davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1888-12-07
The Siberian Mammoth.

1t must not be supposed that our
owl. elephant is in any way degenerate
des .endant of the true mammoth. On
the contrary, the great Siberian beast
was N many respects more advanced
and specialized representative of the
original family than his southern cous-
ms. He was, in short, a progressive
elephant, which, seized with desire
to emigrate, had gone north and over
spread the whole temperate regions of
Europe, Asia, and North America be-
fore the coming on OF the great ice age.
In his northern home he retained or re-
developed the hairy covering which tho
elephant lost in India or Africa, and he
took kindly enough to the cold wealth. r
which preceded the advent of the gla-
cial epoch. In short, he was rather an
elder brother Of the elephant than in
any sense direct ancestor.
Other mammoths have since been
found in the Siberian tundra. buried
where they sunk in up to their necks
among the soft slush, and preserved
ever since, partly like timed meats by
the exclusion OF the air and partly like
Australian mutton by the effects of
frost. A most interesting find was
that made by young Russian engineer
of the name of Benkendorf, who, steam
ing in small cutter up the Indigirka
River (not to know the Indigirka natu-
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1888-12-07
CAPTURING Sea Cows.

The manntee, or "sea COW, is one of
the few large wild animals left in Flor
ida, and it's pursuit is exciting in the
extreme. The manatee looks like O
huge porker squeezed fiat, it being
generally eight to twelve feet in length,
and from four to six feet broad. Its
head is shaped something like cows,
with round muzzle. The skin is
dark and rough, and hangs in folds
similar to that of a hippopotamus or
rhinoceros; it is sparsely covered with
hair. The animals eyes are well-nigh
covered by the folds of flesh or skin
that hang loose around its head
The animals weigh from 800 pounds
upward, and, though most helpless and
llngainly looking creatures when on
land, yet in the water they are exceed
ingly spry, their fukes and fiippers
sending them through the water with
incredible speed. They are very acute
of ear, and detect sounds on the water
for long distance, hence their capture
is matter of no small skill and dex-
terity. They live ON grass almost
wholly, and there are only few places
on the coast where they have feeding
grounds.
1t is a very peculiar animal in its
habits, and its mode of capture is in
teresting. A large and very strong
purse-net with large meshes is used, in
a cove near the mouth of river, where
the water is ten or twelve feet deep.
1t is extended between two stakes set
at the bottom, and shaped so as to
have an open place left on the lower
side, as the manatees eat against the
stream. The trappers then retire and
await results.
Three fine specimens were captured
last fall, and two this summer, and sold
to menageries.
When entangled in the net flat
boat is pushed up close to the net, and
strong ropes are thrown around the
manatees until they are securely bound.
Then, by powerful tackle, they are
lifted on the flats and placed in tanks.
In captivity the great monsters are
quiet even to timidity, although saw
age enough when attacked.-Goldeu
DuNS
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1888-12-07

rally argues yourself unknown), saw
during flood, to his immense delight
real dead mammoth, with his eyes
open and it's hair trunk moving rest
lessly through the turbid water, bob
bling up and down merrily in the
stream before him. There is we'll
known Swiss story of the wrinkled old
woman in mountain village who re-
cognizes in the fresh corpse of a young
man just brought down among the ice
of a glacier to the point where it melts
into an Alpine torrent the features Of
her lover, lost half a century before in
the yawning mouth of a deep creyasee.
But what is half q century of iced hui
mainly to 100000 years of preserved
mammoth ?-COrnhW.
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1888-12-07
Awkward.

A chance word, innocently spoken,
may often lead the unwary into pit,
falls, truth of which there are many
illustrations. A lady whose garden
happens to overlook the garden Of her
next-door neighbor, was out looking at
her flowers one morning.
Her little dog, Rags, had accom-.
panied her, and took it into his head to
lie down picturesquely by the fence.
His mistress, looking down at him as
he lay curled up there, with his blue
ribbon about his neck, clasped her
hands in mock admiration, and ex-
claimed, looking steadily at him:
ooh, don't you think you look aw.
fully nice i'll your blue ribbon, down
there!"
just as the words "down there"
were out of her mouth, she noticed. to
her horror, that the lady next door,
whose intimate acquaintance she had
not the honor of, was exactly in the
line of her vision in the next yard, and
that she wore blue ribbon in her
hair.
The lady next door looked up in
indignation. Rags was invisible from
where she Stood and she had no doubt
the remark was addressed to her. She
turned about with fierce movement,
rushed back into her house, and
slammed the door after her. The un-
intending author of the insult, in the
meantime, stood aghast and helpless.
Boston TRANSCRIPT.
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1888-12-07
A LONG.wIEnKD Orator.
Mr.. De Cosmos. Of British Co,n,,
Speaks for Tventy-Six Hours

