davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1886-11-18
A Visit TO the AstOrs.

/ know a man who desired to get an
audience with the present heads of the
Aston family. They are not easily &C.
cessible for strangers. Every caller is
required to state his business TO clerk,
who communicates with one Of the
great millionaires, if necessary, but
more than likely refers the matter to a
competent subordinate. But my friend
was bound to see the Astors, just to
crafty his curiosity, for he had no bust
ness with them. Their Offices are in q
bank-like structure, in tidy street
close to Broadway. On one front door
is the name "John Jacob Astor,' and
on the other william w. Aston" He
entered an interior that was fitted up
with high rails and inclosed desks, so
that the visitor had to make his appli-
cation to face that appeared behind
an aperture in q wired fence. Two
begging sisters of charity were being
politely, but firmly, rebuked, and sew
eral tenants were paying their rents.
To all inquiries for an Astor the answer
was given-that neither was to be seen.
The curiosity seeker comprehended
that he would fail unless he resorted to
some winning device. IL have an APP
poiutment with the old gentlemen" he
said, drawing his watch after the man.
ner OF hurried man: Il suppose they
are in ?" IL will see," replied the clerk
SHALL 1 take in your card?" IF you
please" and the impostor produced
one, land say to them that l am sorry
to he five minutes late"
The ingenuity of the attack brought
victory. He was shown promptly into
the presence of the two Astors. They
were old-fashioned, gray of hair and
whiskers, and in no way remarkable
to look at. The apartment was the
private Office of John Jacob Astor, but
Will am was there and seemingly
dominant with his anger stature, fuller
face and more emphatic manner. The
furniture was very heavy but plain, and
the place suggested the PRESIDENT
room in a bank Of moderate pretenses.
William still held the ca d in his hand,
and was evidently irving to recall the
name as that OF somebody who had
made an appointment.
~ hat is it?" he said, inquiringly.
Il called to see whether it would he
of any use to make an Offer for some
real estate that belongs to you," re-
sponded the caller, coolly. He knew
well enough that he was safe, because
the Astors sell no property under any
circumstances. Said Wi liam: IL
hardly think so. What place had you
in mind2" "The Astor House. There
is q project to buy that, and"
"Quite impracticable. No offer in any
amount would be considered. But he
had seen the Astors, all the same
NeU York letter.
The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1886-11-18
Buttons,

In the manufacture of gilt buttons,
brass containing very little zinc is used.
This is furnished to the button-maker
in strips, out of which tho disks are cut
by machine. This process is SO rapid
that one person can prepare about
twelve gross in an hour. The prepar-
ing OF the shanks is distinct branch of
the trade. They are made of brass wire,
coil OF it being put into q machine, IN
which one end is pushed forward gradu-
ally to pair of shears, and the wire is
cut off in small pieces. 1t is then bent,
and, being compressed between the
jaws of wise, forms an eye. A small
hammer next strikes the two ends,
fattening them, and rendering the
shank ready for use. The labor of
fastening them to the button is per-
formed by women. When properly
adjusted, little solder and resin are
applied to the spot where the two come
in contact, which melts on being heat
ed, and on cooling firmly unites them.
The buttons, after thorough cleansing,
are now ready for being ornamented,
either silvered or gilded, as may be de-
sired. If the former, mixture of
silver in solution, salt and cream Of
tartar, with some other ingredients,
must be stirred together. and the
buttons washed with this prepare
ton. For gliding, great care is
necessary. An amalgam of gold
leaf and mercury isused. This is gen.
tly heated, poured into cold water, and
then strained through wash leather to
remove the excess of mercury. The
portion left in the leather is dissolved
in dilute nitric acid. and applied to the
buttons. To 80 great degree of re-
finement was this art carried In Birm-
ingham. that three pennyworth OF gold
was made to cover gross of buttons.
The next process is to free them from
all mercury by heat. For this purpose
they are thrown into wire cage within
a furnace constructed in such manner
that the mercurial vapor is conducted
into vessel containing water, in which
it is condensed. To describe all the
machinery used in the manufacture of
buttons would require considerable
space. Vegetable ivory buttons are
made in large quantities in this country.
The nuts are kiln-dr ed and sawed into
slabs of the proper thickness, and from
these the buttons are cut by lathe,
after which holes are drilled in them
either by power or a hand lathe. The
material can be dyed of any desirable
color with as much facility as cloth, and
will receive high polish by friction.
Horn, bone, and ivory buttons are
made In a similar manner. Buttons are
also made of india-rubber compositions.
of yarlOuS forms some being very eau-
tiful. They are made with shanks or
eyes and with holes. In either case the
process is simple, and is performed by
means of die and under considerable
pressure. Toledo Blade.
The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1886-11-18
He Wanted TO &c an e.

