davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1888-10-18
A Prophecy.

Seven unblown lilies by ragged wall,
Seven unblown lilies sleek aud slim and tall;
Seven lilies by the rain
Bowed and blushed and bent again;
Now 'twere we'll to test maybe,
Ny great gift Of prophecy
Three shan bloom for love, and three shall
bloom for death,
One shall bloom for help until ITS dying
BREATH
Buds of hope grow on apace
Buds of death bend low each face,
Hope that all so lonely grows,
You may be for me, who knows'
Seven fullblown lilies by ragged wall,
Seven fullblown lilies, sleek and slim and
tall;
Seven lilies in the sun,
Cleaning there, like silk new spun;
Gle ming, glowing, unaware
Death OF them must have share.
And vet as watch them, ah! what sweet
surprise
Comes up all unbid to look out Of my eyss
NV love stands there, tall and grave,
Where the shining lilies wave;
Plucks them one and two and all,
Leaves forlorn the ragged wall
Lo! he comes apace and lays them at my
feet;
Lol he whispers: "Love, this is offering
meet"
Yet what of my gifts so dear,
| Wisdom of an old-time seerl
| All that splendor bloomed for me;
| To the winds my prophecy!
ii. Gertrude Menard in Boston Traveller
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1888-10-18

don't tell them whore I am else they
will want mo to 60 back to Lord Silu'
rian, and / can never forget him,
never"
"Old scoundreli Ishould think not.
But he can't molost you, dear Olive;
now that his miserable son Is dead he
has no more authority over you than l
have"
"Doadl jack" I cried.
"Yes, three months ago. Ah, Olive,
naughty girl to hide from me. lfyou
knew how Ihave suffered"
On my twenty-frst birthday became
Mrs. John Beaumont. My mother to
this day thinks herself the aggrieved
party; and has to remember that my
purchase money enabled her to find
suitable husbands for all hor girls before
she can forgive me for refusing to profit
by her excellent bargain.-[The Wis
consin.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1888-10-18
An Elephant on a Lark.

Considerable commotion was caused
at the little town of Stives, Hunting.
donshire, England, by the inconsider-
ate manner in which big elephant
took a surreptitious holiday. Tho at.
fractions of tho travelling circus to
which he was attached palled upon him.
and in the small hours of the morning
he let himself loose. He was first at
tracted by the effluvia Of some gas
works, which he entered after breaking
lawn few triflng obstacles in the
saer .hree gates, two fences and a
rio. Then he pulled out plug
unk aud set free few thou,
feet OF gas, visited the re-
..= and frightened tho solitary
H0a INTO fits, explored the neigh,
boring market gardens with disas'
trous results to tho owners, and wound
up by wrecking a barn and gorging
himself with new wheat. He was still
contentedly shoveling in grain when
his keepers discovered him. and with
difficulty induced him to return to his
quarters. Claims for damages are
pouring iu upon his owners, and tho
total will almost swallow up tho profits
of a bad season. + New York Sun.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1888-10-18
The Stiletto.

The stiletto is a peculiar weapon.
There is nothing of American manufac-
ture like it. In length it runs from six
to fifteen inches. Tho blade is about
twice the length of the handle, dagger
edged, thick at the narrow guard, and
tapering off to excessive thinness at tho
point. At the guard the diameter OF
tho blade is diamond shaped aud the
two extra edges run almost to the
point.
The real edges, which are rasor sharp,
make a wound which the auxiliary
odges, moro blunt than sharp, aggra-
vate to terrible degree. So effective
is it and so murderous in the hands OF
a dexterous man, that the Italian gov
ern nent has recently been experiment
ing with it as weapon at close quar-
ters and in the Massowah campaign sew
eral companies were armed with shields
and long stilettos. Tho weapon is car
ried in sheath like an ordinary dagger.
Another knife, commonly carried and
frequently used by criminal Italians, is
what Professor Scannapieco, the Nea-
politan fencing master, calls the "mol-
letta." Tho noletta bears some resem-
blance to a razor, though considerably
longer. There is only one edge and
the blade opens like a penknifc. 1t
swings loose, however, and when drawn
is opened by catching holi of the han
die with tho fingers and throwing the
blade outward. This requires practice
and dexterity. A small sprlnp catches
the knife and holds it open. It a.0ef
by pressure upon tiny "butto ' sa.
handle. Though not as ell
weapon as the stilctto, it makei
wound when used by an expert, Naf
be opened almost as quickly as attia.f
can be drawn from its sheath. The east
with which it can be concealed adds tt
the frequency of its use. The handle
is hard wood or bone.
There is an uptown establishment
,, that is said to import stilettos and othe
Italian weapons. small stiletto cal
bo bought for So The largest size cos
SIS and So. An imported mcl!etta cost
81. TIC price places the real 1talia
article out of the reach of many Of tn
knife users who failed to bring thei
cowardly weapons across the ocean
and they content the mselves with
: species of small dagger, crude but e
fective, and not infrequently made b
themselves out of we'll worn tabl
4 knife.-[New York Graphic.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1888-10-18
What the Cow Gives Us.

