davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-09-09
The Peculiar Man,

The peculiar man is public nuisance.
He obtrudes his popularity on all occa-
sions with the same sort of pride that
causes a Ncapoltan bcggar to glory in
the display of some ghastly dcformity.
The peculiar man glorics in his pecu-
liarity-he calls it indiviluality-and
AYERS, very truth;ully, that nothing should
make a man sacrifice his individuality.
He quotes, "The leopard cannot change
his spots" and so emphasizes his peculi-
arities.
The peculiar man invariably has the
most remarkable set of principles. True,
one should have principles; but it re-
mains the province OF popularity to force
its principles down the helpless throat of
its neighbor. Our peculiar man accounts
for all his unpleasant traits by the stock
remark: ooh, you know, lam peculiar
man." Aud so he is peculiarly disagree
able.
The leopard's spots arc born with him;
the blemishes on the peculiar man are US
ually the product of cultivation, and ex-
aggerated to form an excuse for bad
temper, obstinacy, or some equ, lily un :
pleasant trait, only permissible without
reproof, behind the shelter of peculiar
ity.
What right has any man to claim a
monopoly of traits, either good or bad 7
A man goes about growing at every
thing-a perfect bear-never a pleasant,
civil word for anyone. 'But then he is
a peculiar man." A man eats at out
rageous hours, it is all right. He is pc
culiar. A man drinks everything or
nothing, goes nowhere or everywhere, has
bad manners, bad habits, bad clothes; but
claims popularity and feels himself safe
ly hedged from criticism, and entirely
exempt from the duties owed by the civ
ilized commonplace man to his fellows.
This sketch is not funny, it isn't intend
ed to be funny-it is ral.--PAiladel'
phia Call.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-09-09
PhotOgraphing from n Balloon.

From paper in the Century we quote
as follows: "The mountains crossed in
this delightfully."- easy manner, we were
over the town of Bloomfield; and an ex-
posurc was made on what seemed to us a
fnc type of the better class of New Eng
land homestead, which, with its large
fields, trim fences, and ample buildings,
was directly below us. This view taken
at the height of one mile. is wonderfully
distinct, when we consider the distance
of the objects from the camera, the con-
ditions necessary to the taking of an in
Simultaneous picture, and our very I'M
steady support. The stone and rail
fences, bounding the fields Of all sizes
and shapes are shown with great sharp
ness. The pas'ur meadow, and cult
waited land are plainly indicated; also
the curiously regular arrangement Of the
crops. The trim and regular appearance
of the orchards is we'll contrasted with
the variety and freedom of growth in
the woodland; and the Photographic
effect of the autumnal coors is indicated
by the foliage of group of white
birches near the centre Of the view, as
contrasted with the dark, unchanged
green of the orchards.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-09-09
Letters and Numbers.

The Greeks used the letters of the
alphabet for numerals. The cumbersome
system used by the Romans, and called
after them, consisted of strokes q II =
III IIID to indicate the four fingers,
and two strokes joined V) to represent
the hand, or five fingers. Ten was a
picture of two hands, or two VS. (N.
But when the Romans and Greeks work.
ed at the higher mathematics or attempt
cd hard sums in arithmetic, they are much
more likely to have used letters, in order
to avoid the clumsiness of these numerals
in other words, they used what looked
like kind of algebra. We know that
they tried to simplify the Roman nu-
merals at Rome by making four and nine
with three strokes instead of four, by
placing an before the V and an before
the Y Nv and IX).
Our use of the numerals which we call
"Arabic" is comparatively recent, and it
is believed that the Arabs got these num-
bers from India several centuries after
the Koran was written, or about eight
hundred years after Christ.
Whether the Indian numerals were
originally part Of some ancient alphabet,
Or series of shortened signs originally
somewhat like the Roman numerals that
we still use, is not really decided.
The numbers used by the people OF
India who wrote in Sanskrit were very
like the figures 1, 2, 8, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, o,
and 0, that we use to-day. Even cioset
resemblances will be found if one goes
back to the earliest forms of our numer-
ais; for, during the last thousand years,
our numbers have undergone some slight
changes. Together with these numerals,
the Arabs learned from India how to do
sums by algebra. For algebra, though
an Arabic word, is science of which
the Arabs were ignorant before they
reached India.
1t may be said that the invention of
these numerals and of algebra for the
higher mathematics stamps the old Hin
docs as one of the most wonderful races
| of the world.-St. Nicholas.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-09-09
Had Never Been Introduced.

