davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Meridional. (Abbeville, La.) 1856-1906, 1890-04-12
One ofNasure,s Curioslsies.


Devils lake in Calhoun county,
Ala, is one of the most remarkable
natural curiosities to be found in
America. The lake is oval in shape
and covers about four acres OF
ground. No vegetation of any
kind grows on its hanks aRd-nothing
lives In its waters. Even snakes
and terrapins shun the waters of
DEVILS lake and fish placed in it
die in a few hours. The water is
clear limestone with a peculiear taste
which makes il u~npalatable to man
or beast. Horses and cows will
not drink it. no matter how thirsty
they may be.
Deep down below the surface Of
the lake may beseen what appears
to be the charred and blackened
trunks of large trees. They stand
upright in the water, but have
neither root nor branch and never
rise to the surface or sink to the
bottom. The lake has no outlet.
and the volume ofwater in it is the
same all the time. A fatal
lily attachas to This lake. Once it
was the favorite resort of the bows
Of The neighbofhood for battling and
swimming; but now they never go
near it. Fifteen boys have heen
drowned 10 its waters in twice as
many years. A few of the bodies
were recovered, but those who
were drowned any distance from
the banks sank to the bottom aud
were brought to the surface.
The depth Of the lake has never
been as~certained. Soundings to q
depth OF 100 feet found no bottom
and the people in the vicinity cay
The lake has none. The Indian
legend of the origin of the lake is
that before the white man came to
this country two tribes became
involved in a war, and after a mum
Der of bloody battles the smaller
tribe was almost exterminated.
Then the cid men and chiefs of the
weak tribe sued for peace and
arranged for council. While the
pipe was being passed around a
signal was given and the chiefs Of
the strong tribe suddenly sprang
up and murdered every one Of the
chiefs of the smaller tribe.
Then the war was renewed and
carried on until the weak tribe was
exterminated. A few moons after
the massacre of the chiefs a fire
broke out in The pine forest where
the massacre occurred. The fire
burned in this spot for eight moons
and the ground sank down ont Of
Esight; the IRE disappeared aud in
Its stead appeared the lake. I'll,
Indians gave the lake a name which
means the lake of death."-Ex.
The Meridional. (Abbeville, La.) 1856-1906, 1890-04-12
The Town Election.

Last Monday, the annual election
Of a mayor and four aldermen, fur
nished quite a lively political con-
test. There were two tickets ia the
field. The reform ticket, with J. O..
Lege for mayor, DR.. G. j. Edwards,
O. BouFque, e. A. Mazerolle and
Jacob Coastal, for aldermen. The
other, or municipal ticket, selected
at a mass.meeting as the courthouse
on the Monday previous, was Elijah
Bourne, for mayor, DR.. G. .. Ed
wards, 0. Bour9ue. Sol. Wise and
Jas. Petty. The municipal ticket
was voted pretty straight by its
friends, but the reform ticket was
altered considerably-while scratch
ing was freely INDUCED in on both
sides. The result was quite a sur
prise, as it gives us q mixed ticket,
and leaves not a single member OF
the old councillor deck, though it
had representation on both tickets.
The new addition succeeded in cap
turing two aldermen. The result
of the vote as given below, shows
that people 10 this town vote with
all the freedom Of q mugwump, and
that it is rather difficult to count
the political chickens beforethey are
Matched. 1913 votes were polled.
The Meridional. (Abbeville, La.) 1856-1906, 1890-04-12
I,a canitaine j. Il. Beadl

lie capitaine j. ii. Bead
Journalistic M Nord, Cert
article public On q Irl
Rockville, Ind: Depals
JUN 1919 IN pen plus %
00O d'Europeens blancs out
dams notre pays ct 9.000.0v M
an Canada, en- Australia
Don d'Ariens, de blancs ats
exiIes reimbursement
d'hammes do nOtre race Ell 4
-couleur, dams IN court ~
temps. ont d jamais dit aoleu
patrie. Dependant 9
suggestion dune 6nigratian
sleeve lei IN eri &c rage
The Meridional. (Abbeville, La.) 1856-1906, 1890-04-12
4 lady Who vas summoned as J


