davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
St. Landry democrat., 1888-06-30
AMERICAN RAILWAYS.
Improvements for Locomotives Invented
by Yankee Engineers.


by Yankee Engineers.
The key to the evolution of the
American railway is the contempt for
authority displayed by our engineers,
and the untrammeled way in which
they invented and applied whatever
they thought would answer the best
purpose, regardless of precedent. When
we began to build our railways, in
1881, we followed English patterns for
a short time. Our engineers soon saw
that unless vital changes were made
our money would not hold out, and our
railway system would be very short.
Necessity truly became the mother of
invention.
The first and most far-reaching in
vention was that of the swiveling truck,
which, placed under the front end of
an engine, enables it to run around
curves of almost any radius. This en-
abled us to build much less expensive
lines than those of England, for we
could now curve around and avoid hills
and other obstacles at will.
The next improvement was the in
vention of the equalizing beams or
levers, by which the weight Of the en-
CINE is always borne by three out of
four or more driving wheels. They
act like a three-legged stool, which
can always be set level on any irregular
spot. The original imported English
locomotives could not be kept on the
rails of rough tracks. The same ex-
perience obtained in Canada when the
Grand Trunk railway was opened,
in 1854-55. The locomotive of English
pattern constantly ran off the
track; those of American pattern
hardly ever did 50. Finally all their
locomotives We're changed by having
swiveling trucks put under their for
ward ends, and no more trouble oc-
CURED. The equalizing levers were
first used by Rogers in 1874.
These two Improvements, which are
absolutely essential to the success of
railroads in new countries, and have
been adopted in Canada, Australia,
Mexico and South America, to the ex-
clusion of English patterns, are also of
great value on the smoothest and best
possible tracks. The fexibility OF the
American, machine increases its adj
nesion and enables it to draw greater
Dads than its English rival. The
same flexibility equalizes its pressure
IN the track, prevents shocks and
blows, and enables it to keep out of
he hospital and run more miles in a
rear than the English locomotive.
Scri6aaer's Magazine.
St. Landry democrat., 1888-06-30
OWN YOUR HOMES.
A Duty Which Every Married Man Owet
to His Family.

A Duty Which Every Married Man Owei
to His Family.
Every man, whether he is a working.
man in the common acceptation of the
word or not, feels a deep interest in the
management of the affairs of the city,
county and State in which he lives
wherever he owns home. He is more
patriotic, and in many ways is better
citizen, than the man who simply rents,
and who has but little if any, assur.
ance of how long it will be before he
can be ordered to move; to which may
be added in many cases the saving OF
more money.
Of course it requires some economy
to lay up sufficient amount of money
to purchase and pay for a home, but
this very fact, if properly carried out
after the home is acquired, may be the
instrument of furnishing the means to
commence and prosecute a business
upon your own responsibility.
Irue,. in some cases, it
will require more economy, per-
haps, than we are now practising. But
the question with every man, and es-
if he is the head of family,
is, can he afford itp That is, can he
afford to live up to his wages as fast as
he earns them, without laying up any
thing for the future?
Ii he is the head of family, he is
obliged to pay rent, and it does not re-
quire very many years of rent paying
to make up an amount sufficient to
purchase and pay for comfortable
home. You have to pay rent. This
you say you can not avoid and be
honest. Well, you can not be honest
with your family unless you make
reasonable attempt to provide them a
nome of their own in case any thing
should happen to you.
And the obligation to do this should
Dc as strong as the one to pay rent or
provide the other necessaries for the
comfort of your family. When you
'wn home you will feel direct in
crest in public affairs that otherwise
vou might consider were of little in
NeUs.
St. Landry democrat., 1888-06-30
WESTERN SOD SHANTlES.
At Their Worst They Are Far Superior t.
Mexican Abode Houses.

