davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1890-08-09
The Federal Election Law.

The "Lodge Bill" which has just been
passed by the House of Representatives,
and is pending in the Senate, is measure
of vast importance, and merits the careful
consideration of every one interested in the
well being and development of the coun-
try.
The political aspects of the subject, we
will leave to the political papers, but we
partisan and economic standpoint.
We are well satisfied that the bill
should it become a law-will do more
harm than it can possibly do good. It will
entail an expense of something like 3d.
100000 upon the country for every cleo
ton held, and will, to say the least, be OF
very doubtful expediency, so far as pro-
curing fair elections are concerned. 1t Is
40 framed that it places the election ma
chinery in the hands of the party in power,
and would enable them, if they should
become INSCRIPTIONS - but, of course,
becoming INSCRIPTIONS CD-to carry the
will of the people.
imosities, and renew prejudices we'll nigh
dead. 1t will have tendency to disturb
the amicable relations now existing be-
tween the two races in most of the sections
Of the South. 1t will tend to the encour-
agement and the bringing to the front of,
the low, ignorant and corrupt classes. 1t
will derange business and have tendency
to stop the rapid development of the South
by checking immigration.
But it is not the South alone that will
suffer. The business relations of the two
sections are so intimate that what lures
one, hurts the other.
We see so many evils connected with
this bill that we cannot but believe that
even strongly partisan Congress will see
them in time and defeat it.-Er.
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1890-08-09
Effect of Bad Positions

An erect bodily attitude is of vastly more
Importance to health than mast people
generally imagine. Crooked bodily posi-
tions, maintained for any length of time,
are always injurious, whether in the sit
ting, standing or lying posture, whether
sleeping or waking. To sit with the body
leaning forward on the stomach or to one
side, with the heels elevated on level
with the hands, is not only in bad taste,
but exceedingly detrimental to health it
cramps the stomach, presses the vital or
gans, interrupts the free motion of the
chest, and enfeebles the functions OF the
abdominal and thoracic organs, and in fact
unbalances the whole muscular system.
Many children become slightly hump
backed or severely round-shouldered by
sleeping with the head raised on high
pillow. When any person finds it easier
to sit or stand or walk or sleep in crooked
position than straight one, he may be
sure his muscular system Is deranged, and
the more careful he should be to preserve
an upright position.-N. Y. Ledger.
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1890-08-09
The Peace Congress.

On the 18th day of the present month,
the Universal Peace Congress convened at
London, and this nation had the honor &C
corded to her of the presiding officer, in
the person of Mr.. David Dudley Field, of
New York. The contingencies of war are
very slight in this country, isolated as she
is from all the great powers, but we. even,
are spending money and making prepara-
lions for war on q scale heretofore unpre-
cedented, save during the civil war OF a
quarter of a century ago.
We seem suddenly to have been awak-
ened to the necessity of having navy,
somewhat in proportion to our importance
Ms a nation and our vast extent of sea-
board. Our coast defenses are being
strengthened, and we seem as eager as do
the nations of Europe in the invention of
new and improved munitions of war and
engines of destruction, and when the
authorities at Washington vote vast sums
of money for these purposes, there seems
to be scarcely protest.
If we turn our eyes to the old world, we
see that all the nations have exerted them
selves to the utmost in increasing and
strengthening their armaments, and to an
extent heretofore unknown.
The public debts of most of the nations
are being added to, and taxes, already
grevious to be borne, are being increased
to an extent heretofore unparalleled. In
q word, each power Is trying to excel
every other in the number composing it's
standing army, the size and power of its
guns, and the perfection of its explosives.
When all these things are considered,
it would seem that the objects of peace
congress, and the dreams of the non COM
batans are as far as ever from being real
lied. and that the love of war will not die
with the century. When will the crisis
be reached Will the ultimate perfection
of the engines of war reach the extent that
q conflict of arms will mean the virtual
humiliation of one of the opposing forces
That would be one solution; but when
we see the constantly increasing unrest
and discomfort of the common people of
the Old World upon whom rests the bur-
den of maintaining standing armies, we
are forced to the conclusion that the time
is not far distant when q universal revolt
will come. The Nihilists, of Russia, the
Socialists, of Germany, the various organ
ixations of England, composed. of the
laboring and the middle classes, were
never more active than at the present
time, and the mutterings of discomfort are
constantly growing more distinct. We
have but little faith that the peace con-
gress, of which our distinguished fellow
citizen is the president. will accomplish
any immediate or far reaching results, but
that change must come before long seems
to be foreshadowe - Erch0nge.
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1890-08-09
Poets Are Not Like Birds.