a lady who was summoned as a
witness before a court in Philadel
phia, was sworn by the clerk but
refused to kiss the Bible when
ordered to do so on the ground that
the book had oeen pressed by 50
many fingers and lips that the
covering was filthy. The Judge
examined the Bible and declared
that the lady was right. The
average court Bible becomes by
constant use as dirty aud greasy
as the hand-strap in a street car
and therefore any witness who
declines to kiss it should be promp.
lily excused unless it has been fresh
" washed and fumigated. The fact
of the matter is the custom Of
kissing the Bible is a senseless one
and should DO abolished. All that
is necessary when an oath is admin.
istcred to . witness is TO have him
raise bis right hand to heaven.
That simple act signifies to the
dullest mind that the oath is being
taken in the sight Of God and is a
token ofthe sincerity of the witness
No Judge who has any delieacy or
refinement could insist on a witness
kissing a book no matter how holy
it may be; upon which has been
laid the filthy and diseased lips Of
persons stepped in degradation
and crime.-States.
The Meridional. (Abbeville, La.) 1856-1906, 1890-04-12

In the Ease of tbs State "a
Thomas Parnell, charged with
murder and tried at Sparta last
week, the verdict was manslaugbtor.
As one of the jurymen we can say
if what we heard after tie verdict
was rendered had been proven 10
court the verdict would have been
different.-Bienville New Era.
Quite probable. The stiff style of
letting nothing go to the jury except
what took place at the immediate
moment the homicide occurred is
very bad lay. 1t vas formulated
by judges Baker and Roman In the
Ford trial, in order TO convict those
scoundreIs and ~assassins, and the
doctrine was upheld by the Supreme
Court, but we are of the opinion it
has worked to the detriment of
many an unfortunate. The jury
should hear all the facts connected
with a homicide.
The Meridional. (Abbeville, La.) 1856-1906, 1890-04-12

Men are afraid of the newspaper.
With all ito faults and imperfections
it yields a greater restraining
power over thesevil propensiaes OF
men than their fears OF the Law.
Its errors are not-onehalf so many
as commonly charged, and its mis-
takes are not SO damaging to the
innocent victim of circumstances
Us -its truths are disastrous to the
schemes of rascals big and little
Prison Mirror.
The Meridional. (Abbeville, La.) 1856-1906, 1890-04-12

Kansas City, Watchins and Gull
railway is now graded ready for
traeklaying sixty-fve miles and
work is being pushed rapidly
forward. The grading of the
switches in the city limits is pro.
crossing. The one connecting the
Southern Pci6c depot Monday
evening, we found TIVE train loads
of iron standing on the switches
and a very large engine Rogers
with the letters K. @. W. & G.. on
tender and No. /, in front. A large
number Of teams were busy hauling
.cros+tics along this switch and quite
a large force at work preparatory
to laying the track. In a few days.
the boys say this engine will be
pulling it, own freight" along the
K. c., W. & G. R. Rake
Charles American.
The Meridional. (Abbeville, La.) 1856-1906, 1890-04-12

The receipts of cotton at the diff.
ferent ports during the season of
1888 80, up 10 March %, amounted
to 6,887, 1852 bales against 6,582.523
for the previous year.
The Meridional. (Abbeville, La.) 1856-1906, 1890-04-12

C'est lundi on mardi aus /
dussucre va stre discntG Oh
La reduction propose eslas IL
Mr.. Mccall de Louisiana 5 !
Mr.. Price one les plauGaaH
Flats sucriers aHaient Sc Faal /
Washington pour protesteF.
The Meridional. (Abbeville, La.) 1856-1906, 1890-04-12