AT Their Worst They Are Far Superior t(
Mexican Abode Houses.
To begin with, there is something
forbidding and repulsive about the
very name of shanty., We associate il
with a condition of dirt and dilapida
ton, although there is no reason why
a shanty should not be neat and clean
both inside and out.
The word is said to be derived from
two Irish words meaning an old house:
therefore, shanty need not be small,
dirty or out of repair. In this country,
shanties are chiefly found in the West,
and although they present no feature
to crafty the artistic sense, they are
better than they look.
The sod shanty marks the crest of
the advancing wave of civilization, and
it is never built with q view to more
than temporary occupation, giving way
in time to commodious and stylish
dwellings or substantial farm houses
with spacious barns and outbuildings.
But, while it lasts, the sod shanty
possesses qualities of more practical
Importance than mere beauty of form
and color. It is warm in winter and
cool in summer, and no other dwelling
affords more secure protection against
the storms which sweep across the
country from the extreme north to the
Gulf of Mexico.
Most of these shanties are finished
inside in style that renders them
more than comfortable. Narrow boards
are set against the inside of the walls,
and nailed to the floor, as well as to
horizontal strips built into the wall for
that purpose. Thin, cheap cotton cloth
or building paper is tackled on these
strips all around the room, and wall
paper is then pasted on in the usual
way. The roof is of boards or of earth
sodded over.
Thus, with ingenuity, taste and few
hundred feet of pine boards, the enter
prising settler and his wife will soon
build a comfortable, if not elegant,
dwelling, to shelter them until the in
wealth of the SETTLER warrants
3 change.
But, at its worst, the sod snanty of
,he West is far superior to the Irish
mans howell, the Mexican adobe hut,
,r the .auld clay biggin" which shell
cred Scotland's ploWman bard
Iolden Days
St. Landry democrat., 1888-06-30
THE MAN IN THE MOON,
Peoples Among Whom He Is Regarded az
Disseminating Persnnare


| a Disreputable Parsonage
It is stated in the Primitive PeoD7e
of Enlargement, that, before the moon
gave light, q New Zealander. named
Roma, went out in the night to fetch
some water from the well: but he I'M
fortunately stumbled and sprained his
ankle so that he was unable to return
nome. All at once, as he cried out for
very anguish, he beheld with fear and
horror that the moon, suddenly becom-
ing visible, descended towards him.
He seized hold of tree and clunp to if
for safety; but it gave way and fell
with Roma upon the moon, and he re-
mains there to this day.
In the Church INtssionarv InteNioen-
Ger for November, 1858, Mr.. William. a.
missionary among the Creek Indians,
reports legendary tale related to him
by the chief of the tribe: This is the
place where our forefathers lived, and
they told us something we want to tell
you. The story is as follows: One
night child of the chief class awoke
and cried for water Its cries were
very affecting. Mother, give me to
drink! but the mother needed not
The moon was affected, and came
down, saying: Here is water from
Heaven; drink The child anxiously
laid hold of the pot, and drank the
draught, and was enticed to 60 away
with the moon, its benefactor. They
took an underground passage till they
got quite clear of the village, and then
assembled to Heaven; and our fore
fathers tell us that the figure we now
see in the moon is that very child, and
that the rounding appears there also"
1t might be mentioned here that
Aquarius is ever delineated with a
round water jar, both by the Egyptians
and Greeks, from which de-
scends a crystal stream upon the
earth. According to Thorp one of
the Runic legends represents the
man in the moon of gigantic
stature, who while the tide is flowing
in stands in a STOPPING position taking
up the waters and pouring them out
upon the earth; but at the ebb of the
tide he stands erect and rests from his
labors, thus permitting the waters to
subside.
Among nearly all peoples where the
original idea of the man in the moon as
a water-bearer has been lost by the de-
generacy of their myth-ideas he is con-
sidered rather disreputable person
age. If not a thief, he is something
worse. Thus the aboriginal tribes in
America, from as far South as Panama
to the Eastern coast of Labrador, and
even in Greenland, have tradition
that the man in the moon was guilty of
gross misconduct towards his eldest
sister, the sun, and that, therefore, he
has lost his taper, and is cold and dark
except when she turns toward him.
Another story is that he chases his
sister, the sun, around with the hope
of catching up with her, until at last,
weary and hungry, he leaves for few
days to hunt seals, in which occupation
he is so successful that he soon fattens
and becomes again full
and round.-Honae knowledge.
St. Landry democrat., 1888-06-30
FULL. OF FUN.

