davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-12-16
A RABBIT PEST.
Many Estates in Australia Almost Ruined
by The title Animals.

Many Estates i'm Australia Almost Ruined
by the title Animals.
Consul-Gencral Morgan, of Australia,
has written the Secretary of State a
curious dispatch, descr.b' NO the ravages
of the rabbits upon that continent The
whole country is 50 overrun with them.
he says. that unless something is soon
done to cXterm;nate the pests the result
will be di. a'trous to the agricultural in
tercstS Rabbits were first introduced
into the country in 1850 by large
landed pr, prietor fer the purpose Of
sport, but they have multiplied with
sn, h astounding rapidity rs 10 literally
Overrun The Woe continent, where the
topography is ia vOrablc to them. 1T
S doabtiul, " says Mr.. Morg N, whether
many persons are aware Cf the immense
los that has b en- sustained iii the
colony from this curious clusc. As
much rs SlC0, coo has been expended to
Gear one estate of tn, p ,sts, and many
other propr,etOrs have expended from
S75,0v0 downward without much re-
suit. In addition to the expense in
Cured by private owners, the Govern
ment and authorities have done much.
There has been a great depreciation in
the value of land from this cause, and
one estate of twenty thousand acres in
IN Victoria. wh'ch was formerly
the best pasture in the
colony, IS now valUclas. In
recent d scussioa in the Parliament t
,bO > A 900 i,nI
been rendered almost useless by thes9
little invaders. Estates upon which
werc smiling harvest feds and fru tful
orchards a fawy years ago hive fallen into
ruin and are deserted by all wig crea-
lures except the rabbits. In the gra
and salt brush, where IN 1875 were 79e.-
900 sheep, there arc now not more than
10000. In the year 1876 the produc-
t on of wool in the Malice country was
5000 bales, valued ut 800, 900. In 1884
th had fl len to 900 bales, valued at
S9O,0C0. Many of the ranges are en-
t.rely abandoned uring the last three
years the Government has 81 cnt $780,
CO.. in Victoria alone to rid the country
of The little beasts, poisoned oats and
wheat beng used and bounty paid
upon kins of three pence per dozen.
Last year the number destroyed by pri-
vate persons, on wh;cn q, bounty was
paid, was 2, 8 a, 900. The sum voted by
Parliament this year for the purpose IS
S57C. 0D0 1t may c asserted that one
par of rabbits VIII increase in two and
2 half years to 2.00o, coo. but allowing
Il at they only increase to onc-fourtl
that number it may cas- ~ be seen how
necessary it Is to destroy them. There
are now about five hundred miles of
rabbit of wire fence ere ted IN he
co,onv of Victoria at cost of SEQ a
mile. The estinat d damage curing
The last ten yea amounts to over S15,-
600, 600 ''-BoStog Herald
The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-12-16

