davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-11-23

New York, and his parents hearing OF this,
resolved to enter him in competition with
the other contestants. He was awarded the
prize offered for the largest baby present,
$1,000.
At the age of years his weight had in
creased until he weighed 302 pounds. His
weight the next six years kent on increaS-
ing until he registered 405 pounds.
The next eight years his weight increased
1876 pounds, making his total weight Col
pounds. He made it 725 pounds when be
was % years old.
During the next two years he only in
creased his weight to 1913 pounds, but the
next year he gained thirty-fonr pounds.
making the total 792 pounds at the age OF %.
From that time his weight has been gradu-
ally increasing until at the present time,
when he is only 50 years old, he tips the
scales at 9O7 pounds. Judging from the past
he has not stopped accumulating flesh, and,
although he has not weighed himself very
recently, it is said he believes he is still in
creasing in size and will continue to grow
for some years come.
This immense amount of flesh is not
caused by an extraordinary appetite, Mr..
Craig, ON the contrary, being very delicate
eater, is not addicted to the use Of lntoXl-
cants, and does not use tobacco in any
form. He suffers no Inconvenience from
his very heavy weight, and was never Ill
day in his life.
lie stands feet inches in his stocking
feet. ard measures 8 feet inches az the
hips. The cloth in one of his suits OF
clothes will serve to make several suits for
ordinary men, it requiring forty-one yards
to make him full Suit-coat, vest and PAN
talOons-and it takes three pounds of yarn
to make him pair of stockings.
He laughingly says that the cows always
smile when they see him going to shoe
shop to leave his measure for a pair OF boots,
rs it will take a whole side to make him
pair, No. II being the size he wears.
The father of Mr.. Craig was a very small
man. weighing about lis to 120 pounds His
mother was also small woman, not weigh
ing over ITO or 11J pounds.
His great-great-g grandfather on his mothers
side was Governor Chttenden, the first Gov
ernor of Vermont, whose birthplace was
Ireland. DR.. Hanson Catlett, his grand
father, was Assistant Surgeon-General Of
the United States for thirty-five years, and
he died in the Government service at East
Liberty. Pa. He was born in England.
On his fathers side Mr.. Craia's grand
father was native of Scotland, and his
grandmother German. having been born
In the city of Frankfort. Mr.. Craig is
first cousin of William p. He, burn, at the
present time solicitor for the United States
Treasury.
few days ago Mr. Craig's home was
Frightened by Mrs. Craig giving birth to q
girl baby. This is the only child they have,
and both are very joyful over the event.
Mrs. Cralg's weight is about 100 pounds
n. Y. Herald.
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-11-23
THE BIGGEST MAN.
A ue.Grass.Fed Ho0sier Who
Tips the Scale at 9O7 Pounds.

Indiana boasts of having within its bnr-
ders the largest man in the world.
This person is John Hanson Craig, now a
resident of Danville, town of two thou
sand inhabitants. nineteen miles west of In
dianapolis, on the Big Four Railroad, and
the county seat of Hendricks County
John, who was born in Iowa City, Iowa,
in 1855, 500 moved to the blue grass region
of Kentucky.
At birth he weighed eleven pounds. He
grew so rapidly that at the age of II months
he had seven pounds of flesh to show for
each month of his existence, weighing sew
enty-seven pounds.
From this time on his gain in flesh was
phenomenal. and he was the talk of the
community.
When he reached the age of years
his weight was 206 pounds. When
he was 3 years old, in 1855, p. T.
Barnum inaugurated a baby show in
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-11-23

In some of the western provinces of the
empire strange ceremony is resorted to for
the cessation of the drought, in which the
''plow and the women play conspicuous
part. During long-eontinued droughts the
magistrate convenes and ''plowing of the
water" is officially ordered. After an early
morning procession tie women and girls
are drummed together in the afternoon for
the purpose of the act of water blowing"
This consists in the tearing up of the bot
tom of a nearby stream by meanS-of a
plow pulled by half-clad women and led by
the largest and strongest dame Of the vii
lage.
There is no doubt that this ceremony is of
pagan origin, but whatever its significance
was in olden times. history does not say
at the same time the custom is pursued with
unerring regularity at the present day
throughout the provinces mentioned.
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-11-23
FLOWING THE WATER.
An Old Russian Custom Observed
in Time of DrOughts.

