davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1890-03-29

The BASEBALL man issnow prepare
ing for his summer bat.
Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1890-03-29

Fine line of Perfumery and Toilet
articles at A. M. Gilbert's.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-07-11
A Duel with Potatoes.

In County Carlow, Ireland, an ag-
crieved member of a certain congrega-
ton, declining to accept his parsons as
surance that he was not one of set Of
miserable sinners rather. pointedly re-
ferred to in the Sunday sermon, chal-
lenged his vicar to personal combat, and
offered him his choice of weapons. The
challenge was accepted, the clergyman
declining, however, to use such secular
arms as swords or pistols, but expressing
his willingness to try novel kind of
ammunition. e., raw potatoes-to be
used as missiles, the bigger the better.
The morning on which the novel duel
commenced was as raw as the potatoes.
which lay in a heap by the side of each
combatant. The potatoes were to be
thrown alternately. The challenger COM
menced, and missed. The clergyman.
aiming calmly and scientifically, raised
with his first shot bump upon his op-
ponent's forehead almost as large as the
missile which caused it. The layman
promptly lost his temper, and aimed
wildly and recklessly, hitting the seconds
and missing the vicar with great regu-
larity. The vicar, feeling that he could
afford to be magnanimous, put down his
potato, advanced to his aggrieved par
ishioner, held out his hand, and said:
Come, Mr.. OR, think we're couple
of idiots. Let us shake hands and be
friends, and utilize these vegeta bles for
a more peaceful purpose at dinner to-
night Leeds Mercury.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-07-11
Man with Goose's Head.

The man with gooses head first ap-
peared before the public at the famous
"Gingerbread Fair at Liverpool in 1872.
He was 20 years of age at that time, had
eyes perfectly round and nose eight
inches in length, fiat, and shaped exactly
like the bill of goose. His neck was
three times the length of that of an Or
binary person, surmounted by round
flat head, without single hair He
seemed to have as much common
sense as the average country boy of his
age, learning very fast and soon quit the
show business and studied the photog-
rapher's art. His name is Jean Rom
der, and he now lives at Dion, France.
st. Louis Republic
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-07-11
Language of the Umbrella.

We all know that there is lam
guage of nature Every sentimental
girl without being botanisD is ac-
quainted with the language of flowers.
But it has remained for a recent
writer to indicate the language of
umbrellas: ITO place your umbrella
in a rack indicates that it is about to
change owners; an umbrella carried
over woman, the man getting moth
ing but the drippings of the rain,
signifies courtship; when the man has
the umbrella and the woman the drip
pings, it indicates marriage; to carry
it at an angle under the arm signifies
that an eye is to be lost by the man
who follows you; to put cotton UNI
brella by the side of silk one means
exchange is no robbery to lend an
umbrella may be interpreted, I am a
fool;' to carry an umbrella just high
enough to tear out mems eyes and
knock off mems hats signifies, I am a
woman st. Louis Republic.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-07-11
The Dog of AuShrjIn.

At the hard fought battle of Aughrim
an Irish officer was accompanied by his
wolf hound. This gentleman was killed
and his body stripped on the battlefield,
but the dog remained by it both by day
and night. He fed upon some of the
other bodies with the rest of the dogs.
yet he would not allow them, or any one
else, to come near that of his master.
When all the other bodies were con-
sumed the other dogs departed, but this
faithful creature used to go in.the night
to the adjacent villages for food, and in
the morning to return to the place where
his masters bones only were then left.
This he continued to do from July. when
the battle was fought, through the cold
and dreary winter until the January fol-
lowing, when a soldier, whose regiment
was quartered near that spot, going that
way by chance, the dog, fearing he came
to disturb his beloved masters bones,
flew with great fierceness upon the SOL
dier, who, being thrown off his guard by
the suddenness of the attack, unslung
his carbine, he having been thrown on
his back, and killed the noble ANIMAL
New York Mail and Express.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-07-11
The Faithful Shepherd Dog.

