davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Logan County banner. [volume] (Logan, W. Va.) 1889-1903, 1889-09-26
OPFER or MARRIAGE.
The Qneerest Love Letter on Record
A Proposal that Did Not Propose.

Abraham's Iincoln's offer of
marriage was very curious one,
and, singularly enough, it has but
recently come to light. Numer-
Gus as his biographers have been,
and closely as they have cleaned
for new facts and materials, it
was left for the latest one, Mr..
Jesse Weik, of Greencastle, to
discover this unique and charac-
teristic production of Mr.. Lin
coins almost untutorcd mind.
The letter is one of several writ
ten, presumably, to the lady he
-afterward married. Addressed to
"My Dear Mary" it read as fol-
lows:
s'You must know that / cannot
see you or think of you with en-
tire Indifference; and vet it may
be that you are mistaken in re-
gard to what my real feelings to-
ward you are. If ] knew you
were not, | should not trouble you
with this letter. Perhaps any
other-nft1lZ would enough
without further information; but
| consider it my peculiar right to
plead ignorance, and your bound
en- duty to allow the plea. Iwant
in all cases to do right, and most
particularly so in all cases with
women. ! want at this particular
time, more than anything else, to
do right with you; and if | knew
it would be doing right, as Irath-
-er suspect it would, to let you
alone, ! would do it. And. for the
purpose of making the matter as
plain as possible. / now say you
can drop the subject, dismiss your
thoughts-if you ever had any
from me forever, and leave this
letter unanswered without calling
forth one accusing murmur from
me. And / will even go further,
and say that if it will add amy
thing to your comfort or peace of
mind to do so,' it is my sincere
wish that you should. DO not I'M
derstand by this that ] wish to
cut your acquaintance. / mean
no such thing. What j do wish
is that our further acquaintance
shall depend upon yourself. If
such further acquaintance would
contribute nothing to your hap
piness, | am sure itwould not to
mine. If you feel yourself in any
degree bound to me, | am now
willing to release you, provided
you wish it.; while, on the other
hand, | am willing and even anx-
ieus to bind you faster, if | can be
convinced that it will in any de-
gree add to your happiness. This,
indeed, is the whole question with
me. Nothing would make me
more miserable than to believe
you miserable; nothing more
happy than to know you were SO.
In what / have now said think
l cannot be misunderstood and
to make myself understood, is the
only object of this letter. If it.
suits you best not to answer this,
farewell. But if you conclude to
write back, speak as plainly as ]
do. There can be neither harm
nor danger in saying to me any,
thing you think, just in the man
nert you think it.
"Your friend, LrNcoLN.n
Probably this is the queerest
love letteron record, and the most
remarkable offer Of marriage ever
made. 1t is a love letter without
a word of love, and q. proposal of
marriage that does not propose.
II Indianapolis Journal.
The Logan County banner. [volume] (Logan, W. Va.) 1889-1903, 1889-09-26

