davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Los Angeles daily herald., 1890-01-27

The PxeciPitasien at Anahe,m.
AkAHEIM, January 26.-The rain last
night amounted to Las inches. N-
Thomas County cat., 1890-09-04
She Had EN-, Too.

When two persons who have passed
the average span of life are brought
together, common topic of converse
tion seems to be their ages. This was
the case not long ago where party of
some note was gathered. one of the
party being bishop and another an
old lady whose hearing time had
slightly affected. The following con-
versation took place:
@Well. my dear madame" said the
Bishop, @if you will not consider it inn
pertinent should like to ask you how
old you are"
Il am 92." responded his compan-
ion, at the same time declaring there
was no impertinence in the question.
"Good old age" said the Bishop,
good old age; I expect that long be-
fore am that old I shall be food for
worms"
The old lady evidently did not catch
the Bishops remark in its entirety, for
she answered:
LAWS me! do they trouble you? I
am troubled awfully with them. =
Hartford Journal
Thomas County cat., 1890-09-04

place two miles north of st. Martins
vile, our parties being out all the time
in search of cattle.
There was little ceremony about ii
a squad would ride up to mansion,
go at once to the barns, and take horses
and saddles. AT the end of two days
400 of the regiment were mounted,
riding the country in every direction.
One morning I took breakfast with a
French planter. He lived in much
style, and his house-servants remained
with him the same as though there was
no emancipation, and no army to en-
force it. A very black negro stood be-
hind my chair at the table, and ate
and drank from gilt china. The plan
ter treated me very politely, though he
knew what 1 came for Our men drove
away fine lot of mules from his place,
and 1 rode off a good saddle-horse,
while the late owner bowed and smiled
a cordial farewell.f
At another mansion there were sew
eral ladies sitting on the yeranda.
with whom I conversed through an in
terpreter. One of them told me that
her husband had deserted from the
rebels after the battle of the previous
week, and come home, but he was
found and taken along on the retreat to
Alexandria. I asked her if she was
not afraid he might be shot as desert
er. She burst into tears, and felt SC
badly that I reproached myself fol-
asking the question. She said they
were very happy before the war; they
were wealthy, and had no care. Hel
husband had voted against secession
but Joined the Confederates when the
war began, and now all was sorrow
and trouble.
Thomas County cat., 1890-09-04

written for campfire held py custer fos''
Rock Elm, Wis.,
Men who at Appomattoz played the generous
victor's part 49,,
And left that last fierce pa1tieHeiu WILL e"eei
step and heart, h.
untouched by rime,
What pictures greet YOU, far adown the corri-
dors of Time!
To-day the martial step is gone, the once bright
eve is dim. -.
The hair is blanched and weary grown the tire
less arm and limb,
Yet still your hearts beat hrn ana Irue' youi
hands are ready still
To arm in freedoms cause, to save our iand
from every i'll
And still you gaze upon that fag which CLEANS
with heaven s own dyes, 80
As mothers look upon their babes, with PROUD
and tender eyes.
Alas for those who loved 1t once, VINO marched
from us awav
Who sleep beneath the pitying grass, In South
ern graves to-day!
How like long sad dream it seems, those years
so long ago,
When lines OF blue-clad men marched out to
meet the rebel foe, 800
When everywhere the echoing drum and shr1u,
We're ,narshaIling the hosts Of men to fratri-
cidal strife.
How grave and stern the faces grew that to the
southwark turned.
Where through The weary, death-flled months,
the hostile camp-fres burnedl
So deep hush fell on the land, at home we
seemed to hear
The sentry's tread the cannon's roar, the bull
lets scream of fear.
But unlike dreams that pass away when rosy
morning breaks,
These dreams their hold on heart and brain re-
tain while memory wakes;
The eyes that once have looked at death MS
shadows always keep,
As deep in placid, sunny pools the rocks dread
outlines sleep.
Tried and proved true-what joy to feel that
though Of youth bereft,
Though fortune frown and gold may flee, you
still have honor left!
He who for duty's sake arose when Freedom
called, ITO arms"
And stood a faithful shield, between our homes
and wars alarms.
Whether he wore the blouse or stars with sword
or musket fought,
We hail hero, whose true heart our lands re-
demptiou wrought!
The years roll on, but high above their tides re-
sistless sweep
Your names shall shine on glory's page, and
Fame their roll shall keep;
And while you live, our grateful hearts shall
still this pledge renew
All honor and all love for those who wore the
loyal blue!
Rock ELM, Wis.
Thomas County cat., 1890-09-04

