davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-02-14
century that each tablecloth made for the

century that each tablecloth made for the
nobility and gentry cost e13.
The spider was the first weaver and the
wasp the first paper maker. Hence, the
generic name textorie, from which is de-
rived the English terms texture" and
textile" as applied to woven fabrics.
From these insects the ancients probably
acquired their first idea OF combining
threads. yarns and filaments so as TO form
a kind of cloth or fabric The fibrous parts
Of plants, together with rushes, plants and
straws woven into kind of mating, con-
stituted the simplest kind of ancient weav-
ing preceding the art of spinning or twist
ing the material into yarn and doubling
the continuous threads Of yarn into
thread. The early looms depicted on the
tombs at Thebes, though rude in construc-
tisn, produced fine and costly fabrics, and
the rude looms of the Hindoo wOrkmen of
the present time exceed in their product
the beauty that comes from the most elab-
crate machinery.
The ancient distaf was generally about
three feet in length, commonly stick or
reed, with an expansion near the top for
holding the ball. Sometimes for ladies of
rank it was eXquisitely wrought and highly
crnamented IL was usually held under
the left arm, and the fibers were drawn out
from the projecting ball, being at the same
time spirally twisted by the forefnger and
thumb Of the right hand The thread so
produced was wound upon the spindle IN
til the quantity was as great as il would
carry. The spindle was not unlike in its
general form that which is still employed
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-02-14
On the Plafforn.

We had an hour to wait at railroad
junction in Louisiana, and four or five Of
US sat down in the shade on the edge of the
platform and hung our legs over. II was
very comfortable, and we were smoking
and talking, when a man with a rope in
his hand, evidently looking for a stray
mule, came out of the bushes opposite US
and stood looking up and down the track.
BY and by he directed his gaze toward our
feet, but we didn't mind him until be
drawled out:
You all, thereP'
"WellY queried one.
Hist up yer feetp
We "histed" without waiting to ask
why, and then looked over 10 see rattle
snake about seven feet long just coiling
himself for a strike after having crawled
out from under the platform. A handy
grindstone was dropped down on him, and
when some one thanked the native he
called back:
"SOme men who hev lost mule and
hunted fer him three days would hev bin
)nery about it, but thars nothin' dog gone
mean about me. detroit Free Press.
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-02-14
A Bare New Zealand Bird.

Dr. Fristedt has brought a most inter
esting and valuable collection of birds,
etc, from Australia, where he had many
an adventurous OUTING, and from where
he proceeded 10 New Zealand. There he
succeeded in obtaining a specimen Of the
quaint and almost extinct ha bird.
This bird is soInewhat ike an ostrich,
but only the size Of crow. 1t has no
wings at ali. and is covered with fur
like short striped feathers. Another pc
culiarity about the hbi is the fact that
its egg Is larger than one-third of its
body.
He also succeeded in bringing homo
some Maori skulls, which are difficult TO
obtain on account OF the manner in
which the natives bury their dead
When the bodies have bean SO long In
the ground that all the flesh mas fallen
from the skeleton they unearth them
and carry them into the interior Of the
forests, where they are deposited IN nat
ursl caves. which are very difhcult 70
find. The attempt TO obtzin these skulls
Is attended with the greatest danger, as
any one discovered with one IL certain Of
being instantly killed Me-
sanger.
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-02-14
KNIGHTS OF pYTHlAs.
The Largest PythIau In the worid-othef
~

