davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Opelousas courier., 1890-05-17

Darr got on his knees, next stood up
right balancing himself on the horses
back, while with bis left hand he held
the cord that ran over the pulleys of the
mechanic. Now on one foot, nov on the
other, he danced back and forth with the
motion of the horse, while in his right
hand he held the reins. All the time he
spoke to the horse, GOOD boYt good
boy! good mani" The young nan was
an expert rider and has been two years
in the ring. He was as much at home on
the horses back as most people are on
terra firma. Halt an hours practice suf-
feed for this horse.
Mrs. Marks, a compactly buat, grace
fully formed lady, next entered the
arena. Her feet were encased in opera
slippers, and she wore a tight-ftting
basque. She was also an expert rider,
and perfectly at home on the horse. She
stood on one foot, then OF both, walking
backward and forward ON the horses
broad back as easily and as gracefully as
though on a parlor carpet. She stood
perfectly erect, then jumped up eighteen
inches or two feet, alighting steadily on
the horse, then turned with her face to the
horses tail and at last came down in a
finish. The horse was of Norman breed.
with back very broad. Resting for per-
haps five minutes, the horse slowly walk
ing around the ring, she chatted with
the ringmaster and then started in again.
For a time she sat upon the horse, work
ing her body all over his back and
accustoming the animal to every change
| of position. This horse is called John,
and is valued at $500.
A plump young lady of only eighteen
| wears, who formerly worked on the ira
peze, was next. She had only been rid
ing four days, and was training for the
hurdle races and the Roman chariot hip
podrome races. She seemed perfectly
fearless, and mounted with the aid of an
attendant, into whose hand she placed
her left foot, and in a jiffy was mounted
and off. Her lesson was different from
that of the preceding lady. She was
training to do the vaulting act, where
the horse leaps over a bar gate or a
hurdle, and the rider dismounts and
vaults on again after the horse has
cleared the hurdle.
CHOW, down." shouted Johnny Will
son, after she had ridden around several
times. Grasping the handles around the
surcingle, she gracefully leaped to the
ground, and Wilson gently pulling the
rope that was attached to the ring back
of her neck she vaulted back again. This
was repeated until she at last vaulted
without the aid of the rope. The exer-
else was violent, and her cheeks glowed
with a flush of health, giving a roseate
tint to her fair complexion that would
have put to the blush any painted car
mine stage beauty that ever trod the
boards. The horse kept on the lope,
Wilson cracked his whip, the rings and
chains ratified and cracked, the horse
pulled and painted, and the young lady
! rose to her knees and then on both feet.
"Bear on your toesl" shouted Wilson.
Caack went the whip. "Walk up and
| down." GAN over the horse!" "Bully
for you2" sToes down." "Outslde
shoulder in more!" "stay there!'
Watch your toesl" were the quick,
short orders that came in rapid succession
between the cracks of the whip and pants
of the horse.
The Opelousas courier., 1890-05-17

An Enquirer reporter spent several
days Watching the exercises and noting
the pccullarities of the training. Mr..
John Wilson, the veteran four-horse
rider, is at present in charge of the es-
adjustment, and spends eight hours
every day, four in the morning and four
in the afternoon, in p~acticing the candi-
dates for excellence in the saw-dust
arena for the John Robinson shows. The
building for the school is of brick, two
stories high, and was erected for the pur-
pose in 1865. It is a barn-like structure,
with Office on the right of the structure,
AID a room which serves as a dressing
room for the ladies as well as a storeroom
for various styles of brides, bits and
horse medicine. Alongside the Office All
fifteen newly-painted circus wagons, and
opposite twelve valuable horses stand in
their stalls. Bales of hay are piled up
all round, and in the rear of the building
is the ring. 1t is what is called a forty
two-foot ring, that is the diameter, while
its circumference is 1875 feet, and a horse
going around it forty-four times would
cover a distance equivalent to a stretch
! of a mile. Formerly a board ring wa
used, and broken wrists, fractured legs
and dislocated arms were the too frequent
result. There is about eighteen inches
of tan-bark i'll the ring, covered with
from eight to twelve inches of sand and
sawdust. The ring is soft and yet springy,
and absolutely free from dust.
In the centre of the ring is a six-incl
pole reaching"to a strong joist that is ONE
of the roof-supports. This pole revolves,
and at a distance of twelve feet from The
ground has an arm extending to the cir.
conference of the ring. To this arm arr
attached two pulleys, and over them runs
a rope, one end of which is attached te
a ring in the riders back, and the othel
end Of which Mr.. Wilson, the trainer
holds tightly wound around his left hand
while in his right hand he holds a Ions
whip, which, as the horse lags, he snaps
with a crack, to let the animal know
there will be no monkey business.
The machine or continuance is known
as a "mechanic," and its object is to pre-
vent the learner from falling. In it
simplest form it consists of a wild,
! strap, which the new riders fasten arount
their waist or under the shoulders, in tn
back of which is an iron ring. In cas-
of falling or slipping the rider is held up
while the horse passes on. For tn
The Opelousas courier., 1890-05-17