Some one mas S0l0 tnat tno man
Eho talks foolishness never has the
race to speak it in whispers" It
happens that q foolish man will be-
como possessed Of foolish story and
he will tell it loud in public places,
perhaps twice IN the same place, and
emphasize it by laughing loudly at it
himself. A young lawyer with his
first case. as proud as a cat with her
6rst kitten, will-while journeying up
Or down town, boring some old mem
ber of the bar, by the way-give away
his whole line of argument to q csrful
Of people. The young man thinks in
the trial of his cow case he has un-
esrthed point that must 60 up to the
Supreme Court to be sharpened; but
it does not matter.
The thunder OF noise will not answer
the same purpose as the fash Of wit.
An able-5odied colored preacher whose
lungs are equal to his religion can be
heard mile away on a fine summers
night. What is he saying? No mat
ter, and never mind. He may be car
rying his audience with him, but he
can hardly be dropping gems Of
thought and saying the wise things
Edward Everett Hale and William R.
Alger say IN perfect English with gen.
tie voice. The steam ealiope and the
German flute cannot be tuned together
in o pleasing duet, and the flute will
be liked best in the long run. The
braying donkey will not become a
social favorite while he brays SO loud.
The man who talks loud is not famous
for talking sense. An actors ranting
noise can destroy the best sense OF
Shakespeare. It would kill the golden
peech Of advice Polonius gives to his
son. So great an actor as Edwin
Forrest used with his loud voice to
split @Othello" into kindling-wood fol
critics. He would come to the front
and loudly declaim to the audience
30! now, forever farewell the Tranquil
mind! farewell content!" Salvini
would speak this speech to himself
almost in whisper, with such tender
ness and show of deep grief in his voice
as to bring tears and tell an audience
what woeful misfortune it was that had
come to the Moor. It is the soft speech
that turneth away wrath and the wise
words we are most eager to hear, and
the advice that we are most apt tc
heed. are spoken with gentle voices.
Thomas County cat., 1890-09-04

ter dark one night the silence was bro
ken by the shout: Hello, Johnny Reb, "
from Union man. He was answered
in a moment by his opposite sentry with
Hello, Johnny Yank." Then this col
loquy occurred: "Who are you?" "Tay-
lor, of Company A, First Massachu-
setts. Who are you? Taylor, OF
Company z, Fifth Louisiana" what
is your first name?" Charles D.
What's yours? ?" Charles E, too"
The peculiar coincidence attracted
attention from all of the two armies
within hearing, and they listened to
the story yelled across the river from
one army to another on the eve of
battle. 1t developed that they were
father and son. The former had op-
posed his sons marriage to a. factory
girl and the son had married just the
same. He and his bride had taken the
money the wealthy farmer had allotted
him, and suddenly disappeared. Then
the father relented. and continued an
unavailing search until the war had
called him. The son had gone to New
Orleans, it transpired, and there had
gone into business and grown wealthy
He had been imbued with the Southern
spirit by his surroundings and had
taken up Southern arms. Next day
two boats, under flags of truce, met in
the river and two armies witnessed
the reunion. The following morning
Charles E. Taylor, Jr., was missing
from the command, and We never saw
him until after Appomattox, when he
walked into camp and told US he had
gone over, taken the oath, and gone to
the old home, where he had remained
with his wife until Lees surrender
made it safe to eoe his old comrades.
His desertion L.. Deen to avoid fight
ing his father.
Thomas County cat., 1890-09-04
A Great Scientist as . Stock Gambler.

