davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1889-02-28
Tho Fat Mnn Trick.

Stage tricks and illusions have an un-
dying charm even when tho veil Of
mystery is raised. IL was the celebrated
family Of Ravels that invented the Fat
man trick, and now we have an exposi-
ton Of the manner in which that seem
ing marvel was accomplished. Ono Of
the actors in the pantomime sits at
table and ravenously eats dish after dish
OF food that servant brings on 90 him.
Presently the man. who like most raven
ous eaters was rather thin and scrawny,
begins to grow plump Ills clothes fit
him snugly. His waistcoat steadily
swells out under the very eyes Of The
audience.
All the while he is eating like n sau-
sage machine. In few minutes he has
grown to he giant eight or nine feet
tall. and with the proportions Of an in
flated balloon. The food eaten is all
property food, made Of tissue paper,
that tho actor chews up into little balls
and takes out Of his mouth when coca
sion offers. His clothes are all Of rubber
and made TO fit dir tight around tho
wrists and neck. In sitting down he
puts the heel Of ono boot over a little
trap in the stage. An assistant below
Immediately couples tube running
from bellows 20 n hole In the boot heel.
Then hc blows him up. by the time
that the suit has grown 30 big that tho
inhabitant has TO have a lantern 10 move
around in 1t, the wind supply is cut of
and tho boot heel Is plugged up. Then,
by an ingenious arrangement OF springs
under tho actors feet tho height 10 ac-
auirad. Detroit FREQ PrcRs
The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1889-02-28
Tho treatment Of s1eeplessness.

Recipes for sleeplessness continue to
present themselves. A correspondent Of
The Lancet has found the following to be
an effectual remedy in his own case:
After taking deep inspiration he holds
his breath TIL discomfort Is felt then re-
peats the process a second and third
time. As a rule this is enough to pro-
cure sleep. A slight degree of asphyxia
q thus relied on as soporifc agent, but
the theoretical correctness of this method
Is somewhat open to question. Ger
tainly there is proof to show that the
daily expenditure of oxygen is most act
i've during the waking period, and that
nightly sleep appears to coincide with q
period of deficient tissue oxygenation.
It Is at least as probable, however, that
other influences are associated with the
production and timely recurrence Of sleep
besides that just referred to. This plan,
moreover, however .effectual and bene-
fetal In the case of it's author, Is not
without its disadvantages. The tendency
OF deficient oxygenation is to increase
blood pressure and slow the hearts ac-
ton. With normal organ, as an occa-
sional occurrence, this might not be of
much consequence. If, however, the
impeded heart should also be enfeebled by
adiseass, the experiment might be -
peated once too often.
Another combatant in the struggle
with insomnia lays down a series Of
rules, for the most part very sensible, to
which he pins his faith. Considering
that the chief causes of sleeplessness are
worry and the want of due amount of
exercise and fresh air, he advises his fell
low sufferers to observe the ordinary
rules Of hygiene relating to such matters,
to take food and drink In moderation
and to avoid Of an evening the use Of
tea, coffee and tobacco. In dealing with
severe nervous irritation from mental OF
physical work, he has found daily rest
an almost essential prelude to sleep at
night. Thus he treats of sleeplessness
rather as tendency requiring constitu-
tional remedies than symptom of mere
brain excitation. There is much to be said
for his theory and means of treatment
Therapeutic Gazette.
The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1889-02-28
German Army DiscfnIine

Follow a company of German sol
diers in the fighting line at maneuvers
and mark the way in which every
sight is carefully adjusted to any
named distance and changed at each
rush forward, even when the men are
excited by a rapid advance. The
present writer was witness of scene
at the maneuvers where company
officer, who had noticed man fail to
change the sight of his rifle at fresh
distance, at once told him off for extra
guard duty, this indeed being no light
punishment after the men have been
marching and fighting pretty well the
whole day. Compare such fire dis
cipline as this with what ono but too
commonly sees and hears at Aldershot
field days-words Of command for
troops to fire and no distance named,
or if named not attended to.-Macmil.
lan's Mapazine.
The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1889-02-28
Won Afolfkc af (sxaxnloffe.

