davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1888-02-17
An Elephapt,s Brain.

Cornell college desired an elephants
brain, and it fortunately secured one. p.
T. Barnum was the donor and the recent
fire at Bridgeport, Conn.,, the cause of his
generosity. They hardened the brain
while it remained in the skull by con-
tinual injection, the same method en-
ployed with the brain of the Elmira MUIR
derer. The method originated with this
college and prevents the distortion fol-
lowing the removal and subsequent
hardening of the brain. 1t is done in the
following manner: All the vessels ex-
cept the vertebral and the carotid arteries
are tied, and these are connected by rub
Der tubes with tank containing diluted
alcohol, which is arranged at a proper
height to allow the fluid to slowly flow
through the brain substance. The study
of the brain is yet to be made, and the
result is awaited with interest. Animal
trainers, especially those of elephants,
claim that they possess little reasoning
power, and we do not imagine in conse-
quence that the result will benefit any
thing but comparative anatomy.-The
Doctor
Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1888-02-17

A most interesting feature of all bust
nesses using leather is that not one par
ticle of the leather is wasted. Our shoe
factories alone sell annually fifty tons of
waste This goes mainly to firm in
Philadelphia, who pays 81 ton for it.
A large amount is sent to Lynn, Mass,
and other points, where the leather is
ground up, mixed with a medium and
pressed into buttons. The remainder
that is not so used is treated chemically,
turned into gelatinous mass, dried and
ground into fertilizing dust. The sole
leather pieces that fall from the block
of the heel stamper are sorted into two
heaps. The very fine pieces are put with
the fine waste. The scraps, presenting a
surface of couple of square inches, are
barreled up and sold to parties in New
York or Boston at one cent pound,
where they are put through a peculiar
machine. This instrument splits the
pieces nearly through. Then it opens the
piece thus cut like book. Thence it is
delivered from between rollers, and is
large enough to be again sent to the fac
tory to be cut up into heel lifts.-Balti-
more Sun.
Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1888-02-17
Petrifled Monster in Iowa.

The petrified remains of a huge ami
NAL have been discovered near Percy.
Ia, by man named S. R. Dawson. 1t
was lying beneath the surface on the
bank of the Des Moines river. The total
length of the body measures, without the
head. over forty feet. The head was de-
tached from the body, and when dis
covered was some distance away from it.
At nine feet from the end of the tail it
measured four feet six inches in width.
In support of his theory that this is the
petrified remains of some extinct monster.
Mr.. Dawson. in describing the find, shows
that it is entirely unlike the stone forma-
ton in the vicinity. A spar of quartzite
formation was discovered in the locality
where the blood vessels and intestinal
canal should be, and another formation
was found in other parts. The remains
were in bed of dark blue stone sur
rounded by petrified remains of insects
and other animals. Mr.. Dawson is con-
fident that the monster belonged to the
carboniferous age.-Demorest' Monthly.
Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1888-02-17
Symbols in the CataCOmbs.

The following symbols, borrowed from
the Scriptures, were frequently repre-
sented in the Catacombs, and relate to
the virtues and duties of the Christian
life: The dove, with or without the olive
branch, the type of simplicity and inno-
cence; the ship, representing sometimes
the church as safely sailing through the
flood of corruption, with reference to
Noah's ark, sometimes the individual
soul on its voyage to the heavenly home
under the conduct of the storm contron-
ing Saviour; the palm branch, which
the seer of the Apocalypse puts into the
hands of the elect as the sign of victory;
the anchor, the figure of hope; the Tyre
denoting festal joy, sweet harmony; the
cock, an admonition to watchfulness.
with reference to Peters fall; the hart,
which pants for the fresh water brooks;
and the vine, which, with its branches
and clusters, illustrates the union of the
Christians with Christ according to the
parable John XIV, 1-6), and the richness
and fullness of Christian life.-Professor
Philip Schaff in The Century.
Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1888-02-17
TRY Not to Cough,

