davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1889-06-20
A CHOICE TWlX7 TWO.
A Blind Order by u Shrewd and
Discerning Person and what


1t was rather late in life be fore was
married. Just how old I was | leave
the reader (who is always taught to be-
lieve himself very shrewd and dis
cerning person. to imagine. and have
no doubt he will have the problem to
his own satisfaction before my story is
half completed.
1had been quite successfulin business
and was familiar with the ways Of men.
l had learned to match the tricks and
evasions of my own, but of women l
knew nothing, never having leisure to
cultivate their society. I used the word
nothing In its literal sense, | knew ab-
solutely nothing.
My entrance into society was some.
thing after the manner of Stanley g
journey across the Dark Continent. l
began to explore strange and fascina.
ting world IN which there were pitfalls
against which my business facts and
figures were of no avail. l found that
women differed very widely from men.
Perhaps they were not more tricky than
men of business, but their tricks were
quite Opaque. Twas often in the dark
as to the purpose of certain ladies I met
but. while mystifed AMI puzzled at
times, was also delighted. There was
no denying the charm of womans socie.
ty. felt that l had wasted a great
many years.
do not intend to conceal my object
in entering the society Of ladies-I want.
ed wife. To be frank. l had vague
idea of the kind wanted. In business
when man orders bill of goods with.
out first inquirng the price and partic.
ulars, he gives what is called a blind
order. When pigeon. holed my pa
pers and closed my Office desk with a
bang, pocketed the key and sailed out
to secure what felt needed-a good
wlfe-I gave blind order. In effect l
did most unbusiness like thing. l
blush now to think of it; but when
man pauses in his eager race after dol
lars to cultivate matrimony he is gen.
orally apt to give blind order. What
can be know of the ways of woman? Alb
solutely nothing. He learns rapidly,
it is true, but it requires long expert.
ence to meet them on their own weap.
oDs.
l shall be pleased if any profit or in
terest attaches to the result of my blind
order and l wish to assure the reader it
was the only one I ever gave.
Among the young ladies that met
was Miss Blanche Ridgeway. How shall
l describe her? Business nomenclat.
ure cannot help me, and l abominate
romantic word pictures. Miss Blanche
was a very sweet girl. When seated
near her | was conscious of feeling of
shall 1 call 1t pleasure? The net
total of a prosperous years busine ess has
often caused me happiness, but my feel.
ing in the presence Of Miss Blanche was
not the same. Her voice was quite
passable, and when listening to her it
sec med as if l might have some romance
in me after all ; and when in church she
turned her bright ewes on me-
Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1889-06-20
He GOT DISCOURAGED.
leo Water q Poor Reward for q
Lie ~ We'll Told ~ This.

Pretty rough, this Oklahoma busi-
ness, but no rougher than Texas was
when I first went out there, said the
man with the sandy goatee as he laid
aside his paper.
Were you ranching?' asked one Of
the group.
No, SIR; I was a railroad station
agent
Must have seen great deal of law
lessness ?
Oceans of it, sir oceans OF it. I had
to kill five men in the year 1866
You did?'
'Yes,slr; and wounded as many more,
Didn't want to do it, you know, but it
was kill or be killed. The crowd lei
me alone after awhile, but the Indians
were great nuisance. l was just count
ing up how many killed in twenty
eight months, and I am greatly disap-
pointed.
How many did you make out 2
Only thirty-four, but I am satisfied
that I have lett out seven or eight
somehow. When such thing as thai
is once off your mind it is hard to recall
exact figures
You have had some narrow escapes?'
Over q hundred, sir, and been
wounded sixteen different times. The
boys once put up a. rattlesnake Job OIL
me to try my nerve
How was it?'
'They caught FIVE big fellows and
turned EN- loose in my Office while I
was at supper. When I returned l was
very busy thinking, and so walked
right in on them without warning.
Mercy on me! And then p
Il got seated at my desk, and the ser.
pents began to rattle and menace me.
Three of the boys were looking In at
the window, and was determined not
to show a sign Of weakness
But you might have been bitten.'
Il was bitten. Three of the snakes
struck me in the left leg
And you didn't die?'
AS you see.'
'But-you-you-
i had a quart Of whiskey, and I
drank it and counteracted the poison.
It wasn't quite enough, however, and
there are days now and then when T
feel very queer
What is the exact sensation?'
Very dry in my throat, and I always
make bold to ask any gentleman near
me if he carries flask. If any of you
gents happens to have such an article
with you shall be ever so grateful. I
think feel the premonitory symptoms:
But we haven't. We are delegates
10 the temperance convention at Du-
buque.'
You are? Well. took my chances
md lost. That's the last time l tell
that lie unless I see the bulge Of flask
n some ones pocket before Begin
This Is the third time to-day, and I
haven't got the first smell of anything
out ice water
Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1889-06-20

