davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1888-03-15
A Very Old Novel.

II suppose" says James Payn in
London Necs. "'Aucassin and Nico-
lette is the oldest work of fiction in
the world. and on that account is de-
serving of a word or two. 1t was
written 757 years ago in France and is
entirely love story nuch more
pure aud simple one than the French,
or even. l regret TO say, some of the
English ones of TODAY, while it is more
full of incident than the American
novel.
The hero. the son of great lord,
declines to embrace any profession,
but only Nieolette. 4 marvel that
you will be speaking. father. he says
"a little disrespectfully, as it strikes
one), when it is suggested that he shall
90 the wars, like other young persons
of his quality; to which the governor
replies (for papas were really govern
ors in those days. that if he gets the
Young woman at his will' he will
burn her in fire So the relations
are little strained between them from
the first.
''How very much Aucassin is in
earnest may be gathered from his re-
ply to a friend of the family who points
Out tHdl ny Auil lnS lulS young per
son (who is slave girD he never will
enter into Paradise. 'Paradiser re-
plies tie young fellow (who, l am
afraid, must have imbibed some of the
skeptical opinions of the TtOeJfh Gen.
tury ReUie,0), 'thther go these same
old priests, and halt old men and
manned, who all day and night cover
continually before the altars and in
the crypts; and such folk as wear old
amices and old cloted frocks, and
naked folk and shoeless, and covered
with sores, perishing of hunger aud
thirst, and of cold, and of little ease.
These be they which go into Paradise.
- But into the other place,
which he indicates, would ! fain go;
for thther fair aud goodly clerks and
goodly knights that fell in Journeys
and great wars. and all noble men,
And thither pass the sweet ladies and
courteous that have two lovers or
three. With these would l liehy go.
let me but have with me Nicolette, my
sweetest lady"
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1888-03-15
BAD " riting.

There is a growing tendency to en-
courage handsome and legible hf.nd-
writing. and there was need for it; for
among some of the older generation
the handwriting has sometimes been a
puzzle, and, as in the following in
stance. capable of being construed ac-
cording to the readers pleasure:
During the war quantity of personal
property belonging TO a resident of
Washington was seized and contiscated
by the United States.
For years the original owner made
repeated attempts to secure an order
for its restoration from the quarter
master who had charge of it. But he
was obdurate and insisted that it
should be restored only through an act
of congress. Still the attorney for the
plaintiff persisted, and again he wrote
to Quartermaster-ge Meigs for an
order of restoration.
This was about the seventh attempt,
and the officer had grown impatient.
He wrote an exceedingly vigorous re-
ply, in which he emphatica1Iy refused
to do as requested. The handwriting
was frightful.
The attorney saw his chance He
fastened to his client, and, thrustIng
the letter to him, said, Il have sue
ceeded at last Here is the order"
The ''order> was taken to the corral,
where the officer in charge recognized
the signature and at once turned over
the property.
When General Meigs asked what
had become of it, he was told that it
had been restored on his order. He
saw the order, and, as he could not
read it, he simply said, Il do not re-
member signing 1.-THE Argonaast.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1888-03-15
Forgot to Hang Himself.

Among the early inhabitants of
Buckfield was one Granville Maxim,
man of marked ability, but of very
eccentric habits, says the Lewiston
(Me.) Journal He early manifested
an ardent love of music, and for that
day was said to have acquired a very
thorough knowledge of its principles.
He was an eminent composer, and
author of many of the most popular
melodies of that day, which are now
known as continental, and by long
and continued use have become so
firmly established in the hearts of not
only the people of this State, but
throughout this union, as to render
their authors name almost a house
hold word.
In early life. as tradition tells us, he
met with serious disappointment in
love. Tired of life and disguised
with the world, he one morning took
stout rope and wandered into the
deep forest between the Owls head
and Streaked mountain with the fixed
purpose of putting an end to his exist
ence. He continued his way until he
came to a deserted logging camp.
where he sat down to rest aud think
the matter over. On the old hovel sat
lone sparrow uttering her lament at
the disturbing of her nest by some
ruthless marauder. He sat for a long
time listening to the plaintive song Of
the bereaved bird. At last he thought
to leave some memento which might
chance to meet the eye of his lady
love, and in some measure remind her
of his sufferings.
Going to a birch tree he removed a
piece of bark, on which he wrote the
following lines:
As on some lonely building top
The sparrow tells her moan,
Far from the tents of Joy and hope
I'll sit and grieve alone
He then commenced to write q
plaintiye melody of most exquisite
sweetness in the minor scale, Justly be-
fitting the language. When he had
finished this he had become so inter-
ested in his work he began to affix the
other parts, and his whole mind and
energies seemed wrapped up in the
work before him.
Evening had begun to cast its shad-
ows over the valley ere his task was
completed. When the whole was ad-
justed to his liking, his lively imagin-
alton. to his infinite delight, pictured
the glorious harmony which must
arise from his subject when performed
by his competent choir. His love Of
life returned. and his idea of suicide
vanished. Throwing his rope into
the adjacent bushes he hastened home
ward and became very popular and
useful man.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1888-03-15
Get Married Young.