A physician who is connected with an
institution which contains many children
says: There is nothing more irritating
to a cough than to cough. For some
time had been so fully assured Of this
that I recently determined if possible,
for one minute, at least, to lessen the
number of coughs heard in a certain
ward in the hospital of the institution.
By the promise of rewards and punish
ments l succeeded in inducing them
simply to hold their breath when tempted
to cough, and in little while l was my
self surprised to see how some of the
children recovered entirely from their
disease.
Constant coughing is precisely like
scratching a wound on the outside of the
body; so long as it is done the wound
will not heal. Let person when tempted
to cough draw long breath and hold it
until it warns and soothes every air cell,
and some benefit will soon be received
from the process. The nitrogen which is
thus retained acts as an anodyne to the
irritated mucus membrane, allaying the
desire to cough and giving the throat and
lungs chance to heal. At the same
time a suitable medicine will aid nature
in her effort to recuperate. Baltimore
News.
Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1888-02-17
South Pacific Island Products.

Both New Britain and New Ireland are
exceedingly fertile. Every tropical prod
uct can be raised here with success. The
inhabitants have abundance of provisions
in the shape of bananas, taro, yams,
sweet potatoes, bread fruit and cocoa
nuts, but very little fruit, although the
latter is being introduced by the mission
aries and traders. Unlike most other
volcanic islands in the Pacific, there is no
rocky soil to be found here everywhere
it is deep, rich vegetable loan. In
most tropical countries the soil has to be
cleared Of thick growth of jungle be-
fore cultivation becomes possible; here
nothing but long grass obstructs the
efforts of the agriculturist. Cotton, cot
fee, sugar cane and tea could be raised
with little trouble, yet there are probably
not 100 acres of these products in cult
walton in the entire group, the great
drawback to commerce here being the
scarcity Of cheap labor, for no native will
work Tor another for any length of time
unless well paid with the highly priced
divara. Francisco Chronicle.
Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1888-02-17
Cranks at the German Capital.

The number of deranged people trying
to gain access to the emperor of Germany
is remarkable. Hardly a day passes
without such an occurrence. The other
day two such unfortunates entered the
palace simultaneously. 1t was a man
and a woman. The latter was the wife
of poor boatsman, asserting that she
was near relative of the emperors and
had to see him after years of absence.
The man was well dressed, with look
of distinction about him, and flow of
white hair on his head and long whiskers,
altogether a venerable looking, sympa-
thetic figure. He said he had engaged to
marry the daughter of the king of Italy,
and being German and a subject of the
emperor he had to obtain his majesty's
permission before perfecting the mar
riage. Both persons were taken to the
insane ward of the Hospital of the Charlie
at Berlin.-Foreign Letter.
Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1888-02-17
Behavior in the Sick Room,

The etiquette of the sick room should
be better understood. Many a patient,
nervous and excited, has literally had the
life forced out and gone to the grave
through uneasiness or fright over his
mysterious surroundings. There is no
time when man or woman more needs
to have natural and cheerful people about
them than when tossing on a sick bed.
Talking in the room should always be
done in natural tone of voice, and never
in whispers. There should be no tip
toeing and no long faces, or discussions
over this or that grave symptom. The
doctor that don't bring breeze of cheer
fulness with him to the sick room had
better quit business and go to the under
takers trade. There are many forms Of
disease where the patient is killed or
cured, not by any remedies, hut by the
indiscretion or discretion of the physician
and attendants. Chicago Inter Ocean.
Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1888-02-17
TRUTH OF WEATHER LORE.
Meteorological Science Embodied in POP
ular Sayings-The Moons Influence.

Meteorological Science Embodied in Pop
ular Sayings-The Moons Influence.
The persistent survival of weather lore
in these days of intellectual emancipation
is not at all remarkable when we con-
slider the extent to which the vulgar say
ings embody real truths. A few years
ago Messrs. Abercromby and Marriott
embarked on an extremely interesting
inquiry with a view to determine, by
actual comparison, how far the popular
proverbs express relations, or sequences,
which the results of meteorological
science show to be real. The investiga-
ton proved that something like hundred
of the more popular sayings are, under
ordinary conditions, trustworthy. Such
being the case, we need not be surprised
that simple country folk prefer familiar
couplets to all the "isobars," "cyclones"
and "synchronous charts" in the world.
If "hills clear, rain near" means the
same as 1.-The presence of wedge shaped
area of high pressure, accompanied by
great atmospheric visibility, is likely to
be followed by the advance of a disturb
ance with rain and southerly winds"
which for all practical purposes it does,
the preference is justified on the mere
ground of breath economy. The thirty
one words demanded by science stand no
chance against four.
But it is unfortunate that, along with
the limited number of folksayings
founded on truth, there has survived a
very large number founded on the grossest
error. These latter have borrowed Gre
dence and respect from the proved credi-
bility of the others, and apparently they
are all destined to sink or swim together.
Hammer as we will at certain favorite
proverbs which we know to be based
upon error, it is all in vain. The rever-
ence for tradition is too much for us.
And of all the superstitions, pure and
simple, which defy our attempts at de-
struction the most invulnerable are those
ascribing certain effects to the influence
of the moon.-John Westwood Oliver in
Popular Science Monthly.
Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1888-02-17
JAPANESE MYTHOLOGY.
The Meaning of Some of the Figures Seen
on Jars and Fans.


