davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-10-03
A COMMUNAL QUARREL.
Two English Birds That Acted in
SinguIarly Human Way.

Two English Birds That Acted in q
SinguIarly Human Way.
In the yard of Scranton bird student
a pair of English sparrows began few
weeks ago to get ready to go to house,
keeping. They took up their abode in a
little box that was fastened to the top
of pole. Other sparrows undertook to
occupy the box, but the pugnacious first
corners soon drove them away, and from
that time on the plucky pair fixed up
their household and got every thing in
readiness to raise family without be-
ing disturbed by their apparently envi-
GUS neighbors.
When the Industrious birds were near
ly ready to settle down to quiet mar
ried life, an accident happened that
caused row between the pair. One day
before the female had begun to sit, her
husband fitted away and was gone
good deal longer than usual. During
his absence the female busted herself
by flying from the nest to the yard and
back, adding finishing touches to her
household and sprucing things up inside
of the box. By and by Mr.. Sparrow re-
turned, but he didn't look as neat and
natty as he did when he sailed away.
In some way he had lost all of his tail
feathers while he was gone, and his wife
wouldn't have any thing to do with him
or let him enter the house. He seemed
to try to explain matters to her, but she
wouldn't listen to him at all, chirped at
him spitefully, and fought him when
ever he attempted to approach hor.
The student knew that the bobtailed
bird was the rightful husband by pecu-
liar mark on his head, and he watched
the result of the family trouble with
deep interest. For two days the UNI
happy husband coaxed and begged his
wife to treat him as she had formerly
done, but his pleadings made her all the
more determined to get rid of him for
good. All at once the bobtailed spar
row disappeared, and has never been
seen around there since. The female
continued to occupy the box, and inside
of three days she got another husband,
set up housekeeping anew, and in due
time Matched out nest full of little
OneS.-N. Y. Sun.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-10-03
BRASS MULE MEDICINE.
Chinese Cure That Is Simpler Than tn
Patent Drugs of America.

Chinese Cure That Is Simpler Than the
Patent Drugs of America.
A traveller recently returned from Pc
king says that he saw there peculiar
method of cure. In temple outside
one of the city gates is to be found a
brass mule of life size supposed to have
wonderful healing properties. Patients
suffering from every imaginable disease
seek this temple to obtain cure.
The method pursued is as follows:
Suppose you suffer from sciatica, you
go with all speed to this famous
temple, anl !aving discovered the partic-
ular part o. the brass mule correspon-
ding to the ainful region of your own
body, you must rub the animal certain
number of times, and then with the
same hand shampoo your own disabled
member, and then-well then the pain
goes.
The special feature of this method OF
cure is its delightful simplicity. Is your
toot aching? just scrub the mules
teeth and afterward your own, and VOLTA!
the cure is complete. Have you an Ill
Ger of the cornea? Pass the tips of your
| fingers to and ITO over the particular
|
eyeball of the mule, and then with we'll
regulated pressure rub repeatedly the af-
fiicted eye.
The mule has unhappily lost his sight
during the many years he has been en-
gagged in his benevolent work, the eye
balls, we are told, having been gradual
ly worn away, as the result of constant
friction until now you have only the
empty orbit to operate upon.
The animal is patched in all directions
with fresh pieces of brass to put on to
cover holes produced by the constant
friction of eager patients, and a new,
perfectly whole mule stands ready at
hand, awaiting the day when his old
colleague, having fallen to pieces in the
temple, shall give him an opportunity
of likewise benefiting posterity.- Chi
cagO Herald
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-10-03
AMONG THE LAPPS.
Curious Table Habits of These Diminuti,
Natives of the Far North.

