davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1890-01-31
Fiction of Today.

For some time past the fashionable
tendency has been largely in the direc-
ton of conscious, not to say willful,
thinness of narrative material The old
merits of fullness and "body"-virtues
apparently hereditary in that lineage of
robust minds which can be traced back
ward without break from George Eliot
to Fielding-have been growing rarer
and rarer. In their place the art Of
making very little go very long way
has been carefully cultivated by undoubt-
edls dexterous hands. Fiction has almost
reached the point of sheer bravado in
some Developments of the society novel,
notably species grown in American
soil, or rather in New York conservato-
ries and forcing beds, and distinguished
by an elaborate triviality which no
amount of cleverness can render other
than vapid Such a fashion can never in
the nature of things be long lived Those
miracles of inexhaustible nothingness,
in which the tiniest rivulet of incident
just trickies across a continent of dia-
logue, cannot long be interesting, even
as miracles, in an age to which the mi
raculous does not make permanently
successful appeal.-Fortnightly Review.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1890-01-31
ShootiE. CanyaSback,

"The only proper way to kill canvas
back ducks is to shoot them on the wing
as they fly over you. If you are a muff
you will have lots of sport, and will not
hurt the ducks. You will blaze away at
them as they fly toward you, which is
precisely what l, as lover of the species,
would best like you to do, unless you are
generous and are disposed to divide your
bag. So long as you shoot them in this
way only rare accident will enable you
to do any harm to the beautiful crea-
lures. They wear breastplate of feath-
ers which is practically impervious to
shot. If you are sportsman you will
let them fly over, and shoot them as they
recede.
"The fact that the ducks fly high and
are very swift of wing renders it diff
cult to kill them on the wing at all, and
as very few men are really good shots,
resort is had by the majority to such
blind shooting as is permitted Bat
teries are, of course, forbidden, and so
are sneak boxes and the like But it is
permitted to the half skilled sportsmen
to build blinds of reeds along the shore
and to shoot from behind them when the
ducks approach within range. In this
sort of shooting very little harm would
be done but for the fact that the canvas
back is beset with Il curiosity SURPRISING
that of women.
"If he sees anything in motion on the
shore which he does not understand, no
consideration Or prudence will restrain
him from padding at once towards it,
regardless of all danger, and the duck
shooters take advantage of this by train
ing little dogs to run about in a frisky,
absurd fashion in front of the blinds
when ducks are in sight. AS soon as
the ducks see what is going on the whole
flock makes for the shore, and the sports
men can shoot at what range they will.
Philadelphia Record.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1890-01-31
Good and Bad Taste.

Don't put your initials or your name
over everything you possess, SO that peo-
pie who pick up fork or look at pill
low sham will read, John Brown, my
property It's all right to mark things
of use in some such a way, but not
things of beauty, and if you must SO
mark them make the letters small and
put them on the back of the objects, not
the front. The woman who wears her
initials in diamonds on brooch is vul-
gar. The man who prints his monogram
on his china does useless thing, for no.
body is going to run away with his
dishes. Don't be too snowy and COM
plex. Don't make your napkin rings too
emphatic and obtrusive. Put flowers on
the table, but place them loosely or in
glass, for if you put them in china or
any other opaque substance you conceal
half their beauty-namely, their stems.
Don't entirely cover your wall with pict-
ures, and when you have picture don't
let the shop keeper kill it with big gold
frame. Try bronze or something that
will relate to the picture on the wall,
and not make it stand out like big,
shiny spot OF color and gilt gingerbread.
Decorator and Furnisher.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1890-01-31
Testing the Hardness of Waters.

A rapid method for ascertaining the
amount of lime and sodium carbonate
necessary to soften hard water has
been devised by NJ. L. Vignon. 1t gives
satisfactory results in waters which do
not contain large quantity of magne-
SUM chloride or sulphate. He employs a
standard solution of lime for titrating the
water, using an alcoholic solution of phe-
mol phthalein as an indicator. The volume
of lime water added is q measure of the
lime required to combine with the free
carbonic acid present in the water, and
that necessary to convert the hydrogen
calcium carbonate and hydrogen magne-
SUM carbonate into insoluble salts. On
filtering off the precipitate formed in this
way from 100 C. C. of the water under
examination, the filtrate is titrated with
a solution of sodium carbonate contain
ing one gram per liter, phenol- phthalein
again being used to indicate the end of
of the reaction. The amount of sodium
carbonate required will give the guam
tity of salts of calcium and magnesium
other than acid carbonate present in the
water.-Industries-
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1890-01-31

