davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1886-02-18


Probably Of no country ID I'll ! world is
i 20 trua MS OF Americn that ali serious
matters seem to have their amusing side.
The mind Of the average American is SO
constituted that he unconsciously looks
for surprising similarities or contrasts
which are the essential elements Of wit,
and consequently the American with
his great sense of the ridiculous really
gets enjoyment from many Incidents in
which most foreigners seem to see moth
ing amusing. As q striking example
of the tendency among many writer's
in this country TO put serious
matters in humorous way, note the
almost peculiarly American specimen, the
paragrapher, who viii often state the
plaiuest facts in connection with funeral
in such concise and original way, that
though the SUBJECTS one really fit for tears,
the reader smiles or is even convulsed
with laughter. That, however, surprise
ia the essential element of this is shown
by the growing tamsness of a stale witt
cism. 1t sometimes seems as if through
the centuries, and particularly the nine
teenth century, no phase of any subject
had been left unturned in order
to reach all its humorous sides
and yet we IRE almost daily re
minded that this is rot true. Every
now and then Mark Twain, Burdette OF
Josh Billings hobs up, and while he may
not please all, he brings moments Of
pleasurable thoughts to thousands. There
are some who would bar out Josl
Billings from the list of humorists
claiming that his bad spelling is his only
claim to wit. This, however, is unjust
What could ungrammatically express
more wisdom than his statement tina
cit is better not to know SO much
than to know so many thing
that amt So" Still, admitting if neces
sary the possibility shat all old subjects
have received their maximum of witty
treatment, every day brings new events
and new scientific facts as a basis
for new thoughts wise or within
steal. But an Americans sense OF
the ridiculous never leaves him, and il
by no means confined to his reading. Al
he walks along the street he secs offer
what brings hearty laugh as if he wer'
watching q pantomime on the stage
The composites and countless foiblei
of humanity are constant source o
mirth. Take for example the Talley tria
now in progress, and with all its serious
ness who in the court room will
not see many things to touch hi
risibles? Listen to 1.-THE auditors
no matter whether they know anything O
law or not, discussing the merits of the
case with an air of legal acu
men which would become judgt
who had been so years OIL
the bench, and who can help smiling
But it is well that all this is so; other
wise the busy American would lose {
large part of his enjoyment of this life.
Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1886-02-18

CATHERINE OWENS NEW COOK BOOK
part first, Culture and Cooking, or Art In the
Kitchen; part second, Practical Recipes, by
Catherine Owen, Mrs. Nitsch) New York
Gassel u Company, Qimited) 739 and 741
Broadway.
The author In her spicy introduction
argues the high degree of refinement or its
contrary, expressed by food. The gIaces
the amenities, the refreshments Of fine
cooking, she would therefore spread among
the multitude. Not rich, rare and costly
viands, but delicate exactness and dainty
perfection lin the ordinary and inevitable
operations of the kitchen are her aim.
So she gives to bread the place of honor
and, having established the fundamental
principles thereof, gives few appetizing
variations, mostly foreign.
Luncheon, usually forlorn meal, waver-
ing between two extremes, either scrappy
or overloaded, is ehampioned. The English
fashion of various carefully prepared cold
dishes Is explained. Indeed, many hints
are borrowed from English housewifery
Among them, comes the very English dish
of raised pork pie; also, "sea pie." Jellied
meats are advocated, and there are charm
ing suggestions for such warming over as
could not be snubbed.
Elegant little touches abound. There
fore great prominence is given to sauces,
also TO "glaze," easily enough prepared,
but usually relegated to the high caterer OF
chef.
In fine, the little book can be of great
service to those who desire refined and
attractive table, but must haye an economi-
cal one. Some study and a little personal
supervision will make It effective in any
household,
Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1886-02-18

A New York judge had several quacks
before him Wednesday week, no less than
three of whom had successfully attended
one little boy who fortunately escaped
with his life. One of those who pre-
scribed for the boy called himself 80
astrolog und chiromanty und SYM
patizie." Being asked by the court for
the derivation of the word tastrology, the
quack replied; 'Dat vos Won of dem Hebrew
words, und don't got my lexicon init
me-" In answer to further questions he
said that the nearest planets to the sun
were Saturn and Jupiter aud that it de-
pended entirely upon the position of the
earth whether Mercury or Venus was the
nearer to the same luminary. He will
probably be given free lodging at the ex.
pense of the state long enough to enable
him to master the rudiments of planetary
lore
Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1886-02-18
xa RAH.K.


