davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Arizona sentinel., 1886-10-02
TIMBER PRESERVATION.

A Simple and Inexpensive Way of Pre-.
 venting the Growth of Destructive
 Fungi.
 The cheapest operation to protect our woods, and quite sufficient for many purposes, is to season or thoroughly dry the timber, reducing the contained moisture from eight to twelve per cent. of the weight of the wood; and when in this condition, with circulation of air around it, to prevent the collection and absorption of moisture, the wood will last indefinitely, as the fungi can not grow in such surroundings. Every one is more or less familiar with the sound- ness of timber in the upper parts of buildings, while in lower parts near the foundations it is often decayed on ac- count of moisture.
 In many situations, however, where timber must be used, the conditions of growth of the fungi are present, and it Will decay; some species can be used which resist the attacks of the fungi for a long period, but the final result is de- cay unless the wood is treated to some process preventing the growth of the fungi, which must be capable of doing either one ot two things. 1. It must keep the fibers dry, preventing the ab- sorption of moisture. 2. If the wood must be in damp place and kept moist some antiseptic must be present, suffi- cient to prevent the growth of any of the various kinds of destructive flung. Timber entirely submerged does not come under these considerations To use the first process successfully means more than thin coat of paint or tar on seasoned wood when exposed to con- tinued moisture. It must be some sub- stance which penetrates the tissues of the wood sufficiently far, in case the ex- terior surface is broken, to prevent any absorption of moisture. Wood impreg- hated with the heavy tar or the lighter oils is protected more from the fact of prevention of access of dampness to the fibers than by the contained antiseptics, unless in the exception of great per centage of creosote. In the second method the moisture is permitted to come in contact with the fbers of the wood, and reliance depends upon the antiseptic. In this case, the entire wood should be saturated to give the greatest measure of success, not merely an exterior protection of half-inch or so in depth, the latter fact, as before ex- plained, being the cause of many of the failures which have taken place. The autiseptic treatment, to succeed, must destroy all the germs which have found lodgment in the timber, and also those which may come from the exterior.- Popular Science Monthly.
The Arizona sentinel., 1886-10-02
A LIVING ISLAND.

How a Poor Bird Built Her Nest Upon
 the Back of an Alligator and What Came of It.
 The alligator is not in any way an attractive animal. On the contrary, it is about as repellent in looks and dis position as any living creature very well can be. And yet in one respect, at least, it is to be envied-it can go through life without ever needing a dentist, unless it be to eat him; for it never keeps it's teeth long enough to give them any chance to decay or ache or get out of order in any way. When an alligator's tooth is worn out or broken. or in need of any kind of re- pair, it drops out, and. behold! a new one is ready to take its place. But I hardly need say that the alligator's teeth are joy only to itself.
 Another pecullarity of the alligator is its ability to sleep. Like other rep tiles, it is so cold-blooded that it likes warmth and hates cold. It needs wa ter, too, and as the dry season and the cool season come on together in Flor ida, there is double reason why the Florida alligator should go into winter quarters. It buries itself in the mud after the manner of its kind and settles down for long nap.
 Sometimes it happens that grass and quick growing shrubs spring up on the back of this torpid animal. As a rule these are all shaken or washed of when, with the first warm rains, the alligator rouses itself and makes for the water; but occasionally, for some reason. the mud clings, and with it the plant-growth, so that when the half | awakened creature slides into the water and floats stupidly of, it looks like floating island.
 In one such instance, plover was so deceived as 10 build its nest Tn the plant-growth on the alligator's back. The living island so freighted foated slowly down the stream until it was noticed by party of boys who were out fishing. They saw the blower rise from the little island, and suspecting nest to be there, they gave up their fishing and rowed out to it.
 They never suspected the nature of the island until they had bumped their boat rather rudely into it once or twice, and so vexed the alligator that it opened its huge mouth with a startling suddenness that brought a chorus of yells from the nest-robbers, and sent them off in fit mood to sympathise with the blower, which was tiuttering about and crying piteously at the raid upon its nest.
 The poor bird was doomed to lose it's nest, however, for the alligator, having at last been thoroughly aroused, dis covered how hungry it was, and dIved down in search of food, thus washing off island, nest and all.-St. Nichol0S.
The Arizona sentinel., 1886-10-02
Sweetness in Sticks.

