davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-30
BUTTON SETS.
The Fashion of Collecting Them-Mrl
CIeYeIand,s Cnrved Camenn.

The Fashion of Collecting Them-Mrs.
CIeveland's Carved Cameos.
New York Correspondent Chicago Eews.I
To collect "button sets" is becoming the
fashion. Young women whose beauty, cash
or American chic gets them into the London
swim have been writing home wonderful
stories within the last two months of yalu-
able old sets of Florentine MOSAIC buttons,
and buttons with cress and monograms in
repousse work, and brilliant paste buttons
which go back to Cromwell, and pearl and
topaz buttons of period even earlier. These
are old family buttons, priced as highly as
jewels and kept in cases of velvet and satin.
A young woman who is travelling with Mrs.
Frank Leslie is authority for the statement
that that lady is picking up abroad but
ton set which shall rival her diamonds. Fine
old Louis XIV. buttons In silver, painted
after the designs of Fragonard, are the OBJ
ject of Mrs. Leslie's desire, an object not
easily attained. The beautiful Miss Cham
berlain, whom the International gossips
married ofhand before her engagement was
announced fairly, will have an exquisite
set of Dauphine buttons in paste in her
trousseau. A pretty American girl who has
seen them writes that they are very valu-
able, being undoubtedly genuine and ex-
quisitely mounted in silver.
Not many American women have sue
cumbed as yet to the "button-set" mania.
Mrs. A. M. Palmer, the wife of the theatri-
cal manager, has worn with directory
evening dress this spring set of really
beautiful flower buttons in incrusted ivory.
Mrs. Cleveland appears occasionally in
Louis XIV. coat of dark brocade, with six
large, exquisitely carved cameo buttons,
which were gift to her on her last birth,
day. Some of the most artistic buttons seen
in New York have been worn by the Prin-
cess Marthe Eugalitchief, whose imposing
family name and high-bred St. Petersburg
manners have enabled her essays on social
life in Russia to draw much cash into the
exchequer. The Princess Eugalitchleff has
family buttons which rival those in pearls
and diamonds possessed by the Countess of
Leicester. One beautiful set which she
wears with evening dress occasionally, con-
sists of ten good-sized coral buttons set in
gold, and another which has appeared on a
directory redingote of gray silk with black
revers is made up of buttons three inches in
diameter of old Russian repousse work,
the beauty and value of which are famous.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-30
STRUCK THE RIGHT PLACE.
Traveller Discovers the Ideal Summer
Resort on the jersey shore.

Traveller Discovers the Ideal Summer
Resort on the jersey shore.
New York SUM-
in seach of farmhouse where they took
summer boarders, when an old farmer came
along in his two-horse wagon and asked me
to ride. As soon as he discovered what my
errand was, he exclaimed:
"Land-o-goshen, but you've jist hit the
right man. I'll take you myself Got one
of the resorterest resorts on the hull coast
You shall live on the fat of the land and
gain pound day."
'fWhat do you ask for board?"
"well, that's according. Want much
sweets?"
"No."
Scare about carpet in your room7"
''No."
Eat with the family9"
VERY big eater9"
"WIlIing to live on meat and taters and
sich like, eh?"
Yes
"Any objection to working in the garden
an hour or two before breakfast to get your
appetite up?''
mot the slightest"
"Help load hay or stack wheat on a
pinch?"
Yes"
"Purty good at chopping wood7"
''That's my best hold"
"Kin We milk?"
81 can"
"And when night comes you won't object
to playing on that guitar and singing
"No."
"Oh! yes''
"And for extra trouble, if you git sick?"
eyes. How much will you charge me a
week for board?"
"Cash in advance?"
eyes"
"Agree to stay all summer"
"Yes."
"Wall, stranger, I'll have to ask the old
woman. I've thought of everything 1
could, but she's great thinker, and will
probably think of lots of other things, sich
as only changing the sheets once a week.
washing yourself at the cistern. being sat-
isfed with husk pillers, and so on. Come
and see me tomorrow and we'll talk it all
over, and if don't beat any hotel on the
shore you can have my hat. You'll know
my place by the sign on the gate. old
fashioned Home Don't fail to close with
me tomorrow, as we may be crowded this
season."
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-30
QUEER THINGS THAT ARE PATENTED
Some of the Curiosities of Invention Thai
Are Recorded In the Patent ONCE.