A good-natured newspaper chap was
at picnic and rashly spoke to young
lady without the formality of an intro
duction. He happened to see great
fat caterpillar crawling on her lace collar,
and jumping toward her said:
MADAM, permit me to-
But the young lady waved him off
with an imperious and insulting gesture
and said: GLOW dare you speak to me
without an introduction. You are GER
tainly no gentleman, STRIP
Here the caterpillar overbalanced
itself and fell down her neck.
"Youchl Oh! Help! Take it off Oh,
please do take it off, somebody" scream
ed the fair one. The newspaper man
was the only somebody" around and he
said: 81 couldn't think of it, madam
haven't been introduced to the cater
pillar. - Chicago Tribune
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-09-09
Raising Tea.

Tea planting, in the preliminary stages,
is very similar to coffee planting. The
ground is cleared and the plants laid out
in the same manner. Many of the old
coffee estates IL the island of Ceylon are
being abandoned and tea put in the place
of coffee. The climate is found to be
admirably suited for the tea known as
Assam hybrid, which is cross between
the indigenous Assam and the China va
riety, the former being more of shrub
than the latter; but China tea also grows
well, and it is used principally for mix
ing. The most important part of tea es-
tate is the tea house. Here are the rolling
machines, the frames in which the tea is
dried and where all the sorting takes
place. Everything must be scrupulously
clean. When flush is on, i. e., when
the little delicate "tips" appear on the
shrub, women are sent out with large
baskets and these little clips" one long,
one short, and one shorter still, are
nippcd off by them. Their clothes and
their finger nails must be looked after
or else they will taste the tea They then
carry the leaves to the tea houses where
they arc spread out on shelves to wither,
after this arc put in copper pan and
slightly heated over a charcoal fire; then
comes the rolling, and the next operation
is to dry them over slow fire. The final
stage is reached when they arc "sieved"
and sorted into the different grades pre-
paratory to being shipped to market.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-09-09
A Small Mistake.

A young teacher in one of our primary
departments spent the greatest part OF
en- afternoon in describing the appear,
ance and habits of the mole to her class,
And when she had finished, she said
snow, children, want you all to try
and remember what | have told you, fol
! shall call upon one of you to repeat il
tomorrow"
Accordingly on the morrow she began
by asking, "What did l talk about
yesterdayl"
Up flew dozen hands in tho air,
signifyiug that the owners were ready
with the answer. "You may tell me,
Carrie" said the young teacher, singing
out 5-year-old who had seemed un,
commonly eager to be singled, and the
5-year-old, with beaming smile, in q
loud and cheerful voice, proclaimed "a
wart2"-Huper's Bdzar.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-09-09
A Musical Mouse.

An animal that sings like canary and
belongs to the family of rodents, but I'M
like them is endowed with the power of
song, exists in Santa Rosa, Cal. There
are very few of these little animals; in
fact, they are so scarce that they are re-
gardcd in the light of curious phenom-
cna.
One Of these little natural curiosities
has taken up its abode in DR.. Caldwelrs
dentistry, says the Santa Rosa Democrat.
Some five months ago the doctors atten-
ton was attracted by what seemed to DO
The singing of canary in the near neigh
borhood, and at the same time he noticed
n little mouse that was in the habit Of
scampering across AMI around the office
at all times Of the day. The mouse did
not annoy him in the least, but for the
sake of ladies who came to the office he
thought he would trap the inoffensive
little thing. On coming to the office one
morning he forgot to look at the trap as
usual, but soon his attention was called
to it by the peculiar sounds that were
issuing therefrom.
At first he thought 1t was the canary
bird he had been attracted by for some
months past, but on going to the mouse
trap he saw the author of the music.
The trap contained n singing mouse, the
only one known on this coast.
The little fellow was kept in the trap
for over month, during which time he
entertained his captor with his songs.
At the end of this time the care of him
became too much for the doctor, so one
morning he turned him loose. But great
indeed was his surprise when on entering
the office the next morning he found the
trap again occupied by the singer.
He was turned loose again, but the
next morning was back again, and so it
continued. The little fellow goes to his
trap every night and is let out in the
morning. The song of the mouse differs
somewhat from that of the feathery
songstcrs, but in its difference is its
beauty.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-09-09
What She Was Thinking About.

