davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1890-07-12

In the northwestern part OF the town
of Castleton, Rutland county, VT, is
the only mandatory OF slate pencils
in the United States. The slate rock as
it comes from the quarry is first
sawed into blocks as wide as the slate
pencil is long. These blocks are easily
split into slabs little thicker than the
finished pencil, which is about five
sixteenths Of an inch. These are passed
through a planning machine and over
an emery belt, which makes them
even and smooth. Next they are
pushed into the jaws of machine
called Crocodile, which consists of
a pair of steel plates. in the under one
of which are six rows OF curved
knives, each being set SO as to cut a
little deeper than the preceding one.
These pillow out parallel groove half
way through the slab, which is then
turned and laid on steel plate having
ridges which just fit these grooves.
This slides back under the six rows of
teeth of another crocodile" which
cuts the grooves on the other side and
leaves the square pencils side by side.
They are then rounded and pointed
by holding them on an emery belt,
and one man can thus sharpen about
5000 day.
This factory makes $4,000 pencils
daily, and mploys twenty-five hands.
We might wonder where SO many pen
ellis go, but when we consider that
there are one or two million school
boys and girls, and many of them
rather careless, and that slate pencils
are easily broken, we have no doubt
the factory will have its hands full"
to supply the demand.
The old way of making pencils was
to saw them out square from the slab
one by one. They were then boxed
and distributed among poor families,
who whitfield them round by hand for
about half dollar thousand
Pencils are made from slate much
softer than the states upon which they
are used, and very nice pencils are
made from soapstone.-New York
| World
Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1890-07-12
How She Took Care of Money.

Albanians who entered the Adiron-
dack region last summer via North
Creek and stopped at that little village
to look after their mail will not. forget
the pretty young woman at the post
office who answered their inquiries
and did it so well. She was the
daughter of Postmaster Sheehan, a
neat, jaunty, business like miss, and
the entire management of the postotfice
seemed to be in her hands. More than
one visitor made the comment that she
herself ought to be postmaster, as she
filed the place so we'll. Not long
since neglect was charged against
Postmaster Sheehan in not forwarding
his money statements to the Albany
office. Investigation was made by a
postoffice inspector and Miss Sheehan
to his amazement, when asked to &C
count for about $1,000 of the
postofice funds. produced a shoe
box, in which she had the
money packed away in various
strange receptacles. She had made it
habit to carry the money with her
to and from the office, and her novel
bank proved to be a good deal more
secure than some iron or steel safes
have been. Miss Sheehan impressed
those who met her with her ability
to take care of herself and to run her
fathers postoffice. Albany Journal.
Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1890-07-12
Antics of a Compass.

An Ellenville lawyer, who was in
Kingston the other day, said to Free
man reporter: while in the woods a
few days ago l came across a surveyor
who was puzzled The surveyor had
been engaged to run line, but he found
every time he Ieveled his compass, to
use surveyors expression, his line ran
in the air.
"The surveyor said his compass had
never cut up that caper before, and he
didn't know what allied it. The north
star must be all out of gear. said: See
here, what sort of hat have you ony
The surveyor took off his hat. Why,
an ordinary hat with stiff brim.' Yes,
a stiff brim, and there is the trouble.
If you examine you will find steel wire
in it. Hang your hat on your compass
and see what it will do He did SO, and
up went the needle. BY Jocks! that
beats me, said the surveyor. He tossed
his hat behind him, and his faithful
compass did its work ell."-Kingston
Freeman
Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1890-07-12
FEEDING OCEAN PASSENGERS.
What u Costs to Supply the Larder Of ,
Great Steamship on One Voyage.

