davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
St. Landry democrat., 1890-03-08
The Flea.

This is small animal but mighty in
dustrious. 1t has no settled place OF abode.
Like the Arab, it is a nomad. 1t has
seeming preference, however, snd that
prefer ence is in favor of the yellow dog.
Why this is so is imlnaterial.
The flea is great Jumper. 1t can ride
along on the back of its favorite dog, and
should you be five feet away, with one
bound it can clear the distance and aIight
on your coat collar, and then VITA dex-
terous handspring it drops down behind
your collar and is lost to sight. 1t is an
old saying that "a thing must be seen to
be appreciated 1t is not SO with the tea.
If il was, the flea is so small that it would
never be appreciated. "a man is known
by his works. so is flea, You look at
the delicate tracery in the scu] p5ured
marble shaft; that is mans work. All at
once you feel an ex"rucisting bite III the
middle of your back that is tieas work.
IL is easy to tell what's biting you,
Or course the flea is caruiverous but it
never kills its prey, 1t bites GUS what it
wants and leaves its victim to suffer. Ii
never takes two bites in the same place.
1t leaps meTrily from one spot to another,
browsing as it goes, its agility saving 1t
from instant death in many cases.
The humble little tiea teaches rs to ex.
ercise patience under the most trying cir
cunstances snd not to despise small taings.
1t is not the easiest thing in the world to
smile and look pleasant and chat viTacious
ly while flea is dong Just as it pleases
on your spine. Then is when you feel that
you were not built ght.-1saaS Sltti1aqs.
St. Landry democrat., 1890-03-08
Grape Iuiee.

Although / have alluded to this in the
august number, there are so many who
prefer it to fermented wine that give
here what I consider an Improvement in
the manner of preparing it. Instead of
pressing out the juice from the fresh
grapes, I plucked the grapes from the
stem and boiled them until soft. A little
water is necessary in the boiler. or some of
the grapes at the bottom may burn before
the juice has been sufficiently extracted.
When the grapes are quite soft take them
out and drain through sieve. Then press
them and boil all the juice until no scum
arises Have bottles ready sufficiently
heated to prevent cracking; fill them up
full with the rot juice, cork at once tight
ly, cut the cork off even with the mouth
of the bottles and dip them in melted
cement. Set them away in dark place
in the cellar, and You have delicious
article to drink any time thereafter for
years. use half pound of good white
sugar to the gallon of juice, put in while
boiling this is, however, not really neces
sary, but gives it more body. When
using it fill tumbler half full of juice,
fill up with fresh water, and it is simply
delicious and just the thing for the sick or
the well. 1t is just the thing for the
strictly temperate folks, and glassful of
it will revive one wonderfully when tired
and tagged out. Il may be put up in five
or ten gallon vessels if well bunged mp and
sealed, but when such body is once at
tackled In warm weather it must be used
at once or it will soon turn into wine and
then into vinegar. This boiling the grapes
whole seems to give more aroma to it. and
makes superior article.-SGnaa5es Miller,
IN Orchard and Garden.
St. Landry democrat., 1890-03-08
Dress Suits for Rent.

'What does it cost to rent dress suitY
The question came from shabby gen
teel young man who dropped in on prom
inent costumer of Detroit.
What do you want to use it for, Sir, -
queried the dealer, blandly.
Party"
Dancing party?"
Eyes, sir "
For one night, SO. This is the price
of a full suit-trousers, coat and vest.
Without the trousers will knock off 81.
Do you want the suit now, slr?'
''Want it next week"
"WelI, that's lucky. All orders for this
week are gone"
Does anything go with the auit?'
queried the young man softly.
sin what way?'
"Shoes, collar, shirt, necktie?'
NO sir"
"Can you furnish the whole complete %
For double the p ice, yes, sir; patent
feathers aad all for double the price
"D.amonds?'
"a large sparkler for your shirt, 80
cents extra. There, that's just right,
$6 So Thank you, sir. I'll have first
class outfit ready Oh the day you mention. "
big trader queried the reporter as the
young customer disappeared.
well, rather" said the dealer, smiling
Thirty suits let out for that same stf air
already. His order makes thirty-,-., -
Detroit Free Press.
St. Landry democrat., 1890-03-08
Outwittine the Clerk.

