davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-02-08
The Rise OF the Tomato.

The tomato, sixty years since, wac
called "The Love Apple" raised mainly
in pots as a..curiosity, and generally con-
sidered uneatable. The fruit was of the
shape and size Of the cherry variety of
to-day, and care was taken to prevent
children from devouring anything 30
poisonous. When adventurous West
Indians proposed its use as vegetable,
they were claesed among those semi-bar.
b .rians, who eat frogs legs and similar
denominations. Now, like the oyster,
they are eaten "fried. stewed or in the
she'll" They enter into soups and
sauces, and appear upon the table in a
number of combinations. Enthusiastic
cultivators continually produce new
varietice, and the old, wrinkled, imper-
feclly ripe aud watery kinds have been
replaced by round, smooth and solid sue.
ccssors. 1t is a matter Of earnest effort
to raise tomatoes carly, keep them bear
ing as long rs possible, md to fruit them
well. l.-IndeDenlent.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-02-08
Rat and Mon Sc Traps.

"The increased sale of poisons has
caused manufacturers of rat and mouse
traps to wake up" said salesman re:
Gently to a reporter for the New York
Mail and Express. "Those patent foods
are so much easier to handle than the old
traps that housekeepers prefer to use
them. The old-fashioned mouse traps
made of wire and wood, with piece OF
cheese hung on hook inside, have gone
entirely out of date. The trouble with
these traps is that the rats and mice soon
get to know them and will keep away
from them. A new trap for mice has
been made and is very successful. 1t is
built in the shape of small house with
doors and windows. These doors and
windows all open when pushed against,
but spring shut again at once and can
not be opened from the inside. Asa bait
d little grain is distributed about the in
side of the house. The mice soon find
this out and several can be caught in
one night in this trap. For rats some.
thing stronger is required, and rats are
very cunning, too. A very popular trap
is made of two rows of steel teeth. When
the trap is set these teeth are opened and
hidden from view. A piece of meat il
placed on aspiring in the centre OF the
trap, and when touched releases the
teeth. which spring shut and kill the
rat at once. All rat traps are on the
spring system. One trap has a piece OK
steel wire that falls and holds the rat
prisoner. Rats scream very much when
caught and some have been known to eat
off their own legs to release Themselves"
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-02-08
WORDS OF WISDOM.

Every trial adds to our strength.
The greatest fool Of all is he who fools
himself.
Drop your bad habits and they cannot
over you.
Gratitude preserves old friendship and
procures new.
Those who 60 for berries should not
retreat from briars. ~
One ungrateful man does an injury to
I'll who stand in need of aid.
Genius beckons man up. and il he
tttempts to climb will help him. 81
Prosperity is no just scale; adversely Is
he only balance to weigh friends.
The world is comedy to those who
hink; tragedy to those who feel. =.
No man is fit to have power unless he
wishes to WELD it for the good of all.
The sooner you cut loose from one who
ieceives you the better off you will be.
Hearts are flowers; they remain open
20 the softly falling dew, but shut up in
he violent downpour of rain.
DO not fret. 1t only adds to your bur
len. To work hard is very well; but to
work hard and worry, too, is more than
human nature can bear.
Nothing good bursts forth all at once.
The Lightning may dart out of black
cloud; but the. day sends his bright
leralds before him to prepare the world
or his coming. -.--r =
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-02-08
A Smuggler's Den.

