davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1890-06-25
ABOUT THERMOMETERS,

Tho Finest Instrument Ever Made at the
Johns Hopkins University.
1.-THE finest thermometer in this coun-
try, and I suppose in the world, is at
Johns Hopkins University" remarked
Lieutenant Finley, the Government
Signal-Service inspector.
Lieutenant Finley inspects a great
many thermometers every year, and he
knows something about them.
This remarkable instrument" he
continued, lis known as Prof Row.
lands thermometer, and is valued at
the enormous sum of $4,000. It is alb
solutely perfect, and so fine are the
graduations on the glass that it re-
quires telescope to read them. There
are number of fine instruments that
are rugged with telescopes.
''The United States Government don't
go in for expensive thermometers" said
Lieutenant Finley. II don't suppose
the finest one at the headquarters of the
weather bureau in Washington is worth
over $780,"
The thermometers used at the signal
stations cost IS. A thoroughly reliable
instrument can be purchased for that
amount. These thermometers are about
10 inches long. Each station has sew
eral of them. 1t is necessary to have
both kinds, tho spirit thermometer to
measure minimum temperature and the
mercurial thermometer to measure the
maximum temperature. There are
three famous makers in the United
States, two of whom are in New York.
"A thermometer is like wine," Lieu
tenant Finley remarked, 1T improves
with age. The older it gets the better
1t Is. 1t is absolutely necessary for the
tube to season. 1t must be several years
old before it becomes reliable. IN. Y.
Morning Journal.
Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1890-06-25

first intimation OF any thing wrong
came from seeing this passenger enter
my room with the key In his hand. .
4 shall have to report you to the
department for this,' he said, sternly,
holding up the key. Il am an inspector,
and have caught you in fragrant piece
OF carelessness on my first trip
"'All right l said, bitterly. Irecog-
nized my fault on the instant, and knew
it was likely to cost me my place. 1t
did not occur to mo at the moment to
doubt his word, for he spoke in q
matter-of-fact way that carried convio-
ton. His next movement, however,
undecoived me. for, stepping quietly to-
ward me, he made grab for my re-
volver, and, before knew what he was
about, he had it in his hand.
''Something-I can't say what it was
told me on the instant that he was a
maniac. lie was a strong, big man,
handsome and well-dressed, saw that
l was no match for him physically,
aside from the fact that he Was now
armed and WIS not It was a mighty
unpleasant situation, and l did a good
deal Of quick thinking just thon. I
kave tried to figure out good many
times since then what the wisest thing
would have been for me to do, but I
don't know as I could have done any
better than did on the spur of the mo-
ment.
"'You dom look like an Inspector
said, pretending to take no notice of his
having seized the pistol. Show me your
papers,
He laughed, and then I knew / was
right, No sane man ever laughed as he
did. You are very bright young
man, he said. 4 am not an inspector,
but III tell you who am, and then
shall kill you. Nobody can know that
secret and live.'
You'd better not tell me, them ]
said, as coolly as could. 4 don't want
to die now. May be you are friend OF
mine. though. i. am not an ordinary
person myself
81 know it, he said. You are St.
Peter, and have come for your keys. I
am the angel Gabriel. I have the first
key and you must give me the rest
"'All right said l, starting for the
door. III get 'em for you
Hold on he said, cooking the re-
volver. You can't go now. Ill tell
you first and then you may get them
"'You're foolish said, still trying
to keep cool, though I was horribly
frightened. If you kill me you can't
make me do any thing afterwards, and
don't need the keys and you do. can
open any door there is without key.
Shall show your
"'Well, yes, he said, rather doubtful
ly, but how can you do it?'
Try this one,' l said. You can't
open this door, although you have the
key, but can go right out through it
and come back again. Then you may
kill me if you want to, though I'd
Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1890-06-25
Progress In Surgery.

