davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Mountain Home bulletin. (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1888-1889, 1889-04-27
HEAVY American Locomotives.

Among the heaviest locomotives ever
built are those recently put on It's
mountain division by the Philadelphia
& Reading railroad. Their actual
weight in working order is l53, ,O4o
pounds, and 1873, $40 pounds is on the
drivers. They have tractive force
of 27l pounds per pound average press
ure in the cylinder. Their cylinders
are 22 inches in diameter by 2S inches
stroke; driving wheels, 80 inches dl-
ameter; boiler, feet in diameter and
Is feet inches long over tube sheets.
The tubes are 270 in number, and It
inches in diameter. The fire box is
over II feet long inside by AZ inches
wide, and is placed above the frames,
but not above the wheels. The heat
ing surface in the fire box is 1S5 square
feet, and the total heating surface
2.s45 square feet. The engine is de-
signed to burn anthracite, but not like
the Wootten engines buckwheat or re-
fuse coal. Y. Sun.
Mountain Home bulletin. (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1888-1889, 1889-04-27
CHINESE LIQUORS.
Simple Ways of Making Distilled and Fer.
mcnted Wines.

With but a single exception all Chi
nese liquors are made by fermenta-
tion. The exception in question is
called "show DUE" or burning
liquor so named because of its fiery
nature 1t is a regular brandy, and
the pure show due will burn when ig-
nited until every particle Of it is gone
1t is the same color as our regular
Caucasian brandy and is usually dis
titled from Il species Of glutenous rice
called ssnoi mai. y The moi mai due
commonly used by the Chinese in this
country is not the real article except
in name. lhave seen very good show
due made from sweet potatoes The
only first-class show due is made in
the provinces of Shantung. Chilli and
Honan Immense quantities of it are
manufactured aud sent all over the
empire and into the southern prov
inces of Kwong Tung and Fookien,
and from there occasionally sent into
America
The fermentation or manufacture OF
other Chinese liquors are so primitive
in their methods that as a rule every
farmer makes his own supplies when
occasion demands, such as New Years,
betrothals. weddings or other occa-
sions of extreme happiness. Sweet
potato, broom corn, millet or wheat
are generally employed to make these
temporary drinks, although fruit (es-
pecially pears) are sometimes used.
The materials are soaked with CON-
mon yeast and boiled and subsequently
sealed up in air-tight tanks for about
twenty days. The liquors are then
Withdrawn and are ready for use, but
no good orthodox Chinaman would
ever think Of taking a drink unless at
his meals. He sips the liquid be-
tween the mouthfuls of meats and
never drinks it cold, for invariably
the wines are heated to Il boiling point
and kept on the fire by an attendant
while the epicure is drinking. In this
way the Cinnamon as a rule never get
as tight" as the Christians, as their
"domentaries" are chucked full with
other goods besides the exhilarating
show due, and the use of the latter
must cease at least five minutes before
the conclusion of the meal.
Wines and liquors are so cheap and
so easily made in China that it does
not pay as a rule TO run factories nor
even keep saloons. except in eating
shops. When a man ''treats" in
China it is always dinner, and.
therefore, he seldom treats. Wong
Chin Foo, in N. Y. World
Mountain Home bulletin. (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1888-1889, 1889-04-27
SECONDHAND PLATE.
A New York Refincr Repeats Some OF thu
Melting Pots sad stories.

