davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1890-11-28
A PLAQUE of Rats.

It is a strange fact in regard to New
Zealand that the country is almost entirely
lacking in indigenous animals. The
only mammals it possessed before the ar
rival of Captain Cook in 1889, says the
author of ''New Zealand After Fifty
Years" were the kiore--a little dark
brown rat-and two very small bats.
The kiore is now a rare and very shy an
imaI, but there are times when it makes
its appearance in vast numbers, coming
nobody knows whence and going nobody
knows whittier.
Three or four years ago such a vista
.ion of rats occurred on the west coast
Of one of the islands; a countless swarm
Of these little creatures travelled along
She shore for distance OF $50 miles, all
going one way and all moving as fast as
they could. Many of them died OF hun
ger by the way, and they were all ex-
posed to terrible attacks from a rat
larger and stronger than themselves.
After passing in a ceaseless procession
along the shore for many months the rats
vanished as suddenly as they had ap'
peared, and to this day no one has been
able to offer even plausible theory IL
segard to their migration.
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1890-11-28
How Edison Got His Start.

Thomas Alva Edison, the worlds
great electrician, began life as newsboy
on the Grand Trunk Railway of Canada,
and when only twelve years old he was
not only earning his own living, but
helping to support his parents. He was
so energetic as soon to have four lads to
help him sell his papers. About this
time some brutal fellow lifted Edison &
his feet by his ears, as a punishment for
some trihing offense, and injured the
boys hearing for life. But the turning
point of his life seemed to be on the fact
of his saving the life of the station-mas'
ters son at Port Huron. The little fell
low was walking along the line just as a
fast train was approaching, and young
Edison, without thinking Of his own
danger, jumped between the metals and
handed the child to his father. The
station-master, knowing Edison's fond
ness for the telegraph, allowed him to
learn its manipulation, as an apprecia-
ton of his heroic behavior. Given this
opportunity, the one he craved for mos
of all, his future was made. III.
| Racket.
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1890-11-28
,eirht sf nearly a hundred feet, broke in

height Of nearly hundred feet, broke in
a great cloud of amber colored spray.
Directly afterward a food Of oil poured
back to the earth, drenching the new der
rick and its adjacent buildings, and dedi-
eating them forever to the service OF Pc
troleum.
The shot had been a perfect success,
and before the drifting cloud OF oily
spray was wholly dissipated. the torpedo
man and were driving rapidly from the
scene of our triumph homeward bound.
But one more duty remained to beper-
formed. We still had the empty glycer-
inc cans, in one of which was about half
a pint of the terrible explosive. Even
the glyceriue film that still cluug to the
sides of each one of these empty cans
was sufficiently powerful to have blown
us into eternity, and we were anxious to
dispose of this dangerous remnant as
speedily as possible. Fer this purpose
we halted in the first bit of lonely for
est. The four cans were laid beside a
huge stump, and behind them we piled
number of rocks. A bit of fuse had
been prepared with cap at one end OF
it. This cap was now inserted in the
open mouth of one of the cans, from
which the fuse projected about foot.
When all was ready, the torpedo-man
drove the team to safe distance. AS he
disappeared touched lighted match to
the fuse, and again ran, leaving 1t hiss
ing viciously among the dry leaves.
The explosion was tremendous, and
its echoes rolled away among the hills
like the roar of a hundred-pound gun.
Where it had taken place there was no
vestige Of the stump nor of the cans,' the
rocks had been reduced to powder, and
only a great hole in the ground re-
mained.
Half an hour later we were safely back
in Oil City. As bade the torpcdo-man
good-by he said: "Come round when
ever YOU feel like taking another ride. 1
like to have fellows along who don't
mind the stuff"
1 thanked him, and said would; but
1 doubt if shall ever feel like tempting
nitro glycerine again. n.-Harpsr's Weekly.
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1890-11-28
WASHINGTON.

