davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1890-05-08

HURSDAY EVE, MAY 8, 1890.
The Dickinson press., 1890-08-09
Longevity of Animals.

The average age of cats is 25 years; of
squirrels and hares, or years, rabbits,
9; bear rarely exceeds 20 years; dog
lives 90 years; a wolf, 20; q fox, IA to 18;
lions are long lived, tho one known by
the name of Pompey lived to the age of
20; elephants have been known, it is as
serted, to live to the great age of 400
years. When Alexander the Great had
conquered Porus, king of India, he took
a great elephant, which had fought very
valiantly for the king, and named him
Ajax, dedicating him to the sun, and let
him go with this inscription: "Alexan-
der, tho son of Jupiter, dedicated Ajax
to tho SUM-" The elephant was found
with this inscription $50 years after.
Pigs have been known to live to the
age of 20, and the rhinoceros to 20; a
horse has been known to live to the age
of C2, but average from rs to 80; calnels
sometimes live to the age of 100; stags
are very long lived; sheep seldom exceed
the age of 10; cows live about Is years.
Cuvier considered it probable that whales
sometimes live 1000 years; the dolphin
and porpoise attain the age of 40; an
eagle died at Vienna at the age of 104;
ravens frequently reach the age of 100;
swans have been known to live 300 years.
Mr.. Malerton has the skeleton of swan
that attained the age Of 200 years. Peli-
cans are long lived; the tortoise has been
known to live to 107.-Journal of Health.
The Dickinson press., 1890-08-09
Serving Meals at the Capital.

Big baskets like clothes baskets are
used as receptacles, one basket being filled
for each house that is to be served. In
the bottom of the basket is laid white
cloth, so as to hang over the sides. On
this are placed the dishes, and on top of
them are inverted tin pans These tin
pans, as we'll as the plates, etc., are mado
very hot before being put in, and finally
over all are laid cloths, tucked in, so that
the heat does not easily find any way of
escaping. The baskets thus prepared
are loaded into covered wagons, with
doors that close at the back, and are rap
idly conveyed to their destinations. We
are able in this way to supply meals that
are sufficiently hot upon arrival any
where within a radius of ten blocks,
though we do not like to try it any fur
ther. The driver of the wagon-we en-
ploy four such s-delivers
each basket in tho house it is intended
for and leaves it there. 1t only remains
fos the family to put the things on the
table. An hour or so later the wagon
returns and takes away the basket with
the dishes. We provide everything that
is needed for the meals, except table
linen, silverware, sugar and milk. OF
bread and butter we always send plenty,
and we do not think it good policy to
skimp desserts. in Washing
ton Star
The Dickinson press., 1890-08-09
E1-Goyernors of pennsy,vnu,a.

Ex-Governor Pollock was the Oldest
ex-governor Of the state alike in years
and i'll service. He was elected in 1854,
and was succeeded by William T. Packer,
of Lycoming, who died years ago.
Packer and Pollock each served only one
term, and Packer was succeeded by An
drew G. Curtin i'll 1861, who served two
terms, and who is yet living, and now
the Oldest ex-governor in both years and
service. Curtin was succeeded by John
w. Geary in 1867, who served two terms,
and died soon after his retirement.
Geary was succeeded by John F. Hart
ranft, who served two terms, and who
died i'll 1880. Henry M. Hoyt succeeded
Hartranft in 1870, the first under the pro-
vision Of tho new constitution that made
the term four years, and made the govern
or ineligible for reelection to immediate
ly succeed himself. Governor Hoyt isstill
living, and one of our active members of
the bar. Governor Pattison succeeded
Hoyt, and is now at the head Of an inn
portant financial institution In this city.
The death Of Pollock leaves only three
ex-governors of Pennsylvania among the
living, Messrs. Curtin, Hoyt and Patti
son. Curtins election goes back to 1860,
Hoyt's to 1878, and Pattison's to 1882
PHILADELPHIA Times,
The Dickinson press., 1890-08-09
In Central Park.

Not more than q handful of people
were left in Central park late Sunday
afternoon. Tho rain had driven the
crowds away, and so tho slender. Eng
ish complexioned young girl and her
athletic looking escort had the asphalt
walks pretty much to themselves. They
strolled along very comfortably under
her imported umbrella, and seemed OBJ
livious to the falling rain in their inter-
est in each other. Half block brought
them to the roadway facing the mu-
scum. They paused for a moment It
was very muddy. She looked down at
her dainty patent leather shoes. So did
he. Then he looked at the muddy road,
and again at the little shoes. Then IL
swift glance all around. Nobody was in
sight, apparently, and with swift mo-
ton he reached down, caught her waist
with his arm and tho next minute had
carried her safely across. It seemed al
most too pretty to tell about, and made
the writer feel rs if he were playing the
part of q spy.-Cor. New York Press
The Dickinson press., 1890-08-09
A Lesson in Manners.