1t is, think, an erroneous idea that
early marriages are hindrance rather
than help to success in life and the
mental development and happiness OF
the parties. That this is sometimes
the case is true; but / believe that
more young men, aud girls too, have
been saved from ruin and wretched-
ness by an early marriage than have
been ruined by it. There is something
inspiriting and ennobling in the pos
session of home and family TO work
for and beautify. and if the girl and
boy are poor, should still say marry
young and work together for the home
an,i the competence. which will be all
the more enjoyable because they are
the result of toll and self-denial.
Don't wait until you can afford 10 be-
gin just where your father and mother
leave off. for then the freshness of
youth will be goue. and, although it
may be morning with you still. the
shades will be stretching on toward
the MONDAY. and habits will have been
formed which are hard to break, while
the chances are they will never be
broken at au.-Eua FRseiey R,ieoz.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1888-03-15
A Stronger Gun Than it Looks.

Each days progress at the Pittsburg
Steel Casting Company's works on the
new cannon shows the successful
character of the work. The new en-
gine of war is in the lathe now
The magnitude of the interests
which would be glad to see the failure
of the Pittsburg gun" said gentle
man who is interested in the new can-
non. '-can be understood by remem-
bering that the entire expenditures of
Europe for artillery have for some
years been for the 'built-up' steel guns.
The great Armstrong establishment ia
England is wholly devoted to making
the cannon by shrining successive
tubes or rings of steel one upon the
other. The still vaster establishment
of krnpp in Germany derives nearly
all of its profits from the manufacture
OF cannon in the same way.
''NOw, if you remember that the
cost of the built-up steel gun runs from
81 to 50 per pound according to their
size, while the solid steel gun lust
turned out is at the contract price of
25 cents per pound, you can see what
q blow to these immense interests will
be dealt if the firing tests show that the
new cannon is as good or better than
the older ones. If it is as good, the
immense gain in cheapness will utter
ly destroy the business of the immense
Krupp and Armstrong works. If it is
better, it will turn the hundreds of
cannon they made for the countries
of the Old World into old metal>
They will keep a close watch of the
tests of this gun, and have no doubt
that if $50, 900 would secure its failure
under the firing tests, the money
would be forthcoming"
If the tests demonstrate the sue
cess of the six-inch solid gun. will that
show the ability of Pittsburg to secure
equally good results with the largest
steel guns. such as have been made
by Krupp and Armstrong in the other
process?' was asked of a gentleman
who is interested in the steel casting
company.
I'VE will take a contract tomorrow
to make 150-ton gun if any Govern
ment wishes to order it, was the short
but decisive reply. Pittsbarg Dispatch.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1888-03-15
Gum Chewing As an Art