"John Henry Moore called out the
clerk OF the police court, and banged
up, penitential-looking man whose
shirt-front seemed to have held long
boycott against the laundry, came hest
tatingly into the prisoners dock.
"N hats the charger emanded the
Judge, in voice that made John Hen
ry tremble.
Drunk and dsorderly," replied tho
arresting officer, land very disorderly
at that"
state your case.
Prisoner was raising a rumpus at
the new rooms of the Women's Ex-
change"
where's thatP"
"Near the Board Of Trade-a female
bucket-shop. The Waterman threw
prisoner out seven different times.
"N hat have you got to say for your
self?" demanded the Judge, sternly.
Nothing mumbled John Henry,
"only 1 was on legitimate business. I'd
got enough of Maria"
"What Maria? Not the Black
Maria!"
"No, sir; my wife. She pestered the
life ont of me to buy new piano like
the neighbors', and hit me with a skill
let. / got mad"
And drunk?'
"Yes, sir. AS / came down LaSalle
street / saw the sign 'Woman's Ex-
change wanted to exchange Maria,
and they bounced me-"
The Judge looked sympathetic.
"poor man." he murmured so 'tly.
Discharged. Only when the moon be-
gins to scintillate tonight, go home
and forget the skillet and don't get
drunk any more"
"The moon will have to sink till late
to get me in Maria's reach again. "
growled John h nry "a he meandered
from the courtroom. - Chicago Ledger.
The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1886-11-18
Destructive Air Gun.

Lieut. Zalinski, of the United States
navy, has invented pneumatic gun
which will carry an explosive over two
miles. The gun consists of a wrought
iron tube lined with brass. 1t is sixty
feet long and has an eight-inch bore.
Air at pressure of 100 pounds to
the square inch is let into the tube be-
hind the projertile to force it from the
tube. The pro1ectile consists OF
brass tube forty-five inches long, filled
with the explosive, nitro-gelatne. At
one end is cap shaped Ike rifle bull
let, and at the other six-soot wooden
tail, that serves to keep the pro.ectile
end on, like an arrow. The whole
weighed POO pounds. The charge is
exploded by a minute electric battery
in the front end, which be ONES active
when the projectile plunges under the
water.
The account of the experiments in
New York bay is interesting. The gun
was supported at an elevation of about
"a degrees by frame work. Under
the frame work were eight long, iron
cylinders which cont ined compressed
air. A proiectle loaded with sand was
hoisted up and shoveled into the breech
of the tube, which was then closed.
Then everybody looked intently at the
muZzle of the gun while the Lieutenant
gave half "A turn to crank. Win a
shrek that could be heard two miles
away, the arrowlike proiectile climbed
up toward the clouds and finally drop
ped with splash into the water two
and quarter miles down toward the
old buildings at the Quarant ne islands.
A second sand shell was sent off, and
then the company went on the boat and
were carried over to place near where
the projectiles struck the water, in or
der that they might the better see the
work of a nitro gelatine she'll. Two
shells, containing fifty pounds each,
were first fired. followed by one con-
tanning 100 pounds. The spectators
could plainly trace the flight OF each.
The first disappeared without leaving
any other trace than was let by blank
| proiectile. The second one went down
in like manner, and when everybody
was thinking that this one also had
| failed to explode the surface OF the
| water became covered with foam. The
shell, it was explained, had exploded
in the mud about eighty feet below.
Then. after long wait, the puff OF
frozen vapor from the mouth of the gun
| indicated that the shell with 100 pounds
of the explosive was on its way. 1t
came along in wabbling fight until it
| plunged into the water only a few hun
dred yards astern of the little steam
boat. The water closed over it, but in
an instant q column of spray rushed
$50 feet straight up into the air, while
the waves danced for fifty feet around.
A dense cloud of yellow smoke rose in
the midst of the spray. A report Ike
that of big cannon was heard, and
then the water became quiet again. 1t
had been demonstrated that 100 pounds
of the most powerful of explosives
conld safely be hurled two miles
through the air by the force of COM
pressed air and then fired under water
at the moment desired by the gunners.
The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1886-11-18