Some remarkable achievements in
surgery are reported from Berlin. AT
the surgical congress, Prof. Gluck DEM
onstrated the successful substitution OF
catgut, ivory and bone freed from chalk,
for defects in bones, muscles and nerv-
Gus sinews. The juices of the body are
sucked up in the inserted material,
thereby establishing the junction of the
separated ends, without any shortening
of the part. He presented the cases OF
patients in whom there had been an in.
sertion of from six to ten centimeters OF
catgut to supply defects in the leaders
of the hands, to which complete mobili-
ty had been restored. In the case OF
another patient Prof. Gluck removed a
tumor from the thigh, causing consid.
cradle defect in the bone. He inserted
ivory, and no shortening ensued. In
another case he removed large piece
of nerve in the groin and inserted cat.
gut, and the functions remained com.
pletely satisfactory.-Chicago Herald.
Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1890-06-25
rather you wouldn't. Try the door fe

rather you wouldn't. Try the door TO.
YOURSELF
He did So and not understanding
the lock, couldn't open it. You can't
open it, either he said, standing aside.
oh, yes cam l replied, and put
ting my hand on the lock l pressed the
spring without letting him see how it
was done. Pulling the door open vio-
lently, struck him with it, hard enough
to force him backward, and jumped
through, just in time to dodge bullet
that he fired at me. pulled the door
to after me and he was locked in.
HE fired second shot through the
door, but that missed me, too, and
rushed for the platform to find the brake.
man. He wasn't there, and seized the
bell-rope. That was cut. rushed to the
forward end of the car and the door
there was locked. broke through the
window and climbed out to the engine,
and had the train stopped quickly.
1.-THE engineer and 1 went back, and
as wo were chopping at the door to get
into my room we heard another shot.
When we got in we found the unfortun.
ate man dead. He had shot himself.
''The brakeman was picked up next
morning where the maniac had thrown
him off the car into a heap of broken
rock. He said he had been taken I'M
aware and suddenly pushed from the
platform. Fortunately he was not killed,
though he was badly hurt. There was
nothing on the dead man to reveal his
identity, and if that was ever discovered
do not know it,
'Of course reported the facts to the
department, and of course was repri-
manded, but did not lose my place. I
suppose the authorities thought I had
been punished enough. david A. Cur
It's, in brakes Magazine.
Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1890-06-25
Spontaneous Combustion Of Man.

Dickens has been very much criti-
cised for his apparent acceptance of the
fact of human spontaneous combustion,
but the late Sir William Gull testified
to surprising case before the commit
tee of the House of Lords on intemper-
ance during the summer Of 1886. A
large, bloated man, who was suffering
from difficulty of breathing and great
distention of the venous system, died
at Guys Hospital. At the post-mortem
Of the following day there was no sign
of decomposition, but the body was dis
tended with what was thought to be
gas. "When punctures were made into
the skin," said Sir William, land a
lighted match applied, the gas which
escaped burned with the blue fame OF
carburetted hydrogen. AS many as a
dozen Of these little flames were burn
ing at one time."-London Court Jour-
nal. - Il
Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1890-06-25
How to Avoid the Tootha che.

Dentists are daily committing the err
ror of not instructing their patients in
regard to the proper methods of cleans
ing their mouths-brushing rinsing
with warm water after meals and al
night before going to bed. It is aston
ishing what ignorance exists among
people of all classes and conditions as
to what cleanliness means. Not much
dentrifice of any kind is needed-small
quill tootpicks are best, narrow strips OF
rubber dam for spaces the quill will not
clean. Water used frequently for rims
ing, with motion of the tongue on all
the surfaces Of the teeth and gums. Sc
much for preventive dentistry, which
should be the highest aim. IN. Y. Jour
nal.
Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1890-06-25
GETTlN' ON.
When I wuz somewhat younger,
Iwuz reckened purity gay
! had M fling at every thing