The late Geo. h Boxer wrote to his
friend R H. Ssoddsr': r ad u:e6 TO
tell Story of some Yankee poet who re-
solved to wait for an impulse from the
Muse. He waited thirty years, and at the
end of that time concluded himself no ct,
although his youthful poems gave promise
of great thugs. hold that there is a
labor connected with all grfat literary
achievements sufficient to drive any but
man OF genius stark mad. This, the
world will never believe 1t has an ldt o
that poets write as birds sing, ard IL
this very false idea that robs US OF half Qua
honors. Were poetry forged upon the
anvil, cut out with the Ak or spun in the
mill, my heaven 5 how mon would h sof aoih
what Ingenuity y
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1890-08-09
Patent for Seven League Boots

Whoever heard of man lifting himself
by his boot strapsH Only small children
believe in the performance of the 'Seven
League Boots" Well, the patent office
has granted papers to a Russian upon a
device which is a COM bination of the hith-
erto deemed impossible boot strap act, with
a little of the seve1. league business added
The Russian lives in St Petersburg, and
calls his invention IAN apparatus for
walking, running and Jumping The
apparatus consists of bows and strings
fastened to the feet the legs, the shoulders,
the waist. As the knees are bent either to
walk or run or jump, the tension of he
bows is increased, and the man shoots
upward and forward. At least that is
what the drawings and specifications of
the invention say will happen. The
Russian did not send over any actual
samples of his contrivancs, and the
patent office people have to act upon the
theory only.-Cor. st. Louis Globe Demo-
crGt
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1890-08-09
Pugnacity of the Fox Terrier.

A walk with fox terrier as compan-
ion can never be wholly without incident.
There will be, unless great amount of
care is exercised, at least one fight, and If
the owner likes, he can, without violent
exertion, promote several. Whether the
dogs antagonist be mastiff or tiny toy
terrier, it is all the same to him, his dispo-
sition being much like that of the Irish
man who, hearing noise in the street,
sent his little girl to inquire its meaning
and to say that ''if there was going to be
a row, father wanted to be in It," Severe
lessons and decorations seem to be entirely
without effect, and the terrier is sure to 60
second time at the bulldog who has all
but converted him into corpse.-N 7.
Tribune, "a
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1890-08-09
Into q Pit.

Among the natives of India deer, wild
hogs and tigers are secured by pitfalls,
traps and other snares. The pitfall is a
deep, welllike pit, broader at the the bot.
tom than at the top, and 10 placed in q
path frequented by animals. A single
stake, and sometimes two stakes, with
the protruding points hardened by FIRE,
are planted upright in the bottom of the
pit, that the falling animal may be i'm
paled thereon.
Over the opening, small branches are
cunningly woven, and the surrounding
area is strswn with loose layer of
leaves, 80 that there may be the appear
ance of jungle path. These pits are
dangerous, and sometimes cow or even
man falls victim. Mr. Ipglis describes,
in "Tent Lite in Tigerland, his first in
PRODUCTION to one of these dangerous
holes.
One morning he went out with his
pony and gun and accompanied by his
"syce" He halted the pony near the
edge of jungle, and having seen several
pea fowl among some growing barley, he
told the syce to lead the horse along the
skirt of the forest, while he would enter
the underwood, which the pea fowl would
seek as soon as they were disturbed.
After he had shot several birds. he saw
q spotted deer, accompanied by several
kinds and fawns He followed on the
trail and was soon deep in the forest, and
out of sight and hearing of his syce. Soon
q noble buck showed his antlered head.
A bullet through his neck toppled him
over. Hestruggled to his feet, but another
bullet settled him.
The sportsman "coo eed" loudly to his
syce, but getting no answer, he disem'
bowelIed the deer. cut down a sapling,
tied his handkerchief to it, stuck it in the
ground beside his quarry, shouldered his
gun and set off in quest of man and pony.
While walking in jungle path, he
suddenly felt the ground receding from
his feet; his body was thrown forward
his gun, jerked out of his grasp, fell in
front and exploded as it fell. Instinctively
he grasped the situation, and in fear lest
there might be pointed stake in the pit,
he drew his feet together and muttered a
prayer.
A cracking of dry twigs, a cloud of
dust and withered leaves, swift descent,
sudden Darkness and he found himself at
the bottom of pitfall, having slid right
between two pointed stakes
The jagged end Of branch ripped a
portion of skin of one cheek; one stake
grazed his back and tore his shirt, and the
other was but few inches from his chin.
A cold sweat followed his realisation of
his narrow escape.
He felt like Gagged rat, and could hard
ly wriggle free of the stakes The in
ward inclining wall made escape impossi-
bic, without help from above. But his
syce had heard the report Of the gun, and
came to the rescue, and by means Of the
poDy's reins and stirrup feathers. toon
extricated the prisoner Youths CON-
pGnioH.
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1890-08-09
Drinking and Apoplexy.