in full dress. somewhat akin 10 'oe
Ed mic costume of Old-the ne IeM-
&c of the peculiarities OF this ssranSe'
people is the way they raise their Iicc,.
which is their main staple, almost lnet
sole stock of provisions. eked out VIII
fruits, roots and herbs. which they col
Iect when in season, AMI the Jungle Is
brolifc of such kinds of food Eacn
village has its heal man. all i've III
common, and as soon as held OF rice
II rea1v TO be cut he orders it and dis
Tributes the grain equally among MS
peopIe. and so on Gnring the season, all
sharing a ike. Their Gnly implements
are a large knife used for cutting rice
building Their huts, and making tops
and cutting Their way through the I'M
dergrowth, and pair of sheari ior
ruttihv hair. which they cut short with
the exception of a tuft on the crown OF
the head shout two inches in Length!
which looks like a shoebrush standing
ND like br.stles. Having no pots, they
cook their rec in bamboo. They cut
OF a section and shave it thin. open q
hole in one end, put in the rec ana
water, then, closing up the end, put 1t
IN the fire. Green bamboo beng I'M
pervious to the flavor, they thus have
! tirst-class pot The same is used by the
Siamese when travelling through the
| Jungle and as they eat with the hngers
they need no dishes, and thus have uono
to wash when the meal is over.
When they need cloth, knives OF
shoes, they barter the products OF the
| Jungle. VIII CHI are many and varied.
consisting of rhinoceros horns, ele'
plants t1sks, bones, hides and skins.
| but viii no. take money, except in rare
eases, hav ng no use for it, not know
| ing its value. They are expert trap
pers. and snare ali kinds of game, ele-
phant. rhinoceros. tigers, leopards.
pumas. deer and all other denizens OF
the wild wood, for their skins, ana
some of the finest ivory exported was
purchased from these people; but their
SKINS were badly handled. which Ge-
/ tracts from their value, being merely
dried in the sun after being stripped
| from the animal.
When forced to 90 shod, which is
seldom they imprOvise sandal. which
they make out OF Il piece of hide.
rounded in front and behind, with q
hole where the big toe rests, through
which is inserted piece OF bamboo.
fastened on the bottom, with loop on
top, through VIII CHI the toe IS thrust.
and thus the sandal is held on the foot
They pay no taxes, acknowledge no
ruler; their number is unknown, and
in their emerald fastncss, guarded by
malaria as deadly as dynamite. they
live and de never having heard the
story of Jesus knowing no future, their
world and existence being confined to
the peninsula of Malacca. Richmond
| (jIO.) COnSeFrGiOT.
The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-12-16
QUEER KEN POti.
Face of Iarbarians Who Inhabit the
Dense Jungles 81 Siam.

A Face of Barbarians Who Inhabit the
Dense JunGIes oi Siam.
The follow'ng is a'-en from Letter
written at Pangkok, Sam, by Colonel
Childs: Amorg the many peeul ar.ties
of this peculiar ct.on IS n almost I'M
known rate of p op.c, an account of
which | feel assured VII he of interest.
\ few days s'rcc the Governor of
Sangk;a, a province on the west coast OF
Siam, who was here to Erng tribute ID
the King, gave me cons dcrablc in
formation in regard u these people,
Who live on the coas-. terming them
Ken Poh-junol, people. They make
the HON IS and the delS3st portion of
tie forest, fave bus little c1mmunica-
ton with the Gu or wOrld-in fact, they
are cot re,y isolated. The only per sOns
they hold intercourse with are slaves
an trad rs Wh) have p netratcd the
Jungle in scarcl of game or barter, as
it IS almost impossible to pen trate to
(. villages on account Of the d rs ty
OF the vegetation. the dang rouS b asts
and venomo serpents that info t them
They shun ali intercourse with strangers,
have a peculiar dialect o. their own,
i've in small V llages. and are a
mu cuiar. hardy race, ,trictlv vcge-
tar ans, do not drink or smoke opium,
have but few. if anv. of the vic 5 of
the natives, ar about five feet IN height,
and seem TO be sunk III the most
ab Get barbarism. occ Ipy'ng the lowest
era C of humanity What little re-
igion they may haze is a mo1grc. wOr
ship OF demons and TIE malignant
spirits that they assert inhabit the Jun
gle. which they attempt to prop tiatc
Dv presents. etc Their habitat ons are
partly subtecranean, about four feet
h oh, an excavation in the ground,
around which stakes are driven, COW
cred with a dome OF plated bamboo. |
over which is plastered a thick coating
of mud, VIII ch soon har'leIs in the snn,
rendering it impervOus to the rain or
the heavy dews OF that c5o7. win oh !
they occupy only wnn necessity re- /
quires, rs they live mostly IN the open !
ar, and when the land IS oyerfiowed up |
in the trees Their 9th ng is Of The |
most primitive kind. A pi, &C of Goth |
about one foot wide and four feet IN /
length, which is held in plasc by pc e !
of llama or vine, as they have no cord !
or rope. is made into 4 bet, placed l
around the waist: then the cloth is in !
serted between the legs and carried both |
back and front up under the belt over
which IT laps. and the band being drawn |
tight holds it in pla-e, and as the ends |
are opened spread out Ike small aprons,
aud thus the denizens Of the jungle are |
The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-12-16
COREAN CUSTOMS.