New York Reiiner Repeats some OF th0
Melting Pots sad stOries
.Yes, indeed. we have many queer
visitors All sorts Of people come here
to sell secondhand jewelry and plate.
and thcy nearly all want money badly.
The most interesting, however, to my
mind. are the little bent old ladies who
have seen better days and survived
their families and friends only to be
among the poor and needy. Such an
old woman was in this afternoon TO sell
three or four battered spoons, the sole
remnants of plentiful days. There Is
often IA romantic association connected
with .le possession of jewelry or plate
not entertained for other property. My
visitor begged me to break up the
spoons in her presence. She feared
that they might fall to the use OF other
persons. They were given me for a
wedding present fifty years ago by my
husband she said, and | don't want
them knocked about by strangers.
broke them up and put them in the
melting pot, and she toddled off satis-
fed
just before closed up last night a
frail old woman came in to sell her
wedding ring. L wouldn't pawn 1t.
she said, because ! might never be
able to redeem it, and then some one
! else would buy it and wear 1t.
couldn't bear to think of that, SO l
want YOU to melt it down. Only few
DAYS ago bought an ancient silver tea
service from a rich but eccentric spin
ster who lives in a big house up town
all alone with her servant. She said
that according TO the natural order OF
things she couldn't expect to live much
| longer, and she didn't propose to have
her silver used by any rich upstarts.
| smashed up the pieces. and had to
melt them before her very eyes.
Last Christmas Eve bought tho
plate of an old French family who
came here many years ago for political
reasons. They managed to earn q
| comfortable living. until sickness and
misfortune overlook them, and they
bad 10 part with the plate used by
their ancestors to pay doctor and nn'
dertaker. People like this wouldn
dream of selling such articles in second
hand stores. Tender memories forbid
it. Their only resource is the melting
pot. Jewellers Weekly.
Mountain Home bulletin. (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1888-1889, 1889-04-27
a LINCOLN ANECDOTE.
What Honest Abe Considered the Proper
Length of u Mans Legs.

A gentleman from the West tells
this story of Abe Lincoln, which. i'm
new, is certainly by no means hack
neyed The gentleman came from the
section in which Abe and Doug
las were conspicuous figures in the
past. and the story he tells relates to
IA decision made by Mr.. Lincoln as to
the proper length OF a mans legs.
As the story goes, Douglas and Il
Mr.. Lovejoy were at one of the haunts
in the village, where they used to
meet for news and gossip, and while
there Abe Lincoln came in and sat
down. disposing of his lengthy limbs
in a somewhat awkward manner.
They saw him coming in, and imme-
diately began conversation in regard
to the proper length OF a mans legs.
Now said Lovejoy, "Abe's legs
are altogether too long, and yours.
Douglas. | think, are little short
Let's S ask Abe what he thinks OF it.
The conversation had been carried
ing it. and they closed it by saying:
"Abc, what do you think about 1t!
MIR. Lincoln had a far-away look, as
he sat with one leg twisted around the
other, but he responded to the ques-
tion:
"Think of whatp"
We'll, we've been talking about the
proper length OF man legs. We think
yours are too long and Douglas toe
short, and we'd like to know what you
think is the proper length.
"Well,' said Mr.. Lincoln, "thats
a matter that I've never given any
thought to, so, of course, may be
mistaken, but my first impression is
that mans legs ought to be long
enough to reach from his body TO the
ground. Yankee Blade
Mountain Home bulletin. (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1888-1889, 1889-04-27
ABOUT SHORTHAND.
Facts and Fancies Concerning PhOno-
graphic Writing.

graphic Wrlttnk.
Photography. the only perfect sys-
tenn of shorthand, was invented in
1887 by Isaac Pitman, school-teacher
of Bath, England. 1t has superseded
all others, and is now almost univer-
sally used for verbatim reporting. 1t
combines perfect photographic rep
resentation of the English language,
expressed by the simple signs, formed
of right lines, curves, dots and dashes.
Photography meets all the require
ments for complete philosoph-
ical system of writing. 1t is easy
to learn, easy to write, easy to
read, and capable OF reporting the
most rapid speakers. The old systems
OF shorthand were so full of perplex.
ing and arbitrary characters and COM
plicated contractions that it took years
OF intense and unceasing study to ac-
quire proficiency in any of them, and
even then it was not possible to make
q verbatim report OF any except the
most moderate speakers. Isaac Pit
man had studied one of the best sys-
TENS of stenography for seven years.
and could only write one hundred
words minute. And, unless it were
written with the utmost care, ste.
nography was as hard to read as the
characters inscribed on the tombs
found in the pyramids OF Egypt.
A shorthand reporter should be
clever and intelligent. There is +,
story told OF an uneducated reporter
who is said to have rendered the well
known Latin quotation, "Amicus Plato
amicus Socrates, sed major veritas,
as follows: II may cuss Plato,
may cuss Socrates, said Major Veri
tas." Elihu Burritt the learned black
smith, once closed an address will
this sentiment: 'Labor-thought-hon
ored labor-may be the only earthl
potentate that shall be crowned on thi
continent" He was surprised an
disgusted to find it printed in tho mex
mornings paper: ''Labor thought
honored, may be the nail lately patent
ed shall be crowned on this continent.
Rev. Dr. Edwin II. Chaplin was one
the most rapid speakers of his time
and he was a terror to the general ru
OF reporters. Once, in sermon, h
used the following language: Chris
ianity has been the orilamme of fre'
dom in all ages" The ignorant n
porter rendered it thus: "Christ hi
been the horn-blower of freedom in a
ages. Writer.
Mountain Home bulletin. (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1888-1889, 1889-04-27
KEEPING FLOWERS.
How They May BE Preserved In All Their
Fragrance and Beauty.