So fond is the average small boy of the sort of candy that comes in sticks, that no doubt. after reading this de- scriptiOn of the way it is made, he will start right of in search of specimenf The stick candy is ordinary 'A'' su- gar boiled down with water and little cream of tartar to prevent crystalliza- tion. The mass is taken in patches of about fifteen pounds to marble table, where it is kneaded like bread, and the havoring and coloring worked in. The paste then goes to the pulling hooks, " where for five or six minutes it is pulled and twisted. Thence it returns to the marble table, at one end of which there is metal plate, kept hot; on which is worked the candy into its final shape. Stripes are pressed into the batch. two feet long and foot thick, and it is then drawn and twist ed till it is the proper slze of the pen ny ''stick, :" the right length of which is clipped of by huge scissors. Golden DGyS.
The Arizona sentinel., 1886-10-02
TICKER SUBSIDED.
Why a Newly Married Grain Speculator
 Smiled SickIy Smile.

Why a INewly-Married Grain Speculatol
 Smiled a SickIy Smile.
 One of the operators on the Chicago Board of Trade was married short time ago, and, of course, the first time he appeared on the Board after his honeymoon he was subjected to many congratulations and much good-natured bantering. One of his friends, after congratulating him suddenly reached over and took long brown hair from his shoulder.
 ''Looks bad in married man, Tick er," he exclaimed, holding it up to the light.
 'sOh, that's all right" replied Ticker, smiling; tits my wife's.'
 No, no; that won't do" responded the friend; ''your wife's hair is darker than that. :"
 This made Ticker trifie angry, and he exclaimed excitedly:
 T tell you it is my wife's. guess 1 know my wife's hair when l see it. .''
 'Well. you certainly ought to" said the friend, gazing intently at it. '.But are you sure it's you wife s?"
 '.Sure? Of course 1 am. Why do you ask?"
 "Oh, thought perhaps there might be mistake. You see, 1 found it on Browns shoulder just before l saw you"
 Ticker's smile was sickly one as he invited the crowd down to the nearest bar.- Chicago RGnlbLer.
The Arizona sentinel., 1886-10-02

of an English naval officer standing on the beach above him.
 ''Ahar' cried the latter, my friend Paul trying to drown himself as usual What have you been doing?"
 The boy answered by relating his dream.
 Well, I dare say shall see you commanding a ship yet" said the young officer. ''for you're right good sailor already. But as for this flag of yours-what at'did you say it was like?"
 "All covered with red stripes. MT. Pearson, and thirteen white stars in one corner, on blue ground"
 "Wen, your dream was wrong there, my lad" chuckled Lieutenant Pearson, ''for know every flag that flies, and there's none such among them. What ever flag you fight under it won't be that, unless you patch it up for your- self"
 The sun was shining upon the sea as brilliantly as ever. but its brightest rays could not pierce the cloud of smoke which wrapped two ships that lay side by side, spouting fire at each other sfZom their battered port-holes. The hptain of the smaller vessel-a short, strongly-built, very handsome man, with keen black eye-gave his orders as coolly as ever, but his bold brown face w@growing very grave and stern. And weh it might His whole deck was one heap of torn canvas and splin- tered wood. Nearly half his crew were lying dead, and the hollow gurgle be- meath his feet told how fast the fatal water was pouring into the hull where heavy shot had pierced it below the water-line.
 Suddenly there was a Hull in the firing, followed by deafening shout of triumph. Down came the British flag from the place whore, torn though it was with the pelting shot, it had futtered detiantly till now; and as the victorious captain sprang aboard 4.5 enemy's ship, he saw the EngEsh con- mander-a tall, fne-loOking man, with thin streak of blood across his weather-beaten face offering his sword in token of surrender
 The conqueror started, and looked keenly at him.
 Do you remember the flag of my dream, Mr. Pearson?" asked he, point ing to the Stars and Stripes floating above them from the stump of the only mast that was left.
 What" cried Captain Pearson, in amazement ''are you my little Scotch friend John Paul?'
 "They used to call me so then," answered the other, ''but now I'm bet ter known as Paul Jones'
 And American history will tell, as long as the world lasts, what work Paul Jones did under the banner of the Stars and Stripes.-Harper's Young PeopLe.
The Arizona sentinel., 1886-10-02
PITH AND POINT.

