davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1889-12-19
Splitting a Diamond.

The diamond has a grain or cleavage
plane, the same as most minerals or
crystalline substances, and hence it is
possible to split or divide one into two
or more parts. Sometimes large
piece is removed at once from a gem
by splitting, but it is process attend
ed with much risk
The Memphis Scimiter tells how to
accomplish this matter. The stone is
carefully studied and its line OF cleav-
age ascertained; it is placed in hard
cement in the proper position, and the
sharp edge Of steel chisel resembling
a razor is carefully adjusted so that the
division will be at the points desired,
and smart rap with a hammer is
given it. Perhaps no more costly blow
may be struck in any mechanical work
than this, for in manipulating large
diamond, If it is unskillfully given, a
gem OF several thousand dollars val ue
may be spoiled.
Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1889-12-19
Slightly InapprOpriate.

The editor OF the Evening News OF
Plainfeld, N. j., assumed to write up
fashionable wedding in that town
when zone OF the most charming and
accomplished OF our Plainfield beau
ties" was married to a "handsomeD and
popular young gentleman" at the Meth
odist church. The editor after de-
scribing the ''profusion OF flowers" re-
ferred to a new Italian baptismal font
bought by the pastor while in Europe"
as tasteful and appropriate decora-
ton. The friends OF the young couple
are indignant, and the editor has al
ready made two apologies for the slip.
OF his descriptive pen. Rochester Her.
aid
Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1889-12-19
IndirIduali,m and Chri,tIanltr.

What charm there is in individual
ism! Call up the face of him you love
the best, and tell me why you love him.
For Ais talents, for his manners, for
his physical strength or grace? No.
it is not for his gifts, however brilliant;
for his qualities, however fine. In the
last you love the man, the mystery; that
unnamable force, vigor. grace, charm,
that is individual in him. Others may
not read him, but you translate him
easily. Blank to others TO you he is
written message; you understand
him, you interpret him and over you
he has that greatest of all powers-the
power OF sweetness.
Now, as ! apprehend 1t, the power of
Christianity as a religion Is because it
is religion OF the individual. In the
case of Jesus, the power OF his individ-
ualism was intense. He was filled with
the magnetism of heaven; that mag
netism which draws the weak toward
the strong, turns the wicked towards
the good, and the sinful toward the
righteous. Men and women loved him
instinctively. He was so abundant that
he had affinity with all. He was the
Bread of Life, and OF Him men ate and
were filed. Jesus was a success be-
cause OF his individualism. Continue
this indiyidu Ilism in the world, and
you will win the world. Christianity
will succeed in the Christian, but not
in the creed. w. II. II. MUIR.
Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1889-12-19

tween his man md Grants. Lincoln's
servant said his master was the prest-
dents son and the president could give
orders even to General Grant, while
the other fellow insisted that rs Lin
coin was only captain and under the
orders OF Grant; the generals servant
must be greater than the captains.
The question might have occasioned
discussion among the lord chamber
lains whom Grant afterward used 10
meet at European courts.
When President Lincoln himself Wis
tied City Point he took as little pomp
with him as the general-in-chief. He
arrived unannounced, and leaving the
steamer at the foot Of the bluff, climb
ed up the bank alone. The sentinel
did not know him, and the tall, un-
calmly civilian in black clothes and
high stiff hat was stopped like any 9TH
er intruder. The soldier took him for
n sutler or sanitary commissioner.
1t was a minute or two before an officer
could be found who recognized the
president, and ushered him in to Grant.
The tone OF talk at Grants head
quarters was as familiar as the style OF
living. Several of the men who had
been longest with Grant were palmer
than himself in the habits and tastes.
Rawlins, the ablest of all. had been a
charcoal burner and though OF course
man of marked energy, and able 10
hold his own in conversation with the
most competent, was at times decidedly
uncouth in language. Grant himself
was never profane in speech, but Raw
Inns was habitually and exceedingly
so. He was profoundly attached to
Grant, but did not always display the
same respect in manner or language
which the others maintained. Grant
pardoned this because he knew there
was no intention Of disrespect, and be-
cause he valued Rawlins's regard and
services He always joined the circle
around the campfire at night, and his
presence seemed no restraint, except
that. because Of his own purity of con-
versation, no one ever told, while he
was by, the sort OF stories that are
often common around camp-hres.
Grants purity indeed was not confined
to language. In all my intimacy with
him oftwenty years, in camp, at Wash
ington, or abroad, i never saw the
slightest indication of irregularity OF
life in regard TO women. | opened all
his letters for years, and not one was
ever addressed TO him that minated
"a lapse or threatened a disclosure.
ADAM BADEAU.
Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1889-12-19

