davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The St. Johns herald., 1890-08-28
IA LITTLE NONSENSE"

A Common Cause. .-Briggs-"Won- der what possessed him to jump into the river?'' Braggs-"There was a woman at the bottom of it, believe. "-Terre Haute Express.
 Western Visitor-"Just add some stewed tonadytoes to my order" Boston Waiter-'I suppose you mean tonaah- toes" Western Visitor-"Well, maybe do, and while you are about it bring me some fried potatoes. "-American.
 Little Brother-"Mr. Poseyboy, won't you go and stand before the window?" Poseyboy-"Certainly, my little man, but why?" Little Brother ''Oh, ma says she can see through you. I wait to see if I can. n."-Burlington Free Press.
 Physician (to Mrs. Colonel Blood, of Kentucky)-"How did your husband pass the night, Mrs. Blood?" Mrs. Blood-''He seemed quite comfortable, sir, and asked for water several times" Physician (with grave look)-'H'm- still y."-Boston Beacon.
 -Mose-''Farewell, farewell, O faith less one; dis heart am yoah's no more~ Chloe-''Git out! git out! yo' silly chump; yo' see dat open door?" T leab yo' now; wifi darkened brow I seek der midnigbt's black expanse" ''Well, go; but watch da d's terrier-he might catch on 70 pantsw-Texas Siftings.
 -"Henry," cried Mrs. Smythers, "there are burglars in the housei Get right up and go downstairs" ''No, my dear," returned the reverend gentle man, "I hear them in the study now. Perhaps they will get away with few of those dressing gowns and pieces of knitted bric-a-brac we have received. 1 don't know what else to do with them" -Harper's Bazaar.
 Young Husband Gnspecting a pair of newly-mended stockings)-''Why, this darn" Young Wife (nter rupt- ing)-"Oh, Charles! Please don't swear about it. Don't use such language. l did the best knew. Oh, boo-hoo! boo hoo!' Young Husband Comforting the distressed -''Why, Myrtle love, what's the matter? only started to say this darning was simply superb. "-Drake's Magazine.
 -Wife-''Henry, fear we shall have to look out for another house." Illus band-'Why, I thought you were well pleased when secured this one." Wife -''So was, and it still suits me just as we'll" Husband-"Why, then, this no- tion of changing?"- Wife-"Well, the cook and chambermaid both object to the arrangement of the house, and to it's being off the beat of their favorite po- liceman. We'll have to move back to, the old locality. ."-Boston Budget.
The St. Johns herald., 1890-08-28
ANTIQUITY OF DOLLS.
An Exquisite Little Image Carved in Oak
 Found in a Roman Coffin.

An Exquisite Little Image Carved in Oak
 Found in a Roman Coffin.
 The other day went into store on State street where toys constitute the bulk of the stock. The man at the doll department although he had been sell ing dolls until I fancied he looked baby ish-''twenty-five years in this busi- ness, he said-had not wearied of it. q do not know when the world was with out dolls," he remarked. 'I have not had time to look it up, but as far as my opportunity has permitted 1 have dis covered that every nation on earth had dolls. The demand for them now is as great as when l first went into the busi- ness"
 A day or two later, curiously enough, l found an article in one of the maga- zines containing an account of the opening of a coffin in Rome, It had been discovered in excavating. The coffin was marble. How many hundred years since it was buried? The name of the dead was deciphered and from the formation of the letters and the bas-re lief on the lid it was concluded that the woman-for it was woman-lived at the beginning of the third century after Christ. She was not one of the nobility, and the name on the sarcophagus showed that her family was Greek. The surgeon who took out the skeleton and arranged it gives the opinion that the woman was about seventeen years of age at her death. When the coffin d,cnnunrod iT1 which were number of toilet articles still in state of preservation; a couple of fine combs; a small disk of polished steel; small silver box, probably for cosmetics; hairpin, six inches long, made of three pieces of amber. A re- markable discovery was the preserva- tion of myrtle leaves-a wreath with silver clasp--that had fallen from the head There was no trace of the feat ures, of course, but the teeth were fine and regular. A ring-an engage ment ring (?)-with mans name en- graved thereon, was found near the skeleton hand. On each side of the head were gold earrings, with drops of pearls. Mingled in heap with the yertebras of the neck and backbone there were gold necklace, woven as chain, with thirty-seven pendants of green jasper, and large brooch, with an intaglio in amethyst, representing the fight of griffin and deer. Near the left shoulder was lying an exquisite little doll carved in oak.
 This, if there was nothing else, would establish the antiquity of the dOll.-Chi- cago Tribune.
The St. Johns herald., 1890-08-28
DR. TALMAeE's MOTHER.
The Famous Preachers Beautiful Pc, l. Portrait of Her Death.

