davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-08-08

One of the leading physicians of the
national capital remarked to me today
that if brand was on the forehead of
every woman who used opium in
some form, society here would go to
pieces. He attributes this frightful
condition of affairs to the dissipat
life led here by the women of the up
per tendon. The endless round of
balls and receptions is such a strain
upon them that they must seek relief
in some way. They begin by taking
a soothing strip, as a rule, to put
them to sleep. This after while fails
to act, then paregoric is restored to.
From this it is only a step to pure
opium and absolute ruin Some
people buy the crude gum and eat it
regularly every day, while others buy
laudanum and drink it in quarter
ounce, half ounce and even ounce po-
tons. And then there are Dover's
powders and morphine pills, both of
which act rapidly, and especially the
latter. The habit seems more of dis
ease than vice, for the whole nature
of the victim undergoes a complete
revolution, moral, mental and physi-
cal. After a short time the victim
will sacrifice honor, friends and fam
lily for the fatal drug. There is no
cure, for even the asylums fail to eff
feet a permanent cure except in rare
instances. Washington Cor. Pitts
burg Press
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-08-08
The Later Dew Theory.

1t is now held by the best physicists
that instead of falling from above,
the dew rises to the earth. The gen
orally received opinion that the dew
IS formed of vapor existing at the
time in the atmosphere must be given
up for the established fact that tie
vapor which rises from the heated
earth is trapped by the cold surface
earth. Besides, when we imagine
that, on cool evening after sultry
day In summer, our feet are being wet
by the dew on the grass, we make a
grave mistake. For that moisture on
the grass is not dew at all, it is false
dew-in reality the transpired humor
OF the plants. The drops at the tips,
which glisten diamond like, are not
dew; close examination shows that
these crystalline spheres are all situated
at the point where the veins of the
leaves cut the outer edges These
drops only give evidence of the vitali-
ty OF the plant The difference between
the true dew on the grass and the ex-
uded drops through the veins from
within the grass can be easily distin-
eo1anOu, iOT TIE iOruef Is OuSIrlDuCcu
all over the blade in a moist film;
whereas the latter are of some size and
are situated near the tips of the blade.
Altered, then, is the meaning Of the
line, ''llka blade o grass keeps its ain
drap o dew for those brilliant glob-
ules on the petal, shaking to the same
sweet air, and often gliding at once
all fragrant into one," are not dew
drops, but are the exudations CT the
healthy plants. They give evidence
OF the elixir vive of vegetation; where
as the true dew is the pearly luster,
vanished In filmy humidity over the
blades by that wondrous alchemy
which transforms the water vapor
rising from the ground into the plant
refreshing dew.-Good Words.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-08-08
The Man with the Boots.

Mr.. George Augustus Sala's column
and half in The Daily Telegraph is
very poor stuff, and is valuable only
as an indication of the skill with
which the practiced journalist can
word spin on occasion Many. many
years ago we remember an old gentle
man who opened Mr.. Sala's book upon
Russia and waded through several
pages of description of his boots which
flowed from Mr.. Sala's pen apropos of
a visit to the Gostinnoi Dvor He laid
down the book with an expression of
disgust, and from that time onward
till his death the old gentleman
could never be induced to read an
other line that Mr.. Sala wrote. He
always spoke of him as that man
with the boots. Pail Mall Budget.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-08-08
Fate of the InvaIidss.