The French artillery and mitrail-
leuses responded vigorously to the
Krupps, and with deadly effect, but as
far as we could see the German left
continued its advance and staff officers
came up frequently to report that all
was going on well at points hidden
from our view. These reports were
always made to the king first, and
whenever anybody arrived with
tidings of the fight we clustered
around to hear the news, Gen. Won
Moltke unfolding a map meanwhile
and explaining the situation
This done, the chief Of the staff,
while awaiting the next report, would
either return TO q seat that had been
made for him with some knapsacks,
or would occupy the time walking
about, kicking clods Of dirt or small
stones here and there, his hands
clasped behind his back, his face pale
and thoughtful he was then nearly
70 years old, but because Of his ena-
ciafed figure, the deep wrinkles In his
face. and crows feet about his eyes,
he looked even older, his appearance
being suggestive Of the practice Of
church asceticisms rather than Of his
well known ardent devotion to the
military protession,s A NSN
The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1889-02-28
eoMe CURIOUS TABLE MANNERS
Tho Good Old Days Whom Knives and
Forks Were Scarcc-The SnltcolIar.

Tho Good Old Days Whom Knives and
Forks Were scarcc-The snltcciIar.
II was late in the Fourteenth century
when the first evidences OF art in the
shape Of silver cups were noticeable on
the buffet The dishes were made of
pewter or wood and spoons Of bone,
wood or silver. Knives were rare, and
on that account guests invited TO faasts
carried their own knives. Forks came in
general use still later, and for long years
after their Introduction they were con-
sidercd ridiculous aifectation and foppery,
and not nearly so convenient MS ones
own fingers. The lord and his lady
dipped their fingers into tho same plato
and slipped their wine from the same cup.
Even tho queenly Elizabeth, with all her
elaborate ideas Of etiquette, was content
TO carry her food TO her mouth with her
fingers, and at first despised the nowly
invented forks as unsoemly and awk-
ward.
Very gradually tho dining hall grew
in comfort and splendor. Dishes OF gold
and silver wero fnade, and so eager were
the mobiles for them that they would sac
rifice anything to possess them. Tho
saltcellar was for long timo the article
OF highest importance ON the board. IL
was great affair, and it stood directly
In the center OF the table; IL was the di-
viding line; the mobiles were seated above
the salt, the commoners below; hence
grew the proverb, Below The galt. The
passing of salt was a aceremonious custom,
the guest throwing n pinch over his left
shoulder and murmuring blessing.
Tl... ll... %
GUS dovico. Sometimes they represented
huge animals, sometimes a great, full
blown flower, or q long, slender stem,
and again they were in shape of chariot,
mounted on four wheels, on which they
were easily run down the table.
The first glass cups came from Venice
during the Sixteenth century, and from
that time on society began 20 loso many
Of its primitive ways, and became, in
sense, moro refined.
Henry VIII was born with luxurious
tastes. He had his banquet chairs sup
piled with velvet cushions, and about
this time the parlor or talking room,"
as it was called, was introduced, and
here il was that the danes took refuge
when the dinner had advanced beyond
prudent limits, as ii invariably did before
the finish.
The cook that presided over the kitchen
in those days was not the counterpart OF
our Nineteenth century Brdget, but he
was an artist, and generally man Of
quality. The ladies of the household,
even those of noble birth, ATTENDED 70
many domestic duties, making tho
bread, preserving tho fruits, while 10
understand the proper use Of starch was
considered great accomplishment -
Tillie May Forney in Woman.
The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1889-02-28
A Novel Photographic Apparatus.

Photographers are interested just now
over a newly patented camera. Detect
ives as well as photographers are inter-
ested in the invention, for no doubt it
will prove very effective weapon in the
hands ofia person who may want at some
time to obtain an instantaneous photo Of
some face or scene. The new invention,
that promises to produce almost revolu-
ton in the art Of photography, is based
upon the dry process system; that is, of
the gelatino-bromide sensitive plates, on
which impressions can be readily made
instantaneously.'
AS to weight, this novel apparatus
weighs less than two pounds and is only
six and one-haf inches long and three
and three-quarter inches high. 1t can be
carried conveniently in an overcoat pocket
as well as in valise, and another thing
in its favor is that it is ready for use at
any time. The plates of the apparatus
are in continuous roll, admitting of a
hundred negatives.-New York World.
The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1889-02-28

