davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1888-11-17

pox. When he arrived tie quarantine
authorities would not allow him to en-
ter the harbor, and refused To render
him any assistance. 1t was while unar-
antlned here that Capt Slocum's vessel
was driven ashore during a storm and
became a total loss.
Capt. Slocum, being in "A strange
land and in sore distress, was compeIIed
to build his canoe out Of the wreck of
his vessel. When it was complated he
and his wife and two children sailed in
iii il for Santos, where | encountered
him about three months ago. | towed
the captain to Rio Janiefo. lie
wouldn't get out of his canoe, but his
wife and children came on nv steamer
He sailed from RIO before | did, but [
met him about 200 miles out from Rio.
The plucky mariner refused 10 take
passage on my vessel, and his fearless
wife would not desert her husband
Capt. Slocum is now Mt Barbados.
where | again met him on my last lrip
here. lie made The trip from Pernam-
buco To Barbados, "A distance of 300
miles, in nineteen days.
:" | again offered him passage here,
but he preferred to complete his voyage
III his canoe. He sprung the mainmast
while sailing To Barbados, but after he
completes repairs he will sail for st.
Thomas, and then for New York or Bal
tlmore.
''The canoe has three masts and is la
teen rugged. 1t has no bulwarks, and has
but one cabin, in which the brave party
live. Mrs Slocum is an experienced
sailor, and while her husband is off
duty she takes her turn in steering.
The two boys act as the crew Of the frail
boat -
The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1888-11-17
Women and War.
From the London Telegraph.

From the London Telegraph.
History is full of dangers that attend
the interference of royal wives in their
husbands politics. Ruling queens have
been successful enough. Elizabeth, of
England, Maria Theresa, Catherine of
RUSSIA, and our present queen have
shown that they can select wise coun-
sellers aud guide the des!inies of realms;
but the queen Consorts OF history,
when they have interiered with the
politics Of their husbands cabinets,
nave done great deal OF harm. lien
rIetta Maria exercised all unfortunate
influence at the court of Charles ].
Marie AntOinette made'her husband adj
ditlonally unpopular. The last king of
Naples was married to a hgh-spIr3ted
bdVaflan princess who encouraged his
resistance 10 constitutional demands.
In 1870 the Empress Eugcnic declared
to her Intimate friends, Remember
this Is my war" and il is likely enough
hat the Emperor i'll, weak and hardly
able 10 mount a horse. would have de
ferred the struggle had not his impetu
Gus and sp rIted cOnsUrt urged him on.
1t is sometimes said that the influence
of women on the politics OF the world
would put an end to war; but while
they remain non-cUmbatants, we great
~ doubt. They are able to realize some
of the results Of war-thc empty chairs,
the desOlaled homes, the widowed
lives; but they never see It's cjarser
consequences. They never witness a
battlefield after the fight is won-the
wounded, the dying, tile anguish Of un-
tended men, the fearful spectacle OF
human life trJmpIed IN the lnire, and
all the grim and disgusting incidents OF
the shambles of war, from the blood
shed 0. the day of victory to the specta
Gle later on OF unLuried bodies moul-
dering in the sun. They read novels
and poems that throw halo around it
all; they han as heroes the men who're
turn; they listen TO the music Of the
triumphant entry; they watch the way
ing plumes and Haunting banners, and
they invest with interest every man in
the victorious array. It's in this spirit
Of unreasOniug enthusiasm that Deauti-
Jul women on thrones send brave men
out TO slay and to be slain-stins ing
with their taunts the princes who hest
tate, and rewarding with their smiles
the rash kings who stake their crowns
on the issue Of the day. Queen Natalie
Of Scryia is only the last Of a long list
Of illustriOus ladies who have burnt
their fingers playing with the fires 0
politics aud war
The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1888-11-17
Luck in Horseshoes.