It was a time of mad unrest-of
downright monomania. In private
residences and public halls, in London
reception rooms, in hotels and the sta
bles of hotels, among gypsies and cos
termongers, nothing was spoken Of
but the state of the share market, the
prospects of projected lines, the good
fortune of the hostler or potboy who,
by lucky stroke of business, had
cleared 10000. High and low, rich
and poor, joined in the reckless game.
During my professional connection
with railways I endured three weeks
misery. TWAS not defeated ambition ;
it was not rejected suit; it was not
the hardship endured in either Office or
field; but it was the possession Of cer-
tain shares which 1 purchased in one
of the lines then afloat. The share
list of the day proved the winding
sheet of my peace of mind. / was
haunted by the Stock Exchange.
Then, as now, loved the blue span Of
heaven; but when found myself re-
garding it morning after morning, not
with the fresh JOY which, in my days
of innocence, it had brought me, but
solely with reference to its possible
effect. through the harvest upon the
share market, became at length so
savage with myself that nothing re-
mained but to go down to my brokers
and put away the shares as an accursed
thing. Thus began and thus ended,
without either gain or loss, my railway
gambling.-Prof. John Iy7adaL, IN
the Forum.
Thomas County cat., 1890-09-04
DodginR a Slave Chaser.

Very soon the beach seemed to
swarm with moving objects which we
could not yet distinguish. A number
of long, black objects left the shore,
and when through the breakers they
stopped at the small craft outside.
Now we could see that the negroes
were being transferred to the boats
outside the breakers from canoes
which ran through them, with from
four to six in each. As the sloops
were filed they sailed for the ship,
and, ladders having been arranged,
the negroes were soon coming over the
ships side. As each one reached the
deck he was given biscuit and sent
below. It seemed slow work at first,
but as the canoes were soon all
launched and rushing through the surf
it presented q busy scene. The sloops
were now flying to and from us, and a
great number of negroes were already
on board at 2 p. m.
The lookout at the masthead shouted,
@Sail, ho! away to the southwark" !"
From the deck we could see nothing
A danger signal was hoisted at once to
hurry all aboard faster. In a short
while we could see from the deck a
little black spot. Smoke! A cruiser
Another signal, blood led flag was
hoisted informing those ashore of the
kind of danger. If possible the hustle
ashore was increased; our own boats
we're lowered and they aided materi-
ally. The approaching vessel had
seen us and the volume of smoke in
creased. She could now be seen, and
was recognized as the Vixen with the
naked eye.
A signal from shore, that very few
remained, was hoisted, another hour
passed, and the vessel was certainly
within three miles. Our boats were
recalled, and the entire feet of sloops
soon sailed toward us. Our boats were
hoisted, and lines thrown to the sloops
now alongside. The Vixen now
changed her course slightly and fired
a solid shot, which passed to leeward
of us beyond. At this the Spanish
captain cried out, "Let go!" The pin
holding the staple in the anchor chain
was cut and the chain parted. Sail
was hoisted rapidly, the negroes in the
sloops climbed over the ships side, and
as the sloops were emptied they were
cast adrift with their single occupant,
Krooman. They scattered like
frightened birds.-George Ho,ce, N.
d., in Scribner'S.
Thomas County cat., 1890-09-04
In and About Ne,u Orleans.

JANUARY 8, 1868.
We arrived at Carrollton, five miles
above the city, and pitched our tents
in pouring rain, which drenched US
through. The camp is on level spot,
covered with thick greensward. We
have only to dig eighteen inches and
we have q good well, so shallow is the
soil. All our cooking and drinking
water has to be brought from the river,
and looks very muddy in our barrels; /;
still it is excellent water. Carrollton
is a fine little place on the river, and
on the famed Shell road, near which
our camp lies. Handsome barouches
and gay equipages pass our camp on
that magnificent road at all hours.
Trains run each two hours into the
city. I came down one day this week
and went around. There are patrols
who arrest all soldiers officers also
under the rank of Brigadier General
who cannot show written pass.
There are few soldiers in the city
proper, but about 10000 near it. I
visited the old battle-ground of 1915,
below here. The old trench is almost
obliterated, but little further on is a
line of earthworks mile long, erected
by the rebels to repel Butler and Far
ragut in the spring of 1862. They
look impregnable, are built like rail-
fence, each panel being about ten rods
long
They cart oranges here as we do
potatoes at home. We give cent
apiece for them, or 60 and pick them
off the trees, just as we prefer.
Thomas County cat., 1890-09-04
Jin's Failing.