Among people who follow agricultural
pursuits more than among others there are
many peculiar customs still in vogue in Rus
STA, SAYS a writer for the ST. Louis Post
Dispatch, which have their origin either in
ancient pagan ceremonies, or are deeply
rooted in superstition, pure and simple, or
fanatic beliefs. Russia. more than any
other country, retains many weird tradi-
tons, and the strange usages for the ward
ing off and conjuring of the pernicious
drought are particularly numerous. 1t ire
ouently happens that each district has its
own peculiar ceremonies, and often every
individual inbabtant follows line of con-
duct in that regard peculiar unto himself
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-11-23
TO THE TOILERS.

Lo, midst the scheming and striving
We dreamt of the day of rest,
And we cried "That the toll were ended!
o, red sun. sink swift in the westp'
But now the work is completed,
Asall things in time must be done,
And we? Have we grown contented?
Is our hearts desire now won?
Strangel The hated task Is finished,
We may rest as long as we VIII;
Yet our hearts already are signing
For something the dull hours to fill.
All, If we could only have KIN own
How Idle was all our dreaming
And the biesSiass that we prayed for
Was blessing but in seeming.
The days are empty aud dreary,
Oh better the struggle. the strife;
Better to seek and TO labor,
For that is tho glory OF iifel
Give us staunch strength for the Work day.
Let each moment with action be rife.
Toll brayely and ACCOMPANYING
LO, that is the fiat OF life.
And for him whose hands are ready,
Who loses not heart in the strife,
Have faith, shall crown him victor
Yea, that is the promise of life.
;dl ETancssco, Not, 1890. SELMA SCHMIDT
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-11-23
HERBERT WARD,
HIS NEW BOOK.
Extracts That Tell Of the Canni-
balls Of the Congo. ::
A Slave BOY That Was Good Eating Gle Was
Nice and Fas-Boilsr Tubes Converted
Into Jewslry for Dusky Maids.

IAN view of the recent controversy between
III Henry NJ. Stanley, the explorer, and the
liz relatives of the late Major Bartelott of;
the rear guard. the following extracts from
Herbert Wards new book are of special in
terest:
If my Borneo experiences were rendered
unsatisfactory through ill-healtf, 1t is to this
portion of my life that l am indebted for d
friendship which has in many ways infiu-'
enced my later life. 1t happened that news
was brought to me by Malay that q white
man had accidentally shot himself at soma
distance from where l then was. Ii was
my poor friend Frank Hatt0n. from whom
l had parted but few days before. whose
life of much achievement and more promise
was ended in this tragic manner. While
tracking an elephant through the forest his
gun became entangled in creeper,. the
trigger caught and the charge entered his
right lung, killing him almost instantly.
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-11-23
For AN Empreas.


The latest eccentricity OF Viennese fash
ion is passion for fans of mountain cock
feathers. The last question the young
Austrian belle asks her adnirer before he
goes on hunt is: won't you try, please,
to bag me fine fan ?" An ideal fan of this
kind must contain only feathers from birds
brought down by the most expert shots. and
every feather must lie the lone representa-
tive OF the giver's skill Consequently such
an ideal fan may record the admiration aud
skill of sixty or seventy hunters. Ii Is also
not unusual to have cut in the ribs Of the
smaller fans brief account of the circunl-
stances under which the giver of the at
tacned feathers shot the bird. The German
Empress Augusta Victoria is said to have
expressed a wish last summer to have such
fan, and ever since that time the young
bloods of the Austrian court, who have al
ready bagged fans for their own women,
have been shooting right and left for her
sake The handle of the fan, now being
completed in Vienna, will be set with Jewels
in the Prussian colors.-N. Y. Sun.
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-11-23

in war or sold into bondage by neighbour
ing people, became ''uppish" and discon-'
tented with his walk in life the remedy was
simple They no longer troubled Tim to
continue treading path which proved a
WEAKNESS to the flesh. The pot became his
destination, and he soon ceased to afford
even a topic for conversation.
This may seem incredible, and yet have
an instance in my minds eye Of such an oc-
currence having actually taken place at
Bangala only one year ago. A slave boy
had been permitted to engage himself to
work on the station of the agent at Bangala
of the Belgian Trading Company. After q
time he absented himself during working
hours without permission of the agent, who
complained to the boys master, a small chief
in the neighboring village, informing him at
the same time that the boy was a lazy fell
low and not worth much. A day or two later
the chief told the trader, with evident sat-
isfaction. that thu boy would not trouble
him again. for that he had killed him with
thrust of his spear. And the white mans
horror Was increased when on the following
day the chiefs son, n yougstcr OF IL or IL
years OF age. came staggering INTO the sta-
tion with spear and shield and nonchllantly
remarked: THAT slave boy was very good
eating-he was nice and fat.
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-11-23

