davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1891-01-21

One of the most interesting things to
me, being an ex-member of the trade, is
to study the simple little brands on the
ends of the cigar boxes in the tobacco
nists' stores and wonder how many of
the people who use the contents know
the meaning of the word, 'claro," etc.
Nowadays a smoker calls for light,
medium or dark colored cigar as his
fancy dictates. To the dealer, however,
there is nicer and more exact method
of naming the shade. "Claro," for in
stance. stands for the hghtest shade of
all and is mostly found in the cheaper
grade of twofers. About the palest i'll
color of the ordinary cigar is the ''Colo-
RADIO" Then comes Colorado Maduro,"
next ''Maduro," and lastly "Oscuro,"
which is the darkest, heaviest cigar
made. The Colorado Maduro" and
''Maduro" shades are the most sought
for in the best grades of domestic cigars,
while consumers of imported brands run
to "Maduro" and "Oscuro."
1t seems difficult to get really good
imported cigar that is not dark colored.
All of them are strong, and while many
men affect the darkest, high priced
kinds, believe that but few of them
really enjoy them. AS good a cigar as
any man need smoke can now be bought
for ten and fifteen cents. A few experts
may find value and solace in a tin foil
covered twenty-five cent weed, but
when anything over q quarter is paid it
is money thrown away for ornaments
like tin foil, band, fancy Innings to box,
etc. At present prices Of tobacco and
labor manufacturer can't put a value
of fifty cents in one cigar unless he folds
in twenty-five cents worth Of postage
stamps, and yet many people smoke
these expensive sorts.-Chicago Journal.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1891-01-21
Terrorized by a Balloon.

An account which recently appeared
in The Novoe Vremya of a balloon voy
age from st. Petersburg to a point not
far beyond Lake Ladoga conveys a
striking picture of the benighted con-
dition of the Russian peasantry, even
within a few hundred miles Of the
capital. The balloon in question, con-
tanning a Col. Pomostzeff and Count
Covanko, descended at a place called
Moustoi, in the government of Oletz,
500 versts from St. Petersburg, and this
is what followed:
There was general panic. The
peasants thought the anti-Christ was
descending from the sky, and that the
end of the world was come. Women
screamed, children cried and all the
inhabitants were well nigh out of their
wits from fear. Soon from the wood
came the women who had been gather
ing mushrooms, running as fast as their
legs could carry them. GA house. they
cried, has come down from the sky
with wonderful strangers in it!''
The peasants thereupon hid them
selves in the village as best they could,
with the exception of few bold fellows,
who took their hatchets and cudgels
and proceeded cautiously to the forest.
1t was long before these latter, who as
sisted to convey the apparatus to the
village, could prevail upon their fellow
villagers to come out of their hiding
places.
The aeronauts spent the night in this
village, and i'll the morning marched
back, the balloon being packed on a
sledge, because there was not a wheeled
vehicle in the place.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1891-01-21
He Tried to Be obliging.

Let me see your Encyclopedia Nux-
vomica, if you please" said farmer
as he stepped into a prominent book
store of Pittsburg.
Yes, SIR replied the clerk, al
though he thought the inquirer looked
like an unpromising customer.
Still he was polite for the clerks had
general instructions to treat all callers
with consideration, and, besides, this
particular clerk had read somewhere
of literary men with agricultural hab
its and of a granger-like appearance,
and it was barely possible that the
man now asking TO see the encyclo-
pedia was one of that kind.
1t does not always do to judge peo-
pie by the clothes they wear, nor to
form conclusions from the hayseed
which may eudeayor to conceal itself
cunningly in their hair.
So reasoned the clerk as he displayed
all the twentv-four volu les of the
Encyclopedia NuXvomica To the inves-
tigatiye rustic. and expatiated learn
edly on the dead loads of erudition
which had been consumed in the pro-
duction of the great work.
The farmer looked slowly and care
fully through the Volumes one by one,
and listened to what the voluble clerk
said, but made no reply or gave any
indication of desire to add the set to
his literary possessions. Finally the
clerk asked:
Were you thinking of getting an
encyclopaedia"
"Oh, no." replied the farmer, but 1
| like to oblige people"
Like to oblige people?n exclaimed
the astonished clerk.
Yes, alters try to oblige people
when L can, but sometimes it's mighty
inconvenient, in the busy season."
But if you don't intend to buy an
encyclopedia said the clerk in an in
| jured tone, ''why are you wasting your
time and mine by looking all through
those books?"
'Jist bekase 1 alters try to oblige,
sir, even at some Inconvenience to N.Y.
self"
Il don't see how you are obligine
anybody" added the clerk, as he sadly
replaced the books in their box, and
wondered if he had better call the DO.
lice.
Don't youP" asked the granger.
'Well, I'll tell you. You hey sigr
in the winder which says, Ask to see
our Encyclopedia Nuxvomica, an as
alters try to oblige | come in an dur
as the sign said, but there be some
people as never appreciate it when you
do try to oblige 'em."
And the farmer walked out, resolv.
ing never to try to oblige the city peo
pie again.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1891-01-21
One Trial Was Enough.