Plainness and solidity mark whatever
belongs 10 tho fnmily. Tho houses, at
the corners Of Thirty-third and Thirty
fourth streets and Fifth avenue, In which
John Jacob and William Astor have lived
for years, are simple to badness, arc In
decd ugly without, though very comfort
able internally. But nowhere Is thoro
any sign OF ornament for the sake Of
ornamont. Richness Is blended with
something Of severity. The contompo-
raneous passion for the aesthetic and
decorative "a not visible.
The Astors give elaborate entertain
ments, mainly dinner parties, but givo
them sparingly, and always see that they
are fully and correctly advertised IN tho
social columns Of the newspapers. Even
festivity Is business with tho family,
who arc methodical and considerate Of
cost in everything. They are trained TO
DO so from their infancy. Hence, Inn
pulse, sensibility, romance, sympathy,
whatever belongs 10 tho emotional or
ideal, Is, II IL appear, sedulously repressed.
Mrs. John Jacob Astor who recently
died, was devoted 70 the poor, attend
ing to their wants personally; but shIs
used in charity, am told, only the Ia.
como from her marriage portion. Her
memory is widely and tenderly mourned
by the lowliest and needist Of the town,
TO whom she was q constant help.--Paul
r. Cleveland In The Cosmopolitan.
The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1889-02-28
Birds Of III Omen

An old Scotch saying has Il that
"Whistlin' maidens an craving hens
are nae lucky about ony mans toun."
Thus the ordinary barn yard fowl may
be feathered forerunner Of evil. Birds,
from perhaps antediluvian periods, have
been looked upon as feathered fortune
tellers. The swarthy Italians, who, with
their cages Of trained birds, stand at the
street corners in our large cities and ask
passers by to allow the little feathered
ones to read their fortune. are the strag-
Cling remnants Of q whole army of su-
perstitous souls. In some parts Of Eng
land even in our day the note Of the
swallow means the reception Of somo
evil tidings; but to kill that bird is GER
tain way Of bringing down unlimited
evil on the destroyer. The white owl in
France is universally held as q foreteller
of death, and its ''screech" is not much
liked by English peasants. But in
America, among the negro population,
the brown owl, if uttering its hoot on the
right, foretells good luck, but the oppo-
site if on the left. In France and Bel
gium the cry of the white owl is sup
posed to foreten all sorts of misfortunes.
However, the oounteracting remedy IS
not FAR TO seek--it simply consists in
throwing pinch of salt into the fire
when the sound is heard.
Two crows, in some parts Of Scotland,
are considered very ominous of i'll. The
cuckoo's note is everywhere held as a
sign of duplex meaning. the explanation
whereof lies, not with the birds note but
with the auditors pocket. II the cuckoo
be heard whep the pockets are empty a
very impecunious year and (spccially)
the need of borrowing from friends (or
trying so to do) is implied. But II, on
the other hand, the enclroo's noto DO
heard for the first timer when the pocket
contains cash, prosperous and moneyed
year is foretold. Another sigh of good
fortune Is found in the robin perching on
the roof and singing. Curiously enough
the smallest of popular birds, the golden
crested wren, was, till the end of the last
century, and in some parts during tho
first quarter of the present one, despite
the nursery rhyme associating it with
the robin, held as a foe, and cruelty
stoned on certain days, much after the
fasnion in which the Shrovetide cock was
tortured to deatE.-E0zs.o .v~..--
The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1889-02-28
A Rope walkers Goodness.

II / myself do not feel nervous, l
am afraid the many persons / have
carried on my back across the rope
have felt trifle perturbed, save when
they have been professional assistants.
In reality there is nothing in the
world for them to be afraid Of. All
they have to do is to sit perfectly still,
refrain from clutching me too tightly
around tho neck and leave the rest 70
me. When l am carrying any one
over for the first time, chat 10 him
continuously on any Indifferent sub
jects I can think about, and try in this
manner to relieve his anxiety, and /
always caution him against looking
downward when in mid air. Some
how, though, he never seems quite
happy, and / always detect a gasp Of
relief when the end OF the rope and
the platform are reached. More than
once the victim has devoutly cx-
claimed, ''Never again r'-J. b. Blon-
din in Lippincott's.
The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1889-02-28
Peculiar Iden About Relicion.