The Largest PythIan In the worid-Othef
Notes OF IEterest.
The largest Pythian In the world ~
knight John Hanson Craig. a member OF
Adhearant lodge, No. IA, Philadelphia,
Pa He was born In Iowa City. Ia, IN 1857.
At his birth he weighed IL pounds, at II
months 20 pounds, 81 IS years s05 pounds,
at . years T6e pounds; present weight eOf
pounds: is feet inches high aud takes
foTty-one yards OF cloth for a suit OF clothes.
His father weighed lis pounds, his motlser
l22 pounds.
The Pythian Reporter Of New York has
been resuscitated. and again made its ap-
pearanee with the November issue
Kansas City. Mo, has thirteen Knights
OF Pythias lodges, and they will entertain
the knights and sir knights and visitors In
1892 in "a right royal manner The brethren
OF Kansas. Iowa and Nebraska will assist
in Keeping open house.
Petitions for charters for new lodges are
in circulation at Alturas. Modoc county;
Sonora, Tuolumne county; Santa Monica.
Los Angeles county; Anaheim. Orangs
county; Hollister. San Benito county, and
az several other points in California, and
the signs are all favorable for early and
successful institutions.
Minnesota gained eighteen lodges last
year.
Twenty-eiGht new lodges have been In.
stituted in Ohio in the past five months.
Supreme Chancellor George b. shaw has
appointed John p. Linton. T.. :. G., OF
Johnstown. Pa, 20 the vacancy in the
board Of control Of the endowment rank
caused by the death OF DR.. ID. J. Holland
The pythian Advocate. of Minneapolis,
owing 10 lack Of sufficient patronage, an.
nounces the possibility OF its suspendins
publication
The endowment rank gained 9J4 mem.
bers during the quarter end.ug Oct. l.
Fifty-seven deaths occurred during the
quarter. the claims amounting 10 ST.. 200.
There are at present -, 732 members in the
rank. with reserve fund amounting 70
sl67, $50. 80.
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-02-14
Az ImpressI,e seeiety InltiatIOn.

In one of the secret societies at college
the victim is led into the hal! blindfold-
ed. The room is perfectly dark, so that
he could not see anything If the band
ages were removed. He is then taken
by two strong men, put into a regulation
graveyard coffin, with holes bored in the
lid so that he Will not suffocate, and the
cover Is screwed down tight. The build
ing has a shaft 20 the cellar, and the
coffin, with the victim in it, is slowly
lowered. 1t Is a truly horrible expert
ence, and several young men with shaky
nerves have tainted during the ceremo-
nv In the cellar. which Is fitted W
with all sorts Of ghostly appliances, the
coffin Is put on an altar Of logs, such AZ
is supposed to have been built in olden
times for Isaac's benefit. The cover j.
removed and the bandags loOsened, s.
that it can be easily removed. There is
a horrible groaning and clanking Of
chains, and suddenly the altar, which
has been saturated With harmless chem
icals, blazes up, and the bandage Is re-
moved from the neophyte's eyes.
As he raises himself mp in the coffin
provided he has nerve enough left-he
sees about the room two or three skele.
tons, which have been rubbed with phos
phorus and glow wildly in the dark
ness. They are rugged with pulleys and
ropes. and slowly they raise their bOny
fingers and point them at him, while q
supulchral voice bids him get out Of the
coffin. With show Of courage, not at
al warranted by his feelings, ne obeys.
a single taper is Lighted. and he sees in
the dim ray several masked figures IN
white robes standing about him. The
cold, clammy body Of dead snake -
then put IN his hand and he IS made g.
swear upon IT that be viii keep the Sc
crets Of the order to his dying day. and
defend them with his life If necesary. -
New York Star.
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-02-14

we have record, and it would require many
chapters to describe the changes they have
undergone The origin of the elaborate
network of gold, silver fax or cotton that
constitutes the transparent texture we call
lace is unknown. 1t Is claimed by both
Italy and Flanders as a production of the
Fifteenth century, but delicate needle
work is found in church furniture of
much older date. The laces of Venice,
Milan and Genoa were formerly the best
known in the commercial world. Later
the Flemish laces, the Brussels point and
the Mechlin rivaled the best of the Italian.
The famous Alencon lace was introduced
by the minister of Louis Nv of France in
1866, but its high price limited its use TO
the rich. Pillow lace" is so termed from
the pillow or cushion which is used in its
fabrication, the designs being prepared on
parchment by persons who devote them
selves TO this branch. In Brussels 5000
women are employed in lace making, the
majority OF whom work at home. Very
many of the lace schools are in the con
vents.
The extraordinary fineness of some of the
threads is obtained by spinning them in
dark underground rooms. where dry air IS
avoided and the best light is secured,
which is done by admitting a single beam
and directing it upon the work. Brussels
lace has been sold as high as s., 500 apOund.
The point d'Alencon has been styled the
queen of lace" aud owing 70 the delicacy
of its construction is seldom seen in large
pieces. At the French exposition of 1861
two flounces and trimmings of this ma
terial were exhibited, the price of which
was s., 600 francs. 1t occupied the labor of
forty women for seven years. The lace
represented in the portraits painted by
Nandyke in the time of Charles I is
Brussels point The Honiton lace OF Eng
land is pillow lace, but it is rivaled by
the Limerick lace, which is peculiar to
Ireland, and a valuable source Of industry
to that country.
From the foregoing sketch Of the origin
and progress OF some of the industrial arts
connected with home labor one may easily
infer why several of the wealthy ladies Of
Great Britain, including its queen. seek "a
encourage return to the old fashioned
hand methods for the production Of FAB
rics in common as well as ariStocratic use.
and thus reopen avenues for the employ
ment of women and children who are now
declared by the innovations Of machinery
from earning livelihood in the fields once
occupied by their ancestors.
+. g. De FoyTAISE.
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-02-14
LITERARY LIGHTS.

