davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1891-10-01

or even Of a district, but of fortress
round which town has grown up. In
former days the castle was held by
strong garrison, and the gems from all
the surrounding country were gathered
into the fortress as place of security;
hence Golconda became a market for
tho mines Of Central India, and the Col
conda gem might come from any
one of hundred mines In the
vicinity. Formerly all mining was
under the supervision of the In
dian potentates, but in all the diamond
districts of India the diamond digging is
now ca ried on In desuitory fashion
by tho natives The Indian diamonds
are found only in comparatively recent
alluvial deposits there being generally
an upper surface composed of loan and
sand, perhaps two feet in thickness,
under which lies stratum of back ay
from two to four feet thick, and under
this again the diamond soil, a stiff clay
dntermingled with large round stones
Here is the diamond hunters harvest
The deposit Is from two TO three feet in
thickness, and after being reached by
the removal Of the overiying strata, is
removed and treated in one or two ways
When water is abundant and easily
avail able, the mad is washed through
sieve, and the stones remaining in the
sieve are examined to ascertain what
gems n ay be among their number. When
the mine is in a dry loca ity, the mud is
removed, dr.ed in the sun, then broken
into powder and subjected to a close
scrutiny The utmost degree of care
must be exercised in exam ming the soil
from the diamond layer, in order that
no gems may be overlooked, for dia-
of MI NJ LAT no ron ard
of many days labor, and its loss Is not
to be replaced.
AS at present conducted in the Dec
can, diamond mining scarcely pays eX-
penses, even when the labOrer considers
10 cents day an ample return for his
exertions. The surface soil is removed
from a small area. and an examination
made of the diamond stratum When
the indications appear promising, the
mining Is continued, but should the la
borer Judge that h efforts are being
thrown away, h at once abandons that
toca ity end selects some other point
The consequence iS, that although an
Immense amount of work is done every
year in the diamond regions. so -unsys-
Dramatically Is IL carried en-, that the re-
suits are very poor. Occasionally gem
Of good size is found, and competent
authorities say that II the mines were
conducted in scientific CT systematic
manner, considerable results m ght be
attained But perhaps this is aging
too much, for no business is more uncer-
tain than DIANE nd mining. The finest
gems In the word are OF Indian origin;
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1891-10-01
Diamonds.

The value of the diamond as an orna-
ment has been appreciated from the
earliest ages, and in the East the mining
OF these precious stones has, from time
immemorial, been a prerogatlve of royal
~. The oldest diamond mines In the
world are those of India, and evidence
OF the singular productiveness OF the In
dian mines is found In the fact that
though work has been carried on in them
since before written history had an orr
gin, many OF them are still, IL not as ro-
ductive as ever, sufficiently so to Justify
the continuance Of work The Ia.lia~
mines are not only tho oldest, bu; -
also the most extensive in the world, the
diamond district of the PENINSULA extend
ing FROM near tnc Hivcr fcnar IN tile
South to the River Some In the North,
tract in the East Deccan over 700 miles
from north to south and from thirty to
200 miles In width Not everywhere
throughout this vast extent of country
are diamonds found, but here ard there
the diggings are extensive, while al
most anywhere, a prospect" of the
soil gives indications of good dia-
mond territory. In this wide extent
there arc many important mincs. Some
OF the best have long been exhausted,
aud at present the most extensive dig
gings are at Kudapah, Karnul and FL
lore, where many hundred thousand
dollars worth of diamonds ara annually
taken from the soil, Some of the most
productive territory is in the dominions
OF the Nizam of Hyderabad, and here
were the long famous mines of Golconda.
This was the maine given them, but in
reality Golconda is not name of mine
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1891-10-01

