davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1891-01-17

A Scientific Opinion That Will BE Con-
soling TO All Humanity.

solng TO All Humanity.
The signs of impending death are
many and variable. No two instances
are precisely identical, yet several signs
are common to many cases. Shakes
peare, who observed everything else,
observed and recorded some Of the pre-
monitory signs of death also In the
account of Falstatf the sharpness of the
nose, the GOODNESS of the feet, gradually
extending upN ard the picking at the
hedclothes, are accurately described.
For some time before death indica-
tions of its approach become apparent
Speech grows thick and labored, the
hands, if raised, fall instantly, the res
piration Is d tficult, the heart loses its
power to propel the blood to the ex-
tremities, hich consequently become
cold, a clammy moisture ooz through
the pores of the skin, the voice grows
weak and husky or piping, the eyes he
gin to lose their luster. In death at old
age there is a gradual dulling of all the
bodily sen e, and of many of the mem
tai faculties, memory fails, Judgment
wavers, Imagination goes out like cam
the voice breaks, the cords Of the taber-
mace are loosening. Small noises irri-
tate, sight becomes dim, nutrition goes
on feebly, digestion is impaired, the
secretions are insufficient or vitiated or
cease, capillary circulation is clogged.
Finally the central organ of the circula-
tlon comes to stop, and this stoppage
means a dissolution. This is the death
of old age, which few attain to.
Many people have an idea that death
is necessarily painful, even agonizing;
but there is no reason whatever to sup
ose that death is more. painful than
birth. 1t is because in a certain proper
ton of cases dissolution is accompanied
by a visible spasm and distortion of the
countenance that the idea exists, but it
is nearly as certain as anything can be
that these distortions of the facial mus
cles are not only painless, but take place
unconsciously. In many instances, too,
a comatose or semicomatose state sup
ervenes, and it is altogether probable
that more or less complete uncon cious-
ness then pre- walls We have, too, abun-
dant evidence of people who have been
nearly drowned ana resuscitated and
they all agree in the statement that
after few moments of painful strug-
Cling fear and anxiety pass away, and
state of tranquility succeeds. They
see visions of green fields, and in some
cases hear pleasing music, and, so far
from being miserable, their sensations
are delightful. But where attempts at
resuscitation are successful the resusc-
tated persons almost invariably protest
against being brought back to life, and
declare that resuscitation is accompa-
MED by physical pain and acute mental
misery.
Death is a fact which every man
must personally experience, and conse
quently is of universal interest; and as
facts are facts, the wiser course is to
look them squarely in the face, for ne
cessity is coal black and death keeps no
calendar. Medical Journal.
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1891-01-17

What II Lady Knows About Iornadoes.
Miss. Finley, the wife of Lieutenant
j I'm p. Finley, of the United States
army, the noted cX ert on tomatoes, is
visiting in Sat Lake Clty. In an inter-
view in re gard to sta ements in General
Greely's report claiming that thunder
storms are more d 'structive of life and
prape tv tian tornadoes, Mrs Finley
said: Il can give you some statistics
from my husbands official report on
tornadoes. Their number, so far as
observed within th last II years, was
1866 With the Sole exception of the
Rocky Mountain region no part of the
United States is exempt from their
ravages. No season of the year is
wholly proof against them. Some of
the recent tornadoe5 were very destruc-
tive, as, for instance, the Grnnell tor
nado on June r. 1882, by which a large
section of central Iowa was desolated
and the town Itself nearly swept from
the earth. and 130 human souls dashed
into eternity in less ti,ne than it takes to
relate it. In Marotield, Mo-, over 100
people wera killed. In 1885 a tornado
passed over Maryland Delaware. New
Jersey, and Pennsylvania, destroying
over 50 600, coo worth of property and
many lives. On April II 1886, st. Cloud
and Saull Rapids, Mimi, were visited by
the monster, resulting in a loss of over
$500, 900 and nearly 100 lives. Among
the severest of recent times is the terri
BILE experience of February 10, 1884,
when the States of Virginia. North and
South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mis-
sissipii Tennessee, and Kentucky were
scourgei by 60 tornadoes, all occurring
in one fatal day between the hours of 10
a. m. and midnight, by which nearly
81, ,000, 900 worth Of properly was de-
stroyed, 800 people were killed, $500
wounded, and fully $1,000 persons rem
dered destitute. Over 10, 600 buildings
were destro} ed l have no data regard
ing thunder storms.
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1891-01-17
A Great Bridge of Steel.

