davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1890-04-18
The ARMY "Canteen" system.

The European "canteen" system now
being introduced into the army of this
country is now in successful operation at
Jefferson Barracks and productive of
fiattering results. The system was intro
duced by Major Barnard on his taking
command of the barracks last October,
and as conducted it is a genuine boon to
the soldiers stationed there. In effect 1t IS
a cooperative store, club-roOm and
restaurant combined, where soldiers can
obtain goods and refreshments at little
in advance of first cost. The profit goes
to defray expenses, and for the benefit of
the soldiers in supplying extra accommo-
dations and conveniences. The bill Of
fare of the refreshment department Is If
large variety and the charges exceedingly
low. All articles of merchandise are sold
at about one-half the prices under the
post trader system. The old Barracks
Chapel, which for years has been aban-
doned as a church, has been arranged
and neatly fitted up for the ''canteen, "
and it Is the intention of Major Barnard
to add additions to it from time to time,
as they are able, in shape of billiard
and pool-room and library and reading
room. The management Is in the keep
ing Of a sergeant, under the supervision
of the commander, and he has assistants
detailed for the work who are allowed
extra pay for their services. In speaking
of the beneficial effects of the canteen,
Major Barnard stated to a reporter that
it had proven almost panacea for all
the ills of the soldiers stationed at the
barracks, and that desertions, which had
formerly averaged about twelve month,
now did not exceed three a month.
Since the Inauguration Of the canteen
they have taken in $4,000, the profits of
which they had used in fixing up the
building and improving the mess. Sol
diers are allowed a limited credit at cash
prices, and the low prices at which they
obtain goods enables them to save some
of their pay. Major Barnard is an enter
prising, progressive officer, and is intro
ducing numerous salutary reforms at the
barracks.-!T. Louis ReDltblic.
The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1890-04-18
Toad Against Snider.

A story is told by Baltimore Sun cor
respondent of striking instance Of the
toad's indomitable pluck, which was OBJ
served in his boyhood at the door of
farmhouse in Fairfax County, Va. The
doorsteps, says the correspondent, were
cut from the trunk of a large tree, and
large spider had spun strong web in a
cosey corner near the ground, between
the rounding curve of the block and the
side of the log house. The grass had
been worn from space four or five feet
wide about the entrance to the dwelling,
leaving exposed patch of hard reddish
soli. There were locust trees around the
house, and punches of plantain leaves grew
rankly in the thin grass of the lawn.
1t was late on a drowsy summer after
noon. The spider was basking in the sun
waiting for flies, when valorous young
toad appeared on the scene, hopping di-
rectly toward the spiders citadel. As
the enemy appeared in sight the spider
seemed to swell in size and put on his war
paint, for, whereas he was dull in color
before, he now became all aglow with
brilliant hues. The toad advanced boldly
to the investment of the castle, hating
for a second or two below, and leisurely
surveying the field, When these obser-
vations had been taken he leaped up half
a dozen times in quick succession at the
enemy, and then rapidly retreated to the
nearest tut of plantain leaves, from
which nipped two or three pieces and
swallowed them. Returning to the attack,
the same series of operations were re-
peated many times, until the spider had
spent all his venom, it is supposed, and
the web was broken. down and the brave
defender was dead.
1t was nearly dark before the combat
closed. Nothing could exceed the cour-
ace of the defence unless it was the per-
sistency of the attack. would not ven
ture to guess how many times the toad
rot dose Of virus from the spider, and
can account for his resort to the plantain
leaves only on tie supposition that the
courageous little warrior there found
sufficient antidote for the spiders poison.
But throughout the whole of the lengthy
contest it was the gamest assault on an
entrenched enemy ever witnessed Be
sides this it afforded an example of per
tinacity on the part of the despised toad
which fully parallels the heroic quality
of the spider, made familiar to US in youth
by the story of the Bruce encouraged to
renewed effort by the example of one of
these little insects
The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1890-04-18
Malaria and House Plants.