"When the Kansas Pacific was first
opened,n said B. w. Veddar, a loco
motive engineer, "the Indians were
very hostile and there was constant
fear that they would wreck the trains.
That they did not is due to their igno-
rance of the iron horse and of the best
methods of destroying it.
''One of nv firemen had an eXpe-
rience with the Cheyennes that he will
never forget. He was on the road
near Fort Wallace when he saw that
the Indians had cut the telegraph wire
and knew that he might look out for
squalls. They were never satisfied
with simply cutting the wire. but
chopped it into inch pieces with their
tomahawks to effectually stop the mys-
terious messages. As the train came
near large patch of sunHowers which
grew on both sides of the track over
100 Indians rose up, stretched q strong
rope across the track, braced them
selves, and prepared to receive the
shock of the locomotive. As was aft
erward learned, they had taken raw
hide strips, braided them together,
and. with force of fifty at each end
of the rope, thought that they would
be able to stop the train. The instant
the locomotive struck the rope the air
was full of Indians. They were thrown
in all directions. Some were Jerked
clear across the train and more than a
dozen were killed or seriously injured.
This was the last attempt made for
years to stop the trains. st. LOutS
Globe Democrat.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1891-01-21
The Exception Found at Last.

He sat in the lobby of one of our
prominent hotels. His hair was as
white as snow and matted in thin and
scraggy locks over a high and creased
forehead Lines of sorrow marked
his face aud ran through his features
as numerous as the rivers in Central
Africa. In his eyes there was sadness
which bespoke a weight of sorrow on
the mind and seemed to suggest that
grief had greatly assisted time in turn
ing the hair white and furrowing the
face. A number of men were sitting
around him, and they had been telling
stories of the ''pistol which is not
loaded" and its fatality. The white
haired man said in a plaintive voice:
Il have story to tell. l returned
home one day from my place of busi-
ness. Everything had gone my way
that day, among the things a good
many dollars, and felt unusually gay
and skittish. 1 told nv wife of my
good fortune. and asked her to get me
match. We were standing by a
dressing case, and when she refused
opened a drawer and drew forth q
pistol, which l knew was not loaded,
as had examined it the night before.
Leveling the pistol straight at her
heart. poor woman, she's dead now, ]
playfully threatened to shoot her.
There was look of trusting, confident
love in her eyes-shall 1 forget that!-
as she dared me. placed my hand
on the trigger and pulled it. l closed
my eyes, afraid to open them. Oh! ii
was awful.
.After time, it seemed hours.
opened my eyes and put the pistol
back"
'But your wife-was she killed in
stantly?" eagerly asked three listeners
"No-o-o."
"A lingering, painful deathP" sym.
pathetically they asked.
No; as l said, the pistol was moi
loaded. My wife was unhurt, o.
course"
But you said she was dead?"
''Yes, she died two years ago, of ole
age"
And why did you tell this story?"
ITO show you there are times wher
the pistol is really not loaded. There
are exceptions to all rules, you know
This is the one exception to the sever
| instances you gentlemen have recited.
-L0u1SUiLLe Post.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1891-01-21
Excuse Me for Being Alive"