The revenue officers have discovered
another ingeniously concealed smugglers'
"bothy" in Strathcarrou, Ross-shirc,
Scotland. In their search the officers
followed the gorge of stream which
fows in q series of cascades through q
rocky chasm of great depth. Here.
twenty feet from the bottom of the rocks,
they found one of the most artfully con-
structed bo!hies ever seen. At first it
appeared to be q cave, but on entering it
was seen that it had been scooped out of
the rock and rooted with strong planks,
over which boulders and shingles
had been t,rown in haphazard way,
as if the whole were mass of debris
from the rocks overhead. The water
channel to and from the bothy was also
covered with boulders-in fact, there
was nothing to indicate that such place
existed except that the rocks above were
blackened with smoke. In the bothy were
found mash tub of $50 gallons capacl-
ty, receiver of twenty gallons capacity,
q thermometer. several minor utensils,
aud most important of all, the poit.dubh
Tor black pot), rs the natives call the
still. How the smugglers managed to
yet their goods in or out of snch dan-
serous place was puzzle to the officers
Until, after some risky scrambling, the
gorge was further explored, resulting in
the discovery of cleft in the rock down
which rope. ladder was suspended from
a tree at the top. Others of the officers
had in the meantime discovered another
bothy, near which was concealed a mash
tuu of $50 gallons capacity. All these
utensils were destroyed on the spot, sx-
cept the still, which was borne away as
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-02-08
A California Potato Patch.

Fifty years ago Ignacio Inez lived in !.
little cabin on the bank of creek In
Santa Clara County, Cal. Ignacio kept
pig and raised Just enough potatoes to I
support life. There was land enough
lying around loose out of doors to raise
ship loads of potatoes. but that would
have required work, and Ignacio never
suspected that Providence put him here
to work. So he rolled cigaritas and
watched his few plants grow. Potato
patches like Ignacio's were called mil
pas" in the Greaser dialect, aud the,
Spanish law permitted the Governor to
issue grants to the holders of milpas in
order to protect them from the cattle
barons, who were in the habit of driv-
ing their herds across country and de-
vastating any little farms that might be
in the way. So Ignacio asked for 9
grant. The Alcalde looked at his milpa,
und found it so small that, in derision,
he described it in his report as .tmil-
pitas," or little potato patch. In q
facetious spirit he called the bitches
"creeks," and described the lines as run.
ming from certain tree to a point on
CTcchy lfOu Ouo SiCCh W ouoehOi, GIVE i
Governor Michel Toreno approved and
issued to Ignacio Inez a grant for the
Rancho Milpitas, and Ignacio was pro-
te cted from the raids of arrogant
vaqueros and their believing nerds.
Under the treaty of Guadalupe
Hidalgo, the United States covenanted
to respect and protect the rights of all
holders of land under MEXICAN grants,
and a commission was appointed to ex-G
anime and pass upon all claims pre-.
sented. Among the grants approved
was that of Rancho Milpitas TO lgnacio.
Inez. The cession of California to the
United States greatly enhanced the
value of land, and Mexican grants became
first-class property. The description OF
the Rancho Nilpitas was examined.
There were genuine creeks in Santa
Clara and Alameda counties. and in rum
ming the lines the little bitches were
ignored. The grant said from creek to
creek" The facetiousness of the Alcalde
was not appreciated, and Ignacio Inez's
milpitas of two or three acres grew to
the Rancho Milpitas of $4,000 acres,
and was 80 patented under the laws OF
the United States, the heirs of Ignacio,
the cigarita-rolling Greaser, became
wealthy hidalgos, and their daughters
were sought in marriage by Geringo ad-
venturers of enterprising spirit.
York Sun.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-02-08
IN EMBRYO.

Ths egg in the shallow brown nest
How lifeless, how pale to the eyeI
How long it Is pressed to the mothers warm
breast.
And kept from the shafts of the skyi
Yet listen, my sweet,
o listen, my sweet,
And think on the changes that fall,
For heart is beginning to tremble and beat
Close under the dolicate WALL
A bird is astir in the nest
The creature of sunshine and day;
How little and weak with its wide yellow
beak,
Its body all naked and grayl
Yet listen, my dear,
Oh listen, my dear,
And think on the chances that fall,
For the carols OF summer are joyful to hear,
And Hope is the ruler of ALL
As magic is wrought in the nest,
The night is pursued by tho muin,
And surely at last from the walls of tho past
The life of the future is born.
Then listen, my sweet
Oh listen, my sweet,
And think on the changes that fall,
For the heart Of the morrow will quicken and
beat,
And burst into being for ALI
-Dara Read Goodale, in Young People.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-02-08
Ia nerformed onlv in tha church ftar