In Africa the diamonds are found from
the SURFACE TO depth OF upward Of one
hundred feet. As q rule the diamond
strata lie close TO the surface, but In the
South African mines the contrary Is the
case, and better gems are found from
eighty TO one hundred feet below the
surface than are found In the early
stages OF the work.
The method OF working the mines is
exceedingly primitive. A claim Is staked;
all the earth Is removed one bucketful at
a time, and carefully sifted for the dia-
mOnds IL may contain. The labor is done
by blacks, who before going to work are
deprived of all their clothing, and after
leaving the mine are carefully searched
lest they should steal the product of the
days labor. Extreme care Is necessary,
for the diamond comprises so much value
In so little bulk, that 1t is quite possible
for dishonest employe. unless carefully
watched, TO carry away many thousand
dollars worth OF gems. Every mine
owner, however, is provided with emet-
les, and the negro suspected OF swallow
ing gems is promptly doctored. In spite
OF the utmost precautions, however, en-
ployers are subjected to great loss on ac-
count OF thefts by the laborers, and in
every mining camp there were dishonest
dealers who would buy the stones from
the blacks at a small part Of their value,
and then smuggle them out of the neigh
borhood. Finding that watching the ne
groes was Of no avail, the mine owners
went to the root Of the evil. hung two or
three dealers caught In the act OF pur-
chasing stolen stones, ordered others out
of the camp. and thus, for time at
leart, stopped the evil.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1891-10-01
The Maggie and the Parrot.

A Maybe who was chattering away
at a Lively rate was Approached by
a Parrot, who Sneeringly said:
"What an Awful, awful Rowl Are
you trying to Scare all the Children
to Death?
"You are nice Specimen TO Sheer
at my Music!" replied the indignant
Maybe. "If 1 had your Voice I'd go
hang myself"
"And IL 1 had yours III go Sing to
a Pole-Cat."
"This little Matter can be Easily
Settled" observed the Parrot, after a
moments Thought. ''Let us go into
the Garden of the Musician and Sing
for him and leave it for him to De-
eide"
1t being so Agreed, the two Birds
perched themselves on Limb neal
the Musicians window and began
their Songs. Each was trying his
Best to Excel the other when the
Alarmed and Enraged Referee rushed
out with Club and exclaimed:
Great General Scottl but II you
don't Clear Out of this I'll have your
Lives. It's Worse than a Horse.
Fiddlel"
Moral: Vanity and Boosting are but
a Thin Cover over ones Weaknesses. -
Detroit Free Press.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1891-10-01
Too Eager.

The Companion recently printed a
story about a woman who had no
doubt that she could paint pictures if
certain famous artist would only
"tell her how he did it," The Boston
Courier has a similar anecdote, and
the two, If we are to believe them,
seem to indicate that the old saying,
"Art is long" is NO longer universally
belied, even for substance of doc
trine."
A weA-known vocal teacher of Bos-
ton, whose reputation brings him
pupils from all over the country, re-
lates that there once came to him a
lady who announced herself as a
music teacher from a Western city,
and declared her intention of taking
a course of lessons. She asked his
terms, and pronounced them satisfac-
tory, and then went on to talk about
the time of lessons.
you see," she explained, Il have
only limited time in Boston, and /
must manage SO as to get the whole
twenty0leSsonsi into that"
How long are you to be here?" the
other asked.
"Three weeks" she replied.
Twenty lessons in three weeks!"
he exclaimed aghast. "How could
that be done?"
oh" she responded easily, Il
could take two lessons some days"
-Yes," the teacher answered, cor
you might take the whole twenty
lessons one after the other all at once.
That would only take about ten
hours"
The face Of the lady frightened.
would you really be willing to
give them to me that way?" she asked.
Then could get home inside of ten
days, and get my advertisement as
your pupil printed before the end Of
vacation" And the amusing part Of
the story is that the woman could
not-be made TO see the absurdity of
her suggestion.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1891-10-01

and taken out of the country. When
the fact became known a stop was pnt
to the work, the foreigners were ex-
PEELED, and the government took charge
of the mines.
For long time the Brazilian stones
were regarded as inferior to those of
India and Rorneo, but save the tinge of
color, generally yellow, which is often
found in the Brazilian stones, there Is
no reason for the supposed inferiority,
and when they arr white they can not
be d stingushed from the product Of the
Deccan mines. In Brazil the diamond
occurs among the detritus of a sand
stone formation and often occurs in con-
nection with gold and othe- precious
stones. On the banks of the Brazilian
rivers, especially where lodges of rock
come down into the water, very
curious circumstance is observable. The
little whirlpools which are found in the
eddies OF every stream have turned the
smaff ytrmrs round IN vuo-epot, So-es- 20
form what are known as "pot koles."
These holes are cut In the beginning by
diamonds lodging in some crevice or ac-
cidental concavity in the rock, but the
floods bring other stones, and thus assist
in cutting out the holes, until these GU
rious cavities are sometimes five or six
feet in depth and not mole than two to
three in diameter. In summer, or dry
season, the natives take out the water,
lift out the large rocks and search
among the small er stones and pebbles at
The bottom for diamonds, which are fire.
qucntly found there, carefully filing
up the hole again with sand peb-
b es and powders, under the idea that
diamonds will again grow at the bottom.
After the foreign ad enturers were ex-
PEELED the diamond mines were declared
to be the property Of the Brazilian Gov
ernment, but the right TO work In them
was rented or leased from the Govern
n ent by a royalty sum OF $40 per annum
on each sla,e employed In the diggings
The Government however, realized no
profit, aud the annual bounty per man
was increas d to S25, and still no money
was made from the mines. In despair
at this result, the Government OF Brazil
took charge OF the mines and worked
them, but finding them a source OF great
EXPENSE and little income, the laws were
a few years ago so changed that the
mines are new the property OF private
individuals The most remarkable thing
about tho Brazilian mines Is the singular
uniformity OF product--that IS to say.
that every 100 cubic yards OF. earth re-
moved from the mines will yield about
the same number and weight OF dia-
monds They are mostly small, but
there have been some notable excep
tions. The famous diamond IN the treas.
ury OF the King Of Portugal came from
Brazil. According to the rules Of meas
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1891-10-01

