davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-05-23
Fellowship M eetings.

Fellowship within the church 10 quite as
important as fellowship among different
churches. So thinks Dr. Washington Glad
den, and he expresses himself suggestively
upon the subject in the volume entitled
Parish problems.
Such meeting may well be held on the
Monday evening following every COM
the members Of the church to meet any who
may have been received into the church OF,
the preceding day. 1t is often the case that
members thus received have no early oppor-
tunity Of making the acquaintance Of those
with whom they enter into covenant; and
the solemn words that are spoken by
both parties to this covenant appear
to be nothing better than mock
vided by which the friendship thus promised
may have chance to begin its lite in
mutual acquaintance. In some churches the
pastor, on behalf of the church, extends to
the candidates the right hand of fellowship;
but it is we'll if the mem ers are permitted to
express their greetings in their own way. II
it be found inexpedient to devote a whole
evening to this purpose, it may be practicable
to give to it half of the hour OF the mld-week
service in the week following the sacrament.
But if the church can be brought to con-
slider the matter, it will not grudge whole
evening, once in two months, for the ce-
menting of its own unity; for the more per-
feet realization of that communion of saints
which its creed so clearly affirms, but which
its practice so imperfectly illustrates. The
conduct Of this meeting should be altogether
informal. 1t will be well to spend little
time in song and prayer at the beginning;
and if there are members Of the church who
can be trusted to speak judiciously and
heartily and briefly of the friendships which
the church fosters and consecrates, Of the
benefits and joys Of Christian fra
ternity, few words frcm them
may be helpful and welcome. II
the work of correspondence With absent
members has been organized; this will be
the time for the reading Of extracts from
letters that have been received from them.
The list of absent members should also be
read for correction; and II prayer for their
welfare should follow the reading, or
verse Of hymn, celebrating the sacredness
and strength of Christian love, should be
sung, the meaning Of this relation might be
more deeply impressed upon many minds.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-05-23
A Family of Five Living in q Tree.

One of the queerest residences among
the many oddities of the modern taste
can be found on the great Kanawha river
in West Virginia, not more than five or
six miles above the confluence of that
stream with the Ohio. The residence
referred to is a monster sycamore tree,
which doubtless was monarch in q giant
forest when Corrstalk and his warriors
contested with the pale face for su--
premacy in that beautiful valley, and
perhaps cast a grateful shade under which
the chieftain when wearled with the
chase or conflict often reclined. This
monster tree is now hollow from its Gen.
tre to within few inches of its outer
surface. So large is the open space that
family consisting oftwo men, woman
and two children have taken up their
abode within its recesses.
They live, eat and sleep in it, and TO
all appearances are as happy rs many
owners of brownstonc fronts in large
cities. "Yes, we are pretty we'll satls-
fed with our quarters, one OF the men
replied in answer to query. ''The
landlord never threatens US with writ
of eiectment because we don't pay the
rent; we never have any repairs to make;
the house never needs painting; the tax
eatherer never bothers us, and then we
never have the bother of moving. Taken
altogether, we think we're better of
than q great many people"
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-05-23
Without Hands.

