davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1886-08-25
A Bee In a Telephone.


The experience of telegraph operators,
inspectors and lincmen brings them into
close acquaintance with all sorts and
conditions Of faults in connection with
their work; the variety of these faults is
wonderful, many stranger than fiction.
One of the most curious in connection
with telephony which we have ever
known has just happened within the last
few days at place called Moss Bay.
The lincman's attention was called to the
circuit in question, as hearing was diff
cult on listening at the telephone he
heard "sort of booming, which came
on intermittently, very much resembling
the distant roll OF the tide, and which
rendered speaking and transmission o.
work almost impracticable." Having
satisfied himself by the usual methods
that the instrument was right and
the line free from induction, and that it
was not picking up vibrations, the con-
clusion was arrived at that the fault
must be in the general office, Moss Bay.
An examination of the telephone appara-
tus disclosed novelty. A huge bee
was inside the telephone, and, in trying
to make good its escape, it had become
fixed between the sounding board and
microphonc, and it had hummcd to the
extent of interfering with the human
organs of the circuit. How the bee
came there the lineman cannot say
whether by accident or design he knows
not, but the bee was the cause of the
fault. In concluding his report, the
lineman candidly states: 81 have met
some very tedious and technical faults in
connection with various telephone ap-
paratus, but Incvcr was done with bco
before. ."--Mechanical World.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1886-08-25
Wanted SFrpSh Meats

At the battle of Pcrrysvillc, Ky, Oct.
s, 1862, the - Indiana regiment was
pittcd against Confederate regiment Of
Louisiana Tigers, and the advance Of
that famous regiment which drove in the
Federal pickcts also drove into the Union
line n number of badly scared rabbits,
Just as the Federals began firing.
One of the boys of Company G., after
firing shot, spicd rabbit jumping to-
wards him, and fixing his bayonet, un.
mindful of the approach of the enemy, as
he charged on the little animal, said:
"By Jovc! I'm tired of hard tack, and
| want fresh meat" ut the same time
oinioning the rabbit to the ground.
Though the company, only numbering
lifty-two in the outset of the battle, lost
twenty-five killed and wounded, the
"lrcsh meat" soldier was spared to break
his fast next morning on broiled rabbit.
-DeToH Free Press.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1886-08-25

In England they now have q special
breed of goats for the dairy, and IN
association has been formed, the best
animals registered in a stock book, and a
general Improvement determined on. In
fact, an illustration of a celebrated dairy
goa, recently appearing in an English
paper, showed such capacity OF uddcI
as to compare favorably with some cows
now in our dairies. And why should
not the goat be given useful place
among our domestic animaIs2 If it can
be so improved as to give large quanti'
ties Of milk, it will largely contribute to
the assistance of those who have no
facilities for keeping q COW, while thciy
proliticacy will place them within the
reach of all.
The she goat sometimes gives as much
as six quarts Of milk, if they are supc.
rior mixers, and the milk isnot only rich
in cream, but in al the clements that
form a complete food. Butter is not
ma (c from goats milk, but some of the
richest and best favored chccscs are pro-
duced from it. We predict that ere long
we will begin to import strains of good
milking goats from Europe. Farm, Field
and 81. cL'muu
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1886-08-25

The advantages of regular accounts
of what is going on several thousand
feet above the earth has been recognized
by metcorologsts. To furnish data to
the scientists, the Tyrolesc are going to
have the highest observatory in the
world. They have built two houses, one
made of logs and the other Of stone, on
the summit of Somblick. As a stone
house would be uncomfortaby cold so
high up in the air the weather observer
is provided with a hut made of logs,
lashcd, anchored and cabcd to the top
of the mountain but no wooden structure
can be entirely secure, 50 terrible are
the wind storms that sometimes rage in
thcuppcr air, hence the stone refuge
which is cut into the rocks. OF course,
the observer will be able to communicate
the diary he keeps to the scientists on
the surface of the earth by telegraph and
telephone. Another observatory will be
the famous tower, 1000 feet high, the
foundations Of which are soon to be laid,
on the Champ de Mars, to be in readiness
for the Paris exposition, two years
hence. 1t will be one of the wonders of
the world. We have described its feat
urcs in these columns already, but after
the exposition is over it will be used as
an observatory, and will be devoted to
forwarding scientific objects. -D.moreSt.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1886-08-25

