davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1890-05-14
The Oiden Time Drama.

The custom of "damning" play on
its first performance is at least as ancient
as Shakespeare. Not less than three
plays of Ben Jonson suffered that fate.
Before the performance commenced,
and between the acts, the audience
amused themselves in various ways,
reading, playing at cards, drinking ale,
and smoking tobacco. Refreshments
were supplied by attendants, who cried
their commodities with as much noise
as our modern street tradesfolk.
In 1888 women smoked tobacco in
the theater as well as men. Rich spec
tators were allowed to sit on the stage.
Here the fastidious critic WAS usually to
be met with; the wit, ambitious of dis
tinction; and the gallant, studious to dis
play his person and fine clothes. Seat
ed, OR reclining, on the rushes of the
floor, they RECALLED themselves with
pipes and tobacco provided by their
pages.
The ease of their situation, or their
impertinence, excited the disgust of the
poorer class in the pit, who frequently
booted, Kissed and threw dirt on the
stage coxcombs; but the gallants dis
played their thigh breeding" by an ut
ter disregard of this behavior. The
audience, too, often vented their lima
ture on the players.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1890-05-14

time l was restored, as you now see
me-"
''How long were yot under water %
one CT the listeners asked.
ST don't think it was over two min
utes," was the reply, "from the time
the shark pulled me down until Amodon
had me at the surface. The whole thing
was done so quickly that it wonld have
seemed very much like a dream had it
not been for the tereible realety of the
loss Of my foot and the sensation of be-
ing in the grasp of shark. That is
something nobody could ever forget;
certainly can never forget it if | live to
be hundred years old"
Then the Frenchman excused him
self and hobbled away to his room.
Another OF the party told how he had
seen shark blown up with gunpowder,
very much the same wav that his fellow
was killed with ared-hot brick. A small
can of powder, with lighted slow
match attached to it, was imbedded in
piece of pork and thrown over from a
ship which was followed by large
shark. He swallowed the pork with it's
explosive cargo, and-the rest Of the
story tells itself
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1890-05-14
How He Rose to Riches.
From the American Machinist.

from the American M0Cn1n1St.
George II. Corliss died wealthy
man. Consider, now, how he made his
money. In the early days Of his illus
trious career, soon after he had per-
fected his engine, it was his custom to
60 to the owner of a mill where an old
fashioned throttling engine was run
ming, and offer to put in one of his en-
gines to do the same work, and take as
his pay for the engine the saving in
coal for a lew years, or for fixed sum,
as preferred by the purchaser. No mat
ter what his rate Of profit might have
been on the engines 80 furnished, nor
how high the price may have seemed to
be, it must he conceded that engines
sold in such way were cheap. A
single transaction will illustrate this. In
the town of Newburyport, Mass, he Of
fered to replace what had, up to his
time. been considered frst-class en-
gines, by pair of his engines for $1O,-
500 or for the saving in coal during five
years. The purchasers elected to pay
him the savings for five years, and the
engines cost them $l9, 734, or practically
double the price asked for them in the
first place. But after the five years were
up the engines went on saving coal as
before, and for aught we know are still
saving it. thus making it q most profita-
BILE investment to the owners, no matter
if the price was high.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1890-05-14
Some Wonderful Puppets.
From a Paris Letter.

From Paris Letter.
Mr.. George Bertrand, talented paint
er, pupil of M. Bonnat, who some
years ago exhibited a large picture
called 'Patrie," which had a great sue
cess, has given up painting in order to
devote his attention exclusively to the
construction of life-size puppets, which
are so jointed as to execute movements
of the most surprising kind. The Figa-
70 newspaper, which has taken the in
ventlOn under it's patronage. brought to-
gether yesterday an inf1ue initial audience
to see and hear the first representation.
The figures produce striking effect ON
the spectator, who might imagine them
to be the character in tale of Hoff-
mann taking form and life. A violon-
cellist plays an air full of sentiment and
spirit; four dancers, carefully dressed
after the fashion of the opera, execute
a ballet. A clown plays with artistic
skill on the violin, and Spanish couple
the male dancer with tambourine,
and his partner with castanets-go
through the most varied Spanish dane
es to the tune of the Espana of Chab-
rier.
The movements, the gestures, even
the ex p, ession of the faces, are marvel
lousy iite-hke. The exhibition was
most successful. 1t was unanimously
applauded by those present. Curiously
enough, have never heard the pictures
Of M. Bertrand so much spoken Of as |
have done since he took to making pup
pets. | may add that M. Jules Simon,
who was present at the entertainment,
received quite an ovation in recognition
of his personal success at Berlin.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1890-05-14

