davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-10-09
THE NAPOLEON CAT HOAX.
A Popular Riot Caused By Jestor WHO
Was Never Discovered,

A Popular Riot Caused By " Jcstor Who
Was Never Discovered.
In 1873, when the vessel containing
Napoleon was about to sail for ST.
Helena, some waggish person in Chester,
England, caused to be distributed in the
town and surrounding country hand
bills stating that tho island of st. Helena
waSe SO overrun by rats that without
relief it would be impossible for the
captive emperor and his guards to live
there. This being tho case, says the st.
Louis Globe-Dem ocrnt, the government
had determined to send out IL shipload of
cats, the ship to sail from Chester. On
certain appointed day the kings
officer would be in the city and would
pay sixteen shillings, about four dollars,
for fullgrown toms, ten shillings for
female cats nnd and two shillings and
sixpcnce for kittens old enough to feed
themselves. o
The people of the surrounding country
took the matter seriously, and on tho
day appointed thousands of cots were
brought into Chester. The owners, find
ing they had been tricl1ed, became
angry, threw away their cats ind started
to sack the city hall. The police wore
unable to deter them and riot ensued,
in which @ number of the townspeoplc
were injured by the Infatuated country
folk, who relishcd neither the Jest nor
the laughter at their expense. In the
three weeks after the riot over four
thousand cats were killed in Chester
and the vicinity. The jester was never
discovered, though reward was offered
for his detection and punishment
The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-10-09
A Valuable IIuu,n.
must fail.

For years there was beggar on the
steps of Saint Sulpicc With hump
which steadily grew. A few months
ngo he was taken i'll, and in lelirium
jumped out of n window and was killed.
A ncighbor who picked him up upon in
vcstigating his hump found that it con-
tanned twenty thousand dollars in bonds
and coin. Finding that the beggar had
two relatives to whom he had left his
fortune by will, the finder sent the
money to them with the exception of
four thousand dollars The relatives
discovered this fa ct, and after prosecu-
ton for theft the man in question was
condemned to two years imprisonment
The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-10-09
RAISING SNAKES.


n GenuIno Reptile Farm on II Very Largo
Scale.
A Mr.. Childs is probably the only
bona fide snake charmer in America,
says writer in the New York Sun He
has been in town seeing about placing
his fall snake crop. 1t seems very odd
to hear him talk of my crop of snakes"
but he means every word of it. for he
has genuine snake farm in the south
west.
The farm proper consists of pen
some twenty-five feet in diameter In
the center of this pen is n raised plat
form, accessible in safety from the out
SIDE on which visitors can promenade
out OF reach of the deadly fangs. In the
woods and wild swanps surrounding
the place lcgions Of moccasins, cotton
mouths, rattlcsnakes and copperheads
arc found. These wilds are the seed
bins from which at times Mr.. Childs
draws to rcplcnish his farm. At one
side of the Enclosure is n rabbit warren
in which live some fifty or sixty bun
mics. Their number, however, is con-
stantly changing. They never die of
old age. They are the food of the
snakes.
between FIVE hundred and six hundred
reptiles are in the farm ut time. ONLY
the larger ones are used rs they yield q
greater amount of oil, skin and rattles
than the small ones. Mr. Childs expects
to harvest eight hundred ounces of oil n
season and has made his price two dol
lars per ounce. Aside from the oil he
will have handsome crop of rattles
and tanned skins.
When al ounce or so of fresh oil Is de-
sired Mr.. Childs enters the pen and
either whistles with his lips or uses n
flute. The snakes at once glide out of
their holes and gather round him, max
Ing peculiar purring sound with
their rattles to denote their pleasure.
Selecting the largest and latest, Childs
picks it up cr9 CTS 10 head Off with
his poclsetknifc.
The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-10-09
cHARLEy.s NECK.
What Reft Two Fond Young Hearts
Asundcr Perhaps Forever.

