davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-12-29
AntediIuyian Footurints.

Professor Bickmore, in his lecture on
"The Period of Reptiles and Mammals
in the Museum of Natural History, says
the New York Tribune, presented on a
screen illustrations of The footprints of one
of the amphibians of the coal period. The
illustration was drawing from the great
slab of blue stone which belongs to the
museum, and was taken from the stone
quarry at Turner's Falls, Mass. The ami
NAL itself, Mr. Bickmore explained, was
one of those which roamed in great num-
bers along the Connecticut valley during
the carbonderous period. This one had
left is footprints in the mud, and the inn
preston having been Subsequently filled
with sand, the cast was preserved when
the clay became hardened into stone.
From fossils of the animal, which have
been obtained in other portions of the
valley, it appears to have had an elongated
body about IA feet long on four legs. II
moved mainly on the hind feet, the fore.
legs being shorter, and lived partly in the
stream. At that time and until later
period In the age of mammals, the lecturer
showed by the drawings of the coast sur
vey, the coast of New York extended fully
100 miles into the ocean south of its pres
ent line. The ocean steamers of to-day in
approaching the Narrow follow the OLD
channel of the Hudson river, which, previ
Gus to the subsistence of the land, as shown
by the sea-soundings, flowed into the sea
through deep valley and over a steer
cliff of great hight, and must have formed
magnificent cataract.
Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-12-29
A Genial Clergyman.

The late Dean Burgon, though bache-
lor, was remarkable for his love of chill
dren. 1t was no uncommon sight to see
him dancing in the high street before
some delighted little ones or jumping up
and down before perambulator. At a
school treat he was in his element, and he
would run, jump and play with the chill
dren until fairly exhausted. On one occa-
sion he was fairly done up, and could run
no more. A crowd of children was stand
ing around him as ne sat on the grass; 81
can run no more said the Vicar Of St.
Mary's. Then said little girl: "All
right, you sit still and make faces at u.s."
He did so, and the contortions of his face
were truly marvellous and delightful. On
another occasion, however, he was not so
fortunate He was alwas devoted to the
children, and upon calling at a house
where some of his little friends lived, he
asked the servant, " Are they upstairs in
the drawing-room On being answered
yes, he said All right, Pll go by myself"
The servant therefore left him in the hall.
Mr.. Burgon then took up large sheep
skin rug and put it over his shoulders.
On arriving at the drawing-room door he
went down on all fours, slowly opened the
door little way and began to groan and
roar like wild beast; then he advanced a
little way into the room, making hideous
noise. Unfortunately for him none of the
children were present, only two visitors
staying in the house. who were scared out
of their wits by this extraordinary appari-
ton. They screamed loudly and rung the
bell violently, thinking mailman was
coming. However, few words of explain
alton soon put matters to rights.-Church-
Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-12-29
A Story About Nilsson.

When Christine Nilsson first appeared
In public, twenty or more years ago, sht
was bony and frecIlled Scandinavian lass
like scores one sees in Western towns
Now she is magnificent woman, com
handing in carriage and countenance
Occasionally her temper gets the better OF
her on the stage, and once, here in Chi.
cago, she knocked over the piano stool and
stamped angrily because something had
gone wrong. If she proved herself un.
grateful to former benefactors, retribution
came quick in the treatment which she
met at the hands of her first husbands re-
lations upon whom she had lavished
princely donations
She is woman of noble impulse, which
was once illustrated at the house of a re-
tired Chicago millionaire near New York
A distinguished company had been invited
to meet her at dinner. On entering the
dining-room she dropped her hosts arm
hurrying in amazement to the stately
young butler, and Selling him effusively
by the hand, engaged him in conversation,
while the other guests stood waiting, and
the entertainer looked on in establishment
That man," she explained to the group,
when they were seated, "is the son of a
kind old nobeman on whose estate my
father worked as a day laborer when we
were children. Fortune has smiled on me,
while it has frowned on my old playmate
whom | find here under such changed
circumstances" -America
Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-12-29
,Possum and Sweet Potatoes

