davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Frostburg mining journal., 1890-06-07
GETTING A HITCH ON A PYTHON.
An Effort to Capture IA Big Snake by the
Aid of an Elephant.

1t was during the cold weather, when
snakes are partly or wholly torpid, that
this adventure happened had it been in
the hot weather, when snakes are lively,
the story might have had a different
ending.
General Macintyre and his party went
one day to examine a hole or CreviCe
under rock where it was suspected a
python lay hidden, and sure enough it
was there, for they could see bit of the
tail end protruding fl ON the hole. They
let it alone at first, thinking that when
the sun shone, it might come forth to
bask in its warmth In this however,
they were disappointed, for on the fol-
lowing day the snake was not to be seen;
but, on closer examination, the tail was
found sticking out as before. Various
efforts were made to dislodge it. A fire
was lit in front and the smoke famed
inward, but this had no effect. Tho
earth was even scraped away and the
hole widened, when they could see the
coils of the monster as thick as a mans
thigh; but except that their operations
were occasionally interrupted by the
startling presence of the creatures head,
which it poked toward the entrance,
darting out its little forked tongue, it
gave small signs of animation. They
had even determined to try to draw it.
We all three, therefore, proceeded,
somewhat nervously, l must own, to
lay hold of its tail. To this familiarity
ii showed its objection by a decided in
clnation to wag its caudal extremity,
which had such an electrical effect on
our nerves that we dropped it like a hot
potato, and-what shall | call it-re-
tired A shot would in all probability
have induced the snake toquit its refuge,
but then the shot must have torn and
dishgured its beautiful skin, which the
general wished to secure uniniured as q
specimen. In the meantime more ctfi-
cient tools had been sent for, and these
now arrived upon an elephant
a bright idea now struck the party
they might draw the snake out with the
elephant. Sufficient rope for the pur-
pose was looscned from the elephants
pad, and this rope, the thickness of a
mans thumb, was hitched around the
python's TAIL its remaining length
brought up again to the pad and fastened
there thus doubling its strength. Now
came the tug of war; A sudden jerk
might have torn the skin; the mahout
was therefore warned to put on the
strain gradually. Little did we know
what a tough and obstinate customer
we had to deal with. Tighter and
tighter grew the ropes, when "crack"
went one of them. Still the strain was
increased, when "crack. the other had
snapped also, leaving the snake in
statu quo.
The snake a fl ally dislodGed by
counter mining and killed with Il charge
of buck,hot " hem measured it was
found to he twenty one feet in length
and about two feet i'll girth - Cham
Der's Journal
Frostburg mining journal., 1890-06-07
A Jewel that Nobody Wants,

A costly ring, unguarded by police or
special watchman, hangs suspended by
silken cord around the neck of a
statue of the Maid of Almodena. the
patron saint of Ma lrid, in one of the
beautiful parks of the Spanish capital.
1t is set with diamonds and pearls, not
withstanding which, there is no danger
of its being stolen. The greatest thief
in Madrid would not touch it any quicker
than he would the plate on his own
mothers coffin. Its history is curious
and interesting, and equal to anything
found in medieval folk lore.
The ring was made for King Alfonso
NIL, who gave it to his cousin, the
pretty Mercedes, on the day of their be-
throthal. She Wore it during her short
married life. On her death the king
presented to his grandmother, Queen
Christina She died soon, and the king
passed the deadly little circle to his
sister, mfanta del Pillar, who died within
the month. Again it started on its
deadly rounds, next finding a place on
the finger of Christina, the youngest
daughter of the duke of Montpensier,
but in less than three months she also
was dead. Alfonso next put the ring in
his own casket, and lived less than
year after so doing. No wonder it safely
hangs on statue in an unguarded
Frostburg mining journal., 1890-06-07