A New York man asserts that his dog can count Probably because he 8 seen him figure in a scene with young man trying to get over the fence.-Chi- cd0o Inter- OceGn.
 It is said Bernhardt has two anbi- tions. One is to get fat, the other to write good poetry. She can never fat ten herself writing poetry. It is too thin.-Chtcago Tribune.
 Swift said the reason a certain uni versity was learned place was, that most persons took some learning there, and few brought any away with them, SO it accumulated. IN '. Witness.
 -"The editor of our esteemed con- temporary across the river" said a sar- castle village journalist, Sis very fresh, but the malady doesn't extend to his news columns. "- SomerUiHe Journal.
 No, it is not hard to write funny paragraphs; all you have to do is to procure pen, some paper and ink, and then sit down and write them as they occur to you. It is not the writ ing, but the occurring, that is hard NeU HaUen Neo0S.
 A little girl, visiting neighbor with her mother, was gazing curiously at the hostess new bonnet, when the owner queried: ''Do you like it, LauraP" The innocent replied: ''Why, mother said it was perfect fright; but it don't scare mer'-Erch0nQe
 -.'As between dog and a dude for 6 summer resort pet, " said young lady as young man left her side, ''give me the dog" "Why?" asked her compan- ion. s.The dog never says any thing" :" "Neither does the dude, does he?' No; but he makes me tired talking so much. ;" Washington Critic.
 Customer (to drug clerk )-Wha, do you charge for arsenic? Drug Clerk (suspiciously)-What do you want it for? Customer-I am a French candy manufacturer. Drug Clerk (suspicions allayed) I beg pardon, sir; l thought perhaps you wanted to take it yourself.-M. r. Sun.
 -Algernon-Do you know I don't believe there is any thing in the theoWy that fish is gweat bwain food? Angus tus-Why, alBays Supposed that was a fact. Have you eaten much fish? Al gernon-O, ya-as. an awful lot. Angus tqs,Wel, then you're right,
 -..Yes," sad X nshckian. who had been in the Far West, sIndians are powerful fond of whisky. Let lem once get the taste of whisky an they'll give up every thing for it. An old chief out in Western Dakota offered me a pony, saddle, bridle, blanket and II don't know what else for pint of whisky had with me-" And you wouldn't give it to him?'' ''Not much. That was the last pint I had left But it shows how fond Indians are of whisky. y."-M. r. Sun.
The Arizona sentinel., 1886-10-02
No Restriction of Rights.

'I see," said one member of the Da kota Legislature to another, '-Congres' has passed bill restricting the power: of Territorial legislatures. :"
 Restricting their powers! hadn't heard any thing about it. ''
 ''Well, it's fact"
 "Then I suppose we can't play poker any more. I've got my opinion --''
 '.Oh, nothing is said about poker'
 "Shuts off some of the appropriations, then, I suppose?"
 Mo-"
 "Cut down the members pay?"
 ''That remains unchanged. !"
 "Any thing aganst adjourning and going on excursions?"
 ''I think not"
 "Well, dozen laws couldn't prevent us from selling out to the railroad com panies, so don't see where any of our privileges have been restricted With draw-poker, big pay, liberal appropria- tions, far-reaching excursions and an- nual passes, I guess we will have all we ever had. What did the law you spoke of refer to, anywayP"-Estetltne 70. T.) Bell.
The Arizona sentinel., 1886-10-02
GOVERNMENT DOCKS.
The Insignificant Capacity of the United
 States Yards for Dockage.

