davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1890-12-11

Their chief characteristic was the cult
vatiOn of the memory hnd dieregard of
reason. Incompetent teachers carried
out the stulifying processes of the
arithmetics.
With the recognition of the superiority
of French mathematicians came improve
ments in mathematical text books and
reforms in mathematical instruction.
COlburn's first lessons met with ready
appreciations in New England and gained
ground in other parts of the country.
Mental arithmetic was introduced, and
many foreign methods replaced older
processes, though some English features,
such as the system of weights and
measures, exist to the present day. 1t
is interesting to know that for forty
years West Point was our only school of
mathematical and physical science where
the rigid requirements and high stan
dard now deemed essential were at
tempted.
The year 1882, when Benjamin Pierce
became professor of mathematics and
natural philosophy, is stated as marking
an epoch in the history of mathematical
teaching. Cornell University is prom
inent in its efforts to encourage indepen-
dent thought. Although great progress has
been made in the mathematical instruc-
ton of the colleges, the inefficiency of
teaching in the preparatory schools les
sens the results of the collegiate course.
The study of arithmetic is OverdOne, yet
the pupils do not seem to grasp the subject
as they should. From TIE report it is
evident that our educators are looking to
Germany for help, and German influx
may next be noticed.
The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1890-12-11
THE STUDY OF MATHEMATICS

The need of reforms in mathematical
teachers in this country has been noticed
during the last few years by many educa.
tors besides President Elliott, who men.
| toned in recent address that it took a
high school graduate only fifteen hours
to do all the sums i'll arithmetic that
school children do in two years, giving
one-fifth of their time each year. In a
report of the teaching and history OF
mathematics in the United States by
Forian Cajori of the University of Wis
consin, issued by the bureau of education
the statement is made: From nearly all
our colleges and universities come the
loud complaint of inefficient preparation
on the part of students applying for ad-
mission; from the high schools comes
the same doleful cry. Errors in math-
ematics are committed at the very be-
ginning, in the study of arithmetic.
Educators who have studied the work of
Prussian schools declare that our
res ults of elementary instruction are far
inferior"
An historical review which the report
presents may be valuable to educators
in showing the development of our math-
ematical instruction and in this way sug-
gesting means of improvement. In
colonial times there was little attempt
made in mathematics. When the study
was pursued, it consisted simply in
learning to count and to perform the
Fundamental operations with integral
numbers. The arithmetics would now
seem strange, and even at Harvard the
mathematical course till the beginning
of the eighteenth century comprised only
arithmetic and a little geometry and
astronomy. The most noted mathema-
ticians of early times, David Rittenhouse,
Thomas Godfrey and Nathaniel Bow
ditch, were self-taught After the Rev
olutionarylWar, between 1776 and 1915,
large number of books ON elementary
and few on higher mathematics were
published in America. As French and
German authors were unknown, these
books were either reprints of English
works or compilations of American
writer's, modelled after English patterns.
The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1890-12-11
Want Advertisements-All the papers.

w dhb Ah NAS PN@PNAo
Life.
He was Very Much Alive-"LOok
ahere, young feller, are you the editor OF
this habituary notice?" growled a be-
whiskered monster at the Spokane Falls
Spokesman's back parlor.
A newspaper clipping was slapped
upon the baseball editors table and the
voice went on:
81 hain't Cap'n Gulper Of Wolf Creek,
and hain't cap'n of the Hot Shot regu-
lators, by jimminy! and l wasn't never
born in Panangtown, Conn, that I'm a
KNOWN Of, and hain't been in no hoss
scrapes, and, and-say, what do you
mean by physically speaking, Gulpher
was failureP Say young man (here
lowering shaggy head and grinning
horribly, while he cracked his finger
joints and caressed his fighting muscles)
-.
The baseball editor took from drawer
a pen-wiper and six-shooter. The man
who was not Gulper executed chassey
to the door and called through the crack,
in honey tones:
"I say, old feller, forgot to say that I
hain't dead. anyway, and your habituary
notice was very nice but all wrong. Why
I'm sound and well as doOr-knob, sir;
pert as pine shaving, too. Goodnight,
sir"
The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1890-12-11

