davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1888-02-18
LEANING TOWERS.
Why They May Be Considered the Results
of Accidents.

Why They May Be Considered the Results
of Accidents.
The Leaning Tower of Pisa, in Italy,
is one of the architectural wonders of
the world. It has been made familiar
to most readers by pictures and by de-
scriptions. If it were the only ex-
ample of that kind of building, the
plan and purpose of its builder would
be much more of a mystery than it is
now. The date of the completion of
this tower is given as A. d. 1850 1t
stands close by the cathedral Of Pisa,
which was finished in the early part
of the Twelfth century. It's situation,
and the use it has always served, prove
that this was built for a bell-toWer, or
belfry, cGmpanile. to the cathedral. Tt
was then, and is now; the common
practice in Italy to build the bell-tower
apart from the church. This tower is
built entirely of white marble, and is
eight stories high. It leans thirteen
feet eight inches from the perpendicu-
lar, in height of one hundred and
eighty-three feet. The question has
often been raised whether this was the
result of accident or design, but there
can be little doubt that it was accident
al, and caused by the settling of the
foundations.
This seems reasonable from the fact
that the upper story does not lean so
much as those below, rs if an attempt
were made to remedy the defect in the
progress of building. Another circum-
stance which leads to the same conclu-
sion is the fact that the largest bell,
which weighs six tons, is hung farthest
away from the overhanging side. Again,
this is not the only tower of the kind
in Italy, built at about the same time.
There are two Of them at Bologna, one
of which was begun in A. D. lilo. It
is over nine feet out of perpendicular,
and is one hundred and sixty-one feet
high. In this case the foundations set.
tied SO fast that the tower was never
completed. The other tower at Bolog-
ma is three hundred and twenty-one
feet high. and leans over six and half
feet from the perpendicular. - Toutb's
Companion.
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1888-02-18
CARL DUNDER PUZZLED.
Some Things the Old German Philosopher
Cant Understand

Some Things the Old German Philosopher
Can't Understand.
! don't see how he yhas dat some
woman's take oop two seats in der
shtreet car und doan' pay more ash
somepody who has ride on der hindt
| platform nit rain falling down der
back of his neck, but maybe it vhas der
latest Paris shtyle.
/ don't see how he vhas dot if | owe
somepody leedle bill he comes
aroundt OF der slump der first thing
Monday morning ind hat two notes at
der bank to pay, but if somepody owes
me | must wait und go aroundt on Sat.
urday, und den he puts me off two
weeks.
| can't make oudt how it most always
vhas dot a man who works all der time
don't hat some money, while some.
pody who don't work at all always ha:
plenty.
| go NIT der theater sometimes to
see "dot eminent American actor"
Before he vhas half done l vhas glad
vhas not "dot eminent ole Dutch.
mans" If l vhas | kill myself
| see by der papers at election time
dot sooch and sooch mans vhas NOR.
al, honest, copyright, sober and full OF
goodness A few days after he doan'
get elected l see dot der police court
sends him opp for six monts, und
eaferybody says it vhas all right. How
dot comes aroundt doan' make oudt.
Ivhas going along der shtreet some
times und [ falls down nit an awful
crash. Maybe dot preaks my back,
but eafery person shtops und cries
oudt: "Ha! ha! ha!' like it vhas der
best fun he eater saw. | can't make
oudt where some laff comes in.
| keep some dog aboudt my place
who run under der table if somepody
shakes his fist at him, und eafery body
laughs und says vhas fool. | trade
him for dog who shows his teeth und
vhas ready to bite somebody if he move
his foot, und eafery body says [ vhas
villain und dot dog must be shot.
| goes NIT der baker to buy loaf of
bread, und der vhas big hole in deg
loaf, und he doan' say nothings. Dot
baker come in my place to buy glass
of beer, und because dere vhas some
froth on her he cries oudt dot schwin-
die him.
Sometimes young blood gets full in
my place und q policemans helps him
home. Sometimes 1 vhas be leedle off
when l goes home, und a copper comes
along und says: 'Now, oldt mans, you
make for home or I'll lock you oop!"
SOMEBODY come to me sometimes und
says she vhas my duty to ssgif my poy
Shake good licking because he
shpeaks to 'em nit sass. Dot same
day. after l lick him, two poys come
pehind me for six blocks und says /
vhas a hayseed und some pumpkins
Detroit Free Press.
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1888-02-18
FASHION FOR MULES.
How Dissension Found Its Way Into sn
Artistic Nebraska Household.

