davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1888-03-08
Webster Scared Captain Bassett.

Washington gossip in the Milwaukee
Sentinel says:-f alluded to the fact that
Senator German used to be page, and
Captain Bassett (the venerable door
keeper of the Senate), said: eyes, many
time L have pulled his ears when he
needed stirring up. He speaks of it
once in a while, and recalls those old
times very pleasantly
''Did Webster ever pull your ears ?" 1
asked.
NO." he said, "but he frightened me
once and made me angry, 1t was bad,
rainy night, and he called me to him
just before time for the Senate to adj
journ, and told me to go and get a car
riage for him, but when l went out l
could not find one on the stand. I ran
back and told him they were all gone.
never shall forget the look he gave me.
He took me by both shoulders, scowled
at me and said, in his severest voice,
'Go-and-get-a-carriage! = 1 was
chagrined and angry. They were the
first harsh words he had ever addressed
to me. l started off and walked about
the town, finding no carriage, and final
ly went home. l told my father what
had happened, and I refused to go to
the Senate next day. My father saw
Mr.. Webster, who explained, in his
rough way, that he only did it for my
good; he wanted to teach me to do what
ever tried to do. slyed back to my
duties, but sat no more on Mr.. Web
ster's knee. The days of candy and
coaxing were over. There was no famil-
iarity between US after that, but treat
ed him with rather distant Difference
and tried to do as I was told"
News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1888-03-08
French Deserters in TOnquin.

A Paris despatch says:-Many deser-
tions continue to take place from the
French army in Tonquin. All the de-
serters who are recaptured are shot with
out compunction. Lately eighteen sol
diers of the Foreign Legion ran away
from Sonthay with a lot of arms and
accoutrements. They were caught i'll
the mountain defles after chase which
lasted q considerable time, and the
eighteen were condemned to be shot at
once 1t is said that when the men
were drawn up i'll single file in front of
their graves the adjutant who was in
charge of the firing party cried out with
an oath, on seeing some of the doomed
men fall slightly out of their alignment:
"Can't you fellows keep your dressing
better than that? Eyes right! Dress"
No sooner was the command given than
the prisoners with parade-hke punctu-
atty Strengthened themselves up and
obeyed as if they were on the drill
ground OF at review. The adjutant's
words-if they were ever uttered, and it
is probable that they were-show that an
iron discipline still prevails in the
French Foreign Legion.
News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1888-03-08
He Rallied Round the Tree.

A gentleman who lives near Augusta
tells an interesting story about William
Henry Russell, the great English sing
er, who was all the rage about forty
years ago. 1t was in 1919. The com
weeks in advance of his visit, anG
when he reached Augusta the
people were eager to hear him. The
hall was crowded. In the audience
was Col. Ben Harris, who had come fiji
teen miles to attend the concert, Rus
sci sang 'I'm Afoat," ''Ivy Green,
and several of his other famous songs
His success was overwhelming. His
great triumph, however, was his sing
ing of "Woodman, Spare that Tree.
When he finished the third verse, Col
Harris jumped up and shouted:
"I'll be id if it shall be cut down.
I'll give one hundred dollars out of my
own pocket to save itl''
This interruption of course created a
sensation. Col. Harris was an elegant
gentleman. Recovering himself he made
an elaborate apology for what he had
said and done, but he could not con-
ceal his modification. There was a
short pause. Russell broke the silence.
''Ladies and gentlemen said he, 81
have sung that song in all parts of the
civilized world. have been compli-
mented by the crowned heads of Eu-
rope and the potentates of the East.
But, believe me, L never received so fine
compliment as that just paid me by
the gentleman.
This incident was frequently referred
to by Russell, but it has never before
been published.
News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1888-03-08
Making Russian Sheet Iron.

