davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1890-02-01
BRIGHT AS EMERALDS.
A Strange Beetle Found on the Caribbean
IsInnds.

N strange beetie FOunu Oh the CariDDehh
Islands.
When we rejoice in the sight of our
own summer meadows flashing with
fiery sparks in a rhythmic dance, we can
afford to be glad that in tropical coun-
tries the FREELY makes still more bril-
liant display. The firehy of the West
Indies-the cucujo, an inch long beetle
lis occasionally brought to this country
as curiosity, and If fed on Sugar-cane
and kept in moist atmosphere 1T can be
preserved in health for several weeks.
The people of the Caribbean Islands
use these beetles for ornament, confined
in folds of gauze, whore the beautiful
green light which they emit their red
light flashes only in fying-is more
varied and splendid than any emerald
that ever shone in a kings coronet. A
number OF them together under glass
make sufficient illumination for dress-
ing or for reading without producing
any heat. A cousin Of this FREELY is found
in the equatorial regions Of South Amer
lea, where Humbolt said 1t repeated In
stream and forest the spectacle of tho
starry heavens aboye.--Harper's Bazas.
The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1890-02-01

know of an instance where singu-
larly good and original plot was found
in story written with grammatical
error in almost every line. The author
was advised that her manuscript con-
tanned the material for good story, bat
it would have to be rewritten. She con-
sented, and the manuscript was placed
in the hands of competent writer.
When the book appeared the author
scarcely recognized her work. The plot
was there, but nothing more. AS the
''re0der" predicted, the story, as rewrit-
ten, proved a success. To-day it is one
of tho best known novels in the literary
world, and the author, whose name APP
pears on the title page, receives all tho
credit, while the real author contents
himself with the knowledge that his
bank account is $3.50 larger by the work.
The truth will perhaps never be known;
but often wonder when i see the title
pago author receiving the congratula-
tions OF her friends nt the success of her
book, If her conscience ever pricks her.
Buffalo Courier
The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1890-02-01
THE MODERN NEWSPAPER.
1t Is n Power, and Trains the Literary
Expression of the Time.

IL IONeT, anu tne
Expression of the Time.
The function of the press, as we I'M
derstand it, is to influence the course of
public sentiment, to direct the public
policy, to discern and forsee the logical
conclusion of political doctrines and
tendencies, and in this Republic to in
struct the people in the art of self
government. So conducted a sound
newspaper, following out consistent
principle, exercises a valuable and a
lasting power. 1t is not for day, but
for all time, and it's discussions are the
more likely to be effective because their
texts is in passing events, and they
come in chapters published daily and
presented in way to attract the public
consideration. The number of books
read is few in comparison with the num-
Der of newspapers carefully studied;
and as the development of the news
paper goes on the public demand for it
steadily increases. The old essay and
the old pamphlet have gone out of
vogue, and have been succeeded by the
cative of interest. One chief reason
why we hear so many complaints of
the decline of the conventional
literature in these days is that the best
informed and most productive minds
are now employing their energies in
newspapers and periodicals. And why
do they do this? 1t is because they can
thus secure more regular and better
material recompense, and because they
can WELD wideS and n greater influ-
ence. They not only get vastly larger
audience, but they also gain the enor-
nous advantage of iteration. Day by
day they can hammer their thoughts
into the minds of the people, so slow to
receive and welcome new ideas and
give up old prejudices and conceptions.
Nor is it true that well-edited news
paper exercises little or no influence on
literature. Much of the best writing,
judged by a high literary standard, is
prepared at this period for newspapers.
There are men now engaged on news
papers who would have been singled
out for wide literary fame hundred
years ago. We have read newspaper
articles as perfect in literary execution
and as we'll deserving to rank with ar
tistic literature as anything which the
masters of style have produced. Such
articles constitute an example and
lesson in literary art, and help to clarity
the thoughts of many thousands OF
people. Even the unlearned know and
enjoy good English, and their taste is
improved by it. A well-written news
paper, lucid, logical and vigorous, is the
school in literature which exercises the
largest influence. 1t trains the literary
expression of the time.-N. Y. Sun.
The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1890-02-01
THE DANGEROUS MODESTO.
How Many Good Woman Wrecks Her
Peace of Mind.