The new council will be composed
of Dr.. G. J.. Edwards, e. A. Mazer-
ollie, Ophelias Bourque and james
Petty, and they will meet and or
ganHe on Monday. A new broom
is said to sweep clean, and we hope
their rule will o wise, economical
and clean one.
The Meridional. (Abbeville, La.) 1856-1906, 1890-04-12

lie Senat des Etats Uais
le bill autorisant Ia commits
la riviere du Mississippi I
on louer les bateaux qnl
n6cessaires pour porter seeoas
population des district inond
The Meridional. (Abbeville, La.) 1856-1906, 1890-04-12

Beschamps. lie dentiste
Nile. Orleans .qui co
dernier await ti6 avec al
forme ct viol6 ID petit
Dietsh, went, apaes nne
addition de son afaire. dstre
nne fois ~condamne 4 Id pe
tale.
The Meridional. (Abbeville, La.) 1856-1906, 1890-04-12

Bro. Drew, of the Arcadia AID.
vance, was once an ardent Nichols
man. The shrill shrek of his bazoo
was heard far above the roar Of that
awful contest Of political windbags
and editorial scalping knives. But
in an untimely hour, when the CON
quering legions of Nichols had
wiped up the earth with the other
fellows, and the victorious chief
tains were reposing in rosebowered
inches in the public crib, enjoying
the sweets Of Office, Drew asked for
an Office. Unfortunately, several
other patriots wanted the same ar
ticle, and Drew was left-out in the
cold, with nothing but bis grievance
to comfort him. He cheWed this
bitter cud in silence, and then began
to paw the dirt and below defiance
and defamation of the nngrateful
Nichols. Like ali apostates, moth.
ing can equal his hatred Of the
once fond faith and the now abjusred
idol. Nichols is to-day what he
-E
was two or three years ago. He
has his faiIings, as all men have, but
is not the fallen angel Drew would
have as believe him.
The Meridional. (Abbeville, La.) 1856-1906, 1890-04-12

It is gradually dawning to the
N. O. press that more outlets to the
great river are absolutely necessary
The Item, even, thinks an outlet 10
Lake Borgne would be a wise
movement.--Morgan City Review.
The Meridional. (Abbeville, La.) 1856-1906, 1890-04-12

Lafayetteviile, Ten..a sls s.
visite par le cyclone. plus ds
maisons sont . terre; pas ds
a d6plorer. JefersonyIlh
etc en- partie detraite per Il
Gu beaneoup de gems bless
The Meridional. (Abbeville, La.) 1856-1906, 1890-04-12

Parmi les produits II ma
ses pories sur Ia free lisle
Congress va ayoir q yoIe
vent lie tabac ct les livfes
dams une autre langue qua
The Meridional. (Abbeville, La.) 1856-1906, 1890-04-12

The national debt is now less
than q thousand million dollars,
and is decreasing at the rate OF
six million a month. At the same
rate of decrease the entire debt
will be wiped out within the next
fifteen years, or before the close of
1905.
The Meridional. (Abbeville, La.) 1856-1906, 1890-04-12

Angelina: DO you believe that
love flies out of the window when
proverty comes in at the door?n
Howard. If it does it goes out
for a divorce
The Meridional. (Abbeville, La.) 1856-1906, 1890-04-12

From the Morgan City Review
we learn that Miss Title Neuberger,
of Abbeville, is visiting her mother
in that place.
The Meridional. (Abbeville, La.) 1856-1906, 1890-04-12

The corset is a friend to all. The
fat wearit TO make them look thin,
and the thin wear it to make them
look fat.
The Meridional. (Abbeville, La.) 1856-1906, 1890-04-12

Our town charter should DE
amended SO as to make the constable
elective by the people, and we hope
some steps will be taken at once to
bring the MATES before the Legis.
aature soou to neutrality-suspicious.
Courier.
We have heard several persons
warmly advocate such a change in
our charter. 1t has its advantages
and disadvantages.
The Meridional. (Abbeville, La.) 1856-1906, 1890-04-12

Sam. Randall, the great States
man and Democratic protectionist,
is dying at Washington. Peace to
his soal.
The Meridional. (Abbeville, La.) 1856-1906, 1890-04-12