7 STANLEY BROWN, who was Private
Secretary to President Garfield, and who
subsequently married a daughter Of General
Garfield. has been appointed 70 similar
position by Secretary Rusk, OF the Agricul-
tural Department.
The Navy Department is informed that
the United States steamer San Francisco has
been nut in commission at Mare Island Navy
Yard. California.
THE United States Census Office has issued
a bulletin ON the financial condition OF muni-
cipalities.
TIE Supreme Court Of the United States,
through Justice Blatchford. d cided that a
person injured partly through his own negli-
Rence is not debarred from recovering dam
ages.
DIR. FRANCIS TUMBLETY, who is known to
the police of all the large cities OF America
and Europe and who was under the surveli-
lance of the Scotland Yard force when the
Jack the Ripper" excitement was at It's
height. was arrested in Washington on the
charge of being suspicious character.
In order 10 encourage excellence in gum
merry among the heavy artillery troops OF the
army. Major-Genmal Schofeld has issued
general order proSiding for scheme OF COM
petitions
IN his annual report to the Secretary OF
the Navy, PayInsster-General Edwin stew
art saws that the amount expended during
the year at shore stations for supplies was
S.. 223 623, for latOr 81, i19, Az for coDs'ruc-
ton and repair Of ships maintenance OF
wards. docks. buildings, machinery, etc, -
SIC. 1Ss. making total expenditure OF sii,
915, 233.
SECRETARY Tracy received a telegram
from Captain Silas Casey, at New York,
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1890-11-28
A Lawyers 100000 Check.

II was John II. Latrobe who acted as
counsel for the Winans brothers in their
railroad contracts with the Russian Gov
ernment. and heard the other day the
story of how he was engaged by them,
writes Frank G. Carpenter. Ee was in
Europe at the time for his health, when
he met one of the Winans brothers and
was asked by him to go to Russia. 81
can't 90 and you can't afford to pay me
what it is worth" "But you must go, "
said Winans. eve have got to make a
bio contract and we need man we can
trust. We will pay you any price you
want What will YOU charger 81
don't want to go, answered MIR. Latrobe,
"but if do go l will have to have $780,
OOO." GAN right" said Mr. Winans,
and. as Governor Curtin tells the story,
he thereupon took out his checkbook and
wrote hm out check for the amount.
The result was that Latrobe drew up the
contract with the Government, and by
this secured the control of the road for
twenty-five years. 1t was an expensive
piece of business, but they made millions
out of it, Chicago Herald.
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1890-11-28
Foreign.

4 BODY Of Russian troops shot and
wounded 100 peasants and wOrkmen near
Moscow, for refusing 10 receive the con-
mands of the newly-appointet district
officials In addition TO refusing to obey
their commands, the rioters bound tde
officials with cords and sent them TO Mos
COW.
The jury in the OShea divorce suit in
London, England, in which Charles Stewart
Parnell was correspondent, returned YER
dict sustaining the charge Of adultery against
Mrs OShea. A decree for the petitioner
was entered, with costs against Mr.. Parnen
THE publication Of DR.. Koch's so-called
consumption cure has caused an enormous
sensation throughout Europe and unbounded
enthusiasm in Germany and Austria, IN
which countries it is asserted that the Ger
man professors discovery has echpSed that
OF Pasteur.
The Credit Bank at Dunaburs. Russia, nas
been robbed Of securities valued az so, OyO.
It is believed that the thieves escaped TO
London.
A FEARFUL crime has come 10 light in the
town Of Thaun. Alsace. 4 woman OF that
place. impressed with the idea that she and
her family were threatened with starvation
after cutting the throats OF her five children,
killed herself.
By the derailing OF locomotive at the
Santisima Trinidad estate in Cuba four per-
sons were killed and three injured.
ADvIcEs from Honduras say that General
Longinos Sanchez, the rebel, was not shot
after capture, but committed suicide when
nearly captured by President Bogran's
forces.
SMALLPOX is spreading TO an alarming ex-
tent in st. Petersburg, Russia. Ten per cent.
Of the cases prove fatal. The hospitals are
overcrowied.
The Turkish authorities in Macedonia have
arrested fourteen persons on suspicion OF
murder. Four Of the prisoners died under
the torture which attended Judicial examinE-
ton.
Princess VICTORIA, sister TO the Em-
peror Of Germany, was married 70 Prince
Adolph Of Schaumburg- Lippe in the chapel
Of the Alte Schloss. at Berlin, Germany.
by DR.. Duyaneer, court chaplain. assisted
by the clergy Of the Dom Kirche The Queen
of England was represented by tho Duke OF
Connanght and the Prince Of Wales by the
Duke OF Clarence.
LADY RosEBERY, wife OF Lord Rosebery
the English Liberal statesman, IS dead. Her
ladyship the only daughter Of Baron Meyer
Amschel de Rothschild. was married in
March, 1878, and was the mother OF four
children.
QUEEN EMMA took the oath as Regent of
the Kingdom of Holland. The route taken
by the Queen in going from the palace to the
Parliament House, where the ceremony took
place. was lined with SPECTATORS, and Her
Majesty was cordially greeted by the people.
UNITED STATES MINISTER and Mrs. White
law Reid left Paris. France, for. two
months trip to Egypt AMI Turkey.
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1890-11-28
Fast Torpedo Beats.

