davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Forrest City times., 1891-09-18
AS OUR GRANpMorHERs PLAYED.

AS OUR GRANDMoTHERs PLAYED. How the girls chase and race hither and thither as it eludes them, How strings from the wearers' necks; how cheeks glow and eyes dance and how the place al this is in the old picture. mind you-echoes with their merry laughter,
 There are old fashioned folk still who think that sedate game of cro- quet or even the terrible earnest ten his affords no such real sport as did this simple game of the past. People make work of their sports to- day, these old folk say because it is work aday age, and they must cultivate their brains or muscles or both. even in popular pastimes.
 Battledoor and shuttleeock insures one of the most beneficial means of exercise, tho continual upward move ment of the arms-the reaching which is the best Of tennis from the athletic point of view. It isn't an ex- pensive game, either, for the imple- ments cost almost nothing. A battle door and shuttlecock club may be organized by any set of young people who have a moderate spread of green sward available.
 A little garden hat with brim wide enough to keep the sun from the eyes, pretty bodices of the peasant style. or with Swiss belts, the under blouse suf- fciently easy for free arm movement: skirts short, full and piqaaut (not demi-trains), and stout little boots are the costuning essentials. Striped outing flannel shirts serve for men, with tennis caps and knee brooches
 The game. to be interesting. must be conducted upon the general rules which prevail in ball games. Much may be made of it by those who are skilled in ball playing though it calls rather for grace than for skill or technical knowledge.
 Battledoor and shuttlecock is very old game We hear of it. along with other light rollicking sports in which women participated, among the court pastimes of Louis XIV. The court of Henry Quatre was famous for all sorts of romping games. Henry of Navarro was too much Of a warrior not to be fond Of athletic sports and many of those indulged in by the queen and her ladies' as we'll as by the king and his followers were almost boyish in char acter. There are old pictures which give the shuttlecock quite the form it has to-day. though the battledoor has changed.
The Forrest City times., 1891-09-18
SAVING BABY'S LIFE.
A Carrier Pigeon Utilized to send for thu
 Medicine.

An incident occurred recently in the family of c. F. Marsh, the dealer in Japanese curiosities at No. 625 Market street and member of the Pacific coast pigeon society, says the San Francisco Examiner which proved to him in . most impressive manner the valuable services which may some times be rendered by the carrier pig con, and probably explains some of his enthusiasm in that direction.
 His little baby boy was taken sud denly sick with the most alarming symptoms of diphtheria. The mother, watching by the bedside of the little one, dispatched message tied on a carrier pigeon to her husband at his store on Market street In the mes- sage she wrote the nature of the child alarming illness and made an urgent appeal for medicine to save its life. The bird was started from the home of the family near the Cliff House, five miles from Mir Marsh's Market street store
 The bird flew swiftly to the store,
 
 read the message, called doctor, ex- plained the childs symptoms as his wife had detailed them in her message and received the proper medicine. then tying the little vial containing the precious medicine to the tail Of the pigeon, he let it go.
 The pigeon sped away through the air, straight for the Cliff. It made the distance five miles-in ten min utes, distance which would have re- quired the doctor three-quarters of an hour to cover.
 In twenty minutes from the time the mothers message was sent to her hus- baud the baby was taking the medi- cine and thus Its life was saved.
 Naturally enough Mir. Marsh is par tial to pigeons. for he considers that he owes his baby's life to one.
The Forrest City times., 1891-09-18
SEPARATED FOR FIFTY YEARS.
A Pair of Octogen arians Are Reunited in
 the PoOrhOuse.