What u Costs to Supply the Larder of n
Great Steamship One Voyage.
The big steamships which ply he.
tween New York and Europe carry on
each trip across the Atlantic a little
city of people Two thousand persons
sometimes are stored away on board
these floating palaces. To appease the
sea sllarpened appetites and assuage the
thirst of this horde requires a great
deal of solid and liquid food. The
steward OF certain liner took on al
Liverpool for the last round VOYAGE
1000 bottles of champagne, 5000 of
claret, 5000 of ale, $500 of porter
5000 of mineral water and 200 of
spirits. They used last year on their
line OF steamers 5000 quarts and II,
613 pints of champagne The Amer
cans drink the greater part of the
champagne. They call for five quarts
of it to one of any other nationality.
They also used on that line last year
Is, 941 quarts and 1910 pints of claret
This had the largest sale among the
French travellers, and indeed, all the
passengers from the continent; pre-
ferred claret.
The Br;tishers drank the greater
part OF the years supply of ale and por
ter, In all 100000 bottles. This, with
It's, 600 bottles of mineral water, made
enough liquid to float one of their
ships in. Pretty good showing, that.
IN the way of wet goods, isn't it2
The other vices weren't neglected
The steward says their line used last
year 5000 pounds of tobacco, 65, 600
cigars and $1,000 cigarettes; the lem
ons used on shipboard averaged two
apiece every day, apples the same,
oranges leading with three apiece
each day.
The steward says: I'VE sailed from
Liverpool with 547 cabin passengers
and 300 in the crew. We had on board
when we started 1856 pounds of
fresh beef, 700 pounds of corned beef,
5000 pounds of mutton, $50 pounds Of
lamb, $50 pounds of veal, $50 pounds
OF pork. There were besides 1000
pounds of fresh fish, 600 fowls, 300
chickens, 100 ducks, so geese, so tur-
keys, 200 brace of grouse, Is tons of
potatoes, 30 hampers of vegetables, $50
HudiGo vi lCe CTedIl, l,OOO quarts OF
milk, II. 500 eggs.
I'm the dry groceries there were CSC
pounds of tea, 1900 pounds of coffee.
1000 pounds of white sugar, 750
pounds of pulverized sugar, 1,5OO
pounds of cheese, 1000 pounds of but
ter, $500 pounds Of ham and LOCO
pounds of bacon. You can form from
that list Of figures what it costs to vic
tual the vessel for every voyage.
my figures are not done yet. This
line uses 10000 tons of ice every year,
and an average of 1000 tons of coal
every day. They use 104, 900 gallons
of engine oil for one item, and an av
erage of four pounds Of meat minute,
or over 1000, 900 pounds year They
use % tons of raisins and currents,
over 1,000,0 900 eggs, the average being
one every minute. They use II tons
of mustard, 13 tons of peas, II tons OF
rice and 400 tons of -four, exclusive OF
the $4,000 loaves of bread. They use
Is tonsof cheese and 10 of yellow soap,
not counting the toilet soap. These
are only the figures of one line, and
there are many."-Indianapolis News
Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1890-07-12
A Ghostly Workman.

Several weeks ago a belated way
farer was passing a mill in the south
part of the town late one night when
he was not a little astonished to hear
a tapl tapl tapI a sort of clinking
sound, exactly as if pick was being
struck against a milestone. No one
was in the mill at the time, it being
dark and still. He told his story to
several persons, but vas hooted at OF
late the mysterious sounds have again
been heard, and always late at night.
A few nights ago an excited throng
congregated near the mill, listening
to the mysterious sounds. The mo
notous clinking kept regularly sound
ing, as if the ghost of the workman
was finishing his neglected tasks The
sound seemed to come from far up in
the building, near the roof in fact.
Several Of the perplexed listeners en-
deavored TO persuade some one to 90
into the building and solve the mys-
terry they themselves dare not investi-
gate, but no offer of love or money
could tempt single venturesome soul
to enter the mill. As the steady clink,
clink, clink sounded continuously,
even the bravest grew almost un-
controllable, and a general STAN
pede was the result. The follow
ing night was simply a repetition
of the preceding one-the ghostly
workman still steadily tapped
away at the milestone and the excited
listeners could but stand spellbound
until their fears proved too much fol
them. Once or twice since has the
sound been heard, but no Oue has yel
been found brave enough to beard the
ghostly terror in its lofty abode
Marshall Qlls.) Letter.
Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1890-07-12
The Rattan Ccmns.