There is 4 growing demand in New
York city for smaller coin than a cent
The little red coin has Travelled West
until it has reached the shores of the
Pacific, where it may be said to meet
the brass cash Of Cathay, and no smaller
coin is needed in the West. But here Il
half-cent would tend to prevent waste
among the poorer people. Thus there
are plenty of toys which are rctaiIcd at
n cent each which could be, and would
be, protitably sod at half a cent. One
must buy an even number of pounds of
sugar and an even number of some kinds
of goods, or lose half cent. 1t will
sound mean to ONE people to hear one
complain of the loss of half a cent, but
the old Scotch provcrb about wilful
waste and wolul want cNnnot be ignored.
"The standard coin of France is the
frame" said Frcnchman to me ycster-
day, "and it is as big coin there as u
dollar is here. That is because we have
also the centmc-a fifth of your cent.
1t would make America richer to give
the people . half-cent coin. -B'ooklyn
Eagle.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1886-08-25
The Golden Bridge.
Let him listen whose would know

Let him listen whose would know
Concerning the wisdom of King Tee Poh
Fair is Pekin, with round it rolled
Wave on wave OF its river of gold;
They grid its walls with their ninefold twine,
And the bridges that cross them are ninety
and nine;
And as soon as the wind OF morning blows
And the gray in the east takes heck Of
rose
Upon each bridge gins the shuttle and beat
OF hundreds of hoofs and thousands of feet;
And all day long there is dust and din,
And the coolie elbows the mandarin,
And gibe is given, and oath and blow
Twas thus in the time of King Tee Poh.
1t grieved the king that it should be so,
Then out of his wisdom spoke King Tee
Poh:
"Bud me a hundredth bridge, the best,
Higher and wider than all the rest,
With posts of teak and cedarn rails,
And planks of sandal, with silver nails;
Gid it and paint it vermilion red,
And over it place the dragons head;
And be it proclaimed to high and low
That over this fortunate arch shall 60
Passenger none that does not throw
Golden toll to the river below;
And when the piece of gold is cast
Thrice let the trumDets sound blast,
And the mandarin write, with respectful
look,
The passengers name in silken book,
So that /, the king, may have in hand
The list of the wealthest of my land"
straightway the bridge was buided so
As had spoken the wisdom of King Tee
Poh
And every day from dawn till dark
They who watched the fortunate arch could
mark,
Like a cloud of midges that glow and CLEAN,
The gold toll cast to the hurrying stream
And all day the trumpet sounded loud,
And the mandarin of the guard kowtowed,
AS he wrote the name, with respectful look,
OF the passenger high in his silken book;
And all the while grew the renown
OF the fortunate arch in Pekin town,
Till of the wea thcst It was told:
"He spends his day on the bridge of gold"
And when month and day were spent,
The King Tee Poh for his treasurer sent.
"Go to the bridge" said he, "and look
4 Al g, . nciI lrN
And of all that are written, small and great,
Confscate to me the estate;
As the sage Confucius well doth show,
A wealthy fool is the States worst foe."
And the treasurer whispered, bending low;
"Great is the wisdom of King Tee Poh."
George 7. Lanigan.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1886-08-25
PATTY'S PIES.

