davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-02

the fuel combination chamber from the
crematory chamber, has been drawn back,
the flames from the furnace play over the
body, which is placed with the head to the
flames, and these and the products of both
combustions descend the hue, and then as
cend by side fues to the chimney. Not an
atom Of organic matter is allowed to escape
into the atmosphere.
When the cremation society had finished
the Woking crematory they were disguised
to find that they were unable to use it.
Bishops and lawyers denounced it as ire
ligious and illegal, and for nearly ten years
the big furnace remained cold save for occa-
sional experimental cremations of the lower
animals. But in 1884 the question of legal
ity was settled IN an unexpected and sensa-
tional manner. DR.. William Price, an ec-
centric old gentleman living near Cardiff, in
Wales, claimed to be a descendant of the
Druids, and when his five-months old child
died he decided to dispose of its remains in
what he considered the orthodox Druidical
fashion by cremating it.
ALMOST A LYNCHING.
DR.. Price could not afford to send the lit
tie corpse several hundred miles to Woking,
even had he been sure that the society would
receive it. He therefore fixed up a rude
crematorium of his own on the TOP of a
lovely Welsh hill, and one fine Sunday
afternoon commenced operations. His Gre
matorium consisted chiefly of pile of wood
and a ten-gallon cssk of petroleum upon
which the little body was placed. After
some preliminary Druidical lncantatlons the
old man himself applied the torch and soon
there was blaze which attracted all the
people of the valley.
The simple folks, having no sympathy
with cremation or modern Druids, saw only
poor little Oaby's body being scandalously
treated. Forthwith they heaped earth on
the flames, rescued the Ralfconsumed corpse
and proceeded earnestly to lynch the in
human parent. The opportune arrival of
the rural police saved the life of DR.. Price
but he was put in prison and charged with
misdemeanor in having attempted to burn
the child's body. At the trial at Cardiff in
February, 1884, however, Mr. Justice
Stephen ruled that the cremation of a bodv.
If effected without causing nuisance, was
perfectly legal, and DR.. Price was acquit-
ted. Since then the cremation system has
slowly but steadily grown in public favor.
The Marquis of Ely was the first noble !
man to be cremated, but among the distin- |
guished persons who have given orders that |
their corpses shall be SO treated are the |
Duke of Bedford, Lord Bramwell, Sir |
Henry Thompson and Sir Spencer Wells. |
1t is believed by shrewd observers of pub |
lie sentiment in England that the system |
of disposing of the dead by cremation is |
at last well under way.
BLAKELY HALL.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-02

a gate, and not frequently travelled road
winding picturesquely through the woody
suggests visions of home beyond or in the
midst of the shade! We catch only glimpse
of the road and the gate as we rush by, but
sufficient to learn that the gate says in con-
sequence of broken hinge, and the elliptic
rut in the ground proves that the accident
is not recent.
At dusk we were halted for supper, but
had no appetite. 1t was rumored we
should have good supper. Twenty min
utes later was ready to be qualified touch
ing the truth of the report. The tablecloth
was wonder in whiteness; so were the nap
kins. The glass shone even under a kero-
sene glow. There were bountiful bouquets
of fresh flowers, and drawing my fingers
across my white plate it left no trail behind.
Dark aunties lu bright calico gowns and
CAV kerchiefs on their heads waited on US.
There were biscuits no larger round than
silver dollar that melted in the mouth;
dainty salads of, to me, novel but exquisite
zest, coffee that rivaled the color of newly
minted gold and of fragrance had
deemed unattainable, eggpone and-fried
chicken-tender fried chicken, that would
have tempted the censorious palate of old
Lucullus after a square meal in the Apol-
linarian Hall; the jellies and cakes were
Do not cavil that thought OF the preacher
and the threadbare joke; but it could have
been no such fried chicken that gave birth to
that chestnut; taste of it would make the
preacher wish to spend the remainder of his
life here and, when he deceased, unlike the
gallant Little Phil" (peace to his ashes, to
live in Texas, or within hail of that paragon
in the kitchen. But think of 20 minutes to
devote to such marvel
AN EYE TO BUSINESS.
Coming out. the deacon said he had
mind to stop over till the next train.
sis it the egg-pone, deacon, or the chick
emp
Neither" and nv susceptible friend de-
sisted picking his teeth to wipe his lips, and
walked with me in silence to the train.
After half an hour be said to me:
"Do you know that ham commands IS
cents pound in Mexico and lard in pro-
portion?'
''I have heard so''
"Why wouldn't it be good idea to drive
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-02
lessly subject to the imperious wills of un-
reasonable Mexican Custom House officials

