davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-05-18
1T Wasn't n Bluff.
New York SUM-

I was talking with the landlord Of a
small but tidy hotel in n town IN Illinois,
when trampish-loOking fellow about
thirty wears Of age entered the office and
walked directly up TO us and asked:
(Which Of you is the landlords"
Al am" answered the host
well, I am out of money. hungry, and
ragged, and have got TO make strike. Can
you lend me q fiyer!"
LEND you S5l"
That's what / said"
"Not much"
Then 1 will blow my brains out right
here and now" said the fellow as he pull
ed pistol from his hip-pocket. IF you
don't think the muss, the inquest, and
what the papers will say will hurt your
house more than s. worth, why. don't give
me the money. Give you thirty seconds
to decide"
Here's your FIVE" said the landlord,
after looking the man over,
He took It with Thank you" and
went off, and q week later, when at Des
Moine1. / entered my hotel TO find a man
dead on the foeI and a coroner's inquest
going on.
Who is he?" | asked OF the landlord
Don't know. lie came in about an
hour ago and struck me for five, saving ne
would blow MS brains out if refused.
ordered him out, and there he lies.
thought he was blufns, but he had full
hand and play ed it,"
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-05-18
Life In Ocean Abysscs.

DIR. Regnard has raised the question, says
the British Medical Journal, ~ TO whether q
corpse which sinks 10 q very great depth
l. preserved indefinitely or otherwise from
introduction. According to his researches;
published in the archives of the Biological
Society of Paris, putrefaction does not
take place in decomposable substances
submitted to pressure Of 600 to 7Oo
atnospheres. These figures correspond
TO a depth of 5000 or 1000 metres at
sea. From these experiments 1t must
mot be concluded. according to DR.. Reg
nard. that there is total absence OF putre'
faction in the greater depths OF the sea;
The curious abysmal fishes discovered
in the Challenger and other expeditions,
appear TO rise after death. so that they are
sometimes found on the surface. though as
a rule thew 90 to pieces, as the surrounding
pressure diminishes long before they, reach
the air. Still there IL no proof that lbathy.
bal or abysrnal mlcro-organisms do not
exist. and if so. they could cause deeompo
sition in the corpses of men as well as in
the dead bodies of abysmal fishes. The
onestion is of considerable medico-lega
and vet greater biological interest, and II
is Jar from settled.
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-05-18
"Dan " Lamont as a Businoss-Man'
fphfiadelphiA Times1

Perhaps the most interesting figure OF
the Cleveland Administration IS the ,,e1 -
Presidents former private secretary. me
mystery of Lamont IL profound. lie 10
eGacing himself thoroughly and puehing
the interests of his friends. These frlends
are three of the richest men IN New
York. Lamont has impressive oihces IN
the Mills building, and the whole deslre
OF his life seems 20 be 70 sink into apparent
oblivion. He is forever trying to get ont OF
night. when he enters cab he pulls down
the shade. and his f0vorite seat on an ele-
waited train 10 at the tail end OF the last car,
with his back TO his fellow-passengers. lie
goes 10 his Office very early IN the morning.
slides in through private door, ana re-
mains secluded until all but his conhden-
tial clerk have departed for the night. nc
is successful in an extreme degree, Du. DC
| Is as anxious TO keep this knowledge from
man Kind as most men are 20 conceal fall
ure. Lamont seldom smiles. lie Is thinner
than when he was IN Washington, End ms
long yigils at his desk have cast pallor
| over q face that was never particularly
radiant. He is destined to be very rlch
man, and there is no doubt that his Tor
tune has grown TO comiortaDle proper
tons. The greatest success OF the e1-fn
yate Secretary has been won by the miro
| duction of the element OF honesty IN deal
| inc with the political rulers of New orr.
CITY. They have not been approached
| that way IN very long time and proba-
| Div Lamont's success was a. much due 10
tho novelty of his attack as to any other
cause. For many years it has been the
custom in New York for capitalists who
wish to introduce railroad or any other
similar Improvement to attemp: by means
of bribery and corruption to push their
measures through. 1t was usually cues;
ton Of price M o L@ an opsra aas s'i bH of
ferino a liberal franchise 10 the city IN an
open and honorable way. The authorities
have met him half way, but they are
rather dazed and baffled by tho develop
1
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-05-18
A Relic of Grants Day.
Lancaster Examiner

