davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-01-04

Of Texas steer, was shipped to France,
made;into an imitation whalebone and sent
back here, paid duty and Is sold to Ameri-
can consumers, very often as real whale
bone.
''The greater part Of the export is of the
raw material, although we manufacture
considerable for the foreign market. They
can really manufacture cheaper than we
can, but the cost of manufacture is not of
serious account. We have customers in
Paris, London, Berlin and all the European
capitals. Your fine Partisan corset or dress
waist usually has American whalebone
stays. The whales were killed in North
Pacific waters, the bone shipped across the
continent from San Francisco, split up
here. shipped to Partisan jobber, sold to a
Partisan dealer, from him passed into the
hands of q French modiste, sold to the
American tourist millionaire and brought
back to be worn in New York, Boston or
Philadel ph1a-or, perhaps, San Francisco,
where it was originally landed from the
whaler. The man who puts his arm around
a lady of any capital of the world generally
rests it upon American stays from the
mouth of the Arctic whale-though he
probably doesn't think much about that at
the time
RELIC OF EARLY HUNTING.
On the Office wall Of the whalebone man
hangs a curious memento of the old whaling
days of 40 years ago. 1t is a "slab" of the
bone about feet long on which is etched a
series of scenes representative OF the perils
of whaling. There is a full rugged whaler
under full sail. an attack upon blower by
the ships boats, counter attack Of the
whale upon the crews with The smashing of
the boats. and wide stretch Of S1ugh sea
fading away to distaaftr The
whole thing seems to 49, s-pted
with pocket knife anSsv - eseA i.sHecz of
artistic as well as pracE efiSs9 = It
was done by a whale 49, 1oSad been
round the Horn MAJ ind went
around never to come bal - ~. New Bed
ford home. - - : - '''s
"That was in this ofs-...sI was o
boy" said the msnufa.t~... .s..a1 belongs
to the past. The whaIss - - n;Jiy joining
it and the man who uaa.;t Ia Icy 20 as
fast as they have beer co;nv a.r;n. the last
25 years and 1 live tlst aneh 1anass, will
see the time when at. avarsos ras,9s catch
will not make fat woman q coysat
VHARLEs 7. MURRAY.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-01-04
HOW RA1sINs ARE MADE.
Those Dried While Still on fhe Vines Are of
the Best Quality.

Those Dried While Still on fhe Vines Are of
the Best Quality.
Sc. Louis Globe-Democrat.1
California is now making extensive ex-
periments in the grape-growing districts to
ascertain the best methods of drying grapes
for raisins. Two methods are now prac-
ticed. In one the bunch-stem is cut about
half through and the grapes allowed to dry
on the vine; in the other the bunch is re-
moved from the vine and the grapes dried
in drying house or in the sun.
The former produces the best raisins, but
a great many are lost through the breaking
of the stem by wind, when the bunch falls
and is damaged; by the latter a quality OF
raisin is produced which will compare favor
ably with any European or Asiatfc product.
When the bunches are quite dry they are
dipped in q weak solution of lye made of
wood ashes, little salt being dissolved in
the solution; they are again dried and
packed. Such success has been attained in
the drying that not many years will elapse
ere California will supply this country with
all the raisins 1t needs.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-01-04
WHISKY OF THE CHINESE.
Il II Served In Pots and Taken From Cups
About Like o Doll.

Il Il Served In Pots and Taken From Cups
About Like Dolls
New York World.l
Chinese whisky is q strong. yet not un-
pleasant liquor, distilled from rice-at least
so the story runs. 1t is brown in color and
not ''heady," but you will find your spirits
rising and will be inclined when you have
consumed great deal of this fluid to make
the most extravagant demonstrations of
good feeling. You will De gay without
knowing why. for your head will be az
clear as bell.
But alas for next morning. The China
man usually drinks pot of this with his
dinner. 1t seems odd to see whisky poured
out OF q tall, earthern-ware, much be-pict-
ured tea pot. Where more than two persons
are dining the liquor is poured from the pot
into large bowl, and dipped up as each
feels inclined, in tea cups, which are about
the size OF those generally found In a dolls
tea set. Each holds about as much as the
smallest pony glass, in which cordials are
served, and there are dozen of these to Q
potful
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-01-04
.DEFYING OLD BOREAS.
Electric Railroad People No Longer
Afraid of the Winter.
TIE EXPERIENCE In PITTSBURG.
A Prospect for Cheaper and Better Tele-
phone Facilities.
THE THRILL ON THE WIRES A FRAUD
PREPARED FOE THE pIsPATcH.I