A shepherd had driven part of his
flock to neighboring fair, leaving his
dog to watch the rest during that day,
expecting to rejoin them in the morn
ing. Unfortunately, however, the shep-
herd forgot both his dog and his sheep.
and did not return home till the morn
ing of the third day. His first inquiry
was whether the dog had been seen.
The answer was "No." "Then he must
be dead" replied the shepherd, with a
look of pain, ''for l know he was too
faithful to desert his charge" He went
back to the heath directly. The dog had
just enough strength left to crawl to his
masters feet, and express his joy at his
return, and then he died.-New York
Mail and Express.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-07-11
No More Wrinkled Faces.

A frown will mar the prettiest face. 1t
doesn't matter about a boy, but the small
girl does violence to beauty and youth
by ruffiing her forehead or futing her
brow. 1t is, too, habit acquired very
early in life. After her pouting days are
over she begins to frown, and keeps on
frowning until old enough to realize the
banefulness of the habit In other words,
each ridge is supposed to add a decade to
her apparent age. Now somebody has
made the discovery Of couple of mus
Giles between the bridge of the nose and
the root of the hair which can be cut
without pain or injury to the feelings or
face. The services of a skilled surgeon
are secured, who applies the knife, sew.
ers the delicate cords, dresses the wound,
and after the skin heals the forehead be-
comes as smooth as the temple, and,
what is most remarkable, remains so.
Whoever says that the New York woman
does not study her glass is sublimated
idiot. Her motto of life is, ''Know thy
self."-New York World.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-07-11
Diffusion Of Electric Currents.

At meeting of the British association
at Newcastle Lord Armstrong related
a wonderful incident, which illustrates
the laws of diffusion of electric currents
through conductors A bar of steel
about foot long, which he was hold
ing in his hand, was allowed accident
ally to come in contact with the two
poles of a dynamo in action. He in
stantly felt a painful sensation of burn
ing, and he let the bar drop. He found
bis fingers, where they had been in con-
tact with the bar, severely blistered.
The bar was found Immediately after
wards to be quite cold. This proved
the outer surface of the steel to have
been intensely heated, and that not
enough of heat was generated sensibly
to warm the whole bar; in other words,
that an exceedingly high temperature
existed for an exceedingly short time in
an exceedingly thin skin of metal New
York Telegram.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-07-11
The Storks in Council.

Near Oggersheim, a small village on
the banks of the Rhine, there is large
meadow where every autumn the storks
are in the habit of meeting previous to
their annual migration. On one of these
occasions above fifty storks were OBJ
served formed in ring, in the center of
which was one whoseLappearance showed
the greatest alarm. One of the party
seemed to address the assembly by clap
ping its wings for about five minutes.
1t was followed by a second, third and
fourth, who each clapped its wings in
the same odd manner as the first. At
last all the storks forming the ring COM
menced clapping their wings; and, when
they had done this, they with one accord
fell upon the poor culprit in the middle
and dispatched him in few seconds;
after which they rose up in body, and
one, according to custom, taking the
lead, they winged their way toward the
south. What offense the poor stork had
committed that had brought upon him
so sad a fate is of course unknown
New Y ork Mail and Express.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-07-11
The Use Oh Slang.

"a man born and bred in the United
States fails to appreciate how much slang
he daily uses in conversation" said an
intelligent American who had Just re-
turned from a continental tour. "He
fully appreciates these blemishes, how
ever, when he returns to America after
having had daily intercourse with some
of the well bred persons in Europe. He
picks up these blots on perfect speech so
gradually and they multiply so rapidly
that before he is aware of the extent of
these acquisitions at least one-tenth part
of his vocabulary consists of slang ex-
pressions.
''This fact is so true of America that
even the ignorant peasants of Ireland
recognize it when their countrymen re-
turn to their native land. AS heard in
America slang seems to add force and
expression to conversation, but this is
only seeming, for When contrasted with
really simple and consequently elegant
diction the difference in strength can
readily be seen. There are some slang
words, however, in the American vo-
cabulary which, if used at the right time
and place. find their bulls eye like a
mimic ball. But, as rule, the use of
slang words is only blemish on CONVEX
sation, and it's use cannot be too heartily
condemned. Chicago Herald.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-07-11
Embalmed by the Air.