The old superstition of mailing a horse
shoe over the door of house as a pro-
lection against evil spirits, and an assur-
ance of good luck, is as widely spread in
the United States as it is III England or
Ireland. 1t also prevails among nearly
all Teutonic and Scandinavian races, and
hourishes largely in the East
and West Indies and Hindoostan.
A writer tells the New York
Mail and Express that there are
three elements united in the horse
shoe-in the first place it is crescent
shaped. secondly 1t Is Il portion of a
horse, and lastly it is made OF iron.
Popular superstition has long endowed
iron with protecting qualities. During
the time of the plague in Rome the in
habitants of the Eternal City drove
nails in the walls of their houses as
safeguard against the dread disease.
When the Arabs in the desert are over
taken by the deadly simeon they
seek succor from heaven by cry
ing Iron Iron ~ Celtic, Finn
ish and Welsh superstitions all
agree that against witChcraft iron is con-
sidered the only guard. Custom even
recites that it has always been consider
ed good omen to find old iron, and
particularly to find an old horseshoe.
In the mythology of England horses
were and are to this day looked upon
as luCk-bringers. In some parts
of England nowadays it is still
thought that many forms of dis
ease can be cured in burn
ing a horse alive. A horses hoof
placed under an invalid's bed is con-
sdered a specific for many complaints
in the North of Scotland. Many years
ago in ireland, so 1t is said. upon the
death of a horse, its feet and legs were
hung up in the house, and even the
boots are kept sacred. All of which, it
is claimed, serve as preventive of i'll
luck or disease.
Even in New York, among a certain
class, the horseshoe may be seen nailed
uD over many a house or shop door
The well-known song which was sung
by Edward Harrigan few years ago
made a lasting i'm IMPRESSION, and served
to remind many of the luck attending
Old iron shoes. One of the stanZas was:
There's a story that is told in Irish history,
Ear beyond the days of King Boru
That lucK viii surely always wait upon You
Ityou pick up on the road a horses shoe.
On account Of its form, historians
state that the qualities ormerly accord
ed to the crescent have been transferred
to the horseshoe. The Chinese build
their tOmbs at the present day in a semi
circular form like a horseshoe, and the
MOors use it in their architecture Lord
Nelson nailed horseshoe to the mast of
his flagship Victory, and guarded it as if
1t mad been citadel.
The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1888-11-17
THE ST. LAWRENCE.
Its Waters Exceptionally Difficult o
Navigation.
q II Farpbnm In IIarper's Magazine.


C. H. Farnhum IN HaTpcr's Magazine.
If the seamen of the st. Lawrence are
exceptionally superstitious even i'll this.
superstitious class, they have some
justification in the exceptional dangers
and eecentricities of these waters. The
river lust below the Isle d'Orleans is
eight miles wide-merely the beginning
of the lower st. Lawrence; III the next
100 miles ii gradually attalns width OF
thirtv-fiye miles at Nets; III another
hundred it becomes about sixty miles at
La Bale DIES Sept Isles. AS matter of
fact the lower st. Lawrence isan estuary
rather han river. | presume that the
guilt may be safely recognized at La
Bale DIES Sept Isles. j is triangular
sea, about 500 miles long from
northeast to southwest, and about
$50 miles wide from New oundland
TO this bay. The region OF the st. Law
renee has such remarkable natural feat
ures that even the matter-of-iact reports
of the admiralty are not without inter
est. The navigation of these waters
presents exceptional difficulties: the ex-
lstence of numerous islands, reefs, bars
and rocks in the channels; the irregu
larity OF the tides and currents; the
severity of the climate, especially toward
the close Of the naVigab!e season; and,
above all, the frequent togs: these are
difficulties that may well cause much
anxiety, and call for the exercise of all
the seaman's vigilance, prudence and
abb ity Besides the recorded variations
and deviations of the compass, the mag
netic attractions of the shores are said
to complcate the captains problems.
Ice is often a dangerous element here:
i'm the Sprinp- Nav in this latitude ana
often June also-the entrance and the
eastern parts of the guilt are frequently
covered with drift ice that besets yes
sells for many days; icebergs are com
mon there during the summer, and nav
igation is closed by ice, as a rule, from
November Goth to May LIST.
Such Is the nature of the river that
ships often spend more time in SIZZLING
up the ST. Lawrence than in crossing
the Atlantic; generally they require
eight or nine days to beat up to Quebec
from Bic 40 miles; they can sail only
during the flood. five hours, and then
must anchor, unless the wind changes
The clumsy coagting schooners, re-
curing always a fair wind, sometimes
spend a month III going sixty or eighty
miles
With so many dangers rs | have set
forth, the reader might think that the
st. Lawrence is not navigable; but
thanks to an efficient system of lighting
and plotting, these waters are one of the
great commercial arteries of the CONT
nent; they are frequented during six
months of the year by several lines OF
trans Atlantic steamships, IA fleet of
Norwegian barks for timber, and linn
tied number of eoasting steamers and
scbnpnarS
The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1888-11-17
Couldn't Give Them Away.

