davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1888-01-19
MENTAL POWERS OF IDIOTS.

Extraordinary PrecOcity of lind in Ger
tain INSTRUMENTATION Memory.
1t is a strange but well known fact
that In many persons who are idiOdc or
but little removed from the mental con-
dition of idiots certain powers Of the
mind may be developed to an extraordin-
airy degree. Remarkable precOcity IN the
power of arithmetical calculations is fire.
Quently combined with a positive de
ficiency in other directions. In insGtu-
tons devoted to the care of feeble minded
children such examples are nearly always
present. Deficient in some faculties,
others are developed to excess. Some
such can carve and draw with great skill.
Extraordinary memory Is often met with,
associated with very great defect of
reasoning. One boy, in reading Gibbon' S
Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire,
skipped a line on the third page at his
first perusal. Ever after, when reciting
from memory the stately periods of Glib
bon, he would, on coming to the third
page, skip the line and retrace his steps,
Just as when he first recommitted the
passage to memory.
Often memory takes the form of re-
Numbering dates and past events. One
boy never failed to tell correctly the
name and address Of every confectioner'
shop he visited in London, and could as
readily tell the date of every visit. The
faculty of number is usually slightly de-
veloped in feeble minded children, while
memory is fairly well developed; yet oc-
casionally the power of mental arith-
metic has been well developed. Impro-
visation is an occasional faculty. Memory
of tune is a very common faculty among
the feeble minded; they readily acquire
simple airs, and rarely forget them.
In none of the cases of idiot savants
has there been any history Of the posses
sion of a similar faculty by the parents or
sisters or brothers. In one case necrOpSy
Is reported by DIR. J. L. Down, of Lon
don. The boy had remarkable, indeed,
perfect, appreciation of past or passing
time. There was no difference from an
ordinary brain, with the exception that
there We're two well marked and distinct
soft commissures. DR.. Downs explana-
ton of the phenomenon was that, as
every movement of the house was abso-
lutely punctual, he had data from which
he could estimate the time by accurate
appreciation Of its tiux.
Every form of mental deviation may
be met with in the congenital feeble
minded. They may become the subjects
of acute and chronic mania, or acute and
chronic melanchOlia and dementia Oc-
casioually, under the influence of acute
mania, the feeble intellect of youth be-
comes famed into a brighter fame. The
taciturn may become lOquacious; the
tinid and respectful, proud and defiant:
the amiable and tractable, abusive and
destructive. Three remarkable instances
occurred to DIR. Down of boys who had
never been able to speak making use Of
well formed sentences during the high
febrile state of acute pneumonia or
scarlatina.
1t is of much interest to report all such
cases, as they throw great light on the
workings OF the human mind in health.
Medical and Surgical Reports.
The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1888-01-19

IT IS estimated that since September
1st there arrived in the State of Califor
MIA at least $4,000 people from the East.
The daily arrivals over the Southern
Pacific Company's line averaged $40 in
1886 against 40 one year ago. For the
first four months OF 1886 there arrived
in that State by the Southern Pacific
line q 1876 against 81 POP for period Of
fifteen days shorter thai year. 1t was
believed that the total for the four
months ending with December 31st
would be AZ, 700. 1t is to be hoped that
our Hawaiian boomer will be able to in
duce some of these Eastern tourists to
visit our shores.
The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1888-01-19
Locomotive Driving Wheels.

The diameter of locomotive driving
wheels has been greatly increased to pro-
duce augmented speed. The largest yet
noted are for mammoth engine on one
OF the French roads. This locomotive has
six coupled wheels eight and a quarter
feet IN diameter, and the tender and cars
are to have wheels of the same dimen-
sions, the calculation being that with
such train speed of about seventy
eight miles an hour can be obtained. The
cars will be swung inside and between
several pairs of wheels. Leslie's.
The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1888-01-19