When wuz somewhat younger,
1wuz reclSened purity gay
had M fling at every thing
In q rollickin', coltish way,
But times have strangely altered
Since sixty years ago
This age OF steam on things don't seem
Like the age used to know.
Your modern innovations
DoS't suit me, I confess,
AS did the ways Of the good OIL days.
But I'm gettin' on, guess.
set on the piazza
An hitch round with the sun
Sometimes, mayhap, I take naph
Waitin' till school is done.
An then tell the children
The things done in youth,
An near as / can las venerble many
stick to the honest truth!
But the looks Of them 'at listen
Seem sometimes to express
The remote idea that I'm gone-you see5
An an gettin' on, guess.
set up in the mornin',
An, nothin' else 10 do,
Before the rest are up an dressed
read the papers through;
hang round with the women
All day an hear 'em talk,
An while they sew or knit show
The baby how to walk;
An somehow, I feel sorry
When they pnt away his dress
An cut his curls Ccause they're like agtrls)-
I'm gettin' on, guess!
Sometimes, with twilight round me.
Isee (or seem to see)
A distant shore where friends of yore
Linger an watch for me;
Sometimes I've heered 'em calm
So ,enderlike an low
That it almost seemed like dream dreamed
Or an echo OF long ago;
An sometimes on my forehead
There falls soft caress,
Or the touch Of hand-you understand
I'm gettin' on, guess.
Chicago News.
Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1890-06-25
a CAPITALISTS STORY.
To Keep Up Appearances Q Man Denies
Himself Many Pleasures.

To Keep Up Appearances Man Denies
Himself Many Pleasures.
The popular opinion of the man who
makes money by lending money is that
he is shark. There are some excep-
tions.
There is one man-and doubtless
many-in this city who lends money
who Is a lover of books, and children,
and flowers and music. He likes good
fellowship and the quiet little enjoy
ments which accrue fromit. The writer
met him on the street yesterday and
his first salutat ton was:
''Truth is stranger than fiction. The
more see of life the more l am puzzled.
thought had seen enough some years
ago to enable mo to form an estimate OF
men, but I'll be hanged If 1 don't give
1t up. Sope Of these days I am going
to quit this business I am in and shut
myself up in a room and write q book.
That's what think now.
II have just come from place where
I have collected some interest. The
man from whom collected-the man
who owes the principals as nice fell
low as I ever saw. He has every ele-
ment Of popularity, and he has just one
of the most delightful families you ever
met. He has a suite of Offices that are
furnished deliberately and extravaganza
ly. They are in an Office building which
gets the highest rents of any IN this
city. The man borrowed the money to
furnish them, and he is struggling to
hold them. think he could do rs we'll
in his business If he had cheaper offices.
But he is one of your proud men. His
business, in the first place, is one
which brings him in contact with
capitalists. He thinks it is necessary
for him to make this sort of showing
before these people. May be I
don't know. 1 used to think UNDER
stood such things. but don't any more.
used to think that business men didn't
care for this sort of display by one with
whom they had dealings. This man is
actually staggering under his load.
And yet he had rather stagger than
have the people with whom he is doing
business think for moment that he is
not keeping up with the procession. Do
the people know he is staggering under
this load? Not bit of it. They don't
know it. And that is the strange part
of it to me. There is another strange
thing about it-he isn't the only one."-
Chicago Tribune.
Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1890-06-25

The Siamese ape is said to be in
great request among Siamese merchants
IS cashier in their contingencies.
The cashier ape mcditatively puts into
his mouth each coin presented to him
in business payments, and tests it with
grave deliberations. His method OF
testing is regarded in commercial cir
cles as infallible; and, as matter OF
fact, mis- decision is uniformly accepted
by all parties interested in the transact
ton. ~.,..* .-
Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1890-06-25

dozen large bags full of mail from Buff
falo and other Eastern points. The
department was working hard to save
time in delivery, and we were making
the first great steps in that direction. I
hadn't an entire car to myself. In those
days the travelling Offices were little
cubby-holes, taking up about one-third
of second-class car. The forward end
of the car was used for smoker, and a
narrow passage alongside my room led
from the smoking-room to the rear door.
l had no assistant, and used to lock my
door on leaving Cleveland and work like
beaver till reached Chicago, seldom
completing the nights work till we
were fairly inside the limits of the lat
ter city. It was hard work, but soon
got used to it and was fairly we'll con-
tented with the place.
ut did not seem like partic ularly
dangerous post, and no such precaution
was taken in those days to guard against
possible attempts at robbing the mails
as is now taken. had strong door,
secured by strong lock, and l had
heavy revolver that kept lying on the
tdO1c, Out OcyOuu tud1 AO SpoSAdA d.
rangement was made to protect me or
the mail. It was not considered posi-
BILE that would be attacked on regu-
lar passenger train. One adventure
that had, however, served to quicken
the apprehension of the Department,
and soon after, believe, rule was es-
tablished that no post7office car should
be run without two or more men in the
Office.
LAS l said, my door was secured by
heavy lock. 1t was snap-lock and
opened with large and peculiar key
from the outside, while on the inside
there was no keyhole, and no key to be
used, but the pressure of a concealed
spring pulled the bolt open. You have
seen similar locks on Office gates in
counting-rooms very often. They are
common enough now, and almost every
Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1890-06-25
FOUR KINDS OF NAILS.
A Youthful Essayist's First Effort at Writ
ing q CompOsition.