Seventy-fve cents is good deal of
money, boss, for a 'possum, but Pll take
this one. Are you sho' it weighs fifteen
pounds? It's the biggest | ever seen, but
l heard tell of one that weighed twelve
pounds. 1t was caught in Dorcester county,
and put up and fattened.
"This varmint here will be the king of
my Thanksgiving dinner, and will give
my family satisfaction. Nobody can have
better dinner. Some people turn up
their noses at 'possum, but they are preju-
diced or ignorant"
A reporter Of the Sun heard these re-
marks in the Lexington Market yesterday
morning, and listened further to the inter-
esting conversation going on between the
old colored man who had Just bought an
enormous opossum and the yender of poul-
try and market stuff from country wagon
who had sold it. They agreed that "pos-
sum" properly served was one of the many
Maryland dishes fit for the gods. But the
uneducated can not hope to put the dainty
dish on the table in good form. When
roasted it must never be served hot, and
the colder it is when cut the firmer is the
delicate white adipose tissue, with its rich,
nutty flavor. If cut when warm the "pos-
SUMS" tender skin, roasted to crispness,
breaks badly, and the fatty globules run
down into the dish in the form Of oil.
Some of this highly -favored oil escapes in
the roastingof the game, but such experts
as discussed the delights of "possum"
eating yesterday always have sweet pota-
toes alongside the cooking varmint" to
soak up the richness as last as it exudes.
Roasted "possum," stiff with cold, cuts
like piece Of cake, and has all the rich,
delicate flavor of the most tender pig
roasted whole, with the addition of an at
tractiye piquancy of its own. Tne love of
possum' is not acquired, it is claimed,
but is born in every human being, and
only awaits development by a taste oil
properly prepared specimen. "Possums'
are frequently made into potpie, or stewed
but roasted with sweet potatoes, is the true
Maryland style Many families in Balti
more viii dine on possum" next Thanks
giving Day.
"Coons" were talked of yesterday after
the lectures on "possum" lore were over
but raceoons are seldom seen in the Balti
more markets, and it was agreed that Z
man has to be educated up to enjoying
them, the flavor being little strong t.
the inexperienced. Baltimore Sun.
Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-12-29
Deep Spring a, Saratoga.

The Settler Spring, located on Spring
avenue, was developed by DR.. Haskins less
than three years ago The drill was put
down to the depth of 500 feet. At this
depth an abundant supply of water was
found flowing from a crevice in the rock
bottom. Recently, to assure himself of the
depth of the spring, Professor Oscar Brun-
Ter, under whose charge plant is being
established for liberating and storing in
LIQUID form the carbonic acid gas, sounded
it with a line and plummet; but instead of
resting at 500 feet, the weight sank the
whole length of the line, 900 feet. Other
soundings have since been made, the
weight used being piece of inch gas pipe
filed with lead and weighing thirty-four
pounds, until depth of $500 feet has
been reached, and yet without touching
bottom or any obstacle. No further sound
ings viii be made until instruments ex-
pressly designed for the purpose can he
procured.
Professor Brunler admits it as possible
that the line and weight could have been
carried away by some powerful current
but he holds to his original belief Of the
existence of subterranean sea OF greater
or less extent, and that there is undoubt
ed,v some connection between it and the
water Of the ocean. In other words, that
Saratoga is over vast water-tilied cavern
the roof of which is about 500 feet thick
He also thinks it probable that at giver
depth and temperature carbonic ACID ga
Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-12-29
Coal-on Johnnv,s Successor.

