davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-09-09

Senator Voorhees, son will presently b,
seen on the dramatic stage.
The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1886-05-12
A CHECKERED CAREER.

San Quentin prison, twenty miles from
San Francisco, contains vast number of
outlaws and desperate men generally.
but conspicuous among these imprisoned
road agents iss "Billy" Miner, who has
not only figured prominently as a high
wayman in California, but is known in
the same capacity in Colorado and the
Rocky mountain districts. He has also
posed as a lion of society in quiet town
in the peaceful State of Michigan. Miner
is now thirty y-sevcn years of age, and not
withstanding his many years of
confinement is yet handsome
and graceful fellow, fluent of tongue
and captivating in style. Previous to
1880 Miner served four years in San
Quentin for stage robbery, and immedi-
ately upon his release, quietly disap-
peared from the State. Early in Novem-
Der, 1880, he arrived in Denver, Col.
where he met Billy Leroy, one of the
most noted and daring highwaymen that
ever stopped II stage or stole horse in
the Rocky mountains. Miner and Leroy
at once formed a partnership, Miner
adopting the name of William A Nor
gan; he was better known among the
thieving fraternity ! as California Billy. 8"
The finances of the pair were low, and
they Immediately set out upon prospect
ing tour to the southwestern part of
Colorado. About the middle of the
month of December they robbed
the Del Norte stage, realizing from
this hazardous undertaking the sum
of $4,000 in gold coin. They were
closely pursued by Lew Armstrong, sher-
iff of Rio Grande county. Leroy was
subsequently captured and hanged by a
vigilance committee. Miner. with more
than usual good luck, escaped with all
the booty, and made his way to Chicago.
He remained in that city only long
enough TO secure a most fashionable out
fit, and having filled two Saratoga trunks
with gorgeous finery he speedily left this
prominent point for the quiet seclusion of
Michigan. He settled upon the retired
town of Onondaga in which to make his
debut in society. The advent of fash
ionably attired dashing, and handsome
young man with apparently unlimited
resources created quite a stir in Onon-
daga society, and Miner soon gained an
entree to the best families in the
town. He claimed to be n
wealthy gentleman from California that
was attending TO some private business
winding up an estate of which he was
the sole surviving heir. The prodigality
with which he spent his money gave
color to his story and at once established
him as great catch. He was particu-
larly attentive to the ladies, and told
them all manner of fabulous stories about
his great wealth in California-ereat
blocks of houses in Sacramento and San
Francisco, and rich gold mines without
number. One girl, more dazzled than
the rest, become engaged to marry him.
But Miners reckless extravaganza soon
depleted his finances to such an extent
that he made up his mind TO leave the
quiet retirement of Onondaga society and
The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1886-05-12
HUMOR OF THE DAY.

The home-stretch-An after-dinner
nap.
After all, good big healthy cyclone
is the thing to bring down the house.
Puck.
There is man in Oregon who is nau-
seated at the sight of an egg. He would
make poor lecturer. r.--Ma0eTick.
If you desire to take AL extended
pleasure trip, get a bicycle and go to
Wheeling Detroit Free Press
When person is in everbody's mouth
he naturally has high appreciation of
the popular taste.-BOst0n Transcript.
Jones (who is not friendly to Johnsonl
Yes! He resembles his father, who
about as small man as have ever met.
--ROr6uTy Adcocate.
Young -''Wont you try some ofmy
homemade bread, dear?" He-'I have
tried, and I'll try again, but it's very
trying situation to be placed in."-Lye.
'Look here, Judge" said the burglar;
'I amt so bad as you think | am. Only
give me time and I'll reform" And the
Judge gave him fifteen years.-SOmer.
Uille Journal.
A little boy whose sprained wrist had
been relieved by bathing in whisky sur
prised his mo her by asking: 'Did papa
yer sprain his throat when he was a
boy2"- Chicago Telegram.
''Do you know, my pretty dear" he
began. "Don't call me your pretty DEAR"
she retorted, ''Pm entirely too lively to
be pretty dear, for they belong to the
stag-nation, you know."-PittS6urg
Chronicle.
'Dear sir" he said, 'Td like to ask,
Unless the questions rude,
What means those strange and mystic words,
'Inocuous desuetudeP"
"Of course the question is not rude,"
The other man replies
''They mean, you see, the business man,
Who does not advertise"
Washington Critic
"Another lock out" angrily muttered
Phasecius, upon returning home at a late
hour from meeting of the Knights of
Labor and being refused admittance by
Lavina Pending the action of a board
of arbitration he has an apartment at a
neighboring hotel.-DetrOit Free Press.
'Tf a man can keep his teeth until after
middle age" says the London Lancet,
'he may generally count on keeping them
to the end of his lifen There is no
reason why he shouldn't keep them pro-
vided he has paid for them and isn't
careless enough to swallow them in his
after-dinner sleep. Graphic.
The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1886-05-12
Successful Songs.

