davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Tombstone epitaph., 1890-02-22
ABOUT MOONSTONES.
They Come from India and Are Never
 Sold by Weight

''The word precious can not be ap- piled to roonstones," said well-known dealer in jeTelry, ''because their marketable value is relatively small at all times, and is still further influenced by the decrees of fashion. For some years past we have had but few calls for moonstones, but about twelve months ago they were restored to popular favor, and will probably continue to be much used for some time to come. The stones come from India, are easily procured, and there is but little waste in cutting. They are almost invariably of bluish- white tint, the rays of the most perfect stones much resembling moonlight (hence the name), those of less clear or yellowish hue being of but little value. When carved, the clear trans parency of the stone is of course marred, but many of them are so embellished, the man in the moon being favorite device, and baby's face surrounded with a cap of pearls or diamonds another."
 The moonstone is seldom worn alone by fashionable people, having usually
 
 other precious stones. In response to question the dealer added: ''The largest moonstone have ever seen was one of oblong shape about one and three quarters inches in length and three quarters of an inch in width. This was set to represent a butterfly with partial ly closed wings of brilliantly-colored stones, and was intended to be worn as pendant. These stones are not valued by weight as others are, but simply by appearance and size, perfectly round stone being more desirable than flat ter one and more rare"
 As the moonstone is additionally lucky it is most suitable for souvenirs, parting and anniversary gifts, and from present indications will be much used for favors and wedding presents during the coming gay season.-N. Y. Sun.
Tombstone epitaph., 1890-02-22
HOUSEHOLD sREVITIES.

When cooking onions set tin of vinegar on the stove, let it boil, and you will have no disagreeable smell.
 Crystal globes in colored or cut glass filed witt lenE-steIrnr.a roses arc a lovely decoration for the lunch or tea table. The globes come in ruby, sapphire and emerald tints, and usually rest on mirror plaque.
 -Codfish croquettes - Take equal parts of picked-up codfish (freshened in water) and fresh mashed potatoes; sea- son with pepper, dip in egg, and roll in fine cracker meal and fry like oysters, making them in any shape preferred.
 In oyster stew or any thing where one wishes to use the liquor let it come to a boil so as to take off the scum- Never boil oysters, as it toughens them, simply let them come to boiling point It should simply boil around the edges
 -Sweetbread Sauce. Remove the tough skin from the sweetbreads and let stand in cold water twenty minutes. Cut in halves, then in quarters and sea- son with salt and pepper, boil till ten der and put tablespoonful each of but ter and flour in frying pan and when hot put in the sweetbreads; stir until a light brown, which will take about ten minutes. Blade.
 An experienced housekeeper says the best water tank is stone jar-one of five or six gallons. This will not rust, and is not affected by change of temperature. Ice will dissolve in 1t without hurting it, and water will stand rusting it. Besides, clear, fresh water will keep cool, in a closet or other shady place, in a stone jar better than in any other position.
 Cracking Pone.-This is Southern recipe: For small pone take one quart of corn meal scalded with as much boil ing water as it will absorb, and allow it to cool until the hand can be used to mix into it one cupful of well-salted ''cracklings" or scraps left from trying out lard. Wet the hands in cold water and pat the pone into cake an inch thick on a pan. Bake in the oven.-New England Farmer.
 -Jellied Chicken.-Boil the chicken till the meat falls from the bone, in as little water as possible; take it out and let it cool; chop and season with salt and pepper, then put it in a mold with layer of hard, boiled eggs, either chopped or sliced; boil the water in which the meat was cooked until it is half boiled away, add tablespoonful of gelatine and when it is dissolved pour over the meat; this will be ready to use the next day after it is prepared; the eggs may be omitted if desired.-Detroit Free Press.
Tombstone epitaph., 1890-02-22
MOHAMMEDAN POWER.
The Establishment and Extension of Ara
 Dominion In Africa.