Professional Associate Ito legless
man begging on street corner)-
"How's brsiness?" Legless Mani
can't kick "-Phi1adelrhia CAL.
ii will now take de sense OBJ de
meetin'," said the ''free lecturer but
his audience had wild visions of q
penny collection and bolted for the
door.-Judge.
-''Gentleness can not be kicked into
cow" says an exchange. Neither
can tenderness, or there wouldn't be
so much tough beefsteak. -DansvSlle
Breeze.
What sort of girl is it that Muff-
ley's engaged to-" ''Oh, nice enough
girl-rather good looking-why-er
you know, the sort of girl that Muffley
usually is engaged to. PUCK.
The cook is soup-reme in hel
dough-main, was the remark which
precipitated the social boycott on q
young man whose prospects in life
up to that time were very brilliant
Merchant 7raveler.
At Barnum's recently the leopard
began teasing the elephant. The ele.
plant bore it in majestic silence unit,
the thing ceased to be amusing. Their
he growled, Hush, child, or I'll knock
the spots off your'-Tid-Bits.
Ambitious Mammal Edith, I no.
ticed last night that Mr.. De Rich paid
you considerable attention. hope you
showed him a proper amount of civil
ity." Ingenious Debutante-''Oh, yes
mamma, did! I'm sure he knows he
can have me for the asking. "-LJe.
-Lawyer-"Now, Jim, you have
heard the last witness ON the stand,
would you believe him on oath?'
Jim-"B'lieve dat niger! Why, boss,
he dat ontruful if he wus ter tell me he
was hungry, an / kno'd he hadn't had
a moufful in month, | wouldn't
b'lieve himr'-Goldeaa Days.
Young Husband Er-what kind
of cake is this, my dear9" Young
Wife Marble cake, Algernon. Isn't
it nice?" Young Husband-'Splendid.
If there was enough of it it would make
a nice front for public building."-
N. Y. Sun.
Funny Mans Little Boy-"Papa.
what does the Senate do with treaties?n
Funny-''My son, it codifes fisheries
treaties, and ratifies Chinese treaties
There now, run away and laugh, and
let the gray matter in papa's brain
have a chance to recuperate. y Wash.
ington Critic.
Mistress and Maid-"Where have
you been, Jane?" 1--we been to a
of the Girls Friendly Society,
a'am." ''Well, and what did the
lady say to you?" please, ma'am:
she said ! wasn't to give you warning,
as | meant to. She said | was to look
upon you as my thorn-and bear it,"
-"Can you put new seat in these
trousers, Mr.. Snip?" asked the delin.
1uent Mr.. Dude. mot this minute.
sir; but | can receipt your bill while you
wait. | have some pressing obliga-
ions to meet" replied Snip. "Oh.
ah!' said Mr.. Dude. ''Then beg that
you will not let me keep you from them.
Good morning. "-Harper's Bazaar.
They were at the front gate in the
moonlight and he had asked her to be
lis wife. With outstretched arms and
l throbbing heart he waited her an.
'wer. George" she said, in nerv.
JUS whisper. "You must give me time
you must give me time" s.How
ong,h he hoarsely asked, "a day, a
week, a month, year?' Mono, !
George" and she quickly scanned the
ky, ''only when the moon gets behind
! cloud. "-Epoch.
St. Landry democrat., 1888-06-30
SONG or THE SHIRT.

no mAs6raDM-Mages Earned by New
Yorh's Nssyt.sWorkers.
The number OF wonessi I'm this CITY
y 10 earn their living by the nembe. is
ificult to ascertain There are hu6p
t-.eds OF establishments ON all the BUSH
ness streets where sewing is either
done or given out to be done. a re-
porter recently asked two sewing girls
what sort Of living they made.
How much are you paid for max
ing those garmentsp" asked the re-
porter.
Twenty-Five cents apiece"
How long does it take you to make
garmentpn
4 DO very well II T make four a day, 4
said one
But it takes more than ten hours TO
make four, work as hard as you will, y
rejoined the other.
The garments referred to were thick
St. Landry democrat., 1888-06-30
HINTS ON FURNISHING.
Several Ways of Making the Home Look
COZy and Attractive,

| Several Ways of Making the Home Look
Cozy and Attractive.
The mantel-piece was of white mar
BILE, and as the effect is much better If
the over-mantel matches the under
part, we saved that belonging to our
set for the drawing-room, and had a
white enamel one made for the dining
room. 1t was not expensive, and as
the effect was very good will describe
1t. The carpenter cut large square
of deal of the same length as the
mantel-piece, only with painted top.
he cut out square in the center and
inserted looking glass. He fastened
a straight shelf below the glass and
sent it home. / then bought few
yards OF Lincrusta Walton bordering,
about two inches wide, and nailed it
with little tacks round the glass and
round all the outer part of the wood
work, the painted top and the edge of
the shelf, taking great care to fit the
corners perfectly.
When this was done every thing, ex-
cept the glass, had three coats of white
enamel. This ought to be put on with
soft and rather small brush, to pre-
vent any appearance of lines on the
surface when dry.
As the white enamel is rather ex-
pensive, it is a good plan to let the
first two coats be of ordinary white
paint and the last of enamel. It looks
just as well, and is much cheaper.
A less expensive over-mantel can be
made by-instead of inserting the
looking-glass- nail driven in
to the center and hanging it on. The
effect is hardly so good.
Ours looked beautiful on the blue
background. And once having begun
to paint, painted little shelf to cor
respond; it had painted back, and was
hung over the door to give it height.
Had | been going to have pictures in
the room l should have painted their
frames, but pictures would not look
well with our worked panels, which
are pictures in themselves. The room
was lighted by a hanging lamp and
Two gas brackets, all made of
hammered iron and white milky glass,
Just the thing for our room. The lamp
hangs just over the dinner table, and
s most beautiful. A great vase of the
same lovely glass stands in one corner
lied with grasses and dried leaves,
Ind two iron and glass candlesticks
decorate the sideboard. -CusseUs
Magazine
St. Landry democrat., 1888-06-30

