davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Opelousas courier., 1886-06-12

"Lionan asked the doctor, as a chill
ran up his spine, and the cold perspira.
ton boiled out of him; s'lions Do yov
keep lions for pets instead of dogs"
"Only Won. Dot oder Won has gone op
NIT the circus" replied the old woman
who went on to explain that her mistress
was a lion tameress; that the lion wa,
only half grown and not yet very danger.
Gus, unless he was aroused to frenzy.
The doctor did not loiter about the
premises, but vanished at once AS soon
as the landlord and the tenants found
out that there Was a lion on the premises,
they moved out as if the house was or
fire in several places, and telephoned fol-
troops.
Miss Cornelia and her pet, she having
recovered, moved out the next day, and
now when the landlord catechises g
would-be-tenant, he includes lions, tigers
and boa constructors on the list, for, as
he says: "We must be prepared for al.
most anything."-Teras Syittings.
The Opelousas courier., 1886-06-12
Early Nev Yo,ls,s First Families.

Very few of the first settlers of New
York were persons of consideration. The
original Dutch establishment was a poor
trading post, not even a colony, hardly
more than a station for collecting hides
and furs from the Indians; and when per-
manent agricultural settlements were az
last attempted it wa long before they
prospered. When we read of the ances-
tors of some of our well-known families
that they were successful merchants of
New Amsterdam, we may remember that
q merchant in the old Dutch days was
usually-at least m the beginning
small dealer, not above selling a penny
worth of candles or a bottle of rum over
his counter; although it was probably by
the barter in beaverskins that he made
most of his money. The West India com
pany attempted to keep the trade in its
own hands, and there was little in its
service to attract the better class of adj
venturers. The establishment of the
quasi-manorial system under the PATRONS
was not entirely successful, but it brought
men of wealth and consideration into
personal relations with the colony. I'm
der this system proprietors to be known
as PATRONS lpatrons) were authorized to
acquire large tracts of land by purchase
from the Indians within the limits of the
eompany's territory IN condition Of estab-
fishing thereon a colony of not less than
fifty persons. The PATRON was a kind
Of feudal lord, with the right to admins
ter justice, appoint civil and military
officers, settle clergymen, etc, and the
e~olonist were tenants who owed him ser
vice for a term Of ~ Colonial Nep
YarE
The Opelousas courier., 1886-06-12
Ta1g.,eSng Gray.

Many persons begin to show gray hair
while they are yet in their twenties, and
some while in their teens. This Goes not
by any means, says a recent writer, argue
a premature decay of constitution. 1t il
. purely local phenomenon, and may co.
exist with unusual bodily vigor. TIL.
celebrated author and traveller, George
Borrow, turned quite gray before he was
thirty, but was an extraordinary swim.
mer and athlete at sixty=6ve. Many
feeble persons and others who have suf.
fered extremely, both mentally and
physically, do not blanch q hair until
past middle life, while others, with
assignable cause, lose their capillary col.
oring matter rapidly when about forty
years Of age Race has a marked in6u.
enoe. The traveller, DR.. orbigny, says
that in the many years he spent in South
America he never saw a bald Indian, ano
scarcely ever a gray-haised n Thu
negroes turn more slowly than the whites
In this country, sex appears to MAKE
little difference. Men and women grow
gray about the samo period Of life.
The Opelousas courier., 1886-06-12
Not P~etrtncneious,

Referring to an announcement that at .
recent elimination in a western cemetery
the body of a woman wa found turned
to stone, Louisville Medical NeUs says
Identification of the body of a warm.
blooded animal never has been known,
and it is quite safe to sey never has taken
place. The condition of the body which
leads to such a misconeeption is not that
of pet~rifcation, but of specification.
It is explained that heterogeneous tissues
give off ammonia, and this, attacking the
fats of the body, produces ~adipocere, a
hard form of soap. A writer in an ex.
change when 1.-THE New Orleans Fair saw 8
barrel Of pork labeled, "Found floating in
the Mississippi in an advanced state Of
petrifcation. 2eing skeptical as to the
capacity Of rocks to float, he Clipped of
q piece, and found that the hog, like the
human being under like circumstances
had merely turned to ~adipocere.
The Opelousas courier., 1886-06-12
Suordspn0nshtp in Indta.