There is a little druggist in Brook
lyn, but although little he is full of
pluck. The other day he got on a
horse-car and dropped into corner
seat and began reading paper.
Other passengers got aboard and
soon the vehicle was crowded Still
the serenity of the druggist was undis-
turbed. Suddenly there came c3!ange.
''Ouchn' exclaimed the druggist,
with a frown and glare at stout
man, who had stepped upon his foot
and sent shooting pains through his
most favored corn. Hey, there!' he
added. You are standing on my
foot"
The man then removed his pressure.
but the druggist failed to hear his in
coherent apology.
'Say!' he shouted to the big bear.
"Please excuse me-"
''Oh, no." returned the other, ''it's
my fault; please excuse me-
L beg pardon, sir" quickly re-
sponded the little man, Il am at fault;
please excuse me for being alive, u
and amid a roar of laughter he re-
sumed the perusal of his paper.-M.
Y. Herald.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1891-01-21
A Telegraph-Pole as a storehouse.

While walking through the Museum
of Natural History at Central Park,
recently, saw in one of the glass cases
part of cedar telegraph-pole. thickly
perforated with holes. On inquiry. 1
learned that these holes had been dug
in the pole by the California wood
pecker. for the purpose of storing
acorns for its winter food. Some of
the acorns may still be seen in the pole.
although most of them had been ex-
tracted before it was cut down.
1t has long been known that these
busy workers store acorns in the bark
of standing trees. but the use of tele-
graph-pole for this purpose is an en-
tirely new selection, and while perhaps
the feathered gentry find it a very con-
venient storehouse, their method of
| taking possession is decidedly damag-
| ing to the telegraph-pole.
| There is cousin of this same bird
in Mexico, who has discovered that the
| stalk of the aloe makes much better
storehouse than the trees or telegraph
poles. besides saving him great deal
of labor. The aloe. after Towering.
dies. but the hollow stalk remains
standing. The flinty texture of the
|
central cavity by the woodpecker, who
then thrusts in an acorn, then another.
and another, until the hollow space
is filled to the level of the hole. He
then makes second opening higher
up, and thrusts in more acorns until
the level of that hole is reached. So
he proceeds all the way up the stalk,
until it is completely filled with acorns.
Often aloes thirty miles distant from
the nearest oak tree have been found
stored in this way, involving a journey
for the birds of sixty miles for each
acorn stored.
All this good work is turned to use
in times of famine, when not only the
woodpeckers. but other birds, and even
animals, live on this preserved food.
Before finish 1 must tell you of a
little joke which woodpecker occa-
sionally INDUCES in. Instead of in
serting an acorn in the tree selected
he slyly puts in small stone; the
wood grows over this in time. and
when the tree is finally taken to the
mill the stones play sad havoc with the
saWs.-iSt. Nicholas.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1891-01-21
THE CURVATURE OF THE EARTH.
Reasons Why It Z. Impossible for the
Naked Eva tn See the Rnundness.

Reasons Why 1t IA Impossible for the
Naked Eye to See the Roundness.
Generally speaking, we say that the
curvature of the earth amounts to about
seven inches to the statute mile; more
exactly, it is $50 inches to the mile, or
1862 inches for a geographical mile
ANY amount of artificial assistance with
optical instruments does not make it
possible for the eye to perceive the least
iota of curvature, even though the gaze
is directed from the highest eminence.
This is because the vision is not capable
of comparing heights and distances. The
effect of the known curvature of the
globe may be illustrated in the following
manner:
Take down your globe, place book,
pane of glass or even ruler against it
either of the two objects first named
ment; you will observe instantly that
the book or pane only touches i'll one
point, the globes surface falling away
in all directions from the point of con-
tact.
Now suppose the oceans surface to be
calm and frozen, and sheet of glass
many miles square laid upon it. At one
mile from the place of contact the glass
will stand out nearly s inches (this
measurement being upon the ocean, the
mile is nautical one), in fact, will lack
but .039 of an inch of being inches
from the pane; at three miles it will be
feet, at nine miles 54 feet and SO on.
The number of feet of depression is equal
to two-thirds of the square of the num-
Der of miles for any observable distance.
The atmosphere plays an important
part in estimating the visibility of OBJ
jects. On this account part of this de-
preston must be Cancelled to make good
the phenomenon of refraction, which
causes objects of all kinds to appear
higher than they would if there were no
atmosphere. Careful measurements have
shown that the error from refraction
averages more than one-seventh of that
from curvature. The rule, therefore,
commonly used for correction of cur
vature and refraction is: Square the
number of miles and take four-sevenths
of it for the correction in feet. Thus, if
an object is visible at distance Of five
miles we may know that its height is at
least 143 feet.
Or, if the height of visible object is
known-say 100 feet-talze one-fourth of
this, multiply by seven and take the
square root of the product (Which gives
the distance of the object, in this in
stance fraction of over thirteen miles.
A man swimming in the ocean can per-
ceive tower 200 feet high and nineteen
miles away as mere speck on the hori-
zon; but if the man were elevated 100
feet above the surface of the water he
could plainly perceive a tower 100 feet
high at distance Of twenty-six miles,
St. Louis Republic.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1891-01-21
Youthful but Smitten.