American dairy interests are start
ingly enormous. They represent an in
vestment OF nearly twenty five times the
entire bank capital of the country; that
is to say, the bank capital is a little
less than $971, 900, 900, while the dairy
interests amount to moro than s3 OOO,-
900, 900. OF course our readers can not
swallow such frightfui figures in lump,
and We will, therefore, arrange them IN
several smaller, but still heroic, doses.
The number OF mich cows is estim'tod
at 81, 900, 900. They give ench an aver
age of $50 gallons Of milk annually.
This would mako an aggregate milk
production of 1850, 900, 900 gallons, a
miniature ocean, fair sized Niagara.
Four thousand millions are used for
cheese, and the remaining 2, $50, 600, 0O0
pass through the adulterating hands OF
the milkman and grocer, and down the
throats of 60, coo, 900 men, womei and
babies in this land of freed ON. The
quantity of butter manufactured and
used is about /, $50, 900, 900 pounds, and
of cheese 6, 500. 900 pounds. The va ue
of our dairy products for the last veal
was nearly $500, 900, 900. This is $780,
900, 900 more than the value OF our an
nual wheat yield; while it closely ap
proximates that of ou' corn crop, which
is the most valuable of our farm prod
ucts. To support this immense dair
herd 100, 900, 900 acres Of Tasturo Ian
are required, worth $3.50, 900, 900.
is easy enough to see, therefore, ths
4 900, 900 farmers in this country al
an important element of our nations
welfare and prosperity. i llolsteir
Friesian Register.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1888-10-18
A Needle in a flaystack.

Young Mr.. Sissy Ito his pretty
cousin)-Oh. Mauie, don't know what
to do. Ole girl wants me to play ten
mis-. another croquct, and another some-
thing else. They will dwive me crazy;
shall certainly lose my head.
Pretty Cousin--You must be careful
about losing your head, Chsrley; you
would never find it again.--lNew York
Sun,
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1888-10-18
She lIitchcd,

She was an old fashioned woman
She stood on the step of an open car.
and the lady at the end of the seat
sulkily refused to slide along. The old
fashioned stood there for long minute
with the driver looking back and ready
to move on, and then loudly demanded:
"Wcll, hain't you going to hitcha"
The lady gave her one awful look and
acitated herself clear to the far end
LID .troit Free Press.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1888-10-18
What II Takes to Feed a Locomotive

1t will perhaps interest some readers
to know how much fuel locomotive
burns. Thi, of course, depends upon
the quality of fuel, work done, speed,
and character OF the road. On freight
trains an average consumption may be
taken at about one to one and hall
pounds of coal consumed per car per
mile. With passenger trains. the cars
of which are heavier and the speed
higher, the coal consumption is greater.
A freight train of thirty cars, at speed
of thirty miles per hour, would there
fore burn from 900 to 1850 pounds ol
coal per hour. -[S-ribners Magazine.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1888-10-18
Untutored Great Men.