A few years ago a lady residing in
healthy part of st. Petersburg fell i'll of
malarial fever. There was no doubt as
to the nature of the malady. Neverthe
less, a mystery hung over the case, for
the lady had not lately visited any
malarial district, but had been living at
home in locality purely non-malarious.
The mystery was further increased by
the fact that so long as the patient re-
manned in her bedroom the disease yielded
to the usual remedies; but on removing
to the sitting room a relapse invariably
followed, and fever with all the charac-
teristic symptoms set in once more. For
some months these alterations continued,
until the doctors suspicious were aroused
bv observing that while plants were grow
ing in the sitting room they were absent
from the bedroom. Inquiring into their
history, he found they had been sent
direct from district known to be ma
larious. On getting rid of the plants
complete recovery followed, and the
mystery was explained, -Ninetesntl Cen
tHry.
The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1890-04-18
The CroOkedest Road In All Creation.

The most wonderful piece of railroad
engineering haze seen, writes a CORE
spondent, is on the line of the Piedmont
Air Line in Western North Carolina The
railway leaves Asheville, that noted sani-
tarium, and proceeds as best it can to get
over the Blue Ridge Mountains. First
there is the Swannanoa tunnel which is
about a third of a mile long. After that
there are six other tunnels somewhat
shorter Then from the top of the mount
ain the railway undertakes to wind its
way down into the valley of the Catawba
River, or Mill Creek. The road here is
probably the crookedest in all creation.
1t winds and rewinds, and twists and
goes over and under itself in such Il way
that it Is perfectly bewildering to the
traveller who wishes to know in what par
ticular part of the mountain he is. From
Little St Bernard, peak that is above
the Round Knob Valley, the railway can
be seen in seventeen different places,
working up and down the mountain, and
no two sections of the track are on the
same elevation. The train runs down
this crooked iron pathway with all steam
shut off and the brakes turned on. 1t is
a scary experience for traveller, but the
road bed is perfect and has all been rock
ballasted and laid with heaviest steel
rails, and no accident has ever yet taken
place on that portion of the line, so the
chances are that, startling as the ride is
to a traveller accustomed to level railways,
that portion of the track is safer than
many other lines that have less grades
and crooks upon them. But anyhow it is
worth risking something, if it is any risk,
to enjoy the wonderful ride winding
round the mountains and descending into
the valley of the Catawba.
The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1890-04-18
Something Wrong When the Baby Cries


Sister Irene, who has charge of the
New York Infant Asylum, and who
raises an average of a thousand found
lings every year, will not tolerate bad
baby Something is wrong when the
baby cries. The nurse is directed to ex-
anime the clothing and if the cause is
not found doctor is summoned. If on
examination the little one is pronounced
in good health and the bowling still con-
tinues baby Is sent to the reformatory,
where he IS put on his back in a crib
like room and left alone until his tempe
improves. 1t is only the new babies,
who cry, but the peace of the hc,,-u-sia
rever sacrificed Meal, bath aud bel
time are observed. to the minutg, an,
every child IS trained to sleep all night
long and part of the day. Promiscuous
feeding is not permitted at any time in
the child's life aud before child culture
comes the physical condition of the
nurse in charge. You can't make Sister
Irene or any of her assistants believe that
strong coffee or tea is good material to
nurse a young child on. The result must
be some form of nervous trouble. No
child is allowed to eat solid animal food
until it has twenty teeth and then in
almost infnitesimal portions and but once
a day. The child's food is never
allowed to be cooled by blowing the
breath upon II, as disease is too fire.
quently communicated it Is thought in
this way. As all the children have to be
disposed Of in some way before the age
of seven a close study is made of beauty
in order to tempt foster parents. The
hair of the girl babies Is never cut,
lashes and lids are carefully trimmed,
chang mouths" are coaxed to grow to-
gether by means Of support for the
chin. and noses that are inclined TO turn
up are gently persuaded not to. Heads
are not smothered in sleeping; nurses
are directed to turn their faces away so
as not to breathe into the nostrils of their
charges, and such Irregularities as snor-
ing and thumb sucking are corrected.
There is not a rocker either or crib or
char in the whole asylum, and pillows
are not thought healthful for tender
shoulders to round upon.-NeiO York
Sun.
The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1890-04-18
EDUCATION.

