davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Opelousas courier., 1886-09-11
Luck and Chance.

Oddly enough, the believers in luck
show by the forms which their belief
take that in reality they have no faith in
luck any more than men really have faith
in superstitions which yet they allow to
influence their conduct. A superstition
is an idle dread or an equally idle hope,
not a real faith; and in like manner is it
with luck. A man will tell you that at
cards, for instance, he always has such
and such luck but if you say: LET us
have a few games to see whether you
will have your usual lcck;sa you will
usually find him unwilling to let you APP
ply the test. # you try it, aud the re-
suit ID unfavorable, he argues that such
peculiarities Of luck never do show them
selves when submitted to fest. On
the other hand, if it SO chances that
on that particular occasion he has the
kind of luck which he claims to have
always, he expects you to accept the
evidence as decisive. Yet the result
means in reality only that certain events.
the chances for and against which were
probably pretty equally divided, las
taken place.
The Opelousas courier., 1886-09-11
The Sleeping Disease.

There is asingular and invariably fatal
malady, called lethargus, peculiar to the
negroes of certain districts on the west
ern coast of Africa, which has never, we
believe, been noticed in the medical
journals Of this country except in the
Massachusetts Medical Journal, from which
we copy. But this is not surprising,
when we consider that a knowledge Of
it is practically ~unimportant to the pro-
fession outside of the districts where it
occurs. As a curiosity, however, in the
form of a disease, it cannot fail, we think,
to interest the medical faculty of our
country, and we therefore present, in
brief, the main facts concerning this
singular disorder. As the name implies,
the principal, and in fact the only, symp-
tom that presents itself is lethargy; and
one case is essentially a stereotype of all.
The patient, usually a male adult, is
seized, without any ~premonitory symp-
tons, with a sensation of drowsiness,
which continues rapidly to increase, in
spite of all efforts to throw it off, until
he sinks into a profound and seemingly
natural sleep. This continues for about
tw~enty-one days, when death takes place.
Throughout the course of the disease, the
patient preserves a quiet and peaceful
eountenance, may be easily aroused for a
short time, will take n~ourishment, and
generally answer a few questions in a
perfectly rational manner. The pulse,
respiration and temperature remain nor
NAL throughout, the pupil is neither di-
lated nor contracted to any noticeable
extent. With the exception of the alb
normal tendency to sleep, nothing exists
to denote disease. -
Many careful post mortem examine
tions have been made by competent men,
but nothing of an abnormal character
hiss been found, while every remedy
that could possibly be of any avail has
been used without auy apparent benef-
cial effect. They sleep on, and quietly
glide into eternity in spite of profess
sional skill.
The Opelousas courier., 1886-09-11
Back Var Farming.

There is q wood-engraver who for
many years lived down town in a cheap
flat. Two years ago he got a five years
lease Of q cottage in Harlem. 1t is a lit
tie place, but with quite an extensive
yard behind it. He took me through it
the other day, and / was amazed at the
laxuriance Of his garden. It was sym
metricalIy planted, and only with useful
growth. No space was wasted on the
merely beautiful. Cabbages and peas
and leans there were, and half of it was
filed with growing corn, but there was
not a flower in sight. In the plats
around the fences grew tomatoes, and
the door yard was planted with turnips
and radishes. He gets, he tells me, all
the vegetables he needs, except potatoes,
out of this plot. Potatoes are two cheap
and potato-bugs too common to be worth
the risk. He pays a little more rent for
bis cottage than he did for the fat, but
he takes another & to board, and
that more than makes up the difference.
Tf he has luck with his plantation, be ex-
poets, by the time his lease is out, to be
able to buy his cotsage with the savings
on his grocery bills.-NeU York Nescs.
The Opelousas courier., 1886-09-11

There are in the United States thirty
three counties whose agricultural pro-
ducts amount in value to over 81, 600, 900.
or the thirty-three the State of New
York furnishes fourteen, Pennsylvania
seven, Illinois six, California and Massa-
chusetts two each and Michigan and Con
necticut one each. OF these rich counties,
Lancaster, in Pennsylvania, leads all the
rest, her agricultural products, according
to tho census Of 1880, amounting to
80, 800, 202. IL ii important to know
what is raised IN the rich counties. Ian
caster raises vast amounts of tobacco
twice as much as any other county in the
United States. The county also raises
vast quantities Of corn, oats, wheat, and
about 40, 900 cows make enormous quanti-
ties of milk, butter, and cheese.
The Opelousas courier., 1886-09-11

