davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-07-28
A FOX PLAYS 'POSSUM.
Feigning Death to Save Herself and Her
Young Ones.


Brooklyn Eagle.I
Ex-Surrogate William D. Veeder tells good
story of a recent incident on his farm in Gull
derland, Albany county. One of his workmen
had run into earth a fox and her cubs and
started in vigorously to dig them out After
about four hours hard work he came upon the
old fox. He caught her in the hole with a
forked stick across the neck, whacked her over
the head with a shovel and pounded her until
all sign of life had gone. Then he hauled her
out by the heels and hung her on the grass
There she lay, eyes half closed. tongue hanging
out and to all intents and purposes as bereft of
life as the spade on which he leaned and con-
templated his work. Then he turned to the
task of getting out the cubs. A few moments
after he paused in his shoveling and glanced
around, Just in time to see the old fox that he
thought as dead as a smoked herring jump to
her feet and skip out over the knoll like streaks
OF alternating electricity with pressure of
5000 volts behind it
When he recovered from his astonishment he
recalled the stories he had heard of how a fox
in tight place will simulate death. He never
believed them before, but now he thought
them all true. A little more digging and two
cubs were unearthed. "Well, have broken
up the family, anyhow" he muttered, as he
Drained the little foxes with the shovel and
taking them by the heels started for home
Just after daylight the next morning he had
occasion to pass the spot on his way to his daily
work. He was Just in time to see that same
cubs at her heels. Instead of two she had four
children, and the henroosts of the ex-Surrogate
will once more be in danger when the swallows
nest again.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-07-28

a fire, and his trouble was in consequence
very great.
"What can DO now?" he complained to
himself, 81 have not place in the world
to sleep in, and when my wife comes home
she will scold me so much that 1 shall never
hear the last of it,
While he was yet talking to himself and
almost crying at his misfortune his wife,
who had been away from home for several
days, came along the road, and when she
got to the spot where Cooney sat she criec:
"Well, Cooney, where is our house?"
For a moment or two the old man did not
know what to say. but at last he manfully
looked up to the woman and replied:
"a fire broke out in the place last night,
and the whole place burned down to the
ground. 1 only succeeded to save my
SELF"
"Well, if you were fool enough to have
the house burned up around your ears,
wish the demon of fire would come and burn
you up, too"
Thus said the woman in her wrathful
temper, but she never expected that her
words would have any serious consequences.
However, she had no more than uttered the
last word of her awful passion when there
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-07-28
TO EUROPE BY RAIL.
Road Projected Through Alaska From spo.
kane Falls.

"It is highly probable that a railway from
Spokane Falls to Alaska will be constructed
within the next few years." said Mr. a. A.
Johnston, of New York, to St LOUIS Globe
Democrat reporter. Il am on my way home
from business trip to Washington Territory,
and while out there my attention was called TO
this project, and l spent considerable time
looking into it The movement is in its in
fancy, but it has the backing of the wealthy
men of the Northwest and of the people of
British Columbia. and believe the road will
be built.
''The idea looks strange and impracticable at
the first glance. but as a matter OF fact the OBJ
stacles to be encountered in the construction
OF such line would not be as great as we're
met with by the Central Pacific and the North
ern Pacific. 1t is proposed to begin the rail-
road at Spokane Falls. making that city the
southern and eastern terminus. Competent
engineers place the total cost at s13O. 0OO. 900.
Mr.. Walter Moberly. engineer for the Govern
ment OF British Columbia. has examined the
proposed route. and believes that the road
could be built for less money per mile than the
Canadian Pacific, which he helped to carry
through, and would prove very profitable"
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-07-28
HOT ENOUGH TO ROAST EGGS.
A Thrilling Story Told by Truthful Ten.
nessee Conductor.


