davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1890-04-19
An Ingenious Manager.

'Did [ ever tell you about the time Bob
had with chump operate company7' said
the heavy man. "Thev were playing a
pirated version of the eMikado.' They
had been doing small towns and had hard
luck, for not penny of salary was paid
for two months Every Saturday night
they struck for their money, but didn't get
it. All they could get out of the manager
was room and board, and being far away
from home they chung to the company,
hoping for better things. Matters got so
bad that the male members of the COM
pany could not get money from the man
ager to buy shave. Finally they per-
suaded the tenor to try his luck with the
manager. The tenor found the manager
in the hotel lobby.
Good morning, Mr.. Jones, he said.
Good morning, sir-good morning.
'Mr. Jones, / would like 10 for q
shave.
"'Can't spare any money this morning,
sir
"'But must have it,
"'You must?'
eyes, sir. How do you expect me to
go on to night and play Chinaman with
this beard2 l can't do it, sir, and won't.
"'You won'tY
"'No, sir
"The manager was driven into corner.
He could not replace his tenor.
"'Do get that shaver continued the
tenor
''The manager felt in his pocket and
drew out half dollar. Here. he said,
go and buy razor and come back and
shave the whole company" - Detroit
Tribune.
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1890-04-19
Their First Impressions.

Attorney General Brewster got wife in
the treasury department. She was the
daughter of an ex-secretary of the treas
ury, and she was one of the prettiest
women Washington has ever known.
Brewster saw her as he went through the
department one day ON some legal bust
ness long before he was attorney general,
and be said to a friend
"What pretty woman p
She overheard, and replied in stage
whisper:
"What an ugly man p and Brewster,
you know, was ugly enough to stop a
clock. His face had been burned all out
of shape when he was taby by his fall
ing into the fire or by his attempting to
save his little sister from burning. Both
stories are told, and don't know which is
correct. At any rate, he overheard the
remark of the pretty treasury clerk. He
met her the same night at a reception,
and she found Mr.. Brewster as entertain
ing as he was ugly. After few months
he proposed to her and she accepted and
got first class husband Washington
Cor. Neao York World.
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1890-04-19
And Is anything rarer ?
A Youthful Investigator.

There is family of homeopaths of the
highest dilution residing on High street,
not very far from Woodward avenue. The
children of this family are taught from
their earliest infancy to abhor and escbew
anything in the shape of medicine that
has the least taste, smell or color. Curl
osty, however, got the better of the train
ing of the youngest member one day, and,
clutching bright new penny, the gift of
visiting relative, in his hand, the little
fellow toddled away to drug store on the
avenue and surprised the clerk with q
demand for penny's worth of "allopa6c
medicine"
After thinking over the matter few
minutes the pharmaceutical handed out
big lump of alum to his young customer,
who was soon afterward found by his
mother seated on the doorstep munching
the alum with face radiant with delight.
If the spirit of investigation does not kill
this year-old before he arrives at the age
of maturity, it seems extremely probable
that he will some day be heard of again in
other fields of study and research: -Detroit
TI1bnue
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1890-04-19
The Mystery Of the Senate Gavel.

The Vice-President's gavel is of itself a
standing evidence that the Senate is an
orderly body and needs no schoolmaster
for a presiding officer to compel quiet.
The gavel has no handle It never did
have any. 1t is simply little piece of
white ivory like the head of a gavel,
polished and shining. 1t would not do in
the House at all, for the most that can be
done with it is to give gentle rapping on
the desk, and in the other wing the Speak
or sometimes needs to hammer away like
q man with pestle. This Senate gavel,
with which Vice-Presidept Morton tells
the Senators that they are making too
much noise, has been in existence and in
use as gavel for many years. 1t is the
identical one, it is said, which was in use
when Daniel Webster was in the Senate,
and probably was used the day he made
his reply to Hayne, to still the buzz in the
gallery when the great man sat down.
This, at any rate, was said to be true the
other day.
There is mystery about the gavel,
too. Nobody but Capt. Bassett, the white
haired door-keeper, knows what becomes
of it during the recess and when Congress
is not in session. The venerable old Capt.
Bassett takes it from the Vice. Presidents
desk when the Senate adjourns and hides
it somewhere, and it is lost to the world
until it is again needed by the Vice-Pres-
dent. Capt. Bassett knows the history of
the gavel, as he does of everything else
about the Senate chamber, for he has been
there since some time in the thirties or
forties, when he first received his appoint
ment-as page, it is said-through the
influence of Daniel Webster. It has been
suggested that Capt. Rassett carries the
gavel in his pocket as mascot when the:
Senate is not in session, though this is
probably not true.
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1890-04-19
{ He's q Brick "