is performed only in the church. After
two lovers have become engaged, the
parents of the bride repair to the digni-
tary who corresponds to the Mayor in this
country. The bride and bridegroom here,
writing and in the presence of at least
half dozen witnesses, signify their in
tention of marrying. The date of the
wedding is then designated, but the
event is not allowed to take place within
three months. Immediately after de-
parting from the Mayors Office, the
friends of the contracting parties are no.
tilted in person of the proposed nuptials
and in some instances not only is it ad-
vcrtised in the newspapers, but written
notices are posted Oh every second post
Of the town.
"Thc Mayor, on the other hand. directs
his clerks to send a notification of the in
tention to all the churches in the city and
vicinity. This done the names and ages
of the couple arc entered in n big book
which the pr est keeps for that purpose.
No one is married by the clergyman who
has not signitied his or her intention three
months before. AsIsoon as couple enters
the church the reverend gentleman in
charge examines the book in person. If
he fails to discover register of the in
tention he refuses to join the anxious
pair. Every woman who marries is
entitled to a dover. Her parents
must confer this upon her. For
the most part the bridegroom expects
this dover, and my attention was called
to several who had refused to take the
bride without it. The value of the
dover depends entirely upon the anan-
cial status of the girls parents. The
p orer ones generally furnish in a COM
plete manner the dwelling in which the
couple intends to live. The father of the
girl some few weeks prior to the we'd
ding prepares in writing the dover list.
1t is most ludicrous document some
times, but more particularly when it
minutely describes the number of forks,
knives, spoons, dishes. chairs and other
household paraphernalia which the br. de-
groom's father.in-law is willing to be-
stow upon the suitten pair. OF course
there are instances when the brides
father, owing to extreme poverty, has
been unable to give a dowry, but these
are real love affairs"
"Cannot the bridegroom present the
trousseau2"
"Yes, he can; but as far as could
ascertain there were certain restrictions.
The newly married couple never go on a
honeymoon, the universal custom being
to allow them to remain at home for
eight days. At the expiration of that
time the cards are sent out. Then there
is merry making. There are few cases OF
elopement."
"Does not this compulsory dover
prevent many marriages 2"
Yes, it does. Still there are pure
love affairs even in Italy, and a man
doesn't expect dover from the relatives
of a poor orphan whom he loves. In
this country but few Italians regard their
country's custom. Some believe in the
wisdom of receiving the Mayors and
church's appreciation, but as a general
rule the dover and festivities are en-.
tirely disregarded."
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-02-08
Russian Bankers Count Chinese Way.

I have been in four or five of the larg-
,st banks in Russia and many of the most
extensive commercial aud railroad
houses, and nowhere where I seon figuring
done by pen or pencil like they do in
America aud England. The Chinese
counting machine, seen occasionally in
The hands of John a d lap in he United
States, is everywhere. II you buy pair
of socks for fifty kopecks and handker-
chief for seventy-tivc kopecks the shop.
keeper, even the brightest and oldest and
most experienced, has to go to his ma
chine to learn the result one rouGle
twenty-five kopecks. Iventure that there
are not dozen bankers in Russia who
would attempt to discount any DRAFT, or
issue letter of credit, or chirge ten
rouble note into kopetks, without push
ing backward and forward for some time
The strings Of colored buttons in his ma
chine, indicating numeral' But 1t IS
wonderful how adept some of them are
in the use of the counting machlue. You
NAV buy q bill of goods ever so large.
The salesman keeps the machine beside
him, pushing out the numerals as :he
purchases ore made, and the instant you
call for your bill he repeats the total
The Russians were taught most OF their
business knowledge by the Chinese and
Tur&s, and these counting machines are
vet indispensable in all Oriental places OF
business. .-Kuus1S City Jo'Hani.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-02-08
Interesting Facts About tho Ocean.