''The Republican party is be-
ginning to feel the drain on its
strength growing oHt of its failure
to make good from the ranks of
the rising generation the havoc of
death and desertion in the gem
GRAFTON which is passing away.
The young men are turning their
faces, as their fathers did before
them when they were young men,
toward Democracy. This move
-l4fefatt espeeiail v-ifeticcabfe- fr
Massachusetts,, where there is a
Hcrnp-otfz young Democrats fikezthe
sen OF Governor Andrew and the
Younger sci6ns Of the house of
Adams, who repudiate the later
Republicanism and Will have none
of it. 70 comteract this ten
dcncy a Young Mems Republican
Club has been lately organized IN
Boston. 1t was candidly asserted
by one Of the organizers. that it
was not fashionable among young
men to be Republican,
-. Republican journals admit
that this statement is measurable
true, and ascribe the change of
fashion to the wearing away Of
the glamour Of the war period and
the disappearance of spectacular
and emotional issues. It is also
asserted that the young men are
educated in the colleges to be free
traders, and that there is a-cer-
tain fascination about, the free
trade movement which allures
them by its intellectual quality.
ssThere is much truth in all this
Republican outgiving; but it Is
very far short of the whole truth.
The Democratic party stands for
much more than Free Trade. The
young men who acquaint them
selves with the history of the
country will find that its nascent
growth was nodded by the hands
Of Democratic statesmen; its ter
ritory extended; its foreign. wars
fought to an honorable finish; its
commerce carried to the ends of
the earth, and its position assured
as the first Republic and one Of
the foremost of nations. These
things We're accomplished by per-
hitting the people to govern
themselves, and by exalting the
individual man and intrusting
him with power over himself to
bring about what was best for
himself and others. 1t is an en-
trancing idea for young men that
they can run an equal race for
fame and fortune without govern
ment interference, or the estab-
ishment of. any preferences or
inequalities, and without being
cooped up within any specified
territorial limit for the exercise
of their industrial or commercial
energies. As the country was es-
tablished by throwing off all UNI
necessary restraint upon freedom,
so it must continue. The young
men will see to it. Everything
depends upon them. II Philadel-
dhia Record.
The Logan County banner. [volume] (Logan, W. Va.) 1889-1903, 1889-09-26

sttfn3 ~ CH0ftf 11Hffff0n q " ana
maker put their heads together
apd develop it more thoroughly,
1t least 1,,ipezte1ths Of the salaEier
! {
ought 70 20 into the pockets OF
thenew firm ard the contractors
who furnish the chewing gum.
pies, etc. Your friend.
BILL SNORT.
Gov. Wilson says he will pot
Convene the Legislature until the
first Of January. This will give
three months more Of Wilson and
Walker. Why did the Democrats
not submit to the Republican
frauds and seat Golf III Wayne
News.
What is the matter with the
Mayne NcWs2 LAS Bro. Mas.
fields tilt with the County Court
soured his temper to such an ex-H
tent as to ,impel him to fight all
the powers that be. Coy. Wilson
has made his mistakes, but he has
made n good Governor. Walker
has had opinions which did not
coincide with the opinions of some
other Democrats, but he is a
Democrat all the same, and has
done yeoman service for the
party..It -iatimc that past diiier--
+eifsse.ss~sshettld be Forgotten; old
sores. should be healed, and all
who believe i'll Democracy and
the triumph Of the people should
stand shoulder to shoulder. Gov.
Wilson does not desire longer to
remain Governor. He is such by
the action of the Courts, and as
soon as the committee are able to
report he will call the Legislature
together, and when the Legisla-
ture shall haze declared his sue
eassor he will gladly surrender
the Office of Governor.
The Logan County banner. [volume] (Logan, W. Va.) 1889-1903, 1889-09-26
.EII. 4 ssfiCRT own

xsB firm q Sner., Harrison I
EeEgmaker--I How Wanamnkerld-
sertIses-- Department Clerks
Get Their I'jcs, Chewing
Gum gHe Eiears from
e, ". 4 W.
The Logan County banner. [volume] (Logan, W. Va.) 1889-1903, 1889-09-26

oilcy tOH lcaiH liley MlllNilOl Dt'
in their places very long. The
clerks have been taught to take a
hint. If the cigar firm comes
down handsomely, there will be
so much smoking that strangers
in Washington will think the
town is on fire..
The name of the brand of cigars
will be La Reforma. They will
really be worth about cent
apiece, but the Department clerks
will get only two for a quarter.
The photograph of the firm of
Snort, Harrison & Wanamaker,
highly colored, will be on the box.
Henry Clay has got his mug on
cigar boxes, hence why should not
the intellectual faces Of living
statesmen be similarly perpetu--
ated.
! don't see any reason why this
plan of raising the wind should
not be extended to every article
that clerks and clerkesses use.
We might make an arrangement
with some local bakery, that pies,
properly stamped with Bill SHORTS
features and the Lone Star Of
Texas, be furnished the employ
ees for a mild consideration, no
other pie maker being allowed to
have access to the buildings. The
ginger snaps and soda crackers
might be richly embossed with
the profile of the President.
You see, Johnny, that this
scheme'ls in its infancy as yet,
but when the members of the
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-01-30
Chinese Business Astuteness.