lie was rather sentimental, and he and
his friend were in the park. A little
way off two ladies were seated. One of
them was very pensive and extremely
pretty. She was resting her cheek on
hcr hand, and her eyes were full of far.
of contemplation.
"She is pretty, isn't she1" said he.
BY Jove, I'm falling in love with that
ri. / wonder who the fellow is she's
thinking about2 l say, wouldn't it be
pleasant to think pretty girl like that
could sit and dream about you as she's
dreaming about sombodyl Let's walk
past and look at her."
So they walked slowly past. The
maiden was still wrapt in contemplation,
aud as they passed, her companion said,
quite distinctly:
Snow, Emily, this is all foolishness.
Let's 60 in to d., and let him take
the tooth out. San Francisco Chronicle.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-09-09
Curing EpileDsy.

At meeting of the British Medical
Association at Brighton, Mr.. Victor
Horslcy F. R. S. Surgeon to the Ma
tional Hospital for the Paralyzed and
Epilcptic, exhibited three patients
treated in that hospital, whose recovery
may be said to mark the commencement
of new era in surgery. They are men
who have been suffering from severe
epileptic fits, and in whom Mr.. Horsey
has opened the skull and has removed
diseased structure or new growth from
the brain ITSELF
In the most recent Of these three the
operation was performed on the 18th,
so that complete month has since
elapsed; and the patient was sufficiently
well to take the journey to Brighton.
The other two cases were operated upon,
one a week or two ago and the
other several weeks earlier; and in none
of the three has there been any symptom
to interfere with the prompt and COM
plcte recovery. So far also, the men
are cured of their epilepsy; but con-
siderable time must be permitted to
clapse before any claim for permanencA
of result can be established. What i
actually proved at present is that it has
become possible, by the observation of
symptoms, not only to determine Its pre-
else position with such accuracy that it
can be cut down upon and removed. It
is also proved that considerable portions
of brain may be removed without injury,
the functions to which these portions are
subservient being performed, after a
while, very possibly, by co responding
parts of the opposite hemisphere. Lon
don Times.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-09-09
Danish cloth is sho, vn with printed de.
,gns as well as in plai n colors.

Danish cloth issho, yn with printed de-
signs as well as in plai n colors.
Ribbon continues in high favor as an
accessory of day and ey ening dresses.
silk gloves have CHI emile figures in
bright colors embroider ID on the arm.
Black fans edged will Chantilly
lace are covered with tiny gold spangles.
Dog collars Of beads OF every decrip-
tion have pendants and e'paulcts to cor
respond.
Invisible nets, poir d'esprit and
halines sauzo arc uso d for wells with
bonnets and hats.
Crepe ruching, arranged in shell
forms, is in all the evening colors, and
also in dark red and yellow.
Null fchus in 'bue and gray are
knotted about the throat when dust
renders travelling troublesome.
Some of the French bridal robes
have the font Of thc petticoat and train
of brocadcd silkN outlined with silver
thread
Overdresscs of black silk are worn
over white watercd silk skirts, bordered
with black velvet covered with passe-
mcntcric.
Gauzc fans in all colors are painted
with bird and flower fancies, and the
edgeis cut out followlngrthe contour of
the design.
Crepe dc chine continues in favor with
women who are well dressed, and it will
be largely used for overdresscs with silk
and velvet skirts.
Cream crepe lissc ruching is two 10,
deep, each row bordered with steel or
garnet beads with bosses to correspond
at intervals below the border.
Partisan brides are discarding the
costly but unbccoming lace veil for the
airy tulle, which envelopes the figure
with delicate cloud-like effect
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-09-09