The Mosquito Reservation Of Nicara-
qua takes its name from the Mosquito
Indians, to whom il belongs. It
stretches for nearly two hundred mile
along the coast Of Nicaragua, and e.
tends back to the mountains. It is
Watered By numerous majestic rivers, and
its front aboands Id fine harbors. The
chief Of the Mosquitoes is its hereditary
President, and he governs with the
assistance of j Vice-President, d Chief
Justice, an Attorney-General and q Coun-
ell elected BY the people. The indie
pendence Of the country is guaranteed
by Nicaragua, Great Britain and Austria.
III ii the only country on earth where there
are no taxes. Not q dollar of taxation is
levied on either real q personal prop
!erty. and the OILY vestige Of the burden
which is escaped nowhere else is q poll
tax III - upon every man who votes ~ q
citizen.
The Opelousas courier., 1886-09-11
An Alaska Death Tran.

Fancy a sea in which there is no swim,
ming, and a sea into which you may
plunge W A man is Looping over
the green prairie, looking out from under
his broad sombrero at the lazy cattle and
the prairie dogs playing in the sun.
Suddenly there is a sound like a giants
throat swallowing a choking shout of
terror. The prairie dogs run into their
holes, and a moment later come out eau
tiously, curious and frightened. The
tall, reed-like grass is waving where the
horse and rider were just now. The an
telope IN the crest of the divide yonder,
look around them watchfully. But there
is nothing to ftar-no man in sight. He
is going to town, that rider, with the
wages of a hard winters work in his
pocket, riding his favorite broncho,
dressed in the buckskins he had fringed
IN the winter evenings, ready to show
the foolish girls how brave he looked in
his rude attire. Where is he now-he
and his horse2 In a grave Of Shiny,
shivering mud; alkali paste, blue with a
nameless tint of putrld death, has filed
his throat-coyered his eyes before he
could close the lids.
What docs this mean-som hideous
freak of nature-some work of a friend
endowed with a moments power2 No;
only an alkali sink; only a natural well
filed with a paste as yielding as water.
Picture to yourself the surface setting
back to its normal quietude with an in
describable gulp, a ghoul-like smacking
OF grave lips. A grave that supplies it.
self with dead-a grave that buries al
most before it kills an Unsuitable, bot
tomless grave, set like a trap for the
livingl The sinkhole is not always v
cred with grass; sometimes it has a
caked aad scanned crust of BLUSH white
alkali on top of it. But even that is a
poor safeguard, for the long green grass
around it will hide it from the rider until
it is to late to avoid it.
The tenacity of this paste of mud is
something incredible. / have never seen
a man caught in a sink-hole, but I have
seen a man ride to the edge of one. dis
cover it too late to turn his horse, and,
shaking himself loose in the saddle, vault
over the horn pommel when the pony
was caught, striking the ground be-
yond the sink-hole. There were twenty
men there, and before the horse had sunk
far there were half a dozen fast to him.
Half a dozen strong ponies can pull al
most anything, but they could not draw
that horse back from the grave that was
closing oyer him. There is a strange
suction about this alkali mud-it holds
all it grasps with a horrible pertinacity.-
San Francisco Ingleside.
The Opelousas courier., 1886-09-11
SelE-Cure.

The body, to a large extent, is a ma
chine which, when disarranged, repair
itself. Physicians tell us of the Wis med
icatrix nature-the power to heal in
herent in nature. 1t is natural to ge
we'll. The body's recuperative~ resources
are not equal to every need, but they are
very great. It is because of this ever
that the we'll man tends to keep well, il
he conforms to natures laws, for the sys
tenn is ever full of poison from its owr
waste, the disposal of which nature has
provided for better than any city has
for the disposal of it's deadly sewage.
Take the case of any ordinary wound,
It needs only to have its disrupted part:
brought together, and nature does the
healing; and even in many cases where
the parts are not brought together, ma.
ture fills up the space with new flesh. Sc
nature will mend a broken bone, on the
simple condition that the adjusted parts
be allowed the requisite rest.
Dyspepsia, whether induced by i'm.
proper eating, the neglect of exercise,
brain over-work, or care, worry and fret,
will in time wholly disappear on removal
L S"uoo anu SomPlAoAIo WA'a IhS
laws of nature.
The best physicians now freely admit
that typhoid patients, in the great majority
of cases, would recover without a drop
of medicine; that they need medicine
merely to promote ease and comfort, and
that pure air is better for them than all
drugs. The same is true of some other
diseases. More and more is it being adj
mitted that, in no case, do drugs have
any curative power, but only aid nature,
as the surgeon aids in the cas of a badly
broken limb, by removing irritating bits,
spicule, etc, and securing the proper
adjustment and f~xation of the parts.
The old-time doctors greatly over-dosed
people in mu titudes of cases literally
dosed people to death. Within less than
twenty years a personal friend, called to
watch with a neighbor far gone in con
sumption, was shown eleven different
medicines, each of which she was to adj
minister during the night, according to
the varying symptoms.
It cannot be too strongly emphasized
that those who observe the laws of their
physical nature are likely to keep we'll
and even infectious diseases have little
power over such persons. and would
wholly disappear if all observed these
laws Youths Companion.
The Opelousas courier., 1886-09-11
it cracked whenever he moved and kept
itself before him.

