davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1890-03-15
A Story of stouewall Jackson.

An old soldier tells this story of Stone
wall jackson:
1t was during his valley campaign, and
q battle was expected within a day or two,
though Jackson's plans were so carefully
guarded that not even his adjutant could
guess them inteliigenty. This self-re-
lance WIS characteristic of Jackson, and
his aversion to telling his plans was well
known among his officers and men. In
fact, it was his policy to surprise his own
men no less than to surprise the enemy.
Gen. Jackson was one of a group of off
GERS, and another of the group was a
Georgia colonel who is still living. Con-
versation was dragging. jackson was
thoughtful and had had little to say, and
the effect was dampening. Finally, just
to revive the conversation, the Georgia
colonel asked abruptly:
General, will we have fight to-mor-
row7'
Every dy knew in an instant that the
blunder was irreparable, and nobody real
lied this more that the colonel. Is
Jackson turned quickly and stared full
in the speakers face. Then he slowly
surveyed the colonel from head to foot,
and back again.
The silence was painful.
Colonel" said the general slowly, but
not in an unkind tone, ''can you keep a
secret2"
eyes, general" was the warm, if en-
barrassed assurance. II know l can, gen
eral. Yes, sir"
''Are you quite certain, colonel?'
81 am quite certain, general.
s.Well, colonel" in the same quiet, even
fona stso can sir y .
The coloneps face flushed crimson. and
there was deathly silence for half
minute or more.
CHOW, colonel" said Jackson, with some
feeling, "that rudeness of mine hurt me
as much as it did you, but trust thai it
has taught you valuable lesson. If We
do have fight to morrow, colonel, your
regiment shall have chance. "-AtlGnta
T0nstit,LtlOn
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1890-03-15
Does the Fig Tree Blossom ?

So far as can learn, there seems to be
general impression that the fig tree does
not blossom, and have often looked most
carefully to find an indication of a bloom I;
yet for many years looked in vain. Even
DIR. Clark, the commentator, on Hab. iii,
II, declares "the fig tree does not bloom"
and, as usual, flies to new rendering Of
the word, saying, to save the prophet, that
the original means .to flourish" For
many years took him as authority but
still often thought how strange the best
of fruit should come, exceptionally, with
out bloom, till finally began to think it
must be some outgrowth-a tubercle-
rather than fruit, for fruit required bios
SONS and had seeds. A tubercle contains
no seeds, yet figs did !; and it seemed to me
the prophet thought it bloomed.
Nor have infdeIs been silent on the con-
tingent assertion of the prophet, cal
though the fig tree shall not blossom )"
sneering at prophet claiming to be in
spires, who was deficient in the simplest
fact connected with the subject; for all
men know, they said, the fig tree does not
blossom. But the prophet lived in land
of figs, and ought to have known all about
them, and doubtless did; and if the fig
tree does not bloom, it is an exception to
every known fruit tree on the earth; and
this. with the prophets assertion. should
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1890-03-15
Married BY Proxy.
THE WEDDING CELEBRATED WHILE THE
BRIDEGROOM WAS THOUSANDS OF
A5Tr TIC