On the Oil Creek flats, between Titus
vile and Oil City, is situated the famous
farm which proved such a mine of wealth
to Johnny Steele, or Goal Oil Johnny" as
he was better known The wonderful
wells on this farm that spouted their
streams of wealth into the lap of this
giddy youth ceased to flow many years
ago, and the farm was long considered
valueless for oil purposes. With the later
improved methods of producing oil this
old farm is being reclaimed and is once
more figuring among the valuable oil
farms of the region. 1t is now owned by
j. w. Wait, who was a street urchin at
Housewife, town a mile from the farm,
when "Coal-Oil Johnny" was at the
zenith of his wild career As a boy at
Housewife young Wait frequently BACKED
Johnny Steele's boots or held his team
while the youthful oil prince went to get
drink, and frequently received for the
| service anywhere from S. to $50, which
ever happened to suit the within of the
spendthrift, who believed there was nc
end to his suddenly acquired riches Ii
was net many years till ''Coal-Oil Johnny
was laborer working for 81 day. Now
his wonderful farm is again coming into
the oil belt There have been about a
dozen new wells drilled on the farm, and
under the improved methods of getting oil
from the ground, every one of them i,
profitable. 1t is the tailings Of the once
prolific oil rock, but the daily production
of the wells make it certain that the ole
iarm will make young Mr.. Wait a rich
man. He has been operating the property
about year, and values it at 100000. H,
has production of 1000 barrels month
I-Chicdqo Tribune.
Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-12-29
A 81, 900 Garnet OF Bins.

Ernest Draeger, an insane painter Of
Chicago, carpeted his room with bills
amounting to $1,000 in February of last
year, and was discovered walking upon the
money joyfully. Draeger was placed in an
asylum and the money given into the care
of Carter H. Harrison, son of Chicago's
ex-Mayor, who had been appointed con.
servator of the estate. The unfortunate
man was discharged as cured recently, and
brought an action in the Superior Court tc
discharge the conservator and have his
money restored to him. The matter came
before Judge Patterson and jury. Drea
ger was adjudged sane and competent tc
take care of his property Chicago Ne,rs.,,
Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-12-29
Relics of Early Barb.riap,sm

Few who bedeck themselves with gold
and silver ornaments pause to reflect up,
on the original Specification of such things
or imagine that they are the relic of the
barbarism of our early history. Yet I'M
doubtedly such is the case. The glitter
ing necklet which the nineteenth century
lady clasps around her neck is only a
survival of the old practice of placing a
metal collar upon slave as a mark Of
ownership, and the bracelet of the maiden
and the manacle of the felon have a COM
mon origin. In the same way rings were
once worn as badge of serfdom, but
possibly because of the ease with which
they could be detached from the finger
and destroyed their use for this purpose
was soon abandoned.
Among the early J sws they were USED
as a symbol of authority. Pharaoh placed
his ring upon the finger of Joseph wher
he made him ruler over Egypt, as a sign
that he had invested him with supreme
power; and King Ahasuerus sealed hi:
grant to Mordecai and the Jews with hi
signet ring, saying THAT which is sealed
with the Kings seal no man may reverse
In medieval times the signet ring of /;
sovereign or powerful noble was considered
sufficient warrant of authority, and to the
wearer was an open sesame in all place
where its owner had influence Some o
this Specification has been handed dowI
to our own day, and Bishops still wear
ring upon the third finger of the RICH
hand as a mark of their episcopal author
! ity.-LOadon Standard.
Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-12-29
Anelent J thanksgiving DAYS.

thanksgiving Day was suggested, doubt
less, by the Hebrew feast of the taber-
nacles, or feast of ingathering at the end
of the year" It's history in America be-
gins as early as 1921. The occasional OBJ
servanee of such day, formally recon-
mended by the civil authorities, was not
unusual in Europe at an earlier date In
Holland the first anniversary of the deliv-
erance of the city of Leyden from the
siege, October 3, 1875, was kept as religi-
Gus festival of thanksgiving and praise.
In the English Church service, the fifth of
November is so celebrated, in commemora-
tion of the discovery of the Gunpowder
Plot.
One Of the most remarkable thanksgiv-
ing customs on record prevailed in South
ampton and Easthampton, Long Island.
Montauk Point, which consists of 5000
acres, was owned by numerous proprie-
tors in these towns, and used as a COM
mon pasturage for stock The time of
driving the herds home to winter was
fixed at a meeting by the town council,
and it came" says the historian, to be
a rule from the period beyond which the
memory of man runneth not, that the
Thursday of the week following the re-
turn of the cattle from Montauk should
be observed as day of thanksgiving
At az early period OF New England
history certain periods of prosperity were
often made the occasions of public thanks
givings, or feasts, and often day of fasting
and prayer was turned into day of thanks
giving by what seemed an immediate answer
to their prayers. Perhaps, to recall to our
minds that first Thanksgiving of the
Pilgrim Fathers may put us to the blush
Often on this day have l heard such
remarks as " | have no thanks to give;
have nothing for which to be thankful,
from lips that it would seem might have
had llfes work in framing words of prais,
and gratitude, so blessed were they in th'
health Of themselves and their dear ones
while for some fancied trouble this grea
good was quite eIlooked.-Idble Talk
Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-12-29
Florida Sponge Fishing.