the Poorhouse.
 She was only one of the many who waited in the Union station for a says the Worcester (Mass,) Sry. There was nothing about her to attract attention, save that her kindly old face was a trifle more wrinkled than the majority of those who passed in and out of the waiting-room. Her hair, too, was triile winter, her dress was conspicuously plain and her bonnet was such as her grandmother might have worn. No one would have looked to her for romance; yet hers was story full of pathos.
 More than sixty years ago this wo- man loved George Irving young mechanic and when he asked for her hand she gave it. and promised to be a faithful wife. They lived together in one of the towns in the northern part of the state for several years, happily contented. Then trouble came, and in a moment of anger the couple separated. No divorce was sought; no judge was sought to set them free from the marriage yoke. They simply agreed to live apart. This was fifty six years ago, and they have kept their VOW. During more than half century they have never seen each other, though at times they have lived only few miles apart. Each married again. The husbands second wife died year ago, while Mrs. Irving's second husband, one Benson, has been under the sod for twelve years When he died Louisa became public charge, and for the last dozen years she has been in the poor house at Enfield Since Irving's wife died he has been an inmate of the Hopkinton aims house.
 A little while ago the Enfield au- thorities learned the story of the wom- ans life. and discovered that Irving, her former husband. was being cared for by the town of Hopkinton. After some correspondence it was decided that Mrs. Irving Benson, was still lrv- ing's wife, as she had never been di- vorced and that she legally had right to be supported by the town of Hopkinton. Accordingly, James Ri- ley one of the overseers of the poor of Hopkinton. went to Enfield and took Mrs. Irving Benson with him. She is sS years old. and until she boarded at Belchertown, had never ridden on railroad car. Her husband is s9 years old. More than fifty years ago they made their vows never to live together again. Fate seems to have overruled the decision. and 'over the hills. " at the poorhouse, these two must live to- gether till death parts them.
The Forrest City times., 1891-09-18
A Large Pearl Fishery.

One of the largest pearl fishing grounds in the world is the Gulf of California The pearls, says cor respondent are not generally regu- lar in shape or very pure in color but some are of large size and many of the rare black pearls are found. The divers are nearly all Indians and their equipment is of the simplest kind. con- sisting only of basket hung around the neck. in which to collect the oys- ters a knife to detach them from the rocks and stone with cord at- tached. When the diver goes down he takes the cord between his toes the weight of the stone carrying him at once to the bottom. He gathers oys- ters as long as his breath holds out. and then rises to the surface, to de- scend again in fifteen minutes. Some of the divers are wonderfully expert
 aud can remain under water for as
The Forrest City times., 1891-09-18
ABOUT A VERY OLDGAME
AND THE WAY OUR GRAND
 MOTHERS PLAYED IT.
Battledoor and Shuttlecock Becoming Popular Again-A Graceful and Most Beneficial Means of
 Exercise.

That gay little game called battle door and shuttlecock which was so popular in our grandmother's day. bids fair to become popular again with the invention of Badminton, which it SO closely resembles. It requires no especial muscular development, only agility and as much grace as may be convenient.
 In the quaint cuts in Maria Edge worth's stories how easily and airily the round, bare arms of those damsels in short waisted, low-cut gowns wreathe themselves about as they es- say to smite the fairy-like bit of noth- ingness composed of cork and feathers, spinning like a mad bird in mid ar.
The Forrest City times., 1891-09-18
ONCE A BANDIT QUEEN.
AND SURROUNDED HERSELp
 WITH FIERCE OUTLAWS.
Aud Reigncd supreme in Their Hearts for a Time, Hut Love Nc- claimed Her from a Wild Life In, the Rush.

Three years ago Mrs. Wharton J. Anderson, a middle-aged woman of rare beauty, who is now spending a few weeks of her wedding tour with friends on Grand avenue, San Fran cisco, was the leader of a band of out laws in Australia. Although possessed of over a quarter of a million dollars, she went to that wild country, collect ed the band and placed herself at the head of it. Her object was not to steal, but to enable her. for the first time in her life, to have absolutely her own way in everything, and make her will law. Her outlaws--for outlaws they certainly were--were paid to do her bidding, and to them she became known as "The Bandit Queen" Up to the time she was 25 years of age she had never had her way in the slightest thing, and even her smallest wish was denied. Left an orphan when but year old, she was adopted by Maj E. Thompson, cruel, stern man, who absolutely governed her as a man would an animal. A woman, he always declared, was simply a slave. About four years ago he died, leaving all his property to his adopted daughter.
 