| How Dissension Found Its Way Into sn
Artistic Nebraska Household.
We met settler near Lodge Pole,
Neb., as he was watering his mules at
little creek on his way to town. We
noticed that the tail and name of one
of his mules was trimmed in the high
est style, while those of the other were
long and bushy.
Colonel" said Briar with bland
smile, why don't you barber your
other mulep"
A rather sickly smile spread over the
man S face, and he replied:
Had mules orter to be trimmed up?"
"Why, they nearly always are. Don't
you think they should be?''
"That's the question. That's pint
my family is divided on. julie says
they should be, the old woman claims
they shouldn't. I trimmed that of
mules name with square corners an
very small swell along the CENTER
an cut his tail like two paint brushes
showed into each other to suit julie, an
I left the other go to please the old wo-
man. julie claims it's the fashion in
mules erywhere-square names and
one or two swells in the tail, which
ever becomes the mule best. She says
she's read about it in history, an that
the style was first introduced into
France by the Duke of New Orleans,
an that from there it spread to this
country. She says the crowned heads
an other folks that are way up all
over the world keep their mules trim
med up all the time. She says you 60
into New Y ork or Chicago an you'll find
ev'ry mule that amounts to any thing
trimmed in fashion. A mule will no.
tice it an act sneakin' an balky if he
amt in style, she claims. The old wo-
man don't know nothing bout history
nor don't claim it didn't used to
be the style, but she says the
custom has been swept away by
progress. Reform has Knocked
it, she claims. She says that women
used to wear skirts as big's hay stack
an men long hair an short pants an
mules ruffied tails, but that all these
things are out of date. If you're goin'
to tuck mules tails says she, why
not stick the same kind o Jimmy
diddles on horses an cows tails?'
When the old woman says it's agin the
spirit of the age julie says the spirit OF
the age is to Spite the .bootiful evry-
where, an that it's low-down spirit
an we must set ourselves agin it.
They fit bout it SO of'en that I jes'
trimmed up one mule an let the other
60. 1t want altogether peace even
then, cause when my boy come home
from Omaha, where he's clerkin' in
store. he said there was lack O har-
mony in them mules tails that hurt
him. He lowed it want art. He
claimed the toot ensemble was ornery.
He wanted me to put umbrelr covers
on 'em while he was home. That's the
way it goes at my house, an I'm goin'
to write to the editor of our farm pa
per, an if he can't settle the question
80 we can have peace I'm goin' to
trade my mules for bosses. I reckon
there amt any question bout the
fashion in them. "-F. Fl. C0sruth, IN
Chicago Tribune.
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1888-02-18
USEFUL AND SUGGESTIVE.

To have poached eggs look very
nice, cook each egg in a muffin ring
placed in the bottom of a saucepan OF
boiling water.
Exercise enough to make rest de-
lightful is good; sufficient to make one
toss YEARLY and sleeplessly through
the night hours is wasteful and ex-
haustive.
-Scalloped Codfsh: Mix together
two teacups of mashed potatoes, one
and half teacups of cold boiled cod
fish, two and half teacups of milk,
one-half egg and one-quarter of tea
cup of butter, bake light brown.
Graham GliGdle Cakes: One pint
Graham flour into which has been we'll
mixed two teaspoonfuls of baking-pow-
der and a Tablespoonful of salt;
make thin batter with sweet milk and
cook in thin cakes on soapstone
griddle. Good Cheer.
To one hundred pounds of meat
take six pounds of salt, two pounds
dark brown sugar and one-half ounce
saltpeter. Mix and rub the meat thor
oughly and lay in tubs; let stand two
days, then rub again, and this time lay
on boards and let lay three weeks, then
smoke.
Tea Cake: One even cup white
sugar, one-half cup butter, two eggs.
Beat these until they are creamy, then
add good half-cup cold water and
two cups flour, two teaspoonfuls bak-
ing-powder, one teaspoonful lemon;
beat thoroughly. Bake in a long tin,
and cut while warm in squares.
Fried Whole Potatoes: Peel the
potatoes and boil in sailed water; re-
move from the fire as soon as done, so
that they will remain whole; have
ready one beaten egg and some bread
and cracker crumbs, then dip the pota-
toes first in the egg, then in the crumbs,
and fry to light brown. Old pota-
toes can be cooked this way.
This is the way to cure dried beef.
For every twenty pounds of beef take
pint of salt, a teaspoonful of salt
peter, quarter of a pound of brown
sugar. Mix we'll together, divided in
three equal parts, and rub we'll with
one-third of it for three successive days.
Let it lie on the dish in the pickle ii
makes, and in six days it will be ready
to hang up. We consider this receipt
perfect.
I'm making waffles never put sugar
in the batter, as it causes them to be
heavy and tough. They should be beat
en- thoroughly and made quickly. The
batter should be made very thin. Take
one pint of buttermilk, one teaspoon
full of soda, one tablespoonful of melted
butter, one teacup of flour, the yolks OF
four eggs and a small pinch of salt; beat
the whites separately to froth and
add them the last thing. Have the
waffle tins well creased and very hot,
pour in the batter and bake brown.
When taken up spread with butter and
sift with sugar, if preferred.
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1888-02-18
SUCCESSFUL FARMERS.
Their Advancement Due to Proper Man
agement and Industry.


