davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1888-04-26

IOIaI eNPenulGureH. SII, TT. USB w
VII. RISKS.
Gross amount of risks
taken during the year
1887 $685. 57,48s is7
Gross amount of risks
taken in the Territory
of Dakota during the
year 1887 ......~..... 34S, $50 90
Whole amount OF risks outstanding427 ,e28. a32 81
| Whole amount of losses
incurred during the
year 1887, including
those claimed and not
yet due. in she Terri
tory of Dakota ........ 0,522 90
Number Of agents in tic Territory
of Dakota. Ia.
Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1888-04-26

TUE latest and finest designs In intoYior
decoration. EE-Shop No. &19 on Capitol
Et.i between Fourth and Fifth ~streets, Yank-
ton. JOHN LANG.
, 1888-11-15
Lie of the Loco Weed.

No other plant in the fora of Texas has
exjoyed a greater notoriety than the ia
nous loco" or crazy weed" Popular
superstition has accredited it with a most
remarkable property, and that is, the
power of producing insanity in man and
beast. Botanically, tho plant is known
as A~stragalus molissimus. The extrava-
giant stories that nave been told about it
recently led Mr.. James Kennedy to inves-
tigate its properties and determine what
physiological phenomena result from its
action.
As the result of his Investigations and
his experiments upon animals feeding in
pastures, Mr.. Kennedy finds conclusively
that the plant is non-toxic and innocu-
Gus and possesses none of the properties
long ascribed to it by popular supersti-
ton He thinks that the immense de-
struction of stock with which it has been
charged may nave been caused by some
poisonous plant heretofore unsupported,
or If the '1oco" really has produced death,
it has done so by reason of the tough,
fbrous and indigestible character of the
plant acting as an irritant, and not as a
poison.-Scientific American.
, 1888-11-15
The Calling Gun In 1szo-zl,

Up to this time we had not seen any
Prussians beyond a few skirmishers in
the plain, though our battery of Gatlings
had kept blazing away at nothing in par
ticular all the while; but now an oppor-
tunity of its being in use occurred. A
column of troops appeared in the valley
below US, coming from the right-a mere
dark streak upon the white snow, but no
n in the battery could tell whether they
were friends or foes, and the commander
hesitated about opening fire. But now an
aide-de-camp came dashing down the hill
with orders to pound them at once-a
French journalist, it seems, having dis.
covered them to be enemies, when the
general and all his staff were as puzzled
as ourselves. Rr-rr-a go our Gatlings, the
deadly hail of bullets brushes into the
thick of them, and slowly pack into the
woods the lark mass ~retires, leaving,
however, a trace of black dots upon the
white snow behind it. This, their famous
and A o'clock effort and its failure, has de-
cided the day. That one discharge was
enough.-London Journal.
, 1888-11-15

The London music hall furnishes a.
once music and liquor for the masseq.
There is always a chairman" who an
nounces the title of each song and the
name of each vocalist. The Importance
and impressiveness which he shows in his
manner, and its apparently impressive
effect upon he audience, gives the Ameri-
can a strange sensation. He doesn't know
whether to accept the whole thing as Sc.
rious or as a farce. 1t is always the same
old tune which has been sung to genera
tons of Londoners, with variations of
word and sentiment to suit the times.
The farces are long, tedious and stupid
the fun is boys h~orseplay. The Bowery
ten-cent temple of the drama would not
tolerate such bosh.
The music hall at night is the ~favorite
lounging place of that fine animal in mi
form, the British soldier of the Horse
Guards, in his tightly fitting red jacket,
his cap raked so far on one side of his head
you wonder 1t does not fall off, his hair
neatly brushed, his legs faultless as to
cut of pantaloon, and in his hand always
a little switch cane. He affords a re-
freshing contrast to the prevailing dim
and dingy hue of London's garb. You
will see there suits of black on mems
forms which look as if they must mo-
mentarily fall to pieces. 1t won't do to
call such clothes rusty, threadbare or
seedy. There is q certain quality of de-
cay visible about them never seen here.
They give you the impression of having
been first worn, say, sixty years ago, and
then abandoned for a year or SO to the
moths, and then hung up four or five
years in a second hand clothing store, and
then purchased and worn a few years, and
so on, alternating as above mentioned up
to the present time. This treatment gives
them a certain look of oleaginous rotten
ness, rich, fruity and peculiar Prentice
milford in New York Star.
, 1888-11-15