At the last meeting of the Royal
Society of Edinburgh, DR.. John Murray
of tho Challenger Expedition made a
communication on "The Height and
Volume of the Dry Land and the Depth
and Volume of the Ocean" According
to his own investigations, Engineering
says, the mean height of tho globe was
2, $50 feet above the sea level, and the
mean depth of the ocean was II, 4S0 feet,
or 2, $50 fathoms. If the ocean were re-
garded as being divided into two parts
by tho 1,000-fathom line, it would be
found that the mean depth of the area
having less depths than 1,00G fathoms
was 2, O2S feet, or 33S fathoms, or nearly
the same depth beneath the sea as the
height of the dry land above it. On the
other hand, the mean depth of the area
beyond the 1000 fathoms is IA, 640 feet,
or 2,440 fathoms. The former area
called by DR.. Murray the transitional
area"-occupics "a, 900, 600 square miles;
and the latter area, which is the abysmal
area, and is situated fully three miles be-
low the average heights of the continents,
occupies 113, 600, 900 square miles, or
more than half of the surfa e of the
earth. In the transitional area of the
ocean there are many and varied condi-
tions in respect to light, heat, currents.
changes of level, the character and
variety of the deposits, and in the
animals and plants which inhabit the
various parts of the region.
The deposits are in most respects
similar to those which make up very
large part of the sedimeutary formation
of the dry land. In the abysmal area
there is uniform set of conditions, the
temperature being near the freezing
point, with an annual range not exeed-
ing degrees Fahr., and there being no
sunlight or plant life. There is a great
abundance of animal life; but the forms
from various parts of the area are very
similar, and unlike those of shallower
waters; and the deposits, which accumu-
late slowly, are unlike any of the sedi-
mentary deposits of the dry land. From
DR.. Murray's Investigations, it also ap-
pears that if the dry land of the globe
were reduced to the sea level by being
removed to and piled up in the shallower
waters of the ocean, then its extent
would be about so, OoO, 900 square miles,
and the rest of the surface of the earth
would be coTercd by an ocean extending
to $4,000, 900 square miles. Again,
should the whole of the solid land be re-
duced to one level under the ocean, then
the surface of the earth would be covered
by an ocean with a uniform depth of
about two miles. st. Janes's Ga.ttte.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-02-08

the house for assistance, leaving Gretch-
en-, with fast falling strength, hanging in
extreme peril.
"Courage! brave girl; Twill save you.
Hold firmly to the bushes, and do not
look down." said clear, rich voice,
with Italian accent.
In a moment the owner of the voice
had the boat from the boat house, and
with swift strokes was soon near the
spot where Gretchen hung.
''Now jump into the lake; do not
fear. 1t is your only way of escape"
Gretchen obeyed the voice that com
manded her. and sank into the dark
water. The next moment she came to
the surface, and was lifted into the boat
by her brave rescuer. She was uncon-
scious, and Launce was eXcusable If he
kissed the face of the woman he loved.
The Count, having by this time re-
turned with Dutch Jams, took in the
situation at once, and, feeling that he
would he out of place in the presence OF
the man who had saved Gretchen from a
death to which his cowardice had left
her, he hastened to the house, took his
portmanteau. and, without word to
anyone, left tho place.
When Gretchen recovered conscious
ness and looked upon her preserver, she
said:
"You are Count Cellini, the great
musician whom met at Weisbaden9"
clam, he replied, "but I have another
title by which you may better remember
me; Launce! and have come back for
your forgiveness for the offence I gave
you six years ago."
"Oh, Launce! you had my forgiveness
the night you went away"
'Now 1 want something more, Gret-
chen-I want your love-"
II think I gave you that with the for
giveness, Launce. ."-Nta0 York Clipper.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-02-08
A Mathematical Prodigy.

Reuben Fields, of Owingsville, Ky.,
is twenty-eight years old, perfectly illlt-
crate and mathematical prodigy. Since
eight years of age he has been able to
solve in o fash such problems as: The
moon is certain number of miles from
the earth; a grain of corn is 50 long,
how many grains will it take to connect
the points. He can also instantly, and
without consulting a time-piece, tell to q
fraction of q second the time Of day or
night. -Ia&ererdeRt.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-02-08
ChicagO's "Diamond J0cS-"

There are two "Diamond Joes" in
Chicago, one of whom gets his name from
his habit of carrying diamonds around
in his pockets as a boy would marbles.
The other is Joe Reynolds, who owns
nearly all the steamboats, on the Upper
Mississippi. All of his boats, wharves,
warehouses and stationery are marked
with a red diamond containing the word
$40" in black. He is very wealthy and
very charitable, though he, has the repu-
ration of being remarkably shrewd at
driving q bargain.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-02-08
Tailor-NIadc Dresses.

