davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1891-05-07
About Teaching Reading.

Mr.. Ballet, superintendent of schools,
in an address before the board of trade
said: Reading has been taught in
Springfield for many years by What is
called the word method, but it seems
this fact had not been universally
known until recently. No primary
teacher of any standing in the country
would teach IL child the alphabet be-
fore he can read. No educator of any
standing in America or Europe would
advocate it, The only question among
educators is whether it is more natural
for the child to learn words first or en-
tire sentences. On this there is diff
ference of opinion It present, but the
sentence method seSms to be growing
in favor. ."-Springfeld (Mass.) Home
Stead
Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1891-05-07
NO. j,
SPEED OF CANVAS BACK DUCKS.
Birds That Can Fly Two Miles Minute
and Cam Keen It I'm for Hours,

Birds That Can Fly Two Miles Minute
aud Can Keep 1t Up for Hours.
Dr. Charles Macrum is a wealthy re-
tired physician Of Portland, Ore, who
for the last three years has devoted his
time to hunting and fishing and writing
stories for sporting papers: The doc
tor has made study of the speed OF
the duck, and says the canvas back
can fly faster than any other member
of the duck family.
1.-THE canvas back can distance any
other duck, said the doctor. 1T can
fly two miles minute, and keep it up
for hours. The nallard is the slowest,
but with an effort can go a mile minute,
The gadwade duck is not found in the
east often, but is numerous in Oregon.
The members Of this family can travel
eighty miles an hour. The broatlbill
duck is almost as swift as the canvas
back. bat cannot keep the pace as long
as the other.
You may think that geese fly slower
than mallard duck This is not SO.
With the slow movement Of their big
wings they do not appear to be flying
rapidly, but they travel from eighty to-
one hundred miles an'hour, and keep.
it up for a day
The doctor tells some interesting sto-
ries about his hunting experiences.
When hunting near Madison, Wis, he
had Il narrow escape from being killed
by the body of a duck which had fallen
at his feet from the air about 200 yards
above him.
"a duck sometimes when wounded
will circle around in the air and try to
get as high as possible" said he. II
had wounded big 1nallard, and it
started to circle upward directly over
my head. had a charge Of buckshot
in the other barrel, and before it got
out of range fired One of the bull
lets must have struck q vital part, for
it came down instantly 1t was directly
above me, and had not lodged my
head Just in time it's body would have
struck me square upon the head. 1t
whizzed past my ear with terrific force
and fell at my side. There was not a
bone in its body that was not broken
when l attempted to pick it up. I am
certain the blow would have crushed
my skull had the body struck Inc Oh
the top of the head.
"a friend of mine named Bancroft,
when duck hunting in Florida, also had
a close call. 1t was just getting dark,
and we were waiting in our boats be-
hind pile Of weeds for the ducks to
appear. We heard something come
buMing over the lake, and my friend
suddenly raised himself in his boat to
see what it was. 1t was teal duck.
The bird must have been going at the
rate of $50 miles an hour. Just us Ban
croft looked up the duck struck him in
the forehead and knocked him over
into the water The blow was so hard
it stunned him, and had | not been
there to pull him out he certainly would
have drowned. The blow killed the
duck. When | tished it out of the
water | found the birds breastbone
broken. Chicago Tribune.
Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1891-05-07
The Champion Sleeper.

The Liverpool Post tells of u strange
adventure of ventursome small boy.
1t appears that he played truant and
feared to return home at night Some
how he managed to get into the sta
ton yard at Chorley with the inten-
ton of passing the night in one of the
passenger carriages, but failed to gain
access, the doors being locked lie
then crept under the guard rods, be-
tween the axle of the wheel and car
floor, and between which the brake
rods pass. In this position he went to
sleep, and at o'clock a. III. the train
started for Wigan. The lad was actual
ly brought to Wigan and again taken
back to Chorley, still fast asleep and
clutching the rods. When discovered,
after the train lad returned to Chorley,
he was still asleep. When awakened
and told of his pcrilous eighteen miles
Journey he was inclined to disbelieve
it, and only laughed at the frightened
look on the faces of the railway elm.
ploycs Had he made a single move.
ment while on the journey death would
have been certain.
Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1891-05-07
AFTER THE MASQUERADE.

youth in London at q masquerade
Ali dressed up as prince, his part WIZ
played,
Greatly enjoyed the dance
With princess of France,
witch from the bizarre times
OF castles and romance rhymes.
SO overjowed was he
At the rainbowed royalty
Which his dress bestowed
In it's shimmering load,
His mind went astray,
In some wayward way,
And he really believed
He was Wales himself.
With the power and pclf;.
He was so deceived.
Next morn, ere the hour of nine by the
clock,
At the palace door he tried to knock,
Arrayed for the pagcantry,
And all feathered and free,
Claiming entrance there
AS the rightful heir
Born the crown to wear.
Poor head! turned strange through the
power
And the charm of gala hour;
Arrested, put past lock and key!
All for his tinscllcd pedigree.
Let us have pity for this son Of earth!
Shall we say. Alas. for his simple birth?
Ay, the birth of one Is the birth of all!
The Saviour was born in an humble stall,
And what czar or prince or chief is he
Who can claim noblcr pedigree?
Edward $. Creamer in New York Sun.
Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1891-05-07
Destructive EarthUuakcs.

