davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1891-10-11
SUMMARY.

Total receipts al $50 &C.
Paid from Co funds 1852 10
Paid from Stdte" lbs AZ
Paid from judges
Salary funds. i 1876 ..
Paid from Road" .5l3 90
Paid from Sch: 49, '4|Gl2:22
Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1891-10-11

Total go. 35S "a
Net receipts. .12.14I OF
Total receipts ..........4l,330 GG
The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1891-09-24
Learning to Use Pockets.

One of the graduates at West Point
says: II am now trying to relearn the
use of pockets. For five years l have
been without that pleasant domestic
feature in my trousers, and l am glad
to find that they are still in vogue.
Very few people are familiar with the
binding nature of the routine at the
government school, In my course
there l have been away from the Point
once on two or three days leave. Yet
l have not found the restraint irksome.
The work is hard but pleasant, and one
must be hard to please who cannot find
a congenial set of friends there.
Before taking my leave of absence,
granted for six weeks after graduation,
/ selected q certain number of posts of
those submitted to me-three selections
were allowed me-and ran my chances
on getting the one of the three / most
cared for. The government always
sends the new men west, but does not
summary dismiss them to some wilder
ness without consulting their prefer
ences in the matter.
For instance, out of the available
posts submitted to me chose one on
the coast, one in Colorado and one in
Kansas. According to the vacancies
which may exist l am sent to one Of
these three. Naturally the posts with
the best reputation for life are pitched
on by the vast majority. There may
be but q vacancy or two to fill. A mans
standing at the completion of his course
has a great deal to do with his getting
the best. "-St. Louis Globe-Democrat.
The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1891-09-24
Quaint Riddles.

These curious riddles, which all have
one answer and are familiar to the
people of various parts of France, are
quoted in the Revue DIES Traditions
Populaires:
What goes from Paris to Lyons with
out moving or taking stepS
What goes to Paris without once
pausing9
am very long; if I rose up straight
l could touch the sky; if l had arms
and legs l could catch the thief; if
had eyes and mouth l could tell every
thing.
White, very white, it encirclfS the
earth.
I'll were not crooked / could not ex-
list.
The queens carpet, always spread,
never folded.
What looks very long in the sunshine
and has no shadow
What arrives first at the market and
first reaches home2
Answer, the road.
The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1891-09-24
A Confederate Yet on Parole.

Captain ]. B. Williams, of Alabama,
served during the civil war in the Tenth
Tennessee cavalry in the Confederate
army. He was captured, but released
on parole in May, 1865. Now, have
never been released from that parole"
he said, as he stood in the Burnet lobby,
"and as long as obey the laws and do
not take up arms against the United
States government it is in force. |
carry it with me all the time, but until
I am discharged l am simply a United
States prisoner on parole. have never
taken the oath Of allegiance on that ac-
count.
"But there need be no fear Of my
taking up arms against the government.
The politicians may go ahead and do or
say what they please. I'll do no fight
ing against this country's government.
But If any one of those foreign people
get into fight with us then's when I'll
come out, get my discharge and go into
the service" The parole is yellow with
age and almost worn out at the folds.
1t is dated at Meridian, and is signed
by Colonel w. B. Miles for the Confed-
crate states and by Colonel Henry Ber-
tram, of the Twentieth Wisconsin, for
the Federal government. Cincinnati
Times-Star.
The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1891-09-24
The First Doctor,

There is no subject whose history has
more of curious interest than that Of
medicine. It's origin is far back in the
mythical period where the marvellous is
nothing strange. The first physician
whose name was passed down by ira
dition to the Greeks, was Chiron. He
belonged to that singular race known
as Centaurs-half man and half horse
So the first physician was q veritable
horse doctor, indeed, and no pretentious
veterinary surgeon. Modern M. DIS,
however, have no cause to blush over
this apparently humble origin, for
Chiron was an honor to his profession.
He failed of cure in but a single case,
which is more than can be said of his
followers. Chicago Herald.
The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1891-09-24
A SimDle One,

There's a teacher in one of the pub
lie schools of Detroit who is fond of
quizzing her scholars, and one day she
caught up boy who thinks he could
give q college curriculum fifty yards
and beat it with his hands tied behind
him.
Glow many days in week2" she
asked him quite unexpectedly.
"Seven," was the prompt response.
"What are the week days."
monday, Tuesday, Wednesday,
Thursday, Friday, Saturday" he rat
tied off.
GLOW many is that" she asked next.
"Six," he answered rather slowly,
counting on his fingers.
''Isn't Sunday week day" she said
cautiously.
"Of course not"
'Then how many days are there in a
weekp
1t was simple enough in all reason,
but he had to go and get an almanac
to get it straight. -Detroit Free Press.
The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1891-09-24
Pine and Granite.

