davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1886-02-23
THE FIRST CUT.
Applicants for the Outside Pircc of Ropst
Bccf-Bcefn s I'M American Necessity.

"Givc INC the outside cut of the roast
beef, said a reporter to the waiter in a
popular restaurant at precisely II 30
o'clock one forenoon.
"Iou'rc too late, sir" replied the man
of the apron. "Thcrc arc several gentle
men waiting for the outside cut. I'll
get YOU as near the outside as I can.
though
Inquiry elected the fact that if a man
wants the crisp, wcll-cookcd flavor of
the outside cut Of beef roast he must 90
to the restaurant early. at most restau-
rants the roasts are lifted promptly at
II 30, and ut that hour several custom
crs may usually be found waiting for
the first cuts. Some bccf-catcrs 90 as
early as II o'clock, put in their orders
and patiently read their
until the hot, sizzling meat is placed be-
fore them. Their patience is amply re-
warded, for hot, wcll-donc roast beef is
certainly h finest meat on earth, while
lukcwarm meat is not rs good as meat
entirely cold. In most restaurants the
kitchens are SO small and crowded that
it is wcll-nigh impossible to keep meats
hot more than a few minutes, especially
the beef roast. which must be constantly
manipulated by the carver. Even under
the most favorable conditions roast meat
is perfect only when it first comes from
the fire, as its great charm consists of
the v Of radiating heat.
eyes," said the proprietor of the
restaurant mentioned, rs he Tipped the
reporters quarter into his cash drawer,
"roast beef is the great meat nowadays,
and it is getting more popular every day.
We are becoming rs much of a nation of
beef eaters as the English, or ever more
SO, for the English are very fond of NUT
ton, which is not generally popular in
this country. 1t seems to me that if the
present tendency continues much longer
h time will come when it wont be
worth while to cook anything else.
Even now it is one Of the most profit
able meats we serve, because we can
buy a big piece and use it all mp.
There is no reason why the people of
Chicago shouldn't take kindly to roast
beef, when they can go to our best
restaurants and get nice slices of the
roast for fifteen, twenty or twenty-five
cents. l believe prime beef is cheaper
in Chicago than in any other city in the
world. You can buy prime roasts at the
stock yards shops for eight cents o
pound. "-CHi<uG0 HcruM.
The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1886-02-23
A Desperate Encounter.

1t is related in the Boston Herald that
MIR. Richard Freeman, a fisherman, had
Il desperate encounter with a ~swingtail
shark off kainsford Island. The shark
made its presence known to Mr.. Free.
man by charging under the boat anc
nearly upscttil.g it. Mr.. Freeman.
armed with IL Cumming fork, kept tho
shark at bay, and. by several wcll-madc
thrusts, quietcd the monster, and, as he
thought he had it ~lifeless, proceeded to
load his sharkship into the boat, which
was accomplished after considerable
effort. Mr.. Freeman started for Boston
with his prize, and everything progressed
smoothly until off Long Island Head,
when, to the surprise Of Mr.. Freeman,
the shark became rs lively as ever, and
made things pretty warm for him. In
the struggle the boat was overturned,
and the captor and captive were left to
fight out the battle in the water. Re-
markablc rs it may seem, Mr.. Freeman
succeeded in righting the boat and Sc
curing the shark with a rope, by which
he towcd his prize to South Boston
Point, where it is on free exhibition ut
the Grant House. Considering the fact
that Mr.. Frecman's capture measures Is
feet, and is one of the most dangerous
man eaters captured in the harbor for
years, it is without doubt a great curl
osity. Mr.. Freeman was quite exhausted
after his struggle, and is the hero of tho
hour at City Point.
The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1886-02-23
General Grants Funeral Expenses.
THE FACT THAT THEY ARE o PAID
A At A PUBLIC MEETING.

The most interesting incident Of the
National Undcrtakers' Convention in
Philadelphia was the address of Rev.
Stephen Merritt, who was introduced as
''thc distinguished gentleman who bur
led Gen. Grant" Mr.. Merritt said of
the Gen. Grant funeral:
81 had the honor of burying Gen.
Grant. All the arrangements were left
to me. There was some criticism in
dulgcd in, but it was from people who
knew nothing. The keeping of the body
was perfectly satisfactory to the family
OF the General, the authorities and the
members of the press. l think it was a
mistake to have befled glasses above the
face, because they distorted the view.
The body vas ovcr-cmbalmcd rather
than under embalmcd. AS to the bill,
there were all sorts of gucsscs from
$500, 900 down and $50, 900 up. 1t
amounted to $14. 1853. 1 thought it
proper to make the bill reasonable and
right. | didn't want to make enough
profit on one funeral to keen me the rest
of my life, but 1 charged Il fair profit "a
little more than l would charge or other
funerals. | haven't the money, and don't
know when l am going to get it. The
bill was audited and sent to Washington,
but l haven't the money. 1 furnished
800 coaches, on which 1 got ten per
cent, the mount usually allowed us. I
want to say that all the blame about the
body not being properly embalmcd, etc,
cam frem members of the profession
who knew nothing, and didn't even see
the body"
The association passed a resolution
asking the government to pay Mr. Mer-
ritt's bill, and then adjourned.
The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1886-02-23
A Runaway Master.