There are on exhibition in the rooms
of the state mining bureau at San
Francisco four "desiccated human
bodies" that were found by Signor S.
Marghier in sealed cavern at an ele-
walton of 4, 900 feet on the eastern side
of the Sierra Madre mountains in
Mexico. The bodies were found in a
sitting posture, with the hands crossed
on the breasts, the heads inclined for
ward and facing the east. The adults,
male and female. were side by side.
and by the side of the man was bow
and girl by the side of the woman.
The bodies were apparently dried up
by the air, no embalming process
being used. They are not like any
known Indians of today, the hands
and feet being particularly small, and
the woman's hair brown and silken.
The woman's forehead is large, and
the reasoning powers were apparently
well developed In the lobe of each
ear is a piece of hollow reed. The
burial garments are of cotton, hide.
grasses and the bark of willows. In
addition, the little girl is covered with
the skin of some animal.-St Paul
Pioneer Press.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-07-11
Electric Light and Trees.

Observers in many of the small cities
blessed with shade trees have noticed
that those trees near electric lights have
been blighted by something, and. for the
lack of some more apparent cause, the
trouble is ascribed to the electric lights.
The local arboriculturists say that the
trees need darkness as much as men need
sleep. There seems to be some reason
in supposing that the nearness OF the
electric lights is the cause OF the droop-
ing of the trees, for similar trees, not ex-
posed to any other illumination than
that of the sun, have not been affected
in that way and are bright and strong
Boston Budget.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-07-11
What "Bonanza" Means.

We frequently hear people interested
in mining speak Of bonanzas. expecting
them, being in bonanza, etc. All this is
calculated to make one believe that the
term is purely mining one, that it had
its origin there, and that, in fact, outside
Of the mining world it has no exist
ence or meaning. This idea is very gen.
eral, though few people who use it
can tell what 1t means, except that if
their mine is in bonanza their stock will
be worth more than a dime a share.
The fact is that bonanza is, or was origin
ally, completely removed from mining,
and at first has no connection whatever
with it. 1t is Spanish term, and signi.
fies "fair wind and fair weather" 1t is,
Of course. applicable to mining, or any
other branch Of business, in the sense in
which it is applied, as, if person is in
"fair wind and fair weather." it is pretty
certain that the balances will be piling
up on the right side Of his ledger
St. Louis Globe Democrat.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-07-11
MAKING STAG WOOL.
Wonderful Process and a More yvo,,.r
full Product of Great U,,,

Aiocess anu More Wonder
full Product of Great Value.
Stag wool is formed by causing a let
OF steam to impinge upon the stream of
molten Stag as it issues from the furnace
This has the effect of dispensing or break
ing up the Stag into countless small bead
like particles, each of which. as it flies
away, carries behind it delicate thread
OF timely drawn or "spun" Stag. In or
der to collect the Stag filaments thus Gre
ated and to separate the fibers from the
beads or heavier portion of Stag. the
steam Jet is arranged at the mouth of an
open cylinder of sheet iron. in which q
strong air current is induced by means
OF additional jets of steam. The tube or
shaft is furnished with shield or strik-
ing plate, which detains the heavier par
ticle. the lighter Stag wool being carried
by the draught upwards and EDWARDS
INTO large chamber like a gigantic meat
safe, having its walls formed of wire NET
ting with about sixteen meshes to the
square inch. Here the steam condenses
and escapes, and the Stag wool, which
has the app Sance of flakes of snow. is
deposited on the floor and round the
sides, the lghtest portions being carried
10 the greater distances.
The filaments of Stag formed this way
though of considerable length, are of
such delicacy and fineness that thew are
broken up into numberless fragments
and felted together into a substance much
resembling cotton WOOL This mineral
wool is extremely light and absolutely
lire proof; it is a marvellous non-conduc.
tor of heat and of sound, and it is so
porous that it will absorb large quaint
ties of water and retain the same for a
considerable time.
1t has been found extremely valuable
as covering for boilers, water pipes and
such hke-owing to its relatively low
conducting power-and for fire curtains
for theatres, its lightness and resistance
OF fire and sound rendering it an excel
lent substance for such purpose. 1t is,
moreover, an antiseptic, and this prop
erty, along with its extreme porosity,
renders it applicable for medical pur-
poses.-Newcastle Chronicle.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-07-11
Pussy and the POrker.