Louisville Courfer-Journai.I
There is claim in the patent Office for a
patent on the Lords prayer, the specifca-
tions being that the repetition of the same
"rapidly and in loud tone of voice" will
cure stammering.
Among the odd inventions are Chicken
hopples," which walk with the chickens
right out of the garden when she tries to
scratch; "the bee moth excluder," which
automatically shuts up all the beehives
when the hens go to roost; "the tapeworm
ish-hook," which speaks for itself; the
educational balloon" toy balloon with
a map of the world on its surface; ''side-
hill annihilators" to fit on the down.
hill legs of horse when he is ploughing
along a hill side; and the "hen surpriser,"
a device that drops the newly-laid eggs
through the bottom of the nest, with intent
to beguile and wheedle the hen into at once
laying another.
One of the latest patents is an automatic
bath tub, which starts the hot and cold
water at given moment in the morning to
which it has been set, maintains exactly the
right temperature of it by graduating the
flow of water, rings a bell, when all is
ready, and, two minutes later, suddenly
drops the sleeper's pillow about a foot. and
turns him out.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-30
COST OF GOVERNING CANADA.
She Has Fifty-six Legislators More THAI
the Mother Country.

She Has Fifty-Six Legislators More Than
the Mother Country.
Boston Journal
Some person with taste for statistics has
been examining the salary list of the Do
minion, and finds that the small population
of Canada pays enormously to support a
cumbersome official machine, of which its
more liberal people are gradually becoming
very weary. 1t is often laughingly remarked
in England that Canada must have a vast
deal of legislation to attend to, since she finds
it necessary to have 56 Legislators more than
the mother country, and so many depart.
mental heads that no Canadian outside of
politics can tell their number.
The Canadian Commons consists of 215
members, who draw 81, 900 each per session,
and the Senate, which has little to do ex-
cept to look wise, has 80 members, who re-
ceive $40, 900 each annually. The Speakers
of each house of this immensely overpaid
national Legislature receive $1,000 an
nually; the Ontario members and Speakers,
$50, 900; the Quebec Legislative Council,
Legislature and the two Speakers, SIS, 900.
Then the country is saddled with Cover
nor General. who receives nearly $85, 900
annually and spends as little as possible in
the country, sending to England for even
the smallest articles of daily wear and con-
sumption. His chief business seems to be
not to comply with the wishes of the people
whenever he has a chance to show his
authority. There are also Lieutenant Gov
ernors of Quebec and Ontario and Mani
toba, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick. the
Northwest Territory and Prince Edward
Island, each of whom receives larger sal
arv than iS piv Won IN, tho Chief .TrJStioo e ba
Supreme Court of the United States. And
as fringe around this circle of costly of
fcials, many of whom are utterly useless,
there is a small army of paid aids-de-camp,
secretaries, etc., who have abundant per-
quisites. The idea of country like the
Dominion having AZ political ministers"
is eertainlv somewhat ahsurd
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-30
A GOOD WAY TO BUY SPONGEs.
The Stronger You Are the Less You VIII
Have TO Pay-Try IL.
New York FvenfnO Suu

The Stronger You Are the Less You VIII
Have TO Pay-Try IL.
New York Evening SUM-
''Say, how much is this sponge?" called
man in Perry's drug store yesterday, to
one of the clerks, at the same time holding
up good-sized sponge which he had picked
out of basketful. The clerk was behind
the counter busying himself with something,
and he surveyed the sponge critically from
distance and then answered:
"Seventv-five cents"
The man diyed into the basket again and
pretty soon held up a small er sponge for
the clerk 10 see. -, 7. ..,.-.,
"How much is this one?'' he asked.
"Oh go cents, said the clerk
Again the man fshed around in the
basket In few moments he held up a
sponge smaller than either of the others.
"How much for this one?" he inquired.
"You can have that one for As cents"
said the clerk as he sized it up.
Then there was a roar of laughter from the
would-be sponge purchaser, and two men
who had been watching him. The clerk
looked mystifed for a moment. Then he
discovered what they were laughing at.
The man had been holding up the same
sponge each time. By squeezing it he had
diminished its size. If he had had enough
strength in his hand and could have kept
his face straight he would have run the
price of that sponge down to Is cents before
the clerk saw through the game.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-30
INTOXICATIOE BY INDUCTION.
Instances of Men Who Have Become Hi
larious From Contngion.