Cnm8hH&teHs
Special Correspondence Of Gazette and journal.
NEWARK, Feb. 12.--our Telephone Ex-
change is extending Its proportions and
numbers 10 subscribers: II. d, Wright q
Co., E. g. Jay, e. s. Gilmore, James A.
Wilson washington HousA), Beaton Smith,
Atmoor Woodrow western Union Telegraph
office), John e. Lewis meer Park Hotel),
Rankin Armstrong. p, W. Il b. railroad
station and Casho Machine Company. The
exchange Is In Exchange Hall, next to post
office and Is under the efficient manage
ment of Miss Lillian Gray, who reports good
prospect for several additional subscribers.
Connection Is now quite frequently and
satisfactorily made with the Philadelphia
Exchange and the dlminution in the tele-
graph business Is, / am Informed, quite
noticeable.
The flour mills OF Cooch Brothers are
again In operation with the aid of steam
while the extensive alterations which were
neeessitated by the wrecking OF their huge
water-wheel are In course of completion.
George NJ. ID. Robinson, head miller for tho
firm has recently come out as candidate
for the nomination of sheriff of New Castle
county. He Is a staunch Democrat.
White Clay Greek was enormously
| to-day in consequence of tho heavy rains
and rapid melting Of the snow and ice
along its eircultous course. Some portions
| WI bhi SblOOlo anu pufOhAChto NplC tiititSi1
inundated.
NEWARK, Feb. 16.-The sale of seats
for Hazel Kirke," to be presented by
the Elkton Dramatic Association in the
college oratory on Thursday evening, ii
quite encouraging. It gives rise to the
hope that the debut of the company upon
the classical stage Of Delaware College
i will be Bipnally successful.
s. M. Curtis and wife started this
evening for six weeks sojourn in
i Florida.
Our mail service is again revolutionized
at the expense of the public's convenience
and satisfaction. In view of the fact that
several times during the winter our heavy
mail pouches have unayoidably suffered
destruction by being drawn under the
| wheels of the fast southern mail trair
passing here at $40 o. M, an order has
come that nothing but the bags contain
ing letters exclusively are to bt
thrown from this fast train ant
that all papers, periodicals and packages
constituting second-class mail matter il
to be removed from this train at Viii
| mington, there to remain two hours, wheI
| it will be sent out on an accommodation
regularly stopping here at 1881 o'clock
1t is said that in bad weather, when tn,
ground is covered with snow and ice, ii i
often impossible to land these heav,
pouches safely. This is not to be won
dered at when the pouches aggregat
several hundred pounds weight and ar
necessarily often injured and scattered il
the fall. So that while our mail, i. e.
letters, are received at $50, our paper
and periodicals coming from Office G
publication do not reach hero till 10.3
q. IN.
Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1886-02-18
IN GENERAL.

The schooner Lucy A. Blossom, with
coal, from South Amboy for Newport,
sank off Watch Hill on Monday night.
A company has been organized by b.
X. Jamison, of Philadelphia, with CAPT
tai of $500, 900, to take natural gas into
Pittsburg from a gas territory purchased
near that city.
The Pittsburg Chronicle Telegraph says
it is reliably informed that the Vanderbilt
and Garrett systems of roads have united
to defeat the scheme to turn the Reading
over to the Pennsylvania railroad.
James Ehle, his wife, father and three
children persisted Tuesday morning by
the burning of their house in Greenbush,
Wisconsin. hired man escaped, and is
suspected of having fred the house.
The total value of the exports of bread
stuffs from the United States during the
seven months which ended on january
31st, 1885, was $S2, 406,0 47, against
$97 ,572, 800 during the corresponding
period of the preceding year.
On Saturday last Eugene Gleason, a
brakeman, residing in Norristown, eloped
from that place with Mary Murray, aged
] 5 years. They were married in Camden,
N. j., and the same day returned home
and were forgiven by the BRIDES parents.
John Ahern, convicted in the courts of
Lackawanna county of bigamy, died sud
denly Tuesday while being conveyed
to the Eastern Penitentiary shackled to
another convict. Miss Mahony, whom he
last married in Scranton, is believed to be
on her death-bed from shame and grief.
Sister Euphrosina, of the order of St.
Francis, killed herself by jumping from
fourth-story window of the dormitory
Of the School of the Holy Trinity, in ST.
Louis, Tuesday morning. She had been
released from an insane asylum only q
few weeks.
Judge Furst of Huntingdon, has made
decree granting the substitution of the
South Pennsylvania railroad for the
Sherman Valley & Broad Top Railroad
Company upon the application of the
judgment and execution creditors of the
latter company. This permits the plain
tiffs to issue executions and judgments
against the South Pennsylvania railroad,
and it is very probable that an appeal
will be taken from the decision.
Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1886-02-18
BOOk NOTICES.

