davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1891-12-23
PENNSYLVANIA Customs.

Among the old customs OF the Penn
sylvania Dutch was peculiarly quaint
one, in vogue in this city, says Read
ing, Pa, correspondent, as recently as
twenty-five years ago. From 10 O'Clock
at night until daybreak special watch
men patrolled each street every hour.
announcing in a sing-song voice the
time of night and the condition of the
weather. The first patrol, for instance,
would say in broken Berks as he
marched:
'It's 10 O'CLOCK at neighdt, and the
moon shines breighdt." Or, on the
next trip, if the weather happened to
change, he would drawl out: '1ts II
O'CLOCK at neighdt, and it's maxim
something's town like trizzle." That is
to say, there was falling weather, and
rain was beginning to come down in
drizzle.
in this fashion the Pennsylvania
Dutch still render legitimate German
idioms bodily into bad English. Il
off YOU reighdt," is their ordinary way
Of saving Il agree with YOU" or Il
coincide in your opinion" ''Tie that
bag loose" is an expression often used
here in lieu of ''untie that bag"
derived from the Fatherland, and still
prevailing in many smaller towns in
| eastern Pennsylvania, and even west
ward beyond the center of the state,
is the practice of sending men or boys
up and down the streets with bell to
announce auction sales. The criel
usually rings his bell continuously
along half a block or so and ther
shouts:
''Oh, yes. oh, yes, auction, auction,
reighdt away town at IS. at =
O'CLOCK sharb; come Won, come all
and brink your friends alongk!" Their
the bell again. In the experience o.
nine-tenths of all who ever heard suct
announcements, all the words are
clearly rendered except the importan
and essential ones giving the address
and these are abominably mumbleC
and made absolutely unintelligible
Doubtless Shakespeare had like phe
nomenon in mind when he made
Prince Hamlet say to the players. IS
had as lief the town crier spoke M,
lines.
A college student was great.
amused recently on hearing the form
of expression. what fer" quite com
mon hereabout. used in a novel con
nection in an adjoining county. H
was making pedestrian tour through
the country with some companions
and the party had entered an ice cream
garden in an out-of-way village TO
refreshments. Nobody was in attend
ance, but presently bouncing Dutc
girl came dancing forth through
doorway leaning into the garden, an
after surveying the party for mc
ment asked with an awkward curtsy
''Gentlemen, what fer plates'l yo
haf?"
The pedestrians were non-plussed q
the question, but the joker of tn
party. eventually comprehending he
meaning, which he afterward explain
ed related to the nature or price of tn
orders for cream, responded:
Bowls for plates"
This answer in turn. was a puzzle
to the Dutch girl, and the pedestrian
had to make it clear to her that the
wanted full-sized ten-cent plates, nc
three or tive-cent ones, as it SCENE
she was accustomed to serving. ~
Y. San.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1891-12-23
POLL" WHEN NOT PRETTY.
How Parrots Are Brought by Steamer
from Mexico and Cuba.

One of the Ward line steamers ar
rived here last week with the largest
number of parrots on board ever
brought to this city. says the N. 7.
Recorder. They were the property of
set of spectators who fairly plunged"
in parrots. and who counted on max
ing a big thing out of The importation.
At Tampico shipment was made
of 500 birds. Of course they had to be
kept on deck. and matters promised to
be lively. When Havana was reached
900 more parrots were hoisted on
board. The clamor became awful.
No parrot could be induced to sleep
after o'clock in the morning, and
they held succession of indignation
meetings till night, introducing into
their debates few of the unparlia-
mentary expressions indulged in by
the rudely awakened passengers.
The birds were nearly all very young
and not in full plumage. The natives
of Mexico were green. with yellow
heads, and the Cuban birds quite
throw them in the shade with their
white heads, red necks. and green and
blue bodies. In spite of this grandeur
the Havana speculator only valued his
gaudy stock at a couple of dollars
apiece, while the men from Mexico
counted theirs at 81 or S..
The poor little things were scarcely
able to eat. and the attendants of the
Mexican birds spent all day and part
of the night administering masses ot
crackers soaked in milk and water
opening their bills and fairly cram
ming the food down their throats. The
others were less fortunate; their dinner
was poked into the boxes and they att
it or not. as they were able, and in con
sequence nearly half of them died
Several days from forty to fifty sof
| little green bodies were thrown over
board. By the time New York wa
reached they were sufficiently thinnet
| out to make their survivors comforta
BILE.
The boxes in which parrots are trans
ported are rough wooden affairs fee
long by feet high and deep. the from
and back covered with wire netting
and a long, rough perch inserted. i
most cases the birds are packed in a
| tightly as animals in cattle-car, an
numbers of them never succeed in get
ting down to the food cups. For som
mysterious reason no water is give
them. except that which moistens tn
crackers, and it is really case of SUI
vival of the fittest. only very robus
bird living through these days an
nights of torture. Then it is yer
bedraggled and dilapidated, tai
featherless object that is presented t
the Inspectors gaze. and it takes full
fortnight to restore the smoothnes
of plumage and vivacity of dispositio
which is the stock in trade of parro
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1891-12-23
Even Corn Husks Are Valuable.