.There are some good men who seem to be
without hands altogether. They have hands,
but they handle not; feet have they, but they
walk not From dawn Of life until dusk
they do nothing expressly for Christ ALI
the day passes thus in idleness with them, as
to work. They could work with hands, be-
cause they do, in other things They will
express themselves land no harrn) enthusias-
tically, and you can see that the enthusiasm
is sincere, about song or an oratorio; their
soul flows out at once on waves Of music; or
they can strive manfully enough in politi-
cal struggle, or in question Of social right;
or they ara as diligent as the moments
of the day in their business But
as soon as they come up to any expressly
Christian work both hands drop down, and
there they stand-wthout hands. l know
the excuses that will be pleaded, and the
bars that will be put in for arrest Of judg-
ment. 1t will be said, and truly, 1T Is not
all unwilingness. We are afraid. We do
not like to make a high profession which
might not be substantiated. We do not like
to begin work which might stand like an un-
finished tower to reproach us, and really be
perhaps hindrance rather than a help to
the cause Well, we'll; let these things be
as they may. I am not judging. lcannot
Judge. You must judge; and that you may,
/ am pointing you the fact that there you
stand-a brother or a sister, as we hope,
in the great family which God is gath
ering home-and yet you have nothing to
say to those without, some OF them just on
the threshold, longing to come in, waiting
but a word Of welcome or the touch Of a
friendly hand; and you are without hands,
without voice, almost without form, to them.
There you stand, in the heart Of this agoniz-
ing world in the great toll and strife Of which
sven the 'principalities and powers,' both Of
the light and Of the darkness, are mingling
with all the means Of action within easy
reach Of you, and yet idle, doing nothing e1-
pressly for ChristS'without hands.
Oh, iders in Gods busy world. hear these
words and bestir yourselves. "Go, work in
My vineyard to-day, says the Lord who
bought you with His blood. Get your work
and do it-with one hand at first, II you will;
then, perchance, you will prove the JOY OF
Christian service, and cea.e not till you ex-
perience the deeper joy--the positive luxury
of putting both hands to the plough and
serving God with all your might, with
both hands earnestly. ~ Footsteps of Truth.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-05-23
Temperance News and Notes.

In Ohio man who keeps his saloon open
election day is subject to a fine Of $500 and
ten days in jail.
Free Masons Of Missouri have decided that
neither rum drinkers nor rum sellers can be
admitted to their organization.
Mrs. Jennie McClurkin, of West Virginia,
has organized fifty new W. c. T. Unions
since last June, and is still in the field.
Eleven thousand nine hundred and forty
seven British soldiers in India are members
of the Soldiers Total Abstinence Associa-
tion.
The Supreme Court of Nebraska has de-
cided that woman may sue and recover
money her husband has squandered for
liquor.
The population of the Kansas penitentiary
has decreased sixty during the past year, and
several poor houses have closed for lack Of
patronage.
In Germantown, Columbia County, N. Y,
one woman said she would be w. G. T. U.
all by herself, but this very declaration
reused half dozen other women to stand
by her and this formed the nucleus Of q
society. Women elsewhere, who are alone
or seem to be, should try the same prescrip-
tion.
It is alleged by one who claims to have
been cured Of taste for alcoholic stimulant,
9hat half ounce Of ground quassia STEPPED
in pint OF vinegar, small teaspoonful OF
the decoction to be taken in little water
every time the thirst comes on affords q
certain cure. This is cheap, simple and
harmless remedy for very serious and ex-
pensive passion If it really has the power
claimed for it.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-05-23

Of all standards, of all weaponry. of
all countries Let the earth be specially
balanced to bear their tread. Forward! For
ward! Let the orchestra Of the heavenly
galleries play the grand march, Joined by all
the fisers, drummers and military bands
that ever sounded victory or defeat at
Eylau or Borodino, Marathon or Their
mopyla, Bunker Hill or Yorktown.
Solferino or Balaclava, Sedan or Gettysburg,
from the time when Joshua halted astronomy
above Gibeon and Ajalon, till the last man
surrendered to Garnet Wolseley at Tel-el-
Kebir. Nations, continents, ages, centuries
and the universe! Forward in the grand
review of the judgment
Gracious and eternal God! On that day
may it be found that we are all marching in
the right regiment, and that we carried the
right standard, and that we fonght un-
der the right commander, all heav-
en-, some on amethystine battle
ments, and others standing in the
shining gates, some on pearly shore and 9TH
ers on turreted heights giving us the re-
sounding, million voiced cheer: ITO him that
overcometh." Blessed be the Lord God OF
Israel, from everlasting to everlasting, and
let the whole earth be filed with His glory.
Amen and Amenl
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-05-23
A Cardinal on the Drink Trade.