Fragrance and Beauty.
A great deal has been written on the
of cut flowers. but the
matter is still imperfectly understood
by most people. 1t is important to
know, not only how to take care OF
them after being cut, but how to cut
them. On this latter point a practical
hint may be of service to our readers.
1t might not occur to them that IL
made any serious difference whether
the stems were broken off or cut with
the knife or scissors. A sharp knife is
the right tool for this purpose, as it
leaves the sap vessels Of the stems
open for the absorption of water,
while scissors crush and compress
these vessels so that their absorptive
power is more or less destroyed. Like
injury may be done by breaking off
the stems, especially ii they are tough.
If the flowers are put into water inn
mediately the ends OF the stems should
be cut with sharp knife, as the sap
vessels will probably have become
clogged with coagulated matter.
Cut flowers often suffer from too dry
atmosphere. 1t is difficult to avoid
this in our artifcially-heated rooms.
but we may at least put the blossoms
in the coolest part of the room. Near
window, and especially in a bay-win-
dow, the temperature is generally sew
eral degrees lower than in other
parts of the room, as you will see if
you test it with a thermometer. The
best authorities say, moreover, that
the flowers should have the benefit OF
light, and even of sunshine in most
cases, though there is popular preju-
dice against exposing them to the lat
ter. On the other hand they suffer, as
plants do, from sudden alterations OF
temperature and from draughts.
In the case of the blossoms that fall
to pieces easily, it is a good idea to
let fall drop of gum or mucilage
into the center, which will keep the
petals together at the base. To pre-
vent this from running out before il
hardens, the flowers should be kept
upright by putting their stems through
the bottom of sieve or sticking them
in sand. With the aid of a camel's
hair brush or pointed stick large
number of flowers may be gummed il
short time.
When flowers have been carried {
long distance in close boxes or cases
they often appear withered ant
worthless, but with proper treatmen
they may be revived and restored Il
their original beauty. Instead of a
once being put into vases and exposed
to the hot, dry air OF the parlor, the,
} should either be spread out on we
flannel or moss and covered with
dish cover or inverted box, or else pu
in pans containing moss and water o
, wet sand. in which they can be sc
upright, and then be shut up in tn
dark for a few hours. If they do nc
regain their freshness under thl
nursing there is no hope for them, bu
in all ordinary cases their recovery
4 certain. Journal Of Chemistry.
Mountain Home bulletin. (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1888-1889, 1889-04-27
SCHOOL. AND CHURCH.

