davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1890-03-29

Talking of the absurdities of a certain
class of juvenile literature, Burdette
says: No, oh, no; we are not going to
pitch into the penny biood-and- thunder
novelette,, not right directly at any rate.
We were looking over q story in the
late number of a most excellent and
highly respectable juvenile magazine; a
good magazine, that doubtless views
with alarm, as do all the rost of us, the
poisonous literature of the news stand.
This story is about boy fifteen years
old, who. while standing alone on his
fathers engine on a lonely siding, saw
runaway train Of cars, started by the
wind, sweep past him down the grade.
Unusual thing-the lightning express
nearly due; the train dispatcher always
manages to have a lightning express
about due when anything of this kind
happens. There is no telegraph wire,
either; this is also unusual road
without wir els apt to run lightning
expresses and limited trains every fifteen
minutes. The boy thinks quickly Boys
of fifteen are always quick thinkers !,
He runs his engine out on the main line,
setting the switches for himself, for his
father has gone to supper miles away in
the country, presumably, as it is quite
customary for railway engineers to take
all their meals on distant ranches, leav-
ing their engines in charge of children.
The runaway cars "are miles away, :"
and he has "less than an hour" to catch
them. He caught the runaways, which
were flying like the wind he slowed up
with excellent jSdgment"-we should
think so-crept along the side Of the fly
ing engine, got out on the pilot, lifted
the coupiing-bar with one hand, and
reached over as he "made the coupling
and dropped the pin with the other !"
had struggle with the flying cars, but
at last checked them; got them started
back; he had made thirty-fve miles an
hour, and the "ligh ming" in sight max
ing sixty--on road without a wire
he had ten miles to run in this shape,
but he made it, got the siding, time to
turn the switch, and the lightning
Numbered by. Then the boy tainted
dead away" No wonder it was enough
TO make a man faint to read it; il wac
high time somebody tainted. We
haven't the least objection to fiction; we
rather like it, but even fiction for boys
should have some sense in ii. Not much.
perhaps, but Just some.
Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1890-03-29
SOME RARE FIGURES.

Fourteen performances by Booth and
Modjeska in Boston drew Sal 500.
Two thousand four hundred and ninety
five telegraph poles have heen hatchsted
in New York. and IL 800, 600 foo of wiro
has come down.
"He has tied the knot, writes On Alb.
erdeen. Ind, CORE ,onaent OF the Phil
adelphia Record ",Jr Z ,075 coupioa dur
ing nineteen years This is the record OF
Squire Massie Bea 10y, who lives as Alb
erdeen, just opposite bIaysvisie, KY. tho
important point il May 4 romance, The
Gretna Green of Kentucky. The JUS
tice is 73 and bac..elor
Ninety-three thousand EngIishmau,
$1,000 Irishmen, and 1900 Scotchmen
emigrated TO the United STATES in 1890;
$4,000 English, 1900 Irish and 1000
Scotch went TO Canada 23, 900 English,
1000 Irish, and 1900 Scotch went to
Australia while to "all other places"
went $4,000 English. 1900 Irish and
1000 Scotch. The totals Cor the yeaI
show 16i. 900 Eaglish emigranti, Gi,09s
Irish and IS, 600 Scotch
Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1890-03-29

That pigs are not the only animals
who take a delight in musical sounds,
may DO proven by the following Incl
dent of which was witness on more
than one occasion. Opposite to our
house was a large field in which some
twelve or thirteen COWS were put dur
ing the summer months One day
German band commenced to play on
the road which divided the house from
the field. The COWS were quietly graz
ing at the other end Of the field, but no
sooner did they hear the music than
they at once advanced towards it and
stood with their heads over tho wall at
tentively listening. This might have
passed unnoticed, but upon the must.
clans going away, the animals followed
them as well as they could on the other
side of the wall, al when they could
get no further stood lowing piteously.
So excited did the cows become that
come of them ran round and roul the
field 10 try and get out, but findiag no
outlet returned to the corner where they
had lost sight If tie band, and it was
some time before they seemed satisfied
that the sweet sounds were really gone.
it seems a strange coincidence that both
the pigs and cows were charmed by
music produced by German blnd.-
tAmerican Naturalist
Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1890-03-29
FOR rAsHroNABLEs