Ing for permission to proceed further.
and expressed great astonishment at
the simplicity he saw. 1t was far diff
that Lee maintained.
But Grant never entirely laid aside
the habits and tastes OF his early life;
he was, indeed. never coarse or vulgar,
but he remained plain man TO the
end. His dress in camp was in
conspicuous: his coat seldom but
toned up To the throat and often I'M
brushed, even in battle, and during
many campaigns he wore q private
soldiers overcoat
His tent was as plain as that OF a
captain; a little larger than those of
his staff, because he sometimes wanted
TO invite important generals into 1t 10
discuss his plans.
The mess was we'll supplied with
beef. canned vegetables. condensed
milk, coffee, rice, etc. but the cooking
could barely be considered delicate.
In camp we had soft bread, but on the
march fell back on bareback,
like private soldiers. Chickens were
supplied in the season. and a few other
such dsinties, but not regularly. At
Christmas and Thanksgiving some
thoughtful patriot at the north would
send turkeys enough TO go round. but
i can't remember cranberries or mince
pies.
There was never wine or spirits on
his table in the field. nor was either
ever offered at his headquarters in his
presence. II any OF his officers kept
Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1889-12-19
NEW USE FOR WATER.
A Stream Three-Ouarters OF an
Inch I'm Diameter.

A Stream Three-Ouarters or an
Inch I'm Diameter.
A new boat Is expected TO make the
unusual speed OF twenty-five miles an
hour. Her propelling power will be a
stream OF water discharged from a
nozzle three-quarters OF an inch in
diameter, at the stern. 1t has been
practically demonstrated to the salts
faction OF scientists that the impact Of
a column of water swiftly delivered
under the surface against the body OF
water the ship floats in has precisely
the same resulting reaction upon the
vessel as II the stream were discharged
against a solid wall beside the vessel
This achievement does not rest upon
the results obtained in laboratory pro-
cesses merely, but has been proved in
the actual working of a steam launch
Of forty tons burden, the Prima Vista.
which, with hull not modelled for
speed, with an ordinary engine and
without vacuum pump. attained a
speed of twelve miles an hour by the
projection of a stream of water one
quarter OF an inch in diameter The
pressure of the column OF water was
900 pounds to the square inch, and the
nozzle discharged 800 pounds of water
per minute at velocity OF $50 feet a
second.
These facts were determined by DR..
Walter M. Jackson, of Rhode Island.
He has spent more than eighty thou
sand dollars in his experiments and for
the new boat, the Evolution. The lat
ter is 100 feet long. Her draught is.
only feet. and her floor is almost fat
The tendency in propulsion will be to
drive her out OF rather than under tn Q
water BY the use of steele for the boil
er, hollow pistons, ribbed cross heads
and aluminium where that metal is ap-
propriate. the weight has been re-
duced 80 per cent and DR.. jackson. who.
regards this construction as but q step
toward his ideal, expects ultimately to
get twice the power with one-fourth the
weight of this apparatus. The pressure
OF the Jet of water is $500 pounds to
the square inch, and the nozzle will
deliver 900 gallons a minute at veloc-
! ity OF 600 feet a second. Among other
advantages gained. the drag OF screw
astern is obviated. A rudder, except.
an auxiliary one to be shipped if nee
essary, is also dispensed with, the ship
being steered by n detection OF the
current of water. A nozzle at the bow,
brought into action by simply revers-
ing the lever, delivers a stream for
ward TO stop boat or back her. 9th
er applications of the jets OF water are
under consideration.
The saving in the direct application
OF power over the use Of a screw pro-
peller is estimated at more than 80 per
cent. The space occupied by the
engine is much less than that required
by an ordinary marine engine, and it
has the further advantage OF being
horizontal in its position in the vessel
instead of being set up vertically. DIR.
jackson says that with pressure of 81
900 pounds to the square inch through
a three. quarter inch nozzle the Etrutria,
one OF the largest ocean steamships,
could be driven twenty miles an hour.
No disturbance OF the water is made
eighteen inches from the nozzle.
Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1889-12-19
DRINK AND DRUNK.
An Institution Translated from the
Old Country to America.

