davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-07-18
All About Slate Pencils.

In the northwestern part of the town
of Castleton, Rutland county, VT. is
the only mandatory of slate pencils
in the United States. The slate rock as
it comes from the quarry is first
sawed into blocks as wide as the slate
pencil is long. These blocks are easily
split into slabs little thicker than the
finished pencil, which is about five.
sixteenths of an inch. These are passed
through planning machine and over
an emery belt, which makes them
even and smooth. Next thew are
pushed into the jaws of a machine
called crocodile" which consists of
pair of steel plates, in the under one
of which are six rows of curved
knives, each being set so as to cut a
little deeper than the preceding one.
These pillow out parallel groove half
way through the slab, which is then
turned and laid on steel plate having
ridges which just fit these grooves
This slides back under the six rows of
teeth of another crocodile" which
cuts the grooves on the other side and
leaves the square pencils side by side
They are then rounded and pointed
by holding them on an emery belt.
and one man can thus sharpen about
5000 day.
This factory makes 10000 pencils
daily, and employs twenty-five hands,
We might wonder where so MANY pen
ellis go, but when we consider that
there are one or two million school
boys and girls, and many of them
rather careless, and that slate pencils
are easily broken, we have no doubt
the factory will have its ''hands full'
to supply the demand.
The old way of making pencils was
to saw them out square from the slab
one by one. They were then boxed
and distributed among poor families,
who whitfield them round by hand for
about a half dollar thousand.
Pencils are made from slate much
softer than the states upon which they
are used, and very nice pencils are
made from soapstone.-New York
World.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-07-18
Making Ice In Florida.

In Florida, where ice is so desirable
for cooling food and drink, it is not
naturally formed, and so must be
made. | visited an ice factory.
They have twenty tons of ice form
ing here all the time. They lift tank
every thirty minutes, take out the ice,
refill the tank with water and replace
it. The freezing takes forty eight
hours. The tank they have Just emp
tied will be filed soon, and new
block of ice will be taken from it on
1.-The day after tomorrow"
Now, it seems that this freezing
takes place SO gently that spray Of
roses may be put into tank Of water
and frozen into the mass of ice with
out stirring petal from its place.
There it lies Embedded, in all its
beauty of form and color-a marvel
GUS thing, | think. The icemakers
like to perform this experiment, as it
shows the clearness of their ice; and
pride is taken in freezing pieces of un-
usual beauty and transparency.
A delicate spray of flowers, a cluster
of ripe fruit, or a brilliant colored fish
are favorite subjects Exhibitions of
such freezings are occasionally made
at fairs, and a particularly beautiful
or interesting piece makes very at
tractive gift for birthday or for
Christmas
What pretty way to preserve OBJ
iectsl / would like collection of
Florida specimens so preserved. No
dried out herbarium specimens; no
faded and distorted alcoholic prepare
tons; no unnatural taxidermist
moupts, but everything in its natural
color, its perfect outline, its living
beauty. Here, a clear little block
with a chameleon; here, larger one
with a coiled rattle snake; there
young alligator, cluster of grape
fruit or oranges, spray of flowers or
or series of forest leaves. But alasl
such collection would not last a sim
gle week.-St. Nicholas.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-07-18
The Latest in Teas.

What is new in the way of after
noon tease Whisper it softly, Jamaica
rum. Three or four drops to the cup
imparts a new favor, and, yes, emits
a faint odor that one shifts as one
enters the tea room. There is small
decanter behind the samovar. The
saucy bruno in gown of scarlet net
with black velvet band at the round
white neck manipulates it deftly and
asks no questions, Surely, says the
bud, I've got through almost to Ash
Wednesday in wonderful condition.
Here's the fourth tea I've been to since
lunch time and yet it has nicer taste
than at the first of the season." In comes
a dear old lady with white hair. To
her the waiter feels bound to put a
query: (Which kinda" She opens
her eyes full on him. care they serv-
ing both green and black this after
noon2"-Philadelphia Times.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-07-18
Mr.. Lanrtry's Furniture,

Mrs. Langtry's hobby is fine furni-
ture. Her dressing is simple enough
OFT the stage. She likes tailor made
costumes, rich but simple, and not
particularly expensive, but her home
IS home of artistic design and taste,
1t is full of all sorts of little objects of
beauty, refinement and expense. Pot
terry OF all sorts and of all nations is
scattered about, glassware is abundant
and pictures are everywhere. The
furniture is not simply for show, but
for beauty and ease, and Mrs. Lang
try never comes to New York that she
doesn't at least pass couple of days
'ln visiting the principal furniture
warehouses and choosing some new
things for her house on Twenty third
street.-New York Journal.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-07-18
Some Superstitious Statesmen.