DOHlnhOh III AlElcbs
 But the problem of Arab dominion is not on the coast at all, but in the in terior of Africa. On the coast the Flu ropean States can make their influence felt, but it extends no further than narrow strip of land, beyond which bar barism reigns supreme. And here we arrive at one of the most remarkable phenomena of the age in which we live and the planet we inhabit. The abo- riginal inhabitants of Central Africa are savages, sunk in heathenism, afflicted by the evils and the weaknesses of savage life, and perhaps inferior in mental and physical vigor to the strong CT races of mankind. Over them has passed, like tempest from the east, a horde of men of another and stronger race, which marks them out for slavery and destruction. The Arab invasion of Africa is characterized in every part to which Europeans have penetrated by desperate valor in arms, by an utter in- difference to human life, and, above all, by an enthusiastic and fanatical belief in the faith of Islam. They remind us of those ardent followers of the prophet who, in the first ages of Mohammedanism, bore his blood stained standard and his intolerant creed from Spain to the confines of China, and well-nigh overthrow the faith and civilization of the ancient world. Indeed. if we are not mistaken, they are the same men the living inberitors of the pas sions, the valor and the faith of the soldiers of Mohammed. Before the strength of the Christian States they are now compelled reluctantly to bow; but over the unarmed and untutored native races of Africa they are supreme. Ac- cordingly, what we are now witnessing in Africa, since 1t has been partially opened to our view, is an amazing rec rudescence and fermentation of Mo hammedan power. On the Congo it is not the native population, but the blood thirsty Arab slave dealers, who oppose the progress of civilization; the natives ask for protection from these formidable tyrants. On the Nile the fierce chiefs of this new warfare have made Khar- toum seat of power and authority over the neighboring tribes, for since the overthrow of the Egyptian government in the south they are masters of the Soudan. The capture of that important position, and the defeat and death of the heroic champion of civilization who per ished there, were much greater events than they even seemed to be at the time they occurred; for they established pow CT, whether it was that of the Mahdi or any other name, which commands the in- terior and the eriver.-Edinburgh Review.
Tombstone epitaph., 1890-02-22
The Most Desirable End.

Most people have many things in which they desire to succeed, innocent in themselves except when they inter fere with @ higher aim and worthier purpose. It is this conflict of aims, this gradation of duties, that makes life often seem so complex and so difficult. The questions come continually before every thoughtful mind: ''Is this aim which l set before me the highest can reach? Is it not merely adesirable end, but the most desirable? Is it likely to lead to still better and worthier purposes, or is it likely to hide them from view?" As we answer these ques- tions to ourselves intelhgently and con- scientiously, the rightful limits of each will become clear, and our desire to succeed in each will harmonize with those limits. Thus the desire for pleas ure will be limited by the desire for health, the care of self by the care for others, the love of money by the love of honor, the effort to please by the effort to do right.-N. Y. Ledger.
Tombstone epitaph., 1890-02-22
IA LITTLE NONSENSE"

Honor Among Thieves.-Old Lady sir. you've stolen my daughters love-" Una5ashed prit-''Well, didn't I re- turn it?''-Time.
 -Democrat-''Thish has been a pretty hard year for the Republicans in the United States" Repub publican-''Ye but we carried Brazil. Life.
 -Caste.-Big Calf (vainIy)-"Get out, of my way or I'll step on you You're nobody" Barnyard Fowl (hahghtily)- "If you could hear folks grumble when they find veal in chicken salad you'd change your tune. "-N. Y. Weekly.
 -Modorn Training -Mother-''Now you have broken my cup. You de- serve whipping; come here" Fritz No, l won't come." Mother-''Come, Fritz, till l whip you, and then you Shall have slice of cake. ."-Fliegenae .Blsttar.
 -Hes 5ess--sAnd so you really. believe the moon to be inhabited, professor?" PCofessor-''Ah, veil, do not say zat, but zere is vun moon in vich ger mus be vun man." Hostess-''And which might that be, pray?" Professor 'Vy-ze-Vat you call it? Be honeymoon"
 First Widow-'eWhy, Mrs. verdant, what do you intend to do with the paiI?" Second Widow-''Well, you see, my poor husband requested that his grave be kept green, and as I am about to get married again 1 thought I would give it coat of green paint. ."-Munsey's Weekly.
 -Native-'Yes, sir, we are to have one of the finest health resorts in the world right here. We have every ad- vantage and invalids from all parts of the world will soon be coming here to be cured" Visitor-''Ah, indeed? What is that immense tract of ground over yonder-several hundred acres I should say?" Native-"That, sir, is to be used as our cemetery. y."-America.
 Small Boy-"Say, pa, wish you'd get me a bicycle" Old Man Cant afford it, my son. Rent too high, coal too dear. Besides, don't want you to break your neck" Small Boy-'Well, then, tricycle." Old Man-''Can't do it. But I'll tell you what you can have. When winter comes I'll try and get you a nice long icicle." The youngster is pacifed. Grip.
 Modern Improvements. - Real-Es- tate Agent (out West)-"This is the house l told you about" Eastern Man (anxious to grow up with the country)- Rather pretty place! Contains all the modern improvements, does it?" Agent -'Yes, siree. Which will you look at first, the cyclone cave or the earthquake cellar?"-N. Y. Weekly.
Tombstone epitaph., 1890-02-22
A Girl Mounts Monnt Ararat

