davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Dickinson press., 1891-03-14
A Very Wide Awake Eve

A man of the shabby genteel order
went into the reading room of one of the
hotels, and seating himself in an easy
chair drew paper from his pocket. He
held the paper before him, and while his
left eye remained closed he appeared to
be reading. Time slipped by, and it was
several hours before the watchman was
attracted to him. During the next hour
the fellow never moved, and with fear
and trembling the watchman went to
his side.
The right eye gazed mechanically at
the paper, and, fearing that its owner
had died In that position, several of the
employees of the hotel gathered around
him. He was given a rough shake,
which brought him to his feet, and ex-
plantations followed. The man had no
money and did not want to walk the
street in the pelting rain. His right eye
was an altificial one, and by holding a
paper in front of him and closing his left
optic he could sleep, while to all appear
ances hewas reading.-Providence Tele-
p1.sm
The Dickinson press., 1891-03-14
Tho Hand Kiss.

The kiss of the hand is undoubtedly
ancient, and therefore is not derived
from that of the lips, but probably tho
converse is true. The hand kiss is
loosely asserted to be developed from
servile obeisances in which the earth,
the foot and tho garments were kissed,
the hand and cheek succeeding in order
of time and approach to equality of
rank. But it is doubtfulif that was the
actual order, and it is certain that at
the time when hand kissing began there
were less numerous .gradations of rank
than at u later stage
Kissing of the hands between men is
mentioned in the Old Testament, also
by Homer, Pliny and Lucian. The kiss
was applied reverentially to sacred OBJ
iects, such us statues of tho gods, as is
shown by ancient works of art, and also
among numerous etymoleyies by that
of the Latin word "adoro," and it was
also metaphorically applied by the in
fcrior or worshiper kissing his own hand
and throwing the salute to the superior
or statue.-Popular Science Monthly.
The Dickinson press., 1891-03-14
An Elevator Incident

In one Of the elevators in q down town
building the other day an absent minded
man came near departing this life with
unbecoming haste. He had stood close
by the door when the car stopped ut his
floor and had allowed two or three other
passengers to brush by him. He had
made no signs of desire to step out, but
when the elevator resumed its upward
course and the door was nearly closed he
gave u start and jumped forward until
his body projected out of the car and
prevented the door from closing. Luck
lily the conductor understood his bust
ness. With an instructive movement he
stopped the car in a few inches. Then
he drew back tho door and released the
venturesome passenger, who walked
away without even looking back or say
ing aword. The other passengers looked
on in silence.
Even the elevator man had nothing to
say for u minute, but when the next floor
was reached the whole affair seemed to
strike him i'll y new light. He didn't
think of the horror of life suddenly
taken away, of the sickening sight of a
crushed and mangled body. "That's
what | call mean man." quoth he with
severity. "Want to have me sent to the
Tombs, eh? Cad! A man like that
ought to get hurt, he had."-New York
Times.
The Dickinson press., 1891-03-14
so,nethinr About Coal.

1t makes the present generation smile
to read the accounts which have come
down to us concerning the prejudices
which were formerly entertained against
certain articles which are of every day
consumption.
For instance, it is said that when coal
was first used in England the prejudice
against it was so strong that tho house
of commons petitioned the king to pro-
hibit the use Of the "noxious' fuel.
A royal proclamation having failed to
abate the nuisance, a commission was
issued to ascertain who burned coal
within the city of London and its neigh
borhood, to punish them by force for
the first ofense, and by the demolition
of their furnaces if they persisted in
transgressing. A law was finally passed
making it capital offense to burn coal
in the city, and only permitting it to be
used by FORCES in the vicinity. It is
stated that among the records in the
tower of London q document was found
according to which man was hanged in
the time of Edward I for no other crimo
than having been caught burning coal.
1t took three centuries to entirely efface
tho prejudice.-Texas Siftings.
The Dickinson press., 1891-03-14
y Lawyer Surprised.

1t is not often that a lawyer receives
other recognition of his services in be-
half of {, client than retainer and fee.
The feeling of most when they get
through with q member of the legal fra
ternity is more akin to sorrow than
gratitude. A Court street attorney has
had contrary experience. One of his
clients, an Irish woman, who had been
indicted several times, but never con-
victed, dropped in on him with a pres
emf. It was a handsome silk muffler.
.'Dut you've already paid me, Mary"
said the lawyer, "Nivir mind, sor," she
replied, "but tuck it around your foine
throat an kape your tongue glib, for
may made thin agin. Boston Traveller.
The Dickinson press., 1891-03-14
An 1nfuriated Cow Among Children.

