davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-04-04
OF GENERAL INTEREST.

Verdict of coroner's Jury in Della.
ware County, N. Y: 1.-THE iury finds
that diseased came to his Death throuob
the infiuance of Liquor and carlessness
on his part and while ling on West
bounded track, and killed by train No.
generating the Company from blame.n
The French Academy of Science has
discovered, by experiment, that each
human body is in itself an electric hat.
terry one electrode being represented by
the head and the other by the feet.
Therefore it is the proper thing to sleep
with ones head to the north and feet IN
the south.
"A wealthy farmer of Palestine. Ohio.
was arraigned before United States
Commissioner Hagerty, at Columbus re-
Gently, charged with opening letter
addressed to his daughter Itseems that
the old gentleman discovered that his
daughter was corresponding with a
young man against his wishes, and he
resorted to this means of putting an end
to it. He was required to give bond in
$500.
An Englishman who came to this
country thirty years ago, leaving wife
at home, to whom he soon after ceased
writing, was amazed recently at his
boarding house in Cohoes, N. Y, bv
coming face to face with her. Thew
eyed each other for moment and then
embraced She had been searching for
years for him, going from town to town
all over the country. He is weaver,
and went to Cohoes from Philadelphia.
AT the Paris Exposition Florentine
friar showed watch only quarter of an
inch in diameter. 1t has not only the
two regular hands, but third which
marks the seconds, and microscopic
dial which indicates the days, weeks,
months and years. 1t also contains an
alarm, and on its front lid or cover an
ingeniously cut figure of Saint Francis.
On the back cover, by aid of powerful
glass, you can distinctly see and read
two verses of the ''Te Deum."
There is something curious about
the American silver dollar and half-dol-
lar of 1904, says numismatist. ''There
were about 10000 of the dollars coined.
but not one of them got into circulation.
L W. VI GHoul dr0 III COln COllocClOnS to-
day, however. and they are the most val
liable of all American coins. Why the
dollar of 1904 was never in circulation
after leaving the mint is one of the I'M
solved Government mysteries. The half
dollar of 1904 is surrounded by a mys-
terry equally profound. There were
$780, 900 of these coined, but not one was
aver known to be in circulation"
Among the countries in which re-
strictions are placed on the press is
France. The Home Ministers there NAV
prohibit single number of a newspa-
per. The whole Council of Ministers,
duly convened, may prohibit the circu-
lation of foreign newspaper absolute
ly. In Spain and Portugal, in Germany
and other countries somewhat severe
press laws have prevailed, a system of
censorship being carried out. In Russia
considerable restrictions are placed on
the press. According to a recent return
only LOT foreign political journals were
at the time of the return allowed to cir
culate in the country.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-04-04
A FEW COMPARISONS.
Geographical Facts Based I1pon tho Mo-,
Reliable MeaSnrennan4s


Reliable Measurements.
When we learn from astronomers tbo+
the sun Is twice as large in circumfer-
ence as the circle made by the moon
In passing around the earth. we are
inclined to draw a long breath: vet we
nave on dry land" and by actual
measurement, some comparisons of
sizes which are, to say the least, quite
interesting.
Asia is more than four times as large
as Europe, and considerably larger than
North and South America together. The
united States and Europe are almost
equal In area; British India is more
IMAM half as large as the United States.
and Canada is nearly equal in area, in
Guiding Alaska. Ireland and Indiana
are ABOUT the same size. England and
Michigan are about the same size. You
could take enough land from Texas to
make England, Ireland, Scotland, Bel
GUM, the Netherlands, Switzerland
and Denmark, and still have enough
left to make Massachusetts, Rhode
Island, Connecticut, New HAMPSHIRE.
vermont Delaware, New Jersey, Mary
land and Indiana. California is the
second largest State. Nebraska is more
than twice the size of Indiana. The
Island OF Cuba and the State of Tennes-
see are equal in area. Brazil is nearly
as large as the United States, but the
population of the latter is seven
times that of the former. If all
the people of the United States and
Canada were placed in the State of
Texas, the number of persons to the
square mile would be fewer than at
present in China Colorado is as LARGE
as New York, Pennsylvania and New
Jersey together. 1t would take ten
States as large as Massachusetts to make
a State as large as Kansas. There are
tWenty-seven States or Territories each
larger than New York. Oregon is equal
in area to New York and Pennsyl-
vania. Massachusetts is smaller than
either New Hampshire or Vermont.
Minnesota is twice the size of Ohio. The
three States bordering on the Pacific
are larger than the thirteen States bor-
dering on the Atlantic. Montana is
thirty times larger than Connecticut.
Iowa is five times as large as Belgium,
and four times as large as Denmark.
Maryland and Switzerland are about the
same size. London is as large as New
York City, Chicago, Philadelphia, Bos-
ton, Baltimore and Cincinnati together.
There are twice as many people to the
square mile in England as in Rhode
Island, the most densely populated State
in The Union. Japan is equal in area to
Montana, and supports more than half
as many people as there are now in the
whole of the United States. Ireland
had double the population in 1871 that
she has at present.-Self Help and Home
Study
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-04-04
SERFDOM STILL EXISTS.
A District in Russia Where Slavery Con.
timues to Flourish.