Charming people, these exceptional
people Here's medicine-Dr. Pierce's
Golden Medical Discovery for instance,
and it's cured hundreds, thousands
that're known, thousands that're un-
known, and yet yours is an exceptional
case! Do you think that that bit Of hu-
man nature which you call "I'' is differ
ent from the other parcels of human ma
ture? "But you don't know my case. "
Good friend, in ninety-nine cases out of
hundred, the causes are the same-im-
pure blood-and that's why "Golden
Medical Discovery cures ninety-nine
out of every hundred. You may be that
exception. And you may not. But
would you rather be the exception, or
would you rather be wellp If you're the
exception it costs you nothing, you get
your money back-but suppose it cures
you?
Let the "Golden Medical Discovery
take the risk.
The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1890-12-11
Fall and Winter NeCkWear

has just opened fact The largest and best selected assortment
ever shown this All the shapes Derby Hats by the
best makers are constantly hand and at prices that ensure salts
faction and quick sae The great variety Of goods in their STOCK
cannot be enumerated Go them at 80 and AT MAIN STREET
Won will be convinced that this narrative Of facts They make
one price to all and warrant all goods represented.
The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1890-12-11
The GreAte.t sufTsrsr. in the world

Are women; their delicate organizations
being particularly susceptible to de-
rangement and disease. DIR. Kennedy's
Favorite Remedy, of Rondout, N. Y,
purifies the blood, invigorates the sys-
TEN and fortifies it against the diseases
incident to age, climate and season. 1t
is the best medicine in the world. Keep
It in the house for your children's sake,
as well as for your own.
The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1890-12-11

BY innumerable curer, Dr. Bulls
Cough Syrup has won for itself most
enviable reputation.
I've been suffering for the past three
weeks with a sprained wrist. tried
Salvation Oil, and find myself, after hav,
ing used one bottle, entirely cured
CHAs. KEYsER, 1876 Mulberry Street, Bal.
timore, Md.
The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1890-12-11
FTTCHBURG r.. r.

HooSAC TUNNEL ROUTE.
On and after Nov. q h, 1890, trains will run a,
follows
LEAVE BENNINGTON VIA. BENNINGTON RUTLAND
RAILWAY.
Leave Bennington 7 43 a m, arrive Troy IS, II
IN, New York 10 m, Hoosick Falls Of, North
Adams so, Greenfield II IL m ,Fitchburg q,
Boston 05 N, ,Mechanicville y, Saratoga 10 10
am.
Leave Bennington 10 40 p m, arrive Troy 2 20
New York 90, Hoosck Falls 80, North Adams
$40, Greenfield 445. Fitchburg 81, Boston 925 p.
N. .Mechaucville 81
Leave Bennington 10 p IN, arrive Troy s 55,
pm, Hoosick Falls ID, No. Adams7 Oh p m,
Aechanlcville 55, p. M, Saratoga Esp. m.
Leave Bennington IL O5 night, arrive Troy 40
New York O0am.
Leave Bennington for Rutland and Montreal
u rs, o 10 q. m, 25, 10 y. m.
- TRAINS ARRIVE At BENNINGTON.
VIA BENNINGTON & RUTLAND R'Y:
/ 20 m, from New York, Albany and Troy.
~ q m, from New York, Albany, Troy. Hoo.
sick Falls, No. Adams, Saratoga and Mechanic
vile.
800 pm, from New York. Albany Troy ,IIoosics
Falls, No. Adams aid Boston.
64O m, from New York. Albany, Troy. Hoosick
Falls North Adams Boston and Saratoga
Arrive at Bennington from Rutland and Mont
treal 10. s 10 q m, 10, 40 p. m.
J.wHITMoRE J.R. WATSON,
Gen'llraftic Mgr, Boston. 6enl Pass. Ag't.
c. A. NIMMO, Boston.
GepI Western Passenger Agent. Troy.
The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1890-12-11
LEBANON SPRINGS RAILROAD.
New Time Table, Commencing June
18th 1900

Leave bennington 8 40 a. M, arrive in No Ad-
ANS 80 a. M, Troy 10 IS. Chatham AS, New
York ~. Leave Remington Has a. M, arrive
Chatham 4:45, N. AS. Leave Ben'gton 45 p
M, arrive in North Adams 700
Chatham s AS p. m.
Leave North Adams 9:05 m, arrive in Ben
nington 1920 Leave North Adams 100 p. m.
arrive in Bennington 200. Leave North AdamE
D. m, arrive In Bennington sos.
Leave New York 20 q. M, arrive In Benning
ton 90 p. m. Leave New YORK II 10 a. M. arrive
In Bennington O8 p. m.
Leave Chatham II 90 a. m. arrive In Bennington
100 p. m. Lave Chatham 80 p. m arrive il
Bennington 08 p, m.
Leave Troy 10 a. M, arrive In Benning,t
ED. BENNETT supt.
JOSEPH CHILD Gen. Pass. Ag't.
The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1890-12-11
q "a O &c H &c M G 7
Hats, Caps and Furnishings,