1t is in their business that the Chinese
can be studied in their most characteris-
tic aspect. The Chinaman, as every ore
knows, is always sharp business man.
A Chinaman held a position as night
watchman in large Arizona sawmill,
several miles out of town. Very early
one morning, he suddenly appeared at
the house of the mill owner, asking for
his money. He said he had received a
telegram from his brother in San Fran
cisco. who was dying, and he must 60 to
him at once. He was paid in full and
left town before the owner learned that
his mill had burned down the previous
evening. The Chinamau suspected that
he would be out of pocket if the owner
heard of his loss before he had gotten
his money, therefore he lost no time in
trying to put out the fire, but started at
once on his midnight Journey in the in
terest of his dying brother. 1t is in
business that the Cinnamon are the quick.
est to adopt American manners and
dress, hoping thereby to gain additional
trade. If they are of the opinion that
new lines of business will bring them
more money than old, they will throw
the old aside. They are no longer con.
fined to railroad building, washing, and
household cooking; they have branched
out into all kinds of new occupations,
wherever the iealously of the American
laborer would permit. and in many of
these new enterprises they have been
very successful.-MW York Post.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-01-30
New Treatment OF Lung Consumption.

A new method of treating tuberculosis,
or consumption of the lungs, has been
proposed by M. Haller. 1t consists IN
inhaling dry air heated to the tempera-
ture of from $50 degrees to 275 degrees
Fahrenheit the theory being that at this
temperature the bacillp which are sup
posed to produce the disease are de-
stroyed. Old experiments have shown
that there is no difficulty in inhaling air
at these temperatures, but it seems more
than doubtful whether the effect will be
in the least degree advantageous.
Another and more rational novelty IN
the treatment is that described by Dett-
weller as in use at the Fclkenstein sana-
torium. The cssence of this method is
that the patients are required to live
permanently in the open dir, to sleep
there, even if the temperature fall as low
as fourteen degrees Fahrenheit. Thus
perfectly pure air is secured without the
break in the conditions which occurs
when patients live out of doors in the
DAY time, but are housed at night. The
patients are said to become fond OF the
treatment, and the recoverics are placed
at twenty-five per cent. OF the cases
treated
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-01-30
To Make the Name Grow.

: Some animals naturally have thin and
scraggy names and tails, and to induce
strong growth of hair is difficult in these
cases. Frequently a parasite infests
these parts destroying the hair, causing
it fall out and to break off close to the
roots, giving the parts scraggy look:
and sometimes dust and dirt are allo wed
ito accumulate, causing itchiness, which
makes the animal rub itself and thus de-
stroys the halr. The application of soap
and warm water will remove the dirt and
dust, after which weak solution of tinct-
ure of iodine and alcohol should be ap-
piled, or else alcohol and castor oil mixed
In equal parts and we'll rubbed in. When
the hair is quite thin and presents an
unhealthy appearance it should be shaved
or clipped off quite close; then bathe the
parts with warn water and soap, and
afterward apply the following ointment:
Take of biniodide of mercury one dram;
glycerine, one half ounce, and vaseline
lard one and half ounces. This should
be applied with earnest, friction and then
the animal so secured that he cannot rub
himself. After week or ten days the
parts can be washed clean, and once
every two or three weeks an application
yof equal parts of alcohol and castor oil
will be beneficial, but it will take some
time for the hair to grow to full length.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-01-30
A Steel Belt for n Continent.