Curious Table Habits of These Diminutivo
Natives of the Far North.
l was taken into one of the Lapp'S
huts, says writer in an English jour-
nal. In the center wood fire was burn
ing brightly on some stones, and at first
the smoke was very unpleasant, but
soon one became accustomed to it, and
it served the useful purpose of driving
away the winged plague, which had fol-
lowed us all day.
The man proceeded to boil some cof-
fee, which in a few minutes was set be-
fore me, together with wooden bowl
full of reindeer's milk. The coffee was
not very palatable, but under the cir
cumstances worse fare would have
proved acceptable. The milk I found
to be too thick and rich to drink much
of.
A sugar loaf was produced from be-
meath some cloths in corner, and few
pieces was Clipped off and handed to
me. l accepted them with my politest
smile, accompanied by bow; but when
proceeded to sugar my coffee in the
orthodox style the action caused much
amusement to the juvenile Lapps, who
roared with laughter, and appeared to
enjoy the fun immensely.
l found that ought to have eaten the
sugar separately, as they did, and they
evidently considered my way of sweet
ening coffee irresistably funny.
Cakes were then served to each one.
These were about the size of penny
bun, but of the consistency of putty or
dough, which they some what resemble
in appearance. Sour cream was eaten
with them. So nasty were they that a
mouthful gave me ''quite turn" and
l was glad to smuggle the remainder I'M
derneath the rug on which was sitting.
did not like to throw it away, for fear
of offending my hosts, but trusted to the
sharp noses of the dogs to get me out Of
the difficulty.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-10-03

Bismarck on Nihflism.

In an interview with the correspond.
emit of the London Daily Telegraph.
Prince Bismarck declared that no con-
cession to the Nihilists was possible.
Overeducation had led to much dissatis-
faction and disappointment in Germany,
but in Russia it had led to disaffe ctiOn
and conspiracy. There were ten times
as many people educated for the higher
walks as there were places to fill. Fur
ther education was making pedantic
theorists and Missionaries, unfit for con-
stitutiona1 government. Referring to
the labor question, the Prince ridiculed
the idea that workmen would ever be
contented, because, he said, the rich
are never contented. He spoke strong
ly against any dictation as to the hours
of labor and against the usurping of the
rightful authority of parents over their
children. lie said that Chancellor Won
Caprivi was perfect gentleman. He
praised Emperor William and said he
was hopeful for the future.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-10-03
THE DEATH PLANT.
It Dlstills a Deadly Perfume Which
Kills Insects and Small Birds.

It Dlstills a Deadly Perfume Which
Kills Insects and Small Birds.
A magnificent kali mujah, or death
plant of Java, has been recently received
here by Mrs. Madison Black. The spec
linen, which is to only living one that
has ever been brought to this country,
was sent Mrs. Black by her brother,
Jerome Hendricks, who went out as a
missionary to the island. The kali
mujah is found only in the volcanic dis
tricts of Java and Sumatra, and then
but rarely. 1t grows from two to three
and half feet in height, with long.
slender stems armed with thorns nearly
an inch long, and covered with broad,
satin-smooth leaves of heart shape
and of a delicate emerald on one side,
and blood red, streaked with cream, on
the other.
The flowers of the death plant are
large, milk-white and cup-like, being
about the size and depth of large cof-
fee cup and having the rim guarded by
fine, brier-like thorns. The popularity
of the plant lies in these flowers. which,
beautiful as they are, distill continually
a deadly perfume so powerful as to over
come, if inhaled any length of time, a
full-grown man, and killing all forms Of
insect life approaching it. The per-
fume, though more pungent is as sick
ingly sweet as chloroform, which it
greatly resembles in effect, producing
insensibility, but convulsing at the
same time the muscles of the face, es-
pecially those about the mouth and
eyes, drawing the former up into grin.
An inhalation is followed by violent
headache and ringing in the ears,
which gives way to temporary deaf
ness, often total while it lasts.
Other plants seem to shun the kali
mujah, which might be termed the Ish-
mael of the vegetable kingdom, for it
grows isolated from every other form of
vegetation, though the soil may be fer
tile. All insects and birds instinctively
seem to avoid all contact with it, but
when accidentally approaching it have
been observed to drop to the earth, even
when as far from it as three feet, and,
unless at once removed soon died, evinc-
ing the same symptoms as when ether
lied.
Mr.. Hendricks. who writes describing
how he secured the specimen sent his
sister, says he discovered it first by see-
ing bird of paradise he was endeavor-
ing to capture alive fall, stunned by the
deadly ordor of the kali mujah, and on
examining the plant, though warned by
the natives to let it alone, himself ex-
perienced the headache and commissions
which are it's invariable results-Sa-
vannah (Ga.) Cor. Philadelphia Times.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-10-03