In the course of the rehabilitation of the United States navy, docks and navy yards require very serious considera- ton, for, after ships and guns, there are no requirements of more importance for naval purposes. The capacity of the Government yards for dockage is very insignificant, owing to which the bottoms of our ships are but seldom subjected to scrutiny, and this, above all others, is the part of the integrity of which we need to be most assured. The few docks that we have are generally ap- propriated by vessels under repair, and the cruising ship is debarred the use of this means of guarding her safety and providing for her speed. A very slight accident may disturb the copper on the bottom of @ wooden ship, which may result in serious consequences if she be sent to cruise in waters where she will be exposed to the influence of the teredo, and the neglect to clean the bottom when loaded with grass or barnacles might so impair speed as to make the difference between capture and failure in chase. Docking for such purposes as inspect ing and cleaning the bottom is the eX- ception in our practice, as the demands of repairs are considered paramount. A ship in which the repairs approach or lie below the water line must be placed in dock, and months being often re- uuired to complete the work, the dock is closed to all other purposes, and our ships are frequently sent from one navy yard to another to take advantage of a dock that may be vacant.
 The endorsements that have att tended this course in the past, while our fleet has consisted of copper-sheathed wooden ships, will te increased by the introduction of iron and steel hulls. which demand much more care and more frequent removals of such hinder ances to speed as will attach themselves to their bottoms.
 LIZ Government has at present but three Stone dry-docks and one tioating- dock The latter is in use at Ports mouth, New Hampshire; the stone docks are at the navy yards in Boston, New York and Norfolk.
 A stone dock is n process of con- struction at Mare Island, California; this is of dimensionsscapable of receiv- ing ships of the firss class. Its length is 530 feet; breadth 79 feet. depth of water over thessiIl l27.6 feet, and it will admit a ship of 460 sst in length. When completed sib willzppply a great want on the Pacific coast
 It requires no argument to show that the Government nefds. a great increase in it's facilities for doekage; the neces- sity of a plentiful supply of docks is recognized by all powers, and we can not pretend to be blind to our own de- fciency This is want that must be provided for, but it is 1seit to study all points that bear onthe subject, and to mature some plan of operations before we embark in work which involves great expense, and the success of which must depend opathe thoroughness with which all the tctors are considered be- forehand.- -Rehr-AdmiraI E. Simpson, tu Harper'S Magazine.
The Arizona sentinel., 1886-10-02
VOLUME XIV.
A VACATION lDYL.

We'll. vacation Is over. I've come back to With heart that's a deal worse for wear, And my spirits, once light, are decidedly down. lam lonesome. Perhaps 'tIs as well to de-
 Pm in love! I've the symptoms exactly-I dream and l pine, You see Pm inspired to write Bad verses, and that's an infaIlible sign But fancy man in this curious plight,
 love tIco! The moon which illumines this hot, suItry night wandered with Dorothy, piquant and bright On the cliffs down at Newport. We talked well, you know,
 Not much sense. I love her. adore her. But can forget The days with dear Imogen spent In the mountains? And how in sweet inter course met Her spirit and mine as together we bent
 Der 'Lucile.' Now, one of these two charming girls, have sworn, will marry But which shall it be? For welded to either I'd certainly mourn For the other twho seemed just as charm ing to me.
 despairI But must decide, for 'tis cruel to play With a woman's affections En- what? A letter from eachl am lucky to -dayN Let me see 'fYou'H congratulate" "usher" Great Scottl Both engaged!
 N '. Neil and Express.
The Arizona sentinel., 1886-10-02
THE FLAG OF HIS DREAM.