With both men and women fond Of
Washington life it is not surprising that
this IS the place in which the "exes" most
do congregate. A man once famous and
powerful. whom many people thought
might himself become President Of the
United States. now walks or drives tne
streets of Washington unknown to nearly
ali who see him. He is handsome man,
with iron-gray hair. fine profile, an intel
lectual face. His name Is Boutwell,
4" Lawyer Boutwell, he is called by the
few who know nim-and he was Secretary
of the Treasury under President Grant;
He was then a social as well as political
leader. and was seen almost daily at recep-
t,ons and teas Now he eschews all such
frivolities. and, like the average man OF ex-
nerience and sense. confines his social ex'
ploits TO the stretching Of his legs under
the mahogany where there Is plenty OF
good wine and good company.
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-05-18
An oId-Time Timekeeping Problem.
Jewellers weekly.l

Standard time. il seems. IL not new
thing. ia the twentieth chapter OF H..
Kings it was applied with far more than
modern facility and variety. HeZeklah,
who was a contemporary of Homer, was
sick unto death, and was advised 10y the
Prophet Isaiah to put his house in order.
On being thus admonished HezeMah
turned his face to the wall and wept, then
prayed for recovery. Soon afterward he
was assured by the prophet that che prayer
had been heard, and that fifteen years
would be added 10 his life. Hezeklah
asked TO. sign that he would thus hap
pily be healed. Isaiah answered that the
shadow on the sun-dial should be moved
forward or backward ten degrees as the
desired sign. and the sacred history con-
tinues thus:
10. And Hezekiah answered: 1t Is
LIGHT thing for the shadow to go down ten
degrees nav, but let the shadow return
backward ten degrees
III. Aud Isaiah the prophet cried unto
the Lord: and he brought the shadow ten
degrees backward. by which II had gone
down IL the dial Of Ahaz."
Thus the first known mentiono OF the sun
dial is coupled with more difficult pro-
blem in timekeeping than any now aSi-
tatiug the public.
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-05-18
Tho Decline of Drinking.
u.ondon Teiegraph.I


II the nineteenth century does not boast
"two-bottle men" Il must DO attributed
30 tho inevitable action OF the laws of
hereditv. Tho fact is that our worthy
but bibul0us ancestors, by their IN
limited indulgence in fermented liquors.
have made IL impossible for their
degenerate descendants TO initiate Their
example. All their fine Hastings and
reyeliings, ali those steady drinking bouts
when the cloth was removed and the ladies
bad gone upstairs. and many OF the gen
tlemen were quite content 70 finish the
evening under the table, have left an un-
welcome heritage IN those contemporary
disorders which run so glibly OF Ia.
tongues Of our doctors. Suppressed govt
aud tsndencies TO acidity and erupti0ns Of
eczema, W. owe thom all together with less
disguised blessings 10 the free and generous
lite of our forefathera.
How many people nowadays could drink
strong beer with their dinner. old port
sfterward, aud then finish up with some
more strong beer Yet thiswas the normal
habit Of old university dons and country
clefgymcn at the tine when tho "sanded
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-05-18
Dir. Lang's Disappointed Uncle.
fChicaco News


"Some wears AGO. saws Mr.. p. /. Cable,
81 attended, dinner given by friend IN
New York-a physician, who coming orlgi-
nallv from Scotland has made fame and
money in our country. Replying TO a toast
on this occasion / congratulated auld
Scotia upon having just given to the world
another son who occupied fore
most place among contemporaneous djtTd-
t1irs-Robert LOUIS Stevenson. Having
ended nv speech, which was as felicltous
as eould make it, | sat down, and was at
once drawn into conversation by an elderly
gentleman sitting hard by. This gentle
man told me that Stevenson was particu1
lar friend of his nephew, and he recalled
several incidents illustrating the cordial
relations between the two. Percelvlng
that the old gentleman himself was
Scotchman | renewed with increased en-
thusiasm my praises OF stevenson, wnlch
seemed to please my friend nightly;
His nephew. he oaid, was very bright
man, and had he chosen his profession
wisely he might have amounted to much.
But be would have his own way, and, con-
trary TO the wishes and advice Of his tanl-
". he embart ed in literature. This step
Of his had i,ways been regretted by the
speaker (his uncle). for he recognized his
talents, and il had panied him to see those
talents perverted and wasted. lie might
have amounted 10 so lnucn II ne hau hepO
out of literature!
THE old gentleman said this with so
great feeling that my heart went out in
pity toward him. Still l was curious to
know who this nephew was-thls mis-
guided young genius, the boon companion
of Stevenson.
:" And what is your nephew's manner?
"'His name is Andrew Lang answered
the old gentleman. Did you ever hear OF
him.
- Did ever hear of Andrew Lang?' I
roared. We'll, I should rather say SO. Why,
man, your nephew is the biggest all-round
literary man IN England to-day. yet here
you SIT coddling the delusion that he has
mistaken his profession.'
~ know, / know said the old gentle
man, sadly; "tis all weel enOw totaik. but
VII the grace o God in his heart he wudda
made sic guide minister"
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-05-18
Cheap Chinese PheasantS.