"The best lawyer story I know of" said
a prominent clunman, sis this: a Napa
county man arrived in town not long ago
and went to hotel, the name OF which
shall be undivulged. II the evening he
handed the clerk $50 bill for safe keep
ing, saying: Pm going out to have
look at the elephant to o-night and don't
want to carry much money around with
me- There happened to be only that one
clerk in the Office as he took the bill, put
it in an envelope and apparently stuck 1t
in the safe.
1.-TWO days later the visitor ssuntered
into the office looking rather sheepish and
detected. Waiting until he saw the clerk
alone, he sided up and said: 4 will
trouble you for that $50, please
"'What $50? asked that official coolly.
"The guest recalled the incident OF his
handing over the money for safe keeping,
but in spite of his insistence the clerk de-
MED all knowledge Of the matter. Where
upon the man of Napa county consulted
".Procure another $50 BILL said the
LAWYER, take friend with you, and go
to the clerk again. Say you find you were
mistaken and that you discovered the bill
in your pocket. Ask him in your friends
presence if he will keep it in the safe un-
til you need it. Then come back to me
for instructions
"The visitor did as he was bid and re-
turned to his legal adviser the next day.
Now go back TO the hotel alone, and when
you find your clerk disengaged ask him
for your money
"This the visitor did, and the money
was forthcoming.
"'Now,' said the man of law, when the
client applied for further orders, take the
friend who was witness to your handing
over the second $50 bill, go with him to
the clerk and ask for your bank note
again
'The ruse was entirely successful. The
clerk, finding that his victim had wit
ness to the transfer of his money and that
a denial would be useless, stepped behind
the desk, dug the original $50 bill from
his pocket, thrust it into an envelope,
stepped to the safe, and, pretending to
take it out handed back his booty. san
Francisco Examiner.
St. Landry democrat., 1890-03-08
Sponge Trade Of Cuba,

Sponges are found both on the Northern
and Southern coast of Cuba, but the chief
ports to which they are brought for sale
are Batabano on the South coast and Cal
BARREN on the North.
Consul Little, of Havana, says that the
classes included are sheep wool, velvet,
hard head, yellow, grass and glove. Very
little reef, if any, is found in Cuba. On
the South coast sheep wool and velvet are
more abundant than on the North coast
Cuban sponges find market chiefly in
England, France and the United States
The island itself consumes about one-tenth
of all the sponges brought in, and these
are used especially for the damping OF
tobacco and for cleaning centrifugal ma
chimes on sugar estates.
The sponge fisheries employ about 1000
hands, chosen exclusively from among the
matriculados or seamen who have served
on Spanish memo war, and are still bound
to serve when called upon.
On the South coast are employed vessels
ranging from about FIVE to twenty tons,
carrying from four to eight men, and each
vessel is provided with from three to six
small boats. On the North coast open
boats with one or two men each are used.
The annual value of the sponges brought
in by these vessels is between el60, 900
sn2 9lS0, JO0.-Erchanqe.
St. Landry democrat., 1890-03-08
Pleasant PeOcie.

Says Mr. Thackeray about that nice boy,
Give Newconae, Il cont knew that Give
vas especially brilliant, but he was pleas
ant" Occasionally we meet people to
whom it seems to come natural to be pleas
ant such are as welcome wherever they
go, as flowers in May, and the most charm
ing thing about them is that they help to
make other people pleasant tGo.
The other morning we were IN the
midst of three days rain. The fire
smoked, the dining room was chill and
when we assembled for breakfast, papa
locked rather grim, and mamma tired, for
the baby had been restless all night.
Polly was plainly inclined TO restles5ness,
and Bridget was undeniaoly cross, when
Jack came in with the breakfast rolls from
the bakers. He had taken off his rubber
coat and boots in the entry, and came in
rosy and smiling.
''Hera's the paper, sir" he said 30 his
father with such cheerful tone, that bis
fathers brow relaxed, and he said, "Ah,
Jack, thank YOU" quite pleasantly
His mother looked up ut him, smiling,
and he just touched hsr cheek gently as
he passed.
'sThe top of the morning to you, Polly
wog," he said TO his little sister, and de-
livered the rolls to Bridget, with Here
you are, Bridget. Aren'5 you sorry you
didn't 90 yourself This beautiful day p
He gave the fire a poke and opened a
damper The smoke ceased, and pres
eutly the Goals began to glow, and five
minutes from the time Jack came in, We
had gathered around the table and were
eating our oatmeal as cheerily as possible.
This seems very simple in the telling, and
Jack never knew he had done anything at
all, but he had, in fact, changed the whole
moral atmosphere of the room, and had
started gloomy day pleasantly for FIVE
people.
''He is always so," said his mother,
when Ispoke to her about it afterward,
'iust so sunny and kind and ready all the
time. suppose there are more brilliant
boys in the world thaa mine, ou5 none
with kinder heart or sweeEer temper. |
am sure of that.
And thought, Why, isn't it 8 DISPOSE
tion worth cultivating? l,n'tit ones duty
to be pleasant, just as well as to be hon
est, or truthful, or industrious, or gener-
Gus? And yet, while there are a good
many honest, truthful, industrious and
generous souls in the world, and people
who are unselfsh, too, after a fashion, a
person who is habitualy pleasant is rather
a rarity.
But the beauty of it is, as I said before,
that pleasantness is catching, and such
people will find themselves in the midst of
world full of bright and happy people,
where every one is as good-natured and
coItented as they are.-CanGdiao Presby
teTSq7I
St. Landry democrat., 1890-03-08
The Prooer Weight of Man.