Mr.. De Cosmos. eff British CoIum
Speaks for Tventy-six Hours.
Long speeches are common. Tn \
Georgia Legislature, when the ouest;I
Of eNpelling the negro members was
Aaron Alpeoria Bradley spoke four do
The Tichbornc trial brought DR. X
aealey to the front with o speech nj
aing through 40 days. But tbJ
speakers did not talk continuously NJ
iournments for dinner, and over ninl1
and for Sunday made their work easS
The longest speech on record is prl
ably the one made by Mr.. De Cos,od
q member Of the Legislature of Britt
Columbia, some years ago. A bill vi
pending which, if passed, would depril
many settlers of their lands, and Il
temper of the majority made it certa)
that it would pass. The Legislatn]
was within q day and a half of the hol
Of its final adjournment and the yo
was about to be taken.
At this juncture De Cosmos arose
address the body. It was 10 O'Clock
the morning, and the members thoue1
that he would finish in an hour or tWl
The clock struck eleven, twelve. ad
one, but the speaker kept right on.
How long would he speak? III
members in spirit of fun. omitted
adjourn for dinner, but De Cosml
spoke on without a break. At 6 oclod
he was still on the floor. He was forc1
by the Speaker to stick to the questid
and was not allowed to pause except
take drink of water.
The majority decided to continue I'll
session through the night, slipping o.
in small parties to eat and sleep. Still
without faltering, the orator poure
forth his torrent of words. This W,
the situation at midnight, and also whe
the morning sun flooded the hall wit
the light of day.
AS the hour hand of the clock pointe
to twelve the limit prescribed by la
for the session had arrived and the LEI
islature stood adjourned sine die. /
the last stroke of - the brave De Co
mos stopped in the middle of sentene
and fell fainting in his seat.
He had spoken, standing on his fee
twenty-six hours. His eyes we're bleare
and red, and his parched lids Wei
cracked and running blood. He W.
nearly dead, but he had prevented til
bill from becoming law and had save
the settlers their homes.
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1888-12-07

CIGARETTE smoking has become a fad
among the aristocratic fair of Balti-
more. Not only girls but married
women Of high social standing in the
city are inveterate smokers, and few
of them are so welded to the habit
that they are unable to break off, fear
ing disastrous results from sudden
removal of the stimulating effects of
the tobacco.
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1888-12-07

SENATOR EvARrs has a new hat. He
has long been famous for his shocking
bad hat, and for many years his we'll
worn old tile has attracted notice in
the streets, and has been a theme of
popularity in the courts. The glossy
tile in which he now disports himself
is Worn too far back on his head, as the
old one was, but he thus gives good
display of his Gladstonian brow and
Ciceronian features.
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1888-12-07

A PUBLIC school teacher of NIilwau-
kee has in her notebook the following
composition on "Girls," written by q
boy: Girls are very stuck up and
dignified in their manner and behave
youror. They make fun of boys, and
then turn round and love them. I
don't behave they ever killed cat or
anything. They look out every mite
and say: ooh, amt the moon lovely T.
Thir is one thing have not told, and
that is they always now their lessons
bettern boys"
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1888-12-07

will result in the reduction of the price
of that article to few cents per pound.
The Importance of this discovery is
rendered greater by the fact that, while
hitherto dependence has been on the
cultivation OF the cinchona tree for
quinine, the bark yielding only about
two per cent. of the same, the new pro-
cess admits of the substance being pro-
duced without limit from an article
which can always be got in abundance
i'll any part of the world
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1888-12-07

Mrs. FRANK LESLIE is responsible
for the declaration that the reign of
Paris as the mistress Of fashions is at
an end. London, Mrs. Leslie thinks,
will hereafter set the styles for women
as well as for men. From present in
dications, however, the well-known ed
itress is not entirely correct in her
estimate, as all Of this seasons toilets
which have yet been shown have come
from the Partisan fashion-makers.
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1888-12-07

A GERMAN has made experiments to
ascertain the amount of loss that coal
undergoes when exposed to the wealth
er. 1t will, perhaps, surprise many
readers to hear that the loss is consid-
cradle. Anthracite and camel coal, as
might be anticipated from their COM
pactness, suffer least; but ordinary III
luminous coal loses nearly one-third in
weight and nearly one.h IF in gas-mak-
ing quality. From this it will will be
understood that coal should he kept
dry and under cover, and that to expose
it to rain or damp is to lessen its guam
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1888-12-07