it cracked whenever he moved and kept
itself before him.
He found himself growing more and
more ayerse to waiting till evening to
solve it's contents, and it was only half
past eleven when he went up the Kinslers'
front walk and rang the bell.
lie caught a glimpse of a blonde face
in the parlor-window, against q blue
plush background, but it vanished.
When he was shown into the room,
Miss Kinsler was standing ut the extreme
further end of it.
didn't expect you so soon" she
said.
But something in her manner-or per-
haps it was her pretty morning dress and
careful toilet-intimated that she had.
Then she went on, bravely:
IL shall be so sorry | troubled you if
| am mistaken, but thought--that per-
haps-that it was ON account of that ink
stand That you have been staying away
SOP
He did not laugh at her abruptness.
SIT was" he said soberly.
"You saw it at the Gosses'?" she
said, eagerly.
Benson nodded. He began somehow
to feel rather ashamed of himself.
"And you thought I had given it to
Pet to play with!" she went on, looking
at him with wide blue eyes. ooh, no
oh, MOI" She came a step nearer, in her
earnestness. "He took it; I don't know
howl didn't see him. l never would
have let him have it. And little Mabel
Gosse took it home, and it was sent back
the next day, and put away in the store
room by somebody without being un-
done. 1 found it there yesterday, with
Mrs. Gosse's note tied up in it, and I
thought that maybe you-that maybe it
was that"
Her voice had been getting more and
more unmanageable. She broke down
at that point, and sank down on a chair,
in a storm Of tears.
Benson stood staring at her he'olessly
for a moment; then he crossed t.B Dom,
and Carrie found herself suddenly trans
posed from an ordinary existence into
the heart of a novel, and with the proper
person for the hero. Only, in this case,
there was no irate parent to burst into
the room, running over with vengeance.
Their course of true love promised to run
on thereafter with the utmost smooth
ness.-EmmG a. Opper.
The Opelousas courier., 1886-09-11

Some enterprising people in Belgium
have applied the telephone to a novel
use. Little bells are supplied and fitted
to the bed of all who desire to rise early
in the morning but cannot do so of their
own accord. a certain time is fixed and
communicated to the central station, and
at the precise moment agreed upon the
current is turned on and the bells com
mence to ring, and continue doing SO
until the slumberer awakes, leaves his
couch and informs the head office that
he has had enough.
The Opelousas courier., 1886-09-11

The Los Angeles (Cal.) Herald men
tions a plant which is said to be a sure
cure for snake bites. The plant is called
the stspider lily and displays a beauti-
ful flower that makes it a fine ornament
for yards and gardens. The leaves can
be dried and preserved for years. When
needed for a sting or a bite they can be
moistened and applied in the form Of .
poultice TO the wound. IF used when
green there 10 40 necessity for moisten-
ing the plant, as all that is necessary is
to bruise the leaves and apply them to
the wound.
The Opelousas courier., 1886-09-11

A photograph album as ID an album
has been completed in New York. and
is thus described aJust before Mrs.
william X. Vanderbilt went 10 Europe
this spring she had Mr. Mora, the we'll
known photographer, prepare probably
the finest photograph album ever made.
Il was nearly j yard ii length and almost
81 wide, with heavy clasps there were
four large pictures about eight inches
auara ON each page The photographs
were 81 TIE guests that attended the
great and never-to-b e.forgotten ball in
masquerade costume. As d souvenir of
the occasion aud work of art il Is invalu-
abe. II Is worth about Il 900. The
arsA picture II u Mrs. Vanderbilt u her
beaatifaI costume, surrounded by white
Dawes two conspicuous pictures are Of
Eady Vaudeville ID ) handsome court
dFsss. surrounded by i frame represents
Y ala picture. Anothsr particularly
attfaktixe picture Is of hrs. James
6rowa Pottag = 4 mandolin player. The
ssoFg " faany lsfs may be read i'll look
ia8 eXex tbs book ~ II Is but three
gsafs 0Id These ElAraa ladies arc eniov.
AsHaen society u tie utmost juss
A9N ana are entertaining each other.
sas ars sxpeetaa Eaa this
kN''NtFy eh8nk che safza g1
The Opelousas courier., 1886-09-11