was able to get but short leave of absence
and shall return TO Nicaragua two weeks
from today
Mr.. Reber also kindly furnished the Post
Dispatch with three blue print copies of
photographs taken OF the features OF con-
the headquarters buildings at Greytown
Harbor, second the work on the pier ex-
tending 700 feet out into the harbor, and
third showing the system of corduroy road
upon which the railroad between Greytown
and the Divide Cut is built Mr. Reber ex-
phases Of the work are sent to the general
offices of the Nicaraguan Canal Construction
Company as the best method of showing
Just what is being done on the spot
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-11-23

fasten the leaves together with long stitches
of green silk, and cut Sits in the outside
tinf0il leaf corresponding to those in the
cover and fasten the leaves inside the cover
by passing narrow myrtle-ereen ribbon
through both cover and leaf. This size case
will allow Of six stamps, or twelve If turned
face to face. Being placed between two
leaves, the tinfoil prevents them from stick
ing together. Before covering the case work
in outline the words Postage Stamps" in
slender letters with iight-green silk. Fill
the case with l and cent stamps. Much
of the success of this and other articles de-
ponds upon selecting pretty colors Of silk,
ribbon or brocade, and doing the sewing
neatly. Use satin and grosgrain ribbon for
fancy work.-Ladies' Home Journal.
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-11-23

These correspondents have compiled with the
rules governing the mode OF answering the puz-
zle and have found tie true and, possibly the
oply manner OF obtaining The solution.
Eu Geer shows a fOndness for the craft by
sending in such a large form, and we hope IL will
not remain long without male. Generally,
Young ladies prefer 10 WOO the Nine than delve
In Webster for words TO complete their puzzles.
We tIust that she Is not an exception, but VIII
send us a poetical puzzle 10 grace this depart
ment. We like 10 see ambitious posers. for even
in this art there have been many poets and port
esses who have found delight within its borders
LoDgfeloH, Praed, Nine. de SiveDeau, COwper,
Lamb, and even Shakespeare makes mention
tbi oughout lis plays OF cngmas, riddles, anna
grams etc. which yerifies my bold assertion.
Remember there IS much vel TO learn, and some
OF The knowledge can be obtained through
the fundamentally Of this prince OF pasfiines.
KERNEL.
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-11-23
JE TIE REJOINS."

Lines suggested by an article in TIE MORNING
CALI announcing the suic de of an aged florist owe
the grave of his wife i'll Calvary IemeteryJ
al cannot live without thee,i
Were the words 1 whispered TO thee softly,
In our bright sunny France, long years ago,
When We were young, and thou vert fair to me-
Sweetheart, loved thee So
And now go to thee"
al cannot live without thee"
Bright flowers I've laid upon thy grave
For many and many dreary day.
Without thee life has no charm for me;
Bereft cannot stay;
And so e" go to thee"
Z" cannot live without thee"
The Key of death hold within my hand,
Alone beside thy grave in ehurch-yard drear-
God pity, pardon If use the key
Earth vanishes. heaven seems very near;
And thus go to thee" GRACE HIBBARD.
San Francisco, Nop., 1880.
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-11-23
GEMS IN VERSE.
Written for THE SUNDAY CALL
SONNET.

-sHAT dream so fair as summers flashing
HH skies,
~A, When full-robed Luna sits in royal
pride,
While golden rain from out her scepter files
And pours on earth its Scntillating tide.
All! one bright dream % Grant mortals sent
Is fair as flash of Luna's dazzling rays
The moonlight peacefulness and glory blent
In that sweet dream that gilds the darkest days.
When perfect love IN fullest splendor reigns
Ana battles the world in floods OF golden beams
The rays scIntillant flashed from mortal veins,
Serenely viewing with the moons bright streams
In Loves clear sky undImmed by darkling strltes
Fair Luna's scepter pales before the wife's
Oakland, Cal MARY LAMBERT.
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-11-23
GROWING OLD TOGETHER.

My dear. so swiftly seasons fly,
One seems uncertain whether
IT'S days or years since you and
We're boy and girl together.
Aud backward gazing oft we trace
Our youthful Joys and sorrows,
Till bright Iemembrances efface
The dread of fading morrows.
Though age has furrowed DER each brow
And tempered every pleasure,
Our hearts are light and gieeful now,
Though beating slower measure.
And bent and trembling though we be
Meath Times o'erpow'ring fingers,
Weyet are Young while memory
And warm affection fingers.
So let the seasons hurry by,
Nor heed their changing weather:
But trust, dear love, that we shall die
As we have lived-tOgether.
San Jose, Cal. MARCUS A. STEWART
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-11-23
DUTY.