the hens teeth begin to get loose they
are washed down her throat by her
persistent habit of gargling whenever
she drinks. If hens could only be
taught to lap their drink, as sheep do,
their constitutions would be saved the
wear and tear of digesting so many hard
teeth
"Wel., what is there against that" /
asked, anxiously. "Don't you believe
it yourself ?"
believe it?" screamed the granger,
rs he sprang to his 1eet and pranced
around the Office with face the color
of boiled lobster. "Believe it I"
Do you take me for an ass? Don't you
suppose | know where my hair leaves
off and my brain begins? Believe it ="
Why heavens and 'arth, I hope | amt
lunatic yet, nor any of my folks.
Blast your gall You may stop my pa
per to-day. won't have such nom
sense in the house."
So saying, my indignant visitor
swooped up his hat, distributing as he
did SO pint of aniline ink over the
table end the floor, and disappeared
from the s,nctum, leaving me in humil-
lated establishment, twirling nv mus
tache and trying to recollect whether
hens had gums on one jaw and teeth ON
the other, or only just plain gums on
bosh Burlington Free Press.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1890-05-14
The Bowie Knife.

John Sewall, the grand father of the
writer, says the Galveston News, came
to Texas with DeWitt's colony, and, be
ing gunsmith and blacksmith, set up a
shop at Gonzales, and was operating
there in 1880. At this time James
Bowie was in Texas respecting for
gold and silver in the mountains west
anG northwest of San Antonio, and
often had desperate encounters with
the hostile Indians who infested those
regions. In one of these conflicts
Bowie stabbed an Indian, and, the
knife-blade glancing against rib,
Bowie's hand slipped forward. inhict-
ing wound upon himself in the hand.
This accident, I have been told, sug-
gested the idea of a guard, to keep the
hand from slipping forward upon the
blade in making hard thrust. There
were great many cypress trees along
the margin of the Guadalupe River, and
the pioneers in the colonies often estab-
lisned shingle camps along the river to
work this timber up.
On one occasion, as Bowie and his men
were returning from trip, they stopped
at one OF these shingle camps to rest
and recruit their horses, and while so
doing Bowie whitfield from shingle a
pattern of the knife now in question.
1t is amusing at this day and time to
see some of the things now called Bowie
knives. On arriving a Gonzales he
went to my prandfather's shop, the only
place then in West Texas where iron ani
steel was worked, and asked him if he
could make one like it out of steel. The
blacksmith at once went to work and
soon produced an exact counterpart of
the pattern, which was in every way
satisfa ctory to Col. Bowie. On present
ing the knife my grandfather asked
Bowie if he might give it name. as it
was peculiar knife. Being answered
in the affirmative, he said: "Well,
will call it the Bowie knife"
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1890-05-14
FARM AND HOME.
Cause It's Gittin' Spring.


The medder lark is pipin' forth sweeter note
to me,
And hear the peewees over yander in the cedar
tree;
The popple leaves is quiz rim cause the wind
is in the west,
And the robins round a-hookin' straws to
build hisself a nest
The blackbird he's a-fashin' up the crimson on
his wing.
What's the reason?
oh, the reasons cause it's gitten' spring.
The old mans got the rheumatic, an stiff as he
can be;
Why it don't git settled weather's more than he
can see:
But when it clears off splendid then he's feared
the crop is lost,
An he reckons jest little wind I'D keep away
the frost.
The kitchen door is open; 1 can hear Elmiry
sing;
What's the reason. {?
Oh, the reasons cause it's gittin' spring.
The air is kind o. soft'nin' and you think it's
gOin to storm;
Sometimes it's kind o. chilly then again it
comes off warm;
An just when it's the stiIlest you can hear the
bullfrog's note.
An it pears as if he wondered how the frost got
in his throat
The ducks an geese are riotous an straining
hard to sing;
What's the reason?
90, the rea. Ons cause it's gittin' spring.
Chicago MGil.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1890-05-14
SIGNS OF SPRING.
BY FRANK B. WEIGH.