Captain Wallacc's niece, a young En-
glish girl, married sea-captaln and went
in his sailing vessel with her sband,
visiting many countries with him. On
her first trip, when she was yet young
bride, there was mutiny, and her hus-
band was wounded or knocked senseless
in his cabin. The sailors were about to
spring down the companion-way into the
cabin, when the young woman barred
the way, pistol in hand. and promised to
shoot the first man who moved towards
her She held them thus at bay till
wrath burned out, and the mutiny was at
an end.
On tho next voyage they were ship
wrecked, and this bravc-heartcd girl,
with her young baby, was dashed in the
rigging, and remained there for several
days before they were rescued. They
had nothing to eat, and the mothers ma
tural food for her child was exhausted
BY some means can of meat was tished
up from the ship, and the child fed on
this until it was all gone, and the little
one about to starve. But the mother put
her teeth into her hand, between the
thumb and forc-fngcr, and bit a cash
into her own flesh, from which the blood
flowed. The child sucked this, and that
night the almost dying crew and the
brave sailor-wifc were rescued. -Neso Or
leans PicaYatne.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-09-09
Imnor,.n, ~ ,,.rcb,n, Ta,,or.,

NJ. Won Keller & Co., successors to Keller d
Ruhl, at the old Cloth House, corner Ann and
William Sts., New York city, are doing an ex-
tensiye business by means of furnishing to the
Merchant Tailoring trade throughout the Uni,
ted states, complete sample collections OF
their Woolens in season, and receiving and
executing orders received through the sam
pies. Whenever style has been sold out,
they notify their customers to that effect. so
that the parties holding their samples are al
ways properly informed as TO which styles
they can offer TO their patrons. The Merchant
Tailor is thus placed in a position TO show a
large variety of styles without remembering
himself with large stock. We understand
that any Merchant Tailor desiring such collec-
tion Of samples can have same sent free of
charge Address Messrs. NJ. Won Keller & Co.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-09-09
A Tried Remedy for BiIiousness

Those who suffer from disorder or inaction
Of the liver will never get the upper hand OF
the unruly organ so long as they use such IRA
tional remedies as blue pill, calomel and po-
dophyllin. But from the tried and popular
medicine. Hostetter's Stomach Bitters, they
may expect relief with q certainty of obtain
ing 1t. The influence of the Btters upon the
speedily felt. The relief afforded is not spas
modic, but complete and permanent. The
sallowness of the skin, furred appearance of
tie tongue, indigestion, co,tiveness, headache,
nausea, pains through the right side and
shoulder, in fact every accompaniment Of the
obstinate complaint are entirely and promptly
removed by a course of this inestimable med
fcine, in behalf of which testimony is con-
stantly emanati7g from every quarter, and
from all classes of society.
Cray hair, however caused. is restored to Its
original coitr b Halls's II air Rem ever.
Persons Suffering from Ague OF long
standing will find specific in Ayers ague Cure
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-09-09
She Recalled One Remark.

"Julia, can't see how you can stand
that Joe Bascomb."
"Why, Fannyl"
ooh, he's such a NOPE! One can
hardly get word out of him."
'He doesn't talk much, that's fact.
l can only recall one thing that he said
to me last evening. 1t was an exceed
ingly sensible remark, however"
''What was it he said2'
''He said Let's get some ice-creum. "
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-09-09
A Remedy for Lung Djspnses

DR.. Robt. Newton, late President of tho TTc
lectic College, OF the City of New York, and
formerly of Cincinnati Ohio, used DR.. WIN
HALLS BALsAM very extensively in his prac.
ice, as many Of his patients now living and
restored to health by the use of this invalua-
Bile medicine, can amply testify. He Away.
said that so good a remedy ought not to be con.
sidered merely as a patent medicine, but thai
1t ought to be prescribed freely by every physi
clan as a sovereign remedy in all cases o.
Lung diseases. Itcures consumption and al
oectoral complaints.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-09-09
LADIES' DEPARTMENT.
Tho Persian Women.

Many Of the Persian middlc-class
women are highly educated according to
Oriental ideas, They read and often
write poetry; they sing and play, as a
rule, we'll, and are mistresses of all the
arts of plain and fancy needIework; cook
ing is second nature to them; pastry
making and confectionery are among
their pleasures, Tho accomplishments
of the poor ones are naturally of more
useful kind. They are good cooks and
bread bakers; they make the clothes oil
the entire household; they often are able
to add largely to the daily income by
their knowledge of some trade or bust
ness, and none of them are idle.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-09-09