A man who was making great efforts
not to betray the fact that he was a great
deal the worse for liquor halted a pedes
TRAN on Monroe avenue and asked:
Shay can ask you a few q%ueshuns?"
Yes, sir"
"Shee anything wrong wiz me. eh2"
You? YOU appear to have imbibed too
freely"
do l? Wouz you notice it if I was
walkin' longf"
Il think l would"
DO / talk like IT."
Yes"
Much 'bleeged. Wouz you try an
talk politics, few were mel"
Il would not"
Get candidates all mixed up, wouldn't
You probably would"
Might boiler FIR Clezeland an Harrison,
eh2"
You might"
"auch 'bleeged. You's true friend
Of mine. Do jess you say bout it.
Doan' want to give myself way, you
know, Made up my mind I'd shee how
zhrunk l was. I'm too zhrunk to talk
politics, to go home or to shtay on 'er
shtreet. therefore I'll sit down on 'er
stairs. Goo'-by, ole fel-shee you Fo'th
Zhulyl"
, 1888-11-15
Work of a Story Writer.

In beginning to write a story, it is well
to have a basis resting upon fact, either
in circumstance or personality. For this
reason the author should be able to dis.
sect human nature with keen analysis.
No trait, no eccentricity, no expression,
in the broad volume which mankind con
stantly opens before him should escape
his attention, but everything he sees
should be stored up as valuable material
in his literary laboratory. A fitting com.
bination of individual traits in different
persons can be assimilated in one mental
creation, althougha just consistency must
be observed. 1t is often amusing to an
author to find his stories read and dis
cussed by the very persons whom he has
embodied in his hero, with never a sus-
picion, on their part, that their own char
acteristics have formed a ground work for
the interesting ction.-Virginia g. FL
lard in The Writer.
, 1888-11-15

During the early part Of 1868 the gen
erals division was quietly settled in quar-
tiers in its camp south of Murfreesboro'.
While there he related this curious Incl
dent:
"Cel. Conrad, of the Fifteenth Missouri,
informed me that he got through without
much difficulty; in fact, that everything
had gone all right and been e%minently
satisfactory, except that in returning he
had been mortified by the conduct of the
two females belonging to the detachment
and division train at my headquarters.
These women, he said, had given much
annoyance by getting drunk, and to some
extent demoraliZing his men. To say that
| was astonished at his statement would
-ne a mild way of putting it, and had not
known him to be a most upright man and
If sound sense, | should nave doubted not
only his veracity put his sanity. Inquiring
who they were and for further details, l
was informed that there certainly were in
the command two females, that in some
mysterious manner had attached them
selves to the service as soldiers; that one,
an East Tennessee woman, was q team
ster in the division wagon train and the
ether O. private soldier in a cavalry com
pany temporarily attached to my head
quarters for escort duty.
While out on the foraging expedition
these Amazons had secured a supply of
apple jack" by some means, got very
drunk, and on the return had fallen into
Stone river and been nearly drowned
After they had been ished from the
water, in the process of resuscitation their
sex was disclosed, though up to this time
it appeared to be known only to each
other. The story was straight and the
circumstance clear, SO, convinced of Con
RAIDS continued sanity, l directed the pro-
yost marshal to bring in arrest to my
headquarters the two disturbers of Con.
RAIDS peace of mind. After some little
search the East Tennessee woman was
found in camp, somewhat the worse for
the experiences of the day before. but
awaiting her fate c~ontentedly smoking a
cob pipe. h was brought to me, and
put in duress under charge of the division
surgeon until her companion could be Sc
cured. To the doctor she related that the
year before she had "refugeed" from East
Tennessee, and on arriving in Louisville
assumed mans apparel and sought and
'btained employment as q teamster in the
quartermaster's department. Her feat
ures were very large, and so coarse and
masculine was her general appearance
that she would readily have passed as a
man, and in her case the deception was no
doubt easily practiced.
Next day the she dragoon' was caught
n proved to be a rather prepossessing
young woman, and though necessarily
bronzed and hardened by exposure, |
doubt if, even with these marks of cam.
paigning, she could have deceived rs
readily as did her companion. How TIE
two got acquainted l never learned, and
though they had joined the army indie
pendently of each other, yet an intimacy had
sprung up between them long before the
mishaps of the foraging expedition. They
both were forwarded to army h~eadquar.
tiers, and, when provided with clothing
suited to their sex, sent back to Nash
vile, and hence beyond our lines to
Louisville Gen. Sheridan's Book.
, 1888-11-15
H SURPRISE.