Young Difident (who has been court
ing girl for two years without getting
up the nerve to propose)-Did you read
about those seminary girls in Massa-
chusetts who were made sick by nerve
training" Amanda?
Amanda-Yes, read about it.
Difident-What foolish thing that
was.
Amanda Tin discouraged tone)-I
don't know about it. / think it would
be good thing if you would enter into
course OF nerve-training yourself. You
seem to need it.
lDih1dent went home pondering over
her remarks, and the next evening he
proposed and was accepted ]-Texas
&ftinqa
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-10-03
WANTED TO SEE THE SKELETON.
A Granger Finds the Remains of His
Maynard Boy in Doctors Closet.

A Granger Finds the Remains of His
Maynard Boy in a Doctors Closet.
every family is supposed to have
skeleton in it's closet" remarked DR..
Wheeler, of Wichita, Kan, to a party
of friends recently. Il had one in my
closet until l shipped it to the Michigan
state university. don't want to see it
again.
"It happened like this: Many years
ago, when l commenced the practice of
medicine in a small Missouri town, the
Jesse James boys paid us visit. They
raided the bank and got away with
$1,000, but firing was pretty general on
both sides. had revolver, and during
the general excitement shot one of the
robbers. He was dead when we picked
him up. A finer specimen of physical
manhood have never SEEN The natives
in the little Missouri village made no OBJ
lection when claimed the youths skel-
eton as my prize.
"One rainy night about II o'clock
genuine old fashioned frontiersman came
to my Office. He asked my name, then
inquired if had skeleton in my closet.
His face was bearded and sunburnt, but
there was something about him that
made me think of the young man | had
killed many years before. / was alone
in the Office, and | didn't like the color
of the visitors eye. However, answered
his question in the affirmative.
"'Let me see the skeleton? said my
queer visitor.
"It would scarcely do to refuse. |
walked to the rear of the Office, where
there was a small table out of sight OF
my visitor. | drew out from the desk
revolver, the same one that had ended
the career of the youthful bandit years
before Holding it in my hand, | stepped
to the closet, threw open the door and
remarked with as much GOODNESS as l
could command by force of will: There
Is the skeleton!
"'Put up your revolver, remarked the
stranger. 4 won't hurt you. If | had
wanted to shoot you would have killed
you when came into the Office. have
just been down in Oklahoma and am on
my way back to Tennessee. heard the
story of your killing one of the gang,
and as near as can make out it was my
boy that was killed He ran away from
home when only 10 years old, and Inever
saw him after that. | don't hold any
grudge against you. You did what was
right, suppose. But thought l would
take this chance to see what is left Of the
poor boy
81 then showed the stranger the skele-
ton, which was handsomely mounted,
and described the raid as briefly and as
gently as possible. The old pioneers
only remark, as he gazed upon all that
was left Of his boy, was: We'll, he was
big fellow, wasn't heY philadelphia
Telegraph.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-10-03
TRAVELLING FOR PLEASURE.
Let Nothing Disturb the Mental Quiet
Necessary to Enjoyment.

