davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Connecticut western news., 1886-06-02
Life in Persia.

Though Persia moves little, it is one of the most unprogressive empires. It had no postal system until 1876. It has but one wagon road of any considerable length. No railroads have been built, as the Shah will not incur the financial risk, nor make an investment of foreign capital secure. The telegraph now con. nects the capital with provincial capitals. The cost of living has greatly increased in the last few years. Most of the Per- sians are very poor, the tenants or agri- culturists forming the poorest class. A merchant with $50, 900 is considered very rich.
 The social life of Persia has not changed perceptibly. ''The Persian of the genuine type and old school hardly thinks himself in condition to be seen until his hair and beard have been dyed and his finger nails stained, if not his fin gers also. He rises at the early dawn, and repeats the usual prayer; and having drunk cup of tea, if he be rich enough to afford it, goes to the field or to his shop. At 10 o'clock he sits down in his place of business to eat breakfast of bread and sour milk which has been brought upon tray and set before him. The hours of midday, in summer, are passed in sleep. Labor, when resumed, is continued until sunset. The principal meal of the day-and the best he can afford-of meat, rice and savory dishes, is partaken of in company with the mem- bers of his family, and after nightfall, and in the open court of the house, or upon the roof. If inclined to drink wine and arak, the most approved custom is to indulge at this hour. He satiates his thirst, if that be possible, by drunkenness, having first taken the precaution of lock- ing the doors and going to bed. "-Cin- cinnati Commercial.
Connecticut western news., 1886-06-02
HindOO Craftsmen.

The supple, delicate fingers of the craftsmen are as remarkable as those of the Japanese, although their hands are much larger; but one thing must very forcibly strike the visitor who watches these clever workmen and who observes the primitiveness of their appliances the sad fact that the march of civiliza- tion has deprived us western nations of the use of our toes. To be able to use four hands instead of two in art work must obviously be an enormous advan- tage, and the long, prehensile toe of the Hindoo craftsman is even more remarka- ble than that of his Japanese brother. To see the ivory-worker turning his lathe with his upper hands, while he guides it and holds the ivory in his lower ones, is quite an education in possibilities of de- velopment of what to us are really almost rudimcntary organs-daily, in fact, be- coming more so under the operation of the fashionable bootmaker.
Connecticut western news., 1886-06-02
Small Arts.

It is quite wonderful to think how strangely forgotten and lost the small arts are in England. In some countries the very children can carve in wood, in others they can make artistic pottery; in Egypt they embroider, inlay, and work in jewelry; but in this country our peo- pie can do nothing, and have learned nothing outside their trade. The agri- cultural laborer, it is true, possesses a very considerable and varied amount of knowledge-he is skilled in many ways; but the mechanic, the factory hand, the shopman, knows nothing and can do nothing outside his trade, and, which is worse, he considers every kind of handi- work as trade in itself, to learn which would be learning another craft, after taking all the trouble in the world to &C., quire one.
 Shall he who has learned to make shoes also learn to make cabinets2 And shall the goldsmith also become stone cutter2 And is the evening as we'll as the solid day to be given up to labor9 And is it right to invade another mans trade territory?-Art Journal.
Connecticut western news., 1886-06-02
Ram Fighting in the Orient.