A Detroit father has undertaken lit
tie educational venture with his own chill
dren and he is trying to make them give
up slang, the use of ambiguous terms of
speech, and other peculiarities affected
by the youth of the day. Yesterday he
asked his fourteen-year-old daughter
where a certain book was.
az haven't an idea, papal" answered
the young lady.
~ didn't ask you for IDEAS" said TIE
father sternly, 'just answer my ques-
tons Where is that book"
son the top shelf in the book case, "
recited the girl, like parrot.
''Can you reach it,"
eyes, sir"
There was a long silence, the father
waiting impatiently for the book. At
last he asked:
"Nen, why don't you bring itl"
''Bring what, sirl"
''The book wanted"
"You did not say you wanted me to
get it, " said the daughter in a demure
voice, ''you asked me if could reach
it.
''Nellie, " said the father, as a smile
made his mustaehe tremble, ''get that
book like good girl and bring it here
to me-"
"Now, you're talking sense, pop; I'll
have the book in jiffy, " and she whisked
off after it, while the father sighed over
the degeneracy of the times.-DetrOit
Free Press.
The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1890-04-18
Formation of the Ear.

Have you ever tried to discover a per-
sons character by studying the formation
of his ear? Psychologists will tell you
about the traits of character marked by
the bumps on your head; manicure ex-
perts will tell you whether you are mild
or bad tempered by glancing at your finger
nails; opticians will profess to give you
an accurate description of your disposition
by looking into your eyes; fortune tellers
and clairvoyants will predict the future
for you by reading the lines on your out
stretched palm, but little notice is COM
monty taken of the outward form of our
organ of hearing, and even artists do not
give it much consideration as a rule. They
seldom 90 into minute detail over it.
They seem content with a general outline
and rough touch here and there, show
ing the principal points. And yet well
formed ear Will many times harmonic
otherwise irregular features, and to many
who are thus blessed it is at once @
thing of beauty and joy for ever"
Sculptors are more careful in their study
of an ear than painters, and it is rarely
that one finds a good piece of statuary that
has not this organ correctly modelled.
No two ears are alike, but as a general
rule they have points and lines that are
similar. They vary greatly in form and
size, and the pecularities of shape they
assume sometimes gives an index to the
character of the individual. Women, it
may be said in passing, have much better
ears then men; they are usually smaller
and closer to the head. Beginning with
the outer fold or ridge, called the helix,
which forms the outline, the ear Is COM
posed of thin cartilage and integument.
The next prominent ridge is the antihelix,
which some people have very largely de-
veloped, but in well formed ear pro-
jects very little beyond the helix. The
little knob thai projects from the foot of
the antihelix is called the antitragus, and
the corresponding knob on the other
side the tragus. The deep well in the
centre of the ear is the concha, and, last
of all, the fieshy part below is called the
lobe or lobule. The concha, so termed
from its shell-like form, plays the most
important part in rejecting the vibrations
into the inner ear; in fact, all these pro
iections and depressions are of impor-
lance to our hearing, and play their
own parts in conveying the undulations
of sound to the drum of the ear.-Ne1o
York Herald
The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1890-04-18

A magazine rifle is to be served out to
-ae English volunteer force. This, OBJ
serves the Philadelphia Press, leaves our
army and National Guard the only troops
belonging to any civilized power which
are unprovided with a magazine gun and
still use the antiquated breech-loader-
to-day as far behind the times as the
muzzie-loader was once behind it.
France uses a gun with nine charges,
Austria one with five, Italy with twelve
and Germany one matching the rest.
Russia is still experimenting and SO is
Turkey. Every one Of these powers has
adopted a smokeless powder and bullet
about one-third the weight of the one
still used by our army, with its antiquated
ideas. Our staff and the Washington au-
thorities win probably wait until war
is upon US before taking these plain
steps.
The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1890-04-18

Philip Walker, of Salt Creek, W. Va,
during the first summer months had an
old turkey hen come up with one young
turkey and one quite young and small
quail. Both the young turkey and young
quail continued to follow and feed with
the old turkey hen, who manifested equal
maternal care and tenderness over each,
and now both are full grown, and at twi-
light the old turkey hen flies up to her
roost on the apple tree in the yard, and
the young turkey takes a roost on one
side of her, and the full grown, beauti-
full and fat quail on the other. This trio
seems quite happy and content, as if
nom the ssEs consanguineous origin.
The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1890-04-18
WHAT CAUSED THE Exc1rE,rEyr.