The habit of chewing gum by men,
women, babies, young and old. in the
West is gradually working its way East.
1t is matter of common practice at
most health resorts, and strikingly
so at the Hot Springs in Arkansas, and
nearly all the physicians in these sani-
tariums commend the exercise as
materially aiding digestion. cleaning
the stomach. and as help of break
ing off chewers from the use of to-
bacco
A few years ago, and even now. in
staid Eastern cities. young lady who
chewed gum would be stunned by
other fair ones and held up as an ex-
amule of one on the direct route to
perdition Whereas. in Chicago, Kan
sas City, St. Paul, Minneapolis, and all
the rest of the progressive West and
Northwest cities and towns, if one
cant chew at least a nickePs worth of
gum per day one is not up to the
standard. 1t seems odd, but there is a
perfect dial to the thoughts in the way
the gum is chewed Let any one chewing
gum become excited or enthusiastic.
say at horse racing or any other inter-
esting enjoyment, and the mouth will
WORK quickly aud with an automatic
regularity. Entire rows of men
and women watching baseball con-
test will show on which side the chew
ers are betting. When good play is
made on one side the hackers of that
side chew ferociously; the losing side
cnew and work the gums alphabetically,
A home run causes the masticating and
crunching to go on as though worked
by keely motor.
A young lady visiting the East from
one of the Western cities neglected
to bring with her a stock of genuine
gum. Life seemed intolerable until a
thoughtful friend sent her bundle of
vcet scented chewing gum. TO
watch another chewing gum very long
will make you hungry. and the young
! lady's mother having watched her
! ''chew' for long time and seeing the
evident relish with which she chewed,
asked for paper. After chewing for
! five minutes sne suddenly threw the
gum Indignantly out of the window.
Later, when the Young ladys mother
remarked that the habit of chewing
gum was pernicious, unladylike, and
vulgar, the daughter understood that
the neophrte i'll gum chewing had a
swollen tongue. chewed jaws, ami q
bleeding lip. There are slips even ip
| gum baltimore american.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1888-03-15
Four Days Lighting q Match.

One of the coolest days recently
pedestrians on Clark street stared in
amazement at a big man who shuft1ed
along apparently overcome with heat.
He carried an enormous coonskin coat
on his arm, his big fur cap was pushed
back from his forehead, his coat was
unbuttoned, and the perspiration
stood in beads on his brow He was
looking anxiously at the store windows
as if in search Of something that he'd
got to have and have right of. Along
about Washington street he gave it up
as bad job and tackled a shivering
Chicagoan who was hidden in a fur
collar and was trying to keep from
freezing to death.
Say, strangeri" he remarked fee
bly, wiplng his forehead with the back
of his hand, kin ye steer me onter
somethin' coolin-soda water or seeh
like? I'm clean done up with the
heat"
The CEicagoan was too much as
tonished to reply, and stared blankly
at the speaker.
What's the matter with this here
durn town. anyhow" continued the
big man, taking off his cap and un-
buttoniug his vest "All the soda
water masheens is done up in tisshoo
paper an burned if kin find so much
ez drink o ice-water. l sh'u'd think
sech hot weather ez-"
Hot weather." broke in the other
man. For the Lords sake, man, it's
i five belo~r
Gosh! is it hot's that?" said the big
man mopping his face and moving into
the shade.
"Where'd you come from. anyway
asked the Chicago man, in an awed
/ voice.
"Dakota-an' in the last blizzard l
wuz-"
20, | see," said the Chicagoan,
been pretty cold up your way lately,
and You amt used to our mild eli
mate"
That's it. that's it. responded the
Dakota man. drawing himself up with
conscious pride. why. in the last
blizzard 'twuz so cold 1 didn't have a
smoke fur near a week"
"How's that" asked the hearer-
"cigar freeze while you were smok-
ing?'
20, no. but 1t took a steam-grind.
stone four days to lights match p
&H1eoGo xf(t07R> --x----.-z....-
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1888-03-15
The western Hustler at Home.