Joy me- Sorrow in a place
Where the branches interlace,
Very secret, still and sweet,
Safe from all p~rofaning feet.
why art heref' Joy, startled, cried:
why art heref" gray Sorrow sighed
81 came here to weep" said Joy.
Tears are ever my employ"
Murmured Sorrow. "Yet 1 see
Tears as grateful were to thee,
Come, young novice, and be taught
How TO ease thy heart o~'erfraught."
Joy sat down at Sorrows feet,
And was taught a lesson sweet
Fain would he make kind return:
Sorrow, art too old to Learnt
Nay2 Then tarry yet a while,
Till l have taught thee how to smIler-
Since that hour the two have been
Bound as by mysterious kin;
Since that hour they SO exchange
Tears and smiles, it's nothing strange
Ii sometimes a puzzled heart
scarce can tell the twain apart.
Edith Thomas in Boston Transcript
, 1888-11-15

Beggary is IN epidemic of fearful extent
in Spain, but is most noticeable in CASTLE,
where the soil, once SO fertile, yields a
bare subsistence and where there are no
commercial enterprises to employ the
idle.
We had heard so much of CASTLE soap
that an ardent desire possessed us to in.
vest In q large supply upon it's native
spot, but the most persistent demands for
CASTLE soap failed to produce any, nor
could we hear of a factory in Burgos.-
Cor. Home Journal.
, 1888-11-15
Our Seventy Year Clocks.

Our brains are seventy year clocks. The
Angel of Life winds them up once for all,
then closes the case and gives the key
into the hand of the Angel of Resurrec.
ton.
Tic tacl tic tacl go the wheels of
thought. Our will cannot stop them.
They cannot stop themselves. Sleep can.
not still them. Madness only makes
them go faster. Death alone can break
into the case, and, selling the ever swing.
ing pendulum, which we call the heart,
silences at last the clicking of the ter.
rible escapement we have carried so long
beneath our wrinkled foreheads.
If we could only get at them as we lie
on u pillows and count the dead beats
of thought after thought and image after
image Earring through the over tired
organl VIII nobody back those wheels,
uncouple the pinion, cut the string that
holds those weights, blow up the Internal
machine with gunpowderf What a pas
sion comes over us sometimes for silence
and resti that this terrible mechanism,
~unwinding the endless tapestry of time,
embroidered with spectral figures of life
and death, could have but one brief holi,
dayl Who can wonder that men swing
themselves off from beams in hempen
lassos? that they Jump off from parapets
into the swift and gurgling waters be-
neath2 that they take counsel of the grim
friend who has to utter but his one per
emptory monosyllable,' and the restless
machine is shivered as q vase that is
dashed upon a marble foor2 y y n If
anybody would only contrive some kind
of a lever that one could thrust in among
the works of this horrid automaton and
check them or alter their rate of going.
what would the world give for the dis.
covery?-O. w. Holmes.
, 1888-11-15

IS & historical Dept; Cheyenne, Two.
, 1888-11-15

What is termed "a startling departure
in the line of horse trading is reported
from Fall River. where a citizen who has
a mare for sale states frankly that her
disposition is SO sour that she hates her.
self, and that he would recommend the
creature to nobody unaccustomed 10
horses.-Brooklyn Eagle.
, 1888-11-15

A British sportsman recommends that
the bantam, which is particularly pugna
cious and active, be turned wild, in the
hope of having it become an available bird
for sport.-New York Sun.
, 1888-11-15

OF the fifteen students sent by the gov
eminent of Siam to receive professional
training in England, four are young
women.
, 1888-11-15

Our objection to the foolhardy man il
not that he is a fool, but that ne is hardy.
he never seems TO die.-Harper's Bazaar.
Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1888-12-20
Tragedy of a Tall Chimney.