"Yes," said the proprietor of an up
town barber-shop. "Jim was good
workman, but had to get rid of him. ="
what was the trouble?"
"He was too absent-minded and for
getful. One old fellow, with head
like billiard ball, he never failed to
ask if he didn't want shampoo. An
other bald-headed old chap got mad
because Jim insisted upon sellin' him
bottle of Elixir that was warranted
to keep the hair from fallin' out; an q
young man, who was slightly under the
influence Of beer, fell asleep in the
chair, an Sim shaved off his NOUS
tache. had call in policeman then.
He cut one mans ear nearly off while
watching dog fight in the street, an
some time he would rub hair oil over a
customers face instead of his head, an
fill his ears full of lather and forget to
wipe it out. Jim didn't mean nothin'
wrong, but, as I said, he was absent
minded. You remember when old
Deacon Jones died?"
Eyes"
well, the family sent for barber
to shave him, an I told Jim to 60 up.
1t was that job that lost him his situa-
ton. He did the work all right, no.
body ever found fault with Jim's work !;
but when he had put on the finishing
touches an pulled the towel off the
poor old deacon, he turned round an
shouted tNextp so that people heard
him block away. So I told Jim that
I guessed I'd have to let him Co."
Thomas County cat., 1890-09-04

had to place him in little shelter t-nt
all alone and some distance from the
other wounded. 1 visited him at fre-
ouent intervals during the day and
always found him praying or repeating
portions of Scripture. Once 1 offered
him a drink of whisky, but he de-
cined, saying: Il want to be sober
when I meet my God" When the boys
of to-day try to picture the field OF
battle, they must remember that there
were dark, heart-rending scenes as
well as glorious, exciting charges.
Thomas County cat., 1890-09-04
Wanted to Be q Monk.

There is no dearth of monasteries in
Russia for men and for women, says q
st. Petersburg correspondent of the
London Telegraph; indeed, the coun-
try seems rather to suffer from a pie
thora of these cenobitic institutions.
Female ascetics do not, however, inva-
riably prefer to renounce the world
and its pomps and embrace the rigors
of monastic life in the company of their
own sex.
The wisest and most famous reclpses
known to history were Of the male sex,
and this consideration may have
weighed with an interesting young girl
of Omega, who felt called by heaven to
abandon the world and such of it's
vanities as were likely to fall to her lot
some six or seven months ago. Instead
of applying to the Superioress Of .
female monastery, this candidate for
ascetic honors struck out the female
termination "a" from her name-Aex-
andra-as written in her passport, and,
having donned becoming suit Of male
attire. presented herself to the Igoo-
men-or Abbot-of the monastery Of
Kosheozersk, over the threshold Of
which female steps had never passed.
The holy monks spoke to the postu-
liant, whose looks they liked. and whom
they made no difficulty about admit
ting. =.
As novice the young woman dis
CHARGED the manifold duties OF her
station with exemplary industry and
scrupulousness. The community, - .
whole, was satisfied, while some indi-
yidual members of it were unspeAkably
edited and delighted with their now
inmate. Unfortunately, few days
ego, Just - the time fixed for taxing
Thomas County cat., 1890-09-04

vate soldier, but his dress and man
ners, even there on the battlefield,
wounded and dying, showed the cul-
tured gentleman. He was q man of
magnificent physique, broad-shoul-
dered, heavy-set. and with a natural
vitality that enabled him to hang on to
life for time where nine men out of
ten would have died instantly from
shock. With the care and medical
skill of a large hospital, with perfect
quiet and every surgical appliance at
hand, there was shadow of q chance
of carrying such case through sue
cessfully; but in the field, surrounded
with wounded, in crowded tents.
each surgeon with over two hundred
wounded to attend to, the hot sun
pouring down upon the canvas roofs.
and, above all, the necessary removal
from the front over rough roads to the
distant base, made the case hopeless
one, and it was my painful duty to
inform him of our decision. The man
was Christian soldier, and death had
no terrors for him. A few messages to
home and loved ones, and earthly things
seemed to be dismissed from his mind.
He fingered for four days patiently
awaiting death, not murmur escaping
his lips, when gangrene set in and We
Thomas County cat., 1890-09-04