lessly subject to the imperious wills of un-
reasonable Mexican Custom House officials.
A LITTLE EXPERIENCE.
This was to be a new experience with me,
odious to the average free thinking Ameri-
can, accustomed to having his own way. I
expected to be jailed over night and exc
cuted at sunrise ceremoniouslY, but with
celerity, because of an unbroken package Of
smoking tobacco in my possession. National
pride hindered my throwing the peril out OF
the window, and while silently debated
the matter, at one time feeling regret at
leaving my gun at home, the gold-hued por-
ter of the Pullman Company announced:
Ladies and gentlemen will now have
their baggage revised at the Custom
House"
In passing I inquired of this descendant
of several races, touching the first proof, and
verify he erinned, having passed brief ap-
premiership in a printing Office.
1 presented my open grip of collars and
cuffs and the fateful tobacco box to an affable
gentleman two shades darker than the porter.
He smiled when he encountered the box,
and said something to bystander which I
failed to comprehend. but supposed it to be
an order for my immediate arrest, delivered
in Spanish. The bystander relieved my
anxiety by assuring me that the officer con-
sidered my luxury ''the staff of life." The
brother republican motioned me to close the
grip and he then plastered white paper
upon it with cabalistic and incomprehensl-
BILE legend supporting the talIsmanic device,
'Revisado," in large letters. 1 shall pre-
serve it as long as the grip holds together as
a reminder of the Mexican's urbanity and
the porter's pedantry. But have lost faith
in the general acumen and knowledge of
customs possessed by the average New York
tourist. L. B. FRANCE.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-02
THE BEST YEARS on LIFE.
But Only a Woman Can Properly Mold
Their Happiness

But Only a Woman Can Properly Mold
Their Happiness,
From All the Year Around.l
From 81 to 25 might be the best years Of
life, but upon one condition only that seems
possible. The condition is, that the man be
in bonds of noble servitude of admiration
to noble woman. There will be much oi
disquiet attendant upon such serI ice; but
it will be the restlessness of sure and certain
growth, and growth in the highest direc-
tion. Ahl but the woman must be of exalt-
ed mold-little short, indeed, of div unity.
Otherwise, it were diabolical.
The Greeks had more than an inkIing of
this method, although, as a rule, they could
not rear such high-souled women as it is the
privilege of modern Europe to excel in.
With them the philosophers played the
part of the woman. Often they played 1T
detestably, but not always. The rare excep-
tions were those unsexed men who had
attained to the state of pure contemplative
spirits, to whom the world is butthe shadow
of world. They made Greece.
Similarly, the woman of our age who,
from the most unselfsh motives devotes
herself to others-whether to individuals, or
classes, or entire nations-has in her to
make the man in his early manhood. This
is well known, but it is worth iteration. If
only we could keep colleges of tried women
for the finishing of the education of our
boysl 1 warrant the result would be aston
ishing.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-02
SCIENTIFIC SUMMARY.