The great steel bridge across the
Columbia River, at Vancouver, will be
a mammoth concern. 1t will be 5000
feet from the Washington to the Oregon
shore. 1t will be double tracked, with
a roadway on top for teams, and will be
erected upon pneumatic piers. The
pivoted pier, or draw pier, will support
a draw which will give an o"ening of
200 feet space on either side for vessels
to pass, and the espan Immediately south of
the draw span will be 375 feet The
whole structure is to be of steel, built
10 feet above the high water of 1876,
and 40 feet above low water. On ac-
count of the sandy formation it will be
necessary to go down so feet below low
water to get firm foundation. There
it rests on foundation of coarse gravel
similar to that upon which the great
bridges across the Missouri River are
built, The gigantic structure will cost
over 100000 and will employ hun
dreds of men in its erection. 1t will be
January 1, 1899, before the cars can pass
over it. The company is pushing its
bridge and also its road as fast as men
and money and its present perfected
plans will permit. They have nov be-
tween Vancouver and Kalama over 2, 900
men and 1890 teams at work.
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1891-01-17
The BuZzin. of Insects.

A swarm of bees! What buzzing
they make! 1t has been commonly sup
posed that this buzzing was produced by
the rapid vibration of the insects wings,
but it seems, according to recent investi-
cations, that this old time belief is er-
roneous, and that the buzzing is not due
to the vibration, but to the insects
breathing. Now, that will seem strange
thing to almost everybody, for the old
theory is certainly very plausible one.
We are told by entomologists, that is,
persons who make insect life study,
that the part of the insect by which
alone the buzzing sound is produced is
the breast or thorax, in the cavity of
which there are two very small holes
which let the air in or out as the wings
rise or fall. 1t is, then, the influx and
efflux of the air that makes the sound.
To proves this it is shown that when the
wings are removed this buzzing sound
may continue. So we live and learn.
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1891-01-17
The Misuse of Adverbs Cured.

A friend of mine, the younger men,
b rs of whose family are given to us
ing senseless phrases much affected by
the youth of this good Old town, tells
me that after many futile efforts he
succeeded in SO forcibly bringing the
absurdity Of the habit to their attention
that they have in a measure dropped it,
says a writer in the Boston Post. With
them every new thing was lawfully"
sweet, every social gathering they at
tended lawfully" jolly. One evening
he came home with budget of news.
A friend of his had failed in business.
He spoke of the incident as "deliciously"
sad, He had ridden uptown in the car
with not d raconteur and wit, whom
he described as "horribly" entertaining,
and to clap the climax he spoke of some
buttsr which had been set before him
at a country hotel as "divinely" rancid.
Il should think, papa, " said his eldest
daughter, that you were out of your
head. Not the least, my DEAR" he
said pleasantly. I'm merely trying to
follow the fashion. | worked out 'di-
vinely rancid, with a good deal of labor.
L sees lawfully sweet and goes it one
better. You'll find me in the swim
hereafter. And now" he added, "let
me help you to a piece of this de
liciously' tough beef. Adverbs are not
as much mis,Ised in his family as they
We're, at least not in his hearing.
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1891-01-17