Chattanooga Times.I
There are a large number of cheerful pre-
varicators in Tennessee. and some very good
story tellers. but it has been left to a well
known freight conductor on the Western and
Atlantic Railway, who makes regular trips in
and out of Chattanooga, to tell the biggest
hot weather story yet recorded SO far this
summer. One day this week while his train
was moving lazily along beneath the broiling
hot sun, with the scintillating rays coming in
aslant at a side window of his caboose and
playing on the black oilcloth covering of a seat
near by, sudden thought flashed through his
mind, although the heat was so oppressive that
a man would have been excusable for refusing
to think thought He received an inspira-
tion, as it were, from the hot cushions and he
proceeded to carry it out (the inspiration).
He happened to have a basket of fresh eggs in
the caboose which he had bought at a way sta
tion for his wife, and. taking occasional glances
at the basket, he became desperately
hungry.
So he waltzed over to the basket. and.
securing nice, fresh looking egg, placed it on
the back cushion in the sun and awaited de-
velopments. His experiment proved a success
for while he stood anxiously watching the de-
velopment of the scheme the egg shell cracked
and the egg was cooked. having been on the
hot cushion but l5 minutes He repeated the
experiment a number of times with the same
success and produced the egg shells to prove
it. The conductor still holds his position on
the Western and Atlantic, es the superintend-
ent has never heard the story.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-07-28
Sick Headache

Is complaint from which many suffer
L and few are entirely free. Its cause
is Indigestion and sluggish liver, the
cure for which is readily found in the
use of Ayers Pills.
az have found that for sick headache,
caused by disordered- condition Of the
stomach, Ayers Pills are the most re-
liable medy."-Samuel @. Bradburn,
Worthington, Mass.
"After the use of Ayers Pills for
many years, in my practice and family,
am justified in saying that they are an
excellent cathartic and liver medicine
sustaining all the claims made for them"
w. A. Westfall, M. D., v. p. Austin
& N. w. Railway Co., Burnet, Texas.
ayers Pills are the best medicine
known to me for regulating the bowels,
and for all diseases caused by dis
ordered stomach and liver. / suffered
for over three years from headache, in
digestion, and constipation. / had no
appetite and was weak and nervous
most of the time. By using three boxes
of Ayers Pills, and at the same time
dieting myself, / was completely cured"
Philip Lockwood, Topeka, Kansas.
CT was troubled for years with indi-
gestion, constipation, and headache. A
few boxes of Ayers Pills, used In small
daily doses, restored me to health.
They are prompt and effective. w. h
Strout, Meadville, Pa.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-07-28

674.-A SHREwD VERDICT.
10 was dead as any door nail,
Like poor Scrooge of old in Dickens tale.
The cause of his death was very obscure,
But the coroner said he was sartln sure
TO find it out If he set long enough,
Which he meant to do. 1t was rather rough
On the good men and true to be kept so long
But they sought with a viii to find out the
wrong:
Yet their progress was such that I doubt bus
by chance
They had made to this day one inch Of adj
vances
Next door to their place was q druggists shop.
And a lad, less intent on errand than top,
Put his head. by mistake, in the coroner's
And called for a drug all had heard of be-
fore.
"why, bless me ! ye don't ssyl Did he die Of
that i"
Cried the quick-witted one whom the others
called Pat.
"Of what ~ cried his mates. do tell If you
can.
And let us 90 home, for we're tired out. man r.
why. didn't you hear the gossoon, what he
One would think ye had niver an ear to yer
It agrees with the ividence. sound sinse and
raison;
Wen rinder the verdict. and get home In
saisonr ~
HAPPY THoUeHr.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-07-28
SMOKING BY PROXY.
How n Philadelphia Gentleman Enjoys the
Forbidden Weed.
Philadelphia Press. !

Tnuauelpnla fTeSs.i
Ira Trip, retired coal operator Of Scranton,
is one of the few men on record who enjoys the
luxury of smoking by proxy. Twenty years
ago his physician told him that smoking was
preiu6icial TO his health, and that he must stop
the practice. Although he was confirmed
smoker, he obeyed the doctors injunction.
Since then he has never smoked cigar. At the
same time he has not totally denied himself
his chief luxury. To indulge it without disobey-
ing the doctors injunction be employs what
might be called his smoking valet"
1t is the duty of this man TO smoke Havana
cigar whenever Mr.. Trip feels like indulging
in little tobacco dissipation, and blow the
smoke in his employers face. The latter eager
ly inhales the fragrant cloud and then exhales
il through his nostrils and blows it down
through The neshes of his long, white beard.
Mr.. Tripp declares that he enjoys this second
handed smoke as keenly as when he did the
putting himself. He often comes to Philadel-
phia. and never travels without his smoking
companion.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-07-28
THE DEMON OF FIRE.
ERNEST n. HEINRICHS.
WRITTEN FOR THE DISPATCH.

