davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1889-10-10
THE BOWSERS.
Ar. Bowser Takes q Trip to tho
County.

ELL, what do you
thinkr" excla i'm e d
Mr.. Bowser, as he
came hurrying home
from the Office the
ether afternoon.
"Have you gone
and got some more
hens or bought an
other horse"
"Mrs. Bowser, the
event OF our life Is
about to happen"
"What is it!"
Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1889-10-10
WOMAN'S GOLDEN AGE.

Tho Intellectual Development OF Two Den.
yer Society Girls.
Connecticut western news., 1889-02-13
Flexible Stone,

There lay this morning on the desk of MT. Samuel Hodgkins, acting chief clerk of the War Department, stone wrapped in brown paper. It weighed about a pound, and was perhaps 13 inches in length, 9 in width and one-third of an inch thick. The texture of the stone was fine and presented no evidence of justification, and was smooth over the entire surface. A knife blade made no impression on the particles. There was 10 doubt as to its being genuine stone, but it nevertheless possessed the f1exibil- lty of piece of India rubAer. When taken ill the hand and shaken in the di- rection of its fiat surfaces it would bend back and forth with dull, muffled sound. The move ment was more of laxity in the adhc- sion apparently than an elasticity. When held horizontally by one end the other would drop and remain in that position. With the two ends supported on rests, the free centre could be pressed half an inch below the middle line. With one end held firmly on the desk the other could be bent upward over an incA. The movement was not confined to the one direction-in the plane of the fiat sur faces-but the entire stone seemed to be constructed on the principle of an uni. versal joint, with movement in all di- rections under pressure.
 It came from mountain in North Carolina, and bears the name of 'tfcxible sand stone." The entire mountain is composed of this material, and pieces cut at random exhibit the same flexible properties. - Washington Star.
Connecticut western news., 1889-02-13
How Wounded Men Behave.

If a soldier is wounded his behavior depends on the manner in which he is wounded and whether he is of quiet or excitable temper. Flesh wounds re- ceived in action are in many cases not felt at all, until the blood comes and the man gets exhausted. When the bone is struck the shock is great and accom- panied by acute pain. I have seen poor fellows struck in the breast by mimic balls remaining in action for minutes, then sinking on their knees or falling on their faces. Not all such severe wounds are mortal. Sergeant Ture of the Twelfth Missouri received ball which went right through both temples, and he lived for years afterward; soldier who was shot through the left lung lived for whole year; General Shields was shot through h:s breast in Mexico and reached an advanced age. The worst hits are of course those by canister and round shot and are mostly mortal. They take off arms or legs, or the head of man, as was the case with the Cap tain of Southern battery in the battle of Pea Ridge. splinters of shells are less dangerous, but when thrown into groups and columns may disable many men. A single shell from a Paixhan gun sent from Fort Duncan, Maryland Heights, in my presence, to Bolivar Heights against group of Southern horse men killed General Lewis and wounded or killed nineteen of his companions. have heard wounded soldiers grooming under great pain, but never heard them crying out or using profane Ian
 guage. When halting on horseback on the right of the Twenty-fourth Massa- chusetts in the battle of New Market the regiment was under fire at clcse range for about forty minutes, losing 200 men in killed and wounded, but not loud cry was heard from those who were wounded. Chicago Ledger.
Connecticut western news., 1889-02-13
Relic of a Famous Battle,

A white pine tree was cut recently two miles south of Shade Mills, in Garrett County, near the site of the old Braddock road, and converted into shingles. It was a large tree, and by expert woodsmen estimated to be at least three hundred years old. In cutting it up the saw, going through some tough substance, then supposed to be knot, attr 'cted attention, and investigation disclosed a bullet embedded within two inches of the heart. The tree at this point was 32 inches in diameter. About one-third of the bullet was sawed away, the remainder weighing at least an ounce, being left in a corner of the butt end of a shingle. The ball is supposed to have been shot from musket by one of Braddock's men during the campaign which culmin ated in the disaster at Fort Du Quesne. In this event the bullet was embedded in the tree 133 years ago, each years growth burying it deeper. It is a most interesting memento of the ill-starred campaign of 1755.-Baltinaore Sun.
Connecticut western news., 1889-02-13

