davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1886-04-07
Dead HALF
Lsve Halt.

rom NJ to N; hence it is seen that the ball
will be influenced by this, and will be con-
stantly moving from q true line curving
toward X, and will describe a portion OF
circle
This was the explanation offered to my
father, who still insisted that it was merely
a theory, and could not be demonstrated.
So one summer afternoon number OF us
boys prevailed upon him to join us in a
game of baseball. Now, a great many
years before this, father had been member
of local club, which chad downed every
club it ever played" as he said, and so he
had made up his mind to show us young
sters "thing or two" When he stepped
up to the "home" plate ready to strike, it
was with determination to show us that
our so-called curves were simply optical
Illusions which he would soon dispel. I
was the pitcher, and the first ball threw
was slow "out-curve" (that is, it curved
away from the striker-curves are desig
mated as "outs, I" "in-shoots," drops" and
ssraise'D. Father drew back the bat and
struck at the ball as though he would
knock the cover off. but he missed it. He
tried again and again, but could not even
make "foul tip; SO finally he gave up
and consented to watch for short time
from behind the catcher, and was soon con
WINGED that curve ball was not an optical
illusion, but an accomplished fact. After a
short time he started slowly home, but, as
he left us, he said: "Well, boys, you are
right; the game is getting too scientific for
me, and guess my baseball days are
over" And, in truth, so they were.-J,
Edwin Taylor, in st. Nicholas.
The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1886-04-07
Solid Concrete.

A kind of concrete, hard and solid, ID
now being used for building purposes in
Paris. 1t is composed of eight parts Of
sand, gravel and pebbles; one part Of
common earth, burnt and powdered;
one part powdered cinders, and one and
half parts unslacked hydraulic lime.
These materials are thoroughly beaten
up together, their mixture giving con-
crete which sets almost Immediately,
and becomes in a few days extremely
hard and solid, which property may be
still further increased by the addition Of
small quantity, say one part, of CO.
ment. Among other constructions to
which this material has been applied is
house three stories in height, Is by
As feet, standing on terrace, having a
perpendicular retaining wall 200 feet in
length and 20 feet high. Every part Of
this structure was made of the hard con-
crete, including foundations, vaults Of
cellars, retaining wall, and all walls, ex-
terror and interior, as well as the cor.
nice work, mouldings, string courses,
balustrades, parapets, and the building
is without band iron, lintels or wood
throughout-N. 7. Sun,
The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1886-04-07

Webster to an act of removal, and ALSO
to a proposition of appointment. 1t
has been very well said that the at
tempt of the Green mountain intellect
to draw distinction between removal
and suspension sis mere cobweb-spin-
ming" Removal is an exercise of the
Presidential discretion, over which the
star-chamber has no control. Suspen-
sion, even by the express words of the
statute, is the same. A suspension is
in law and in effect a removal. The
suspended officer goes out, is removed
from his trust, and a new officer takes
his place. The commission of the
former is killed by the issue of COM
mission to his successor, and the fact is
the same whether the star-chamber
afterward dissent or consent to the new
appointment. The President does not
ask the consent of the Senate to a re-
moval, nor to a ''suspension;" the act,
whether called by one name or the
other, is complete when the officer
steps down and out; and this often
happens when the lordly Senators are
not holding sessions. All that the
President ever asks of that body of self
assumed omnipotence is consent to the
appointment of designated person to
fill a vacancy that has been created;
whether by removal, by suspension"
or by expiration of commission, is
wholly immaterial, and none of the
business of their noble Lordships of
the star-chamber - Chicago Times.
The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1886-04-07
PlTH AND POINT.