A student deeply versed in ecclesias-
teal matters recently advanced very
peculiar idea while conversing with a
friend. He said that the established
religion of a country owed its princi-
pal doctrines less to faith than to the
conditions of its climate and surround
ings. He cited the beautiful religion
of the natives of India, who would not
eat anything that had once lived, be-
cause, while all could take away life,
only One could give it. He argued
that religious belief like that could
only have its origin in an intensely
hot climate like that of India, where
animal food is not necessary to sus-
tain life. Among the Laplanders such
a religion could never obtain, because
it was absolutely necessary for the
inhabitants of so high latitude to
keep the warmth of the body up TO a
certain heat. Nothing but animal fat
could do that.-New York Sun.
The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1889-02-28
Defamation of yitaI Energy.

Truly did Emerson designate dissi-
patton as the greatest evil in life. He
did not mean dissipation in the narrow
and common sense Of excess of drink
ing. He meant dissipation Of all sorts
the dissipation of vital energy in
the pursuit of trivial objects, social
dissipation, waste Of time, waste Of
money, waste ia general. Social dis.
sipation is one of the most harmful
forms of dissipation, because 1t is 50
insidious, apparently SO innocent. We
are commanded TO love our neighbors,
but we are not commanded 10 call on
them two or three times week. Tho
amount of time consumed in superfiu-
Gus and purposeless social intercourse
in this world is something positively
appalling. New York Commercial
Adverfiser
The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1889-02-28
Exercise in Your once.

The restless discomfort which comes
from long STOPPING over a desk or
COMPRISING one's liver for hours ON
the edge OF q drawing board is apt to
seek relief in slxylarking or idlencss,
or il the conscientious clerk or
draughtsman still sticks to his work it
is with reluctant fingers and beclouded
brain, and the output" deteriorates
both in quality and quantity In such
a case five or ten minutes brisk use of
tho clubs or chest weights will accom-
plish moro than an hours skylarl1ing
or any amount OF loaflng. 1t has q
wonderful good effect in quiolSening
tho stagnant circulation, and a clear
head and strong hand take up tho
work with renewed vigor II is SUR
prising what little vigorous exercise
will accomplish if Systematically
taken. A few minutes once or twico
a day, at most three times, will soon
give most satisfactory results in health
and efficiency.
The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1889-02-28
c,,,,,, rr.,u., A.ton,.h,ne discover.

Ono reason why world is so upside
down is from the astounding error in
Cosmos Chronology" IL Jan. !
Ammo Domini was first day Of First
century, end Of twelfth month, Dec.
81, at midnight, ended frst hundred
years. II correct Jan. !, 1900, was
first day Of Eighteenth century, and
yet for eighty-eight years we have
been calling it Nineteenth century,
when that does not begin till Jan. /,
190o.-George Francis Train IN New
vo.lr World
The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1889-02-28
Waste Of Brain Power.

What waste Of brain power there Is
In swindling. The swindler has all the
forces of law and order arrayed against
him. He is sure to be tripped up sooner
or later. The cost Of mistake Is his
liberty, and the mistake is bound to come.
The ingenuity he expends In his methods
II applied in lawful direction Is almost
sure. TO net him a larger return in cash
than it does when put to crooked uso.
Tho swindled person generally deserves
little pity. He usually expects to take
advantage Of somebody, and he. gets
taken ip himself. Cupidity is at the bot
tom qf bth rides a Q svtudle.- wv
The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1889-02-28

Arrangements are being made by
which travellers on the Austrian and
Hungarian railways, viii be enabled to
borrow books at railway bookstalls to
be read during a journey. The condi.
tions are to be deposit of one or two
Aorins to cover the value of the book.
and fee of ten kreutzers about 3D.
for the loan of the volume. The de-
posit will be returned to the borrower
on his giving up the book wherever
he may alight. This circulating IL
brary system applied to travelling has
not yet been tried on the continent.
Its chief organizer is an Englishman,
who proposes to lay in stock Of pop
ular works IN all languages.-New
York Telegram
The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1889-02-28