PREPARED FOE THE DIsPArcH.I
The conduct of the numerous electric
railroads In the Northern States as well as
those in the Southern States, above the line
Of heavy snow, has been watched very
closely this year by electrical engineers and
street railway managers. Last winter the
weather was generally mild and open, and
therefore, it was argued, fair trial had
hardly been given the new system; although
as electric roads have now been in opera
tion in this country for five years. the re-
mark was not exactly pertinent Still there
has been desire on all sides to see the
large electric roads go through the seyerest
kind Of ordeal that a sharp winter could
submit them to; and during the past month
the wish has been amply giatifed.
1t may be stated that the results so far re-
corded have been very satisfactory in the
main. showing that the electric cars, with
their 80 and 40 horse power of motor, will 60
through any snow but such as would stop a
steam locomotive. Where the street rail-
ways are equipped with electric snow pIows
and snow sweepers, and the tracks have
been cleared promptly, service has been
udlubdlueu Will IemdFkdDlS
The roads have, in fact. suffered less from
snow than from the falling across their
wires of the fragile telegraph and telephone
circuits. which succumb SO quickly to wind
and snow that in Plttsburg NO fewer than
1000 OF the telephone wires went down at
once. In Boston the electric car service
was well kept mp, heavy as the snow was,
and in many other places the successful
dealing with snow was found to be largely
a question Of energetic management and
quick graphing with the difficulty.
Some of the roads that thought they could
get along without snow piows have
changed their minds, but not one of them re-
ports any dissatisfaction with electric power.
On the contrary, road has Just been started,
in midwinter, as far up north as Winnipeg.
in the firm belief that electricity is the only
motive power that can do work there at such
season.
One strong point that has been borne in
upon the minds OF managers of snowed-up
horse roads is, that while their horses have
been feeding in the stables, with full at
tendance, and earning nothing, the electric
road plants under similar circumstances
cost practically nothing, all the stationary
machinery being at standstill; and that It
is also much more expensive to double up
teams on less frequent horse cars than to
keep all the electric cars going and to give
them all the current they want for heavy
work, by simply putting a few more hum
dred weight of Goals under the boilers.
Reasoning Of this kind must be having some
effect, for December with all its heavy SHOWS
and financial depression saw more activity
in electric railway work than any month of
the year. At the present moment over 100
new electric roads are to be built, several Of
which represent an outlay Of y ,000, 900 .
piece.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-01-04
THE sLAtEs OF oH1ApAsj



A system Of peonaee. or slavery, is ex-
tensiyely carrisd onein Chispas. Mexico, and
its workings sre novel and interesting. The
slaves nearly all oome from the middle class
of Spaniar5s, and are not Indians, as is gen.
orally supposed The usual custom is for a
family who may havs { boyor gid 10 or IA
years of age 70 take the child to some plan
tation ovgasl a:sy q ssasS ! Fss class and
propose that Il shall take ! positPn as serv-
ant ant on Condition that an advance Of Slo OF
$l9 10 smadeto the parents.
The contract also generally stlpslates that
the child shall receiye certain amount as
wages, and t6f snsa shail be. plsced to its
paid. when the child viii again | s. free; As
the child ssos. efser and Seeoms able to
earn more money iss parents % if happens
in nessly every case, apply for more money,
thus pihag ep the debt. when the child
becomes of age it generally asks foz money
for its own personal use, and thus bound to
its master it must continue in slavery until
the debt 10 paid. 10y
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-01-04