Cardinal Manning says in the NinRteenth
Century: A good home is the highest and
best school; 1t forms and perpetuates the
character Of a nation. What moral influ-
of children is possible in overcrowded dens
where all is misery and confusion2 I refer
to the report Of the commission, and to the
evidence Of Lord SALISBURY and Mr.. Hors.
ley, and gladly refrain from explicit details.
The next cause of utter wreck is, will not
say intoxicating drink, but the drink trade.
This is public, permanent and ubiquitous
agency of degradation to the people of these
realms. That foul and fetid housing drives
renders their dens sevenfold moro foul and
fetid, is certain. The degradation Of men,
women and children follows by an inevitable
law, but only those who are trying to save
them have any adequate knowledge of the
inhuman and helpless state Of those who
have fallen into drunkenness. I am not
going to moralize upon drunkenness !
is suffering from the direct or indirect
power of the drink trade. In times of de-
preston only one interest still prospers-its
profits may be slightly lessened, but its
gains are always large and safe-that is
the great trade in drink, which enriches
half a million Of brewers, distillers, and
publicans, with the trades depending on
them, and wrecks millions Of men, women,
and children. This one traffic, more than any
other cause, destroys the domestic life Of
the people. The evidence taken by the
Housing Commission expressly shows that
in the overcrowded rooms in Dublin tho
moral wreck wrought in London is not
equally found. A counteraction or preserv-
ative is there present and powerful This !
can affirm also of large number Of homes
in London. The same is affirmed on evil
dence of Glasgow. Nevertheless these ex-
ceptions only prove the rule. The drink
trade of this country has a sleeping partner
who gives it effectual protection. Every
successive Government raises at least a
third Of its budget by the trade in drink.
OF this no more need he said. It changes
man and woman into idiocy and brutality.
It is our shame, scandal, and sin; and unless
brought under by the will Of the people,
and no other power can, it will be our down
fall. Cardinal Manning, in Nineteenth
Century,
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-05-23
Cooking Utensils in Mexico.

The cooking stove of the Mexieaus was
model of cheapness and simplicity,
says a letter in the Pittsburg Dispatch.
It consisted of an earthen jar or pot, in
which was placed charcoal, their uniYer-
sal fuel. Upon this was placed the pot
or jar they cooked in, of either iron or
earthenware, containing the articles to
be cooked. Fresh meat can be kept in
its natural state in that climate only for
very short time-salt having no effect
upon it. It is therefore cut into strips
and dried or "jerked," as we term it, in
the sun. Thus prepared it will keep for
an indefinite length of time. In its ap-
pearance it is similar to our dried beef,
but to an American taste is rather insipid,
or, to speak more clearly, leathery. The
meat in sufficient quantity IS placed in
the pot, as is also the vegetables desired.
To this is added the native chile pepper,
the extreme pungency of which to the
uncultivated taste takes away the breath,
our best cayenne pepper being as mild as
lemonade in comparison, But it seems
mild enough to these children of the sun,
and they relish it highly.
Each family, and / speak of the poorer
classes, have their mill by which is pre-
pared the meal-corn-of which their
bread is made, when required, and this
Is pattern of that described in Biblical
history. 1t consists of slab of stone,
about two feet square, made smooth on
one side and slightly concave from outer
edge to center. This is elevated upon
stout stone pegs to an angle of about
forty-fve degrees. A piece of hard,
fne.grained stoEe about the length and
size of an ordinary rolling pin in modern
use, thick in the middle and tapering
to the end, furnishes the supper mill
stone," as it were. The corn to be con.
verted into meal is first soaked in water.
The earthen jar containing this is placed
alongside of the mill, the female who
supplies the motive power rolls up her
sleeves, if she is so encountered, kneels
down in front of the slab, and taking a
handful of corn out of the jar throws it
with deft hand across the surface of
the slab, and-then, with graceful up
and down movement, reduces it with
the stone rolling pin to paste. ~
When this is ground fine enough it is
taken between the hands and made into
thin cakes known as tortillas, and these
are cooked upon piece of sheet iron
placed upon the fire. This apparatus,
we learn, was the same in general re.
spects as that used by the Aztecs. Wheat
is raised to some extent, and they have
mills for preparing it, but the one
have described is the mill of the poor.
The goatskin, pitched inside, also de-
scribed in the Bible, we found in fire.
quent use as receptac.es OF. water, milk
and the fiery mescal, aquardiente, anq
that most potent of all Mexican intoxi
cants, pulque. The filled goatskin j.
slung over the shoulder with broad
strap, and the end of one of the foreleg<
tied with a thong is used as spigot tc
draw off the contents. 1t takes one
some time to get accustomed to the
pitchy taste of the contents of these
primitive vessels, yet it was rather .
novel experience to take drink out Of
one of them. 49, ,4
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-05-23
Marriage Of Two Midgets.