Nothing can induce Senator Voor-
bees to ride in street car drawn by a
white horse.
Senator Joe Blackburn not only
takes the white horse, but also one
having white spot on it, or one white
foot.
Senator Edmunds regards it as un-
lucky if the first person he meets on
emerging from his house is woman,
and will return for fresh start.
Senator Sherman will not extend his
left hand in greeting or receive oneex-
tended to him-a familiar habit with
politicians.
Senator Call will bury or burn pair
of socks one or both of which he has
put on wrong side out
Representative Kennedy, of Ohio,
wears voudoo charm which he OBJ
tanned from an old negress in the
swamps of Louisiana.
When Senator Harris, of Tennessee,
is in doubt as to course of action, he
decides it by splitting at mark.
If Senator Vest, of Missouri, meets
a beggar in the streets before he has
spent any money he invariably gives
to the mendicant.
If the first person Representative
Breckenridge meets in the morning is
colored man or woman he crosses to
the other side of the street. He claims
if he continues on the same side he
will be hoodooed for the entire day.
Senator Evarts is a great admirer of
the flaming beauties of the circus
posters and theatre announcements on
the billboards, which taste he has in
common with Hale, of Maine; Butler,
of South Carolina, and Pascoe, of Flor
da.-Washington Letter in Cleveland
Plain Dealer,
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-07-18
What London Saws of Ua.

Republican simplicity seems to be
fast disappearing from Washington
society, where, as learn from one of
the journals of that capital, 1.-The seat
ing of guests at official dinners, at
which the court rules of precedence
actness." In cases where desperately
knotty points present themselves, It
seems the dinner list is sent to the
White House to be ''diagrammed.
The diagrammer, who is the authority
on all these grave points of precedence,
IS a certain Mr.. Pruden, one of the
White House secretaries. He must
have some trouble, since, as my jour
nal informs me, ''the ranking of the
diplomat is still an unsettled ques-
ton" and it is earnestly urged that
this vexed question should be promptly
settled once for all by an act of con-
gress. London Truth.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-07-18
Fattening Terrapin.

Col. Tilghman and Mr.. 1T. Colds
borough are largely engaged in the
propagation of terrapin, and have
about 5000 confined in a pond, where
they are fed and prepared for market.
In winter they lie dormant and do
not eat at all, but in summer time
they seem to have ravenous appetites.
The principal food given them is hard
crabs, and it takes about 500 to 600
crabs day to feed them. The crabs are
put intoa large hopper alive and hack
led to pieces in passing through the
machinery. They are then thrown
into the pond for the terrapin, which
are SO eager to get at their food that
they climb up over the backs of each
other
The terrapin have learned to know
what the noise of the hacking ma
chine means, and as soon as it com
mences to run they begin to gather
around and show signs of impotence
until their food is given them.-Balti-
more Sun.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-07-18
The Nickel In the Slot.

Yon can drop nickel in the slot
and get almost anything. You can
get your weight, your height try your
grip, try your lungs, get your bon
bons and chocolate, etc. The latest
thing is an automatic insurance pol
icy. It is for railroad employees only.
There is one of the boxes up in the
Lake Shore depot Underneath the
glass in front is copy of the ticket.
The employe drops a nickel in the
slot and gets an accident insurance.
Ticket good for twenty-four hours.
The same company has q box in the
Palmer house for travelling men only.
The benefit is so much for death
through an accident and so much per
week while suffering from injuries
sustained. Chicago Herald.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-07-18
FEEDING OCEAN PASSENGERS.
what II Costs tn Supply the Lartler of
Great Steamship ON One Voyage.