The western town-lot rustler is q
well known character. A correspond
ent of the New York Times, writing
from Gypsum City. Kansas, has seen
him on his native heath and describes
him thus:
Real estate rustlers are, in nv
opinion. one of the natural products of
the west They resemble wheat-plants
in their imperious demand for virgin
soil. No rustler can rustic effectively
when hemmed in by costly buildings.
They thrive in small towns which
stand on the banks of Insignificant
streams, or on sandy deserts. or on
sagebrush plains. They rustic most
effectively in towns which contain from
800 to 600 inhabitants The more
dreary and uninviting the town the
more energetically they rustic. am
deeply interested in these mysterious
men, have studied their habits for
many months and in many towns, but
have been unable to solve the knotty
problem of the origin of these strange
beings. The famous problem of the
lights or of the binomial theorem are
merely intellectual toys with which to
amuse children in comparison with
this twister. There is something un-
canny about the prompt appearance of
a rustler in new town.
IF pilgrim is in doubt about the
vocation of gentleman whom he has
met in frontier town, and would ap-
ply a test sure to detect the most art
full and deceptive rustler, he must ut
ter the word syndicate while talking to
him. And then listen to him lie His
eyes brighten at the word. He con-
jures up immense stacks of sacked
gold. His voice quivers with excite
ment: he will talk till night of syndi-
Gates. Real estate is never bought by
parties OF by associations of persons.
The Boston syndicate bought lots 3 to
y. inclusive, in block 2, Balls addition.
on which to build an opera house. The
English syndicate. or the Wall street
syndicate. or the French syndicate
bought so few or SO many lots on which
to build 81 ZOO, 900 hotel. with an
elevator and electric lights One
young man, whose hair was red and
appearance foxy, told me that "a Phil
adelphia syndicate bought that cor
ner, pointing dirty index finger at a
rocky, side-hill lot in Wardner, Idaho,
'to build dance-house on And he
wondered why laughed as coniured
up group of obese Philadelphia Quak-
ers building and running. a danee-hail
in Rocky mountain mining camp.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1888-03-15
The Temperate Zone OF Alaska.

A correspondent writing from Ju-
neau, the metropolis of Alaska, insists
that the climate there is not cold. On
the day he wrote the temperature there
was about 80 degrees warmer than at
many places in our northern terri
tories. He says:
There is great difference in point
of climate between. the northern por-
tions of the two coasts. On this side,
while there is snow, and good deal
of it, in tae winter months, there is
more rain than snow. While in Green
land, or even off the banks, at this
time of the year, the thermometer
would be several degrees below zero.
here it is only 20 above, and averages
about % degrees throughout the win
ter. The lowest it has been this year
is IA degrees, and it seldom in these
ATTITUDES touches a lower point than
that, though at times it does go to zero.
Throughout the summer the average is
about 60 degrees, making, if it were
not for the incessant rain and drizzle
and mist, a very temperate climate
when one considers how far north it is.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1888-03-15
Ancient Order of Snakes.

The dancing man. says the Apache
Critic, made four circuits around the
rock which stands near the center of
the plaza, hating to face t chorus.
where as on the day before, song
was gone through with. The snake
men were formed into groups of three
each, and now an individual from each
group went into the cottonwood shade
and extracted a snake from one of the
bags. and. after putting it into his
mouth and firmly fixing it there by the
teet !. started Oh his round.
His companion, with an arm around
his neck, kept the tail of the snake in.
position, while with the right, in which
was carried a stick with two long
feathers attached, he held the serpent
away from becoming entangled in the
hair of his friend. The snake, after
being carried around the circle, is
thrown from the mouth, when the
third member of the group gathers his
snakeship up and carries him the
balance of the dance, occasionally,
however, giving the dancing man some
to hold, which they do in rather q
modest manner.
Smiles are brought upon the visages
of many of the spectators at the sad
plight others are put in by the serpents
every once in a while making bold
dashes for liberty, scattering the
crowd in all directions. yet to be
brought back captives and be held
more securely by the singers. Two or
three instances were noticed Of the
large bull snake being held by the
neck, but throwing his long, prehen-
sile body around the leg. thus securing
himself from Imaginative dangers.
One instance IN particular, where the
snake was longer by fully two feet
than the small boy who held it, and
twisted itself around first one leg and
then the other in such manner that
to move was to fall. The predicament
of the urchin called forth great burst
of merriment. Yet it looked anything
but funny to the boy, How many
snakes were on hand would be hard to
tell, yet serpents were plenty and
seemed TO be in excellent condition, to
Judge from the manner in which they
resisted recaptnre after having been
dropped from the mouth, but there
were at least $50.
Those who danced with the snakes
not infrequeutly had three or four at
the same time in the mouth, which, of
all the performances. was the most re-
pulsive. To see a human being going
the rounds with his entire face hidden
behind the snakes, not feature visible,
was something to make the shudders
ereep-up ones back. which it did Yet
there was sounds of applause from the
natives gathered around. urging the
dancers 10 attempt greater feats. such
as taking two of the larger rattlers in
the mouth at once. and in one instance
dancer held many snakes in his
mouth. which twined around his face
in a hideous mass, as if his head had
been transformed into that of the
tabled Gorgon.
Fhat the performers are thoroughly
doctored or medicated prior to the
commencement of the ceremonies
there can be no doubt. The eyes and
the ecstatic bearing of the s,hodies at
tract attention at once; there is q
peculiar lustre in the orbs and an
elasticity in the movement of the body.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1888-03-15
But He Didn't Call Her "Bunnie.