Mount Ararat has this autumn, for the first time, been ascended by young girl. It seems that the forester Mlokossevitch, accompanied by his daughter, who is only seventeen years of age, and by his son, boy of fourteen, undertook the ascent, in the company of three Kurds. The strength of the boy was exhausted when they arrived at the height of 14,OOO feet, and the father stopped at the height of 16, 75O feet. The young girl and the three Kurds, however, continued the ascent until they reached the top-16,917 feet There the girl fell i'll from the intense cold, and in the descent was obliged to depend upon the Kurds for support London Star,
Tombstone epitaph., 1890-02-22
SHAVING THE BEARD.
The Practice Is Alluded to in Many Parts
 of the Old Testament.

The Practice Is Alluded to in Many Parts
 of the Old Testament.
 The earliest reference to shaving is found in Genesis xii, 14, where we read that Joseph, on being summoned before the King, shaved himself. There are several directions as to shaving in Le viticus, and the practice is alluded to in many other parts of the Holy Scriptures. Egypt is the only country mentioned in the Bible where shaving was made practice. In all other countries such an act would have been debasing in the extreme. HerodotuS mentions that the Egyptians allowed the beard to grow when in mourning. So particular were they as to shaving at all other times, that to neglect it was to set ones self up as 8 target for Peproach and ridicule. When the Egyptian artists intended to convey the idea of mean, low, sloven- ly fellow they always represented him in full beard.
 Unlike the Romans of a later age the Egyptians did not confine the shaving privilege to free citizens, but obliged their slaves to shave both beard and head.
 The priests were about the only class of citizens who habitually shaved the head except the slaves.
 About 300 years B. c. it became the custom of the Romans to shave regular ly. According to Pliny, Scipio Afri- canus was the first Roman to shave daily. In France the shaving custom was brought about by Louis XIII. coming to the throne young and beard less. The Anglo-Saxons wore their boards until at the Conquest they were compelled to follow the example of the Normans, who shaved. From the time of Edward III. to that of Charles l. boards were universally worn. In the time of Charles II. mustache and whisk- CTS only were worn, and soon after the reign of that monarch the shaving prac- tice became general.-St. Louis Repub- lie.
Tombstone epitaph., 1890-02-22
FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH.
Affecting Story of a Little Newsboy Who
 Lost Ten Dollars.

Affecting Story of a Little Newsboy Who
 Lost Ten Dollars.
 A business man of Detroit, whose of flee is on Woodward avenue, relates this singular experience in the Free Press:
 'I wanted ten-dollar bill changed, and as I was alone 1 stepped to the door and called a little newsboy whom I had frequently employed to run on errands, and told him to carry it to the nearest store and get it changed. I then went inside and waited. My partner came in and ridiculed me for what I had done.
 :' You will never see the boy or the change again, he said.
 'T must say his prophecy looked pos sible when as hours went by the boy did not return; still I trusted him. I could easier believe that he had been run over or made away with than that he had stolen the money.
 ''I did not change my mind when a week had passed. did not know where he lived or who his associates were, and no newsboy seemed to be missing The second week was nearly gone when a woman came into my office one day. She was crying.
 Are you Mir. - she asked.
 " I am, madam. What can I do for you2'
 ''Then she told me that her little boy was dying; that he had been i'll nearly two weeks, and kept constantly calling my name. I went with her and found my missing newsboy. As soon as he saw me he began to rave.
 T lost it! lost itp was the burden of his cry, but alone knew what he re- ferred to. He had lost the ten-dollar note, and it had preyed on his mind, causing brain fever. He died in my arms, unconscious that I had trusted him from the very first, and that I would have done any thing to save his life. have not doubt that he either lost it or had it snatched from him, and his sensitive nature kept him from tell ing the truth, and he gave his life up in the struggle"
Tombstone epitaph., 1890-02-22
How the Arabs Make Tea,