Very few Of the thousands who use the
slang term Hes brick" know it's origin
or its primitive significance, according to
which it is grand thing to say of man,
"He's brick" The word used in its
original intent implies all that is brave,
patriotic and loyal. Plutarcb, in his life
of Agesilaus, king of Sparta, gives us the
meaning of the quaint and familiar ex-
preston. On certain occasion an ambas-
sador from Epirus, on dip ,omatic mission,
was shown by the king over his capital.
The ambassador knew of the monarch's
fame-knew that though nominally only
king of Sparta, he was ruler of Greece
and he had looked to see massive walls
rearing aloft their embattled towers for
the defense of the city, but found nothing
of the kind.
He rnarveled much at this, and spoke of
it to the king. "Sire," said he, 81 have
visited NEST of the principal towns, and
find no walls reared for defense. Why is
this?" "Indeed, Sir Ambassador" replied
Agesilaus, 'sthou canst not have looked
carefully. Come with me tomorrow
morning and will show you the walls of
Sparta" Accordingly, on the following
morning the king led his guest out upon
the plain, where his army was drawn up
in full array. and pointing proudly to the
patriot host, he said: "Thers thou be-
holdest the walls of Sparta--ten thousand
men, and every man a brick. "-MontreGl
Star.
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1890-04-19
The Oatmeal Craze.

1t may be interesting to many delicate
people to know that popular scientist de-
clares that the Scotch race owes nearly
all it's hardness of brain and body to its
national food. Now everybody is eating
oatmeal, and, unlike the majority of fash
ions, this happens to be one which every
one should be induced to follow. One
firm. manufacturing brand, well known
to newspaper readers all over the United
States is even said to have great difficulty
in supplying the demand. member of
the firm said the other day that the de-
msnd was nothing less than an oatmeal
"craze" and that no man or woman who
aspires to live correctly nowadays would
think of omiting that savory dish from at
least one meal during the day.-N. 2.
Telegram
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1890-04-19
Loves of the Birds.
BRIGHT PLUM AGE CAPTURES THE HEARTS
OF THE FEATHERED FEMALES.

BRIGHT PLUM AGE CAPTURES THE HEARTS
OF THE FEATHERED FEMALES.
One would hardly look for romance in
the farm yard hennery, coquetry in the
pigeon house, or jealousy and other pas
sions generally considered human among
the forms which constitute the so called
lower animals: yet do we but glance be-
hind the domestic curtain of the brutes we
shall see many of the human weaknesses
portrayed in the lives of our humble
friends.
There was once upon the Central Park
lake, New York, flock of tame ducks,
and one autumn a wild flock, during
migration, came plunging down to rest,
among them a drake of magnificent
plumage and fiery eyes, who spied out the
tame ducks and soon scraped acquaintance,
playing the part of the enamored swain.
His flock left him, yet he fingered on, not
without results. The tame male leader
los: his influence and power; his feathers
were dingy and rough compared to those
of the gallant cavalier from the far North,
aud finally he was beaten and driven
away, a for1orn and miserable object that
spent his time on the bank, devising, per-
haps, schemes for the overthrow of his
enemy. The wild drake completely cap
tivated the females by his Establishments,
the old lover was ignored, and the con-
queror, the bold knight, remained for
several seasons faithful to his new loves.
That attractive dress and features have
their effect upon the female mind among
the animals, there is not the slightest
doubt. The director of the Berlin gar
dens relates that male pheasant having
lost its tail feathers, which gave it a lu-
dicrous appearance, it was Immediately
spurned by the females, who took up with
another cock possessed Of greater personal
attractions. In other words, the females,
as in the human family, prefer an at
tractive lover or husband according to
their ideas, and are very like the lowest
tribes of human beings to-day, where the
biggest and most powerful man has the
most wives.
In an African tribe the men steal to
camp, knock down the woman of their
choice with a club and drag her away to
their home. In another tribe, in a So
called civilized country in the north of
Europe, the woman is placed on horseback
and followed by her lovers. The one who
runs her down and drags her from the
horse, at the risk of her life, secures the
matrimonial prize. This is the method of
the woodpecker in many species. The
female is followed by score or more of
gay cavaliers, fighting among themselves,
chasing her from tree to tree, over bill and
dale, until finally she becomes the
property of the fittest, and one who can
now defend her against the rest, and when
he can put them to flight the courtship is
at an end-the bride is won.-Detroit
No,ns
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1890-04-19
A Rampant Tree