old Lime Kiln shooting grounds, he
breaking 400 balls with % short-ball
cartridges out of possible 500, while
over one hundred and fifty balls were
broken before he missed. He has
frequently broken $50, 483 and 485
glass balls out of possible half thou
sand, and expects in short time to
be able to break 500 without miss.
One of his favorite shots, and one re-
quiring great skill, is the double. He
has his thrower select a pebble about
the size of glass ball and toss it into
the air at regulation height and
distance and will strike the pebble
twice before it touches the ground,
breaking the gun before the second
shot. This is wonderful feat, but
he seldom fails of performing it at the
first trial. Here is another favorite
shot: He faces the thrower, gives the
order to throw, turns completely
around and breaks glass ball before
it has fallen half way to the ground.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1891-10-01
Humors of Chinatown.

chinatown as spectacle as dfSap-
pointing" says Mr.. Rus in his Stu
dies Among the Tenements of New
York" But he found some things
therein to tickle his sense of humor,
and other things at which he laughed
that he might not weep. One even
ing, while going through Mott street
the Chinese quarter-he heard
woman shrieking in a cellar. De-
scending with his companion, po-
liceman, he discovered a Chinaman
beating his white "wife" with broom
handle.
'-She velly bad" shouted the China
man, as the two Americans, preju-
diced against wife-beating, caught
hold of his arms and released the
woman.
'.sss--5'po5c ,s.r--w if-c---a,ssl, -s.yoa--
lickee herr" he asked, turning fiercely
upon Mr.. Rus.
mo, l wouldn't; I'd never think of
striking woman," answered the
American.
The amazed Chinaman eyed him in
silence for a moment, and then con-
temptuously answered:
Then, guess, she lickee YOU"
Going into josS-house, he discov-
cred among the Chinese scrawls on
the walls the inscription, in English
letters: ain God We Trust 1t had
been copied from the trade dollar,
and the priest explained that the in
scription was delicate compliment
to Mclean Joss" the almighty dollar.
On his own shores John Chinaman
may be thousand years behind the
age, but here he has been so influ-
enced by the Mclean Joss" that he
is abreast Of the age in his scheming
to make it pay" He turns every
thing, from "Joss" down, into cash,
or that which cash buys.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1891-10-01

@Some time ago / was trading In a
village store, writes correspondent.
when one OF the clerks came TO the
junior partner, who CHANGED to be
waiting on me, and said: Won't you
please step TO the desk a moment? Pat
Flynn wants to settle his bill, and in
sists on having receipt
"Thc merchant was evidently an
noyed. why, what does he want OF
a receipt?' he said; we never give
one. Simply cross his account of the
book; that is receipt enough
$50 told him. answered the
clerk, but he is not satisfied. You
had better see him.
$50 the proprietor stepped to the
desk, and after greeting Pat. with a
good morning said, You wished to
settle your bill, did you?' to which
Pat replied in the Affirmative.
"'Well,' said the merchant, there
is no need Of giving you receipt.
See! 1 will cross your account of the
book, and suiting the action to the
word he drew his pencil diagonally
across the account. That is as good
as a receipt
"'And do We name that that settles
it?' asked Pat.
"That settles it, said the mer-
chant.
sand ye're shure yen never be
afther askin' me fur il again?'
Gwen never ask you for it again,
said the merchant decidedly.
Faith, them said Pat, and I'll
be afther kapin' me money in me
pocket, for / haven't paid it yet
"The merchants face flushed angri-
ly, as he replied, ooh, well, l can rub
that out
"'Faith, now, and L thought that
same, said Pat.
ut is needless to add that Pat OBJ
tanned his receipt"
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1891-10-01
Fading.