Rabbi Goltheil has been preaching at
the Temple Emanuel, the magnificent
Jewish synagogue in the Fifth avenue,
/ New York, a series of very striking SER
mons explaining and defending the atti-
tude of the jews toward Jesus and His
teachings while the Founder of Christ
ianity was still on earth. As DR.. Gott-
he'll is a man of learning, of much
breadth of view, and philosophic spirit,
these discourscs deserve the careful con-
sideration of Christians. There is no
| bitterness in them, and they are respect
/ full of Christian sentiment and convlc-
| ton
| He has pointed out that, as in the days
| of Jesus, the Jews were already widely
| scattered, and the means of communica-
ton We're slow and difficult. only a small
minority of the race within the boun,ia-
| rieS of Judea We're COgniZant of the mis-
sion, the teachings, the doings, and the
very existence of the Christ. The great
majority were in complete ignorance of
| His life and the manner of Ills death,
and therefore could not be held accoun-
, table for the tragedy of Calvary. The
| New Testament in many places records
that in Judea itself, wherever lie went,
He was followed by crowds, who lis
| tened eagerly to His doctrines. lie was
| admitted into the synagogucs, though
His teachings We're subvcrsive Of the pre-
vailing religion and the existing social
system; and when lie drove the money
| changers from the temple itself it is not
recorded that anybody rose up in opposi-
ton. He bitterly assailcd the pharisees,
the fathers of the Jewish synaGogues,
and yet when lie predicted the ruin Of
the temple and nation, and somo of the
hearers picked up stones to cast at Him,
the Scribes and Pharisees gathered about
for His protection.
This is the way in which DR.. Gottheil
reads the Gospels. They seem to him to
show that the contemporary Jewish
spirit was liberal rather than otherwise,
tolerant and receptive; that the Jews re-
iected Jesus only "as God or part of
the Deity" As a moral instructor they
listened to Him with respect AS a
worker of miracles He was sure to appeal
to the popular desire, and the crowds
about Him were so great that lie had to
escape from them by stealth, As the
Redeemer of the world they would
gladly have accepted Him if they could
have comprehcnded the mystery. As
the Messiah they neither accepted nor
rejected Him, but waited for proofs to
sustain the claim, their teaching having
been that the Messiah was to be an earthly
ruler, not one who was to lead them into
the kingdom Of heaven. Jesus was loved
and respected by the people and opposed
by few priests only. When lie entered
into Jerusalem He had a royal recep-
ton, and some cried 'Hosannah to the
son of David, so that the whole city was
stirred by the tumult
This is a view of the subject which
will be novel for Christian readers gen.
erally.
Frostburg mining journal., 1890-06-07
A WALK UNDER THE SEA.
Curious Sights to BE Seon Away Down
Under Oceans Bosom.

Under Oceans Bosom.
Prof. Alexander WinchrlI, in a vivid
description of a walk ulder the sea, says:
We stand and gaze into the blackness
and chill which rest against us like
bodies imhelded in a wall of masonry
Days may pass. months and years, and
not a sound comes out of the solitude
which impriSons us no CLEAN reminds
us that nature is not dead. We stand a
century, and nothing stirs-nothing in
those voiceless plains of death, though
above us sweep the still, ma .estic cur
rents which bring frost from the pole.
This mud is the dust of cemeteries,
which has been gathering since the
ocean descended to take possession of its
mysterious bed, shutting three -tfths of
the worlds surface from the observation
of man. Mingled with the clay are the
relics of larger creatures which have
lived in the seas where the sunlight
cheers its populations-teeth of sharks,
car bones of whales-not the accumula-
tions of yesterday or of a century. They
are the relics of creatures whose race
had died out-Tertiary whales, the rep
resentatives of past cycles of geologic
history. Nothing changes here. Cold
and darkness prevents decay. Here by
the side of the wrecks of the last Winter
are the hard parts of the creatures which
dwelt somewhere in the ages before man.
Dead ruins of extinct types, we said.
Nay the forms are not all dead; the
realm is still inhabited. Here are crinoids
-prHozoid crinoids-whic have come
down through all the ages of geologic
history, lying here, sleeping here like
inanimate oganisms through the centur-
ie1, chilled into changelessness like man.
moth carCas5eS inCased in ice, still
dreaming of the middle ages of the world.
Here are grotesque artiCulates, perpetu-
ated portraits of the quaint ancestors Of
the lobster and the grab-archaic fishes
whose retarded development has left
them ages behind in the march of prog.
ress. Few and widely scattered are
these wanderers out of the worlds an
tiquity, and they have not strayed to
greater depths than three and one-third
miles.
No ray of light, we said But a phos-
phorescent CLEAN breaks through the
wall of night. In the distance is a fish
like form bearing curious appendage,
which seems to serve him as a lantern.
II sheds a ghastly glow into the thickness
of the solitude. This creature, then, has
use for eyes. Shut out from natures
sunlight, he is a feeble star to himself.
Ills lantern-glow reveals the presence of
other grotesque forms without starlight
and without eyes. Fishes they are, but
stranges than fancy ever pictured. One
has mouth of five times the length of
the body 5 diameter. The mouth of an
other opens to twice the length of the
animal body, with a bag-like pouch,
which would hold the entire body six
times over. Another. has glaring eyes
like tea saucer, strained to take in the
thin phosphorescence from his neighbors'
lantern. Life is even here-antique,
obsolete life, which the ages have sent
by a devious path astray, arriving at
our times million years behind its date.
Frostburg mining journal., 1890-06-07