'Look here, Maria, said Mr.. Towr
ley, as he looked in to the pitcher whic
he brought in from the milk wagon al
evening.
'sWhat's the matterl"
"There's something wrong with this
milk"
~ doesn't look exactly right, does it7"
said Mrs. Townley after a close scrutiny.
"And it tastes funny" she added, as she
slipped a little from tea spoon.
an find out what the matter is. Hi
there-hii hirn and Mr.. Townley rushed
after the wagon. Half dozen boys took
took up the chase, and after the process
sion had traversed couple of blocks
Mr.. Townley sE1illfully eluding the eff
forts of policeman to detain him, he
gained the side of the wagon.
whats the matter with that" he
asked laconically, as showed the pitche,
up to the driver.
That functunary tasted the contents
and then exclaimed: "Wen, I'll be dog
gonedl If we didn't forget to skim the
milk this morning "-Merchant Iraueler.
The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1890-04-18
Customs of the Eskimo.

Like the Indians the Eskimos often
kill the old. Often the old are tired of
life and beg to be dispatched. If food
is scarce they are turned out to starve,
whether they like it or not. The su-
perhuous women are also disposed OF IN
this way. Barbarism shows itself in their
treatment of the dead The body OF a
favorite wife or child is sometimes pro
tected through the winter and decently
buried in the spring, but as a general
rule corpses are dragged short distance
from the village and abandoned to the
dogs. The savages have no idea of the
marriage relation. Women are treated
as chattels. The number of wives man
may have is regulated not by his posses
sions, as among the Mormons, but by his
ability to manage women One iniers
from this that polygamy is not carried on
to any great extent.
The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1890-04-18

caught, being, probably, too much dis
couraged to travel by himself In the
second place, we succeeded that night in
reaching a small stream, with some tim
Der growing beside it. 1t undoubtedly
saved both our lives. The next morn
ing, riding along the stream, we STUN
bled upon Dicks trail, ard followed it
northwest by west for thirty miles to
Mineral City, on the Colorado. Here we
communicated with the Sheriff, Tom
Fork, who arrested Dick Just as he was
leaving town, with five thousand dollars
in greenbacks on his person. He denied
everything; but when confronted by
Giles, whom ne supposed TO be dead, he
blanched little, and when 1 produced
my photograph (which I had meanwhile
developed) he was overcome by sheer
amazement, and confessed his guilt
The Ledger
The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1890-04-18

A railroad train of fifteen cars would
be required to convey the food and
nourishment which a man blessed with a
moderate appetite consumes from the
time of his birth to the day when he
attains the age of three-score years and
ten. Such at least in the calculation
which has just been made public by DR..
Kuhneman, one of the principal Pro-
fessors of the University of Berlin.
The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1890-04-18
HIS susr1c1oN InsrrrrAR1E.

"Jenny," said the young man, as they
met on the corner, lis it possible you
have been deceiving me2"
'fWhat do you meanl" was her answer.
81 mean this. want to know if my
boss has been calling on you, and you
never saying word to me about it"
"Your suspicious, sir, are as unfounded
as they are unjust"
"Well, if that's the case, l want you
to explain something. Yesterday your
father was in the store, and after he left
the boss said that old Bjinkson was the
hardest kicker he ever saw" And an
expression indicative of painful memory
fitted over the young mans face.-Terre
Haute Erpress,
The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1890-04-18

A bridge across the English Channel
is not among the improbabilities of the
future. The project is pronounced feas-
ible by competent engineers, and late
number Of the Scientific american con-
tains the plans and estimates for such
structure, which were discussed at
meeting of the Iron and Steel Institute at
Paris during the past year.
The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1890-04-18
PITII AND POINT.