all bought Spot Cash system which enables them to sell them
low as the same can be bought anywhere the United this
thew uua anee Their long experience in buying and selling the
above goods makes them familiar with the different fabrics OF which
they are constructed enables them select durable Wemade
and nicely fitting suits such this community demands
Their line Of underwearis well selected and sold at their usual
low prices. full line Of
The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1890-12-11
Bennington Bnnner

rusLIsHED svERY THURSDAY AFTERhOoh'
TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION q.
~. .r.,r in a5vance Al 80 Three months........S.
s,T Iysntbs rs Single copies,..,.......'
POSTAGE PREP m.1
RATES OF ADVERTISING;
or. ,ncb. 1 week, q rs One inch months$S. .OS
0ne inch, weeks, las One inch months '@SS ~
One Fourth col. yr,30.0O One inch year, - 1.VC
NorIoEs-inserted under head of "Business Lo
ca s"IOc per line, each insertion.
An Letters and Communications should De al
d-sssed @. A. PIERCE. Publisher anu
Proprietor. A o,os.
Entered at the Bennington p. asseeonn-eiANs
matter.
The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1890-12-11
DIR, B. G. JENNEY, Dentist.

SIuCCESSOR TO DIR. ]. N. SCRANT0N.l
y Is prepared to perform all operations in Dent
stry in a thorough and Vorkmanlike manner. FER;
ect satisfaction guaranteed in all cases submitted
o his care, and at reasonable prices. Gas or
Ether administered or extracting teeth when re-
Iuired. Office opposite Congregational Church
Main ST., Bennington.
The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1890-12-11

European Railroads and Customs Regula-
tions-Dijon aud the Dukes OF Burgundy
The Journey to Paris French Scenery
Paris, It's Public Buildings, WORKS OF
Art, People and Cus'Oms-Various Inter
estIng Particulars
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-09-25
GO CUT YOUR HAIR"
The Cruel Remark that Took the Heroisn
Out of AIphonse Daudet.

When Alphonse Daudet was a boy
his father failed, and for some time
Alphonse lived with him in perjury al
Lyons. But an elder brother procured
a position in glass-store at Paris, and
Alphonse went to live with him.
They took the cheapest lodgings in
the city. for money was exceedingly
scarce In fact Daudet travelled tc
Paris in freight car. wearing a pair
of rubber boots, inside. of which was
neither slippers nor stockings. The
journey occupied two days, and the boy
did not taste food during the whole
time. Finally when Paris was reached,
he was nearly frozen, as we'll as starved,
There they dwelt, far up in the attic OF
a building six stories in height.
But neither of the brothers lost
heart. Both had an Astounding faith
that the younger possessed genius.
One day a stray volume of Daudet's
poems found its way into the Tuileries.
The Empress Eugene was delighted
with it and exclaimed to her brother
in-law, Cant we do something for the
boy who wrote these?n The duke re-
piled, I'VE can do everything for him
if Your Majesty so desires" Then
find out about him and offer assist
ance!' she cried.
The next day Alphonse looked down
from his attic window in surprise to
see a great carriage bearing the royal
cOat-of-arms, stop before the door. In
moment huge, impressive, dignified,
liveried lackey came ponderously
creaking up the stairs. AS he knocked
heavily on the door Daudet reeled for
ward half in faint. What could it
mean? What would happen? Nothing,
the lackay said, except the duke sent
his card to NJ. Daudet, who would
please call upon the duke one week
from that day.
What preparations were made for
that visit! Surely Daudet could not 90
to the palace in rags and tatters, so he
searched the clothing stores of all
Paris, trying to hire dress suit but
owing to his peculiar physique none
could be found. After many trials he
succeeded in getting hold of tailor
who made him suit on the strength of
the Dukes card-for Daudet had no
money to pay for it-and on the APP
pointed day he went to the palace
writes H. II. Boyesen in Harper's. A
score of others were present, but he
waited his turn. and it came. He was
ushered in to where the Duke sat.
Can you write?" Yes, SIR re-
piled Daudet. Very good; want a
secretary; pay 5000 francs. Good
morning" The boy was nearly over
come. He had never imagined that
any one was paid that much year
about $1,000.
But he suddenly remembered that
he differed in politics from the Duke,
and drawing himself up. announced
the fact. Instead of being deeply
moved by this heroic course the Duke
said; "Oh. get your hair cut. l don't
care anything about your political be-
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-09-25
BEAUTY AS A BECCAR.
Handsome Girl Raises Quite "A sum q
Money in the Role of a Mendicant.