New Haven Cor. New York sun
When a clerk in Browns meat an
Ssh market on Grand Avenue acCi .ent-
ally laid his hand on a big cleayer on
saturday night he received an electric
shock tuat caused a strong pIicklmg SEN
satIOn 10 lass through Is system. IL
was asctrlained that thTouIh some dis
arrangement of the electric light wires
the store was thoroughly charged with
electricity. \ crowd quickly gathered,
and MIR Brown, being Of IOvlal diSpU-
sition, determined to have soE-e fun.
On one Of the hooks of the rack
back OF the meat bench hung the
carcass of a lamb. a stout Irishman
came III at that moment and inquired
the price Of a shoulder. Mr.. Brown Of
fered the whole lamb to him if he would
remove it from the hook and carry 1t of.
Pat put his sturdy shoulder under the
carcass. threw his arms ar und it and
tried to lift it. The shock he got nearly
threw him TO the floor.
4 basket of oysters stood leaning
ggains, the wall and touched water
pipe. \ young man came in to buy
peck, and was told to help himself. lie
lifted one and dropped it with a howl.
A barrel of Cabbages was also charged
with the electricity. When Mr.. Brown
told woman who wanted one that She
might have it and welcome, as she was
an old customer. swooped down on the
barrel and picked out the incest head
she could see. She will not touch an
other if you offer 10 pay her for it, She
set up a screening and grooming and
rushed through the jeering crowd out of
sight, and Nh. Brown sadly contemplate
ed the fact that he had lost her trade.
Just at this time lineman came along
and soon found out where the trouble
was. 1t took him q few minutes only
to repair the wire and business was re
sumed. Mr.. Brown says that 1t was tie
biggest nights trade lie ever had.
The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1888-11-17
Living Facts.


There are 3,C64 languages in the world,
and its inhabitants profess more than
1000 religions.
The number of men is about equal to
the number OF women. The average of
life is about SO years. One-quarter die
previous to the age of Il. To every
1000 persons only one reaches 100
years of life. TO every 100 only six
reach the age of %, and not more
than one in 500 lives 10 50 years OF aye.
There are on earth l.0C0,0OO,0O0 IN
habitants; Of these 33 .033 O33 die every
year; 81, S24 every day; 1870 every
hour, and go every minute, or l every
second.
The married are longer lived than
the single and, above ali. those who Obj
serve a sober and industrious conduct.
Tall men live longer than short ones.
Women have more chances Of life i'm
their favor previous to 80 years of age
than men have, but fewer afterward.
The number of marriage il in the pro-
portion of - to every 900 individuals.
Marriages are more frequent after equI-
Hoxes-that is, during the months of
June and December.
Those born in spring are generally Of
a more robust constitution than others.
Births are more frequent by night than
bV daV also deaths
The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1888-11-17
After an American Fortune.

Paris Dispatch to the London Telegraph.
Ailamacher, the printer of Versailles
who was supposed to have inherited
100000 francs from a testator who
died in America, is still playing the part
of wandering heir" 1t is stated that
the printer really received over IS 900
from a banker III order TO enable him
TO 90 to America, where his property
was awaiting him, and that the new
Monte Cristo has actually sailed for
the States" One thing, however, is
certain. ever since the announcement
of Allamacher's reputed good luck, the
office OF the printing establishment of
Versailles. wherein he has worked, has
been inundated by letters from all
parts of France Among these epis-
ties were 500 communications of all sorts
and sizes from women, thirty letters
from people who wanted TO float news
papers. wax works, waterworks, rail-
WAYS, mines and every kind Of financial
undertaking; go letters from patentees;
The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1888-11-17
The Lion Tanner.
From the Saturday Review.


4 tiger named Athir escaped just be-
fore the performance opened, scattering
the assembled audience in all direc-
tons, sending them III search of relu c to
treetops, hOusetops, and into houses not
their own. 1t IS one thing to beard
tiger III his den, another TO fight him
unarmed IN the open air. But BiIel
was quite equal to this unexpected call
upon his skill and courage; he expert
enced 'Pemotion de 'adOiescent a son
premier duel" his only misgi wing APP
pears to have been whether he would
prove worthy of himseli and those wait
ing Open-mou he'd for the coming FRAY.
Presently timid lookrr-on mustered
courage enough to half open Il window,
and 10 announce in whispers the
whereabouts of the escaped beast. The
tiger royal" was in the dark recesses
OF a deserted blacksmith's shop. Into
this Bidel flung himself; and having
become, as he SAYS, familiar with its
obsCurlty, he espied the CrOuching AthIr
in the act of springing, with tOaming
mouth and burning eye. The situa-
ton was what is called critical-it was
simply a question of who should
spring first, tiger or man. Bidel hap
PLY took the initiative and bounded
upon his prey. There was a tremendous
tussel-there were foamings. Hastings,
hOwlings - but the man triumphed.
Bidel seized the tiger by the skin of his
back, and lifting him on his Joins thus
bore his heavy burden in triumph to
his cage-a feat, it must be confessed,
not easy TO realize, much less to
acbipya
The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1888-11-17