ranged that in an ordinary atmosphere
tho colorness lamp alone shines. b It in
fire damp this goes 1T and the red one
is illuminated. This is effected in q
simple manner by the motion of q mer-
Curry contact occupying the lower part
of curbed tube. one end of which rs
open and the other connected with q
porous pot of unglazed porcelain, the
motion Of the mercury being due TO
the increased pressure in the porous
pot occasioned by diffusion.
The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1886-11-18

A BoTANIsT has attempted to estimate
the number of seed found upon sim
gle specimen OF some of the most OBJ
noxious weeds Of this country. For
shepherds parse he makes the number
81, 500 per plant; dandelion, II, los;
wild pepper grass, Is, 400; wheat thief,
1000; common thistle. o., 1866; chamo-
mile. Is, 800; bitter weed, S,5e7; rag
weed, 1850; common purslane, $685.
500, common plantain, 42,20O; and
burdock, 80, 06S.
The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1886-11-18

AN interesting calculat on has been
made by the New York Times, shew-
ing how the steady and rapid payment
of the public debt incurred in the war
for the preservation of the Union. COM
bined with the reduction of the interest
rate and the increase of the population
of the country, has affected the debt
burden borne 10y our people per capita.
In 1865 the debt amounted to $78. 20
per capita. Last year it amounted to
only $24.l4. In .lS65 the per capita
portion of the annual interest charge
was $40. Last year it was but SO
cents. The ratio of the principal is
now but twothirds what it then was
that of the annual interest is but lit
tie more than one-fifth.
The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1886-11-18

ONE of the most curious papers read
at the late meeting of the American
Association for the Advancement of
&C ence was one by Mr.. L. G. y enden-
hall, in viii it was shown that by
plotting the proportion of works OF the
various lengths used 10y any author, q
very regular curve may be obtained,
which is characteristic of the peculiar
vocabulary of the writer, and gives a
means of determining whether two
works had the same authorship. The
plotting consists in counting thousand
words from any passage, then on q
slip of paper drawing a short line in
one colamn for each word of two let
ters, q similar line in another column,
for each word If three letters, and C
on, the curve beng formed by connect
ing the lower ends of the columns.
The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1886-11-18

TIE Rev. Curtis Grubb, OF Hanover
County, Virginia, was once a missionary
in Western Africa, and, while there,
adopted the young daughter of king
and brought her to this country to edu-
cate, d now that she is of marriage
able age her father wants her returned
to him that she may marry chief of
one of the tribes. This will probably
be complied with, as it is thought by
her friends that her religious training
and acquaintance with the customs of
civilized life will have powerful in
iuence in uplifting her people from
their present degradation.
The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1886-11-18

EVERY day at o'clock $500, 100000
sit around a little mahogany table in an
upper room in the Western Union
Building, at New York, and eat plain
but substantial lunch. The millions
belong to jay Geuld, Sidney Dillon,
Russell Sage, and ex-Gov. Alonzo b.
Cornell All were country boys, and
wore shoes only on Sunday. Mr..
Gould and Mr.. Sage got their ideas of
finance village stores, and Mr. Dill
Ion and Gov. Cornell were day laborers,
and thanked heaven when they trudged
home with S. in their trousers pockets
on Saturday night
The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1886-11-18

WASHINGTON by moonlight says a
correspondent @is wonderfully beauti-
full. The moon tnts TO mellowness the
rare old marble OF the public build
ings. 1t takes away the rustiness OF
the tomb-like Treasury, and puts life
into the statues. The White House
looks like fairy palace under the rays
of the moon. back in among those old
forest trees"
The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1886-11-18

The incandescent lights now being
used as safety lamps in English coal
mines have the great defect of g wing
no sign of the presence of fire-damp,
as the old Davy lamp does, because the
light is produced in vacuum. Two
English scientists, Messrs. Walter EN-
mott and William Ackroyd, have been
experimenting on sn electric lamp in
tended TO overcome this di Iculty, and
at q recent meeting of the Physical So
ciety, London. read paper deta ling
the results OF these experiments, and
describing to apparatus they had de-
signed TO detect the presence OF fire.
damp. 1t consists of two incandescent
lamps, one with co.orless and the other
with red glass, and the circuit Is so ar
The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1886-11-18

