davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Connecticut western news., 1889-07-24
Diamonds from the Sky.

According to statement in recent number of the American Naturalist, Professor H. c. Lewis exhibited, at meeting of the Philadelphia Academy of Natural Science, a specimen of me- teorite containing some very small dia- monds. Carbon in crude form has been reported in meteorites before n ow, and there need not, therefore, be any. thing incredible in diamonds being dis covered in one. Recent experiments of MT. Norman with Carbon rods heated to high temperature by the electric cur rent under pressure in closed cylinder, resulted in the formation of gray dust harder than emery, and scratching glass, which appeard to be form of diamond. Some years since, diamonds in minute form were found in meteorite that fell in North Germany; while in another specimen were microscopic shells of the kind of which chalk deposits on the earth are in part formed, which indicat- ed that the meteorite came from some other planet that had supported animal life.
Connecticut western news., 1889-07-24

There are but four persons in the United States, other than those holding public office, who are allowed to receive and send mail matter free of postage. These four persons are the widows of tho late Presidents Polk, Tyler, Garfield and Grant. An act of Congress is re- quired to grant this privilege to any one, and it has been so granted to the widows of Presidents since 1886, when the first act was passed conferring the distin ction upon Mrs. Dolly P. Madison. According to the United States Postal Laws and Regulations, which is com pilation of the rules published for the information and guidance of Postmasters and other officials, Mrs. Tyler is not en- titled to the benefits of franking mail matter, and it is true that no law has ever been passed in her case. She is, in 6 sense, victim of one of those pc. culiar oversights of Congress which are of frequent occurrence. The Post Office Department, however, appreciat- ing the fact that Mrs. Tyler is in equity entitled to the same privilege which has by law been granted to Mrs. Polk, Mrs. Garfield and Mrs Grant, accepts her frank in lieu of postage and collects nothing upon matter mailed to her ad- address.
Connecticut western news., 1889-07-24
Most Peculiar Strike on Record,

Said prominent Cincinnati Knight of Labor the other day: '.The most peculiar strike I ever heard of was that of one man, John O'Brien, once very we'll known shoemaker of this city, who positively struck against being dis charged, and, stranger yet, won> the strike On Monday morning on con- ing to work the superintendent handed him a note from the firm stating that his services were no longe desired. O'Brien at once sought out member of the firm, in the private office, and thus vented his feelings: Did you really write me thisa' Yes said the boss, in a kindly manner; you see, orders are not coming in as rapidly as they -ahould, there are no very fattering prospects for the future, and we find it necessary to cut down the force.' You actually mean it for sack, then2' Well, yes. discharge And you think I'm such a fool as to take sack in midwinter2'
 
 Don't see how you can help yourself.' You actually thought would agree to be turned out on the streets in the dull : est season of the year, and with scarcely a red in my pocket to provide the living for myself and family, and no prospect of striking a job beyond spring2 We'll, let me say to you that you were badly off in your calculations. won't receive the sack, and I'm going right back to my bench, and there m going to stay, and don't you forget it, Having thus delivered himself, O'Brien hastily gathered up some stock and quickly hied himself back to his bench, and for Q long time following, to my knowledge, he remained at that very shop"
Connecticut western news., 1889-07-24
Wonderful Mexican Pottery.

Charles Dudley Warner discovered two year, ago in . shop in a Mexican city, specimens of pottery rivalling in brilliancy and iridescence the famous Gubbio lustres of Maestro Giorgio, who wrought in Italy in the sixteenth cen tury. The method of producing thcso lustres had been reckoned among tho lost arts, and during the past thirty years much money has been expended in seeking the secret. MT. Warner learned that the ware was made at tho time by Indians in secluded spot in Mexico. Miss Y. H. Addis took up the clew, and after year of investigation learned the secret of the brilliant lustre in . remote town of Guanuxuato.
Connecticut western news., 1889-07-24
RaY0rian Cattle.

The cattle of Bavaria are peculiar in many respects. They are said to be good all-around cattle, com bining work, beef and milk, in good degree. We suspect, however, that they can be called mediocre cattle, in any of these respects, from the American or English standard of excellence, but they undoubtedly serve the purpose we'll in country where the OK, and often the cows arc used for draft purposes, and where til- lage is conducted mostly by manual la- bor. Oxen there draw by traces fast ened to bar of wood laid across tho forehead, and attached with thongs to the harness. They are used indifferent ly for both single and double draft.
Connecticut western news., 1889-07-24
The Game of Chess,