Talk about the dangers of the amateur
stage, of drink or of igarette-smoking
they are as nothing compared to the
wickedness of the first-class dress-maker.
You are nice-looking little woman,
with pretty figure which Tom has al
ways liked to see well dressed, and he
thinks that ii any woman does under.
stand the art of gowning 1t is you. ALI
your long life you have bought your
materials at a first-class shop, taken
them to a fairly good dress-maker, paid
reasonable price for the making, sug.
gested to the modiste frill here, puff
there, an artistic effect some place else,
and when you wore the frock 1t was
with an easy conscience and happy
heart which added to your good looks.
Some day you enter the parlor of Ser
pent, Cash & Co.; suddenly your pretty
gown has a second-rate look. Mrs. Ser
pent admires your figure; Mrs. Cash
means how unfortunate it is that you
are not dressed properly, and the Com
pany sits behind the desk and grins,
knowing what the outcome will be.
You see wondrous gown, just from
4 dllos NlllSll 10 Ntludlh w SUN NOh. ou
are induced to try it on, and then you
hear the price. You shudder at it. You
say you can not get it; but, oh! you do
look so handsome in it. You know Tom
can not afford that money; you know
that usually you get three frocks for
that amount: but the style is so good.
and the voice of the charmer is listened
to. You go out of that house with the
knowledge that you arc going to get
that froclS, for you have been fitted for
it, ana you are the most miserable slave
in the world.
Mrs. Cash has told you that you can
pay twenty-five or fifty dollars at a time
on your bill, and get every thing you
want there. Well, you begin by paying
your twenty-five or fifty dollars: you get
more and more new clothes, the bill does
not come in for year, and when it
does. you gasp with terror. Coats were
sold to you that you were told would
cost nothing-and nothing, to Serpent,
Cash & Co., means any thing from one
hundred and fifty to three hundred and
fifty dollars. Still, you think that you
can raise a few hundred dollars, and
that Tom may give you little extra
money without your telling him what it
is for, and then you chirp up and remem-
Der that Mrs. Cash said you could pay a
little at a time, and, after all, it was just
the bill coming in. Poor little wretch!
You have feeling at your heart all the
time now as if you were thief, and
within week you get an insolent note
from Mrs. Serpent suggesting that you
remit at once.-San Francisco Argonaut.
The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1890-02-01
puNeENr PARAGRAPHS,

1t is not we'll to believe all you hear;
but it is we'll to appear to believe 1t
when your wife is doing the talking
Somerville Journal.
Many man confesses in the prayer
meeting that he is full OF sin, who would
be very sorry to have his customers ad-
init that he is right.-Texas Siftings.
Husband during quarreD-"We
shall never meet in heaven" Wife
80, yes, we may, There is plenty OF
time for you to reform yet."-Yankee
Blade.
81 suppose you still dabble in art?"
"Dabble Why, my dear boy, pictures
from my brush are on exhibition all over
tho city" "You don't sayl For what
firm of billposters do you work?"-Bos-
ton Herald.
Rev. DIR. Primrose-'T had most
pleasant time in Paris this summer, but
1t didn't rest me as much as thought"
'Merrit-Yet it should be some consola-
tion to you to know that your congrega-
tion got the rest. Life.
Colonel Blaze-"Sah, am Ken
tuclsianl There is my cahd, sah "Billus
--"I don't want it. I'm no fighter"
Colonel Blaze-"Sah, you are coward"
Billus-"I know it, and so do you, or you
wouldn't have challenged me."-Time.
For remembrance Gayboy-
"Tom, you really must have some pho
tographs talson." Mr.. Gayboy-"What
for?" Mrs. Gayboy-"Form me. You are
home so seldom that / am afraid will
forget how you look. ''>-Terre Haute Ex-
press.
-"You SEQ have some reputation as
painter Even the bank director,
Kripfer, has ordered his portrait from
me-" SLY old fellow-"When he runs
away and they send out his likeness,
from your picture, he knows he will be
perfectly safe. ."-Fliegende Batter.
Gifted young man-"Don't talk to
me of religion or philosophy! What
light do they throw on the problem of
existence? Why do 1 live? What is
the object of my being?" Venerable
sage contemplating him mildly)-"My
young friend, l am sorry to say can not
see any good reason for it."-Chicago
Tribune.
Mr.. Highup-"I don't see why
Brother William doesn't prosper. He
has as good business as mine and an
excellent location, but he is constantly
having reverses. No matter what he
attempts, he seems to blunder." Mrs.
Highup-'But you must remember, my
dear your brother William has no wife
to advise Hmm Y. Weekly.
-"Why," said a travelling man to
Willie Washington, will men put an
enemy into their mouths to steal away
their brains?" "Idon't know, you KNOW"
said Willie, "I'm suah nevah did"
NO" said the traveller patronizingly,
''and / don't believe you ever will. If
you do it will be horse on the enemy"
Merchant Traveller.
"A worthy deacon in Vermont coun
try town was discovered by his pastor
one Sunday morning saving an armful
of wood for the kitchen stove. The sur
prise of the discovery caused the deacon
to drop his saw in CONSERVATION. 81
didn't suppose you'd see me, parson!" he
faltered. "Ah." replied the good man.
severely, "you must remember, deacon,
that there is One higher than /, who
sees every evil act you commit" Eyes,
parson," assented the deacon; ''but then
He doesn't make such an awful fuss
about it. t."-Burlington Free Press.
The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1890-02-01
A FRENCH ROMANCE.
The History of an Annuity That Reads
Like n Medieval Legend.

