls are
easy game to bag, but for some unknown
reason they stay on the Canadian side OF
the line the most of the time, and the
Canadian authorities have forbidden
Americans to shoot at them in the Pro-
vincial waters. This is great griev-
ance to the gull hunters, who have petit
toned the governor of Maine and his
council to take some action in the mat
ter. The course of the Canadians is
believed to grow out of the fisheries i'm.
broglio. .-LepistOon (Me.) Journal.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-10-21

Russia is peculiarly rich in surprising
sects and associations, but the most as
founding is one lately brought to light
bearing the ominous title of "Thc Red
Death" Its members affect to believe
that he who consciously permits another
to suffer prolonged pain commits mortal
sin. In order to abbreviatc the suffer
ings of humanity it is matter of con-
science with them to kill the sick, that
they may be put out of their pain quick
". The association takes its name from
the fact that its executioners, dressed in
red for the occasion, strangle their vic
tins with red cord, placing them for
the purpose upon red catafalque, be-
meath the dull reddish light of an Oh
lamp. This strange and horrible associ-
alton was brought to light by the ener-
getic opposition int'rposel by man in
Saratoi when his mother and sister at
tempted to strangle his sick wife. He
called in the authorities, who have al
ready arrested some forty members Of the
murderous set. Their organization
seems to be transference from India tc
Muscovitc soil of the worship of Bob
vance, the religion Of the Thugs
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-10-21

The native community throughout
Bengal, India, has been greatly excited by
the discovery that extensive adulteration
is carried on in the manufacture of ghee,
or clarified butter, an article in daily
ase in every native household. The in
tensity of the popular feeling on the sub
ject is accounted for by the fact that the
adulteration is effected either with beef
and mutton fat, the eating of which is
deadly sin in the eyes of the Hindus, or
with lard, which the Mohammedans con-
slider unclean food. Both Hindus and
Mohammedans have called on the gov
srnment to protect them by legislation,
aud have urged the necessity for imme-
liate action, so that the measures might
come into force before the Doorga Pooja
and Mohurram, the great festivals of the
Two religions.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-10-21
Effect Of Tea Oh Health.

The consumption of tea has become so
enormous as to have suggested study
of its effects upon the heath of tho
people. There are those who look upon
it as an evil only second to that connected
with the excessive use of alcohol. Tea is
spoken of as an agreeable cerebral stimu-
liant, quickening intellectual operations,
removing headache and fatigue, and pro-
noting cheerfuiness and sense of we'll
being. When it is used o excess the
digestive and nervous systems are pee
tally affected. There is no doubt that
there are cases of dyspepsia caused by
the inordinate use of strong tea; and it
is also a matter of common observation
that sleeplessness, palpitaion of the
heart, and nervous irritabiity often fol-
low the prolonged use of this beverage.
Tea-drinkers, by which we mean those
who use tea to excess, are to be found in
all classes of society. The fact should
be impressed upon such persons that tea
is not food and cannot, therefore, with
out risk to health, be substituted for ar
ticles of diet which form bo,h flesh and
bone. Science
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-10-21

Some of the members of the Tennessee
Legislature are chosen after novel fash
ion. There are in the State what are
known as EDITORIAL districts" The coun-
ties of the State are entitled to represen-
tation according to population. The
fraction above the necessary number en-
titling a county to representation is not
thrown away, but several counties ad-
joining combine these fractional rem
nants until the unit of representation is
reached. These counties compose ''ho-
torial district" and besides being repre-
sented by their own county membership,
the counties jointly elect the extra men,
Der, who is known as "floater."
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-10-21
Voting by Electricity.