"A man never fully realizes how in
significant he is until he attempts to de-
scribe to his wife the dress worn by an.
other lady.-M ?. Journal.
"A Kansas man points with pride
to the fact that his wife has worn one
bonnet for twenty-five years. The feel.
ing with which the wife points to the
husband has not been described. -Chicn-
90 Tribune.
-He-Speaking of their marriage:
think they both made very good
match. She-How can you say SOP
Why, she's birthstone personitied, and
he's perfect stick. He-Brimstone
and Il perfect stick-precisely the es-
sentials to good atch.-Pttsburgh
Chronicle.
About sixty patents are issued to
women every year in the United States
Anybody who will notice what curious
contrivances the dear creatures put
upon their heads and bodies need not be
told that woman is an inventive animal.
Boston transcript.
-"Robby,n whispered young Feath.
erly, "did your sister Sadie get a note
from me last night? 1t was written on
pink paper" 81 guess she must have
got it," said Robby. "cause when she
came down to breakfast this morning
her hair was done up in pink curl-pa-
pers. boston Post.
-"Then you are studying music this
year, are your" inquired a young lady of
her friend. "How do you enjoy it9'
20, it is delightful. 1 have such fun
practicing. Inearly drive Aunt Jane
crazy. Mother goes off neighboring
and I have the house all to myself.
Come down and hear me practice some
day. 20, dear, no, thank you. The
doctor says / must avoid all unpleasant
things. Toledo Blade.
81 never saw such man in all my
born days!' exclaimed Mrs. Crimson
beak to her husband. who had been inn
posed upon in purchase she had re-
quested him to make for her. 81 never
knew you to get ANYTHING without be.
ing cheated" "What, neverp" said
Crimsonbeak, chestnutically. No,
never!' emphatically replied Mrs. Grim
sonbeak. ''Well, guess you are right.
l have always been suspicious of it since
the day was married" And then he
opened the window to see how far he'd
have to jump to the ground.-N Y
Mail.
-"As usual" said Fogg, ''the boys
took to ringing my bell last night. |
went to the door the first time, to
see the young rascals running
around the corner. 1t wasn't long be-
fore the bell rang a second time, but
they couldn't fool me twice. So I let
the bell ring half dozen times without
answering It. This morning Mrs F.'s
mother dropped in, in a high state of
excitement. She said she rang, and
rang, last night, and couldn't raise a
soul. Under the circumstances, l didn' t
feel quite SO angry with the boys | was
boy myself once, and you can't blame
them for wanting little. fun now and
then. Boston TRANSCRIPT.
The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1886-04-07
CURVED PITCHING.

Its Possibility Illustrated and Explained
"A Father Whose Baseball Days Are
Over.
Several years ago thought that it was
impossible to make a ball curve, and when
one OF my ''chums" said he had seen it
done, laughed at him; but he insisted so
strongly that when I went home asked
my father. He was an old-time player,
and when he said it was impossible to
make ball curve" that settled it with
me. Then l was certain that my friend
had been deluded. Not long afterward,
however, saw a game between two pro-
fessional clubs, and as sat directly back
OF the catcher, and could see the ball from
the time it left the pitchers hand, there
was no longer any doubt in my mind about
a ball being made to "curve." Moreover,
| learned myself, after weeks OF hard prac-
tice, to throw a curve ball, and many times
since then have had the satisfaction OF
striking out" hard hitters, who were I'M
used to ''curves." what causes ball to
curve?" is a question asked by many, and
would offer the following original expla.
nation:
When a ball is thrown through the air,
the resistance of the air is only on one-half
Of the surface, that is the half facing the
direction the ball is thrown. The other
part of the ball may be considered as the
dead half"
Suppose the ball is thrown from A to B,
and given rapid rotating movement on
it's axis as indicated by the arrows (ac-
complished by holding" and delivering
the ball certain Way, the resistance then
is only on the ''live half" which is rotating
The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1886-04-07
THE HUMAN VOICE.
Its Infallible Indication of the State Of
Speakers Mind.

