davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1890-03-20

ttnUe6 the old negro. with every feature
IN his eountenance attesting 10 the sim
cerity Of his remarks. yer see, its loik
dis. I'm a old niger. I kin remember
when President Madison was hyar and
Miss Dolly THE old man meant Mrs.
Madisonl lad ter run outen de White
House an 60 ter de old Love place in
Virginia fur ter get away frum de Brit
ishers. Well, dey wuz night doctors den,
Ses' loik dey is hyar nov. only dey is .
little wuss now. You see it's Jess dis
away.
"Spose. akin you parding, sab, yo'
wuz bad niger an 20 WIZ a walkin
long hyar after de clock done tell
every body dat it was twelve o'clock at
mite? Yo' goes along an doan hyar no
SCUM a tall. Den. fus' thing yo'
know yer see a big black Vaughn. some
thin loik cane cart. a comm long de
edge of de sidewalk an not maxim nary
a single bit of noise. OATS sho' ter
be de night doctors Vaughn, an dey
amt no use o. yo' tryin' ter dodge it,
cause it amt ter be DONE Den jiss ez
yo' heart ez he hittin' yo' side like
wuz goin' ter bust somethin' yo' feel a
big han on yo' mouf an er strong arm
aroun' 70 neck an den yO doan kno' no
mo an none err you frien's doan nebber
heah no mo, about yer. Yer is gone
an gone fer good. De night doctors
done got yer and after yer is cold an
stiff dey cut off yer nose an dig out yer
eyes an sell yer ter dem young doctors
70 TO- ~ Dot all dor l. hon =
de night doctors an it's all jiss as true
as de Good Book"
The reference in the old darky's
story to the young doctors explains
perhaps both the origin and continuation
of the idea as to the night doctors. The
belief originated in some body-snatch-
ing by medical students said to have
come from Baltimore for that purpose
many years ago. The belief, however
is current to-day in the nineteenth cent
ury and in the capital of the United
States and it is doubtful if negro over
twenty years of age can be found who
will not testify in the strongest terms
to the truth of the existence of the
night doctor. Not only do they believe
it as earnestly and as violently as they
do their religion, but there are but few
of them who do not fear to be alone on
the streets after midnight OF course
the negro hack-drivers and more
worldly darkies have lost sight of the
superstition in their relations with civ
ilized white people, but the mass holds
tenaciously to both the belief and the
fear.
Among the more familiar negro char
acters that haunt the streets, giving or
hot days an air of lazy Incidence to The
town, is the ''old crab man" Thi:
quaint parsonage is as short as old Ber
is tall. His garb, like Jacobs coaH ha,
many colors. In the rather worn mar
ket basket that he has carried for many
years there reposes in the softest moss
covered by a snow-white napkin, crab:
of every size, style and description. As
he wends his slow, philosophic way
along he sings in tone never varying
and with no little melody:
Here's the crab man comm along
Come, get your crabs noM. Come get YOU
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1890-03-20

fore the most likely hour for ad-
iournment and waits for the members
70 come out, when he begins 10 extol
the virtues Of his wares and addresses
nearly ali the well-known members by
name. On such occasions Dams favorite
method is TO yell in ear-splitting tones:
.'Gemmun, / rises ter . Gueshun of
pussunel privilege"
If this catches any Of the Congress-
men Dan waves a buckwheat cake wild
ly in the air and declares that one Of
his progenitors had baked Just such
cakes sur Mister Jef'sun," and that
the seal of the Presidential approval
still follows the griddle. When with
an ordinary crowd Dan sings songs and
talks all the while that he bakes the
cakes, turning them with a dexterous
twist that sends them back with succu-
lent flop and sizzle on the hot stove.
The laws Of the District of Columbia
are quite hard upon vendors, beggars
and the rest of that class; but there are
two little darkey newsboys here who
add in no small degree to their income
by dancing together for the amusement
of any one who will stop long enough TO
look and leave a fve-cent piece. These
little black imps are neither of them
thirty-six inches high, yet each small,
agile body is surmounted by round
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1890-03-20
COPYRIGHT, 1901
Especial Correspondence.l