He was a fine looking fellow in the
prime of life, not withstanding the
frightfully critical nature of what he was
going to do, he moved about with per-
feet ease and calmness. In one hand he
held a very long double1dged sword,
sharp at the point, and with edges like
razors. With the other hand he led his
little son, a child aged about six years,
who was also clearly we'll accustomed to
what was to follow. From the little fei-
lows evident enjoyment of the scene, it
was plain that failure on the part of his
father was a thing quite beyond the lin
it's of his imagination. As soon as the
usual preliminary ceremonies had been
gone through, such as walking round
and salaaming to the commanding officer
and principal guests, the father placed
his little boy in the centre of the circle,
with a small lime "a kind of lemon) about
twice the size of a walnut under his heel.
Then, taking up his stand a few feet
from the child, he grasped firmly the hilt
of his sword, and began brandishing the
weapon rapidly in the air. The blade
was thin and finely tempered, so that it
could be seen to culver and undulate
throughout its entire length as it flashed
in the rays of the setting sun. Suddenly
the muscles of the athlete might be seen
to stiffen themselves; an instant's pause,
then a sudden and lightning-like swoop,
and the lime under the boys heel was
safely severed.
do not think many, even of The old
est inhabitants of the east, have often
witnessed a performance equal to that
| which this havildar was wont to con
| clude his exhibition. The boy having
taken up his position as before, a small
| open box. about the size of those we use
for tooth powder, was placed on the
ground at his feet. 1t was filed with a
black powder called soorma, used by the
natives for da kening the eyelashes.
Round this little box, and about the boys
head, the sword was now made to play
with redoubled velocity. In the midst
of the most dazzling passes, the weapon
would dart toward he little box, and
then reappear, steadily posed at the full
stretch of the performers arm, in front
of the eyes of the child; then a sudden
turn of the wrist, and a heavy dark line
powder was lying on n of the boys
lower eyelashes, placed there by the
sharp point of the long sword. The
same was then done to the other eye.
This feat was performed weekly, always
with undertaking success, and was GER
tainly the most wonderful instance of
nerve and steadiness that I ever wit
nessed.-Colonel Barros.
The Opelousas courier., 1886-06-12


In the North american Repieo Mr.. A..
J. Desmond gives some interesting figures
relating to the fast-dwindling public do
main. There has been at the DISPOSE
tion of the Government since its founda-
ton 1898, $50, 3a7 acres. From this
amount are to be deducted as unavailable
926, $50, 900 acres, including Alaska,
Indian and military reservations and
mountain or untillable lands. This leaves
about 800, 900, 900 acres available, of
which 800, 0O0, 900 have gone to actual
settlers and private purchasers. The diff
ferent States have received as swamp
land and for school purposes 161, 00O, 600.
For canals, wagon roads and military and
naval bounties 67, 900, 900 have been
transferred. TO the railroads have been
given f72, 900, 900. There yet remains
some 900, 900, 900. It thus appears that
i~ve-sevenths Of the available public do
main has been disposed Of, and only one
third so far is in the hands Of actual set
tiers and individual private purchasers.
The Opelousas courier., 1886-06-12
i gfo,.u of d pressing Go,gss.

MISREPRESENTATION
IA wellsknown citizen Of Lynn was re-
cently visited by 4 boyhood acquaintance
whom he had not seoa before for a quar-
ter Of 4 century. Tho Acquaintance was
eauch pleased with the city sights and
she ways of the tow.. but was . little
slow in always adspsssg hsunssif to their
circumstances. Tho other night his good
hostess presented MIN wish beautiful
d,esaing-gown, which shs had made with
hsr own hands, and aAatned with al the
wsven flagree u feminine t~astiness.
Tslis she presented him Just previous to
bis retiring HE was profuse In his thanks,
and Immediately retired to his roonn In
tbe morning be a down without the
aressing-gown.
Well, where IS the dressing-gown !
save you last nightan kindly inquired
ths hostess
sThe What2p
sWlhy, me dressinggownM
that-os Ileft Il ID my room. Y
Why don't you wear i'll
Whatl in the dagtisneS il thought
hat 70 wear nights. Why, i slept
ii All Ast nighf
suppressed smile TINT gradually grew
audible swept through tie household.
IRaa Iaiga.
The Opelousas courier., 1886-06-12
A Rouak a,,d Entail Pearl.