The Persians have their own peculiar .pastimes, and that some of them corre- spond very nearly with our own. Stroll ing down towards the Shah Abbas bazaar in Tehcran the same evening after talking with MT. B., my attention is attracted by small crowd of Teherains of the lower and commercial class con. gregated in an alley-way, writes Thomas Stevens in Outing. From the excitement and the dull thud of objects striking against each other, it is apparent that rival owners of fighting rams are permit ting their champions to struggle for the mastery.
 These little contests around quiet cor ners are of almost hourly occurrence, and a stroll of fifteen minut es abont the streets of the Persian capital is impossi- ble without encountering mild-eyed "sports" leading their pet rams tenderly along by string. The necks of the rams are encased in broad leathern col. lars, gaily ornamented with beads and cowries, and from which are suspended amulcts to ward off the evil eye, and clear-toned bell. This bell, dangling from the collar and jingling merrily as he walks along, announces the approach of fighting ram and his owner or atten- dant. Sometimes one meets a process sion of several, each one in charge of a separate attendant; these engage in regular tournament for the entertainment of his guests.
 The fighting rams of Teheran are of the big-tailed variety. The breed is gentlencss impersonated, and their con- tests arc comparatively tame perform ances. The owners bet freely on the prowcss of their respective champions, wagering anything from dinner of ba- zaar-kabobs to stake of several tomans; and plenty of Tehcrani sports depend entirely upon their ram for living. Har- assed with no hair-splitting niceties nor worrying definitions between amateurism and professionalism, he sallics forth and | fights his ram for the wager Of break. fast for himself and feed of barley for his pet. ... Like knight-errants of old, the Per sian sport and his fighting ram wander the streets, seeking battle everywhere, winning few kerans to-day and losing them again tomorrow; true soldiers of fortune these, often having to battle for their breakfast before eating it. Many | of the smaller merchants own fighting rams, keeping them tied up in front of their shop. When business gets dull, they send challenges to rival merchants, and fights take place daily, sometimes purely for amusement and sometimes fol wager.
Connecticut western news., 1886-06-02
A Persian Game.

There seems to be as great dearth of games among the youth as among the grown people in Persia, still they may be seen winning walnuts from each other by games very similar to the marble-play ing of the American and English youth. A favorite game appears to be placing each a certain number of walnuts along marked line at sufficient distance apart to allow of another one to pass be- tween without touching.
 The line is formed near the base of a low wall. They then take turns in knocking the bonse walnut off the wall so that it rolls through the line, and any nuts dislodged from the scratch are con. sidered won and transferred to the win. ner's pocket. Hobble- hoys of twen. ty are often seen playing this game of walnuts, as also pitch -and-toss for cop pers. squabbles are of frequent occur renee, but fighting seldom results, fo' the meek-eyed youth of the Shah's do- minions are more pacifcally constituted than we were when you and l were young and were wont to peel off ou, coats on the smallest provocation.-Out- ing.
Connecticut western news., 1886-06-02
Base Balls.

A fair estimate of the number of balls made for the present season is said to bc 5000, 900, or one for every ten of the pop ulation of the entire country. The hard unyielding base balls. that are now used by professional ballplayers are very dif- ferent articles from those which were in vogue a quarter of century ago. In fact they differ as greatly as the present game of base ball does from that which was played in those days. ''Dead" .r professional base balls are made entirely by hand. According to rules laid down by the league they must weigh within
 five and quarter ounces. A little rub Der ball, weighing two ounces, is used as the foundation for two ounces of wooden yarn that is wound around the ball, and permits of it coming within the regula- tion size, weight and shape. The limit in size is nine inches in circumference. The yarn used makes the circumference of the ball considerably more thay this, but it is corrected by undergoing a' hammering process, after which the littsc spheres are turned over to the coverers, who invest them with casing of horsc hide, sewn with linen thread. Non-pro- fessional balls are made by machinery. To show the difference in the speed, cays and cost of manufacture of base balls ! may be stated that certain factory near New York can turn out 4S, 900 machine made balls in day, while the limit of manufacture for "dead" balls in tho same time is eighteen, ,"-NeH York Aai5 and Ezpress.
Connecticut western news., 1886-06-02
The Birth of the Confederacy.

The 18th of February, 1861, was a beautiful Southern day, said Col. Capers, who was private secretary of the first Confederate Secretary of the Treasury, to New York World representative at Washington. The sun beamed down on the natal occasion like happy father, and soft southwest wind was lifting the leaves of the magnolia that twined with the laurel in many a large festoon about the Corinthian columns of the Capitol at Montgomery, Ala. An inn mense concourse of people gathered to the inauguration, but so solemn were the ceremonies and so earnest were the peo- pie, that Col. Capers, sitting on horse back in the outskirts of the throng, heard distinctly every word of the eloquent opening prayer of Dr. Manley. The venerable divine and Vice-Presiaent- elect Stephens rode in the carriage with Mir. Davis, and Howell Cobb, Presi- dent of the Convention, administered the oath of office. MT. Davis spoke his in- augural quietly, but distinctly, and upon taking the oath raised his eyes towards heaven and repeated the concluding words, ''so help me God," in tone so strong and clear that they could be heard by every one present. There was re- ception that night and brilliant ball. G. c. Memminger, of South Carolina, was appointed Secretary of the Treasury, and on the 20th Col. Capers, whom he selected as his private secretary, opened their office in the Commercial Building The accomodat1ons were limited but convenient. There was a banking office on the ground floor. The State, Treasury, War, Navy and Law depart ments of the new government settled down in the twelve rooms on the second story, none of them very large.
 Young Capers took possession of their office, swept out the cobwebs and dust himself, got in few articles of furniture, tackled card on the door, hired an office boy and waited two whole days before anybody came to do business.
Connecticut western news., 1886-06-02
HUMOROUS.