An interesting fact about successful
songs may be noted, and that is, only
sentimental songs make any money.
Humorous songs become very popular.
They are applauded in the theatre, when
favorite singer sings them, and are
laughed at unrestrainedly, but very few
in the audience ever think of buying
copies of them. This is peculiarly true
of that description of humorous ditty
known as the topical song. 1t may be
explained that this is a song in which the
material of the different verses is ar
ranged to give point to a significant
phase which invariably forms the last
line of the verse. The performance
practically amounts to piggling with
language, the effect coming from the
humorous and unexpected illustration
which can be adduced of the idea en-
bodied in the adopted phrase.
Given on the stage by an expert singer
who enforces the points of the verses by
appropriate action and facial expression,
these songs are very effective. Sung in
the parlor by an ordinary vocalist and
without the effect which comes from the
assembly of a large number Of people,
Il0Se sougs dlLnOsI luNdrldDIy ldh udG' III
consequence, they are very seldom sung
there, and the music publishers who give
them to the world find the world un-
grateful much to the publishers pecuni-
airy grief. On the other hand, senti-
mental song may be sung in the home
circle by an inexperienced singer with
very fair effect. Somehow or other, the
underlying sentiment survives the most
outrageous treatment. It has better stay
ing qualities than humor has. The melo-
dies are simple, the thoughts expressed
find a welcome among all classes of peo-
pie and the sheet music finds its way to
thousands of piano racks through the
land, and so the publisher becomes hap
py and affluent -Ne1O York Mail and En-
press.
The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1886-05-12
Heat Modified by Vegetation.

DR.. Stephen Smith in the course of a
paper on the effects of the high heat of
summer, read before the New York
academy of medicine recently, said
Vegetation, now, is the natural mean 8
Of modifying the temperature of the AIR.
1t takes from it carbonic acid gas and
malaria; it gives back oxygen and cool
ing moisture. An acre of grass gives
6, 400 quarts of water to the air in TWEEN
ty-four hours. But trees exceed all other
forms of vegetation in modifying the air.
The Washington elm in Cambridge pro-
duced a crop of 1000, 900 leaves, equal
to five acres of vegetation. Trees have
fixed temperature summer and winter
of from fifty-four to fifty-six degrees.
The exposed pavement in Fifth avenue
has been found on summer day heated
to 130 degrees, but near by in the shade
of tree its temperature was only seven
ty degrees
The great remedy, then, for the raw
ages of excessive heat is the planting of
trees. New York is a shadeless city, and
its mean summer temperature is increas-
ing every year as the area of stone and
brick extends. Our streets, avenues and
public places should all be planted with
trees. All the trees now pllnted and
those hereafter TO be planted should be
put in charge of the department of parks
or the department of public works, and
the city should empower the department
in charge to plant and cultivate shade
trees, one at least to every lot of twenty
five feet in all the streets and avenues
below Central Park.
The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1886-05-12
apigs' Feet Broiled a la Barnum. +"

