davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Connecticut western news., 1888-12-19
A Professional RattIesnake Killer

A Professional KattIesnake Killer.
 The Albany (N. Y.) Journals Lake George correspondent writes:
 Isaac Davis of Hague, who in four years has killed upward of 1, 400 rattle - snakes, and who last fall, at the county fairs of this vicinity was the first to handle rattlesnakes ia public cxhibi-- tions, recently killed four monster rat . tiers near Sabbath Day Point. Tuis year he has killed upward of 400, for which he has been paid a bounty of 25 cents per snake. He makes rattlesnako hunting, catching and exhibiting hi' whole business, and is paid $50 a month during tho season by property owners about Hague for killing snakes. II, is believed to be the only man iu tho world following this occupation. He is an intelligent man, fond of reading, of quiet dcmeanor and gentle disposition. All his friends apprehend that ho will meet his death some day in handling these reptiles, but tho business seems to have a fascination for him outside of the remuneration it affords him and tho discussions of his friends only seem to confirm him in his liking for tho busi- ness. Ho always carries with him remedy in caso ho should Do bitten, but does not foel any spc cial confidence in it's tfficacy. He is man of 45 years and killed his first snake before ho was six years old but ncv-r wont into re5u lar snako hunting until four years ago. His father bo fore him was tho famou, snake hunter Mi lt' D..vis, who uso.i to kill them for the oil to sell to drug rists. The old man is said to have been bitten several times by snakes aud to have cured himself by use of "rattlc. snake weed" It uscd to bc standing ioko about the lake that when rattlo- . snake bit old 'Mint" D wis, it was the snako that was poisoned to death. The old man certainly seemed to have no moro fear of rattlo snako than child for a kitten.
Connecticut western news., 1888-12-19
SWarming Butterflies.

Several species of butterflies have been known to swarm i'll immense num- bers at certain periods, but in tho United States, so far, only ono species has attracted particular attention iii this way. It is the Archippus butter fly, and is of bright orangc-red marked with black and creamy white. It ranges from Canada to South America, and is ono of tho most com mon species iu tho Mississippi Valley. Before obtaining its wings, it fccds on tho milk weeds, whcrc it may be found as largo worm or larva, beautifully marked with black, white and yellow, and having four long, slender horns, two at each end.
 In August, 1880, I first saw this but tclfly in swarms. Two swarms, each containing hundreds of individuals, were flying, only a few miles apart in the valley of the Minnesota river, both going eastward in tho railroad clearing through heavy tim bcr. Such swarms are apt to occur at almost any time from April to tho last of October. They never fly very far without scatter ing, and this probably accounts for the :ew notices wo sec of them outside oi chronological publications. -- Prairi. Farmer.
Connecticut western news., 1888-12-19
Why the Primrose Blooms at Night

Why the Primrose Blooms at Night.
 Our evening primrose does not bloom in the dark hours for mere sentiment and moonshine, but from motive that lies much nearer her heart. From tho first moment of her wooing welcome she listens for murmuring wings, and
 awaits that supreme fulfilment anticipa- ted from her infant bud. For it will almost invariably be found that those blossoms which open ia tho twilight have adapted themselves to tho crepus- cular moths and other nocturnal insects.
 This finds striking Illustration in the instances of many long tubular shaped night-blooming flowers, like the honey suckle and val ious orchids, whose nec- tar is beyond the reach of any insect except the night flying hawkmoth. It is true that in other less deep nocturnal flowers the sweets could bo reached by butterflies or bees during tho day if tho blossoms remained open, but the n ght mut tuutc clS ACSoANo luc ulSt II IcSA III NAlo. tion, which, if met, will leave but a wilted, half hearted blossom to greet the slipper of the sunshine. This beau tiful expectancy of tho flower deter mines the limit of its bloom. Thus, in tho event of rain or other causes pre- ventive of insect visits the evening primrose will remain open for tho but terf1ics during the following day, when otherwise it would havs dropped per- ceptibly, and extended but listless welcome. have seen this fact strik- ingly illustrated in spray of noun tain- laurel, whose blossoms fingered iu ex- pectancy nearly 2 week in my parlor,
 when the flowers on tho parent shrub in the woods had fallen several days before, their mission having beon full filled. In the hou specimens tho radiating stamons remaiuel in their pockets in tho side of tho blossom cup, and seemed to Lrace the corolla upon it's receptacle. These stameus arc naturally dependent upon insect agency for their release, and the consequent discharge of pollen, and I ncticod that when this operation was artifcially con- summated tho flower cup soon dropped
 off or wlthcred. d.-[Harper's Magazine.
Connecticut western news., 1888-12-19
RemOdeling Quaker Marriage Laws