Probably the only secret process which
has been kept inviolate, and for ages
openly defied the world of science, is the
iron trade of Russia. The secret of max
ing Russian sheet iron is owned by the
Government and is such an immense
monopoly that it is currently supposed
to defray the entire expenses Of the Gov.
eminent.
The works constitute an entire city, is
olated and fortified against the rest OF
the world. When workman enters the
service he bids last farewell to his fam
lily and friends, and is practically lost to
the rest of the world He is never
heard from afterward, and whether he
lives or dies, all trace of him is lost for
ever.
There have been several desperate at
tempts made to steal or betray the Sc
cret, but in every instance it has resulted
in the death of the would-be traitor.
In one case letter attached to a kite,
which was allowed to escape, was picked
up by some peasants, and despite their
protestations that they were unable to
read, they were at once put to death by
the guards to whom they delivered the
letter, and it was afterward decreed that
the guards themselves should pass the
remainder Of their days within the
works.
The wonderful properties of this iron
ore so well-known that it is unnecessary
to enlarge upon them; limitations have
been made closely resembling the orig
inal article, but the durable polish,
toughness, and anti-rusting qualities are
lacking, and to-day the secret remains
hidden as the philosophers stone.
1t has been recently claimed that a
new discovery has been made, which, it
is believed by some, will develop into
the manufacture of an article equally as
good, and preparations are now being
made to erect large works in this coun-
try for its production. but it is too early
yet to predict what the results may be.
-E'r
News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1888-03-08
Eight Days in His Coffin.

Louisville Dispatch to the Chicago
Herald says:-On Markets street, between
Shelby and Clay, lives William Han
cock, who spent eight days of his life
nailed up in a coffin in q burial vault.
The horrible experience unsettled the
mans reason and he seldom leaves the
room in which he sleeps and eats. Six
teen years ago Hancock was q man of
some means, living then in Kansas City.
He was taken i'll one day and gradually
grew worse until apparently he died
An undertaken was called in and the
usual CHASTITY preparations for an inter
ment were gone through with. Two
days after his death the funeral took
place, and the man was followed to the
burial ground by mis- sorrowing friends.
The body, instead of being put in the
grave at once, was placed in the receiv-
ing vault. Eight days afterwards the
sexton took his men and started to re-
move the coffin to the grave that had
been prepared, when he was Mortified to
feel something move and hear slight
groan from the supposed dead man. The
lid was removed and it was found that
the man was breathing slightly. Physi-
clans were summoned and a galvanic
battery was applied He has never re-
covered from the effects of his awful ex-
perience, mentally, but is still fairly
strong and healthy man at his age.
News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1888-03-08
CUTTING OFF HIS OWN LEG.
Extraordinary Story of Spartan
Courage Told of a Woodman.


A woodman belonging to little town
in Wisconsin was caught while telling
trees in a neighboring forest by falling
trunk, and one of his legs was pinioned
and held as in a wise lust below the
knee. The unfortunate man was alone,
and too far from the nearest camp to
make his voice heard. His AK had been
dashed from his hands and he could not
not reach it. Night was approaching
and hungry wolves were commencing to
howl about him. He recognized that to
remain there was to die, and the pros
poets of becoming victim to wild beasts
nerved him to desperation. Removing
his suspenders and binding them as
tightly as possible about his imprisoned
leg he inserted the blade of his jack
knife at the knee, cut away his clothing
and flesh, severed the joint and raised
himself from the deadly trap, leaving the
lower limb as the CHASTITY evidence of his
cool determination.
He managed to crawl to his ak, with
which he cut sapling and made a rough
crutch. With its aid he made his way
slowly to camp, nearly four miles dis
tant, frequently lying down in the snow
for rest. It was long and very painful
journey, and he hobbled into camp just
as his strength was about to give out.
Medical attendance was secured and the
self-amputation was given the proper
dressing. The man is still alive, and
the detailed statement from his own lips
of what he suffered physically and men
tally during his experience in that re-
lentless tree-clasp and of the thoughts
that nerved him up to carving his own
leg, are of an exceptionally thrilling ma
ture. The morning following the in
of his companions visited the spot where
he met with his accident. The wolves
had been there, torn the covering from
the foot and leg and gnawed away the |
flesh, leaving a smooth polish on the
du Lac Reporter.
News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1888-03-08
Pleasant JOkers.