An Infuriated Cow Among Children.
An infuriated COW broke away from a
herd of cattle which was being driven
through Hospital street, Nantwich, to
the Crewe abattoir, and ran into tho
Wesleyan school yard. The children
were in the yard waiting for the opening
of the school doors. The appearance Of
the animal caused panic among the
children, whom it attacked ferociously.
A number of them were caught on its
horns and tossed, while many others
were tralnpled upon. The drovers and
other men who had pursued the COW
beat it out of the yard and it was event
ually slaughtered. Forty-fve children
were more or less injured and had to be
carried to their homes. Fifteen were
seriously bruised and cut, and their
clothes torn to shreds. One little girl
had her face lacerated, and was picked
up in an unconscious condition. Pail
Mall Gazette
The Dickinson press., 1891-03-14

There Are Giant Oysters in These Dayr.
The Smith Brothers, of Oyster Point,
had what some people concluded was
the largest oyster in the state. 1t was
caught few days ago short distance
from the new lighthouse. 1t measured
III inches long and inches across at its
widest part.
Ellery Camp, proprietor of the store
14l Orange street, has an oyster shell
that beats the Smith monster. It is 12
inches in length and 4 inches across its
broadest part. He has had it five years.
He picked it up in an oyster shop in
Stony Creek. 1t was caught by the Stony
Creek Oyster company off Flying Point.
1t tapers in width from 4 inches to about
inch. How old this oyster shell is Mr..
Camp could not tstate.-New Haven Reg
lister
The Dickinson press., 1891-03-14
Heavy Liabilities.

"Say, girls, said one of u trio of young
ladies, "lets go up on this car. The walks
arc very slippery"
ooh, 1 prefer the exercise of walking,
answered one Of her companions.
"Well, DON'T" said the remaining
one, tall blonde, "I'm going to ride"
With little parley the three boarded
the car. They conversed pleasantly un
til near Pearl street, when, as the con
ductor approached for their fares, two Of
the girls began nervously unbuttonine
their gloves.
Blanche, will you please pay my
fare?' said one, turning to her neighbor
II can't. have only ten cents. But,
said she, turning to the imperial blonde,
will you pay for us?'
Il haven't q cent" sententiously re-
piled the blonde. And with burning
cheeks the young ladies signaled the con.
ductor and stepped silently but thought
fully from the car. Their liabilities ex.
iceedetl their assets.-Albany Argus.
The Dickinson press., 1891-03-14

Among the treasures of the two liter
aly societies of the university are many
valuable and interesting letters. Rum
maging through pile of these epistles
at the Phi Cappa hall were found many
letters from men who have immortal
lied themselves-Clay, Calhoun, Web
ster, Hayne, Davis, Lee. They are their
letters of acceptance of honorary mem
bership, or in reply to some letter for
warded them by the society. The most
beautiful of all-and in fact it might
be pronounced one of the most lovely
letters ever written-was letter of ac-
ceptance of honorary membership in the
Phi Kappa society, written by Theodore
O'Hara, the poet.-Athens (Ga.) Banner.
The Dickinson press., 1891-03-14
Unwilling to Eat with the Jurors.

A good storyis told on Deputy Marshal
Conway, who is said to be proof against
the fears of superstition. He was Or
dered to take IL federal jury to the Deni-
son for tea Friday night, and as he went
into the dining room with the twelve
men he was conducted to table that
had been specially prepared for the party.
The jurors were all seated, but Mr.. Con-
way remained standing. "Sit down,
boss" said tho head waiter, as lie drew
out the last chair.
81 think I'll take another table," said
the deputy.
est right down, sab; sit right down."
insisted the negro; "theres plenty Of
ROOM"
eyes, but can't he the thirteenth man
at any meal" and Conway took another
seat.
"Does yo' know, sab, never thought
of that2' asked tho head waiter in a
whisper; "rd done exactly the same as
yo' did."-Inlianapolis Journal.
The Dickinson press., 1891-03-14
A Typical Case.

A sad story has just come in by canal
boat from Cumminsville. A patrolman
on one of the outside beats was informed
by the passengers on railroad train that
a fight was in progress on the opposite
end of his beat. He made hurried trip
to the point indicated, and as soon as he
arrived there he asked if any one had
heard of fight. Tho inhabitants in
formed him that there had been murder
there some time before, but that the vic
tim had been dead and buried several
weeks. The officer then returned with
all speed to the point from which he
started. Terrible news awaited him.
During his absence he had been dis
missed from the force for failing to an
swer calls, and his wife had married
again.-Cincinnati Enquirer.
The Dickinson press., 1891-03-14
A Piscatorial Curiosity.