Never had been 80 astonished or 8
disappointed. Yet. perhaps, it was al
chance. The hour was early and tn
church almost empty. A few person
occupied distant pews. AS l sat dow
by Miss Mary I feared she would oh
serve my confusion.
Good morning. I said in greeting
with all the GOODNESS at my command
Good morning, SIR she said demure
ly.
Miss Blanche is not with your
oh, she is not coming.
And you
Yes, came in her place.
1T can't be-that is-you-'
why, Of course, she replied, with th
pleasantest smile eyer saw.
But surely
I'm so glad you came, Mr.. Quoter,
she continued. Our pew is general.
half empty
She glanced at me smllingly, looking
like ripper and more womanly thar
Miss Blanche. A woman's glance car
tell so much or-so little. In this in
stance it was so much.
l paused in thought. Did Miss Mary
know what passed between her sister
and myself? If not. how was to in
terrret what she said ORe thing
knew, Miss Blanche's answer was no
and Miss Mary was certainly very
sweet, very demure, very charming. l
began to take very decided interest
in her.
L am at loss to understand'-I be.
gan.
Don. you think it's wrong to talk
in church ? she whispered.
4 had forgotten where we are MISS
Mary
Never shall l forget that sermon.-
Yet I do not remember a word Of it -
The preacher seemed so good and be-
nignant, the singing so sweet, the tones
Of the organ so grand, that / caught
myself wondering if I was really in
prosy Pittsburg. Once, in turning over
the leaves of the prayer book, I touched
Miss Mary's hand--a very shapely hand
it was-and the contact thrilled me in
the strangest manner. But enough Of
this. A few more confessions and the
reader will consider me fool.
The service may have been long or
short cannot recall. Miss Mary
nodded to friends as we went out
did not see anybody. I felt the pres.
ence of people about me, that was all.
1t was pleasant to get into the open air
again. with Miss Mary on my arm.
Now please explain, Miss Mary /
urged, the moment we were alone.
Explain 2 each Of her eyes was an
interrogation point.
Pray, be business-like, Hiss Mary.
Do you take Miss Blanche's place?
What question T she cried, laugh
ing.
But repeat it,
DO | take Blanche's place, Mr.. Quo.
ter? How droll you are! Why how
could ~
Very easily
Where? How 2
Here! Now I want you to marry
me ?
Mercy, MIR. Quoter, you must be
;razy?'
Quite right said I, but only tempo.
'arily so. What is your answer Miss
Mary ?
you're surely Joking, Mr.. Quoter.'
4 was never more serious
'Really?'
Really.
Then yes
Good | like that answer
L should hope you did, was the de.
nure answer.
4 mean | like it's straight forward
,ess.'
And is that all that pleases you?
Very far from it. But one question,
Mss Mary: Did you know had asked
,our sister to be my wife?'
! looked up into the sweet girls face
Her flushed cheeks, her
fright eyes, were very pleasant to look
lpon.
L have answered your most impor.
ant question, sir she said, biting her
ip, and | think that should satisfy
-Cu, =,
Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1889-06-20

AlGIle uIopS VI WaCet,
Little grains of sand,
Raise the very dickens
All throug ghout the land.
If she'd been his sister,
He'd never have kissed her.;
But she was his cousin,
And he gave her dozen.
Song Of the butcher shall meat
in the suet bY.and-by.'
If a boy and half eat a green apple
and half in y minute and half, how
will he feel IN an hour and half.
The cal object of education is to give
children resources that endure as long +;
as life endures.
A Conn ect icut thief who stole farm
er's watermelous sent the seeds back in
a letter, requesting him to plant them
next year.
Observation-Disclosures.
Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1889-08-02