Ex-senator Henry G. Davis of West
Virginia makes frequent trips to the
capital. 1 saw him the other day on
the floor of the Senate Chamber, and
he was evidently in the best of spirits
and was the centre of an interested group
of listeners. After he was gone l was
told of q dinner-party given in New
York in 1882. Davis sat at one end of
the table, Simon Cameron at the other,
and between them was General Sher-
man. The latter began areminiscence of
his early life by saying:
"When [ was Lieutenant"
"COme, now, Sherman" interrupted
Davis, "were you ever Lieutenant"
eyes, Davis" he replied, 81 was a
Lieutenant about the time you were
brakeman on freight train"
"Well, boys" observed Cameron, 81
don't suppose either of you ever cut
cordwood for a living, as 1 did,"
News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1888-03-08
A Soldiers Ration.

The Secretary of War has amended
paragraph 2, $50 of the regulations so as
to read as follows:
ga ration is the established daily al
lowance of food for one person. For the
United States army it is now composed
as follows; Twelve ounces of pork or
bacon or canned beef Gresh OF corneD,
or pound and ounces of fresh beef,
or % ounces of salt beef, Is ounces of
soft bread or flour, Or 16 ounces of hard
bread, or l pound and ounces of corn
meal. To every 100 rations Is pounds
of beans or peas. OF 10 pounds of rice
or hominy; 10 pounds of green coffee,
or s pounds of roasted Cor roasted and
ground coffee, or pounds of tea; Is
pounds of sugar, 4 quarts of vinegar, 1
pound and ounces of adamantine or
star candles; 4 pounds of soap; pounds
of salt, ounces of pepper, and to
troops in the field, when necessary, 4
pounds of yeast powder to the 100 IA
tions of flour"
News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1888-03-08
Caught at Last.

'It must be very lonesome sitting all
by yourself in your office balancing your
books at night, john" said an affection
ate wife.
''It is, my darling"
81 have been thinking about it for
some time and now I have got delight,
full surprise for you"
ga delightful surprise 20
eyes, dear. 1 sent for my mother
yesterday, and [ expect her every min
ute. mean to have her stay with us
quite while. She will take care of the
house at night and look after the chill
dren and l can go downtown and sit in
your office with you while you work"
1.-THE dev-that is to say 1 couldn T
think of you going DOWNTOWN"
''It is my duty, dear John. 1 ought
to have thought of before, but it never
came to my mind till yesterday. Oh,
John, forgive me! Forgive me for not
thinking of your comfort sooner. But [
will go with you tonight"
Tonight? Why, 1.-the fact is
L got through with my books last night. .
sob, you didl How delightful And
you can now stay at home every even
ing! I'm SO glad !'
And the delighted wife ran off to make
preparation for the reception of her
mother, while her husband with sombre
brow sat staring at the Goals in the CRATE.
in which he could see the picture of a
mother-in-law's reproving face and q
poker party with vacant chair.
News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1888-03-08

nearly 100000 establishments. The fire
loss per annum attending such value is
about $4,000, 900, or an average yearly
of sixty cents per 800 of value in peril
of fire. The estimated loss by strikes
rs regards the manufacturer, is three
fourths of that by fire.
A YEAR ago Mrs. Lydia Larrabee of
Jackson, Me-, was charged with having
caused the death of her daughter-in- law,
and was convicted of manslaughter and
imprisoned. She died few days ago,
and her last words were, Children, [
die innocent. l have done no wrong. -
Then she sunk into a stupor, but Just
before she died exclaimed, ooh, that's
the heavenly gate !"
On Thursday William Dempsey of
Rondont received a quantity of smells
and pickerel which We're frozen stiff. He
put them in a barrel of water to thaw
out. About three hours after, so Demp-
sey said, he went to the barrel and
found that the pickerel had thawed
back to life but he could find no smelts.
The pickerel had eaten them up.
News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1888-03-08