The old oak at Mamre in Syria, or, as
it is known everywhere, "Abraham's
Oak is one of the most famous and ven
cradle trees in the world. 1t is rever-
enced alike by Jew, Christian and Ma
hometan, for it is supposed to mark the
spot where the patriarch pitched his tent
in the desert. There is superstition in
Jerusalem, and in all the country about,
that whoever shall cut or injure this tree
will lose his first born son. So for CEN
turies it has been allowed to toss its
gnarled and contorted limbs in the gales
which sweep from the Mediterranean
over the Syrian plains.
This tree was visited by Sir Joseph
Hooker in the autumn of 1860. and in his
paper upon Syrian oaks, read the follow
ing year before the Linnaean society
Transactions, xxii), he gave descrip-
ton of it and portrait drawn by his
own hand.
Abraham's Oak was found to belong
= = 1.ia@::'22ss' rsGsis<a -:HAncifera, which, to
quote from Sir Joseph's paper, sis by far
the most abundant tree throughout Sy-
ria, covering the rocky hills, of Palestine
especially, with Il dense brushwood of
trees eight to twelve feet high, branch
ing from the base, thickly covered with
small evergreen rigid leaves, and bear
ing acorns copiously. On Mount Carmel
it forms nine-tenths of the shrubbery
vegetation, and it is almost equally
abundant on the west flanks of the An
tilebanon and many slopes and valleys of
Lebanon. Owing to the indiscriminate
destruction Of the forests in Syria, this
oak rarely attains its full size" The cir
cumferencc of the trunk of "Abraham's
Oak" is given as % feet, and the diameter
of the spread of the branches as 80 feet.
Quercus pseudo-coccifera is an ever
green species, with the general appear
ance of the Hex, Of southern Europe, and
closely related, botanically, to Quercus
coccifera, q common and widely distrib-
uted scrub oak of southern Europe aid
of Algeria; indeed, Hooker was of the
opinion that the two plants were merely
geographical varieties of the same spe-
cies.-Garden and Forest.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1890-01-31
NOTICE TO SUBSCRIBERS,
table, she said. Table, have you all your

table, she said, Table, have you all your
covers?"
Eyes, have"
"Spoons, are you all there?"
CALL they said, except one which
said. 81 am in the princes shoe"
Then she cried again, as though she
mad not heard, Are you all there, spoons
and forks?"
And as soon as the prince heard her he
got rid of it on the sly and blushed.
And she said to him, "Why did you
blush? Don't be afraid. l am your
wife"
Then she told him how she got there
and how she Jared. And they hugged
and kissed each other, and she ordered
the house to move and it did move. And
when they came near the town all the
world came out to see them. Then the
prince gave orders for his wifes sisters
to be brought before him, and they
brought them and he hewed them in
pieces. And so thenceforward they lived
happily, and may we live more happily
still
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1890-01-31
A Panic Stricken Atlanta Man.

An Atlanta man had very thrilling
experience the other day. He had oc-
casion to go a short distance up the
Georgia Pacific road, and was thinking
of the late accident of Nitkajack creek,
as he looked out of the window on the
trees and bushes fitting past. Suddenly,
just ahead and coming rapidly toward
the train on which he was, the man saw
another passenger train come flying
around curve in the road. He jumped
from his seat and started for the door.
Remembering his overcoat, he turned
back and caught the coat from the back
Of the seat. Look out for collision!"
he yelled, as he started toward the door.
Everybody jumped from their seats and
made wild rush for the door. AS the
excited man had his hand on the door
knob there was a rushing sound outside,
and the approaching train dashed harm
lessly by on the Western and Atlantic
track, running parallel to the other. The
man sank pale and gasping upon a coal
box near the door.-Savannah News
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1890-01-31
A Milky Way.

l learned the other day that the big
milk supply companies of the city found
it necessary to exercise a surveillance
over their drivers, but it has been al
ready reduced to an elaborate system.
An experienced and dishonest driver can
start out with fifty gallons of milk in
spected pure at the depot, and from the
supply deliver sixty-five gallons, the
fifteen gallons accruing to his own profit,
and being secured by judicious watering
at various points on the route. Before the
discovery of this practice some of the
drivers had regular run of customers
of whom their employers knew nothing.
The companies inspectors now go about
the city at random, and, following a de-
livery of milk, as soon as the driver is
gone subject it to an inspection with the
lactometer. If it has been watered that
driver is discharged, and, by an agree
ment with the other dairy companies, he
cannot enter the employ of any of them
Interview in st. Louis Globe-Demo-
crat.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1890-01-31
History of the Rat.