The Chinese game of chess is very ancient for Wu Wang invented it in 112O B. O., but it's rules of playing are very different from those used by .Res- tern nations, says the New York Times. In the play room large table is ereot- ed, the surface of which is divid ed into seventy-two squares, of which eight are run together to form a river, leaving thirty-two on each side; but as the men stand on the intersections of the lines, there are ninety positions for the six teen pieces used by each player, or twen- ty six more than are used in the Euro pean game. The pieces are like check CT men in shape, each of the seven kinds on each side having it's name cut on top, and distinguished by red or black colors. The four squares near each edge form the headquarters of the tsiagor, general" out of which he and his two sz or ''se ere taries, cannot move
 On each side of the headquarters are two elephants, two horses and two char iots, whose powers are less than those of our bishop, knight and castle, though similar. The chariot is the most pow erful piece. In front of the horses stand two cannoneers, which capture like our knights, but move like our cas- ties. Five pao, soldiers, or pawns, guard the river banks but cannot re. turn when once across it in pursuit ot the enemy, and get no higher value when they reach the last row. Each piece is put down in the point where it captures its man except, the cannoneers. As the general cannot be taken, the ob. ject of each player is to checkmate him in his headquarters by preventing him from moving except in check. The want of queen and the limited moves of the men restrict the combination in the Chinese game more than in western chess, but it has its own elements of skill. The Chinamen in Mott street have had several tournaments which the papers did not report. But some oi the players have attained an amount of skill that would put an American or his mettle to defeat. For more thar seven centuries chess has been a great game with the Chinese and it is held in great respect in China and here.
Connecticut western news., 1889-07-24

An eminent electrician in New York was recently interviewed on the pro- posed execution of criminals by elec- tricity. "Do believe in killing man by electricity2" he exclaimed when asked what he thought of executing a man in that way. stNo, do not. I don't believe the profession knows enough about electricity yet to warrant them attempting to kill man with it. All electricians know that different men are differently affected by electricity. Some can stand a little, others more and some can take an enormous charge with out fatal result. This must be borne n mind in giving man charge, and it is especially important in the case of executing murderer. Suppose they don't give him enough and he recovers, @ did, what torture must he suffer And why shouldn't he recover and fool the electricians7 If he's naturally strong man, has no heart trouble and is we'll preserved the chances are that he will pull through if they give him the opportunity. Or again. if he has been . laborer, accustomed to manual labor CT exposure to the sun for long time, hb hesh must necessarily have become more or less hardened, that is, insulated, ed the electricity would have less effect upon hn."
Connecticut western news., 1889-07-24
Large Western Farms Must Go.

The large farms of the West have got to go. The profit of running them ex- ists only in theory. The latest evidence in support of these statements is the sale by the Grandins of over $10O, 900 worth of their 100, 900 acres of land in tho Red River valley. It brings $20 to $30 per acre, and the sellers take in pay ment one e-half of the crop each year at it's market value until the lands are paid for. They wisely refuse to sell over GAO acres to one man, and prefer to dispose of only 160 to 320 -acre plots to individ- uals. It is believed that if the plan works we'll, this is to be the beginning of gigantic breaking up of large farms in North Dakota, and the prospect is pleasing one.
Connecticut western news., 1889-07-24
Wonderful Feat of a Mind Reader

Wonderful Feat of Mind Reader.
 J. Randall Brown, mind reader, who claims that he taught Washington Irving Bishop, performed a strange test at the Bijou Theatre in New York city. A copper wire was stretched from the stage of the Bijou to the Western Union Telegraph office, on Thirtieth treet and Broadway, and over this wire, several blocks long, he was apparently able to read the minds of thoroughly trustwor- thy gentlemen. Professor Cromwell, a well-known lecturer, proceeded to the telegraph office and placed one end of the wire to his forehead. Brown, blind folded, put the other end to his brow, on tho stage, and after few moments of hesitation wrote the figures ''742" on blackboard in front of him. When thls was done a message was sent to the professor that the experiment was com pleted, and few minutes afterward he returned to the theatre and said that the number he had thought of was the ono put down by Brown. .
 Cromwell stated that he had not thought of the number until he reached the telegraph office, when he fixed his mind upon it intently, without, how ever, repeating it aloud. On the stage with Brown at the time he performed the experiment was reliable committee chosen by the audience, all of whom were completely carried away by what they saw. That there could have been collusion between Professor Cromwell and Brown is certainly out of the ques- tion, as the Professors standing is too we'll established for any one to think that he would lend himself to a piece of knavery.
Connecticut western news., 1889-07-24
The Foot Was Wooden.