Mrs oughnes always was a lucky
woman" said Mrs. Broughne, when
informed of the death of Mrs. J.'s hus-
band s'He had his life insured for
$4,000, and he only took out his policy
three years ago. Mr.. Broughne was
insured for the same amount ten years
ago, and he looks as if he might live
twenty-five years longer. Some hus-
bands are SO Indifferent to the welfare
OF their wives" she added in an in
lured tone.-Drake's Magazine.
St. Landry democrat., 1888-06-30

"A museum fakir in a Western town
recently announced that he would ex-
hibit an educated man, born and bred
in Chicago, who could, nevertheless,
speak only broken English. When
the people went in to see the curiosity,
they found that he was a stamInerer.
St. Landry democrat., 1888-06-30

in the post-office at Concord N. H.,
the postmaster found pouch the other
day that had been lost nineteen years,
and which contained one hundred and
eighteen letters for that city. There
were three registered letters with
money in them, and their non-receipt
had upset half dozen Offices.
St. Landry democrat., 1888-06-30
-MuttoIe 5hould be as plentiful ,

Mutto}Io fhould be as plentiful as
pork. Th4,h are hundreds of farms
that could devoted to sheep. but
which are fnow Improbable. It re-
quires less hbor for sheep than for
hogs, Whilesthe prices for choice NUT
ton and lamb are at times very high,
though the markets at such times may
be rel supplied with inferior grades
of carcasses.
St. Landry democrat., 1888-06-30

The business card of an Illinois
nan reads: Justice of the Peace.
War claims specially"
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-12-25
MEMS DEPARTMENT.

BARGAIN NO. I-smaII lot
of mems Black chinchiIIa
Beaver Overcoats, good
serge lining, silk velvet col
lar, made in our own shops.
A regular $1,000 Overcoat.
Marked down to Sc.
BARGAIN NO. 2-large lot
of Blue chinchiIIa Beaver
overcoats, heavy serge lin
ing, single breasted, fly
front, all sizes, 80 to a.. a
regular Si2 overcoat. Marked
down TO ST so.
BARGAIN NO. 3-SmaII lot
of Large Sized Overcoats for
Big Men, sizes az to so, In
several very desirable pat
terms Extra quality. Cannot
be duplicated for the price
and are rare bargains at $I2
each.
BARGAIN NO. 4-Men's
and Young Mems Black,
Blue and Brown ChinchiIIa
and kersey Beaver Over
coats, marked down from
sis, $40 and $40 to only SIS
each. Don't wait. but come
and select your size II you
can find it.
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-12-25

Sir Lyon Playfair, the eminent English
free trader and economist, looks at Mr. But
terworth's proposal to annex Canada from a
tariff standpoint 1.-The annexation Of Can
ada" says he, "eithel by negotiation or by
force would wound our national pride; but
would it wound our commercial supremacy,
acy, as American politicians believe? Its
effect upon the whole continent of North
America would be to keep up nominal
wages over that vast area for another one
hundred years, and to exclude it still more
effectually than at present from the foreign
markets which buy our manufactured goods"
The manifest intent of Sir Lyons logic is to
make the best of a situation In Am
erica which England cannot help.
For the concensus of English opinion is
overwhelmingly in favor of reduction of
the American tariff, condition that would
not exist did the English think that tariff a
hindrance TO the commercial expansion OF
their rival. As for the probability that the
annexation Of Canada to the United States
might crowd the commercial supremacy of
England; it might be that I would not at
once. For England is alresuy very effectu-
ally shut out Of the Canadian markets, and
the situation for English merchants could
hardly be worse under United States tariff
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-12-25
MEMS DEPARTMENT..