Miss Nellie Flavin, Liverpool girl, is the
only woman who has yet volunteered to
labor in the dreaded spot at Kalawao, con-
secrated by the work of "the apostle Of the
lepers She passed through New York sew
eral weeks ago, and her presence became
known through the action Of the custom
house authorities, who seized the vestments
she had brought for the use Of Father pa-
mien She refused to speak about herself,
and many were of the opinion that her story
was a subterfuge to obtain free admission to
the vestments. They were shipped to San
Francisco to be given to her at her departure
from that port, and her English friends had
brief sketch of her life published as an an
swer to the charge Of the custom house au-
thorities
The Liverpool Catholic Times, just to hand,
tells who she Is: "Nellie Flavin is highly ac
complished, well educated and very well
known In we'll informed Catholic circles in
Liverpool Thoroughly taught at the board
ing school Of the Faithful Companions Of
Jesus, Dec house, Chester, she became daily
governess, some time after leaving school, to
Mr. Pierce, Beaver house, Linnet lane, Self
ton park, Liverpool, and remained in that
family until 1886 when she left for London
to undergo there a course of hospital train
ing. Miss Nellie Flavin is brilliant pianist,
and is Of an emiable, energetic and resolute
Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1889-08-02

United States Consul Griffin, stationed at
Sydney, n. S. W., tells Of a remarkable custom
Of the inhabitants of New Britain as follows:
THE inhabitants, 1t is said by Wallace, have
peculiar custom Of combining their girls in
cages until they are old enough to be mar
ried. This custom is said to be peculiar to
the people Of New Britain. The cages are
made Of twigs of the palm tree, and the girls
are put into them when 9 or 3 years OF age.
The Rev. George Brown established Yves
leyan mission in New Britain In 1870, and
learn from him that these cages are built In
side of the houses and that the girls are never
allowed to leave the house under any circum-
stances. The houses are closely fenced in with
a sort Of wicker work made Of reeds Ven
tilation under the circumstances Is rendered
difficult. The girls are said to grow up
strong and heslthful in spite Of these disad-
vantages. Chicago Tribune.
Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1889-08-02
ODDS AND ENDS.

An international congress Of agriculture
and forestry win be held in Vienna during
the summer Of 1890.
Topeka is going to try vitrihed brick on
one Of its streets
caused a marked diminution Of crime In
Pittsburg, Pa
At the recent sale Of the Secreten collec-
ton Of pictures in Paris, Millets "Angelusn
brought upwards Of $4,000
Professor E. NJ Shelton, Of the Kansas Ag-
ricultural college, has produced a variety Of
wheat which yields forty-seven bushels to the
acre.
Fireworks are said to have been made by
the Chinese in remote ages. They were In
vented in Europe at Florence about 1880.
A large cave has been discovered near Las
Cruces, N. NJ, the interior Of which is said
to be lined with veins Of almost pure silver
It Is stated that since the introduction Of
natural gas 500 shade trees have been killed
by natural gas leaks In the parks Of Ale
gheny City
England win adopt the German method Of
having the price Of the journey printed on
every railway ticket It is a convenient
facility for travelling.
In Breslau factory chimney hfty-four
feet high has Just been erected out OF blocks
Of papers held together by Special cement.
The chimney is fire and lightning proof
Stow says that Richard Mathews, on the
Fleet bridge, London, was the first English
man who made fine knives, etc., and that
he obtained prohibition of foreign ones in
1868
A surveyor who was employed In one Of
the oldest counties of Connecticut put In
three weeks on different farms before be
found one single line fence on the right line.
Every farmer was q gamer or loser by the
survey.
There will come a time when three words
uttered with charity and meelSness shall re-
ceive far more blessed reward than 5000
volumes written with disdainful sharpness Of
wit.-Hooker.
Professor William Saunders, horticulturist
Of the agricultural department at Washing
ton, declares that the golden rod is his first
choice for national flower, the sunhower
his second, adding that both are characters
tic American plorts
The saddest summer resort In Maine Just
now Is Higgins beach, where dead whale
came without any invitation and occupies al
together too much Of the air 70 suit othea
summer visitors
Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1889-08-02

So-faT, the monarchs who have visited the
Paris exhibition are gentlemen Of COLOR
Thus his majesty King Dinah Sallfou, who
has just put in an appearance with a suite
of seven followers, is the king Of Nalou, a
not very large district on the banks OF the
river Senegal The "Black Chief Of hercu-
lean proportions, who is being 50 lionized
just now by the French ladies Of fashion, is
not really a reigning chief at all, but is the
son OF the chief of a country known as the
Mellacorea, which Is under French prOtec-
ton. Like a victorious general who used to
be attended by his flute player, or Scotch
laird who Is followed about by his piper this
Senegalian visitor is attended In Paris wher-
ever he goes by two griots, as they ars called
that is to say, two native musicians-who
play upon mysterious instruments combining
the monOtony of the tomtom with tho shrill-
ness Of the untuned violin.-London Figaro
Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1889-08-02