''Mr. Morton, surely you don't mean it! faltered Miss Bell, while a rosy blush mounted to her smooth white brow.
 "Yes, Bessie, mean every word of it. have never seen any woman that l loved but you; do you think you could care enough for me to be my wife?"
 ''It's so sudden," stammered Miss Bell.
 tI know it is, Bessie; but say yes please do" he coaxed, gaining courage to plead his cause, now that the ice was broken. What her answer was the reader can judge; for three weeks later he led her into his own home, and introduced her as ''My wife, Mrs. Bessie Morton" Imagine the surprise and delight of Kate and Lillie at this sudden announce ment.
 F'Oh, Lill, didn't I tell you how it would end? And am glad of it! cried Kate, after she had kissed her new aunt and nearly smothered Mir. Morton with a "bear hug' in her delight at the turn affairs had taken. ''But uncle, what about the widow?'' she quizzed, after the surprise and excitement had somewhat subsided.
 MT. Morton looked searchingly into her face for moment, and catching the gleam of mischief that sparkled in her eye, he exclaimed:
 'tSo, miss, it was you was it? I might have known it was one of your tricks but then, all is we'll that ends we'll, y he added, with loving glance at the sweet face at the other side of the room.- Wduer1ey.
Connecticut western news., 1889-02-13
The Best Exercise for Children.

Instinctive gymnastics is, from the hygienic point of view, the best adapted to the regular development of the child. It is not liable to any of the objections we have brought against gymnastics with apparatus. It cannot deform the body, for it is made up of spontaneous move ments, and conformed to the natural of- flee of each limb. It does not localize the work in a particular region of the body, for all the limbs are instinctively invited to take their quota of exercise and it does not seduce the child into ef- forts touching upon the limits of his strength. Instinct also invites him to the kind of work which is best adapted to his particular apti- tudes for resisting fatigue. He has natural disposition to perform light but frequently recurring acts, quick motions, which put him out of breath, while exercises with apparatus rather exact slow and intense efforts that bring on local fatigue. Now, sll observers have noticed the wonderful facility with which child rccovcrs his breath, and his impatience of local fatigue. Finally, natural exercise, being the satisfaction of want, is by that very fact pleas ure; and joy shines in the face of a child who is playing freely.--Popular Science Monthly.
Connecticut western news., 1889-02-13
Water Essential for Grinding Wheat.

Water ESSent1al TOT Gr1nOlng wheat.
 One of the largest millers in the United States, c. A. Pilsbury, is cred ited with asserting that millers do not dampcn their wheat before grinding it. This is correct of some millers, but not of all, and the reason is not attributable to differences in millers, but to differ enccs in wheat. Most of the California wheat ground in this state is moistened, because it is necessary to do so. On the other hand, Oregon wheat will not stand dampening, as it contains enough water without this treatment.
 On this account local millers prefer California wheat, as they can add the necessary water for nothing, which they have to pay for in the Oregon article. When shipped abroad or stored for months at tidewater, there is less differ ence, as wheat which is not moist will become so in damp atmosphere. Cali fornia wheat when atloat gains two to three per cent. from absorption of moisture. A certain percentage of water in wheat is essential to render. it fit for grinding, and the moisture has to bs either found in the grain or applied arti- ticially thereto. .-6an s7tamciSoo 0reor.
Connecticut western news., 1889-02-13
Cloth Made of Corn Husks.

One of the best utilized waste pro- ducts in Austria, resulting in the manu- factnre of large quantities of paper and cloth, are corn husks. These are boiled with an alkali in tubular boilers, as a result of which the flores of the husks are found at the bottom of the boiler in a spongy condition, filled with glutinous substance, and which proves to be per feet dough of cornmeal, containing in a concentrated form all the pabulum origi- nally contained in the husk. The glu- tinous matter is pressed out from the fibre by hydraulic apparatus, leaving the fibre in the shape of mass or chain of longitudal threads, interspersed with a dense mass of short fibre. The linen made from the long fibre furnishes very good substitute for the coarser kinds of flax and hemp, and is superior to jute, gunny cloth, coir and the like.
 The paper, for which mostly the short flores are used-the long flores constitu- ting the material for spinning-is stronger than papers of the same weight made from linen or cotton rags its hard ness and firmness of grain exceeding..that of the best dipped English drawing papers, being especially adapted for pencil drawing, s.enographic writing and water colors; its durability exceeds, it is claimed, that of paper made from any other material, and the corn husk parchment is not at exposed points destroyed by insects; if the gluten is left in the pulp the paper can be made extremely transparent without sacrificing any portion of its strength. Again the fibre is easily worked, either alone or in combination with rags, into the finest writing or printing papers; it also readily takes any tint or color, and can be worked almost to as much advantage into stout wrapping papers of superior quality as into fine note and envelope papers.
Connecticut western news., 1889-02-13
A StupendOus Mystery.