What Reft Two Fond Young Hearts
ARunlcr Perhaps Forever.
A prominent young doctor living in
the West Epd, in very fashionable
portion OF St. Louis, is tho possessor Of
bright mind, which is above con-
spicuously long ncclS, says the ST. Louis
Star-Sayings. Now, this elongated Pc
culiarity of the doctor is particularly
touchy subject to alludc to in the
bright young M. DIS presence. The
doctor will arise to such an occasion
and fire man into space who criticises
this physical popularity Most young
men either have or soon acquire what
is known as sweetheart. The doctor
had one, and this lovely composite
Quantity unconsciously called her
atlantis attention to his dcforrnity in a
very practical and hcartrcnding why.
Not many months ago the young couple
were in New York for the first time,
and OF course went about seeing tho
sights of that metropolis.
In time the couple found themselves
Mt the Geological gardens, inspecting
the animals. The rclict Of Mr.. Crow
ley was there, the young lion cubs md
the rest of the beasts for which the
garden is famed There is also n very
beautiful pet giraffe that enjoys the
liberty of the surroundings, and the
very thing which caused the wide
chasm between the young peoples love-
The lady became little tired after q
time, and, seeing the shadow of a long
neck beside her, said: Lets go homo,
Charley" and proceeded toward tho
exit. Realizing after time that her
companion wns unusually quiet, she
observed closer and found that she was
going homo with tho giraffe. This in
cident is vouched for by number of
the young couples friends, who arc try
ing hard to get peace restored.
The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-10-09
Y. NJ. c. A. Notes.

The regular Thursday evening meet
ing Of the Young Mons Christian Asso-
citation was postponed last night for one
hour in order that Rev. Percy G. Elsom,
who is now conducting evangelist SER
vices in Calvary Tabernacle, nigh
be present. The hall was Comfortably
filled.with young men, and after tue
evangelist had made o short talk, about
i've or six young men who had grown
somewhat cold in Christian service
signifi.d their intention of renewing
their allegiance to the cause of Christ
prayer circle will be formed this
evening at 8: S In the ass CT ,tinn parlo !,
which will meet each evening for 10 or
Is minutes cfore the regular preach
ing hour. All Christian young men are
invited 10 como.
The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-10-09
BiDDY AND HER NEST.
It Blew Away. but She Picked 1t Up nnt
Returned It.


81 have seen one or two good hen
stories in the New York Tribune"
writes correspondent of that paper,
''but think this one beats them. One
day last fall it happened that not far
from my house board was resting on
two barrels, which were about ten feet
apart, and somebody had laid nm old
discarded straw hat. on it, the crown
lying on the board. An old hen, which
was n great pet with the family, saw
this arrangement and evidently decided
that the old hat was just the thing for
nest. So she carefully hoped into it
and laid an egg. We decided to humor
her whim, and therefore fastened the
hat to the board. She continued to lay
in this queer nest for some time. But
one day the hat became unfastened in
some way and blew of the board.
When biddy saw this she began to sing
disconsolntcly, and we thought she
would give up the hat and seek another
nest. Butwc were mistaken. In lit
tie while she seized the hat in her bill
and flew with it on to the board, where,
cftcr great deal of fussing, she adjust
cd it so that she could lay in it. After
that VIC fastened it SO that it could not
blow off,"
The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-10-09
On ScInsiauesa.

Selfishness, not money, is the root OF
all evil, says Texas Siftings. All the
great schemes for the improvement of
mankind fail from ignoring the natural
selfishness of all mankind. The thco-
ries of the nationa1ists sound beautiful
and their arguments are convincing I'M
til you take intp consideration tho hui
manity of man. Ind his humanity is sell
fishncss. Both socialists and commun-
lists lose sight of this, and of anarchy
selfishncss is the keystone. The sue
cessful man, the man who piles up his
thousands long after he acquired more
than he can possibly enjoy, is but Civ
ing play to his selfish instincts to keep
from the less fortunate al he can and
make it his own. The man who ac-
quircs wealth may not be more selfish
than other men, but he has with his
sclfishness the faculty of gratifying it
to n greater extent than others. Turn
whatever way lie will, the thcorist Is
confronted by the insurmountable wall
of individual selfishness, and until the
nature of man is changed his hopes
must fail.
The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-10-09
Beliefs OF tho shans.

A report of the manners and customs
of the Shan states show that when o
Shan becomes q father he must on no
account drive pigs, carry the dead, bore
holes, ill in holes in the ground or in
dulgc in mocl<ery. If one of either sex
dies without marrying, the body, before
burial. is banged against stump, which
is considered rs representing the hus-
band or wife. This is supposcd to guard
against the danger of unrcquitcd love
in the next life. Divorce is easy, the
man merely giving his wife letter per-
hitting her to remarry, and the wife
merely being required to pay IN I'M
willing husband thirty rupees for re-
lease. Only the high Shans can be can
nibals. Their theory Of the cosmogony
is that "thc earth came out of the
depths by means of white ants
The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-10-09
THE BERMUDA ONION.
What i" Billy" Florence Says n TO tho Viz
tues OF That Vegetable.