A figured sateen showed hox plated
front and sides, with velvet ribbon trim
mings aud full back. Back breadths
are again seen draped in short handker-
chief points at top.
Very pretty dresses can DO made for
slin ladies from the clan plaid woolens
and surah The plaid is made up bias
and has plated skirt with wide band
of surah above hem The waist has vest
and trimmings OF plain surah.
The vest addition is another conven.
TENT feature of the present dressmaking.
The prettiest vests are those which do
not open in front, but are made in ons
piece. either OF velvet or silk. The vest
may DO plated or shirred The jacket
arrangement, in it's various modifica-
tons, is as much worn by ladies as young
girls
A pretty indoor dress FOR young lady
is of plaid wool of AIae green and stripe
OF rich rcd. The bodice front and skirt
front breadth are cut together, gathered
on to tight fitting lining, and fastened
at sides under plain jacket fronts 81 red
or green. The jacket has side and back
flaps falling over full gathered skirt.
The folds Of the sleeve, raised high ogA
top are made full toward front and end
ut elbow, where gold buttons ornament
seam down to wrist.
A simple at homo dress is made OK
cashmere or nuns yelling, with tuli
bodice crossed over pointed vest, AND
Persian or other embroidery, and skirt
being draped upon panel of tho sanls
let in at left side. Crossed bodice Ia
hooked under a large rosette of the ma
terial we'll on the side or to point where
side embroidery begins. Leaves of tho
embroidery are placed on front and back
points of bodice. The fuilness is masscd
at neck in narrow tucks each Side OF
vest. The full sleeve has tucked cuff at
wrists or cuff OF embroidery.
Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1890-03-29
OLD NOTIONS EXPLODED

An old pantomimist says bismuth does
not kill clowns, but on the contrary is
good for the skin
Glass blowers do not die young and
do not injure their lLags, but rather do
yclop and improve them.
Many species OF sharks will not eat
human flesh Shack fishing is regular
and lucrative industry in somo parts Of
the world.
Mr.. Lesigne has published book in
Paris desired to show that Joan of
Arc was not buried at the stake, but
was married 10 |. .htleman in Lorraine
and reared large family, dying, finally,
natural death.
A California ostrich farmer says tho
Ostrich does not bury his head in tho
sand and imagine lie Is hidden Nor
does the female osi,ich ley her eggs in
the sand and leays them for the eua TO
hatch. Nor is the ostrich used for rid.
ing, since is hack is 90 wear n man can
break 1t with blow.
Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1890-03-29
saved by n song.

In Rohor, BraNu beautiful poem
sP;ppa Passes q h,ae sir who has a
hoia ias, and y so-s ahou. her Italian
tow uAlpp singing, influences great
anc owe Il people TO better things by
the ,uere l,ea. aud purity of her song.
When ,.y bear her young voice chant
Gods ia Ills Heaven"
they no longer dare break His DEGREES
an6 SEQ. Ills counsels. i clergyman
te 5, in The Philadelphia Times, story
Ills own Peril near Harper's Ferry,
i, !. sime wien there were many rough
IA i@ngerou men at work in the vi
cini.y,
Re was travelling alone, and having
LOST his way ON a lonely road, suddenly
found himself j.. the midst of a gang
of workmen. lie greeted Thorn politely,
told them his difficulty, and two Of them
sulien.y offered 70 show him the way.
lie accepted The favor, though with some
misgiving, and " llked on with them,
trying TO make himself agreeable He
says:
After a while we came to a dark
place where they had been working on
The road, and they proposed that should
step and rest. l WAS bound to do as they
suggested, but could not help wondering
II ! should ever get up again.
Nearlthem lay two short drills and
these they took up. but said nothing.
seemingly did no, notice this and talked
to them about Ireland, for they were
Irshmen, and asked about their families
and everything which might interest
the y.
At last i thought l would try the
power of song, SO / sang all the Irish
songs could think of. Still they seemed
wholly unmoved and had the same
wicked look, and felt that l did not yet
dare move and bring about crisis.
Il remembered one more Irish song,
'The Irish Emigrant's Lament and |
sang it with all the pathos could put
into my voice. In few moments saw
their countenances change; the muscles
of their faces began to twitch and their
eyes filled with tears, which soon rolled
silently down their bronzed cheeks.
when finished they turned to me
and said, with voices trembling with
emotion, That song has saved your life.
We had intended killing you for what
money you might have, but we could not
touch you now. That song of old Ire
land has brought the dear homes and all
the loved ones so strongly before us that
now we will protect you and go with
you until you are safe from all danger
And so they did, but you may be sure
] was glad when we came tothe place OF
parting, for did not know how long
these better feelings might last. When
we parted, shook hands with them cor
daily, saying, Erin so bragh, Ireland
forever and walked off, forcing myself
to go little slowly lest should excite
their ill-will by seeming in too much
hurry to get away.
Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1890-03-29
"a Good Idea. John"