The Irish World presents to its readers
the following wholesome lesson concern.
ing alcohol and apoplexy:
"lt is the essential nature of all wines
and spirits to send an increased amount OF
blood to the brain. The first effect Of
taking a glass of wine or stronger form Of
alcoh oil is to send the blood there faster
than common. Hence the circulation thai
gives the red face. 1t increases the activ-
ity of the brain and 1t works faster, and &c
does the tongue, but as the blood goes
faster than common to the brain. 1t returns
faster, and NO immediate harm may be
done. But suppose q man keeps on drink
ing; the blood is sent to the brain so fast
in large quantities that in order to make
room for it the arteries have to charge
themselves. They increase In size, and in
doing so they press against the more yield
ing, iaccid veins which carry the blood
out of the brain, and diminish the size OF
the pores-the result being that the blood
is not only carried to the arteries of the
brain faster than is natural or healthful,
but is prevented from leaving it as fast as
usual. Hence double set of causes of
death are In operation. Hence q man may
drink enough brandy or other spirits in q
few hours, or even minutes, to bring on q
fatal attack of apoplexY. This is being
literally dead drunk"
As an illustration, of how poorly even
our most intelligent men are informed.
take the following Some time ago we
were talking with highly respected,
well read and intellectual old gentleman
about Prohibition, prohibition is a fail
ure." he said, "Neal Dow himself says 1t
is q failure in Maine," We modestly de-
INJURED, but having no actual proof right
at hand, concluded to let the matter drop
seeing that he could not be otherwise con-
vinced. He had been reading some whis-
key lie In some so-called respectable sheet
and like many another good man was de-
ceived thereby. He will see this paper
doubtless. and we hope he will read care
fully the utterances of Mr. Dow bsfore the
recent Temperance Congress in New York,
as given below: Something over 40
years ago." said Gen. Dow, "-6s people In
the Union were more given up to strong
drink than the people of Maine. They
were consuming all their property in the
shape of drink. Distilleries and breweries
were established all over the State. Then
we sent to the West Indies for molasses to
put into our New England rum. Now
there is not distillery or brewery in
Maine. Then there were idle men and
crime. Now there is prosperity and peace,
Since the adoption of prohibition we have
saved more than $M, 0)0, 900 every year.
Some men antagonize Prohibition because
they say prohibition does not prohibit 1t
is practically free rum Mr.. Chairman.
if l may be allowed to speak, kindly, but
plainly, I want to say that that's lie.
[Applausel You can't believe everything
you see In the papers. Prohibition In
Maine has diminished the liquor traffic to
one-twentieth of its former volume, and
every brewery and distillery has been
swept out of the State. Prohibition has
made drinking disreputable in Maine"
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1890-08-09
A Reliable Safe.