"The latest and newest thing in
coffins," said the Rev Stephen Merritt,
is the earth-to-earth" casket. 1t is an
oblong casket made of rattan stripped
of its outer gloss. 1t is called earth
to-earth" because through its open
work meshes the air has free access to
the remains, dissolution follows quick
ly, and the body soon assimilates with
the earth. The cost is about the same
as that of an ordinary coffin, from $75
up, according to the trimmings. The
present construction is an American
idea, but similar caskets have been
used. in England. They are strong
enough for the purpose, yet they viii
sooner disappear in the ground than
any that have ever been used. New
York Sun.
Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1890-07-12
Fattening Terrapin,

Col. Tilghman and Mr.. NJ T. Colds.
borough are largely engaged in the
propagation of terrapin, and have
about 5000 confined in pond, where
they are fed and prepared for market.
In winter they lie dormant and do
not eat at all, but in summer time
they seem to have ravenous appetites.
The principal food given them is hard
crabs, and it takes about 500 to 6OC
crabs day to feed them. The crabs are
put intoa large hopper alive and hack
led to pieces in passing through the
machinery. They are then thrown
into the pond for the terrapin, which
are SO eager to get at their food that
they climb up over the backs of each
other.
The terrapin have learned to know
what the noise of the hacking ma
chine means, and as soon as it com
rnenees to run they begin to gather
around and shor Disr.sof iurputivIIvr
until their food is given hem.-Balti
more Sun
Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1890-07-12
A New Moral.

A family residing at Cape Elizabeth
have two boys, one aged and the other
81 years old The older boy fell head
foremost into a tub of water. He kicked
and screamed, but no one was near to
help him, but his little brother taking in
the situation. began Juggling away to
pull him out. His little hands were not
strong enough to do SO All at once an
idea struck him, and he left the room to
return with a switch, which he began to
apply quite vigorously to that part of his
brother hanging over the tub, nearest to
him. The application of the switch
aroused the temper of the boy in the tub,
who by a dexterous use of his legs and
the help of his little preserver raised
himself and backed out. Moral: Spare
the rod and drown the child.
Journal.
Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1890-07-12
Mrs. Langtry,s Fnrniture.

Mrs. Langtry's hobby is fine furni-
lure; Her dressing is simple enough
on the stage. She likes tailor made
costumes, rich but simple. and not
particularly expensive, but her home
+ a home of artistic design and taste,
Il Is full of all sorts of little objects OF
toeauty, refinement and expense. Pot
ery OF all sorts and of all nations is
scattered about, glassware is abundant
sno pictures are everywhere. The
furniture 10 not simply for show, but
.of beauty and ease, and Mrs Lang
NY never comes to New York that she
eoesnt at least pass a couple of days
n visiting the principal furniture
warehouses; and choosing some new
nlngs for her house on Twenty third
Nreet-New York Journal.
Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1890-07-12
The Latest in Teas.

What is new in the way of after
noon tease Whisper it softly, Jamaica
rum. Three or four drops to the cup
imparts new favor, and, yes, emits
a faint odor that one shifts as one
enters the tea room. There is a small
decanter behind the samovar. The
saucy bruno in gown of scarlet net
with black velvet band at the round
white neck manipIIates it deity and
asks no questions, Surely, says the
bud, I've got through almost to Ash
Wednesday in wonderful condition.
Here's the fourth tea I've been to since
lunch time and yet it has nicer taste
than at the first of the season" In comes
a dear old lady with white hair. To
her the waiter feels bound to put
query; (which kind2" She opens
her eyes full on him. Are they serv-
ing both green and black this after
noona"-Philadelphia Times.
Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1890-07-12
The Nickel in the Slot.