The rate at which Monaghan pheasants
have increased in the willamette Valley,
Oregon, since few pair were sent here by
judge Denny about seven years ago Is Won
derful From these few pair placed in
Linn county the birds have spread all
over Marion. Lane, Polk and Benton coun-
ties, till farmers complain of them and
shoot them despite the law protecting
them.
Judge Whalley and friend, while shoot
ing ten dozen snipe near Brownsville yes
terday, say they saw literally thousands of
pheasants, and found the nests of three in
which were from seventeen to twenty-one
eggs each. They hatch two or three broods
in season, and, being very swift Of foot
and strong OF wing, cunning and hardy,
they VIII continue to increase, and as there
is a demand for them from many States,
the probability is that in few years they
will have spread all over the Union.
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-05-18
Losing Part of Their Fun.

The Paris edition of the New York Herald
quotes Dr. Brown-Sequard as maintaining
that to cut ones head of is an almost pain
less operation. You begin with your throat
and as soon as you have cut little way
into the windpipe all pain ceases, and you
can so on and get through the whole neck
with the exception OF the spine without
being made uncomfortable. The painless
part of the process seems to be overlooked
by those persons who make their exit from
this world by severing their windpipe.
They usually stop when that is done, and
then expire, without enjoying the rest of
the process. the painless and comfortable
part. Suicides by the throat-cutting opera
ton should bear this in mind and cut OFF
tine head entirely. thus seeing the whole
show for the price of single ticket.
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-05-18
why she is ALWAYS Calm.
sF.F4..,r...Fta Journal

The extreme calmness and moderate
habits of certain handsome girl are re-
marked upon by her friends. she moves
with the utmost dclberatiOn. never hurry
ING under any circumstances, eats slowly
and lightly. and drinks nothing but small
quantity of cool water with her meals. II
ii were not for her brilliant powers OF son:
versation aud her continuous sweetness Of
disposition. she would not be interesting.
for she is never ready 10 go anywhere or do
ANYTHING requiring any cxertlon, and she
passes the greater part Of her time with her
mother.
Only recently learned the cause Of the
pretty creatures lethaIgy and her case is
certainly peculiarly unfortunate one.
She is naturally Of white and pure CON-
plaxiOn, but excitement or any undue ex-
ercise brings upon her face blood-red
mark Of most significant formation. 1t IS
perfect image of a small wineSlass. us
slender stem runs straight down over the
bridge of the nose. while upon the fore
head the bell-shaped bowl spreads out
with uumistakable yivldness. There Us
not sign of this mark while she Is IN abb
solute repOse. except beneath minute eX-
animation, when a thread-like outline OF
the glass is family visible. But the mo-
ment the blood IS driven 10 the head 1t
convssges at this single spot.
pcinanuc story IS told IN relation 10
this mark. The girl has had suitors, and
one of them was favored by her above the
others. He made his declaration one day
while sitting by her side on the piazza of a
summer hotel, in tie broad light of day.
in the fashion of some tinid men be did
not ts the girl with his eyes "a he put
the tender words 10 her. but as she made
no reply to him he stole look az hd face,
She had handkerchief pressed close TO
var eyos. As no one was by TO see he
reached towards her and gently drew her
hands away. The red wine glass burned
like FIRE. lie was amazed and the girl
looked at him with despairing gaze. lie
asked what il meant, and she told him,
But she herself did not know the whole
truth. Her father, who was 9 fast and
reckless man. had fallen dead before hei
mothers eyes while holding o wine-glass
aloft at dinner party.
The lover was true one. He viii bt
married to the girl in very few weeks
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-05-18
Why Thread Is Numbered.
fSt. Louis RepUbllc.