PecuIiarities OBJ served in the Laying Out
of Towns In the Hermit Kingdom.
The Corean houses all face the south
No matter if the entrance gate Is on the
north, there VII be a way around 10
the reception rooms. which Will lnvarl-
ably open toward the south. The cities
are so lad out that, # POSSIBLE, there
shall be n rugged mountain on the
north and Il green, wooded hill or
mountain on the south This is in ac-
cordance with the ideas OF harmony.
Certain it is that it makes very pict-
uresque effect The cap tai, Seoul, is
Ia; d out in the same way. and they sue
C eded in finding site that exactly
suited. Teh'n the palace, inside the
city walls, rises rugged peak some
three thousand feet in height. Farther
on still a whole range of mountains
pierce the clouds with their crags and
exert IN influence upon the city. On
the east and west sides of the city there
are also mountains, but the gem of the
whole collection is the Nam Shan
(south mounta ny, which meets the
gaze of every householder as lie sits in
h arlor facing southwark. This
mountain is green the year round, be-
ing covered with Il heavy growth of
D me, except on the top, where the
trees have Eeen removed to make pla, q
for the signal fires. In the absence of
telegraph lines the Coreans, from an
Gent times, have been in the habit of
signaling from the border. in five differ
ent directions, whether all is peaceful
or otherwise.
There are certain high mountain
peaks happily situated at appropriate
intervals in each direction. Upon the
tops of these mounta rs quarters lave
Eean In 1t for the signal officers, whose
duty it i5 to have the fire all ready to
kindie into blaze Immediately IN see
ng the Lights from the mountains near
est toward the bord r. The next sta
ton passes the signal along. and so in
less than an hour thousand ri fthree
handred and fifty miles) are gone over,
and Il ;s known at the cIpital that
quiet reigns along the border. When
the five lights have b en- scel. by the
station on the south mountain OF Seoul,
the watch on cIly l;ehtS II five
fires in the little oFen-like structures
open at the top. and SO piace1 as to be
easily seen from the palace. Every
night body of venerable, graybearded
officers of high rank 90 in before his
Majesty and announce all IS Tranquil
and quiet; the five fires were seen on
Nam Shan this evening" BIT if one
fire should not be seen, then they must
report that section to be at war, and
hard is Their task. for no one must tell
to th3 X nr any but good news. He
stands before them their idea of human
perfect on. H. acts a 81 as a high
priest and sacrifices 10 heaven for the
good of his people. 1t is not right,
then. in their opinion, that he should be
informed concerning any disagreeable
or unpleasant thing. But wars will
force themselves upon the recognition
OF the most carefully guarded monarch,
and many have been the times when the
poo IL graytcirds have had to report
a FIRE missing and trouble OIL the border.
Cor. Sa8 Francisco Chronicle.
The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-12-16
The ST Inn;s Cattle

The ST Louis cattle synd cate.
which attempted to DIR veforty Thousand
head of cattle from the West in'o BRIT
i.h Columns this summer has met with
disaster. The unusually dry season. re-
saiting in poor feed aid scarce water,
combined with cold. dry. piercing winds
in Montana played havoc with the cat
tie. which died by hundreds. so that ths
drive was abandoned 1t Is not likely
that two hund. ed head of the stock WI
live until the spring. The loss will BE-
two hundred and fifty thousand dollars
= st Louis lost
The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-12-16

-"Most editors are crankS. aren't
they, Charley" asked young Mrs. Slow
10y. 1.-The papers are so full of the
cueerest drinks and wrinkles" What
papers. darl ng?" said Charley. curl
papers" calmly replied Mrs S;owboy.
a her husband lay faint ng on the floor.
They reused him TO consciousness, but
the vacant stare in his histories, eyeI
told them that he knew he had married
a female paragraphsr.-EaTtet:l.
The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-12-16
MIR. George W. ChiIds, has received
rom fsoTcfieI Fredoriok Dent Grant a