AT the deathbed Of William B Asto-,
father of John Jacob, says the New York
Press, after everything pertaining 10 the
enormous personal estate was supposed
to be arranged, the dying man suddenly
said John, what did we do with the
$1,000 600 of registered United States
1's?"
"We have forgotten them, father, {" re-
piled the son.
What would we better do with them,
John?"
II think. father, they'd better be given
TO the girls his sisters
"Tnat's u good iea, John. Hurry a
man to Washington specially, and have
them transferred before die.
That was done and the incident il a
suggestive pointer as TO the vastness Of
the property held and to be disposed Of.
Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1890-03-29
sUAYE, RUT DEADLY.
GentiemenIy Ben Thompson, One OF the
Noted Texas Fire-EateRa.

Gentiemenly Ben Thompson, One of the
Noted Texas Fire-EateEa.
All over Texas Ben Thompson's note
was negotiable paper, says writer in
the ST Paul Pioneer Press. and no man
who ever presented him with a bill was
treated with any thing but polite business
courtesy.
was introduced to Thompson at Aus
tin, Tex, and the meeting was not in a
saloon, a gambling house, or even a
hotel. The place ~ss a quiet, orderly
ice-cream parlor, and Ben Thompson and
bis wife were eating strawberry cream
school girls. one of them being the
daughter of ex-Governor Ireland, Of
Texas
Thompson was small-sized man, yet
not slender he was elegantly yet not
show ily dressed his clothes indicated a
correct taste, a diarnond stud and thread
Of isold watch chain comprising all his
| personal jewelry He was handsome
man Of x5, with smaK black moustache
chi hazel eyes.
Il this man had record Of having
| killed. thirteen white men and twice that
nGas6ar Of MexicaE3 and Indians, a few
Months later he Was himself killed in
ga Antonio, along with Kinghsher, in
: land to-hand conflict with two other
| lnea in he Vaudeville theates.
lie was never known 10 take an I'M
far advantage of an enemy, anumber Of
| lis victims have had the first shot at him.
Oace, III store, he ordered man, with
whom he was en- aged in lively dis.
pute. to go outside aud pass around the
block TO the rigl,, and he would pass
around to the loft and meet him. They
did SO the man bia4ed away at Thomp-
son with shotgun, loaded with buck
shot, missed. went into the air at the
crack of Ben's revolver, and fell u
corpse,
And thus with every case Of Ihomp-
cons numero' killings. the prelimin-
aries were always favored with dash
CT dramatic sensationalism.
80 Thompson and his wife passed out
of the ice-cream bazaar | noticed that
she had but one am. The other had
been shattered by Winchester ball in
Denver, when she threw il across Bena
head upon discovering crouching form
drawing bead on him. At the time OF
his death, Thompson was city marshal
of Austin.
Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1890-03-29

The Oldest tree In Europe Is in Sicily
and is known in history as I'll Castagno.
The oldest observatory in Europe ia
chat founded by King Frederick Ill Of
Denmark on the Island of Hveen, in the
Sound.
it now turns out that massage was a
fine art with the Chinese about the time
that Moses was maturing his plans for
exodus from Egypt
The observatory at Peking rs the old
est in the world, having been founded
in 1879 by Kubla Khan, the FIRST Emperor
of the Mogul dynasty. There are still in
1t three of the first instruments of OBJ
servation. These were used for the OBJ
servation of Halley's comet, in 1888. and
may also be used when, in 1912, this
comet again appears.
Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1890-03-29
A BIG FOUR

Orange City, Fla, boasts OF head OF
lettuce nearly six feet in circumference.
A six-year-old OK that weighed 2,eSJ
pounds was sold in ParkeFsburg ths
other day,
An ear Of corn grown on Kansas soil
IL exhibited which is twenty-threc and a
half incaes' long and twelve and half
inches in circumference at the base.
The American Museum of Natural
History in Central Park has an egg
valued at $500. 1t is little over foot
in length, It's holding capacity being two
gallons, and in round numbers it equals
1856 hens eggs II is from Madagascar,
and is a relic of an extinct monster bird.
Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1890-03-29
A Gown Weighing Three ounces.