and their bodies were brought in and
laid right in front of the regimental
hospital tent. My orderly sergeant
discovered two of our men among the
killed, SO 1 directed him to have the
bodies taken to our company quarters
for burial. He deputed two colored
carriers attached to the relief corps to
bring them up, and while they went
off for stretcher I asked my lieuten-
ant and several other officers who stood
chatting near by if they wanted to see
some fun. Of couse they did. So
told them to watch me, and, running
over to where the dead privates lay,
raised the blanket and slipped in be-
tween them. Nearly all the colored
men attached to the relief corps had q
great aversion to handling corpses; in
fact, it is characteristic of the
race, and, although many overcame the
feeling owing to a forced familiarity,
still the superstition was always near
the surface. When the carriers re-
turned with the stretcher lay stiff as
a ramrod with my eyes closed. Iheard
one say: Look yah, Jim, dey's thee
hyer, std O. two Reckon we kyant
tex 'em all now; less tote this un fust,
said the other. So they picked up
the body on my left and took it up to
our quarters. Then they returned for
the other two. 1 held my breath and
kept my muscles rigid when they lifted
me up, then waited until the dead
private was laid alongside. Just as
the boys Strengthened up with the load
gave an unearthly shrek and, dash
ing over the side, made q bee line for
our tents. The fellow behind yelled
like whitehead and dropped his end /;
his partner grasped the situation, and
in an instant both put after me. Well,
gentlemen, each carried revolver and
began popping away at the corpse that
dun got 'wayp If I hadn't lodged into
the Quartermaster's tent I should have
been sure enough corpse in few
minutes, for both the niggers were
scared to death, and thought the
so'dger' was bewitched. 1 lay hid for
half an hour before I dared venture
out, and meantime those rascally off,
GERS had told the joke all over camp.
1t cost me weeks pay to square my
SELF
Thomas County cat., 1890-09-04
U.-In Wester,, Louisiana.

AAt 1. 1OOO.
On April IS, the date of my last let
ter. our army was encamped on an i'm
mense prairie near the Vermilion
River. That night there was tenn
pest of rain which wet us through. 1t
slacked up long enough for us to cook
breakfast in the morning. One Of the
batteries fired a national salute by or
der of General Banks, it being the an
niyersary of the battle of Lexington.
At six o'clock the army moved off again
mp country; but our regiment had been
detached to go back to Berwick City,
weeping the country of cattle, sheep,
horses and mules. It was busy Sun.
day for us! I mounted on mustang
md drove cattle in the woods, sloughs
and prairies, catching up with the regi-
ment.about dark. As the result of our
day's Dive we had over s,00O head of
etcsk. We stopped two days at q
Thomas County cat., 1890-09-04

the vows was drawing near, one of
those untoward accidents that are so
liable to OCCUR under such abnormal
condition! revealed the sex Of the de-
mure novice, and obliged the monks to
eleot her nom the oloistered precincts.
Neither the authorities nor the monks
intend to prosecute the would-be her
NIT, the police contenting themselves
by compelling her to sign a declaration
to the effect that. having lamentably
failed IN her attempt to initiate Mary,
she viii in future be satisfied with the
lot of Martha.
Thomas County cat., 1890-09-04

Three such letters, written by an
officer of the Army of the Gulf to his
parents, are before me. The writer
was well known to me, and a melan-
choly interest attaches to the letters
from the fact that their author was
killed in battle few days after the
date of the last one. It will be OBJ
served that the three were written
within a period of six months; and,
taken together, they present a good
idea of the variety of our soldier. life in
Louisiana.