An Ell Dorado Springs (Mo.) CORE
spondent tells of singular attachment
between a Berkshire pig and kitten.
Both animals fed from the same trough,
and appeared to take delight in helping
each other. During the winter, when the
kittens feet got cold, kitty would hunt
up piggy, now and then giving loud
meow, upon hearing which the porker
would answer with friendly grunt.
Pussy, in finding its friend, would take
the nearest route for the hogs back, gen.
orally climbing up its long snout.
During cold nights kitty slept on the
pigs back, and in the morning would be
found in the same convenient place rid
ing to the barn, about furlong distant,
where puss caught mice. 1t was, indeed,
an amusing sight to see piggy wading
through deep snow with the cat (toes
turned in) on its back, evidently as COM
Portable as queen in her carriage and
four.-St. Louis Globe-Democrat.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-07-11
Two Oh the Doctors.

There are two stories that are told at
the Savage club. Doctor is sent for to
attend sick woman; on his arrival finds
woman dead. "Why was l not sum-
moned sooner?" doctor asks. angrily.
1--WE did think of it," explains the be-
reaved husband, ''but we concluded that
it would be cheaper to let 'er die nat
ural DEATH"
On another occasion doctor arrives too
late; husband explains. "You see, doc
tor" says husband, "when she COM
planned of feelin' bad I gave her the pill
you prescribed for me a year ago. but
which didn't take. It's lawful, know,
but think wot would ave appened if I'd
ave taken itr'-Eugene Field in Chicago
News.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-07-11
THE SPIRIT ROSEBUD.

Bsby is dead-speak low, step light;
How tranquel is her rest!
Her tiny hands were placed last night
Upon her waxen breast.
And when the morn broke calm and bright,
And deep was our despair,
We gazed upon her face so white
And saw a sweet smile there.
The mourning mother sobbed aloud
IS she her darling scanned;
And while each head in sorrow bowed
She fixed within its hand
A tiny rosebud, fresh and sweet,
Which round its perfume shed.
This, this, she moaned, ais emblem meet
For my dear, precious oe;d"
Next day, while Borrowing neighbors stcad
Holding sweet flowers Of si.ring.
The tiny rosebud, red as blood.
Showed signs of opening.
And ere the funeral rites were through
Each mourner in the room
Thrilled with establishment to view
The bud burst in full bloom
The clergyman, with trembling voice
And deep emotion, said:
Rejoice. my Borrowing friends, rejoicel
The baby is not deadl
God, in his loving tenderness
This token sweet has given,
That she who budded in distress
Is blooming now in heavenl'
Francis S. Smith in New York Weekly.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-07-11
Names First Wooden Mill.

The Dexter Eastern State gives some
interesting facts connected with the
wooden manufacturing industry in Maine.
The second wooden mill in the United
States was erected at North Andover,
Mass. A year or two after its starting
the proprietors built another mill at An
dover, Mass, and, about the same time,
1917, two of the same family, Jerry and
Amos Abbott, started northward to look
for a site for saw mill and wooden mill.
They decided on Dexter and in 1920 es-
tablished the business there This was
not only the first cloth making mill in
Maine, but the first to ship goods from
Maine to the Boston market.-Lewiston
Journal
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-07-11
RihIe Written in Shorthand.

There are many curious copies of the
Bible in the various collections of Europe
and America, but it is doubtful if there
is duplicate for the one belonging to
DR.. r. T. Williams, of London, in all the
collections in the world. This odd copy
of Holy Writ is written in shorthand and
is complete throughout. 1t was written
by an apprentice, who was suspicious of
James IFS intentions regarding Protest
antism. If deprived of his printed copy
he hoped to have the little shorthand
volume left-St.- Louis Republic.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-07-11
Was ALWAYS Old.