About the year 100 fair young bride
in the village now known as New Haven
wore dainty costume of white. The
gown was cut low in the neck and was
sleeveless The dress was of light and
filmy texture and weighed hut about
three ounces. 1t has been handed down
from generation to generation, until it
has at last come into possession Of o Dam
bury lady. The dress is remarkably well
preserved and is extremely valuable,
both from its age and the beauty OF the
embroideries with which it is covered.
The design Of the trimming Is PRETTY
worked in the coarse linen thread 50
common in those dayS
Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1890-03-29
BITS OF NATURAL HISTORY.

A Philadelphia shoemaker's dog died
day or two ago from swallowing a
piece Of sole leather in mistake for beef
steak.
Levi Williamson, of Ansonia, Conn,
has hog that is seven feet long and
weighs 1000 pounds. 1t is so fat that it
is unable to get up.
Swans do not breed until they they
are three years old. They are strictly
homogeneous, and the male bird takes
his full share in the incubation, which
occupies six weeks.
Eugene G. Blackford, at Fulton
market, New York, received some curious
Chinese goldfish lately. They arc
known as King HiHo, and have three
tails. They are Produced by the inter-
breeding Of deformed specieS
Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1890-03-29
OKANHF0o.
AN ESKIMO LOVE soxa.

AN ESKIMO LOVE sosa.
OH Okanitoo, this III do,
TO win your noble heart;
Mn command of n magic wand.
I'll cleave the mountain apart.
There below the surface of snow,
By the eternal hunting ground,
A hut FL build Of rarest guild,
Where love may ever abound.
On wings III rise to the leaden skies,
To drag the aurora down,
Its trembling bars with glittering star1
To make thee wedding gown.
The rainbow, too, Of varied hue,
For bonny belt I'll bring;
The new neon trap. the ends I'll lap
And weld thee q lingering.
IN hunt the hare. III fight the bear,
And Danish the wolves for good;
Whales and deer and seals I'll spear
Well never want for food.
When this is done. I'll moor the sun,
And turn the blizzard away;
The winters blast forever past,
Well live in endless day.
John W. Kelly.
NoTE-O woman.
The Eskimo happy hunting. ground is undeI
the glaciers, out OF the cold.
Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1890-03-29

The artistic arrangement of natural
flowers is part of every japanese lady's
education-a much more satisfactory ac-
complishment than the manufacture of
floral monstrosities in wax.
Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1890-03-29

There are about hundred species Of
mosquitoes in the world, occurring in all
climes England has eight or ten spe-
cies, for mosquitoes, as we'll a Hessian
flies, are as common in England as white
butterflies. Most if not all, of the
British species, bite in very not weather,
when apparently, like their betters, they
require more liquid Tefreshment.
Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1890-03-29

There are 200, 900 people in the United
States who have artificial legs or hauds.
This number does not include disabled
soldiers
Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1890-03-29
PoLYGLoT WISDOM.

Fools 60 in throngs. = French
proverb.
Adversely is the first path to truth.
byron.
A scalded cat breads cold water.
-[Portuguese Proverb.
No one is wise aough to advise him.
self. Herman Iipverb.
Love. cough and smoke are hard to
hide. Italian Proverb.
He is the wisest man who docs not
think himself so. L Dutch Proyorb.
Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1890-03-29

1t is said that in London luncheon is
TO take the place of late dinner as
social function, the fashionable people
recurring to the habits of their fore
fathers, will take their heartiest meal in
the middle Of the day.
Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1890-06-27
ELErIANr NnLLlNn 4 I.nG.