The Famous Preachers Beautiful Pen l. Portrait of Her Death. never write or speak to woman but my mind wanders of to one model-the aged one, who twenty-four years ago we put away for the resurrection.
 About eighty years ago, and just be- fore their marriage day, my father and mother stood up in the old meeting house at Somerville, N. J., and took upon them the vows of the Christian. Through a long life of vicissitude my mother lived harmlessly and usefully, and came to her end in peace. No child of want ever came to her door and was turned away empty. No one in sorrow came to her but was mforted. No one asked her the way to be saved but she pointed him to the cross. When the angel of life came to neighbor's dwell ing she was there to rejoice at the start ing of another immortal spirit. When the angel of death came to that dwell ing she was there to robe the departed for the burial.
 We had often heard her, when leading family prayers in the absence of my
 
 children wealth or honor, but I do ask that they may all be the subjects of Thy comforting gracer' Her eleven children brought into the kingdom of God, she had but one more wish, and that was that she might see her long-absent mis- sionary son, and when the ship from China anchored in New York harbor, and the long-absent one passed over the threshold of his paternal home, she said: ''Now, Lord, lettest thou Thy servant depart in peace, for my eyes have seen Thy salvation"
 The prayer was soon answered!
 It was an autumnal day when we gathered from afar. and found only the house from which the soul had fled forever. She looked very natural, the hands very much as when they were employed in kindness for the children. Whatever else we forget, we never for get the look of mothers hands. As we stood by the casket we could not help but say: Doesn't she look beautiful?" It was cloudless day when, with heavy hearts, we carried her out to the last resting-place. The withered leaves crumbled under hoof and wheel as we passed, and the sun shone on the Rari- tan river until it looked like fire; but more calm and beautiful and radiant was the setting sun of that aged pill grim's life. No more toll, no more tears, no more sickness, no more death. Dear motheri Beautiful mother!
 Sweet is the slumber beneath the sod,
 While the pure spirit rests with God.''
 With such a mother as an example, is it strange that I should always have cherished the most exalted estimate of woman and womankind?-Ladies' Home Journal
The St. Johns herald., 1890-08-28
The March of Civilization.

Perhaps no more significant evidence of the onward march of civilization could be afforded than the lighting by electricity of the palace of the guikwar of Barola, in India, and that, too, on a scale of unstinting splendor. The inte- rior is lit with 215 sixteen-candle-power incandescent lights. The large hall is illuminated with two large twelve-ligh- electroliers, made in bronze and lac quered work, while the light is softenet and diffused by dioptric shades. Single lights are also pendent from the ends of the columns of the gallery. In the nu- merous rooms are three and four light electroliers, made in variety of designs to suit the surroundings. In the bed rooms the mirrors have been specially fitted with brackets, which will admit of their being shifted from one room to another, and an electric hand-lamp is also provided, which can be moved about at pleasure. An important feature of the installation is the complete arrange ment of switches and safety fuses, thus the overheating of wires and consequent danger from fire are rendered impossi- ble.-Chicago Herald,
The St. Johns herald., 1890-08-28
PRETTY GIRL SLAVES.
How They Are Bought and Sold in tf
 Market at Stamboul.