For years Amsterdam, Holland, has
been the centre Of the diamond cutting
trade, and the guild of these artisans is
. powerful one. Owing to the increasing
tendency of dealers to haEdle the uncut
stones there has been a great falling off
In the amount of work to be performed,
and at present there are 1000 diamond
cutters out of work. The proposition
has been made to transfer the entire trade
to London, where the bulk of the dia-
mond cutting is done and where the own
ers Of the larger portion Of the diamond
delds live.
The Opelousas courier., 1890-05-17
Possibly a New Disease.

A well-known London physician has a
patient who has a defect in his speech of
a most singular character. The patient
a lad of ten, and English by birth, i'd
unable TO speak his native language, but
%articuiates a jargon which cannot be
understood. He was examined by many
doctors, none of whom could decide
whether he spoke the same thing twice
in the same way or not. The assistance
of the photograph was called in, and the
lad, in the presence of several gentlemen,
asked to speak the Lords Prayer
and the alphabet. When a comparison
was instituted between the various
cylinders containing the record, it was
found that there was no variation in the
spoken words, and that it was quite
possible for the language which the boy
speaks to be understood by simply learn
ing the various sounds. The phonograms
will be exhibited before various societies,
and the doctors regard it as possible that
a new disease has been discovered
Ness York San.
The Opelousas courier., 1890-05-17
A New Industry for Children.

Anovel industry for children's tiny lit
tie fingers has somewhat recently been in
troduced into England, and is quite az
fascinating to the little workers as it is
remunerative. A company has been
formed for the manufacture of toys,
which were formerly imported into the
country at the almost incredibly large
sum of SO, DOC, 900. When it was learned
that most of the work of manufacturing
the toys was accomplished by little chill
dren, who enjoyed their employment SO
much that they preferred it to play, this
company established their mandatory in
the midst of a crowded district OF Biz
mingham, and advertised to teach chill
dren the work free of cost. AS soon as
the people learned of this offer, women
and children besiged the place in such
numbers that the street was literally
packed with applicants, and the police
had great difficulty to force their way
through the throng. The children after
learning how to do the work are allowed
to take it to their homes, and, = ur-
rounded by new comforts ana Injuries
purchased by the proceed. of their fasci-
mating employment, amid the refining in
fuences of home, hundreds of busy little
hands are employed in delightful work.
To call out the most intelligent workers
IN the trade the company issued q list of
prizes to be competed for by the children
under twelve years Of age and awarded to
the child who shall construct the best
outfit for the company's paper doll. The
largest prize is 95, the smallest 23, and
other prize lists are to follow presently.
-Msy York Sun.
The Opelousas courier., 1890-05-17

ladies, however, the arrangement is more
complicated. Two straps pass over the
shoulders, and the ring sets at the back
of the neck, attached to a strap running
from the waistband, the rope that runs
over the pulleys and into the trainers
hand, holding the lady learner in case Of
a fall erect in the air, her feet dangling
and the horse passing from under her.
The trainer continually moves around the
pole with the horse, watching every
motion of the animals head and every
swish of the long tail, as when the ears
go back and the tail swishes the animal
Is going to kick, and he is at once spoken
to and held up. Thus if ahorse is going
to kick, which the trainer at once knows,
he can reverse the mechanic and hold the
rider aloft in the air completely out of
all danger.
The first horse that came into the ring
was o six-year-old gelding Of Arabian
stock, which had never been before an
audience and was a stranger to the
plaudits of the arena. He had on a
biting machine, consisting of q wide
girdle over the back just behind the
shoulders, in which were the hand pieces
to assist the rider in vaulting on and OFF.
a rubber bit wa used, and the curb held
the horses head in a firm and graceful
attitude. ssThe horse had been a kicker =
said viii Darr, o stout-built, athletic
young man Of t~Wenty-eight, with a cigar
stump in his mouth, clad III Il pair of
pants, wooden shirt, and in his stocking
feet. Faulting to the nag's broad back,
the animal loped around the ring. Then
The Opelousas courier., 1890-05-17