A handsomely attired and exceed
ingly pretty young woman came into
the Russell House lobby yesterday
afternoon and walked up to the coun.
ter with easy self-possession. The
clerks were instantly all attention.
Withdrawing a card and pencil from =
silyer-mounted purse, she wrote few
lines in pretty. feminine hand placed
her fingers to her lips in way which
almost startled the aforesaid clerks
out of their wits and held out the card.
1t was taken with fear and trembling,
but only stated that she was dumb and
requested permission to circulate Il
paper, which she held in her hand,
among the guests who were seated
about the lobby and reading room.
Certainly" wrote back the clerk
with alacrity, his eyes at the same time
carefully scrutinizing the pretty face
and handsome attire of the pretty sup
plant.
The paper stated that the young
woman's name was Jennie Hustin,
and that she had lost the power of
speech through a severe attack of i'll
ness, and would be thankful for any
thing which might be contributed to
aid her in reaching her friends, who
were located at Davenport. Iowa. She
realized quite large sum through the
generosity of the occupants of the
hotel lobby.
We'll, that beats me!' calculated
one of the guests, as her slim form
vanished through the ponderous office
doorway. "a girl rugged out like that
and begging. Why, that dress she's
got on never cost less than ten-dollar
bill for the making alone. | wish l
could afford to buy my wife as good a
one. Yet l believe 1 gave her 81.
Well, the sight of pretty beggar,
looking for all the world like plate
in fashion magazine. lifted me clean
off my feet. l guess I'd have given
her my watch and chain il she had
asked me for them. Well, we'll! Won
ders will never cease. ''-Detron Free
Press
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-09-25
Making a Man Crawfish.

When five or six men get together
and begin to tell stories there is always
more or less lying done, especially if
they are only casual acquaintance.
Going down on the boat from NatcheZ
there were three or four rings" which
hung together. and each of us told
some pretty tall stories. There was 3
man from Syracuse who laid himself
out for a whopper, and when the rest
of us were through he settled back and
said:
Gentlemen, the ship which was car
island of Borneo, ana l got away in 3
boat with a single sailor"
When was this?' asked a native
Mississippian, who was taking lot Of
mules down the river.
''In 1858"
"Exactly-go ahead"
1--WE had neither water nor pro.
visions in the boat" said the man,
land after drifting for three days
wanted to draw lots to see who should
die. The sailor refused.
His name?n asked the MISSISSIPPI
plan.
Foster, | believe"
~ gu are right; 90 ahead
Il suffered one day more, and then,
as he slept, killed him with my knife
and drank his blood. 1t saved my
life. Next day | was picked up by a
ship"
And you killed the man, did your
Il did"
''And drank his blood?"
Yes
We'll, you are the man I've been
looking for these many years. That
sailor was my brother-my big brother
the only brother | ever hadr'
MOP
Yes, he was. Some of those who
got off in another boat saw him 90 off
with you and told me of it. Stranger.
the man who drinks my brothers blood
has got to die!'
But you must be mistaken. II
hardly think his name was Foster"
ooh. yes it was. Name was Foster
ship got fre-off the island of Borneo
-drifted about in boat. It's all
strai ght, and now | want satisfaction.
Have you got bowie knife about
youe'
Look here, boys" said the SYRIA
cuse man, as he caught his breath.
I'm i'll box and have got to make
confession. | was lying about the adj
venture from start to iinish.n
Sure of it?" demanded the Missis-
sippian, while every body else laugh
ed
II know | was
Didn't kill my brother and drink
his blood?'
Certainly not.
We'll, then, that's all right, and I'm
glad to hear it. I'm as humble as a
lamb on ordinary matters, but when
it comes to killing my brother-the
only brother | ever had-why. who
wouldn't tight?'
We asked the Syracuse man to give
us something else. but he wouldn't do
it. He went off to his stateroom and
tied his head up with a towel.-M Z.
Sun.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-09-25