IF our fathers and mothers had all
ma ric | their first loves where would
we be? - Life.
Ftlia Ito Mrs. Belweather, who has
just bean speaking of Mr.. B.)-Wly,
Mr., b .lwea her, | thought yoI ha la t
any husband? Mrs. b. -- Why, Of
Coarse have, Effie. Do you mean to
sa that you don't know Mr. Bel
weather.? Etiie--Yes ; but ! didn't
suppose he was your husband. Thought
You hadn't any. Papa said you married
for money, and that was all you got.
-. The Jester.
"WiIl | write out Jimson's bill? asked
he clerk. "No, | think you'd better
get it printed; get about one hundred
copies or so. llneed that number before
he pays it, and time and money will DO
saved in the end.
NeL-You We're having a charming
time in the bow window with the beauti-
ful Miss Lilygrowth? Charley-I yes.
Ned--l overheard you tell her you loved
her above all things on earth, Charley
You did, you spy? Ned-Ies. But,
tell me, Charley, why did you leave her
SO abruptly? Charley y-Well the fact
is, Ned l wanted a smoke = Chicago
Times.
Frostburg mining journal., 1890-06-07
WHAT is GOOD SOCIETY ?


The True Association of Gentlemen and
GentIewomen.
Good society is that where toadvism is
frowncd down upon and scandal mongers
are not admitted.
Good society is that where one earns
on d, title to gentl, SS nan not only by
BIZ. h but bv good manners.
Good society is that where men are re-
Eprrtful, where off-color stories are not
told. and where the women do not smoke
cigarettes.
Good society is that where to under
stand Greek is of less importance than to
understand courtesy in all its laws.
Good society is that which is not per-
soual in its talk. but which finds suffi-
cicnt topics of interest to discuss without
dlating on the sins of its neighbors.
Good society is that where the art of
Frostburg mining journal., 1890-06-07

= Philadelphia Judges Reasons for Not
Swearing Witnesses on the Bible.

Swearing WitnC s~e> on the Bible.
Judge Arnold, in the old court house,
gave a vigorous expression of opinion
regarding the manner of swearing Wit
nesses, which may work complete
revolution in the courts in that par
ticular. A stylish young woman had
been sworn, and had partially given in
her testimony, when one of the jurors
objected on the ground that she la'-pot
kissed the Bible. After a breezy dis.
cussion between counsel Judge Arnold
ordered the witness to be sworn by the
uplifled hand.
Il am not surprised, said the judge,
"that this witness did not kiss the book.
/ would not do it either, Il dirty book
ike that. This custom is a relic of
idolatry, and the sooner it it is abolished
the better it will be. | don't think this
witness objected to kissing the book be-
cause she intended to lie but because
il is a dirty book. respect her regard
for her person and her health "
After the trial Judge Arnold was
asked what he meant by kissing the
Bible being relic of idolatry. lie 70
piled:
Il mean that it was established by tho
church to show the humiliation of the
people before the first Judges, who were
cerics. 1t has been abolished in Eng
land judicial declarations subject to
penalties being substituted,
Il mean that it is relic of super
stitous age and superstitious people
under the subjection of priestcraft. 1t
is relic of that age in which trial by
fire took the place of trial by jury; when
mans guilt or innocence depended on
his physical capacity to resist pain and
torture but its worst feature is the dirt
and disease which is impaired to the
book by the constant handling it receives
from dirty witnesses, and l not only
would not kiss such book, but have a
respect for those who have enough re-
spect for themselves to refuse to do so.
1T is like the custom of kissing brass
toes of craven images some worshipers
kiss the toe until it is worn smooth,
while others only stoop down and pre-
tend to kiss it. They are just as devout
ms those who touch the toe with their
lips, but they have too much regard for
their health to touch their lips to the
spot where thousands of others have
been.
a think swearing on the Bible should
be abolished A witness can take just
as good an oath with the uplifted hand
as on the Bible. ~ Philadelphia Press.
Frostburg mining journal., 1890-06-07
The Cat and Dog.