"Water all animals before feedino
meal and not after" recommends one
authority.
Corn is the only crop that can all be
fed back on the farm, says a South Caro-
lima farmer.
Many farmer pays large sums for fer
tilizer, while he allows his own BARNARD
to run to waste.
Growing animals need more food in
proportion to their weight than those
that are full-grown.
An experienced poultry man says he
seldom boils corn for poultry, but PIE
fers to give it raw as the evening
meal.
According to Prof. Riley, the best of
all remedies for the apple-root louise
is to drench the roots with boiling
water.
Colonel John II. Stevens reminds i'm
provident farmers that it is rust more
than wear which ruins agricultural i'm
plcments.
In much of the ensilage fed to cattle
there is enough development of alcohol
to stimulate circulation and, possibly, to
beget appetite for that kind of food.
You will save your horse the pain of a
sore mouth if you will always dip the bit
in a bucket of cold water before putting
it in his mouth. This ''takes the frost
out" of the bit.
CesspooIs, hog wallows and duck
ponds in close proximity to wells are
Liable to dehle the water, and are mum
News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1888-03-08
The Mexican Bandit.

The State Department at Washington
is in receipt of the details of the pursuit
by Mexican troops and final killing of
the notorious bandit Eraclio Bernal, the
slayer of Leon Baldwin, for whose death
his widow Is now pressing a claim for
indemnity against the Mexican Govern
ment. The story of the life and death
of this remarkable robber is romantic in
the extreme. He was born thirty-eight
years ago in the State of Sinaloa, Mex
leo, and during his early manhood bore
the reputation of an industrious and
law abiding citizen. Twelve years ago
he was arrested and convicted of a crime
of which he was afterwards proved limo
cent. Smarting with shame and humil-
iation he seized desperate chance and
effected his escape from prison. He
then swore solemn oath that his future
career would amply revenge the wrongs
he had suffered, and that if again i'm
prisoned it would be for good cause.
News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1888-03-08
Lucky Strokes in Mining.

st. Johns mine in Summit County,
Col, was purchased fifteen years ago by
an English syndicate for $700,000 Near
the mine was located magnificent cas-
tie which was filled with servants and
which was used only to accommodate the
directors during their annual visit. To
day there is from SO, 900, 900 to So, 900, 900
in sight. The Colorado Central mine
has been worked for twenty-six years
and now employs between two hundred
and three hundred men. The mine has
already paid 81, 900, 0O0in dividends and
a tunnel has just been sunk into the
mountains 5000 feet to facilitate the
work. Senator Herst, who is interested
in nearly all the principal mines i'll the
West, has not lost dollar in mining in
fifteen years. Two miners located the
Comstock mine and gave it to two Penn
sylvania oil men for a debt of $500 which
they owed. The oil men did not want
to take it because they did not believe it
of any account. Less than four months
ago the owners refused $500, 900 for it,
and to-day there is $75, 900 in sight.
The Lady Franklin mine was originally
sold for $l5, 900, and very short time
ago the purchasers sold one-half of it for
100000. The Brush-heap mine was
discovered by two boys and was devel-
oped by their muscle. 1t now pays an
annual dividend of $4,000. The Viz
glnla mine at Kingston was owned by
Charles Wallace. His wife turned the
drill for him until they struck it rich
and sold out for 1925, 000.-Kansas city
Times.
News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1888-03-08

A correspondent of the Southern
Planter writes: The last number of your
journal contains letter from J. II. Riley,
ESQ.,, of Onancock, asking for a mole
remedy.
If Mr.. Riley will insert in the mole
tracks or burrows sufficient number of
bits of raw beef soaked in a solution of
strychnine he will never see another
track.
Five years ago was much annoyed by
them and poisoned them as above, since
which time have never sign any sign of
them on the place.
There is no doubt about the mole being
a useful animal. 1t subssts mainly on
grubs and worms, destroying vast num-
bers of cutworms and other enemies to
vegetation. They may have taken a
little toll from Mr.. r.. s potato field, but
expect the greater damage was done by
ground mice using the tunnels of the
moles to get at them.
News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1888-03-08
FARM AND GARDEN.
Wormy Apples.