The mistress of the tent, placing a large kettle on the fire, wiped it careful ly with a horses tail, filled it with water and threw in some coarse tea and little salt. When this was near the boiling point she tossed the tea about with @ brass ladle until the liquor be- came brown, and then it was poured off into another vessel. Cleansing the kettle as before, the woman set it again on the fire in order to fry paste of meal and fresh butter. Upon this the tea and some thick cream were then poured, the ladle put in requisition again and after time the whole taken off the fire and set aside to cool. Half pint wooden mugs were handed around and the tea ladled into them, this tea forming meat and drink, and satisfying both hunger and thirst. However made, tea is blessed invention for the weary traveler.-Louisville Courier-Journal.
Tombstone epitaph., 1890-02-22
FACTS ABOUT RINGS.
History of the Use of This Wen-Known
 Ornament.

The practice of wearing inger-rings has been almost universal from an early period in the worlds history. There is a tradition which ascribes their inven- tion to Tubal Cain; and the old Latin author who gives currency to the story, speaking of the wedding circlet, says: ''The form of the ring being circular that is to say, round and without end imparteth this much, that mutual love and hearty affection should roundly flow from one to the other, as in the circle, and that continually and forever" The first authentic reference to fnger-rings occurs in the Old Testament, where Genesis xxxviii) mention is made of Judah's signet-ring. That they were also in use among the Egyptians at that time is evident from the forty-frst chapter of Genesis, where we read of Pharaoh taking off his own ring and putting it upon Joseph's hand, when he made him ''ruler over all the land of Egypt"
 The hands of female mummies, found in the tombs of Egypt, are profusely covered with rings; the wealthy ladies of that country wearing costly ones upon nearly every finger, while their poorer sisters had to content themselves with circles of bronze, glass or pottery. The ancient Chaldeans, the Persians, and, according to Herodotus, the Baby lOnians wore rings; and it is probable that from Asia they were introduced into Greece. In the later Greek legends the ancient heroes are spoken of as wearing them, and at a more recent date every freeman throughout Greece seems to have had one.
 The earlier rings appear to have been used not so much for ornament as for the practical purpose of af1xing seals; but later on they became merely orna- mental, and were set with precious stones. The Romans, who are believed to have derived the custom from the Sabines, wore signet-rings of iron-as was the case with the Laced8monians and every freeman had the right to wear one.
 Ambassadors in the early years of the republic used to wear gold rings as part of their official dress; this jus annuli aurei being afterwards extended to Cu4Sl 1hdS1SGIdGeS' oeHdJOrS aHu, 1dGer OH, to equities. Emperors were wont to con fer this right on those whom they wished to favor, and the privilege became grad ually more and more extensive, until in the time of Justinian all Roman citi- zens could avail themselves of it.
 The later Romans used to wear many rings upon their fingers, some even hay inr different ones for summer and win ter, while the height of ''dandyism'' was reached by those who never wore the same ring twice, but threw it away when once it had done service.-Notes and Oneries
Tombstone epitaph., 1890-02-22
LINcCLNS ANCESTORS.
Facts Learned from the Archives of Berks
 County, Pa.


 Among the inmates of the county almshouse is John Lincoln, aged about seventy-ive years. He is @ descendant of the same family to which the dead President belonged. He has been here for several years, and it is known that in his young days he was wealthy, hav- ing inherited considerable sum of money from the family. He was, how ever, @ lover of fast horses and fox hunting and the sport was too much for him and he soon fell into evil ways. Going from bad to worse, he eventually became hostler at country hotel. Becoming old, he was quickly incapaci- tated for work and was then sent to the poor-house. Researches among the ar chives of Berks County show that the Lincoln family came from Massachu setts and settled in Oley township, this county, some time prior to 1T35. They soon became prominent citizens in that and adjoining townships. The grand father of President Lincoln went from here to Virginia and thence to Kentucky, according to authentic records. They were among the largest taxpayers a century ago, and the names of Mordecai, John and Abraham are common ones on the records and tax levies. Abraham Lincoln, a granduncle of the martyr President, the records show, was a coun- ty commissioner in 1773. Ten years later he was elected to the Legislature and served four years. Subsequently, he was justice of the peace and ex-offcio one of the justices of the quarter ses- sions court. Many ancient documents can be found bearing his signature Reading (Pa.) Dispatch.
Tombstone epitaph., 1890-02-22
THE WOMEN'S HUNT.
Females Put On Mems Clothes In Order
 to Drive Away Evil Spirits.