That the manners of our fathers is not
ours is well enough understood, and the
phrase "of the old school" has come to
be used rather as a reproach to the de-
generate present generation. An old
lady who belonged to the times when
courtesy was perhaps more general, as it
certainly was more elaborate, than it is
now, administered rather neatly rebuke
to a lad who did not come up to her ideas.
She had known the boys father when
he was in Harvard, as now was the son,
and as the latter could hardly remember
his parents, who died in his infancy, he
was always eager to learn ali he could
about them.
The youth was invited to call upon the
old lady, who is now beyond the term set
by the Psalmist for mans life, at coun-
try place one day last summer, and had
all interview with her upon the wide
veranda, where she was sitting when he
arrived. He lifted his hat, and then, re-
placing it upon his head, went on talk
ing with the old dame, who regarded
Inn with looks of disapproval.
"Do look like my father" the young
man asked ut length,
u cannot TELL" the old lady replied,
dryly. ~ never saw him with his hat
on when he talked with lady, Youths
Companion.
The Dickinson press., 1890-08-09
Drnzilian Coffee.

The bulk of the entire coffee prod
uct comes from Brazil, which has a
popularity of its own. These coffees
arc harsh and rank, as compared with
the milder kinds. 1t was estimated that
Brazil once furnished 05 per cent. of the
entire coffee prodGt of tho world. There
have been of ld years one or two
partial failures OF the crop in Brazil,
which accounts for tho high price of cof-
fee here. You will probably remember
that coffee was very low from 's4 to 81;
in fact the prices were so very low that
Brazilian planters did not have the ber-
ries picked, it bringing them in debt. In
consequence, they allowed their planta-
tions to run down, which in part &C.
counts for the present shortage.-Chica-
go Herald.
The Dickinson press., 1890-08-09
Wonderful Surgery.

At the surgical congress at Berlin Pro-
fessor Gluck, Of Berlin, gave an exhibi-
ton showing a most valuable advance
in surgery==namely, the successful SUBJ
stitution Of catgut, ivory and bone freed
from chalk for defects in bones, muscles
and nerve sinews The juices of the
body are sucked up in the inserted ma
terial, thereby establishing the junction
of the separated ends, without any short
ening of the part. Ho presented the
cases of patients in whom there had
been an insertion of from six to ten cent?
metres Of catgut to supply defects in the
leaders Of the hands, to which complete
mobility had been restored. This case
had previously been impossible. In the
cese of another patient Professor Gluck
removed tumor from the thigh, caus-
ing considerable defect in the bone.
He inserted ivory, and no shortening en-
sued. In another case he removed a
large piece of nerve in tho groin and in
serted catgut, and the functions re-
mained completely satisfactory. These
are considered wonderful achievements.
Pail Mall Gazette.
The Dickinson press., 1890-08-09
The Gravity of English Walters.

1t is said that the best walters in the
world are Englishmen, but they do not
succeed i'll the middle class restaurants
For one thing tho Swiss, Italian, or Ger
man proprietors prefer their own coun-
trymen, but in addition to that, think
they are not, as u general rule, so fitted
for tho task as foreigners. English wait
crs are usually kept in hotels, where they
assume u grave air and are as solemn as
buffers. They arc quite as expensive,
too. Once in Cambridge staid at a
hotel whose prices were as high as its
reputation. Tho head waiter was an op-
pressively solemn man, who so overawed
my youthful pirit that even yet have
kind of horror creep over me when I
remember tho last evening meal 1 ate
under his superintendent. felt as if
were eating my own funeral dinner. For
that repast, and the waiter, 1 was charged
nine and sixpencc. have always con-
sidered they charged me seven and six
pence for him whom could so we'll have
dono without. That may be partly the
reason why l prefer the brighter Swiss
as an occasional attendant. He is suited
to a restaurant which has plate glass and
gliding about it; the other should never
leave an oak paneled room with rusty
arnor high in the solemn shadows above
the wax candles.-Murray' Magazine.
The Dickinson press., 1890-08-09
Tie Dread of Death.