The revolution headed by the ex-
President of Guatemala, Vicente Cas-
tano, against the Government of Gen
eral Barillas for having proclaimed
dictatorship on June 10Th, has lately suf-
fered most humiliating defeat. There
were two disaffected factions-one work
ing from the Eastern Department and
the other from the Western. The for
mer was under the generalship of Cas-
tano, and the latter in charge of several
well known military men of that Repub-
lie. In range of mountains near the
city of Guatemala few days ago a des-
perate battle was fought between the
Federal and revolutionary forces, the
latter suffering almost entire annihila-
ton. The battle was desperate and san
culinary from the commencement. and
lasted over two hours, the field being
strewn with the dead. At the conclu-
sion Castano and eight other revolution
airy Generals were captured and shot.
This ends one of the most bloody wars
the country has ever seen. The Repub-
lie now enjoys peace.
The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1888-01-19

THE London ''Daily News" says The
Rev. Horace Waller, formerly associated
with Dr. Livingstone in African travel,
is responsible for some startling state
ments regarding the trade in intoxicat-
ing liquor in Africa. This liquor, he
says, is now chiefly exported to Africa
from Bremen and Hamburg, but it is
largely carried in English ships. 1t is d
poisonous distillation from the potato,
the cost of which does not exceed Is. 4d.
dozen bottles. The chemists agree,
Mr.. Waller says, that there is more
poisonous fusel oil in it than in any
other known spirit. The natives have
christened this spirit with the appropri-
ate name of Death
The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1888-01-19

Messrs. Ed. Hoffshlaeger & Co. have a
card in this issue.
The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1888-01-19

The Gazette" was a way off when it
stated the Mariposa was due Wednes-
day. The Oceanic Company's new time
table distinctly states that she is due on
the 18th, which is to-day.
The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1888-01-19

In the New Zealand Herald" of De-
cember 2Sd We find the following: Mr..
A. I'll. Nathan, the Chairman Of tho
Chamber OF Commerce, has received
from Mr.. ]. G. Firth letter. which was
sent to the latter gentleman by Mr.. r..
J. Creighton of Honolulu, and who for
The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1888-01-19

nd not 70 fndivi duala
The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1888-01-19
samoan Views.

Mr.. Gonsalves, the photographer, has
for sale at his studio, Fort street, sets of
views of Samoa that are of great interest.
They are well executed, and include Tu-
tuila, Tonga dancing girls, King Malie-
toa's residence, interior of a Samoan
house and several views of scenery of a
beautiful description. Mr.. Gonsalves
has received many orders for sets of
these views since he first introduced
them. Call at his studio and examine
them; you will receive cordial well
come.
The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1888-01-19

SENATOR HEARST of California wants
the United States to fight Germany for
its rights in Samoa
The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1888-01-19
The Force of Habit

A Banker to His Employe-Here are
100 francs for present, or rather 81. so.
Tor l have deducted 2 10 per cent. for
discount. New York Graphic.
Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1888-01-20

In court. Lawyer Ito Judge)-Your
honor, this client Of mine, a WE'LL
known druggist, should be liberated
sUpon what grounds? He has viO-
lated the law, and why should he not
be punished2'
"That shall be clearly demonstrated.
Several days ago I went into his store
and asked for g certain patent medi-
cine. After an extensive search he dis
covered that the medicine was not IN
the house. He simply stated that he
did not have it, and, strange as 1t may
seem, he did not claim to have a rene
dy of his own manufacture that was
much better than the medicine L had
called for.
aThat was indeed strange, " the Judge
replied, "and it surely entities your cll-
emit to merciful consideration, but still
it is my duty to punish him
your honor, L beg Of you to reflect.
He is the only druggist who has not
compounded O sure cure for dyspep-
STA.
@Then, by the justice Of heaven. he
shall go free. MY dear sir, addressing
the druggist, Ayou are remarkable and
upright man. As a dyspeptic L have
been imposed upon by
&Have you got dyspepsia" exclaimed
the prisoner.
Eyes, sir. "
Then It is fortunate for you that we
have become acquainted. I have a rem
edy, sir, that was never known to fail.
make it myself, and"
Here" said the Judge, addressing
an officer, stake this man to jail -
ATEGHSatU Traveller.
Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1888-01-20
s1CRED b. rIiEI5 or 6EYLoy.