A woodsnan felled tree on the top of
the mountain above the Fall Brook COM
pany's railroad track, opposite the mouth
of Four Mile run, on Pine creek in Penn
sylvania The tree did not fall as the man
intended, but went topping over the cliff,
and slid down the mountain, gaining in
speed at every rod, and trimming itself of
branches as it went A freight train was
coming up through the gorge and the tree
crashed through car loaded with shelled
corn, snd went on into the creek. There
was hole in the s. de of the car, and the
corn was strewn along the track for some
distance When the log struck the car,
the shock to the train was SO violent that
brak eman in the rear car thought that
it was a collision and jumped off the car,
however, remained on the track.-N. o.
Picdyal7ae.
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1890-04-19
Not Born to be Killed.
THE LUCK OF A MAN WHO WAS MIXED
IN THE KENTUCKY CYCLONE.

THE LUCK OF A MAN WHO WAS MIXED UP
| IN THE KENTUCKY CYCLONE.
| Under lucky star Lawrence Long, a
little Jefferson boy, must have been born.
Three times he has faced what seemed
in each instance almost cartain death, but
| almost miraculously he has gone through
| every ordeal and came out not only alive,
| but uninj ured.
| About five years ago Lawrence went up
on the Louisville bridge, carrying dinner
to his father, who is toll-gate keeper.
The day was warm and sultry, and the
river being low, the cleaning rocks so
far beneath attracted the attention of the
little urchin. In order to obtain better
view of the scene, he placed his basket on
the footway and clambered upon the
guardrail to look down. The giddy
height made his senses reel, and before he
could save himself he had tumbled head
long upon the jagged rocks below.
From a distance his father had wit
messed the incident, and he hurried from
the bridge, expecting to find the mangled
body of his son stretched upon the shore.
Bat, to his surprise, his little boy met
him half way and laughingly related the
particulars of his tremendous fall as if it
were huge joke. By some mysterious
providence, he was not even bruised.
Later on, when Lawrence was seventeen
years DID, like most of the young fellows
some little daughter of a neighbor With
procuring a marriage license, and one
evening he eloped with his sweetheart
Although he enjoined the clerk to keep
the matter a secret, the particulars
appeared in the Courier Journal the fol-
lowing morning In this manner the
father of the girl learned of the marriage
aud he became SO angry that he loaded
his shot gun and started on a hunt for
his new son-in- law, with the avowed
determination of annihilating him. They
met soon after, and the old man emptied
both barrels of his gun at the boy. Again
fortune favored the youth who had made
himself famous by his remarkable fall
from the bridge, and not one of the hand
full of shot struck him.
Young Longs last adventure occurred
on Thursday night. He is member of
the K and L. of H. lodge, which met at
the Inflated Falls City Hall in this city,
and on the night of the cyclone he came
over to attend the meeting. When the
tornado seized the structure in it's grasp
and rent it to pieces, he was among the
crowd gathered on. the third floor.
Though the crowd rushed panic-stricken
hither and thither in a frantic effort to
escape, the boy with the charmed life
remained quietly standing in the place
where he was when the proceedings were
interrupted. Amid the roar of the ele-
ments, the groans of the dying, and a
crashing of the tumbling walls, he was as
cool as an icicle The floors fell in and
he went with them, but his guardian
angel was promptly on hand with the
needed assistance, and when Lawrence
crswled out of the ruins he found upon
examination that the only injury he had
sustained was small scratch upon one of
his ears.
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1890-04-19
Self Denial.