How They Are Bought and Sold in the
 Market at Stamboul.
 There are actually at Stamboul about ninety regular slave brokers who sell and buy slaves, or who are the medium of buying or selling. The slaves aye lodged in houses known by the public, just as they know the dealers in any sort of merchandise. The principal slave houses are about thirty.
 The Abyssinian slaves are rare on ac- count of the delicacy of their health. An Abyssinian maiden from fourteen to seventeen is worth from 60 to 120 liras Ia lira is worth about IS shillings), but a handsome one is sure to bring 300 liras. White slaves (Tcherkes) are more abundant. Maidens from twelve to fifteen are quoted from 60 to 300 liras, and those from sixteen to twenty from 60 to 1000 liras. The price varies according to beauty, size, complexion and accomplishments. Singers and musicians generally bring good price.
 Many people here buy slaves for legal marriages, preferring them to Turks. The reason is that slave has no rela- tions (mother-in-law especially, and, therefore, no visitors or callers. She endeavors to please her husband. She is obedient and economical, and very affectionate even if pretty we'll treated,
 Many slaves would not leave their masters for the world, but many others would be too glad to obtain their lib erty. Some are we'll looked after, well cared for, richly dressed and have costly jewels. They dine with their lady and are treated as companions and as mem bers of the family. p
 Among the possessors of slaves who were the most noted for their kindness and benevolence was the late Princess Zeinoub Hanoum, the daughter of the first Viceroy of Egypt, Mehemet Ali. During her lifetime she gave monthly allowances, from two to fifty liras, to each of her slaves. She had some eighty of them married to respectable gentlemen, and gave to each dowry of from e., 1000 to 25, 900. Before her death, three years ago, she made 2 will grant, ing freedom to all her slaves and dis, tcibuting to them valuable presents and settlements.
 There ara hundreds of young girls wEo are sold to persons who sell them or exchange them for others of greater beauty, It is revolting to see to what extent slavery is encouraged here, and how many ;t these poor creatures .ou!d ;4I,o to Gy away from the brutal fly of their masters, and how many 1!hera gre CXrEyrte1 apainSt their will, n general, slavery hcre is the curse of ,ho country. Cons tantirople Cor. Lon- l0n News.
The St. Johns herald., 1890-08-28
/ Origin of the Word .. Chestnut, ?,

( Mir. Joseph Jefferson some tune ago gave this as the origin of the word 'chestnut:" 'In an old melodrama by William Dillon, called The Broken Sword. are two parts-Count Xavier and his servant Pablo. The Count is a sort of Munchausen, fond of telling stories of his exploits. He tells one: Once entered the forests of Galloway when suddenly from the boughs of a cork tree- Chestnut Count inter- rupted Pablo. Cork tree said the Count. "A chestnut reiterated Pablo, I should know as well as you, for have heard you tell the story twenty seven times The late William War ren, who had played Pablo often, was at a mems dinner once, when gentleman told 8 story whose age and originality were far beyond any doubt. Chestnut murmured Warren; I should know as we'll as you, for have heard you tell it twenty-seYen times The guests took up the expression, and from that" says Mir. Jefferson, Il believe the expression really comes. "-N. Y. Sun.
The St. Johns herald., 1890-08-28
CONCERNING CATARACT.
A Disease of the Eye Which Usually At
 tacks Elderly Persons Only.