It is said that church pews have
averaged ten per cent. higher this
year all over the country in re-rent-
ing.
Georgetown University received
kilograms of congratulation on its re-
cent centennial celebration from Har-
ward, Michigan. Vassar. Rutgers and
Lehigh universities and from the Uni
versity OF Sweden.
The theological department of
Howard University, by recent gift. re-
ceived 81, 427. so toward its endowment
fund and $3.50 for the book and scholar
ship fund. Friends have also given
fine printing-press and set Of timing
tools to the industrial department.
AT Evangelist Moodys school at
Northampton. Mass. is fair-haired
Norwegian girl who came to this coun-
try entirely alone in order to attend
this seminary. She says: Norway IS
much better acquainted with America
than America is with Norway. learned
of Mr.. Moody's school through the
papers. l wanted to be enrolled
among its number, and SO l came"
There is Bulgarian girl among Mr..
Moody's pupils. and number Of Cana
dian damsels.
Mot settled, but lit," is the way
\ who is in the habit of changing his set
Elements about as often as the moon,
and had lately gone to a new place. A
dismal fact it is that so many ministers
fit from church to church. in each
place having time to SOW little and reap
less Is the fault ali on one side? We
fear not. LAS thy servant was busy
here and there, he was gone" So
many who might have been won and
kept are allowed to slip away.-Ad
vance.
The Queen of Japan tries to pro
mote the interests of women. She i!
very charitable and is a patron of the
Red Cross Society and of the Toxic
Charity Hospital. She is especially
Interested in the education of japanese
women. A school for the daughter
of the mobiles is known as the Empress
School, and one of the pictures on it
walls contains poetry written by her
She is a fine Chinese scholar, and man,
Of her poems have been set to musi
and used as national Songs.
The wonderful change from tn
past in Japan is almost incredible
There are now 10000 communicant
connected with the various missions
and they increase by 500 month
This is the best of all the wOnde full nc
+. vancement in the country. Tweut
l years ago there was no Japanese pull
L lie Journals; now there are more tha
(. 500 periodicals = daily and week.
papers and monthly magazines an
reviews, and nearly all these public;
tions are favorable to the Christian
= ization of Japan. The Living Churcl
Mountain Home bulletin. (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1888-1889, 1889-04-27
THE FARMERS GARDEN.
What Weil-known Agricultura Edito
Has to Say About IL.

What u Weil-known Agricultural Editor
Has to Say About IL.
At the recent farmers institute in
Albany. DR.. Hexamer, an expert
gardener oflong experience. now editor
OF the Agricuturist, gave a grand talk
on the Farmers Garden" Here are
some of his good points: To the mind
of the average farmers the garden is u
nuisance, and on most farms. this is
true. small plot inclosed by fence
or wall. too small to do any OF tho
work of cultivation by horse-po
the only work ever done there Is on
rainy days. when it's too wet to work
in the field. The average value of all
the field crops in the country is not
much above fifteen dollars per acre.
But who can begin to estimate the
value of good garden where all
variety of fruits and vegetable are
grown? And the home market of the
family table will take them all at
highest prices. To the old chestnut
Of so many farmers that 1.-THE press of
more important work on the farm"
makes it impossible for them to have
u good garden, the Doctor replied:
Take an acre of your best land, and
devote it to garden purposes; plan the
planting so that the horse and cul-
tivator can be made to do most of she
work, and then hire n man just to take
. care of the garden. Those Of its pro-
ducts that are used in the family will
: more than pay his wages, any surplus
can be sold and be turned to clear
profit, while fully two-thirds Of the
j., mans time can be devoted to general
: farm work, thus giving extra Labor
without cost"
), / am satisfied the doctor is right
+, for friend of mine having half-acre
=. city lot bought his fertilizers, hireG
the land plowed, and planted Thereon
!, twenty-six dollars worth of plants an
: seeds. He kept an account OF al
money paid out for labor, plants, seeds
70 manure. etc, for five years, an
- charged his family at market rates fo
. all fruits and vegetables consumed
), He told me that this half-acre pal
" him profit of $3.50 annually. An
- such a half-acre should be on ever
., farm. The famil, will appreciate i
- and it will help largely to reduce tn
~ butchers and grocers bills.
Ask the busy, Woodworking farmt
who has very poor garden or nor
H. at all, simply because he has so mut
n else to attend to. what he is workir
In SO hard for. and the answer will b
's' "to make "a living;" that is, products
10 crops to sell, that he may have ca,
Nn to pay his taxes with, keep up ordina
ne repairs, and purchase food for self al
family which, of course, is right Al
u proper. Yet, when he can be made
Al realize that three acres of ordina
're farm crops will have to be grown a
sold to bring money enough to pr
chase food products equal in value +
on' his family table to what ne can pl
ac- chase in one half-acre garden, the co
OF plete garden will find its place
Il every farm. even if other things mt
an be neglected. What mistake to gr
I've and sell crops at wholesale and tn
Is turn around and take the cash and b
al at retail for our family when 50 mu
all. can be produced at home. -Hartft
Mountain Home bulletin. (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1888-1889, 1889-04-27
Good Cause for Fright.