urIIOn Il rcu YOU wuOSe unHU or well
come you had better first clasp and
whose cheek is entitled to the first
kiss. It is the hand and the cheek
of him without whom you would
never have got there at all, the Lord
Jesus, the darling Of the skies, as he
cries out II have loved thee with
an everlasting love and the fires
could not burn it and the floods could
not drown it." Then you, my dear
people, having no more use for my
poor harp on which used to open
your dark sayings and whose chords
sometimes snapped, despoiling the
symphony, you will take down your
own halps from the willows that
grow by the eternal water courses M
and play together those celestial airs,
some Of the names of which are
entitled, "The King in His Beauty, :"
1.-THE Land That Was Far Off, y
Jerusalem, the Golden "Home
Again" 'sThe Grand Marohsefs God, .
The Life Everlasting" And as the
last dark curtain of mystery Is forever
lifted it will be as though all the ora
torios that were ever heard had been
rolled into one and ''Israel in Egypt
and 'SJephtha's Daughter and Bee
thoven's Overture IN C'' and Ritter's
first sonata In d minor and the Gre
ton" and the Messiah" had been
blown from the lips Of cne trumpet or
been invoked by the sweep of one bow
or had dropped from the vibrating
chords Of one harp.
But here l must slow up lest in try
ing to solve mysteries / add to the
mystery that we have already Won
dered at; namely, Why preachers
should keep on after all the hearers
are tiredf So I gather up into one
great armful all tho why's, and hows,
and wherefores Of your life and mine,
which we have not had time or the
ability to answer, and write on them
the words adjourned to eternity"
rejoice that we do not understand all
things now, for If we did, what would
we learn in heaven2 If we knew it
all down here In the freshman and
sophomore class, what would be the
use OF our going up to stand amid the
Juniors and the seniors2 If we could
put down one leg of the compass and
with the other sweep a circle clear
around all the inscrutables, if we
could lift our little steelyards and
weigh the throne of the Omnipotent,
if we could with our seven day clock
measure eternity, what would be left
for heavenly revelation9 So I move
that we cheerfully adjourn what is
now beyond our comprehension, and
as according to Rollin, the historian,
Alexander the Great. having obtained
the gold easket in which Darius had
kept his rare perfume, used that aro-
matte casket thereafter to keep his
favorite copy Of Homer in, and called
the book, therefore, the edition of
the casket," and at night he. put the
casket and mis- sword under his pillow,
SO I put Ghis day into the perfumed
casket of your richest affections and
hopes this promise, worth more than
anything Homer ever wrote or sword
ever conquered: "What 1 do thou
knowest not now, but thou shalt know
hereafter" and that I call the edition
ce1aSfia1 -
The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1889-02-28

Inasrnuch as there are no family
names, no village. tribal, or national
rights to be respected, there is nothing
approximating to father right or
mother right. Or perhaps it would be
more exact to say that, inasmuch as
women are only recognized as servants
throughout their whole lives, and as
mothers as soon as they have reached
the proper age, the personality OF the
whole family Is sunk in that of the
husband and father while he lives.
When he dies he is at once and abso-
lutely forgotten, and each surviving
member Of his family pursues an en-
tirely separate course, IN no way con-
cerning himself about the others. II
a man dies and leaves family Of in
FAINT children, the care of them de-
wolves upon the mother until the
Oldest son reaches the age of about IS;
then he becowee the head OF the
family. Female Inheritance is utterly
unknown. as would be expected in q
society wherein women have no rights
at all. II man is SO unfortunate as
to leave no true heir, or SO careless as
not to have adopted one, his property
goes to his next younger brother, or
his nearest male relative, II he have no
hrothers either BY birth or adoprQn.-,
The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1889-02-28

The fires of the volcano of Kilauea.
In the Hawaiian Islands, which be-
came extinct In 1886, are again kindled
and steam and vapor are issuing from
the several craters, from one Of which
Jets of lava are thrown to Q height Of
twenty-five fest :. S-s(.
The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1889-02-28
soaping the stockholders.

The stockholders of an Italian
theatre desired season of opera and
signed contract with an impresario
to that effect. One of the conditions
imposed on the impresario was that
there should be two double BASES in
the orchestra. One was found, but a
second could not be obtained, except
ing from a neighboring city, at great
expense. What did our impresario
do2 Procured an instrument and
hired a ''supe" to saw on it with a
soaped bow. The season ended with
out any of the stockholders having
caught on.n-American Musician.
The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1889-02-28

In the trial Of new steam street car
In Sweden the cost of fuel is said to have
been only about two cents per milo. The
car viii seat twenty-four passengers, the
engine being La one end Of the CAR
Frank Leslie's.