A Youthful Essayist's First Effort at Writ
ing Composition.
The primary class in a young ladies'
school had long been ambitious to emu
late the senior class, whom they re-
garded with considerable envy on &C.
count of their ''profic iency' in the art
of writing compositions. Finally, as
they had become so eager for the privi-
lege, the five little scholars were told
that they might tell the world what
they knew about Nails. A half
hour was allotted for the difficult task,
to which they at once eagerly bent all
their energies. At the end of that time
each in turn read her ''effort'' in
the presence of the school, as
was customary with the 9TH
ers. No strictly new facts were
gathered from the contents of the first
four essays, but that the fifth, little
Sadie M, aged seven, was char
acterized by considerable originality.
The little essayist took her place with
great dignity, and with an air of pro-
found satisfaction made known the fol-
lowing facts in reference to the nail in
voice which had not the faintest sug-
custom of q tremOr:
'"There are four kinds of nails
finger-nails, door-nails, toe-nails and
tacks!'
And then resumed her seat with q
perfectly bewitching unconsciousness Of
just what caused the uproarious ap-
plause from the older members of the
school.-Ethel Bonnee, in Harper's
Young People.
Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1890-06-25


body knows the trick of opening them,
but they were new then, and very puz-
cling to the average man. I gave no
special thought to it after I had been
shown the trick, but, as it happened,
that lock saved my life.
''My habit was, on entering my Office,
to put the key in my pocket, and then
to shut the door and try it from the in
side. One night, by some strange freak
of Observation-Disclosures, forgot part of
this proceeding and left the key on the
outside. I slammed the door and tried
it, and finding it locked went on with
my work, entirely unconscious of the
fact that any one could enter from the
outside by turning the key that was in
the lock.
Presently some one did enter. It was
a very stormy night, and as it happened
only one passenger was in the Smoker.
What he did learned afterwards. My
Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1890-06-25
A RIDE WITH GABRIEL.
How a Railway Mail Agent Was
Saved by a Spring Lock.

I WAS long ago,
before t b Q mail
service was brought
anywhere near its
pre- mt perfec-
tion," said the
t-looking man
with whom l was
riding on a West
ern train, that I
was put in charge
of one Of the first
travel ing offices.
My car ran from
Cleveland to Chica-
go, and I had to
sort not only TIE
entire Cleveland
mail for the West,
but sometimes as
11G
Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1890-06-25

With the collector things are no
soone. said than dun. Washington
Post .az +
The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1890-07-27