Old Mrs. Markoe was rocking leisurely
back and forth IN willow chair, on her
porch, in the soft noon sunshine, with
piece of knitting in her hand, when Pat
ty Wallace came up the three broad, shall
low steps with hesitating movements.
ooh, it's you, is it7" said old Mrs.
Markoc.
eyes" Patty difidcntly answered, "it
is l."
Mrs. Markoe was seventy; Patty was
just twenty. Mrs. Markoe's har was
whittier than sca-foam; Patty's was of the
palcst ripping gold. Altogether they
presented strange contrast.
"Como to borrow the paper7' said
Mrs. Markoe, kindly.
"Not this time" answered Patty, red
deniug. Il thought perhaps, you might
want to buy little pearl brooch. twas
my mothcr's and l don't think shall
ever wear it. would be willing to sell
it for dollar"
Mrs. Markoe 6 anccd indifTercntly at
the old fashioned trinkct, with its tar
nishcd pearls and general aspect of an
tiquity.
No." said she; 81 don't care for
it.n
"Do you know any one who would
buy it2" Patty wlstfully questioned.
'La mop said Mrs. Markoe. "But
what's your notion to sell itl'
I-I would like little money very
much" said Patty, almost in whis-
per.
For she felt insinctively that she could
hardly explain to old Mrs. Markoe her
secret longing for anew bonnet, to wear
to the picnic at Give Hollow-a fresh
spring straw, of modern shape, in place
of the DID, bleachcd,ovcr abomination
which her soul secretly loathed.
Money, ch1" said Mrs. Markoc.
"Aunt don't give you all you want,
ell? Pretty closc-fstcd, amt shc?"
Patty colorcd once more.
"Shc gives me- all that need" said
she, "but not always all that l want"
Patty" brusqucly spoke out the old
lady, 'you ought to get married. A
bright, pretty girl like you, with lots of
beaux! And then there'd be plenty of
money always at your disposal, without
trudging around from pillar to post to sci,
pearl brooches"
Patty smiled, dimpled, and tossed her
head.
"Thats easier said than done," said
she.
"But whyl' persisted Mrs. Markoc.
"Oh," with sparkling, downcast eyes,
"they have never any Of them asked Inc
to marry them, Mrs. Mrkoe."
"They will in time, my dear" said the
old lady, encouragingly.
Patty sighed softly.
"Thcrc used to be song in my time"
added Mrs. Markoc, "that was quite
fashionable. why don't the men pr
posep That was the name of it. Is that
the way you feel, Patty, eh2'
Somewhat" owned Patty, with u
grimace. "Wcll, if you don't care for
the brooch, Mrs. Markoe, I'll go with it
to Mrs. Parker. She may perhaps buy
it."
'Mrs Parker, blooming widow of
forty, did not want the brooch, and said
so, frankly.
"Bnt, Patty" said she, '1'm awful
glad to see you! I'm going to have all
Uncle Jcrcmiah's folks here to tea, and
Deacon Goodlie's wife. and Haven Hills
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1886-08-25
WHOLE NO. 1929.
York OF the Biz Volcanoes.

Vesuvius, in the celebrated eruption
of A. ID. 70, is said to have thrown out
more lava and ashes than would build
another mountain of its own size; its
ashes were carried to Constantinoplc and
into Syria and Egypt, while stones of
eight pounds weight were cast into the
streets of Pompeii, six miles distant.
Etna, in 1880, dsgorgcd more than
twenty times its own mass, and nearly
ninety years later poured forth q fl cd
which covered cighty-four square miles
of surface and measured nearly one hun
dred million cubic feet. After the crup-
ton Of the same mountain in 1910 the
molten sea kept moving at the rate of a
yard day for about nine months, and
did not become thoroughly cold and
solid for ten years. From thirty to forty
million cubic feet of matter have repeated.
ly been discharged from the greater vol
canoes. Tunguragua, in the Andes, in
1897, filled up valleys one thous-
and feet wide and six hundred feet
deep.
Cotopoxi has projected from its crater
block 100 cubic yarls in bulk dis
tlnce OF min, mice, while its roar has
been heard for more than 600. Java's
volcanoes are perhaps the most noted of
the world, their cruptions dcs-
troying from one to four
thousand lives at time. Earth
quakes have been attended with more
widely fatal results, as rue, than vol
canic uphcavals. In Cecilia, in 1868,
go, 900 persons pcrishcd from one shock
or series Of shocks; in 1876, Naples fur
nishcd 40, 900 victims, and in 1926 TO-
900. The Lisbon earthquakes of 1881
and 17j5 each destroyed from 80, 900 to
60, 900 lives. The havoc wrought in
Jeddo, Japan, in 1903, is know to US, of
course, only by tradition, but the figures
from this source reach the appalling
height of 200, 900 souls. So, it will be
sccn the disaster which visited New
Zealand in June will have to make q
startling record if it is to be placed in
the first class of destructive commissions.
Washington Star.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1886-08-25
)CK, W.T., WEDNESDAY, AUGUST %, 1886.

lawyer who boarded at Eagle Hall, and
was reported to be the richest man in
town. 1t said:
"MY DEAR MISS WALLACE: 1t Is with the
utmost regret that learn that you have en-
tered service at my good friend Esquire Par.
kers. But this fact emboldened me to en-.
treat you to become my wife. Need say
how impatient l am to learn my fatel The
single monosyllable yes or mo- written on
the outside of this envelope and sent back by
the messenger, will make me either the luck.
lest or the most miserable man alive.
"Yours most truly,
"ARIsTIDEs SPIKER,"
Patty took up her pencil and wrote, in
the blackcst letters of which its lead wa
capable, the word "NOw Then she
gave it to Ned, and returned to the
front porch.
"Wcll," said Mr.. Etherage, "havC
you considered the matterl"
"No!' she answered.
"Then what have you been doing all
this tme2' little rcproachfuly.
"You have no right to ask that ques-
tion," said Patty, demurely.
"No rightW
"Now said Patty. "You-you are not
my husband yet"
Something in the saucy phrosc-somc-
thing in the half. pathetic quivcr of the
voice, filled Ethcrege's heart with cxul-
tation.
"Patty~ he cried. "My shy, bright.
eyed darling! my SOULS treasure! Now
l am the happicst fellow in all the
world"
So it was that Patty Wallace found
herself engaged to be married.
81 thought it was coming" said Mrs.
Markoc. "a pretty girl like Patty is
sure to be snapped up"
And Mrs. Porkcr's applc-pics was the
key that unlocked the puzzle of Patty's
life. When it was believed that she
was driven to work for her living, all the
lovers who had stood worshiping hel
from afar of, rushed promptly to the
rescue.
But good Mrs. Markoc never knew
this.-Helen F0TeA Grayes.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1886-08-25
Fumily DiScipliup.

