davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-09-12
Facts About Billiard Balls.

A New York Telegram reporter is in.
formed by an associate in an ivory manu-
featuring establishment that a new
method is favored by the clubs in the
purchase of billiard balls. "They buy
the balls," he SAYS, Gin an unfinished
state in the spring and keep the material
during the season in the building where
the balls are to be used. In the fall these
blocks are brought back and turned and
finished.
s.Half dozen sets of billiard balls and
two pool sets may be about the average
supply required by club.
"Ivory is very sensitive, and it is
necessary to be careful about sending out
balls in cold weather. No guarantee is
placed on ivory at all. When cracked
and unfit for use the balls furnish small
articles like dice. The small tusks are
always cut up for billiard balls. The
centre of the tusk goes through the cen.
tire of the ball for the better preservation
of the spherical form. The material is
received here from the London market
in the form of blocks. The parts
trimmed off in the lathe are sold as ivory
scrap for making lamp black.
'tAny present substitute for ivory
lacks the elasticity of this material, and
is duller on the table. Ivory is used in
all the best clubs and hotels. The
Zanzibar variety is most valued for
balls. When we'll seasoned these will
retain their form for six or eight months
if not well seasoned it does not take any
length of time for them to get untrue.
'sIn sending out balls we have them
carefully wrapped in wadding in the
boxes. after they are finished with sweet
oil, and it is we'll to have them afterward
kept so, when not in use. If used every
night it is advisable to have them rubbed
with sweet oil as often as three times a
week. A window should never be opened
on billiard balls when the room is warm.
These balls You see, cracked entirely
through from one end to the other, show
the effect of temperature on ivory.
"As a result of caution the Union
Club now loses no balls. One man cares
for them thoroughly. The regulation
size here used is q for almost every bill
lard room in the city. Balls exported to
the West Indies reach as high as 81
inches diameter. The orders are given
for ounces. The tables and cues of
Cubans and Spaniards are correspond
ingly large"
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-09-12
Wasps are Scientific Ventllators.

An English gentleman lately took a
small wa<ps' nest, about the size OF an
apple, and after st pefying its inmates,
placed it in large case inside OF his
house, leaving an opening for egress
through the wall. Here the nest was
enlarged to foot in diameter, holding
thousands of wasps, and he was able to
watch their movements, and noted one
new fa t-namely, their systematic at
teution to ventilation. In hot weather.
from four to six wasps were continually
stationed at the hole of egress, and,
while leaving space for entrance or exit,
created steady current of fresh air by
the exceedingly rapid motion of their
wings. After long course of this vigor;
Gus exercise, the ventilators were relieved
by other wasps. During cool weather
only two wasps at a time were usually
thus engaged. ed.-Argonaut. -
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-09-12
They Eat Rice Like q Chinaman.

No one unfamiliar with the subject can
have any idea of the immense amount Of
rice consumed by the rice birds in Lou
isis na. They begin their attacks when
the grain is Just formed and continue
them through the subsequent stages of
growth, and it is quite common to, lose
Is much as ten per cent. of the crop. from
this cause alone.
The bird -minders who are employed to
keep the birds Ssway usually fail in their
duty. The sun isnow hot, and the water
of the rice fields is hot, and the bird.
minder, who is presumed to be on duty to
avoid these disagreeable conditions, US
ually seeks the shade, while the confding,
but indolent, or shall we say tired, en-
ployer sitting at home simply trusts to
luck and hopes the birds won't get the
whole crop. A few years ago gentle.
man planting rice en- the lower coast, and
realizing the destruction of the crop by
birds, concluded to set apart a field oil
some thirty acres, about ten per cent. of
the crop, for their exclusive use. His
hope was that they would concentrate
their attention upon this special field and;
would not attack the rest. And now
comes the result. They consumed this
entire thirty acres, and it required as
much vigilance as ever to keep them OIL
the rest. Tons upon tons of powder and
shot are consumed yearly to keep oil the
rice-birds, and probably twice as much
should be used, for this work should be
we'll done, for it is 'pennywise and pound
foolish" to economize in bird minding
and to then have them carry off the whole
crop, as they are sure to do, if not pre-.
vented by vigorous fght.-Plantsr and
Syoor Manufacturer.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-09-12
Temperance News and Notes.