on Jars and Fans.
The creation was, according to ira
dition, brought about in this wise. In
the dim ages of the past there existed
trinity who dwelt in space. Later came
other deities (KamD, with separate
existences, and after seven generations
begotten from them, the creation, which
was confined to Japan, was decided on
and carried through in six stages, almost
similar to those in our Pentateuch, the
work being delegated to Isanaghi and
his sister, Isanami. From the goddess
sprang certain terrestrial deities, among
whom were Ama-terasu, the beautiful
goddess of the sun; Isukoyumi, the
goddess of the moon, and Susano, god of
the wind.
A story which finds frequent illustra-
ton in japanese art is that of the quarrel
between Anna terasu and her brother and
her consequent retirement to a cave,
whence she was inveigled by the dancing
of a goddess, variously named Okame,
Ouzoume. or Uzume. 1t is narrated at
length in Griffis' "Mikado's Empire"
and Reeds Japan" and is one of the
fairy stories recently published in de-
lightfully illustrated form as a child's
book under the title of "Yamata-no-
Orochi" Masks of the fair dancer are
to be found in every curio shop. The
features upon these masks are always
similar and have been handed down for
centuries-a narrow forehead adorned
with imperial spots of sable pulled out
cheeks dimpled chin and laughing coun-
tenance. One of them is usually to be
seen in every japanese house. In her
full length figures she usually carries in
her hands bundle of reeds and dart
bound round with herbs and little bells.
Many ancient customs still exist which
originated in this quarrel notably the go
hei, or branches adorned with bits of
silk and paper, which are hung in all
Shinto places Of worship, the drum upon
which Ouzoume danced and the cocks
who now inhabit the precincts of the
temple, and which were then engaged to
attract Anna -terasu's attention by crow
ing in concert. So, too, the cord of rice
straw, which keeps away the visits of
evil spirits, and the sacred FURNISHED cir
cular mirror, wherein the goddess beheld
her likeness, and which is the origin OF
the round mirror of metal which Japan.
csc women still use as their only looking
glass. The dancing of Ouzoume before
the cavern is initiated in the pantomimic
dance still practiced in every japanese
village. Another frequent subject fol
illustration is Susano killing the eight
headed dragon after he had induced him
TO partake of sake set in eight jars. Hi:
exploit is depicted upon the bank notes o.
the country. A sword, which he fount
in the tail of the dragon, is one of thu
three sacred emblems in the imperial re
gala. He was the father of Dalkoku
the god of good fortune.-Art Journal.
Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1888-02-17
Writing a Composite Novel.

A new amusement is suggested by
club of young persons-sixteen in num-
Der. They are writing book-a novel.
So far the secretary is having the most
fun out of it, but great expectations
tremble way down in all the sixteen
hearts This novel is to have sixteen
chapters, and each chapter is to be writ
ten by different member. When fin
ished the successive chapters are handed
back to the secretary, who, consequently,
is the only one who knows the various
writers. They are all in fear and trem-
bling lest the love making fall to their lot
that being considered the most difficult
part to do justice to. There will certainly
be much amusement afforded by the
undertaking. Chicago Herald.
Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1888-02-17
Knicknacks in Wood.