George Meredith, it is said, writes in a
little cottage OF two rooms standing in ths
garden of his house.
Gen. Lew Wallace is writing with eabo-
rate care a story of the conquest OF Con
stantinople by the Turks in 1854.
Louis Janvier. HsytiAn negro, has late
IL published in Paris "A novel which IL said
20 show considerable ability and undoubt-
ed originality.
"BoisgiIbert." the author Of "Cnsar's
Column" whose identity has puzzled the
critics, proves to be the pen name Of Hon.
Ignatius DonneLy.
Gustav Freitag. the famous German nov.
Clist, is dangerously i'll. His physicians
have ordered his removal 70 a resort for
invalids 10 the southern part Of Europe.
William Morris, the English poet and
socialist, is so busy in other pursuits that
ne writes the poetry which has given him
most fame only on Saturdays and sun.
days.
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-02-14
QUEEN VICTORIA SPINNING.

ans TO a son of Japhet, and by the Chi
lese TO the consort of their emperor, Yao,
Who was the founder of one of the colo
Oies formed Mt the dispersion of Noah's
posterity. Spinning and weaving certainly
existed in Egypt in the times of Joseph,
LOO years before the Christian era, it be-
ing recorded that Pharaoh arrayed him
in vestures of fine linen"
When Moses constructed the tabernacle
n the wilderness "the women that were
wise hearted did spin with their hands,
and brought that which they had spun,
both Of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet,
and of fine linen" Linen was the national
manufacture of Egypt, the prolific borders
Of the Nile furnishing from remotest pc
RODS, as at the present time, an abundance
af fax. The Egyptians eXported their
linen yarns" and fine linen" to the king
1om of Israel in the days of Solomon.
Helen of Troy is mentioned by Homer,
Tho lived 800 years before Christ, as en-
gagged in making tapestry that illustrated
the combats of the Greeks and Trojans.
The spindle and distaT form a leading
feature in King Lemuel's description of
virtuous woman. "She ldyeth her hands
10 the spindle and her hands hold the dis
aft. She maketh fine linen and selleth it,
and delivereth girdles unto the merchant"
The tapestry Of Babylon, even as early
IS the days OF Joshua, appears to have eX-
sited universal admiration, one Of the fab
rics being compared to a peacock's train.
Martial celebrates the magniiicence of the
Babylonish textures. Pliny mentions the
enormous prices paid for them to decorate
lining rooms, and Plutarch speaks of
splendid shawl which was bequeathed to
she elder Cato. The Roman matrons wove
robes with golden threads and in 1874 the
nuptial garments of Maria, wife Of Homo
-ius, were discovered in Rome in the
marble coiia that contained her remains.
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-02-14

On being burned they yielded thirty-six
pounds Of gold. Nero paid 4O00.O 900 ses-
.erCes about Sl50,OOO for a Babylonian
:overlet. The Egyptians wore fine linen
shirts fringed AT the bottom. Carpets
manufactured at Babylon, Tyre, S.don,
Miletus, Alexandria, Carthage or Corinth
were spread upon the floors. or hung over
doors, or put mp as awnings or curtains.
The finest carpets, sometimes representing
hunting scenes, were spread upon sofas
and thrones.
The fishermen of Egypt formed their nets
into a tent, and a gauze curtain was eX-
banded over beds and touches 70 keep out
flying insects. Curtains were used for par
htions, concealing statues and decorating
scenes in theatres. Napkins, which were
used for wiping the fingers, were embroid-
cred or interviewer with gold. In the time
Of the emperors the Romans began to cover
heir tables with linen cloths, some Of
Ehich were striped with purple and goli.
Table linen was so rare IN the Fourteenth
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-02-14

GOT IN HIS WORK.
The Thin Man Tried to be Friendly. but
1t Was No Use.