Maine alone bears the title of the Pine
Tree state, as New Hampshire does OF
the Granite state. But measured by
the amount of the respective products,
Massachusetts, is the Granite state and
Minnesota is the Pine Tree state. For
ests as well as other things have
changed since the days when the kings
surveyors, going through the forests Of
Maine, could put the broad arrow Of
royal ownership upon some of the
noblest and stateliest pines to be found
on earth.
Here were found the noblest trees
for the masts of that invincible British
navy which did such glorious deeds
under Nelson; and here, too, was found
pine enough to keep running the saw
mills that supported so many of the
settlers in Maine. This was once the
Pine Tree state. But the census bulle-
tin shows that today there are really
but three pine tree states, and that
Maine is not one of them. They are
Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan
Portland (Me.) Press
The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1891-09-24
McKinnon,s Old Soldier Story.

Napoleon met an old soldier who had
lost an arm. my friend, how did you
lose that arm"
Fighting for you, sire"
Napoleon, moved, responded with
handful of coins.
Sire" said the veteran eagerly,
"what would you give if 1 had lost the
other tooS"
II would give you the Cross of the
Legion OF Honor"
"With your own handN
"With my own hand"
Quick as thought the old soldier
drew his sword and slashed off his re-
naming arm at the shoulder.
Very affecting! But then the ques-
ton arises, how did he manage to do
it9-Pall Mall Budget.
The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1891-09-24
SLIPPING AWAY.

They are slipping awny-these sweet, swift
years,
Like leaf on the current cast;
With never break in their rapid flow,
We watch them as one by one they go
Into the beautiful past
AS silent and swift as weavor's thread,
Or an arrows flying CLEAN;
AS soft as tho dangerous breezes hid,
That lift the willows long golden lid,
And ripple the CLASSY stream.
AS light as the breath of the thistle down;
AS fond as lovers dream
AS pure as the flush in the sea shells throat,
As sweet as the wood birds wooing note,
So tender and sweet they seem.
One after another we see them pass
Down the dim lighted stair;
We hear the sound of their steady tread
In the steps of the centuries long since dead,
AS beautiful and as fair.
There are only few years left to love;
Shall we waste them in idle strifeP
Shall we trample under our ruthless feet
Those beautiful blossoms, rare and sweet,
By the dusty way Of life2
There are only few swift years-ah, let
No envious taunts be heard;
Make life's fair pattern of rare design,
And fill up the measure with loves sweet
wine,
But never an angry world
Exchange.
The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1891-09-24
An Old Trick I'm n New nros,.

Two cyclers were resting their weary
limbs ON West Jackson street. Their
safetes leaned against contiguous
horse post and the recumbent wheel
men lolled on the grass and pulled the
invincible cigarette. Into the midst of
this picturesque group strolled wan
derer weather beaten, bearded tramp.
Eyeing the bicycles with a wistful gaze,
he said:
'"Them things hard to rider"
'Not at all, y was the reply.
'Think mebbe l could straddle one
of EN-" soliloquized the gentleman of
infinite leisure, and added "Say, do
you think could ride it2"
sect on and try"
Selecting a wheel the tramp climbed
on, lost his balance and fell off, while
the two cyclers roared with laughter,
and a crowd began to gather. Again
he vainly attempted to mount, and
again came a roar of laughter,
II say" he pleaded, won't one of
yous hold the outfit till l get onp
The accommodating joker complied,
and the tramp got under way while
the assembled audience prepared for
more laughter. One foot came down,
then the other Again the pedals
made the circuit, and the wheelman
applauded:
Good boy; keep it up, keep it upv
And the tramp did. There was a
sudden bending of the back, a swift
squirt, and the astonished young man
gazed on the wanderer going down
West Jackson street with the speed Of
the wind.
One safety bore a double load return
ing home that night, for the tramp did
not return. Chicago News
The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1891-09-24
No Left Handed stomwlnders.