While in India, Capt. Marryat, the nov
elist, was intensely interested in the devo-
ton and self-denial of huge elephant.
The beast was defending himself from
swarms of mosquitoes, using large branch
to keep them from the crannies and cracks
of his thick hide.
His prosecutors were still annoying him
greatly as was evident from his motions,
when his keeper appeared with little
child. This he laid down before the ami
NAL, saying, "Watch it !" and walked
away.
The elephant Immediately broke off a
small whisk from the large bough, and,
instead of tanning himself, directed his
attention to driving away every mosquito
from the infant He continued this until
the keeper returned, two hours after, thus
setting, though brute, an example of de-
votion which few men would have imi-
tated - Youths COMPANION.
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1890-04-19
LITTLE WRECKS.
I saw a dainty violet

4 saw dainty violet
In bloom upon the hill,
Close by the bubbling streamlet
That turned the village mil.
One day naughty urchin
Came wandering long that way,
And plucked the dainty violet
And dropped it on the clay.
The plant that bore the blossom
Bled for its stolen child,
The leaves in sadness bent their heads,
The restless streams grew mild;
But what is that to you or me?
Such little griefs must always be.
] knew little maiden
Who was SO kind and true,
But sorrow met and claimed her.
And how, I'll tell to you.
know you'll call her foolish,
And say she might have known,
But let me tell you, reader,
The blossom bud was gone;
And now I think my story
scarcely need to tell,
For if a maidens heart can heal,
Flowers can re-bloom as we'll
But what is that to you or mes
Such trifiing griefs must always be.
And what Is it to this great world
If we are grave or gay?
1t will not vanish when we're gone,
Or tarry when we stay;
Our easy sail will doubtless cease
And i'll winds drive ashore
And leave us there a stranded wreck
1t cannot harm us more.
The violets by the bubbling stream,
The maiden in her prime,
They both return unto their dust
Likewise my idle rhyme.
But what is that to you or me!
Such trifiing wrecks must always be.
lille BinkieV. AtchiSo1a, Kan
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1890-04-19
LITTLE FLD's LETTER.
A sweet little baby brother

A sweet little baby brother
Had come to live with Flo,
And she wanted it brought to the table
That it might eat and grow.
1T must wait for awhile said grandma
In answer to her plea,
For a little thing that hasn't teeth
Can't eat like you and me.'
Why hasn't 1t got teeth, grandma
Asked Flo, in great surprise,
20 my, but isn't it funny?
No teeth, but nose and eyes;
guess" after thinking gravely,
They must have been forgot,
Can't we buy him some like grandpa's:
I'd like to know why not"
That afternoon to the corner.
With paper and pen and ink,
Went Flo, saying, Don't talk to me;
If you do, it'll 'sturb my think.
I'm writing letter, grandma,
To send away tonight,
An cause it's very portant,
want to get it right
At last the letter was finished,
A wonderful thing to see.
And directed to God in Heaven"
please read it over to me-
Said little Flo to grandma,
To see if it's right, you know"
Aud here is the letter written
To God by little Flo:
Dear God, the baby you brought
Is awful nice and sweet,
But cause you forgot his toofies,
The poor little thing can't eat.
That's why I'm writing this letter,
A purpose to let you know.
Please come and fipish the baby;
That's all, from Little Flo.''
-,SeLeLfeT
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1890-04-19
Work Will Help You.

Work gives you an appetite for your
meals, it lends solidity to your slumbers,
it gives you perfect and graceful ap-
probation of holiday. There are young
men who do not work, but the world is
not proud of them. It does not know
their names even; it simply speaks OF
them as .told Soandso's boys" The great
busy world doesn't know they are there.
So find out what you want to be and do,
and take off your coat and make dust in
the world The buster you are, the less
harm you are apt to get Into, the sweeter
will be your sleep, the brighter and hap
pier your holidays, and better satisfied
will be the world with you.-R. j. Bur-
dette.
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1890-04-19
Fruit in Asia,

The bamboo is still grown in Pekin
with the aid of good shelter, moisture and
favorable soil, but it is not found natural
ly growing in the forests in North China
as was it's habit 5000 years ago. Itgrows
now in that part of the empire as sort of
garden plant only, SO far as is known at
present. 1t is in Szechuan that the south
ern fora reaches farther to the northward.
Oranges flourish there under the protec-
ton of high mountains and, with the aid
of the mild climate there enjoyed, so also
the lichen is found there. In the neigh
borhood of Shanghai oranges do not grow
in the open air, nor can the trees weather
the winter unprotected excep. ON the
island of Sithungting in the great lake Rear
Soochow.-New China Herald
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1890-04-19
A Warm Winter.