The fates are combining to make
things pleasanter for the Western
farmer. the latest discovery of value to
him being that the husks of corn will
make excellent paper. Hitherto husks
have not had any commercial value
and have only been eaten by stock
under protest and during hard spells.
Now. however, the establishment of
paper mills in the West should put a
stop to the constant shipping of paper
from the East. and also convert a
waste article into what manufactur-
ers would call 'residuary profit, :"
such as coke in a gas factory. 1t is
not many years since old rags were
looked upon as the only possible raw
material for the manufacture of paper.
and the course from cast-off shoddy to
the covering of corncobs has been both
steady and interesting.-&. Louts
Globe
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1891-12-23
HAIRPINS.
Articles That Cost from Nothing to Five
Hundred Dollars Apiece.

Hairpins vary in price from few
pennies a gross to $500 apiece, says the
N. Y. Recorder. Perhaps the hairpin
is the most useful all-around article of
feminine wear. 1t serves not only the
purpose for which it was designed, but
also as a glove-buttoner, ,shoe-buttoner,
cuff-fastener. and even breast-pin.
A distinguished West Virginian. who
frequently visited New York, discov-
cred an entirely new use for the hair
pin. He converts it into a file for the
preservation of newspaper clippings.
His method is to twist the hairpin into
a hook, sink one end into the wall or
window-sill, and file clippings on the
end that is free. He never buys hair
pains, but obtains an ample supply
from the pavements. where they are
daily shed in thousands from the gold
en-, red, black, brown, and gray tresses
of New York women.
The cheapest hairpins are thlnly
lacquered wires bent into suitable
shape. They are made by the million
for little or nothing, and the manu-
facturers' prices would fill every Wom-
an with a sense of outrage at the prof
its made by retailers. Small, thin,
kinky hairpins are a modern improve
ment on the straight, old-fashioned
variety, but even they are made for
trifie per gross. The costlier hairpins
are not so variously serviceable as the
cheap ones.
They are made of gold, silver, and
tortoise SHE'LL sometimes ornamented
with precious stones and rich work.
manship. Tortoise shell in the rough
is worth from S. to $8 a pound. The
finest is from the belly of the tortoise.
That yields the amber-colored shell
from which the costliest pins and
combs are made. Small pins, all oi
tortoise shell, cost $1.50 to 81. Larger
ones cost from 81 to So. Fine amber
shell-pins, with gold tops, cost from 81
to $50. After these come the jewelet
pins. They may be of almost any
price. Simple ones cost from $50 t.
$75. More elaborate ones, with pearls
and diamonds. may cost from 500 tt
$500.
The shellworkers of this town are al
extremely skillful and artistic body o
men. They carve and weld the shell il
a fashion to astonish one not acquainted
with their art. They are well-pai'
workmen, and the value of their labo
is seen in the difference of prices be
tween the plain shell-pins and thos
enriched with their elaborate carving
Most of these men are kept activel
employed by the large jewelers..
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1891-12-23
Realism of a Kind.

According to a summer novel. the
hero "stood with the moon shining on
his face. The white glare made him
look more like creature of antique
granite than ever-hewn with lost
art. But the calm curves of his mouth
were pulsing with the red torrents OF
youth, and under his lids the unmeas-
urable darkness of his eyes seemed
crossed with fiamer' 1t is safe to bet
a red banana that in another minute
or two he took out package of cigar
cites and lighted one. That is to say,
if the novel is at all true to real life.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1891-12-23
AS SHE is SPOKE IN PENNSYLVANIA
English as it is Taught by a Pretty
Berks County School Teacher.