It is now considered probable that
the Hotel des Invalides, which has so
long sheltered the old soldiers of the
French army who have lost limbs in
the wars, will at no distant date be
used for other purposes. The Offices of
the military governor of Paris have al
ready been transferred thither, and it
is proposed to give the antique pen
sioners who still inhabit the building
increased pay and another place of
refuge. In any case, the number of
decrepit warriors now in residence is
small, and unless war breaks out there
will be no successors for them in the
French Chelsea hospital There are
now 22S pensioners-nearly all very old
and infirm-accommodated In the Ho-
tel DIES Invalides
Under the First empire there were at
one time $4,000, but this number con-
tinued to diminish even after the peri
DDS of the Crimean and Italian cam
paigns After the Franco-Prussian war
of 1870 700 soldiers were admitted to
the Invalides, which in year or two
will in all probability be wrongly
named, inasmuch as it is intended to
make it very active and busting mill
tary center. Many, however, will re-
greet the change, for there was always
something picturesque and historic
about the old pensioners, and their
weekly parade for the military mass in
the church containing the tomb of the
First Napoleon was one of the sights of
Paris.-Paris Cor London Telegraph.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-08-08
The Fat Man and the Sensible Horse.

There was an unfortunate charger
whose duty it was to carry an ex-
tremely fat and heavy Indian gen.
eral Feeling that this task was
more than could be reasonably requir-
ed of him, the intelligent animal in
variably lay down and refused TO get
up whenever the general tried to
mount him, and so far gained his OBJ
ject that his owner sold him to a
young officer who was going to dis
tant station up country. Two years
afterwards the general went to inspect
some frontier environments, and as he
travelled to his destination in palan-
quin, was obliged to borrow charger
for the purpose of the inspection.
There was some difficulty in finding one
up to his weight. At length an officer
resigned to him a powerful horse for
the occasion, which was brought out,
duly caparisoned, in front of the
line. The general came forth from
his tent and proceeded to mount, but
the instant the horse saw him advance
be flung himself fat upon the sand,
and neither blows nor entreaties could
induce him to rise. 1t was the gener-
ais old charger, who from the mo-
ment of quitting his service had never
once practiced the artifice until this
second meeting. The general, who
was an exceedingly good humored
man, joined heartily in the universal
shout that ran through the whole line
on witnessing this ludicrous affair
The Horse and His Rider
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-08-08
Couldn't BeA. the Yankee.

While the United States ship Nipsic
and several men-of-war of different
nations were anchored near each other
IN the harbor of Montevideo, the crew
of a Dutch man-of war which was
moored near Uncle Sans ship entered
INTO liveliest competitive drill and did
their utmost to beat the time made by
the American boys in shining masts
up and down and crossing yards.
After some very determined racing, in
which the Americans had slightly laid
over their persistent competitors, one
of the Dutchmen, who had succeeded
In crossing the mainroyal yard few
seconds aStern of the time made by
the Nipsic, gave a loud shout, which
drew the attention of every ship in the
harbor, and shining up the long pole
to the truck, which is a circular piece
of wood about the size of a dinner
plate fixed at the very top of the mast
and used for the purpose of hosting
the flags, he drew himself up and
stood on his head on the truck, and
twirled his legs around as if to chal-
lenge and deride the possibility of any
seaman daring to rival him In that
line of business, and after maintain
ing his position for almost minute he
repeated his yell of defiance and slid
down the royal backstay to the deck,
where he was received by cheer that
could be heard all over the city of
Montevideo. The rousing cheer had
an instantaneous effect upon the tenn
per of Jack Peterson, the curly head
ed captain of the Nipsic's foretop,
who, after declaring that no square
headed Dutchman under the sun could
get ahead of him, rushed up to the
main truck, and in attempting to
stand on his head, which he had never
before attempted to do, he instantly
overbalanced and fell distance of $50
feet into the water, accidentally going
in feet first, after the manner of an
expert diver The somerset and
fall were entirely accidental, and
looked from a distance like a feat of
great skill. Jack was at once pulled
aboard the ship, and before he had
fully recovered his breath he jumped
on the rail, and shaking his clenched
fist in the direction of the Hollander,
he shouted at the top of his voice:
There, you Dutch pea soup guiding
son of sea cook, let's see you beat
that San Francisco Examiner.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-08-08
THE SPEAKER