Col. WIN S. Hays was chatting with group
of friends in front of The Courier-JOurnal
building yesterday afternoon, when the con-
versation turned upon his latest success,
"Signal Bells at Sea-" Two editions Of the
melody have already been exhausted and two
more are now ia press. Some one asked the
colonel how he came to write the song
Said he; LAST summer year ago l went
from Norfolk to New York on the steamer
Roanoke, of the Old Dominion line. noticed
along the sea coast floating buoys, and occu-
pying a position on the bow Of the steamer
until after midnight, could hear far out at
sea the tolling bells from the tops of those
buoys, shaken by the winds and the waves as
the steamer sped along. The bells had a pc
cular, weird, solemn tone, and | never forgot
their voices
"In travelling about through the state dur
ing the past six or seven months would find
myself singing imprOmptu verses about these
bells In the course of time | found myself
singing the song just as you see it written and
published Those who heard me sing it were
pleased with it and begged me to publish it
Then / concluded to write it out, send it on
to my publisher and let it go to the world.
Now, hardly know how | got the melody
for the song. 1t seemed that with the words
came the notes, and with the two came the
song. 1t is marvellous though that the very
notes that represent the bells are the identical
tones Of the bells heard during my trip, and
if you ask me to sing it for you in a month
from now I'll not be able to do so without
putting the words and music before me-"
chow is thatt"
II can't explain. do not know the words
and very little Of the music Of any song
ever composed. It is a singular fact that
can remember the words and music of a song
unwritten for years, but as soon as l write
and publish it forget it only to make room
for another, to be forgotten by me as soon as
it is put upon paper. Louisville Courier
Journal "
Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1889-08-02
SLOTS AND suDEo.
Chewing Gum and Hymn Book Machines,
Automatic Novelties,

Chewing Gum and Hymn Book Machines,
Automatic Novelties,
"Gol darn it, neaowIn was the exclamation
OF a wrathy rural as he stood gaping at an
automatic chewing gum machine with the
familiar slot "Bhem things mister" turn
ing to a bystander, ARE mighty onsartin in
their workings. It amt bad kind o. game
for them as gifts the nickels, but how about
the fellow as chucks in his last cent and don't
git his gump
''Slotn machines are making their appear
ance everywhere and in the most curious
places. Hotels, stores, news stands, ferries,
restaurants, are supplied with all sorts Of de-
vices on the "slotn principle and selling q
varied description of merchandise.
Most of these machines are kept in good
order, being regularly inspected by the pro-
prietors who place them. But they fire.
quently don't work. as In the case Of the
New Hampshire friend. It's often game of
''perhaps;" II it works you get your pur
chase, il it doesn't you don't. Still, there
are thousands who drop in their nickels and
make no complaint, even If the slot is sloven-
ly. 1t is said that there's knack in it, and
that the thing can be- worked to a charm Il
you know how.
The candy slot is in high favor. Scores OF
girls drop in their coins and giggle as the
respondent packages roll out. The next in
favor is the chewing gum slot, and largely
patronized by girls Then there is the foun
tain perfume slot, worked with a penny,
which gives out wee jet Of cologne This
unique contrivance doesn't always work, but
it sometimes gives a scent for a cent
Weighing slot machines with their clock
faces, are said to be irregular in their action,
and a customer weighing would be puzzled
to know just what his weight was by these
wonderful machines
A candy motto shop was working admira
bly, tho other day as two young people stood
spooning in front Of it, dropping their nickels
and laughing over the prophecies and senti-
meuts In which the chunks Of candy were
Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1889-08-02

There are two sets of articles constantly
aAoat-One going to show the enormous com
pensations of authorship, and the other to
demonstrate that the pen does not save its
wielders from starvation. The truth lies
midway, and the facts are that a truly YER
satile writer or a strong writer in one line,
gets well paid but that the majority who
strive to write for the press fail Of success
simply because it is out Of their true line Of
work They are untitled by education and
practice, and starve at it. R. W. Glider, of
The Century, receives SO, 900 a year; Amelie
Rives makes about $4,000, Howells receives
from the Harpers $4,000, Miss Murfree is
said to earn 5000, and others reap from
81, 800 to 5000 or more yearly; but the list
is not long one.-St. Louis Globe-Democrat
Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1889-08-02