 of a fortune she knew at last that the aim of her life was reached She con verted everything into cash and went to Australia.
 Gradually she gathered around her men who were well known in that country for feariessness and who lived on the proceeds of their unlawful acts. She finally collected q band of thirty members. Each she compelled to take an oath to obey her slightest wish. To | each she paid a large monthly salary, and all they had to do to earn 1t was to obey her,
 Mounted on the finest horses that l could be procured, with the queen at the head. the band that was soon to be- | come famous rode to the large wooden house that had purposely been erected in secluded and most de oilse spot.
The Forrest City times., 1891-09-18
CATCHES FOR CACHINNATORS.

''Yassar,h said Uncle Billy as he gazed at his boy while he rehearsed Mark An tony's oration q reckon dat boys gwine ter hop CT egg saulted place on de stage, yit. w ashington Star.
 "Well,a said father law, after moth CT in law had returned from a visit to the young couple, what sort of fellow is Johni" I'm afraid he's not good for much, said mother-in-law. He reminds me very much of you, "-Harper's Bazar.
 ''Did you tell that man I'd gone to San Francisco, as l told you to, Jamesl" Yes, sir. l told him you started this morning" That's good boy. And what did he sayi" 'He wanted to know when you'd be back and l told him after lunch, sir. ' '-Harper's Bazar.
 How are you getting on with the pianol' asked Alphonso of his best below ed Matilda. "Oh very well; can see great progress in my work How is that'' w ell the family that lived next door moved away within a week after 1 began to practice, The next people stayed a month, the next ten weeks, and the family there now have remained nearly six months "--New York Weekly
The Forrest City times., 1891-09-18
CHARACTERISTICS kODAkED.

An aged travelling scissors. grinder has died in Michigan City, Ind, leaving an estate valued at s2l GOO
 Clericus Have you any idea wha, makes Johson such q skeptic,'' Cynicus-- ''Ses; he says the disciples were all fisher men New York Herald.
 Mrs. Narrowly: Why, Ethel. you herei I never expected to see you. I'm surprised n Ethel Il knew you'd be surprised The butler told me you were out"
 It Is suggested that it would be good plan to address letters on the back, across she folded part of the envelopes, so as to prevent the Illicit opening of letters by steaming
 John Matchock of Shamokin, Pa, was the accepted suitor of Mary kobash. One evening she sat on his knee and discovered he had a cork leg. Immediately she broke the engagement.
 A typographical error caused the rem dering of 'Gambetta' as II am better,n and "A bridge carried away by a drive of logs as "A bridge carried away by a drove of hogs"
 M Marcy, the French scientist, by ar ranging his own apparatus, has succeeded in photographing the flight of insects, the exposure of the plate being necessarily not over -o5000th part of a second
 When the owner of pet donkey in Jackson, Tenn, purchased 6 rival and in stalled it on his farm the jealous original pet resented the intrusion by praying so loud that it burst a blood vessel and died
 In the early elections of Oklahoma the rival candidates stood in wagons placed some distance apart and their adherents gathered around them and were counted. The elected man took office at once, and his edicts were as implicitly obeyed as an act of congress.
 Two little children recently went to church alone in Westfcld, Conn. They became tired during the long sermon, and the older one, supposing that school rules held good fin church led his sister up in front of the preacher and said. ''Plsass, air, may we go homef' He said, "Yss,s cd they soberly walked out.
The Forrest City times., 1891-09-18
FREE NO l. NCER.
Romantic Marriage Recently Com.
 unltted in (hteugO.