"AS WE WENT NJ ARCHING ON A story Of
the War, By q, W. Hosmer, NJ. d. New
York: Harper & Brothers, Franklin Square.
This is "A love story wrought out amid the
hindrances and perplexities of the civil war,
II rings with martial stir. Among other
things, it shows the immense consolation
always drawn by the common soldier from
his inalienable privilege OF nicknames. Nc
doubt the practice far antedates Hannibal
and Caesar, and all the worl knows how
good It was to Gull Napoleon "the little cor
poral."
The hollow tree trunk catastrophe O
Lost Sir Massingbred" is used, and thu
author has evidently been much influenced
by incidents Of the "Called Back" order, ri
| the hero for a long time works on, undel
complete loss Of memory, in which menta
| condition, the tendency to contract mar
riage seems as irresistible as its conse
| quences are perplexlng.
Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1886-02-18

When that eightesn-horse-andsm mule
power snow pillow from Persons Corner
came into Dover Monday week IL
must have recalled to old residents Of the
State capital the famous sleighing tourna-
ment between Camden and Dover thirty
years ego. Quite probably this was
the biggest thing of the kind
ever witnessed in Delaware his
tory. 1t was inaugurated by a Camden
party, who thought it fit to celebrate the
great snowfall of that year (1S56) by
driving into Dover with six-horse
sleigh. The Doverites accepted the inn
piled challenge on sight and returned the
visit next day with 10-horse team followed
by big steed drawing rocking chair
with its occupant and several other novel
turnouts. Camden responded on the
third day with large procession,
headed by 81 horses (each decorated
with flag bearing the name of state)
drawing large sled, single horse
attached to some nondescript vehicle,
representing the District of Columbia,
and sled-load of girls drawn by seven
mules, named for the territories. A
dozen or more odd vehicles brought up
the rear. and there was good sprlnxling
of revolutionary heroes, British red
coats, musicians and others. Dover
required a days grace to do justice
to this Eruption, which was used in get.
ting schooner out of the creek, at what
was then called Forest Landing
mounting the same on runners
and hauling it up to town,
and In making other elaborate
preparations. On the following
day this sled-schooner, with its rigging
and deck thronged with amateur
sailors and drawn by 46 horses headed
the closing procession of the tournament
back to Camden. Strung out for a quarter
of mile or so behind this strange craft
were sleds of various designs occupied by
tradesmen at worn, among whom a butcher
skinning and cutting upa sheep is best
remembered.
Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1886-02-18

DR.. r. Bruce Burns, who is attending
John B. Cough in Philadelphia, said Tues.
day night that the stroke of apoplexy was
caused by mental excitement and over
exercise. Miss Whitcomb, the niece of
Mr.. Cough, who accompanied him ON his
present tour and who is now with him AZ
DR.: Bruce's house, said that her uncle
had been complaining for about two
weeks of numbness in his hands. Tues
day morning the lecturer was in critical
condition and was unconscious. but in
the afternoon he slept and on awakino
was conscious but unable to articulate'
He took moderate amount of nourish.
ment and his condition was more favor.
able than it had been at any time since
his attack.
Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1886-02-18
A pns.ihIx Entnl nlirs.