Joseph Wahring, of New Orleans,
thinks h the only surviving soldier Of
the Black @Iawk war.
The Wa ,hington Monument must be
oiled to checl, its further scaling Think
of such an imposing shaft being con-
verted into an oistone!
A society has revealed itself in Eng
land called the "Proportionate Giving
Union" The members give a fixed
part of their income to charitable works.
A newly elected judge in Kansas has
been sent to a law school by the Farm
ers' Alliance to pick up a knowledge of
the judicial business Better late than
never.
The subma, inc war boat has led to
the flying of balloons from war ships. A
balloon !'overing over ship can detect
coming to the attack.
A st. Louis d ctor has discovered that
silver dollars carry infection. The chief
fault with these dollars heretofore has
been that they We're not contagious
enough. : Philadelphia r cord.
z Z,dkiel's almanac for 1891 has this
report: "As Jupiter is now eliminating
(by directio J the elevation of the Prince
of Wales eter to the regency or the
throne, is now close at hand.
Hugo z Her who has been exploring
the Flnst"rre mountain range in New
Guinea, says he never found in the most
thickly wooded region of w st Africa
q country so difficult to penetrate as that
of this mountain range.
The British Mu scum has secured from
Thibet copy of the "Jangym, a mon
ster encyclope liza Of Thibetan Bud l.
hism. 1t comprises 225 VI lumes. ea, h
of which is two feet long by six inches
thick. Three thousand rupees formed
the price for the work, which was fpr-
merly in the possession of Buddhist
monastery in Thibet.
Mr. Isaac j. Greenwood, of New York,
is exhibiting tooth mounted in go i,
and above it hangs this extract from Mr..
Greenwood's fathers will: Il give and
bequeath to my eldest son, Isaac John
Greenwood, forever, all of the cu"iHs,
medallions, snuff boxes, General Wash
ingtons TOOTH and the under false jaw
Of the teeth made for him by my late
father John Greenwood.
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1891-01-17
TWENTIETH YEAR-NO. II.
Pislt-EXlSTENCE.

Ihavel Ii o before. Where? That ! can not
tell,
Nor how. nor when. OF those forgotten
years
Only vague echoes from the darkness swell,
Bringing familiar murmurs to my ears.
The ghostly image of that misty past
Enfolds me like shadow and my sense
Strives all in vain to grasp and hold it fast:
Only in me is memory's evidence
All human language feeble is and cold,
To paint the fceting visions that arise.
Begu!ing me with memories of old,
OF >ther lives passed under other skies.
And still the echoes ring the voices call,
In wild confu-.on, like a crowd of dreams;
Then twilight shadows, dark and darker, fall
Till not a ray through the dense blackness
CLEANS.
But still again a vague, melodious song,
With scattered, broken measures fills the
And shadowy forms, in shadowy distance
throng,
Wrapt in the sable mantle of despair.
My soul mounts upward into lofter spheres
Where. beyond boundaries of time and
space,
lived and loved before the earthly years
Chained me, an exile in my present place.
Sc. in flee ing rays of heavenly light,
" he glory of IL distant paradise;
Then all il overwhelmed by starless night,
My anxious questionings meet no replies.
Heav my heart with memories of old;
NY pnNcr to live and strive is overcast
By wild desire the mystery to unfold,
Which binds my present to that vanished
past.
This is my heritage of sorrow now,
That vciled and unknown form which once
wore;
can not tathom when, nor where. nor how,
only know that have lived before.
- bel II :. Conant, in the New York Sun.
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1891-01-17
Two Chinese AlIieators.

Two examples of the Chinese alligator
have just reached the Geological Gar
dens in London. They are the first that
have ever been exhibited alive. The
alligator is so distinctly an American
animal that the proof, so recently as
1879 of the species in China was ex-
tremely interesting. Nevertheless, the
Chinese classics contained numerous ref
erences to the creature, and even
pictures, which could be easily recog-
nized as being meant for a crocodile of
some sort. 1t is to be hoped that the
specimens at the London Zoo will bear
out the notion of the extreme longevity
of the reptile. Its name is apparently
used in certain parts of China in the
same sense as Methusalah in this coun-
try. Marco Polo wrote about this animal,
and recommended its gall as an excellent
remedy for the bite of mad dog and
for various other complaints.
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1891-01-17

During the recent visit of a delega-
ton of members of the legislature and
invited guests to Hot Springs there oc-
Cured an episode that is illustrative Of
the haste of some men tc perform an
action without asking why or wherefore.
1t is well known fact that when it rains
in the Hot Springs Valley it comes down
by the bucketful. Windows and doors
must be closed at once, else carpets and
floors will be soaked through and
through. 1t came to pass that Hon. John
J. O'Dowd and Thomas J. Cogan were
given the same apartment, occupying
beds at either side of the room.
Late one night a heavy rain came up,
and the noise of the storm awakened
Cogan, who discovered that the VIM
dows were wide open. Sitting up in bed
he shrieked to O'Dowd. Starting from
sound sleep that young man asked:
"Huh! What's the matter?"
SECT up and close the windows, quick!
It's raining! Hurry up!"
With bound O'Dowd sprang to the
floor, and after struggle, in which his
night shirt was soaked and his feet wet,
he did that which he was told. Return
ing to his couch, the legislator carefully
tucked himself beneath the coverlids.
A silence of two minutes passed, and
then it was broken by O'Dowd, who sat
up, and, in an injured tone, said:
Say. Cogan, " hat was the matter
with you getting up ;nd shutting those
windows?"
He had been given the rush, and it
took him long, long while to tumble. -
Cincinnati Enquirer.
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1891-01-17
FROsTBURG, Md, SATURDAY, JANUARY L. 1891.

