davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Omaha daily bee., 1890-02-19
AN EPIDEMIC OF SUICIDE.
Methods of Destroying Life Now Pop
ular in Paris.


Serenity in old age is beautiful, but
some of US find life too hard to bear until
we reach that tranquility, writes Emile
Zela in the Philadelphia Press. All
around me, here in Paris, is evidence
of this distaste for life, this craving Tor
the rest of the grave. An epidemic of
suicide has sprung up like a plague,
coming no one knows whence. On some
days the list mounts up to ten suicides,
while the average number is two or
three. The city is marked out for the
scourge, with its Respondent p%opulace,
its many solitary griefs, and its uproar
drowning the sound of so many sobs.
Despairing men come there to die, just
as they would throw themselves into an
ocean. But never, l repeat, has the
contagion OF death seemed to claim 80
many victims. Some, in their misery
or madness, throw themselves from the
bridges, and their bodies are found in
the Seine, caught under the boats.
Others prefer the rope: u few hang
themselves in some park in the suburbs,
at Vjncennes or Boulogue, but the
greater number spare themselves this
Journey by tying the rope to the near
est beam. Men have hanged themselves
behind doors, in garrets, along corri-
doris, and latterly one has been found
w lO, lUupll W oNOiA VIA 10 Va
climbing five flights of stoirs to his
lodging. suspended himself from the
railing of the staircase. OF poisoning
there are fewer instances; only women
still swallow laudanum or the phosp hOr-
Gus from a bundle OF matches, although
the latter is sometimes a sue
| ~cessful means OF suicide. Women,
too, sometimes. open the arteries
wilhelm the bath, and death puts them
gently tosleep under the tepid water.
| A Girl Of sixteen years, driven mad by
disappointment in love, chose last week
to die in this way. AS to charcoal 1T
| and ever ready cure for all the ills of
life. Whenever an Odor of burning is
sues from under a door in the ~faubourgs
inhabited by the working people, the
first cry is "suicide!" They break in
the door, and sometimes arrive in time
to save some poor wretch struggling in
the agonies OF death. Suicide by the
knife is more rare, for 1T requires too
much courage to plunge II cleaning
blade into flesh. A more suitable
weapon is the pistol; it demands only a
slight movement OF the inger-even q
nervous contraction OF the muscles will
suffice. Moreover, in case the revolver
is used, if the first shot miss fire there
are still four or five balls to complete
the work. Last of all, the public monu-
ments are no longer used for this deadly
purpose. Scarcely one or W instances
each year, can be cited OF person who
have thrown themselves down on the
pavement from the tower of Hotre
Dame or the summit of the Column
Veudome, and only the closest precau-
ton has saved the Eiffel tower from
suicide popularity. 1t is a fine death
this tremendous jump, this leap into
~space-thus to plung into the yoatex OF
eternity.
One woman after eight days yalnly
spent 10 seeking for work, obtained on
credit u bushel Of charcoal, to which
she set fire. aud then lay down, clasp
in her arm her two little children. The
next day the three corpses were found
Omaha daily bee., 1890-02-19
Puzzled by Imitation Gold.

A well-known scientific gentleman
has been experimenting on a metal
resembling gold for nearly Il year, and
has now got it down almost to perfec-
ton, a y the London Court Journal.
He stumbled on it at first accidentally
while Analysing some metals, and when
he realized what he had found he went
to work and produced n metal which
puzzles the best OF jewellers, is as heavy
as gold and to all appearances is the
precious metal itself. When the gold
test is applied to it the acid bolls up a
little but gives no other evidence that
the metal is other than gold, and when
wiped off no mark or spot is left, as is
the case when applied to brass. 1t can
be nufactured at a comparatively
small cost.
Omaha daily bee., 1890-02-19
Prvpress of the sbort Lime.