Early in the present year the mania
for knicknacks in pale shaded and
painted woods took firm hold of Paris
ians, in whose gay city the idea origi-
mated. At first these productions were
very crude, but that these things were
fancied was sufficient to lead to many
improvements in the various colors and
varnishes used in this method, which is
known as the "vernis Martin process, :"
until now the work accomplished is
really artistic 1t is not likely, either,
that it will ever become very common.
The work requires great care and pa
tience, and if these be not exercised it
will be sure to result in failure. Great
skill is not called for. Any one fairly
clever with the brush may undertake the
work without fear.-Philadelphia Even
ing Telegram.
Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1888-02-17
Mad Over Vegetarianism.

A man made mad over vegetarianism
was curious inmate of Pennsylvania
hospital. The sight of any animal, bird,
insect or reptile. slain at the hand of
man. would send him into paroxyisms of
hysteric rage. He would wear no shoes,
in order to kill the fewer animalcule as
he walked. Every shoe or wooden article
of clothing that came in his reach he
would destroy; funeral would fill him
with frenzy, for he held that the dead
should be carried into the woods and COW
cred with leaves; while his vegetarian
ideas as to food were equally pronounced.
On every occasion possible he would slip
off to eat grass, each blade of which he
would carefully wipe in order to preclude
the destruction of an insect.-Good
Housekeeping.
Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1888-02-17
Discarding Rubbers.

The fashion of discarding rubbers in
wet weather and having the shoes oiled
instead was set by the police, letter car
riers and car drivers, and is now being
followed by thousands, whose feet are in
jured by wearing rubbers. Those who
have to face winter out of doors and
who complain that rubbers pain or
cripple them, unite in declaring that to
keep the feet warm and dry it is only
necessary to wear shoes size or two too
large, oil them and put in felt or cork
insole under wooden stocking. New
York Sun.
Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1888-02-17
Historian Bancroft's Longevity.

Mr.. George Bancroft accounted for his
own longevity the other day with three
reasons: First, that he was the middle
child in his fathers family, equally dis
tant from the youngest and the oldest !;
second, that he had always gone to bed
at 10 o'clock, unless it had been impossi-
BILE; and third, that he had always spent
four hours in each day in the open air,
unless prevented by storm. He added
that his riding, of which the newspapers
had made SO much, was primarily for
the purpose of being out of doors, and
not of being on Observation-Disclosures
Leslie's
Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1888-02-17
Australian Bush Life.

Practical jokes are very often play ed
on a sheep station, especially on new
chums. The most awkward horse is
given to the newcomer, and the result
eagerly watched for. Perhaps the Aus
tralian chuck jumper is the most diff
cult horse in the world to sit. He allows
himself to be mounted quietly. and then
puts his nose between his knees. arches
his back like cat, and usually unseats
his rider. They are sometimes taught to
buck jump, and strangers are challenged
to ride them. Some can even buck right
out of the saddle without bursting the
girths, and leave their rider behind on
the ground. The black fellows in a sta
ton are very expert riders, and will keep
their seats after the saddle has gone
San Francisco Chronicle.
Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1888-02-17
Protecting Theatres from Fire.

AS a precaution against fire, some
scenery at one of the Brussels theatres
was coated two years ago with compo-
sition largely consisting of alum and
asbestos. Recent experiments with the
scenery so prepared demonstrate that the
canvas can thus be rendered perfectly in
combustible 1t is said that this simple
application does not interfere in any way
with the material upon which the scenes
are painted, nor does it have any prejudi-
cial effect upon the colors employed
Chicago Times.
Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1888-02-17

Artists ideas of decorating their own
quarters differ from their ideas of deco
rating rich mems houses, and for reasons
sufficient to themselves. They beautify
the house of wealth extensively. but for
their studios and apartments they much
prefer such trappings as lot of sail or
tent cloth, fish nets. turkey red chintz,
old swords, the rough bark of trees, dried
flowers, old straw hats and various other
things at which the junk shop man
would turn up his nose in contempt. The
value of all this debris is greatly enhanced
in the artists opinion if everything is
thickly covered with dust. Then it is
Enthusiastically artistic. Some of the
studios in this city are fearfully and Won
derfully filled.-New York Press Every
Day Talk
Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1888-02-17
Keen 1t to Yourself.