mind was now finally settled as to the
wisdom and propriety of beginning at the
very foundation of all things for her great
work. Her work was to be an example to
the world.
1 had chaneed in my youth, when in the
employ of some Mexican horse drovers, to
come upon an oasis in the heart of great
desert. 1t seemed TO be the place above all
others that she desired. 1 gave her as ac-
curate map of this uninteresting and al
most inaccessible place as memory could
produce, and it was soon more than half de-
cided that this should be the scene of our
first experiment after we had thoroughly
studied and examined the work and the
story of the Aztecs.
1t was something in favor of this sand
surrounded oasis that few of these primi-
tive people still survived there and tended
the fields of corn in common. Indeed there
was, as / remem bered the place, some grand
old overthrow ruins under the great palm
trees that gathered about the small noun
tain where an immense spring of water burst
from the bosom of the desert.
Twice she had decided not to intrude her
new order of things on anyone, least of all
did she deem it wise to try and engraft the
true Christianity on any of the Christian
creeds of to-day. But these simple people
Va tuC OCscIt hCT6 No ySty
although we had to admit the possibility OF
some patient Catholic priest having found
his way to their isolated home. But all
things considered, her heart turned to this
one place above all others; and we began to
speak OF it as our ''city in the desert"
As she was now entirely well and strong,
it was decided-for it had long been with
her holy sentiment-that we should ride
down into Egypt by the way Moses had
come with her people-with Christ's people
in his pilgrimage to the Promise Land.
What a book might be written about that
journey! about her and the things she said
and did as we rode on down to Mount Siana;
the shores of the Red Seal Mamma, the
honey dew of the desert, the flight of quails,
monks in sandals. men in rags with palmer's
staff; many good old man leading an ass
with wife and babe; Joseph in his flight to
Egypt But now surely we must hasten on
to the new world.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-01-04
Cutting veneers by Electricity.

The cutting of veneers Is now done by
electricity. The yeneering machine, instead
of cutting or shaving around the entire cir
cumferenee of the log, as usual, takes thin
slice from the fiat side of it. The logs are Of
any diameter, and are cut into lengths of ten
feet. The veneer1ng cutting knife is fixed
between two parallel shafts, and the log is
carried up and down in front of it with 9
circular motion BY revolving cranks, aid is
fed against the knife by . ratchet and pawl,
in the ordinary manner.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-01-04
Telephone Work in Japan.

The telephone is making steady progress
In Japan. An exchange in Toxic was
started about month ago, and the number
of subscribers is rapidly increasing. The
annual subscription is about s32 in Toxic
and S28 in Yokohama, anywhere within the
limits of the towns. These exchanges were
established under the supervision Of s. Oh,
q Japanese electrical engineer, who visited
this country last year. In letter on the
subject, he says: "That have been enabled
to finish the exchanges successfully is prin-
cIpally due to the kind assistance had re-
ceived In the States, in making investiga-
tions in the various exchanges"
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-01-04
Telegraph Statistics.

In view of the fact that the statistics on
the use of the telegraph during the year
1890 in the various European countries will
shortly be published, it is interesting to
note that the number of kilograms for every
100 inhabitants during 1889 is as follows:
Great Britain, 1853; France, 80; Germany,
45; Italy, 26; Austria, 20; Hungary, 10;
Russia, g. For 1888 the figures are: Great
Britain, 140; France, 80; Germany, al
Italy, 30; Austria. %; Hungary, 10;
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-01-04

then allied with the maraudiag Chins of the
Burmese northwestern frontier, and the
method adopted for the subjugation of both
enemies simultaneously was by two separate
columns Of troops, one ascending the rivers
from Chittagong through the Lushai coun-
try, the other, in upper Burmah, advancing
westward to meet it from the districts which
had been molested by the hostile Chin tribes,
so as to effect a junction, forming line OF
military posts or forts guarding the whole
lsnsth vi the road.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-01-04
Electric Light as a Protection.