AT the mechanical exhibition at the
Palais de PIndustrie of Paris, there is
exhibited machine for registering
votes, which will, it is said, be shortly
installed in the French Chamber of Dep
utics. Its object is to obviate mistakes,
the loss of time, and the necessity of the
members leaving their desks to record
their votes. The machine, which is the
invention of M. Debayeux, is worked by
electricity, and the vote of full house,
it is said, may be make known by this
means in less than five minutes. The
arrangement of the apparatus is as fol-
lows: In front of each scat three con-
tact makers are placed, the knobs being
marked eyes" No." and "Absten-
ton" Only one of the pushes can be
depressed at one time, and neither of
them can be used more than once, until
they have been released by the action of
another part of the apparatus which is
under the control of the president. The
voting is recorded by means of three sets
of cylinders, upon which is inscribed in
relief the names of the members in al
phabetcal order, and also the series of
figures from one up to the total number
of members. These cylinders rotate un-
der mixing pads, and after the voting,
an impression being taken on band of
paper against the name of each member
present, is found number in one or
other of the three columns eyes" ''No"
or "Abstention." These numbers ap-
pear perpendicular in numerical order.
Hence the total number in each division
is read at the foot of the three columns.
The apparatus is necessarily somewhat
complicated, but it is said to work with
great facility. 1t will be remembered
that for some time similar voting ap-
paratus was exhibited in one Of the Con-
gresSional committee rooms at Washing
ton, but was finally taken away by the
inventor, who despaircd of its adoption.
-Electricdl World.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-10-21

Country people can make their own
barometcrs if they have no other use for
their wells. In the Swiss village of Mey-
ringen some disused wells have been her
meticaly sealed to serve as barometers.
On fall of atmospheric pressure air es-
capes through a small hole in the well
cover, blowing whistle and thus CIV
ing warning of coming storm; but
when the outside pressure is increasing,
the air, being forced into the well, causes
a different sound, and announces the
probability of fine weather.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-10-21
Rubber Milk.

The method of treatment for CONCEAL
ing rubber milk in the Para district is as
follows:
Small cups are attached to the trees,
and, when filled with juice, are emptied
into tin pals of a certain size, having
closed lids, the cups being again at
tached to the trees. After going the
round of the trees, the contents of this
pail are emptied into another asize larger
and so on, till the covered pail of largest
size is filled and ready to be strapped on
to the saddle of mule for removal. By
this plan the natives are saved the trou-
bic of condensing and preparing the
milk for market, by smoking. The large
can of rubber milk, on arriving at the
naagasia is emptied into bath of water,
the temperature of the water best suited
to the rubber being matter OF expert
ence. The Jumps of rubber that form
in the bath are Immediately pressed into
thin, fiat sheets and carefully wiped.
By this means the acid is forced out of
the cells or pores in the lump, thus pre-
venting the so-called ''rotten" appear
ance. The author is of opinion that the
African rubbers yielded by the Landol-
phias, prepared in this manner, will pro-
duce strong rubber. The African rub
bers now sent here do not yield, when
strained and cleaned, more than 80 per
cent. to 55 per cent. of pure rubber
gum, owing to the natives adulterating
with sawdust, bark dust, ETC., to over
come the inconveniences of the sticki-
ness of the juice. The amount of resin
in milk varies largely.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-10-21
T0ughening Wood.

1t is claimed that by new process
white wood can be made 50 tough as to
require cold-chisel to split it. This re-
suit is obtained by steaming the timber
and submitting it TO end pressure, tech
nically "upsetting" it, thus COMPRISING
the cells and fibers into one compact
mnss. 1t is the opinion of those who
have experimental with the process that
wood can be compressed seventy five
per cent, and that some timber which is
now considered unfit for use in such
work as carriage building could be made
valuable by this means. Iron A0a
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-10-21
Of Rast.

o weary Hands! that, all the day,
Were set to labor hard and long;
Now softly fall the shadows gray,
The bells are rung for even song.
An hour ago the golden sun
Sank slowly down into the west;
Poor, weary Hands, your toll is done,
Tis time for rest!-'tis time for rest!
Oweary Feetl that many a mile
Have trudged along a weary way.
At last ye reach the trysting stile;
No longer fear to go astray.
The gently bending, rustling trees
Rock the young birds within the nest,
And softly sings the quiet breeze:
"'Tis time for rcstl-'tis time for restl"
o weary Eyes! from which the tears
Fell many a timo like thunder rain;
o weary Hearth that through the years
Beat with such bitter, restless pain,
Tonight forget the stormy strife,
And know what heaven shall send is best
Lay down the tangled web Of life,
IT'S time for resti-'tis time for rest!
FLORENCE Tulee,
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-10-21
So LONDONDERRY, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 81. 1886.
Health DOnt's,