Parties wishing to purchase first class
safe and one that can be relied upon in
case of fire, should write to E. G. Morris &
Co., Boston, Mass. whose advertisement
appears i'm another column. These safes
are being sold in this State In large num-
beers, and wherever they are used give
complete satisfaction. These safes have
the champion record In all the great fires,
and especially In the great fire that oc-
CURED in Lynn. Mass.
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1890-08-09
Scrap Books.

find that very cheap scrap book can
be made out of old government report
They are just wide enough for two CO..
umns of the ordinary newspaper Cut out
about twenty pages after each fifty Then
the book will be filed to its proper size
again when the clippings are pasted in be
sure to use only one side Of n page IN
making the scrap book. Label your BOOK
when It is finished. An index can be easily
attached in each book.-Cor. Author ana
Writer,
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1890-08-09
English Politics.

Efforts are being made to reconstruct
and strengthen the present British cabi-
net, by calling to office Lord Harrington,
the leader of the liberal unionists, and
Lord Randolph Churchill. 1t is thought
that If this is done the present govern
ment may be able to continue in power
until the next general election, when it is
thought the Gladstonians will succeed.
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1890-08-09
Syrup Of Figs.

Produced from the laxative and nutritious
juice Of California figs. combined with the
medicinal virtues of plants known to be
most beneficial to the human system, acts
gently, on the kidneys, liver and bowels,
efectually cleansing the system, dispelling
colds and headaches, and curing habitual
constitution
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1890-08-09
To Keep a Nosegay Fresh.

81 can tell you how to cross the Atlantic
with fresh carnation In your buttonhole, !"
said an experienced traveller to me the
other day. His recipe was to start the
voyage with two carnations and raw po-
tato. The carnations are to be worn on
alternate days, and each when not orna-
menting the button hole is to be firmly
thrust into hole in the potato. At
the end of the week at least one OF them
will still be fresh enough to excite the
surprise Of fellow passengers.-Neso for.
Star.
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1890-08-09
s;x-Mile Fish-Lines.
HOW THEY CATCH STURGEON IN WHINE
RAeO LAKE, WISCONSIN.

HOW THEY CATCH STURGEON IN WINNIE
RAeo LAKE, WISCONSIN.
They fish with fsh-lines six miles loag
in Winnebago Lake, Wisconsin, ano osS
90, 900 hooks on every line, o.,
If thew don't haul up 1000 tish even
time thew lift line, they don't think 'hsy
are having very good luck On - m
And every fish will weigh from ~ TO "
pounds.
That's the way they fish for sturgeolss
out there. One of these fish win
reach half wav across the lake. IL Is
rope an inch in diameter. 1t Is stretcno9
out into the lake by means OF boats' lafe'
buoys being attached to it at Intervals
keep it on the surface
The &c, 900 hooks, baited with pieces o.
meat or fish, are lowered to the bottom o.
the lake by snoods of the proper length.
which are fastened to the main line. IL
takes 20 boats with two men in each, 10
look after the big fish line. Each boat
has 1850 uf the snoods in it's charge. These
are tied to the main line Is inches apart,
aud to bait all the hooks at once rtG~
not less than 1000 pounds of bait
1t takes the forty men and twenty b.
ten hours to set the line for the hrst II
After that the fishermen are employed
going over the line, hauling in the stu' :
geons that have been caught on the hooks
and rebaiting where it is necessary.
To haul in 70-pound sturgeon from tn
bottom of the lake is an exciting piece
work, but it requires more strength th'
skill, as the fish always has the hook sc
eral inches down his throat, having suckeu
bait and all down without any regard to
consequences. There is no danger Of
losing the fish unless the hook breaks.
When the fish is hauled to the surface
gaff as large as a meat hook is thrust into
the side Of it's head, and the sturgeon is
bauled into the boat and knocked in the
head with heavy maui. The hook that
captured it is cut out of its throat, re-
baited and thrown back into the lake.
The average catch of the sturgeon is one
to every ten hooks.
When q boat is loaded with all it can
carry of sturgeon, the fishermen row back
to shore, where others take the fish and
dispose of them. The fishermen know the
particular sections of the line on which
they work by the arrangement Of the
buoys. These are placed ten feet apart.
and one in $50 of them is painted red The
space between the red buoys contains
1000 hooks.
The sections are numbered and the boats
are numbered. The boats work the sec
lions as their boats correspond with the
section numbers.
While the average catch is one sturgeon
to ten hooks, it is NO uncommon thing for
the fishermen to find but one or two on an
entire section of 1000 hooks. The very
next section may contain the full average
of 100 and perhaps more.-N. 7. Sun.
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1890-08-09