The recent hanging at Fort Smith
Ark, of six men at a drop, has agar
called attention to the greatest crimina
court Of modern times. The United
States Court for the Western district of
Arkansas is located at that place, and t,
1T belongs the distinction of being the
foremost criminal court of the world to-
day. In support of this claim it neei
only be said that during the past fifteen
years sixtyAnine men have been hanged
after trial and conviction in this tribu.
nal. Although the district is called ths
Western district Of Arkansas, the juris-
ldiction of the court is in reality almost
exclusively confined to the FIVE civilized
tribes Of the Indian Territory, and it il
among them the criminals are found
which keep this court in session almost
day and night the year round. Owing
b The peculiar course OF The nations
Dan makers IN treating with these Indians
~ alien nations. the Territory has been
e workable refuge for the criminals an0
desperadoes from all the States Of Tho
West and Southwest. They have hockeG
within its borders IN great numbers ano
U many localities have gained absolute
ol of Affairs,
The Opelousas courier., 1890-05-17
II THE TRAIN COMES IN.
There are eager faces near,

There are eager faces near,
And a half-subdued cheer,
As around the curve the cars unsteady SPIN:
While impatient feet await
For the opening of the gate,
At the station when the train comes In.
There is handshaking and kissing,
And inquiries for the missing,
And a searching here and there for friends
or kin;
There are sad and fearful signs,
And a waving of good-bys,
At the station when the train comes In.
Then from out the baggage car,
Oh, so careful, lest to jar,
Comes a long and narrow box amid the din,
AS the mourners gather round,
There's a sobbing, wailing sound
At the station when the train comes in.
Then the ringing of the bell,
And the whistle, clearly tell,
They are ready a new journey to begin,
For it brooks not to be late,
There are other hearts that wait
At the station when the train N IN.
Helen F. O'NeiU, IN Family Album.
The Opelousas courier., 1890-05-17
Women are not doing so much KILN

Women are not doing so much killing
among themselves as formerly. Recent
statistics on the increase of crime show
in comparative tables a remarkable de-
crease of suicides among American
women. From 1852 to 1878 the chief
causes Of self-destruction given were,
first, disappointment in love; second,
religious frenzy, and third, disease, so
per cent. of the total number of deaths
resulting from acute heart-ache. The
record for the last fifteen years shows q
marked diminution from the first two
causes and a corresponding proof of the
mental and moral growth Of the sex.
The Opelousas courier., 1890-05-17

Rumor has it that there is soon to be a
asworld's strike' of seafaring men, to af-
feet the merchant marine service or all
countries, but especially that of America,
England, Australia and the China Seas.
It is said that the members of the Sailors
and Firemsn's Union, numbering more
than a quarter of a million men in the
trade between the aforementioned Sec
tions, have managed to collect nearly a
million of dollars with which to support
the strike,
The Opelousas courier., 1890-05-17
BAREBACK RIDING.
HOW SOME CIRCUS PERFORM
ERS ARE MADE.
Early Beginners Held i'm Place by .
Swinging Harness-Eight Hours
aDay Practice in the Saw
Dust Arena.

Training ladies and gentlemen to ride
bareback in the circus arena is a bust
ness.
Cincinnati has such a training school,
and it has turned out some Of the greatest
bareback, hurdle, ali-round, s~omersault,
trick riders, and two and four and six
horse riders, that the American continent
has ever seen.
There are schools and especial train
ing for all those who would arrive at ex.
c~ellence in any branch of human indus
try, and the casual observer has little
idea of the patience and fearlessness,
hours of hard and unceasing labor that
a rider in the circus area must 60
through before anything like proficiency
is attained.
The Opelousas courier., 1890-05-17
Stanley Before the Camera.

The illustration herewith shows the great
explorer and Emin Bey with him-he
had lust arrived near the coast-as they
appeared when MI. Vizetelly, the special
correspondent, met them with the first
news from Europe and a load of pro-
visions.
The curious head dress worn by Mr..
Stanley is a Belgian invention, and be-
longs to the uniform of the officers of
The Opelousas courier., 1890-05-17
HUMOR OF II DAY.