place. It is wrong that cannot be Pm
iected- The men who peTpctrated IL have
put themselves beyond the pale Of De-
moeraey- They have stolen the livery Of
the pAgty to serve the devil in aud call
themselves Democrats only because it
aids them in their schemes OF plunder
They would be Republicans, or even Pro
hibitionisEs, If the sentiments they are
utilizing went that way. Il is realized
therefore that they have more claim to
recognition IL community Of burglars
than in community of Democrats; aud
in preparing for the coming attack upon
them. the State leaders do not feel the
restraint Of party ties and party obliga-
tions.
THE UNITED STATES sEEAToRsHIP.
But the Cleveland usurpation has q
more present aspect of interest Than this
OF the responsibility of the party in State
for what IS done III its name in Hudson.
Il Is seen that the new charter was de-
yised by Cleveland ana the Ring only to
put them into possession of the city treas
ury and TO aid them In its plumber. II is
seens too that it Is made an engine for
the oppression Of those who dare say
aught against the carnival Of crime with
which it has cursed the community Il
is an ever present terror 70 the liberty
aud property Of the people; and there is 4
growing sentiment that If Cleveland and
his mini0ns are to be left in sole posses
sion. 1t were better that be repealed
and wiped out.
The State leaders have awakened thor
oughiy to the realization that, il the char.
ter is to be allowed to stand. thegHng that
is operating it now must be burned cut,
and its administration must be entrnst-
ed TO public spirited and conscientious
citizeus. A continuance Of the present
course may make charter repeal the issue
in the fall campaign. Thousands Of citi-
zens may see no other escape from the
rule of the bandits than in Wiping it out
altogether. They will show their dissat-
isfaction by aiding Republicans IN the
Assembly contests. On such an issue
they might send q solid delegation of Re-
pubilcans from Jersey City TO the legls-
latlve chamber here next winter.
Newark, whose people have felt the de-
moralizing effect of the wickednees that
the narrow PaSsaic alone separates them
from, and who fear that they are to be
the next victims of invasion, may take
the alarm, and the Democratic party nay
lose the control of the lower branch Of
the Legislature.
The prospect of securing the House
would redouble their efforts to secure the
Senate, which is by no means gone TO the
Democrats. The new apportionment in
the hands Of Legislature Republican In
both branches, would win them the next
United States Senator, and, in spite OF
her majority. the control of local and
State affairs for many years to come
This is zoo big price TO pay Tor mac
tivity. The stakes are too large to be
risked. The stamping out Of the Hudson
county method and the deposition of the
Hudson county ringsters is the only
safety of the party. The State leaders, as
have said. know it, and there is no dan
ger of their letting their arms hang stiff
BY their sides when the time for action is
rine
The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1890-07-27
COST OF THE CENSUS.
The Amount to be Paid IN This District
viii be About SID, 900.

The Amount to be Paid In This District
viii be About SID, 900.
The total cost of taking the census of
the Second Census District of New Jer-
sey, including Hudson, Hunterdon, Mid
dlesex. Somerset, Mercer and Union coun-
ties. will approximate $4,000 No def
mite figures can yet be ascertained. nor
are matters in such shape as to learn
from them the proportlonate amount for
each county. All the enumerators, ex
cept two, have handed in their bills
which have been certified by the Super
visor and forwarded to Washington. The
TWO who failed IN this respect were Ed
we 1ullinS, the enumerator of the in
mates of the State Prison, and the Rev
j. L. Ryan, of Arlington Both these
gentlemen, through misunderstanding
forwarded their bills direct TO Washing
ton.
Census Supervisor John Bumsted will
venture no predictions concerning the
total cost for the enumeration of the dis
tricJ- He showed me long lists of
amounts earned by the 3I5 enumerators
to which he had certified. According to
my hurried calculations the total is
Sl3, 451.94. 1t is estimated that the State
Prison enumeration earned something in
the neighborhood of 800, and the Rev
Mr.. Ryan will probably swell the column
by $50. These estimated amounts push
the HgureS or the total earned by the
enumerators to 3,57694.
The enumerators will be paid two cents
for every person enumerated and an adj
ditional five cents for every veteran, vet
Grams wife, blind, deaf, feeble minded,
idiotic, insane or otherwise physically
disabled persons. The interpreters bills
foot up S55.
Mr. Bumsted does not yet know the full
amount he is to receive for his services.
His salary. with that of his assistant,
Judge We're, the pay Of extra help for
backing, mailing, postage, freight, ETC.,
may push the figures beyond $500
The enumerators are anxiously looking
forward to the receipt of their checks
from the Census Bureau in Washington.
They will receive checks personally in
payment of their services as soon as the
sheets are recounted and certified to in
Washington The task of accounting was
begun In Washingtonion July Is. and has
proceeded at the rate pf 100000 sheets a
day. The sheets are counted three times
by electricity. Mr.. Hamstcd's Office has