"Well, johnny, | suppose you fire.
quently get your little hide tanned at
home ~
ooh, yes, get licking every once in
q while"
'Who gives it to you ~
Sometimes pa and sometimes ma. 1t
all depends on which of them hasn't any
thing else to do at the time"
Los Angeles daily herald., 1886-11-18
private Palaces i'm Chicago.

There are now more really magnifi-
cent homes in a radius OF quarter OF
mile from those ruins (Sol. Sturges' old
house) then there are anywhere on equal
territory 10 this country. There is no
such collection of beautiful ard costly
houses in New Yerk, for there, with the
exception of the dozen or more palaces
of the Vanderbilts, Wizards, Denoxes
and Gould, all the rich men live in
brownstone houses that are the conven-
tional thirty feet front, five stories high,
and are all of the bandbox style familiar
to Gotham. There is one avenue in
Cleveland and another one in New
Haven where there are elegant homes
of beautiful architecture, but even
Euclid and Hillhouse avenues do not
contain any such number of rich houses
as are within stones throw of old Sol.
Sturges' "Folly" on the north side of
Chicago. Right opposite is Mrs. Per-
ry Smiths elegant marble house, up to
five years ago the most costly and ele-
CANT here. Within a block is Mrs.
Cyrus II. McCormick's huge orownstone
palace, placed in the middle of plot of
ground worth probably more than the
house. Right across from the ruins OF
the ''Folly" is the huge house, although
in the New York bandbox stvle, OF
George Sturges, son of Sol, who, al
though worth $4.O00,000, does not
consider himself rich enough yet to
rebuild on the lot where the ruin of the
4Folly" stands.
A block south and block east is S.
M. Nickerson's residence, where not
only the floors are marble and the walls
marble, but where the ceilings are mar
BILE, set in solid oak frames. Diagonally
across from Millionaire Nickerson's is
the beautiful new home of President r.
R. Gable. of the Rock Island. On an
other corner is the home Of II. H..
Porter, who was made millionaire by
the Omaha deal, Right south of Cables
is Judge Trees home, set in ten-acre
lot, where the ground is worth $500 per
front foot on either side.-[Chicago
Mail.
Los Angeles daily herald., 1886-11-18
The Black walnut.

Some time ago business called us into
q neighboring county, and while visit
ing a friend our attention was called to
a humber of black walnut trees of the
Eastern variety. One magnificent one
we measured and found it's branches
covering space Of sixty feet in diame-
ter. The tree was about 20 years old,
had produced heavily every year for
more than ten years, and its branches
when we examined it we're bending down
with the load of fruit. The proprietor
stated that trees of that size were much
In demand by cabinet.makers, and that
he could get from $50 to S75 per tree.
This is suggestive. II trees OF that age
and size can be sold for such price,
why do not those owning hill lands too
steep for ordinary cultivation set out
this tree? Twenty-Five trees could be
set to the acre. No county in the State
is better adapted to the growth OF TINS
tree than Santa Clara. Even if the fruit
was worth less, which it by no means is,
a field planted out to this tree might BE-
come a mine of gold. To wait fifteen or
twenty years seems to most farmers
long time, but if before that time the
present generation should pass away the
heirs would be in waiting to enjoy the
results of the prudence of the fathers.
The most thrifty parts of the world to-
day are those where such provisions for
the future have been taken. Jose
Times
Los Angeles daily herald., 1886-11-18
A STRAIGHT FLUSH.
How 1t Was Proved 10 Be BETTER
Than Five Aces.