A question that is widely discussed
just now is whether farming pays, and,
if not, whether methods can be adopt
ed that will effect a change in this re-
spect Undoubtedly in many cases
where the year work shows unsatis-
factory results, these are due to want
of proper management. A New
Hampshire farmer, of experience, A.
B. Page, in contribution to an East
ern paper on this subject, names some
reasons for failure that have come un.
der his observation there which may be
assigned as the cause of loss in every
county where this business is carried
on. He says:
We often hear the question asked:
''Does farming payP' With some it
does and with others it does not And
whya I will give my opinion. There
are many reasons; one is want of good
calculation and management in saving
and taking care of things, not letting
them run to waste. You may 90 in
most any direction in the country and
see waste going on; moving machines
not housed, agricultural implements
lying promiscuously around, with
wagons, carts, and perhaps sleighs,
and the manure thrown outside of the
barn, with no protection from rains
Many farmers do not have the luxury
of a vegetable garden, which might be
kept at little expense at odd jobs. and
afford much profit in supplying a
family with wholesome food. And
then, oh my! what crops of weeds.
The main crop on some farms seems to
be weeds. Can it be expected to raise
a good crop of vegetables or cereals un-
der such conditions? This is not i'm
agination. ] have seen it this past sea-
son. Then too much of the stock is
scrubs, and it costs as much to keep
them as better ones. Then there are
some farmers adhering to old ideas,
not up to Improvements, but becoming
kind of chronic grumblers. If they
would plan and work more. and grun-
BILE less, it would be better for them.
The grange is doing much to elevate
the farmer, but it can not reach them
all. Now, I believe that brains and
management have much to do with
success. Take it as whole, there is
no business or profession that succeeds
as well as the farmer. There are more
failures in trade; but is trede con-
demned because some fail? ALI failure
can be traced to the cause, and that in
a very great degree is want Of good
management, adaptation and attention.
Such has been my experience and OBJ
servation in life, for have been in
trade and worked on the land. And
believe that the farmer is the most
independent of any class, and comes
the nearest to right living, provided
he means to make it life business
and a success National Lave Stock
journal.
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1888-02-18
.
How to Wash Wooiens,

As woolens are worn SO much
through the winter would like to give
my way Of washing them. I never
wash two different colors in the same
water, to begin with. OF course it is a
trouble. but any thing that's particular
is troublesome. use water a little
hotter than tepid, and make very
soapy, both to wash them and to rinse
them, and am careful to preserve the
same temperature in both. If it is a
garment With shape to it carefully
pull it into shape and hang them near
q hot fire. I think much Of the shrink
age is due to hanging them iro Sc
cold to d. never send wool stoefe
ings to the regu!aS,.sash, as-I.can NJ a0te
them last much longs by taking care
of them myself. WhitSssspnels roll
in towel till partly dry ii inn
mediately. I think q goead plan is to
leave them for sons other dey than the
regular wash-day. I've seen people
put them to soak while the rest of the
wash is being hung up; also seen them
washed in the suds left after The other
clothes were washed, and I wasn't sur
prised at their being shrunken and
covered with lint when they came in
done. Try my way BettinG Hollis.
III Form and Fireside.
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1888-02-18
FOOD FOR BUZZARDS,
A Question as to Whether the Birds Find 1t
by Sight or Smell.