Important changes ia thu marriage laws of the younger branch of tn, So- ciety of Frionl, are now under consid- eration and will bo submittel to the next quarterly meeting. The chan yes recon mended are Ito discourage'' in . stead of to "uiscou1tcnance' mixed marriages; or strikc out thu prohibition against courtiag or "keeping company" with or attending the weddings of pco. pie who arc not Quakers. The rule recommending "trcating with' persons violating tn so regulations and "testify- ing against them in caso they remain obdurate is matcrialy modified, giving tho monthly meeting the right to con- done the offens, if the accused gives evidence of being approachable in other respects. Paragraph 54 of tho Book of
 Discipline, adopted in 1S46, renders
 parties liable to be expelled for marry ing out of tho order, or, if both amen ablo to Friends law, without tho sanc- tion of the month y meeting is modified | to allow the retention of the member 1 without a written ackno wledgment | provided it b, found that ho or sho is desirous of continuing a member of tho society. If both parties are "amenable" and after care has, beon extended arc not prepared to make satisfactory ex
 planation in writing, they arc to be re
 leased from membership. The last par agraph has also boon rendered moro liberal in it, provisions for authorized marriages with persons not members of the Society of Friends. -[Phil adelphia | Iuouirer .'t@
Connecticut western news., 1888-12-19

In England tho annual agricultural products have been trebled within tho last thirty years, by the knowledge of better methods which public and pri- yats enterprise has disseminated. In America the farmers have takon care of themselves, until recently, without any practical schools of agriculture in tho country. It is not too much to ex- pcct that the spreai of valuable knowl- edge through the Government and State experiment stations now being es- tahished, will result in largely in- crcf fsed average crops to the acre, and to n advancement all along the line in methods of farming.
Connecticut western news., 1888-12-19
How TO SharDen n Pocket Knife.

A largo dealer in cutlery expresses the opinion that not one man in fifty knows how to sharpen a pocket knife. "A razor," say' he, "must be lail fiat on the hone, being hollow ground and requiring fiao edge. But pocket knife requires stiff edge, and thu mo. mont you lay it flat on a stone, so as to touch the polished sido, you ruin >he edge. Tho bla @ must Do bclc at an angle of twenty or twenty-fivo degrees and have an cdgo similar to chisel. This is technically called the 'cannol, and is marked on all new knives by a fine whito line which does not remove or touch tho polishei surface. Knives improperly whetted are often con- demned as too hard or too soft without reason" "-[New York Tribune.
Connecticut western news., 1888-12-19
Just So.

Just 50. For thus it is with men of brain, Finding their fortune on the wane, And hoping they may take rise
 Advertise! The greatest men who live today Have found in this the only way To swell beyond the common size:
 Advertisel It never yet was known to fail To brighten times and make a sale; To bind your luck with golden ties, Advertise! And so, whateer you have to sell Do this at once and do it well; Keep 1t before the public eyes,
 Advertisel So let your name be Jones, Smith, Grimes, Try this one way to cheat hard times; You'll find herein the secret lies:
 Advertisel When times are hard and cash Is low, And trade comes in most awful slow, What is it that would advisei
 Advertise! When folks go streaming past the door, And never step inside the store, My best advice do not despise:
 Advertisel When drawer and pocket both seem thin, And much goes out and naught comes in, If you would be exceeding wise,
 Advertisel
Connecticut western news., 1888-12-19

Comparatively few persons who de- pd upon Unclo Sam for their means
 Communicating with friends out of
 tsn have any idea of the vast army of m and women employed in the United Stes mail service. There are to be- , with 5s, 200 postmastcrs, Presid en-
 and otherwise; 1000 railroad mail Svice employees, 1000 letter carriers,
 D inspectors, 5000 clerks iu lhc post Ices, 600 clerks iu the Post Office De. ftment. This gives you total oi 300 employees. Every postmaster erages two assistants, and this ir aud numbers amounts to 116, 400 per as, which number added to 77, 900 yes you 194, 300 persons over whom e service has control.
Connecticut western news., 1888-12-19
Music Boxes and JeWelry of Geneva