Nu sire spring the genial barber
SsTaiies a broad, expressive smile.
.ETar he knows the warming weather
Will increase his little pile;
Ind he reads the funny papers
For the latest yarns and jokes,
(which he reels off with relish
While he martyrizes folks.
rvs the spring the youth and maiden
Wander to the verdant park,
Where they make themselves obnoxious
As they lOll and spoon and spark;
And the dickey birds above them
Seem TO revel in the fun
'ESll the grouty park policeman
Comes and gives them all the run.
0sa the spring the pleading poet
With his choicest lay appears,
curing forth his senseless blather
Into peoples tired ears;
FIT ne dons his chest protector,
Pads the bosom of his pants,
Ere the editorial slugger
At his framework gets chance.
Tvs the spring we tell the ice man
Him at whom we've often sworn
A{e may leave a fair-siZed pellet
With Us every summer morn;
-4Ep7 upon the entry door post.
To inspire the tramps with fear,
sFeadjust flaming sign-board,
Eeading: Scarlet Fever Here"
sH the spring the open street car,
with brand new coat of oil,
FScaCs the down-to clerk and merchant
To their place of daily toll:
And the gentle, genial Zephyrs,
Stealing through the open car,
xs5& the passengers chOck full of
Influenza and catarrh.
Fer the spring the joyful urchin
HES him to the vacant lot,
Where he SHES the deadly base ball,
Making people shun the spot;
-SDd by way of variation
Now and then startling crash
@ssreets the ear as through window
Goes the base ball with smash.
8H the spring the busting housewife
Takes a renOvating fit,
Md she tears the house to pieces,
Sweeping, securing, scrubbipg it;
akuJ, while thus engaged in cleaning,
All the family are in gloom,
3EoE IN all the house there's not
Single habitable room.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1890-05-14

Corn loves a warm soil. Hence if
plowed deeply it must be done early
enough Tor The lower strata to be thor
oughly heated by contact with the sun
and warm spring air. But it is much
better for corn to never plough deeply,
only enough to well cover the sod and
have little fine mold on the surface.
For June grass sod the best blowing
is done with what is called the jOinter
pillow, a small share running ahead of the
large pillow. which cuts the sod and
doubles it over on itself, while the larg-
er plOw going two or two and half
inches deeper, turns a mass of fine soil,
filled with broken grsss roots, to the
surface, while beneath the tough sod
lies rolled up in such shape that if the
top is kept thoroughly cultivated it can
not start into growth. 1t soon begins to
rot; much, however, will depend on the
season. If it be warm and wet the
June grass will break through between
the times when it can be cultivated.
Som etitnes to avoid this the sod is
plowed much more deeply. That max es
it harder for the June grass to get
through, but makes it worse for the corn
as well. IL there is clover with the
June grass the clover will help rot the
other, but an all clover ley is much bet
ter. 1t will rot 80 readily as to furnish
warmth to the roots of the corn, and
will also break UP the particles of soil
above it that may have formed into
clods through blowing or cultivating
when wet.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1890-05-14

GREAT Jurist's Wife-"What makes
you so tired tonight" Judge-"I had
to charge jury in an important case
this afternoon" 80. / suppose it is a
great strain to recall all the details of a
case" SIT isn't that. 1t isn't that.
It's being obliged to talk to Jury thirty
long minutes without saying anything.
-Ne0 York Heekly.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1890-05-14
Orchard Work.

A New England orchardist gives the
following advice through local paper
and it is equally good for the North.
west.
There is plenty Of work in the or
chard. Where the gyspsy moth has
made it's appearance the State is sup.
posed to be on the lookout for their ex-
termination, but the farmers must look
out for the tent caterpillar themselves,
and for the canker worm. This is the
time when the eggs of the caterpillar
can be seen most plainly, if one will
look through the trees early in the
morning when the dew is on then, and
the sun is shining brightly upon them
They can be seen near the end of the
twigs, encircling them with a ring of al
most ice-iike appearance. This should
be cut off and burned at once. Bands
of printers ink should be put on the
first bright. warm day, to prevent the
ascent of the trunk of the tree by the
canker worm moth, as they start early
Luckily for us they are nearly externi-
mated around Boston, either by the tol-
lowing OF this precaution or by climatic
influences.
While in the orchard, search the tree
near the ground for the signs of borers.
Their fresh castings are easily seen, and
the use of the pen-knlte or bit OF fine,
flexible wire thrust into the hole will
serve to save the tree from destruction
Probably the orchard was pruned last
year, as the non-bearing year is most
frequently selected for this work, but an
examination may show limb here and
there that should come off. 1t may
grow 30 that the fruit on it does Lot get
the sun, and does not amount to any
thing. or it D.sv cross another in such a
way as to chaie it, or it may be SO low as
to interfere with the cultivation of the
land under it. 1t is better to take Oft a
few limbs each year than great many
every other year, and the bearing year
is the best year for trimming fruit trees
it the pruning is not too severe, as it
forces the strength of the tres to the
perlecting of the fruit buds already
formed, and makes larger and more
perfect fruit. Again, it does not Induce
the formation of 30 much new wood to
be cut off another season.
1t is also a good time this month to
set young trees. both fruit and shade
trees, and perhaps the very best month
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1890-05-14