The front name of Verestchagin, the
great Russian battle-painter, as transla-
ted, is Basil, in Russian Vasili, but no
translation has been found for the
family name, and nobody seems equal
to the task Of making one. After serv-
ing with distinguished honor as sol
der of the Gar in two great cam
paigns, the artist became convinced
that war was barbaric, cruel, and Grim
inal, and he set out to take away its
heroic and romantic features. In his
paintings, which have made marked
sation wherever they were exhibited
in Europe, he has reproduced the ter
rors and atrocities of the battlefield
in their most realistic and shocking
form.
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1888-12-07

The coolest day of the present Win
ter will fall between Jan 20 and 30,
according to Gen. Greely's prediction.
According to his explanation, the cold
est day does not occur at the winter
solstice, but somewhat later, since the
greatest cold must be experienced at
that time of the year when the amount
of heat received from the sun becomes
equal to that lost by nocturnal radia-
ton. AS might be expected, the cold
est day falls earlier in the southern
part of the country than in the northern.
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1888-12-07

The Project of Paris has issued an
order forbidding newsboys to cry any
thing in the streets excepting the titles
of papers. The law was first passed by
the Government of the Republic in
1898. Under the reign of Napoleon I.
the law fell into desuetude, and with
the exception Of brief revival in 1916
has remained dead letter ever since.
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1888-12-07

PLEASE don't swear" is printed on
card stuck up over the ticket hole in
the window of one of the Sixth ave-
hue (Gew York; elevated stations. It
reminds the passengers of sign on an
organ in Western church: please
don't shoot the organist; he's doing
the best he can"
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1888-12-07

JOHN G. WHITTIER, the poet, in a
letter to the Secretary of the Howard
Association of London, thus defines
his religious belief: "I like practical
Christianity and true following of the
Master. I weary of creeds and dogmas
more and more. [ love the old ways of
Grellet md Woolman, but I have no
controversy with others. I am now in
feeble health. My work is done. I
wish it were better done, but 1 trust
and am thankful that l can glory in
myself. Ny sole trust is in the good
ness of God"
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1888-12-07

MEN are miserable if their education
hath been so undisciplined as to leave
them unfinished of skill to spend their
time; but most miserable if such mis-
government and unskilfulness make
them fall into vicious company.-Jeren'y
TAILOR.
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1888-12-07

THE Vassar brothers, the last of
whom, John Guy Vassar, died not long
ago, have done much for education and
for the higher development of women.
John Guy Vassar was fortunate man
of business. He appreciated the bene-
fits of a liberal education. He and his
brothers founded Vassar College, which
was really the first definite attempt to
establish an educational institution
solely for the benefit of women. It is
a grand monument to the generosity
and breadth of the founders.
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1888-12-07

AN amusing incident occurred the
other day in Birmingham, Ala. A lady
employed little negro boy, and. as he
was very ragged, she bought him a
new suit of clothes. He immediately
announced his intention of leaving her
employ. Determined that lie should
not take the clothes with him, she
stripped him, and wrapped a blanket
around him. He dashed into the street
naked, and the lady took after him.
An extremely unique chase was the
result, which was finally terminated by
the capture of the bow
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1888-12-07

AS KNOWLEDGE without Justice ought
to be called cunning rather than wis
dom, SO mind prepared to meet dan.
ger, if excited by it's own eagerness and
not the public good, deserves the name
of audacity rather than of courage
Plnfo
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1888-12-07

CAPTAIN A. G. =. HAGGARD, broth
er Of the author of 9Shc," is about to
appear rs novelist also He is Brit
ish officer, stationed ut Meerut, and has
already published diaries of military
expeditions.
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1888-12-07

BENJAMIN BARDLEY, a colored man
who died at Denton, Nd, was noted
for his immense strength. He had on
occasions walked through the streets
with 800 pounds of iron on his shout
ders.
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1888-12-07

A COMPANY has purchased the settler
spring at Saratoga, and has begun ex-
periments for the purpose of iberat-
ing and storing, in liquid form, the
carbonic acid gas with which it
abounds. Prof. Oscar Brunie. Ger
man expert, has charge of the work,
and has sounded the spring to a depth
of $500 feet without touching bottom
or encountering any obstacle. This
strengthens the belief in the existence
of great subterrsnean sea which
many scientific men think underlies
Saratoga; and the company who are
sounding the settler spring hope to
solve the question one day or another
before long.
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1888-12-07

Mrs. HARRIET LANE JOHNSON, who
presided over the domestic affairs of
the White House during Buchanan's
administration, has taken possession of
house in Washington and will spend
the winter there.
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1888-12-07

A STICK of timber 151 feet long and
twenty inches square, believed to be
the largest piece ever turned out from
any saw mill, has been sent from Puget
Sound to an exhibition in San Fran
oicco
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1888-12-07