A left handed darkey bought stem
winding watch from one of our young
men. After having the watch in his
possession for several days he brought
it back to him, saying that it was no
good, as it would not run in spite of all
his persistent efforts at winding it up
The young man, after examining the
watch, turned the stem, and the watch
at once began ticking. The negro
could not for the life of him understand
why the thing would not run for him,
though he had been so faithful in wind
ing it up.
The inquiring mind of the young
man, to the astonishing bewilderment
of the darkey, told him the trouble,
which was that no left handed negro
could run o stemwinder. With his left
hand he had been turning the wrong
way all the time. He went home firmly
convinced that his watch would ignore
his left hand every time, and it would
only run when manipulated by man
using his right neutrality-suspicious.
True Citizen.
The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1891-09-24

Paris, like all other great cities, has
been much concerned with the question
how to dispose of sewage. At present
most of the outflow of the collectors
pours into the Seine, to its serious pol
luton. But some years ago the mu-
nicipality purchased several thousands
of acres of land in the plain of Genne-
villiers, a few miles down the river,
and began the experiment of a sewage
farm. The project has been an un-
qualified success.
An extension from the Pere- Lachaise-
st. Denis collector carries large guam
tity of sewage to the farm, where it is
used by irrigation as q fertilizer, with
the best of results in every way. At
present one-fifth or more of the total
sewage effluent of Paris is used on the
land at Gennevilliers, and in due time
the whole quantity can be diverted
from the river to this and other tracts
of land which have been selected as
suitable for the purpose DIR. Albert
Shaw in Century.
The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1891-09-24

In Mr.. Lowers treatise on English
Surnames" a story is told of an attor
ney's clerk who was employed to serve
q process on one of the oddly named
persons whose real name was entered
in the instrument with legal accuracy.
After much vain inquiry the clerk was
on the point of abandoning his search
when a young woman kindly volun-
teered to assist him.
soy say Bullyed," she cried to the
first person they met, "does thee know
q man nealned Adam GreenW
The bull head was shaken in token
of ignorance. Layabed, Stumpy, Cow
skin, Spindleshanks, Cockeye and Pig
tail were severally invoked, but with
out success, and the querist fell into q
brown study. Suddenly her eyes
frightened, and slapping one of her
companions ON the shoulder she ex-
claimed triumphantly:
"Dash my wig whoy, he means moy
feytherin and then turning to the law
yer's clerk she added, ''You should'r
ax'd for Ode Blackbirdp
The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1891-09-24

We would like to inform the book
agents, male or female, that disturb the
solitude of our sanctum, that we have
raised the war whoop, whetted the
scalping knife and dug up the Ratchet.
We already have more books than
breeches more spring poems in the
waste basket than shirts in our trunk,
and how can we regaIe ourselves on
literary feasts when we are signing for
the ''hog and hominy" of our daddies,
and forced to live off hard work and
ozone9 If the fight goes against us
delinquent subscribers may know it by
failing to receive the usual dun and see
ing the Office towel hanging as mourn
ing Grape on the doorknob. -Swaines-
boro (Ga.) Pine Forest.
The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1891-09-24
The Art of Pleasing.

We are told that truth is the end of
all art, but too much truth is not part
of the best methods Of the art of pleas
ing. If your host be Liberal you
should not point out to him the muta-
bility of party battle cries 1t is true
that when last the Liberals were in
power we were perpetually told that it
was the duty of every citizen to bow to
the sacred majority of the ballot box,
and that now that the ballot box had
decided against Home Rule the Radi-
calls will not permit legislation until
Home Rule passes. All this is true,
but it would be contrary to the first
principles of the art of pleasing to EN-
phasize its truth before Radical host.
In some companies, however, you may
treat Mr.. Gladstone as you do the
weather-abuse him for lack of another
subject of conversation.
Similarly, If you sit beside u soldier
whose devoted breast is valorously deco
rated, it may occur to you that the ac-
count of one of the actions thus com
memorated ran something as follows:
1--WE met with stubborn and desper-
ate resistance. Our troops behaved
CALAMITY, and at length the enemy were
repulsed. Losses on ourside, a drummer
boy of the One Hundred and Fiftieth
regiment has q severe hole in his drum.
Losses Of the enemy variously estimated
at between 100 and 1, OOO." The report
Of the action may have been somewhat
like the above, but it would not be in
accordance with the principles of the
pleasing art for you to point out to the
soldier the infinitely greater dangers of
aday's covert shooting.-Murray's Mag
aZine.
The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1891-09-24
What a Car Conductor Saws.