The Wellsville IN. W Reporter is au-
thority for the following: Mr.. Asher P,
Cole has shown us II trout with two
heads, two sets of gills, four eyes. two
mouths and but one body. Tho heads
unite just back of the gills. Each head
works independently of the other. If
meat be placed before the creature both
heads proceed to devour it, the two
mouths taking food at one and the same
time. All of the gills are in good work.
ing order. Such freak OF nature is, we
believe. entirely unprecedented. The
little piscatorial rarity seems as lively
and healthy as any of his single headed
brethren.
The Dickinson press., 1891-03-14
DEAD BY THE TRACK.
While His Loving Mother Waited and
Watched In vain for Him.

while His Loving Mother Waited and
Watched in Vain for Him.
1.-THE Western and Atlantic train left
the track last night at McIvor's, and
Richard McClain, fireman, was killed."
That was the message, almost brutal
in its brevity, that was flashed over the
wires from Atlanta to Brunswick. He
was only fireman, of small conse-
quence to this matter of fact world, with
its rush and hustle, and SO three line
paragraph in the morning papers was
his obituary.
But back of this bare notice of Nc
Claims death is one of the most pathetic
stories in the history of railroad acci-
dents in Georgia. The dead man had u
mother and family who lived in the val
ley of the famous Chickamauga, and
about them centers the pathos of the
story. But let Engineer Adamson, who
stood weeping over the body of his
friend, tell it:
"He was good boy" he said; zone of
tie best hearted men in the world. And
he loved his family so! Every night
when he would run by his home his
mother would put out a light to let him
know that all was we'll, and he would
answer with light. Last night she
may have watched all night, for lie
didn't pass, and no doubt she was trou-
bled with the thought that something
was wrong"
And something was wrong.
While the faithful mother, with her
lamp of love a-fame, was straining her
eyes through the darkness of the night to
catch CLEAN of the flashing headlight
that announced calls well" with her son,
that son was stark in death.
The eyes that had watched for the
light in the window that told of the
safety of mother and kindred were glazed
by death. No more would they strain
through the dusk of the valley for the
red ray which conveyed to him mes.
sage of love from home.
Richard was dead by the track!
The loving mother, what of her?
Through the dark watches she waited
at tho window, in her hand the beacon
that assured Richard of the well being
of the jewels of his heart.
But the rush and roar of the engine,
and the flashing of the headlight through
the swart reaches of tho valley never
came.
Tho minutes licked slowly by.
Orchard is late tonight" thought
the loving woman, "but I'll wait Il while
longer. 1t is almost like visit from
him to catch a glipse of the headlight.
So she waited till her eyes grew heavy
with sleep.
And Richard was dead by the track
Finally she said:
"I'll leave the lamp in the window
and lie down Il while. can hear the
roar of the engine in time to wave the
light"
Slumber came unconsciously to the
loving but tired eyes, When she awoke
the sun was shooting his silver arrows
through the clinks of tho room. The
faithful heart turned toward the win
dow. The lamp was extinguished. The
mother sat up with great eyes staring
at the darkened lamp. A shadow ol
woe came darkling over her, chilling
the warm love currents of her heart.
For-Richard was dead by the track!
Light and love had died together
Brunswick (Ga.) Times.
The Dickinson press., 1891-03-14
THE CURSE OF SCOTLAND.
There Arc Twenty four Reasons Why til
Nine of Diamonds Is Called Iynluchy.

There Arc Twcnty-four Reasons Why tho
Nine of Diamonds Is Called UnlucAy:
Every reader has at some period of his
Qr her life heard Of the nine of diamonds
referred to as "the curse of Scotland;"
but why, perhaps, you have never taken
the time or trouble to ascertain.
In my Repository of the Rare and the
Wonderful" l find no less than seventeen
explanations of the origin of the express
sion, while Southwick's "Quizzism and
Its Key" gives eleven, seven of which arc
wholly different from the answers given
i'll the work above referred to, making in
all twenty-four different accounts of the
origin of the expression in the two works.
Southwick traces it back to 1745. men
The Dickinson press., 1891-03-14
A Tcrrapin Farm,