ifc, and on another occasion when
stampede of elephants took place he
caught the man in his trunk aud held
him between his forc-icc until the danger
was over. And l do not believe that
many people know that when the sacred
elephant is II baby hc sometimes has
twenty ladies to nurse him, and they
al, think it great honor. But to have
an elephant build II stone wall and an
other elephant trained rs oversccr! In
Coylon they pile the timber. And ono
actually made dam. She carried tho
logs from the forest and put them in
position. "'rhc most extraordinary part
of her performance, says Mr.. Wool,
twas the arranging of two immense logs
of rcd kccnur Zone of the heaviest woods).
They were about eighteen feet long and
two feet in diameter, aud were intended
Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1890-06-27

The tornado is local disturbance,
often accompanying in the interior the
progress of cyclone. Sometimes the
track of the tornado is limited to few
hundred feet, and it rarely has width
Of half mile.
The cyclone carries with Il velocity Of
rs much as 100 to 40 miles an hour. 1t
sends Il certain amount of warning ahead
of its track, and the accclcration of the
winds speed st any given point is
gradual.
The tornado falls almost without no.
tice, o.: rather the indications are often
20 similar to those of an ordinary thun-
dcrstorm that only Il skilled and careful
observer can detect the difference
The phenomena and effects of cyclones
i'll the West Indies have long been sub
.iects OF study and observation. AS the
centre approaches a ship she is assaulted
oy wind of Il terrible force and sea that
rs almost Understandable. The water no
longer runs i'll waves of regular onward
motion, but leaps up in pyramids and
peaks. The wind swrs and strikes
until wherever there is chance for
vibration or ilutter, even i'll tightly
iuricd sails. the fabric soon gives way.
once saw Il brig 90 drifting past us in a
West Indies cyclone with everything
Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1890-06-27
Bears n Charmed Life.

There is man in Biddeford who, it is
claimed, has passed through more
dangers uninjurcd during the past few
days than any other citizen OF Maine.
The first mishap was in his barn. He
was getting ready to take hay rack
from the high beams, and stepped into
the rack, when something gave way and
the whole thing came down Oh to the
floor. Then he went out on the ice with
team, and was the hero OF an exciting
tip-over. Not content with these ok.
periences, he got OH a load of hay on the
marsh and started home. The next
thing he knew he was under the hay and
the whole was going rapidly toward tho
open river, propelled by the wind. Once
more his lucky star was in the ascendant,
and though the hay went in, the owner
succeeded in being left out. His next
adventure is anxiously awaited for by
bis friends.---Lewiston Journal.
Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1890-06-27

though gang of axemon had piled thcm
tools on lines laid out by surveyors,
nothing outside the track being touched !;
but again i'll similar windfalls there will
be found occasional pockets scored in the
forest growth jutting of the right line,
like small lagoons opening into flowing
stream. These seem to have been caused
by a sort OF attendant whirlwiud-a
baby offspring from the main monster,
which, having sprung away from the
chief disturbance, scoops hole in the
woods and then expires or rejoins tho
original movement.
| have seen one of the most violent and
so to speak, conpresscd of these storms, cut
road through thick woods SO that ut 8
distance the edges stood out rs clear aud
sharp against the sky us would those of u
railway cutting through earth. Trees
standing at the edge of the track had
their branches clean swept on ono side
while on the other there was no percepti-
bic disturbance of the foliage.
Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1890-06-27

a T..
frenzy by the tornado getting into the
Opening and lifting off the whole roof
after having first swept away the house
above. Another pathetic case resulted
III the death of whole family by an
extraordinary freak of the tornado. Tho
storm first struck large pond and swept
up all the water in it. Its next plunge
deposited this water on one of these dug
outs, the house. above which had been
destroyed. The family we're drowned
like chipmunks in hole.
Some OF the Western t0Fnadoes arc nc.
companlcd by electrical manifestations to
I'm extent that has originated belief in
electricity as their cause. These dis
turbances are very marked in some cases.
while in others they have not been 70.
tlccd. In one tornado in Central Hin.
DIS electricity played very peculiar antics
not only III the torEado's track, but also
ut some distance from it. In the ruined
houses all the iron work was found tn
have been strongly magnetizcd so TINT
pokers, ilatirons and other metal objects
were found adhering to each other
Just off the tornado's track the same Of
fccts were noticed, and several persona
experienced sharp electric shocks during
the passage of the storm Afterward Il
was found that the magnetic influence
was so strong that clocks and watches
were stopped and rendered wholly useless.