BRIDEGROOM WAS THOUSANDS OF
MILES AWAY.
Senior Ulpiano Obando was until recently
consul OF the United States of Columbia at
San Francisco. 20
We, the senior and myself, lived at the
same hotel, and by mutual agreement we
customs and manners of our respective
countries
| grew to be quite fond of the senior, he
was so generous and simple and eager to
learn our ways. His consular duties con-
sisted mainly in drawing his salary, which
he did with clocklike regularity.
The senior was married, / learned, and
the picture of his wife, which he always
carried about him, was that of q charming
sonora of the regulation Spanish type of
beauty.
Bogota was the home of this loving pair,
Nine. Obando being the niece of the presi-
dent of the republic.
One day the senior said to me, in his
broken English: "i must 60 home to my
wife. | can no longer bear this separa-
ton. Besides, my father has been married
to her about long enough"
His father, thought.
"What on earth do you meant" asked.
"Whan were you married, senor?'
"About six months ago." he replied.
knew he had been in San Francisco a
year, so | said:
ooh, see your wife did not like San
Francisco, so she returned home"
"She has never been here"
"And yet you say you were married to
her six months SINGER
certainly; gave power of attorney
to my father, who married 1nez in my
stead"
"Now, see here. Ohando," l remarked,
Il am afraid you're making fun of me
This idea of your wife being your STEP
mother at the same time, and your fathers
wife beng his daughter-in law-oh, no, it
won't do"
The senior, however. was in earnest, and
then learned one of the peculiar customs
in vogue in the South American republic.
As matter of policy or convenience it
had been necessary that Senior Ohando
should marry his aft need, and therefore
the necessary instructions were wired to
Panama, conveyed thence down the Mag
dalena river to the port, and thence by
muleback to the capital 10 the same
manner the news of the ceremony was
conveyed back to San Francisco. and Senior
Obanda was duly married man.
Marriages of this sort are by no means
infrequent among the Spanish American
people. The proxies ale generally male
relatives of either prospective bride or
groom. An intimate friend, in fact. may
perform the office, though in the latter
case it sometimes happens that the friend
betrays his trust, and the fond, absent
husband returns home to find himself
divorced.
These marriages are perfectly legal, and
are recognized by the church. They are
somewhat like ''binding slips" in insur-
ance. the 'policies" being delivered after
ward.
Upon the return of the husband, though,
he must be married publicly. In case he
dies before seeing his ''proxy" wife, then
his 'svicarious" widow inherits his prop
ersy the same as if she had been married
in the regular fashion.
Senior Obando returned to Bogota, and
the last time heard from him he was oc-
cupying high official position and living
happily with his wife, to whom he had
bean ,srooeu arlub m arriod NJ Y Horrh
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1890-03-15
Figs.

Figs are genus of trees belonging to
the natural order Moraca, and number
about one hundred species. Almost all
the varieties belong to tropical and sub
tropical countries. They abound in India,
and are cultivated in every village, even
to the most northern Himalaya. The COM
mon fig is native of the East, but is now
cultivated throughout the whole of the
south of Europe. Its cultivation has also
extended to many warm countries. In
this country we find it grows well in most
of the Southern States, and near the Gulf
coast attains great perfection both in
growth of trees and in fruit. The fig is a
low tree with large lobed leaves. which
are rough on top, and have downy sp-
pearance underneath. The fruit appears in
the axis of the leaves and is pear-shaped,
There has been difference of opinion
among writers as to whether the tree pro-
duces flowers as other fruit trees. 1t is
now pretty generally believed the fig does
bloom but the flower is imbedded in the
frnit. It is unlike any other fruit tree in
this respect.
In climates such as our coast here, some
varieties yield two crops year, while
others commence to ripen fruit about June
and continue until frost appears, some
times as late as December. The first crop
of fruit formed is from the oliar wood of
the previous years growth, later on an
other crop forms on the limbs of the pres
ent years growth. They are propagated
here by cuttings of limbs stuck in the
ground few inches.
Dried figs form an important article of
food. In some sections they are prse
served OF canned They are dried in tn
sun almost entirely in some sections,
while other sections employ an oven built
for the purpose. 1t has been ascertained
here by some of our practical citizens that
they can be dried on the latest improved
evaporators in about four hours time and
after cooling they may be pressed tightly
in boxes and will keep perfectly for years.
This fact makes it possible for enormous
profit for the fig grower as he can handle
his own fruit. aud after drying ship when
and where he pleases, thus obtaining the
highest market prices. -EzcAange.
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1890-03-15
One Thing at q Time.