DAKoTA Cry, Neb., Feb. 1S.-[Special
to The BEE. l-The Short Line will this
week finish the grading from the river bank
TO their original grade, made last fall. As
soon rs that is finished they will begin to lay
iron and ties as fast as possible, they having
most of their material on this side Of the
river. They have the track laid about three
aud one.half mica south of the river and
piled on both sides with rails and ties. Sat
urday last they began the erection Of q huge
windmill aud tank on the bank OF the lake,
and they will draw their supply of water for
engine use from the lake, which Is about ten
rods from the track. The Short Line does
not cross the OIL line, by its new grade.
they having bought out the right of way of
the Omaha line In Covington. They also
bought the coalsheds, windmill and round
house that the Omaha line used before they
crossed the river.
Omaha daily bee., 1890-02-19
A Mixture of CoIors.

PLArTsMoUrH, Neb.; Feb. 1s.-[Special
Telegram to THE BEE .l-Qulte an important
arrest was made today, the prisoners being
a colored man named Williams and a white
girl named Madison, aged about sixteen
years. both from Bethany, Nc. The charge
Of abduction has been preferred against the
man by the father Of the girl. Upon inquiry
1t was found that a man answering his
description hau been trying to get
work at the different hotels in
this city. He WAS easily arrested,
but stoutly denied his guilt. The girl
Is quite comedy aud well dressed. She will
say nothing, either for or against the negro.
Later habeas corpus proceedings were lnsti-
tuted and Williams set free, but he was i'm
mediately rearrested on the charge of seduc-
ton and his hearing set for Saturday. This
will give the Missouri authorities time to
get u requisition from the governor. The
negro IL q tough citizen, having served sew
eral terms in tue Iowa penitentiary.
Omaha daily bee., 1890-02-19
THEIR HOME INSIDE OUT.
The Odd Dwelling of IA Family in n
California Forest.

California Forest.
A hunter on his way up Russian
river, CAL, heard a rustling Of the dead
leaves, as if a deer had risen to look
out for the intruder. The spot from
which the rushing came was hidden by
a giant redwood, or rather. several OF
the giant trees grown together. Drop
crawled to the tree, and pushing his
rifle ahead of him, peered around for
the quarry.
There rose from among the leaves, no
deer, but instead a pretty golden
haired, b~lue-eyed, doll-like little girl,
apparently about six years old. He
only saw her for a moment. Then she
ran. with a startled cry, directly to-
ward him and the,tree and vanished. Not
more than a dozen feet separated them
when the fairy-like apparition disap-
peared.
The puzzled hunter sprang over the
spreading roofs to find the sprite.
There was nothing in sight. Suddenly
his wonderings were interrupted by a
soft voice behind him:
Good evening, SIR"
He turned and sa win the dark hollow
of the big tree a woman holding up II
deerskin curtain. The gray skin was
so near the color OF the messy trunk
that he had not noticed it. Now he
saw that the curtain hid q big hollow
from which the woman had come, while
from behind her dress showed the faces
of several children, among them that of
the pretty child that had SO startled
him. -.
|. He answered the greeting, and, 10
v his surprise, asked for a drink OF
water. He entered the hollow, and
,phtla h mn M. 3Lo xrntA. frnpa
a bucket he lookea'around and saw that
the place was as,1ifeIy fitted up as any
rancher's cabin ,OOWhen the hunters
returned to to&nL they reported their
find, and the Satf DErancisc Examiner
correspondent vert out to see h fam
lily that lived IN ahOllow tree. He had
no difficulty af,'Al In locating the big
redwood from thsAirections they gave
him. bIa
A thin line o fsmoke rising from the
base Of the Tree helped to guide the
newspaper man@o1he spot.
1t was all as the 'ftSnnter had described
it,, and before ttha curtain OF deerskin
stood tho motheFiaf the family frying
venision chops yoop, a little stove on a
wheelbarrow. o5I6s 8
The tree in 0avlfich their home was
made was the largest in the clump.
Thirty or forty feet above the ground il
forks into three branches, each OF
which is a tree by itself. AT the ground
the main trunk is probably sixty feet in
circumference,
Some time a fire was kindlei among
its roots. and this fire ate into the red
wood and burned out the hollow. II
was perhaps fourteen feet wide and
nine or ten feet deep. An axe bad Cut
its corner smooth and cleared the walls
Of charcoal. 'rE
Shelves of redwood shakes held cook
ing utensils and iooking-glass and
rough bed and crib. also OF redwood
made up the furniture OF the room
Outside was a homemade table-a big
slab OF redwood on stakes let into auger
holes-with benches made in similal
fashion.
Omaha daily bee., 1890-02-19
The Western Fret ght Association.