Eighty-nine priests signed the Chicago
Sunday closing petition
There are fifty-nine county jails without
inmates in prohibition Iowa
1t costs the people Of Australia ei las. Cd.
per head every year for drink.
Irelands drink-bill last year was 55,0oO,-
0cO Whisky should be evicted.
Every town ia Rhode Island, except one,
has Woman's Christian Temperance Union.
The bishops Of the Methodist Episcopal
Cn lrch says that the liquor traffic cannot be
licensed without sin.
One Of the strongest scientific temperance
instruction bills ever enacted has lately re-
ceived the signature of tho Governor OK
Louisiana. Thirty-six States and Territories,
embracing over Jhree-fourths Of the entire
school population Of the United States, now
have temperance education laws.
st. Louis Hygienic College of PhysiGlans
and Surgeons Is one Of the tew colleges whose
dean is a woman, and one Of a still smaller
number that does not include alcohol in It's
prescriptions The use of strictly hygienlI
agents Is advocated in the Treatment OF Tao
sick, and its doors are open to both se1ss.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-09-12
Chinese Landscape Gardening.

There are said to be something like
fifty thousand characters in the written
language of the Chinese. I am sure it
would take them all to fully describe the
queer sights and strange crstoms We
witnessed in Pekin during the few days
we rested there, at the cheerful United
States Legation, before making our final
start for the Great Wall
I had never known before that the
twisted trees, contorted objects and
queer architecture painted on Chinese
punch bowls and platters are not droll
caricatures, but the Chinese representa-.
tions of Chinese art-ideas in the actual
everyday scenes of Chinese lite. The
grotesque figures which they paint Oh
fans, or screens, are all we'll known MIS-
tor;cal characters; heroes of fiction, or
deiicd saints and philosophers, and each
one carries to the Chinese mind its pecu-
| liar tradition or romantic association.
There is very little picturesque scenery
in China, and the few hills, streams and
valleys which lovers of natural beauty
have discovered, have done duty IN
decoration for hundreds, perhaps thou
sands of years. But these outlines,
made familiar by repetition, have a
different meaning when the fact is eX-
planned that the skillful Chinese land
scape gardeners have made innumerable
miniature copies of these few bits Of
scenery in the court yards which are
enclosed by the inner walls of the houses
of the better sort. These courts, te"
feet in extent, oblong or square, art
laid out in little mountain ranges
showing caverns aud lakes, trails snc
rayinas on every side,- Wiae AVake,
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-09-12
W0MAN'S WORLD.
PLEASANT LITERATURE FOX
FEMININE READERS.
Amber Ornaments.

The growing fashion for amber orna-
meuts IS simple and inexpensive one.
It appeals more strongly, perhaps, to the
brunette than to the blonde, though 1t
may be becomingly worn by both. The
opaque is seen to advantage in dark hair,
and the clear. cut amber makes brilliant
ornament for either light or Clark hair.
The earliest mention of amber is in
Homer's "Odyssey," where, in the list OF
Jewels offered by Ph9nician traders to
the Queen of Syria, is mentioned 'the
gold necklace hung with bits of amber" d."
With age the light straw color of amber
'darkens to orange, will q lmost ruby
tint. The cutting and polshing is done
in Vienna and Berlin, no process OF
polishing being known here York
Press.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-09-12
HOUSEHOLD MATTERS.
The Philosophy of Boiling.

The Philosophy OF BOILING. !
All cooks do not understand the dif1l
ferent effects produced by hard and soft
water in cooking meat and vegetables,
Peas and beans cooked in hard water,
containing lime or gypsum, will not boil
tender, because these substances harden
vegetable caseine. Many vegetables, 40
onions, boil nearly tasteless in soft water,'
because all the tlavoris boiled out. The
addition of salt often checks this, as in
the case of onions, causing the vegetables
to retain the peculiar favoring prin-
cip!es, beside such nutritious matter as
might be lost in soft water. Fer ex-.
tracing the juice of meat to make 9
broth or soup soft water, unsalted and
cold at first, is the best, for it much
more readily penetrates the tissue; but
fer boiling where the juices should be
retained hard water or soft water salted
is preferable, and the meat should be put
in while the water is boiling, so as to
seal up the pores at once. -Nsw York
World.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-09-12
Japanese Bride and Groom.