Yon can drop nickel in the slot
and get almost anything. You can
get your weight, your height, try your
grip, try your lungs, get your bon
bons and chocolate, etc. The latest
thing is an automatic insurance pol
icy. 1t is for railroad employees only.
There is one Of the boxes up in the
Lake Shore depot Underneath the
glass in front is copy of the ticket.
The employee drops nickel in the
slot and gets an accident insurance.
Ticket good for twenty four hours.
The same company has a box in the
Palmer house for travelling men only.
The benefit is so much for death
through an accident and SO much per
week while suffering from injuries
stained.-Chicago Herald.
Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1890-07-12
Some superstitious Statesman.


Nothing can induce Senator Voor-
bees to ride in street car drawn by a
white horse.
Senator Joe Blackburn not only
takes the white horse, but also one
having white spot on it, or one white
foot.
Senator Edmunds regards il as I'M
lucky if the first person he meets on
emerging from his house is woman,
and will return for fresh start.
Senator Sherman will not extend his
left hand in greeting or receive one ex-
tended to him-a familiar habit with
politicians
Senator Call will bury or burn pair
of socks one or both of which he has
put on wrong side out
Representative Kennedy, of Ohio,
wears a voudoo charm which he OBJ
tanned from an old negress in the
swamps of Louisiana.
When Senator Harris, of Tennessee,
is in doubt as to a course of action, he
decides it by splitting at mark.
If Senator Vest, of Missouri, meets
beggar in the streets before he has
spent any money he invariably gives
to the mendicant.
If the first person Representative
Breckenridge meets in the morning is
colored man or woman he crosses to
the other side of the street. He claims
if he continues on the same side he
will be hoodooed for the entire day.
Senator Evarts is great admirer of
the flaming beauties of the circus
posters and theatre announcements on
the billboards, which taste he has in
common with Hale, of Maine; Butler,
of South Carolina, and Pascoe, of Flor
da.-Washington Letter in Cleveland
Plain Dealer.
Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1890-07-12
An UnIucky Day In Mexico.

Tuesday is the unlucky day in Mex
leo. The popular sentiment concern
ing it is embodied, as is the case with
Mexican proverbs and terse sayings
generally, in jingle:
En- Martes nj te cases, nj te embarques,
M de tn casa te apartes
Which, rendered literally, means: On
Tuesday, neither be thou married, nor
60 forth (begin, start, enter upon), nor
separate myself from thy house. Be
lief in the i'll luck of Tuesday is a
Spanish superstition, reference to
which is found in letter written by
Fray Juan de Zumarraga some years
before he left Spain for Mexico. Pos
slbly it is native Mexican supersti
ton, also-though a sufficient reason
Tor its prompt acceptance by the Mex
leans, perhaps, is to be found in the
fact that on Tuesday (Aug. Is, 1921
was completed the conquest of the
capital city of Tenochtitlan, or Mex
ico.-Scribner's.
Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1890-07-12
A SAMPLE DAY AT HARVARD.
A Buffalonian Tells How His Time is
Spent in College.

Counting undergraduates and special
students together, there are LAO young
men between the ages of II and "a now
residing at Harvard college The writer
enjoyed an interview with one of the
Buffalo boys, who was at home for
brief recess, a short time ago you
will understand" he said, that | am
neither grind nor loafer, but an av-
erage student, and the vast majority of
them live just about as do. A picture
of my college day is about as follows:
| turn out anywhere between 7:30 and 8
in the morning, and go over to Memorial
to breakfast at or 8:30-sometimes
earlier than that, SO as to go to chapel.
Prayers come at 8:45, and are well at
tended, though we don't have to go unless
we choose. After this recitations and
lectures take up nearly the whole fore
noon, and l have one in the afternoon
three times week. On four days of the
week have three Rotations, on the
others two, Other men have them diff
ferently, according to the electives they
take. My studies are over for the day
at p M. and they occupy, all told
about seven hours day.
"rm interested in athletics, and my
afternoon from to $50 is spent in the
gymnasium, or in outdoor athletics in
the season for them. Part of our train
ing, in suitable weather, consists of run
of two miles, to Porter station and back.
The gymnasium is always crowded. and
you get pretty well heAed up by your
exercise, whatever it is. Then, after a
cold shower and brisk rubbing. you
feel like king. and don't you Just sleep
nights, thought find that my athletic
training helps my studies greatly Din
ner comes at 6, and l generally study
evenings, though not always. I've been
to the theatres some eight or nine times
this term, but don't like to go to Boston
much. 1t takes too long and you have
to be up late, which won't do when you
are in training.
MANY people have the idea that you
can let your studies go and loaf, or worse,
until two or three weeks before the ex-
aminations, and then cram up. This is
utter nonsense. 1t is simply impossible
to keep up with your class in that way.
unless, indeed, you can spend 500 or
$3.50 for private tutors, and even then
you wouldn't be safe. AS for cutting
recitations, if you made practice Of do
ing it uftener than twice a week, you'd
be investigated, sure as fate-and that is
not at all pleasant.
ION Sundays l go to church some
where-sometimes to Boston to hear
Phillips Brooks, sometimes to the college
chapel, sometimes elsewhere. There are
usually 400 or 500 at morning prayers,
and more than that at the Sunday even
ing service, though you don't have to &c
to either unless you want to."-Buffalc
Express
Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1890-07-12