The Southern Birouac tells the follow
ing story:
"A wcll-to-do farmer in Tennessee
owned II large number of slaves, and
among them one old darkey about his
own age, and whom he had known all
his life. Old Sam was Il faithful crea-
ture, a great favorite with his master,
and a sort of privileged character on the
plantation. The old fellow was in
dustrious and exemplary in his behavior
all the year round, except during that
period dating from the time when roast
lng-ears began to ripcn and the earliest
appearance of frost. Sam was invari-
ably seized at that period with an in
vinciblc desire to run away OF course,
in such a Gu c, the usual punishment in
fiictcd on runaway niggcrs' was not to
be thought of. Remonstrancc was un-
availing. Sam declared that 'hc jcs'
couldn't hep hisscf,' and it became ::
settled and understood arrangement
that he should go, and that the neigh
borhood should condone his raids on
corn-ticlds and potato patches. After
many such escapades, his old master
asked him on one OCCASION, when the
matter was under discussion :
oo", Wv SOo AS"'y ohJoS honAihS
away%
"'Decd, Marse john said Sam, Il
does. Hits de moas' fun in dc wurl'.
Coon huntin' amt nowhar to hit
"'Well, them said Marsc John, sjust
let me know the next time you take u
notion to start, and I'll go with you,
and try it awhile myself
"Sure enough, in due season, Sam
came up, saying:
"'Old Marsc, de times mighty nigh
when l 'bleeged to lite out. Eff you
gwine wild me, you better be gittin'
rcddy, for when de time comes 1 got to
80 quick
cold Marse' kept a bright lookout,
and when Sam started he was on hand.
They had a delightful time. They
tished occasionally, caught 'possums,
robbed orchards and watermelon and
potato patches, picked blackberrics for
recreation, and haunted the greenest
and shadiest hooks of the forest, all of
which Sam knew we'll. old Marse' had
never enjoyed n summer SO much. In
fact. he was so much pleased that rcgu-
larry afterward he accompanied Sam
when the latter went into annual retreat.
At length Sam died. The old master
grievcd for him sincerely. He was sad
also over the reflection that his summer
pastimc would in future be denied him:
But, to the amaZemcnt of all his friends,
and not less his own, when roasting-car
time came again, the fit seized him as
strong as ever, and he ran away by him
self"
The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1886-02-23
A Watering Place.

Carlsbad is very full this season, and
there are many American visitors. The
population proper number 12, ZOO. Till
the year 1852 visitors were welcomed
with a flourish of trumpcts from the top
of the tower Of the Town Hail; now
they receive a demand on arrival to pay a
tax of Is florins for the privilege of
drinking the waters and listening to the
bands which play in the morning. The
principal industry of Carlsbad is that of
housing, feeding, and curing invalids.
Though the place is small, as many as
10, 900 strangers, can be accommodated
at q time. During the season. which
begins on the LIST of May and closes
on the LIST of October, nearly
10000 persons spend not less than
three weeks in Carlsbad. There is a
great industry there in needles and pins,
which are hand made. When Goethe
was here in 1903 hc sent Il pound of pins
as q present to his Frau Won Stein.
The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1886-02-23
ANSON GREY.