Sir Lyon Playfair, in q letter to Junius
Henri Browne, says:
81 have known three friends who were
partially devoured by wild beasts under
apparently hopeless circumstances Of es-
cape. The first was Livingstone, the
great African traveller, who was knocked
on his back by lion, which began to
MUNICH his arm. He assured me that he
felt no pain or fear, and that his only
feeling was one of intense curiosity as to
which part of his body the lion would
take next. The next was Rustem Pasha,
now Turkish ambassador in London. A
bear attacked him and tore off part Of
his hand and part of his arm and shoul-
der. He also assured me that he had
neither pain nor fear, but that he felt
excessively angry because the bear
grunted with so much satisfaction in
munching him.
The third case is that of Sir Edward
Bradford, an Indian officer, now occupy
ing high position in the Indian service.
He was seized in Il solitary place by a
tiger, which held him firmly behind the
shoulders with one paw and then delib-
erately devoured the whole of his arm,
beginning at the end and finishing at the
shoulder. He was positive that he had
no sensation of fear and thinks that he
felt a little pain when the f;ngs went
through his hand, but is certain that he
felt mono during tho munching of his
arm.
The Dickinson press., 1890-08-09
Governor Bradford Princes Idols.

II am about as much an idolator as
any heather to be found" remarked
Governor L. Bradford Prince, of New
Mexico, to party Of friends Mt the Mid
land. "I have 600 idols, all of them rare
and beautiful and some of them show
ing tho work of the skilled artist and
sculptor. That is, 1 dare say, the larg-
est collection of images owned by any
individual in the world. Tho collection
is unique and unlike anything to be
found in the possession of the govern
ment, tho Smithsonian institution, or
any museum In the world. am deeply
interested in tho study and the collec-
ton, for the idols are the work of the
Pueblo Indians. Not the moderns who
live in adobe houses, but their ancestors,
Who dwclt in stone houses three or four
stories in height. These Indians were
very devout and spent considerable
portion of their time in tho worship of
their household gods, which seem to
have represented tho sun, moon and
heavenly bodies.-Kansas City Times
The Dickinson press., 1890-08-09
a Clcrgyman's Plight.

The Rev. DIR. Todd, of this city, once
found himself in the pulpit Sunday
morning with the wrong sermon in his
pocket. There was no time to send home
for the right one, as the congregation
was singing tho hymn that preceded the
discourse; nor would it do to preach
from the manuscript before him, as it
had been directed against his hearers
but n few Sundays before. It was a
critical moment. He succeeded, how
ever, in recalling the text on which
the absent manuscript was based, and 20
he began and finished his remarks OH
that line of thought without scrap o.
paper to help him. It is fact that
number of tho reverend doctors hearers
stopped a moment after the sermon to
congratulate him on an especially fine
effort.-New Haven Palladium.
The Dickinson press., 1890-08-09
A Useful Cement.

The following mixture has been used
with the greatest possible success for the
cementing of iron railing tops, iron
gratings to stoves, etc.; in fact, with such
effect as to resist the blows of sledge
hammer. This mixture is composed Of
equal parts of sulphur and white lead,
with about one-sixth proportion of borax,
the three being thoroughly incorporated
together, so as to form one homogeneous
mass. When tho application is to be
made Of this composition it is wet with
strong sulphuric acid ,and la thin layer'ofit
is splaced between the two pieces Of iron,
these being at once pressed together. In
five days it will be perfectly dry, all
traces of the cement having vanished,
and the work having every appearance
of welding.-Hall's Journal of Health.
The Dickinson press., 1890-08-09
Etiauette of the Street,

When two gentlemen are walking with
one lady the one takes the out and the
other the inside, thus keeping her be-
tween them. When one gentleman is
walking with two ladies, he places him
self between them. When q gentleman
desires to speak to a lady who is passing,
he may If he be friend and alone accost
her, but he must not detain her. In
stead, let him walk with her in the direc-
ton whittier she is going, and when he
has done, leave her with a bow and a
smile, raising his hat as he retreats. 1t
is no longer thought needful for gen.
tleman to keep himself perpetually on
the outer side by changing sides at every
corner, Such habit savors of stiffness
and is too marked a concession to form.
Gentlemen may take the inside when it
would seem awkward to do otherwise,
but the outside is preferred for them
Philadelphia Saturday Herald.
The Dickinson press., 1890-08-09
Why privutcs Should Not Marry.