She was a buxom, ruddy checked.
clear-eyed Berks county maiden of 20.
neatly dressed. snug, and tidy. a
teacher of country school in Heidel-
berg township; probably as bright a
young schoolmarm as could be found
anywhere hereabout; one from whose
red lips the mongrel English dialect of
the region fell more softly and with
less uncouthness than usually charac-
terizes the speech of the Pennsylvania
| Dutch. 1t was on an afternoon this
week, and she stood at the blackboard
before mixed class of little girls and
boys, calculating some mysteries in
reading and writing. She seemed a
triie embarrassed by the presence of
half dozen picnickers who had fled to
the log schoolhouse for refuge from a
sudden shower, but this embarrassment
only served to heighten the brightness
of her cheek and eye. and to increase
the earnestness which she threw into
her demonstration.
With piece of chalk she traced on
the black board the letters:
'P-i-g."
Then, addressing her pupils. she
asked. ''Vos is dos?"
The class responded instantly, in
loud chorus, "Pick!''
Yes" said the teacher proudly, 81
gif you reighdt. How many kindts Of
pick?"
There was a pause, and then little
blackheaded urchin spoke up. Three
kindts!"
"Ah yes, I gif you reighdt agair
once - responded the fair school mis-
tress. smiling with evident satisfaction
at her pupils creditable showing
First ?"-and she waited with wooder
pointer in air for an answer.
Won wot grunts, suggested severa
of the children at once.
Yes" nodded the teacher, with ;
rising infection denoting her pleasure
and second?n
Won pick to dick (dig) with
answered yellow-haired little fellow
'Yes, and the thirdt kindt?"
Another pause, and then the answe
came from a thin-faced little girl, wear
ing glasses, "Von to pick upT'
'.Ah, yes" cried the teacher, tri
umphantly, glancing at the visitors, ant
!, proceeded to write down the definition
, in order on the black board.
The picnickers withdrew. silentl
convulsed with merriment afraid t
;; trust themselves longer in the schoc
room to hear more in the same vein
They are well-known Reading folk:
and they vouch for the. correctness {
the recitation as above reported.
, surprise should be expressed at tn
: state of English culture revealed bot
by the teacher and her pupils let it b
stated that she is about as far in &C
vance of her clientage as teachers
more favored communities are {
e theirs. A similar picture could n
n doubt be drawn of common schools
0 many other back townships of Berk
il and of Lehigh, Lancaster. and Leblanc
$ as well. The truth is that the chi
e disadvantage of these worthy people
K their lack of booklearning. In natur
J. intelligence. sturdy honesty, and thri
# they are considerably above the ave
a age. but they cling tenaciously to o
r customs and entertain an inherited di
a regard for culture.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1891-12-23
ANTIQUITY OF THE TELEPHONE.
Its Principles Known in India for Thou
sands of Years.

English travellers and officers in
India who have managed. through
favoritism with the priests, to gain
access to some of the half-ruined
temples of PAM, city about 200 miles
from Madras, have learned that the
principles of the telephone have been
known in that country for thousands
of years. In the city of PAM there are
two temples, about a mile apart. In
the interior on the ground floor of each
there is a small circular room guarded
day and night from natives as well as
strangers. These rooms are supposed
to be the abiding places of govern
ing spirits.' but in reality are the
termini of telephone line which is
laid under ground from one building
to the other.
The superstitious natives regard
these little circular rooms with the
greatest awe, because they have had
demonstrated to them on various oc-
casions the power of these governing
spirits" TO communicate with the other
temple. When this miracle is being
performed the natives are required to
make their offerings in one building
and make known their wishes and de-
sires. Then, upon Immediately repair
ing to the other temple. they are in
formed of all they have said and done.
To US that is all easy enough, but to
the superstitious native of India it is
proof that the priests are supernatural
beings.
Those who have visited these tele-
phone connected temples say that the
transmitters are of wood, and that
they are about the size of the head OF
-four barrel. The wire is said to be
neither steel, copper. nor brass, but OF
substance closely resembling the latter
metal. Old worm-eaten transmitters,
said to be 1000 years old, have been
shown those fortunate enough to gain
admission to these temples.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1891-12-23
why He Won't Have a Fire-Escape

A hotel-keeper at Springfield. Mass,
gives a queer excuse for not having a
fire-escape from a bedroom in the
second story. He says that he had one
placed there a year ago, but the first
two weeks three boarders skipped their
bills by this means. and then he had it
taken out.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1891-12-23
Lesson in Grammar.