A NEW system of lighting called the
"Lucizen" win be used at the Wyan-
dotte shipya1. It is made by crude
petroleum and air pumped by small
engine, the flame being three feet high.
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1888-12-07

THE Portland Orego11ian tells of u
peculiar sight witnessed the other day
by passengers on the ferry from Van
couver. A seal was in pursuit of a
salmon. The fish darted hither and
thither, and fire luently leaped out Of
the water. The passengers became
very much excited in watching the
race. Finally the fish darted up to
the boat and jumped on board A
member of the boats crew sold it to q
farmer, to the great Indignation of the
passengers, who wanted it taken to a
safe distance and restored to the water.
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1888-12-07

tity and weaken its quality. Here,
too, we have an explanation of the in
feriority of the great heaps of small
coal which cucumber the ground in tho
mining districts.
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1888-12-07

A CURIOUS museum has just been
opened at Dresden. In it are collected
a number of boots, shoes and slippers,
in which emperors, kings, QUEENS,
princes and other august or famous
persons have some time or other trod-
den the path through life. Among
them are pair of boots worn by Ma
poleon ]. at the battle OF Dresden on
April ~, 1913, and a pair of white
satin shoes, embroidered n gold, which
the same great emperor wore on the
day of his coronation; another pair of
strong leather boots which belonged to
the famous French marshal, Murat,
afterward King Of the !'wo Sicilies; a
pair of high-he led boots of Maria
Theresa; boots of the philosopher,
Kant, and many others, forming curl
Gus assembly. If the promoters of the
museum have any energy they will not
find it difficult to increase their curl
GUS collection considerably and to
make it one of the sights of Dresden.
But they must search both highways
and byways for their treasures; thus,
for instance, they might, perhaps, OBJ
tain an interesting article from the
good nuns at Nazareth House, Ham
mersmith, who preserve large, COM
fortable-looking slipper of the late
Pope under a dainty glass case in one
Of their large rooms.
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1888-12-07

ACCORDING to the Walla Walla Jour-
nal, the red fish have for the first time
in sixteen years disappeared from
Wallowa Lake, and the packers are idle
in consequence. The fish are identical
with the "blue black" salmon of the
Columbia, and have been accustomed
to making the lake their breeding
grounds, where they swarmed in i'm
mense numbers. Like many other fish,
they change color at the breeding sea-
son. The blue black is one of the
finest species of salmon. and its utter
determination seems to be matter Of
only a short time.
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1888-12-07

HIS Miniature Majesty the infant
King of Spain is said to have but one
great passion, which, strangely enough,
is bologna sausage. Whenever he sees
this unromantic edible he can hardly
be restrained Stretching forth his
baby hand in IN imperious way, he ex-
claims: His Majesty wishes it. But
his Minister Of the Interior takes care
that his Majesty doesn't get it. AL
fonso is extremely jealous OF his
mother, and whenever they appear in
public it makes him angry to have the
people applaud her. He has great
bump of egotism, that youngster.
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1888-12-07
ODD INVENTIONS.
by w. A. cRoFFUT.

BOUT every week, from
some direction, comes to
the Patent Office an APP
plication for a patent for
perpetual motion, for
there is abroad through
the land an unfounded
rumor that the Govern
ment has offered 81, Co.,
600 for The discovery of
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1888-12-07

LADY DRMlMoND, the American girl
who had to leave her titled English
husband ON account of bad treatment,
is trying to secure 100000 which
belongs to her and her young daughter.
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1888-12-07

THE fact that the population in
France is remaining stationary, if not
actually diminishing, has provided po-
litical economists and moralists with
fertile theme for comment. A paper
lately read by NJ. Lagneau to the
Academy of Medicine on the tendency
of French families toward rapid extinc-
ton throws new light on the subject.
It has been calculated that of one
hundred families existing in the time
of King Philippe Auguste, who died
in 1923, only four had representatives
surviving in 1910. Among the savants
of different countries it has frequently
been maintained that while such ten
dency prevails among the upper classes
the reverse was the case with the low
er; but NJ. Lagneau pointed out that
in France statistics proved that there
was not the slightest difference in this
respect between rich and poor, all sec
lions of society alike betraying the
same tendency to extinction IN the
male line. A careful calculation
showed that as matters at present
stand one hundred families, each with
three children, would in the second
generation have among them all sum
total Of eight three descendants, that
in the fifth generation half these fami-
lies would have no male representa-
tives, and that in the fifteenth the fam
lily name in nine out of ten cases would
perish altogether. NJ. Lagneau con-
cluded with the significant remark that
the day would come when the French
population would be entirely dependent
for it's growth on immigration.