to Drive Away Evil Spirits.
 A very curious custom is that called the women's Hunt, which prevails among some of the aboriginal tribes of ChOta Nagpore, India. It is observed when ever any calamity falls upon the com munity-such as, perhaps, visitation of cholera.
 The women put on mems clothes, take up arms and go a-hunting-nOt in the jungles, but in the nearest village east of them. They chase pigs and fowls, take as their own every thing they kill and levy blackmail from the heads of the villages for the purchase of liquor, or else they allow themselves to be bought off for small sum of money and a pig. Toward evening the hunting party retire to stream, cook and eat their meal, drink their liquor and then return home, having acquitted them selves during the day in thoroughly masculine and boisterOus manner.
 Then the village that has been visited goes on similar excursion to the vil- lage east of it, and so on to the eastern border of the district. By this series of excursions it is supposed that the evil spirit is safely conducted out of the dis trict without offending it's dignity Chicago Times.
Tombstone epitaph., 1890-02-22
Dickens, Letter to His Sons.

Here is a letter from Dickens, ad- dressed to his younger sons on their leaving home, one for Gam bridge, the other for Australia, in which the fa- ther's heart and the deeper side of his nature reveal themselves: 'You will remember" he says to both, ''that you have never at home been wearied about religious observances or mere formali- ties. You will therefore understand the better that I now most soIemnly i'm press upon you the truth and beauty of the Christian religion, as it comes from Christ Himself, and the impossibili5y of your going far wrong if you humbly but heartily respect it. Similarly l impress upon you the habit of saying Christian prayer both night and morning. These things have stood by me through my life, and remember that I tried to rem der the New Testament intelligible to you and lovable to you when you were mere babes. And so God bless you Ever your affectionate father" - Literary World.
Tombstone epitaph., 1890-02-22
Amusing and Characteristic.

A friend who has just returned from Paris tells me an amusing and charac- teristic anecdote. During the recent ex- position there was little railroad, five miles in length, running around the grounds. The tracks ran in and out among the trees and buildings, and so near them that passengers head or arm thrust out of the window was in danger of being knocked of. To pre- vent accidents of this sort warnings were printed on large posters and tackled up at intervals of a few yards along the entire track. They were printed in al- most every known language, including Asiatic and African tongues, shorthand and Volapuk. Ny friend counted over thirty languages and dialects. You would have supposed that Done was omitted in such list. But there was one omission, and very important one. Not single word of warming was print ed in German! Some one said to the manager of the road: ''It looks to me as though you didn't care whether the Ger mans got their heads and arms knocked of or not" He smiled quiet smile and replied: Ut does look that way, sure enough. ."-Critic.
Tombstone epitaph., 1890-02-22

The United Brethren church at Fal- mouth, near Lancaster, Pa., is built directly on the ground without cellar, and in the floor just in front of the pull pit is knot hole, through which a small spicewood tree has grown to the height of three feet. It is full of green leaves and thrives without any atten- tion. The members of the congregation christened it "The Tree of Life," and will not allow it to be removed.
Tombstone epitaph., 1890-02-22
CITY OFFICERS

Mayor-CHARLEs N. THOMAS.
 Chief Of Poice-D. W. GAGE
 Treasurer-OLLIvER TREvILLIAN.
 City Attorney-G. w. SWAIN
 Auditor and Recorder-NAT HAWKE. City 1sseSsor-J. C. WEisER.
 Councilmen-FIrst Ward, A. DARwoOD; Sec ond Ward, II. CAMPBELL; Third Mald, los. LIPPERT; Fourth Ward, JOHN PR1NDEvIILE.
Tombstone epitaph., 1890-02-22

A serious inconvenience often oc- CUTS at the shingles which surround brick chimneys. It may be easily cured by making paste or mortar of tar and dry sifted road dust, and applying it with a trowel about four inches over the shingles. It will harden and form perfect collar, lasting many years.