davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-15
GERMAN SCHOOLS.
A Writer Gives an Account of How the
Youth Is Trained.

1Outn Is Ifalne0s
Atlantic Magazine.]
AT the age OF '13 German boy has been
carried so far as to write and speak his
language correctly; and as to reading, boy
is not admitted to the third form unless he
can read firmly, distinctly and intelligently.
The greatest exactness is required in this
respect The laws of punctuation are close
ly watched; the slightest transposition of
words, be it ever so Insignificant, is never
allowed to pass, and here, too, at an early
age. the boy becomes deeply impressed with
that leading principle which runs through
the whole system of education, that there
are no two ways about truth.
Parsing is never practiced In connection
with reading in the Students vernacular,
and exactness in distinguishing the parts of
speech is obtained through the medium of
other languages by comparison. Such a
thing, for instance, as parsing q classical
poem like Goethe's "Hermann and Doro-
thea" analogous to the practice of parsing
Millions paradise Lost" until it really
becomes a lost paradise, was unheard of in
those schools. AS the instruction in Ger
man advances, the "gynasIast" reads in the
classroom the leading works of prose and
poetry. Special stress is laid upon develop
ing the faculty of expounding thoughts in
all their bearings and upon developing the
faculty of individual thinking. Free COM
position exercises are required every month,
the sphere of subjects widening with the
general course of the class, be it in Latin,
Greek, history, French or German, ali
teachers keeping in touch with each depart
ment, which they can do the more easily as
the whole course runs in fixed channels.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-15
Being SOciable.

Chicago Tribune.
Husband-It is true Maria, 1 sometimes
90 out and take a sociable glass with a
friend. Associated as liam in business with
men who drink occasionally. and having for
my acquaintances and intimate friends
chiefly those who are accustomed to drink
ing in moderation, 1 cannot well avoid fol-
lowing their example once in while with
out appearing unsoeial.
Wffe-Gol-leel Christopher beeswaxI
Confound the luck to thunder! Saw my
blamed head off if l.
Husband Gin aston1shment)-Are you
crazy, Maria? What do you mean by such
language?
Wife, am only talking as you do, John,
if you step on tack when you get up in
the morning'or run a splinter under your
fingernaiI in making a fire. Associated as
1 am, John, in close relation with a man
who talks in this style cannot well avoid
following his example once in while with
out appearing unsocial. Whoop! Darn it
all! The baby has smeared molasses candy
on this beastly door knob again-
Husband (humbly)-I'n sign the pledge
tomorrow, Maria.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-15
FUNNY FOODS.
Some of the Queer Things That Are Eaten In
Different Countries.

Some of the Queer Things That Are Eaten In
Different Countries.
Who would ever think of eating butter
tties-of making meal from the pretty in
sects that fit about the garden on sum-
mer's day? But the blackmen who live in
Australia would laugh, says writer in
Little Folks Magazine, at the idea OF taking
pleasure in a butterfy's beauty, or of care
fully preserving it in a glass case. To them
the butterfly calls up thoughts of time of
great feasting and laziness, when there is
plenty to eat and little to do, for this is the
black Australians idea of happiness.
There are some mountains in Australia
that are called the Bugong Mountains, and
on them, at certain times, great quantities of
butterflies collect The natives flock from
all the country round and light great fires,
the smoke of which sutfocates the little in
sects. Then they are gathered and baked
upon the hot ground on which the fires
were; they are sifted to get rid of the down
and wings, and the plump little bodies are
made into cakes which are said to have a
sweet, nutty taste.
A certain African king who came to this
country was one day, soon after his arrival,
invited to grand party. Els host thought
he would give him something to eat unlike
anything that he had ever tasted before, so
brought him a strawberry ice. "Isn't that
good?" he asked the black man. ''Yes, it am
berry nice," was the reply, "but did white
man ever eat ants?" The favorite food in
his country consisted of white ants pounded
up into jelly and baked; and the straw
berry ice was so very good that it reminded
him of this delicacy. While ants are eaten
in some parts of Africa, a curry made of
their eggs is a favorite dish in an Asiatic
country called Siam, and in Mexico kind
of bread is made of ants eggs
The ugly little bushmen of South Africa
are very fond ofroasted spiders, and Japa-
nese tribe called the Airos live chiefly on a
stew made of seaweed, slugs, fish, roots,
berries and mushrooms, with a soup in
which kind of clay, which is very much
like putty, is mixed. They were Mortified
at seeing an English lady who visited them
put milk in her tea, and thought it very
strange that anyone should like to spoil tea
with liquid that tasted so strong as milk.
The Chinese are funny people in many
ways, but in none more so than in their
fondness tor soups made of sharks fins and
birds nests The nests that are used for
soups are not at all like those that we know;
they are no thicker than a spoon, are about
as big as turkey egg, and do not weigh
more than half an ounce. Thousands of
Cinnamon make their living by gathering
and selling these queer little nests, and the
finest sort are very valuable, sometimes
fetching two or three times their weight in
silver. These same people are very fond of
puppy-dogs fattened and roasted. A leg of
dog is as common in their butchers shop
as leg of mutton is in ours.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-15
NOVEL STATISTICAL FACTS.