"Early in life" relates a gentleman who
has now spent many decades in the serv-
ice of God and his fellow-man, II learned
from very simple Incident wholesale
lessen, and QUE which has since been of
incalculsble benefit to 1ns.
"When | was between twelve and four
teen years old my father broke up a new
field on his farm, and planted it with pc
tatoes and when the plants were two or
three inches high, he sent me to hoe it.
The ground OF that riece was hard to till,
it was matted with grass roots and sprink-
led with stones. | hoed the first row and
then stopped to take a general look at the
task before me Grass as high as the po-
tatoes was every where. and looking at the
whole from anY point, it appeared to be q
solid mass. | had the work to do sll alons,
ard as stood staring at the broad reach
of weedy soil, felt good mind not to
try to do anything further then with it.
"Just that minute | happened to look
down at the hill nearest my feet. The
grass didn't seem just quite as thick there,
and | said to myself, 4 can hoe this one
well enough
"When it was done another thought
came to help me: l shan't have to hoe but
one hill at time, at any rate.
t'And so went to the next, and next.
But there stopped again and looked over
the fed. That gave me another thought,
too. l could hoe every hill as / came to
it; it was only looking away off to all the
hills that made the whole seem impossible.
s'I won't look at It'll Isaid; and pulled
my hat over my eyes SO Tcould see nothing
but the spot where my hoe had to dig
SIN course Of time, had gone over the
I,oJa i'll no sv,
hand, and my work was done.
81 learned lesson tugging away at
those grass roots which never forgot 1t
was to look right down at the one thing
to be done now, and not hinder or discour
age myself by looking off at the things l
haven't come to. I've been working ever
since that summer at the hill nearest my
feet, and | have always found it the easi-
est way to get bad task accomplished, as
it is the true way to prepare field for the
harvest. "-Cannda Presbyterian w.
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1890-03-15
Louisiana's Claim for Indemnity.

Mr.. Robertson called upon the Secretary
of War in relation to his bill to refund the
State of Louisiana $500, 0a0 for the con-
strnction of the State House at Baton
Rouge during the war. by peculiar CO.
incidence, Gen. Holabird, who is now
Quartermaster General of he army, was
quartermaster OF the department in which
Baton Rouge was situated at the time the
State House was destroyed, and has all the
documents relating to the episode in his
possession. Mr.. Robertson is sanguine of
receiving a favorable report from the Sec,
rotary, which will secure favorable action
in the House. The bill provides that out
of the amount appropriated, $50 900 shall
go to reimburse the city of Baton Rouge,
which had issued bonds in that amount to
assist in rebuilding the Capitol.
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1890-03-15
The Blair Educational Bill.

On the oath of February, the Blair edu-
cational bill came up in Congress as I'M
finished business.
Senator Faulkner said that in his judg-
ment the bill was freighted with the
greatest Of evils to the whole country and
more especially to those States which it is
said would be the most benefited by the
enactment Of the law. He believed its
passage would commit Congress to such
an unrestrained construction Of constitu-
tionaI power and would establish such an
unprecedented free Interpretation Of the
general welfare" lause that he should
not hesitate to appeal to the courtesy of
the Senate to bear with him while he pre-
scented reasons which influenced his action.
Mr.. Faulkner said three questions pre-
sented themselves
1. Is the bill sanctioned by the provi-
sions OF the Federal Constitution
Q. Are its provisions which affect the
distribution of the fund between the
States and between. the two races In the
State, Just and beneficial
8. is it the part of wisdom and the part
of practical craftsmanship for the National
government to embark on this boundless
sea OF unrestrained and unlimited legisla-
tion2
He argued that the establishment of
common school system was necessarily
committed to the care and control OF the
States. He cites, in reference to the con-
stitusionality to the principles laid down
by Chief Justice Marshall in the case OF
Gibbons against Ogden restrained any
attempt at Entertainments reserved to the
respective States.
Mr.. Faulkner found what he believed to
be inconsistency in the bill, that is OF
first distributing the fund to the States on
the basis of illiteracy, and then distribu-
ting thesfund within the States between
the two races on the basis of the school
population of each, so that on the basis OF
iiliteracy the colored schools of the South
ought to receive $50, 900, 900 and the white
schools $13, 900, 600; but it would be re-
versed and the white schools would receive
SIC, 000, 600 more than the colored schools
We presume this will cause some change
in the bill again.
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1890-03-15

A Western pastor relates the following
suggestive incident: When the late DIR.
Hodge was drawing near the close of his
life he spent two or three days at my
house. He discovered in my study piece
of furniture he greatly admired and asked
me to buy for him, if could, duplicate.
Upon receiving it from my hand he pulled
out of his pocket purse in order to REIN
burse me, but there uas nothing in it. I
pIayf fully remarked that his treasures were
ali laid up in heaven. He babe me pause
to see If he did not still have all he needed
for earth. He soon found the change he
was In search of and handed it to me to
pay for the furniture, saying: 81 have
from boy hood taken the precaution to have
som& treasures at both ends of the jour
ney." This simple expression contains the
sum aad substance Of his mastery epitomes
on didactic theology.
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1890-03-15
Shooting a Dscey.