Don't neglect your house-drains, nor
the drainage about your house. The
first condition of family health is dry
and sweet atmosphere. With dry walls,
a dry cellar, and drains that carry off
refuse without letting in foul gases, half
the battle for good health is won.
Don't let your wells or springs be in
fected by drainage, or from other causes.
Pure drinking water is indispensable for
health at home, or anywhere,
Don't keep the sun out of your living
and sleeping rooms. Sunlight is abso-
Iutely necessary for right condition of
the atmosphere that we breathe, and for
our bodily we'll being.
Don't sleep in the same fannels that
you wear during the day.
Don't wear thin socks or light-soled
shoes in cold or wet weather.
Don't catch cold. Catching cold is
much more prevcntable than is generally
supposed. A person in good physical
condition is not liable to colds, and will
not fall victim to them uuless he is gross
ly careless. Keep the feet warm and
dry the head cool, the bowels and chest
well protected; avoid exposure with an
empty stomach; take care not to cool off
zoo rapidly when heated; keep out OF
drafts; wear flannels; and with the ex-
ercises of little common sense in various
emergencies, colds will be rare. If colds
were penal offence, we should soon find
q way to prevent them.
Don't neglect personal cleanliness, but
use the bath with moderation and in ac
cordance with your general health. The
daily cold bath is right enough with the
rugged, but it is great tax upon the
vitality of persons not in the best health,
and should be abandoned if the results
are found not to be favorable, and tepid
water used instead. Each man in these
things should be a judge for himself;
that which is excellent for one is often
burtful for another.
Don't have much confidence in the
the curative nature of drugs. Remem-
Der that DR.. Good-Habits, DR.. Dict and
DR.. Exercise are the best doctors in tho
world. - Youths Companion.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-10-21

When Mr.. Spinner was United States
Treasurer he used to honor some of tho
pretticst young lady clerks in his office
by having their features given to some
of the goddesses that grace our currency.
But the head of Martha Washington,
which adorns the new 81 certificate, and
on idealized head of Dolly Madison are
the only accredited portraits of distin-
guished women being used in this way on
the new silver certificates.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-10-21
PRICE THREE CENTS.

pupils are glad to learn, and are singu
larly persistent in trying. But, after all,
there is something pathetic in their
struggles to talk language that has no
meaning for their ears. .--New York World.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-10-21

A black or blue pencil rnurk opro-
site this paragraph indicates that your
subscription has expired, while red
mark shows that your subscription or
renewal has been received.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-10-21
Onicker Than Wall Street.

''No, l wasn't cleaned out in Wall
street." he replied. as he choked back n
heavy sigh. "Wall street was too slow
for me. l got my $1,000 on Monday
on Tuesday | invested in short-horn
bull; on wednesday morning l got up
and found that he had been kicked to
by $40 horse"
'Did you have anything leftl"
"Only about S15, and paid that to a
fellow to kill the old horse and haul both
bodies to the woods y Val Street Ne'os.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-10-21

Sy'-Entored at tho Post-ofiice at South
Londonderry, as second cass matter.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-10-21
The Widows Pumpkins.