An Institution Translated from the
Old Country to America.
Tell Inc what a 'commerS' is, any
way?" asked an American OF his Ger
man friend. The two were seated to-
gether at lunch in a club house, and
the fact had been mentioned that there
had been very "Aotter commers" at
the Fidelia headquarters the night be-
fore.
The German looked at the American
in amazement. Evidently this was an
aggravated case OF woeful ignorance.
You don't know what a commers lisp"
he queried, and there were about nine
ty-nine exclamation points in the in
Elections of his voice.
"No," said the American.
"Well, to express it briefly, COM
mcrs is - OF time" smilingly
quoth the other. "Or, to put it in
more diplomatic language, commers.
is drinking bout, with speeches,
songs and witticisms literally sprinkled
over it, conducted according to certain
rules, formulas and ceremonies. The
word 'commers' originally was Latin
one, meaning intercourse; in this case
social intercourse, The thing itself is
practiced with the greatest degree of
perfection by the students OF the Ger
man and Austrian universities. But
the commers was imported into this
country by the old German university
men who came over here after the un-
successful revolutionary rising in '4S
and 40. And they have perpetuated
the commers in America, and their
children and grandchildren have fol-
lowed in their footsteps. OF course,
not every commers Is success, no more
than every banquet is success. 1t
takes a number OF concurrent condi-
tions to produce what we Germans call
'flotter commers'
Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1889-12-19
Rnrn Old Rn0kA

Among the curiosities to be found in
the Minnesota State Law Library are
two volumes OF the colonial laws OF
Massachusetts, 1760 to 1872. They
are, OF course, reprints, but rye olden
style" has been faithfully reproduced.
The code OF laws In vogue in those
provincial days was truly very crude.
1t was then that the whipping post was
resorted to as a mode of punishment,
but it is stipulated that mo man shall
be beaten with above forty stripes, nor
shall any true gentleman, nor any man
equal TO a gentleman, be punished
by whipping unless his crime be very
shameful and his course OF life vicious
and proAigate." Again the code says:
III any man shall Blaspheme the name
OF god, the father. Some or Holy ghost,
with direct, espresso. presumptuous or
high handed blasphemie, or shall
curse God in the like manner, he shall
be put to DEATH"
Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1889-12-19

whisky it was in their own tents,
and Grant neither saw it nor shared it.
Breakfast was rarely earlier than
nine and often as late as ten o'clock,
for Grant rose late whenever there
was no need to rise early, and we al
ways waited till he was ready 10 sit
down. He hardly ever went TO bed
till one or two o'clock in the morning,
and therefore liked his pillow even if
it was hard. He often used TO say
that he was an indolent man, and l
think he was, naturally. His temper
ament was phlegmatic, il not sluggish;
certainly he was disnclined to eXer-
ton after he was forty years of age.
After the midnight march that follow
ed the battle of the Wilderness, we
halted toward morning at Todd's Tav-
ern where Sheridan had fought the
day before, Grant slept on a rough
bed in the tavern. and his staff in the
porch, or on the floor, or on the ground
outside Horace Porter and | on some
boards in a pig-pen. Often have
known Grant to lie on the ground with
his saddle for pillow. After the bat
tie of Champions Hill In the Vicks-
burg campaign he slept in the porch
OF farmhouse occupied within as a
Confederate hospital, and all night he
could hear the groans of his wounded
enemies. After the first days fight at
Shiloh he lay at first under n tree, but
the rain was furious and he went into
a field hospital for shelter, and fell
asleep with the surgeons operating
around him. 1t was fortunate that he
| WAC not hiOh strung or nervous. Yet
he was not indifferent to human suffer-
ing. / have known him leave hur-
dle-race because he did not wish TO
look. on life unnecessarily risked.
though. when there was need, he could
witness slaughter, or order it, unmov-
ed.
In the march from Cold Harbor TO
the James river the headquarters
wagons got behind and Grant and his
staff had been all day without food.
Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1889-12-19
A Polar Bear Nursery.