 It is very amusing to go into the shops in Geneva Switzerland, where music boxes arc sold. You are shown into room and in vited to take a chair the. chair: plays pretty tune as you take your seat. You hang up your hat or umbrella upon Q rack, aud tho rack murmurs few strains of music. A dccanter upon the table pours out Q glass of water to statcly march, aud all the innocent looking furniture of the room could, do not doubt. dis. course excellent melodies. If you dc sire moro elaborate art tho largo box contains a whole orchestra; and even the little boxes on the table can play many exquisite things. No ueed of buying opera tickets any lon ger; you carry homo in your trunk harmony enough for lifetime. Tho manufac- turc of jewclry and tho cutting of prcc' ious stones is ono of tn, oldest arts in Geneva. It is known to havo been practiced as early as the fifth century, and in tho thirteenth the Genoese jew elers were wi loly removed; but the art of watchm aking, in which thi, city now leads the world, is much moro re. cent. The first watches and clocks were made here in 1900; at the present day Geneva manufactures annually no. 900 watches alone. A an American I am bound to rank tho Waltham watches moro highly, but tho art seems to have been carriel hero very nearly to the point of perfcction; and in tho beauty of their decoration and cnamclling the artists havo certainly no competitors ia any country. -[San Francisco Chronicle
Connecticut western news., 1888-12-19

The New York Observer says that our sciminal population has been rapidly in- sfasing in tho past few years i, fact ia1tself that ought to "give pause' to eery intelligent, thoughtful and rig ht-
 nhdei man in the land. It is, rightly
 casidered, a most solemn and DOT ! tstous fact. It argues a state of hthgs that ought not to be in civilized
 al Christian land.
Connecticut western news., 1888-12-19

was, without a suspicion that como from mercenary motives,' said Frank, cxultantly.
 "Ahem! That's all right, young man. But you must be aware that your past conduct doesn't recommend you very highly. Ispeak plainly, fot Helen Morley is my ward"
 Frank winced under this lash, but all the samo he was re,olved to bear it in silence, and tho scales had fallen from his eyes now, and he remembered trifing incidents in their lives-Helen's 8 and his own-which led him to believe that he had thrown away pearl.
 He would sock to recover it again, and was glad that the impeachment of money did not bar the way.
 He knew full we'll that his foolish in- fatuation for tho gay superficial Elise, which he had mistaken for love, would prove for rmidable obstacle; but with youth, repentance, perseverance,, and an earnest devotion to his purpose, he hoped to win Helon's esteem first, and afterward, perhaps, her low. "Confound the young scamp, he's got good points, after al," growled Son. CTS.
 Aud SO Helen thought when the ol d lawyer told her about it. and made her understand how difficult it woul l be to keep Frank long ignorant of the pro- visions of his uncle's will.
 Three months are brief measure of time as the ages roll onward, and yet three short months arc sometimes so crowded with events bearing directly upon our lives that years--aye, an age are as nothing in comparison. Threo months of penitencc, of unob' trusive devotion to Helen, of evident shamo for his past conduct, and an un- mistakable determin ation to atone for it if possible, on the part of Frank Duncan, won tho callous old lawyer to believe in his sincerity. And, better than all, it began to tell upon the hard wall of reserve that had grown up between Helen's unquonched love and her pride till It fairly crumblcd away.
 "You forgive mo at last, Helen; but can never forgive myself for being so stupidly blind and for having caused you years of pain besides," said Frank tenderly.
 'Lct the dead bury thoir dead, Frank, but let us who now live again live only in the present, and hope for compensation for our past sorrows in the future"
 'And thank Heaven that did not have totry to woo you as an heiress. will work for you, and wo will be hap py"
 Helen colorod and was silent for a moment. Steps were hoard in the hall, and Mir. Somers was announced. 'Cut off without farthing and y,t happy apparently" said the lawyer, bru quely, taking out legal document and reading: ''And if Frank Duncan forsako his foolish object and marry my adopted daughter, Helen Morley, within three years and six m on ths from the dato of this testament, l db bequeath to him half my fortuae."
 ''B .tter than you deserved, young man."
 Helen blushed as Frank caught her in his arm.. - The Idea.
Connecticut western news., 1888-12-19
A Sixth Century SarcOphagus.