The sponge reef of Florida begins few
miles east of Apalachicola, and hugs the
coast within fifty miles OF Cedar KEYS
then there is break of 100 miles, after
which it reappears and runs south with
out interruption to Key West and the Ba-
hama Islands. This reef, a rocky ridge,
sometimes of genuine limestone, but gen
orally of coral, begins some six or eight
miles from shore, and continues out indef-
nitely; in fact, wherever there is a rocky
bottom sponges are said to be found, and
the only reason that the fisheries do not
extend completely around the Gulf coast
is that in places, as off the coast of Texas
or Cedar Keys, this rocky bottom begins
in water too deep to permit of profitable
sponging.
The average depth of water on the St.
Marks, six miles from land, is sixteen feet.
The sponges are in great abundance and of
good quality, being much better than
those from the coast of Mexico, but rather
inferior to the Bahama variety. The supply
is practically inexhaus:ible, as they grow
almost as fast as gathered, a sponge re-
curing only two years to reach maturity.
The vessels used in the business are
generally schooners of about eight tons
burden. They carry two small boats, or
dinkies, and are manned by crew of five.
| Provisions are generally laid in for six
weeks at a time, the usual limit of a cruise
At the reef two men go to each Of the
dinkies and the work begins. One slowly
SOULS around by stern oar, while his
companion examines the bed of the sea
through bucket with a glass bottom
This simple contrivance is fastened to the
side of the boat low enough down to resi-
partially in the water, and by placing his
head inside the bucket one can see with
distinctness objects of even thirty feet
! When desirable sponge is spied it i:
brought up by an iron hook fastened or
the end of long pole. Herein lies the
science of the craft, the knowing how to
hook sponge without tearing it all tc
pieces. A great deal of knack is requisite
and is to be acquired only after long prac
tice; and good hookers are always in much
demand. Thus these men work ON, day
after day, under the tropical sun that
burns and browns the skin until one can
not tell white man from a negro. 1t is &
desperately hard life, more severe thar
any other have ever seen, and it require!
men of no ordinary constitution TO stanC
up to it. Naturally, then, the sporgers
as a race, are an exceedingly muscu
lar set. Four of the crew being
thus employed the duty of the fifth is tC
remain on the schooner and keep up with
the dinkies, so that in case of squat o.
broken oar, he will be on hand to rende
prompt assistance. He also does the cook
ing, mend ropes, lays out sponges and play
the part of general utility man.-Fores
and Stream.
Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-12-29
Life of Steel Rsns

As an indication of what good steel rail
of the old-fashioned quality ought to stand,
says the Engineering Neus, there was laid
in 1912, on the New York, Pennsylva-
MIA and Ohio railroad, 109.43 miles of
Ebbw Vale and Dowlais steel. At the end
of 1879, after sustaining about 15,000,00
tons in average trains of 400 tons, or after
seven years of wear, there was left 100 a
miles, or practically all of it. At the pres
ent time there is still some twenty miles
of this steel in use on the main track, after
sustaining probably 50,000,000 tons in sew
enteen years Of service, and most of the re-
mainder has been removed to put in side
track, very little of it having been scrapped.
Engineering Nelrs says: "Where are the
rails that will show such service nova
days? They are not rolled. We doubt If
there is a single 100-mile lot of rails seven
years old in any part of the country, under
traffic of 100000 tons or over, which
can show 99S per cent. of the rails still in
service, yet the cost of manufacturing
equally good rails to-day would probably
be not more than s. or $40 more than the
wretched stuff which is now usually sold
as rails, and which, one may safely say
would be dear at half the price of the bet.
ter article The great lack is an effective
mode of preliminary inspection for physi
cal qualities. If We had that, the quality
OF rails would speedily improve. but nj
one seems able to supply it"
Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-12-29