4
The sacred DO tree of Ceylon, the
most ancient and authentic relic of
Gautama, and probably the most aged
tree in the world, has been shattered
in a storm. The facts, as related by
more than one local correspondent Of
the Colombo papers, are as follows:
The district of Anuradhapura suffered
this year, as it frequently does, from a
continuous drought Of eight months
On the 4th day of October the inhabi-
fonts were hidden by beat Of tom-tom
to assemble at the DO tree and pray for
rain. The same night, apparently be-
fore the invocation, the storm broke
with violent wind lightning, thunder,
and rain. The main branch of the
sacred tree was severed, leaving only a
stem of four feet; but whether
this is the height or circumference is
not stated What remains of our pres
emit information may be Of interest to
students of ritual. The DO tree is a
semi-sentiment being; it is "wOrshipful"
and "ever victorious;" wherefore, when
a part of it dies it receives last sad rites
similar to those paid to kings and
priests, the most honored of mankind
it is crsmatsd This ceremony took
place with full honors on Oct. 6. Early
In the morning two men called kapu-
was ("cutters") arrayed In suits of
black, arrived at the tree. They COW
cred up their mouths with black hand
kerchiefs, tying the end at the back Of
their heads, and witha small cross-cut
saw divided the broken branca Two
tom-tom heaters supplied the III sic Of
their craft while the ceremony pro-
ceeded. The branch was then sawn
into convenient pieces and loaded
In cart prepared for
the purpose with white cloth
ceiling, etc. Thus it was borne in
solemn procession to the Thuparama
Dagoba, where the cremation
Of the local chief priests is
won't to be hello. The ashes were rever-
emily carried to the tank Of Tisawewa,
hard by, and there dissolved lie r0t est
mort UiUs IL rOj the remnant Of the
tree now received It's appropriate treat
ment Women bore water for the bath
ing of the bleeding frank, and on the
following night the Pirit service, for the
exorcism OF evil spirits, was solemnly
performed at the time-honored site,
where the remaining stem, though prob
ably unsightly now, VIII In time flourish.
London Athencltm.
Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1888-01-20

The drink called @toddy' is the Juice
extracted from the cocoanut palm, and
is collected in earthenwars pots called
Schatties," into which the sap runs
during the night from an incision made
in the spathe. In the morning the
Stoddy-drawer," connecting his two
feet by piece Of rope, sWaEms up the
trunk of the tree with which he intends
commencing operations, and having
reached the lofty summit he empties
the contents of the chatty into a vessel
attached to his waist In order to save
himself the fatigue of descending each
tree and ascending the next IN success
sion, he passes from one to another by
means Of two ropes, on one of which
his bare feet rest, while with his hands
he holds on to the other These ropes,
in course Of time, become untrustwor-
thy from exposure to weather, aud
have to be occasionally changed. But
too often the rOpe-Walker, grown care
less by long immunity from accident,
neglects to renew his perilOus bridge,
and the swapping Of either rope causes
his death. Were the lower rope to
break there might still be hope OF
clinging to the other and so Working
his way along; but, should the upper
one break, obviously there is little
chance Of saving himself even though
the other remain sound From this
comes the proverb: IF the supporting
rope breaks. ones mainstay Is gone -
Al fhR Yenl. KnLLlld
Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1888-01-20
IngersoIl,s YteM of Nc.

You ask me to tell my opinion Of
Christ. Let me say here, once for all,
that for the man Christ-fOr the man
who, in the darkness, cried out: MY
God, why hast thou forsaken me ?"-
for that man L have the greatest posi-
bic respect. And let me say, once for
all, that the place where man has died
for man Is holy ground. To that great
and serene peasant of L alestine I glad
" pay the tribute Of my admiration
and my tears He was q refOrmer in
his day-an inhdel in his time. Back
of the theological mask, and In spite of
the Interpolation Of the New Testament,
1 see a great and genuine man.
1t Is hard to see how you can consist
emily defend the course pursued by
Christ himself. He attacked with
great bitterness "the religion of others.
1t did not occur to him that there was
something very cruel in his treatment
of the belief of his fellow creatures.
He denounced the chosen people of
God as a generation of vipers." He
compared them to "Whited sepulchers.
How can you sustain the conduct of
missionaries? They 60 to other lands
and attack the sacred belief of others.
They tell the people of India and of
all heather lands, not only that their
religion is q lie, not only that their
gods are myths, but that the ancestors
Of these people-their fathers and
mothers who never heard of God, of
the Bible, or of Christ-are all IN per
dition- LIS not this s cruel treatment Of
the belief of a fellow creature2
A religion that is not manly and
robust enough to bear attack with
smiling fortitude is unworthy Of a place
in the heart or brain. A religion that
takes refuge IN sentimentality. that
cries out; do not, pray you, tell
me any truth calculated to hurt my
/ feelings" is fit only for asylums.
Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1888-01-20