wv <ACoos
1t is not thousand years ago nor a
thousand miles from Rochester that a
party of gentlemen sat down to play o
quiet little game of "five.cent ante" In
fact, several games of five.cent ante
were played, for the party was a large
one. By and by'all stopped playing but
a party of five at one table and the rest
scattered round to see who should rake
in the ''jack pot" which had assumed
considerable proportions. Among the
lookers-on who were most interested was
one who concluded that practical joke
would not he out of order. So he made
up three several hands from "cold decks"
and passed them secretly and separately
to three of the players. By and by one
of the players receiving the surreptitious
hand, finding that he had four aces,
''opened" the ''jack pot" Then the two
players not receiving hands from the
s'cold decks" dropped out" and betting
at five.cent ante waxed warm and furi.
Gus. Then, after time, by mistake, as
he alleged afterward. the man with the
four ac IS "called" OF course, he thought
he had the silver, but the man with the
five queens reached to "rake" the spot, J"
when. stra ght fushes being in order,
the last man sang out: "Hold on there;
I've something to do with that pot !"
and showed up his hand, which con-
tained an "ace-high straight flush"
"That reminds me" said 6 entleman,
"of the little game of eucher played at a
social gathering here between two friends
two or three years ago. Each man, by
the kindness of his friends outside, held
right, left, ace, king and queen The
first player, being sure of mis- game, led
the ace. That, of course, euchred him,
and the consequent laugh was long and
loud"
Los Angeles daily herald., 1886-11-18
Money to Loan.

MINNEAPOLIS REAL ESTATE AND IN
M vestment Co., "a West First st.. Room
Is Wilson Block. JOHN DIETERICH, Man
ager SPECIAL BARGAINS for october:
S3OOO-House of six rooms, barn; stone
walks, beautiful garden: near Main
street and electric road.
&35OO--Elegant home; corner lot on
Twelfth street; stone walks and curbing
cost $500; street graded; lot level and 40
feet higher than jefferson street; % feet
higher than Adams; warranted to be
drier than any street west of Main.
SsOOO-Lot corner Los Angeles and
Twelfth streets.
~ @IO5O-Lot on Maple avenue, 50xl50 IT. to
20 It. alley; IS IT, higher than Pearl street,
near Main, and Eleventh street, on elec-
trio road.
ssOO-For lot in West. Rosas tract, worth
5000.
tract; these lots are worth $4,000.
"A 1OOO--For very slightly lot in Beaudry
tract, worth 5000.
SSOO0-For lot on Olive street, inside OF
Fourth street.
a35OO--Cheese factory at Compton; estab-
lished six years; doing good business;
will take city property in exchange; II
you want a safe business please investi-
gate this one. o27 I'm
Los Angeles daily herald., 1886-11-18
A LONG SHOT.
"A Deer Killed by splinter when
m Vsullet Cut from N Tree.

A gentleman residing near the Napa
and Sonoma county lines, and whose
name we withhold by request, tells Inc
following story of q remarkable sno.:
He was out in the mountains IN quest Vi
the festive buck Monday, and had eA'
perienced poor luck until about noon'
when he spied a tall, magnificent deer
raising his proud head over o rock pi,e
at O distance of about two hundred yaroS
from him. The branches OF young ma,
drona tree formed natural prohze'Ieo
and green above the anlmals mead ne
hesitated for some time IN oouot oi
CHANGING shot at that distance, the Po'
sition OF the target being so uniavoraole,
He decided to risk it, however, and
blazed away. When the little wreath OF
smoke had cleared away he found that
the nroudlv crested head had disap-
peared He made his way as rapidly as
possible to the spot and found his game
awaiting him. After performing the GUS
tomary surgical operation upon the deers
throat with his hunting-knife, he COM
mepced to look for the death wound.
What appeared to be ballet hole was
found in the center of the deer's fore
head. In passing his hand carelessly
over the wound he detected rough,
sharp protruberance. Thinking it was
piece of the shattered frontal bone he
tried to withdraw it. He was unable to
move it at the first attempt, and COM
menced tugging in earnest. He finally
succeeded, but TO his surprise, it was not
a piece of skull. 1t was a splinter OF
madrona wood. four inches in length by
an inch and a half or quarter of an inch
thick, gradually narrowing to point at
one end. Upon a careful examination
he found that his bullet had not touched
the animal, but had struck one OF the
limbs of the madrona tree about six
inches above his head, chipping out the
splinter tnat had killed the deer. The
splinter withdrawn from the animals
skull was fitted to the limb above, and
the result proved beyond doubt that
the deer was killed by the splinter OF
wood. d.-Sonoma Democrat.