ANorABIB reform has taken place sud
denly in New York in the way Of abol-
fishing loafers and oglers from the front
Of theaters. Dudes and dandies and
statues are no longer allowed to present
themselves in vestibules and stare at
the ladies and make insipid remarks.
The change Is specially welcome, as
there was danger of "a distinct breed Of
young men being created, with no
more brains than costumers' dumb
figures automatic clothes-racks. 1t re-
mains now for the churches to follow
suit, and abolish the somewhat more
animated, but more impertinent, young
sIers that loaf about church doors. This
nuisance is of comparatively recent
growth, and considering the place and
occasion is inexcusable. If the theaters
can work a reform, the churches can al
SO compel the Gudes and Washers to
move on
The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1888-11-17
Put Ii in Writing.
From the Trade Mark Record.


Verbal contracts occasion more
trouble, dispute and litigation than any
other business transactions. The wise
merchant taught 10y experience will en-
deavor TO have writing executed by the
party to be charged, in every case OF
importance arising III his business.
This Is especially necessary of guaran-
tees. A man enters your Office whom
you know to be perfectly responsible.
He tells you to sell Brown a thousand
dollars worth of goods. Brown is all
right, he will answer for that, etc
Make him sign memorandum.
A customer gives YOU a large order for
future and instaIment deliveries. Make
him sign 1t in writing.
You engage a salesman for year, or
for month, or for a trial trip. Have
1t all put down in writing and signed.
on save taking your chances before a
jury, who nine times out of ten prove
uncertain and two sympathetic with that
party whom they consider Is the under
dog"
1t is only little trouble at the time.
but it usually saves heap Of trouble in
the future.
The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1888-11-17
\ Surprised EngiIshman.
From Texas Siftings.


A few moh,hs ago an EngIishman am-
bled into a jewelers. store IN Lampasas,
Texas, when the following conversation
ensued: Ave you got h'any good,
hold Henglish time-pieces in the nature
of clocks? ' asked the Englishman.
1--WE have nothing but American made
clocks" replied the jeweler. "They
are by far the best, and of superior
workmanship" ''Ho. no, you are mis-
taken. If | cawn't get me a Henglish
clock | must send hover to Hen land
and ave me own family piece sent ho-
yer by steamer, yon know" The Jew
eler said very well, and the English
man went home and wrote for this mar
velous family time piece. In due course
of time it arrived, and as the English
man was conveying it up from the eX-
press office he dropped into the jewel
er's TO exhibit it, "Aw now he said
with his face wreathed in smiles. look
hat this tor a minute. 'Ere's a time
The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1888-11-17
Blowing in the Slot.
From the st. Paul Pioneer Press.

A quiet man with a very ford face
was in a crowd of hotel ioungers up
town the other night, and the discussion
turned upon beating" the weighing
machines which respectfully request
that a nickel be put into the slot. The
quiet young man said, sOberly: 'Why
put in anything? Blow into the slot, !"
and. jumping upon the platform, he ias-
teled his mouth over the slot, and, pLf-
fling out his cheeks, threw small cy-
clone into the works.
Sure enough the old thing worked
and the needle registered his weight at
$50.
"Well, | declare" said the man.
'I'll be bowed" said another, with a
view of prophecies.
Cry 1t, said the young man, cts
easy"
So they all tried it; pulled and blew
and distended their cheeks until every
one of them was tired; but it didn't
work.
That's funny" and the young man
stepped up, blew in the hole, and it
again worked nicely.
"Why can't we do it,
ooh, you 'orgot to puta nickel in your
mouth first "
The crowd fell down in the effort to
reach the bar first
The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1888-11-17
Bold MuSkratS.
From Forest and stream.