PROF. FRoFHNGHAH Of Princeton.
who has recently returned from Italy,
has brought with him an extensive col
lection Of casts and of Babylonian and
Assyrian seal nd cylinders. Besides
these he brous At a valuable collection
Of antique vases from Etrurias illus
trating Eruscan arch =logy from the
archaic to the Roman period. This
collection, which is most complete ms
torieaIIy. and comprises about two
hundred sPeo--nenss came from ezea-
vahons made at Civita CastelIanas near
Rome. While In Germany Prof. Froth-
mgham procured several wood-carvingz
Of the fifteenth aud sixteenth centu-
ries, a carved casket of ivory aud
ebony Of Gothic workmanship. and a
manuscript of the fourteenth century
with full-page illustrations.
Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1888-01-20
R1RY5g OTTSTT0V

Little Marry NJ, aged q sunny
years, is learning to talk and picks up
everything she hears.
A few days ago Judge B. called on
Mary's papa, but took no notice Of the
little one playing about the room. The
Judge is wordy and pompous, but little
Mary was not bit afraid of him. and
edged herself up to his knee, where
she stood regarding him with critical
eyes. Pretty soon there was a pause
in the conversation, when the baby
asked gravely in her high treble voice +:
@Jubs did 700 ever dit left P"-Ds-
troit Free Press.
Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1888-01-20
WaUered oysters.

Not every lover of the oyster knows
that the size and plumpness which are
so highly priced in the great American
bivalve, and which are so attractive in
specimens on the half-sheu or in the
stew as to lead the average man to pay
q considerably extra price for extra
size, are not entirely natural and even
those who do know that the majority
Of the oysters in the market are artifi-
cially swollen by introducing water
into the tissues are not all aware that
the process by which this is done is
closely analogous to that by which the
food in our own bodies is conveyed
through the walls of the stomach and
other parts Of the digestive apparatus
and poured into the blood and lymph
to do its work of nourishment.
Psychologists are, 1 believe, agreed
that the passage of the digested food
through the walls of the alimentary
canal in man and other animals is, in
large part, due to osmose or dialysis,
and that the operation Of this physical
law is a very common one in the animal
body. But the cumulative study of
the chemical changes involved is gem
orally rendered difficult or impossible
by the very fact of their taking place
II 41flnB h4llL1AAss WueE5 Ln5 appllca-
ton of chemical analysis is impossible.
An opportunity is, however, offered by
the oyster, which, since it lives in
water and has a body so constituted as
to readily permit the inflow and out
flow Of water and solutions of salts,
may be easily used for experiments.
The results Of the experiments have a
practical as we'll as scientific interest,
since they confirm the common ex-
PLANTATION of the increase in bulk Of
oysters by floating, and show that it
is essentially a process of watering, in
which the bulk is increased without
any corresponding increase, but rather,
if anything, a loss Of nutritive material.
Prof IT, o. AtlCdter.
Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1888-01-20

REV. DIR. NoURsE, of Washington,
has been telling a new Lincoln story.
1t was to the effect that the President
was very much annoyed by the persist
ence Of a certain member of Congress
named Jerry Smith, who haunted him
continually wherever he went with ap-
plications for Office on the part Of his
constituents. One day a delegation Of
clergymen called upon Mr.. Lincoln TO
pay their respects. and one Of them
asked him if he ever sought counsel
and guidance from the Lord during
that time Of his great responsibility
and anxiety. yes, replied Mr.. Lin
coin, Il pray every night before I re-
tire. I think Of the hundreds of thou
sands of soldiers camped in the South,
the boys In blue as well as the boys in
gray, and I pray that the one may be
supported IN their efforts to preserve
the Union and the other shown the
error Of their unhoIy strife. think
Of the thousands Of deserted homes IN
the North, Of the thousands Of weep
ing women and fatherless children, and
pray God to give them strength to
bear their bereavements, and the Wis
dom to see that their husbands sons,
and fathers have died fighting for the
right 1 think of my responsibility,
and pray for strength and wisdom.
Then Loo under the bed, and, find
ing that Jerry Smith is not there with
an application for Office, I thank the
Lord for it, turn out the light. lock the
door, jump in between the sheets, and
go to sleep instantly"
Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1888-01-20