Arson Grey was a still, stern man of
thirty, shut up within himself and by
himself, In his great stone mansion on
the hill, and people knew no more about
him than they knew about the dead.
His early years had been spent abroad
where or how, nobody knew, and most
had ceased to care, for that matter; the
last two had been passed in Burlingame.
A brilliant light at night. shining
from the great east windows, and occa-
sional gallops through the town by day,
were the only tokens of his presence.
However, a change was coming, and
that without warning. Arson Grey fell
sick, suddenly and dangerously so. The
village doctor was summoned, who in
turn tclcgraphcd for another from the
city in hot haste, and together they said
in whispers that their patient would
probably die. There was no woman in
the great house to act as a nurse, and
the head servant, obeying. DOUBTLESS,
his masters orders, refused to allow one
there as yet.
How it came about was a mystery, but
one morning, when the master had lain
a week, half scnseless, an unusual cloud
of dust was observed whirling up the
hill, and emerging thercfrom was a car
riagc, splashcd and weathcr-stained, head
ed by two straining, painting horses,
who came up to the entrance as if
driven by the evil one. A lady, tall and
fair as sunlight, pushed open the car
riagc door impatiently, and sprang out.
With a hasty glance around, she hurried
up the steps, entered the drawing-room,
and stood before the two astonishcd
gentlemen who were seated there.
lis Arson Grey alive"
eyes, but he grows worse"
Before they OWNED her intention she
had passed them and was in the next
room, bending over the sick man.
"The deuce will be to pay if she ex-
cites him now" the elder one said. "If
some good nurse had come it might have
bcen OF some use, but this dainty thing
-bahl"
She came out in a moment, her face
white but determined. (.
will you have the goodness to send
The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1886-02-23
The First Mammoth.

A Toongoosian fisherman named Schu-
machof, about the year 1909, was pro-
ceeding, as is the custom of fishermen
in those parts when fishing proves a fail
urc, along the shores of the Lena in
quest of mammoth tusks, which have
been there found in considerable abun-
dance. During his ramplcs, having gone
further han he had done before, he sud
denly came face to face with u huge
mammoth imbcdded in clear ice. This
extraordinary sight seems to have filed
him with establishment and awe, for in
stead of Mt once profiting by the fortu-
nate discovery, he allowed several years
to roll on before he summoned courage to
approach it closely, although it was his
habit to make stealthy Journeys occa-
~sionally to the object of his wonder. At
length, seeing, it is presumed, the terri
BILE monster made no signs of eating him
up, and that its tusks would bring him
a considerable sum of money, he allowed
the hope of gain to overcome his super
stitious scruples. He boldly broke tho
barrier of ice, chopped off the tusks,
and left the carcass to the mercy of he
wolves and bears, who finding it paiata-
bic, soon reduced the huge creature to a
skeleton. Some two years aftcrward a
man of science was on the scent, and
although so late in at the death, found
a huge skeleton with three logs, the
eyes still in the orbits, and the brain un-
injured in the skull.
The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1886-02-23
That Old Jib Again.

The Gloucester Advertiser tells this
veteran story Of the sea We heard n
good story the other day Of an indi-
vidual in Gloucester, who may be seen
every day on Main street. Some years
ago he made a fishing trip, and duringu
violent blow the Jill was torn. and the
skipper, not wishing to have the sal.
blow to pieces, ordered him 10 take it
in. "Great Scott wNs the response,
81 can't 60 out there in such q storm;
let the jib go and charge it IT, lnc, skip
per-" AS it was the only jib tn" skipper
had with him, and he was il: a place
where a jib WAS wanted, he got some
n else, to rescue it, but for q long time,
"Charge the jibrto me, skipper" was q
byword on board Of that craft.
The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1886-02-23

"Nave you called on the Browns yet?"
she asked, as the new minister was about
to take his leave, after making a call.
'Im just going" he replied. ''It's
the third house from the corner, I be-
licvc2"
"Yes-third house. They are very,
very nice people, and I know you'll like
EN-"
When the minister rang the bell there
was some delay in answering il. Mean
while the screen doors permitted him to
hear from the interior. Brown, who
seemed to be upstairs, called over the
banisters:
"Say, Helen, where in thunder is that
old vest l spoke of y
"Who src you talking tot" demanded
Il voice from below.
"To you, of course! If you were any
sort of a wife you'd put things where
they could be found"
Solomon Brown, don't you cast any
slurs on me. If l don't know more
about housekeeping han all the Browns
OH earth, I'll commit suicide"
"You do. eh? What did the pauper
Smiths have to keep house On"
Solomon, you are a vile wretchw
"Much obliged, but it's living with
you that's done it!"
At this juncturc the minister was
ushered in, and Mrs. Brown soon en-
tered the parlor, extended both hands,
and 2ayly exclaimed:
"Ah! I'm 80 glad! Solomon and 1
both wanted to see you so much! Solo
mon-Solly, dear, hurry up and com
down-our new preacher is hercI"
And Solomon came down, painted a
grin on his face, and greeted the good
man with:
WE'LL well! but this is good of you!
WHEY and l were just wishing you'd
call. We want to see if an effort cant
be made to increase the interest in the
Thursday evening prayer mectingsl"
The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1886-02-23
Christmas came, but death came wi

Christmas came, but death came with
1t, and Edith's lover went his long jour
ney, leaving his affianced bride and
schcming ann to console themselves
rs best they might.
In Il way mysterious to all save Will.
liam Skinner, Edith heard of Arson
Grcy's illness, and, as we have seen, went
to him and had the courage to become
his wife.
The people of Burlingamc learned to
love the gentle mistress of the old stone
mansion on the hill, and never a suffer-
ing one called for help in vain as long as
''my lady" as they called her, was mis-
tresS there.
The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1886-02-23
Fashion and Prices.