am reminded Of q rather good yarn /
have been promising for some time to spin,
says o writer in Forest and Stream. The
Joke is on first class all around sports
man, and jolly good fellow he is too,
ready for anything, from an early morning
start and frosty wait on the bay for a
chance at the ducks TO an all day tramp in
the backwoods after the willy fox. He is
practical joker as we'll IS sportsman,
and is always ready to work off a "rig"
on the boys, SO we were all unusually
hilarious when at last he had to succumb
and own himself outwitsed He had got
ten the best Of me on several occasions,
and many q minute had given to coneoct
ing plans for getting even.
At last my chance came, and In this way:
Out on cunning trip had the good for
tune to shoot q superb fresh water she'll
drake, and when i went home said
nothing to Lucien, but began to perfect q
scheme that took shape in my mind almost
as soon as my bird dropped. Lucien lived
on the banks of pond in which ducks
would now and then light, and he always
had his gun ready. carefully skinned
my bird, stretched the skin over wooden
decoy In as lifelike manner as possible,
and then began to think how best to make
it seem alive. My device was merely to
fasten one end of d line to the decoy under
the breast and lead it through ring in q
stone sunk to the bottom Of the pond, and
from there to some bushes up on 9 high
bank.
AL being arranged. / took my position,
and one of the men went to the shop, just
below the dam, and told Lu to hurry up
and get bis gun to shoot the queer looking
bird that had just Lit there. Lu was at
FIRST suspicious, but finally went to take a
look. The bird was moving around, duck
ing, etc. In snch evident life and spirits
that Lucien was for once at least complete.
" taken Id. He lodged down behind the
dam, crept carefully to bis cabin, got his
gun and as steadily crspt back. Reaching
the right spot, up he came, looked over to
reconloiter, and being entirely convinced,
banged away. How the feathers did fly /
And how we all shouted, and how dis
gusted In looked, will leave to your i'm
agination.
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1890-03-15
Lotteries and the Mails.

Senator Sawyer has introduced bill to
amend certain sections of the Revised
Statutes relating to lotteries. 1t provides
that no letter or circular concerning the
advertisement of lotteries or SO called.
gift enterprises for the distribution of
money by chance, and intended to deceive
the public, shall be sent through the mails.
Any person found guilty of using the
mails for this purpose shall be fined not
less than 800 nor more than $500. The
postmaster general may also, upon finding
any person engaged in this business, in-
struct the postmaster at towns to which
registered letters are sent in answer to
such advertisements to return them to the
persons who mailed them, with the word
fraudulent" stamped on the outside.
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1890-03-15
Two Hundred Lives Lost.

THE SINKING OF THE BRITISH STEAMER
QUETTA.
Al dispatch received at London March 1
states that the British steamer Qnetta,
which sailed from Australian ports Feb.
~ for London, has been lost at sea- The
number Of persons drowned Is not ded-
niteIy known. but the dispatch says that .
fearful number persisted.
The Qnetta was d vessel of $3.50 tons
burden. She had twenty seven first class
passengers and crew numbering liz.
She also had mails for England.
The loss of the British steamer Quetta
Is confirmed af Lloyds. The advises re-
ceIyed there state that 900 lives were lost.
The steamer struck d rock not shown on
the chart, at Q o'clock on the night Of Feb.
% neag Somerset, in the Torres Straits, at
the northern extremity Of Australia, and
sank lii three minutes.
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1890-03-15
A Change OF Room.
Sioux CRY, Feb. 15.

IS aYou viii have to give me another room
I guess, = said Congressman to the hotel
clerk.
What's the matter; aren't you comfor-
table where you are 2
WELL not exactly. That German mu-
stefan in the next room and / don't get
along well. Last night be footed away on
his clarionet SO that thought I never
.wonId get to sleep. After ] had caught 9
few Winks was awakened By q pounding
on my door. What's the matter? asked.
sOf ron please, said the German, dot you
would schnore Of der same key. You vas
60 from B fat to g und it schpoils der moo
Sic. WasA6ssgton Post.
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1890-03-15