PrrTsBuRe, Pa, Feb. 16.-The Chicago
house and dwellings adjoining, in Sharps-
burg, suburb of Pittsburg, were burned
at o'clock this morning. Loss esti-
mated OF 1856, 900 and insurance $5 900.
George Altmeyer, one of the proprietors
of the Chicago house, is missing and is
supposed to be in the ruins. The other
occupants Of the hotel had narrow escapes.
Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1886-02-18
aoueH ATTACKED BY ApoplExr.
He is Stricken Down While H.cc-
IurinR-IRih Cnmdiiinn Snriana

hhe ~ SartcHen Down while Lee
turing-1ais Condition Serious.
John b. Cough, the world-renowned
temperance orator, was striker with apo
plexy while lecturing in the First Presby-
terrain Church, frankfort, Philadelphia,
Monday night. His entire right side is
paralyzed.
The announcement that Mr.. Cough
would lecture drew an enormous crowd
TO the church. Every seat was occupied
long before o'clock. At that hour the
Rev. Thomas Murphy, D. D., pastor of
the church, appeared with Mr.. Cough,
whom he introduced as having been 43
years on the lecture platform. "He has
travelled" he said, "over 500, 900 miles
and has lectured over 5000 times.
Mr.. Cough appeared in his usual vigor-
GUS health. He walked forward with his
wonted erect and impressive bearing, and
at once entered upon his subject.
peculiar People" was his theme, and he
spoke with his usual fuency and effect
for about 20 minutes. Then ii was noticed
that the lecturers flow of words was him
dered, and he seemed to have lost COM
mand of himself to certain degree. Still
he proceeded, and related an aneedote
about two authors he had known, supple
menting it by saying that every man was
an author, and made a daily written
record upon the page of life that time
and perhaps eternity could not efface.
II, said Mr.. Cough, "have seven years in
the record of my own life when was
held in the iron grasp of intemperance, l
would give the world to blot it out but,
alas, can not" Stepping forward with
impressive gesture, the lecturer said |:
therefore. young men, make your
He failed to finish the sentence. Some
sudden shock seemed to have paralyzed
his tongue and broke him completely
down. He staggered as if about to fall,
when Mr.. Murphy hurried across and
supported him to sofa. Medical assist.
anee was in the audience, and an exami-
nation of the suffering mans condition was
made by several physicians. The pastor
Of the church announced to the wondering
audience that Mr.. Cough had been
stricken with sudden illness, and would
be unable to complete his lecture. Then
he dismissed them and they quietly dis
persed.
Mr.. Cough was removed to the house,
two doors below, of DIR. II. Bruce Burns,
whose guest he was, and where he will
receive every care. His brother, Henry,
was telegraphed to at Worcester, Mass,
his home. At o'clock Monday night Mr.,
Cough was resting very quietly. He was
conscious and knew those about him, but
the supervening paralysis had 80 affected
his tongue that he was unable to articu-
late distinctly. A clot formed by rup-
tured blood vessel rests on the left side Of
his brain, affecting, as the nerves cross,
his right side. DR.. Burns could express
no opinion as to the result Monday night.
MIR. Coughs stroke was a serious one,
and his advanced age makes his condition
very, critical and gives rise to serious
forebodings.
Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1886-02-18

That is queer phase of boycotting
which the malodorous DIR. Bristor has
stirred up at Nyaek. Our people know
how eloquent, with all his lewdness,
Bristor can be; how transcendently
sanity he is In the pulpit but they were
fooled too badly by George M. butcher,
some ten years ago, to lose their heads
over any man now. But the Methodists
of Nyack never had the butcher lesson
and some of them have set up their
deposed pastor as their idol. These
strangely infatuated ones have fol-
lowed Bristor out of their church and
into congregation of his own and now
call themselves Congregationalists. The
schism Inns split families as we'll as the
church. In some households the husband
clings to Bristor and his Congregationalisi
herd, while the wife holds on to the old
church, and vice versa, and there is /
tenseness of feeling existing between the
factions which, to man of the world
does not exactly adorn the char
acter of protesting Christians. Deacon
Burr, who has for years pas
kept the leading store in the village, stucl
to the old church, while his business
rival, John c. Wood, went over to Bristor
Now Deacon Burr's place is known as the
Methodist store, while Halls houst
hoists the Congregational flag. And thu
sheep of the original fold stick to Bur
and will go hungry before they vii
spend a cent in Halls store; while thu
dissenters look upon Burr's sausages ant
coffee and cheese with pious aversion, a
things unholy. The wretched plight of
husband who worships Bristor while hi
anti Bristor wife insists on feeding hin
upon unsanctifed groceries from tn
Methodist store can be more readil
imagined than described. Truly the fool
killer is badly needed in Nyaek.
Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1886-02-18

Senator Gray created sensation in the
courtroom Friday by declaring that
he would use all his influence to the
securing of legislation empowering wife
to testify in capital cases to which her
husband might be party. The unwonted
applause which greeted this declaration
indicated that the sentiment of our bar is
earnestly in line with such an innovation
in our criminal Jurisprudence.
Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1886-02-18
OLAYMONT.
A Lecture-Fine Cattle 10 be sIaugh-
tered-1uddy Roads.