The city of Appleton, Wis, is be lighted
by electricity. In this there is nothing re-
markable, but the reason given for the reso-
luton of the City Council on the adoption
Of the electric light, is an entirely novel one
being that better light than gas is required
from the fact that at present so many women
are insulted nightly in the streets.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-01-04
ANCIENT PLAYING CARDS.

Curious Designs That F1ourished at the
Beginning of the Century.
st. Louis Post-Dispatch,l
We are glad to give our readers, and par
ticularly the card-loving public. an idea
how cards looked at the beginning
of the present century. At the COM
ing in of the new year cards Of
this kind weree gotten up in the form
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-01-04
CHAPTER v.

You need not be told that was on nv
way to Alexandria by the very first train.
Time enough to ask for the first outward
bound vessel after I reach Alexandria,
thought 1, as we bowled on down the banks
OF the Nile True, 1 leaned from the win.
dow half the time, stood out on the platform
at every station, to see if by some good for
tune I might get at least glimpse OF her.
And finally, when 1 took ship, the first
thing was to look for her, in the fervid hope
that she might be among the passengers,
And 30 on, all the way to my long journeys
end; but no Madonna's face for me.
When we passed through the outer wall of
Mexico City could sit no longer, bur stood
out and leaned from the platform, peering
left and right and looking ahead to get sight
of the station. Surely she would be standing
somewhere there, waiting to welcome me.
But no. An empty station; with few dozen
digni6ed and quiet planters, bankers, Off
GERS of the army, and SO on, with thousand
barefooted and half-naked corgadaros, howl
ing and fighting at the gates leading to the
streets. That was all. No Madonna's face
for me within the walls of Mexico az yet.
But hope is a brave and cheerful friend. I
reflected that I had ever been known as q
swift traveller. No man had ever quite kept
mp with me in my journeys about the
world. Why, then, should woman? Still,
I made my way on foot, looking forward,
looking back, looking left and right. to the
massive stone hotel Iturbide hastily. I
surely might find some line or letter, If
nothing more at the hotel.
And those barefooted, nuder corgodaos
running at my sidei Each one had rope
in his hand. and hunger was in every faceI
All, even then, as looked in their wan faces
aud deep hollow eyes. was building;
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-01-04
THE LUsHAIs ARE UNEASY.

EngHsh Troops Necessary 70 Hepress HossN0
Actions in Burmah.
st. Louis Globe-Democrat.l
England has again found it necessary TO
send a small force up to the highlands above
Chittagong, east of the head gulf of the Bay
of Bengal, to repress hostile demsanor on
the part of some of the Lushai tribes in that
region in mountain and forest The chief
admitted that he had intended raiding the
villages on the banks Of the Tyao river, but
being told it was British. territory, he
promised to abstain from doing so.
The situation of these tribes in 1889
was very different; they were
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-01-04

company the months in almanac editions Of
the present day. To-day these card alma
macs are great curIosities, and the exceed
ingly original samples which we have
chosen for our illustrations show the taste
of that period, and the prediliction Of the
public for everything that was artistic in
ths wav Of = cus. ~
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-01-04


were compelled to drag down the mountain
for that purpose. Each one of these II
Christian edifices stands in the midst of the
most piteous gathering of helpless, hopeless
dispirited and despairing human beings to
be found on this continent. The bells toll
regularly in each edifce, and SO do the
priests.
The idol can never be removed. It cannot
even be broken, by any modern appliances.
It is too massive.
All the earth below to Lake Tezenco and
up the mountain to the site of the ancient
temple where this idol lies is succession of
terraces. To right and to left and far away,
all a succession Of terraces, once titled,
titled and owned in common, by q contented
and q happy people. 1t is all desert now,
save few potato patches and novels of
misery that are gathered about the gloomy
stone churches. No wonder that Columbus,
even SO far back as when be was Governor OF
Cuba, complained to his Queen that seven
out OF eight of the Indians had been de-
stroyed by the Spaniards.
What of the Astecs temples or pyramids
to the sun and moon? They are tremendous
masses of cinders and volcanic stone gath
cred from the fields round about. That is
all. These pyramids cover several acres:
they are shapely, perfect in proportion, and
are much larger, at least the one to the sun,
than those of Egypt But they are not of
granite or any sort of hewn stone, as those
of the Orient. However, the pyramid to
the sun is topped by q magnificent block of
granite with the figure of the sun engraved
thereon. A similar block, though propor-
tionately smaller. is found at the base of
the pyramid to the moon. But this one on
top of the "Temple of the Sun" was too
heavy for the ruthless Spaniard to remove,
and hence has kept its place.
And the Egyptians, or at least the same
order of people, in some measure at least
reared these pyramids and built the miles
and miles of ruins that reach up and down
through the corn and cotton and cane fields
on every hand here in Mexico. And how
do kpcw9 Listen attentiysly. viii tell
Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-05-02
Repartee in London's Streets