Cloth tailor-madc dresses have reached
point of perfection this season they
never attained before. For some time
past il has been q constant effort to com
bine warmth and grace with lightness
and that perfection of fit VIII ch is the
crowning feature of a fine tailor-made
dress. This object has been attained in
recent costumes, and it must be a JOY to
wear them. The dress is made upon
twlled silk, the drapery raised here and
there but not punched, the edge finished
with many rows of embroidery stitching,
narrow braid, a braided pattern or
broad band of feather fur. The line of
trimming, often diagonal, comes to
point at the waist and outlines point
of velvet or braided vest, and also of
color at the throat. The small 'habit"
cut is maintained at the back, only in
stead of perfectly plain lape's, as in the
habit, a little fullhess is often introduced.
The interior finish of gold, hair striped
silk or satin lining adds much to the ef-
feet of the exquisite workmanship. -Jen-
ME June.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-02-08
A Greek Wedding and Christening.

A Greek wedding, says Olive Harper,
in the Inter- O+ean, is most tedious
affair, lasting a whole day, though the
religious services last but an hour, and
usually takes place at the brides house.
According to the wealth of the family,
the service and number Of priests is i'm
posing and the most peculiar in the far
interior. The young bride has her eyes
sealed and is led in by her maids of
honor and she takes the bridegroom's
hand and they kneel upon cushion in
front of the priest. There are two
wreaths provided of tawdry artificial
flowers tied by long ribbons. These are
placed upon the two bowed heads and
changed back and forth three times. A
long service is read, incense burned, and
q service chantcd and rings exchanged
and blessed, and finally they are pro-
uounced married, and the priest takes a
glass of wine and piece OF cake and
his pay and goes his way. The guests
then feast and dance all day, and the
poor bride, still blinded, is seated astride
= half barrel of light wine and there she
must sit all day long, untilit is ali drank,
without eating or drinking. When the
wine is all gone the bridomaids take her
down and unseal her eyes, give her food
and undrcss her. Sometimes she faints
from exhaustion. This same ceremony
Is in vogue among tue Bulgarians also.
A christening is not so long, but is very
hard on the baby. The priests bring
the font with them to the house, and MI
it with cold water. They undrcss the
baby and anoint it with oil, and bless
it from head to foot in spots, and then
cut off some of its hair in the form of n
cross, and after that immer-e it three
times in icy water, covering it all over.
They march three times around the font
and sing chant that is sonl.torturing
as to sound. All the guests hold lighted
candles during the ceremony and after
1t is over they receive small silver coin
as souvenir of the occasion. The priests
only stay long enough to get their
money.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-02-08
W0MAN'S WORLD.
PLEASANT LITERATURE FOR
FEMININE READERS
For Bridesmaids to Garry.

A shoe filled with flowers is tho very
newest thing for bridesmaids to carry,
and charmingly pretty it is. Tho first
wedding at which this idea was carried
out was that of Miss Stewart and Mr..
Carberry Rice Vaughan -Pryse, which
took place about month ago. The next
wedding at which the bridesmaids car
ried shoes was that of Sir Robert and
Lady Emily Peel's elde,t daughter and
Mr.. Barton. The shoes in the case were
of pink satin filled with mixture of pink
and of maize coiored roses, and hung
from the arm by pink ribbons. Shoes
were carried by the youthful members Of
the bevy of bridesmaids of Miss Whitta.
ker's wedd ;ng. The shoes were of pink
satin filled with flowers of hues to match
that color. r.-Loatlon Court Journal.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-02-08
Marriages. in Italy.

".Marriages in Italy" said q traveller
who had Just returned from touruP the
Ne. .litcrranean, to reporter for the New
York Mail and E prtsa "are unlike ours
in every particular. The ceremony there