The negro in Washington Is an ex-
tensive institution. Now that Congress
has convened and living political issues
make life in the capital busy and bust
ling, the ever-present negro reaps his
harvest The new congressman are the
particular prey of the Washington
darby. In addressing a Representative
the darby never fails to call him
Senator" and for this rather rapid
political promotion the member is
always willing to pay an additional
quarter of a dollar, the currency, al
though hard money, always acting as a
soft balm to the vanity of the. states
man.
OF negro characters this town of all
towns is replete. They are on all the
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1890-03-20

a correspondent of the London Times
thus destroys the old legend of the
DEVILS Bridge in the Pyrenees: 1.-The
popular legend about this bridge. which
spans mountain torrent called the
Tech, near the small town of Ceret, was
that it had been built during one night
by Satan and his myrmidonS, and the
fact that the particulars as to its con-
struction had never been found in any
of the local archives gave additional
strength to the legend. But the regis
trar of neighboring town called Prats
de Mollo, close 10 the Spanish frontier,
has Just unearthed manuscript, dated
1921, which relates how the notables of
that town contributed ten golden crowns
of Barcelona toward the building of the
bridge at Ceret upon condition that the
inhabitants of Prats de Mollo were OK
empted from paying toll. y
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1890-03-20

CORNERS and in every resort. They come
from over the Blue Ridge, from along
the coast and spring even from the
rather barren soil of the District of
Columbia. Nothing that has ever been
said as to negro superstition and habits
could fail to be true here. In the
southern and southeastern districts,
where the crop of resident negroes is
most abundant, the same quaint beliefs
in 'shoodooism," ''fetishes" and the
black art In all its branches are as
prevalent as they could be found in the
most out-of-the-way plantation quarters
in the country.
No amount of contact with civiliza-
ton seems to be able to affect the darky
if he is allowed to spend his leisure mo-
ments in the resorts of and among peo-
pile of his own race and color. There
are probably not three full blooded ne
groes in the city of Washington who
would cross the street on Sunday il
they saw the President OF the United
States or any member of his Cabinet
coming towards them if the official was
ito all appearances intent upon attend
ing church. 1t is a common sight to
see on Sunday morning near the corner
of Fifteenth and New York avenue a
group Of negroes waiting Tor the Presi
dent to pass them by on his way to
church, and firmly convinced that their
earthly affairs will prosper if the ex-
ecutive head of the Government just SO
much as passes them on Sunday morn
ing.
Both peculiar characters and most in
applicable superstitions are rife in this
city. / have for weeks tried to find q
negro alone on the street after mid.
night The might doctor scares them.
On New York avenue there is an old
darky who for more years than can be
numbered has at stated intervals dur
ing the day walked up and down trust
ing to the generosity of the inhabitants
to provide him with his daily food
His given name is Ben, and as to his
family name, history, either ancient or
contemporaneous. is silent. In appear
ance he is tall and gaunt, with heavy eye
brows, gray tufts of hair along each
cheek, and with head as devoid OF
hair as the legendary Uranium of poor
uncle Tom" Meeting Ben on the
corner the other day / asked him about
the might doctors" With gasp OF
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1890-03-20
WOES or THE DENTIST

"A man might as well be hangman
as dentist, as far as expecting any
gratitude for his services, remarked an
aggrieved member of that unappreciated
profession to q Boston Globe reporter.
Il have worked for hours over back
filling in woman's mouth, where | had
to nearly disloeate my neck and tie my
backbone into a bowknot, and at the
end, if / veDtured to straighten up with
a sigh of relief, have been rewarded
with a stony glare of indignant condem-
nation.
"a woman will stand more pain than
a man, for woman has an unborn in
stinct of showing herself to the best adj
vantage he continued. "A rubber
dam or a mouth stretched to its utmost
capacity is not conducive to personal
beauty, and therefore woman will not
add the further Disagreement of lack OF
courage.
Il had rather funny experience the
other day with an old darkey who
wanted a tooth pulled. His face was
deliberately tied up in red flannel and his
expression was the embodiment of woe.
The tooth was q hard one to handle.
and just as | gave the final yank be
gave a prolonged howl and fairly shot
through the open window out onto the
shed roof beneath. He rolled over this
roof still how ling, and finally dropped
from it to the ground all doubled up
like a black rubber ball, All this, in
stead of hurting him. served to help the
case. for he picked himself Up and
walked off apparently sound in wind
and limb and quite regardless of the
fact that he had forgotten to pay me.
81 had man once give me more than
wanted for pulling his tooth. He was
a big, strapping fellow and | thought
the tooth would never come. The
forceps slipped off three times, but the
fourth time / clinched it. The man
never moved or made sound until the
tooth came out, when he doubled up
his fist and landed a blow on my chest
that slapped me up against the wall as
fat as a lump of putty. Then he took
his hat and walked out without waiting
to see whether | ever got my breath
again or not"
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1890-03-20
Remarkable Rescue.