ITUin tOiCHci TIHUcTIck DUH UT.lIIC
fine Kentucky mare and colt The mare
was a g'ert favor re W Il, III, iats Gen.
eral Grant. and the an.mas we're sent
10 Mr.. Childs by Mrs. Grant. Thy
are now at ''WCo:ton, Mr.. Childs'
country place. 1t is pIrposed 10 call
one o. them JULIA after Mrs. u. 5.
Grant. and the othe: Ida, ter Mrs.
Colonel Grant PHI a9eLph-G Eecord
The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-12-16

operation through the said cry OF nuzIouo wIsu
suitable freight and passenger depot and station
IA said city or Abilene, at some point east Of Mud
The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-12-16

Please take notice that the Poll books for regis-
trst.on viii close on Tuesday evening. Dec. p.
The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-12-16

Bbrake & Rice haveA
ounter of articles QUIZ
nearly everything costina --..-.
t or more. Everybody invited
pect their counter, and you will
The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-12-16

for the n. ". 4 Of \. ". <. Of section IA, Town
Il 8 Of Pan I Ii ns=za.. a.. xa.iC-zluz-
St. Paul daily globe., 1886-12-25

especially distinguis he'd himself in the body.
He is quite an old man and is doubtless
eminently respectable.
The Eeighth ward will lose one of its best
representatives in the person of Capt. E.
C. Babb. who says he will not be candi-
date for reelection. He is pei apps as well
known as any man in the city or state
through his prominent connection with the
G. A. r., having been department COM
Wander at the time of the
national encampment in this city
three years ago. AS an alder
man he achieved notoriety on account of
his position on the saloon question and his
calling as an ice dealer. He voted against
license reduction, and was accordingly
boycotted by the ice-purchasing saloon men.
He has declared his abundant suficency Of
aldermanic life, and will probably
retire, though he could very easily be re-
elected if he chose to stand.
These are the eight who will run the po-
litical gauntlet next election. Some of
them may return. but the majority will
never be heard of and some will never be
missed. There are twenty-fOur men,
bers of the council, three from
each ward. At present there are
IA Republicans and 10 Democrats; in the
spring eight Republicans go out leaving
ten Democrats and six Republicans to hold
over The election will. probably, send
back four Republicans and four Democrats,
which will make the council stand fourteen
Democrats and ten Republicans. giving the
former full control of every branch Of the
city govern ment
St. Paul daily globe., 1886-12-25
KNICKERBOCKER CHRIsTMAs.
GIittering Gifts and Hearty Good
EatinG and Drinking.


While their neighbors upon Massachu-
setts bay were banning Christmas, the
Dutch at New Amsterdam gladly well
coined and honored him, and nowhere has
he been so truly at home upon the conti-
nent as in the Dutch city, says George
William Curtis. The character of the in-
habitants naturally determined that of the
day. 1t was less an ecclesiastical festival
than a social and domestic holiday. The
glittering tree of gifts was its lighted and
decorated altar. and hearty good eating and
drinking were its genial ceremonial rites.
HEREDITARY Dutch pride sometimes looks
askance and even angrily at Diedrich
Knickerbocker'S story. But it is plain that
the gay exaggeratiOn of the old chronicle
only emphasized the truth, and that his
humorous imaginative touch produced a
likeness as accurate as Winthrop and Sewell
OF the Puritans. The tranquil, contented
burgherS whom he drew were sure to make
the most of Christmastide. and their neigh
bOrs who cursed 1t must have seemed to
them the most whimsical lunatics.
1t was natural that the genius which de-
scribed those burghers with so subtle a
sympathy should seem to be kindred
with them. Indeed, there was so
much of the true KnickerbOcker in
Irving that he is usually supposed,
by those who do not reflect to be of Dutch
descent 1t is this quality. perhaps this
ready sympathy with cheerful ard simple
domestic enjoyment which made the author
of KnickerbOcker's history the laureate of
English Christmas.
The holiday that he describes affects him
as it affected the citizens of New Amster-
dam, as day of pleasure consecrated by
religious association. And the enduring
popularity of his charming essay shows that
this is the Christmas of the English-speak-
ing race Even the New England air. which
was SO black with sermons that it suffocated
Christmas, now murmurS softly with Christ
mas bells. The children of the resolute,
God-fearing men who did not rest from
labor on that first Christmas morning. now
rest and rejoice in the happy day whose
dawn is a benedction.
St. Paul daily globe., 1886-12-25
TWANG FOR THE EGG-NOGG.