Instances of Men Who Have Become HI.
larious From ContnRion.
The builders of lines of wires and cables
are not the only sufferers from induction. it
seems. Nor is electricity the only element
that generates induction, for now comes its
first tcousin-sometimes known as "Jersey
lightning with strong claims for recog-
milton in this very extensive and always
yexatious field, as the following from the
Popular Science Monthly evidently proves:
"a prominent military man who had
drunk moderately during the war, and had
abstained from that time on, while attend
ing dinner with his old comrades, where
most of them were intoxicated, suddenly
became hilarious, made a foolish speech.
and settled back in his chair in a drunken
state, and was finally taken home quite
stupid.
"He had not drunk any spirits, and had
only used coffee and water, and vet he had
all the symptoms of the others, only his
was intoxication from contagion-the favor
ing soil had been prepared long ago in the
army.
Another case was that of man who
had been an inebriate years ago, but had re-
formed. He was recently elected to Office and
gave a dinner to some friends. Among
them was physician who has been greatly
interested in these studies. He sent me a
long report, the substance of which was
this:
''On the occasion referred to many of the
company became partially intoxicated, and
the host, who drank nothing but water, be-
came hilarious, and finally stupid with
them. He was put to bed with every sign
of intoxication, but recovered, and next
morning had only confused notion of these
events.
''The third case occurred four years ago.
A reformed man, Of IL years sobriety, went
on a military excursion with a drinking
company, and, although he drank nothing
but lemonade, became as much intoxicated
as the others.
"This event was the subject of much COM
ment and loss to him, socially and other
wise, although he protested, and others con-
frmed his statements, that he did not take
any spirits at this time"
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-30
HIS FATAL BLEMISH.
How Young Man Missed Wife by Being
Bow.Legged.


Chicago Tribune.I
He had taken a vacant seat in the car by
the side OF alovely young girl with whom
he had some acquaintance already, and
whom he was ardently desirous of Impress
ing favorably. Under the spell of his bril-
liant conversational powers and the glance
OF his dark hazel eye the tell-tale blush
had risen to her cheek and bore mute yet
eloequnt testimony to the progress the per-
sumptuous youth was making in her good
graces. Carelessly handing the train boy a
quarter OF a dollar and requesting the worth
of it in caramels, he was about to resume the
conversation that had been interrupted Tor
the moment, when he saw the flush die out
of the young lady's face and a cold, indif-
ferent, wearied look take Its place, and he
knew blight had fallen forever on his
budding hopes.
On what trifes hang the destinies of two
human lives! As the boxes of caramels were
thrown by the train boy on the young mans
lap they fell to the floor, and his fair COM
panion had seen them fall and noted the
reason.
81 can never marry a man, she had said
to herself, 'as bow-legged as he is"
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-30
THE CURFEW AT ALBANY.
An Old Custom Which Astonishes
Travellers.

New York Star.i
There is a custom in Albany which has
been maintained for 200 years, which pre-
sumo isn't known in any other city of its
size In the Union. The curfew tolls prompt
ly and to the half-eighth of a second at 9
each night. The City Hall tower has a
deep-sounding bell, connected by electric
wires with Dudley Observatory, and it
strikes stroke of one at O'Clock night and
morning. All private clocks and watches
are set by it, and it is curious revelation
to the theatrical companies that visit here
to see nearly everybody in the audience
pull out his or her watch at apparently
preconcerted moment and look at it. The
effect is very novel. 1t nearly upset John
Mccullough and Mary Anderson when they
played here together some years ago. Nc
Cullough had just seen the air-drawn dag
ger and he thought the audience were all
going to ring the chestnut bell on him.
The effect is also very funny in the churches.
But the same bell also tolls the fire alarm
and by numbers of strokes signals the dis
trict where the fire is. II is customary on
these occasions for the good pastors to re-
mark: ''If any one feels called by that
warning there will be no objection to his
now Withdrawing, and there have been oc-
casions when number do 20.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-30
ENGLAND'S OIL FIELDS.
A Company to Operate in Burmah, Canada,
Australia and New Zealand.