If ChevreuI Had Never Cut His Nails They
Would Have Been 2O3 Inches Long.
London Figaro.J
Here is something for the Statistical
Society. 1t has been calculated by most
devoted amateur of statistics that If the
late NJ. Chevreul, who lately died at the
age of 1O3, had never cut his nails they
would have attained on the 9th ultimo, the
day of his decease, to the length of 2O3
inches.
This calculation is founded on the fact,
which, according TO- Psychologists, may be
safely accepted as correct, that the nails OF
the average mortal grow every year to the
extent of an inch and tWo-thirds. Strange
to say, however, the nail on the middle fin
ger grows q little more quickly than the
others, and annually adds close on two
inches in length. Ittherefore follows, states
the statistician, that NJ. Chevreul in the
course of his protracted life must have
grown in all on his ten digits no less than
Sc yards foot of finger nail. Having thus
intimated new path along which the in
veterate statistician may ride his pet hobby,
/ will leave him to extend this interesting
inquiry as he may think best,
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-15

rels between Sir Edgar and her, but as they
always talked in her tongue nobody knew
what they were about When the new
house was finished they moved into it, and
the ruins of the old Hold were leveled with
the ground. People thought then that Sir
Edgar would naturally open the house to
the county, and, indeed, some entertain
ments were given, but whether it was that
they believed the stories to his disadvantage,
or that they shrank from the strange
hostess, who, they say, always looked on
these occasions stately and cold, and who
spoke no word of their language, the coun-
ty gentry gradually fell away, and Carne's
Hold was left pretty much 10 its owners.
''Soon afterward another child was born.
There were, of course, more servants now,
and more state, but Lady Carne was as
much alone as ever. Whether she was de-
termined to learn no word of English, or
whether he was determined that she should
not, she at any rate made no attempt to ac-
quire her husbands language, and many
said that it was a shame that he did not get
her nurse and maid who could speak her
tongue; for in the days of Charles there
were foreigners enough in England, and
there could have been no difficulty In pro-
curing her an attendant Of her own religion
and race.
sThey quarreled more than ever; but the
servants were all of opinion that whatever
it was about it was her doing more than his.
1t was her voice to be heard rising in
passionate tones, while he said but little,
and they all agreed he was polite and cour-
teous in his manner to her. As for her, she
would walk for hours by herself up and
down the terrace, talking aloud to herself,
sometimes wringing her hands and throw
ing her arms wildly about. At this time
there began to be a report among the coun-
try round that Lady Carne was out of her
mind.
"She was more alone than ever now, for
Sir Edgar had taken to making journeys up
to town and remaining for weeks at time,
and there was whisper that he played
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-15
CHINESE NOTIONS.
10 illogical superstitions Which Trouble the
Celestial Mind.