The 2, 752,0O0 acres of swamp lands are
equal in fertility to the richest lands OF
either hemisphere Cleared of their giant
cypress, and oak, and gum, and ash, and
other forest timber, we'll ditched, under
drained and irrigated, these lands would
be worth a thousand dollars an acre.
They would produce astonishing crops of
sugar cane, rice, vegetables melons, grasses,
jute, ramie, oranges, citrons, figs, lemons,
mespilus, grapes, jujube, psars, straw
berries, peaches, and numerous other
fruits, vegetables and field crops for two
or three hundred years without fertilizing.
They sometimes cart swamp soils to tnelr
gardens as fertilizers.
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1890-03-15

1t is wholly an American affair. Chi
cago merely offers the site, and because of
benefits to be Immediately derived makes
9 large contribution of money. But the
interest Of the whole nation is paramount
to that of Chicago. The South, therefore,
should, both in her own interest and the
interest of the nation, do her part grandly.
She has more upon which to plume her
self than any other section of the Union,
and the assertion of her greatness at the
fair should be SO positive as to compel
recognition. Memphis Appeal.
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1890-03-15
The Colonel and the Private.

Gov. Beaver is known by every Pitts
burg boy in the national guard to be a
very strict disciplinarisn in militsry tti-
quette and the drill. Aas:in Curtin, of
the governors native town, told this war
Renaissance about him last night to some
of the delegates at the G. A r. encam o.
ment While lieutenant colonel of the
Forty fifth regiment, Beaver was one day
sitting in front of his tent, when slouchJ
looking soldier, with i'll lifting uniform
came along, stopped, and inquired
ever ish der doctor y,
els that the way to address your supe-
rior officer, sir p roared Col. Beaver.
The German stared at his superior off
Ger in blank amazement, but said never d
word.
Here, sir; take this chair You be the
colonel, and I will teach you how to ad :
dress superior officer"
"Vas me der boss of der regiment7"
eyes, take this chair, and I'll teach you
you how to act"
The soldier sat down in front of the
tent Coz. Beaver walked off few PAGES,
turned, about, returned tos position in
front of the officer pro tempore, squared
himself around, made a military salute,
and inquired
Colonel, can you inform me whsre l
can find the surgeon of the regiment"
The soldier arose, and, looking seriously
and straight at Beaver, replied:
"D-d if | know where he is Pitts
burg Dispatch.
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1890-03-15
Old Men With Young Wives.

"What can a young lasise do wi'an auld
man p asks the poet. The problem is no
doubt difficult, but, according to the off
cial statistics of Scotchsmarriages just is
sued, it is one that good many ''lassies'
are not unwilling to face. In the year
embraced in the latest return 40 BRIDE
grooms were older than their brides by 80
years and upwards. No instance in which
the figures are reversed is recorded by the
registrar general, and though there were
two wives between 90 and 80 years older
than their spouse, there were no fewer
than 1856 Instances in which the disparity
was the other way When we come to
difference of Is to 30 years, the elderly
brides a1e just 10 to 3s9 elderly BRIDE
grooms. When the difference is from 10
to 10 years, the elderly wives are only II,
while the elderly bridegrooms numbered
1864.
How the objection on the part of the
men to seniority in their partners gathers
strength, however, Will be best SHOWN by
going to the other end of the scale. Thus
in 1861 marriages the contracting parties
were of the same age; in 3070 the hus
bands were one year older than their
wives in 1774 the wives were one year
older than their spouse in $3.50 the nus
bands were two years older than their
wives and in 1919 the wives were the
same as regards their husbands. In 1887
the husbands were three years older in
66S the wives were SO in 2001 the hus-
bands were four years older; in 1855 the
wives were the same in 1907 the BRIDE
groons had the advantage by five years
over their brides in $50 the latter claimed
the same in 1919 the husbands were be-
tween five and ten years older than their
wives, while in only 456 cases were the
conditions of the case OF Burns ballad re-
versed.-Hebreoo Journal.
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1890-03-15

The Nashville Issue calls Miss Willard
ssthe Gladstone among American women
Miss Willard Is incomparably superior TO
any statesman who pets and courts ana
sustains the grogshop,
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1890-03-15

Senator Reagan writes to the whisky
Sentinel that he voted against Brewers
confirmation becouse he considered him
tool Of railroads and corporations, but he
is not sure but he agrees with him in his
anti-prohibition decisions.