Anent the Prince of Wales visit to
Scotland, an amusing tale is going the
rounds. While his royal highness was
awaiting his train at the railway station
he fell into conversation with one of the
local notables who had been appointed
chairman of the committee to receive
and entertain the prince.
"This," said the prince, felicitously.
"this is really very old city of yours"
eyes, your royal highness," answered
the Scotchman gravely, sit has ever been
considered so. "-Eugene Field in Chi
cago News.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-07-11
Functions Of the BRAIN.

The result of the investigation of DR..
Donaldson, of the brain of famous
deaf and dumb pupil of DR.. Howe, is
to substantiate several theories which
medical experts have advanced about
the functions of the brain as an organ
of thought Conclusive evidence is
adduced to prove that the brain Is an
intricate Photographic medium, which
registers all that sight, hearing, taste,
smell and feeling bring to it.-New
York Commercial Advertiser.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-07-11
Slate in Pepper.

All epicures are very particular about
their pepper and experience much diff
Guilty in obtaining kind to suit them.
The spice is so easily adulterated that
few If any manufacturers can Withstand
the temptation. Ground slate is one OF
the neatest pepper adulterants, and it is
an open secret that few years ago quite
an extensive business was carried on at
the slate quarry in Saco grinding and
shipping slate to New York for the ex-
press purpose of increasing the pepper
Journal.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-07-11
The Beggar Worse Than the Thief.

It is strange, but true, that the laws
of Connecticut favor the dishonest.
If man is hungry and begs slice OF
bread the law will send him to state
prison for one year; if he steals a
whole loaf he will only get thirty days
I'M Jail. 1t is safer to steal than to beg
in Connecticut.-New Britain INDIE
pendent.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-07-11

A new innovation at funerals here re-
Gently Is silk skull caps, to be worn by
the minister in charge and tn. bearers at
the grave; also by the male members OF
the family. The caps are - on in the
carriages and the ordinary hats left
there, the caps to be worn all the time at
the grave. It will prevent many colds
Hartford Times.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-07-11
True, in One Sense.

First Barnstormer-Faiuh, me friend,
am overjoyed to see you. What luckr
A regular ovation at your last appear
arce, I hope.
Second Barnstormer-S'death, me boy,
| know not what you call an ovation.
Yet, hold! Mine was such, if you bear
in mind that in Latin ovum meaneth an
egg.-Pittsburg Bulletin.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-07-11
A Milk White Deer.

White deers are very scarce things, but
Mr.. B. F. Coburn, of Molunkus, seems to
have no trouble in finding them. He has
secured the skin of one that is perfectly
white, not colored hair on it. 1t was
shot near Mount Katahdin. and is the
second white deer killed in this state in
five years.-Bangor News.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-07-11
The Historic Monitors.

There are now thirteen monitors lying
idle, the original cost of which was near
lv 81, 100000. In their present condition
they are not only useless, but source OF
expense, and Rear Admiral Jouett faVors
a plan for converting them into floating
batteries for coast and harbor defense,
which could be done at an estimated cost
of 81. O00. OOO.-Chicago Herald.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-07-11
Pineapple Juice for Diphtheria.

Medical science has long sought for a
sovereign remedy fer the scourge of
childhood, diphtheria, yet the colored
people of Louisiana, and perhaps of other
localities in the south, have for years
known and used a cure which is remark
able for its simplicity. 1t is nothing
more nor less than the juice of the pine
apple. Chicago Tribune.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-07-11
what q Good Book Is.

A good book is the one that we want
when weary of the people of the world;
that we can read out aloud and discuss;
that we can hand to our daughters that
it may give them pleasure, and which
win only be a stepping stone on the road
Of taste, not only to better and nobler
books, but better and nobler life.
That is a good book-and, my friends,
there are hundreds of them.-Ladies
Home Journal
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-07-11
Which Jack?

"What is the matter, Alice? You look
worried"
Il am. It's too mean for anythingl
These roses have just come with card,
Wear these for Jack, and don't know
whether they are from the Jack hate or
the one I like. It's too horridr-Har-
per's Bazaar.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-07-11
A master mason named Andrews

A master mason named Andrews, Of
Providence, R. l., has just received with
some change copper cent which he
stamped with his initials and put in cir
culation about fifty years ago. He had
always hoped to get it back again and
now would not part with it, he declares,
for hundreds of dollars.