At St. Mandricr, near Toulon, France, sarcopha gus has been discov- cred with silver plato on which arc engraved the words: "Sasittaveras Tu, Dominic, cor mcun caritato tua. Alove this lnscriI tioa is also engrav d a heart transpi"rccd with two arrows, and thero is lishop knecling and holding in either hand his hitter and crozier The tomb is supposed to be that of St. FIavicr, who, in 5o4, es. abolished with his friend, Mandlicr, { hermitage in the peninsula, with whom he was massacred by the Visigoths iu 610.
Connecticut western news., 1888-12-19
The Children.

They are such tiny feet! They have gone so short way to meet The years which are required to break Their steps to evenness, and make Them go More sure and slow. They are such little hands! Be kind; things are so new, and life but
 stands A step beyond the doorway. All around New day has found Such tempting things to shine upon; and SC The hands are tempted oft, you know. They are such fond, clear eyes, That widen to surprise At every turnl They are so often held To sun or showers; showers soon dispelle1 By looking in our face. Love asks, for such much grace. They are such frail fair gifts! Uncertain as the rifts Of light that lie along the sky; They may not be here by and by. Give them not love, but more above And harder, patience with the love.
Connecticut western news., 1888-12-19

here is something queer about this peitry business, says an expert When a.An keeps little brood of fowls, say te1Dr twelve, and makes them profita- ble he thinks he can increase his brood to ne hundred or two hundred with eqal profit. His reasoning seems per- fecy logical. Ii ten fowls will pay a net profit of S15 apiece annually, whl should not 100 fowls pay $15O, and 10ol fowls pay $500 annually2 What eveithe figures arc, however, these larg broods do not pay the same pro- portonate profit as the smaller ones.
Connecticut western news., 1888-12-19

Rhhard Marion Jackson, tho Ameri- can member of the cabinet of the king of Wurtenb burg, is an Ohio man. He vcntto Stuttgart to study music, and 10 day was so fortunate as to rescue o king from a party of drunken stu
 'ts who were snow- -balling him. Ia
 ort time Jackson was made privy
 ncisa-nd the king took such a sy to him that his subjects snecring- iy aid that he was in love with the American. Just at present Jackson is .gnder cloud, but he will doubtless come out On top
Connecticut western news., 1888-12-19

days tourist in ''The Valley of the Fol Semito": "Onc important fact which 1s hver mentioned in the guide books anfseldom ia newspaper correspond ens, is that the women visitors who cxiore the place to any extent, do so oniorseback and rile astride. The steps are so abrupt that woman who atnmpts them pcrchea unnaturally on onside of beast is sure to como to grf, and coming to griefEon noun tain tris, where the prccipicas arc mile his, is matter of life and death.
 Wmen must either leave the glories oi th Yosemite unseen, or they must em-
 pf all the advantages which nature 2 h,given them.n
Connecticut western news., 1888-12-19

The capture of a Bslgian slave vess el ! ss led to tho discovery, asserts the San
 rancisco Chronicle, that former Bel
 Ian Consul has b2en engaged in the
 ave trade at Zanzibar. This wilt not
 D any surprise to those who have fol-
 bwed the growth of the slave traffic in sae last few years on tho Elst coast. The British cruisers at one time made 5 . precarious industry, but lately theil Ii0ilance has bcea relaxed. Every European nation except England winks 1t this trsffic in human beings, and the make small pretense of con cealing their share in the procurement of slaves. Recently the discovery ol great bodies of land at the head waters of the Congo that may be utilized fol agriculture has led to an urgent demand for slaves for working these plantations, md it was probably for this new fiele Int the slaves on tho Belgian vesse - destined.
Connecticut western news., 1888-12-19
A PhOnOgraphIc Doll

Mir Ellison has, ti, stated, dovised a doll with small photograph inside, which talks when the handlc is turned. Tho photograph is placed on a recepta. clc within the chest of tho doll and the handle protrudcs. Whom it is turned the words appear to issue from the dolls mouth. E lison has also devised Q clock which announces the time by speaking, tho talking apparatus being, of eourss, photograph.
Connecticut western news., 1888-12-19
HUMOROUS