A District in Russia Where Slavery Con-
tinues to Flourish.
Hitherto the impression has prevailed
in Russia, as elsewhere in Europe, that
serfdom was abolished once and for all
time in 1861 by the late Emperor. This
is, however, far from being the case.
and it appears from the Russian news
papers that serfdom in all it's pristine
form fourishes on the northern shores
of the Caspian Sea. Indeed, the official
gazette of the Transcaucasus Govern
ment announces that several great land.
owners on the steppes have been exiled
toSiberia for perpetratlng barbarous and
revolving cruelties on their serfs.
On inquiry it is found that when
Alexander H. issued the ukase abolish
ing serfdom in 1861 he for some reason
or other excluded the Kalmuck serfs of
the ''Aimans," as the landed estates are
called on the steppes, from deriving any
benefit under said ukase. Simultaneous
with the discovery of this considerable
remnant of the horrible slavery known
as Russian serfdom is the appearance of
numerous letters in the leading papers
of ST. Petersburg, Moscow and Kieff on
the question as to whether or not the
use of the knout should be restored for
the punishment of the peasantry. Gen.
eral opinion is, sad to relate, in favor of
its being brought into fashion again.
The Grashdanin, which is edited by
the well-known clubman and society
leader, Prince Metcherwski, and which
is regarded as the official organ of M.
PObiedonOtsoff, the Procurator of the
Holy Synod, openly advocates the knout
as a means of civilizing the ignorant
and degraded peasantry. 1t is we'll
known that the late Count Tolstoi, the
Minister of the Interior was in favor
of that terrible instrument of torture,
which he regarded as the basis and cor
ner-stone, if one can call it so, of the
Russian governmental and social sys-
tenn. Both he and most of the upper
classes at ST. Petersburg claim that the
knout is far more merciful and just
means of punishment than fines or i'm
prisonment, for in both of the latter
cases the family of the offender suffers;
whereas, if the culprit is we'll logged,
he alone is visited with the reward OF
his wrong-doings. N. Y. Tribune.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-04-04
BURMESE OIL WELLS,
An Interesting Description of the Way il
Which They Are Dup

An Interesting Description of the Way in
Which They Are Dug.
The native method of digging oil wells
in Burmah is described in a very inter-
esting manner by DR.. Nothing of the
Indian Geological Survey. In the first
place, square shaft is dug, the sides
measuring about four feet each. Over
this pit is placed cross-beam, supported
on stanchions at either side, and in the
center of the beam small wooden drum,
or cylinder, which with it's axis is made
OF single piece of wood. A leather
rope running over this drum, is used to
lower the workmen into the pit, as we'll
as the earthenware pot in which the oil
is brought up. The walls of the shaft
are lined with wood, and timber is used
to support them. The workmen are
lowered in an ingenious manner. The
man sits on two sings formed of strong
rope running between his legs and knot
ted over his left shoulder. To prevent
sliding, thin rope runs down from the
knot, across the breast, underneath the
right shoulder to the back, where it is
fastened to the rope forming the sings
A second rope for the same purpose is
fastened around the hips. No light can
he taken down the shaft on account of
the explosive gas; the workman, there
fore, ties up his eyes before going down,
SO that he may see during the short time
he is in the we'll. Two hundred and
ninety seconds is the longest time any
man, however strong, can remain below
without becoming unconscious. The
workers object to descending more than
two hundred and fifty feet, and the limit
is three hundred and ten feet. The
manner of drawing up the oil is also
primitive. The rope is fastened around
the neck of ball-shaped earthenware
pot, which is lowered and filled by sink
ing in the oil below. The oil is poured out
into larger pot when raised, and twelve
OF the latter are packed on cart.-Dem-
orest's Monthly.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-04-04
TRIUMPHs OF INVENTION.
They Are Due to Hard Work Stimulated Ry
a Desire For Wealth.