Its Infallible Indication of the State Of
Speakers Mind.
Nothing betrays so much as the voice
save perhaps the eyes, but they can be
lowered, and so far the expression hid
den. In moments of emotion no skill
can hide the fact of disturbed feeling,
though strong will and habit Of self
control can steady the voice when else it
would be failing and tremulous. Ger
tain voices CRATE on the nerves
and set our teeth on edge, and
others are just as calming as they
are Irritating, quieting, or like com.
posing draught. A good voice, calm in
tone and musical in quality, is one of the
essentials for physician-the bedside
voice" which is nothing if it not SYM
pathetic by constitution. Whatever its
original quality may be, the orators
voice bears the unmistakable stamp Of
art and becomes artificiality; as such it
may be misunderstanding in crowd,
impressive in address, but overwhelming
and chilling at home, partially because
it is always conscious and never SELF
forgetting. An orators voice. with its
careful intonations and accurate accent,
would be as much out of place beside a
sick bed as a brocaded silk for a
kitchen girl. The voice is much
more indicative of the state
of the mind than many people know or
allow. One of the first symptoms Of
failing brain power is indistinct and
confused Nutterance; no idiot has clear
or melodious voice; the harsh scream Of
mania is proverbial, and no person Of
prompt and decisive thought was ever
known to hesitate and stutter. A thick,
loose, fluffy voice does not belong to the
crisp character of mind which does the
most active, work, and when keen
witted man drawls and let's his words
drop instead of bringing them out in
the sharp incisive way that ought to be
natural to him, there is flaw some
where. Chicago San.
The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1886-04-07
WOMEN AND BIRDS.
A Cruel Fashion Which is Unworthy of
American Women.

American Women.
Women were once tainted with their
devotion to their canaries. A more Sc
rious accusation can now be brought
against them. The alarming decrease
of American song and shore birds has
been deplored by lovers of nature for
many years. 1t has been due in part to
unavoidable causes, such as the drain-
age of marshes, the conversion of wood
lands into farms, the destruction of for
ests and rapid settlement of the country;
but much larger share of the extermi-
nation of bird-life is directly attributable
to feminine folly. An interesting and
valuable supplement of Science discloses
the magnitude of the evil and suggests
legislative remedies. It is plain, how
ever, that the friends of the birds can not
hope to accomplish their purpose by
means Of legislation unless they
can appeal successfully to pub
lie sentiment for adequate sup
port and encouragement. Sin.
gularly enough, they must begin by de-
claring war upon modern fashions
and enlisting the sympathies of sensible
American women. Wanton and inn
provident as is the destruction of birds
for sport, food and scientific and anna
teur collections, the slaughter is mainly
conducted for the millinery trade.
Some of the details of this wholesale
sacrifice of bird-life on the altar OF
fashion are of startling significance.
At Cape Cod 10000 terms have been
killed in the season by single agent
of the hat trade. At Cobb's Island, on
the Virginia coast, an enterprising
business woman of New York has re-
Gently succeeded in filling contract
with Paris millinery firm for 100000
bird-skins of gulls, sea-swallows and
terms, at4O cents apiece. The demand
for egret and heron plumes has ex-
tended the line of slaughter from Flor
ida all along the Gulf coast. In Texas
sportsmen receive orders from New
York for the plumes of white egrets
in lots of 10000. The prairies
and mountain wales of the far
West are secured for birds of
oiuau olleo anu CFc1y lAoCy VI plum.
age, and from the Pacific coast hum
dreds of thousands of bird-skins are
shipped annually. Nearer home the
coast line of Long Island, once one of
the favorite haunts of sea-birds, has been
the scene of indiscrimate butchery.
Terms and sea-swallows have well-nigh
disappeared from the marshes between
Coney Island and Fire Island, which ten
years ago were their breeding ground.
At Seaford, Moriches, Greenport and
many other towns the slaughter of birds
for the millinery trade is a lucrative
means of livelihood; and the New Jer-
sey coast is ravaged in the most merci-
less manner. The landlords suffer in
the same way. Robins, gold-winged
woodpeckers, humming-birds, thrushes,
orioles, cedar wax-wings, blue-birds and
meadow larks are shot by the thousand
and the skins and plumage sent to the
shops to be used in frivolous ornitho-
logical displays in female head-dress.-
N. Y. Tribune.
The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1886-04-07
HE DON'T WEAKEN.