30 quickly as that. Had it been made of
stone instead of timber believe it would
be there YETI
$50 you want a stone house, do you?"
eyes, of course do" Cooney's wife re-
piled; show can anybody live in wooden
building and not be in constant danger of
being burned up?''
"All right, you shall have a stone house
now. and will see how long that will last
you." When the demon had uttered these
words he disappeared again. and behold! a
grand granite structure stood before the couple
in the place where the wooden house had
burned not long ago.
That is what call houser now remarked
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-07-28
A BASEBALL CRANKS INVENTION.
A Machine That Will Make the Services of
Pitcher Unnecessary.

Machine That VIII Mako the Services of
Pitcher Unnecessary.
Atlanta JournaL1
Out at East Point there is a baseball crank
who is working on patent ball tosser or pitcher
with which he expects to revolutionize the ma
tioEal game.
His name is Quellman. and he is an ex-pro-
fessional ball player.
Baseball is the greatest game on EARTH" he
says, 'but there is one great objection to it and
that is the power of the umpire. His calling of
balls and strikes allows him to give the game to
either nine when the teams are well matched
Now, my patent will do away with this OBJ
jectionable feature. 1t is a propelling ma
chine which will allow the man who stands in
the box to throw every ball over the plate. He
can elevate or lower it so as to throw a ball
anywhere between the knee and the waist The
velocity of the ball can De regulated and the
team with the best catcher can throw the
swiftest ball. Only three balls will be thrown
over the plate, and the batter must strike or
run. OF course there will be more balls batted,
but this will require more skillful playing in
the field. The game will not then go to the
nine whose pitcher can the most befuddle the
umpire. My ball tosser will create a sensation
in baseball circles and / expect to make big
money out of ii"
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-07-28
WANTED TO BRIBE HER.

An Incorrigibic Pupil Offers Money to His
Teacher to Stop Talking.
Boston Courier.I
When teacher was endeavoring to impress
upon class OF newsboys the beauty Of right
eousness, and to give them some sort of a
leaning toward the paths of decency, sobriety
and godliness, an impudent saucy-faced young
ster, known among his companions as Bully
Sam" leaned forward, and holding out to her a
battered nickel, which had the general ap-
pearance of having been run over by horse
car, observed:
81 say now, I'll give you that to STOP"
1t may be judged how much effect the lesson
had after that.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-07-28
A CURE FOR CRAMPS.

Simple md Always Available Remedy
for the Disease.
New York Evening World.l
A physician, in conversation with reporter.
made this statement: when have patient
who is subject to cramp 1 alwaps advise him to
provide himself with strong cord. A long
garter will 90 if nothing else is handy. When
the cramp comes on take the cord wind it
around the leg over the place that is cramped,
and take an end in each hand and give it sharp
pull, one that will hurt little. Instantly the
cramp will cease, and the sufferer can 60 to bed
assured it will not come on again that night.
This is an effective remedy" he assured the
reporter, '.and if carried out by afflicted per.
sons many dollar would be saved in ply
sicians' fees"
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-07-28
Wise Heads ON Young shoulders.

enterprise (han independently
One of our Sunday school teachers on a recent
occasion told her pupils that when they put
their pennies in the contribution box she want
ed each one to repeat Bible verse suitable for
the occasion. The first boy dropped in a cent.
saying: THE Lord loveth a cheerful giyer -
The next boy dropped his cent into the box,
saying: HE that giveth to the poor lendeth to
the Lord" The third and youngest boy dropped
his penny, saying: "a fool and his money are
soon parted. -
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-07-28
GOODNESS AND MEANNESS.
A Conversation That Shows How Peoples
Idens Differ on These Subjects.

Boston Courier.1
"Ahi how do you do, Smith,"
"Pretty well, thank you, Jones'"
"Where do you keep yourself nowf haven't
seen you for an age. The boys used to be al
ways speaking about you, but never hear them
mention your name now"
mo, 1 don't suppose you do"
But you used to be one of the most pop-
ular as well as one Of the jolliest fellows among
u.s."
Il know it. When used to 20 around with
the boys and spend my money with them and
neglect my wife and children. I was a splendid
give my wife and children the attention and
comforts to which they are entitled, and which
should never have been Withdrawn from them.
have lost my popularity among the boys, and
am now regarded as one of those mean cusses'
But / guess can stand it'
Il guess you can," said Jones; 81 never saw
you looking better in my life."
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-07-28
No Files on His Hogs.
Biddeford Journal.i