Mrs. Michael Curtain, Plainiield, I'll,
makes the statemant that she caught
cold, which settled on her lungs; she
was treated for month by her physi-
clan, but grew worse. He told her she
was hopeless vict,m Of consumption
and that no medicine could cure her.
Her druggist suggested DIR. Kings New
Discovery for Consumptioni she bought
bottle and to her delight found herself
benefited from first dose She continu-
ued its use ard after taking ten bottles;
found herself sound and well, now does
her own homework and is as we'll as she
ever was. Free trial bottles of this
Great Discovery at Jos. I. BENEFITS
Drug Store, large bottles SOC. and 81 90
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1890-03-20

pIaek head and face that looks old
enough for veteran of the Mexican
war, and the two pair of little round
black eyes snap and glisten almost as
rapidly as the four dirty, rusty red
feet patter on the pave.
There is no intricate step or shuttle
that these little darkies can not execute
in perfect union, the only accompani-
ment being a series of cultural grunts
that are supposed to do duty as meas
ure for the time of each movement. Be.
tween legitimate dancing steps they bob
down until their launches almost touch
the ground, and this particular act al.
ways brings forth applause and encour-
aging demands from the stray negroes
on the edge of the audience TO go Way
down" Way down, niger and in
answer the two little imps bob down un.
til the pavement prevents further de.
scent. Some time ago spectacular the.
atrical troupe playing here hired the lit
tie darkies, and dressing them with
Oriental magnifcence, interpolated their
performance in the play. At sight OF
their well-known darkies the audi
ence shouted their appreciation and
threw innumerable flowers and coins on
the stage. With perfect Indifference to
the roses the boys picked up each coin
as it fell and stood second waiting fol-
more before they would pay any atten.
ton to the flowers strewn on the stage.
Nearly all the beggars in WashIngton
are young negro girls, who infest the
residence part of the city and demand
pennies or five-cent pieces from ladies'.
As rule they work in pairs and divide
the result of the days work. One OF
them admitted to me the other day that
she and her pardner" often made q
dollar apiece a day. While it is true
that Washington lives on Government
officials and representatives. it is more
than true that the negro lives on Wash.
ington, and lives with as little exertion
as the lily of the field, and though clad
with as much variety presents hardly SC
beautiful an appearance. The negro is as
much Washington as is the Capitol, and
it is not an exaggeration to say that il
removed one would be missed as much
as the other. Nice. LINGAN.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1890-03-20

Some complain that they can not
drink milk without being distressed
by it." The most common reason why
milk is not welt borne is due to the fact
that people drink it too quickly. If a
glass of it is swallowed hastily it enters
into the stomach and then forms in one
solid, curdled mass, difficult OF diges-
ton. i on the other hand, the same
quantiFy, is slipped, and three minutes at
least aEe'occupied in drinking it, then
on reaching the stomach it is So divided
that when coagulated, as it must be by
the gastric juice, while digestion is go
ing on. instead Of being in one hard,
condensed mass, upon the outside Of
which only the digestive fluids can act,
it is more in the form Of a sponge, and
in and out Of the entire bulk the gastric
juice can play freely and perform its
functions. American Analyst.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1890-03-20

establishment the old negro looked
fearfully over his right shoulder, then
over his left and said in faltering
tones:
''Lud, honey, don't yer kno' no bet
tern ter talk bout der night doctor
laik dat?"
1 declared that thought it was all
right to speak of those mysterious per-
sonages when the sun was shining
brightly. | asked Ben to tell me about
them. After some argument that was
decided on financial basis, old Ben set
tied himself in big chair in a conven-
lent cigar store and began:
Il JUS tell you loik my ole nanny
tole it ter me, an l kno' it's 50. Yo'
mus kno' dat dere am lot O. no count
niggers hyar in Wash'n'tn. Well, it's
fer to carry off dem new niggers what
won't WORK ar amt no good ennyhow
dat de Lord allows desc hyar night doc
tors fur to go on ez dey do. Now" con-
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1890-03-20