The Prosser locomotive. Just invented at
Chicago, is said to be noiseless smokeless and
wonderfully economical of fuel and of power
botanical congress has been called by the
Botanical Society of France, to be held in Paris
in August, for the presentation and discussion
Of treatises on botanical subjects. pure or
applied. Particular attention will be given to
action looking to the preparation of MAPS
showing the distribution of species and genera
over the globe and to the characters for classi-
hcation furnished by anatomy.
Mount VesuVius has been in a state of mild
eruption for some time past. the most violent
commotion being from about April % to May
The cone which has been forming for the last
ten months has fallen in, and a considerable
outpour OF lava took place from fssure on
the southeast side of the crater. The outpour
mountain; but it is not expected that it will
reach cultivated ground. The eruption is in
MANY respects similar to that of NAV 2 IsS5
ana, IL Is hoped, will prove as harmless.
SINCE the beginning of February the
Babyionian expedition sent out by the UNI
versity OF Pennsylvania has been exploring the
ruins of Niffer, whose site is marked by an i'm
mense mound. about 60 miles southwest of
ancient Babylon, and bordering on the Afflosch
swamps. so-ealled from the tribe of Affik
Bedouins that dwell near by. Niffer is Identical
5000 years before the Christian era In its
ruins lie buriedHhe remains of the famous Bel
temple, which will be systematically explored
Messenger.
Few educational enterprises have welded
larger results for the amount invested than the
Egypt Exploration Fund. Expending annually
since 1888 between s., 900 and 5000, 1t has dis.
covered or disclosed the following interesting
sites: Pittrom 1.-THE treasure city of Exodus i
~, Goshen Tahpanhes (the Daphne of the
kratis, and. latest Of all, Bubastis (the Pi-
besetti of the Seriptures). These discoveries
have been conducted In thoroughly scientific
manner and have yielded rich results regarding
the sciences. arts and Industries of ---4s
the early sources OF Greek history
ucularly Biblical and secuIs-
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-02
my ,civility in that direction is greeted with

nv ,civility in that direction is greeted with
impudence.
STREET scENEINs SAN ANTONIO.
Mo wing on, along a street paralleled by a
dead wall and an ancient, lattice-windowed
buildi ug on one side and some of the modern
marvel on the other, 1 am more forcibly re-
minded, than ever Of the incongruity of the
prevail ing craze. It is a good deal like at
temptin to patch an old garment with new
cloth. Still the fragrance of the flower, the
songs of the birds and the grand trees
dampen ones disposition to cavil and force
one to ch,serfulness. The strangers 1 meet
salute me cordially and that has neigh
borly, nol1-metropolitan influence which
induces home feeling. Finally, en-
counter G eneral taking his constitutional,
or perhaps, on the way to that indulgence,
from other than New England standpoint.
The effect at tending his numerous social
duties of the night previous still fingers
about him and attests their rigid perform
ance. Our acquaintance is slight. but SUI
ficient to comm and recognition on this oeca-
sion.
Had visited the West End? I had. San
Pedro. Yes The Alamo and the other
missions? Certainly. Iwould not miss the
missions in any CT circumstances. The military
post? No, not yet.
! "Great Cad, sir The most attractive
feature of our citys You must not omit it,
sir %
admitted, while 1 deprecated the pos
sible necessity of soldiers, and my indiffer-
ence to military posts as rule. My ex--
planation was lacking in tact; the General
glowered and the pain full effect of his stock,
as he bade me pond,srous good morning,
dilated his neck, reddelled and expanded his
cheeks and realized the loss of an invita-
ton to join him in his constitutional, while
1 pursued my own.
BORDER OF THE TWO REPUBLICS.
In the afternoon we are on the road
again speeding toward the border between
the two republics. The country presents
the same appearance of prairie, with patches
of chapparal and groves of live oak. The
houses of upright boards disappear and
wickiups take their places. "A line of fence
along the edge of a belt of timber discloses
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-02
THE MYSTERY OF DEATH.
State of Cntalepsy Sometimes Lasts for
Days or Weeks.
Boston Globe.J


Boston Globe.J
Few events have given rise to so much
general comment as the recent dissection of
Mind-reader Bishop only few hours after
he was supposed to be dead. The pending
examination into his death has shown that
the medical experts, as usual, are much at
sea on the nature of death and the certain
evidences of its actual occurrence as or
dinary guessers.
Man has natural and spiritual body
The suspension of activity in the natural
body implies the release of the spirit. But
Just when the action of the physical body
is entirely suspended is matter of specula-
tion, till the final evidence of decomposition
is supplied. This has been practically ad-
mitted by the physicians called upon to
testify In the Bishop case.
In the disease of catalepsy, or deep trance,
the action of the nerves Of Volition and sem
sation is suspended, while a weak action of
the heart and lungs is continued for some
times many days. That this action may
become entirely imperceptible and life yet
remain seems to be proved in the case of
Bishop. At any rate the doctors are not
able to agree to the contrary.
All the burrowing animals are in a state
of catalepsy and live for months in state
of apparent death. Frogs have been taken
from solid sandstone, after being imbedded
for many years, and resuscitated. How
many men are cataleptic in the last stages
of life is matter which the doctors know
scarcely more about than other people.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-02
THE REVENGE OF THE APES.