in which to set evergreens. A we'll set
tree IS like money at interest. 1t
grow while the owner is sleeping, and
after a time it's value far exceeds the
original investment. If it is necessary
to go to the nursery for any trees, do
not fail to get few roses and ornament
al shrubs to place in the grounds
around the place, If not already sup
piled with them. Farmers wives, and
farmers daughters have right to some
of the luxuries of life as we'll as other
people, and there are no luxuries much
cheaper than pleasant surroundings to
the home. Farmers and farmers sons
soon learn 10 appreciate them as well as
the gentler sex. Nor are they without
money value. Let two farms come
into market for sale, one neat and well
Kept, with trees and flowers around it,
and tie other misunderstanding and
slovenly in front. and with land equal
ly good and well cultivated, and see
which will sell the quickest and bring
the beat price. And see from which the
young man or woman will soonest
choose helpmate for life.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1890-05-14
Outwitting the Landlord

A st. Louis jeweler outwitted his
landlord in rather unique fashion. He
desired to move, but was compelled to
pay full months rent of 5000 because
he had not given the required thirty
days notice. He consulted lawyer,
but was assured the claim was valid. 81
can use the store, can / not?" Ser
tainly," said the lawyer. His stock had
nearly been moved to the new store, but
the remaining occupant of the store who
was the landlord, was much surprised
when the jeweler returned with a select
assortment of four dozen cheap alarm
clocks. These the owner set to suit
himself and then went out for walk
Then the alarm clocks began TO go off
one after the other. The landlord was
almost frantic with the noise, and hunt
ed up the jeweler and rendered him his
money IL return, but the jeweler did
not want to be out the price Of the
clocks, 80 he drove sharp bargain, ac-
cepted $500, and moved out.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1890-05-14

It is possibly true that manure, just as
it has dropped from animals, has no
available fertility for any kind of plants.
1t certainly kills vegetation to which it
is applied, and for the time being does
harm rather than good. But this is
very different from drawing manure out
every few days, as fast as it accumulates
in the stables. AS it falls from the ami
NAL it is always moist, and this moisture
burns the vegetation that it touches. In
a few hours exposed 20 sun or winds
and already some chemical changes
have begun. Where even a email
amount of manure is piled together in
heaps these changes 20 on very rapidly,
so that when drawn upon grass land the
first rain or melting snow gives dark
er tinge of green to the grass as it comes
into the light. Go into pasture where
cattle and horses have been the previ-
GUS season. Through the horsedro ppings
mass of grass will be growing, and the
same around the outer edges of the cow
droppings, though these, packing close
to the soil, have killed the grass be-
meath them by smothering, just as a
board might have done. Break up these
Spring, and they will show mass of
fertilizing material that is largely solu-
BILE in water. This has been made
available by the action of frost, and
probably with little loss anything
valuable by evaporation. The waste Of
manures by top-dressing, especially in
Fall and Winter, is, we believe, mainly
myth. There is and can be no heat
ing of manure at this season if spread
thinly over the surface, and without fer
mentation there can be no loss of am
monia. AS Tor the mineral elements,
they are only to be wasted by washing
away, and on grass land there is no
waste in weather warm enough to rain
or thaw. as is shown by the greener
look of the grass wherever manure has
been applied.-American Cultirator.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1890-05-14