Dime museum freaks, unlike poets, arc
lot born but made.
''Where are you going, my pretty maids
I'm going to sneeze-atehoo," she said.
Washington Star.
When the milzmaid is awkward and
:retful the COW generally turn pail
Chicago Sun.
Barber-'Excuse me, sir, but did I
ut your Victim feeling the blood
rickle down his cheek)-''I didn't hear
my firearms go of. Time.
'sWhat is sweeter than to have a friend
gou can trustl" asked Sawkins. ITO
have a friend who will trust you" re-
olied DawEins. HARTFORD Times.
Mr.. Crook Ito chum)-"So you've been
retting married to Maria during my aba
ience2 Who was best manW Woefa /
ausband-'' Maria. Pick Ne Up.
Molly has her sealslzin sacqus
And Willie has his sled,
But dear papa's pocketbOok
Is almost sick abed.
-KeaIHey Enterprise.
The poet says that '"Tis love which
makes the world 90 round" 1t also
makes the young man go round" quite
frequently Sunday nights.-Toleio Com
nereial.
The weary brain will plot and plan
Some way of duty Sinking,
It's queer how hard lazy man
VIII work 70 keep from working.
Washington Capital.
Census -taker-.sWhat is your age,
MADAME" ..Ancient NIadam-'I am
wenty-one, sir" Census-taker-
Madam misunderstands me. want to
Know your age now."-La0rsHes Ameri-
an.
Friend-'eYou received a good many
presents, didn't you?" Bride-"Yes,
md Just think how nice-most of them
are from married friends, aud we won't
nave to give them any in return"
-Yankee Blade.
Mine eyes have seen the coming of the woe
ful Russian grip,
1t is going through the country on kind Of
It is sesizing ali the people just above the
upper lip,
And it still goes sneezing on.
Chicago Tribune
Kitty-''Why did you accept Mr..
HautboyY You surely do not love him,
10 your" Maud-''No; Just became
engaged to him so that he wouldn't have
i chance to propose to Minnie Smith,
whom hate, and who would be sure to
accept him. "-LqcreHce American
The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1890-04-18
TIE QUEEN OF THE HOUSEHOLD.

cha! come in, old man. I'm glad to
see YOU. Come down into the kitchen
and have a smoke. Wife's gone over to
her mothers and I'm all alone"
'sBut 1 hear the piano"
"Chi the servant girl has company to-
night and we had to give up the parlor.
That's the reason my wife went out.
Come right down to the kitchen. Pm
mighty glad you called. - Boston
Courier.
The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1890-04-18

"Prisoner," said the Judge to a very
disreputable citizen who was brought in
by tie bailiff, ''you have the privilege
of being tried by jury of your own
peers.
"Does that mean my equals, Judgel"
eyes, sir"
"Don't do it, Judge. Ye can't get
nowheres without sendin' back the van
to the Jail for another load of prisoners. ="
Merchant I'rareler.
The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1890-04-18
! 2.

as sometimes delight to say
is growing wicked every
X bps this is because they're
~ d soon will leave it.
-ases they forget that they did
sir younger days beget full many
551ies quite in fashion yet-thus they
>believe it.
The world, in truth, is bad enough, I grant
If I should on its wickedness descant
y Its virtues might appear to be too
!, scant to merit mention;
:. if they in turn were cited, we might
End that any mundane referee would
= s555oe quite apt to weigh them carefully
in contravention.
fS--s gymen would only learn to box, and
pugilists would be more orthodox, and
fewer people monkey with the stocks,
and each vocation
Be followed honestly, and every cheat the
purpose of its planner would defeat,
the world, perhaps might then more
fully meet our appreciation.
fdoctors did not care 80 much for fees, and
lawyers were employed on salaries,
and judges always would ct their de
crees to circumstances;
If politicians would tell fewer lies, and vot-
ers better judgment exercise, and mer-
chants represent their merchandise to
suit our fancies;
If creditors would wait and debtors pay, and
perishable things would not decay. and
pleasures that we look for not DELAY.
and friends stand by us,
If crops and married life could be forecast
and harvest moons and honeymoons
would last; if age would not approach
US quite so fast, nor death defy us:
If we could have our ways in everything. if
man could be a little king, and out of
sight and mind all troubles fling, we
still would grumble.
In fact, if we could natures laws reverse.
and all the fancied clouds of life dis
Perse-if we could simply boss the uni
yerse-we'd make a jumble
~. A. WaIdron, in Frank Leslie's.
The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1890-04-18
THE WORLD IS ALL RIGHT.

We may rail at the world just as much as we
please,
Claim that life is unfair in distributing
pelf;
But the fact becomes plain, when reviewed
at our ease,
That the world is all right, and-ths faults
in ones self;
FOR its certain. however its favors are
shown.
That this world is the best one we've ever
yet known;
And unless we act more and growl las here
below,
Itmay prove the best world that we ever
will know.