"Take my advice" said an elderly
man about town, land don't swear off
doing this or that thing. If you have a
habit which you think is hurting you
either physically or morally, just deter
mine to yourself to stop it, but don't
spread it broadcast among your friends.
You will be exposed to less temptation,
have more chances of keeping your good
resolution, and, in the event of failure,
no one but yourself will be the wiser.
There's nothing like holding the respect
of other people, and if they know you
can't do a thing chat is wholly for your
own good they'll never think well Of
YOU" It's good advice, too.-Philadel-
mia Call
Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1888-02-17
At the vharves of Havana.

Along the low, crowded, quaint
wharves on the Havana side, by the
Catalina warehouses, skirting the Regla
docks and storehouses, or severed at va
rious points in the bay by these pictur-
esque lighters and their noisy lancheros,
are banks and barkentines, briggs and
brigantines, two, three and four masted
schooners and full rugged ships, dis
charging and receiving cargoes. Here
are Dutch banks and briggs discharging
coal from Cardiff. They will receive
sugar or molasses for Philadelphia or New
York, and there load with general cargoes
for some European port. Norwegian
banks. briggs and brigantines have brought
coal from the Baltic and tiles from France
and Spain. French briggs and banks are
discharging cargoes of tiles from Mar
settles. Here are Spanish vessels with
linen and wines from Barcelona. All
manner of queer Portuguese craft are
here with onions and garlic and flour.
From Halifax have come vessels with
general cargoes of onions, cabbage, pota-
toes, apples and salt fish. From South
America have come briggs and brigan-
tines, with the general air and build of
Spanish craft, and these have brought
wheat, fruit and tassajo or jerked beef,
olives. sweet oil, bacon, butter, lard, figs
and brandy. From Vera Cruz and Mex
leo have come what our American sea
folk are pleased to term tramp steam
ers, with hundreds of bulls for the bull
fights and for meat; and American and
Canadian vessels bring hither three
fourths of the entire food staples con-
sumed by the people of Cuba.-Edgar L.
Wakeman's Letter.
Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1888-02-17
The Dude in Paris.

A model of fashion in Paris recently
appeared at the theatre in this, as the
latest agony in evening dress; He wore
two studs; his coat collar and lapels were
of mat silk; the tails of his coat were
very short; his waistcoat buttoned high;
his cravat was unadorned; his gloves were
putty colored and without black stitch
ing; the brim of his hat was fiat, and his
cane was gold headed and richly EN-
bossed. He carries a cane in order to
keep his hands out of his pockets, which
is pronounced to be a reprehensible
fashion.-Paris Letter.
Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1888-02-17

The supply of peanuts comes almost
wholly from Virginia, Tennessee and
North Carolina. Virginia is the banner
peanut growing state, averaging 2,00O,-
900 bushels yearly. Tennessee comes
next with an average of 500, 900 bushels,
and North Cardinals production averages
10000 bushels. The estimated supply
for 1883 is 100000 bushels, which in
cludes the nearly 600, 900 bushels of last
years crop which still remain in the
market.-New York Mail and Express.
Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1888-02-17
A SNOW STORM.

Deformed by tempests, the sweet blue
Is drowned in clouds of fleecy spray;
On. on, in ranks forever new,
Forever maddening in their play.
Above, the driving storm; below,
The earth is fashioned at its will;
Its chisel carves the yielding snow
To forms beyond all human skill.
But we, warm nestled, in the heart
OF this dim elemental war,
Sit calmly tranquil, or but start
When rocks the pane with stormier jar.
We look into each others eyes,
And see friendly peace which says,
While on the snowy Cossack flies,
Rave We without, here quiet stays"
This silent, unexpressed delight
Grows brighter SO severely set;
Heart warm against the snowy white,
The rose Of joy burns warmer yet.
Our kindling Of the soul can make
Those wintry tumults disappear,
And all their dreariness partake
Its own illumined atmosphere.
Thomas Gold Appleton.
Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1888-02-17
Selecting n Gaucho Leader.

1t is related that Gaucho army once
selected its leader after the following
exciting manner: A number of totally
wild horses were driven into a corral
whose only exit was a gateway above
which was cross bar. 1t was agreed
that whoever should drop from the bar
upon one of the animals as it rushed out
and break it then and there without
saddle or bride should be their general.
The feat was likely to cost the candidate
his life, but it was successfully accom-
plished. Who will doubt that the for
tunate man was fit leader for such an
army?-T. G. Harbaugh.