Proctor declared that few even among scientific men appreciate the amazing mystery of the force we call gravity. Wonderful as is the familiar attraction of bodies to the earth, gravitation is al- together greater mystery when consid- cred as property possessed by matter. The universality of the property which belongs not merely to this or that sub- stance, but to every substance, solid, liquid or gaseous, and not to such aggre- gations of matter, but to the ultimate molecules and atoms is an amazing, if not an appalling mystery. Here is mat ter, which men call inert, not merely possessing inherent force, but with its whole texture instinct with inherent, unexplained, probably inexplicable pow CT. But if the univcrsality of gravi- tation, and the infinite range of the force thus exerted by all matter are won derful, infinitely more wonderful is the instantaneous nature of its operation. This quality of universal gravitation is indeed so wonderful that few who hear | of it for the first time can even admit that it is possible. Yet the astronomer has been able to demonstrate that the interval of time required for gravity to extend its action from one body in space to any other body, even if separated by a distance so great that light at 1S7, ,O00 miles per second takes thousands of years to cross it, is less than any interval which can be measured.-Irenton (N. J) 1 American.
Connecticut western news., 1889-02-13
Funny Finds in Pianos.

The variety of articles that piano tuners find in pianos is remarkable. It is also extraordinary what receptacle of lost articles piano can become in the course of a few months. A tuner was conversing last night about some of the singular phrases of his calling, when he incidently let drop the statement that he found four diamonds in one piano and had recovered very substantial reward for his discovery from the lady who had employed him. "You can understand the shock given to a ring" he said, "when lady is playing and brings hel fingers down in a crescndo. If stone happens to be loose, away it goes, and with that rare affinity which valuable things have for getting into strange places, it promply gets between the keys and works down into the framework of the instrument. And little things like gems are not the only ones lost in this way. I have found coins of all sorts or 
 denominations in loosely set piano, hairpins, ordinary pins, visiting cards, and the like.
 sWhere there Are children around the accumulation becomes greater, for the little rascals have fashion of stuffing pianos full of every small thing they can get their mischevous little fingers on. Of course the tone of piano is very much injured by the presence of anything beneath or behind the keys, but very few persons who use the instru- mcnt can distinguish when it is a quarter tone out of the way, especially when they are using the piano themselves. J | -Neu Fork Times.
Connecticut western news., 1889-02-13
Chain.Charities,

There is cust< m now in vogue of ob- taining money for charitable purposes, by starting an appeal and causing it to pass through many hands, demanding small sums as it goes.
 ''I sha' n't do anything of the sort, " replied a lady who was asked to enter one of these 'chain- charities. "] don't like the system, and l don't intend to be idea tifed with it."
 "Then we can't count on you," said a more jealous acquaintance.
 "'No. l object decidedly to belong ing to the chaia-gang. prefer, instead, the opprobrium of being called the miss ing link. ."- YoutA's Companion.
Connecticut western news., 1889-02-13
The Last Bird to Retire.

Apart from the birds which rest dur ing the day and seek their food at night, as the night jar and the various kinds of owls, and putting aside also those which in summer frequently sing all the night through, as the nightingale, the wood lark and the edge- warbler it seems that the robin is the last bird to seek repose. It may be often heard singing until near ly midnight in the early summer, and in the winter is to be seen hopping about long after other birds have gone to rest.
Connecticut western news., 1889-02-13
VOL. XVIII.
An Old Bachelors Valentine.