A Company to Operate in Burmah, Canada,
Australia and New Zealand.
According to London Engineering, the
reproach long leveled at England that she
had done nothing to open up the vast oil
deposits of the Empire is likely to be soon
removed, a number OF projects being on foot
for the development of the petroleum re-
sources of Burmah, Canada, Australia. New
Zealand, etc.
In the United States the business of pros
pecting for oil is mostly done by small pi-
oneering companies, many of which carry
on fourishing business in PENNSYLVANIA,
Ohio and elsewhere. As rule the refining
of the oil is done by totally different set Of
companies, and until recently the piping of
the oil from the wells 10 the refneries on
the coast was also accomplished by a num-
Der of independent corporations, distinct
from the oil-well producers and the reiners.
Some time will probably have to elapse be-
fore hundreds OF companies flourish on the
petroleum resources of our Empire, but
it is not impossible that once che
"boom" commences the industry will
develop a speed as remarkable as the
recent gold mining enterprise in South
Africa. Meanwhile a start has been made
by the formation of the British Empire Pc
troleum Company, which is intended to
prospect for oil in the various parts of the
empire. and lay the foundations, by judi
cious surveys and experimental borings, for
larger enterprises.
Considering the beneficial influence likely
to be exercised on various branches of the
engineering industry by the opening up of
the Burmese oil fields, it is impossible not
to wish we'll of the enterprise. With lit
tie support from the Indian authorities it
ought to be easy to attract British capital
on large scale to Burmah, where
there are no difficulties in regard to trans
port such as the Russians have had to en-
counter at Baku. The Canadian Govern
ment as we'll might manifest more sympathy
toward the vast oil fields of the Mackenzie
basin, reported on so favorably by the Cana
dian Senate year ago.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-30
A FIERCE TURTLES HEAD.
1t Shows Fight Forty Eight Hours After
Being Cut on.

Being Cut on.
Philadelphia Record.
John Heitlinger, a farmer of Deep Creek
Valley. Pa, went pickerel fishing few
days since and caught 46 pound swapping
turtle, which he got into his rickety boat.
The creature then turned on him savagely. 1t
would draw its head back in the carvernous
she'll and then shoot it out to the full extent
of the neck with noise like the cracking
of a coach whip. 1t thus kept Mr.. Heit-
linger dancing from end to end of the boat
till he nearly dropped from exhaustion.
Then he yelled for help. His aunt jumped
into another boat, padded out to him, ,caught
up his anchor rope and struck the turtle
with it, and like fash the turtle closed its
jaws on it. 1t would not relax its grip and
was dragged ashore by the rope. There the
aunt chopped its head of. and next morning
its head was as savage as ever and the
eyes glared 6ercely. The jaws held on to
the rope for 4S hours.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-30
One Citizen Who May Kick.

Chicago Tribune..
John Bull Ito Uncle Sam and Bismarck)
We'll, gentlemen, if you both desire it
and your people will abide by my decision
will act in this Samoan matter as umpire.
Uncle Sam (doubtfully)-I think my
people generally will agree to that-but I
can't answer, Of course, for Captain
Anson.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-30
A aeuslrlxa aauI.

Fiiegsnde Blaetter.l
"wsiter, beefsteak-but not Q mail
one; I am 80 terribly nervous that every
httle thing upsets me-"
The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1889-03-30
Randi Transit in Cit;es.