This is an era of great undertakings by
land and sea. One of the latest is the
railroad project to connect Reclte
(Pernambuco' the most eastern seaport
of Brazil, with Valparaiso, Chill, the
nea, est harbor on the west coast OF South
America to Australia and New Zealand.
The voyage from Lisbon to Recite IS
made by steamers in nine days, and Val
paraiso could be reached by the proposed
railroad route from Recife in five days,
making the time from Europe to the
Pacific coast fourteen days. In obliquely
cutting South America the road would
traverse fertile provinces of Bra II,
Paraguay, the Argentine Republic, and
Chilli. In both Brazil and the Argen..
tine Republic use could be made OF
skeletons of railroads already con-
structed. The estimated cost of the un-
dertaking is $50, 600, 600. A syndicate
has been formed in Rio to obtain grants
of land and money from the countries
interested.
It need not be said that, on more
grounds than one, this project, as well
as oil other projects for the development
of South America, if accomplished,
would be of great importance to the peo-
pie of the United States. With the
progress of that vast region in agricul-
ture and commerce, its trade with this
country would immensely increase if the
American people should take advantage
of their opportunities. But this is not
to the United States the most important
consideration involved in the develop
ment of Brazil and other countries OF
South America. If railroads should
penetrate those countries and make their
cheap and fertile lands availab e for re-
munerative cultivation, large emigra.
ton would be attracted from Europe.
The mighty stream of immigration that
now pours on these shores would be
greatly diminished by diversion to South
America, and thus problem that seems
to perp!ex many peop!e IN the Initea
States might be solved Philadelphia
EororJ
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-01-30
An Ancient Tattooed Slave.

A notable old African woman, Diana
Middleton, died in Tennessee lately.
Aunt Diana was, according to accounts,
much over q hundred years old. She
was native of the Dark Continent, aud
was kidnapped and brought here before
the Revolutionary War. Before she lost
her mind she could tell many incidents
of that period. She was at that time a
slave in Virginia. Later she was sold
into North Carolina, and from there she
came to Tennessee She was freed be-
cause of her extreme age before the late
war, and has been looked upon for
many years as the oldest person in the
world. Her face and hands were heavily
tattooed, and these tattoo marks lasted
till her death. She was said to have
been cannibal in her native country,
and some of her acquaintances remember
stories of her cannibalistic feats that
made her name a terror to childhood
New Xork Independent.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-01-30
Color Of Chicken Legs.


!; Every little while somebody gets into
print, and walls and howls, because most
people who buy chickens to eat will take
I the Yellow legged breeds in preference
TO the dark legged ones. They tell US
|that the quality of the flesh of the dark
legged fowls is superior to that of the
yellow legged birds; that poultry keep
ers, owing to the demand for yellow
Ilegged and yellow skinned fowls, "do
not breed the best quality of poultry,
but aim only to secure good yellow legs
and skim" that 'color has almost ban
ished the best breeds from market" and,
that it is our duty to ''educate" pur-
chasers up to the dark legged chickens,
and all that.
Now, if the poultry writer's aud poul-
try breeders who prefer the dark legged
chickens want to "educate' purchasers,
let them 60 ahead: Haven't the slight
est OBJ. .ection; but ] shan't enlist as a
teacher of that subject. So long as the
people who buy chickens prefer yellow
legs and skin, and will pay more for
chickens possessing such 'marks," the
wise market poultry raiser will devote
lhis time and talents to producing what
his customers demand and are willing to
pay for, instead of trying to convince
them that something else is better. So
far as I am concerned, so long as no
'.great moral question:" or little one
either, is involved in the work, I will
raise what people want and will pay for,
and all level headed poultry raisers will
do the same. e.-Prairie Farmer.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-01-30
The StOrks and the Ducklings.