Nellie Free. a well-known actress who has been starring through the West for n few years back, was married in Chicago the other day. The groom was K. F. Bell. well-known actor. who formerly played leading parts with Miss Free. They first meet when he joined her company at Grand Rapids, Mich, in isss. A friendliness sprung up between them and Manager Comstou, Miss Frees manager became very jealous, as he had for some time prior been engaged to his star. Bell was forced to leave the company, They kept up n cores pondence, which was opposed by Miss Frees mother. It finally terminated in an elopement and marriage. The mother arrived In Chicago in time to find out that the marriage had just taken place. She made up her mind at once that further opposition would be useless and offered her blessing.
The Forrest City times., 1891-09-18
TransInigra

Before you came, Boy Brownie, A year, l think, or more A little blue eyed lad like you
 Was playing on the floor But he was little younger,
 A score of months or so, And when he passed away at night searched for him, you know l hunted for my darling
 All through the crowded street, Fen in the hospitals looked
 To find his image sweet. Each day drew some baby
 Upon my pended knee And often bathed a beggar r-child To ease my misery. Then you appeared, Boy Brownie, The home was filled with light; Our little, merry blue eyed lad Came in from out the night q now you're here, Boy Brownie, And two in one l see, A double faith, rcdouhled love
 hold, my son, in thee.
The Forrest City times., 1891-09-18
Piles Of Wealth.

According to Edmund Yates, $2, 300. . 900 of plate was displayed at the Queens state banquet at Windsor castle. One service for l3o persons is gold, and the other of silver A great silver wine cooler made for George " weighs 1000 ounces. The entire plate at Windsor is valued at nearly S9, GOO, GOO, and includes quaint pieces taken rom the Spanlsh Armada: peacock of precious stones from India, valued at $2oo 900; tigers head, also from India which has a solid ingot of gold for tongue and crystal teeth; and a wonderful collee- ton of splendidly ornamented gold shields, one, made for George ". out of his snuff boxes being worth $50. . GOO.
The Forrest City times., 1891-09-18

pTk I TeSs. una from it the owner expects to realize fame and fortune. To-day or to m borrow Mr. Fest expects to start on voyage of thirty-six hours in what he says is his experimental airship, and upon the success of this first venture will depend the rise or fall of his hopes.
 For over fourteen years Inventor Fest has been experimenting with all kinds of airships, and in that time he has expended several thousands of dol lars. He says, and friends who have watched his progress bear him out in the statement, that he has at last SIC ceeded in rigging q machine that will go to the clouds and remain the c long enough to be waited thou sands of miles by an ordinary wind. The chief characteristic of Mir. Pests invent on is what he terms the hot-air principle, and he believes he has at last solved the great problem of aerial navigation. He objects to the gas balloon on account of the limited time it can be kept in suspension this being due to the loss of gas This difficulty, it is claimed, does not occur when the hotair method is made use of.
 While the trouble caused by the loss of.gas can be overcome by the new scheme, there are others which the Germantown man claims to have done away with. After much hard work he has constructed an air heater which seems to the ordinary man of intelli gence to be very pratcical idea. This thing is the outgrowth of Mir. Pests own brain. nothing like 1t ever having been used before. The heater is light strong and freproof. and with three gallons of gasoline it is expected to keep the aerial navigator in midair about rty-eight hours. This much at least, he expects his ship to do ano he thinks that in the course of another year 1t can be brought To such state of perfection that one of the talloons can he kept in the clouds four or five days
 The trial trip is to be made with spheri al balloon 70 feet in diameter with a cubi al volume of s,s45 feet These dimensions, with difference of temperature between lso degrees in side and 70 degrees outside. will ena ole the balloon to lift i5o pounds. To this air bag Is attached the heater, which very much resembles an elongated stove pipe and extends upward through the balloon almost Go it's equator and  projecting several feet below the bas- ket
 The whole thing Ia very simple with the exception of the interior of the pipe. All the peculiar mechanism of the fireplace is on tlined in the queer looking pipe, and this is the part which the inventor re use io allow the pub lie to examine. 70 feed the pipe gaso- line is carried from Il convenient tank through very small pipes It burns quietly and without danger Of fire or explosion. This was the most difti icult obstacle Mir. Fest had to overcome.
 Should this experiment prove satis- factory Fest will certainly have mon ster ship to sail across the waters to Europe. This, he says, is what he Is living for. and when that is accom- plished he will be satisfied What he wants to do is to effect rapid
The Forrest City times., 1891-09-18