In small town OF Northern Yer
mont the inhabitants are noted for
their early marriages. An unmarried
young woman who has passed her
twenty-flfth birthday is universally
regarded as an "old maid" and a
young man who has reached the same
age in an unwedded state is pro-
nounced confirmed bachelor, and
the young people themselves appear
to accept the current opinion.
One handsome young fellow, twen-
ty-six years old, was great trial to
has mother, a bustling, energetic
farmers wife. AS she lamented to
summer boarder, ut did seem as IL
Hiram was possessed to stay single, !"
no matter what she could say.
"An' faint likely" she would add,
fretfully, "that any girl will be takin'
up with him after year or two, when
he's settled down an beginnin' to look
oldl"
Hiram himself was not given to
sentiment, and furthermore was quite
unconscious OF his own attractions.
He showed the summer boarder some
dreadful photographs of himself,
which had been taken the previous
winter to please his mother, and re-
marked gravely:
Mother was set on havin' 'em, an
/ only waited to see II I want likely
TO get any better lookin'. But come
last winter see 1 was beginnin' to
fade, so / had 'em took right awayl"
The contrast between the speakers
youthful appearance and his words
was almost too much for his nearer.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1891-10-01
A Most Interesting Find.

According to the Washington Star
the Smithsonian Institution has re-
ceived information of the. recent dis
covery at Tel-el-Amaria, in Upper
Egypt, of a number of tablets relating
to the history Of Jerusalem and dat
ing back 600 years earlier than any
records hitherto known. When it is
understood that these tablets Of stone
are letters passed between the King
of Jerusalem and the Pharaoh Of
Egypt 400 years before the birth Of
David, who was the father Of Solo
mon, some notion will be formed of
their extreme interest. Several OF
the letters were addressed to the ruler
OF Egypt by the King Of Jerusalem.
Abdi-Taba. The cities of Palestine
were at that time tributary to Egypt,
and in one of the letters the writer
says; "The Habiri people are con-
quering tie cities Of the KING. e.,
the cities tributary to the Pharaoh
therefore the King may turn his face
to his subjects and send troops. If
the troops arrive this year the coun-
tries Of the King, my Lord, may be
saved, but If no troops arrive the
countries Of the King, my Lord, will
exist no longer" This tremendous
find" at Tel-el-Amaria includes two
hundred tablets, largely of Babylon
ian cuneiform script, which is thus
discovered for the first time to have
been in use at so early period in
Epvnt and Palestine MANY of the
Othen tablets are dispatches OF about
the same date from projects OF other
cities OF Palestine to the Pharaoh.
Some of the inscriptions are in an 1ln-
known language, which no one so far
has been able to translate. Solomon
himself would have looked upon these
tablets as remote antiquities.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1891-10-01
MIRACLES WITH THE RIFLE.
Wondered Feats Performed by william
Rigden, Worlds Champion SNAP Shot.

FWtNNNAUA HNMtt INAAIImEu uY HAAXMAm
Rigden, Worlds Champion snap Shot.
William Rigden, the rifleman who
broke the worlds snap shooting rec
ord near Ottawa, ILL.,, by hitting with
a twenty-five caliber ball twenty
pennies out OF possible twenty-five
thrown in the air, is without ques-
tion the finest shot in his line in the
United States. He is little known,
save TO limited circle of marksmen
In Illinois, for the reason that he
shoots wholly for his own amuse-
ment and has never taken part in
tournaments or matches. He discoy-
cred his remarkable talent as a rifle
man through an accident In killing
swallows on the wing, and 1T once
began practicing at snap-shooting.
For nearly five years his work was
done spasmodically, but about four
years ago he began regular practice,
shooting not less than 500 shells
day. He has no fayorite target, but
shoots glass balls, pennies, pebbles,
white beans and other small objects,
according to his fancy.
Rigden considers the use of shot
cartridges demoralizing and will not
use them under any circumstances,
preferring the small 22-caliber ball,
as it is the most difficult. He exer-
cises great care in selecting his guns,
and has several splendid weapons
which he holds priceless. Truly
phenomenal was his latest score with
glass balls in 500-ball shoot at the
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1891-10-01
AIuminam In Iron Foundries.