They Are Due to Hard Work Stimulated Nv
a Desire For Wealth.
The traditions of great discoveries
that have come by chance are, for the
most part, myths True, a lucky accident
may occasionally give a hint to an in
ventive mind that will help towards
long-contemplated contamination, but
such an occurrence is only link in a
chain of circumstances all tending to a
common end. Sir Isaac Newton got such
hint in his philosophical researches,
when, on certain occasion, he noted
the falling of an apple. He had seen
many apples fall before that time, no
doubt, and no day of his previous life
could have passed without presenting to
his sight similar occurrences, having the
same relation to the object of his study.
But that particular apple happened to
fall and be noticed by him just when
his study of the greatest of all philo-
sophical problems had reached the right
point to make the object lesson valua-
ble- Tradition gives another alleged
accident, the familiar story of the ket-
tie, as the turning point in the discov-
cry or invention of the steam engine,
but he who studies the life and works
of James Watt will find that there was
nothing accidental in the kettle acct
dent. 1t was but a link in the long
chain, all of whose links he wrought by
patient toll
All the great triumphs of invention
that are now employed as factors in
human progress have reached their pres
ent development by successive steps.
The telegraph of Edison's time, although
like that of Morse in its general features,
is very unlike that in detail, and in the
manner of operating it. A single inven-
ton of Edison, not by any means an ac-
cident, quadrupled the capacity of all
the wires strung, or thereafter to be
strung. The engines that drive great
ships across the Atlantic in less than six
days are the result of the work of sue
cessive generations of brainy men. Mil
lions have been lost in experiments,
change has followed change, one i'm
provement has succeeded another, until
the marine engine of our time bears
little resemblance to that of thirty years
ago. Go into the pressroom of great
newspaper, and see the printing ma
chimes at work, and you see the results
of hundreds of inventions, the progress
of generations Accident had nothing to
do with it. All has come from work,
work of the best brains, stimulated by
the desire to get fame and fortune.-
Inventive Age
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-04-04

a SINGULAR CRAZE.
Thousands of Dollars the Price Paid for
Dutch Bulbs.

Dutch Bulbs.
Tulips were introduced into Western
Europe about the middle of the six
teenth century, and about fifty years
later Holland and the Dutch became
tulip mad The beauty of the new bid
for popular favor was regarded as daz-
zling, and no price was high enough to
be prohibitory. All business was neg
lected by the bulb hunters. Long jour-
neys were taken in the hope of finding
tulip, and when found it was regarded
as pearl of great price, and purchased
at no matter what sacrifice. One man
decided his farm and house with all his
stock and furniture for bulb whose
actual value was scarcely dollar, but
which he resold for over 100000
francs. Never were corner lots in
booming cities in greater demand.
Tulips were sold on time payments and
equities were bartered freely. Prices
had no limit, and those who had choice
specimens were regarded with general
envy.
At last bulbs were sold by weight and
SO great was the price that the unit of
"CAS ho was OuO pOIlO, OI lOSS Oudu q
grain. Scales were tested to the great
est nicely, and if it had been matter
of life or death weights could not have
been more carefully aScertained. The
frenzy continued and many complica-
tions resulted. A sailor who had just
left his ship and had never seen tulip
bulb, mistOOk one for an onion and cut
it up A botanist was guilty of sim
liar crime, to the horror of man who
had tulipomania very badly. Another
man was arrested for stealing bulb
which he declared he mistook for a
worthless onion, and was sentenced to
long term of imprisonment. The
madness wore itself out, and was fol-
lowed by a financial panic, during
which the prices of tulips fell to some
thing very near zero. 1t is estimated
that at least thousand families were
completely ruined by the craze.-St
Louis Glo5e-Democrat.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-04-04
A PECULIAR MAN.
The Eccentricities of the Author Of ssSand.
ford and Merton"