AT Hamilton, Ohio, the other night,
as the late Toledo express pulled in at
the Cincinnati, Hamilton a. Dayton sta
ton, gentleman alighted from the
sleeping car and began walking up and
down in front of the station under the
electric light in his night clothes. His
scanty apparel at once attracted atten-
ton. and it was soon seen that the man
was walking in his sleep. When awak-
ened he beat hasty retreat TO his berth.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1890-03-20

Terre Haute Express: Tramp-The
last words that me poor old mudder
said to me wuz; Jerry, me boy, don't
leave de old farm.
Wickwirke-So you are wearing il
for suit of underware, eh2 Well,
that's right. like to see n man who
cherlshes the last request Of his mother.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1890-03-20
eucNLIN,s ARNIcA sALvE,

The best salye in the world for Cuts,
Bruises, Sores, Ulcers, Salt Rheum,
Fever Sores, letter, Chapped Hands,
Chilblains, Corns, and all Skin Erup-
tons, and positively cures Piles, or no
pay required. 1t is guaranteed to give
perfect satisfaction, or money refunded.
Price 25 cents per box. For sale by
JOSEPH L. BENNETT. 29ly
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1890-03-20

EILERT's EXTRACT or TAR g. WILD
CHERRY is a safe, reliable and pleasant
remady for Coughs, Colds, Bronchitis,
Asthma. and all throat troubles; will
relieve and benefit Consumption. Try
it and be convinced. Every bottle
warranted; price SOC. and one dollar
per bottle Sold by all druggists. Pre-
pared by the Emmert Proprietary Co.,
Chicago, Ill.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1890-03-20
UNNENNEss-LIQUoR HAgIT---in al the
World there is but one cure,
Or Eainns1 Enlden Snecific.

II can be given in a cup Of tea or coffee With
ont the knowledge Of the person taking it,
eTecting speedy and permanent cure, whether
the person Is moderate drinker or an alco-
holic wreck. Thousands Of drunkards have been
cured who have taken the Golden Specific in
their ceffee withoat their knowledge, and t0-day
believe they quit drinking Of their Own free
will. No harmful effect results from ito admin
istration. Cures guaranteed. Send for circular
and full particulars. Address in confidence,
GoLDHE SPECIFIC Co., 1s5 Race S. Cincinnati o,
32--32
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1890-03-20

UNCLE SANS NERVE & BONE
EMINENT viii relieve Sprains, Bruis-
es, Neuralgia and Rheumatism. Sold
by all druggists.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1890-03-20
HAPPY DARKIES.
Queer Colored Folks TO Be Net at
the National Capital

/" Hoodooism " Their Hobby-The Terrible
Night Doctor The Old Crab-Man,
The sBnckwheat Cake Darky'
and the Negro Sewsboys.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1890-03-20
HAPPY HOME BLOOD PURIFIER

is the Peoples Popular Medicine for
purifying the blood; preventing or cur
ing Dyspepsia. Billiousness, Headache,
Boils and all Fevers and Malarial Dis
eases. Price 80 cents and one dollar
per bottle.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1890-03-20

kILERT'S DAYLIGHT LIVER
PILLS are boon TO sufferers from Sick
Headache, Sour Stomach, Torpid Liver
and Indigestion. Sugar-coated, pleas
ant to take and warranted to 60 through
by daylight.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1890-03-20
Children Cry for Pitchers CastOria.