say is that if you can't do better than
this you had better shut up shop, that's
ALL"
Can you show us anything better ?"
asked one of the men.
81 rayther think | can. If [
couldn't I'd go and hang myself"
"Let's sec it,' they all cried.
This was my last coup, and one on
which I knew my life depended.
Lookee here, gentlemen" | eX-
claimed. taking one of the counterfeit
half-dollars from my pocket which had
been rejected at the bank, " here's my
last job what do you think of it ?'
1t was passed from hand to hand,
some saying it was no counterfeit at
all, others saying that it was.
Glow will you prove it is counter
felt ?" asked one of the men.
"By weighing it with a genuine
one" | replied.
This plan was Immediately adopted
and its character proved.
Perhaps he got this by accident"
] heard one of the men whisper to an
other.
"Try these" said 1, taking the other
two from my pocket.
All their doubts now vanished.
Beautiful - exclaimed some.
"Sp1endid - said others.
When they had examined it to their
satisfaction they all of them cordially
shook me by the hand, every particle
of doubt having vanished from their
minds.
| carried out my part well. Some
questions were occasionally asked me,
involving some of the technicalities of
the business; these, however, I
avoided by stating that I was on a
journey for pleasure, and would much
rather drink a glass of whisky than
answer questions. The whisky was
produced, and we made a night of it,
and it was not until morning had
dawned that we separated.
The next day 1 returned to Chicago
and brought down the necessary assist
ance and captured the whole gang of
counterfeiters in the very act. The
den was broken up forever, and the
most of them were condemned to
serve term of years in the State
prison.
7 have those counterfeit half dollars
still in my possession, and intend never
to part with them, for they were GER
tainlv the means of saving my life
Yankee Blade.
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1891-01-17
Cheap Living in London.

A once famous American disappeared
from New York some years ago, and
months afterward was recogn zrd i'll
London, says Julian Ralph, in Holper s
Weekly He told me that it seemed to
him that he lost consciousness here and
regained it there, everything between
the los S and recovery being Hank to
his mind. He awoke one mo@ni, & in a
queer little bedroom, with chintz Cur
tains and CRATE fire and comical led
and ancient furniture, built, like every
thing portable in England, to res st time
and strain cartman's back. He arose,
and seeing bell cord, pu, led it. A
little woman in mob cap and apron
responded He asked her where lie was,
and what she understood his name and
business to be, and how he spent his
time. Finally he said, "What do l
usually do when you come up, as you
say you do, every lnornimg?'
well, sir, she replied. you usually
order penny role, pcnnyworth of
tea, and an egg or chop for penny.
Then, sir, bring you a plate, cup, and
saucer, a penny pat of butter, and a knife
and fork and napkin.
We'll, bring me what you think best. !"
said he, and he gave her fourpence, as
she suggested.
In half an hour or less, he says, he was
seated at table, with steaming pot
of tea, a picturesque fried egg, two or
three slices of toast, a plate, and knife
and fork, and, as is the rule in England,
a tiny pat of butter on plate almost as
big as the one he was to eat on. That,
he says. is the way needy bachelors live
in the modern Babylon.
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1891-01-17
MOST NJ ES.


For most mon in IL br2zen prison live,
y here in the SUMS hot eye,
Wi heads bent DER their toll, they languidly
= hci' lives to some unmeaning taskwori give
Or, aiming of naught beyond their priaon wall.
And as, year after year,
Fresh prnducts of the g barren labor fall
From their tired hands, and rest
Never Vel comes more near,
Gloom settles slowly down over their breast;
Ana while they try to stem
The wa.es of mournful thought by which
they are prest,
Death in their prison reaches them
Inlreed, having seen nothing, still uablest,
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1891-01-17
What Every Girl Should Learn.