The Eccentricfttes of the Author OF ssSands
ford and Merton
Thomas Day, the author of SANFORD
and Merton" book which several
generations of children have enjoyed
for its stories without bestowing q
thought on its philosophy, was horn in
Wellclose Square in 174S. His father
held place in the custom-house, and
left him fortune of $1,000. He was
educated at the Charterhouse and Ok
ford, and spent some time in France,
where he received the new philosophy
of educa ton. Having resolved on mar
riage, he determined that his wife
should be modelled in accordance with
the new light. He therefore went to an
orphan asylum at Shrewsbury and
picked out a faxen-haired girl of
twelve, whom he named Sabrina Sid
ney, after the Severn and Algernon
Sidney, and then the founding hos
pital in London, where he selected
a seco- l, whom he called Lucretia. In
taking these girls he gave written
pledge that within year he would
place one of them with a respectable
tradesman, giving a100 to bind her APP
prentice, and that he would maintain
her if she turned out well until she was
married or commenced business, in
either of which case he would advance
$500. With Sabrina and Lucretia he
set out for France, in order that in quiet
he might discover and discipline their
characters. He, however, quarreled
with the girls. Next day they took
smallpox, and he had to nurse them
night and day, and by and by he was
glad to return to London and get
Lucretia off his hands by apprenticing
her to milliner on Ludgate hill. She
behaved well, and on her marriage to a
substantial linen-draper Day cheer
fully produced his promised
dowry of s5OO. Poor Sabrina
could by no means qualify for Mr.. Day.
Against the sense of pain and Danger no
discipline could fortify her. When Day
dropped melting sealing-wax on her
arms she finched, and when he fired
pistols at her garments she started and
screamed. When he told her secrets
she divulged them. He packed her off
to an ordinary boarding kept her
there for five years, allowed her ESQ
year, gave her $500 on her marriage to
barrister, and when she became a
widow, with two boys. he pensioned her
with ESQ a year. In 1888 he married
Miss Mines, of Wakefield lady whose
opinions conceded with his own. He
was killed September %, 1889, by kick
from young horse, which he was try
ing to train on new method. London
City Press
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-04-04

During the recent grippe period,
when almost everybody imagined
peculiar symptoms, a resident of
commonwealth avenue dropped into
his doctors on the way down
town. Doctor, 1 don't know what
is the matter. I have a peculiar SEN
sation in one Of my legs. It appears
to be shorter than the other" "Walk
across the room," said the doctor. The
patient ambled gracefully. 'sThat will
do" said the doctor, smiling. "You'l
have to go home" 81 can't; have
business engagements" swell, 1 give
you my advice, and you can take it or
not, but if you want to get rid of that
peculiar sensation you will go home and
put on pair of boots that are mates,
for q single-sole boot and one with
cork sole NJ together
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-04-04
NATURAL SCULPTURES.

Scenic Beauties of the Peach Spring Canyon
of the Colorado River.
We know so little of the scenic beau
ties of our country that every year sur
priSeS us with new revelation. The
rock sculptures of the Peach Spring can
yon of the Colorado river are marvels
which very few Americans have seen.
The length of the canyon is 1875 miles,
and the highest cliffs rise to 1880 feet.
Some of the principal ruins-this word
seems to be the only word to apply to
them-have been named from time to
time, and for the most part with fitness.
One is Solomon's Temple, another
The Pyramid, another Sunset Peak, and
still others The Sphinx, Westminster
Abbey and The Beehive.
Solomon's Temple is considerably over
a mile high, and the denudation and
wearing of the rock by water has been
such that it represents an enormous pile
of architecture, with sculptured bas-
tiOns, harmonious in it's proportions,
with great terraces Its base, and grow
ing smaller toward the top. At the very
top, in the center, is a pyramidal peak
pile is from two to four miles across the
facade, and tocsee these things standing
up and against the clear, cloudless blue
of the Arizona sky, produces an indie
scribable effect.
Sunset Peak goes up like a dome 5000
feet, and when the sun sets clear and
has entirely disappeared behind the
mountains, it's reflected light rests on
the topmOSt peak and transforms it into
minaret of gold-a heavenly light, in
deed.
Another architectural piece goes by
the name of Babel's Tower, and is 5000
feet high, and this has beautiful sculpt-
ured buttresses. The Castle on the
Rhine is the same height.
The Pyramid is 1900 feet above the
river, and the river is 1,13O feet above
the sea.
Some of these cliffs of even terraces
and strata rise almost perpendicularly
to height of $500 feet, and as high up
as the eye can detect, variety of plants,
including cacti, perch and thrive in the
creviceS. Some varieties of flowers
bloom the year round in the canyon so
mild is the temperature, even in mid
winter.
Ut course it is impossible for any Wis
itor to appreciate the magnitude of this
scene of ruin and desolation. The Chin
ney on the top of a perfect pyramid, that
was sixty feet by actual measurement
looks to be the size of an ordinary chin
ney.
The full beauty of Westminster Alb
hey, and it's likeness to it's venerable
ivy-grown namesake, is very striking,
only it is a far more wonderful structure
Just before reaching it, and on the
same side of the canyon, is the Temple
of Jupiter, and it is unquestionably one
OF, If not the finest parts of the canyon
1t is mighty pile of stupendous har-
mony and sculpturing, the central facade
bearing a multitude of sphinxes and
classical images.
On the opposite side is ''Moses Striking
the Rock, the outline of the greatstatue
at one point being very life-like
On the top of one cliff is The Prophet
at Prayer-a kneeling figure with out
stretched hands; and there are many
features not yet named awaiting christ
ening from the clever and acute visitors
vet to cOme.-GOlden DAVIS.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-04-04
IN AMSTERDAM.