The great warwick of E gland, the
putter- up and the pullcr down of kings,
did not know his letters. Marshall
Soult. the greatest of Napoleon's mar
shals, could not write single correct
sentence in French Stevenson, tho
inventor OF the locomotive, could not
read when he was twenty one years old.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1888-10-18
HUMOROUS

Made out of hole cloth -Porou. plas-
ters.
A good way to see the world IS to 60
on "tower." ....
We presume that Cork has large
floating population.
Many political candidate beats his
opponent by scratch.
The poet is often saddest when hs
sings, and so are the readers.
The owners of furniture wagons are
possessed of moving spirit.
A grade necessity Tho abolition OF
grade crossings by railway tracks.
A man advertises for private tooter
to instruct his son in the art OF cornet
playing.
A salt Goldfish breakfast and rubber
overcoat will keep man dry through
long storm. .......
The shoemaker need have no fear Of
being without work. His occupation
is everlasting.
II corouers were paid by tho body
they would not caro- how many eorpsas
| railroads brought in for them to sit on.
The plumber who whistles while at
work is paradoxical creature, for al
though he lay his pipe, yet he pipes his
lay.
Speaking of hard times, dollar bill
will 60 as far now as before the war-lt
sufiui.nt postage is put on the enVe-
lope.
"Was that pair of shoes half-soledF
"Yes, sir. A one-legged man came
here this morning and bought one OF
thcm.'
Jaw. take tumble" said ono circus
performer to another. excuse me-" he
rep,icd, "but that ism t in my line. I'm
a cannon ball artist.
Guest Cat fashionable hoteD-seems
to me have seen you before. Waiter
Yes, sir, was guest here last year.
"Ah! That accounts for it. was
, waiter here last year."
, Our Chemi, (proudly): "This is my
= oldest boy, Mr. OH ggarty." MIR.
t OH: "Sure Mr.. McPhil, l didn't
a want any body to tell me that. can
: see your liniments in his face.
r man who sent 81 to New Yorker,
Q who advertised ''How to 1.-Two 10C
: Years." received in reply postal card
bearing the legend: "Don't die during
= the first century of your existence"
Gentleman (at an evening entertain
menD-Pardon m,, sir, but am l not
. addressing the Duke of Wynn Why's
: Gentleman Addressed drawing him
= self up with hautcur)-Sir, | am thu
= head waiter.
= DO you know, Mr.. a a.
:, they are talking of ope
N for dudcs9" "Awh, y
Miss Candid. Aud VIII e
h it2" because they ca -
or ing large enough"
IS A western magistrate who decioe
no that person may fry onions, reg rides
he of the Inconvenience tho odor OF tn
r, cooking gives the neighbors, was dc
10 featcd for reelection last week by
of majority of 1900 ia a vote of 1875.
an Some people are discontented eve
:le when you give them more than the
cs ask for. A tramp who asked for
er quarter on the street the other day con
"a. plainod loudly when the police Office
gave him quarters In the police station
Here is a horse story that equals Il
N one of the hens that became so accu
n, toned to moving, that whenever the
sat saw covered wagon they would lie
I'D their backs ready to have their lie!
ito tied. He has changed hands so ofte
dy that every time stranger com
ID: around he opens his mouth to have b
teeth examined so that his age may
nd arrived at
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1888-10-18

A black or blue pencil maTk oppo-
cite this paragraph indicates that your
subscription has expired, whils red
mark shows that your subscription or
renewal has been received.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1888-10-18
TIE LONDONDERRY SITTER.

N-Entsred at the Post-o6aoe a. South
Londonderry, ~ seoond.class matter.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1888-10-18

There made hasty dinner alone in
one of the magnificent rooms which had
been set apart for me, and slipping on
gorgeous wrapper, tried to forget
my woes in the pages Of some Of my
favorite books. Fro long my tired
head fell back on tho sofa and I slept.
I awoke with cry and scnse OF
terror. A number of WAX lights shed a
soft radiance over tho handsome room,
the perfume of rare flowers filled the
air. and bending over the couch on
which I lay, his hot breath tanning my
cheek, was tho man l had married,
with an expression on his face and in
his evil, shifty eyes, which God grant
may never see on any human face again.
For moment l was paralyzed with a
feeling of sickeniug terror, then l rose
from the sofa and moved toward the
table.
where are you goiugT he cried.
"Not so fast. Don't you know you are
mino now2"
Ia an instant he had mo in his arms,
and was holding mo SO tightly cla'ped
in his embrace that painted for breath
while he went on: eyes, you're mine,
safe enough now. I've got away from
that old imp who's been standing be
tween us. He thinks I'm safe will
Black. He's deep one. Yes, your
mine, and can tear your great, sad
black eyes out, or pinch your whit
flesh, or bite you until the bioo'
Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-05-18