The following incident was related at
a recent soiree in the drawing room Of
the Duchess Medina de las Torres, maid
of honor of the present Queen Regent OF
Spain, Christina: Among the jewels
offered as wedding gifts by King Alfonso
to his first bride, Dona Mercedes of Or
leans, was a ring ornamented with q
magnificent black pearl, itself surrounded
with diamonds. Mercedes wore the ring
to her last day. After her death, Al
fonso gave the jewel to his sister; the
Infanta del Pillar, who, in her turn, wore
it till her death. The ring had thus be.
come twice endeared to the young SOW
ereign on account of the sad remembran-
ces it recalled. He had it on his finger on
his deathbed. Now the jewel has become
the property of Queen Christiana. She long
hesitated whether or not she would
put it on her finger. But, finally super
stition was the strongest, and the ring
has been enclosed in a case, from which
it will not be drawn out any more, at
least for a long while.
The Opelousas courier., 1886-06-12
MI, FdteEe Lad and i

#-#&s IAH 1<NG0VO #
1 take a little hand in mine,
And walk the village street,
With chirp and chatter as we go.
In mingled converse sweet
And pleasant s~alutations
From every one we meet,
Dear Little Lad and j..
take the little hand in mine,
To climb a ~neighboring hill,
To pluck wild flowers, or to trace
A laughing, mountain rill,
By which, when weary or athirst,
We pause to drink our fill;
Dear Little, Lad and 1.
take two little hands in milia.--
My boy upon my knee;
| listen to a pleasant voice,
Made rich with notes of glee;
/ feel a breath against my cheek
A breath of life to me-,
Dear Little LAD and T..
| take those little hands in mine;
/ hear a prattler's tongue
Repeating childish thoughts and songs,
So sweetly said and sung;
In harmony with spirit harps,
For heavenly music strung,
Dear Little Lad add I.
With those two little hsads in mine,
Think of other days;
One generation full of years
Between our parting ways.
And yet our souls clasp hands across
The chasm, in close imbraee,
Dear Little Lad and /.
Those little hands, SO very fair,
God keep them ever white:
Those little feet unfettered yet
May they e'er walk Alright,
That little life, so precious now,
May it ever be bright
Dear Little Lad and /.
C. w. Bryan in Good Housekeeping.
The Opelousas courier., 1886-06-12
The CONSERVATION or Optuns.

An opium-eater says: There are but
very few people who comprehend the ex-
tent to which opium is used. Some idea
of it may, however, be gathered from a
single illustration. An Eastern drug
firm advertises in all the leading papers
of the country, including the high-priced
magazines, 3 certain preparation Of opium
in liquid form. Their expenses for adj
vertising must be m Now, |
know from careful inquiries that this par
ticuIar preparation is sold in bottles at
wholesale to the druggists in this city
(St. Louis}, and, of course, elsewhere, at
Is cents a bottle, each bottle containing
enough Of the preparation 70 satisfy the
cravings. Of All but the most hardened in
the vice for a month. Mind, the drug
store man pays no part Of the advertising
bills. He simply buys the bottles at
wholesale for 25 cents and retails them
for 80 cents. So all the heavy adyertis-
ing charges, as well as the original cost
Of the preparation, have to be paid out
Of the smaller sum. The cost Of putting
the preparation before the public can,
therefore, only be paid, and . profit
yielded to the Wholesale man, out Of an
enormous multitude of sales. The thing
ii evident 10 any one who will think, and
the meaning 81 the result Is that opium
consumption is growing in this country
Nj / rate that seriously tnreatens the pub
Tic welfare.
The Opelousas courier., 1886-06-12

Blondin, the famous rope-walker,
wishes to return to America and do some
high feats, but his agent, nov in New
York, finds that the law would prevent a
repetition of the Niagara or any lesser
peril. A net would have to be spread
underneath his rope, and that would de-
stroy the cash value of the performances.
A bargain was completed with the man
ayers of Coney Island resort for a Blon-
din season next summer, but a call ON the
District-Attorney elected a promise that
the net law should surely be enforced.
Blondin is living in London at the age of
SO, and Of late years has walked the rope
in Europe; in consequence of having lost
much Of his property by unfortunate in
vestments. His idea is that a tour in
America would replenish his fortune, but
his agent says that, in view of the una
voidable net, he will not M
The Opelousas courier., 1886-06-12
No substitute for the Pumpkin.