This is rot-Lafayette 'Vindieator,
Don't get hot in the collar, old
man, you'll smell bad when you cool
eff.
The Meridional. (Abbeville, La.) 1856-1906, 1890-04-12

Last Monday Judge MCEserY, Of
the Supreme Court, rendered a de.
-cision in the Lafayette regulator
case, directing the trial of the special
pleas first.
The Meridional. (Abbeville, La.) 1856-1906, 1890-04-12

A special from Washington, La,
to the Times Democrat says that
a company was organized there on
the I'd inst, to establish a cotton
mandatory, with a capital stock
Of SIS, 900. The directors are all
active business men, whose aim is
,to.push the enterprise to a FINAL
saccsss. The plant will be known
as the Courtableau River Mills
Limited.
The Meridional. (Abbeville, La.) 1856-1906, 1890-04-12

A gun has just been finished by
Krupp for the Russian government
which weighs 1876 tons, is forty feet
dong and.is six and a.half feet tdia.
meter in the widest part. It will
have a range o feleven miles.
The Meridional. (Abbeville, La.) 1856-1906, 1890-04-12

The police jury of St. Mary
parish ct its, meeting passed an
ordinance. prohibiting stock from
roaming at large. and compelling
owners of horses, mules and any
horned stock etc. to keep them
under fence.
This is just such a law that has
long been needed. To fence, as the
farmers have had to do, against a
few rowing herd of stock is an
imposition.
The ordinance provides that all
stock found running at large shall
be taken up and impounded. and
the owner notified and be compelled
TO pay all cost.
The Meridional. (Abbeville, La.) 1856-1906, 1890-04-12

The Lafayette Whites, met al
Royville, last Thursday. and speeches
were made by the WhoIesale.--La.
fayette Vindicator.
That is a very good name; but
don't you think it would look better
to put it regulators" instead Of
"whites"2 By the way, did they
make any nomination?
The Meridional. (Abbeville, La.) 1856-1906, 1890-04-12

Subscribe to the MBRrDIoNAL, and
keep posted on all topics.
The Meridional. (Abbeville, La.) 1856-1906, 1890-04-12

Job work of all kinds done here.
The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1890-01-02
NORTH DAKOTA.

4 masked ball held at Grand Forks netted
n handsome sum for the sufferers
A bill has been introduced in the legislature
to prevent he sale Of cigarettes to children.
Plymouth church, at Grand Forks, which
was DANA ged by fire Nov. 10, has been re-
built and was roopened Sunday Dec 22nd.
Gov. Melctte and Senator Moody, OF South
Dakota, were all members of the same rcgi-
ment during the Wharf.-The Ninth Indiana.
A committee of the Grand Forks chamber
Of commerce has been appointed to wait on
President Hill, OF the Mantle la road for the
purpose hf having tie division Headquarters
of the road established at Grand Forks in
stead of at Crookston and Lurimore, as at
present.
Judge Mcconnell postponed the considera.
ton of tho Traill county liquor cases to hear
further argument as to his power under the
law as it now stands to inflict penalties for
selling liquor without license. He has Just
returned from Caledonia; where, after hear
ing exhaustive argument he decided the pen.
alties of the Old law were applicable, and
assessed twenty eight indicted whisky sellers
of Trail county So, 400 and costs, aggregat,
ing some $4,000.
Frank Hegin is in Jail at Fargo on a charge
of obtaining money under false pretenses. He
was doing a big business in the begging line
on account Of the loss of an arm in the late
war. He got drunk the other day and
Thought he could get twice rs much money
holding out too hands. 1t didn't work and
he was arrested. He concealed one OF his
arms beneath his clothes so skillfully when
working the dodge as to defy detection un.
less an examination was made.
For the past few weeks interest has been
conferred upon TOwner county where n defeat
ed candidate for county commissioner has
been attempting to take advantage of u ter.
ritorial law which provides that under GER
tain circumstances the number of commits.
tlOner districts in q county may be increased
from three to five. This increase of districts
with two vacancies to be filled by the friendly
majority would enable the defeated commits
sioner to retain his seat for q considera BILE
period i'll spite OF the heavy majority against
his reelection. Public sentiment was
thoroughly aroused, and when the old board
met for the last time the court house was
| damned with indignant citizens and nit Or
neys, while friends and foes Of the proposed
measure thronged the streets of Cando, the
county seat. The opposing sentiment was
so strong that the petition required bv law
" rs not presented to the hoard and the
scheme failed
The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1890-01-02
Effects Of Alcohol on the Mind.