How They Put to Death the Man VIII
Wanted to be Their King.
Adele NJ. Fielde. in Harper's Young People.j
A thriftless man who had a scolding wife
resorted to - woods to hang himself; bu
after he h.. lied the moose his courage
failed, and he went home. His wife, OF
seeing him, said he had been gone so long
that she had begun to hope he would never
come back. This so wounded his feelings that
he declared his intention of ending his life,
and again betook himself to the forest.
There he passed from tree to tree and de-
ferred the act from hour to hour, till he
entered strange gorge and sat down in the
attitude of a musing Buddha under a
branch on which he decided to fix his rope.
Being exhausted by fasting and fatigue,
he fell into deep sleep, and was presently
discovered by wandering ape, who re-
ported to his tribe that he had found their
ancestor. A council of the elders was then
called around the sleeping man, and after
due inspection they unanimously decided
that he was indeed their ancestor. and
should be their king. So they carried
him to their stronghold in q wooded glen,
enthroned him in an arbor, and surrounded
him with offerings of fruits and nuts. When
he awoke he found his wants so provided
for and his servants so deferential that he
thought he might greatly enjoy life among
the apes. They continued to bring
as tribute to him the best Of
tt cir gleanings in the neighborhood and
all the treasures they collected in their
excursions to distant regions. He saw
WHARF they had slowed the valuable ar
ticles accumulated during past years, and
at his leisure he examined and assorted
them
One day, when the apes were away be
took all their portable wealth and made
own do Gor. His wife, seeing him more
upon HIM, but he silenced her by put
ting a piece Of gold in her hand. Hav-
ing enough to live comfortably upon for
many years, the woman became companion
able. She soon told her intimate friend
that her husband went away to kill himself
and came back rich, and this friend urged
her own hutiband to do likewise. He in
turn importusned his lucky neighbor to
disclose to him the method by which
he got his fortune. Having promised
secrecy and a share of the plunder,
he was intrusted with the story of election
to headship among the apes, and was given
direction how to reach their retreat, He
then set of, followed the same route, sat in
the same attitude under the same tree, and
awaited the arrival of the scout who should
call the tribe to carry their returned chief
into their Businesses. \
The apes had meantime deliberated, and
had concluded that being who had de-
serted them, taking with him their goods,
was neither their sire nor sovereign. So
when a young ape forasging for provisions
saw this second man under the tree he re-
turned home and notified the tribe, where
upon the apes, moved to indignation and
anger, surrounded him in force and tore
him to pieces.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-02

and hereditary. Questioning the proprietor,
we learn that no objection is ever offered to
the established rate of charges, which is
exorbitant in the extreme. We are told that
the average American, while he grumbles
at the surroundings and is at no pains to
conceal his contemptuous opinion of much
that passes on around him, rarely makes
any outcry about the items in his bill, though
they are strung in line to the very bottom
of the long page. Five dollars is about the
price charged single person for singl
room, in which is neither hair mattress,
w1ndow glass or carpet. This being the
case, there is no apparent excuse for the
hotel to continue in its primitive state Of
discomfort and mismanagement. But it
does so Notwithstanding. having no doubt
imbibed the general air of changelessness SO
characteristic of the people. They say of
the Chinaman that he is as fixed as rock;
that you may send out your missionaries
and convert him to your hearts content, but
he will still worship his hideo1s deity in
the joss house, as he will go on eating with
his chopsticks forever.
THE CHANGELEss CUBAN.
Born a heather he will live heather and
die heather, in spite of all the churches
this side of Christendom. So it is with the
Cuban. Custom does sometimes prevail on
him 10 change an old cut of clothes for
new one, but an idea he holds to and never
relinquishes. Society, like everything else,
partakes of this conservatism. The laws
of the Medes and Persians were not more
arbitrary.
Etiquette has for generations prescribed
that a foreigner. to be admitted into prl-
vate house, must be vouched for and accom-
panied by some member of Cuban society
known to the family. In this case the
Cuban hospitality is overwhelming. The
best the house affords is spread before the
guest.
Through the ingenuity of an American
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-02