~ was q bilill1Ib oSNNpSi
the grass all sparkling with hoar frost,
the trees waving their d-jewcled arms
to the sunshine, and EIiakim Ellis was
driving serenely down Hay Hill.
81 amt poet" thought he, ''but if
was, could write lot of rhymes
about like this. Why it's poetry all
the way through. And-eh2-how?--
what? Who's that?"
1t was the Widow Hepsy Hall, stand
ing at the door of her little one-storied
house, and beckoning with her long,
lean arms toward him. The farmer
drew his rein.
"Hold on Sorrelm he apostrophized
his steed. "You amt never in a hurry,
when l want you to be, so calcerlate
you can stand still a bit now. Wal, Mis-
Hall, what can dew for ye this morn
ing9"
I've got some pumpkins that want to
SELL" said the Widow Hepsy. "Drefful
likely ones"
"Pumpkins?" echoed Eliakim. "Why,
bless you soul, Mis- Hall, pumpkins is a
dreg in the market, just now. The
pumpkin crop has turned out powerful
good, thank Providence, and our folks
is feedin' 'em to the caows."
Ashadow ofdire disappointment crept
over the old woman's face, as she stood
there, unconsciously picturesque, against
the curly hop-tendrils and crimson wood
bine leaves that garlanded the doorway.
The tears came into her dim eyes.
"Thcn may as well give it up," said
she, in accents of dispalr. ''For hain't
nothin' else to sell; and Belindy had set
such store on my comm down this
autumn afore cold weather set in"
"Eh" said Mr.. Ellis; good -naturedIy.
"You was a-goin' down down to Belin-
dy's, eha"
Il can't without no money!" said the
Widow Hepsy Hall. "And 1 was sort
O calculatin' on them pumpkins. The
corn han't amounted to nothin', and
the weasels has TUX all the poultry, and
the dried berries mildewed that last dog
days weather, and the carpet-wcaven'
business is awful dull; so what be l to
do2"
"Can't ye put off your vista" said
Eliakim, thoughtfully ficking the toE
off a cluster of saucy ox-eyed daisies,
that grew close to his wagon wheels.
"Belindy's little boys got the Group"
said Mrs. Hall, lugubrjously. "And her
husband has fell off scatfold and broke
his leg. And If ever Pm wanted there,
it's now"
II p' ejaculated honest Eliakim,
as he realized what the double meaning
of poverty and misfortune was. "Fetcl
me them pumpkins; rll buy 'em any
how"
'Tll let you have the lot for dollar, .
said the Widow Hepsy, wistfully
'They're jest out in the corner lot"
"Ain't gethered, eha"
''Bless me! whovc Igot to gethcr 'em2'
reproachfully rctorted Mrs. Hall-"an(
not soul about the place, and mc witt
that crick in my back"
Eliakim Ellis heart smote him. VIII,
was hc to complain of little extra
trouble, when the Widow Hepsy was S
much worse off than himself2
So he alighted, and led Sorrel labor
iously down the stony cart track towar'
the corn field, where, amid the harvested
shocks, CLEANED the ruddy gold of pump
: kins innumerable.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-10-21
Advertising Isntes

furnished on application. Births, Marie sos
and Deaths published free. Obituary noticso
cards of thanks, etc., cents limo.
Address SITTER OFFICE, South London.
derry, VI.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-10-21

A New York physician says sit is
dangerous to 90 into the water after a
hearty meal" A we presume if he
did 60 in after one he wouldn't find it.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-10-21
THE LONDONDERRY SIPfER.
Issued Every Thursday Evening from
SITTER Once.
So. Londonderry, VT.
TERMS.

To subscribers in Windham County and
elsewhere where bundles a,e scnt, only ONE
DOLLAR year. Outside Of Windham County
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-10-21

''Pumpkins!" screamed Mrs. Ellis,
when her husband drove into the Goor-
yard at noon. Pumpkins! Why, Ella
kim Ellis, what on earth are you bring
ing pumpkins here fora Amt we got tho
arn-chambcrs full, and the lots full, and
the very cattle won't cat 'em2 Be you
clean gone crazy2"
Mrs. Ellis was a high check -boned
female, with projecting front teeth, and
hard, greenish eyes, like badly colored
marbles. She was one of those who
worship gain as the fire. worshippers far
down before the sun. "Money is
moneym was her favorite axiom. And
Eliakim felt his heart sink within him
as he faced her stern, uncompromising
gaze.
''They're jest few" he began.
ga few" shrilIy echoed his wife.
''Thc waggin is heaped full! And we
a-throwin' of 'em away every day
That's jest a mans calculatin'"
''Jest few," said Eliakim, hitching
desperately on the first section of his
speech, ''that I've brung down here to
sell for Mrs. Hall. There amt much
market up that-a-wsy, you know,
Loisy.
'tAnd," he added to himself, "good-
ness knows how glad I'd be to sell 'cm
if / had the chancel amt yin, no
howm
Miss Ellis gave prodisious sniff.
'Don't YOU fetch that there truck