It is one Of the curious errors that
alcohol stimulates the Imagination,
and gives clearer more practical IN.
sight into the relation of events OF life.
The whiH of thought reused up by the
increased circulation of blood in the
brain is not imagination; it is not
superior insight or conception Of the
relation Of events. but is a rapid re.
production Of previous thoughts soon
merging into confusion. The inebri-
ate never creates any new ideas or
new views; all his fancies are tumultu-
Gus, blurred and barren. The apparent
brilliancy Is only the fash of mania,
quickly followed by dementia. Alco-
hol always lowers the brain capacity,
and lowers the power Of discriminate
ing the relation of ideas and events,
After few periods Of intOxication,
the mind under the influence of spirits
Is blank, blurred page. The poets
and authors who are popularity sup
posed to make great efforts under the
influence of alcohol only repeated what
had been said before in tangled de-
lirium Of expression. The physicians
who are supposed to have greater
skill when using spirits have paralyz-
ed their higher brain centers. and
have lost all sense Of fear or apprecia-
ton of the consequences OF their acts.
and hence act more automatically.
simply doing what they have done be,
fore without any clear appreciation or
discrimination of the results. The inc
hriate is the best OF all Imaginative
persons, and the one whom the higher
brain forces OF judgment, reason aud
conception are the fl. "a give way.
The man who uses spirits to give
mental force and clearness is doing
the very worst thing possible to de,
stroy this effect. Alcohol is ever and
always ~ paralyzant 1t never creates
anything; it never gives streng tn or
force that did not exist before; it
never gives a clear conception and
power Of execution. but always lowers,
destroys, and breaks down.
The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1890-01-02
ROMANCE OF BUTCHER.
How a Bright American Citizen
Became British Aristocrat.

How a Bright American Citizen
Became a British Aristocrat.
Several years ago a young English
man, who had just landed in the
this country, sought employment in
Chicago, says the Arkansaw Traveller
He appeared to be fairly well educated,
and was Of gentlenanly bearing. He
when he applied for work, that be was
willing TO do almost anything-all he
wanted was a chance. He confessed,
however, that he was not competent to
perform work that required any great
degree OF Skill and. as a last resort,
began to work in butchers shop. AL
though UNNECESSARILY SUPERIOR in
tellectually, to his associates, he did
not hold himself above them, but
strOve 10 make the most of his stu
alton, and, above all, to master every
detail of the trade. He saved his
money, became known as an authority
on cutting up meat, and. in fact, was
at one time summoned before court to
give expert testimony in case involv-
ing the assassination OF COW,
One day recently, shortly after the
young man had opened shop Of his
own at 748 North Sarsfeld street, q
misunderstanding man entered
as John De We're in?"
That is my name" the young
butcher answered.
Il have thrilling news for you.
Your grandfather is dead, and you are
now the owner OF Three Oaks Castle
Come with me
There was a sensation in butcher
circles, and there was much rejoicing
among the cleavermen.
Mr.. De We're returned to England
and a dispatch in the papers the other
day announced the fact that he had
been knighted. and that hereafter he
will be known as Sir LOin.
The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1890-01-02
Berlin. are to debate the question whether or