How hard to take stern Duty's hand
And follow where she leads;
How hard to pass the flowers by
And gather up the weeds.
All me! her paths seem always hard.
The road with rocks is strown,
And bitter hard TO follow on
Nor ever to make moan.
God help the vile by duty led,
By duty led alone,
For cold the hearth and hard the bed
When loves fair dream Is flown.
Yet every bitter holds a sweet.
The saddest hours the brightest greet.
Polly STocKwEL
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-11-23
Blossom Q.
49, 49,

Blossoms.
No. %. CHARADE.
IT'S pleasant TO behold
II. y. II. and Oliyet
Last aISt to the fold,
And good example set
To other ladies fair,
To Join the My site Krewe"
And each the tidiDgs bear
To young men, good and true.
And should they win prize,
Their total will be small,
But they will realize
benefit to all
San Frdncisco. II. Y. FROST.
No "a SQUARE.
avoid by aliifee. Entertaining TO the country
A prOverb 5-Tbe hame oi woman:
Oakland, Cal. ATLAS.
No. %. DECAPITATIoN.
held her all in mine,
Merit felt a trill excite
NV inner self, in tones
OF pure and chaste delight.
And as she raised her eyes
clasped her form and-kissed her,
And thanked kind heaven that sent
A dear and loving sister,
San Francisco. HARvIE o. BABcocK.
No. &c. SQUARE.
To" Marguerite
IA genus Of plants. one species OF which pro-
duces the betel nut. 2-TO involve. $40 slip
away; Am evergreen tree OF Inherent species
5-Brisk. CAPT. n. FRANK.
San francisco.
No. 81. DIAMOND.
IA letter. PAN abbreviation Of Democrats
3-SIender bodies Ike n bristle. 4-AtteDded
with pTeIernaiutal excitepent. 5-Advises TO
ihe contrary (obs.). 6-Having defined limits
IA city of San Pete County, Utah. S-A crys-
taline rock composed Of ieldspar and quartz OF
grayish While and red color. "a basket 10
pen. ia letter. EU GEER.
Sun francisco.
Answers and solvers in three weeks.
STRAY LEAVES.
II. Y. Frost, Atlas, Harvie o. Babcock and Eu
Geei's PUZZLES have been received and accepted
and are invited 10 call early and often. Several
of our correspondents evidently thought we
were misleading them when we asserted that
their answers OF The 81 puzzle were erroneous.
We are sorry they should take Ofense at what
was not intended either TO mfs'ead or insult
them. We told them their answers were incor-
rect and we say 1t again; and 10 prove the
assertion we append The following correct an
swer sent 10 US by j. c. NJ. OF this city and b. D.
Croker Of flacervlle:
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-11-23
THE TWINS ).

Sweet little twins-the theme OF my verse
Two "'ittle dwood girls" but often the reverse;
Two little blondes. scarce able to walk;
Two little toddlers beginning to talk;
Two pair OF bIue eyes that roguishly say.
We're pets OF the house and must have our way.
A crash in the cupboard How foolish am;
Surely they're after the Jelly or jam.
Bless lem the darlings! (r!l now take my leave)
Pas pet Lavina and mas Geneyieve.
Oakland, Nou. 80, 1880. j. ID.
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-11-23

PAN SIZES.

Pansies bring us earnest thoughta,
Lofty, beautiful and calm,
From the bosom OF the sod,
breathing OF the grace OF God;
Gentle as the balmy breeze.
Dying in the twilight hour,
Comes sweet heart's-ease soft reply.
al yield to you ere die
Noble thoughts. for read in me,
Frail and Iowly though be,
ItheSoice of God obey
In my simple, humble way,
From the bosom of the sod
breathe to you thoughts OF God"
Francisco. Nou., 1880. ANNIE c. GRIFFITH.
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-11-23
FOR STAMPS.

