davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1890-11-01
HARVESTING OPIUM.
How the Poppy Is Gathered and the Drug
Prepared.

Prepared.
Mr.. Hosie, tho British Consul at Wen
chow, in his last report, contrasting the
methods OF harvesting the poppy pre-
vailing in Western and Eastern China,
say that If the cultivators Of the poppy
In tho East were as skilled in the art of
collecting the juice as their countrymeQ
liz Western China it is all but certain
that the foreign import would be very
small indeed. In Western China the
capsules are scarified by means of a par
allel row of knife points projecting from
one OF the ends OF a. short wooden han
die. The missions, which are exceed
ingly fine, are made in the evening, and
the juice, exuding slowly, is harvested
in the morning before sunrise. There
is no waste. In the eastern provinces,
on the other hand, an instrument re-
rembling a small carpenters plane is
employed. The operator passes the
plate over the capsule, leaving the shaw
ing OF the skin attached to its lower
end. The juice Immediately exudes
from the capsule, and although the
collector follows closely on the heels
OF the operator it flows so fast
that much Of it drops on the leaves
OF the stem and is lost. AS an ex-
ample of the manner in which native,
as compared with Indian, opium is con-
sumed in his district, Mr.. Hosie men,
tions that a refuge for the cure Of opium
smokers was opened by a missionary in
Wenchow during the past year, and out
OF the many scores of applicants for ad-
mission only one smoker of Indian opium
presented himself, and he has ascertain
cd from parties well qualified to judge
that not more than five per cent of
smokers consume the foreign drug. With
a view to insure the full payment OF
hkin or inland transit duties on native
opium, regulations were, with the sane
ton of the high provincial authorities,
promulgated previous to the harvesting
Of last years crops by the Rkin officers.
They enjoined intending purchasers, be-
fore proceeding to the county districts,
to report at the offices the quantities
they propose to purchase, and to take
out passes. which, with the opium, had
to be presented at the barriers and
stations for examination. Opium not
covered by passes was to be confiscated,
and the carriers punished. But, owing
to the ease with which the drug can be
concealed and struggled, the regulations
have not been generally respected
Leeds Mercury.
Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1890-11-01
Nnture Adth.ts HarxeIf

Those people who are constantly fg.
uring on a time when this old globe
will not be able to supply room and food
for its inhabitants, will not find much
to support their theory in the Registrar
Generals returns for last year for En-.
gland and Wales. These tables show
that the excess of births over deaths
has been steadily declining for the last
five years. In 1889 the excess was S67,-
pa, while according to the results Of
the last two census years the increase
should have been $3.50, 42S. The birth
rate was also remarkably low, being rs
per thousand below the average of the
previous decade, while the marriage
rate has not corresponded to the in.
creased prosperity of the country. Ma
ture has a way of adjusting herself to
mans requirements which sometimes
gives a setback to statisticians and theo-
rists. Philadelphia Record.
Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1890-11-01
IN eoTHAM's CHINATOWN.
Mr.. On Initiates a Stranger Into the Mys-
ferries of Bird's-NeSt Soup.