The society with the long name has Q dis
ciple In Augusta who dispenses the milk of
human kindness to animals In o way and man
ner that must afford delight to the spirit Of the
late Mr.. Bergh. If IL ever visits these mortal
shores. He has placed I'm his pig pen number
OF sheets OF sticky ny paper to divert the at
tention OF the winged miscreants from the un-
protected backs Of their hogshipA
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-07-28
MORE SUICIDES In HOT WEATHER.
High Temperature Seems to Make People
Take Their Own Lives.
New York Star. J

DR.. Michael ]. B. Messemer, the Coroner. is
a student of the weather and suicides. They
are subjects which have taken up considerable
of his spare time. and he has become a convert
to the theory that prolonged hot weather is
followed by an increase in the number of sui.
cides In conversation upon this subject yes
terday, he said:
Il have followed the matter closely, and be.
neve IL to be true that hot weather is irvariably
accompanied by an increase In the number Of
suicides, and when the hot wave Ia prolonged
for week or more 1t is followed BY almost a
suicidal epidemic in the city. On cool DAYS
there Is an average of from one to three sui
rapid increase Ia made"
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-07-28
678-NUMERICAL.

The dark 2 TO- IL Il harbors a voice Of plain
tive tone.
9, 2 is this unseen spirit who makes request
for one unknown?
81, 8, 8" the sad one says, '4, T. 6, 8 Tin purse
or friends)
81, 10, II. Il" and then sobbing moan the
pleading ends.
OF all the voices of the night, which irritate, or
sooth or thrill,
None has so eerie q refrain as sends the all
from yonder hill.
BITTER SWEET.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-07-28

LID Cooney, the coal
carrier, was. sorrow-
fully sitting on the
stump of a tree by the
roadside not far from
the spot where the
shanty had been stand
ing in which old
Cooney had been liv-
ing all his life. The
fact of the matter was
that the coal car
rier had lost his home
that yery morning by
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-07-28
675.-ANAGRAM.

Escaping from "a TRUANTis PEN,n
A boy went OF a-boating;
He was drowned, his body found,
Upon the surface floating"
NELsoNIAN.
676.-THE PUZZLE OF THE GRoCER's BOZ.
A groeers wagon broke down while being
driven across narrow stream. The driver,
finding 1t impossible to either advance or re-
cede, cast about for a means of unloading the
wagon. He found that he could reach one
bank of the stream by jumping upon a small
rock which stood about half way between the
wagon and the shore, and which could be used
as stepping stone. From here he could step
to a landing place on the shore. The load con-
sisted of bag of potatoes a bag of tomatoes,
some eggs and some Strawberries Now,
the wagon, the stone in the stream
and the landing place itself were so
narrow that no two of the packages
could be placed side by side; 1t was neees-
sary to place them one upon the other. But il
the potatoes had been placed on either of the
other articles they would have crushed them;
the tomatoes could be placed upon the pota-
toes, but nos OH the eggs or strawberries; the
eggs could be placed on either the potatoes or
tomatoes, but not on the strawberries, while
the strawberries were light enough to be
placed on any of the other articles. In this
wagon they were arranged in the following
order, beginning at the bottom l. potatoes; 2
tomatoes; 8, eggs; 4, strawberries. The grocer's
boy could lift only one of the packages at q
time; how did he manage to transfer th EN- to
the landing place in the same order as they
were in the wagon ]. II. FEzANDIE.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-07-28
MARRIED TO TRUTH.
A Jndge's Reply to Witness who Perjured
Himself.

outn' . Companion.1
A witness who had given his evidence in such
manner as to convince every one In court of
his perjury, said, at last, on being cautioned by
the Judgei my lord, you may believe me or
not, but have not stated word that is false
for have been welded to truth from my in
fancy"
Eyes. SIRE replied Maule, sbut the question
" "how long have you been widoWer.,'
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-07-28
THE FIRESIDE SPHINX
A Collection Of Enigmahcal Nuts for
Home Cracking.
674.-A sHREwD VERDICT.