In de dawnin' CT de mornin'
Wen de Christmas am a-bornin'
An de niggah am a yawnin'
As he cuddle in de cot,
Dar's a Whit er suffiu' pleasin'
Dat'll sho'ly sot i'm sneezn'
LESS he's mighty quick a-seiZen'
At de ladle er de pot.
Like de snow upon de ribber
Wen de ar is all shibber
Am de froff dat make de kibber
OBJ de angel fodder dar,
An satin as 20 spot i'm
Ram yo' ladle ter de bottom.
An reckon den yo'm got i'm
Whar de flabor1 twis' de ha'r.
-Yonkers Gazette.
St. Paul daily globe., 1886-12-25
AT THE EDITOR'S TABLE.

AT THE EDITORS TABLE.
Ye Christmas-tide now ebbeth low
Yule-lOg and carols, chimes,
Ye holly and ye mistletoe
And all ye merrie times
Have gone, perchance to come no more;
Yet at our Christmas feasts,
With turkey, goose and other beasts,
We still bring in ye bore.
Washington Hatchet
St. Paul daily globe., 1886-12-25
A CHRISTMAS TRIO.
SH

t'What must he Think She whispered low,
Her cheeks with tender blush af1ame-
"How could thus my feelings show!
ny eyes betrayed my heart, l know.
Ahl Would that his would do the same!
ST think I'll give him some small thing
But, probably, he'd only smile
Still If gave this tiny ring
His thanks might something further bring.
Mol That's too bold. I'll wait awhile"
HE:
"Good heavens! What fool I've been!
To sit there all the evaninr through
St. Paul daily globe., 1886-12-25

I Say syes'-'exactly so'-and grin;
And all the while my heart within
Was beating hard enough for two.
''Now If 1 only had the cheek
To tell her in STRAIGHTFORWARD style
What makes me SO aDsurdly weak
When I'm with her-but can't speak
Just yet, at least. I'll wait awhile.
-
I stand apart and watch them both,
To find amusement nothing loath;
And, while watch, wonder whether
These fools will ever come together.
IS. Decatur Smith, Jr.
St. Paul daily globe., 1886-12-25
CHRlSY MAS Is COMING

He wonders why she is so kind,
And why no more she fights:
And why she does not seem to mind
How late he's out O. nights;
wbv round his neck her arm she throws,
And calls him darling John!
And mends his clothes and darns his hose.
And sews his buttons on.
So much connubial peace, IN truth,
He cannot understands;
ne would though, il be thought. forsooth
That Christmas is at hand.
Boston Gazette.
St. Paul daily globe., 1886-12-25
A CORNISH CAROL.


Welcome that ssar in Judah's sky,
That voice DER Bethlehem's palmy glen;
The lamp far sages hailed on high,
The tones that thrilled the shepherd men:
Glory to God in loftiest heaven!
Thus angels smOte the echOing chord;
Glad tidings unto man forgiven,
Peace from the presence of the Lord.
The shepherds sought that birth divine,
The Wise Men traced their guided way:
There, by strange light and mystic sign,
The God they came to worship lay.
A human Babe in beauty smiled,
Where lowing oxen round him trod:
A maiden claspeo her Awful Child,
Pure offspring of the breath of God.
Those voices from on high are mute,
The star the Wise Men saw is dim;
But hope still guides the wandering foot,
And faith renews the angel hymn;
Glory 10 God in loftiest heaven
Touch with glad hand the ancient chord;
Good tidings unto man forgiven.
Peace from the presence of the Lord.
Robert Stephen Hawker.
St. Paul daily globe., 1886-12-25
Glad Christmas Comes Only Once.