Professor Frescaud cites large num-
Der of we'll authenticated incidents IL
lustrating the jealousy that exists among
the lower order of animals jealousy In
volving train of thought and processes
of reasoning. One of the most curious
of the practical experiments he himself
made was in the case of family OF storks
at Constantinople. Having obtained
permission of the Caliph to investigate
the social and domestic economy OF these
historic birds, Professor Frescaad in
troduced into one of the nests on the
roof of mosque eleven duck eggs, and
took away the eggs which the mother
stork had laid. The birds seemed not to
notice the exchange, and the male and
female stork took turns (as is the custom
with most birds) at sitting upon the
eggs.
In due time the eggs were hatched and
nine plump ducklings made thei: appear
ance. The mother stork was apparently
fully satisfied, and she broodcd over her
callow infants with great tenderness.
But when the father stork got glimpse
at the ducklings he became terribly aSi-
tated, and evinced his displeasure by
shrill cries and violent gesticulations
with his wings and legs. AS if, however,
to ha, the scandal properly if not legally
ventilated, this enraged husband flew
away, and presently returned with an
immense number of neighbors of both
sexes. This strange company expelled
the mother bird from her nest, and for
long time inspected theyoung ducklings,
keeping up, meanwhile. an incessant
chattering, as if, forsooth, they were dis
cussing among themselves the proba-
bility OF the female stork's intidelity. At
last, seeming to have agreed upon aver;
dict, they fell upon the female and killed
her. after which they put the young
ducklings TO death and destroyed the
nest and every vestige thereof.
Professor trescaud says that soon af-
ter this judicial murder the father stork,
seemingly overcome by modification at
the supposed faithlessness of his wife,
committed suicide By drowning in the
Bosphorus.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-01-30

that if the carly settler fails to set an
orchard and a few ornamental trees in
his front yard at tie outset, he is apt to
become careless about doing it at all.
Forty years ago or thereabouts, the early
settlers, mindful of the picturesque
country they had left behind them,
rarely failed to see ut least a row of
trees along the road in front of their
houses. Locust trees being quick grow
ers were usually the first choice. Their
graceful foliage and sweet blossoms
made them at first quite popular; but it
was found on trial that they would
winter.klll easily, and that they sent up
so many prickly shoots about the roots
of the trees, that it made them dis
agreeable tenants of the soil. Soon the
planting of them ceased.
Hard maple trees were always favor
ties, especially with those who grew up
in the vicinity of the sugar bush; but in
planting it they found they must not
look for too quick returns. 1t is slow
grower and also rather difficult to trans
plant. requiring more skill to do it sue
cessfully than the average granger
possessed. or was willing to give to a
tree which did not, as he expressed it,
''bring in anything" But those who
began forty years ago to set out the hard
maple have to-day rows OF lovely trees
at this season of the year, moro beautiful
with their brilliantly colored leaves than
any other variety. 1t IS something of
life work to raise hard naples where
they do not grow spontaneously, but
there is always pleasure connected with
it which repays the effort.
Evergreens came afterward, such as
balsam fir, Norway spruce, pine and
Others, and in few years made stately
trees, always provided that they were
fenced about at first, we'll enough to
keep them from being destroyed by
cattle.
The soft maple had something to
recommend it as 1t was quick grower,
but to be seen at ITS best it needs cutting
back proruscly. Their habit is to send
out long, slim branches, vcrp apt to be
broken down by the wind.
Judicious trimming helps this, but
they are never so beautiful as the hard
maple. The foliage lacks the brilliant
colors which makes the hard maple
world renowned for its appearance IN
autumn.
The mountain ash is beautiful, orna-
mental tree for lawns and general
favorite on account of its clusters of red
berries.
The box alder is q quick growing and
desirable tree to invest in. Almost any
kind of tree looks better than none at
all; but it is better when setting them,
whether for shade or ornament, to use a
little judgment in the matter in the
selection of the variety, and also in put
ting them in the ground in the best way.
If these are we'll trimmed and cared for
they give an air Of refinement to which
the dullest observer is not insensible.-
NeU York. World.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-01-30
How Mum mics Are Made.

1t may he interesting to some to know
how mummies are made. The process
of embalining is as follows, and is called
the "Brunelli process The circnlatory
system is cleansed by washing with cold
water till it issues quite clear from the
body. This may occupy from two to
five hours. Alcohol is injected so rs to
take out as much water as possible. This
occupies about q quarter OF an hour.
Ether is then injected to abstract the
fatty matter. This occupies from TWO
to ten hours. A strong solution of
tannin is then Injected. This occupies
for inhibition from two to ten hours.
The body is then dried in current of
warm air passed over heated chloride of
calcium. This may occupy from two to
FIVE hours. The body is then perfectly
preserved and resists decay.-Chscago
Herald.