The fine new Turner hall and opera
building of the Davenport Turner society
was formally opened to the public last
evening. and large number of members
of the Rock Island Turner society at
tended. The occasion was celebrated by
one of series of grand and elaborate
entertainments, and representing as its
first part the history of the German peo>
pie in America, in series of tableaux
true to each epoch since the middle of
the seventeenth century to the present
day. This was succeeded by a splendid
concert by the Harmonic, Maennercho or
and Turner Singing societies, and gym
nastic exhibition of the active Turner'S
and the pupils in the Turner school.
This evening there will be a grand opera
"A Nights Adventure in Grenada
presented by the soloists of the Hess and
Metropolitan Opera companies of New
York City, the choruses by the Arion
society and the singing section of the
Turner society. Saturday evening there
will be a banquet, with toasts and re-
sponses, and a ball. The building was
erected at a cost of 49,. 900.
Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-05-18
CONDENSED NEWS.

The court house at Sidney, Ia, costing
| 800, 900, has been destroyed by fire, lncen-
diarism is suspected.
Dakota's delegates TO Chicago are all for
| Blaine with one exception, while Gresham is
the second choice Of the entire delegation.
Investigation into the affairs of the Ken
lucky state treasury shows that the defalca-
| ton of Tate, the abscundei state treasurer,
amounts to S24i,O 900
William George, who murdered James
Scott, a defenseess old man, in Muskingum
county, Ohio, about Il year ago, was hanged
at Columbus Thursday,
An official statement of the assets and liza
bilitieS of Henry b. Beard, of St Paul, who
failed few days ago, showed his assets to
amount to 81 ,523 536 and his liabilities to be
$40, 49,.
The Dublin exchequer court has dismissed
the appeal of Father McFadden, of Gweedore,
against the doubling of his sentence on APP
peal. The court held that a county court
has the power to increase a sentence.
A dry-goods dealer of Mexico, Mo, has
been fined $500 and costs because u collection
agency sent one of his customers a bill in-
closed in an envelope on which the words
"Bad Debts" were printed in large type.
1t is reported that an agreement has been
signed between inc Culilan BONeTllllellJ anu
an Anglo American syndicate to control all
the guano deposits, silver mines, railways,
telegraphs wool and general products of
| Chill.
The tobacco, fruit and vegetable crops in
North Carolina, Tennessee and Kentucky
have suffered greatly from recent heavy
frosts, and in various localities of the west
| there has been serious damage from the same
cause.
There was terrific explosion of 300 kegs
| of powder in quarry powder-house near
Stockton, N j., Thursday morning. A num-
Der of buildings were wrecked; one man was
killed and several injured, and the shock was
felt twenty miles away.
Ex-President MacMahon and Marshal Con-
rad, of France have been interviewed on
the subject of England's defenses. They
both expressed high opinion Of the British
army and their belief that any enemy
would have very ardous work after landing.
Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-05-18

delegates to the general assembly of the
Presbyterian church north met in Horticul-
ture hall yesterday, after attending divine
service at the First church, where "A sermon
was preached by DR. Joseph 7. Smith, the
moderator Preliminary business took up the
day session, and was continued in the even
ing session when reports were read of the
work of the church The foreign missions re.
ported nine missionaries and four new stations
added-one each in Brazil, Mexico, China,
and Japan. Total receipts during the year
SIS. O49-S+, 900 more than last year. At the
Brazil mission l, 72l persons were baptized
during the year The home missions received
for the year 81 ,Sl3 and dsbursed So Uls
Rev. Charles / Thomson, of Kansas City,
was elected moderator. and the assembly AL
iourned for the day.
Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-05-18
A BOLT IN VIRGINIA.
John S. Wise and RiddIeberger Desert the
Republicans In Wrath.