A Berlin surgeon has discovered the
art Of repairing and remod cling noses OF
all sizes and ages. He car take a nose
shaped like an artichokc, and by his
peculiar method turn it into a beautiful
and really classic snout. He bars moth
ing. The fact of the matter is he invites
the hideous, and pays a premium for it.
The man with a twisted like a
gourd handle OF rams horn is his pleas
ure. The man with no nose at all is his
delight and JOY.
The Opelousas courier., 1886-09-11
Land that Initiates the Sea.

Near Cannelton, Beaver County, is a
piece of land, the surface of which pull
safes like the waves of the ocean, or as
if breathing. There is, however, weeks
5stween breaths, so to speak, and all
III b asals are followed by explosions
that are heard for a considerable distance,
This freak of nature comprises a portion
of the farms of Burns White, who be.
lieves it to be due to natural gas, which
is found in paying quantities on adioin-
ing farms.-BrmJord Penn Era.
The Opelousas courier., 1886-09-11

Peter Elwanger, a market man at
Bowles market, Louisville, is the pos
SCISSOR of a silver dollar coined in 1904,
which he refused to sell for $500. The
coin came into his possession through an
aged relative in Indiana, who has owned
it for over fifty years. There are but
seven pieces of this date in existence,
and they are valued at ST. 900 each by
coin collectors. Henry Stochhof offers
to buy the coin for $500.
The Opelousas courier., 1886-09-11
A Cat Whipped BY Sparrows.

A large house cat belonging to j. r.
Williams, Of streator, according to o
Delaware newspaper, was attacked by
two sparrows. The birds plunged theil
bills into the animals thick fur many
times, drawing blood freely. The cal
squalled and tumbled over on its back,
trying To beat off the sparrows with its
paws. Its little enemies, however, easily
eluded its blows and continued TO stall
il with their bills. AZ last the cat ran
OF and hid under ) fence, The gparrowt
hen flow away.
The Opelousas courier., 1886-09-11

The enterprising editor Of the Valley
Falls (Kan.) Register thus takes his read
ers into his confidence: aour receipts
being reduced, the editor arose with the
sun Monday morning, and, with his lit
tie pop, sent a bullet crashing through
d fine rabbit, sent by the hand of Him
who seeth the sparrow fall, and meat be-
came plenty in our larder. There was
joy in our household, and fresh meat
plenty once .more.n
The Opelousas courier., 1886-09-11

Apparently in the way of consolation
to the exiled French Princes, the Pail
Mall GGsette's statistical editor illustrates
the fate of Kings and Emperors as fol-
lows: Of the 2, $50 Kings and Emperors
reported in history, 800 were overthrown,
"a forced to abdicate, % committed sui
cine, % became insane or imbecile, 100
were killed in battle, 1873 were captured
by the enemy, 90 were tortured to death,
Isl were assassinated and 108 executed.
The Opelousas courier., 1886-09-11
ASPIRATION.
Soul of the sea in air,
Cloud rose tinted and fair,

Soul of the sea in air,
Cloud rose-tintsd and fair,
Or dark with summer showers,
Quickening the grass and flowers,
Oh that a soul for me
Might rise, as thou from the sea,
And make the world more fair
To hearts that are bowed with care
Then pass from sight again,
And be to the souls of men
What thou with thy summer showers
Art to the grass and flowers!
n. l.. Carton, in Lippimcott.
The Opelousas courier., 1886-09-11
ST. MARY'S
OPELOUSAS, La.

OPELDUSAS, la.
The course of instruction in this Institution enbraca,
English, French, Latin, Greek, Arithmetic, AIgebra
Geometry, Book excepting. Natural Sciences, History
Geography, PenmanshiD. and great care is bestowed
on Christian Instruction.
T~ERMs:-Bonrd and tuition per month aI5: Dav
Scholars per month, 81, SO or 81, according to class
Glasses are resumed on Wednesday. September 18th
1886. REV. g. RAYMOND, d. D..
Rev. 4. J. RAYMOND.
HENRY g.. LEWIS,
Aug. 20, 1885. A. BLANC DUqUEsNAY.
The Opelousas courier., 1886-09-11
0PELOusAS FEMALE INSTITUTE,