"hat u Costs To supply the Larier of q
Great Steamship ON One Voyage.
The big steamships which ply be-
tween New York and Europe carry on
each trip across the Atlantic little
city of people Two thousand persons
sometimes are stored away on board
these floating palaces. To appease the
sea sharpened appetites and assuage the
thirst of this horde requires a great
deal of solid and liquid food. The
steward of a certain liner took on at
Liverpool for the last round voyage
1000 bottles of champagne, 5000 of
claret, 5000 of ale, $500 of porter,
5000 OF mineral water and 700 of
spirits. They used last year on their
line OF steamers 5000 quarts and II
GLIB pints of champagne. The Ameri
cans drink the greater part of the
champagne. They call for FIVE quarts
OF it to one of any other nationality.
They also used on that line last year
IL, 941 quarts and 1910 pints of claret.
This had the largest sale among the
French travellers, and indeed, all the
passengers from the continent pre-
ferred clafet.
The Br;tishers drank the greater
part OF the years supply of ale and por
ter, In all 4S0, 900 bottles. This, with
175, 900 bottles of mineral water, made
enough liquid to float one of their
ships In. Pretty good showing, that.
IN the way of wet goods, isn't it9
The other vices weren't neglected
The steward says their line used last
year 80, 900 pounds of tobacco, IS, 600
cigars and $1,000 cigarettes; the lem
ons used on shipboard averaged two
apiece every day, apples the same,
oranges leading with three apiece
each day.
The steward says: I'VE sailed from
Liverpool with 547 cabin passengers
and 300 in the crew. We had on board
when we started 1880 pounds of
fresh beef, 700 pounds of corned beef,
5000 pounds of mutton, $50 pounds of
lamb, $50 pounds of veal, $50 pounds
of pork. There were besides 1000
pounds of fresh fish, 600 fowls, 800
chickens, 100 ducks, 80 geese, so tur
keys, 200 brace of grouse, Is tons of
potatoes, 80 hampers of vegetables, $50
quarts of ice cream, 1000 quarts of
milk, 1900 eggs.
"In the dry groceries there were $50
pounds OF tea, 1900 pounds of coffee
1000 pounds of white sugar, $50
pounds of pulverized sugar, 1900
pounds of cheese, 1000 pounds of but
ter, $500 pounds of ham and 1000
pounds of bacon You can form from
that list of figures what it costs to vic
tual the vessel for every voyage.
''My figures are not done yet. This
line uses 10000 tons of ice every year,
and an average of 1000 tons of coal
every day. They use 1O4, 900 gallons
of engine oil for one item, and an av
erage of four pounds of meat a minute
or over 2,0O0, 900 pounds year. They
use % tons of raisins and currents,
over 1000, 900 eggs, the average being
one every minute. They use II tons
of mustard, Is tons Of peas, II tons of
rice and 460 tons of -four, exclusive Of
the $4,000 loaves of bread. They use
Is tons of cheese and 10 of yellow soap,
not counting the toilet soap. These
are only the figures of one line, and
there are many."-Indianapolis News
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-07-18
The Rattan Collins.

'aThe latest and newest thing in
coffns," said the Rev. Stephen Merritt,
is the earth-to-earth'' casket. 1t is an
oblong casket made of rattan stripped
of it's outer gloss. 1t is called earth
to-earth" because through its open
work meshes the air has free access to
the remains, dissolution follows quick
ly, and the body soon assimilates with
the earth. The cost is about the same
as that of an ordinary coffin, from SIS
up, according to the trimmings. The
present construction is an American
idea, but similar caskets have been
used in England. They are strong
enough for the purpose, yet they will
sooner disappear in the ground than
any that have ever been used. New
York Sun.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-07-18
A Modern David and Jonathan.

Between Bishop Potter and Corne-
Illus Vanderbilt there has long existed a
very affectionate and sincere friend
ship, and their intimacy has been ik-
ened unto that of historical record be-
tween David and Jonathan. Mr.. Van
derbilt continually accompanies the
bishop in his local tours of ministra-
tons, especially when the service is
confirmation at the public institutions
or the Sailors Floating chapel, and is
the quiet, secret benefactor under the
bishops advice in many cases. The
two men are congenial and en- rapport
to a degree not usual between layman
and high priest, and, viewed either
spiritually or financially, who shall say
it is not happy combinationG Cor.
Chicago Post.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-07-18
A New Moral.