While at the Post Office in an Ohio
village heard the report that muir
derer had been captured, and so | fol-
lowed the crowd to the lcckup to learn
more about it. There | found pris-
oner whose very appearance proved
the professional tramp. He was about
40 years of age. very cool. and he
greeted the charge of murder with a
laugh In a short time he was taken
before a Justice of the Peace for ex-
animation. and | found a seat in the
crowd One ok at the Justice salts
fed me that he realized the awful
gravity of the situation and felt the
foundation stone of the United States
resting on his broad back.
Prisoner" he began don't triiie
with this court, for it won't be al
lowed"
Who's going to trihe?" was the an
swer.
Don't YOU do It sir-don't you do
it! Now then, do you want to con-
fess?''
80 what?"
"Cold-blooded murder!'
"Where?"
''In Cleveland.
.'When?'
Last night at s o'clock
"Humph! How far is it to Cleve-
land, Squirrel"
Ninety miles"
And slept all night in barn back
here three miles,
That's so, Judge" said a farmer in
the crowd. He came along at 9
o'clock last night and | let him in
there"
you are sure?"
Positive"
And YOU won't confess?" he asked
of the prisoner.
How can being as [ have done
nothing?"
Very well; such obstinacy deserves
punishment and sentence you to the
county jail Tor ninety days.
'What for9
To prove TO voa That Justice never
sleeps. ,il'-never. You may think she
do but she don't-she don't, sir. You
have been overtaken ut last, sir-at
last, sir: and the constable will take
charge of the prisoner. and court is ad-
iourned ~. Z. Sun.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-09-25
Chicago in the Silurian Age.

We are now ready, through data
furnished by our rocks. to picture to
ourselves Chicago in the Silurian age.
In Siiurian times Chicago lay at the
bottom Of :. salt, warm and shallow
sea- To the north lay land area OF
unknown extent. the oldest of our con-
tinent. if not in the world. We will
call it Laurentia. To the east. border
inc what is now orr Atlantic coast.
lay another strip of lanI we Will cal!
Appalachia; TO the west, bordering the
Pacific. lay still another we will name
California. These lands furnish thus
early, by their position and arrange
ment, the fist rough sketch of North
America. Il is more than probable
that along'their shores stretched the
pr.nordiR beaches, whereon the low
est. simplest, earliest forms of life
appeared. But the lands themselves
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-09-25
Character Revealed by the Cigar.

If man smokes his cigar only
enough to keep it lighted. and relishes
taking it out of his mouth to watch the
curl of smoke in the air, set him down
as an eaSy-going man. Beware Of the
man who never releases his grip on
the cigar, and is Indifferent whether it
burns or not; he is cool. calculating
and eXacting. The man that smokes
bit. rests bit. and fumhteS the cigar
more or less. is easily affected hv cir
cumstaaceS. If the cigar goes ont fire.
quently. the smoker has Il whole
souled disposition, is "hail fellow
well met" with lively brain. Il glib
tongue, and generally fund OF cap
ital anecdotes. 4 nervous man WHO
fumbles his cigar a great deal is sort
of popinjay among men. Holding the
cigar constantly between his teeth.
chewing it occasionally, and not car
ing if it be lighted at all. are the char
acteristics OF men who have the tenac-
ity of bulldogs. The fop stands his
cigar on end. and an experienced
smoker points it straight ahead. or
almost at right angles with his course.
Ell POltUe7lir.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-09-25

were without life. nam anu ..
cut down their bald rocky surfaces,
ocean waves ate into their coast lines.
the air above conveyed clouds and
transmitted sunlight; yet aside from
these there was no sign of movement.
But these lands were distant; they do
not concern us most. Let Us fix our
thoughts on this particular spot.
The point is indicated by long white
lines of surf, thrown into spray as it
encounters the submerged reefs There
were teeming populations then as now,
but they moved in water and not in
air. There was consciousness. there
was great activity there must have
been enjoyment, since without it life
cannot be keenly active. There must
have been also pain, for life was over
abundant. There was a struggle to
elude, a struggle to capture. There
were eyes for seeing, teeth for tearing,
claws for grasping. tentacles for feel
ING, singing, or paralyZing.
There was color, from the iridescent
pearly lining of sea shells to the gorg-
eous banks of coral flower beds. There
were waving meadows of sea plants,
fairy groves of sponges, amid which
each lived according to his kind. But
in this eXuberant existence there was
no voice; all animate nature was mute.
There was no sound save from the
dashing surf; ears. such as they were,
gave heed to vibrations only. Yet
these were the possessors of the earth.
For them at that time ''all things were
| made that were made Nor is this
all. They possessed form of life as
unique as were their physical condi-
tons. The world and its inhabitants
were suited to each other.-EJlen b.
Basin, an Harper'S Magazine.