would only be a little less quick, but it
Will not, and consequently the eagle
follows the example Of the boy and
runs.
The humming-bird, however, does
not fight for the mere sake Of fighting.
The king-bird does. 1t Is not much
larger than the English sparrow, but II
is very swift, and seems to have perfect
control Of its movements In the air.
Big birds. like eagles hawks. and
crows have no chance at all in an en-
counter with a king-bird. and the little
fellow knows that fact so well that he
frequently goes out Of his v p to tor
ment them. Even the king-bird, how
ever, must make way for the purple
martin, which for courage and swift
ness has no superior among birds. In
its strongest fight the eagle can find no
escape from the purple martin which
plays about the big bird with as mnch
seeming ease as if It were motionlesa
Fortunately the purple martin is not
such a bully as the king-bird or the
feathered world would be less peaceful
than 1t is.
One Of the Oldest among the fighting
birds is a South American bird called
ehauna, shy, peace-loving creature,
with such a modest appearance that a
stranger would never suspect it Of be-
ing such a good and ready fighter.
Besides a sharp beak it has spurs, not
only on its legs but on its wings as
we'll, and it makes such good use of all
its weapons that no bird smaller than
an eagle has any chance against it. All
through South America this bird has
been domesticated and is kept with
chickens to protect them from hawks /;
and it does its work well.
Another old fighter is the secretary
bird of Africa which looks like a crane
with a vuiture's head. It never seeks
a row with anything but a snake. That
reptile however, it can never see with
out attacking it; and its skill is such
that it always comes of victor, no mat
ter how large or how poisonous the
snake Like the chauna, it makes a
good poultry yard police, and has been
imported from Africa to the West In
dies to serve that purpose. Its chief
use is to keep away snakes and rats,
but it also drives of other depredators.
it keeps thep peace in the yard.
If a pair of ambitious ROSTERS under
take to have q fight, the secretary bird
steps between them, and gives one or
both drubbing. Sometimes it
teaches a particularly pugnaeious
rooster a severe lesson by eating him
Days.
Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1888-01-20

The biggest boys are not always the
best fighters And so it is with birds.
The tiniest Of All birds, our own beau
tiful little humming- is as doughty
a warrior as any in the whole feathered
family, and has more than once been
known to engage in single combat with
the eagle Its very much such a fight
as a hornet makes with boy. If the
boy could get the hornet to remain
still long enough he could kill it. So
the eagle could make short work Of the
humming- If the little creature
Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1888-01-20

The actresses and opera singers soon
learned that the medicated lozenge, made
from the MoEie Nerve Food, would prevent
a cold under severe exposure and break one
In a few hours, thereby saving them world
of care and trouble in protecting them
selves, and now these are as much part of
their equipment as their manager. Some
large companies buy them ct wholesale in
Eve gross lots. Thirty-tWo tons were sold
last year. Thirty-siI for 10 cents Is a popu-
lar price. Druggists say the sale this Win
tar is immense.
Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1888-01-20

We would be pleased to know Of a man or
woman who has never had headache or been
subject to constipation. AS these seem to
be universal troubles a little advice may be
In order. Why should persons cram their
stomachs with nauseating purgativs pills
etc, which sicksn and debilitate, when such
a pleasant and sterling remedy as Prlckly
Ash Bitters viii act mildly and effectively on
the liver, kidney, stomach, and bowels and
at the same time tone up and strengthen the
whole system, causing headache, eOusupa-
ton, and. all such distressing evils to quick
y disappear.
Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1888-01-20

PETER HA1DEa1AE BURNETT. the first
American Governor Of California, lives
in San Francisco. He Is so years old
and in excellent health. Senior Pho
PicO, the last Of the Spanish Goyern-
ors. is almost ninety years old, and
lives near Los Angeles.