The late Harrison PhGbus was an epi-
cure above everything else. The creator
of new dish was to him a greater man
than he who won many battles. Among
the guests at his hotel, at Old Point
Comfort, a few years ago, was the
veteran Snowman, p. T. Barnum. He,
too, loves the good things OF this life.
One afternoon the two were sitting to.
gether on the hotel veranda. Barnum
was spinning one of the yarns for
which he is famous. He broke off sud
denly in the middle of his story with the
remark:
"Say, Phebus, why don't you ever serve
pigs feet for breakfasts"
''Because they're not fit to eat, laconi-
cally replied Mr.. Phebus.
'SThey're not, eh I'll cure you OF
that belief Got cook you can trust9"
Several of them, responded the as
tonished PhGbus.
"Send the best one up to me, said
Barnum.
The cook came. Snow" said Mr..
Barnum to the astonished chef, "get
some pigs feet--fat ones; wash them
clean-very clean then wrap each one
separately in piece of clean muslin that
hasn't got any starch in it. Then boil
'em. Boil 'em hard and boil 'em long;
not less than seven hours. Do you un-
derstandl seven hours. Then take them
out and put them in cool place. When
they're cool unwrap 'em and split 'em.
Understand Split 'em right in the cen
ter. Next day broil 'em and serve 'em
hot-the hotter the better, but for
heavens sake don't fry 'em.n
The cook followed instructions, and
the next day Mr.. Phebus took breakfast
with Mr.. and Mrs. Barnum and the
friend who tells the story. Mr.. Ph@bus
ate of them, and ate heartily They just
touched his taste and supplied a long
felt want" When the pigs feet had
disappeared, Mr.. Phpbus' comment was,
"Say, Barnum, that's food fit for a
king"
And that is how it came about that
the visitor TO the Queens hotel in Lon
don, at Leland's hotel in Chicago, at the
West End hotel at Long Branch, and at
various frst-class hotels in this city, finds
ON the breakfast bill of fare set before
him, "Iigs' feet broiled la Barnum.n
Mr. PhWbus had introduced the dish TO
his brother caterers in various parts Of
the world. Hartford Post.
The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1886-05-12
General Stoneman and the Sergeant.

In the winter of 1864, while making
the raid on Kings salt works, under
command of General StOneman, | became
target for the eyes and tongue of the
great and good man, and the circum-
stances are ever fresh in my memory,
Being short of government rations,
with strict orders not to forage, but hav-
ing good health and a craving appetite,
resolved to run some chances to satisfy
the latter.
The command was moving slowly up
little valley, with here and there a house
in view. Handing the reins of my horse
to comrade l started Off toward large
house situated not far from the road, and
soon found myself in the yard. Going to
the rear of the house | Immediately 10
Gated the smokehouse, and l found to
my surprise and joy it was reasonably we'll
filled with meat. Snatching large ham
from the wall, where it hung, | began
making my retreat, going direct to the
road, never thinking but | would find my
horse and comrade close at hand.
But slowly as they were moving they
had passed on some distance, and as
looked up met the cold, stern gaze of
General Stoneman. The situation was
evident. Dropping the ham, 1 started on
a run for my regiment.
1t was then realized he belonged to
no church, for the air was blue as he or
dered me TO come back. To resist was
folly. Islopped and turned to see the
Generals horse within four feet of the
ham. 'Pick up that ham," and as |
started to obey the order l thought of all
the punishments soldiers are subjected to
from the guard house to the death SEN
tence. Getting the ham on my arm,
looked him in the face and waited for
further orders.
Raising in his stirrups, he fairly yelled,
"Steal and throw it away Get TO youl
commando
did ''get," and his blessing helped
me TO ''get."
Long may the good general live, for a
better ham was never eaten.-SergeaHt d.
T., BeRtOa
The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1886-05-12
ENcHANTMENT.

Low in the valley and high on the hui,
When spring reawakens the earth,
All day does the little bird carol and trill;
And the children laugh out in their mirth.
But ever it seems TO the children below
That the sweetest songs come from on high.
Away to the hill top they merrily go;
Then, resting, they listen and sigh.
For the song in the valley seems sweetest and
best,
Borne upon the breeze, far and faint,
AMI when we grow older the truth is con-
fesse1-
All echo the little ones plaint
The bird that sings near us and always VIC
slight
For the bird that siugs faulty ATARI
Oh, bird of the heavens, pray never alight,
The charm of your singing to mar.
VIII s. Fdris, in the Current.
The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1886-05-12