When Baby was sick, we gave her castoria.
When she was Child, she cried for Castoria,
When she became Miss, she chung to Castoria,
When she had Children, she gave them castoria.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1890-03-20

New passenger train leaves Platfeyille 80
p m, arrives in Milwaukee Z 40 p. IN. and Chi
cago 1914 D. m. Leaves Chicago 90 a M. ar
rives In Milwaukee 6 :50a m. Leaves Milwaukee
. 80 a, m. aud arrives in Plattevile :07 p m.
r. ID. smith. Local Agent.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1890-03-20

DR.. JAQUES' GERMAN WORM
CAKES destroy worms and remove
them from the system. Safe, pleasant
and effective.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1890-03-20
agaIn Oh a

The tramp handed him q slate on
which was written, II am deaf, and
dumb, and I'm hungry. And he
handed it back, indorEed thus Say
nothing and saw wood.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1890-03-20

FAST MAIL LINE with Elestric
Lighted and Steam Heated. Vestibuled
Trains between Chicago, Milwaukee, st.
Paul and Minneapolis.
TRANS-CONTINENTAL ROUTE
with Electric Lighted and Steam Heat
cd, Vestibuled Trains between Chicago,
Council Bluffs, Omaha and the Pacific
Coast.
GREAT NATIONAL ROUTE be-
tween Chicago, Kansas City and st
Joseph, Mo.
$500 MILES OF ROAD reaching
all principal points in Illinois, Wiscon-
sin, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri South
Dakota and North Dakota.
For maps, time tables, rates OF passage and
freight, etc. apply to the Rearest station agent OF
the Chicago, Milwaukee * st. Paul RailwaY,or to
any Railroad Agent anywhere in the World.
ROSWELL MILLER, A. V. II. CARPENTER.
General Manager. Gon1 Pass. and TIKI. Agt.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1890-03-20

KRg-For information in reference 10 Lands and
Towns owned by the Chicago. Milwaukee a 81
Paul Railway Company, write to II. G. Hugan,
Land Commissioner. Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1890-03-20

New Time Table Chicago, Milwau'
kee 81 St. Paul R'y.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1890-03-20

BY this line you avoid change Of cars dnring
the night-procurng through tickets and your
baggage checked TO destination. Note the fast
time made travelling via. G. NJ. Il st. p R'y.
Hopkinsville Kentuckian., 1890-05-27
HUMAN MECHANISM.
of Nerves and Muscles In Play
Ing Piece of Music-

Movements of Nerves and Muscles In Play
Ing Piece of Musio-
Science, says Sir James Pagot, will
supply the natural man with wonders
uncounted. The author had once heard
Mdlle. Janotha play presto by Mem
delssohn. She played 5,595 notes In four
of these notes involved certain move
ments OF a finger. at least two. and
many Of them involved an additional
movement laterally as we'll as those up
and down. They also involved repeated
movements Of the wrists, elbows and
arms, says a writer In the Popular
Science Monthly, altogether probably
time.
Therefore there were three distinct
movements for each note. As there were
twenty-fonr notes per second, and each
OF these notes involved three distinct
musical movements, that amounted TO
seventy.twO movements In each second.
Moreover, each Of these notes was de.
termined by the will to chosen
place. with Q certain force at
certain time, and with certain
duration. Therefore, there wore four
distinct qualities in each Of the seventy
two movements In each second. Such
were the transmissions outward. And
all those were conditional on conscious
ness OF the position OF each hand and
finger before 1t was moved, and by NOV
ing 1t of the sound and the force OF each
touch. Therefore. there wero three con-
scious sensations to every note.
There were seventy-two transmissions
q second, la to and fro, and those with
constant change Of quality. And then,
added to that. all the memory was re.
each note In Its due time
and place and was exercised In the COM
parison Of it with others that came be-
fore. So that 1t would be fair to say
that there was not less than 200 trans
missions OF nerve force TO and from the
brain outward and inward every second,
and during the whole OF that time judg-
ment was being exercised as to whethor
the music was being played better or
worse than before, and the mind was
Of some OF tho motions which
the music was intonded to inspirc.-.
Notoa
Hopkinsville Kentuckian., 1890-05-27
The New Discovery.

You have heard your friends and
neighbors talking about it. You may
yourself be one OF the many who
know from personal experience just
how good a thing it is. If you have
ever tried it, you are one OF its
staunch friends, because the wonder
full thing about it is that when once
given trial, DR.. Kings New Discovery
ever after holds a place in the house.
II you have never used it and should
be afflicted with cough, cold or any
Throat, Lung or Chest trouble, secure
a bottle at once and give It fair trial.
1t is guaranteed every time, or money
refunded. Trial Bottles Free at II. b.
Garner's Pharmacy.