"No. don't think soldier has any
right to Earry-a private, anyhow" said
u ten year man at Fort Hamilton. "Our
life and our movements are too uncer-
tain, for one thing, and for another, a
soldier should have no membranes.
Look at me, for example. Four years
ago was transferred from southern
station to Fort Candy, away out in the
wilds of California. August, 1880, was
again transferred clear across tho conti-
nent to this station. Now, if had
family to take with me, I'd be in pretty
deep water, I'm thinking, for go before
long back to the Pacific coast. Uncle
Sam keeps us, you know, but he don't
over indulge us in spending money, and
when you consider that there's no such
thing as free transportation for ones
family or baggage, you may judge how
many months savings it would take to
carry one through.
"Why, the officers themselves are only
allowed from 1900 to 2,400 pounds bag
gage transportation, according to rank,
and most of them, you know, are mar
ried. A private is allowed $50 pounds
and what he can carry. This just about
sees single man through, but when it
comes to household goods, even for
small family, the weight is in the thou
sands before you know it. Yes, it's all a
mistake" he said, in conclusion, "this
thing of a private marrying. It almost
invariably causes painful separations,
frugal living and unhappiness generally
to those who run the risk. brooklyn
Eagle.
The Dickinson press., 1890-08-09
The Fierce so,nals.

The Somals are ''httle cattle" to deal
with. Armed to The teeth with spears,
daggers and clubs, they are equally skill
full and reckless in the use of them. The
men live to fight and talk; what work
gets done is done by the women. Tribal
wars are incessant; sanguinary social
quarrels are of everyday occurrence, and
if death seldom ensues it is because
the clansmen on either side are Jealous
to separate the combatants before the.
fine for homicide, born in common by
the relatives of manslaycr, is incurred.
Camel driving is almost the only form of
masculine industry, yet it does not APP
pear that time hangs heavy on the
Somal's hands. Hairdressing and dye
ing (for he aspires to blonde chevelurc)
agreeably occupy good deal of it: and
his portentous and inexhaustible To-
quacity is often INDUCED at the expense
Of sleep.-Edinburgh Review.
The Dickinson press., 1890-08-09
A Bear I'm Church.

During divine services on a recent
Sunday, bear, which had escaped from
the stable of neighboring public house,
in which its owner, travelling show
man was located, entered a chapel, near
Mortlake, England. Women shrieked
a:,d children cried, and there was gen
eral rush for the door. The bear, round
whose neck was thick chain, made its
way to the empty choir stalls, where it
lay down. The minister, whose high
and commodious pulpit had suddenly be
come occupied by several female men,
bers of his congregation, was in the
midst of his discourse Mt the time of the
animals appearance, and had chosen for
his text the words "Be not afraid" The
sermon was brought to an abrupt termi-
nation. The anxiety of pastor and peo-
pie was set at rest by the arrival of the
owner of the animal. The bear was got
out of the chapel with ease and taken
back to its quarters.-Exchange.
The Dickinson press., 1890-08-09
Doco1lcte Gowns in washington.

A gentleman who is well known as a
"diner out" in Washington society called
upon Mrs. Morton, the vice presidents
wife, a lady Of good family and breed
ing, and who has enjoyed great wealth
for the most part of her life, and found
her in gown of rich, dark velvet, but
toned to the throat and covering her
arms to tho wrist; the young women
were in modest house dresses. Calling
at another officials home, he found the
blinds drawn, the gas blazing, and the
hostess and the young girls who were
her assistants on this occasion were In
full evening dress-low cut and sleeve
less.
A senator's wife, with whom this gen.
tleman discussed the subject afterward,
agreed with him that this vulgar tasto
for decollete gowns on every possible
occasion was one of the crudest features
of Washington society. Said she: "1f q
girl comes to spend the afternoon with
me and meet my visitors in low
necked gown, I never ask her again.
Ella Higginson.
The Dickinson press., 1890-08-09
Sorry He Had Money In tho Bank.