Encourage strict confidence with your
husband; withhold nothing from him,
and be patient in hearing all he would
confde to you, that he may always fly
to you as his counsellor and best friend.
Be punctual to second in all engage
ments with your husband and he will be
the same with you. and in thus doing
you will avoid much that is unpleasant.
Practice economy in taking care of
what you have, keeping strict account
of what you spend, buying nothing but
whatyou pay for Immediately, and max
ing your account of each months ex-
pcnses show you have more than you
have spent. This is great way to win
a mans respect to make him think he
has little savings bank upon which he
can rely in time of sickness and financial
difficulty.
Rule only by love. Strive to call out
the best feelings of your husbands ma
ktilC w III lONilg tttShbiollo,
which, though they may be small in
themselves, make such q strong chain
around his heart in time that he cannot
tun carelessly aside from you.
Go out always with your husband, but
manage to make home so attractive that
he finds no place so dear.
Dress better for your husband than for
any one else. Take pride in his APP
pearance that he may judge your heart
by his own. Never allow him to see you
slatternly attired. Even be tasty in a
kitchen dress or looking pretty over a
kitchen board
Be strong in your determination never
to gossip, to harshly crit;cis". Nothing
men so much despisc as gossip; nothing
makes woman rise so much in a good
mans estimation as to see her charitable,
particularly with her own sex. 'Tor
large charity does never soil, but only
whitens soft white hands"
Put down your book when your hus-
band enters the room and interest your
self in whatever pcases him, seeking also
to bring him over to your tastes. Try
for mutual concessions, else you may
travel different roads.
Never bother your husband about the
servants. Cast aside disagreeable topics
when he returns from business. Give
you, orders to your servants kindly but
firmly, cxacting obedience, yet showing
them the encouragement of consideration
when it is in your power.
If more mothers gave one tenth good
advice to nine-tenths wedding outfit
therc'd be fewer thought!ess marriages.
And better yet, if every mother made it
point to follow these rules as closely
herself as she would like to see her daugh-
ter do, girls would look longer for good
men like their fathers and try harder
be good women Ike their mothers. --Ncu
York Cripple.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-09-09
Fashion XOrra.

Gauzo shawls have frise stripes of
colors.
Figaro jackets of beads have deep
spaulets.
Shawls with tinsel and colored stripes
arc in all tints.
Faille has bars of music in plush in
the chromatic scale.
Wide scarts of India null, edged with
lace, are used as fichus
Watered silk aad camers hair are a
fashionable combination.
Skirts Of crocheted silk are worn over
sarah of contrasting colors.
Striped surah if made up with lace
plastrons and tabliers and velvet finish
ings.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-09-09
A Prospective Countess.

Eyes" said the mother "Mary is very
ambitious. She VOWS she will marry q
foreign count or some grandee of some
kind, and she wants to DO accom-
plished."
accomplished"
ayes. Nothing will satisfy her short
OF being fitted to become the wife of a
nobleman."
Sand are you educating hcr'
eyes; l am teaching her how to wash
and iron. "-Bost6n Courier.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-09-09
A Turkish Hriae's bathroom.

The bath is large, square room. 1t
is paved with marble or stones. 1t is air
tight. In 1t there arc fountains attached
TO the walls. They furnish cold and hot
water. Under those fountains there are
small basins about fifteen inches wide
and ten inches deep. These are fixed at
about half a yard above the floor The
basins are filled with water, the degree
of whose heat is regulated at will. The
bathcr seats herself on the floor by the
basin and the servant washes her, soap
ing and lathcring her head and then her
body, pouring the water from the basin
over the head and rinsing off the snowy
suds. If in festive mood, the younger
females play the Naiad, and, not infre-
qucntly, throw water about, over them
selves and others, with hilarity belong
ing to youth in its sportive morning
ION. S. S. Coz.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-09-09
Perfectly Safe.

"Will it be safe for me to go on this
boat3" inquired a timid and somewhat
portly old lady, as she was preparing to
board an excursion steamer.
ooh, yes, that's all right" said the
man who was taking tickets. "a
couple of hundred pounds, more or
less amt going to sink her. She's fully
insured, anyhow. Step right aboard. ~
Merchant Trdueler.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-09-09
A Coming Tragedy.

Brown--What's the matter with you
and Robinson, Dumlcy1 l hear that he
has threatened to pull your cars the first
chance he gets.
Dumley Dumping up and down lie
will, will he2 Pull my ears Well,
you can bet your sweet life he'll have his
hands full. --Ne,o York San.