The almost incredible story is
told Of a Western farmer that, some
years ago, hearing burglars breaking into
his house, and Icing out of buckshot
he hurriedly loaded his gun with a box
of pills, which were compounded how.
ever, of soft material, and merely
smeared the burglars somewhat, as
warmed cobbler's wax might have done,
when the weapon was discharged; and
that the other day, again hearing burglars
and being out of buckshot, and bearing
his former failure in mind, he loaded up
with pills which were sugar coated. and
shot one burglar dead and seriously
wounded another.
The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1886-05-12

around he discovered Billy Miner
and Bill Miller within thirty feet of him,
each with double -barrelled shotgun at
full cock, covering him completely. An
attempt to fight would have been instant
death. Aull, apparently not noticing
their warlike attitude, addressed them
pleasantly, and succeeded in throwing
them off their guard. Aull gravely told
the robbers that he had been out duck
hunting, and had mistaken them for
some of his party, from whom he had
become separated. Finding that he had
succeeded in deceving them, Aull bade
them good evening, and went direct to the
buggy. One look behind him would
have been fatal, as the robbers followed
him, keeping parallel with him. When
he reached the buggy the two men turned
and fed. Aull drove rapidly to a pair
of bars which brought him within 1876
yards of the fugitives. He then com
menced firing at them. After the few
first shots Miller threw up both hands
and surrendered. Miner kept on his
course down the river. Aull turned Mil
Ter over to Arlington and set out after
Miner After following him for half a
mile Miner gave himself up. The pair
were Immediately taken to Sacramento,
and that night Crum, Miller and Miner
slept under one roof.
The confession of Jim Crum made the
case an easy one. The culprits were
taken to Sonora by Captain Aull and two
other officers. When arraigned they
plead guilty. Miller and Miner each re-
ceived twenty-five years in San Quentin,
while Crum, on account of his confession,
escaped with twelve years.
The fourth robber was known to be
Stanton Jones, Miners Colorado com
panion, who had accompanied him to
the Pacific coast through Arizona, where
their passage was marked with many
robberies. Jones is still at large.-Neu
York Sun.
The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1886-05-12
SELECT SIFTINGS.

The 'sconscience fund.- at Washington,
begun in 1927, now amounts to 1920, 600,
and is increasing every year.
A Russian convict is said to have sur
vived punishment of 1000 lashes. As
high a number as 4, 1000 lashes is said to
have been imposed in some cases, but no
convict ever survived the infiction of the
punishment.
A Kennebunk, Maine, man recently
captured 800 bees while they were swarm
ing in the woods. He daubed himself
with honey, the bees lighted thereupon,
and in this way he transported them
home without receiving a sting.
Though the principle on which an arch
was constructed was not entirely un-
known to the Greeks, yet their universal
use of the columnar style of Architecture,
and general deficiency of roads, aque-
ducts and bridges, rendered its use un-
necessary to them, but the Romans EN-.
ployed it extensively in all their great
works.
The manufacture of alcohol from wood
has increased rapidly within few years,
and it is said to be used largely for pat
ent bitters, ginger extracts and othel
alcoholic compounds whose strong flavor
makes it unnecessary to use a better
quality of spirits. Wood alcohol is a
dangerous product, and sometimes gives
rise to serious disturbances of the brain
and nervous system.
Afghanistan shepherds keep dogs that
make their pasture grounds unapproach.
able to strangers. They are perfect
beasts of prey, ready to tear a man for
the slightest provocation, but charging
wolves and leopards with the same reck-
less courage. Game is so plentiful in
the uplands that the rangers have no
difficulty in providing food for a dozen
of such trained were wolves.
Christian Glauser, of Reading, Penn,
is one of the few dealers, if not the only
dealer, in dogs meat in this country. He
keeps it on hand 10 sell to persons who
think it may be good for their health,
and also tries out the fat and sells it as a
cure for colds, rheumatism, and troubles
of the chest. He says that the meat of a
fat dog has rlch delicate flavor that
everybody relishes who tastes it, and there
is no finerlooking meat than dressed dog.
A German authority states that curl
GUS historical document concerning a
Panama canal exists in the archives of
Venezuela, bearing the date of 1880
A canal project, this document records,
was broached in the reign of Philip H.,
and Flemish engineers surveyed the ter
rltory and declared the obstacles were
not insurmountable. Native govern
ors, )" continues the document, "thereup-
on pointed out the king the enormous
commercial disadvantages likely to arise
to Spain from such undertaking, and in
consequence whereof the king issled a
rescript which threatened with death any
person al!u1ing by word or writing to
the project"
The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1886-05-12