BARGAIN NO. 8 - Small lot
Mems All Wool Sack and
FTock Suits being CLOSED
OUT at Sc. so and So per suit;
marked down from $40. a
BARGAIN NO. 6-Men's $j5
Wool Lined Heavy Long VI.
sters MARKED DOWN to $40,
all sizes. This price is made
simply to close them out, be-
cause we take stock Jan. !.
BARGAIN NO. 800 pairs
of Mems All Wool Pants in
all sizes, at $i.75. These
goods are the most durable
X own for the price.
BARGAIN NO. q : Large lot
Mems HeavycRAY ULsTERS
cut long, wool lined, and only
Sc. SO.
BAa CAIN NO. g. Small lot
Black Broadcloth and Doe
skin Or ESS COATS $l2 and
SIS quality, marked down to
only ST each. ~
BARGAIN NO. 10 $50 pair
of All Wool TROUSERS, in
Mems sizes, only So and
So. so per pair. Prices are
made until Jan. ! on these
lots.
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-12-25
stanIey's whereabouts.

The conflict between the two dispatches
received In London the same day concern
Ing Stanley's whereabouts has not yet been
reconciled. One of those dispatches came
from Zanzibar which is on the west coast of
Africa while the other came from st.
Thomas which is on the east coast The
former stated that Stanley was on the Aiu-
whiml in August without Emin, having re-
turned from Wadelai to look after his rear
guard, Emin refusing to follow, and that
subsequently Stanley resraced his steps to
Emin's province. The St. Thomas despatch
simply said that Stanley with Ema had ar
rived on the Aruwhimi. The date of arrival
was not given, so that In the matter of time
1t did not necessarily conflict with the Zan-
zibar despatch. But in one very important
particular 1t did conflict for it stated that
Emin was with Stanley while in the Zanzi-
bar despatch Stanley was represented as
acne, Emln having refused to leave
his province. II Emin was with Stanley
then Osman Digna's story that the former
WIS prisoner at Wadelai is palpably false
Gu the other hand IL Emin was not with
Stan'ey then his capture, as reported by
Osman Digna, was possible, but the white
traveller captured with hinl could not have
been Stanley, for the latter, even if he carried
out the design stated ia the Zanzibar de-
spatch, could not have got to Lado on Octo-
Der IL, where and when, according to Osman
Digna's account, the capture OF Emin and
the white traveller took place. In all prob
ability therefore, on October IL Stanley had
not fallen into the hands of the Mahdi, and
II Emin had met that fate the white travel
Ter who shared it with him was Casati, the
Italian, whom the Zanzibar despatch stated
Stanley had found at Wadela. Should it
turn out, however, that the Zanzibar ac-
count Is the correct one, and that Stanley
LETT Emin at Wadelai and afterwards went
back TO join him there will be reason for
great anxiety in regard TO Stanley's fate, for
the news Of Emin's capture and the fall of
the Equatorial province might not reach Stan
ley before he had marched into the clutches
Of the Mahdi. Further news, therefore, will
be awaited with great interest.
A plausible explanation of the seemingly
singular coincidence of two dispatches con-
corning Stanley from different sides of the
Dark Continent on the same day, is fur
aished by the New York Tribune, which
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-12-25

Joy and sorrow. like the sunshine and rain
maintain, year In aud year out, fairly con-
slant ratio. There have been times when
human woes have seemed to come with a
crushing force and rapidity quite out of the
usual order; and other times when mankind
has seemed to enjoy an equally unwonted
ease and happiness. But whether the woes
have been war or pestilence or famine or dis
aster and whether the blessings have been
peace or health or plenty or prosperity, it is
more than doubtful If the sums of individual
joys and sorrows have been far ont of the
usual ratios. For, since eighteen hundred
years ago, there has been abroad in the earth
spirit that conditions happiness neither on
peace nor health nor wealth entirely, but up
ON the human heart. So it may be neither of
profit nor interest to enumerate the pros
perity and peace that have attended this
nation and this community since the last
Christmas day. For not upon these will
your happiness depend, today. kind reader
but upon the feelings, the hopes, the kind
surprises for friends and relatives and the
charities that have had their birth in your
heart this week.
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-12-25

An article reprinted from the Sanitary In,
spector, the publication of the State Board OF
Health, seems to show that something needs
to be done to the Insane Hospital besides
building an additional pavilion. Two of the
wards. 1t appears. are in very bad condition
courageous" is the word employed to de-
scribe the condition Of one of them-and
need, apparently, to be thoroughly recon
structed before they will be fit for patients,
though many patients are in them Why
these wards have not been renovated before
does not appear, but the probability is that
they could not be spared owing to the
crowded condition of the hospital.