CARRIER pigeons have been long an
object of attention to the Governments
of Germany and France. In this lat
ter community the Minister of War
lately directed census of the carrier
pigeons to be made, when it apparel
that at Lille there are 5000; at Rou-
baix, $1,000; at the little town of Wat
trelos, in the Department of the Nord,
there are 5000, partly belonging to in
diviGuals, party to societies who en-
deavor to improve the quality of the
birds. Attention is paid to the birds
chiefly in the manufacturing districts
of the east and north. In Germany
the War Department has 5000 pigeons.
There are about 100 associations that
have about $4,000 birds. Independ
emily of business messages there are
frequently flying matches, and it has
been ascertained that every year
some thousands of pigeons are
lost in these Matches or at least
never arrive at their destination or
return to their homes. There is
an erroneous impression that carrier
pigeons always find their way, but
German experience at least is quite
against this. 1t has been found that
birds frequently fly, not straight from
point to point, but making q detour by
some place with which they are familiar.
by direction of the German War Office
Dr. G.. II. Schneider, who has devoted
much attention to carrier pigeons, is
investigating the question of how they
find their way. He is inclined to think
it is purely a matter of training and
habit. They will almost always go
astray If taken to distant places or
neighborhoods to which they are not
accustomed.
The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1886-11-18

DEAN RICHMOND, many years ago
President of the New York Central
Railroad, wrote very poor hand, al
most unintelligible. One day man
forged Richmond's name to letter
recommending the Superintendent of
another road to grant him a pass. He
should be arrested said the officer
who brought the information. Let
me see the letter. replied Richmond
After scrutinizing it carefully Dean said,
II pity him, poor fellow; he writes a
worse hand than do. Let him CO."
The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1886-11-18
Vhs Jrns gorthsrusr.


THE only surviving daughter Of the
late Noah Webster says she saw her
father work twenty-one years on his
dictionary. and that she never knew
him to have any assistance whatever in
preparing it for publication. After he
had worked two years he destroyed oil
he had written and began the work
over apain.
The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1886-11-18

WATERFOWL On. " Times Many
different kinds of sociables have been
invented by well-meaning people in
terested in raising money for benevo-
lent institutions, churches, etc. The
latest thing in this line is the clothes
pin sooiable, which is advertised in an
exchange. The manner of serving the
clothes-pins-w whether boiled, fried,
stewed, or on the half-shell-was not
stated. The originators of this new
tangled entertainment should give the
principal points to the public by means
of the press, and then, if the clothes
pin entertainment becomes popular,
some credit may rebound to them.
They should state whether, in case any
stock is left over, it can be sold the
next morning by the quart, like ice
cream. Clothes-pin sociables ought to
become popular for one reason, at
least There would be no danger of
any one being poisoned by clothes
pins, as the material of which they are
made is harmless and free from adul
terations. However, the success of
clot6es-p:n sociables is quite question
able. 1t would be well to wait for re-
ports from the back districts before
taking many chances on them. The
present outlook is that it is a scheme
to boom the clothes pin trade.
The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1886-11-18
Sugar Contained in Transparent Soap,

According to Wright, many of the
finer grades of soap sold in England
do not contain glycerine, as sdver-
tised, but sugar. Sugar seems Just as
we'll adapted to making transparent
soaps as glvcerine. As sugar is adj
mitted into England free of duty. and
is hence very cheap, his application Of
it becomes possible.-S Chem. lael
The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1886-11-18

The human heart is like buskwheat
cake-once cold it can never be itself
again.
The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1886-11-18

"WHAT surprised You most when you
landed in American was asked OF a
newly arrived Englishman. well"
was the reply. "you may think it
strange, but do you know, as fact,
what surprised me most was the bar
man in public house handing me the
whisky bottle across the counter and
telling me to help myself. What a
wonderfully sober lot of people they
must be here. thought 1, when they
can be trusted to help themselves to
the whisky-bottle. Why, if such a
thing were to be done in England, you
would have the streets blocked in the
neighborhood with people anxious to
help themselves"
The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1886-11-18

The papers are almost every day
harping ON the subject of unhappy
marriages, and those who read these
animadversions are led to believe that
matrimony is one of the most terrible
experiences that man or woman can
encounter IN this life. Gro round and
count how many unhappy marriages
there are among your friends, yonr
brothers and sisters, for instance, and
you will find that out of every ten there
is not moro than one. You will find the
same state of things if you search
among the people generally. Domes-
tic happiness is the rule, not the ex-
ception.
The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1886-11-18

THE silver output OF Montana for
the year is 81, 00O,0O0.
The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1886-11-18
Gold DIST.