Like MeuleSal Legend.
Quite a romance in real life has been
related by the Able Martin, the parish
priest of Audes, in the Department of
the Allier, who was recently robbed of
60, 400. The priest was lying asleep in
his room, when he suddenly felt him
self seized by strong hand and gagged,
while the point of a sharp instrument
was pressed against his breast. A voice
said to him, If you stir you are dead
man" The Able lay still, and, after a
short time, the midnight marauders
went away. He then rose, and found
that his money was gone, and that the
robbers had also been in his brothers.
room. This is the tragedy part of the
story, but the real romance comes in
about the money, which was the install
ment of an annuity enjoyed by the
priest since the year 1887. The history
of this annuity reads like medieval
legend. Once upon time, several years
ago, as the Able told the officer of gend-
armes at Herisson, he was accosted
outside his church by a misera-
able man in rags, who said he
belonged to great and wealthy
family, which he had utterly dishonored
by his sentence to penal servitude for
grievous offences against the law. The
unknown begged of the Abbe to get him
into monastery, where he could live
and die in complete obscurity, ''the
world forgetting, by the world forgot"
Able Martin took pity on him, and
found him place as lay-brother in
Spanish monastery. A few years after
that the priest received letter from a
notary informing him that he had been
appointed the universal legatee and
executor of person who died in
monastic establishment in Spain, and
whose property in France was worth
several millions of francs. The Able,
armed with his papers, went off to the
family of the deceased monk, whose
brother, believing him to have died in
the hulks, had inherited all the paternal
property. by an amicable arrangement
the Abbe cheerfully surrendered his
rights, and upon the condition of never
disclosing the name of the family of the
defunct monk, he was supplied with
handsome annuity of 92,400S OF this
fact the robbers who broke into his
room were evidently aware. The ma
rauders have not yet been arrested
London Daily Telegraph's Paris Corre-
The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1890-02-01
WONDERFUL BLIND MEN.
One Is an Ohio Man and the Other Ma.
tive of France.

tive of France.
| II is almost incredible that Simon Col
Inns, of Marietta, who has been blind
for twenty-seven years, is an expert
carper-weaver, makes and prints paper
flour sacks in colors, doing the printing
on Washington hand-press, and with Q
perfect register. have known him for
seven or eight years and have seen him
frequently on the streets of his town,
cane in hand, walking rapidly, making
all the ms and outs, going down into a
basement or upstairs into business
office, never making a mistake and
never being hurt. A year ago he made
same boat won a race in the regatta
upon the Susquehanna at Columbia. He
is the patentee of q brush handle, makes
fishing nets and cane-seated chairs. His
latest triumph is the mastery of the
typewriter. He bought one some
months ago, and is now able to operate
1t quickly and correctly. He is said to
be an expert euchre player, but l can
not vouch for that, though it is scarcely
lllOlp hoJuDlt uDdn
mentioned which / have known him to
do.
Vidal, the blind French sculptor, has
been without vision since his twenty
first year. He is now one of the wonders
of Paris. One can understand how n
blind farmer would cultivate the ground
with the plow, spade and hoe; how he
would feel around the tender plants and
gently loosen the dirt from their roots;
or how the blind birmingham (Ala.)
miner tells, with the sense of touch
alone, the direction and to what depth
to drill his holes before putting in the
blast: bat the work of Vidal stands out
in bold relief, unique, wonderful and in
comparable. To be a sculptor it is gem
orally supposed that one must have the
mechanics eye" and the artists taste
and perspicuity. The latter faculties
Vidal has to an exceptional degree
even more acute, he believes, than If
the former were not lost to him forever.
By slowly passing his hands over an OBJ
ject he notes it's external proportions,
and initiates them in clay in a manner
which strikes the beholder dumb with
surprise. A dog, horse, human face, or
any thing alive or dead, he models with
as much ease as any of the dozens of
Partisan sculptors who still retain the
faculty of sight. From 1855 to 1875 Vidal
received more medals than any other
exhibitor of works, in the Paris art ex-
hibitions. Many of his works, made in
the solitude of his perpetual midnight,
are now on the shelves at the great Ex-
position, where the blind wonder con-
tends in friendly rivalry with his less
unfortunate brother artists. He never
complains, is always genial and festive
when among his friends, who always
speak of and to him as though he could
see, and well may they do so, for he is
one of the best art critics in all Paris
The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1890-02-01
Mr.. BixBY'S PATENT.
1t Was a Good Thing, But Noedcd'a Few
improvements.

