davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-05-23
DISTANCES OF STARS.
The Brightest Orbs Are Not ALWAYS tb
Nearest to the Eartl,


Nearest to the Earth
AS the observer on a brilliant star-lit
night looks upward to the grand con-
cave above him, studded with shining
oros, various questions arise in his
mind. He wonders if the brightest
stars are nearer to us than those that
give less light. and if science shows any
way for finding the distances of the
stars.
The same questions puzzled astrono-
mers Tor centuries in the early history
OF the science. Happily, these ques-
lions are now solved. The brightest
stars are not always the nearest, and the
distance OF small number of stars has
been approximately measured. This
means that about twenty sl.rs are
found to have measurable parallax
or to show a displacement when the
earth is in opposite points of her orbit
The work of measuring stellar paral-
lax is the most delicate in the whole
range of practical astronomy. 1t was
tried repeatedly from the day of Tycho
Brahe down. Even the great Herschel
failed to detect the least displacement
for the telescopes of the time were not
delicate enough to measure the paral.
lax of star.
Bessel, however, in the year 1883, sue
ceeded in measuring the parallax of
81 Cygni, double star of the fifth mag
nitude in the constellation of the Swan.
This little star, barely visible to the
naked eye, is the earth's nearest neigh
Dor in the Northern Hemisphere; but
near as it is, it takes light more than
seven years to span the intervening dis
lance. If the tiny star were blotted
from the sky to-day, it's light would con-
tlnue to come to US for more than seven
years.
Henderson, in 1889, at the Cape of
Good Hope, determined the distance of
Alpha Centauri, double star of the
first magnitude in the Southern Hemis-
phere, ranking next to Sirius and Can
opus in brilliancy This radiant star is
about half the distance Of 81 Cygni, and
its light reaches the earth in about
four years. 1t is, therefore, as far as is
known, the nearest star to the earth.
The work of measuring the distances
of the stars went steadily on, after this
brilliant commencement, and there are
now about twenty stars whose distances
are approximately known. Among them
are Sirius, the fourth. in the order of
nearness, requiring light Journey of
ten years; Aldebaran, requiring four
teen years, and Arcturus, thirty-fve
years.
There are perhaps twenty others whose
measured distances are not considered
trustworthy, making forty stars, of
which the parallax has been detected
forty among forty millions! The over
whelming majority are so remote as not
to show the slightest trace of optical
shifting under the scrutiny of the most
powerful instruments. - Youths Com
panion.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-05-23
OF GENERAL INTEREST.

"A citizen of Portland, Me-, is worth
1000, 600 that he has made in the man
ufacture of chewing gum.
The highest railroad bridge in the
United States is the Kinzua viaduct on
The Erie road-3O5 feet high.
An English railway company has set
apart a special fund from which to re-
ward acts of bravery on the part OF its
employees.
Silence for ten days, speaking only
in whispers for ten days more, then
gradual return to the ordinary voice, is
a recommendation for stammerers.
"A very ingenious electrical device
has lately been patented by which the
hands of a clock set to a certain hour
are made to complete nelectric current
connected with the kitchen stove SO
that the fire is started when the given
hour arrives.
An Irish land bailiff, who had been
boycotted for ten years, and was con-
stantly guarded by the police while ne
lived, died a few days ago, and the
guard being relaxed little, some per-
sons unknown stole his body and made
away with it SO effectually that it has
not since been found.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-05-23
THE SALEM WITCHCRAFT
A Correction of Common Errors Concern
ing This Matter.


In review of Prof. Arthur Gilman's
''The Story of Boston," in the New York
Tribune, the following, relating to the
Salem episode, should be read so widely
that the common errors and stupidities
concerning this matter may become
obsolete:
Execution of heretics by hanging
was certainly more merciful than burn
ing them alive, and that was done all
over Europe at the time when the
Quakers and the Salem witches were
being led to the gallows.
''As to the Salem witchcraft episode,
we may conclude that from some points
OF view it is rather creditable than
otherwise to the New England people.
The superstition and credulity which
produced it can not be laid to their
charge, inasmuch as all the world held
the same beliefs about the superna tural.
ALI the world, moreover, then held that
roasting alive was the proper mode of
ealing with witches, and that the
judicial methods to be employed in secur-
ing their conviction were those so skill
fully systematized by the Inquisition-
methods under which escape for the &C
cused was impossible, since every avenue
by which his or her innocence might be
demonstrated was carefully closed with
an Internal ingenuity. The whole pro-
cedure in Salem was mild by contrast
with the prevailing European practice.
The exam nations were so conducted as
to leave loopholes of escape to the &C
cused; the epidemic of fear and suspicion
and credulity was very soon over; the
people who had been deluded quickly
regained their senses; and the whole
number of victims was but nineteen.
When we reflect that in Europe scores
of thousands went to the stake under
the same accusations, and that the mad
ness endured for centuries there, we
must consider the Salem affair as rather
striking proof of the progress which
the New World had made in enlighten
ment The Boston theocracy was light
ly touched by the witch mania, and
quickly and fully recovered. The con-
ditions amid which those men lived
were not favorable to the growth of illu-
sions. The New England mind was
practical, if the New England conscience
was uneaSV"
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-05-23
beware OF The bul