CHICAGO, Feb. 1s.-TSpscial Telegram to
THE BEE. The Western Freight associa-
tion met again today to take up the rate
adjustments made necessary by the 90 per
cent reduction in the Missouri river rates.
The meeting was an exceedingly tame one.
Satisfactory work was done in harmonizlng
the rates, but it will not be finished for
several days. In regard to the %permanency
Of the reduction, 1t is agreed that it will be
difficult, If not impossible, to raise the rates
again soon TO the Is per cent basis. General
Manager Chappell of the Alton voted against
the reduction until the last ballot, which
was II TO IL in favor of the reduced basis.
Before the ballot Mr.. Chappell said: II see
the rates will be reduced and will vote with
the majority to that end. as there can be no
other settlement. II must be distinctly un-
derstood, however, that these are no emer-
gency rates. If made they wall be made to
stay" The final ballot was then taken.
Omaha daily bee., 1890-02-19
me Illinois state Fair.

CHICAGO. Feb. B.-lSpecial Telegram to
THE BEE. THE Illinois state board Of agri-
culture is at work in earnest to make the
state fair OF 1890 excel all those of previous
seasons. The awards aggregate nearly
500, 600 in ound numbers. and will DO made
Of the ''single Judge" system. q departure
from the old common style. r%rotting ana
pacing races will receive special attention
aud liberal purses will be hung in this de-
partment. There will be a 500 purse for q
trotting dash OF two miles and one OF $500
for o pacing dash Of one and one-half miles.
have paid particular attention TO the de vel
opment or endurance as we'll as speed.
Omaha daily bee., 1890-02-19
Jormeot.d py Ghosts.

The stir in Montgomery county over
the ghost scare continues and the mys-
tory deepens, says a Charlotte, N. c.,
dispatch. About three months ago the
wife of Thomas Fuller died. 1t is re-
ported that her married life was not
happy, and now, since her death, Full
Ter says her ghost torments him every
night. When he retires he can hear
all sorts OF noises in his room. Fuller
cannot longer sleep alone, but has some
one to remain in the room with him.
The mysterious ghost gives him a great
deal of trouble and has rendered him
wholly unfit for bus. ness or work OF any
sort.
Omaha daily bee., 1890-02-19
short Bird stories.