If good advice would stop the use of the
pernicious cigarette, it would be seen no
more Professor Latin says there is but one
poison in a good cigar, but there are five in
cigarette-the oil in the paper, the oil of mic
otine saltpeter to preserve the tobacco, OPT
um to make il mild and the oil in the flavor
ing. A mouthful of the smoke blown through
a handkerchief will leave brown stain; but
blown through the nostrils no stain appears
lit is left In the head and throat Last year
there were 100000 cigarettes made in the
United States; and the consumption war
rants the enormous manufacture 1t is a
wholesale system Of poisoning. DR.. Holmes
says the habit of smoking cigarettes especial
ly enfeebles the win power.-St. Louis Globe
Democrat.
Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1889-08-02

That time honored institution, the CREASED
pole, has not yet been remanded to Oblivion
in Maine. West Bethel had one on the Glorious
Fourth, and patriotic citizen climbed it and
picked the flag OFF the top.
La Nature describes and illustrates a 70
markabe form Of earthworm which Is found
in Australia. They are an inch and aquarter
In diameter and six feet in length, and exhals
strong odor analogous to that Of creosote.
The Greeks ascribed the discovery OF iron
to themselves, and the discovery of glass r
the Phoenicians. Moses relates that iron W
wrought by Tubal Cain
II man has a quarrelsome temper, let him
alone. The world win soon find him employ
ment He will soon meet with some one
stronger than himself, who will repay him
better than you can. A man may fight dueh
all his life if be is disposed to quarreL-CeciL
The price of emeralds and rubies Is increas
ing from year to year. Diamonds and white
pearls are not getting dearer. Black pearls
have been increasing steadily In price for the
last four or i've years-in fact, 1t Is almost
impossible to supply the demand for them.
Liberia, the republic Of freed and indigo
nous negroes on the coast of Upper Guinea
West Africa, was founded In 1922, by the
American Colonization society, founded by
Henry Clay in 1914 The independence OF
Liberia was proclaimed in ls47, and recog
nized by Europe the following year.
Every grimy Italian at work on the Maine
railroads is a lover Of music They twang
and blow at every interval in their shoveling
At Dexter the other day lady was startled
by the appearance at her window Of a bronzed
son Of Italy, who in broken speech implored
permission to hear the music of her piano.
Latin ceased to be spoken as the Language
Of the people IN Italy, about 5Sl; Il was first
taught in England in the Seventh century,
and speedily became the learned language Of
that kingdom, and the one In which English
literature and law was expressed. Its uss
in law gave way TO the common tongus
about the year 1000, was revived by Henry
II, and again replaced by English by Henry
Ill
Carpenters and other tool users who keel
up with the times now use a mixture Of ely.
cerine, instead Of oil, for sharpening their
edge tools Oh as is well known, thickens
and smears the stone. The glycerine may be
mixed with spirits in greater or less proper
ton, according as the tools to be sharpened
are fine or coarse. For the average blade,
two parts Of glycerine to one Of spirits viii
suffice
The invention and development of electric
welding Of solid bodies by Professor Elihu
Thomson has been followed by a method Of
making endless pipes by the adaptation OF
the discovery to that purpose. This has ap-
parently been done by Mr.. Elias E Ries, Of
Baltimore. The smooth interior Of the pipe
Is secured by the use Of a removable refrac-
tory core, made Of some insulating material,
or the same object Is attained by subjecting
the interior Of the pipe while being welded to
compressed air or huid pressure
Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1889-08-02

Lawn parties are the thing in the suburbs,
and the lemon lunch is the favorite of all,
and it must be confessed il is not a bad idea
for hot day. The invitations 10 the lemon
lunch bear lemon for IA crest, and every
body who attends wears knot of lemon col.
ored ribbon. Each one brings lemon, too.
Some young ladies Of the hostess family or
acquaintance cut the lemons in two as they
come, and put the seeds into a lemon colored
bowl. The ingenuity Of the lady Of the es-
tate is displayed IN the decoration of her ta-
bic Everything is yellow, so far as possible
flowers, china, the border Of the napkins
and cloth. Each dish has the flavor or sea-
soning or gaInishing Of lemon. At the end
of the lunch the lemon seed bowl is brought
on, and each lady has guess how many
seeds it contains, the one guessing nearest re-
ceiving prize of piece Of yellow china,
the one making the worst estimate lemon
squeezer.-Boston Advertiser.