would have been large man to-day,
with whiskers, had he not been am
bilious to turn over new leaves. lie
turned leaf after leaf, each revealing
such hidden treasure that ne got excited
and let his thoughts wander. He dldnf
know for many days what planted him
over in the middle of the ad joining corn
"bul." There are other instances. A
man travelling in a far country received
an important letter from home. He
read two pages and chuckled with I'M
comfortable merriment, the happiest
man on earth. I'm a father, a proud,
happy father. Hooray!' he shouted be-
fore he could go on. But his chin sank
clean into his neck when he turned over
a new leaf and read: There are three
of them; three bouncing girls, all rosy
and doing splendidly."
A small boy listened so attentively
to his teachers remarks on the subject
of turning new leaves that she compl1-
mented him and said she hoped he
would profit by her suggestions. He
WeHG 10 HIS SodG anu Uurn6u OF0I 1OuI
new leaves of vulgar fractions, and said
to himself: CPL take it easy now till
the class catch up" but when he under
took to explain his case st class time,
it didn't work. The rest of the fellows
played shiny that night after school,
on the ice. He didn't. Another boy
was in the tip-top of a cherry tree, we'll
out toward the end of slender limb.
He was turning leaf after leaf in search
If fruit pretty we'll picked before hand
&c was about to come down, 'but first,
said he, cpl turn over one more new
leaf" He reached away out beyond
my former attempt, and with the tip
end of his finger nail managed to turn
one more leaf. Nothing but his grand
fathers grind-stone prevented his fall
ing to the ground. He struck that, and
felt the shock for many day.
These are but few of the many in
stances that go to prove. what has been
often asserted, that the best OF rules
have their exceptions. In turning over
new leaves look out for snakes.-Detroit
Free Press
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-05-23

and before he went made his viii. Now,
DOCTOR" said the lawyer, speaking very
slowly, and with marked emphasis,
that will leaves half his fortune to
his wife, half to his child, but in case of
the death of the child the half that is
his goes to Mrs. West and her daughter
Lucy. If the mother dies all goes to
the child, to revert again to the Vests
if he dies without direct heirs.
We could never tell whether the
unnatural grandmother and aunt
would have risked legal investiga-
ton. The recognition between mother
and child was complete, and the cloth
ing we had carefully preserved was
fully identified Mrs. West did not re-
turn to her mother-in-law. For some
weeks she was my mothers guest and
my patient, being Frustrated with low
nervous fever, and then she took the
house next to our own, her own claim
and Freddies to Carroll Vests proper
ty being undisputed. We were warm
friends for two years, and Mrs. West,
senior. with the beautiful blonde, were
occasional visitors at the widows
house; but when the violet and white
took the place of Grape and bombazine,
I ventured to ask Adelaide West if
second lover could comfort her for the
one she had lost, and nv mother became
Freddie's grandmother in truth, when
his ''pretty mamma became my Wife"
Mrs. West is dead, and Lucy married
to titled Italian, who admired her
blonde beauty, but unlike many of his
co,apatriots, finds the lovely lady fully
and guard her money against too
profuse expenditure.-E World.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-05-23
THE SINGER'S AIMS,

In Lyons, in the mart of that French town.
Years since. woman leading fair child
Craved a small aims Of one who walking down
Walking down the thoroughfare, caught the
child's glance and smiled
To see behind its eyes a noble soul.
He paused, but found he had no coin to dole
His guardian angel warned him not to lose
This chance of pearl to do another good:
So, as he waited sorry to refuse
The asked-for penny, there aside he stood
And with his hat held as the limb the nest
He covered his kind face and sang his hest
The sky was blue above, and all the lane
OF commerce, where the singer stood. was
filled
And many paused, and listening, paused again
To hear the voice that thro' and thro' them
thrilled;
think the guardian angel helped along
That cry for pity woven in song
The singer stood between the beggars there
Before church, ana overhead the spire-
slim, perpetual finger in the air
Held toward Heaven, land Of the hearts de-
AS II an angel pointing up, had said:
"Yonder crown awaits this singers head. -
The hat Of its stamped brood was emptied soon
Into the womans lap, who drenched with
tears
Her kiss upon the hand Of help; twas noon,
And noon in her glad heart drove forth her
fears.
The singer, pleased, passed on and softly
thought
"Men will not know by whom this deed was
wrought
But when at night he came upon the stage
Cheer after cheer went up from that wide
throng,
And flowers rained on him; nought could as
suage
The tumillt Of the welcome save the song
That he had sweetly sung, with covered
face.
For the two beggars in the market place.
Henry Abbey, in Jury.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-05-23
MATRIMONIAL NEWS.
Queer Extracts from an Old Copy of the
s.Gentleman's Magazine"