All flesh isn't grass, because dog meat is often Indian meal.
 The dentists are said to be pulling through these hard times.
 ''What is the latest9" was asked of . wit. "Twelve p. m.," was the curt re- ply.
 The queen of Servia understands how to sew on buttons, and she isn't bache- Tor, either. .
 As general thing, when schoolboys go on strike the urbane professor comes in with the last lick.
 It costs $2S week to feed circus tiger. At that rate what would the monthly board of cata-mount to2
 A collector of curiosities wants to get the original brush with which the signs of the times were paint ed. % |.
 Little boy-Pa, why does the world move2 Pa thinking of something else)- Because it finds it cheaper than to pay rent.
 An exchange says: ''Monopolies arc reaching out further with alarming ra- pidity." The same may be said of bustles.
 ''Do make yourselves at home, ladies'" said Mrs. Smith to her visitors; 'T am at home myself, and sincerely wish you all were."
 Agushing correspondent says of a lit- crary celebrity that "his conversation is full of light" Poor fellow! he must be lantern -jawed.
 Andrew Lang's novel, "The Mark of Cain," has just been published. It ii supposed the hero was struck with . walking-stick.
 A new English dictionary is coming out with 24, 900 words. People who arc ever bent on having the last word should subscribe at once.
 According to an ear witness, the Bos- ton girl doesn't say, 'Let's skip tho gutter" She remarks, "Let us sud- denly overleap the marginal depression of the public thoroughfare. A modern wit defines the difference between men and women: "A man gives forty cents for a twenty five cent thinghe wants, and women gives twen- ty-five cents for forty-cent thing she | does not want" ''Who," said member of the Cana- dian House of Commons to tho members who were trying to choke him off, 'who prayed there2" 'It was an echo," retorted member, amid a yell of delight. | Farewell, kind friends, he sadly said, l And bitter tears of anguish shed "Let us refuse to think of pain, 1 And fondly hope to meet again; | Farewell! go at duty's call, AS umpire in game of ball."
Connecticut western news., 1886-06-02

In Auckland, New Zealand, according to an American visitor, an American is immediately struck by the dissimilarity manifested, both in requirements and in ideas, to his own home. Butchering estab- lishments, with huge open fronts, are situ- ated besides music warehouses. Station cry shops, their walls covered with books, like the interior of library, and saddle and harness-makers, with windows dis playing bridles, bits and spurs, are ire quent features. Dry goods stores abound to at least the number of three in each block. Their windows filled with gay prints and colicoes, the light summer dresses of the ladies and the numerous light coats and straw hats of passing pedestrians bear ample evidence to the semi tropical nature of the climate. There are no saloons in Auckland, as a strictly enforced licensing law compels the owners of hotels to provide accom- modations for certain number of travel lers. Each hotel, however, has drink ing bar in connection with it, from be- hind which typical British barmaids at- tend to the requirements of thirsty way farers,
Connecticut western news., 1886-06-02
The Right Side of the 6.