Every seamstress, whether she wants No.
80 or so or 100 thread, knows from the num-
Der Just what size the thread will be and
what kind Of sewing it can be used for I;
but how the numbers came to be just what
they are and just what they mean not one
person in 100 knows, yet 1t Is very SIM
pie matter to explain, providing you only
know the points and how to elucidate
them. When $40 yards of yarn weigh 1000
grains "a pound of cotton the thread
makers mark it No. /. II 1850 yards weigh
pound, il is marked rs No. 2. For No. 20
warn ii would take 50 multiplied by $40 to
weigh pound. THIS is the whole expla-
nation OF the yard-measurement rs used by
the spool-cotton manufacturers. The early
manufactured thread was Of three instead
of six-cord, the number being derived
from the number of yards to the pound,
Just a. il is to-day. No. SO warn made No.
GO thread, though in point OF fact the ac-
tual calibre of No. 60 thread would equal
No. 20 yarn, being made of three No. 70
strands twisted together.
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-05-18
An AIne Cures HYdronhohia.

DR.. Pablo Patron mentions in the Peru
Wan journal In Cronica Mcdic1 that q rabid
dog having bitten boy in AyacuchO, the
boy, notwithstanding that the wounds had
been well cauterized, began in few days.
time TO show unmistakable signs Of having
hydrophobia, and one day, when no one one
was watching him. he ran away into the
fields and gathered some leaves of the
American alec AgGue ImeT7cdnd) and sucked
them. After this the symptoms Of the dis
ease began TO abate and the boy recovered.
The American aloe is very common in some
parts of Peru and Central America, and
the Mexicans are said 10 be very fond Of
n tea made from the leaves. The plant Is
also used tor poultices, and forms a tolera-
BILE substitute for soap. DR.. Patron has
oeen induced to publish tins case through
having read in some Spanish medical jour-
nal of a somewhat similar occurrence.
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-05-18
eoor x,,cb cr,ts beneath the tread" was

floor. which crits beneath the tread" was
usually found In bar parlors and common
rooms. before an era OF entorceu
have Jawned for fecblcr If not more
moral humanity. We can only wash down
on, toasts in whiskey and aerated water
instead OF Trinity audit ale" and "Old
Archdeacon aud wine Of the comet year.
The only people who drink port now are
foxS bnnfing souires and undergraduates
who have inst left school. Many, Of our
smart voune men, besides cultivating
other interesting fads like vegetarianism
and belief in Ibsen's dramas, proclaim
the virtues of blue-ribbonism.
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-05-18
Unciyiiizcd Women,

Miss Alice Fletcher tells Of an old Indian
chief who said TO her Have pity on my
women. 10 whom we owe everything. when
all is taken from u.s." Much stress il laid
on the fact that among the uncivilized The
women are the workers and the burden
bearers. but according to Miss Fletcher
there are compensations in the case Of the
AMERICAN Indians. IL the husband of a
squaw prove tyrannical or lazy ia pro-
yiding for his family the wife tells him to
go back to his kindred. If the pair are
living in tent she takes il down and
departs. Miss Fletcher says that her
kindred win not send her back, nor
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-05-18

would her husband be allowed to coerce
i hep 70 Iiapitau. in his book published in
, ,sai aW Women among the Iroquis had a
LA, u, ~ their own, which had the initia-
.;a ~ Jd;scnssion. subjects presented by
them g being settled in the council Of chiefs
and elders. In this latter council the wo-
had an orator of Tbo OF sne w ba sf1
70 Iup,0 yoice in determining the success
ieau chiefs. There were also female
siya one Of whom. with, her attendant.
came came 10 Quebec in 1865 with an embassy
Marie do Incarnation.
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-05-18
The Reign Of the Gar.