acquaintance of mine. to whom nothing
seemed impossible, was invited to the
magnificent residence of Senior Vincent
Hernandez, one of Havara's best-known
citizens. His house, or palace-to more
properly designate it-stands in the heart
of the city, directly opposite to that of the
American Consul, and occupies one whole
block 1t is built of marble and is en-
circled by balconies. As through ponder
GUS iron gateway I entered the square,
stone-paved court yard of Senior Herman
dez's home, garden of palms and various
other tropical plants spread before me.
Here and there / caught sight of an orange
tree. Looking up, l perceived that the
building was erected after the style of a
church, inasmuch as its roof consisted of a
great dome, tinted in azure to represent the
blue of the heavens. On this first floor I
was shown the stables, the horses, carriages,
bright metal harnesses, hung in closed glass
cases, and the marble baths.
FASHIONS THAT ENDURE FOREVER.
Ascending the wide staircase which led
to the hrst story, paved also in marble,
found myself in lofty circular hall, on
which opened some 20 or more beautiful
apartments, finished in the rare and costly
wood for which the island is famous.
Willow, rattan and ebony formed the furni-
lure. line noors were of lnIald mosaic; the
hangings, Japanese. The size and splendor
OF the rooms can scarcely be conceived.
One after another they extended the whole
length OF the house. Mademoiselle Her
nandez, the daughter of the host, accom-
panied me through the sleeping apartments
QnRne of which was an iron safe in which
were kept the family jewels) to sewing
room. where five black women were en-
gagged working on her linen. Some were
mending, others embroidering. Each article
when completed was consigned to hand
somely carved case, where they were ar
ranged with prim regularity and order
About 80 or more servants are retained by
TINS family. In closet were hung the silk
dresses left to mademoiselle by her deceased
mother and grandmother. These gowns
may be worn, but they must not be altered.
Nothing must bdaltered in Cuba, not even
mademoiselle's llpen, which. Is made fypm
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-02


have a weakness for mixed drinks. You
can,. being OF this generation, be at
home in it and away from home. You may
adhere to its business streets and live in the
present, or you may wander off few blocks
and rerel in the environments of two CEN
turies ago, or, again, among some of its
modern homes of mixed architecture you
recognize the domicile ofyour nearest neigh
Dor, Jones or Smith, if you happen to live
in town or in the suburbs.
There is nothing like style, and style has
no limits either in bonnets or houses, and as
it changes withthe moon it is not surprising
that the minds of the builders as well as the
on-lookers are tortured. Think of moving
once month to be in the fashion and thus
keen peace in the family. And as for homes
well, San Antonio has them, ancient,
perhaps modern.
HOMES OF ALL KINDS.
But they are surrounded with flower beds
and broad galleries, overshadowed by
mighty trees that compel a plainsman to
take off his hat in reverence; they are not
over one story high, as rule, these homes,
and one experiences nestled down feeling,
a protection from hustle and money-gettlng,
as one looks on them; there is a sacredness
about them that the monthly changes in
peaks and gables, and the taste for being in
the fashion cannot aspire to. One of these
exploits, not in San Antonio, without any
cornice and mostly of shingles, and occu-
pied by an estimable gentleman of wealth,
always remind me of man who has been
scalped.
1 have thought sometimes that the de-
signers have been attempting to initiate
something and have met with failure, the
most lamentable of all failures. And again,
looking up and wondering at the irrecon-
cilable angles of some one of these modern
achievements, have gone on wondering
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-02
A Summer Arrangement.

Omaha World.5
Jones-So you and Katie have fallen out.
Can't You make up with her?
Brown-Not till the ice-cream season is
past. I've no money to waste on that lux
ury, so turn my cold shoulder toward her
during the summer. 1t is the best can
afford to do.