Special Correspondence OF Gazette and Journal.
CLAYMoNT, Feb. VA. v. Sloan will
deliver his lecture on "The Sum-" next
Thursday evening, at the Church. This
lecture was postponed on account of the
very inclement weather the evening it was
to have been delivered. The public is
cordially invited to attend without admis-
sion charge.
John H. Anderson, who purchased the
large fat cattle from James O. McComb,
will butcher and dress two of them to-
morrow at the Practical Farmer. The
cattle will weigh over 1900 pounds, and
are in prime order.
Some of the back roads are becoming
muddy.
There is said to be butittle frost in the
grounds.
A ridge of ice lies along both sides of
the river.
Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1886-02-18
CURRENT LIrERArURE.

The North AMERICAN REVIEW for Febru-
airy is mixed. As to praise is more CRATE
full than the opposite, it may be remarked
in the first place, that Henry George gives
u strong paper urging that "the equal right
to life involves the equal right TO land ;"
which carried to legitimate results would
prove panacea for Ireland as well as for the
rest of the perplexed and, more or less,
Socialist-ridden universe. Mr.. Desmond
walls vigorously over the rapid extinction
OF the public domain, which, of course, no
way lessons the evils against which Mr.
George bends the efforts of his life.
"Onida" INDUCES in a wild, resonant
screed against science, invention, research
and the general practices of the most en-
lightened part of the community.
MIR. kasson puts .our interests on the
Congo in strikingly different light from
that in which they are viewed In the Presi-
dents message and by the Secretary OF
State.
Cassius NJ. Clay brings no aid to Grace
and the Solid South" His article is not
pleasant reading, ard there is not the
slightest chance of its havingany influence.
Gen. Beauregard treats Shiloh at length,
and with views of his own.
1.-THE Aristocratic Drift of American
Professionalism which places 1t at such dis
advantage when brought into contact with
the broad catholicity and equal plane of
the Church of Rome, is sharply and de-
servedly rebuked.
Among early announcements are SUI jeets
OF great interest treated by competent
authors. With less pleasure is noted a
second letter from Arthur Richmond to be
addressed to Hon. Allen G. Thurman.
Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1886-02-18

The National Medical Association
awarded gold and ieweled medal to DIR. W.
H. Parker for the best essay on nervous and
physical debility, exhausted vitality. &c. The
medal was fairly won and wurthily bestowed
"Science OF Life" Is advertised in to-day's paper
Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1886-02-18
MIDDLETowN HOPEFUL.
M!ddletown New Era

During the recent cold snap consider
able anxiety was felt by growers and
others as to the safety of the peach trees.
While there was some cause for alarm,
with the Thermometer below zero, the
danger was not so serious as it would
have been had the trees been wet. As
long as the air is dry the trees can stand
a considerable amount of extremely cold
weather and it is not thought, by ex-
perienced growers in this section, TINT
the trees have been injured to any great
extent as yet.
Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1886-02-18

PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 15.-The personal
estate of the late j. B. Lippincott has
been inyentoried at $3.59s,1l3,
Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1886-02-18

THE MODERN UREMATIsT Is the title OF a
now monthly, devoted to funeral reform
and the cremation method of disposing of
the dead. 1t is published In Lancaster,
general business was established, In which
Il bodies have already been reduced to
ashes. DIR. NJ. l.. Davis and W. U. Hensel
publish the CremGtist, and furnish speci-
men copies at 10 cents each, and the
periodical Mt 800 year.
Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1886-02-18

The Easton Ledger says: Fears were
entertained when the mercury last Thurs
day went below zero that the peach crop
and the young peach orchards of last
years planting were in danger. But the
scare is over, and experienced fruit
growers are satisfied the trees are not
hurt. The deep snow protected the
roots of the young trees. 1t was impos-
sible for the ground under that snow to
freeze down deep enough to hurt them.
And the cold it is thought was not in
tense enough, nor of long enough dura-
ton to injure last years new wood on
the bearing trees, which is to produce the
peach buds for this YEARS. crop.