II
tues of That Vegetable.
W. ]. Florence was chatting about
provisions for fishing camps just be-
fore he sailed for Europe, when he said
to New York Press man: 1.-The second
year that / went to the Restigouche I
undertook to provision the camp, the
party to go with me numbering eight
or ten persons. They kept coming
around every day for week to inspect
my list of articles ordered, and there
wasn't one of them that did not find
fault with something ordered or failed
to order, until was very tired of my.
job. There were five of them present
one day when I wrote down on the list
of things ordered Il barrel of bermuda
onions. The howl that went up was
the biggest kick that had experienced.
| sat back in my chair and told those
fellows that onions were my special
feed and that this was nay own pur-
chase. Do you know what happened
in camp? Why, those fellows grew SO
fond of Bermuda onions that only
got five onions for myself out of that
barrelful.
II have tried all kinds of waters, and
salts, and specifics, and remedies for
indigestion and general arrangement
of the stomach" continued Mr.. Flor
cnce, land the moro have tried the
more certain have become that if you
get your liver in order by the usc of
such things yonr spleen or kidneys go
back on you, and vice versa. But the
man who will take two weeks every
summer in the country and cat'a Ber-
muda onion at every meal, and take one
for n nightcap besides, will be as sound
as dollar when he gets back to his
work.
The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-10-09
BATHING IN THE BUFF.
Preadamito Habits That Prevail In East
ern Europe and Mexioo.


ern Europe and Mexico.
A gentleman who knows eastern
Europe well sends me, says Labouchcre
in London Truth, Il highly interesting
account of what he has seen in thot
part, with n view OF showing that o
great deal too much indignation hns
been caused by Mr.. Caldcron's sup
posed insult to ST. Elizabeth. My cor
respondents view is that u few articles
of clothing more or less are of no con-
sequence in the eyes of female modesty
in that part of the world, and that the
same prcadamite sentiment might have
prevailed in medieval hungary:
IA few years ago, us in carriage
with post horses approached the river
Buzco, saw handsome open carriage
coming from the town of the same
name, which stands about half milo
from the stream. On the box scat were
q coachman and u footman in smart
livcries In the carriage was young
LAZY. When she arrived at the stream
she, standing in tho carriage, undressed
herself and walked, naked, into tho
water. l, with my servant and two
postillions, passed through tho ford
there was no bridge then within
twenty yards of her. There was no
surprise. She must have seen my car
riage, rs saw hers for fifteen or twenty
minutes before we met.
Again in the river Dimbovitza, which
runs through Bucharest, any hot sum-
ncr evening. dozens of women and girls
might in those days-and probably may
now-bc seen bathing without any gar
mcntS.
ITO como to later times: On Scptem-
Der ID, 1878, crossed the Danube from
Giurgcto to Rutschull in q rowboat. AS
we sllirted the banks on the RouInanian
shore we passed close to numbers Of
young girls bathing. could tell many
other incidents, but / think have said
enough to show that our standard Of
propricty did not obtain SO late as 1878;
nor did it probably 1T q much earlier
date in the adjoining country. Even
now Hungarians are not prudish."
can well conceive that all this oc-
Cured in the cast, for in the west
the same preadamitc ha bits used
to prevail thirty years ago. rcmem-
Der then passing some weeks in q town
situated in Mexico. All the inhabitants
used to go down to river every even
ing to battle, just as people here go to
the park for drive. And everyone
bathed-men, women and childrcn-to-
gether, without vestige of clothing.
1t struck me as peculiar ut first, but
after q few days became SO accustomed
to it that regarded it rs the most ordi-
nary of customs, and frequently dis
ported myself in the water with the
mayor, the authorities, and their wives
and children.
The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-10-09
Now Rules Of ro,Itoness.