An Albany doctor asserts that electric.
sty has been one of the most beneficent
modern health restorcrs. 1t is now used
successfully for great variety of mala-
dies. Tumors are cured by it, paralysis
relieved, neuralgia dissipated, sleepless-
ness overcome, colds broken up, rheuma-
tism bene ited, constipation helped,
some skin diseases healed, and asthma,
st. Vitus' dance, and great number of
other affections favorably influenced by
ITS proper use. OF course many cases
are not in the least helped by electricity,
and it should always be administered by
any expert as a guarantee that more
harm than good may not result.
The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1886-05-12

1t is announced that Messrs. Appert, Of
Clichy, France, have discovered process
that will make glass blowing by the
mouth unnecessary. Many attempts have
been made to get rid of this painful pro-
cess in the operations of glass making,
to this day in every bottle house, may be
seen the pale-faced men with their
checks hanging limp in folds, the result
of years of glass blowing by the mouth.
Cases have been known in which mems
checks have been worn so thin that they
have actually cracked, and it is COM
mon sight in bottle house to see blow
ers at work with Their thin cheeks puffed
out like the fingers of glove.
The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1886-05-12

1t appears that one of the reasons for
the low price of quinine lies in the fact
that the cinchona trees are no longer de-
stroyed in the harvesting. The old plan
was to cut them down and strip off the
bark when they were ten years old. Then
the idea was adopted OF. tearing off long
strips and filling the bare places with
moss. The present method is to scrape
of the outer layer of the bark, the por-
ton richest in quinine, and this does not
interfere with the growth of the tree.
The bark is scraped half around at one
operation, the other half being scrsped
six months afterward. The process may
be repeated year after year.
The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1886-05-12

Miniature painting is an art which, if
not lost, has at least fallen into decline.
Certainly the costly ivory miniatures of
our fair grandmothers could not be re-
produced to-day by the same process,
with anything like satisfactory results.
Something which is more than substi-
tute, however, is found in the curious
and beautiful rock-crystal portraits
which are now to be seen at leading jew
elry stores of New York city. They are
produced by process known only to the
inventor, Monsieur E. Irlande. The por-
trait is first vitrifed upon the crystal,
and then painted in oil colors, either in
monochrome or in the style of the ivory
miniature. 1t has all the artistic effect
of the latter, while far surprising it in
fidelity Of likeness. These miniatures
can he produced in fawless perfection
down to the minutest size, and will prob
ably come into high favor for lockets,
brooches, sleeve buttons, etc.
The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1886-05-12

The expedition sent out by the Domin-
ion government to ascertain whether the
'Hudson Bay route" to Europe is naviga
BILE was highly successful. 1t discovered
that it was not navigable. The Alert
fought the ice nearly every inch of the
way had to put back for repairs in July
was stuck in the ice during August ;
broke blade of her screw, and, after be.
ing for several days at the mercy of the
ice pack, returned, bafIled. If an Arctic
ice vessel can't traverse the Hudson bay
route in midsummer, the chance of any
ordinary steamship getting through in
January, or even in July, can be easily
calculated.
The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1886-05-12

"Gath, the New York correspondent
tells story of maj general of the
British army, who came to the American
metropolis on a visit from India, and a
prominent man who was not in politics,
to whom he brought letter, put him in
his fine carriage and took him everywhere.
The Englishman said one day: IL see
that some of these carriages have drivers
in livery suits, while yours has not.
''No, sir, said the man; 81 never put
my driver in livery because have a little
superstition about it. am a speculator,
and have my ups and downs, and it oc-
Cured to me that some day or other |
might die poor, and that my son might
have to drive one of these carriages, and
l think would not ike to see him in
that kind of livery uniform
An excellent quality of paper has been
The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1886-05-12

Mr.. Theron E. Platt, of Fairfield
county, Conn. has raised 200 varties of
potatoes on his farm during the past
year. The study of fungod pests of the
potato has also occupied his attention,
and his discoveries respecting certain
diseases of this plant are likely to prove
seryiceable
The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1886-05-12

Anthony Comstock, of the New York
society for the prevention of vice, says it
is difficult to trace persons conducting
fraudulent schemes because of their
numerous aliases. One man whom he
had arrested had 145 different names and
addresses, another 1876, and a third had
eighty.