~
tie car.-Merchdnt 1TGreter.
Furniture dealers always have plenty
of spring goods on hand.-Lq~rtnce
american.
Gin what class of factories do the
most strikes o~ccur2" SIN clock works,
I believe Epoch.
The commercial drummer is probably
so called because he performs SO skill
| fully on the merchants ear-drum.-
Binghanoton Leader.
"Never Judge a man by the umbrella
he carries; he may have just left an old
| cotton one for it at the restaurant he last
p~atronized. "-Judge.
She'll like to think of my girlhood
DAYS" He-"Does it not require an eff
fort to carry your mind so far back to the
past?"-Yankee Blade.
cpd rather be a wild turkey and live
on the PRAIRIE" said a little boy. ethan
be a tame turkey and be killed every
year."-New York Meas.
Wife lin a tifO-"What do you men
know about a woman's dress?' Hus-
band lin a hollow voice)-"The price,
J madame!"-Le Figaro.
Strange Crying to be friendly
Chow is your health" D~yspeptic (gruf-
ly)-"How do l know2 l haven't had
any for the last five years. "-Time.
The life of a locomotive is from fifteen
to TWENTY-FIVE wears. Perhaps if it would
give up the bad habit of smoking it
would ruhNhp to ffty.-Judg
Although it may not be {, vice
I'm sure it is a shame,
That we should always find it nice
To have some one to blame.
-Ne,U York Sun.
A boy baby generally talks before a
girl baby, it is said. But we've noticed
that the girl usually makes up for all the
lost time before she leaves this sphere
Statesman.
First Tramp of the Gang-'ssay, fell
! lers, here's an apple. Shall 1 cut it up
into quarters?" Second Tramp-"No,
cut it up into 6fty-cent pieces. Bur-
Ington Free Press.
Some day there will be trouble be-
cause the purchaser of a load of coal in
sists on taking possession of the wagon
and driver for no better reason than that
he paid for them by weight Washington
Post.
"He's an awfully smart boy. l dis
charged him from nv employ and told
him I'd never take him back. Then be
eloped with my daughter, and new I've
got to support him until he finds work."
Epoch.
salesman-"That piece of goods viii
work up into a good serviceable dress if
you don't think the pattern is too loud"
Purchaser-"Oh, not at all. The lady
I'm buying it for is a deaf mute."-
Binghamto"{ eoder.
XII felt so nervous, mamma" said a
~r-s girl, referring to an accident on the
previous day. "What do you mean by
nervous my dear2" "Why, mamma,
iG8 just being in a hurry all OVER
Springfield Republican.
The Peacemaker-"Don't you know il
is very wrong to fight, little boya What
does the good book say2" Tommy (whe
has just polished off the class bully
~ dunno. I amt read it no further than
David an GerIire. "-Puck.
Young Mr.. Harduppe-'tI might have
known you were too old to marry me
before / was foolish enough to propose
Miss Ann Tique-'tAnd yet one would
not have to be so very aged to have that
much sense, either. "-Ierrs Hdate Er
press.
Customer - "You advertise these
gloves, former price 75c. per pair, nov
one-half off, and yet you are charging
74c. per pair. How is that9" Polit.
shopkeeper-"They sic. each.
now they are &c. off as ad
vertised. - othieroaDdrnisher
The Opelousas courier., 1890-05-17

the Congo Free State. 1t is a two-story
arrangement, the top being perforated
with holes to permit the free circulation
of air.
Before his last departure for Africa,
MIR. Stanley, on showing his head-piece
to a group of friends, remarked that it
was a far more effective protection against
sunstroke than any of the helmets worn
by English or other troops in the tropics,
and he was surprised that it hail not been
generally adopted.
The Opelousas courier., 1890-05-17
Planting Trees Upside Down.

It is sometimes said that the branches
of very old trees are, properly speaking,
roots, and that if planted upside down
the trees would flourish. Herr KDy, q
German botanist, has recently inyesti-
gated the mater, by planting vines and
ivy with both ends in the ground, and
subsequently cutting them at the arch.
The experiments were fairly successful,
though not IN every instance; and Herr
Kny intends to continue them with othe1
plants on trees, such as willows, poplars
aud roses.
The Opelousas courier., 1890-05-17

An inventor of Belfast, Ireland, has
made a pneumatic tire for bicycles that is
claimed to destroy all vibration. It is
about p inches in diameter, and consists
of an outer covering of rubber inclosins
al inner air-tube. Air is pumped by 8
toot-blower, and a valve prevents its re
frarn
The Opelousas courier., 1890-05-17

A Lebanon penny young woman, on
. first visit to Lancaster, had a painful
adventure. She thought a window was
open. As a matter of fact it wasn't;
the one big pane of French plate glass
was on duty. The consequence was that
when she undertook to put her head
out there was a smash and q demand for
sticking plaster. a
The Opelousas courier., 1890-05-17
C. D. STEWART.