Professor Huxley asserts that the proper
weight of maa is 154 pounds. made up
as follows: Muscles and their appur-
tenances, 6 pounds skeleton, "a pounds;
skin, 1O4 pounds; fat, 20 pounds; brain,
3 pounds abdominal viscera. IL pounds
blood, which drains from the body, 7
pounds. The heart of such man should
bat 70 times each minute, and he should
breath Is times each minute. In "a hours
he should vitiats 1850 cubic feet OF pure
air to the extent OF 1 per cent. A man,
therefore, of the weight mentioned should
bsve 500 cubic feet of well ventilated
SPACE. He should throw off through the
skin IS ounces of water, 300 grains of
solid matter and 400 grains of carbonic
acid every "a hours, and his total loss
during that period should be 6 pounds of
water and about two pounds of other mat
ter.-&. Leuis Republic.
St. Landry democrat., 1890-03-08
Dogs in the Old Meeting House.

The pews were eight feet square, roomY
enough to keep house in, though nos pro-
vided with fire-places, as is sometimes the
case in old parish churches in England
There were seats on the four sides of the
pews, with chairs in the center for tbs
grandfather and grandmother, or the
elderly aunt. All the family went to meet
ing, including the dog. knowledge of
this last custom has always been pleasant
to me. Why should not the faithful dog
go to church?
I remember being one day at Trinity
Church, Boston, and as the vast copgrega
ton moved slowly in saw among them a
beautiful Scotch collie. He walked grave.y
on, thrusting his nose inquiringly into
each pew, evidently searching for his mas
ter or mistress Nobody molested him,
and trust he found the one for whom he
was seeking, and heard the choir as they
sung:
80 all ye beasts and cattle, bless ye the
Lord; praise Him and magnify HIM for
ever"
The Scotch shepherd takes his dog with
him to Sunday service.
But one Sunday there was disturbance.
In the early town records is recorded a
vote which DEGREES that hogs shall be suf-
fered to run at large, "yoked and ringed
according to law" On this particular
Sunday one or two of these strayed into
the precincts of the meeting house and be-
gan to root around one of the door stones,
accompanying their roofing with grunts of
unctuous satisfaction. The dogs heard
them and could not be restrained. They
leaped the high pews with their carved
ratings, and in a body rushed out and
drove the intruders away, afterward re-
turning and decorously re-taking their
places. How delightful, how refreshing
must such an episode have been to the
boys and girls For weary times they had
sitting out the long service-not only with
the eye of the tithing man upon them, but
those of three other grave and reverend
seniors, chosen expressly to keep them in
order, and to "have inspection over the
young people on Sabbath days to prevent
their proclamation thereof. f."-From "AU
around tie Old Meeting House. In Wide
A2D0Ee.
St. Landry democrat., 1890-03-08
The Reindeer.