There they lived on every luxury that the season afforded. Dressed in dazzling costume the queen com- manded them, and her most absurd order was instantly obeyed. She even went so far as to attempt to mold the mems thoughts
 Gradually it became known that beautiful woman was the leader of lawless band and the strange house
 became the sole topic of conversation. She was declared to be enormously rich. and many welrd stories were told about her. She never appeared in tho towns or cities, and she was a mystery to all.
 Many wealthy Englishmen heard of her, and all desired to behold her.
 William Griffin, young officer of the Queens army, who was stationed in
 Australia, became possessed of a
 strange idea that he must see the mys- terious woman, who, Dame Rumor said, was remarkably beautiful. Se- curing 8 leave of absence he set out for her palace and after weary journey
 he found himself within her grounds. No sooner had he entered than he he was seized by armed men and
 roughly rushed into the presence of the one he sought.
 You are my prisoner for three
 months," she said, 'and for three,
 months you must obey my wishes" | Each day she issued 8 written set of
 orders for the prisoner to execute and
 his keepers saw that he obeyed the or ders to a letter. Two hours each dayshe
 spent in her she presence, and listened
 silently to her as told him of his many
 faults and the many reforms which
 would have to occur before he was liberated. He was made to ride the
 wickedest horses, perform daring feats
 he never thought he was capable of,
 and sometimes he was compelled to
 work about the place.
 | When three months had gone he was
 ushered into the leaders presence, and
 after she compelled him to take an oath
 to respect all women for the remainder
 of his life he was escorted by mounted
 men about two miles from the place
 and set at liberty.
 About nine months ago Wharton J.
The Forrest City times., 1891-09-18

Anderson, wealthy young English man who was travelling in Australia heard of 1.-The Bandit Queen" and dc. termined to see her and find out if all the queer tales he had heard about her were true. With some difficulty ho sought her out, and when he had ent- cred the grounds he was seized, e others before him had been, and ush- cred into the leaders, presence.
 In the same way as Griffin wao treated, go was Andsrson dealt with. He, howe CT, rebelled, and declined to either obey .ders or listen to any d. rections whatever.
 Of one thing he was positivc. He knew that he loved this mysterious and beautiful woman, and he dctarnp ined to make her his wife or die in the attempt. Somehow or other she acted strangely in his presence, and the end of it all was that love conquered.
 Two weeks afterward the home MA deserted and the band had sepnrated. Mabel Thcmpson, no longeT saTko Bandit Queen,n was married 70 yomng Anderson m Sydney, and th1y imno. diately tailed for Ameriea, laedlnG " GAn Hfanoieec . 5sw nn0u1 a0o +
The Forrest City times., 1891-09-18

transit between America and Eur opc. He claims to have req son to believe that there is con stant air current blowing eastward that will send his balloon rapidly across the Atlantic ocean He figures that this current of air will send his balloon to the old world in less than two days, or at n speed of more than a mile minute The existence of these currents has been shown many times by the experience of aerial naviga- tors He reckons that this breeze will carry as large ship as he can build across the Atlantic in three days at the outside, and thus work grand revolution in the travel between the two continents. The only difficulty in such scheme as this is in getting a machine to remain for that length of time in the air. This obstacle he claims to have overcome by the use of hot air, and consequently there will be no gas to escape and send the travellers toa watery grave.
 Mir. Fest first saw the light of day fifty years ago in Wurtcmburg. and he emigrated to this country in s6o. The following year he enlisted in the union army. After his honorable discharge in. s6s he began business in the city of New York as an engrayer of pearl and ivory. in 1879 he removed to Philadel- phia. where he is now conducting the samo business on very successful scale on Lena street, Germantown
 The ship which is to be sent up on the experimental trip will not carry any passengers. but by the aid of the postal cards dropped out automatically every hour, and n floating flag buoy its exact movements may be traced, tAus determining the question as to whethsg 1t will cross the Atlantic, snd sls6 ds to how long It will stay in the