In the old times when all the animals
were created, properly named and had
chosen the lion for their king, the
monarch held grand reception. All
the beasts of the field and elsewhere at
tended excepting the camel.
To recall this recalcitrant to a sense OF
his duty, or at least find out the cause of
his absence, a prudent dog was chosen
as ambassador and sent upon the mission.
In order to make the task of recognition
easy he was furnished with a hasty de-
scription of the party in question.
After travelling some time he met a
cat that had just awakened from its
midday nap. The feline was stretching,
yawning and arching itself, as is their
wont at such times. The dog observed
the apparent hump on the back and
asked:
Are you the camel?"
The insult struck the cat so deeply
that she went for the dog with all her
might, and thus originated the feud be-
tween those animals that exists to this
day.
Frostburg mining journal., 1890-06-07
General Crook as a Huntsman.

General Crook was very fond of hunt
ing" said Lieutenant kennon, "and
was one of the best shots | ever saw.
When he was a young officer he always
did the hunting for his mess. In those
days sometimes the mess bills exceeded
the officers salaries, and l have heard
General Crook tell how they made him
caterer, and by his intimate knowledge
of the Indians economical methods of
cooking and his luck at hunting the
mess was soon able to declare dividends
] have been with him on many hunting
trips. and | never saw better or a
steadier shot Sage hens are not the
easiest game to bag, and yet | have seen
him repeatedly drop bird out of flock
with each barrel; but not only that, he
would kill chicken every time. His
eye was so quick that while aiming he
could select the clicks instantaneously.
With all his experience and trials
General Crook was as simple as child.
He was straightforward and truthful,
and had no patience with concealment
or trickery. lie never broke his word
to white man or red man.
Frostburg mining journal., 1890-06-07

like a dying Goldfish, and rose to stand
ing posture. The tears ran from his eyes.
The shock was so severe that his hair al
most stood on end. He tried to speak,
but for nearly minute could only utter
broken sentences. AS he slowly reCov-
cred he raised his right hand as if about
to strike me. Then he resumed hi, seat
with bewidcred look aud exclaimed {:
"'Begorra, sir, it cured me intoirely.'
"By the time he had fully recovered
an idea occurred to him, for his face
frightened perceptibly. Suddenly he
Jumped to his feet and ran out the door,
with the bottle in his hand. He started
for his home i'll Lackabeg three miles
away, as fast as his three -mile-an-
donkey could pull the cart. The subse-
quent proceedings We're related by a
neighbor of Slattery's few days later
thus:
"'Thats quare bottle ye are afther
givin' Daniel Slattery, sir. He's afther
playin' tricks wild it all over Lackabeg.
Divil's the stroke o work died he do these
three days, sir, but go around curin'
headaches wild it. There's ne er house,
sir, but Dan wint in. Il have a cure
says he, for livery mortal pain in yeer
body says he, sober like praist. All
ye have to do is to sniff the little quare
bottle and the pain is gone from ye like
the steam from the kettle. Well, sir,
he had thin fallin' down wild the fright
he Civ thin, till he KEN to Michael
O'Brien. Michael was that Jared and
frekened by the shmell he got that he
let the bottle fall on the hearthstone and
it bruk Until thousand pieces. And
such mournin' as there was in Lackabeg
bekase the bottle was bruk ye niver
heerd before, sir. Faix livery wan of
OBrien's family was on their two knees
on the flour pickin' up little bits O the
broken glass, Ye haven't another wan
O the little bottles, hav' We, sir p"
Frostburg mining journal., 1890-06-07

The total cost of the Centennial expo
sition at Philadelphia was $6,3l2, $50, Of
which sum s., ,313, $50 was paid in stock,
$1,000, 900 was appropriated by the State
of Pennsylvania, 81, 500, 900 by the city Of
Philadelphia, and 81, 500, 900 was loaned
by the United States Government. The
total proceeds of the exposition were
81, S2l, 1926, of which nearly two thirds
was taken at the gates. The Government
received back its money, the city re-
ceived in grounds, drainage, etc, $780,
$50, and the stockholders $5l7, ,635 and
Memorial hall, worth over 81, 500, 900.
These figures give great comfort to Chi
cago.-(Boston journal.
Frostburg mining journal., 1890-06-07
BEHAVING IN SOCIETY.
An Actress Tells Girls How to Greet n
Gen,!eman.