A handsome couple-Two dollars .
 Olives out" all her days-The hired girl. .r
 The children's hobby-A wooden horse @NsA
 In tho matter of fans the ,Chinose,s take the palm. ...
 There is cheerful ring in an en- gagged girls u5hter.
 Even rug -ged person may not feel mat-rimonially inclined.
 The most appropriate shoes for police men are the copper .toed variety.
 Bundles of comic valentines are the laughing stock of the newsdealcr. ~
 A dead fruit tree is like a ship drift ing at sea. It has lost it's bearing.
 The way ship i, bound ha, no rela-N tion to the restrictions of commerce.
 ''Talk is cheap"-th exception be- ing when lawyer is talking for you.
 The tax collector is always suro to> como around in due timo to every man.
 Although corn has many kernels, there is no sign it was first grown in y Kentucky.
 Now is tho time when man can { shovel in his own coal and tell people ! he is paying an election bet.
 Tho fraudulent old beau who dyes his hair has noSright to be writing to any girl about his undyiug love.
 "It is fillin', but not fattenin'," as the old Irish lady said of the water sho fed the pig an hour before she sold him.
 Dramatically speaking, it may be said that criminals and tho judge differ widely in regard to the length of sen- tences. ..-
 Milkman--Did you wish to settle for your last months milk9 Housewife Not today; guos, you'll have to chalk it, as you usually do.
 There is a great doal of danger in telegraph wires. A man standing in front of stock ticker tho other day was hoard to complain of being badly hit.
 ''You fellows charge very high price for pulling tecth," said Q real estate dealer to dentist. "Oh, don't know about that" was tho confident reply, "wo only charge dollar an acher."
 My dear young lady," said gush. ing artist to her, ''you are positively lovely! Wouldn't you liko mo to do you in oil2' ''Sir," exclaimed her fathers pride, indignantly, 'lo you take me for sardine2'
 Myrtle Florence, is that Fred Dumlcy's handwriting" Florence 'Yc, doar; I'm engaged to him, you know" Myrtle-"Yos, Iknow it. I was engaged to him last summer" "Florcn cc-'' ''Thc doar boy; wonder who will marry him eventually"
 It was at tho breakfast table. MT. Snilingboy was telling Mrs. s. about farce he had attended tho night before. "Ah," said he, ''my doar, you'd have died laughing if you could have been there" Then ho added in tone of burning enthusiasm: "How I wish you had."
 A Reasonable Demand-She: Nol Mr. Harding, it can never be. But ] will always be Q sistcr--. He Gis- iag): Oh, that's tho deal, is it9 Well, then, sister, if you've got your thimble handy wish you would sew up the knees of my trousers th,t havo sacri. feed in finding out our relationship.
 Tho little boy had como in with hi, clothes torn, his hair full of dust and his face bearing unmistakablo marks of q severe conflict. 70, Williel Willier' exclaimed his mother, deeply shocked and gricved, ''you havo disoboycd me again. How olton havc told you not to play with that wicked Stapleford boya' "Mamma," said Willie, 'do look as if had boon playing with any
Connecticut western news., 1888-12-19
M0ngols Who Never Bury Their Dead.

Mongols Who Never Bury Their Dead.
 The vast region of country lying be- tween China and Siberia known as Mongolia presents thi, striking con- trast to tho Middle Kingdom, that while tho latter appears like boun dless cemetery, the land of the Tartars has not grave or a memorial stono. The Mongols are living in constant expccta- ,ion of returning to their old home far off to the south vest and they want nothing to keep them from undertaking the great emigration. Tho intensity of desire to be led back to the land of their fathers is most suggestive of the prayers and wailings of the Jews because of the desolation of Palestine and their agony of longing for it's res toration. Whom they are punished enough and reduced to remnant, they say, then will their Messiah return from heaven and bring back their dispersion. What becomes of tho bodies of tho dead in this grave less land9
 You can read an exact description of the condition of things in Mongolia to- day as foretold in the prophecy of Jere- miah ov.r 2000 years ago: "Thcy shall die of grievous deaths; they shall not be lamented, neither shall they. Do buried, but they shall be as dung upon the face / of the earth. Anl they shall be consumed by the sword and by famine, and their carcasses shall be meat for the fowls of heaven and for the beasts of the earth" Although this describes a state of things begun in Palestine, it does not end there. The Mongol puts the corps of his friend on a cart or other conveyauc, to be dragged with great speed by horses on tho plains, and whenever it is thrown there the dogs and wolves may mako a re- past.
 Both Chinese and Mongols explain the difference betweon their customs in this way: Erth returns to earth, flesh to the fesh-that is, the Chinese, whoso bodies are fed by the grains of tho earth, return to it as a natural recom- pense, while the Mongol, who lives on the animal kingdom, must, as a atural result, feed it in turn. Read Jeremiah, xvii. chapter, to see how the geographi- cal position, religious condition and the like make people like the Mon gols just suited to tho prophecies regarding scattered Israel. -[shanghai Mercury.