Christmas comes but once year." re-
marked Mr.. Boggs peacefully, he tucked
his thumbs in his vest after dinner. IF it
came twice I'd never see more than two"
remarked Tommy Boggs, as he eurled up
like the letter S, after his fourth piece of
mincn Die.
St. Paul daily globe., 1886-12-25
THE HOLIDAY POET.
Verses Constructed For Christina
EdIfica ton. Inc Udiug Carols.

!; : S 5
('&zlM -ww's
~ 81
The people stared as the happy pair
Trudged on beneath their load:
And fathers sly winl1ed one cute eye,
But cheered them on their road.
''Ha ha! he he!
Hi hi! o ho!''
Cried children as they passed,
But they only ], u rhed
AS the hoodlums chafed,
And scuttled along quite fast.
Quoth Santa, ''Molly hope that we
No purchase have forgot
For maiden fair, or mother dear,
Or any little tot
A drum for Jim,
A sword for Tim,
A work-box for Miss Prue,
A mutf for Min,
For Rob pin,
A rocking-chair for Sue"
''And 7, old man, for baby have
A pretty cheeping-cat,
And for old Mrs. Cherryblow
A go-to-meeting hat;
A jumping-jack
For little Mac,
A vase for cousin Bess,
An eight-daysclOck
Of brass for Doc,
A cookery-bOOk for Jess"
A twinkle lighted Santa's eyes
AS he nudged his better half.
Said he, i've wig for Uncle Tim,
And corset for calf,
A brooch for Clare,
Gold studs for Sam,
A hobby-horse for Ned,
A box of bricks r
With funny tricks.
For Uncle JOhnny's Fred.
"Beneath this pile of toys I've got
A Japanese umbrella.
a mun, q switch, picture frame,
Suspenders for swell-a;
A brush, comb,
A pin-cushion.
Some slippers and box
OF tools for Bob,
And skates for Job,
For Mother Hose some socks.
"But best of all here in my pack
Are fifteen hundred dolls
French, bisque, kid, wax and other kinds
That cannot break their polls.
"Oh hol'' cried he,
''How rare twill be
When every little head
Shall pop like corn
On Christmas morn
And jump right out of bed"
So on they trudged this merry pair,
Behind the gaslight glare.
Said Mrs. Claus to Mr.. Claus,
"But how about the fare?'
'''Tis WE'LL" cried he,
''LoOk here, and see
A million turkeys rare
From Vanderbilt
Hope they re not split
Them's pies that's packed in there"
St. Paul daily globe., 1886-12-25
ORIGIN OF ChRiSTMAS GIFTS.
A Custom that Game into Vogue
when Victoria Was Married.

After the marriage of Albert and Vic
tOria Christmas gifts came into vogue in
England. and the pretty German custom has
grown we'll nigh universal now. Saint
Nicholas does New York in lieu of a patron
saint. and Kuecht Rupert-but let us hope
there are no bad boys now. and that the
servants rod is never needed on Christmas
day, at least.
"Yule's come and Yule's gone
And we hae feasted weel,
Sac Jock maun 10 his fail again
And Jenny to her wheel"
Now one of the best things about this
little ditty is that it isn't true. Christmas
is fine thing in itself, we like it because it
is Christmas. because it stands out in the
winter bright glow in the cold, because
shops are shut and mammon for one day is
suspended. but after all it is an exceedingly
good point about Christmas that New Year
comes after it. Christmas ushers in a set
of holidays. and one needn't settle down
into the commonplace Immediately after it.