OF late years number of terrapin
farms have been started along the Chesa-
peake The biggest farm is on the Patux-
cnt river, and it consists of large salt
water lake, which could accommodate
thousands of terrapin il they would
breed as rapidly as is desired. The
farmer has surrounded this lake with
board fences to keep out the muskrats
and foxes, which are the terrapin's enc
mics. He has made hatcheries of boxes
partly filed with sand, and so arranged
that when the females enter them they
cannot get out until they arc taken out.
He has nurseries for young terrapin, and
he keeps the little ones in here until they
are ten months old, in order to preserve
them from their fathers.-Frank G.. Car
penter in Pittsburg Dispatch.
The Dickinson press., 1891-03-14

nonlny carlcaturc OF that date which
represents "the young chevalier" at
tempting to lead herd of bulls laden
with papal curses across the Tweed river
with the nine of diamonds lying before
them.
Perhaps tho most satisfactory explana-
ton of the enigma is that which refers
it to the massacre of Glencoe. The or.
der for that cruel deed was signed by
the Earl of Stair, John Dalrymple, sec
retary of state for Scotland. The coat
of arms of the Dalrymple family bears
nine lozenges, resembling diamonds, on
its shield. Thus it appears to have been
with reference to them that the nine
spot of diamonds was called "the curse
of Scotland" The best and most likely
of the other reasons for tho origin of the
expression are given below.
During the reign of Mary thief at
tempted to steal the crown from Eliza
beth castle, and succeeded in abstract
ing nine valuable diamonds from it. To
replace these heavy tax was laid on
the people of Scotland, which impover-
ished them to such an extent that nine
diamonds, whether on cloth, cards OF
real jewels, were spoken of as "Albion's
curse"
In the gamo Of Pope Joan the nine Of
diamonds is tho pope, whom the Scotch
Presbyterians consider curse.
1t is also said that tho Duke of Cum
berland wrote his inhuman orders at
Culloden ON tho back of card, the front
of which was marked with nine dia-
monds.
The "Oracle, or Resolver of Questions, y
printed in ITO, says that tho crown Of
Scotland had but nine diamonds, and
that the Scotch people were too poor to
add to tho collection.-St. Louis Re
nuh1ic
The Dickinson press., 1891-03-14
SeaSick.

The following is story told by an old
sailor to Samuel Adans Drake, and
should be appreciated equally by those
who love and those who loathe s'the
thing they cali the sea:''
"Most allus makes more or less folks
unwell, the motion does. We had two,
gents sbord of us last trip. One of 'em
was q lawyer. My grief, wasn't he done
up, though!
"Tother wam't bit. There he sot,
smokin', as calm as kitten. He was a
high-up jedge, goin' down to hold court
"'Can l do anything for your says he.
"'Yes,' gasped the seasick one, 4 wish
your honor would overrule this notion"
-Youth's Companion.
The Dickinson press., 1891-03-14
5000 PER ANNUM

Kept hllled up around them. Then posts
are stuck in along the rows with strings
arranged so that the vines are trained
upon them. Ihad one-sixteenth of an
acre set ont with sweet pease, and it
brought in clear $500 from the sale of
the blooms.
GROWING DAIIIIAS.
"Another flower am very successful
with is the single dahlia, which is very
much handsomer than the double
dahlia, you know. I plant the bulbs,
which l propagate myself, the last Of
May, and the plants begin to flower
about tho last of August, keeping on
until frost. manage to keep them go
ing for some time later than would
otherwise be possible by lighting fires
on cold nights at the ends of the rows.
In this way get them over the first
frosty spell, after which there is usually
season of quite warm weather, SO that
frequently my dahlias are blooming
beautifully up to the end of November.
l try to make the flowers grow alter
nate, 80 that when one sort stops bloom
ing another begins. My violets are
Towering from the last of September to
the end of April; then come the roses
through the summer, and the sweet pease,
with dahlias in the fall and violets again
until spring. You can perceive that my
way of growing flowers does not make
necessary any large investment in green
houses or otherwise. OF course there are
some expenses. have two men to
help me, though one of them should
have to keep anyway for other purposes.
There is great deal in the proper pack
ing of flowers for market.
For example, violets must be placed
in punches in pasteboard boxes, with
waxed paper folded loosely around them.
They must not be touched with water,
because to do so will take away their
sweetness. I consider my own flower
growing enterprise as only begun thus
far; some day l hope to become mill
ionaire by selling violets and sweetpease.
At all events there is money in the busi-
ness, properly pursued, and more women
ought to 90 into it."-Washington Star.
The Dickinson press., 1891-03-14
Five Silver Weddings.