A family residing at Cape Elizabeth
have two boys. one aged and the other
81 years old The older boy fell head
foremost into tub of water. He kicked
and screamed, but no one was near to
help him, but his little brother taking in
the situation. began Juggling away to
pull him out. His little hands were not
strong enough to do SO. All at once an
idea struck him, and he left the room to
return with switch, which he began to
apply quite vigorously to that part of his
brother hanging over the tub, nearest to
him. The application of the switch
aroused the temper of the boy in the tub,
who by dexterous use of his legs and
the help of his little preserver raised
himself and backed out. Moral: Spare
the rod and drown the child.-Lewiston
Journal.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-07-18
Chopin's Musical Likes and DisIikes.

He worshipped Mozart, and was a
jealous student of Bach. One day,
Halle played to him Beethoven sonata
Zone from op. 81. Chopin found the
last movement vulgar. From this
Halle concluded that he could not
have made a deep study of the
masters works. LEM, indeed, has
said: Chopin did not take very
serious interest in Beethoven. He
knew only his principal compositions,
the last works not at all" Chopin
cared little for Mendelssohr, and-if
the statement of Schlessinger be true
that he did not consider Schumann's
Carnival" to be music at all-still
less for composer who thoroughly
appreciated and admired his own gen
ius. He preferred Bellini to Berlioz.
Nicok's Life of Chopin.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-07-18
The Royal Widows Of Europe.

There never were, think, so many
royal widows in the regal circles of
Europe in existence at one time as
there are at present. Beginning with
Queen Victoria, the Empress Eugene
and the two German expresses, Au-
gusta and Victoria, there are now
Queen Christina of Spain, the Ouch
ess of Albany and, latest of all, the
Grand Duchess Stephanie, whose aunt,
the mad Empress Carlotta of Mexico,
has never put on widows weeds, as
she is in daily expectation of the arri-
val at her present home of the Emper-
or Macmillan. What brilliant des-
tiny that unfortunate prince threw
away when he left the charming
shades of Miramus to run after the
will-o'-the-wisp grandeurs of a vision
airy empire in the new world. He would
have been now, by the death of his
nephew, Prince Rudolph, the heir to
the Austrian throne, and popular and
beloved as he was, he would have been
rapturously hailed as the future en-
peror by the nations under the sway
of Austria. Napoleon III did his most
fatal work when he lured the intelli-
gent, amiable Macmillan from his
conjugal happiness and the brilliant
possibilities of his future, to work out
his own sinister designs, which were
not for the aggrandizement of the un-
fortunate archduke, nor even for the
regularization of French claims
in Mexico, but which were sim
ply covert acts of hostility against
n~:k~l
you an empire out of a block of
silver" was the remark of Napoleon
to Macmillan when the latter came to
take leave of him. It was not an en-
pire but a sarcophagus that the crown
ed Mephistopheles had followed out
for his luckless guest, and not from a
block of silver, but from one of gran
ite-not in sunny Mexico, but in the
dim funeral vault Of the Hapsburgs.-
Paris Cor. St. Louis Post Dispatch.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-07-18

Here is another good smuggling
story from the Belgian frontier: 4
newly married couple were returning
to Germany after tour to Brussels.
As the train approached the frontier
the bride grew uneasy and presently
confessed that she had quantity of
the finest of Brussels lace in her bag.
on which high duty would have to
be paid. .Put it inside your hat, /" she
pleaded This was done. The custom
house officials looked all through the
boxes of the elegant young lady,
knowing by experience that such are
the most daring Of smugglers, but
found nothing. The chief officer,
charmed by the amiable manners of
the husband, accompanied the couple
to the train, when the wretched bus
band, forgetting his secret in the ioy
Of having escaped, raised his hat to
the officer and was instantly enveloped
il 4 aQft white veil TableauL
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-07-18
A SAMPLE DAY At HARVARD.
A Bunalonian Tells How His Time 4.
Spent in College.