.Poor fellow!" exclaimed the ten
der-hearted woman, as she gave the
sorry-looking tramp a plate full OF
hot chicken pie. "You don't look as
II you had always been friendless
wanderer."
mo, num-" said the tramp, CRATE
fully, as he loosened his ragged vest
and started in on the pie. "lou
wouldn't think it from my looks, mum
but I'm the rightful Prince OF Bally'
macshaugh"-
"a foreign Prince!" said the good
woman, throwing up her hands and
recoiling In horror. Here, Iige
Sick 'im!" Chicago Tribune
Mountain Home bulletin. (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1888-1889, 1889-04-27
PERSONAL AND LITERARY.

The Duchess Of Rutland is a con-
slant contributor to the magazines,
and gives all her literary earnings 10
one OF the London asylums for the
blind.
Rev. Augustine Francis Hewitt.
who succeeds Father Hecker as SUI
perior-General OF the Paulist Fathers.
was born in Connecticut sixty-eight |
wears ago He is OF a literary turn Of
mind, and has written many books.
Associated with him is Father Deshon,
who was at one time looked upon AS
Father Hecker's probable successor.
When "Our Mutual FRIEND APP
peared it was enthusiastically re-
viewed in the London Times by the
late Mr. Dallas. Dick was so
pleased with the article that he gave
to Dallas the MS. of the story, the
critic metaphorically clasping ito his
heart and protesting that he would
never part with the precious thing. A
little while after he sold it TO Mr..
Childs for twelve hundred and fifty
dollars.
Gladstone was invited by a West
ern editor to contribute an article on
washington. The English states
man declined in the following words
written on a postcard: Il am much
honored by your letter. But can not
act upon it. Washington is a noble
subject. l studied him forty years ago
with love and admiration. But it is
not in my power now to renew the
study, and should not like to prOfane
the theme by thin and slovenly work. y
Rev. Mr.. Spurgeon, the Londo,
preacher, receives an average OF 5o(
letters a day, and he employs thre'
secretaries 20 answer the communica
tions which come to MIN from all part
of the world. The enormous rev
enues Of his church, or Tabernacle,
are entirely devoted to the variou
philanthropic movements in whic
the reverend gentleman is interested
as the ample income derived fror
his books and sermons is more tina
sufficient for the needs of himself an
family.
DR.. A. p. Happier, of China, cal
ing attention to the fact that Arnold
in his Light of Asia,' estimates tn
number of Buddhists at four hundre
and seventy million, and James Free
man Clarke, in his :" Ten Great Reli!
IONS" gives the number at thr'
hundred million, says: IL regard the
statements as entirely unwarrant'
and unsupported by facts" His ow
estimate IL seventy million. Pro
Monier Williams states as his opinit
that one hundred million would be
large estimate of the Buddhists in Il
. world. Missionary Review.
5, DR. Sir Morell Mckenzie has
family consisting OF a wife, two so
and three daughters. One son is
the stage under the name of II.
Morel, while the other follows
fathers profession. Each of t
daughters has special talent, viii
she is given every opportunity
a cultivating. Ethel, the oldest daue
a ter, has taste for journalism, and
a the London correspondent of a Phi
a delphia paper: Hilda, the seco
# daughter, aspires to be an artist, a
- has studio. where she paints ind
II triously, while Olga, the youngest,
9 musician, and has done something
i, the way of original composition.
.
Mountain Home bulletin. (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1888-1889, 1889-04-27

Hotel Proprietor = What have
YOU said or done to that lady that she
sho,sd pass you in that angry way.
Her eyes darted fire at you," Clerk
..She expected letter in this morn
ing's mail. and told her 1t hadn't
come. ."-Philadelphia Record.
Mountain Home bulletin. (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1888-1889, 1889-04-27

"A well-known magazine satisti-
clan says that America has popula-
ton of over 60, 600, 900, and a working
power OF one hundred and eighty thou
sand billions of foot pounds per day.