81 tell you that the seeds>of vice and wick.
edness is often sowed at school in the minds
of the young by teachers who are paid large
salary to do far different What do YOU
think of a man who would open school with
prayer and then converse freely about the
alimentary canal? Such a man would lead
life of the deepest infamy if he had the least
encouragement.
$50 l say, fellow citizens that we must
guard against the influences Of the public
schools as a nation, for the people, of the
people and by the pec0le. Education is often
a blessing in disguise. we should not DIV
into things that the { 49,. mind has NO bust
ness with. How much was Calico ahead in
the long run for going out of his sphere? He
was boycotted from morning till night and
died poor. Look at Demosthenes. Look at
Diogenes They pried into science, and both
of them was poor providers and have since
died. Of course their names are frequently
used in debating schools, and some claim that
this is big pay for what they went through.
but say give me high stepping horse, the
bright smile of dear ones who are not related
to me in any way, the approval of the ad-
miring throng, large woolly dog that will
| do as tell him, q modest little home and IN
limited credit at the store, and do not care
how much B. will have to use off from the
diameter of given grindstone for which he
paid an undivided one-fifteenth
II know that this is regarded as queer
doctrine by what is called our more advanced
thinkers, but say let every man who pants
for fame select his own style of pant and go
ahead / bid him a most hearty godspeed
and hope he will do well
"But again. In closing, let me say that
we owe it to our common country to be
peaceable citizens and pay our taxes without
murmuring. The time to get in our fine
work is on the valuation, and it is too late to
kick after that. Let US cultivate a spirit
of lofty patriotism, but believe nothing
Just to oblige others ! used to be a great
believer in anything that was submitted for
my approval.
Il am here to state that, as boy and man,
hive been constant user of American free
dom for over fifty years, and can truly saw
that feel no desire to turn back; also that
there will be grand, free for all scufTle for
CREASED pig on the vacant lot south of the
church at O'Clock, after which fireworks
will be SERVED to those WHO desire to remain
New York World
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-08-08
The Cars Favorite Ring.

The car of Russia is said to be very
superstitious and to have great conf
dence In relics. He wears a ring in
which is imbedded a piece of the true
cross. The sacred wood cannot be
seen, the ring having really been made
round it, and if there be extant piece
of the true cross the piece In the pos
session of the car would seem to be
authentic. 1t was originally one of
the treasures of the Vatican, and was
presented to an ancestor of the present
car for diplomatic reasons. The value
which the car sets upon this ring,
with its imbedded relic, is shown by
the following fact: Some two years
and half ago the car was travelling
from ST. Petersburg to Moscow. He
suddenly discovered that he mad for
gotten the ring. The train was stopped
Immediately and special messenger
sent flying back in an express engine
for it. Nor would the car allow the
train to move, until eight hours after
wards, the messenger returned with
the ring.-New York Home Journal.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-08-08

In hanging a number of doors which
are of the same size, the time expend-
ed upon measuring the correct posi-
ton of the hinges may be, according
to The California Architect and Build
ers' News, saved in a very simple man.
ner, which is as follows: Take a lath
and mark upon the top and bottom the
exact position where the hinges should
come, drive In at these marks sharp
pointed brads, and you have a gauge
which may be used in hanging all
doors of the same size. In using it,
all that is necessary is to place it
against the edge of the door with the
top of the lath on the level with the
top of the door, give it a sharp tap of
the hand, when the brads viii mark
the exact position of the hinges. The
same gauge lath may be used In mark
ing out the position of the hinges OF
the stile of the door frame, excepting
that a nail should be driven in the
bottom of it, so that there may be suf-
ficient room left at the bottom to allow
proper play at the door. The use Of
q gauge lath in the case referred to is
an example of its use. 1t is of equal
utility In hanging many other pieces,
such, for instance, as inside and out
8de blinds, shutters. etc.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-08-08
Saved by q Network of Wires.