l was introduced to a Mr.. Chew jew
On the other day. Chew as his name
would imply, is a C%hinaman, but aside
from this fact enjoys the distinction oil
being dubbed the Mayor OF China
town" The office OF this functionary,
who.is paid his salary from a general
subscription fund among the Chinese
residents, appears TO me to be a sine
cure. Ostensibly Chew is a sort OF UNI
pire in disputes oyor money matters
among the Cinnamon, but in reality
Chew has but little else to do than kill
time, which latter he successfully ac-
complishes, alternating between a huge
Chinese water pipe andian opium layout.
Chew's room is a little chubby hole
in a ~ram-shackle building in Mott street.
As | entered the room Chew was reclin-
ing on what, by an extreme stretch OF
courtesy, might be called a divan, but
which was merely a rough board plat
form covered with mating. Chew was
religiously putting smoke from a com
pick affair, which he said was a water
pipe, and which needed refilling with
every second puff.
Beside Chew was his opium layout.
He was a very polite Celestial, and
kindly offered to prepare an opium
pill" for me if | would smoke. de-
clined, with thanks, %whereupon no cool
ly prepared the stuff and smoked several
pipofuls himself. He explained that
opium was only dangerous to those who
had the habit" He had, he said, been
smoking opium for the past twenty-five
years, but had never acquired the
habit" of an opium smoker.
Chew then invited me to go to Lunch
with him, which invitation | gladly ac-
cepted. We were soon seated before a
low table in a long oom that appeared
to be a restaurant. This restaurant,
located in one of the side streets, is, |
learned, the swell restaurant of China
town. OF course Chew did the ordering.
We were first served with Il strong
wine, made from peas, served in little
toy cups. A waiter then poured a black
ish looking liquid into a small butter
plate before me, This, was informed
was heap good sauce" ''Bak ku" was
the first dish. This is a rare delicacy in
Chinatown, and is composed OF chopped
pigeon meat, waternuts, mushrooms and
wild celery. 'Rak ku' is u great dish,
but is expensive.
We were next RECALLED with chop
soy" This dish, a very common one, is
made from beans, pea sprouts, pork, rice
and spices. | might add here that Chew
used the regulation chop sticks, which
he handled with great deftnoss. OF
course | tried these, too, but beyond de-
posting a mess of stuff in my lapdid not
make a ''howling success OF it.
Bird's-nest soup was the next dclicacy
| tried. This is nectar to an oriental.
1t was about as much like tapioca soup
as any thing one could imagine. Beyond
tho fact, however, that, as Chew in
formed me, it is a sure cure for lung
troubles, | couldn't see much in it to
fancy. 1t was altogether, though, a
novel meal and Chew a most obliging
host. But | was glad when it was over,
and am of the opinion that aboutonce in
a lifetime is often enough to try Chinese
cooking.-N. Y. Herald.
Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1890-11-01
JUST THEN THE CAR GAVE A LuncH.

otot ihrN II van va N tl-t
question opened auspiciously enough,
for, though sultry, it was very beauti-
full as Mr.. and Mrs. Coddleman rode into
town that morning, he to his BUSINESS
and she to meet her sister, No pair of
turtle-doses could have been more de-
voted. Before the train had proceeded
far on its way, however, an accident
happened to rutie the composure OF
Mrs. Matthias, and this was the loss Of
her glasses.
'Oh, Matt!' she cried, when she dis.
covered the fact, ~ have left my glasses
behind me at home; what shall ! do?
Why, | should not know my sister with
out them, unless she was within three
feet OF me-"
swell, my love-" replied he, ut
strikes MI that as you can't find her
without them, and can't 60 back to get
them. the best thing will be for you 10
wait at the station and let her find YOU"
His wife agreed with him in this, and
80 the matter ended.
All through the heat of the day Mr..
Coddleman toiled at his desk, stopping
occasionally to wonder how he should
like his s~isterin-law, whom he had
never mot and whether she had yet
found his ~iie. When four o'clock
came he arose from his work and sough,
the railway station with Joy.
All the trouble Of that unfortunate
sfseFnoon arose from his extravaganza,
70 = he knew that the common cal
vould b both bot and crowded. he do
Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1890-11-01
SOME ONE LOVES US BEST.


Said the roses tC the pausfes,
As they looked around the bowers,
"Who can doubt It, who deny itf
We excel all other flowers.
See our robes of many colors,
And our petals smooth and fair;
With a wealth of richest fragrance
Fill we all the summer air."
Not far OF a tiny violet
Waited till she heard them through;
Then with gentle voice she whispered:
But the people love us, too.
Though we are not tall and stately,
Though our faces are not fair,
Search among the richest garlands,
You will find the violets there"
Soon there came a gentle maiden;
And she looked the garden DER.
"Ahr' She cried, ''you lovely roses,
All the world must you adore;
But my place is very humble,
Like the violets that | see:
Ladies fair must wear the roses
Violets, you were born for me-
With her little hand she gathers
Violets white and violets blue;
Close upon her heart she lays them,
Pure and fragrant, fresh with dew.
And the tiny v%iolets, trembling,
Nesting closer to her breast,
Cry; I'VE are not like the roses
Yet, you see, she loves us best"
"Ah!" ! thought, the violets teach us
Lessons sweet and lessons true;
Though we are not like the roses,
Some ones sure to love us, toe.
Though we are not fair and stately,
Nor in silk and jewels dressed;
II we are but kind and gentle,
Some ones sure TO love us best"
N. Y. Weekly.
Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1890-11-01