CeIeSIlal mlnQs
Chicago News.i
A Chinese native paper published re-
Gently a collection of some geological myths
of that country, q few of which are worth
noting. In Shan-si there is bird which
can divest itself of its feathers and become
a woman. At Twan-sin-chow dwells the
Wan-mu Mao (mother of mosquitoes), q
fsh-eating bird, from whose mouth issue
swarms of mosquitoes when it cries. Yung-
chow has It's stone-swallow, who flies during
the wind and rain, and in fine weather
turns to stone again. Another bird when
killed gives much oil to the hunter, and
when the skin is thrown into the water it
becomes living bird again. With regard
to animals, few areso useful as the "Jin-
kin OK, found in Kansuh, from which
large pieces of flesh are cut for meat and
grown again in a single day. The norman
of the southern seas can weave a kind of
silky fabric which keeps a house cool in
summer if hung up in one of the rooms.
The tears OF the norman are pearls. A
large hermit crab is attended by a little
shrimp which lives in the stomach of its
master. If the shrimp is successful in its
depredations the crab fourishes, but the
latter dies if the shrimp does not return
from his daily excursions. The "Ho-lo" is
fish having one head and ten bodies. The
myths about snakes are the strangest of all.
Thus the square snake of Kwangsi has the
power OF throwing an inky fluid when at
tackled, which kills its assailants at once.
Another snake can divide itself up into
IL pieces, and each piece If touched by a
man, will instantly generate a head and
fangs at each end. The calling snake asks
a traveller: "Where are you from, and
whittier are you bound?" If he answers
the snake follows him for miles, and enter
ing the hotel where ne is sleeping,
raises fearful stencil. The hotel proprie-
tor, however, guards against this by putting
a centipede in box under the pillow, and
when the snake gives forth the evil odor
the eentlpede is let out, and, flying at the
snake, instantly kills him with bite. The
fat of this snake, which grows to a great
size, makes oil for the lamps and produces
a flame which cannot be blown out. In
Burmah and Coehin-China is snake which
has in the female sex face like a pretty
girl, with two feet growing under her neck,
each with five fingers, exactly like the fin
gers of human hand. The male is green
in color and has long beard; it will kill
a tiger, but fox is more than match for
il
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-15

settled in London. The son of the eldest
boy succeeded his father, but died a bache-
lor. He was man of strange, moody
habits. and many did not hesitate to say
that he was as mad as his grandfather mad
been. He was found dead in his library,
with a gun Just discharged lying beside
him. Whether it had exploded accidently,
or whether he had taken his life, none could
say: .oun and
took possession, and for a time it seemed as
if the curse of the Carnes had died OUT, ana
indeed no further tragedies have taken
place in the family, but several OF It's mem
bers have been unlike other men, suffering
from fits of morose gloom or violent pas
sion. The father of Reginald, the present
squire, was of bright and jovial charac-
ter, and during the thirty years that he was
possessor of the Hold had been so popular
in this part of the country that the old
stories had been almost forgotten, and 1t rs
generally believed that the curse of the
Carnes has died out.
"And the present owner" Mr.. Gulston
asked; ''what sort of man is he?"
"I don't know nothing about him, the
old man replied; she is since my time" :,
"He is about eight and twenty, - the land
lord said. "Some folks say one thing about
him, some another; say nothing. he Ger
tainiy amt like his father, who, as he rode
through the village, had a word for every
one; while the young Squire looks as If he
was thinking SO much that he didn't even
know that the village stood here. The ser
wants of the Hold speak well of him-he
seems kind and thoughtful when he is In
the humor, but he is often silent and dull,
and it is not many men who would be dull
with Miss Margaret. She is one OF the
brightest and highest spirited young LADIES
in the county. There's no one but mas a
good word for her. L think the Squire stud
les harder than is good for him. They say
he is always reading, and he doesn't hunt or
shoot; and natural enough when man
shuts himself up and takes no exercise to
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-15
A Good Opening.

New York SUM-
Harlem Real Estate Agent-I hope you
win take this store. You'll find it a good
neighborhood for an undertaken.
Undertaker-Pm afraid to risk it.
SITS very sickly neighborhood, sir"
'TndeedP'
+. "And great many doctors about"
''That's good. Still I'm afraid"
"And no end to the boarding houses"
''Sir, I'll take the room"
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-15
Perfectly Satisfactory.

Detroit Free Press, !
"Have you any work on punctuation?"
she asked at the bookstore.
"Sorry to say we are just out"
"Well, perhaps you can tell me what 1
want to know. What does mark under
word signify?"
"That is to emphasize the word"
''Oh-I see. Thank you"
And as she passed out clerk heard her
whisper to herself.
"And james put five marks under the
word 'Dearl'
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-15
Improved Circumstances.