The female Polar bear is taught by
a wonderful instinct TO shelter her
young under the snow. In December
she retreats 10 the side of rock,
whereby dint of scraping and letting
the snow fall upon her, she forms q
cell in which to live during the winter.
There is no fear that she should be
stifled for want OF air. for the watmth
OF her breath always keeps small
passage open. Within this strange
nursery she produces her young, and
remains with them beneath the snow
till March, when she comes out into
the open air with her baby bears. M
the only use Of the snow burrow is TO
shelter the young, the male bears do
not hibernate like the females,
but roam freely about during the
winter months. Before retiring under
the snow the bear eats enormously, so
that she becomes very fit, thus laying
in an internal store of food which en-
ables her net only TO support her own
life, but to nourish her young during
her long seclusion. BY an admirable
provision OF nature the young Polar
bears are extremely small at birth. and
grow slowly so long as they are in
their crystal nursery, thus needing lit
tie food and space. When they emerge
from their shelter the mother bear is
extremely thin and very fierce.
Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1889-12-19
Munchausen in a Horn.

The famous Baron Munchausen in
forms us that travelling one severe
winters day in Russia the position
tried vainly to wind his horn in the
open air. Later, when the company
were assembled around the kitchen
fire OF hostelry, they heard sud den
tereng. tereng, teng, teng. We look
ed around and now found the reason
why the position had not been able to
sound his horn; his tunes were frozen
up in the horn and came out now by
thawing. plain enough, and much to
the credit OF the driver. so that the
honest fellow entertained us for some
time with a variety OF tunes without
putting his mouth TO his horn"
Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1889-12-19
"Ycs, at the same price-one hun

Yes, at the same price-one hun
dred and fifty dollars"
an take it," said Sidney, and, to
the surprise of all, paid him then,
from a roll OF bills which he took
from his pocket
Orren was considerably taken aback
when it afterward transpired that the
stranger had found buried in the soil
of the island box OF old coin, and that
he had shared literally with his young
companion. After that the rich mans
son was content to become little
more humble to the fortunate possessor
OF the boat which was the envy OF all,
and which constituted royal Christ
mas present indeed.
Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1889-12-19
NEW PRovERsIAL PHILOSOPHY

There is no fool like a young DUDE.
1t is an i'll wind that blows about it.
self.
Better be right than the president
OF an electric company.
Take care Of the pennies and let the
expense take care OF itself.
Don't go into an air-ship II the walk
ing is at all what it ought to be.
TIE man Is vain who writes for
praise, but you wouldn't suspect it
from his clothes.
Put beggar on horseback and he
will ask. Whats the matter with the
family carriagep"
Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1889-12-19
LADY YEARDLEY'S GUEST

Twas Saturday night, mid winter.
Ana the snow with its she cted pail
Had covered the stubbled clearings
That girdled the rude built Hall"
But high in the deep mouthed chimney,
MID laughter and shout and din,
The children were piling yule.logs
TO welcome the Christmas in.
"Ah, sol Wen be glad tomorrow"
The mother half musing said,
AS she looked at the eager workers,
And laid on a sunny head
touch as OF benediction-
For Heaven is lust as near
The father at far Patuxent
AS II he were with US here.
$50 choose 80 the pine and holly,
And shake from their boughs the snow
Wen garland the rough hewn rafters
AS they garlanded long ago.
Or ever Sir George went sailings
Away Ger the wild sea FOAM
In my beautiful English Sussex,
The happy old walls at home"
She sighed. AS she paused, a whisper
Set quickly all eyes a-strain:-
"Seel Scotland the boys hand pointed
There's a race al The toindOO pane"
One instant Il ghnstly terror
Shot sudden her features DER;
The next and she rose unblenching,
And opened the fast barred door.
"Who be We that seek admission!
Who cometh for food and restl
This night is a night above others
To shelter straying guest
Deep out of the snowy silence
A cultural answer broke:
VI come from the great Three Rivers,
am Chief of the Roam oke."
Straight in through the frightened children
Unshrinking, the red man strobe,
And loosed on the blazing heart hstone,
From his shoulder light borne load;
And out of the pile of deer-skins,
With look as serene and mild
AS If it had been his cradle,
Stepped softly little child.
AS he chafed at the fire his fingers,
Closed pressed to the brawnv knee,
The gaze that the silent savage
Bent on him, was strange 70 see.
And then with voice whose yearuing
Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1889-12-19
She RecognIred the PatoIs.
YOU cook beansp

Lady-Can you COOK beansV
Girl lin the intelligence office)-Yes.
madam. On the night Of the second
day preceding the Sabbath. l place the
beans In tin vessel, pouring over
them a sufficient quantity OF the
pellucid liquid known as water, an
allow them TO remain in that manner
during the night In the morning they
will have become thoroughly saturated,
when L
II don't know whether that's right
or not, but see you're from Boston. so
you will do. "-Lawrence American.
Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1889-12-19
Human Sewers.