Mr.. David Spencer, in American
Machinist, says: i have used alumni
mum in foundry practice, and find it
is splendid thing to make iron fluid
and clean. 1t seems to take all the
impurities out of the iron when it is
charged in the cupda with the pig
iron. Ten pounds Of Cowles' ferro-
aluminium to 1000 pounds of pig iron
will produce good, sound castings,
free from blow holes.
1t is as good in the use of crucible
steel as in iron Gts effects). 1t pro-
duces sharp solid casting, and
'nraixcs - uniform grains.-s-sI o takes
away the tendency to chill In cast
iron.
In steel it reduces the shrinkage,
and increases the welding properties
in both wrought iron and steel.
/ recommend it to persons making
tool castings, such as face plates, and
in fact all kinds of work that has to
be planed, milled, or turned.
There is one thing that l like in
it's use, and that is, it does not weaken
the iron or take the strength from it,
but rather adds to it. We are hav-
ing good success with it in sewing
machine castings. believe in prog
ress in foundry practice, and am al
ways willing to give such things a
trial, IL find that they are benefit.
/ want other foundrymen to know
it. / believe we are making rapid
progress in American foundry prac-
tice, and the foundryman that is
satisfied to run his foundry in the
same Old-fashioned way his grand
father did, is going to get left. And
the younger and -mores-- progressive
men will come to the front.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1891-10-01
A strong Case.

Judge, in Boston court-On what
grounds do you apply for this divorce?
Mr.. Beacon Hilton the ground,
your honor, of extreme cruelty and
neglect.
Judge-Has the defendant any
thing to say?
Mrs. Beacon Hill (nee Harlem5-
Your Honor, the only point of diff
ference that ever arose between US
was this: He wanted beans for
breakfast seven times week, and /
thought six times was enough.
Judge-And you refused TO let him
have them the seventh?
Mrs. Beacon Hill-Yes, your Honor.
Judge-The Court grants the d.
vorce, and cannot refrain from ex-
pressing its surprise that the appli-
cation was not made before.
Courier.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1891-10-01
In.h Rilrinrs, philnsonhr.

Spoh Dthihbo AhhheoDifhye
Thare IL 2 kinds oy obstinacy-ob-
stinacy in the right, and obstinacy in
the wrong; one liz the strength ov a
CRATE mind, and the other liz the
strength of "A little one
Lazyness liz like mollassis, sweet
and sticky.
/ think a bear in hiz claws IL pref
cradle 70 one with gloves on.
/ kant tell now which | admire
least, an old coquett or young prude.
Misanthropy don't pay; thare amt
no man living whose hate the world
cares one cuss for.
Rash men ken be korrekted, but 1t
don't pay to Tabor with phool.
The man who haz never enjoyed
the plezzure ov being forgiven haz
missed one ov the greatest luxurys ov
life.
hav seen coquettry that had no
more malice ia 1t than a eve lamb
frisking on the green.
When | cum acrost a man who ut
tiers his opinyuns with immense de-
liberashun, and after they are uttered
they don't amount to ennything, /
write him down MYSTERIOUS phool."
The CRATE cry ov the world now
daze is, whats trumps."
Love liz a weakness; but IL is the
same kind ov weakness that repent
ance liz; both ov them are creditable
tew our natures.
A man IL hiz own best friend, and
worst enemy.
Jealousy liz one ov loves parasites.
We kan endure vices in the young
that we should despise in the old.
Pleaze make note ov this, old phel-
lows.
Friendship IL like earthenware. III
it IL broken 1t kan be mended; but
love IL like a mirror-once broken,
that ends 1t.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1891-10-01

These three valuable products make tho
Borneo mines well worth developing, as
one or the other Is almost certain TO af-
ford enough to pay expenses and hand
some profit The application OF inn
proved machinery TO tho Rorneo mines
might produce good results. for many
valuable gems have been already dis.
covered. and II Is said that hardly more
than half OF the diamond district has
been worked. The most famous stone
from the Rorneo mines is the great gem
in the possession OF the Sultan of Matan.
IL weighs s67 carats, and Is valued at
SO. 5C0.O
When the Spaniards conquered Peru