Grip
Peter-You children turn up your noses
at everything on the table. When 1 was a
boy was glad to get enough dry bread 70
eat.
Tommy-Say. pa, you're having a much
better time oft now you are living with
US, amt you?
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-15
A Generous Physician.
New York Weekly.1

New York Weekly.l
Mrs. Blinkers-Well, did you go to the
doctor to see about that bee-sting on little
johnny?
Mr.. Blinkers-Yes,h he said we should put
mud on it. He charged me 81 for the pre-
scription, but he gave me the mud tor
nothing.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-15

after it is over, and come back after
breakfast
"Well, that alters the case, lad, and un-
der those conditions will be one of the
party
(To be continued neat Saturday.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-15

Dill NVF tdtks IN to-morrot1s DIS
DILL ~ ln PATCH, from the depths Of his
experience, on hol0 writers Js0rtte, and gives
tionS
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-15
A HAUNTED CITY tsr%s .sxts.1rs;c;,;s e. ns%s q

article by Olive Harper IN to-fnorrotO's DIS
PATCH, n which she relates some stories of
metropolitaH ghosts.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-15

vile, N. "
RIVERS RULED OUT.
10. The funeral procession must not cross
a river. (Baldwinsville, N. W
"I was first led to notice the superstition
about crossing a river from having to at
tend funerals on the south side, when they
would otherwise have been held on the
north side This is losing ground owing to
the frequency of crossing to reach the ceme-
terry, but had an instance only last spring.
CIV. NJ. B."
13. 1t is unlucky, in funeral, for those
present to repass the house where death has
occurred. (Baldwinsville, N. "
IA. AT funeral, entering a church be-
fore the mourners means death to some of
the entering party. Boston. Mass.)
Is. Ifone dies, and no rIgor mortis en-
sues, it indicates speedy second death in
the family.
The superstition prevails in Great Britain
and on the continent of Europe.
16. The person on whom the eyes of
dying person last rest will be the first to die.
(Boston, Mass)
This seems to be form of widely prev
alent superstition that il the eyes of the
dying person open of their own accord one
of his relatives will soon follow. It is prob
able that tie importance, from time imme-
mortal. attached to the ceremony of closing
the eyes of the dead has for its foundation
not merely the natural propriety of de-
cent usage, but also belief kindred to the
above.
IL. The last name dying person calls is
the next to follow. New Hampshire.)
18. Ii three persons look at the same time
into q mirror one will die within year.
peabody, Mass; New Hampshire.
10, To obreak a looking glass is death sign,
or Of bad luck for seven years. This Is quite
The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1889-05-15
at him staggering back, and then

sent him staggering back, and then
said -
'tSit down! and don't dare to leave
your seat or I'll knock out what little
brains you have"
Coleman then chopped through the
floor of the gallery, and Fireman
John Rooney, who had followed him
with the fire extinguisher, put out the
flames.
And the audience sat still and
watched the whole performance, APP
plauding heartily when it was over
and the fire was out.
When it was all over, Manager Lacy
came out on the stage and thanked
the audience for its firmness,
saying that he had I've known an
audience to show SO much presence of
mind under SO trying circumstances.
There were four policemen in the
theatre, out of uniform, beside the
two on duty, and they We're On the
spot at once In addition to these,
! Chief Murphy had a squad of eight
down to the theatre on the double
quick, in answer to a telephone mes
sage as soon as the fire broke out.
= Fireman Rooney, of No. l Truck,
said. when | asked him about the fire,
that he was off duty last night and
went to the Academy. A boydiscovered
the fire and an usher sent him to
the truckhouse.
The call was promptly responded to
by James Coleman, George Murdoch,
James Doyle and Foreman Charles
Scott. In the meantime Rooney has
tened to the rear of the stage and tele-
phoned Fire Headquarters, and Chief
Farrier, Assistant Chief Denmead and
Fireman Riddle responded instantly.
Rooney said that as soon as he saw
the fire and noticed indications of a
panic he told the people not to be
alarmed, that the only trouble was
that a boy had been elected for smok-
ing a cigarette.
1.-THE firemen had to fight their way
to the gallery" said Mr.. Rooney, land
it was necessary to beat back thirty
or forty people who were coming down
the stairs. This no doubt prevented a
serious diaster. When the firemen
succeeded in reaching the gallery the
fire was out. An usher with a fire eX-
tinguisher had quenched it. The fire
was caused by a leaky gas pipe. The
firemen, to see that all was secure, cut
q hole eighteen inches square in tho
wall and found that the space between
it and the ceiling was charred, but the
fire was out.n
1t is a wonder that there was not a
great panic, but it appears that the
only really frightened person in the
building was a lady, who jumped over
the back of her chair and tainted in
the arms of Johnny Madden-and
even she had presence of mind enough
to select a chivalrous fellow like
Johnny in her hour of need.
The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1889-05-15

PULLING AT GUTENBERG.
Sheridan's Strong Arm or FenelOn--Sbort
Horses Defeat the Favorites Handily.