A notable wedding occurred at Liver
more, KY, some weeks ago. Mr.. G. A.
Algood, of Owensboro, Ky, who is only
four feet in height. was married to Miss
Minnie Dewitt, of Livia, Ky, who is
several inches shorter in stature. Mr..
Aleood is one of the substantial men of
the county, and has been Assessor Of
Davies County for twelve years past.
Miss Dewitt is twenty-three years of age
and is q beauty in miniature. Her
many accomplishments have rendered
her q rare fa7orite in society, in which
she has filled a conspicuous place. A
grand reception has been given Mr.. and
Mrs. Algood.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-05-23
s-.i-;-.. ; =-.;.T. - = = :s- 49,
Delicate Weighing Machines.

The writer drifted into the shop of q
scale manufacturer q few days ago, and
after inspecting hundred different va
rieties Of weighing machines, ranging
from those which will indicate the weight
of locomotive or car loaded with
| rs, 900 pounds of freight down to ili,,
putian, toylike affair small enough to be-
carried in the pocket he remarked, as he
examined a pair of fairy scales under a
glass case II suppose these are the frail-
est balances made" -. !
"Oh, no; here is something still more
delicate" replied the scale man, bring
ling forth another tiny machine, more
diminutive than the first. 'This, said
the manufacturer, "is the most sensitive
weighing machine yet invented. Moth,
ing smaller in the shape of scale has
evsr been made. This is the machine
which gives the exact weight of single
hair, or an eyelash. You can find cut
the weight Of your signature with it.
What! You, too, are skeptical2 Then I
will convince you. Here IS a slip OF
paper. It weighs just thirty y-nine milli-
grammes. A milligramme is the one
thousandth part of a gramme, and a
gramm is equal to fifteen and one-half
grains troy weight. Now, just write
your name upon it with this lead PEN
cil.' -
The writer scrawled the name his
parents gave him on the scrap of paper,
and handed it back to the proprietor,
who placed it on the tiny scales, and ad-
justing the weights-whieh were no big
ger than the head of large. sized pin.
found the signature to weigh exactly
six milligrammes.
"No, there is not a very great de-.
mand for these scales" said the manu-
facturer, "altbough they are very popu-
lar among the money brokers and are
used largely for assaying purposes. The
last one sold was yesterday afternoon.
1t was bought by wealthy autograph
collector, who purposes weighing the
signatures of famous people with the IN
tention of publishing, in pamphlet form,
the result of his labors, and ! suppose we
may expect to be inflicted with the
book before long.-NeD York Sun.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-05-23
Seeds Worth $1OO an Ounce.

Few persons have any notion of the
fact that SO per cent. Of all the flower
seeds sold in this country come from
abroad. More than half of these are
grown in Germany, where vast tracts are
devoted solely to this purpose. Travel
ers say that these huge farms, with acres
upon acres of asters, chrysanthemums,
mignonettes, sweet pease and so on, all
in bloom, are an astonishing sight:
Imagine whole district, many square
miles in extent, all one continuous gar.
den. The gathering of the seeds on these
plantations is a labor requiring infinite
Skill and patience. Each blossom must
individually receive the most careful at
tention. Take, for instance, the pansy.
On each little plant no more than two or
three flowers must be always kept in pro-
cess of going to sees, which is to be re-
moved from the bush when it is ripe
and before it has an opportunity to scat.
ter itself. Manure.water must be con-
stantly applied, to make the little
'sjohnny- -jump.ups' grow bigger-for
that is the way, you know, in which the
monstrous pansies one seed In lighthouses
are produced-and great pains must be
taken with the crossing of breeds, so as
to obtain the best possible results. So
it is also with other flowers. The seeds,
once harvested, are bought up by con-
tractors and forwarded in bulk to the
wholesale dealers of Europe, who send
them, by the ounce or pound, to this
countrv The merchants here do
them Up in small paekageS marked with
their own stamps, and in this manner
they reach the public on this side of the
water. Some of them are enormously ex.
pensive. The writer bought, last season,
q microscopic quantity of some pansy
seed which cost at the rete of $75 per
ounce. But they were we'll worth the
money. The flowers which sprang from
them were vegetable butterflies, counter
feiting those gorgeous insects not only
in the brilliancy of their varied colorlng,
but even in the shape and the peculiar
markings of their wing-like petals.
Fuchsia seeds of the finest quality bring
$1O0 an ounce, and others-such as
those of the gloxinia, cluneraria, coleus
and echeveria-fetch yet higher prices,
equal to many times their weight in gold.
A few are 80 valuable that they have act
ually be counted out at somuch apiece.
There is small number of gardeners in
the United States who make business
of growing select strains of certain rare
plants for the market; but the supply
derived from these sources is consider
able. CHicago 1rituEe.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-05-23
Tempted to His Ruin.