Some very striking examples of the
resources of engineering have been fur
nished by the treatment Of tall chin
neys, in some cases the tragic side of
the profession coming into relief. The
problems presented for solution by these
structures are difficult. 1t often hap
pens that chimney settlef a little on
one side, and becomes dangerously in
clined from the perpendicular. In such
case it has TO be Strengthened. Some
times the operation is successful, but in
a number of instances the chimney has
fallen after the operation.
Probably the worst of these accidents
on record happened in the case of New
lands mill chimney, Bradford, Eng
land, a shaft raising 260 feet from the
top of the foundation. When it was
nearly completed, it was found to be
bnlged on one side and hollow on the
other. The settling occurred during a
were made extending about one-half
around it, which, as fast rs made, were
filed with stone one-half inch less in
thickness than the cut. Iron wedges
were driven above the new stone to take
the weight. The cuts were made little
by little, so that no change occurred un-
til the wedges were knocked out. The
chimney then settled down on the side
where the cuts were, and was straight
1t was then completed. Nine years
later some cracks appeared and were re-
paired. Again, after ten years more
had elapsed, some pieces of the outer
casing dropped of, and two days later
the whole upper portion of the chimney
fell, killing tifty-four persons and doing
about 100000 worth of damage. just
before the collapse stones and mortar
were observed to burst out from the
locality Of the cuts. Scientific american.
Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1888-12-20
Some Points About Sidewalks.

"New York is one of the worst paved
cities on earth, said an expert engineer
to Mail and Express reporter, "and al
though the sidewalks are better than the
streets, the former are often very bad as
compared with those of European cities
of the first class 1t may be thought that
the material of which a sidewalk is con-
structed is of small importance so long
rs a sidewalk is there. This Is great
mistake. The influence that the surface
of q sidewalk has upon the ease with
which pedestrian gets abont can only
be realized by close observation and ex-
pertinent. Take a number of sidewalks
all slightly undulating, and experiment
1t will be found that polished stone
sidewalk requires fully onehalf more
exertion to traverse than an equal dis
tance of granite pavement requires. A
brick walk gives much less fatigue, while
the iron walk, cast with little projections
is by far the easiest of any to walk upon
Ny attention was called to this by maxi
ing a series Of walking races with a man
who invariably passed me in going
home. Do what l could, 1 could not
keep pace with him on the smooth stone.
One night, however, CHANGED to take
to the iron walk that was inside the
stone, and to my surprise found that
excelled him in speed, with far less ia
tigue than when being regularly dis
tanced on the same footing"
Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1888-12-20

the children staid at home, but father and
mother always went to church; that was
haOlt they had On those stormy SabDaths
when we staid at home, the absence of our
parents seemed very much protracted,
Tor the roads were very lad, and they
would go to the window at twelve
o'clock TO see if they were coming,
and then we would go at half-past twelve to
see II they were coming, and at quarter to
one, and then at one O'Clock. After a while,
Mary, or David, or Dewitt would shout:
The wagons comingw and then we would
see 1t winding out of the woods,
and over the brook, and through
the lane, and up in front of
tho old farmhouse; and then we would
rush out, leaving the doors wide open, with
many things TO tell them, asking them
many questions. Well, my dear hreth-
rem, think we are many of Us in the Kings
wagons, and we are on the way home The
road is very bed, and we get on slowly: but
after while we will come winding out of
the woods. and through the brook Of death,
and up in front of the old heavenly home
stead; and our departed kindred. who have
been waiting and watching for US, will rush
out through the doors and over the lawn,
crying: "The wagons are coming the Kings
wagons are comingn Hark! the bell of the
City Hall strikes twelve. Twelve o'clock on
Does not the subject OF to-day take the
gloom out Of the thoughts that would other
wise be struck through with midnights We
use to think that when we died we would
have to 90 afoot, sagging down in the mire,
and the hounds OF terror might get after us,
and IL we got through into Heaven al ALL we
would coma in torn, and wounded, and bleed
ing. remember when my teeth chartered
and my knees knocked together when heard
anybody talk about death; but have come
TO think that the grave will be the sofiest
bed ever slept in aud the bottom of my
feet will not be wet with the passage of the
Jordan. "Ihem that sleep in jesus will God
bring with Him.
was reading of Robert Southey, who said
he wished he could die far away from his
friends-lille a dog. crawling into corner
and dying unobserved. These were his
words. BE it ours 10 die ON a couch sur.
rounded by loved ones, so that they with us
may hear the glad, sweet iubilant announce
ment: The Kings wagons are coning.p
Harkl / hear them now. Are they coming
for you or me.
Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1888-12-20
THE SCORPION CROP.
A Californian Talks About the Hab-
its of the Poisonous Pests.