Disease of the Eye Which Usually At- tacks Elderly Persons Only.
 The crystalline lens of the eye is sit uated just behind the pupil, and lies be- tween two fluids, the aqueous in front and the vitreous behind. Its object is to focus the rays of light which pass through the pupil upon the retina be- hind, where they act upon the terminal ends of the optic nerve, and thus give vision. This lens seems to get it's sus- tenance from the fluids in which it is immersed, and when disease of it's structure occurs it probably arises from some lack of proper nutrition from these sources.
 Perfect transparency of the lens IS es- sential to good vision. When any DOT tion of it becomes opaque the entrance of light is obstructed, or it passes through in an irregular manner, and loss of vision, more or less complete, re- sults The condition of opaqueness con stitutes what is known as a cataract. It may affect only portion of the lens, or the whole may be so dense as to pre- vent the perception of any object, though it can never of itself be so com plete as to shut off entirely the sensa- tion of light
 Cataract may be congenital, or it may come on in youth or in adult life, but by far the majority of cases occur in persons over fifty years of age, in whom it takes the name of senile cataract. Generally there is found some embar- rassment in the use of the eyes for a longer or shorter period before the opacity is visible to the eye.
 The cloudiness usually has definite starting point, and from that place it may progress until the whole lens is in- volved, or it may be arrested spontane- ouSly in any part of its course. Such cases of arrest have given rise to the be- lief that certain nostrums will prevent the formation of cataract, or will re- move it.
 In reality no means is known of stay ing or preventing it. The only hope lies in removing the mechanical ob- struction by surgical methods.
 The form of cataract which follows an injury is explained by the fact that the capsule which surrounds the lens is ruptured, and portion of the fluid en- ters the lens and produces a soddeR con. dition at one point, from which the dis- integration may continue.
 There seems to be predisposition to the formation of cataract in some people, for in elderly persons, when one eye has become affected, the other is very likely Al Il L
 While it is best, Tn order to get the most satisfactory result, to delay the operation until tho cataract is ''ripe," that period being the time when it is most easily removed, one should never wait until the sight is entirely lost, for there is danger that the process may go So far as to render any operation entire ly fruitless.-Youth's Companion.
The St. Johns herald., 1890-08-28
Why the Barber Pole Is strined.

Anciently barbers performed minor operations in surgery, particularly bleeding. To assist in this operation the patient would grasp staff or pole which was always kept by the barber surgeons. To this staff was tied the tape used in handaging the patients arm. When not in use the pole was hung outside as a sign of the duties per- formed within. Later the identical pole used by patients was not exhibited as sign, but instead a painted pole was placed beside the doorway, Atfirst surgeons poles were painted red and white striped, while those of mere bar bers were required to be white and blue. This law was enforced in England up to 1792.-St. Louis Republic ~
The St. Johns herald., 1890-08-28
The History of Butter.

Butter, which is almost indispensable nowadays, was almost unknown to the ancients. Herodotus is the earliest writer to mention it. The Spartans used butter, but as an ointment and Plutarch tells how the wife of Debtor ouS once received a visit from Spartan lady whose presence was intolerable because she was smeared with butter The Greeks learned of butter from the Scythians, and the Germans showed the Romans how it was made. The Romans, however, did not use it for food, but for anointing their bodies. - Louisville Courier-Journal.
The St. Johns herald., 1890-08-28
Llkelr to Inspire Conaaence.

[ Customer-How much?
 S Druggist-Seventy-hve cents. By the way, wish you would tell me, next time you happen in, whether this helps your bronchitis or not 1 filled the same prescription last week for a man whose corns were troubling him.-Chi- cago Tribune.
The St. Johns herald., 1890-08-28

A New York dry-goods merchant says that frequently some of the sub ordinate employees receive larger re- muneration than the men in whose hands rests the main responsibility for running business. The men who usually make the most money in the very large firms are not the superinz tendent and his chief assistants, but the buyers of departments
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-10-03
A FAMOUS INVENTOR.
Glimpse of DR.. Gu..-~GIn and His Head
Looping Machine.

Glimpse of DIR. Gu.A-~Sin and His Head
Looping Machine.
Guillotin himself, as we'll as his ma
chine, was good deal pictured on
cheap delft. A miniature of him has
come down with other fotsam and Jet
sam of the revolution. 1t gives us the
idea of correct, judicious practitioner
with the half-closed eye of one who is
mentally thinking out some problem.
He was always improving his surgical
instruments in order to abridge pain by
rapidity in operation, and thought to
minimize it at capital executions. The
principal of equality was to be demon
strated by the guillotine, since king,
mobiles and sans culottes were to lose
their heads by DR.. Guillotin's process.
Ills small model of his head-lopping ma
chine is near his miniature, and sis
quite equal to cutting off mans fin
ger, policeman says, who works it to
oblige visitors. Sampson, the public
executioner, we find, took snuff. His
snuff box, of plain brass. is on view
also. Further on are gruesome relics,
such, for instance, as handkerchief
stepped in Marie Antoinette's blood.
instruments of torture, which fell into
disuse forever at the revolution, are
grouped around the guillotine. which,
perhaps was used as much as it was by
the revolutionists because it was a nov.
city. 1t killed in the twinkling Of an
eye. Finishing off the King and Queen
gave it prestige and made it the rage as
gratis spectacle. An old evil is most
| dangerous in new form.-Contempor-
arv Review
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-10-03
THE kAISER'S BROTHER.
How Military Discipline Got the Best o
Princely Dirt.