In certain private schools of Brooklyn
new rules of politencss arc enforced.
1t is no longer proper for the little
pupils to say Eyes, SIR" No, sir" eyes
ma'am" and "No, ma'am" to their elders.
Now the correct thing is Eyes, Mr..
Brown" "No, Miss Smith," and SO on.
If the child happens to be addressed by
strange lady or gentleman the child
is instructed to reply: "Ycs, mister"
or Yes, lady" At FIRST this strikes the
uninitiatcd rs an unpleasant innova-
ton, but it has obtained stronghold
on the children, and they arc rapidly
making their parents converts to the
new system.
The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-10-09
An Old English Word.

There are certain suryivals in tho
English language, says tho Detroit
Free Press, that are entitled to some
notice, as, for example, the use of the
word 'sailorman" to describe the per-
son whom ordinary persons designate
as sailor. This word is as old as the
British naval and mercantile marine
and clings along the margins of the
whnrves with tenacity that defies all
efforts to uproot it. One never sees it
in print or hears 1t used far away from
navigable waters, but 1t Is universal
where sailors gather and their doings
are reported. - = -
The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-10-09
RAILROADS
n 4 = !: w AorfoIksWesternRR


SCHEDULE IN EFFECT AUGUST so, 1891.
w1srBoUND. LEAVE ROANOKE DAILY.
S:oS a. m. Tor Bristol and intermediate stations
o'oo IN; TOT Radford, Pulaski, Bristol also for
biueneId, Pocahontas, Elkhorn, Clinch VAL:
icy DIVISION and Louisville via Norton
fuilman sleepcrs to Memphis and New Or
c.,. ieans' anu to Louisville via Norton -. s
o'io p. IN. LOT hadford, Pulaski, Bristol Con-
meets nc Nadford for Blueiield and Poca-
T H1ntas. Pullman slcepers to Memphis YifA
NORTH AND EAsTBoUND, LEAVE ROANOKE DAIIy
G a3en q. IN. Tor Petersburg and Richmond. -.
A<'ov y. M lot AagerstOwn. Pullman slecpers to.
a. new ORR via Harrisburg and philadelphia
l2'4o p. IN. daily for Richmond and Norfolk Pull
man parlor car to Norfolk.
go $50 p. m. ior Lynchburg; no connection beyond
Pol III. LOT Shenandoah; no connection beyond !,
ll:2e p M Tor Kichmond and Norfolk Puilman
sleeper to Norfolk and Lynchburg to Rich-
11:20 p M for Hagerstown. Pullman sleepers to.
Washington via Shenandoah Junction and 10.
80 New York via Harrisburg. - :
Clinch Valley Division-Lcaves Bluef,e,d dale
.:Vo =, III; LOT Norton, and 1885 y. IN. for Nor
ton, Louisville and points ON t. S N. r.. r.
via Norton - ~ ~ ~
North Carolina Division-Leave Pulaski daily
200 a. M. for Iyanhoe and 1870 p. m for Ivan, :
hoe and Gossan and 500 q. M (exccpt SIM
dayl for Betty Baker
Office or to w Ii. BEViTT
General Passenger Agent, Roanoke, Va.
The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-10-09
4 Sliding riano Desk.

A new patent pianofortc desk has
been issued The desk is so made that
while the frame is rested upon the lid
Of the pianofortc asliding arrangement
permits of the music being brought
to O level with the eye of the singer, or
raised or lowered according to the wish
of the performer Tho desk is neatly
made, is light in weight, and strong.
The advantages are of such service that
tho patent will doubtless como into
general use
The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-10-09
The Right Kind of woman.

a Massachusetts woman suggests, as
Q way to make one kind of cruelty to
horses unpopular, that al women in the
United States who arc interested in the
cause should sign n pledge not to ride
behind q horse whose tail has been
locked. But how many women are
sufficiently interested to undergo the
humiliation of being out of fashion in
so conspicuous q matter?
The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-10-09
,;nmcd hfter prcsIdents.

a Kansas editor has discovered that
ten per cent. OF tho counties in tho
United States are named Tor presidents.
In Kansas there ere scvcn countiea
which bear the namcs OF presidents
Garfield, Grant, jackson, jefferson,
johnson, Lincoln and Washington.
The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-10-09
a Coming Marriage.