Quite as interesting as tie scenery,
writes a correspondent of the Glo'e-
Democrat from Japan, were the move
ments of the bride and groom in the same
car with US. We afterward learned that
he was Nagoya youth who had gone to
Kiota and prospered in business, and had
just been down to Nagoya to marry the
young girl chosen by his parents and a
90 between friend of the family. He
was raw, callow youth in appearance.
and spreading his rug on the cushions,
lay down at half length and obliged the
bride to sit bolt upright in small
space.
When he did sit up it was he who
leaned against the brides shoulder, in-
stead of resting her head on his shoulder
in true wedding journey style. For the
whole day that we travelled together 1t
was his comfort and not hers that was
considered. The groom hurried on board
the steamer and into the next train OF
cars, and, helping himself o the only
remaining chair or seat, looked around
curiously t. see where she was going to
sit. The bride smiled sweetly all the
time and did not seem to think it at all
out of the way for her to be cushion or
footstool or baggage porter for her lord.
She wore a dark striped silk klmono
and an ecru obi, brocaded with pine
needles in black and gold. The japanese
reverse our customs in travelling, and
wear their best clothes when Oft on a
Journey, in order, they say, that their
station may be known and proper atten-
tion paid them. The brides attention
was much occupied with b r new gold
ring, the wedding ring being foreign
fashion that they have taken up with en-
thus:asm. The gold band on the finger
is fast replacing the shaved eyebrows
and blackened teeth that used to distin-
guish the married women, but they ad-
here to the change in their har dress
ing and after marriage red is no longer
worn. the gay red Grape petticoats,
the red folds in the neck of the kimono
and the bits of red Grape tied in the hair
disappear on the wedding day, and the
japanese have the bitter but sadly true
mixim: "Love flies with the red petit
coat" Any demonstration of affection
between married couple is not only
considered bad form, but most disgust
ing by the Japanese, and kisses are un-
known, except for babies. Men, or
rather lubberly schoolboys, and great,
hulking young soldiers are often seen in
the street holding hands, or with their
arms around each others ne ks, but
there are no sentimental tableaux to be
seen between maidens and youths in the
ideal lovers lanes with which this pic
turesque country is scanned.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-09-12
SeafarinS Irish Women.

The women of the Irish coasts and
islands are as skillful as the men iE
handling the oar and rudder. They
know every sunken rock and dangerous
scurrent of the intricate channels between
the great island of Aran and the main
land, and take boats in and out in all
weathers. For many years Grace
Darling of this western coast, the
daughter of pilot who lived on Fights
Island, went out in storm and darkness
( with her old father, never trusting; him
alone, as she knew his weakness fer the
whisky. This brave girl never fiirched
from facing the widest gales, fearing
that disaster might befall her father and
the vessels it was his business to guide
to safe anchorage if she were
not at the helm. Many a ships
crew beating about between Aran
and Owey owed its preservation to Nellie
Boyle. Two sisters have taken the post
boat into Aran for many years past, their
father, John Nancy, being now old and
infirm. Woman'S Wtria.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-09-12
A Patent Shoe Black Stand.