He looked so big and morose and gruff as
he sat in the waiting room of the Pennsyl-
Vania depot across the river that all other
Passengers kept clear Of him. All but one
he was a tall, thin man, with a piping
voice and scant eyebrows, and he carried
in his hand thin, cadaverous valiSe. He
sized the big man up from afar, and then
walked over and stood straight up before
him and asked:
Can You explain why the moon should
influence the tides in the way il doess"
Who are you talking to-" demanded
the big man in a voice so deep that it
seemed 10 have come out OF the basement
TO you, Of course"
We'll, you dust alongI want nothing
to do with your
you donts That's singular. I have
always been looked upon as a companion
able person by everybody Have you ever
figured on what quantity of water is evap-
Grated from the Atlantic ocean each year."
Didn't | tell you 70 goS'' growled the
big mau. Il don't want anybody TO talk
to mer'
you don't? wouldn't have believed
it. Perhaps you have met with a loss
death of some dear friends II 80, you have
my heartfelt sympathy. Speaking OF death
reminds me Of the heavens and astronomy
Do you know how long il would take a
cannon ball, speeding at the rate Of thirty
three yards a second, to reach the moonf"
''Look-a-hear, old man, I'll break you
in two if you don't move on" shouted the
big man as he sat up straight.
Il declared But you are the most touehy
person I've met in ten years. You don't
seem to want 20 get acquainted. | amt
mad, however, and / wanted to inquire il
you had any idea of the strength Of an ALI
gators jaws? Recent experiments made
by a reliable naturalist have shown
Hang it, but I'll knock you through
that wallp' savagely roared the big man,
as he hauled of 70 deliver a blow.
''Oh, well, if you don't want TO be friend
ly l shan't humble myself" replied the
thin man, as he lodged and retreated
around bench. II did hope 10 find in
you a kindred spirit, but | am disappoint-
ed. Your last observation is conclusive
proof that you are not up on even natural
philosophy. Fired from a certain distance,
with an extra charge of powder, "A tallow
candle may be driven through an oak
plank, but when you come 10 talk of
knocking a human body through "a brick
wall you betray your ignorance and give
yourself away / should"-
The big man rushed at him with uplifted
fist, but the thin man lodged again and
went outside aud stood by the door and
made mental computation Of the number
Of snowfiakes which fell on the soil of New
Jersey in the course of the three winter
months-New York Sun.
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-02-14

In India, and the spinsters of Ireland use q
wheel very similar in construction, though
somewhat larger.
With the introduction Of the factory sys-
TEN, however. weaving ceased 70 be a do
nestle employment, and the Jacquard
loom and other automatic machines, with
the auxiliary steam power, now perform IL
single mill the work Of many thousands
Of human hands. The Indians Of South
America take up each thread by the hand
and pass three years in weaving ham
mock Years have been spent in weaving
a Panama hat. The cloth now uanufact-
ured IN single district of England by
2'2,0oo people would. under the old sys-
TEN, require 67,000,0O0 operatives. or nearly
three times more than the whole kingdom
contains.
silk, cotton, wool, fax and asbestos have
been used since the earliest times Of which
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-02-14

10 purchase from the women on his Cath
ness estate all the goods thus manufact-
ored, and TO supply them with the raw
material. A few years ago Queen Victoria,
and more recently the Princess Alexandra,
wife of the Prince of Wales, gave similar
Impetus to lace making in Ireland. There is
reason to believe that popular movement
Of this kind may extend to other countries
In which modern machinery may have de-
prlved portion of the working classes OF
one of the means Of livelihood
If great age can dignity an art or lend
value to its products, spinning and weav-
Ing should surely be among the most fash
lonable of sociable pursuits. The old dis
saffs and spindles of our grandmother in
stead of occupying place among the
articles of vertu and bric-a-brac in the par
Tors of the rich, would then again be in use
by the maids and matrons of our time, and
Minerva once more become the patron saint
Of woman's husbandry. We read that the
mother of Alfred the Great was 'skillful in
the spinning of wool, and instructed her
daughters therein" At later date the
art was considered part of good educa-
lion, and the term "spinster," as applied
TO unmarried females, indicated the nature
Of their occupation.
Concerning its origin, we only know
that the invention sprang from human ne
cessities at an early period of the worlds
history. According to Pliny, Semiramis,
the Assyrian queen, was supposed TO be
the author of the art; Minerva is repre-
sented in some of the ancient statues with
staff to intimate that it was she who
taught man, while the honor is given by
the Egyptians to Isis, by the Mohammed-
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-02-14