What Paul Jones Saw in His Sleep as a
 Boy Was Really What Happened When
 He Became a Brave Man.
 A boy lay asleep in the midday sum- shine upon broad flat ledge of rock, with his sunburned face pillowed on his bare brown arm. Most people would have thought it rather dan gerous place for a nap, for the ledge was many feet above the waves which were now breaking against the foot of the crag in spouts of glittering foam. and he was lying so near the brink of the precipice that had he hap}Aped to turn over in his sleep, he wodN have fallen headlOng over its edge down into the flashing sea below. There he lay, however, sleeping as soundly on that perilOus perch as if he had been at home in his fathers little fishing hut among the cliffs, built all of driftwood, with huge stones piled upon its roof to keep the furious wind from tearing off the shingles. But although the boys slumber was so deep, it was plainly any thing but peaceful. His hands were clinched, his teeth set, the muscles of his face worked convulsively, and half-formed words came brokenly from his quivering lips
 He dreamed that he was sailing the seas in command of an armed vessel, at the masthead of which fiuttered very strange flag. the like of which he had never seen before. Then sudden ly another ship, larger than his own, came alongside of him. and a terrible battle began. He heard the shouts of the combatants, the thunder of the cannon, the crash of falling spars and shattered timbers; then ringing cheer broke forth, as the enemy's flag came slowly down, and he started and awoke. The din of the cannOnade seemed to be still in his ears, but in reality it was the deep, hollow boom of the waves that had surrounded his rock and cut him off from she shore.
 But this ntattered little to one who was the bess swimmer of his age for miles around. Clambering nimbly down the steep face of the rock, he plunged headlong into the sea, and rising like corK on the crest of huge wave, struck out gallantly for the shore. Just as he reached it, a fa- miliar voice shouted his name and be saw a tall young man in the uniform
The Arizona sentinel., 1886-10-02

dazed silence, feeling excessively small, but seeking to comfort himself with the thought that it might bo possible so to disguise himself as not to be recognized by MT. Gray and his daughter when he should present himself at Verdon. Would it not be we'll to give them false name at present and delay his visit for some days?
 But while he thus unused in dire con fusion of spirit Miss Minna Gray, turn ing to him, said blandly:
 ''Do you stop at Verdon, MT. Weth- erby?"
 "Eh?- -aw-you take me for"
 "For Mrs. Merrow's brother, of course. She told me yesterday that she expected you. You see, father and l have only run down this morning to meet sister and her family, who were to | join us at Cousin Merrow's and all re- turn home together. Let me introduce you to my sister and my brother-in-in- law, Colonel Steele, ,"-turning to the tall gentleman and the pale lady, who had been spectators of the whole scene.
 'l-I shall be most happy when when we arrive at the station. Atpres- ent l must positively look after my va lise, as think we are approaching the station and will have only minute for alighting."
 "Your valiseP Here it is under the seat! You see''-with charming smile tive could all read the name on it, and that is how we came to know who you were"
 The next station was not Verdon i; nevertheless, MT. Wetherby, with his baggage, alighted there and took the next train homeward To the inquiries of a friend, to whom he had confi- dentially communicated his intention of marrying an heiress, he briefly replied that he had seen the girl and did not quite fancy her. And it is observable that on all of his travelling trips he is strangely silent and uncommunicative with his fellow passengers. = Cincinnati Times.
The Arizona sentinel., 1886-10-02
READING FOR THE YOUNG.
MABEL DIMES OUT ALONE.

PREVIOUS INSTRUCTIONS FROM MAMMA. made her stand beside me, my bonnie little
 girl; Iarranged each dainty ruf1e, and smoothed
 each sunny curl. Now, baby, you'll be careful in all you do
 and say; You will not trouble auntie while dining there
 to-day. You'll take your place in quiet, nor ask for
 any thing. But eat what uncle gives you. or what the
 walters bring. You won't take too much pudding when
 there's no mamma to check; And when it comes to sweetmeats, you'll
 scarcely taste speck."
 RESULT, AS DESCRIBED BY AUNTIE- The feast was rich and splendid, the board
 held fowerets rare. But yet my rosebud tender was the sweetest
 blossom theAe Her eyes were bright as diamonds, her speech
 a birdies song; She was frugal as hermit, lest she might eat
 something wrong. When asked to take some pudding, she an-
 swered at her ease; When questioned as to ice-cream, said: "A
 little if you please" Alas that such behavior should end in utter
 wreckl The sweetmeats come; the little tongue lisps:
 '1hankth; PU tdIes peek Mary E. Vdndyne, in Hdrpcr's Yotsno People.