Between Bishop Potter and Corne-
Gus Vanderbilt there has long existed a
vary affectionate and sincere friend
ship, and their intimacy has been lik-
ened unto that of historical record be-
tween David and Jonathan. Mr.. Van
derbilt continually accompanies the
bishop in his local tours of ministra-
tons, especially when the service is
confirmation at the public institutions
or the Sailors Floating chapel, and is
the quiet, secret benefactor under the
bishops advice in many cases. The
two men are congenial and en- rapport
to degree not usual between layman
and high priest, and, viewed either
spiritually or financially, who shall say
it is not a happy combination9-Cor
Chicago Post.
Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1890-07-12
Chopin,s MusicaI Likes and Dislikes.

He worshipped Mozart, and was
Jealous student of Bach. One day,
Halle played to him Beethoven sonata
Zone from OPP 81. Chopin found the
last movement vulgar. From this
Halle concluded that he could not
have made a deep study of the
masters works. LEM, indeed, has
said: Chopin did not take a very
serious interest in Beethoven. He
knew only his principal compositions,
the last works not at all" Chopin
cared little for Mendelssohr, and-if
the statement of Schlessinger be true
that he did not consider Schumann's
Carnival" to be music at all-still
less for composer who thoroughly
appreciated and admired his own gen
Jus. He preferred Bellini to Berlioz.
Nicok's Life of Chopin.
Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1890-07-12
How the Husband Gave It AWAY

Here is another good smuggling
story from the Belgian frontier: 4
newly married couple were returning
to Germany after a tour to Brussels.
As the train approached the frontier
the bride grew uneasy and presently
confessed that she had quantity Of
the finest of Brussels lace in her bag,
on which high duty would have to
be paid. Put it inside your hat, she
pleaded. This was done. The cussora
house officials looked all through the
boxes of the elegant young lady,
knowing by experience that such are
the most daring of smugglers, but
found nothing. The chief officer,
charmed by the amiable manners of
the husband. accompanied the couple
to the train, when the wretched hus-
band, forgetting his secret in the JOY
Of having escaped, raised bis hat to
the officer and was instantly enveloped
in q soft white veil TableauL
Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1890-07-12
What London SAYS of us.

Republican simplicity seems to be
last disappearing from Washington
society, where, as learn from one of
!ne journals of that capital, 1.-The seat
mg OF guests at official dinners, at
winch the court rules of precedence
are obligatory, is matter of nice ex-
sctnesS" In cases where desperately
knotty points present themselves, it
seems the dinner list is sent to the
White House to be ''diagrammed.
Inc dlagrammer, who is the authority
on all these grave points of precedence,
Is rs certain Mr.. Pruden, one of the
white House secretaries. He must
nave some trouble, since, as my jour
MAJ a informs me, 1.-The ranking of the
diplomat is still an unsettled ques-
non, and it is earnestly urged that
thls vexed question should be promptly
settled once for all by an act of con
gress.-London Truth.