Improvements.
"By Jove I've an idea!' said Mr..
Bixby gleefully, while at the dinner
table the other day. snow here we've
spent half our time while at the table
passing things to each other and it's all
nonsense. l know just how it can all
be done away with and I'll have the
thing patented before month and
make a mint of money out of it. I'm 60
ing oput in all my spare time on it and
I'll soon show you model of one of the
clevorest inventions of the age"
Mrs. tBixby did not say any thing.
She was accustomed to outbursts of this
kind on the part of Mr.. Bixby, who was
frequently seized with mania for in
venting and patenting something, and
as he had always recovered without
mortgaging the house or injuring any of
the family, she hoped all would end
we'll this time.
Three days later, after he had worked
most of the night before, he came to
Mrs. Bixby with his latest "clever in
vention."
'You see, my dear, what it is," he
said calmly as he gave it a whirl. cts
revolving dining-room table, to do
away with this eternal passing of things
to each other. When you see any thing
out of reach that you want, all you have
to do is to give the table gentle little
whirl. and there you have the dish you
want right in front of you, Now what
do you think of that, my dear? Don't
you think our fortune is made, eh?
st might work, Elijah" replied Mrs.
Bixby calmly, "if you could make sew
eral little improvements"
"What improvements" snapped out
Bixby.
"Well, tell me, please, where your
own plate would be when the dish you
wanted had been whirled around in
front of you?"
"Why. I-I-it-'
"And where would tho rest of our
plates be?"
"Well, never thought of that. l.
L"
81 suppose, my dear, there might be
some sort of signal given by which all
the others could grab their plates and
hold on to them when the table was
about to be whirled, or we might
"Take care, Harriet Amanda Bixby;
don't yon go too far now"
''Or we might-why, Elijah, what do
you mean by throwing valuable patent
like that into the fire?"
"What do / mean, woman? You'll
know what / mean when you're left a
despised grass widow with six young
ones to look out for! Ard that is just
what will happen, as sure "a sheol If
you open your mouth again. Laugh now!
Gggle! litter! Tee-heo some more,
can't you? Darn woman, anyhoy'!"--
Time.
The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1890-02-01
BOLD CAPTAIN ELGIN.
A Texan Who Twisted an Entire Herd of
Buffalo by the Tail.


Buffalo by the Tail.
Captain John T.. Elgin, of the Lone
Star State, had remarkable adventure
with Il buffalo herd some years ago,
which is thus described by Texas Topics:
Away back in the '70s, when tho Cap
tain was surveying land for the Central
railway, he became detached from his
party in the Blanco Canyon, and had
reason to suppose they were up on the
plains. So the Captain searched for a
mode of egress, and finally started up
deiile wide enough for pedestrian to
comfortably make his ascent. Imagine
his horror when half way up at discover
ing huge buffalo bull advancing toward
him! Just to the Captains right Prov
idence had excavated niche in the
side of the solid stone, into which, with
the agility of an old experienced prairie
dog, Captain Jack leaped at single
bound, and, shutting his eyes, Aattened
his six feet two inches out against the
rock like lizard TO avoid the rush of
the bisonic avalanche. The great brute
squeezed by and the Captain was un-
mashed. He was saved to the world.
Opening his eyes, the terrified Captain
saw one black form succeed another as
a vast herd of buffalo marched by in q
single file. Familiarity breeds con-
tempt, and at last, being emboldened by
a sense of security the valiant Captain
stretched forth his hand and twisted
each passing brute by the tail. There
were nearly million Of the animals in
the herd that went by the Captain that
sunny afternoon, and this il believed to
be the only authentic instance Of ono
title man twisting an entire herd Of
ouffalo by the tail.
The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1890-02-01
TWO BOYS JACKETS.