The reindeer is native of the polar re-
gions of both continents.
1t has been domesticated by the lap
landers flom the earliest ages, and has
rendered the dreary region in which this
portion OF mankind abldes supportable.
The civilization of those extreme Northern
regions depends upon the reindeer. The
traveller from Sweden or Norway may pro
ceed with ease and safety even bevond the
polar circle: but when he enters FInmark,
he cannot stir without the reindeer The
reindeer alone causes knowledge and civ
ilization to be extended over countries
which, during great part of the year, are
cut eff from all other communication with
the rest of mankind.
The number of deer belonging to herd
is from three to fvs hundred; with these
a Laplander can do well and live in toler-
able comfort. He can make in the sum-
mer sufficient quaStity of cheese Tor the
years consumption, and during the winter
season can afford to kill deer enough to
supply him and his family pretty con-
stantly with veuison. With two hundred
deer, man, if his family be but small,
can manage to get on. Ii he have but ore
hundred, his subsistence is very precaIi-
Gus, as he cannot rely entirely upon them
for support. Should be have but fifty, he
is no longer independent, or able to keep
q separate establishment.
As the winter approaches, the cost Of
the reindeer begins to thicken in most
remarkable manner, and assumes that
lighter color which is the great peculiarly
of polar qaadrupeds. During the sum
mer the animal pastures upon the green
herbage, and browses upon the shrub bs
which he finds in his march but in winter
his sole food is the litchen or moss, which
he instinctively discovers under the snow.
Harnessed to b sIedge, the reindeer viii
draw about three hundred pounds, though
the Laplanders generally limit the burden
to two hundred and forty pounds. The
troe of the reindeer is about ten miles an
hour, and their power of endurance is
such that journeys of one hundred and
fifty miles in nineteen hours are not up-
common.-1He Holy Family. Neao Orleans
St. Landry democrat., 1890-03-08
Enforcing the Rules.

Twas going along Hudson street in an
Eighth avenue car about o'clock yester-
day morning and was witness to new
way of enforcing the ''no smoking" rule
of the company. l was the only
passenger in the car and was admiring the
stout and stalwart proportions of the
conductor, when a couple of toughs
rushed in. They were smoking cheap
cigars and flung themselves on the seat
over the stove.
The big conductor looked at them a mo-
ment, and then walked quietly and stood
Ia front of them.
you mustn't smoke" he said, looking
at the heavier of the pair.
"Why so?' returned the tough, blowing
cloud up toward the conductors face.
"Because it's against the rules"
''l don't care for the rules p
81 do, and tell you there must not be
any smoking
Il tell you I'm going to smoke. Now
what are you going to do about it z
The conductor reached down, took him
by the collar, and lifted him off the seat.
AS the conductor held the tough by the
collar with both hands he must have
pressed his thumbs under the fellows
Jaws, for he got red in the face and
kicked and squirmed like a man dangling
from the gallows. The conductor held
him we'll out from him and let him kick
and squirm as if he were an enraged dog
and trying to bits. Ii that way the con-
ductor walked out Of the car, lifted the
tough over the rear dashboard and
dropped him in the street.
The companion tough grew little
pale and relaxed his efforts on the cigar.
~ ba
with keen AMI interested eye. The con-
ductor returned slowly after depositing
his load, and said to the remaining MEM
ber of the gang
Don't you want to go and see your
fliend?'
Guess do," replied the tough, and he
rushed out of the front door.
"You stopped that without much
trouble" remarked to the conductor, as
he stood looking after the flying tough
son, the easiest way is the best, he
| answered, AS he went bacx to lis place on
the plstform.-N p Herald.
St. Landry democrat., 1890-03-08
He Helped the Tramp.
A CASE OF DOUBLE GRATITUDE OBSERVED
IN WESTERN NEW YORK.

A CASE OF DOUBLE GRATITUDE OBSERVED
IN WESTERN NEW YORK.
AS we stood in group in the depot
waiting room at Elmira, there was scuf-
he and loud words, and we turned to see
the depot policeman showing trampish
looking man out of the place. 1t was
scene to make most of the crowd smile, as
the officer was big man and his victim
small one, but before he had him outdoors
a well dressed fine looking man, stepped
forward and demanded
"Ofiicer has this man been guilty of any
offense?'
"He's no business in here, sir" was the
reply.
'Why hasn't hep
Because hes tramp My orders are
to put 'em out"
Just wait"
He brought out his wallet, handed the
forlorr looking stranger two crisp, ten
dollar bills, and then turned to the officer
with
"Now, let him alone. A man with $40
in his pocket is no tramp"
"God bless you, sir !" whispered the
recipient of this bounty as he looked at the
money in the greatest astonishment 'Tm
no vagabopd; I'm simply down on my
luck. | was wanting to get to Buffalo,
where l hope to hit a job, and N willing
to work at anything and for any price"
Some one ventured to ask the gentle
man for an explanation of his hberality,
and he replied
"Just a year ago tonight in one of the
towns on the Erie road, tramp struck
me for quarter and got it. He must have
gone off on freight train ight away and
he got lift of twenty odd miles before he
was bounced. Four hours later l took a
train, and while passing from one coach
to another, lost my footing and was thrown
off l struck on my head and shoulders
and was rendered unconscious, though not
very badly hurt. When | came to, there
was quarrel over my body. Two men
wanted 10 rob me, while g third WAS hold
ing them off, and when they attacked him
he gave them such a drubbing that they
hauled off Then he ran to farmhouse
quarter of mile distant, routed out the
people, and helped carry ne there. While
| could Lot speak, | heard all that was
said. | heard him say that he recognized
me as the one who had befriended him
that evening and before he went away
he insisted on taking an inventory of my
personal property. | had watch, dla-
mond pin, and over thousand dollars in
money; and everything was kept safe for
me during the two weeks l was in the
house."
"But what became of the tramp?'
"I have never seen him since. After
seeing me safe at the house, he started off,
saying hs would send doctor from the
nearest town. and | never even had the
chance to thank him. ."-Neao York San.
St. Landry democrat., 1890-03-08
his Is Life.