An Actress Tells Urls How to Greet n
Gen,.eman.
Let gravitation t. ie care of your hands
except when you are using them. Re
member that gest re is not mere move
ment, but should say what the words
that follow repeat. Remember that a
womans eyes are not given her only to
see with. Let your eyes speak first; a
movement of the hand, change of face
say the same thing more fully and finally.
Let the words come gently, and i'll tone
which shall suit their import. What you
say means something then, and was
waited for, too, / warrant you, with in
terrst more or less breathless as the sit
uati ion was more or less important.
There is another trick, to hold position
in absolute quiet till what is said or
what you yourself say, requires move
ment Cut off all your little obs and
abs, let your eyes follow the story your
escort is telling-it may be awfully
stu id-and it will be easier to let your
e, es and face reflect his varying eX-
p essons of interest than to pretend
further and follow his with exclamations
which are bound to seem inslncere or
overdone.
That's a big secret-never try to do too
much. The girl who makes sort of
plunge at a thanksgiving, "Oh, Mr..
Jones' how glad | am to see you-oh,
dear, do sit down. Oh. my how are
YOU" with accompanying tlutter and
laugh and fuss does not make half the
impression accomplished by the girl
whose eyes light up till her lips catch the
smile of welcome, and whose hand goes
out before she says just "Mr. Jones" in
a voice that means something's voice
that says whether she is glad, very, very
glad, or not glad at all. Only a little
more is enough to Suggest that he should
Sit down. Emma Sheridan in Cleveland
Leader
Frostburg mining journal., 1890-06-07
Ledger.

If man can not be a great genius, is
it worth his while to be little one?
Some learned men say not. OF the
poets who tlourishel and were famous a
hundred years ago, how many are known
now? OF all the bright volumes that
brought fame to their authors and made
the booksellers of old wealthy, how
many can we find upon the shelves Of
the bookstores of to-day? Only a few.
And vet their authors, lauded by friends
and hattered by reviews, threw all their
souls into their songs, and fondly
dreamed of earthly Immortality. The
fittest survive, and the world has sorted
them out without unerring Judgment
From the good it has taken the best, and
we are thankful. But these little geniuses
did they live their lives in vain because
they are forgotten now? Was all their
music meaningless, and did the world
never miss it when their harps were
silent? They fulfilled their mission !;
their songs went home to human hearts
and quickened them with feeling. They
sang as sang the birds-brief, tender
songs that made the world glad for
day and though their names are now
unknown, their graves unmarked, their
work has not been unrewarded. SO let
the little geniuses be of good cheer; their
footsteps may not go echoing down the
ages, but they may sound very pleas
antly in the pathways of to-day. If they
feel that they must sing, let no man say
them nay there will be ears to listen,
voices to applaud, and hearts to feel.
The world needs the low, soft notes Of
the humble singer, the homeIy harpings
of the little poet, as rest from the deep
bass of the bards sublime - Atlanta
Constitution.
Frostburg mining journal., 1890-06-07
Moro Advice to Smokers.

"Lots of advice has been given to
smokers, but I'll tell you something
which has never been written up and
ought to be known
This was told a reporter by one Of the
biggest tobacco dealers i'll New York
city.
"Come into the cigar store" he went
on, land you will notice that two out of
three men will cough while lighting
cigars
The first person who set fire to a cigar
coughed quite violently.
Didn't 1 tell you?" exclaimed the
lecturer. 1.-TWO out of three will do
that"
Its caused by the smoke.
"Never When you are about to
smoke cut off the mouth end of the
cigar, put the smoke end in the mouth,
and then blow. This expels all the fine
particles of tobacco and dust inside the
cigar. When you have done this reverse
the torch, and you won't cough when
lighting it, Those little bits of tobacco
get down your throat, and are injurious.
More people have been injured by swal'
lowing these little specks than you have
any idea of, yet they think they were
hurt by inhaling the smoke. F"
Frostburg mining journal., 1890-06-07
EARLY EGYPTIAN STOCKINGS.


The Egyptians of the present-Kepts
as well as Arab,--go about with bare feet.
The ancient Egyptians, on the contrary,
who are now only to be seen in dried
condition in museums, possessed very
good method of knitting stockings, as is
shown in the collection at the Louvre in
Paris. In the grave of a mummy there
was found a pair of Emitted stockings,
which gave the surprising evidence,
firstly, that short stockings, resembling
socks, were worn by the ancient Egyp-
tians; and secondly, that the art of knit
ting stockings had already attained great
perfection in ancient Egypt. These curl
Gus stockings are knitted in a very clever
manner, and the material, fine wool of
sheep, that might once have been white,
is now brown with age. The needles
with which the work was done must
have been little thicker than we should
choose for the same purpose, and the
knitting is loose and elastic. - New York
Ledger