One of the most delicious love letters
that the Listener of the San Francisco
Examiner says he has ever read was
intercepted the other day by teacher
in one of the public schools. The boy
who wrote it was ten years old, and
the girl presumably of the same age.
Here is the charming missive: "Dear
Emma:-I love you and I wish you
would write to me. I love you and
wish 1 could kiss you. Emma, you
look so rosy. love you, don't you
love ME? wish you would write to
me. l guess you love me. / don't
care if you don't. l will write TO you
anyway. | want you to write to me.
and if you have no lead pencil ! will
give you one and some paper.
Il am so glad that you love me.
Emma, did you tell that boy that lives
beside your house that you was 60
ing to Slap my noseP Emma. l could
not help but cry when that boy told
me. Emma, | thought you thought
more of me. have given you about
25 cents worth of candy. and you
don't treat me well; besides gave you
some gum"
There is no doubt about the condition
of that boy. He is in love. He may he
only ten years old. but if he lives to be
one hundred he will never be any
more in love then he was when he
penciled that letter.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1891-01-21
JUST LIKE MOLLY.
The Prince and the Happy Peasant in the
Black Forest.

A German prince was on his bridal
tour says Texas Sifts1gs. He was, of
course, accompanied by the princess,
his bride. The happy couple travelled
incognito leisurely through the beauti-
full Black Forest, stopping a day or so
at the little villages, where they strolled
about in each others company, unob-
served and unknown, enjoying the
beautiful scenery, etc.
While sitting under the shade of a
tree near the roadside one day the
prince, placing his arm around the
waist of the princess, just as ordinary
mortals might have done under the cir
cumstances, exclaimed in an ecstatic
voice, looking upward:
Il wonder, dearest Louisa, if it is
possible for any other living beings to
be as happy as we are?'
The wife sighed happy sigh, and
then indulged in speculative theories
as to the possibility of couple being
as happy in an humble cottage on a
small salary as in a gorgeous palace
and living on princely revenue. just
al this crisis sturdy peasant came up
the road, singing a merry roundelay.
Suppose we ask this rustic if he is
really happy?n suggested the princess.
Come hither my good friend, wish
to ask you something" said the prince,
adjusting his eye-glass.
s.Propel," replied the happy peasant.
''Are you really as joyous as you
seem to be?"
''What are you giving me?"
Il merely wanted to know if you are
really in as beatic a frame of mind as
you appearPh
Yes. L guess 1 am as happy as most
people get to be. I get enough to eat
and drink, and I've got an appetite as
big as that of letter-carrier.
Wife and children are in good health.
haven't got anything in particular to
grumble about"
Then l am to understand that you
have no cause for annoyance"
The happy peasant scratched his
head aud replied:
Now that come to think of it,
there is a little Improvement 1 might
suggest.
the week, and Sunday don't object to
going to the tavern and moisteninG
my clay with q glass of beer. Old
friends come in, and then l worry
down second glass. and after while
third, and by the time go home I've
generally managed to surround eight
or ten glasses, and then my wife Molly
goes for me. Maybe she doesn't make
it tropical in that immediate vicinity.
Now, if it were possible to have her
temper toned down little | don't
think that should object very much" "
''Shame on your exclaimed the
princess Indignantly. According to
your own statement you are little
better than a drunkard. You guzzle
beer, thus squandering the money you
should spend on your wife and child
ren, who with your bad example be-
fore their eyes will surely turn out
badly; and when your poor wife very
properly rebukes you. instead of heed
ing her counsel, you jeer at her. Oh,
you wretch!'
The happy peasant stood with open
mouth, almost dumfounded at the tor
rent of abuse from the princess.
Winking slyly at the prince the happy
peasant punched him with his elbow
and said, Just such another spit-tire
as Molly" and walked off laughing.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1891-01-21
The Peak of TenerifRe.