They wanted fight-they've got enough
The good Repubs are dazed;
They almost doubt il they're alive
The Senators are crazed.
They've got it square, right in the eye.
Straight from the shoulder sent
The mol" of Grover Cleveland, who
Don't weaken for Il cent.
The great and glacial Edmunds melts
With rage to see such Cheek
And in his righteous wrath declares
The President 8 unique;
Correct-the man to-day s unique
Who can't be broke or bent,
Or bribed or bullied; who, in short,
Don't weaken for cent.
At last they find they've struck man
Who doesn't mean to swerve:
A man who's got the Jackson eye,
And got the jackson nerve;
No matter though the gale may blow
Till all the sails be rent,
There's one thing sure-the President
Won't weaken for cent.
Boston Post.
The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1886-04-07
"YOU CAN'T MOST ALWAYS
TELL"

The man you now pass by with bitter looks OF
scOrn,
Because he is SO very poor and so very lowly
born,
Next spring you may be very glad to take him
by the hand,
For his praises may be sounded over every
inch of land.
A champion he may become, before the world
to shine,
As pitcher or a catcher of Jolly baseball
nine;
Although you soc him calmly sit a-smoking Of
cherOOrs,
He may whip the great John Sullivan out of
his biggest boots;
He may try siX-dayS walking at some ia
nous hall or rink,
And beat the rest of fellows there, az quick as
you can wink;
He may chance to be located within the win
ming boat,
Or you may run for office, and may chance to
need his vote.
So of all the many queer words that are given
out to spell,
The queerest of the queer are-"You cant
most always tell!'
-GoodaWs Sun.
The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1886-04-07
AN UNPLEASANT DUTY.
Scotch Soldiers Who Have to Proclaim a
Warming Against Themselves.

Almost the first duty of a new regi-
ment stationed in Edinburgh Castle is
its only unpleasant one. Immediately
it gets into its quarters at the Castle it
has to dispatch representative body
through the Oldest streets to cry out at
the top of their voices that the citizens
must be wary of the soldiers beguiling
ways. This is called "crying down the
credit of the regiment, and the cere-
mony has Just been performed by the
Seaforth Highlanders. One Monday
forenoon detachment of these, &C
compansed by a drum-maior. paraded
High street and neighborhood to dis
charge what must be described as this
unpleasant duty. 1t consists of pro-
clamation to all whom it may concern,
that any one who is so foolish as to sup
ply the soldiers with goods on credit to
the amount of more than single days
pay does so at his own risk. At her
own risk, it might be said; for, owing to
some reason unknown, it is understood
that the proclamation is specially adj
dressed to shopkeepers of the softer
sex.--St. James Gazette.
The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1886-04-07
A NUMERICAL FAMILY.
How Mrs. Beasley Saved Herself Lots and
Lots of Trouble.

How Mrs. Beasley Saved Herself Lots and
Lots of Trouble.
'.Do YOU find in Arkansaw many
queer Christian names?' gentleman
asked of friend who had just returned
from visit among the hills.
Eyes, for Christian names--or rather in
this case given names, for some of them
IRE decidedly unchristian ever
been of interest to me. ! found, just
this side of Bear Wallow, a young fell
low named Logdistilled Peterson, and a
little farther on l fell in with a gentle
man named Atwood Jones. Mr.. ALL
wool Jones was a circuit rider, he in
formed me. and he asked me to stop at
small log church and hear him preach.
l did so and must say that Allwool's
sermon was something more than a yard
wide. One afternoon ! stopped at a
house and addressed young fellow
who sat on the fence:
"'Who lives herep'
".We do
"'Yes, but who are we?'
zap, Nlllr dQ tIle TeSU NV Ub.
"Just then man came out and, as he
approached, said: six, git down often
that fence an hep -Four chop some
wood. Stranger addressing me, won't
you git DOWN. AS l was in much need
of rest I dismounted. The man yelled:
Come here, Seven, an take the stran-
gers hoss.'
II was conducted into the house and
in that cordial manner, the peculiar so
cial property Of Southern backwoodst
men, was urged to make myself at home.
MY hosts name was Beasley and was
kin to old Ham Bledsoe what lived in
Middle Tennessy, near brakes creek
summers. Mrs. Bcasley moved a lot
of clothes which she had hung in front
of the fire, kicked a cat, spanked with a
shovel an enormous brindle dog, and
told me to feel easy, for she would get d
snack to eat after awhile. | had never
seen so many children belonging to one
family. Look which way l might, ]
caught sight of dirty faces and tow
heads.
"'You have quite family, said to
Mr.. Beasley.
"'Ruther, but we live in er big neigh.
borhood whar we've all got room.
"' i should think that you would have
found some trouble in selecting names
for all your children
"I didn't though. know that a
great many folks have had trouble in
that way, an was determined to steer
cl'ar Nv it, SO 'dopted a rule; an when
the fust chile was born, we called him
One The next was named Two, the
next Three an SO on. Wy, it worked
like charm an we didn't have BIT
Nv trouble. / would advise everybody
to 'dopt the rule. One is married to {
sorter SLOUGH Nv a woman an lives
down yam on the branch. Twois ahos
trader. All the rest air at home. Thre'
thar, turning to blushing girl, is oil.
anuff to git married. Eight, don't stan
SO clost to the fire, you'll scorch We
britches. Muir, make Nine an Eleyel
behave tharselves. Twelve, 60 on nov
an rock the cradle fur don't you hea
Sixteen cryin'p'
"Yes. it was a very large family, an
I don't know how Mr.. Beasley coul
have managed had he not adopted tn
numerical system. Arkansas lra'
eler.
The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1886-04-07
Lucid Information.