I was called at ten o'clock one Saturday
night 70 90 as speedily as possibly to certain
house on Water street. The family, which
was one of our standing poor families"
lived in dismal old rookery that was only
two stories high on the street, but ran down
to the rivers edge so that in the rear, as seen
from the river, it was four stories high.
made nv way down shaky outside stairway
that on that particular, gusty, dripping
night seemed to end nowhere. | came at last
to a narrow rickety balcony that ran across
the end of the building. I could hear the
water tapping under my feet.
found the door Of the room open and per-
feet silence and darkness reigning within. l
stood an instant at the door. A woman's
voice came from the darkness. YOU'D bet,
ter not come in. He's awful bad tonight"
The voice seemed to arouse some huge beast
on the floor that Immediately began to snarl
and grunt and to scrabble heavily and aim
lessly about. The mother had heard the
beast coming, and had hastily thrown the
children on the bed, and had planted
herself in front of them. There
were that delicate mother and her three little
children confronted by darkness. cold, hum
ger, terror; and he who should have come
with light and comfort and protection was
transformed to that beast. l am not 60:
ing to tell you how the problem was solved
for that night, but tell you what learned
afterward. The father was trying to reform.
We had been helping him. He had worked
we'll that week and was returning with his
wages in his pocket. The saloon keeper saw
him coming, and hailed him:
''Comin' in, amt ye, John"
"No. Not tonight"
"Oh, come on in! got something to show
ye; something new. Just come in. See here,
I've got in new stock. Here's the incest
thing you ever see just taste Of that.
'Twon't cost you nothing" =.
"I declare, that is good" says poor doomed
John. "Just give me little of that I'm
tired as dog" w
Then Johns wages began to pass into the
pocket of the sa DON keeper. When the last
penny had been transferred, and John was
approaching the dangerous condition, he was
hustled into the street, and after time made
his way home, and then the minister was
called and found the black den overhanging
the river, the children thrown on the bed and
the poor mother planted in front Of them,
and the beast snarling and grunting and
scrabbling heavily on the floor.
As stepped out upon the little balcony
and looked up and down the dark river,
whose breath came in cold, damp gusts, whose
said, wish he had taken them all mother
and children, and hurled them into the river;
for the dark river is infinitely kinder than
the fate that awaits them. said whose
business is it to defend these helpless and in
nocent creatures? I cannot stand guard al
ways at the mouth of this den. The husband
and father is past hope. You might as well
pray to death itself as to that saloon-keeper.
Who is to take the part of these defenseless
Ones the mother and the children2-J. Fl.
Ecob. D. D.. in Independent.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-05-23
The German Emperor's Physician.

Sir Morell Mackenzie is one OF the best
hated doctors in his profession. His
success has not made him friends every
where. He is not on speaking terms
with the set comprising Sir Andrew
Clark, Sir William Gull and Spencer
Wells, of all of whom he has often
spoken with undisguised contempt. Sir
Morell is tall, lean, vigorous, mutton
CHOPPED whiskered scotchman, with dig
nifed and decided manners. As an
operator he is unequaled, and his is the
only English name recognized by the
throat specialists of Paris, Berlin, and
above ali, Vienna, the first school in the
world for this speciality. His charges
are high, three guineas for first consul
tation and two for every subsequent
visit, yet his practice is very large one.
From sixty to eighty patients gather in
his consulting rooms every morning
Detroit Free Press.