A Michigan avenue car stopped at Second street to permit young lady and gentleman to get on, says the De- troit News
 AS the former, who was young as we'll as pretty, passed forward to accept seat offered her, she tripped over the outstretched foot of an individual who was sitting at the rear of the car.
 In an instant she was almost at full length in the bottom of the car. The exclamations of the passengers and the black looks they directed at the extend ed stumbling block should have caused its owner to sink through the seat. Quicker almost than she went down, however, she was on her feet again, and gracefully acknowledging the courtesy of the gentleman who surrendered his seat. She was greatly embarrassed, and her escort looked like thunder cloud, and as if he would like to punch the head of the fellow who had caused all
  the trouble. But he didn't. He con- tented himself with occasionally step- ping vigorously on the still extended foot. There did not seem to be the least sign of consciousness from it's owner, while the passengers awaited the denouement. Finally, with a lurch from the car as an excuse, the foot received another fero- cious dig that was so pronounced as to almost twist the man out of the seat. Thinking that perhaps he had really injured the man, the escort mutt tered an excuse that was received in great equanimity, with the gratifying explanation:
 "oh, don't apologize; it's wooden one and used to being stepped on."
Connecticut western news., 1889-07-24
HUMOROUS

There's always . boom in loaded guns. F....
 The less head man has the more frequently he loses it.
 If you are out in driving storm don't attempt to hold the reins.
 The orator should wear address coat, and the surgeon cutaway.
 A man doesn't feel in the least inflated winch blown up by his wife.
 ''At what time do you retire." he asked. Bedtime" she replied.
 A large head does not always hold brains-the hogs-head for instance.
 When the small boy gets new pair of shoes there is something new under the son.
 Teacher-What is the difference be- tween biped and quadruped" Smart scholar-Two feet.
 The bill collector probably doesn't liko his business any better than the man who pays him, but it has to be dun.
 ''I nearly gave myself away last night" 'sYes, heard soto Miss Bjackson, wasn't iti Why didn't she take you7"
 Miss Gotham-I adore travelling. Were you ever in Greece, Miss Loini Miss Loin of Cincinnati-No, Inever was; but papa was in the Lard Trust, you know. 1 -t ~ s A travelling man says that Boston girl is al right after you understand her. The only trouble is that you cant understand her without consulting tho dictionary.
 First Wife: Do you keep crvant, Second Wife: Oh, no; am scarcely | able to do the work for my own familyi and can not think of adding to tho the burden" Timid youth-"I have poem and l want to sec the editor." Office boy "The editor is busy. I'll do just as we'll. I'm on my way to the waste basket now.'
 The reports that the Czar of Russia is learning to play the cornet, and that fresh plot to assassinate him has been discovered, very naturally reaches us | simul tan eously.
Connecticut western news., 1889-07-24
COpper-Nickel Cents.

It is estimated by mint official that there are still in existence somewhere in the country, tied up in old stockings or in the hands of curiosity collectors, over 100, 900, 900 of the old-fashioned cop per cents, about 12o, 900, 900 of copper nickel cents, nearly 5000, 900 of the present issue of brown pennies and 25,- 900, ,000 of nickel three ce nt pieces, and about 200, 900, 900 of the nickel five cent pieces. The total value of these outstanding various coins is put in round numbers at $62, $50, ,00o.
Connecticut western news., 1889-07-24
A Watchmaker's Tradition.

In a recent conversation with . New York Star reporter prominent jeweler of Maiden lane told the following story to explain why the Roman numerals printed on the dials of watches and clocks differ from those in common use. He said: -- D.. -. -..
 ''It is nothing but tradition among watchmakers, but the custom has al- ways been preserved. You may or you may not know that the first clock that in any way resembled those now in use was made by Henry Wick in 1870. He made it for Charles V. of France, who has been called The Wise ?.
 ''So the story runs in this fashion, although will not vouch for the lau- guage, but put it in that of the present day:
 '.Now, Charles was wise in good many ways. He was wise enough to recover from England most of the land which Edward III. had conquered, and he did good many other thing' which benefited France. But his early educa- tion had been somewhat neglected, and he probably would have had trouble in passing a civil service examination in these enlightened ages. Still he had the reputation for wisdom, and thought that it was necessary, in order to keep it up, that he should also be supposed to possess book learning. The latter was subject he was extremely touchy about.
 "'Yes, the clock works we'll, said Charles, but being anxious to find some fault with thing he did not un- derstand, you have got the figures on the dial wrong.'
 ''Wherein, your majestyp asked Wick.
 "'That four should be four ones, , said the king. ..
 "'You are wrong, your majesty said Wick.
 "Iam never wrong!' thundered the king. Take it away and correct the mistakel and corrected it was, and from that day to this o'clock cn a watch or clock dial has been HI. in- stead of W. The tradition has been faithfully followed"
Connecticut western news., 1889-07-24

Tho story is now being told at Paris that when Gounod's country house was threatened during the Franco -Prussian war, Gounod trusted to his fame for defense and put up the following in scription: s'The house of Charles Gou- nod, the composer of Faust. But the maurading Germans burnt it to the ground all the same.
Connecticut western news., 1889-07-24
National Flowers.