A young gentleman residing uptown
has invented patent shoe black chair,
which is operated on the same principle
rs the patent scales, which are made to
do their Office by dropping a nickle in
the slot. The contrivance is very in
genious. The party desiring shine seats
himself in the chair and drops a nickie
in a slot just over his right shoulder.
The weight of the coin sets the ma
chinery in operation, and the patent
blackener spreads the backing and the
automatic brushes complete the shine.
The machinery works as long as the seat
is occupied.-Nsso Orleans Times s-Demo-
crat. -
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-09-12
Saloons Spread the Drink Habit

s'The Saloon creates demand where none
before existed, that it may profit by supply
ing that demand. It artificially stimulates
an evil habit, that it may thrive by pander-
ing to it. 1t nethodically breeds debauchery,
poverty, anarchy and crime for pay. 1t
purposely seeks to multiply the number OF
drinkers, and hence of drunkards. 1t in.
vades every new community, demands trib-
ute from every home, and lies in wait with
fresh enticements for each new generation or
youth Each one Of our two hundred thou
sand drinking places forms distinct center
Of aggressive forces and skillful de-
vices for spreading the drink habit
among men. Every plausible temp
tation and solicitation that trained talent
can suggest are used to entrap the young,
the ignorant, the toiling and the homeless,
with the knowledge that customer once Sc
tnred is usually customer for life. F'xpe-
-ience indicates that four-ffths Of American
drinking and drunkenness is due in the first
instance not to any natural appetite OF our
people, but to the presence and sleepless ef-
forts Of this gigantic enginery, working
seven days week and twenty-four hours
day, unrestrained by any scruple and every
where contemptuous Of public and private
right" t-"-Ctinton b Fisk.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-09-12
Fashion Notes.

Nuns yelling is as popular as ever.
Bonnets made of tulle and Grape are
pretty.
Black hats are worn with dresses Of
any color.
Tucked waists are feature of thin
muslin dresses.
White wool costumes are effectively
trimmed with mouse. gray velvet.
There is decided revival of black in
Paris for dresses; indeed, whole toilets
are black.
Embroidery will be much worn in the
coming winter. Clothes will be made
very heavy and massive.
Charming toilets are made of shot silk,
plain or figured, with small bouquets, to-
gcther with gauze embroideries.
Frenchwomen are arranging their hair
in large, braided coils at the back of the
head, or in the hanging cotogan loops.
Irish laces will be worn again. They
are said to be in some respects pretticr
than the finest Venetian or Brussels
point.
Ladies who wear silk petticoats should
bear in mind that fashion DEGREES that
they shall be of corresponding color to
the dress.
Young girls are wearing hats with the
brim turned straight up from the fore
head. The brim should be lined with
blue or pink gau-e.
New fans of painted gauze are in the
form of a butterfly, with the head
turned towards the mount and the wings
spread out and forming the fan.
japanese cottons, showing all sorts OF
impossible blue figures upon their white
grounds, are made up into serviceable
and quaint-looking parasols for country
use.
The old fashioned corded and cross
barred organdy muslin is again in high
favor, as we'll as lace-striped batlste,
and chambray and Scotch ginghams as
we'll
The present rage for blouses has devel-
oped two distinct styles, the Russian
blouse, which is cut in one piece, and
the plated blouse, which is set into a
yoke.
The real novelties of the season in rib
bon are those of faille, which are striped
with white or with several shades of one
color, or have narrow stripes of white
and gold.
A visiting dress is made of plain and
striped silk, with trimming of embroidery
and bows. The skirt should be draped,
and the bodice has plated chemisette
and reverse.
India pongee grows more and more
the rage, and is used ineifferently fol-
gowns, hats, wraps or blouses. which are
usually trimmed with sharply contrast
ing darker hue.
Among flower bonnets lately seer
abroad, one especially notable was o.
realistic red clover, and another of thistle
and four o'clocks upon foundation o.
twisted grasses.
! A very new aud very French fancy fol
waist trimming Is corselet of wide rib
bon, not fitted but held in place by pins
and ending in knot and long end tx
fall over the skirt.
Erapery is worn very little now, and
as pongee is not very suitable for tunics
another idea has been resorted to. 4
skirt is made Of fine stripes, trimmed
with flowered sash ends, which are fast
ened with bows of narrow ribbon. Thl
costume may be completed with
pointed bodice having the same trim
mings as those Of the sash.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-09-12
Drinking among English Women.