by Sight or Smell.
At the meeting of the Biological So
ciety an interesting paper was read by
Mr.. c. L. Hopkins on the "Sense OIL
Smell in Buzzards." This much-de-
bated point was strongly set forth by
Mr.. Hopkins in relating his experience
in Florida, 1t was the uniform testi-
mony of the Florida crackers that
the buzzards obtained food by smell.
He had noticed that buzzards had never
left their roost on damp, foggy morn
ings until the ground and shrubbery
were dry. They would then move
slowly across the wind until a scent
was struck, when they would work up
the wind till the carrion was found.
Some times they would drift down the
wind past their prey until they struck
the scent. which would be followed up,
finding the object of their search some
times in the densest scrub. He had on
several occasions killed wild hogs in
the scrub, and after dressing them and
taking what meat he wished, would
see twenty Or more buzzards CONF
ing down into the wind. A razor
back killed in the morning in scrub
SO dense that only directly over
head could sky be seen, was found by
buzzards before night. At several
times covered offal had been detected
by them. While blowing field he
killed snake and turned it under
furrow. yet the buzzards quickly found
it, though they failed to dig it out.
Several other instances were related,
which, in Mr.. Hopkins opinion, con-
clusively proved that buzzards find
some of their food by scent, though
that did not preclude the possibility or
probability that they obtain other food
by sight.
In the discussion that followed OBJ
jeetions were made to many of Mr..
Hopkins examples as not being con-
elusive that the buzzards were not at
tracted by sight. the discharge Of guns
or other unusual circumstances, but it
was generally admitted that they could
scent carrion at short range. Mr..
Hallock was Of the opinion that scent
would not rise high enough to attract
the attention of buzzards at great alti-
tudes, but thought such ones could get
information from others flying lower.
The strongest testimony against the
scent theory was presented by Mr..
Leland Howard, who repeated the
statement of Mr.. Otto Lugger, of the
Agricultural Department. Mr.. Lug
ger was for four seasons stationed at
Hunters wharf on the Chesapeake.
The fishermen had been in the habit of
throwing out stingarees. alewives, and
other worthless fish on the shore, and
swarms Of buzzards were attracted to
the spot to feed. There was a rail
fence on the bluff by the shore. and the
buzzards would roost so thick along the
top rail that it was black. Finally the
fishermen became aware that their re-
fuse fish were valuable for fertilizers.
They dug a broad, deep trench some
thirty feet back from the fence and
kept it filled with fish. covering them
with layer Of seaweed. Yet the buzz
yards continued to come and sit on the
fence. with their faces seward, never
deigning to notice the delicious I'D bits
behind them, although the odor was as
rank as the murder of Hamlet's father
lit smelt to Heaven. - Washington
y E8
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1888-02-18
GIRLS WHO WORK,
They Stand an Excellent Chance of Getting
Married Well.

Married Well.
In many stores in Lower Broadway,
Nassau street, and the streets that
cross them, are young lady cashiers
whose wages permit them to pay $10C
year for Communication tickets to
country towns, where they live with a
degree of comfort not obtainable
for the same money in the city.
They are a prepossessing lot Of
girls, well dressed, bright-eyed, rosy
checked and plump, who are great
deal more like rural than city women
in their habits and methods of speech.
They know much more about tobog.
gaming, skating, straw rides, home
comings. donation parties, surprise
parties and class meetings than about
theaters or the sights and shows of the
town.
A great many are courted and we'd.
ded in the country and there settle
down for life; but student of this
new element in business which is put
ting young girls side by side with,
and even above men in the stores and
offices, has found that marriages be-
tween them and the men they work
with are growing more and more fire.
quent Indeed, he says that a less
proportion of them grow into old
maids than of factory girls Or girls
who do not work for living. The
men in charge of the large shops and
such establishments as the telegraph
operating rooms declare that the girls
pick out the smartest of the men
around them for their husbands, and do
not, as is SO often the case with women
who stay at home, marry the empty
heaps, drones, drunkards or "bad
eggs" These same authorities declare
that in all other matters these well-paid
and skilled girls are less sentimental
and more practical than their more
fortunate stay-at-home sisters. At the
same time those who have taste for
sewing make and mend their own APP
parel, and those who like household
work and cooking practice it at night
and on Sundays, and whenever a
chance is afforded them.
What a picture all this presents!
Here are thousands of young women
employed at nice work, with good pay,
living in the country at least half the
day, forced to be neat and as pretty as
possible while at their work, liable to
marry cary and well, growing pratical
and wise, and yet remaining as woman
ly as their mothers. Fortunate New
York, to have such host of well nigh
perfect girls.--M 7. Star.
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1888-02-18
STYLISH NEcK-WEAR.
Novel Features Whics, Have Met with Con-
siderable Favor.