Spent in College.
Counting undergraduates and special
students together, there are 1. 14O Young
men between the ages of II and "a now
residing at Harvard college. The writer
enjoyed an interview with one of the
Buffalo boys, who was at home for a
orlef recess, a short time ago. "You
Will understand" he said, that | am
neither a grind nor loafer, but an av.
erage student, and the vast ma iority of
them live just about as do. A picture
OF my college day is about as follows:
=. l turn out anywhere between 7:3O and s
In the morning, and go over to Memorial
70 breakfast at 8 or S:3O-sometimes
earlier than that, SO as to go to chapel.
Prayers come at 8:45, and are well at
tended, though we don't have to go unless
we choose. After this recitations and
lectures take up nearly the whole fore
noon, and have one in the afternoon
three times week. On four days of the
week | have three recitations, on the
others two. Other men have them diff.
ferently, according to the electives thew
take. My studies are over for the day
at p. M. and they occupy, all told.
about seven hours day.
I'm interested in athletics. and nv
afternoon from to $50 is spent in the
gymnasium, or in outdoor athletics in
the season for them. Part of our train.
ing, in suitable weather, consists of a run
OF two miles, to Porters station and back.
The gymnasium is always crowded. and
you get pretty well heated up by your
exercise, whatever it is. Then, after a
cold shower and a brisk rubbing. YOU
feel like king, and don't you Just sleep
nights, thought find that my athletic
training helps my studies greatly Din
ner comes at 8, and l generally study
evenings, though not always. I've been
to the theatres some eight or nine times
this term, but don't like to go to Boston
much. 1t takes too long and you have
to be up late, which won't do when. you
are in training.
MANY people have the idea that you
can let your studies go and loaf, or worse,
until two or three weeks before the ex-
aminations, and then cram up. This is
utter nonsense. 1t is simply impossible
to keep up with your class in that way,
unless, indeed, you can spend 500 or
$3.50 for private tutors. and even then
you wouldn't be safe. AS for cutting
recitations. if you made practice of do
ing it oftener than twice week, you'd
be Investigated, sure as fate-and that is
not at all pleasant.
ION Sundays go to church some
where-sometimes to Boston to hear
phillips Brooks, sometimes to the college
chapel, sometimes elsewhere There are
usually 400 or 500 at morning prayers,
and more than that at the Sunday even
ing service, though you don't have to 20
to either unless you want to."-Buffalo
Express.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-07-18
Ru..ian Women in tho Past.

Tn olden times the position of women
IN Russia was deplorable. and, as else
where, it has only improved by de-
grees. Herberstein declares that no
woman was deemed virtuous unless
'be lived in domestic seclusion and
was never seen outside home; and
Tenkinson says that, except on their
wav to church at Christmas and Easter
or when paying visits. it was an acct
don't if YOU ever saw a Russian lady.
This habit has survived more or less
even tc this century, for Bremner
sneaks of the women as guarded with
oriental seclusion," and Theophile
Gautier attests the same thing. So
stronp in the Sixteenth century was
the prejudice against women that even
fowls or animals killed by their hands
were regarded as unclean; and often,
# their husbands were absent, they
might be seen standing at their doors
and begging some passer-by to per-
form for them the butchers Office.
Not infrequently the murder of
husbands avenged the maltreatment
Of wives; to meet which a law was
ordained that for this crime women
should be buried with their heads only
above the ground, there to be left till
they were starved to death. In olden
days marriages were always arranged
by intermediates, and no one would
have dreamed of conducting his own
suit.
One of the most popular changes
effected by Peter the Great was the
regulation that no couple should be
married without the consent of both
parties, and that they should be al
lowed to meet for at least six weeks
before marriage. The intending bride
groom sent his future wife such sym
bolical presents as needles and thread,
raisins and fruit, and a whip.
On the wedding day there was al
ways the show of resistance on the
part of the bride so common every
where; the bride would resist to the
uttermost leaving her house to 90 to
the church, and would sob and make
a great noise all the way thither. In
the church it was etiquette for her to
fall down at her husbands feet, and to
knock her head on his shoe in token
of her subsection. It is said that for
three days after marriage she risked
her character if she spoke more than a
few words at mealtime with great
manners and reverence" to her hus
band. TWAS customary for husbands
to make their wives and daughters an
allowance Tor paint, and so fond were
the ladies of this mode of adornment
that Jenkinson compared them to
millers' wives who looked as if they
had been beaten about the face with
bags of meal.-The Gentleman's Maya
Zine