Opetousas 81. Landry Parish, La.
FllHiS Institution will resume dnties Monday. San.
l. tembsr 9th, 1856, under the Immediate Supervision
of Mrs. M. NJ. Hayes and Mrs. NJ. A. Davis, with
competent assistants The scholastic year consists al
forty weeks.
TERMS OF TUITION:
Preparatory Department. per month. ............ 81. 80
Academic .. 4 10
Music, with use of piano 90 ' SIN
Boarding, including washing, light and fuel - 6 90
Embroidery. wax flowers, %paintiGg, drawing,
eacn, 30, 10. 90
4hciuehtai LOG
DISCIPLINE:
The government of this school is strict but parental.
no hard tasks or restrictions are imposed, but everv
student must comply with the rules, and must prapsrs
up to he measure of her ability, the lessons assigned
Oar course of study and meds of instruction are to
train the mind to habits of correct think ing and thor.
oagh investigation. No student will be allowed to an.
Ter higher classes without thorough preparation, Pa.
rents and guardians may rest assured that the manners.
health and morals of the children aud wards shall re.
ceive due attention.
No deduction for absence. unless in case of protract.
ed illness. The location of the town is heajtbfui and
easy of access. The boarding department is undsr ths
immediate charge of Mrs. Hayes. Blarders will M
vide themselves with blankets and towels. For mar.
ticulars address
MRS. NJ. M. HAYES.
July 2a3SnoV 2'F3 Principal.
The Opelousas courier., 1886-09-11
Reward OF s5O-.Fifiy Dollars

rs OFFERED by tho Central st. Landry ProtectiEs
Il Live Stock Ass, ciation, for evidence that will lead
to the apprehension and conviction of amy persons
guilty of cutting wire fences or stealing horses orcat-
tie belonging to any member of said Association. A
record of the brands of members of the Assooiat,9ns
may be seen ut the 10 lse of the. Secretary, Jno. a
Ware. in Bellevue. or at the Clerks oficei n Opel0usas.
I. Il. SHUTE, JNO. III. WAKE, Secg....
Pres't. u.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-12-05

. dozen for making them I can make two dozen
. day sometimes, but ine ones not over dozen.
though they pay so cents You wonder how they
make anything. I've been forewoman and know
the prices. Why even at 40 cents pair they make
on them. Twenty-one yards OF cloth at cents
makes dozen that's 81 05. and eighteen yards
of edge at 4a cents that's 81 cents and the making
35 cents; that's 81 81. Thread and all. they won't
cost over 81 25, and they sell at wholesale at
SO dozen and retail at 81 so. There's profit
even when you think a cent couldn't be made
Take skirts. three yards of cloth IN each at cents
They pay 80 cents dozen for tucking; IS cents a
dozen for ruff ing and 30cents for scanning 50 cents
dozen for the entire skra and the clotn makes 1t at
Is cents piece, SO OIL for the dozen. Those skirts
retail at 60 cents apiece, an Wholesale at so cents
There's profit on them al, no matter what they say
for I've figured every penny over and over, Down TO
tae tape and thread But they swear to you thew
are ruined. by competition, and 30 the wages go
down and down and down. Leave the cityf L
don't know how to live any where else I've never
learned. It's something TO be sure of your work,
even if it is starvation wages. But there's distress
all around me. don't see what it means. There's
girl in the next to me. with an invalid
mother She does flannel shirts. but before she got
them she nearly starved on underwear. Now she
earns a dollar day, but she works fourteen hours
for it, seven cents an hour That's nice pay in a
Christian land Christian. Bah! l used to
believe there was Christianity. but I've given it up.
like many another There's just one religion left.
and that Is the worship of money. The Golden
Calf is God. and every man sells his soul for
q chance to bow to il. l don't know but what
would myself. So far I've kept decent. l came of
decent folks but It's no fault of many a man that
I've worked for that can say so still. I've had TO
leave three places because they wouldn't let me
alone. and stay where am now because they're
quiet respectable people. ana no outrageousness.
But if you know what it all means wish you'd
tell me, for I'm dazed. and can't make out the
reason Of any thing any more"
In the same house widow with three children,
the father killed by falling from a scaffolding,
earns 80 cents day by making automobiles, and
above her is another well past sixty. whose trade
and wages are the same. How they live. what they
wear. how they are fed. on this amount, is yet
TO be told, but everv detail waits and having
gathered them from tres and other women in like
case. | am not yet prepared to believe that they
live at ease. or that the hue and cry about so
much restitution aud misery. aud the INSCRIPTIONS
greed OF employ ers. is groundesa"