Sheridan's Strong Arm on FenelOn--Sbor
Horses Defeat the Favorites Handily.
The last day of the Gutenberg meeting
did not altogether close happily. The
weather was good, u the track In nrst
class order, despite the heavy rain that
had fallen the day previous. A large at
tendance was present at the n~inety-third
consecutive days racing, n this without
postponement, rain or shine. Throughout,
the meeting has been n grand success, and
with ample inducements offered for both
owners Il trainers in the fall, should
attract the attention of larger owners
over the new mile track now designed
and on which work will be commenced
forthwith. The talent were badly at sea
yesterday and but two fayorites were
seen in the lead at the close of the winter
meeting. The results follow:-
The first race was a five furlong dash,
for beaten horses, with Gilt made a strong
favorite over the field of nine starters.
He made the running throughout and
won easily by four lengths from the
length in front of Slasher, third. Time,
1861. Mutuels paid $3.50; for a place,
s .T5; the Planeroid gelding, for a place,
$7.20.
The second race was also for beaten
horses, at seven furlongs, Boutwell, was
heavily backed and made the ~favorite, but
in the large field of eleven starters he was
hardly able to make up the ground he lost
at the start, ELECTRICITY winning after a
sharp race by a head from Boutwell,, who
was the same distance in front of Landseer
third. Time 1.34L2. Mutuels paid S14. So;
for a place, 1895; Boutwell, for a place,
$.20.
Third Race-Six and a half furlongs;
selling allowances. For this six horses
started, with Babette and Veto made even
favorites ut 2 to / each. LIomax made the
running throughout, and won in a canter
by four lengths. Glen Almond finished
second. a neck in the lead Of Banker,
third. Time, 1;26M. Mutuels paid 50. 80;
for a place, $3.50; Glen Almond for a
place, $7.65.
Fourth Race-Six and a half ~furlongs.
Eight horses started. with Fenelon made
the favorite over the Saint, who had previ-
ously shown such good form around the
ring. Harbor Lights got the best of the
start, and Fenelon was almost left at the
post. Harbor Lights led until well within
the stretch. when st. John came away and
won easily by two lengths. Harbor Lights
was second, q head behind, Fenelon third
Time, 1:25. Mutuals paid IS, IS; for a place
$3.50; Harbor Lights for a place, 81. ;
For the fifth race six horses came to
the post. The distance was one mile.
Carrier q, was made the favorite, but
The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1889-05-15
OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
Figures Cleaned from Mr.. Poland's Re-
port for April.

Figures Cleaned from Mr.. Poland's Re-
port for April.
The Board of Education did not
muster a quorum at the meeting yes
terday afternoon, and adjourned
without transacting any business.
Superintendent Poland's report for
the month of April gives these Stats
ties
Time lost by absence of teachers,
1 1921 hours; same month last year,
$50; increase, 251. Number of children
refused admission, 70; same month
last year, TIA; decrease, SO. Number
of seats in Primary Department,
10, 902; Grammar Department, 4,923;
total, 1895; total for same month
last year, Is, ITO; increase, 55. Number
of pupils registered in Primary De-
partment, II, 094; Grammar Depart
ment, 1885; total, 15,479; total for
same month last year, 1897 de-
crease, 32S. Average register in Pri-
mary Department, II, 1902; Grammar
Department, 4,4s1; total, 10, 5S3; total,
for same month last year, Is, 1902; de-
200. Average attendance Pri-
mary Department, 1928; Grammar
Department, 4, 1874 total, IA, 412; total
for same month last year, IA, 600; de-
crease, 276. Number of teachers, Pri-
mary Department, 232; Grammar De
partment, 143; total, 375 increase, ~.