I've lived sixty years in this frisky old
 world, An seen lots of chargin' and turnin', An fifty of them by the sweat of my brow, My bread an my butter been earnin', An I've learned many things in the way of
 hard facts, never was any great scholar, An here's one for you. Whatever you do Young man-an' young woman, I'm warnin'
 you, too Keep on the right side of the dollar. No matter how much you may want this or
 that, Hyou can't spare the money to buy it, Don't run into debt, or you'll quickly regret That you ever were tempted to try it Though your clothes may be white at the
 seams, and you find Rough edges on cuffs an on collar, Jest wait to get new till the same you can
 do Young man-an' young woman, I'm warmth An keep on the right side of the dollar. Oh, the strifes an the troubles that would be,
 like weeds, Cut down in their pestilent growth, An the blessings, like the beautiful fowrs,
 that folks In their stead would be constantly sowin'l Oh, the homes an the lives that wouldn't be
 lost,
 If all this plain precept would foller That lay down to youl Whatever you do, Young man-an' young woman, I'm warnin'
 you, too Keep on the right side of the dollar.
 -Hdrper's Bazar.
Connecticut western news., 1886-06-02
Cattle StamDedeS.

''It is surpris1ng," says MT. John H. Sullivan, "what trifling thing will start stampede that may cost many lives and the loss of hundreds of cattle before it can be controlled. Twas com ing up the Texas trail once with party of other cowboys. We had 1000 cattle in the bunch. One of the boys opened his tobacco-pouch to get chew. The out of his fingers. The tobacco foated away and lodged in steers eye. In a moment the eye began to smart, and the steex got wild. Its antics started others, and in ten seconds the whole herd was surging and dashing about, out of all control. It was two days before we got the herd working quietly again. Two of our best boys were trampled to death, and 4, 900 cattle were lost.
 'Hail-storms are greatly dreaded by cowboys on the trail, especially if they come at night when the cattle are sleep ing. If a hailstone happens to strike a steer in the eye stampede is sure to follow. He springs to his feet, and in thrashing around tramps on the tails of others. They jump in pain. The herd is alarmed, and before anything can be done the whole herd are off like flash. The bark of a coyote, when everything is still at night, is sufficient to stampede herd. A blade of grass, blown along by the wind, frequently strikes steer in the eye. The pam that follows will set him wild, and he can soon have the herd on the run across country at twenty mile an hour gate.
 'It is during stampedes the cowboy has work to do. His one great object is to keep the flying herd together. He urges his mustang dead against the ad. vancing column of frantic cattle at the constant risk of his life, and works the cattle gradually in circle. The cow boys all ride to the right around a stam- peding herd. If they can get the cattle to running in circle, the first impor- tant step in controlling them is accom- plished. have been with party in a stampede when we were obliged to ride around herd for distance of over 200 miles before we got it under control, and then it was only twenty-five miles from where the stampede started. In all that time not one of us took a moments rest or bite to eat. Such things can't b' thought of during a stampede"
Connecticut western news., 1886-06-02

A Centralia, (Kan.) paper bursts into p@an of joy over the arrival of family as follows: "The glorious State of Kan has received an addition of thirteen vo- ters in one family the other day by the emigration to Senaca of Lora Grendahl and family from Lacrosse, Wis. MT. Grendahl is the happy father of twelve sons. Two years ago he had but six. A pair of twins were then born, and two months ago, he received 8 further re- markable addition of four sons at one presentation The four together weighed twenty pounds, and although they are now two months old, there are as lively as young crlckets, and growing as though determined to prove an exception to the general fate of quadruplets of dying early"
Connecticut western news., 1886-06-02

At the close of 1873 there were only 1856 firms engaged in the silk manufac- turc, in all its branches, in the country, of which 30 were in New Jersey, 61 in New York, 25 in Pennsylvania, % in Connecticut, and the others scattering. The total capital invested in the industry was only $15, es8, s77; the total products were valued at $19, s94, STA, and the op- eratives numbered only 1O,e51. By1s79 the figures given for the whole country. six years before little more than covered the silk interests of Paterson alone, which then had 102 firms and corpora tions engaged in it, employing 12,59s hands, with $e, o55, 500 invested, and produced sig, ,172, e95 worth of goods that year. Since then the industry has made still further progress.
Connecticut western news., 1886-06-02
Not High Enough for That.

ooh, papa" exclaimed little boy pas- senger with his face to the window, "what great high hill that isl"
 "Yes, my son, said the man, with weary look in his face and crape on his hat, Sit is very high. That is moun- tain, Arthur"
 ''Shall we get off the cars and go and climb up the high mountain, papaa"
 ''Oh. no; why should we do that, Ar thur2"
 "'Cause, pa, I didn't know but maybe we might climb to the top and then look up and see mamma. Do you think we could Aieego HeraA.
Connecticut western news., 1886-06-02
A Wonderful Shot.