From Forest and Stream.
One afternoon, walking through the
meadow toward the pond, and when a
few feet from the water, | saw a musk
rat running to reach the water. Bring
ing my pole down from over my shout
der, where | had been carrying it,
struck him with it as he was running
The blow did not kill him, but he turned
over on has back with his feet struggling
in the air. and giving small cries of pain
or anger | started toward him, when
fir 1T the loose stone wall making part Of
the dam | saw five muskrats coming or
me, with their mouths open
and giving every appearance OF
rage and desire to avenge the injury to
their companion. Without stopping at
the place where he was still kick ing
they cIme past HIM and at me on the
run, and alter the first establishment was
over ! concluded that discretion was the
better part of valOr, and started for the
house as fast as / could go, glancing
over one shoulder 10 see if they were
gaining in the race. Although thev
chased me for only few rods, | did not
feel safe near that locality until the
next day, when | returned and found
the pole where had dropped it, but no
muskrats, even the wounded one being
gone. | have always believed that the
one which | struck was not severely in
Jured, but that his cries of rage brought
his companions to his aid and to fight
for him
The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1888-11-17
The Slandcred .Loca" Plant.

This plant. has enjrved consider
able notori ty from the fact that pop
ular superstition has accredited it with
the power of producing insanity, as is
implied IN the name originally given to
II by the MeXIcans, 'Herba oca"-''in-
sane herb. Many writer's Of romance
have woven wonderfully path etic stories
around the alleged act that some Jealous
maiden has prepared decoction of
this herba loca, and beguiIed her vic
tim INTO drinking it, after which he be-
comes insane or dies a raving maniac.
James Kennedy, PHI. g., in a paper
before the Texas Pharmaceutical So
clety, has pricked the bubble. After
mlnutely describing the plant, and vari-
Gus analyses made of it, he gave re.
port OF numerous experiments made
with It, all OF which proved conclusiyelv
that the much-vaunted poison of herba
loca is myth, and that the plant Is per-
iectly harmless. 1t is interesting. how
ever, TO note what an amount of np-
parent strong corroborative evidence
can be found for any popular supersri
ton, Mr. Kennedy having found that
every farmer IN Texas who knew the
plant was prepared to testify that il
would poison cattle who ate it. Mr..
Kennedy clearly proved that cattle eat
II freely, and that the only i'll effects, if
any, resulting are those which follow
overlooking on green fodder
The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1888-11-17

\ GOOD English divine, going to show
the advantage of a life like ours in pref
crence to one ike Nethusela, according
to the tradition, has made some figures
that are startling. He shows that if one
q Noah's boys, after the famous flood
'Iad lived to be 500 years old, having
his first child at 80 and his last when
40, and allowing for one addition to his
family each three years, and supposing
them all to live, he could gather about
his ample board at the last 147 sons and
daughters. With a reasonable degree
of prolific bearing, his grandchildren
would number between 10000 and r.
900, and the whole little family would
lie the two figures added together.
This estimate is moderate, if monogamr
alone be considered. But under a poly
2amous system the figures would swell
enormously. Some of the consequences
possible under such state of affairs
are appalling.
The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1888-11-17

y epistles rom poets Offering cori,u
OF their latest prodr ctious, and
myriad OF oil ers tIom The tIadegmer
struggling lawyers, ltterateurs, raintfrl'
musicians, actors and ''quacks." ~
wonen's i ers were the ost anrs;,,.
o. all. There Was he syelt and sy1,7
me;rical syjpH with golden Eai.
who hal already been noticed. tL5
widow of general, who moacslIy ra,,
resented herself as "A CERTAIN aaa y
but well rTcScrv, d, still bcagtIrrr
and calculated Ia secure H.
felicity Of millionaire. TEar
there were dozens OF cemofsafIss
avcc taches and numerous daIos,Is
without any bIcmish; lauudre.s vIa
loved compcsitoIs, aud score of mf.i
nels, "a, il Of whom assured NJ. &IIs-
macher tic. she WAS Icaty to he t~r
him n,cet saIy. Some o these Ir,,ers
bore curious aGdrt s-,s, such as To N
Alla B.ci.er, cX-i1mter," or "Tu ,La
Heir of - ,mO ,UUO, al NcHai les" or ~,
u. All mach. r, O NcrsaI les, ttc I'M
pefsunat;ou o. virtue Rewarded. Hand.
Iyany OF tines peculiar eoumuaiean.rs
have ;Cuched the printer, Who is now
either ilain2 III mys;vuau5 quarters i'm
Paris, or crossing tn. Atlantic d. Quest
OF The Golden Fleece which. AFTER
all, tins new Jason mag not he able.
secure.