The early miners in California were
in complet,. ignorance OF the real value
of gold. The first gold sold at Colona
only brought ~ per ounce, Tut after
ward it advanced to $lt, and remained
mt that price for several years. Neither
those who bong t nor those who sod
seemed to recognize that there was
difference in the quality OF gold dust.
Buyers mixed their dust together wnen
they sent 1T TO the mint, and paid an
average price Tor it all. 1t was after
ward discovered that some of it was
worth even as low as ) an ounce, and
some of it was worth so or more. This
is on account of the fact that greater
or lees amount OF the baser metals, sill
yer, COPPER, ETC., Is always found in
alloy with gold in its natural state.
The bright yellow go d is not always
best. Gold has been mined almost
black in color which has been of tho
very purest character.
An old man suggests that when men
break Their hearts it ~ all the same as
q lobster breaks one of its claws--an-
other sprouts Immediately and grows in
IT'S pace.
Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1886-03-12
w WAGON WOOD
Horse Shoes and Horse Nails
IpAHo CRY Ms. 1s. 1877.
Notice of Forfeiture.

trsE. ~ 81 t1it4Ll ~ tt5sE. rs
IDAHO CRY. Boise County, Idaho Ter.
To Donald Grant: ~
You are hereby notified that We have
expended for you, in labor and in prove
rmcnts, $500 upon the Wolverine gltde or
quartz mining claim, and $25O:ui on the
Galveston lode or guar'z mining Gam,
both Of SAID quartz mining claims being
located in Banner Mining District, Boise
county, Idaho Territory, in order to hold
said premises under the provisions. ofsee
ton z, ,S24, Revised Statutes OF the United
States, said amount being your proportion
of the full amount'required tn hold said
claims for the years 1881, 1882, 1888, 1854
and 1885. Ii within ninety days after
this notice, by, publication you fail or
refuse To contribute your. proportion of
said expenses as co-owner as aforesaid,
Your interests in said claims will become
the property of the subscribers, un,ief scc-
tion 2,32t Of the laws aforesaid.
JOHN RrCHIE.
NATHANIEL. RITclnE
Jan. u. 1886. 9oi ,i+i}
Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1886-03-12
THE GREAT


kmiss ions. Aversion to Society, Dimness ot Vision
Noises i'll the Head thr vital huid passing una5scr
ed in the urine aud many other diseases that
lead tc irsanity aud death DIR. MINTlE, who
is regular ply sican. graduate Of the University
of Penpsylyanial will agree to forfeit Five
Hundred Dollars fer case OF this kind
the VITAL RESTORATIVE tuiider his sp. :
cal advice and treatment, will not cure.
for anything impure or injurious found ia
it DR.. MiNTlE treats all Private Diseases
successfully a,,hout mercury. Consultation Free.
Thorough examination and sdvice. including aual-
sis of urine s., W, Price Of Vital Eesolutiye
81 80 a bot IA, -four times the quantity S5 UU;
sent 10 amy address uron receipt of price. or q. o.
b., secure from observation, and III private name ii
desired, by. tt "a .4t Nf.A .lk.
a. E. MlNT)E. NJ D.
Il KearDy Street, San Francisco, al
SAMPLE BOTTLE FREE.
Will be sent TO an enc applying BY letter. stating
symptoms, rex and age Strict secrecy In regard
to al business transactions. 4Ett
DR.. MlNTiE'S KIDNEY REMEDY, hEPE-
REIlCUN, cures al kinds of Kidney amt Bladder
Comps ,nt~, 3cnorrh.sa, Gleet, Leucorrhsaa. for
salt Ia AL druggists; sl.0o bottle. six hotties tor
ER. MIN11E'S DANDELI0N FILLS are the
best ana cheapest DYSPEPSIA amt BILIOUS
cure Ill the parh.t. For saie ey ali a. tists.
Jan q laSO-ti .aF t< @an1