Mr.. L. N. Foster, well-known voting
mechanic and Miss Sallie Haden, for
merly of Botetourt county, will be mar
ried at the First Biptist Church next
Thursday night at 8 o'clock The Odd
Fellows Lodge, of which Mr.. Foster is a
member,will attend the interesting GER
emony In q body. wearing full regalia.
The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-10-09

WANTED-THREE EXPERIENCED
wagon blecksmi ,hs (white) are
wanted at The SALEM WAGON WoKKS
saiem, va. oct6 81
Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1891-07-18

They tell good story ON Senator James
Farnsworth Pierce. 1t seems that lie
came to Albany to see Governor Tilden
soon after the latter's Inauguration. Az
ter brief chat the governor. who was
easily bored. asked: when are you go-
ing backg"
"This afternoon. l think" said James.
Better stay over till to- morrow" re-
turned the governor in confidential
murmur. Thinking something was in
the air James remained over. Next day
he again invaded the executive chamber
and the same formula was gone over
with the exception that the governor
tone was slightly more confidential.
James pulled at his glossy, iron gray
mustache for awhile and again remained
over, only To have the same disappoint
ment. How long the affair would have
lasted is conIectural had no. a kind
hearted orderly told the misguided scna.
tor that that was merely a way the gov
crnor had.-Alhany journal
Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1891-07-18
HI. XyiEe HeIned Him.

/ know one member of congress
who has thought it necessary to keep
two of his elder children from school
that they might help him out with his
Office seeking correspondence. One day
last week IA western senator, recently re-
elected for six years, threw up his hands
in despair as the perspiring mail carrier
threw upon his desk another huge bun.
die of letters, and declared he would not
write another reply or waste another
postage stamp on the horde of place hun.
ters. His wife knew this would never
do. for n senator or representative might
as well so out and commit political sui
eide as to refuse to answer the letters OF
his constituents. Once let the word pass
round u district or state that the Hon
So-and-So is too proud or lazy to answer
letters, and his days of power are at
once numbered SO this good wife said
to her despairing lord, You go and take
a walk. The air will do you good; and
while you are gone will look over the
mail" When the senator returned he
found the letters opened and nicely as
sorted. In one pile were those which
demanded immediate attention; in an
other those which could lay over a few
days, and in third those which could
in pinch be altogether neglected. This
bit of feminine orderliness brought order
out Of chaos, and thus encouraged the
senator cheerily resumed his thankless
task. Washington Letter.
Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1891-07-18
conccrnipe oar Naturallsation Law

81 have had u vote for great many
years. said am up town barber the other
day, 'and | did not discover u until it
was too late To register. The facts ought
TO be made known. Ny father was a
naturalized citizen. lie was born in Ger
many. | was born there also, though ]
have lived here great many years. Ii
happened that was under Is years old
when my father took out his naturali-
zation papers, and that gave me u right
10 vote, though | have never known il.
1t seems that when father takes out his
papers It not only gives him vote, but
entities ell Of his sons under the age of IL
at that time 10 the duties and rights of
citizenship, even if they are born out Of
this country. They must, however, he
In tho United States before they are Ii
years of age."-New York sun.
Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1891-07-18

The Listener was about to write q
chapter on the professional men who be
long to the church for professional pur
poses only, and who come TO regard
their church as their peculiar preserve.
upon which other men of their trade
have no right to poach. On second
thought. however. he has decided not 10
write the chapter, but simply TO tell
story.
DIR. Plugham, an able dentist, who
has his office in that handsome thorough
fare which, from the frequency OF fts
dental establishments. Is coming TO be
Molar avenue (Plugham, of course, like
the rest Of the dentists in that aristo-
cratic section does not give hint Of his
occupation in his sign, but simply decor
ates his door with very modest plate
bearing only the legend ''Dr. Plugham''),
belongs 10 fairly fashionable church
and is very faithful indeed in his devo-
tions. No Sunday so stormy that IL does
not find him in his pew; he teaches Q
class in the Sunday school and takes
prominent part in all church and society
proceedings.
The other Sunday several of the con
gregation at Plugham's church noticed q
well dressed stranger at church, upon
whom Plugham bestowed a glance Of
slight recognition, and after the service
Plugham and the stranger were seen In
conversation for moment or two In the
yestibule. After the stranger had passed
out, one of the members of the church
n a..
"Who was that stranger that you were
talking with. doctor"
"Hc?" said Plugham, as q scowl dark.
cned his handsome face. ''oh, that was
DIR. Snagge. the dentist, and / don't see
what in thunder he's prowling around
here for!'-Boston Transcript.