Novel Features Which Have Met with Con-
siderable Favor.
There is tendency to use lace more
generously with demi-toiiettes for the
afternoon, some ladies returning to the
real laces that have been long laid
aside, while the merchants still find
their best profit in very finely woven
limitations of hand-made Iaces GAUGES,
net, blond and silk muslins. together
with ribbons. are combined with frilis
and iabots of lace in plastrons, vests
and fichus of various kinds A novel
feature for these is the pointed collar
which surrounds the neck in high
band, like the military collar, but has
the front sharply pointed; it is joined
on the left side. aud fastened by d bow
of ribbon. This collar may be Of rib
bon, or of insertion. or of the watercd
silk or brocade which enters into many
such pIastrons Below this point the
net or silk muslin is gathered full, and
loops of ribbon are sewed there to-
droop OH the full vest Another fea-
ture is the deep round collarctte of
lace which is gathered to the upper
edge Of ribbon band. and falls deep
on the shoulders. curving up in front
and meeting there.
This is very dressy when worn with
d long. soft vest OF silk ga,tze, edged on
the left side with gathered frill Of
lace narrower than that in the collar
cite. and trimmed at intervals with
knots of dropping bows Of watered
ribbon. either white or colored. There
are also pretty fchus of lace to be worn
with low-throated corsages Of demi-
to,lettes, the lace dropping wide and
round in the back and turned away
narrower in the front, or arranged in
q talbot down each side 10 the point Of
the bodice. and decorated with many
looms Of Lsocaded ribbon. and with any
number os small jeWeled pins. Rhine-
stones. enameis. tiower-pins Sin fact,
any brooch tl.at is usually worn at the
throat or iii she bonnet or couture.
These plastrons and fichus do away
with the necessity Tor much trimming
on the dress waist and are econom-
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1888-02-18
Easily Consoled.

Lieutenant Brickback, u. S. N. (who
has had a years leave-pve some bad
news for you, dear. Can you stand it ?
Mrs. Brickback (hysterically) 10.
Tom! you're certainly not going to re-
sign and go into some horgid mercan-
tile business?
Lieutenant B.-No, MY dear! Tn
simply ordered to China for three years.
Mrs. B. (ecstatically How awful
nice! Now we can match the Fan Tan
sugar bowl with cream pitcher. - It'd.
BITS.
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1888-02-18
China's Army ard Navy.

At the close of the late war between
the French and the Chinese (the So
called black flags in Tonquin) paper
of Foo Choo, in China proper, said
they must change their military sys-
tenn. For several thousand years they
had been applying themselves to the
arts of peace and to philosophical
studies, neglecting the art OF war.
That is why the English. French and
other Powers could attack China and
despoil her UNPUBLISHED. In continued
contact with Christian nations, the
heather Chinee must turn another leaf
and prepare to beat off any further en-
croachments. Carrying out that pro-
gramme, the Chinese Government en-
gagged Major PAUL., German officer.
who for some time past has been active
in refCrming the military system OF the
Celestial Empire. The harbors are be-
mo surmounted with forts and gener-
ally nut in a state Of defense. The Ma
ior has founded at 1ientsin military
school consisting of preparatory ana
general military department. ana
high academy of war. The graduates
of the latter are appointed teachers In
the lower grades. With greater NUM-
Der of well-trained officers the Chlnesa
army and navy will, no doubt be bet
ter able in future to meet european at
tacks.- Chicago Aesos.
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1888-02-18

"A gentleman of this city, who
wished to make his wife a present Of a
muff, took home two for her to select
from, one cheap and the other high
priced article. Thinking to have lit.
tie fun at the expense of his better half,
he changed the labels. The cheap one
was much admired, but seeing the
price marked on the ticket the wife saiu
she could not afford that and would
take the other. It looks as though the
foke was on the man of the house.
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1888-02-18

There was recently taken from one
of the mounds near the Ohio river two
silver crosses and thirty silver shoe
buckles, the latter bearing the French
crown and date OF l13V.
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1888-02-18

1t is claimed that Dakota's prairies
will furnish the bread supply of the ma
tion-the best article at the lowest
price.