E=4A#a&# "#&a## &E
The Committee on Agriculture report
ed on the following inquiry from the
Office of the Attorney-Genera of Ohio,
$sCan we raise a vegetable to take the
place of the pnmpkinw The committee
had spent six weeks in making patient
investigation, and had come to the firm
conclusion that there was no use trying
to displace the pumpkin in the hearts OF
the American people. It had seen 9
band of few hundred people grow to
nation of So, 900, 900. It had been at
tackled by bigotry, abused by fanatics
and reviled by the aristocracy, but it had
lived through everything and won ano
maintained a warm orner in the hearts
Of the American people. Inventive gen
Jus had sought a substitute for the pump
kin, but each and every attempt had
proved a miserable failure. The pump
kin had cheerfully hitched along and
made room for the squash, the turnip,
the carrot and the parsnip, but it would
give up no more ground. The commit
tee recommended that the club encour
age the growth of pumpkins by the col
ored people throughout the United States
and Canada by offering a cash prize.
The report was accepted and adopted,
and the Secretary was authorized to ofe,
$5 in cash to the colored man in thii
country raising the most pumpkins on
half an acre Of ground.-Limekiln Chi
Proceedings.
The Opelousas courier., 1886-06-12

Submarine TOrnedo Bouts.

The prolific ingenuity of human in
~vention is, however, fast carrying the
deadliness of warfare beyond that of
these swift-moving engines of destruction
torpedo boats.) A boat has already been
invented, and is actually in existence,
which can sink below the water at will,
and travel many miles entirely
out of sight; and many keen
and fertile brains are at work
perfecting the horrible invention. Such
a vessel, on sighting a hostile feet or
vessel, would Immediately dive down and
make for her foe, unseen, and absolutely
impervious to attack. Her enemy
cannot tell where she is, or when
she may blow her to pieces.
She has absolutely no means of defense.
Flight is her only resource. The difficult
ty the underwater boat has to contend
with is that of seeing through the water.
Even now there are signs of the solution
of the problem, but even if it is not
overcome the boat can rise to the surface
when she likes, take a fresh observation
of her enemy's whereabouts, and dive
down again preparatory to the final blow.
A few such boats would be more terrible
to a hostile fleet than a whole row of iron
clad forts. They would be an intangible,
haunting danger that would demoralize
the stoutest heart.-AU Tie Year Round.
The Opelousas courier., 1886-06-12
White Gold-seekers I'm China.

Siberia has always been regarded as
rich in auriferous deposits, and travellers
tales have been heard describing the rich
results of washing the mud of the rivers,
while the soil was mingled with golden
scales. Strange, these stories did moi
seem to attract the hordes of needy ad,
venturers who flock wherever gold is, OF
is supposed to be, in existence; but re.
Gently, for some months past, abusy com,
munity of diggers has been at work in q
place so inaccessible that, untillast winter,
the Chinese were unaware that a tribe OF
foreign devils were gathering up wealth
on the borders of their own empire. The
mining camp is composed of detachments
from Australia and California, and 8
s~prinkling of diamond-seekers from South
Africa; and these men have formed q
government of their W over a republic
they have coolly appropriated from the
Chinese empire, having the Russian
administration on the other side
of the river. The results of the work are
good, upwards of 2, 800 pounds weight OF
gold having been purchased last year by
Russian agents, who have paid excellent
prices, ranging up to sixty-ive shillings
for the troy ounce.
This new t'nation" founded on the
banks of the Amoor River, Is likely, il
the stories told about it are true, to be.
come a power in the world; for as its
only trouble is likely to be with China
the bold diggers have. taken the initia-
tive and defied the s'ten thousand" which
the irate and disappointed mandarin
threatened them with. This incident is
another painful leaf in the history OF
China. The brother of the sun and moon,
the son of heaven, to be defied by a gang
of outer barbarians clad in flannel shirts,
~corduroys, and knee-boots, and speaking
an unknown but emphatic language, and
to see the golden treasures of his land
taken away from under his very nose, is
humiliation too great to be submitted to!
yet, what can be done2 The ''ten thou
sand" had better keep at home, and lei
well enough alone.-Japan Gazette.
The Opelousas courier., 1886-06-12
4 Friend In Need.