1t becomes almost a fight for life,
limb and clothing to try to board an
ordinary street car at the close of work
ing hours III any OF our great cities.
There is no large city in the Union with
accommodations adequate for passing
quickly from one part to another. Con
sequently working people must live IN
crowded tenement houses near their
places of labor, and pay rents that they
cannot afford for the privilege of even
SO poor a shelter as they get.
Meantime the rapid transit of the
future is gradually shaping itself in the
minds of those alive to public wants.
They know already what it should not
be. Elevated roads, passing on trestle
work through streets. Will not do. They
are nuisance and Disagreement to the
street and at best can make no more
than twelve miles an hour.
What is wanted is trains that can pass
through the heart Of cities at the rate Of,
say, thirty miles an hour. To do this
they must have a solid road bed, built of
earth and stone.
The road can be elevated above the
surface, or it can be sunken way 1t
must rot pass along streets. They are
crowded already to their furthest limit.
The rapid transit road OF the future must
cut through the center Of the blocks and
buildings, as it does il some parts of
London. Where it crosses the streets, if
it is by a sunhen road bed, it will pass
under bridges. If the road is an cleva-
ted one, then it can cross the streets
upon solid arches. SO far from being a
Disagreement. these arches can be made
really an ornament. Stations can be
placed at short distances. as il the Lon
don underground railway. Over such
road long trains can be run very few
minutes apart. Thus the problem of
rapid transit will be solved.
There is one more point. If these
trains can be run by an electric motor
they Will make no smoke or steam
Thus we shall have perfect rapid transit
The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1889-03-30
Samoa.

The Samoan islands are distant about
two weeks journey by steamer from
San Francisco The soil is extremely
fertile, the principal exports being cocoa
nuts and cotton Many years ago Ger
many, intent on establishing hersea in
the west Pacific, secured extensive plan
tations on the cultiyable islands. Her
commercial interests there are greater
than those of any other nation. The
Samoan trade is mostly in the hands of
Hamburg merchants Great Britain
has also some commerce, the United
States very little Great Britain, Ger
many and the United States have treaties
of trade and friendship with Samoa.
The American eoaling station of Page
Page is on the south side OF the island Of
Tutuila.
The most important island is. how
ever, that of Upolu. on the north side of
which is Apia, a town of Il few hundred
inhabitants, The foreign consuls live at
Apia-
II has been the general impression that
/ Germany desired to establish a pro-
tectorate over the islands, although her
treaty with England. made in 1856, pre-
cludes this The two nations defined the
boundaries of territories acquired by
each in the West Pacific ocean The
treaty expressly declared that the Sa-
moan and other groups of islands named
should be neutral territory.
The Samoan government was until re-
Gently monarchy, at the head of which
was King Mataafa But Il portion Of his
subjects rebcleI and cndeavored to set
up Tamasese as king. For two years past
the islands have been in state of strife
and disorder exceedingly unfavorable to
commerce.
The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1889-03-30

Where the fraternal spirit Of good
and noble order is sacrificed to pusila-
nimous nonsense, political dickering,
and malignant back biting, we find
these majestic goats and robust mules
To clear track for themselves they
would butt their daddy. When you
find "A mule in your Lodge don't make
him leader. If You do he may become
a portable self constituted boss mule
that may kick the vitality all ont of if
And yet he thinks himself wonderfully
gool; III fact would show a complacent
smile when he proclaimed himself the
hottest of saints ana candidate for the
chaplaincy of IA bigger concern. When
YOU suspect that YOU have got goat in
your Lodge, don't give him an impor-
tant Office. He may butt your frater-
nal feelings as tat as a pancake,
and make perfect gorge of yoar by
laWs.--Our Home.
The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1889-03-30
New Worlds TO CONQUER.

In 1886, the little Central American
states of Costa Rica, Guatemala, Hon
duras, Nicaragua and San Salvador had
a foreign trade of S27,000,000 only one
seventh of which went to the United
States. There is one mining company in
Honduras which produces and ships over
S1O,0O0 OF bullion every month.
Both Honduras and Nicaragua offer
exceptional inducements to immigrants.
Honduras offers to the settler free lard
to TILL the farming implements to use,
and exemption from military service.
Nicaragua does still better. Her con-
gress is now considering proposition to
supply funds to pay the travelling ex-
penses of hundred agricultural fami-
lies year. The funds for this purpose
will be placed in the hands Of Nicala-
guam consul5 at various points. To each
family will be given outright the neces-
sary amount Of land Agricultural tools
worth $50 ard Sl00 il money will be
loaned to him. He will be allowed five
years in which to repay the loan.
Except along the coasts, and in q few
low lying interior lands, there is 10 more
hcalthful region anywhere than in these
two republics. The table lands will
afford pasturase for millions of cattle.
The soil is remarkably fertile, and the
gold and silver mines have never been
developed. And there has not been
revolution in either state for several
YCcrS