day merchant, about thirty years old,
and by no means lacking in manly
beauty.
Mr.. Matthias Coddleman certainly
seemed to be a very matter-of-fact and
good young man, for he regularly at
tended to his business, and was, moro.
over, the superintendent of a Sunday
school in the town where he lived. lie
was nevertheless possessed of a ro-
nance, and a very substantial romance
it was, weighing, | should think, near
ly two hundred pounds; for Mr.. Mat
thias was married.
This is how it came about; Some two
years before the time at which ! write
he had taken his summer outing at one
OF the popular seaside resorts and there
had met for the first time the future
Mrs. Coddleman. Eta Sayles, as she
was then, was a plump and pretty
maiden, under the charge of an old
aunt, her father being dead and her
mother and only sick sister in Europe.
Etta's aunt had but one failing, and
ultdb was llit ~dldpplAiH ouNN-No' oh
learning Of the deeply-reiiGious nature
of Mr.. Matthias this estimable gentle.
woman pounced upon him forthwith,
and so much was she interested in dis
cussing with him plans for the CONVEX
sion of these heather that she never
perceived the conversion of Eta, as ef-
fected by love and Mr.. Coddleman, till
1t was too late. As Mrs. Sayles was a
great invalid and had gone to Europe
for her health, it seemed useless to wait
for her return. So, after much letter
writing and discussion, it was decided
that the young people should be mar
ried, and they we're the next spring.
They had now been man and wife
FOR more than a year, and thus far
nothing had occurred to mai their tran
guilty. Indeed, there was no reason
why there should, for Mrs. Matthias
believed her husband to be perfection,
and Mr.. Matthias returned the compli.
ment. His wife, indeed, almost merit.
ed that belief, for she had but two fail
ings: oae a failing of eyesight, and the
other a most ino~rdinately jealous dispo-
sition. or the first of these failings hei
husband was aware; of the second he
knew nothing, because he was such Q
thoroughly good young mar that ever
his jealous wife could find nothing t.
carp at.
The date of the 10th Of July, 1875,
was noted for two things; the arrival o.
Mr.. Coddleman's sister-in-law from En-
rope, and the arrival of the ~green-eye(
monster, Jealousy, in his household.
Shortly before the time OF which
write, Mrs. Sayles had died abroad, ant
her daughter was now returning to live
with her married sister. The day i,
Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1890-11-01

termined to treat himself to the luxury
of a drswing-roOm seat
Entering the first of the coaches he
found it full, and passing through it
secured one of the two remaining chairs
in the forward car. He had scarcely
settled himself when, just as the train
started, the porter showed a lady, laden
with many bags and bundles, to the re-
naming seat. just then the car gave a
luroh, and before she could seat herself,
her baggage few in every direction.
As the porter had meanwhile disap-
peared, Matthias came to the rescue
and collected her scattered belongings
$50 kind of you" she murmured, as
she sank back in her seat with a sigh Of
comfort
"Not at ALL" he replied, but you
should have some one to assist you with
these bundles-they are too heavy for
you TO carry"
Il was expecting some one to help
me-" she returned, but was disap-
pointed" Afterward she continued: Il
do not know this part of the country
ard if | would not be asking too much, |
should be so much obliged if you would
give me some information about reach
ing my destination"
He FASTENED to assure her that, far
from troubling him, he should esteem IL
a great honor to be of any service to her,
and begged that she would tell him
where she was going.
''Why, to be sure" she replied, "the
place is, isl declare | have forgotten
the name But have it on a card in
my pocket-book, which is in my bag
no, not that one as he picked up a
brown travelling case, 1.-The m nearest
you. All, thanks! Why she cried as
she opened it, 1.-The card is not here
after all; | must have lost it; but | can
remember the name, | guess. Let me
see, Bell-Bell-Bellville that's it, |
think. Is there sucha place."
Mr.. Coddleman said that there was,
and told her furthermore that she
must change at the next station, and
that he himself would put her on the
other train.
Mr.. Coddleman was by nature re,ir-
ing, but the lonely position of the lady
and her trust in him inspired him with
the idea that he must make himself
agreeable; in which h, succeeded so
we'll that it seemed a moment before
the junction was reached.
so, really this is too much" she ex-
postulated, as he loaded himself with
her baggage; II can't think of allowing
you to carry all of it"
$40 not speak Of it, madam; it is
nothing at all, he painted, from beneath
his load Of bags and shawl-straps.
They had crossed the station and
boarded the other train, when Mr.. Cod
dleman, happening to turn, saw his wife
on the platform of the car he had just
left, with a hard, cold look on her face
that BODIED no good for him.
He was aghast; she had seen part, but
o all, and evidently thought he was
going off with a strange woman lie
Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1890-11-01
TWO SWEET GRADUATES.