u uuUUE0O pOuuU5 10 tuo uau WHO
saves him. my partner shouted to the
which he was proficient.
GA hundred pounds to one Of those
boatmen would be like 10000 to any
body IN England or America. 1t was
enough to take great risks to get it.
"Amodou, the chief of the boatmen.
was skillful pearl fisher, and boosted
that he had killed many shark while
pursuing his occupation. The offer of a
hundred pounds was stimulus that set
him in motion instantly, and hardly
were the words out of my partners
mouth before the honest Amodou was
ovsr the side of the boat with his knife
gripped between his teeth.
SIN the clear water of the gulf he
could see long distance, and dozen
vigorous strokes brought him to the
side of the shark that was dragging me
away. They not only brought him at
the side Of, but under the shark, and
the next instant the knife was plunged
to the hilt in the creatures vitals, max
ing him release his hold on my foot.
1.-TWO or three times, and very quick
ly too, the knife was plunged. and
then Amodou turned his attention to
me. was more dead than alive, and
when he brought me to ths surface I
tainted, so tnaC ne was ODllgeQ TO sup
port all my weight. Had another shark
happened to come along at that m moment,
one of us would certainly have become
his prey.
ST was lifted into the boat, the water
| had taken into my lungs was expelled
by the customary expedients used upon
persons in a drowning condition, and
after while | recovered. My foot was
crushed into shapeless mass, and
could not be saved; it was amputated by
young doctor on an English ship,
then in the gulf, and in course OF
The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1890-03-26

ally used for cleaning the teeth, it will
sweeten the breath when everything else
fails to do SO.
A piece of sponge fastened to a stick or
wire is good thing with which to clean
lamp chimneys. 1t is good plan to be
rathcrparticular about thecare oflamps.
Clean them often, rub the burners when
dim or gummy; sometimes boiling short
time in soap suds is good for them when
the wicks will not move freely. Always
fill every day and in the daytime. Never
light nearly empty lamp, as the space
is filled with explosive gas. Neither is it
bestto blow down achimney when nearly
empty OF oil and turned up high.
Do not scrape the inside of frying pans,
as after this operation any preparation
fried is liable to catch or burn to the pan.
If the pan has black inside, rub it with a
hard crust of bread and wash in hot wa
ter mixed with little soda.
To give bedclothing and underclothin
athorough summing and airingis the next
best thing to washing them. 1t also
sweetens them. A second suit of under
clothing should be on hand for afternoon
wear, and what is taken off should be
thoroughly aired and dried before hang
ing in the closet.
When you boil cabbage tie a bit of
dry bread in bag and put it in the ket-
tie. French cooks say that all the I'M
pleasant odor which makes house smell
like an old drain will be absorbed by the
bread.
The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1890-03-26
Hotels Of DeLand and Lake Helen, Fla.

DeLand has four and Lake Helen has two
good hOmelike hotels, with tables good enough
TO" the most fastidiOus taste, at prices thatwill
strike every one as very reasonable, besides
scOl OF more of well kept boarding houses.
The hotel at Lake Helen, which Mr.. DeLand
has named the Harlan House. OF (Piney Woods
Hotel OF Florida is, q whole, elegant and COM
plete, with absolutely everything in a style that
must suit the most fastidiOus Piney Woods
Hotel. or Harlan Hotel enlarged and improved.
Capacity doubled in 1886, and again in 1887.
Elegant new furniture. electric bells etc.. tennis,
Table supplied with the best of everythi
Fresh vegetables and berries from hotel garden
every day. Milk in abundance. Lake Helen,
Fla, is on the Atlantic and Western railroad,
eight miles from Blue Springs Landing on the
st. Johns river.
The Harlan Hotel. Lake Helen, Fla, is located
in pine grove overlooking a beautiful lake. 1t
has accommodations for hundred
guests 1t is new and modern Conveniently
arranged, and it's surroundings arein the highest
degree cheerful and pleasant. The climate here
is celebrated for it's evenness and
The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1890-03-26
Hints to Housekeepers.

lfribbons need renewing, wash them in
cool soap suds, cover with clean cloth
and iron when damp.
The physician is frequently asked by
lady patients for something that will re-
move moth and freckles. A writer in
the Pharm. Zeit., says that wash con-
sisting of equal parts of Tactic acid and
glycerine will do the work, ana is harm
less when applied to the skin.
A dish of charcoal placed in your meat
larder will keep the articles sweet and
wholesome almost as we'll as ice. Char
coal is great disinfectant. If OCCASION