Berlin are to debate the question whether or
not there is garden of Eden.
Diphtheria is raging o an alarming extent
in the town of DcltOn, Sank county. Ten
cases are reported and one death has occur
red.
Pat Devine, gambler was shot and fatal
ly injured by Dell Cooper. u dancehouse
keeper during II qnarrel at Wash's saloon,
Ashland
The proposition to bond the city Of La
Crosse in the sum Of $50 600, for the con-
Btructlon OF IL bridge across the Mississippi,
was carried by vote OF 2.22S to 432.
The new directory published ut Murinette
credits that city with population Of a.
600, Menominee with II, 100 and Peshtlgo
with ,, 100.
The remains of DR.. Bartlett, Of Milwaukee,
after being cremated, were placed in a casket
1l12 inches long, = inches wide and inches
deep, and placed in the family lot at Forest
Home cemetery.
Three boys, while skating on the Fox river
at D"prre broke through the ice Two were,
with difficulty, saved. The third, u German
boy named William Stuubb, was drowned.
His body was recovered
John XiIler is missing from his home in
Shehoygan. Oflate he has labored under a
| dellsiOn that his tamily desired to be rid Of
him. and, in consequence, grew Respondent
and threatened 20 make away with himself
! Patrick Snee a boiIer-maker of Racine,
| aged % years was killed by the cars Oh the
! Northwestern railway south of W0ukcgan.
He was out celebrating with a companion
and boarded train. Whether he fell or was
| pushed Offhas not been learned.
| Gov. Hoard has received a letter from
! Etienne COmbry, of Loutgiband, France,
| asking the whereabouts of one Antoine
MOlner, who was II res ldent Of Portage. If
| he can be found his relatives are exceedingly
anxious to communicate with him.
! David James, OF Racine while moving q
fence that WAS within the bounds of his prop
erty, was showered by Il lawn-hose stream
that Mrs. 0. c. Davis turned upon him. He
faced the water for over an hour and sue
ceeded i'll removing tie fence.
Five members OF the Schultz family, OF La
! Crosse, the youngest 5, were poisoned, prob
ably Ivy eating mixed candy. A bag of it
was brought home from the store and all
took a piece or two except one. and all who
ate it woke up the next morning suffering
from gripes and pur-ing. They are getting
along under treatment but were pretty sick.
A piece of the candy given to a dog nearly
killed him.
The Milwaukee underwriters. in a commu-
ncation TO the mayor and Common Council
protest against the construction beneath the
streets of volcano whose erruptions may
cndanger property and lie. Their caution is
particularly directed against the granting OF
a franchise Tor the projected pipe lines to
carry crude petroleum to manufacturing es-
Establishments desiriOus Of using it as fuel.
but they also call attention to the necessity
for the speedy appointment OF an official ex-
pert TO supervise the putting up of electric
wires.
The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1890-01-02
Inc SUM-

OVerb GARD, when, presto! away went
the whole flock, popping over the
rail, one after another, into the sea.
Boats were lowered, and with much
labor portion OF the flock was saved.
Another told story which illus
trated the same follow-my-leader trait
in the character of sheep At port
on the Sound one evening just after
the deck hands had got all the freight
slowed away, there came down 800
sheep TO be put onboard. All hands
were yexed because Of the delay and
trouble connected with shipping them,
but finally pen was made OF hurdles
between decks, and a gangway rugged,
and in the dusk all was ready to take
the sheep on board, and they were
started down the gangway. The first
| one, as he struck the deck. saw an
opening in the other side of the boat
across which hurdle had been placed.
Instead Of going along to the corral
! prepared, this sheep made a running
| jump, cleared the hurdle and landed
in the salt chuck alongside. Every
one Of the band followed suit, and in a
short time 500 sheep were struggling
in the water. The captain, having
seen the last one go down the plank
yelled out, AL right down there?" An
answer came back, all right sir; send
them down. Send EN- down. roar
ed the captain, "haven't you the sheep
down there?" Not a sheep, sir" was
the reply, and investigation showed
that there was not sheep on the
boat. The captain could not delay
any longer, and so steamed away, and
only a small number Of the sheep ever
| got ashore