No, not the slang phrase, but the
bothersome little rodent Rats are ma
tives of Asia and their raids westward
belong to comparatively modern times.
The little animal was unknown in an
cient Europe. The black rat first came
to Europe from Asia in the Sixteenth
century, and about the beginning of the
Seventeenth or the ending of the Six
teenth century he arrived in America.
This black rat was the common house
rat until the brown or gray rat made his
appearance in 1775 The gray rat came
to Europe from India by way of Russia,
and is now known as the Norway rat
from mistaken tradition that it came
from Norway to England, and from the
latter country to America.-St. Louis
Republic,
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1890-01-31
OLD SAWS IN RHYME.

Actions speak louder than words ever DO;
You can't eat your cake and hold on to it, too.
When the cat is away then the little mice play.
When there is a will there is always a way.
Ones deep in the mud as the other in mre;
Don't jump from the frying pan into the fire.
There's no use crying over milk that is split;
No accuser is needed by conscience of guilt.
There must be some fire wherever is smoke;
The pitcher goes oft to the well till its broke
By rogues falling out honest men get their due;
Whoever it fits he must put on the shoe.
All work and no play will make Jack dull boy;
thing of much beauty is ever joy
half loaf is better than no bread at all;
And pride always goeth before a sad fall
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1890-01-31
A Dowry Society Wanted.

1t is little singular, with all our mu-
tual benefit societies, that mutual dow
ry society was never established. Imag-
inc the effect upon the matrimonial mar
ket of thousand young women devot-
ing ten cents a week, fixed percentage
to be given to those who are married
within the year. The anxious and aim
less could not then become drug in the
market. Something of the kind is in
vogue in Europe, where it is stipulated
that beneficiary must have been a
member of the society for five years be-
fore reaping dot.-Philadelphia Satur-
day Review.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1890-01-31
Black Stockings.

AS it is so fashionable for both chill
dren and grown folks to wear black
stockings, it is well to know how to wash
them SO they will not fade. Both cotton
and wooden should always be washed
before they are worn. Lay them all
night to soak in cold water. Wash them
next day by themselves in two waters,
warm, but not hot, the soap being pre-
viously rubbed into the water SO as to
form lather before the stockings are
put in, and mixing with the first water
a tablespoonful of gall. Then rinse them,
first in lukewarm water, until the dye
ceases to come out and the last water is
colorless. Stretch them and hang them
out Immediately in the air to dry as fast
as possible. Stockman.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1890-01-31
Mutiny In a Clock Store.

Cuckoo Clock Gust before midnight)-
I'm opposed to night work. I'm going to
strike, for one.
Hall Clock-Come, sir; you're too
fast.
Little Nickel Clock-I don't think so.
I'm going to strike, two. A general
strike and great confusion follow
brakes Magazine.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1890-01-31
Mrs. Hobson's Choice.

Mrs. Hobson-I wish had something
to read. Did you get only one Sunday
paper?
Mr.. Hobson--Yes, my dear, but it is in
two parts.
"Well. let me have one while you are
reading the other"
Certainly, love. Which half would
you prefer, the political half or the base
ball half:'-New York Weekly.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1890-01-31

The gradual failure of cast iron
bridge erected about sixty-five years ago
at Potsdam has been the cause of consid-
cradle scientific inquiry. The conclu-
sion arrived at is that the bridge men,
bers were too rigidly connected, no ade-
quate allowance being made for effects
of varying temperature.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1890-01-31

The following passage occurs in a no.
tice recently posted on the court house
door by constable of Wicomico county,
Md: Il have seesed and took into execu-
tion, acordin to law and iniquity, the
following aforesaid property"
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1890-01-31
To Cure Frost Bites.

A splendid cure for frost bites Is a
solution of alum and water, strong as
can be made. Hold the frosted flesh in
the solution till the frost is drawn out.
This you will know easily. as the flesh
will look wrinkled as ones hands do on
wash days. You will feel no more in
convenience from that frost bite.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1890-01-31

At a western church fair device for
getting up a testimonial to the pastor
bore the following legend: drop a dol
lar in the slot and see the pastor. smile"
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1890-01-31
-7'-7'--s-----7- -=----
SUSPENSE.