While attempting to close window
John Soulen, 15-year-old boy en-
ployed in the Northwestern Collection
company's Offices in Milwaukee, fell
from the fifth story of the new insur-
ance building. In falling he caught on
the network of telegraph wires about
twenty feet below the window, where
he hung suspended in full view of hun
dreds of people on the street. The boy
held on in suspense while the excited
crowd below tried to devise some means
for his rescue. Finally a fire truck
company was sent for, but before its
arrival the boy was seized by the legs
and pulled into a window below that
from which he fell The boy will re-
member the experience throughout bis
life, as had it not been for the wires he
would have been dashed to death on
the pavement 100 feet below. As it
was he escaped uninjured-Cor. Chi
sago Tribune.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-08-08
THE GHcsTlY ToLLKEEPER.
4 Phantom That Frightens Travellers on
the Old National Pike.

4 Phantom That Frightens Travellers on
the Old National Pike.
There was good deal of excitement
recently over in Belmont county, o.,
along that portion of the old National
pike extending some four or five miles
eastward from st. Clairsville, over the
appearance of an apparition of old Toll
keeper Feltus, who presided at the first
gate east of st. Clairsville for nearly a
generation, but who died some five
years ago, since which time the old toll
house has been allowed to fall into
ruins. Uly Smith, a travelling sales
man, and Henry johnson, his colored
driver, had thrilling experience with
the ghost about II 80 o'clock one morn
ing, the details of which were related
by both gentlemen. They were return
ing in one of the delivery wagons from
late trip to st. Clairsville, and when
nearly opposite the spot where the toll
house stood the attention of both men
was attracted to an object on the left
hand side of the road
whats that?" asked Mr. Smith.
Its a man." said johnson, whose
eyes were little sharper
''Oh, see; it's the tollkeeper," said
Smith, who had not been over the
road for half dozen years, and there
fore did not know that Feltus, whom
he knew quite well, was dead
T,,c% 81 &hi1 A.
right over the figure, which, however,
was not in the least disturbed, and
promptly reappeared at the front wheel
of the wagon, standing erect, in Eel
tus' characteristic attitude, with one
arm outstretched to receive the toll.
Mr.. Smith said, in explaining what
transpired: Il asked him what he was
doing out at such late hour, as Henry
had pulled up the horses, but he gave
me no answer. The figure just stood
there holding out his hand as old man
Feltus used to do, and was as conf
dent as l was talking to him as am to
you this minute. As the rain was pour
ing down in torrents | asked him why
he didn't have light and not keep us
waiting. There was no answer still.
I asked him how much the fare
was, that l might have enough change,
and as he still made no answer told
Henry we didn't have time to waste
there in the rain and to drive on. This
aroused Henry, who had his whip aloft,
but was paralyzed at the apparition of
the old man, whom he knew to be
dead, and he drove away only too rap
idly, with his hat standing up off his
head.
when / discovered the state of
affairs / felt about as scary as Henry
did, and do not care to have another
such experience. 1t is a strange case,
and cannot account for it at all"
johnson was as confident as Mr..
Smith that he saw the ghost of the old
man, and he wouldn't put the horses
away by himself, he was so scared
Wheeling Cor. st. Louis Globe.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-08-08
A MUSICAL fish,
The Unfavorable Opinion of One Of tn,
EInnY Iriha L..