the "nerve poisonsD known Its virulence
! is compared to that of prussic acid. If
birds be made to inhaIe its vapor in
amounts too small to be measured, they
are almost instantly killed. 1t seems to
destroy life not by attacking a few, but
all the functions essential to it, beginning
at the center, the heart. A significant in
dication of this is that there is no sub
stance known which can counterfeit its
effects the system either succumbs or sur
wives. Its depressing action on the heart
is by far the most noticeable and note
worthy symptom of nicotine poisoning.
The frequent existence of what is known
as " smokers heart in men whose health
is in no other respect disturbed Is due to
this fact
These who can use tobacco without i'm
mediate injury will have all the pleasant
effects reversed, and will suffer from the
symptoms of poisoning if they exceed the
limits of tolerence. These symptoms are: :
l. The hearts action becomes more rapid
when tobacco is used. q Palpitation,
pain, or unusual sensations in the heart
3. There is no appetite in the morning,
the tongue is coated, delicate favors are
not appreciated, and acid dyspepsia occurs
after eating. f. Soreness of the mouth
and throat or nasal catarrh appears, and
becomes very troublesome. ). The eye
sight becomes poor, but improves when
the habit is abandoned. 6. A desire, often
craving, for liquor or some other stimu-
liant, is experienced.
In an experimental observation of thir-
ty-eight boys of all classes of society, and
of average health, who had been using to-
bacco for periods ranging from two months
to two years, twenty-seven showed severe
injury to the constitution and insufficient
growth; thirty-two showed the existence of
irregnlarity of the hearts action, disordered
stomachs, cough and craving for alcohol :;
thirteen had intermittency of the pulse,
and one had consumption. After they had
abandoned the use of tobacco, within six
months one-half were free from all their
former symptoms, and the remainder had
recovered by the end of the year.
A great majority Of men 90 far beyond
what may be called the temperate use of
tobacco, and evidences of injury are easily
found. 1t Is only necessary to have some
record of what the general health was pre-
vious to the taking up of the habit, and to
have observation cover a long enough
time. The history of tobacco in the island
of New Zealand furnishes a quite suggest
i've illustration for our purpose, and one on
large scale. When Europeans first Wis
tied New Zealand they found in the native
Maoris the most finely developed and pow
erful men of any of the tribes inhabiting
the islands of the Pacific. Since the intro
duction of tobacco, for which the Maoris
developed a passionate liking, they have
from this cause alone, it is said, become
decimated in numbers, and at the same
time reduced in stature and in physical
well being so as to be an altogether infe-
rior type of MENU. Y. Medical Journal
Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-12-29
The Eater of snaIIs.

Something like 10000 pounds of snails
are sent up daily to the Paris markets
from the gardens of Potion, Burgundy,
Champagne and Provence, where they are
specially reared for this purpose, the natu-
raj delicate flavor of their flesh being i'm
proved by feeding them on beds of arc
matte herbs. 1t is not merely, however,
as delicacy, says writer in the medical
classics, that snails are so generally appre-
ciated in France. They also take very
high rank as nutritious food, and from
the time of the ancient Romans downward
have been regarded as excellent in con-
sumption and weakness of the chest.
According to Payne they contain seventy
per cent. of water, sixteen per cent. of nj
trogen, one per cent. of fat, two per cent OF
salts, and five per cent. of undetermined
matter.
Charles Meme gives the following ana
lysis of the edible snail, which is even
more favorable
Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-12-29

forests bring only IF soc. The proprietor
of one snailery, in the vicinity of Dion, is
said to net over 7,000f annually.
The snail is reared and fattened with
great care in some cantons Of Switzerland
as an article of luxury, and is exported in
a picked state. 1t is also eaten as rel
ish and nutritious article of food in Aus
tria, Spain, Italy and in some sections OF
the United States The Ashantees and
other African tribes smoke them and eat
them as daily food all the year round