The cause of apples falling off while in
an immature state is the presence of the
Goblin grub or Larvae of the Goblin moth.
This insect is becoming far more de-
structive to the apple crop in this coun-
try than even in Europe, of which it is
supposed to be native. The moths US
ually appear soon after the apple trees
have blossomed in the spring, fying
about the trees in the evening, and de-
posting their eggs one by one in the
blossom end of the fruit. The eggs soon
hatch and the grubs bore their way into
the young apples, thus causing them to
fall off. No practical mode of prevent
ing the attacks of this insect has yet
been discovered, but if all wormy fruit
is gathered up and fed to hogs or other
wise destroyed during the summer, the
pest will rarely become so abundant as to
cause all the fruit to drop off before ma
turing. -Nel0 York Sun.
News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1888-03-08

bered by physicians and observing
people among prolific causes of sickness
in rural districts.
A. /. Root, the well-known bee
keeper, has tried all known remedies for
foul blood" and thinks it would have
been cheaper for him if he had burned
up all his colonies in the first place and
commenced anew.
Many swine breeders regard solid
earth floor the best for a pig pen. 1t
must be high enough to be readily
drained, so as to be dry at all times. 1t
is also customary with some breeders to
remove from six to eight inches of these
earth floors every spring, draining the
manure soaked earth on to the fields, and
renewing the floors with fresh earth.
The udder of COW is very compli-
Gated affair. Outwardly it consists of a
series of muscular bands crossing each
other and attached to abdominal muscles
for the support at the mass of the organ.
The teat is not simple tube, as has been
supposed, bnt consists of a large number
of ducts, which run into four, five, or
more channels or tubes, each of which
discharges separately in the oritice of the
teat.
One who processes to know practical
ly whereof he speaks tells us that poultry
for the table, to be set at its best, should
be fattened quickly. One of the best
fattening properties, he adds, will be
found in milk in almost any stage from
sweet to clabber. 1t should be fed in
connection with plenty of grain. Chick,
ems should be fed plentifulIy before 60
ing upon the roost, also saith our eXpe-
rienced adviser.
A horse should not be allowed to drink
freely Immediately after eating. Hon.
John NJ. Russell, ex-Secretary of the
Massachusetts, Board of Agriculture, tells
of seeing some horses in France fed on
coarse beans then watered all they would
drink and Immediately killed and dis
sected. He observed that considerable
quantity of beans had been washed out
of the stomach, and some of them were
found in the intestines.
Professor Sanborn, of the Missouri Ag-
ricultural College, declares that corn
fodder has a practical feeding value of
twO-thirds to three quarters that of good
hay, sure, and more under favorable CON
ditions. The fodder corn and hay wasted
in the West is sufficient to double the
stock now kept, at least that kept west
of the Mississippi, and east of the
ranches. " The suggestion is worth
needing in all sections of the country.
Most farmers are prone to underrate the
value of corn fodder.
News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1888-03-08
BaPberry Hedges.

Since the general introduction of barb
wire fences the Importance of hedge has
greatly diminished, but for both orna-
ment and utility they may still be en-
ployed to advantage. The most perfect
and really substantial are union of wire
and hedge plant. Formerly, the honey
locust and the Usage orange made the
best barriers; but the honey locust re-
quires much and frequent cutting back Z;
and the Usage orange as much so, with
the additional drawb back of winter kill
ing IN regions of severe winter. The
buckthorn and the barberry are both
hardy, and both have a hedge like
growth, but neither are stiff enough alone
for farm barriers. But with two or three
barb wires included with them, stretched
successfully while the hedge is growing
IN height, they become perfect-re Iuir-
ing but little cutting back, forming a
still hedge and presenting a fine orna-
mental appearance when kept in good
shape. The purple barberry is as hardy
as the common sort, and makes as good
a hedge, and when in bloom early in the
season, or in scarlet berries later, is an
object of great beauty. The plants are
easily raised from seed, and are very
readily and safely transplanted. The
privet has naturally hedgy growth,
and is often recommended for hedges,
bnt 1t is not perfectly hardy, and is
liable to die out in patches. Country
GeHtlCuU1H.