OF course all builders strive for the
greatest speed, and each year has seen
boat built which is faster than any before.
The palm for the highest speed seems at
present to lie between an English boat
built for France in Thornycroft-the
Coureur; and a German boat built for
Italy by schicau-the Nibbio. Each OF
these boats can run nearly twenty-seven
knots an hour. A knot, you know, is a
sea mile, which is one and one-seventh
land miles, so these boats can make about
thirty miles an hour, or about the aver
age speed of railroad passenger-train'
Just think of boat rushing through the
water as fast as train Of cars runs over
the landl
The next most important thing in a
torpedo boat is quick turning; and for
this purpose the larger Normand, schicau
and Yarrow boats have two rudders, one
in the usual place at the stern and one
under the bow. Mr.. Thornycroft has
another device. He puts two curved
rudders near the stern and the propeller
is between them, so that when the rud-
ders are turned together, the water which
the propeller is driving astern is turned
a little to one side and helps to push
around the boat.
The latest idea in torpedo boats is to
have their launching tubes mounted on
turntables on deck instead Of being fixed
in the bow. With this improvement a
boat will not have 10 steam straight at
her enemy, stop, launch her torpedo and
then turn and rln away; but it can train
its tube on the big ship as if the tube
were a gun, and launch the torpedo while
rushing past at full speed. This would
be less dangerous for the torpedo boat,
for it would not afford the men on the
ship a good aim at hers. Nicholas.
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1890-11-28
PROMINENT PEOPLE.

TEE Russian Car is troubled with gout.
ALLEN 6. THURMAN is ssventy-seyen years
old.
POPE LEO is an enthusiastic amateur
gardener.
QUEtN VICTORIA is only four feet eight
inches in height.
BABY KING ALFONSO, of Spain, has a
private income Of a million dollars year.
JOHN MORLEY is called the grand young
mar in England. He is fifty-four years
old.
The Oldest Berlin physician, Dr.. NJ. Stein
thai. is ninety-two years old and still in
practice.
1T is said that Senator ingalls,, Of Kansas,
has been offered 1000 year to write arti-
cles on western )litics for the New York
Sun.
No crowned monarch in Europe is more
difficult TO get at for an interview than
Arthur Balfour, the Chief Secretary for Ire
land.
PREsrDEyr DA FONsEcA has under con-
sideration thc pensoning Of ex-Emperor Dom
Pedro. who will not be permitted 10 return
to Brazil.
VoN MoLrKE is staying at Berlin to attend
the Herrenhaus OF tie Reichstag in order TO
counteract Bismarck's influence If the latter
should enter the House OF Lords.
Ex. PRESIDENT HAYEs's daughter is a
meiium-s:zed brunette, who dresses very
quietly but most becomingly. She wears but
fttle jewelry and is deyOtedly fond Of her
father.
SETH Low. President Of Columbia College
New York City, viii be forty-one years old
next January. There are few men 80 young
VINO have had so many honors bestowed
upon them.
TIE oldest General in Franco. aud proba-
blv IN the world, is General Mauduit, who.
ON December 7th next, will be one hundred
vearsold. He has never asked TO be retired,
and he still figures among the officers OF the
reserve.
BUFFALO BILL, who mas returned TO this
country. has grown 80 stout and portly pos
siblv the result Of afiiuence and good living
that no is no longer the graceful rider ana
equestrian athlete he once was as the nero OF
the Wild West entertainment.
Busy as he is said to be, Edison. the cleo
trician. always contrives TO steal little time
from his day at the luncheon hour. After
lunch he frequently spends an hour at on-
lizards with Mrs Edison, and takes nap
He does no work in the evening.
LEoNIDAs NJ. MILLER, one Of the new Con-
orsssional representatives from Wisconsin,
Is native full-blooded Greek. He was
waif picked up on the battlefield OF MiSso-
loughi ia 1924, and took the name OF his pre-
server, Colonel j. 2. Miller, OF Vermont
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1890-11-28
THE NEWS EPIT0MIzED.
Eastern and NIiddIe states.