Abner Little and Nancy were married
in Hollis Jan: 90, 1902. AT the time Of
his death, in 1858, at the age Of 50, ten
pf their thirteen children were living,
tho mother dying sixteen years earlier,
at the age of IS. Of these children five
have lived to celebrate their golden we'd
ding-namfy, Elizabeth Nittle) How
ard, Caleb Little, Henry Little, Ruth
Nitle) Nevins and Caroline Nittle)
Hurd.-Hollis QMass.) Times.
The Dickinson press., 1891-03-14
Can This Re So9

Nothing wearies railroad traveller
more than a straight track" says an old
railroad man. "Any road with fifty
miles of straight track would be stunned
for one with three OF four curves in that
distance. know legions of people who
put themselves out to go by roads which
wind and curve and give new bit of
scenery every few minutes Detroit
Free Press
The Dickinson press., 1891-03-14
Something Pretty.

A sea captain who is exercising his
land legs here brings curio from
Pnnta Arena, Straits of Magellan. 1t
is a fur rug or spread made of guam
AGO skins, a llama like animal that bears
donestication. Ten of the light tan
pelts, with their white under fur making
the outline, have been skillfully stitched
together to resemble pattern in fur
San Diego Union.
The Dickinson press., 1891-03-14
FLOWERS BRING NJ MONEY
HERE is AN INDUSTRY WORTH WHILE
FOR WOMEN TO PURSUE. q,

| A Young Washington Woman Tells About
Her Success in Cultivating Roses and
violets-They Require Little Labor
aud Bring Largo Returns.
"Flower culture in small way can be
made to pay even by an amateur who
chooses to pursue it in painstaking and
intelligent way" said young woman.
Give years ago I bought little farm
near Anacostia, called It 'Rose Acres
and started in merely for amusement's
sake with a few rose bushes and some
other plants. I love flowers dearly, and
the labor I Iexpended upon them was we'll
repaid by the pleasure of it, but after a
while found that it would produce
money also. So I planted moro and
more, until at present have between
three and four thousand rose bushes Of
tho choicest varieties. A skilled gar
dencr told mo the other day that my col
lection of hybrid perpetuals is probably
the finest in this country. On the day
before Decoration Day I picked and sold
5000 roses from my own place.
II am extravagantly fond of roses,
but violets arc more profitable. On the
day before Christmas picked and sold
$500 violets at two cents apiece; that is
$64 worth. They were worth the high
est price then, but they never bring less
than one cent apiece. To raise them is
quite easy. 1 have 800 glass sashes un-
der which tho violets bloom all winter
long. In May I have a lot of fresh
ground plowed and prepared, and in it 1
plant all my violets, taken from beneath
the sashes for the purpose. Then I sim
ply take up the saslles and cover the
newly planted violets with them and
the work is done. In October they be-
gin to bloom, and continue all through
the winter, so that can pick them every
day and send the flowers to market.
ALWAYS A MARKET.
ALI of my violet plants come from one
little pot that l bought at tho Center
market five years ago. They are made
to multiply by dividing the roots, 80
that a single plant taken up in the spring
will supply u score Or more. 1 sell my
flowers by sending them to tho florists
in Washington or very often in New
York. Prices are higher in New York,
so that it usually pays to express
them on.
"There is always market for flowers
and there is never any difficulty in dis
posing of them. Any florist is glad to
buy them if they are good ones and in
prime condition. Those which send
to New York are delivered early the
next morning. depressed some thith-
er originally on speculation and I got
immediate replies praising their quality
and asking for more. The violets must
be picked always in the afternoon, be-
cause otherwise they lose their perfume.
Then they must be brought into town
in the evening for shipment.
"My greatest success is with sweet
pease, which most people do not get
along very well with in this latitude.
get the very finest possible seed to begin
with. From June to August / pick
very nearly 1000 sweet pea blossoms
daily, and they sell for fifty cents a hun
dred. so that they arc really the most
profitable of my flowers. They require
but little care. Iplant the seeds in the
spring in open ground, about four inches
deep, and as the plants grow the earth is
The Dickinson press., 1891-03-14
1t Was Mince Pie.

a social club in Boston organized
forty-si1 years ago never had any dis.
agreements on politics, religion, the cur
rency. the Indian question, love, mar.
riagc, or the hereafter, but when asked
to test and report on batch of mince
pies hot dispute arose, an open rupture
followed and the club disbanded to meet
no more.-Detroit Free Press.