VI In crown and seal the royal Rose Is sign And symbol sweet of Englands sover-
 eighty; O1 France her banners filled with heur-
 de-Lis And German flags shake out the Corn-aow-
 CTS shine. The Thistle is the Scotsmans kingly flower, And Ireland proudly waves her Shamrock
 green. But in our flag no one flower might be As emblem of our greatness. Splendid
 shower All blossoms on our vastness-ily, rose, The thistle, shamrock, corn-fower, thou
 sands moro, That grow from stern Alaska to Gulf
 shore, And bloom by sandy beach or mountain
 snows; All flowers of use or beauty God bestows To grace our boundaries and their scope dis
 close. Emily E. F. Ford tn Harper's Weekly.
Connecticut western news., 1889-07-24

Says the Drovers' Journal: English capitalists have heretofore been content to invest in American railway securities. They have had their fingers so badly burned that they are trying their luck in other directions. Breweries suit them. Several English syndicates are buying up timber tracts, mostly in the Southern States, because land is cheap. One party has just bought 33O, 900 acres in Alabama, and will build several saw mills.
Connecticut western news., 1889-07-24

A company has raised $1, 500, 900 tc lay cable from San Francisco to Homo lulu, since our business with the Sand wich Islands has grown so greatly that . submarine telegraph is required by the legitimate demands of trade. Ameri- cans ire in practical control of the Sand wich Islands, as all their financial and comm .rcial affairs are in our hands.
Connecticut western news., 1889-07-24

The Washington Star announces that the latest discovery by the redoubtable Professor Wig ins is that the earth is moving away from the sun, and the seas are drying up so steadily that ''the time will come when it will be necessary to carve up the continents by canals, as we sec on Mars It is safe to predict that long before we have begun to carve up the continents,th the surgeons will have carved up Professor Wiggins, to dis cover whether the disorder of his brain extended all through his nervous sys- tenn
Connecticut western news., 1889-07-24

A murder trial of more than usual sensational interest has just been brought to . conclusion in Paris. A man by tho name of Hoyos has been condemned to death for killing cer- tain Baron, who bore faint resemblance to him, and who was to be substituted in his stead in order that considerable sum might be collected from different hfe insurance companies.
Connecticut western news., 1889-07-24

Since 1S4S the French have converted 5000, 900 acres of waste lands into for ests, producing $1.75 an acre annually. Paris burns the timber of 50, 900 acres yearly, requiring an area of 1000, 900 scres of forest to keep up the supply.
Connecticut western news., 1889-07-24
A Fearful Throat.

Irate Suburban Resident-See here {; if you don't stop getting out that lawn mower of yours every morning at four o'clock, 1'll-Ill-"
 Next Door Neighbor (defantlD- We'll, what'll you do2
 I. S. R.-rll-Pll start my daughter to practicing on the piano every morn ing before breakfast.
Connecticut western news., 1889-07-24
Peter NOddy.

Peter Noddy comes at night Down the chimney, 50 they say; Sews our eyelids fast and tight Till the break of day. And never yet has anybody Caught glimpse of Peter Noddy. Often have set my chair By the fire to watch for him, But he took me unaware In the shadows dim, And before my eyes would view him, Hehad popped his needle through them. In his thread . moonbeam white Stolen from the sky, l Iwonderf Or, perhaps he tears the slight Spiderwebs asunder, And from out their glossy shredA Twines and spins his lissome threads. And his fingers are so deft And his needle is % keen, Not . scar or mark is left
 Where its point has been. So he comes and 90 he goeA Whence or whether, no one knows
 ID. ". Morehead.
Connecticut western news., 1889-07-24

Tho total number of theatres known to have been actually destroyed by fire during the past thirteen years is Al. Tho killed reached the total of 3, 215.
Connecticut western news., 1889-07-24
ClllmtEQt Western News.
x"DLlDHKD AT CANAAN. ufehFlElD CO.,, CONN.,, RVRpY WrDuronav >ropxr~,.
2c MILEI, Hitr and Proprietpr. LoCal News . Speciality.
FR RRMS,

4200 ysx ysar, if paid strictly h adnas>. 1 - paA ss the expiration of Arss neaths oA3 Wiu bs charged
 o1AesEibsxs desiring their papers aisoon- An1o4 0ust gtve notice at tho HrnArpou of 1AeR saheGiptions, any prsvious notios not SohG 09Ac3ant{ and unleos au Arrsaraxss ars Da14 papa1 wW not then bs dlsooctnuo6 ->Vs & ths eDAaa s( tAs puhhahse.
Connecticut western news., 1889-07-24

At no time in the history of the coun- try has 1t been possible to place bonds at as low a rate of interest as it IS now, declares the Prairie Farmer.
Connecticut western news., 1889-07-24

Good fortune is hard to be borne un- selfshly.