The other day, after the conductor
of Clark street cable ca: had passed
and repassed my seat several times
without offering to collect my fare, l
stopped him and handed over nickel
A minute later went to the rear plat
form to enjoy cigar and found the
conductor standing there alone.
''If o conductor hereafter neglects to
collect your fare don't offer it to him."
he said.
"Why notg'
Because the conductor himself
would prefer not to receive it under
such circumstances"
''But expect to pay for my ride"
Certainly, and am expected to see
that you do it. But suppose overlook
you. The company loses five cents,
but am responsible for the loss, not
you. You do your whole duty when
you pay what is demanded of you.
Now look at my side of the case. What
would be the result If there happened
to be a spotter on the carr If 1 over
looked a fare the chances are fully even
that the spotter would not notice the
omission. But when a passenger rushes
up to me and pays his fare it is proof
positive that l haven't done my duty.
Everybody notices the movement,
and the spotter swoops down upon me.
See9 Don't do it again. Save your
nickel. Don't imagine the conductor
will lie awake nights if he misses a fare
now and then, or that the poor but de-
serving railway company cannot worry
along all right without your nickel. II
you save your money you may save a
conductors job at the same time."-
Chicago Mail.
The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1891-09-24
"stand Up," Marshall p. Wilder.

Of course you know Maze Edwards.
He used to be treasurer in the Fifth
Avenue box Office, and is a very little
man, like myself. One day as went
in to get some tickets he was standing
at the window selling, his head just
coming up to the ledge of the window.
Mine just came up to the edge outside,
and in my naturally deep voice opened
up and said, "Give me two seats in G,
please"
''Stand up" he called angrily, think
ing l was a tall man who had stopped
down to guy him.
"Stand up yourselfl'' / answered
quickly, at which, recognizing the joke,
we both laughed heartily. Marshall P.
Wilder.
The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1891-09-24
DRYING Bananas for Market,

A new industry is gaining Roadway
in the tropics, by which bananas are
dried for shipment. The fruit In dry
ing loses one-third Of its weight, and
when dried readily sells at sixteen cents
q pound. The dried fruit can be trans
ported over bad roads without injury,
and it retains its flavor. The cost of
producing bananas is very little, as a
bunch weighing fifty pounds requires
as a total outlay for clearing, purchase
of land, and every other expense neces-
sary, even to boxing for the market,
the small sum of flfty-three cents-the
result of an actual test in the island of
Trinidad. When one considers that
the productiveness of the banana is
forty-two times that of the potato and
131 times that of wheat, and that when
once planted it needs little care, the
profits of the industry will be readily
seen. New York Times
The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1891-09-24
when a Lobster Drops His Claws.

The lobster is greatly in dread of
thunder, and when the peals are very
loud numbers of them drop their claws
and swim away for deeper water. Any
great fright may also induce them to
drop their claws. But new claws begin
at once to grow, and in short time
are as large as the old ones and covered
with hard shells. The lobster often
drops its shell, when it hides until the
new shell is hard enough to protect 1t.
Exchange.
The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1891-09-24
BIG RUNS OF POPULAR SONGS.
An Author and Publisher Tells How
Some Catchy Melodies Have Sold.