CONTRACTOR, CARPENTER N BUILDER
Will contract for the erection of buildings
OF all kinds, furnishing all material Il desired.
Work done promptly and at reasonable rates.
Orders through the postofice given prompt
attention. Estimates and plans furnished.
Having special facilities for obtaining LuN
BIER AT REDUCED RATES, ] win give my
patrons tas benefit OF the same.
The Opelousas courier., 1890-05-17
NEW SHAVING SALOON

HAVING recently built and refurnished
U throughout, my Barber Shop, I am
now prepared, with increased facilities, TO
serve the public In first-class style in my
new quarters between Brand and Moriar-stYh.
Shaving, Heir Cutting, Shampooing, s@c..
lone in the highest style of the art. Give
me a call. e. A BODEMULLNR.
The Opelousas courier., 1890-05-17
TOWN DRoPERTY TloR GALE
1OWN1 ROPERTY II oR0ALE

A CENTRALLY 10 ated and desirable
business stand on Main street, Opelousns,
consisting of building suitable for residence
and small store, being the property. next 70
the postofflce. This property will be sold
very cheap for cash, or half cash and balance
On terms to suit purchaser. Apply to MfA
Edmund @. Dupre.
The Opelousas courier., 1890-05-17
A. 2. Mcneil,
ARCHITECT AND BUILDER,
O~PELOUsAS, LOUISIANA.

U1LIDJ "OOI5 IH@A
Plans, Specifications and Estimates fur
nished for all manner OF buildings, on the
most reasonable teru S. Contracts AIKEN for
all kinds of work, in trick, lron, stone and
wood. M aterial furnished for repairs and
construction if desired. lantation and
country work attended to with dispatch. Al.
work first class and satisfaction guaranteed
Orders directed to P. 0. Box 81 will recejv
prompt attention. ia5te
The Opelousas courier., 1890-05-17

s,t The growth of cities in the United
States is not among the least of the mar
yels of its development. There arc now
$50 of them, with an aggregate popula-
ton of nearly is, 000, 900.
The Opelousas courier., 1890-05-17
OPELOUSAS
Female Institute
oPELoUsAs, ST. LANDRY PARISH, La.

This Institution is undenomineti"nal, prac.
tical and progressive. Discipline firm and
based on sound PRINCIPLES ennobling and de-
veloring character. Honor and self respect
promoted. Methods Of training and culture
thorough. Toe curriculum prepares the
pupil for University or practical life. Ger.
~tifcates and Diplomas conf lrctl. Roiliings
comfortable and comm odiou5. Patronage
collected. For further partic liars apply to
MRS. NJ. M. HAYES, Principal.
Or REV. F. w. LEWIS: First Assistant.
Fob !2tf
The Opelousas courier., 1890-05-17
L. A. BLACK. J. L. MonniS
a g.

General Fire Insurance and Real EstSss
Agents,
Office: Cor. Market and Landry Sss''
OPELOUsAS, 10
The following old ami reliable compan, m
represented: Liverpo | and London "a =
Globe Insurance Company, OF Ensls N
Home ami Niagara Insurance 1mpa1isJ1
New York; Fire Association, of Philadsipiss -
and Home, Hops and Mechanics, ana l.a17 III
Iasnra nee Companies, Of New Orleans
Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1890-06-17

The skin shed by rattlesnake
which was found on the bank Of
the Illinois river, and is now
preserved at the boys seminary at Tab.
lequah' in the Indian Territory, meas.
ured thirteen feet long, is fourteen and
seyen-eighths inches in circumference
and has fifteen buttons. The person
VINO has examined, measured. and re-
ports upon it, says that it is very dry
SKIN and therefore assumes that it
PFopaoly shrunk considerably in drying,
but this Is not so, as the skin of a snake
Is thoroughly dry when she'd and com
sequently represents the full size of tho
snake At any rate, this one is III,
enough without claiming anv such
allowance, and represents a POISONING
power which it would take at least a
barrel of old Bourbon to counterfeit.
Seattle Post-Intelligencer.