The reign of the present Car has been,
Il Is now admitted ON oil hands, a period OF
sbarp reaction. Originally Consery Awe;
ne the son of Liberal father often Is, ana
nm absolutist. as every Komanoh IS, Alex
onder III. has been driven by tho murder
of his father and the Nihilist attempts
AGAINST himself to believe that ms
throne was in danger. that revolution
was in the AIR, that every Liberal was
b;s nerscpal foe, and that the only
safe policy either for Russia or NM
self consisted in stamping out all germs OF
liberalism. Accordingly the authorities OF
all kinds. especially the police, nave ceeh
STRENGTHENED until they are nearly .apsQ,,
lutte. the sovereign has secluded hilnseli
until he is almost prisoner; only TO be a
Tiberal without action has been treated as
n penal offence. Russians being puulshed
for merely buyiug "mcendiary" puDllca-
tions. TRIALS have been handed over to
obedient courts the treatment OF prisoners
has become more severe, ana the terTl-
BILE weapon of administering sentences
which so sreatly exasperated the contesI
between the French people ana the olu
Monarchy. has been employed with as lnuch
freedom rs under the Emperor Nlcholas;
Almost all local bodies have been deprived
NJ their authority. the press has been
limited to foreign subjects, and the uni
versities have been regulated and super
yisod. and deprived Of privileges until me
whole educated class of Russia IS, on the
subject OF education, hostile totAeTegf"'e'
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-05-18
Woman's Place and Work.


The faith Of the women of the Gospels
far outstrippcd that of the men of the
Gospels. Women loved much" and
women believed much, and women exhib-
tied unwavcring fidelity. while one apostle
hated Christ. and another doubted his
resurrection. and a third denied him. 1t
is the gentler, the weaker, the more emo
tional sex who first perceive, then accept
and finally are carried away with those
great and vital enthusiasms which trans
form and elevate the world. II il the sis
tiers, mothers, and wives who carry out in
their lives the pattern Of love, purity. and
self-denial which Is still on earth "A cohtin-
uation of Christ's life. an incarnation Of
divine grace and loyeliness which never
fails. which now can suffer no passion and
no death. but speaks aloud 10 men and
sanctifies the child and reiines the brother
and acts upon the heart of the husband
with ceaseless plea for what is good and
what is divine.
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-05-18
rHr RICHMOND DIsPAroH--s0NDAY. MAY IS. 1890


oaks and chestnut trees. while about 200
feet below steam Of water flows over q
urecipice from IN artificial lake. A drive
way. which leads through the woods,
winds within few feet of the spot, and
the boughs of the gnmled oaks are spread
like arms over the hillock, and touch the
ereensward on the sides. Back OF TINS
piece OF ground is the woods. where afoot-
path leads to the entrance gate.
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-05-18

Miss Polly her misfortune most touchingly be-
wept,
While on the gallant General her gentle eyes
were kept; -
And when this noble fellow, with grief upon his
face,
Expressed his very deep regret at what had
taken place,
ing Polly Slaughter
And said. "Now. Msior-General Brown, you
really hadn't orieri"
And then The General poured forth his tale Of
burning passion
In rapid. lncoherent but winning sort OF fash
ion,
And they quietly were married In tho chapel on
tho green,
From which the Coloncls resting-plece could
easily be seen.
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-05-18
Careless with His Old Steamboat.
Nashville AnericaD.l

The prevailing high waters and the
danger of sweeping food recalls TO mind
a humorous incident of the great Hood OF
1882. which is good enough 70 repeat, A
certain boat coming up the Mississippi lost
her way aud bumped against frame
house. She hadn't more than touched IT
before an old darky rammed his head up
through hole in the roof whore the chin
ney once came out, and yelled at the Cap
tain on the roof
"Whar de 49, is yer gwine wild dat boat
Can't you see nutfnY Fust thing yer
knows yer gwine TO turn dis house over,
spill de old woman an de chil'en out i'll de
Hood an drown 'em Wat you doing out
here in de country wild yer boat. any
howf &c on back yonder FREQ de con-
held an get back into de riber whar yer
b'longs. Amt got no business sewn miles
out. III de country foolin' roun' peoples
houses, nohow!" and she backed out.
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-05-18
Walt Whitmnn's Grave.

Walt Whitman has chosen spot for tho
final disposition Of his body when his life
is ended. The place is characteristic OF
the man, says the Philadelphia Press. It
is located in Harleish cemetery, about
a mile from Camden, and in the
prettiest part of the grounds. 1t Is
a natural mound. beneath majestic