Queer Extracts from an Old Copy of the
"Gentleman's Magazine"
Marriage notices century or two ago
were much more interesting than they
are now. 1t was not mere announce
ment of the date of the wedding and
names of the contracting parties that
the people looked for. They expected
to be informed as to the many details
which are now received for the more in
innate friends of the families of the
newly-married couple. The Gentle
mans Magazine contains a number OF
these notices. Under date of March Is,
1885, it gives this item of matrimonial
news: "John Parry, Esq, of Carmar-
thenshire, to daughter of Walter Lloyd,
ESQ.,, member for that county; fortune
of 5000 pounds sterling" That is to say,
the bride brought with her dowry OF
$40, 900. Another notice printed few
wears earlier goes still further into de-
tails. 1t reads: Married, the Bev. Mr..
Roger Wanna, of York. about 26 years OF
age, to a Lincolnshire lady, upward OF
so. with whom he is to have 5000 pounds
sterling in money, 800 pounds sterling
per annum and a coach-and-four during
life only Evidently the blushing bride
of eighty summers was willing to pay a
high price for husband. Probably Rev.
Mr.. Waina was worth it, or he would
not have allowed himself to be restrict
ed to the use of a coach-and-four ''dur-
ing life only" The same magazine in
March, 1875, announced the marriage
of seThe Earl of Antrim of Ireland tC
Miss Betty Pennefeather, celebrated
beauty and toast of that kingdom" Ii
is to be surmised that Miss Penne-
feathers beauty was her only fortune,
otherwise some mention would have
been made of it.-Chicago News.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-05-23
HlNTS TO HOUSEKEEPERS
How to Keep Family on 'Steen Dollars
a Month.


How to Keep a Family on 'Steen Dollars
Month.
He was a thin man, so thin that his
clothes did not touch him, particularly
around the waist. He shuffied into the
| World Office, took seat and said:
Il see the newspapers are taking con-
siderable interest in kitchen economy,
and the many letters from housewives
describing how they furnish their tables
and the cost thereof are read by me with
much interest. My wife asked me if l
wouldn't call and tell you how she man.
ages to supply our table on 'steen dol
lars month"
GLOW many dollars?" asked the re-
porter.
esteem dollars" said the man and
then proceeded
SIN the first place my wife doesn't
keep girl. She is not strong enough
to do the additional work that would be
required, and so she gets along without
one. We live in the top fiat, and by
means of an improvised apple-picker we
gather a great many icicles from the
roof for household purposes. The chill
dren are quite fond of them. We find
also that snow pudding makes very nice
and economical dessert, but we have not
had much pudding this winter on &C
count of the mild weather"
The reporter made note of it.
eff you use discretion, and buy when
the meat inspector is not around you
can get piece of meat at the butchers
for five cents that will last for month.
This can be prepared in many ways, and
though you keep dog he will not touch
it, therefore all the nutriment contain
ed in it goes to the family"
The reporter lost none of these points.
''It is mistaken notion that only the
rich and proud can have fruit and nuts
for dessert. For the sake of variety, get
an apple with green and red side.
Look at the green side one day, and for
the next day turn the other side. When
you get tired of fruit and want nuts you
will find that double-jointed North
Carolina peanut will do very we'll for
two persons, to be eaten, of course,
without attracting the attention of the
children, as nuts are too rich for their
blood"
The reporter was matrimonially in
clined himself and was all attention.
''One day in the week we have salt
mackerel, and if salt mackerel is scien-
tifically and economically prepared you
will not want any thing else for several
days but water. When the landlord
pays the water rent this is a point worth
knowing"
And these are all facts that will in
terest house-keepers?" asked the re-
porter, who didn't know whether there
was any thing new in them OF not.
"Oh,> decidedly"
"And this costs your
ITO be exact" said the thin man, cit
costs me just 'steen dollars and sleben
cents per month";" and taking a section
of dried apple from his pocket he looked
at it awhile, carefully replaced it and
then withdrew, picking his teeth with a
pine sliver.-N. Y. World.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-05-23
REDUCED TO FIGURES.
The Statistics of the Heroines In Last
Years Fiction.