A sad little scene was witnessed on Ma
-rietta street yesterday afternoon. TheBlack
Maria had been telephoned for. A white
boy, drunk, had struck another on the
head with hammer and then was ar
rested.
1t was about the time factory girls were
going home from work, and just as the
patrol wagon stopped and the policemen
started toward it with their prisoner, one
of the girls came down the sidewalk to-
wards them. Sne was poor girl, going
home alone, with her dinner pail on her
arm. She recognized the prisoner as he
was lifted into the wagon.
'Buudy!' she cried, "BudGy!"
TIE prisoner said nothing and seemed
ra her annoy ed at her
Please don't lock him up" she begged,
the tears streaming down her face ''He
wont DO anything wrong, He's my
brother. Please, sir, dYn't lock him up.
Piesse let me take him home
The door closed with bang. the wagon
1attled eff ana left her there, crying like
her heart was bro6an.-Atant0 Con statu-
ti0n.
St. Landry democrat., 1890-03-08
Mexican Children.

In Mexico group of lads from seven to
twelve will meet, and each boy will de-
corously lift his hat, and salutasions OF
extreme courtesy will be exchanged, and
then comes the boyish chatter, the run and
the laughter, the same as anywhere. Boys
here treat their elders with respect. An
old man or woman is not the butt of the
youth Of Mexico: rather, for the old people
are reserved the shadiest seats under the
trees in the park. 4 Mexican boy or girl
on entering room walks around among
the company, shaking hands with all, aud
ON leaving the room does the same. Ur-
banity is taught in the public schools, as
arithmetic is at home. There is no one
iostled on the street; the best seat in a
horsecar is promptly given up to the ladies.
who never fail gracefully to acknowledge
the favor. have never seen Mexican
gentleman fail to give his seat to wo-
man, whether she was richly or poorly
dressed. Rural Home.
St. Landry democrat., 1890-03-08
A First Principle of Bridge Building.

If one plank would hold up 100 pounds
on the center, then the two planks placed
side by side would hold up 200 pounds,
while. placing the planks one on top of
the other, and mailing them firmly to-
gether, they would hold up 400 pounds.
In this way we see that, in order TO in
crease the strength of the bridge or beam
faster than we increase the amount of ma
terial, the increased amount of material
should go into the depth of the beam and
not into the width of it. This is one of
the first principles in the resistance of ma
terial, that the strength of beam varies
directly as the width-that is, if we make
the beam twice as wide, it will hold twice
as much; and that the strength varies as
the square of the depth-that is, if we
make it twice as deep, it will hold up four
times as much. Ii we make it three times
as deep, it will hold up nine times as
much Of load. So that you can readily
understand that, in order to increase the
strength of the bridge or beam without
increasing the material in the same pro.
portion, the increased amount of material
should be put into the depth and not into
the width.-Pref. G. D. James9n IN Pop
uiar Science Monthly.
St. Landry democrat., 1890-03-08
Wanted to To;n Her Family,

"Toward the close of the war" said
member of the G. s. R whose mind is
we'll stocked with "reminiscences, at re-
cent meeting of the post. 81 was visiting
Southern hospital, aud while passing
through one of the wards my attention
was attracted by a young fellow who lay
ON his bed with eyes closed and his face SO
white and still that thought he must be
dead. While l stood looking at him a
door near at hand opened and youpg
girl, beautiful as Southern girls sometimes
are, entered. The wounded man opened
his eyes, and, suffering a spasm of pain as
he turned TO look at her, exclaimed:
"'Oh, Lord =
"'Why do you speak my Fathers name?
asked the girl, advancing to his side. 1
am daughter of the Lord. Is there any
thing you would like to have me ask Him
for your
Yes came the an wer in slow, suffer
ing tone. while the poor wretch devoured
her with his eyes. Yes; ask Him If He'd
take me for son in law. '-Chacago 7ri.
bjtne.