CHARLES, I hear you are going to
marry Miss Softly. Charming woman!
Let me congratulate you on your good
taste
tsAh, yes but--the fact is, ] have
broken of the match and I'm not going
to marry any one.
Then let me congratulate you on your
good sense
The Opelousas courier., 1886-06-12

Georgia has a post office named ''Talk-
ing Rock which acquired its title in the
following manner: Some one in the
vicinity found a large stone, upon which
was painted the words, Turn me over"
1t required great strength to accomplish
this, and, when it was done, the man was
confronted with the legend on the other
side of the stone, stNow turn me back
and let me fool someone else."
The Opelousas courier., 1886-06-12

A ~geologist, who has studied up the
subject, says chat diamonds in plenty
will yet be found in Georgia. in a belt
that he. locates between Atlanta and
the Savannah river, about one hundred
miles in length and from ten to thirty
miles I'M breadth.
The Opelousas courier., 1886-06-12
Reason Enough.

ssFather, why do they say railroad
corporations have no soulsg'
aWeIl, my son, you have often hears
d the head Of q corporation. but 70.
never heard Of one with q foot. VIVA
use would j sole be to them under tn
cIeamstanecs2
~ use, pa except TO walk over peo
pie instead of riding over them as the
do now.-Bostoa Budget.
The Opelousas courier., 1886-06-12

In Lake county, California, q lot OF In
plans became impressed with the idea OF
industry, saved money, bought and paid
for land, and were on the high road to
wealth. When the tax collector called
on them they were paralyzed, and il was
impossible to convince them that, having
once paid for land, they should be asked
to a for it again.
The Opelousas courier., 1886-06-12
The sad intelligence is made made pub
lie. on the authority of a dealer in musi-
cal instruments, that brass bands are on
the increase throughout the country.

The oldest printer has commenced 8
die. The youngest soldier of the late
war, the oldest mason and Washington's
body servant will have 10 look to their
Ia,y,at4
The Opelousas courier., 1886-06-12
Reward of $5O..Fifty Dollars

is OFFERED BY the Central st. Lsl Try Protective
IL Live stock Ass %1ciation. for evidence that viii Lead
TO the apprehension and conviction OF any persons
guilty of stealing horses or cattle b~siongiaR to any
member of said Association. A recor ! of the bands
of members of the 8 3ooietion ray be seen at the
house Of the Secretary. Jno. M. Ware. in BslieFus. or
at the Clerks office in Opslnusas.
j. E. SHUfE. JN0. N. WARE, Sec'y:
The Opelousas courier., 1886-06-12
LOUIS PUcHEU u,

nEALER in Groceries and Provisions, Hardware.
lD Tinware Glassware, CrockerywIre. Granitsware,
Fresh and Preserved Fruits, Jeliies. Nuts, etc. Paints,
Oils. Heating Stoves. and the cellsbrated Charter Oak
and other Cooking Stoves, Min street.
Refreshment Saloon adjoining, completely stocked
with the best and pureat of liquors. Also BEER ON
ICE % Highest market prices paid fur Hides, Wool.
Poultry. &C., and all Country Produce.
The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1886-07-01
The Dummy-Key Trick.

An ingenious scheme has been inven.
ted by congressman which he is stud
iously trying to keep to himself, which
has 50 far worked to charm. He calls
it 1.-The dummy-key racket" This con-
gresham is a very popular fellow and
lives at one of the large hotels here. He
found that his room had become the
headquarters of a crowd of his friends,
who were using it after the free and easy
fashion of club house. He didn't like
to say anything about it but he saw
plainly that something must be done
and done quickly.
Delng of an oSseryant turn of mind,
he noticed that visitors inquiring after
boarders in the hotel usually looked at
the key boxes back of the clerks desk.
If the key was gone it was tolerably
certain that the man had taken it to
open his door and was probably in. On
the other hand, if the key was in the
box of course the boarder was out. This
fact gave the congressman a very en-
iarged idea. He knew that if his friends
saw key there they would think he
was away, and therefore would not
come up stairs, so he had dummy
key made, which is always in his box
except very late at night when the clerk
removes it, only TO replace it in the box
early IN the morning, The scheme has
worked to n charm, and the congress-
man now only hopes he can keep it
secret until the end of the present ses-
sion.-BOStGH Trareller.