New York Sun: A very small bird of
South Africa is the Mahali weaver, hut
it lives in a very large house shaped
like an oil flask, which it builds itself.
On the West Spanish peak, Colorado,
r. l., Smith trapped a handsome gol-
den eagle that measured seven feet four
inches from tip to tip.
The parrot has not the monopoly of
the power of talking among birds. The
mynah, n species of startling, is very i'm
i~tative, n says good morning. very
plainly in response to a salutation.
The tailor bird makes its nest of long
leaves, which it sews together with the
fibre Of a plant, first piercing the holes
in them with it's beak. The bottom of
the nest has a heavy layer of cotton.
A dudish bird that lines it's nest
with the down of certain flowers is the
lanceolate h~oney-eater. The nest is
shaped like a hammock suspended from
twigs, and is very deep. The ground
work is of grass and wool.
The sociable weavers will unite to-
gether in building a th~atched-roof prior
to nest building. the structure some-
times being twelve feet square. Under
this a dozen or more nests will be built,
each pair OF birds building it's own, and
each nest being shut out from every
other.
A tame crow belonging to Mrs. Heu-
rietta Mcpherson of Herkimer, N. Y,
will whip any dog in the neighborhood,
and amuses itself jumping upon a chair
with a spool OF thread, picking the end
loose and unwinding the spool in the
face of the cat. AS the cat jumps for
the running spool the crow will laugh
like q child.
,,lo, Df y;th -aat
over the doorway of the Mutt house.
Charlottesville, Ind, sat in judgment
over one of the flock and deliberately
hung it. One end of n piece of Irvine
a foot long was tied securely about the
birds heck and the other end fastened
to the nest. The sparrow futtered at
the end OF the st"ing for at least ten
minutes, the others picking and pulling
at it continually until it died.
During the Christmas festival in a
church in England the children had
just finished the first verse of their
Christmas carol when u clear, rich, joy
Gus song from a robin burst forth among
the green branches. No one had seen
him, but the minister raised his hand
for silence, and the bird completed his
song. Then the rector, in great
soiemnity, opened the Bible and read
"'Yea, the sparrow hath found a
house, and the swallow a nest for her.
self, where she may lay her young.
Thine affairs, o Lord of hosts!'
This time" said the minister, sour
favorite bird. our little robin redbreast
has found a lodging and breakfast in
the church, where we come to pray for
our daily bread. Snow is all around
covering the ground and bushes; he
was cold and hungry, and might have
persisted in the storm, but the goOt
All-Father, in His plying love ant
care, guided the tiny wings hither.
The little bird praises Him in it
joyous song. Shall not we, with ia
greater reason, praise Him gladly?"
Omaha daily bee., 1890-02-19
RECORD.
Death of the Inventor of the First
Successful TYneWriLer.

MILWAUKEE, Wis, Feb. 1s.-Christopher
Latham Sholes. ope.ot the early settlers of
Wisconsin, and one of the best known citi-
zens Of Milwaukee,, died yesterday. He
gained a national reputation as an inventor
of the first successful typewriter, He was
one of the earliest of western newspaper men
and had been states senator, member of the
assembly and held several federal positions.
HIS death resulted from slow consumption.
PEsTH, Feb. fjI8. Count Andrassy, the
well-known Hungarian statesman who has
been i'll for some time, died today. He was
sixty years old.JtJ IS ? s.-.3
KENNETH SQUARE, Pa, Feb. 1S.-Mrs. Re-
becca Way Taylor, mother of the late author
and traveller, Bayard Taylor died at her
residence this morning after a brief illness,
aged ninety years.
Omaha daily bee., 1890-02-19
Give Children Plenty of Water.

For the eason given, I advocate,
under all conditions, a plentiful addi-
writer in the Archives of Pedirtrics.
In this connection l would lay stress
upon the fact that, as a rule, small chill
dren receive water only as they get it / n
their milk or milk food. Alike in sum-
mer and winter, it is pro bable that the
fact seldom occurs to a mother or nurse
that a child may be thirsty without be-
Ing hungry at the same time. Ger
tainly many a discomfort and even sick
ness in a child is conditioned upon the
fact that it has been compelled to eat
in order to get its thirst satisfied, and
often has to suffer thirst because the
over-stimulated and injured stomach
will take no more punishment at irreg-
ular and too short intervals.
Omaha daily bee., 1890-02-19
MRS. BLAlNE's BENEFIT.
The Long Heraided Event Take
Place at Last.

The Long Heralded Event : Takes
Place at Last.
New York. Feb. lS.-ISpeciai Telegram
to THE BEE THE long heralded benefit to
Mrs. James G. Blaine, ir., for which the sale
of seats closed six days ago, took place this
afternoon at the Broadway theatre. The
house was. filled, and the standing room was
filled, and the Hobbies outside were filed.
The ushers were all swells and all orna-
mental; there were other young men there
TO act as ushers who were useful. The
pleasure of the afternoon began as soon as
the door was opened, for lying in wait with
scented programmes and flowers were six Of
the most popular ingenues in New York.
Some men never got any further than the
ingenues, ana, saving that 1t was too hot in
side, remained in the lobby during the per-
Torrance, buying programmes at regular
intervals at SO cents each. A feature of the
performance was the conjunction of ANA
tours and professionals. Mrs. Blaine will
get from this benefit just s3, ZOO.
Omaha daily bee., 1890-02-19
Nepraska, Iowa and Dnkota Patents.