Meyneer Hans Won der Bloom has got
A majazin in Kalverstraat.
Where one may buy for sordid gold
Wares quaint and curious, new and old
Here are antiquities galore
The jewels which Dutch monarchs wor.
Swords, teacups, helmets, platters clocks
Bright Dresden jars, dull Holland crooks
AND all those joys might rehearse
That please the eye or wreck the pursa
most admired an ancient bed
With ornate carvings at its head
A massive frame of dingy oak
Whose curious size and mold bespoke
Prodigious age. "How much?n cried
:" Elm tousand gildens," Hans replied.
And then the honest Dutchman said
A king once owned that glorious bed
King Fritz der foorst (of blessed famen
Had owned and slept within the samoi
Then long stood and mutely gazed
BY reminiscent splendors dazed;
AND had bought it right away
Had l the wherewithal to paw:
But lacking of the needed pelf
l thus discoursed within myself:
!" y happy Holland! where's the bliss
That can approximate to this
Possession of the rare ANTIQUE
Which maniacs banker for and seek,
My native land is full of stuff
That's good, but is not old enough
Alas it has no oaken beds
Wherein have slumbered royal heads
No relic on whose face we see
The proof of grand antiquityr"
Thus reasoned goodly spell,
Until, perchance, my vision fell
Upon trademark at the head
OF Fritz der florists old oaken bed
A rampant wolverine, and round
This strange device these words I found:
" Patent Antique-Birkey & Gay
Grand Rapids, Michigan, U. S. A."
At present I'm not saying much
About the simple, guileless Dutch:
And as it were a loathsome spot
keep away from Kalverstraat,
Determined, when want bed
In which hath slept royal head,
I'll patronize no middleman,
But deal direct with Michigan.
Eugene Field, in Chicago News
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-04-04

Every married Piute is always glad
of a visit from his mother-in-law.
Well, the Government might as well
abandon the attempt to civilize the In
dian. He is not built that way.-Nor-
ristown Herald.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-04-04

French Girl-Papa, man who looks
like an American is observing those
gloves in the window. What shall I
ask for them?
Shopkeeper-Twenty dollars.
Man (entering)-How much?
Girl-Twenty dollars.
Man-Sar-r-r-r!
Shopkeeper Forty cents. m's'seer.-
Omaha World.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-04-04

Cavendish
Sand 1 was entirely wrong when l
sent Lucy away; and you were quite
right when you discharged Miles.
Henceforward, my dear, we'll try to
mingle little common sense with our
housekeeping. Eh-shall we?"
And Mrs. Cavendish smiled rs she as
sented.-Helen Forest Graves, in Phila-
delphia Saturday Night.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-04-04

Prof. Richard s. KosenthaI, who de.
vised the Meisterschaft system ofolearn-
ing languages, and who speaks fourteen
tongues fiuently, has become . natural
lied American citizen.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-04-04

Even snowdrifts twenty feet deep
and packed as boys pack snowballs, are
compelled to yield to the rotary pillow.
These modern appliances mean business
when they go to work.