Let Nothing Disturb the Mental Quiet
Necessary to Enjoyment.
There are people so organized that IL
is mistake for them to travel by any
means except those of books. Their
explorations into the world should be
confined to their own firesides and piaz
zas, using the medium of other mems
eyes and pens to know the world that
lies beyond their gateways, so Little are
they adapted to bear the contact with
other people or the change of habit that
a change of place involves.
There are people who, to be endurable
as travellers, would need to have their
home put on wheels, with all it's be-
longings, so dependent are they on
''things" to be comfortable. Their
bones actually seem to form them
selves to certain chairs, their
appetites to certain seasonings; and nc
chair offers rest, or food feeds them, but
that to which they are welded, and
from which they can not be divorced.
Such people should never leave home,
both for their own good and that OF
other people.
The first requisite of every traveller
is the power to adapt himself to emer-
gencies; sleep on feathers if no other
bed is available, get on it determined to
rise refreshed for the next day and it is
experiences; learn to eat food cold, if
that is the only way available; eat
bread and drink milk, if the food offered
can not be eaten; learn to make food q
minor matter, but value nutrition be-
cause it is necessary if the journey is to
give increased mental power; avoid
making fuss" about things
that can not be altered, both
for your own sake and that of
those about you. There are people
who imagine that the impression they
make of their social Importance at
home is in exact ratio to the amount OF
complaining and fussing they inflict on
porters, walters and maids. There is
no surer indication of the novice in
travelling than this very feature. The
experienced traveller expects certain
percentage of discomfort, and has
adapted himself to it, so that it passes
without comment.
1t is wise spirit of philosopy that
accepts the inevitable and adjusts itself
to meet it. Kicking against the pricks
may be discipline, but more often it re-
suits in nervousness and bad temper.
Remove the pricks if possible, but
avoid them if they can not be removed.
Whether the traveller is a soiourner
at one place for an hour or a. month, it
is well to treat the EGO" as he treats
his wardrobe, using the kinds of moods
that will endure the friction of travel
with the least evidence of wear. He
must expect the world to be human
even if he has started out for a period
of rest and refreshing. Meet expe-
rience as the normal individual meets
people, seeking to find the best side,
the amusing side, but making it prin-
ciple that nothing shall disturb the
mental quiet necessary to the wise man
who is determined to benefit by Jour-
ney into the world outside of familiar
scenes and people. Union.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-10-03
There is proof that a rea1l,

There is proof that really great
man rises superior to the limitations
of circumstances in the incident recent
~ related of the New Hampshire land
lord who made requisition on this city
for six young men to proceed at once to
the mountains, and there, arrayed in
tennis costume during the day and con-
ventional evening dress at night assist
in entertaining the guests at the hostel
~, presumably the maiden element for
the most part, living on the fat of the
land, meanwhile, gratis. The increas-
ing scarcity of young men at our summer
hotels has proved more deleterious to
profit than even combination of cold
weather and high prices, and it was in
evitable that something radical should
be undertaken. The New Hampshire
man mentioned is evidently abreast Of
the es.-Providence Journal
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-10-03
Napoleon and Victoria.

One of the "reminiscences which the
queen loves to recall is of the time when
Louis Napoleon was her guest aboard
the royal yacht Victoria and Albert.
The French monarch praised the sumptu-
GUS furnishings of the vessel, and con-
fessed that he had never felt able to af-
ford 80 great luxury. But for you,
madam" said he, gallantly, ''you are
the queen Of the seasl" This compli-
ment tickled the queen nightly. Tho
title was . new one, and it hit her fancy.
Eugene Field.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-10-03
Fire and Blood.

The japanese consider they go SO fast
that we ought perhaps now to say they
considered-blood and fire to be the
same thing, as they practically were in
the French poetical imagery of the later
middle ages. In Baron's old cart Her
aldique" the color gules is compared both
to the flames of fire and the mixed
humor OF the blood. It is also, he says,
the symbol of the day of Judgment; and
ne goes on pleasantly to liken it to the
wrath of God, which viii then plunge
the wicked in eternal fame.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-10-03

DIR. Hammond says that all American
women are underfed, and this is un-
doubtedly true of great majority of
American women, for they take so much
tea and white bread with cake, pie,
pickles, condiments and sweets instead
Of substantial. blood-making food that
they are really trying to live on starv-
alton diet There are thousands OF
women who take nothing but little
toast and tea for breakfast, which is
next to no food at alL-From lecture
by DIR. Kellogg.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-10-03
Planted the Eggs.