Washington as youth was particu-
larly susceptible to the tender passion.
He composed verses in celebration Of
it, as many another youth has done
before and since. he addressed ANA
tory eplstles to "Dear Sally" whose
sole fame among the innumerable un-
known consists in the preference tenn
porarily offered her by one whose
name was destined to become the in
heritance of the ages. His 'Lowland
Beauty" to whom he was all the time
paying poetic tribute on the margins
of the leaves of the books on survey
ing WHICH he was studying, has disap-
peared in the mists of that past in
which all things, good and evil alike,
are finally swallowed up.-BostoH
Globe,
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1888-03-15
Sailing.

Over the waves in the favOring breeze.
Sailing away toward the sungided sky,
Fading. at last, on the glimmerlng seas,
As the stars in the glow of the sun-rising
die;
Or. as spirit in garments of white
Passes away when we wake from a dream
Fades, and forever. In daylights first beam,
So In the morning, onr ship fades from
sight.
Only a sail w hich we watch with our eyes
Dewy with teardrops obsouring our view,
Much like the sails of this vessel, which lies
Rocking at peace on the harbor waves. blue,
Anchored at rest as she lay yester night;
Much like host of the sails on the sea-
Sails which are nothing to you or to me
Passing, unheeded, In darkness OF light.
Say not our ship shall return as she goes;
Changes come often and years intervene;
Ships may be lost when the wild tempest
blows,
Time cast its shadow our friendships be-
tween,
For often the hearts are forgetful who roam;
Watchers who stand on the black pier to-
day
Long ulay have passed from our circle away,
Long ere our ship from the distance comes
home.
--Jane Maria Read.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1888-03-15
Men Are Bigger Than They Used to

l have measured a great many
Roman coffins, and my average shows
tnat the Roman could not have greatly
exceeded five feet five inches. In TAX
ing measurements of ancient armor L
find that the English aristocracy have
decidedly increased in average height
within five hundred years.
1 measured twenty-five mummies in
the British museum, as nearly as l
could through the cases, making esti-
mates for wrapping, and 1 found the
average height of males sixty-one
inches. females fifty-five inches.
The mummy of the celebrated Cleo
patra measures about tifty-four inches,
about the height of the present Euro
pean girl of IS. The most ancient
mummy of an Egyptian king yet dis
covered measured tifty-two inches
Mature.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1888-03-15

New Yorker Gu Bosron) Can you
direct me to Salem street, Officer
Cert. You go through Providence
court to Washington street, skin
through Cornhill until you come to the
straight part, circle round Scollay
square till you tind an outlet, and in
quirs again. That's as ter as my beat
Bats ~--,-.--.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1888-03-15

Servants Gn boarding-house1-Ah,
Mister Dumley, such beautiful ducks
came to-day. Dumley (excited) y
Ducks! You don't say so. Bridgcta
Ssrvant-Yis sorr, it's an lie painna'
tor the dinia' a'-room.--Epoch.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1888-03-15

abraham Burbank, who died recent
IL ia r.tt>iieid. Mass, worked all his
life as ii hr.cf and stone mason, and at
his death owned real estate valued at
81 900, OOO.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1888-03-15

Days Theater is showing THE
Railroad of Love" Passengers change
cars at Chicago on that road.-Neao
Orleans PtcGyUne.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1888-03-15
A. w. BEN AN,

Attorney as Law. 0FFICR. No. 280S
Broadway (1sth War'D. Cleveland. Ohio 719