"Say, mister, won't you lend me
s4.50Y' asked boy of man in the
street.
-Four dollars" cried the man, gasping
for breath. "Thats good deal for a
little fellow like you to want to borrow"
"Well," whimpered the boy, ~ went
and bought one of those banks in which
you have to put $40 before you get any,
thing out. I've got $3.50 in it and now
the circus is here and can't get any of
my money. If you will lend me $3.50 l
can get it changed into ten cent pieces
and put it all in, when the bank will
come open. can pay you right back. /"
But the man said he could not wait
that long and left the boy with woebe-
gone face, pondering over the care and
misery of one who has bank account.
New York Tribune.
The Dickinson press., 1890-08-09
Tho Larxeat Grim Elevator

The largest grain elevator in the world
was built at Minneapolis Junction in
1886. The building is 1886 feet long, 90
feet wide and 175 feet high. 1t has stor-
ing capacity for 100000 bushels of
grain within its walls. During its con-
struction the carpenters and joiners used
over $500, 900 feet of lumber of all kinds.
besides SO car loads of nails, which, if
packed, would make the enorormous
amount of 10000 common kegs; the best
calculators say that the actual number
Of nails used i'll the mighty building will
fall but few, if any, under 10000, 900!
The engine used is capable of handling
175, 600 to 250,o00 bushels of grain per
day, or enough during the year to equal
the combined productions of the state of
Minnesota and the two Dakotas. Two
hundred and fifty cars have often been
loaded at this elevator in ten hours
st. Louis Republic.
The Dickinson press., 1890-08-09
a Matter of Memory.

AS rule, it is best for the advertiser
to con6ne each announcement to few
leading articles. The average reader re-
members one or two facts, briefly and
thoroughly impressed, with greater ease
than larger number running through
somewhat extended announcement. In
the case Of a merchant, the first thing to
be done is to attracs the buyers to his
store. When the buyers come there, If
the merchant cannot sell them it is his
fault, and not the fault of the newspaper
or of the advertisement. The tendency
of the time is towards brief, pointed,
"meaty" matter, whether it be Of lit
erary, newsy or business nature. The
object sought by every advertiser is to
induce people toread his announcements.
An attractive advertisement, containing
not too much matter, and calling atten-
ton to few specialties or leaders, is, all
things considered, apt to be read and re-
membered by the largest number of in
dividuals.
Anglo-Saxon has come to be very large
ly used in the preparation of newspaper
advertisements. Plain English, plain
type and plain truth pay in advertising.
The Dickinson press., 1890-08-09
Candy That Didn't Go Down.

George Harmon, manager Of Central
Music hall, is very fond of candy. Heis
seldom without box of bon bons on his
desk. George has many callers and they
all help themselves to his candy, so he
finds he does not get many sweetmeats
himself in the long run. Hepaysfor the
candy all the same, and this calling busi-
ness has worried him for some time. The
other day he unbosomed himself to his
friend and neighbor, Mr.. Boles, of whom
he buys his candy, and he told him his
plight. 'rll fix it," said Boles; and he
made up box of very inviting looking
bon bons from common bar soap. These
George put on his desk. The first man
to call was Will Shafer, of the Audi
torium hotel. He picked up bon bon,
said "Good morning." spat it out, and
then Harmon said: "Good morning!
Have you used soap?" Will said he had,
but he would never do it again. Joe
Oliver, of the Peoples, was the next Wis
itor. He took apiece of the alleged candy
and then turned pale and went out.
But the victim Harmon was waiting
for his hated rival, Adonis George Fair,
of the Haymarket. Finally Fair dropped
in. "Ah, me boy, these look lovely" he
said as he bit into an alkaline bonbon.
For moment his face paled, and then,
rather than look like sucker, he bravely
downed the rest of the soapy candy.
He did not care to award Harmon the
laugh on him, and he made his bluff
stronger by calmly chewing q second one
Of the bogus creams. This was too
much, however. and as he talked with
Harmon the soap began to get in its
deadly work, and Fair began to froth at
the mouth. He hastily rushed toward
West Side car, and was SO mad that he
thought the man was getting personal
who handed him handbill announcing
an important meeting of the 'Lathers'
Union" that evening. Now Harmon can
put the choicest confections on his desk
and have them all to Chicago
Horo1d
The Dickinson press., 1890-08-09
The Terra Del Fuesians.


It is believed that the Terra del Fue-
gians occupy the elowest place in the scale
of humanity of all the native tribes Of
America. The Digger Indian is cult
ured being as compared with the savage
son Of Terra del Fuego. 1t is estimated
that there are 1900 of these miserable
creatures living and starving on the archi-
pelago of eleven islands at. the southern
extremity of South America. The Fue-
gians are smaller than the Patagonians,
and some of them are extremely unpre-
possessing, especially those on the south
easternislands Of the group. who are short,
ugly, beardless, with long black hair of a
rusty iron color, very i'll shaped and i'll
looking generally.-Boston Budget.