CThe author of this poem, which original, ppeared in Ha,pe,'s Magazine, mysterious ' disappeared in 1885, and has never beel card from At the time of his disappear nee MT. Conant was editor of Ha1per' Veekly.l
 Were not in the faded and sere Yellow leaf of my fiftieth year,
 Katie dear, Or could recall the sunshine Of youth to this dull heart of mine, Iwould pen thee a gay valentine,
 Katie mine. In the morning of life, when the clear Vistas show us no prospect to fear,
 Katie dear, Ere yet we have learned to repine, We joyously bend at the shrine Of the lovers good saint Valentine
 Katie mine. When we know that our sunset is near, And our sky Is o'erclouded and drear,
 Katie dear, It's strife to feel jaunty and fine, And our fancy can hardly incline Us to homage to St. Valentine,
 Katie mine. And yet, if had thee right near, would whisper a word in thy ear,
 Katie dear, And beg thee to open thy shrine Of thy heart to this poor one of mine, Instead of gay valentine,
 Katie mine.
Connecticut western news., 1889-02-13

The commercial journal known as Bradstreet's, reports 659 strikes in 1888, involving POT, s4l employees against SS4 strikes concerning 340,7S5 employees in 1887, a decrease of 225 in the number of strikes and 132, 944 in number of strik- CTS. There were in January, 1889, thirty-three strikes involving 6S65 men against 60 strikes involving 36, 000 men (2S, GOO in the Reading strike in 1888. Of the 6S65 strikers that month 5000 are accounted for by the, coal miners strike in West Virginia and cigarmakcrs' strike in New York City.
Connecticut western news., 1889-02-13
Precious Stones in the United States.

During the last decade new stones have come into favor, some neglected ones have regained their popularity, and still others, such as the amethyst and canoes, have been thrown out entirely. The latter, no matter how finely cut, would not find purchasers now at one- fifth of their former value; about ten years ago they were eagerly sought after at from four to twenty times their pres ten years ago, and further rise was not looked for, but today they are still higher, 5-16 karat stone having been quoted at $33, 900. There is no demand at present for topaz, yet a syndicate of French capitalists has been organized to control the topaz mines of Spain, in the expectation that af- ter twenty years of disfavor this gem will again be popular. Coral has felt the change of fashion, for during the last three years the imports have been less than 5000 per annum, and in the last ten years in all $33, 956, whereas in the ten years preceding $3S8, ,577 worth were imported. The popularity of amber, on the other hand, is increas- ing. The imports of amber beads for the ten years 1868 to 1878 amounted to less than $50OO, whereas during the last ten years $35, S97 worth have been intro- duced. Amber amounting to only $47,- 900 was imported from 1868 to 1878, but over $350, 900 worth from 1878 to 1888.
 Ten years ago few jewellers carried more than the following stones in stock: Diamond, ruby, sapphire, emerald, gar net and occasionally topaz or aquamar- inc. The gem and mineralogical collec- tions contained large series of beautiful stones, hard and of rich color, but known here as ''fancy stone" and by the French as pierres de fantasie. Since then | considerable interest has centred in these fancy stones, and any leading jeweller is not only expected to be familiar with, but to keep almost all of them in stock. This change may be partly referred to the fact that since the Centennial Exhi- bition art matters have received more at- tention among us than before.-Jearelers' | Weeklu
Connecticut western news., 1889-02-13

The design for the monument to be placed over General Sheridans grave at Arlington opposite Washington, has been made by Samuel Kitson, a New York sculptor, under the supervision of Mrs. Sheridan. The monument consists of a pyramidal monolith of gray granite ris- ing from a simple base. The whole structure will be thirteen feet in height. A bass relief bust in bronze of the dead general will be sunk in the side Every thing about the monument will be plain and substantial
Connecticut western news., 1889-02-13


 A new method of helping along an early-closing movement was put in oper- ation recently at Red Jacket, large cop per mining town in the Lake Superior region. All the business men agreed to close their stores at s o'clock except Yaiowstein & Sons. The first night the new order of things was put in opera ton 100 clerks entered Yalowstein' s store, each smoking cheap cigar, and began looking over goods. They soon cleared the store of all lady customers. They attempted no violence, made no noise, simply smoked them out. The clerks say they will keep it up.
Connecticut western news., 1889-02-13
Fish Hooks.