Address communications for fhfs Departments
to E. R. CHADBoURN. Letcistor, Maine.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-07-28
6S0.-BEFoRE YOUR EYES,

All the laws of our great nation,
Every book. both great and small,
Even the Presidential message
i constitute them all.
The libel and the forgery,
The sermon and the prayer,
The Constitution of our land,
In each claim a share.
am composed of many parts.
These parts have many a form;
They are oft in diffe rent colors seen,
When hotels or stores they adorn.
In earliest youth I was given to you,
You were taught that was wise:
may seldom in your sight appear,
Though Pm now before your eyes.
FRAME.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-07-28
619,-DIAMOND.

A letter. 2 A trick. 3 Ghosts, A dig
nifty or degree of honor next below baron.
An instrument for exhibiting the transverse
vibration of cords. Gave (obs). A kind Of
vessel. To spread or turn as new-mown
grass. A letter. OLIVER TWIST.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-07-28
677.-CHARADE.

Said mother to Benny, IF now you will take
To poor Uncle Peter this fine johnny-cake,
This bit of fresh meat, these potatoes and
beans
And-what he's so fond of-this dish Of nice
greens,
Many first he will give you, and YOU will know
The pleasure of second as homeward you 90.
When the lOhoLe comes again, may it find you,
my boy,
At the pleasant home-gathering. with heart
full of Joy"
FLoRENCE.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-07-28

for the pretty and innocent faces that meet
in the routine Of daily life. CLARA BELLE.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-07-28
Thoughts for the Sabbath.

THE first discourse ever preached had a lie
for its text, and made converts of half Its hear.
ers.-Joseph Cook.
FLATTERY. like false money, impoverishes
those who receive it, Hoitler.
THE world is wide
In time and tide
And God is guide
So do not hurry.
That man is blest
Who does his best
And leaves the rest
Then do not worry
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-07-28
6S1.-REBUS.

oo1.-REBUS.
o. ye insatiate, cankering cares,
Stay, stay your blighting coursei
Ye eat away the human heart,
And work without remorse.
BELLE BURDErr.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-07-28

ANSWERS.
667.-Spear, pears, ear, reaps, pea, scar, erss,
ares. ape, spar, sea-
66s.-Forgetting insolate. (For getting in 50
1ate.)
669.-Clout, lout, out.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-07-28

The Pince TO be Cheated.
Youths Companion.1
The shoemaker hung out a new sign, and
then wondered what passers-by found so anus
ing. His sign ran as follows: Don't 60 else
where to be cheated Walk in here"
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-07-28


I CAN understand peoples losing by trusting
too little to God, but 1 cannot understand any
ones losing by trusting Him too much
Charles KinQsieya
To run a few steps will not get man heated;
but walking an hour may; so. though a sudden
occasional thought of heaven will not raise our
affections to any spiritual heat, yet meditation
can continue our thought and lengthen our
walk till our hearts grow warmer.-Bdzter.
Oh, blessed Ciyitas Dell The ransomed shall
see 1t with greater joy than filed the way-worn,
war-worn crusaders when at last they looked on
the city which had drawn them from afar, and
shouted: Jerusalemi Jerusalem = Donald
Fraser.
SURELY as waters meet and rest in low val
leys so do Gods graces in lowly hearta-Tfapp.
SOME talk BY the pound and live by the
ounce; they have heaven at their tongues end
and the world At their fingers end.-Selccted
srNcE there are about 100000 Christians
committed to Christian laxiness. IL is we'll that
there should be $4,000 committed to Christian
Endeavor.
WE may not have mounted into wealth, but
No can descend into sacrihea
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-07-28

Escaping from "A TRUANT's PEN"
A boy went of a-boating;
he was drowned, his body found,
upon the surface floating"
Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1889-12-09
TmCAxADrAx PAcrY1c.--Gsneral Ma

TIE CANADIAN PACIYIc.--Gsneral Man
agsr Van Horne. of tho Canadian Pa
eific, was in st. Paul Nov. 10th, and With
reference 10 the progress Of the great
northeFn route said that the iron Waa
still going down ct the rate Of two or
three miles per day and had nov reached
q point north Of Cyprees Hills. $50 miles
west Of Winnipeg. That the grading
was completed to within hfty-five miles
Of the Soakatchewan, and that the track
would b completed 6l0 miles west Of
Winnipeg before the Close of the year;
that the summit Of the Rocky mcun-
tains would Be reached next summer,
and that at least 200 miles would b
iroued next season. Mr.. Van Horne will
hereafter have his hsadquaxtsFs in Mon
tEeal, With an Office in Winnipeg Of
scarcely Len importance.