Among the many oddities of this warm
winter we note the following:
Dandy lynn stories bloomed all over the
country long after Christmas.
Billiards coming East wore straw hats
and busters.
Grass grew in the streets of Philadel-
phia during all the winter months.
A warm feeling prevailed between B.
Harrison and Baby Mckee.
Spring bottom pantaloons appeared on
the streets as early as January 1.
Homegrown strawberry ice cream could
be had all through December and January.
Flowers of sulphur bloomed in the drug
stores.
Spring chicken ripened every month of
the winter
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1890-04-19
Putting Il to the Test.

Faith in the friendship of others is q
very good thing to have, but it is not al
ways strengthened by the unexpected
guise that friendship occasionally assumes.
A young versifer, upon submitting one of
his productions to. his older and less
dreamy roommate, was asked, the verses
having been read with great care:
"Did You write this stuff ?"
eyes"
ssWhere will you send it
s'To Mr.. Blank. He's the editor of the
W Dai1v Journal. l send it to him
because he is an old friend of my fathers /"
'sAll right. Pm glad you're going to
send it to Blank. Perhaps, for your
fathers sake, he will decline to print it. .
-Harper's MaQaz5ne.
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1890-04-19
School Children Are Not Overworked

At the present day there is much talk
about overworked pupils In our schools.
1t is claimed that too close and protracted
study breaks down scholars-that our sys.
tenn of education is too hard upon the
nerves and health of students of both
sexer. We very much question the
ground of this complaint. The average
student, male or female, is not overworked.
Other things are the real cause of poor
heath among this class, such as imprope,
dress and diet, late hours, bad habits and
general neglect of the laws of health. In
other words, the real cause of the poor
health of most students is found at home,
and not in the schoolroom. Yankee Blade.
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1890-04-19
Henry ]. Raymond's Herculean Effort.

When Daniel Webster died, the news
first came to the Times through it's BUSH
ness Office.
1t was on Sunday morning, and Mr..
Jones at once started out to find Mr. Ray
mond. The latter was found on his way
to church, and came Immediately to the
Office. Hs lost no time, but, sitting at his
desk, he wrote necessarily from Il a. m.
Sunday to o'clock q. m. Monday, and
turned out with his own pen an obituary
sketch Of Webster filing 16 columns Of
the Times printed in solid nonparei1 type
It was his habit in writing never to revise
anything he wrote. Page after page of
copy would go into the printers hands
without interlineation or correction OF any
kind. So admirable was his story Of
Daniel Webster's career that the Apple
tons took the matter and with but little
change published 1t as life Of Webster.
--H0rper's Weekly.
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1890-04-19
RARE.
What is so rare as a day in June lou

What is so rare as day in June ?-LoDeA.
What is so rare?" Why, various things;
dog that can talk, a bird without wings;
patient husband, lover true,
truthful lawyer, full church-pew.
What is so rare p an owl that can see
In the sunlight fair, lazy bee;
Weather just right sunny November,
pastor quite perfect, or snow in September
Perpetual motion, submarine boat,
The fox you can trust with a chicken afoat
An ugly CrCrsus who is not good catch"
home full of love where gold made the match.
And is anything rarer:
All yes and much fairer
It seems to me. A word of true worth
That raises wretch from the face of the earth
A happy home, the victory DER sin,
An unselfsh motive, a pure life within.
The strong friend In need, the Example divine
The only true pattern for your life and mine
The heaven beyond its glorious noon
These, these are more rare than the day in June.
-GeTtruQe.
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1890-04-19
ONE ENJOYS

Both the method and results when
Syrup of Figs is taken; it is pleasant
and refreshing to the taste, and acts
gently yet promptly on the Kidneys,
Liver and Bowels, cleanses the sys-
tenn effectually, dispels colds, head
aches and fevers and cures habitual
constipation. Syrup of Figs is the
only remedy of its kind ever pro-
duced, pleasing to the taste and &C
ceptable to the stomach, prompt in
it's action and truly beneficial in its
effects, prepared only from the most
healthy and agreeable substances, its
many excellent qualities commend it
to all and have made it the most
popular remedy known.
Syrup of Figs is for sale in SOC
and 81 bottles by all leading drug
gists. Any reliable druggist who
may not have it on hand will pro-
cure it promptly for any one who
wishes to try it. Do not accept any
substitute.
CALIFORNIA F1e SYRUP co.