Some of the officials of the George
town custom house are wiser than thew
were. One day strange box came in
bond from Teheran, Persia, addressed to
well known Washington gentleman
In due course of time it was opened for
inspection and appraisal. Under heavy
layer of damp cotton were several quarts
of some kind of seeds.
No one could classify them, but sew
eral samples were taken out and planted
in convenient place. The owner of the
box was notified of its arrival, and in
due season came and claimed his prop
erty. He was, of course, Intercepted as
to the nature Of the seeds"
''Silkworm eggs" he replied. Wash
iDRton Post.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-10-03

The Boston express Saturday evening
struck a suburban train on the Dam
bury and Norwalk branch of the Housa-
tonic road in Boston and badly dam
aged it, besides shaking up and painfully
injuring thirty or more passengers, none
of them dangerously.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-10-03
guy Oh Wing
As Eide ms garden bird.

To be an object of public admiration
is delightful thing, no doubt; but it
is much better to be an object of pri-
vate affection. One devoted heart is
worth million of fascinated eyes, and
to miss chance of good husband and
happy home for the sake of .auch eve
worship and lip-service is a most un.
fortunate blunder.-N. Y. Ledger.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-10-03
FIFTH AVENUE BELLIES.
The Street Is Poor School for Girls
Who Expect to Become Wives.

The Street Is a Poor School for Girls
Who Expect to Become Wives.
Among the various ''walks of life
from which men choose their wives,
fashionable promenades are by no
means the most eligible.
II really think my daughter would
spend her whole time in Fifth avenue if
would let her." said mother in our
hearing the other day.
MADAM" said we, "don't let her,"
Fifth avenue is poor school for girls
who expect to become wives. What
sensible man would desire to marry a
mere gadder and shopper? And surely
no young lady is ambitious of marrying
a fool.
That belle and beauty should de-
sire to be seen and admired is natural
enough, but the prettiest thing in the
world if continually on exhibition be-
comes an object too familiar to be much
valued. A fair creature, who divides
her time between studying the fashions
at the millinery and dry-goods stores
and sailing up and down the sidewalk
to display the same, is not likely to
shine in domestic life as the head of the
home department.
Young men, who are blessed with
good mothers and place a proper esti-
mate on home virtues and home com.
forts, are not, as general thing, eager
to transfer the butterflies of fashion,
however beautiful, to the matrimonial
bower. Prudent bachelors, who look
before they leap and deliberate before
they pop the question-and really,
young ladies, men of this stamp make
the best husbands-are seldom serious
ly attracted to the dashing creatures
who are always on parade, weather per-
uniting.
Even your men about town have an
idea that a wife should be a home 6odu
and not a street body, and when they bro
pose to settle down, after sowing their
wild oats, they prefer quiet, dove-like
woman for a mate TO a bainu
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-10-03

Set small Dox OF lime in the pan.
try and it will help to keep it dry and
the air pure.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-10-03
Wrestling with Smelling.

Not long ago citizen of Austin had
. small house to rent, and he got a
paint-brush and board and hung out a
aign reading: ITO Wrent." Every
body who passed by had smile at the
photography; but it was three or four
days before the owner ventured to ask
Of q butcher:
''Say, what on earth makes every
body grin at that sign?"
why, it's the spelling that gets
'emr'
1t was explained that the word
''Wrent" was not exactly in accordance
with Webster's s1atest" and the spelleI
went about mumbling:
''Well. If they are so very particular
about it / can change it" And he did.
Within two hours there was new sign
reading: 1.-TWO Let"-N. Y. Ledger.
-Ine owners OF travelling snow,
which included in its animals number
Of bears, have been arrested at Trent
schin, Hungary, on the charge of MUIR
dering tramp and throwing his body to
the bears. who devoured it