THE Boston (Massl Clearing House voted
to issue certificates to banks that needed help.
FRANKLIN H. BAscoN, prominent citizen
of Montpelier, VT, committed suicide. he
was a druggist and real estate dealer and
high in Masonic circles.
GREGORY. BALLoU & Co., and Randall &
Wierum, brokers, in New York City, maize
assignments.
THREE men were killed and eight seriously
injured by boiler explosion at Mertztown,
Penn
JOAN DAVIS and Henry lssinger were
killed and six others seriously injured by
runaway freight car near Lock Haven
Penn
A HIGH wind blew down the 12j foot chin
ney Of the butchers Temple Company at
Hopedale, Mass, killing Watchman GasSeu.
THF 122d annual dinner Of the Chamber OF
( Commerce, at Delmonicos, in New YORK
City, was the occasion for a brilliant gather
/ jng. Speeches were made by Chauncey M.
! Oepew. President Eliot, Of Harvard; Carl
| Schurz, Grover Cleveland and George Will
lam Curtis.
! CHARLES H. EASToE, for five years past
/ trusted employe of the wealthy toOacco
house of John II. T. Mayo, Of New York
! City, is a forger and fugitive from justice.
He carried away $500
P. W. GALLAUDET & Co. and William f.
! Owens, Wall street brokers' in New York
| City. have failed, the former with Liabilities
of 5000, 600.
! THE dead bodies Of A. L. Pierce and Miss
! Lou Woodwork were found by hunter in
| the woods a couple Of miles west Of Waverly,
| n. Y. Each had bullet through the head.
| Pierce was married man. and few months
ego eloped with the girl. They then declared
/ that if they could not live together they
would die together.
FRANCIS HIGGINS has been selected by
| Judge O'Brien, of the Supreme Court, as re-
/ ceiver to wind up the affairs Of the North
River Bank in New York City.
SIX children have died in quick succession
at Pittsburg, Penn, from diphtheria. They
attended the Twenty Ward scbooi.
| There are great fears of an epidemic, as
many others are i'll OF the same disease.
GENERAL f. BURD GRUBB. the new United
States Minister TO Spain, sailed from New
| York City for Madrid, accompanied by his
mother and his daughter, Miss Z. V. K.
/ Grubb.
THERE was run on the Citizens Savings
/ Bank In New York City, caused by its GUS
/ toners. most Of whom were Polish Hebrews,
becoming alarmed at the general financial
uncertainty. The excited depositors formed
7 a line extending ten blocks from the bank
and some waited all night to draw their
money next morning The institution en-
dured the run successfully.
REAR ADMIRAL OLIVER S. GLTssoN,
/ United States Navy retired. died few days
ago at his residence in Philadelphia, Penn,
/ He was born in Ohio in 1899, was appointed
/ midshipman from Indiana in 1926 and
served actively in the navy until 1871, when
| be was retired.
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1890-11-28
THE REVENUE MARINE.
Report on the Operations OF This
Branch OF the Service.


Captain Shepard, Chief of the Revert,
Marine Division, has made report to the
Secretary Of the Treasury Of the operations
Of that service during the last fiscal year,
from which it appears tnat the thirty-six
vessels in commission traversed 2So, ll2 nau-
teal miles and boarded and examined %, l6l
vessels, of which number 9l5 were found 70
have violated the law and to have incurred
fines and penalties amounting to $S966l6
Eighty distressed vessels were assisted, the
value Of which together with their cargoes,
amounted TO S2,5O0,0O0 Forty-three person.
were rescued from drowning, and oll were
assisted in other ways. The expenditures on
account of the services were $937, 033, Of
which $17272 were spent in marking the an
chorage lines OF New York hrbor. Captain
Shepard says that the Manhattan Is not able
TO perform efficiently the duties assigned TO
her Of enforcing the anchorage regu ations
at New York, and should be replaced at an
early date by larger and more powerful
steamer. All revenue vessels cruising in Alas
kan waters the last season, Captain Shepard
saws we're directed to enforce the provisions
of the act Of Congress approved March 2.
1889. relating to the protection Of the salmon
fisheries of Alaska. He says that several
new vessels are required for the proper main
tenance Of the service, and that unless the
present feet is enlarged IL win gradually be-
come debilitated. The rapidly increasing
commerce at the ports Of Boston. New York,
Philadelphia Chicago and San Francisco de
mands that new steamers of moderate cost
be furnished at each OF these ports within
the next two years to replace vessels nearly
worn out and not suitable for the service.
The greatly increased work required on the
Pacific coast makes another vessel for duty
on that station absolutely necessary.
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1890-11-28
The Worlds Silk Crop.