How to Mako n Novel aud Pretty Case
to Hold Them.
Make the case of stiff paper, covered with
myrtle-green silk; cut the paper six inches
long and two inches and Il half wide. After
it is covered buttonhole-stitch two small Sits
on the back for the ribbon to pass through :;
then cut few leaves Of common tinfoil !;
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-11-23

A strange story is told of maroOned
Dutchman. The crew that put him on
shore at the same time buried an officer.
AS soon as they had gone the man dug up
the cuffin, tumbled the corpse out, launched
the coffin as a boat, and using the lid as a
paddle, overlook. the ship, which was be-
Gained. He was hardened.
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-11-23

1t is an old remedy for the hccough TO
hold ones breath, and If that fails then to
gargle with little water. and if the hic-
cough still continues to tickle the nose to
the point of sneezing onceOr twice, when the
hiccough is sure to 60.
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-11-23

At last his brow the cold spray touched;
He sprang bewildered to his feet,
And, peering into darkness, cried:
"Pm lost. I'm lost! oh, faithless craft.
On thy vain words did trust my life.
Oh, why did not heed the warningi"
Above the roaring of the sea
Came sounds or voices singing;
The lightning flashed and there revealed
A vessel of enormous size,
Well thronged. upon the waves was nearing;
Nearer and nearer 1t drew.
And borne upon the winged wind
The brightest music came.
The lightning flashed, and in its light
He saw some gayly dancing,
And here and there, in groups,
Some talking, laughing. singing.
" Save me; oh, save me!' he cried;
No voice came back In answer.
"They cannot-will not pass me byp'
And louder-still louder called.
But all in vain, no voice gave answer.
He saw them slowly pass from sight,
He heard the last sound fade away.
Frantic now with wild despair.
He cried: "The world has passed me byi
I'm left alone to die-to die.
Alone! alone but not alone:
Jesus save me, or perishr'
And DER the troubled waters came
The voice, so gentle: peace, be still.
Lo. am with you Away,
Even unto the end.
Come unto me and be we saved"
Falling upon his knees, he cried:
" just as l am, without one plea.
But that for me thy blood WAS shed,
And that to thee thou biddst me come,
come! o Lamb Of God, Gomez
And while he prayed, he felt
The Savior by his side,
His heart within him burn,
The darkness disappear.
He looked, and 10! the craft was gone,
Uron rock he stood. GERTRUDE.
ldnledd, Oct, 1890
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-11-23

An English company has made proposal
to the Legislature Of the Island of Nassau
to Law a cable TO the coast OF Florida II an
annual subsidy is granted them.
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-11-23
ACORNS.

Original contributions and solutions are re-
quested from all The readers. Communications
must be WI tten In ink. on one side of the paper
ana The name and address must accompany them
as guarantee OF good falln. Address Puzzle
Editor DAILY MORNING CALL, 500 Clay street,
San Francisco, Cal
ANSWERS.
No 10, TAPER No. II, SAVES
AGAVE ABODE
PAPAS WON'T
EVADE EDlCT
RESET SEITO
No. IL. Batrachomyomachll.
No. IS. Ant, Toy, raj. horse, camel, pig, acorn,
buffalo. crow, agate, doll, drum, grizzly bear,
bees, dog, Cat, hen, lamb. donkey, pears and
monkey.
SOLVERS.
Haive O. BabcOck. Alice Brennan, Olive L.
Turner, Lynefus, Eliza D., Atlas. Merry Mack,
ii. Y. Frust, UIdpus, Annie sullivan, Eu Geer,
Hetlie Burke aud Laura NJ. Smith.
COMPLETE LIsT.-H. Y. Frost, Lynceus, Eu
Geer and Hafyie o. Babcock.
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-11-23
A CAREER.

The day was bright and he was happy:
All nature seemed in tuneful glee,
Fair zephyrs whisper through the trees
Al nd kissed the cheek of modest flowers,
And birds sang out their sweetest praise;
The sea of life in all its splendor
Lay dancing. sparkling at his feet,
And wooing in voice SO tender
A craft, with cleaning sails all spread,
Then met his eager, longing gaze;
The warning voice he heard it whisper.
Beware, but needed not, and soon
Was drifting with the tide away.
While wrapped in song and blissful dream
OF all the craft had told to him;
Again he heard the voice so gentle,
Telling him of dangers nigh;
"what means this voice ?"-he spoke aloud,
-" Away, will not heed thee now
To blight my JOY and make me sad"
And on, the craft went drifting faster.
For fear that he should lose his prey;
To soothe and calm the fear OF Ill,
Perchance the warning voice had left,
He rocked and lulied to slumber sweet.
The sun had set-the light OF heaven
The lowering clouds had hid from view:
The wind blew hard-the waves rolled high
And dashed from side to side the craft,
But still he slumbered, slumbered on.