me Unfavorable Opinion of One Of the
Ffnny Tribe Breaks an Engagement.
The fates of nations and of men have
been altered by TRIES over and over
again, but it has been reserved for a
Phlladelphia youth to have his DESTINY
altered by the musical perceptions of
gold fish, There is family in this
city, the two chief ornaments mot
that there is not a sufficiency of other
6rlc-a-brac) of whose Spruce street
drawing room are a large gold fish
and a grand piano Every member
OF the family is a we'll known amateur
musician and determined ichthyolo-
glsf as well, and their boast of the
possession of musical fish has been
tor some time past a matter of mingled
Jest and wonder TO their friends. One
thing Is certain, that on every occa-
SION when the family gathered round
the piano TO play chamber music.
which Is their invariable diversion
whenever they are not attending con-
certs, the largest of the gold fish has
swum slowly to the side of the glass.
stuck his nose against it and remained
there In an apparent dreamy ecstasy
as long as the music continued. He
has been seen to do this over and over
again, and the story which is now be-
ing told on the eldest son seems to
prove that there was method in his
performances.
About the middle of the winter the
SAID eldest son, devoted violinist. fell
to all appearances in love. In this his
sisters could have seen nothing to dis
approve, especially as the lady was
young, charming and very well off.
But what they could not tolerate was
the contention of their brother that
she could sing. This was her weak
point, and 1t may be said at once. as
long as no names are being mentioned.
that her voice, method and songs were
all atrocious. But her lover was blind
ed and the family peace was threat
ened.
Finally one evening matters had so
far advanced that it had become nee
essary for the heads of the house to
take official recognition of the affair
by inviting her to tea To tea she was
invited, and she brought her music.
lea was eaten and TO the drawing room
they adjourned. The eldest sister
played Beethoven andante; the
father, mother and eldest son PLAYED a
Schubert trio for piano, violin and
cello; then the visitor was asked to
sing. All this while the gold fish had
been at his accustomed post.
Lovingly the ardent swain rolled
out the music and seated himself at
the piano to play the accompaniment.
But as the opening notes of "Ohe.
Mammal rang out shrill and false
cry was heard from the youngest
daughter. ''Oh, OIL" she exclaimed,
''look at the goldfshI' All eyes
turned instinctively to the aquarium.
The fish was seen, with quick whisk
of his tail, disappearing rapidly into
his weedy grotto. The young lady
stood aghast; nobody spoke; the song
was never finished
And, what is more, the eldest son,
though he made desperate efforts to
conceal his chagrin from the family,
has quite evidently ceased his pursuit
of his quondam inamorata. -Philadel-
phia Times.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-08-08
Curious Notices.

One must not look to guide boards
for exemplary grammar, even in the
United States. It is not necessary to
60 far from Boston to read: "All tres
passing on these grounds is strictly
forbid" or mo trespassing except on
business" In fact, the makers of
such signs are rather given to combin-
ing amusement with warning.
In the railway carriages running be-
tween Calais and Paris there used to be
a peculiar device for summoning the
guard or conductor. Behind small
glass window in the wall of each COM
partment dangled a ring fastened to
the end of cord Below, in French,
German and English, was a notice, the
English version of which read as fol-
lows:
Should at any time the presence of
the guard be deemed necessary, the
passenger will please break the glass,
pull the cord, and agitate his right
arm out the window according as the
train is going"
Here is another notice which is de-
signed to put travellers on their guard
against unauthorized guides to Mount
Vesuvius, and to warn tourists to OBJ
serve the guides number if they wish
to make complaint:
1.-The Vesuvius guides acknowledged
by the company are only those who
have a number of recognition at the
bonnet and an inscription, Guida del
Vesuvia. Travellers are earnestly re-
quested to remember that number of
recognition to the guide who escort
them, and to declare it if they have
any complaint to do; differently the
company will be in the impossibility
to pursue such reclamation. Youth 8
Companion
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-08-08
A Gun Fence.

It is common to hear about "a
solid wall of bayonets" in war time.
but at the barracks is a veritable wall
of them now. When the late war was
declared off the Union government
found itself in possession of a vast
number of muskets, useless because
there was nobody to be shot with
them They were stored up for awhile
In various arsenals, until radical i'm
provements made them utterly worth
less. And when an old gun gets
worthless it is the most intensely
worthless thing extant. So these guns
that cost millions were not worth paw
ing rent for storing. At this place a
fence was built with them. The gun
barrels, with bayonets fixed, were
stood up four inches apart for quar-
ter of a mile, and then secured by bars
of iron, forged from old guns, with
holes pierced to admit the old mus
kets. 1t is the most formidable fence
lever saw. The bayonets, which in
many instances have given death
wounds, are rusted now until they
could not be removed from the bar
rels. The posts of this unique old
fence are of old cannon Louis
Globe-Democrat.