The production Of silk throughout tho
world last year is estimated At 1905
ions, as against 11,5iS tons in 1855,
II, 1888 tons in 1887, 10, 59i tons in 1856,
and 90O2 tons in 1885. The average Of
four years from 1885 to 1855 was 10,74i
toss. The 1889 crop was rather above
Il, although scarcely any silk was pro-
duced ia Syria and other parts OF tae
LeYant. -NsU York Post.
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1890-11-28
FORGIVENESS.

If in the path of duty thy friend has failed,
or faltered,
Where stronger feet might stumble, still let
thy friendship live;
Stin let thy friendly greeting retain its
warmth, unaltered,
And, ere he seeks thy pardon, do thou his
fault forgive.
But if thy feet should find 1.-THE stone
whereon be stumbled
And thou shouldst fall upon it, along the
pathway dim
Walk thou in full displeasure, with spirit
bowed and humbled,
Ccndemning in thine own self the fault
forgiven in him.
Beth Day, IN Youths Companion.
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1890-11-28
Rabbits.

The average life of rabbit is put at
about nine years. The doe may have
young eight times year, averaging
eight each time. The first litter is pro-
duced when but four months old. The
progressions based on these figures lead
to astonishing results. For three years
the possible progeny of two rabbits has
been calculated at over 13,000,0 900, and
for seven years at 1900, 900, ,OOO.- Chi
sagO Times.
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1890-11-28

(, always kept boiling during the hours
In which the tester is at work. These
kettles are lined with tin, as the acids
from the copper would have an injurious.
effect upon the tea and render it impos-
sible for the tester to properly do his
work.
When the test is to be made a silver
half dime piece is placed in one side OF
the brass scales, and its weight in tea
placed in the other With teas of differ
ent grades thus measured out the faster
will supply each of the forty or fifty cups
ranged about the table, and when the tea
has been placed in the cups he will ill
each of them with hot water from the
kettle. No sugar is allowed about the
table. sweetened tea it would be impos-
sible for him to properly test.
When the cups have been filled and
the tea stepped for few moments the
tester begins his work. He passes from
cup to cup, whirling the table around as
he does so, and sips from each cup as it
comes in front of him. So thoroughly
has his sense of taste been cultivated
that, if he be a thoroughly expert tea
faster. he can at once tell the exact char
acter, grade and line of the tea he tastes.
If the tea given him to test is shade be-
low that usually to be expected from the
Grade, he can at once detect it, and Is
relied upon by the importer to estimate
and fix upon the difference in value be-
tween such tea and the best tea OF that
grade.
Twas informed while engaged in iu-
vestigatiug the methods of tea test
ING that the most successful tea brokers
are those whose sense of smell is so
acute that it is not necessary for them
to taste the tea. In climate like that
Of New York, however, my Informant
stated, where almost everyone is subject
TO catarrhal influences, there are but few
who are able to test the tea by smelling,
and even some of these, he said, become
so addicted to the stimulation OF the ner-
vous system produced by the fumes OF
the tea they get in the habit of slipping
instead of smelling, and soon become ha'
bitual tea drinkers.
Tea testing is remuneratiVe business
to those who get enough of it to do to
keep them busy. The big importing
houses who employ testers of their own
pay them all the way from SIS to Sl5O
per week, and the brokers with an es-
tablished reputation in the trade earn a
much larger rate of income for their
work. .-M,o York Herald.
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1890-11-28
ADVERTISING RATES.

President of the board appointed TO superin-
tend the trial OF the new gUnboat Concord,
as follows; Concord returned this morning;
trial unsuccessful"
THE Department OF State is informed by
cable from the Consui-Ganeral at Berlin.
Germany. that d.. Koch's c)liesgue. Dr.
Cornet, is willing TO receive few well-recom-
mended doctors In clinic during the expert
ments in the treatment Of tuberculosis.
EYGISEER-rS-CHIEB GEORGE W. MEL
WILLIE has submitted his annual report to the
Secretary Of the Navy.
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1890-11-28

Sanilac County, Michigan, has a first
class Jail, but it i; without au occupant.