A story Which. Some May Think, Con-
tains a Moral.
Two sweet girl graduates went forth
to walk in the woods. In their holiday
mood all roads were one to them, and
when they came to a cross-road they
turned into it. A hunter who happened
TO be standing near spoke to them.
Don't take that road, young women"
he said sit isn't safe"
"Why isn't it safe ~ asked the swos.-
est of the girl graduates, ln~credulous!y.
Because a bear has lately gone up
that way"
How do you know that9 Did you
scr the bear?'
mo, | didn't see him but there is
his trail = and the hunter pointed to
some footprints on the ground. =
The girl graduates carefully examined
the tracks, and said one to the other:
They don't look like the prints of a
bears paws. Do you think they are %
Don't believe him." said the other'
Il don't think they look a bit like bear
tracks"
$40 you know a bear trail when you
see it % queried the hunter.
''lf you mean the print of a bears
paws on the ground" said n of the
girl graduates, with a lofty air, 81 am
sure any one could tell what they would
look like"
Did you ever see the tracks Of .
bear?' repeated the hunter.
NO." replied the girl graduate, "but
natural history gives us the conforma-
ton of q bears paws, and the common
est mental operation would teach us
from that what their tracks would look
like. don't think these look the least
like the footprints Of a bear. Bears
have claws, and there are no marks OF
claws here"
"Who ever heard of a bear without
claws % said the other girl graduate,
with a whitening glance at the hunter.
What kind Of tracks be they. then,
miss ~ asked the hunter.
''lndeed | don't know" returned ono
of the sweet girl graduates, sapercili-
ously. They certainly arc not the
tracks of a bear"
Besides added the other sweet girl
graduate, "who ever heard of bears
walking along roads ~
The hunters stock Of arguments as
we'll as words wa limited, and he said
nothing. The sweet girl graduates
went on their way.
They had not gone far when a bear
sprang upon them and ate them up.
The only parts of their anatomy not
masticated beyond identity were their
tongues, which, finding tough, the bear
had swallowed whole. Before the pro-
cess of digestion fairly began, these
found time for a few words
They rere bear tracks, after ALL"
said one.
"And suppose they WERE" replied the
other, show were we to know ?"-Har.
per'S Bazaar,
Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1890-11-01
THE TEACHERS MISTAKE.
She Raised Particular Hob with a Small
Massenppr Rny.

She RAISED particular HoD WIN u Shiah
Messenger Boy.
A boy Of twelve or fourteen summers
who does the general utility business in
an office on Newspaper row is the hero
of an adventure which upset the gravity
Of a public school. He was sent up
town with a letter to one of the lady
teachers, and under strict orders to see
it placed in her own hands and bring
back her acknowledgment of it's re.
ceipt in writing. Reaching the school,
building he was directed to the room Of
the principal, who, after learning his
errand, took him upstairs to the lady
teachers classroom, and merely re.
marking:
"Miss Blank, here's a letter and a
boy" placed the letter on her desk and
pointed to the boy.
Not needing the letter the teacher
thought the urchin was a new pupil,
and running her eye over him remarked
with severity:
1.-THE first thing for you to do is to
take that chewing-gum out of your
mouth and throw it away"
The terrified lad did as he was bid
den, and did not venture to demonstrate
when she placed him in a seat, put
books and slate before him, and told
him to wait until she could attend to
him.
Half an hour later she summoned him
before her and asked him his name. He
told her. Then she inquired his resi-
dence, and when he said 1t was in Madi.
son street she demanded. with some as
perity, how it happened that he came 50
far uptown to school. Then the murder
was out, and the school-room rippled
with hooking laughter as the dignifed
teacher pl%ushingly took out her pocket
book and handed over to the involun.
tary pupil a nickel to replace the chew.
ing-gum which she had so ruthlessly
confiscated. Tho boys life would be a
happier one if the other employees at the
office did not perpetually call to him to
take that chewing-gum out Of his mouth.
N. Y. Sun.
Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1890-11-01