Why do those half.worn jackets hang
/ Upon the chamber wall,
Just where my eyes, last thing at night,
And first at morning, fallY
And do they never leave their natlf
And are they never worn?
The Melton" still looks somewhat smart,
The Tweed" is sadly torn.
They call to mind q last years nest
Left on q leafiess bough-
] scarcely know n reason why
i keep those jackets now.
It's just way we mothers have
OF boarding little things
Hementoes of the time before
Our fcdglings found their wings,
or course, I'm proud and glad to know
The lads have grown apace,
And were not slack to seek the front
To run lifes gallant race.
I've seen them do their manly part,
=. But in my heart they wear
The boyish guise of boyish days
The "Tweedn and melton" there.
The rough, gray jacket Horace wore,
with pockets plentiful,
with elbow patched and buttons gone.
With marks of play and school
II brings himself before my view,
All in the lire and fun
vi ScnoOl-DoN days. Wncn, nrul vi lloub
And feet of foot, he won.
His ready wit, his steady pluck,
His tirclcss energy;
His slender form and face aglow
1 seem again. TO see.
He bears the sears of many war
He met without u fear,
And his old self seems best portrayed
by his old jacket here. =
The dandy jacket Charlie wore.
In it l seem TO see
Ny pretty boy, all smile and song.
) Where best he loved to be
Presiding DER piano keys,
or by a lady's chair
So quite the little gentleman
SO gay and deboHdire
So ready with sparkling Jest,
So eager after lore
That lies for Nature.loving souls
In Natures hidden store.
hear his favoritc songs once more,
share his dreams of fame;
And, looking at his jacket there,
He comes to me the same
stroke the "Melton's" empty sleeve,
bathe with tears the Tweed"
And pray the patient mothers prayers
To One who knows my need.
i ask of God to bless the lads,
And keep their hearts as true
AS when they were IN. little boys.
And these old coats were new.
Jesse NJ. L. Saxby, in Golden Days.
The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1890-02-01

american girls come cheaper than
Circassian maidens."
"What do you mean?"
"Why, the Sultan of Turlrey buys Cir
cassians, but we often read Of American
girls being presented 70 Queen Vic-
toria. IN. Y. Sun.
The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1890-02-01
Tho Doctor for Him.

"why, Stebbins, old boy, what's up
to-day? You don't seem TO be al all in
your usual form"
"No? Well, suppose it's my dcuced
liver again. You know I've consulted
at least dozen doctors, but all in vain"
"Well, you should go to Jones. He's
the only man who can pull you through"
"Indeed Has he made special study
of liver complaint"
81 should say so; he's got 1t himself"
-.Judpe
The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1890-02-01

"A California farmer threatens to add
luinine to the products of the country.
Well. as long as sryer and ague is
regular crop, its tsanttdote may as we'll bo
rsiand.-Boston Transcript.
The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1890-02-01
Mysterious water-Holes.

Semitic inquirers are puzzled by GER
tain mysterious water-holes in the ledge
on the shore of the Boothbay Land Com
pany's territory in Maine. They are on
the eastern side of Spruce point, close
to Lovers Walk" There are three of
them, eight inches to foot in diameter
and about ten inches deep. They are
bowl-shaped and perfectly circular. Lo-
,cally they are ascribed to the Indians.
Nhey are supposed to have been used
it.s pounding corn, but more incon-
ven.3nt arrangement can not be imag-
ined. The sea fills them twice a day
and fresh wator constantly trickles into
them. IN winter they are entirely
frozen up. Besides the Indians were
too lazy to take such pains. 1t seems
from the conformation of the surround
ing country, impossible that there could
ever have been water-course there.
Their originis mystery. Two are per-
feet. One has cracked side.-Pitts-
burgh Dispatch.