A colored man, evidently a stranger in
Austin, was standing around, as if looking
for something which he could not find,
when he was accosted by Uncle Nose.
"Who is yer lookin' for, niggah?"
II wants ter see Kurnel Yerger."
"Does yer know him when yer sees him7"
ssNo."
"Does yer know ledge Peterby when yer
sees him?''
"No."
EFF yer sees Kurnel Yerger yer can tell
hits him right off by his not bein' so bald
headed as ledge Peterby, and by his not
warm de same sort OF q hat. Texas Snt.
mrs
The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1886-04-07
Neither the discomfort of pa

Neither the discomfort of party
friends nor the allurements constantly
offered of combinations of appointees
conditioned upon the avowal that sus-
pensions have been made on party
grounds alone, nor the threat proposed
in the resolutions now before the Sen
ate that no combinations will be made
unless the demands of that body be
complied with, are sufficient to dis
courage or deter me from following in
the way which am convinced kads to
better government for tia people
President Cleveland.
The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1886-04-07
She Had Married for Love.

Husband-Do you think that our daugh.
Ter Clara ought to marry for money alone?
Wife-Certainly.
Husband-But you married for love, my
dear.
Wife, know did, and that is the rear
son why think Clara ought to marry for
money.-Drake's Travellers Magazine.
The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1886-04-07
Anxious for Comfort.

The jail at Summit, N. j., must be d.
sight for sore eyes. A man named William
Walsh was arrested few nights since for
being drunk and disorderly. 1t began to
grow colder during the night, and after en-.
during the cold as long as possible, he de-
liberately kicked hole through the side OF
the building and walked out. Three tramps
followed his example, and together they
followed a bed out in snow-drift, and all
slept soundly till morning.-Peck's Sun.
The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1886-04-07
One thing the common sense OF

-Qpe thing the common sense Of
the country understands The newt
able result of the discussion over the
Edmunds resolution will be the
strengthening of the Democratic party.
This will lie so whether the resolution
is adopted or defeated. Detroit Fres
Press.
The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1886-04-07
THE yllest Pun Of the Year.

BolgerI hear that Easy has cremated
his wife.
Bromley-Yes. He was forced to do it
out OF very shame.
81 Northumberland"
'You see he has been very shiftless, and
le could not allow such chance to urn
something tc escape him." -PhiladelDhis
Cell.
The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1886-04-07
HENRY /. BIOSSlT, Business Manager.
THE REASON 2

Why 90 I love you?
Well, I'd like to know.
TITS just that query
That does yex me so,
That you are fair
None can deny,
gut so are others
That's not why.
Your voice Is thrilling,
Your eyes are blue,
You play divinely,
But others do, too.
Your laugh Is music;
Gayly you chat;
You flirt like the mischief
(Sure tits not that.)
"Well, then, what Is IT."
Impatient you sigh.
Because, dear-I lore Voti,
That Is Just ,chy.
philadelphia Ne,6s,