The sky and the sea, like two nuns,
Wear mantles of gray,
And, like black cross, seem
The masts and the yards of a ship far
away.
Is it coming, coming to me
This heavy black cross?
Shall the hopes and the joys Of my life
Suffer pitiful shipwreck and loss2
The snip, like bird on the waves,
Seems only to stay.
Alas. it is conling-it tacks-
Thank God, it is sailing away.
Grace Hibbard.
, 1890-07-17

young lady on horseback To Jump
over, when n handsome young fell
low was pressed by the crowd close
up to the ropes. lie held In his
arms a very pretty child. | was OK
pected to say something to amuse
the audience and so | inquired:
"'is that your oldest.
"The audience rOared, and l per-
ceived | had made u hit, but could
not understand it. The young man
grew red In the face. His collar
tightened about his neck. He placed
the child on the ground, leaped over
the ropes and confronted mo with u
huge knife, having a blade eight
inches long and IA bright as steel
can be made by high polishing. |
fell on my knees and explained to
fool, and ifhe should do so the peo-
Pile would pronounce him the greater
fool of the two. lie sullenly retired,
and ! afterward learned that the
young woman whose child he had
held In his arms had been his
alliance, but Tilted him and married
another. He still loved the woman,
and, being man o. wealth and
prominence, all the people knew 1t,
Two years ago we showed in George
town again, and after the perform
ance man approached mo and
said: Mr.. Lowlow, / owe you an
apology. am the man who drew
Il knife on you here ten years ago,
Here Is the knife. 1t has never
been opened from that day to this.
Accept IL as IA present from mcY l
did so. ana have 1t In my possession
now. by the way the Kentuckian
added, you might be Interested in
knowing that the father of the child
ran away, and | am now Its step
father. '"
WARNED TO MAKE HIS PEACE.
AT little town down In NJ isis
sippi, about twenty-five years ago"
Mr.. Lowlow observed, al was tax.
ing tickets at the entrance before
making up for the clown act An
old fellow came up with his entire
family.
essay, boss he drawled out; have
you got old John Lowlow along
with this hyar show"
"Nes,' | replied, hes around
here somewhere.
Right sure it's old John Low
low, the old clown"
same old john | replied, al.
though | was not quite %, and had
been doing the old clown act only
about eight years. The old fellow
started in with his caravan, but
presently changed his mind and
came back.
Look ahyar, boss, he said in u
tone of earnestness, indicating that
he meant what he said, 'ef you
haint got the rale ole John Lowlow
III know it powerful quick, and
you'd better make your peace with
Jesus.
The circus and the sold clown"
are gone, and carry with them the
best wishes of all the people ofSpo-
kane Falls.
, 1890-07-17
FIFTY CENTS A PAN.
John Parker Reports Wonder
ful Strike on the Clear
water River
Local Mining Mon Believe the Re-
port to Be Without
Foundation.

The REVIEW is in receipt Of a
letter, very badly written, and
signed John Parker, conveying in
substance the following startling in
formations:
"A big strike in placer mines has
been made on the north fork Of the
Clearwater, going 80 cents to the
pan. On June 20 five miles We're
located ON the Neuhose. One hum
dred and sixty located by the
company that located the 81. Joe
basin, and jumped the claims located
by I. u. Atkins two years ago. The
country is swarming with men pros
pecting.'
The above letter was shown to II.
ii. Kemp, Il. ID. Browne. and other
well-known local mining men, aud
al oNpressed the opinion that there
H. little or no truth In any OF the
statements, and that tile name
signed to the letter Is probably
fictitious.
1t IL known, however, that gold
has been found in paying quantities
in the neighbOrhood mentioned. y
gentleman was recently sent there
to investigate, aud when he returns
to this city the REVIEW Will pub
lish AN uCcountO of his observations.
, 1890-07-17
RAINFALL,
This Seasons Precipitation In This
Section Is Not Ex-
oessive.
Interesting and Valuable Informn.
ton From the Signal Ser.
vice Station.