Bushels and barrels of scorpions can
now be raked in down ABOUT Pomona"
remarked William Sitter, of that vigor-
GUS Los Angeles county town. He spoke
of them as though they were apples or
oranges fallen from the trees.
"You go out there" remarked he,
sand dig three or four inches in the
sand, and ont will come your scorpions
Sometimes you will get half dozen in
a place. Once they strike the air they
get cross and sour, and il you coop
three or four of them up together you
will get magnificent fight. There ID
no let up to tarantula when once he
gets started on the warpath. II means
that either he is to die or his enemy is-
sit had been raining down there, aud
the rain always brings out the scorpions
You may not know there are any around,
but get good shower or two and you
will find enough TO brighten you.
ga scorpion never brings forth moro
than one lot Of young. AS soon as they
are ready to begin eating they burrow,
like larvae, in the back of the old one,
and actually eat her alive. This is .
strange thing, but it is true. l have
seen it done many time in the five
years that have lived at Pomona and
vicinity.
"a scorpion is very repulsive thing
to look at. Ii has ten legs, a shriveled
sort of appearance and wicked eyes. Its
color is light yellow. Besides the ten
legs it has a couple of terrible claws.
Its sting is IN its tail, and the quickness
with which il can use it is one OF the
wonderful things in nature.
despite the large number Of the re-
pulsiye things in certain section OF Los
Angeles county, however, the instances
where men are stung by them are com
paratiyely rare. do not know OF
case Of death from this sting, although
it causes terrible pain for few hours
When they sting each other it is suro
death, but they will fight as long as life
lasts.
"rhere is about the usual supply Of
centipedes and tanntulas in Los Angeles
county. They, like the scorpion, are
seen oftenest during the rainy season.
Eastern people have a great horror OF
them, and old timers, in fact, do not go
hunting for them, unless they keep ut q
good distance.
"a Digger Indian who came down
from the tin mines last Friday had his
left hand tied up in sling, and it was
swelled up very big. He had been bit
ten by tarantula, and was suffering
great pain. A Pomona doctor fixed him
up, however, and he is getting along all
right.
People in the tarantula section are
fighting shy of them now, rs they are of
such reptiles generally. San Francisco
Examiner.
Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1888-12-20
The Jackdaw and the Owl,

The Jackdaw, having heard much
about the Wisdom of the Owl, and
being moved by Jealousy thereto, de-
termined to hold him up to Ridicule.
He gathered his friends together and
waited upon the Owl and said:
"You are Reputed to be the Wisest of
all Birds. We have come to learn Wis
dom from your words. Give us Short
Speech"
The Owl Winkel and Blinked, but
kept Silent.
Come, go ahead" urged the jack
daw.
The Owl was still Silent.
There What did / tell you" scream
ed the Jackdaw TO Fox, who had
halted to see the disturbance. Il have
always contended that the owl was a
Fool instead of Philosopher, and here
is the Proof He cant open his Mouth
to say Word!'
my Fellow-Traveler on the Rocky
Road to Halifax, replied the Fox, "in
keeping his Month shut in the pres
ence OF bis Critics the Owl displays
more Wisdom and Philosophy than
ever before in his lie.
Moral Talk is the weak spot in
every mans armor. - Detroit Free
Press.