Each square inch OF the skin con-
tains 8. 800 sweating tubes, or perspira-
ton pores. each OF which may be liken-
ed to little drain-tile one-fourth OF
an inch in length, making an aggre-
gate length OF the entire surface OF the
body OF 201, leo feet, or tile ditch for
draining the body almost forty miles
long.
Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1889-12-19
RnIieYers I'm Hnrseshoes.

A young girl OF Crescent City, CAL.
had always believed in the horseshoe
and kept herself ornamented with a
miniature one all her life. She believes
in 1t now more than ever. Recently
she picked up pebble on the beach
and sent it TO a lapidary in San Fran
cisco. He pronounced 1t a true emer-
aid, worth 81, 600.
Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1889-12-19
$3.50

The father could scarcely stem,
He said-to the children pointing
81 want him TO be like them!
"They weep for the boy in the wigwam
l bring him moon OF days,
To learn of the speaking paper,
To hear OF the wiser ways
OF the people beyond the water.
To break with the plow the sod
TO be kind TO papoose and woman,-
10 pray TO the white mans God"
81 give thee my handw And the Lady
Pressed forward with sudden cheer;
"Thou shalt eat Of my English pudding,
And drink of my Christmas beer
My sweethearts, this night remember,
All strangers are kith and kin.
This night when the dear Lords Mother
Could find no room at the inn"
Next morn from the colony belfry
Pealed gayly the Sunday chime,
And merrily forth the people
Flocked, keeping the Christmas time.
And the Lady with bright-eyed children
Behind her, their lips a-smile,
And the Chief in his skins and wampum,
Came walking the narrow aisle.
Forthwith from the congregation
Broke hcrcely a sullen cry;
"Oltt out aciN the crGtty red-Skin'
Have At HIM 4 spy! A SpW
ana QUICKLY from DEUS ledpeu udBRtIS,
And swords from their sheaths flashed
bare.
And men from their seats defiant
Sprang, ready to STAY him there.
But facing the crowd with courage
AS calm as a knight of yore,
Stepped bravely the fair proved woman,
The thrust oil the steel before;
And spake with queenly gesture,
Her hand on the Chiefs brown breast,
"Ye dare ROt impedch my hOnOr!
lie dare not insult my gucSt"'
They dropped at her word their weapon
.shamed as the Lady smiled,
And told them the red mans story,
And showed them the red mans child;
And pledged them her broad plantations,
That never would such bctray
The trust that a Christian woman,
Had shown on Christmas Dayl
Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1889-12-19

Wild some cloes on shuah CIR nuff;
Eff he's brung us eny dwesses
That are sumpin else N patch,
An "A par OBJ shoes an stockin's
That fur once look like matchl
Cards wild green and yaller pictures,
Like dey GIBBS you at de sto';
Books all smeared by lilly chilluns
Dat dey had de yeah befo';
Candy dat is JUS lef ober,
Oder chilluns fust hab tried;
Spec we should be glad we's Twin
Ef we doan' git much besides.
Spec he'll CUB us won out garments,
Like he did las Cwismas day;
Bits OBJ stwing an culled ribbons,
Odder chiluns frowed away.
Hats wot amt no use fur no one,
Jess de kline wot nebber suit.
Ho dar hear i'm at de chimbly,
Dar-hes comm, sistah-Scoot!
Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1889-12-19

commander OF all tho armies lived
palmer than many of his subordinates,
and doubt II there was headquarter,
North or South. during the war, where
less formality prevailed. When Judge
Campbell the Confederate commits
sioner, came out from Richmond in the
winter of 1864, he spent some little
while with Grant at City Point, wait
Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1889-12-19
DOAN' GIT SKEERED.

Ho dar, slstah, doan' you pestah
Wild dat empty chimbly fiue;
Kase oil Santa Claus KUN drappin'
An he'll run away wild you.
Oars a clatter in de tree-tops,
Oars a scamper on de roof;
It's de tinkle Oh dc sleigh bells,
An de patter OBJ de hoof.
I'm he checkin' up the reindeer,
Doan' you heah i'm hollah whoal
Blan he steppin mighty heavy,
Wild he footses on de snow;
/ kin heah him at de chimbly.
Lissen, sistah, hol your breff;
Eff he kotch US pekin, Rolly;
II nd scar me mos TO def.
WINNER wot he gwine ter brung us,
Ef it's nuts and sugar stuffl
An some lilly brack doll babies,