Nebraska, Iowa and Dakota Patents.
WAsHINGToN, Feb. 1S.-lSpecial Tele-
gram to THE BEE. THE following patents
were issued today: Dewitt b. Brace, Lin
coin, Neb., dynamo electric machine; Dens-
more j. Bunce, Nevada, Ia, veterinary
surgical instruments; George t. Davis. Du-
buque, Ia, camera and electrical flash light
attachment; Charles B. Dawson, Angus,
Ia, rock or coal drilling machine; Henry NJ.
Fisk, Pella, Ia, flexible carrier for tile lay
ing machines; James A. Hyson, Des Moines,
To-, car coupling: John G. Hublnger,
keokuk, Ia. apparatus for heating water
and generating steam by electricity;
William b. Mcpherson and w. Cahoon,
Deadwood, S. d., hydraulic motor; Frank
r.. Miller, Stanwood, Ia, paper hanging ma
chine; George G.. PASSING, Clear Lake, S.
D.. railway switch; Henry w. Sprague, as
signor of fve-eights to r. f. Pettigrew and
b, g. Dunning, Sioux Falls, S, D., car
coupling; Frederick Straub, Surprise, Neb.,
storm sash; Jacob Struble, Sioux City, as
signor of one-half to b. Harrison, Lincoln
township, Iowa, graiu meter; Ralph j.
Woodwork, Wahoo, Neb., feed trough.
Omaha daily bee., 1890-02-19
Firemen

Fremont, Neb., Feb. ls.-lSpecial to THE
BEE. Engine company No. 1 of the Free
mont hre department last night celebrated
the eighteenth anniversary of Its organize
ton with a banquet at Turn hall. This was
the pioneer company OF Nebraska north of
the Platte river and west of Omaha. IL
does not now do active service, but main
tains an organization by meeting once q
year for q reunion and banquet. The cele-
bration last night was a very pleasant one.
The menu was very elaborate and this, with
the toasts and "Reminiscences of fire fighting
In Fremont in the early days, rendered the
evening highly enjoyable TO all present.
Omaha daily bee., 1890-02-19
FRENCH AND ENGLISH.
The Dual Language Bill Debate in
the Dominion Parliament.

OTTAWA, Feb. 1S.-In the commons yes
terday the debate on the dual language
question was esumed. Laurier, leader of
the opposition, made q long speech in which
he defended the French population aud
charged the people of Ontario with wishing
10 drive the French out Of the country at
the point of the bayonet. Sir John McDon-
aid said the French, as British subjects,
would not be tyrannized, but would receive
fair treatment at the hands of the govern
ment. Sir John, by his speech last night.
sltion on this question is now considered
shaky.
Omaha daily bee., 1890-02-19
Kearney Wants the Reunion.

KEARNEY, Neb. Feb. ls.-TSpecial Tele-
gram to THE BEE. To-day Kearney citi-
zens subscribed a big bonus to secure the To-
cation of the annual reu MON of the Grand
Army of the Republic here for the next five
years. Besides the amount subscribed 10
Of tho most Influential people here signed a
guarantee to meet-N demands after this
year. A delegatiotf1'f 100 from here will at
t9nd the encampt ent at Grand Island to-
narrow
Omaha daily bee., 1890-02-19
Young SITTER Arraicned.

NEBRASKA CITY, Neb., Feb. 1s.-lSpecial
Telegram TO The BEE. Young Sitter, the
murderer, was today arraigned on a charge
of murder in the second degree, waived eN-
animation and was bound over to the district
court without bail.
Omaha daily bee., 1890-02-19
King Carnival.

Nav ORLEANS, La, Feb. ls.-The grand
street pageant Of King Carnival moved
promptly at noon and was viewed oy' crowds
OF spectators all along the route. The city is
country, especially large numbers being
present from the north and northwest.
After tbs street parade Comus aud crew
gave o tableaux aud ball atthe Grand opera
house. Tie Proteus pageant tonight Illus
trated o voyage through -elfland, There
were eighteen brilliant tableaux.
Omaha daily bee., 1890-02-19
opposition 60 Local Merchants.