Two hundred and twenty-five dollars
was the price which the polite salesman
Of a fashionable uptown tailoring estab-
lshment said the other day a suit made
of such and such cloth in such and such
a way would cost a lsdy visitor.
"Bother2" said the lady. 81 won't
pay any snch price. l want something
like this l have on, and I paid only 800
for it,"
ooh, of course, you know" replied
the salesman, in a deprecatory way. and
with a profusion of bows. "But these
American-made goods"
"Why," interrupted the lady, 81
bought this suit at your branch house in
Paris only n month ago. Is all the extra
price here duty"
The salesman was fairly extinguished,
and could only gasp out:
ooh, you know, we'll, of course, as an
old customer, we cnn do it a little cheap
er for you; say $175"
"No.n
We'll. say $500"
emo"
II think we could do fe FIR $1e5,"
was the last offer; but the lady had
bowed her way out, and left the store.
The incident is only illustrative of
what some people will pay to be fashion
able. and how other people always stand
ready to let:them do it.-New York Com
me,cial Adoertiser.
ouR prayers and Gods mercv ara like two
buckets m . ven-whiie one asoends the 9th. =
Il, rcen,a &,
The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1886-02-23
GERMAN POTATOES IN NEW YORK
No Bigger than WnlnutS and Sold Mt the
Rate of S Cents II Pound.

1t may seem incredible to some of our
readers to learn that potatoes are i'm
ported ron Germany into this country,
h which no other portion of the globe
has more agricultural advantages, but
IL is the case. Whether the potato
grown On German soil possesses any par
ticular virturc not inherent in the Ameri-
can-grown tubcr, is Il question we are
not able to answer, but we do know that
certain classes of people. the world over
deem imported foods of every sort far
superior to home products. In England
and France, for instance, the label of
an American house claims the first con
sIdcration of the cpicurc in search of
something extra nice, and from our
foreign correspondents and personal OBJ
scrvation we learn that everywhere in
Europe American goods arc found on
sale In immense quantities. On the
other hand, it seems perfectly natural,
when we consider this vagary of human
nature, to find German potatoes, and a
thousand other articles we might namc,
in the New York markets, with plenty
of purchasers in the bargain.
Tho particular German potato VIC have
Ill mind has only lately aimed a prom
inent place on our list of imports. A
few years ago the receipts were from 25
to 30 bags yearly. Last year over 1000
bags of German potatoes were sold in
New York city alone, and this season
the sales have already reached that fig
urc, showing Il remarkably rapid increase
in their consumption. Noticing this in
crease, and desiring to find out the
cause Of their popularity, we called
upon an uptown grocer, who serves a
very particular class of trade, and asked
to see his Germany potatoes. He dis
played his samples upon a plate which
held n dozen or more tubers the size of a
walnut. We were surprised to learn
that this was the average size, and that
in spite of the seeming disadvantage in
this respect, the German potato was a
favoritc on the tables of several of his
wcalthier customers. He sells them by
weight, ut S cents a pound, md buys
them at three cents by the single bag, or
q cents a pound in 10 bag lots. Tho
bags will average about 100 pounds.
Regarding the demand, he Informed us
that at present his sales are one bag u
week, but during the winter season from
three to five bags. Curious to know
whether they were bought for any spec
ial object. we were informed that they
arc considered h finest potatoes for
salad, and arc principally used for that
purpose. Peeled and boiled in lard or
butter, whole without: slicing, they make
a specially attractive dish. Boiled and
served in their peel, and eaten with a
little butter and salt they are delightful.
Cooked this way the potato should be
broken apart with the hand, and not
cut with a nifc.-Met,vpolitun Grocer.
The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1886-02-23
FOOTSTEPS or ANGELS