Princely Dirt.
Apropos of the meeting between the
Queen and the Empress Frederick at
Darmstadt, am reminded of the follow
ing story, which is characteristic of her
Majesty's eldest daughters notions and
practice of discipline: Prince Henry,
the brother of the present Emperor, had,
when small boy, the greatest objection
to his daily bath, and the nursery be-
came every morning the scene of Wig
orous and fearful struggle on
his part against Tubing. His
mother tried in vain to per-
suade him that baths were inevitable
and that he must submit to them, but
she finally gave the nurse orders one
morning to let him have his own way.
Prince Henry, confident that he had
gained remarkable victory. was exult-
ant, and when he set out for his morn
ing walk took no pains to conceal his
triumph. He INDUCED in sundry taunt-
ing remarks to his attendants; but on
returning home he was surprised to no.
tice that the sentinel at the gate did
not present arms as he passed. On
reaching the palace he fouad a second
sentinel equally remiss, and knowing as
well as any of his punctilious race what
was due to his rank, the little fellow
walked up to the man and asked severe
ly: do you know who amp" Eyes,
Hoheit," said the sentinel. standing
motionless. "Who am ~" "Prince
Heinrich. ''Why don't you salute,
then?" Because we do not present
arms to an unwashed Prince" replied
the sentinel, who had received ibis or
ders from the Princes mother The lit
tie fellow said not a word, but walked
on, bravely winking back the two big
toars which filled his eyes. Next morn
Ing. however, he took his bath with per-
feet docility, and was never known to
complain of it again.-London Figaro.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-10-03
The Court Poet Must Go.

Discussion still continues in various
journals as to the poet best fitted to fill
the post of laureate after Lorl Tenny-
son. have my suggestion to make. 1t
is that this ridiculous Office be abolished,
for what can be more absurd than that
q Prime Minister, who, perhaps, knows
nothing of poetry, and cares, if posi-
BILE, less, should suddenly be called upon
to decide between the conflicting claims
of crew of versifiers, each worshiped
by select band of literary toadies, and
none likely to be remembered beyond
nominis umbra 100 years hence. Poetry
really immortal is the rarest of products;
poetry fairly good is a drug in the mar
ket. Poetry and officialdom are antago-
nistic. A court poet should go the way
of the court buffoon.-London Truth.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-10-03
ELECTRICAL TERMS.
There Is Nothing Wonderful in Conn,
ton With Their Origin.

There Is Nothing Wonderful in COnnec-
ton With Their Origin.
Electricians use many odd terms in
their technical conversations, which are
but component parts of a dead language
to most listeners. Thus, we hear them
speak of ''farad," ''ohms," ''joules, +"
''amperes," watts" etc. The unit of
capacity is one farad; the unit of resist
ance, one ohm; the unit of work, one
joule; the unit of activity, one watt, the
unity of quantity, one coulomb; the unit
of current, one ampere; the unit of mag
netic field, one gauss; the unit of press
ure, one volt, and the unit of force, one
dyne. Odd as these names may sound
to the ear, there is really moth
ing wonderful in connection with
their origin, they all having been
derived from the name of some
man famous in his special field of cleo
trical study. Thus Michael Faraday.
George S. Ohm and James P. Joule, IA
nous English and German discoveries,
give their names to the first three units
mentioned above; James Watt and An
Dire M. Ampere, English and French in
ventors, to the two units following.
Chas. A. Coulomb and Carl f. Gauss,
the former Frenchman and the latter
a German, give their names to the units
of quantity and magnetic field. The
volt is named for the Italian discoverer,
Volta; the dyne is derived from the root
word of dynamo, itself meaning force
ST. Louis Republic.