MADISON. Neb. Feb. is. -[Special 'rele-
gam to THE BEE. The farmers alliance
has commenced operations here, much to
tho discontinue OF the.local merchants. A
car load of merchandise arrived at this
place last evening and today the town is
filled with farmers, who have ordered goods
and who claim the price is from 80 TO 40 per
cent less than the local retailers. An effort
is being made TO have the parties delivering
goods placed under arrest, but the officers
claim they have no such authority.
Omaha daily bee., 1890-02-19
A collision Near Norroi..

NORFOLK, Neb.. Feb. lS,-lSpeoiai Tele-
gram 70 "A BEE. IA collision occurred
this evening at s o'clock twelve miles from
this city. on the st. Paul & Omaha. Union
Pacific passenger No. AZ had orders TO meet
. special freight at Apex, a siding station in
. deep cut on a short curve. Engineer Nor
rs Of the special. no. being acquainted with
the road, ran into the passenger, derail-
Ing and badly wreckIng both loco
motives. The wreck will probably be cleared
Omaha daily bee., 1890-02-19

stiff and livid, and locked in close ON
brace. Two other people Of eighty
years, husband and wife. in their de-
spair refused to wait until death should
come to lthem, they were eager to go
and they wanted to go together, so
they inflicted horrible wounds upon
themselves with a razor.
Omaha daily bee., 1890-02-19
The spick uranks.

S~rIcKARpsvILLE, Mo-, Feb. 1S.-The con-
stable today arrested sixteen crusaders
thirteen ladies aud three men-charged with
malicio us destruction of property. He met
with no opposition, the ladies having deter
mined to submit quietly to their martyrdoms
rs they call it. All gave bond in the sum Of
$50 each for their appearance next Friday.
Omaha daily bee., 1890-02-19
pluckinr tRe4RaiIroad Goose,

CHICAGO, Feb. ts.-lSpecial Telegram to
THE BEE. IA special from Des Moines says:
"Grain shippers are petitioning the railroad
commissioners to know whether or not it is
discrimination for railroads to charge de-
murrage on cars at one station and not at
another. If the decision is affirmative, thon
look out fol an avalanche of suits for the
recovery of demurrage paid. The railroad
goose is being numerically plucked on all
sides.D
Omaha daily bee., 1890-02-19
Mnsonic Bnll nt Fremont.

Fremont, Neb., Feb. 1s.-lSpecial to Tn
BEE. The first anniversary Of the dedica-
ton of the Fremont Masonic temple was
celebrated by a grand ball and sociable to.
night. The attendance was very large and
the affair proved to be one of the grandest
social events of the season.
Omaha daily bee., 1890-02-19

WASHINGTON, Feb. 1s.-The senate this
afternoon confirmed the following nomina.
tions: L. H. Bailey, register of the land Of
flee at Pierre, S. D.; H. II. Natwick, ~resister
of the land office at Chamberlain, 5. d.. b.
w. Ekin, receiver Of public moneys at
Pierre, 5. D.; w. Z. LaFollette, receiver Of
public moneys at Chamberlain, 5. ID.
Omaha daily bee., 1890-02-19
Working for the Fair.

ALBANY N. Y, Feb. 1S.-The worlds fair
conference committee met tonight and finally
agreed on the report to be presented to the
legislature tomorrow. which is in accord
with the Depew proposition,
Omaha daily bee., 1890-02-19

LRAvENwoRTn, Kan, Feb. 1s.-lSpeciai to
The BEE Contrary to opinions expressed
officially at Fort Leavenworth, 1t is believed
that the proposed amnesty to be extended to
all deserters still at largo will be- extended
TO the prisoners In the United STAYS military
prison for desertion. Captain kSpe, com.
mandant Of the prison, is busily engaged IN
making out a report, WHICH, will show all
prisoners who would be Rtdoned, II the
proclamation embraces them. Over three
hundred men would DO turned loose.