When the hours OF Day are numbered, and
the voices Of the Night
Wake the better soul. that slumbered, to q
holy, calm delight;
Ere the evening lamps arc lighted. and, like
phantoms grim and tall.
Shadows from the titful fire light dance upon
the parlor wall;
Then the Forms Of the departed enter ut the
open door;
The beloved. the true-hearted, come to visit
me once more;
He, the young. and strong, who cherished noble
longings for the strife,
By the roadside fell and persisted, weary with
the march of life
They, tho holy ones and weakly, who the cross
of suffering bore,
Folded their pale hands SO mcelAy, spake with
us ON earth no more!
And with them tho Being Beautious, who unto
my youth was given,
More than all things else to love me, and is
now a saint in Heaven.
With a slow and noiseless footstep comes that
messenger divine,
Takes the vacant chair beside me, lays her
gentle hand in mine.
And she sits and gazes ut me with those deep
and tender eyes,
Like the stars, SO still and saint-like, looking
downward from tho skies.
Uttered not, yet comprehcndod, is the spirits
voiceless prayer,
Soft rebukes, in blessings ended, breathing
from her lips of air,
Oh, though oft depressed and lonely, all my
fears are laid aside,
II but remember only such as these have
lived and died!
LONGFELLow.
The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1886-02-23

A NICE LITTLE SToRY.-When Gen.
Washington was in New England no was
entertained at dinner by n country gen
tleman who lived comfortably but quiet
ly in his d-fashioned homo far from
town. When the General rose to go,
the little daughter of the host, not yet
in her teens, opened the door for him.
AS he passed out in his stately way he
bowed and said to the little maid: 81
wish youa better office. mydcar." srYes,
SIR" she quickly replied, with . bow,
ITO lot yoa in, sir."
The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1886-02-23

such she meant her daughter to be,
though for her life she could not keen
her from ferreting out and helping also.
an innumerable number of f%orlorn, pow
erty-stricken people, who had no earth
ly claim upon her, as they went their
fashionable rounds. 1t was mortifyin~
even exaspcrating, but she was power
less to prevent it. They were to be off
again soon, Arson Grey heard; but he
would have missed seeing her had he
not accidentally met her as she was
hurrying up the beach coward their
clearinghouse on the very day they
left. He could not let her 20 without
telling her what was in his heart.
May l speak to you a momcnt2" he
said, abruptly, stopping her.
Certainly"
AS the word left her lips she saw
what his speaking was going to be.
"Oh, not that, Mr.. Grey?"
Somehow he took courage from the
quick paling of her lips.
eyes, that l love you and want you
for my WIFE"
Il am to be married Christmasw
He turned md was leaving her when
something made her speak.
"Mr. Grcyw
He faced her again and she saw how
white and stern he looked.
"Had been free you would not have
asked in vain" -
For days and weeks afterwards Arson
Grey Rugged the memory of her look,
as she said those blessed words, to his
heart, caring for that than the
love and caress of any other.
The Daily telegraph. (Monroe, La.) 1870-1886, 1886-01-15

NEW YORK, Jan. I5.-An Alterts,
(Pa.) special 70 the HsAld etsts an
account Of = terrible cave, which oc-
CURED "wednesday skeqt hsllssst 4
O'Clock # Rittea House Gap, : small
village asar Red Lion'statlon, On the
Castusqua and Fogetsville road. 1t
happened In the ore mine owusds and
operatsd'by H. X HAftxsli, rf tjlis
place. and.buried quite 4 guumbsr ef
men,. Intense excltemsat pttsAilsa,
Latgs gangs Of men have been put to
wqslEto rescue these who are sntaAbed
in the slope, which is bsafiy 800
fsst deep. The cause of'the cave go
not b accounted for, as.it was:i upe ii
best in this ore region. Trhem,reyeve
ewploymept to . large number Of men
but fortunately most Of them left work
at noon yesterday. q! :.
49,
The Daily telegraph. (Monroe, La.) 1870-1886, 1886-01-15

RICHMOND, ian: 15:-Ths supreme
Court of virgiu!a Wednesday rendered
. decision In the case OF Grssnhew,
State treasurer, vs. vAshon,5 ID the
'.taaaser=of State debt. FFisey, hold: II
The contract q Aarsb ar is7is psdSr
which coupons. receivable for taxes
were issued, did nqt have the essential
element Of valid confederation, aud
they would bold the fupding act Of
sMarch'sl, 1871, invalid an lllekal. 3.
That coupons could not be received
10 payment ofthat portion. of STATE
taxes set apart'iby the constitution ii
Visiniuia forstheemaiaseuauce of pub
lie 'free schools Judge Richardson
delivered the opinion Of the court,
: Judge Lewis, president OF the court,
alone dissenting. :. :.