MADAM" said the tramp. can 1
get light luncheon here today?'
You can. sir. if you can saw that
pile of wood over there" answered the
madam promptly.
My good woman" said the visitor.
deiectedly, "allow me to correct your
grammatical construction. Saw is the
imperfect form of the verb to see. 1t
relates to the past. For example, in
speaking in the present tense. | would
say that can see that pile of wood
over there not that can saw it. Dc
you grasp the distinction. MADAME"
She did, and the broom too.-Detroit
Free Press
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1891-12-23
A Persistent Mountain Lion.

A Colorado man killed sheep, hung
it up and dressed it. He was still at
work when a mountain lion crept be-
tween his legs, pulled the mutton
down. and. although given good kick
ing, held it fast and got away with it.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1891-12-23
Administrators Sale of Real
Estate.

By order of the Probate Court of Portage
County. to me directed, will sell at Public Sale
at the door of the Court House Ravenns, Ohio,
On Saturday, January 9th, 1892,
commencing at 10 O'Clock a. M. the undivided
one half of the following described Real Estate
of Portage, and State of Ohio:
ions Nos, and OF Lot No 8, in the s. E. Quar-
ter of said ToWnship-bounded north by the
Center road. the Town Hall Lot. lands of Sa-
mantha Davis, Lucy Booth DR.. Weir and E. L
Bostwick East by lands of Samantha Davis
B. L, BOstwick. Robert Hinman, Mrs. A Clark /:
on the South by lands Of Mrs A. Clark John
Edwards the Disciple Church lot and the dag
onal road. and on the west by the Center Road,
the Disciple Church lot and the Town Hall lot
con tanning about 25 acres of land.
Appraised at 81 900.
Second Tract Being part of original Lot
No. 8. in the Southeast quarter of said town.
ship of Edinburgh, County of Portage and State
of Ohio. bounded north by the Diagonal road
| and lands of ID. ID, Hill; east and sopth by lands
| of AdeIine Davis. and west by lands of Otis
Martin and d. ID. Hill containing about acres
of land. Appraised at $50
For more perfect description see petition of
| undersigned to sell said lands. in Probate Court
Records and files
TERMS s:-One-thir cash, ,one-third in one. and
one-th1rd in two years. Deferred payments to
bear interest and secured by mortgage on PREM
ises sold. MARGARET FUTILE.
12I2-4t By SIDDALL & DoUTHITT, Att'ys.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1891-12-23

~ AA~<A>
TRANKLIN HILLEN, whose place Of
1 residence is unknown. will take notice thai
Mary NJ. Miller, filed her petition in the Court
of Common Pleas OF Portage County. Ohio, be-
said Franklin Miller on the grounds of wiIliul
absence from the plaintiff for more than three
years prior to the time of filing her said petition
and for gross neglect of duty. and praying to
be restored to her maiden name of Mary NJ
Harmon. Said cause will be for hearing on and
after six weeks and one day from the first pub
lication of this notice.
MARY NJ MILLER
By l. II PHELPS, her Atty
Ravenna, Ohio, Dec 8, 1891, 12l3-6t.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1891-12-23

*Daily. Except Sunday. Alag STOP Meals
Dark Faced Type dsnotss tmafrom IL 90 12 90
midnight Light Faced from 70 90 midnight to iS 90 noon
JOSEPH WOOD, E. "A. FORD,
General Manager, General Passenger Agent
11-15-G-I PITTSBURGH, PENN'A.
For time cards, rates OF fare, through tickets,
| baggage checks, and further information re-
| garding the running of trains apply to any
| Agent Of the Pennsylvania Lines.
W. D. ARMSTRONG. Agent.
Ravenna. o.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1891-12-23

Miss Florence Hartley has been ap-
pointed a court reporter at Wichita,
Kan. She is the first woman to re-
ceive such an appointment.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1891-12-23
DOR SALE

A good open crate Stove, for sale at bargaid
e. L. GILBERT
1910-tf. Cor. Spruce and Prospect Sts.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1891-12-23

Nos. 336 and 33S connect at Wellsville for
Steubenville and Bellaire. Nos. 33S and 342
connect in Union Station, Pittsburgh, for the
East.
BETWEEN BAYARD AND NEW PHILADELPHw.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1891-12-23
dissolution Notice.