Tears FlcCIOn.
There is an English literary man who
at the end of each year penetrates into
the public fiction and extracts therefrom
very often some exceedingly interest
ing figures. The results Of his researches
into last years fiction are entertaining.
Of the heroines portrayed in novels, he
finds 312 were described as blondes,
while 100 were brunettes. Of these 562
more, 437 were beautiful, ia were mar
ried to the man of their choice, while thir-
ty were unfortunate enough to be bound
in wedlOck to the wrong man. The hero
ines Of fiction, this literary statistician
claims, are greatly improving in health,
and do not die as early as in previous
years, although consumption is still in
the lead among fatal maladies to which
they succumb.
Early marriages, however, are on the
increase. The personal charms of the
heroines included $50 expressive eyes"
and 692 ''shell-like ears Of the eyes,
543 had dreamy look, 800 flashed fire,
while the remainder had no especial at.
tributes. Eyes of brown and blue are
in the ascendant. There was found to
be large increase in the number of
heroines who possessed dimples; 500 were
blessed with sisters, md 342 had broth
ers. In forty-seven cases mothers fig
ured as heroines with 112 children be-
tween them. Of these, seyenty-one
children were rescued from watery
graves. Eighteen Of the husbands of
these married heroines were discovered
to be bigamists, while seven husbands
had notes found in their pockets that
exposed ''everythine And thus is the
romance of year = duced to figures
Ladies' Home Journal.
"A youth of sixteen. at Fort Benton,
Mont, recently performed a difficult
feat of capturing a gray wolf with
lariat from his horse. Twice the ami
NAL got away by biting the moose in
two. But the third time it was caught
firmly around the body and dragged be-
hind the speedy broncho until it was
dead
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-05-23
SACRIFICE IN UNIFORM.
The Kind OF Devotion That is Always Read
For Dress Par.1o


There is a kind of sacrifice tbat ;s 81
ways ready for dress parade; that even
amid the rush of the crowd counts it's
beads and crosses itself, always conscious
of the contrast between it's act and the
pursuits of the majority. Of all places
where this sacrifice in uniform is found
it is most unpleasant, perhaps, in the
home, for there it takes the liberty to
try experiments and to pose, and even
to use tyranny in carrying out its pur-
pose. 1t always works systematicallv
and has its hoard of maxims that are
ready to be fired into the camp of ease
at any minute. But the sentence
that it uses oftenest and most effect ve.
ly is: 81 feel it to be my DUTY" The
s-you-please brother is ALWAYS Gil
fenced by this He may whisper under
his breath something that he has not
the courage to offer to the hearing of
any woman, but he only Whistles to con-
ceal his annoyance, while he deyoutlv
wishes that the self-appointed mentor
would take vacation from her saintli-
ness. and step down to the level where
humanity appears in citizens dress
He encounters some pretty worldlinc.
whose frivolity has many times brought
forth one of the home criticisms. and
the butterfly, with possibly an ignoble
purpose lurking behind the sweet
speech, is so patient with his foibles.
and so ready to be helpful without the
least fuss, and with nothing of the mar
tyr air of sacrifice, that it is quite nat
ural for him to regard her through
simple contrast as something neces-
sary to his happiness. Sometimes
he wishes she were his sister.
and it does really seem a pity that
young men in his case, with one nor
tentous sister, have not another of the
opposite kind just to balance values
and to save them from the m stake of
marrying shallow woman in order to
get an agreeable wife. However, she is
not his sister and her sweet ways are
his refuge from the injured looks and
sharp reprOofs of his home, and he mar
ries her, and perhaps finds that the soft,
attractive manner that won him is not
all that he needs for life's exigencies:
and then he finds himself creating An
ideal-a woman who has. the strength
of the one and the sweetness of the
other; one who can offer womanly help
without imposing burdensome sense
of obligation upon the receiver. He
will probably never have the opportuni-
ty to prove to himself that his ideal NAV
be realized, his loyalty to his marriage
vows Will preclude that, and so he will
join that vast company who are bearing
the burden of a secret disappoint-
ment.
The true relation between love and
sacrifice is understood. Victor Hugo Of
fers his picture of sacrifcial woman
hood when he makes one of his charac-
ters say, "She loved much and suffered
much" We know that the highest and
deepest love can not be separated from
suffering; we feel also that there is no
suffering for others that can work noble
ends that has not its root in love, and
the sacrifice that springs from this root
exhales the perfume of it's purpose, as
does the flower, without seeming self
consciousness. -Harper's Bazar
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-05-23
A Woman Held in the Air.

When the high wind struck the city it
raised the snow about the capitol to such
an extent as to completely hide the big
edifce from people passing on the oppo-
site side of the street. Street car horses
were unable to pull the cars along for a
time, and the scene was indeed a wild
one. Several people were blown off their
feet. One woman attempted to cross at
Hawk street on Washington avenue.
The wind lifted her off her feet, held her
in'the air an instant, then carried her
feet upward, and let her drop on the
pavement. There was a curious ex-
preston about the mouth as she touched
the ice covered pavement, and it took
half minute for her to realize that the
middle Of the street was no place for her.
Albany Journal.