Isl" she cried. ~ thought I would new
err get here, for l could not find you at
the station, and n Of the stupidest
men you ever saw offered to help me,
and put me on the wrong train, and
sent me off ever so far, ever so far. l
got the name OF your town mixed up, to
be sure, and told him | wanted to go to
Bellville instead Of Belmont; but he
ought to have known even If didn't
Men are so dull-oh, that's the very
mani" she gasped, as she entered the
dining-room. 'Whe is hep
That replied Mrs. Matthias, smiling
for the first time that day-a smile in
which surprise and relief were curious
ly mingled-'that is my husband
Germantown Telegraph.
Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1890-11-01

Let every enfeebled woman
know it! There's a medicine
thatll cure her, and the proofs
positive!
Here's the proof - if it
doesn't do you good within
reasonable time, report the
fact to its makers and get
your money back without
a word-but you won't do it
The remedy is DR.. Pierce's
Favorite Prescription-and it
has proved itself the right
remedy in nearly every case
of female weakness.
1t is not a miracle. 1t won't
cure everything --but it has
done more to build-up tired,
enfeeDled and broken down
women than any other medi-
cine known.
Where's the woman who's
not ready for it? All that
we've to do is to get the
news to her. The medicine
will do the rest.
Wanted = Women. First
to know it. Second to use
it. Third to be cured by it.
The one comes of the other.
The seat of sick headache
is not in the brain. Regulate
the stomach and you cure it
DR.. Pierce's Pellets are the
little regulators.
Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1890-11-01
800 Reward. 800.

The readers Of this paper will be pleased
to learn that there is at least one dreaded
disease that science has been able to cure in
oil its stages, and that is Catarrh. Halls
Catarrh Cure is the only positive cure now
known to the medical fraternity. Catarrh
being a constitutional disease, requires a
constitutional treatment. Halls Catarrh
Cure is taken internally, acting directly
upon the blood and mucous surfaces of the
system, thereby destroying the foundation
of the disease, and giving the patient
strength by building up the constitution
and assisting nature in doing its work. The
proprictors have so much faith in its cura-
tive powers, that they offer SOD for any case
that it fails to cure, Send for list of testi-
monials. I. j. CHENEY q Co., Toledo, o.
Sold by Druggists, 7jc.
Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1890-11-01
I was told of a singular tale O

Il was told Of a singular tale Of a
ring while on a recent visit to the Paris
morgue, writes a correspondent Of Van.
ity Fair. For nearly n hundred
years a certain family Of working peo-
Pile in Paris have ended their lives by
suicide. From fatbsr to son, from
mother to daughter, has been handed a
plain gold ring, and IN the finger OF
each of these suicides has been found
this trinket 1t has been called the
fatal ring, and only last year it made its
appearance on tho finger of a young
man-the last Of the race. Tho ring
was buried with the corpse. The cupid
ity Of not vcn the most grasping body.
finder could be tempted to tho posses.
sion Of this cminous golden circlct.
Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1890-11-01
PECULIAR ~lNFATUATlON.
Different Methods of Following the In
junction "Love One Another"

INHERENT Methods of Following n IN
junction Glove One Another"
Do men ever fall in love with each otherl
Women do. Not long ago young woman
in New Jersey was married to a youthful
laborer on her fathers farm. Sometime
afterward it was discovered that the nus
band was a female; the young wife refused
however, though earnestly entreated by her
friends, TO give up her chosen consort. The
strangest part of the discovery was the fact
that the bride knew her husband was a
woman before she was led to the altar,
II men do not exhibit this strange infatu-
alton for one Of their own sex, they at least
ofteu,imes give evidence of the fact that
they love one another. There are many in
stances on record where one man has given
his life for another, There are many more
instances where men have given life to
another.
1t is a proud possession-t the knowledge
that one has saved a precious human life.
Meriden, Conn, is the home OF such a
happy man. John Ii. Preston, OF that city,
July llth, 1890, writes: Five years ago |
was taken very sick, | had several of the
best doctors, and one and all called 1t a
complication of diseases. | was Sick four
years, taking prescriptions prescribed by
these same doctors, and truthfully state
never expected to get any better. At this
time, Icommenccd to have the most terrible
pains in my back. One day an old friend OF
mine, Mr.. r. I. Cook of the firm of Curtis
a. Cook, advised me to try Warmers Safe
Cure, as he had been troubled the same way
and it had effected a cure for him. bought
six bottles, took the medicine as directed
and I'M to-day a well man. | am sure no
one ever had a worse case Of kidney and
liver trouble than | had. Before this | was
always against proprietary medicines but
not now, oh, MOI
Friendship expresses itself in very pc
culiar ways sometimes; but the true friend
is the friend in need.