Young man have not your eyes been
frequently attracted to a sign having the
following ominous word on it: Bar?
Avoid the place; it is no missioner
The experience of thousands has proved it
to be:
A bar to responsibility.
A bar to honor.
A bar to happiness.
A bar to domestic felicity.
Every day proves it to be-:
The road to degradation.
The road to vice.
The road to the gamblers hell.
The road to the brothe].
The road to poverty.
The road to wretchedness.
The road to want
The road to robbery.
The road to prison.
The road to the gallows.
The road to the drunkard's grave.
The road to hell.
Some, it is true, do not pass through all
these stages, but incompetence, persisted
in, always ends in the drunkard's grave,
and, we have too much reason to fear, in
hell
The bar room is truly:
The curse of the drunkard's " fe.
The curse of the drunkard's chlld.
The curse of the drunk ards home.
Thos" only who have known the bitter
ness of being drunkard's wife or child,
can know the misery and the horror of the
drunkard's home.
Young man before you enter the bar
room, stop ponder the path of your feet
ere it be too late
Man of family Fl 20 the bar-room as you
would in honor fulfill the pledge of love
made to her who is the companion of your
joy, and OF your sorrows.-BGttlnaors
Inn erIcHn
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1890-08-09

Why Boston Prefers the Navy-Mc-
Corkls Boston people are more favora-
bly, disposed toward the navy than the
army" Cumso-'sWhy Ii thatf Ne.
Corkle- There are such things q navy
beans, you know. - r0kss Naqasins.
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1890-08-09
The War in Central America.

While the news from Central America
is conflicting to some extent, it is pretty
certain that there has been some severe
fighting.
The dispatches say that the San Saliva
dorans invaded Guatemala, and that two
battles were fought, with many killed on
both sides. It seems as If the Guatemal-
ians had the best of it in the battle of
Coolepeque, and the San SAlvadorana
gained the battle of Chingo, whore there
was heavy fighting, and great loss of life,
on both sides,
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1890-08-09

Briggs-"There is one thing admi
about your wife, if you will permit me
say 80. She is always so outspoken \
Peck-"She may be outspokt n, but mt
say never knew her to be out-talked.
Philadelphia Item.
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1890-08-09

Mrs. Fangle-"Do you think that ami
mails and birds have speech Of their
ownp Mr.. gangle-''C Certainly do. I
have heard fowl language myself. -
BRAKES MogasSns.
The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-05-03
RAIL AND CROSSTIE.

The following officers of the Orange Belt
fla railroad have been appointed; Gen.
eral manager, Williams Macead; superin-
tendent, A. j. Grant; auditor and general
freight and passenger agent, ]. w. Taylor
secretary, Hugh II. Richardson.
The Charleston and Savannah railway
will resume its summer excursions to
Charleston to-day, leaving Savannah at
1899 p. m. Saturday; returning. leaving
Charleston at 100 a. m. Monday, So. Leav.
ing Savannah at Z a. m. Sunday; return
ing, leaving Charleston at 1880 a. m. Mon
day, g. Leaving Savannah at a. m.
Sunday; returning, leaving Charleston at
4:05 p. m. same day, 81.
Savannah has had a new melon-growing
section opened up to it by the Savannah,
Americas and Montgomery road The
Americas Recorder says that the claims of
the Savannah, Americas and Montgomery
road for a share of the freight of the
growers will be presented to the melon!
growers convention. 1t is claimed that by
shipping the melons over the Central to
Americas. and then to Savannah over the
Savannah, Americas and Montgomery, the
melon-growers will be able to gain much
time in reaching northern markets, most
important factor in this business.