Attention is being called to the fact
that the peak of Teneriffe at dawn cast
upon the ocean shadow that at first
appears TO be fiat upon the surface,
but that gradually seems to rise up un-
til it is perpendicular, and stands ap-
parently a reproduction in black of
The real mountain which beside it is
white and glowing in the sunlight.
The scientific explanation of the phe-
nomenon is that the shadow at first is
really flat upon the water, but that. as
the heat of the rising sun causes a
vapor to rise from the ocean, the
shadow gradually becomes cast against
the bank of fog instead of upon the
water, and really is straight up in the
air.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1891-01-21
A Cup of Tea.

Polly, put the kettle on and we'll
all take tea"
But see that the kettle is boiling be-
fore making the tea. and see that the
water is fresh. and that it boils inn
mediately, before it has parted with its
sparkling gases. Do not let it simmer
and simmer for hours before it is
needed. l think it was Delmonico
that said, Americans cook their water
to DEATH"
Some notable housewives pride
themselves as upon virtue when they
set the kettle in the stove the night be-
fore, in readiness for the next morn
ing's breakfast. Tea and coffee or
vegetables, prepared with such water,
will have a flat, vapid taste.
Let the teapot, an earthen one, in
variably be scalded before putting in
the tea and then allow the tea to steep
from five to ten minutes before serving.
If the tea is made in the kitchen, do
not allow it to boil; set on the back
part of the stove.
OF course. with copper teakettle
and crane or ''5 o'clock tea," or sill
yer spirit lamp at the table, this caution
is superrogatory. In cold weather
tastefully made cosey thrown over the
teapot adds touch of brightness, says
Good Housekeeping.
Uncolored Japan tea, or fine blend
! of Orange Pekoe and Formosa, makes
most delicately favored cup of tea
with which to tempt the most in
veterate tea hater, and rouse his flag
ging energies.
There is nothing like cup of tea as
a nerve tonic. OF course, indulgence
in tea-drinking can be carried too far.
as in Wines chloral, the bromides and
other things good in their place.
A peculiar property of tea is that it
prevents the waste of tissue in severe
and protracted physical and mental
eXertion. A famous Arctic explorer
said in my hearing that his men bore
up under the strain they were put to
through exposure and severe toll. far
better when tea was served out to them
than when depending upon coffee or
liquor for a stimulant.
And then, what promoter of socia-
bility is cup of tea; what home COM
forts does it suggest, as to Cowper.
when he on winters evening draws a
cheerful picture of the cracking fire,
curtained windows. the Kissing urn,
and the ''cup that cheers, but not in
ebriatesm How often does the author
of 'Eothen" record his testimony to the
cheering. soothing influence of the
steaming cup that Oriental and En-
glish could join in liking.
In spite of the Country Parson.
who calls tea '.nerveless and vapor.
Gus liquid"-he never could have tasted
it made in the manner described above
in spite of the slurs Matthew Arnold
cast upon it-he describes a visit to
George Sand and tells US that she
poured out for him a cup of the ''in-
sipid and depressing beverage. boissor
fade ct melancolique, as Balzac calls
it, for which English people are though
abroad to be always thirsting for;;" il
spite of all this be it said that cup o.
tea. warm and fragrant and with ;
delicate bouquet, as they say of wine
: possesses an aroma fit for the gods
i De Quincy knew whereof he spokt
when he said, Tea is the beverage o.
: the intellectual"
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1891-01-21
Papa in the Rebellion.

An old army officer, according to
Mrs. Custer, had four-year-old boy
who never tired of war stories. The
story is little rough on me-" said the
officer to Mrs. Custer, ''but if you
know child, you know that he wants
plentiful sprinkling of Is, and moth
ing told in the third person. So l kept
on as he demanded, till one day he
looked up into my face and said:
"Father, couldn't you get any one to
help you put down the rebellionp"