PETERSBURG, Va, May 1S,-Ex- Senator
Malone and John s. Wise divided the APP
plause in the Republican state convention
which met here yesterday, and the latter,
with Senator Riddleberger's assistance, sue
ceeded in raising tumult for awhile, but
Malone held the reins coolly, and Riddleber-
ger was Kissed down After that Malone
was in com mand, and in his fifteen minutes
speech said the will of the Republican party
authoritatively expressed it had been duty
and pleasure for him to obey. The conven-
ton was very enthusiastic, and cheers for
Blaine, Sherman and the party rent the air
frequently The convention then made Col.
William f. Lamb temporary chairman, and
the committees having been appointed, took
recess until 5 p. M
Upon reassembling the chairman called
for reports from the delegations present
Two or three reports had been read, when
Senator Riddleberger raised the point of or
der that tho districts had no right to report
any other matters until the committee on
credentials had decided who were legal dele
gates. The chair ruled Riddleberger out of
order and he retired AS he turned to go
there were cries of go" al will CO." replied
Riddleberger, "and when / return you will
beg me-" He then left the hall The con-
vention then took another recess till 8 p. m.
After the convention reassembled and Col
Lamb had been determined upon as perma-
| nent chairman, two delegations were report
| ed from the Richmond district, Exon
gresham John d. Wise got the floor and
made a hot speech. He said that out of 5000
| Republicans in Richmond $500 were for
him; that he had 45 out of 65 delegates, and
vet he had been discarded and rejected. He
bad been beaten by bribery, rascality and
| corruption The time had come when loyal
| ty meant nothing but servility. He proposed
| to go to Chicago with his complaint and APP
| peal to the national convention. In conclu-
| sion, he called on all who were opposed to the
unit rule to follow him out of the hall He
| then retired and perhaps fifty boilers went
| with him. Ex-Attorney General F. S. Blair
replied to Wise, declaring that no man had
received more honors under the unit rule
than Mr.. WISE and that he had bolted now
because the supply of loaves and fishes had
| been exhausted.
| The convention was finally organized and
resolutions similar to those adopted by other
Republican conventions passed. The work
was then completed by the selection of the
| following delegates to the national conven-
ton: Col John G.. Watts, of Tazewell; S.
Brown Allen. of Augusta; William Malone
| and A. w Harris, of Dinwiddie. The con-
vention adjourned at midnight.
At 2:3O a. m. the Wise boilers convention
| was still in session.
Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-05-18

The time is ripe for the discussion OF
congressional matters. On the republic
can side 1t is apparent that there will be
no opposition to Congressman Gest; his
nomination is a forcgone conclusion.
The democratic nomination is matter of
uncertainty, however. Congressman
Neece maintains that he will not run
again, and the EdgLe, the democratic pa
per of his county, seems to favor ROCK
Island man. The friends of Mr.. Prentiss,
of Macomb, are mentioning his name, but
it is hardly probably that McDonough
will presume to present another candidate
to the convention should Mr.. Niece de-
cline the use of his name. Outside of
McDonough county, we hear of no one
being spoken of, and throughout the
district it seems to be conceded that
Rock Island county can have the nomina'
ton if she wants it.
Two years ago the ARGUS deemed it
wise and for the best interest of the party
to support Mr.. Neece for the nomination
in preference to Mr.. Hurst, of this coun-
ty. In the matter of selecting candi-
date for congress, it looked further than
local pride. Mr.. Niece had made the
race successfully in 1882 and 'S4, break
ing the long line of republican triumphs.
Unless he was unwilling to serve again,
the party owed him a denomination in
SO Every delegate outside of Rock
Island county took the same view as the
ARGUS, and Mr. Neece was again chosen
as the standard bearer. Unfortunately
he was beaten and Mr.. Gest elected.
The situation today is different to what it
was two years ago. A republican repre-
sents the Eleventh district in congress,
and Rock Island county gave him 624
majority. The same candidate will be
nominated By the republicans this year
The ARGUS contends that MIR. Niece,
should he be nominated would receive
no larger vote now in Rock Island, if as
large, as he did in 1886, and unless he
could show decided gains in the lower
end of the district, he would again be
beaten. But the democracy have man
in Rock Island county who could mater
tally reduce, if not altogether wipe out
Mr.. Gests majority here, and that mar
is Ben. T. Gable, Esq His nomination
would make Rock Island the battle fielC
of the campaign, and no one else woulc
create such enthusiasm and confidence in
the partys ranks. But Mr. Gable is mo-
seeking the nomination, and it is doubt
full whether he should accept if it were
rendered him. just at present, however
there is very strong current of senti
ment in his favor and unless he does o.
says something to"check the tide, it il
very likely that his enthusiastic admirers
will present his name for the considera'
ton of the congressional convention.