In his book, '"The Witchery of Arch- ery," Maurice Thompson relates his ad ventures with 'Tommy," an Indian who was skilful archer. He says: From the first recognized Tommy as my mas ter in the noble science and art of arch cry, and I labored hard to win his appro- bation by some achievement worthy his notice. At last accomplished this. He had very -feathered arrow which he had named "1oo- hoo," on account of a peculiar roaring sound it made while flying through the air. You could hea, it 200 yards.
 One day he shot this arrow at a plovel standing on point of sand. It went loudly whizzing just over the birds back, making it settle low down as if struck at by hawk and frightened out of it's wits. was at Tommy's side when he shot, The bird was a good hundred yard away. He did not miss it foot Now was my time and settled myself to my work.
 Selecting a light, -feathered shaft, planted my feet firmly, measured the distance carefully with my eye, drew to my ear and let go. It was glorious piece of luck and good shooting com. bined. The arrow went like thought, noiselessly, unwaveringly straight to the mark, cutting the game through the craw, killing it on the spot. I leaned on my bow with as much nonchalance and grace as could command, while Tom. my gave me my need of praise. He pat. ted me on the back and wagged his head significantly; he grunted in various keys, and finally wound up with:
 "Beat! ugh! nice! good"
Connecticut western news., 1886-06-02

American inquisitiveness and ingenui- ty united have produced thread made from the blossoms of the common milk weed, which has the consistency and te- nacity of imported flax or linen thread, and is produced at much less cost. The fibre is long, easily carded and may be readily adapted to spinning upon an or dinary flax spinner. It has the smooth ness and lustre of silk, rendering it valu- able for sewing machine use. The weed is common throughout this country, but grows profusely at the south. The ma- terial costs nothing for cultivation, and gathering is as cheaply done as that of cotton
Connecticut western news., 1886-06-02
Ear.LOre.

Cutting off the ears was among the Romans the common punishment of thieves, pillagers of temples, fugitives and slaves, survival of which was to be traced in the English mode of looping off the ears of public offenders whilst standing in the pillory down to compara- lively recent times. Another Roman practice was the pulling of witnesses ears in court of law as reminder of the gravity of their situation when vacil- lating or hesitating in thelr evidence. Children's ears were likewise wont to be pulled or soundly ''boxed" by their mas ters. Another custom was the wholesale stufing up of the ears of offending gen. tlewomen in time of war. This was es- sentially of Roman origin, first brought under British notice by the followers of Julius Ceser; and thenceforth frequently perpetrated by the soldiery, particularly during the English subjugation of Wales, until it in due time gave way to less sportive and infinitely more barbaric practices. Time-honored though these several observances may appear, they must nevertheless be regarded as modern side by side with one that carries us back to the primitive periods of Jewish history. This was the boring of the ear of every slave who, his term of servitude having expired (six years), yet declined to claim his freedom, preferring to re- main with his lord and family for an indefinite period. In such a case his master was bound to take him to the door-post, and there bore his ear with an awl, as a sign of his voluntary at tachment to that house.-Boston Budget.
Connecticut western news., 1886-06-02
HODed So Too.

A certain Austin landlord is very diffusive sort of man, much given to speaking before he thinks. He recently met Professor Shore, his new tenant.
 "Good morning, Professor good morning. Glad to see you looking so well. How do you like the house ?"
 "Very much, indeed"
 ''Glad to hear it very glad to hear it.''
 ''Yes sir like it. l hope to die in the house."
 II hope so, too. Glad to hear you talk that way."-- 1sras SJtsngs.
Connecticut western news., 1886-06-02

Tobacco blindness is becoming a com. mon affliction. At present there are sev- eral persons under treatment for it at one London hospital. It first takes the form of color blindness, the sufferers who have smoked themselves into this condition being quite unable to distinguish the color of piece of red cloth held up be- fore them. Sometimes the victim loses his eyesight altogether. Although smok
 ing is to large extent the cause of the malady, and so gives it its name, heavy drinking is also partly responsible.