Many people are under the i'm.
preston that the rainfall In Eastern
Washington this year Is phenome-
nally excessive. Such Is not fact,
as will be seen by studying the fol-
lowing interesting and valuable
statement, furnished the REVIEW
by Mr.. Charles Stewart, IN charge
Of the United States signal service
station at Spokane Falls;
RAINFALL AND CROPS.
For agricultural needs In this sec
tion of country the rainfall has been
plentiful and timely, and excellent
crops are anticipated assured.
But, contrary to the opinion held by
some, the amount Of precipitation
which has fallen In this place for
the present year to end Of June,
has not been very excessive, being
but slightly in excess of the average.
The amount, 1877 inches, de-
termined by years of observa-
tlon, Is the average preciplta-
tlon for this place for the first six
months of year. Therefore, the
amount, 1859, fallen from January
| to June 80 of the present year,
gave but n slight excess of 0.35 inch
for tho six months, and an excess OF
0. As inch for June. To further show
that the amount, 1882, IL not very
excessive, following are the amounts
for the first six months of each year
for several years, placed against
q hate Vsaa .ssNs lac. IL
, 1890-07-17
A PEACEFUL SURRENDER.
Only ou. Man KILLED In tho Fight at
lslvta.

FL PAso, Tex, July l2.-The sheriff
from vi Paso reached Isleta at 3 o'clock
this morning, and succeeded in stopping
the battle by persuading the forces OF
Mayor Aldereie to withdraw. The party
headed by Gaai, who resisted arrest are
in his house, which the sheriff has sur
rounded.
1t is learned that the trouble originate
in this way: Benigno AIderete, as
mayor of Isleta, had charge of the res
ervoir, and had Il couple oi men cleaning
IL out, when taal sent posse
of armed men to drive Alder.
ete's men from their work.
Gaal claimed that he was mayor,
put his own men to work and refused TO
discontinue when ordered to do so. The
mayor then secured warrant for the
arrest of GaRl, to place him under a
police bond and deter hun from ,urther
Interference. Gaai summoned his
armed followers around him and refused
to be arrested. The fight followed.
The fight terminated in peaceful
surrender at daylight to tho sheriff and
people. Gaal, who escaped, can not be
found. Sixteen men will b6 arrested
and brought here to tie county Jail.
Only one man was killed, a Mexican, of
Mayor Alderete's posse. who tried to ar
rest Gaal, AGother has slight wound
in his head. Twenty.two Winchesters
and pistols were seized and brought here
because no Ysleta merchant was willing
to store them. No further trouble is
anticipated by the sheriff.
, 1890-07-17
A FATAL RACE RIOT.
-Four Persons killed aud Fourteen
Injured.

GRtFrES. Ca, July TO- fatal race
riot occurred in Fayette county this
afternoon. Four negroes were killed
and six wounded, Two of whom are
reported 20 be dying. Eight whites
were shot. but II Is thought that only
one of them Is fatally hurt. The
trouble started with row be-
tween darky who was selling
wine and white man. Tho quarrel
was taken up by Others until many be-
came involved and the shooting soon
became general. Aiter emptying their
weapons demand was made 10 4 mer-
chant for more ammunition. lie re-
fused to sell, but the inluriated rioters
helped themselves to all he had. There
were over 800 people on the grounc, aud
IL is "a mystery that the shooting was
not more fatal in Its results.
, 1890-07-17
WEATHER CROr BULLETIN.
The Average Condition Of the Cereals
Somewhat Improved.


WAsniSGroS, July i0.--The July
winter wheat report OF the department
of agriculture represents the crop as
harvested In all but the states Of more
northern latitude. 1t shows some ad-
vance in condition where it was lower In
June, in Michigan. Indiana, Illinois and
Missouri, and slight decline in Ohio,
Kentucky, the Pacific coast and South
ern states. The general average is 76.2
against ISL last month.
The spring wheat average has ad-
yanced from 0l.3 to OH Tho averages
of the principal states are: Wisconsin.
o3; Minnesota, 0S; Iowa, 90 Nebraska,
SSi the Dakotas, %; Montana, 03, Colo.
Tado, 80; Washington, 03.
Taken together. winter and spring
wheat makes an average of ST.
A small increase in area OF corn is re-
ported OF about u OF per cent, The
largest proportional e1tention Is in the
Northwest. There has been nearly per
cent. increase In the South. The condi-
tion OF corn averages 03, / per cent.
There has been u severe decline in the
codition OF oats, which have fallen from
s0s to sic.
The condition of rye Is g2, nearly the
same as In the last report.
Barley has advanced from ~ 70 $50.
The acreage OF potatoes Is not ap-
preciably increased. The average CON
dition is OH.
The condition Of pasturage is high,
averaging Of