1t is always amusing to listen to the sui
phurous exchange of compliments between
cabby and 'busman, who is often suffi-
GENTLY clever at repartee to cause cabby's
attempts at ridicule to recoil on his own
head. Here is a case in point. One after
noon westward going bus picked up q
lady and gentleman right out of the hands
of cabby in Ficcadilly.
In pulling up the bus very nearly came
to grief against heavy van. This was the
Jehu's chance. YOU'RE a nice sort of par
ty to ave charge of the 'eds of families,
you arer' he shouted at the bus driver
''Why didn't ye bring yer mother out to
'elp We odd TIE losses on their feet?n
Like a lightning flash came the retort:
Bring my mother out, indeed, while
there's such faces as yours knockin' about
the streets Not nell don't want to ave
the old CONAN frightened to death She's
been too good a mother to me."-London
Tit-BitS
Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-05-02
THE BANKS OBJECT
Not in Love with Secretary Fos-
ter'S Idea.
USING THE RESERVE ION A PINCH"

Transaction That Meets with No Fa-
vor at All Among the Bankers-Char-
acterized as Loose Financial Idea"
and the Fund Looked Upon as Sacred
Effect of Using the Money-views of
Ex-Assistant Secretary Upton.
WASHINGTON CITY. May BANKERS
and Others here were not slow yesterday
IN expressing their opinion of the state
ment made by Secretary Foster that the
sloo, 1000 gold reserve could be used to
meet government obligations "on pinch"
One banker said: "To conservative finan-
ciers, who regard reserve fund created
Dy law to partially secure the payment of
debt as a sacred matter, Mr.. Fosters
declaration that he will use it ON pinch
for another purpose has a harsh sound.
Never before have such loose
financial ideas emauated from a secretary
of the treasury
Thinks 1t IncomprehensibIe.
Another said: "What Mr.. Foster is
quoted as saying about trust funds and
the gold reserve is incomprehensible and
indicates that he is not familiar with the
laws governing these funds, or, if so, that
ne holds very loose and dangerous opin-
Ions IN regard to them. Because no one
would be able to get together enough
Sreenbacks to take all the gold out oi the
treasury, therefore they do not take any,
Is the way MIR. Foster puts the matter If
he should be permitted to impair the gold
1und by using 10 to discharge current de-
mands he would discover that a sufficient
amount of United States notes would be
got together to take all the gold from the
treasury"
Its Use Never Authorized.
j. X. Upton, formerly assistant secre-
tary OF the treasury, after controverting
Mint Director Leech's statement that
there was balance of $3.50. OOO, 90 in the
treasury, and insisting that there was
not more than S54, 600, 600, said of the
reserve: This amount was accumulated
by the sale of bonds under the resump-
tion act to provide a reserve so that the
government might resume specie pay
ments on Jan. 1, 1879 Congress has
never authorized its use for any other
purpose, but on the other hand, by ex-
press enactment, has once declared that
no certificates should be issued against
the amount. Any secretary of the treas
ury who should use this amount for cur
rent disbursements would be guilty of
high crime or misdemeanor, for which he
can be impeacbed"