1t seems that the women Of England are in
bad way as regards drink. DR.. Imlach has
informed the British Medical Association
that women drink to excess as much as men,
and that in Liverpool it is the wives who
drink. The use Of opium, chloral, and other
narcotics is much more prevalent among
women than among men. Women, however,
have better excuse for their excesses than
the other sex. They drink, as q rule, be-
cause they have some worrying ailment, and
keep on until the habit is settled upon them.
With narcotics the beginning Of the abuse is
generally traceable, says DR.. Imlach, to
medical prescriptions. Miss Broadbept, the
well.known missionary Of the Church
Temperance Society, gives the interesting
fact that though women often drink heavily,
the most confirmed drunkards among them
are seldom attacked with delirium tremens-
She declares that she has not seen single
instance of this disease among women dur
ing the last twelve months. although she has
visited many cases Of drinking women
Nep York SNa
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-09-12
Recipes.


CANNED PEARS. and remove
the seed, make syrup of one pound OF
sugar and quart of water, boil thick.
put in four pounds of pears, cook until
tender and put in the cans.
LEMON PIE.-To the grated rind and
Juice of two lemons add one and one
half cups of sugar, small piece OF but
ter, four beaten eggs and one pint of
milk; bake with an undercrust.
EGG SALAD.-Boil the eggs ten min
utes, remove the shells and place in a
cold place. When cold lay them on Q
dish of lettuce and pour over dressing
made of vinegar, mustard, salt and pep
per.
BRo1LED LAMB CHoPs.-Cut not quite
as thick as mutton chops, and broil over
q brisk fire; turn them frequently and
cook dark brown. When ready to
serve sprinkle over them q little pow
dered sage.
CHEAP FRUIT CAKE.-One and hall
CUBS Of brown sugar, two of flour, one
each of butter and chopped raisins,
three eggs, three tablespoons OF sour
milk, nall teaspoon ei sooa, ouo Aoih I"
cup of blackberry jam. "
SOUR MILK BIscU1T.-One quart OF
-four, two cups of sour milk, two level
teaspoonfuls Of soda and two large table,
spoonfuls of lard. Mix with the hand
as bread dough, only not so stiff. Roll
cut about an inch thick; cut and bake
in moderate oven. "
RHuBARB PUDDINe.-Line pudding
dish with slices of bread and butter,
cover with cut up rhubarb, strew with
sugar, then slices of bread and butter,
then rhubarb, and 80 on until the dish is
full, having rhubard and sugar on top;
cover with plate and bake half an hour.
Eat it warm.
EaGLEss PEACH Ice CREAM. Boil one
quart milk, emitting enoug h to molsten
half cup of sifted -four or corn starch
to stir in the boiling milk till it thickens;
before taking from the fire add ono
pound pulverized sugar, stirring con-
stantly; when cool add one cup OF cream
and two dozen peach kernels, blanched,
mashed and moistened with lemon es-
sence; if the favor is not liked omit the
kernels and add soft cut peaches to the
frozen cream.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-09-12
TEMPERANCE.
Charles Story.

Charles Story.
The family pledge hung on the wal,
And on 1t you could see
The names Of mamma, Mary Jane,
And Charlie-that is me.
We didn't dare to ask papa
To write upon it too,
So left aspace for him to fill;
Twas all we dared to do.
He saw the pledge as soon as he
Came in the door that night;
And when We saw him reading it,
1t put us in fright.
He didn't say word to US
About the pledge at all,
But oft saw him look att.
While hanging on the wall
And every night when he came home,
He stopped and read it through,
We all kept still about those words,
Although we knew them true.
Four weeks had passed, and then one night
When pa came home to tea,
He took the pledge down from its nail,
And then he turned to me:
"Go get the pen and ink, my boy,
And let me fill that space.
It looks 80 tare," he slowly said,
Aqueer look on his face.
And then mamma sat down and cried,
(She said it was for joy),
And Mary Jane she cried some too,
I didn't-rm boy.
But papa says he did not drink
Since that first night when we
Had hung that pledge upon the wall
Where he our names could see.
And ever since that space was filed,
Mamma just said tonight.
Though dark may be our little room,
One corner now is light
"A. IT. Hutchinson.