The Duchess of Marlborough has some
excellent idea, on the subject of girl
culture. Had l a daughter or a->--le
sister, she says, Il should teach her
adapta bility, and that learned | should
have no further anxiety for her future.
Succeed? Ny dear girl she could not
fail; it woalA BE- impossible not to please.
Let her please, not men alone, but peo-
ple. and the race is hers
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1891-01-17

There was an ambitious young daughter
Whose father couldn't support her;
So she tried all her very best tricks
Til husband she caught,
But alas, all for naught,
Fol fr t9S wac in jast tho samo fix.
-lIudge.
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1891-01-17

Nathaniel Banks, ex Speaker of the
House of Representatives, and who has
for a quarter of a century been promi-
nent in New England and national
politics, was in early life an actor.
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1891-01-17

Baby King Alphonso, of Spain, has a
private income of 81. 600 900 year.
Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1891-12-12
Tacl,ing an Antelope.

have experimental with antelopes a
great deal. l found that if l wanted
them to go to the right the way to
manage it was for me to ride to tue LETT
of given point. The antelope would
imagine that was trying to head him
off in that direction, and he would run
with all his might across the course
that I was taking. would then change
my course and ride to the right and the
antelope would rush back in that di-
rection, thinking I wanted TO cut off
his escape on that line.
BY naneuvering in that way, back
and forth and all the while advancing
in q general direction, have driven a
band right into my camp where the
boys would shoot them down. The
game would be SO intent trying to out
wit me that they would never see the
camp until it was too late.--Washins-
ton Farmer.
Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1891-12-12
A Youthful warrior.

After the defeat of the Chill govern
ment troops at the battle of Concon,
VIVA del Mar, near Valparaiso, a little
lad of eight or nine years Of age, hat
less and barefooted, arrived in the town
of VIVA del Mar and gave Il tolerably
circumstantial account OF the fight. Al
first his story was not believed, but
little by little his tale was credited and
listened to with establishment that q
child of his tender age shonld have
been present at snch sanguinary en-
counter.
He quite artlcssly stated that when
the San Fernando battalion left The
town with banners flying and band
playing lie imagined the troops were
going out to exercise, and followed
them till he found himself on the field
of battle. When the defeat and rout
ensued he joined a group of stragglers
and at last found his way back to Wins
del Mar, by way of Quilpue, at which
place somebody gave him piece O.
bread and drink OF water. -Londor
News.
Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1891-12-12
All Sizes of Shoes.

A third Of an inch gives us a full size
in length of shoe; sixth furnishes the
intermediate point between two sizes,
the saving of which is desirable if not
practicable; asnall fraction of breadth
goes good way in securing comfort,
and in girth of bail or instep an infini-
tesilnal part of an inch is sometimes an
ell of freedom; a quarter of an inch is
a good deal of letting down or elevat-
ing at the heel, and the difference of q
sixteenth is really perceptible at the
sole.
For these reasons sudden and extreme
changes in size or weight of shoes are
injudicious. Even the paper sole"
(Which ought never to be worn in any
place. should be replaced by one only q
little thicker at first. After the sum-
ner shoe the proper thing is one OF me-
dunn weight before the winter article
is in order, and even that doesn't now
mean a thick, cumbersome shoe, as it
once did.-Shoe and Leather Reporter.
Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1891-12-12

Large, fiat shoes are always called
sensible. Doubtless they are SO.
Yet no alert, sharp and clever person, no
one intellectually or physically wide
awake or "snappy," wears large, fiat
shoe You may say that the feet must
regulate the form and size of the shoe,
but you are wrong; the man who has
broad, fat feet made them SO by lis
habit of mind. Most quiet, thought
full persons have large, flat feet. Great
hearted, big men, whom women either
befool or pet and take care of, are men
with large, nat feet. The small footed
man neither inspires lasting or solid af-
lection nor is lie, on the other hand,
made the victim of shrewd and heart
less women. Exchange.
Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1891-12-12
Ancient Customs.

The peasantry Of England, Scotland
and Ireland were chock full of belief
in the supernatural happenings of All
Halloween, and there are persons who
still retain faith in the efficacy of the
charms that were tried on the night be-
fore Hallowlnas in the old days. The
customs in vogue in Scotland, Ireland
and England were very quaint. AS
they had no apparent connection with
the religious rites of All Saints Day, it
is presumed that, like the customs OF
Christian festivals, they were originally
notifications of pagan customs.
York Herald.