The conscientious historian is always an
iconoclast. Whenever he gets a chance he
topples over popular idol by proving that
William Tell never existed or that King
Arthur was myth. His latest feat Is in
connection with that famous French battle
hymn, The Marseillaise Ii is asserted
that Rouget de lIsle did not write the mu-
sic at all The researches OF musical
scholars within the last quarter OF a cent
ury prove beyond a reasonable doubt that
the melody was copied By him from the
works Of modest old chapel master VINO
lived at s. Omer, in the department Of
Calais, and who, having control OF the
music Of the cathedral. wrote hymns and
.nthArns an rirez tia rAzzz ~ kis oEsaA
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-02-14
WIN P,ool. Bite Their LIps

II you surprise the father Of family
stretched out az full length and trying
tlll he is red IN the face 10 ralse his legs
without lifting his body, you may know
he is endeayoring 20 work of his super
abundance of avoirdupols, which inter
feres seriously with his cutting a grace
full figure IN the waltz, winch his better
half insists on dancing every chance she
gets II you consult Ny. Russell on
what changes viii make you better look
ing, you VII find him very blunt BE
NAV tel you you Go DOT wash yo1r face
clean. and when you ask how he knows
he VIII tell yo0 II YOU did your slin
would not Re disfCured with those black
pimples, or be nsy tell VOC, a. he told a
woman who recently appealed TO him
for advice, that she did not eat enough.
which fact ~ bad reached because -
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-02-14
The Lamb Tree.

Joaunes Zahn in 1896 first gave the
world information az 20 this valuable
plant. The planta tartarica bOwmetz,
according to Mr.. Zahn. grows IN Tsrtary
ike any other plant, and when II gets
ripe lamb forms on the ;op q the
flower stalk. After a while the stalk
bends over and the lamb grazes tail al
the grass II the vicinity is cropped Of or
the stem Is severed. Then Il dies.
Wolves are said 70 be quite fond Of this
vegetable muuon--John Ashton IN Cur
ans Creat--e- m Zoo'oG-.
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-02-14

Edgar Saltus Is said 70 aspire 20 erninsnoe
IN solder kind Of literature than erotic
novels constitute lie has, therefore, De
termined % devote himself 20 the writing
Of essays and history.
TennTson possesses the poets true fond
ness for old wine. His cellar contains a
eh0sce stock Of ancient vintazes, bi- favor
tie among them being Waterloo sherry
q wine just 70 years Of age
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-02-14

Inc royal vault at Delft has been opene1.
10 that an enormous silver crown OF laurel
leaves, weighing several pounds. which ar.
rived from Amsterdam as a token Of re,
gard from the Batayian colonists, might
I've placed on the coffin Of the late King %
Holtand
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-02-14
had observed how much she chewed her

lips.
50 you see you need not be on your
good behavior when You pass under his
eagle eye. But did you ever sit in the
ferry boat or car ard watch the women,
who make the most hideous, wry faces
in their attempts TO get some nourish-
ment or crumb OF comfort from their
lips? Not only the women but the men
also have this iendish habit-Brooklyn
Eagle
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-02-14
He sNasnt IN IL -

Sanso-Haye you been playing poker
for money:
Rod ,iisconsolatelyb-No; but the
fellows I've been playing with have
Hew York Herald
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-02-14

Nnen Baby was sack, VIC gave her Cestoria,
When she WAS a Child, she cried for Csstoria,
When she became Miss, she chung to Castoria,
When she had Children. she gave them Castoria
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-02-14
Efakfnr Him-If Knorn.

New Cierk-Are you a customer %
ours, 81.
The Oyher-WeIl. I should say ~.
WY. 1 owe you over $eoo.-Ciothier and
Furuiske-