A fish hook is such little thing to contemplate unless you have it stuck in your finger that one can hardly conceive of its manufacture being a considerable industry, where fine patented machinery and great skill is required. Fish hooks are made from steel wire. It is softencd, one end pointed and barbed by ma chinery and the other fattened on a small anvil. Then it is curved, enam. elled dark blue color and hardened. A good fish hook is the delight of fish ermen- Graphic.
Connecticut western news., 1889-02-13
HUMOROUS.

The National Game-Politics.
 Seldom on fire-Smoking jackets.
 A large snowdrop-An avalanch.
 The great Russian Him-Thc Czar.
 Committee on the whole-Well dig gers.
 The best way to kill falsehood is to let it lie.
 The clements are angry when the waterspout.
 The guillotlne block is one of the French polling places.
 Some men are always willing to stand up for the la lies, excepting perhaps in horse car.
 A philosopher once remarked that he helped elect certain man to Congress because he was so lazy he couldn't do any harm.
 The man with the glass eye has the great consolation that he is putting on more style than his neighbor; he has stained glass window to his soul.
 Smith Qo Robinson, cigar dealer)-I see you have changed your store again. Burnt outa Robinson (whose last store was seized by Sheriff)-No; fired out.
 Adding insult to injury.-First Shop Mo1o 1,0ts Second Shopping, Fiend--Why, how inexcusably stupid of me to pick up an imitation monkey skin!
 ''I suppose" said the visitor, 'you get used to life in Sing Sing3" "Oh, indeed, yes," replied the prisoner. ''We get very much attached to the old place. That is why we don't leave it sooner"
 "My dear young lady," said g gushing artist to her, "you arc positively lovelya Wouldn't you like me to do you in oila" ''Sir," exclaimed her fathers pride, in- dignantly, ''do you take me for sar- dine2"
 The Duke of Soggerrath-" Do you know, me dear young lady that I'm tempted to carry home one of you American gyrls myselfs"
 Miss Crisp" You'd have to carry her, your grace. "-Judge.
 "No," sald Mrs Shoddie, "we have to pay our fare nowadays, as the railroad companies will not give Charles passes on account of this nasty real estate com merce law" and then she sighed and made faces at the railroad corporation
 Tourist to stage driver in the Yellow stone region)-Are there any wonderful curiosities to be seen in this region, dri- ver2 Stage edriver-Wonderfu curiosi- ties We'll, should say there werel Why, you drop rock down that gorge, come back in three days and you can hear the echo.
 It seems that the Esquimaux name their children after the expressions they hear used by English sailors. If Sum- day school should ever be established among those blubber eaters, it would not seem at all sweet and edifying to hear the youngsters pipe up such names as "Go-to- Halifax"
 Lengthen out the ''De ,th List' column
 Hoist the advertising rates; Make the headlines black and s,lemn- Little Johnny's got his skates.
Connecticut western news., 1889-02-13
A Blind Young COlOred Prodigy,

Oscar Moore, a blind negro boy not quite four years of age, is the latest youthful prodigy. Little Moore has d memory that Macaulay might have envied. He can rccito poems and sing songs in English, German, and Danish. His parents are very ordinary negroes, and the wonder is where he learned all that he knows.--Ilu,per's Basar.
Connecticut western news., 1889-02-13
The Old Homo.
In the quiet shad W of twilight I stand by the garden door,

In the quiet shad W of twilight
 I stand by the garden door. And gaze on the old, old home,taa1 So oh .rished anl loved o yore. But the ivy now is twininy
 Untrained OCT window and wall; And no more the voice of the ch ldren Is ,choing through the hall. Through years of pain and sorrow, Since first had to p rt The thought of the dear old homestead Has fingered ar aund my he .rt; The porch embowe"e l with roses
 The gables drooping caves Aud the s,ng of the birds 1t twilight Amid the rch ard lsaves. And the f rms of those wh loved me In the h:ppy childhood years Appaar 8. the du.ky windows,
 Through v.sian dimmed with tearA hear their voices calling
 From the shadowy far away, And stretch my arms toward them In the gloom of the twilight gray. But cn'y the night winds answer,
 As cry thr ugh the di maj air; And only the bat comes sweeping
 From tha darxness of its liar. Yet sti the voice of my childho2d
 Is calling from far away, And the faces of those who loved me
 Smile through the shadows gray.