The Law firm of Dussel s. Rogers has been
mutually dissolved. The pa rites will hereafter
continue as separate firms
j. III. DUSsEL
1912 -3C* d. e. ROGERS
The Hot Springs star. (Hot Spings [Hot Springs], Dakota [Dakota Territory, i.e. S.D.]) 1886-189?, 1891-03-20

The Chicago Inter.0 Ocean in relation
to Palmer's political somersaults says:
"For Office, he is willing to throw over
even States rights, and acknowledge
the suprmecy of the Nation to the ex.
trcme in taking control of the rail-
roads. lie is willing to recognize a
patcrnal government at Washington.
if he can only have share in the pa
ternal authority. He would have been
in favor of the Lodge federal election
bill; a Chinese tariff wall, or absolute
free trade; free silver or gold; prohi-
bition or free whiskev; woman suf-
fragc and all the issues going, had the
+. NJ. b. a. men but made these con.
ditions for the delivery of their votes.
Palmer Is as years old, but as an aero.
bat lie can beat any man in the circus
ring"
The Hot Springs star. (Hot Spings [Hot Springs], Dakota [Dakota Territory, i.e. S.D.]) 1886-189?, 1891-03-20
Forward, March!

That prince of orators and good
fellows, Chauncey M. Depew,
never spoke truer word than when
at the Federal Club banquet to
President Arnoux he defined the
right policy of Republicanism as
the aggressive. Itis by aggressive
action that Republicanism has
always won; it is by aggressive
action that it will winin the future.
The party is nothing if not one of
advance. 1t came into being as
the result of progress-the progress
i'll public morality and patriotism
that enabled the people to see the
iniquity of slavery and the neces-
sity for a stronger bond of national
unity. When it ceases to be pro-
gressive and aggressive it is untrue
to its history and its principles.
A defensive fight is proverbially
loosing one; victory-other things
being equal-generally rests with
attack. There was world of Wis
dom in that terse and famous sem
tence of Gen. Grant, 81 propose
to move Immediately upon your
works." The Republican party,
which stands for the national hon
or, for the upbuilding of American
industry and commerce, for the
right of honest voting and the
cause of education, temperance and
morality, needs to be constantly
moving on the earthwork of igno-
rance, prejudice and false econom-
ic belief behind which the Democ-
racy lies entrenched. When we
march forward we succeed; when we
stand still we lose every time. Re-
/ publicanism is the standard bearer
of progress on the American conti-
nent; the place for the standard
bearer is in the van. Timid apol-
ogetic Republicanism doesn't pay.
Bold, self asserted, patriotic Re-
publicanism pays and wins.-New
York Press.
The Hot Springs star. (Hot Spings [Hot Springs], Dakota [Dakota Territory, i.e. S.D.]) 1886-189?, 1891-03-20
Americas sh,ppius Revival Begun.
The we'll known life ambition Of MI

Americas ShlppiuE Revival Begun.
The we'll known life ambition Of Mr..
Austin Corbin has been to create and
equip steamship line to cross the ocean
in five days between Montauk Point
Long Island, aud Milford Haven,
England. The project is perfectly
feasible with vessels capable Of steam
ing twenty.four miles per hour, and
that 1t is likely 10 be carried out is
indicated in the information printed
in the news columns Of The Press this
morning. The Postal Subsidy bill
passed at the close Of tho recent session
of Congress has encouraged Mr., Corbin
and other capitalists to subscribe
$l2,000,O00 to build feet Of eight
steel steamships Of 1900 tons burden
each, and establish this new trans.
atlantic line
When it is considered that these new
ships will be entirely of American con-
struction, that they will be made from
plans approved by the Secretary of
the Navy; that they WILDE manned by
American seamen and carry American
mails, the wisdom of Congress in pass.
ing the Postal Subsidy bill will be In
dorsed from one end of the country to
another. This great enterprise is the har
bingercf the general revival of Ameri.
can shipping, which was predicted for
that bill.
The projected line will mean much
to ocean travellers who are '.poor
Sailors by reason of the cutting Of of
a day Or more Of discomfort. New
York and London will be linked by
closer ties when they are only five
days and six hours apart by rail and
steamship. But the best feature of
the announcement is the one already
emphasized that the revival Of Amerl.
can shipping is begun.