An Author and Publisher Tells How
Some Catchy Melodies Have Sold.
In the year 1868 I was yachting in
Long Island sound with young friend
of mine named Smith. We were lying
off New Haven becalmed, and although
did not know it then, l have since re-
allied that this period was a turning
point in my career. The doctors had
told me that If did not stop dancing
would become q cripple. / was some
thing at q loss what to turn my atten.
ton to- as at that time / knew of moth
ing except dancing. Smith at that
time was clerk in the music publish
ing house of Oliver Ditson g. Co., in
Boston.
said to Smith: II believe | can
write the songs to make q concern
rich. Let us form company and start
publishing music" We managed to
scrape together q small sum of money
and started in business At the end of
the first two years we were nearly bank
rupt The cause of this failure l found
to be that we had been selling other
publications and not our own. All the
money / could raise was realized out of
the remainder of my capital, which con-
sisted of an old schooner, which l sold,
realizing 5000.
The first hit we made was with the
old and well known melody "Shoo
Fly" l did not write this, but it was
an original composition, and we sold
10000 copies of the song and 1875, 900 of
the galop. My first real strike as a
song writer was made with put Me in
My Little Bed"
This was suggested to me by seeing
picture of the prophet Samuel in the
window of Boston shop as was go
ing home one evening. Samuel was
kneeling by bedside with his hands
clasped in prayer. turned to my son
and said, "That will be a popular
song"
wrote the melody and the first
verse in fifteen minutes. The popular
ity of this song was immense. The
second of my successes was "Come,
Birdie" The idea of this song came to
me while was lying in hammock
under tree. A beautiful woodpecker
was tapping at the bark of the tree,
and lifting my hand playfully toward
the bird / said: "Come, Birdie, Come. "
This was a success from the start, its
sales outnumbering that of 'Put Me in
Ny Little Bed" by many thousands
The next of my successes was entitled
Moonlight on the Lake" This was a
quartet. Over 100000 copies of ii
were sold. You probably know that
as soon as a song becomes popular
musical pirates begin to write some
thing similar to mislead the pub
lie. In order to counterfeit this II wrote
two more songs, "When IT'S Moon
light" and "When TITS Starlight
These were all waltz songs, and al
though the two latter songs did not sell
as well as the other, still they helped
to defeat the ends Of those who wished
to profit from the results of my hum
BILE efforts.
1t would be impossible for me tc
enumerate all the songs l have written
Phey runu up in the thousands. I have
written over 100 quartets. In fact,
think l can, without egotism, say tina
! have been the only writer of popular
music in this country or any othe
during the fifteen years. The success
of Marguerite" is well known, owe
1000, 900 copies of it having beer
printed. &C. A. White in Music Trades
The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-06-08
Rebul.ed BY the GRAND Jary.

MINNEAPOLIS, MIMI, June Yin re-
cent sermons several ministers have In
weighed against the large number Of i'm
moral places places allowed to exist in
this city by the authorities. Tho grand
jury during its session summoned these
ministers before them, and inits report,
Just made public, the says:
Your grand jury has no hesitation in
saying that they regret that ministers
OF the Gospel so far lower their dignity
as to proclaim from their putpits and
through the public press Of the citythe
existence OF evil and immoral conditions
Of affairs that smell to heaven, based
upon hearsay and rumor.
The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-06-08
Tho oueen pawnod Her Jewels.

Queen Isabella of Spain, pawned her
Jewels to raise money to fit out the
expedition that discovered the new
world. Her sacrifice was not greater
than is made by many women OF
America, who deny themselves many
things in order to have money to buy
DR.. Pierce's Golden Medical Discovery
for their sick husbands or children.
This discovery" is more important to
them than the one made in 14S2. For
all diseases OF the Lungs, Liver, Throat,
or Stomach, the discovery" is a soyer-
eign remedy. A trial convinces, its
continued use cures. It puriaes the
blood, invigorates the liver and
strengthens and builds up the whole
system. Guaranteed to benefit or cure in
every case, or money paid for it re-
turned.
The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-06-08

S. II. Clifford, New Cassel, Wis, was
troubled with Neuralgia and Rheuma-
tism, his Stomach was disordered, his
Liver was affected to an alarming de-
gree, appetite fell away, and he was ter
ribly reduced in flesh and strength.
Three bottles OF Electric Bitters cured
Edward Shepherd, Harrisburg, ILL.,,
had running sore on his leg of eight
years' standing. Used three bottles Of
Electric Bitters and seven boxes Of
Bucklen's Arnica salve, and his leg Is
sound and well. John Speaker, Gatawba,
Ohio, had five large Fever sores on his
leg, doctors said he was incurable. One
bottle Electric Bitters and one box Buck
lens ArniCa salve cured him entirely.
Sold by Logan Drug Co. 3