In 1893 an earthquake overturned
tfty-four cities and towns; Catania
and its $4,000 inhabitants were wiped
out Of existence, and more than 1OO,-
900 lives were lost altogether. In l1O2
Yeddo, Japan, was ruined, and 200, 900
people killed. In 1871 Pekin, China,
lost 100000 by an earthquake. In
1854 100, 900 were cnSulfed ut Grand
Cairo. The following year Lisbon was
wrecked the second time, losing 60, 900
people. The same year kaschan, Per-
sia, with 40, 900 people, was totally de-
stroyed. In 1859 Baalbec, Syria, was
destroyed, 10000 persons being killed.
The same number perished at Allepo
in 1922. In 1851 Melti, Italy, was laid
in ruins and II, 600 lives lost. In 1857
in Calabria and elsewhere not less than
10000 perished by earthquake shocks.
One authority on the subject estimates
that in the years between 1855 and
1857 tho kingdom Of Naples lost not
less than III, 900 of its people by earth
Qua!1es. st. Louis Republic.
Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1891-05-07
OFFICE. .-OSLER BUILDING, Northwest corner
sf Church and Main Streets.
Church Directory.

Reformed Churcl--Rev. G. A, Whitmoro
,as or. Weekly Lectures Tuesday evening
! Ncctin- of Ladies' Aid Society every second
Wednesday evening Regular services by
appointment from the pulpit.
Lutheran Church j. II. Barb, pas
,or Services Sunday 10 A. NJ. and $50 F.
NJ. Sunday School, 2. P. NJ. Prayer Meet
ing, Wednesday, 8.45 p. NJ.
Moravian Church, (Mcchanicstown) Rev
II. W. Hcrbst Pastor. Preaching every sun
NV, alternating morning and evening"
] rayer Meeting every Friday evening Sun
dav School o'clock, a. m.
Moravran Church (Graccham) Rev. r. W.
IIerbst, Pastor.
Preachins every Sunday, alternating NOR.
ring and evening.
Mite Society every Monday evening.
PRAYER Meeting every Wednesday evening
United Brethren Church-Mite Society
Second and Fourth Wednesday
Sunday School p. NJ.
PRAYER Meeting every Thursday evening
Regular Services by appointment from 'h'
sulpit.
Methodist Episcopal Church -R"v. j.
r. F. Gray Pastor. Services every n!,rrnn't
sunday at 10 A. VI. Sunday School a. NJ
}rayer Meeting every Thursday evening at
p. NJ.
United Brethren Church-Rcv A. N
Horn, Pastor. Services every alterh".'
sunday at 3 D. NJ. Sunday school every
Sunday at 2p IN. PRAYER Meeting every
Thursday evening at 7p N.
Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1891-05-07
Editorial Musings.

Editor (neditatively)-How seldom
we know what is best for u.s. Here I've
been pitching into the interstate COM
merce law for sixteen months. Heaven
forgive me.
Assistant-Ehi
II should have been on that train
which plunged into that open switch
last night if kind Providence in his in
scrutable wisdom had not saved me. l
could not get pass. ."--Good News.
Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1891-05-07
Pete's Mother Asks a Question.

A woman walked into public school
in a neighboring town the other day
without ceremony, and after gazing
about until her eyes rested upon the
object of her search she said in loud
voice, "Pete, where is the key to the
shed . Newbur,port Standard,
Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1891-05-07
Had to Have EN-.

In the palmy days of Rome the num-
Der of lions brought from Africa aver
aged 400 per year for nine years, and
with these were leopards, tigers, hyenas,
elephants, butfaloes and serpents al
most without number. For several
years there were 5000 men employed
in Africa in trapping wild animals to-
make sport for the people of Rome
Detroit Free Press.
Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1891-05-07

1t is stated that the muskrat is en-
ablcd to travel under the ice of frozen
river or lake for a considerable distance
by respiring against the ice roof, where
the bubbles of gas collect, and getting
fresh supply of oxygen.
Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1891-05-07
He Had Seen Them.

Tommy-Columbus was by birth an
italian.
Teacher Ito test pupils intelhgencep
And what is an Itaianl
Tommy-An organ grinder. London
Tit Bits, !
Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1891-05-07
Smoke Consuming Lamp.

4 gentleman whose lungs are not
strong enough for him to enjoy the
fumes of tobacco after dinner party
took with him to friends house a
little lamp, Which he set down on a
table when the cigars were lighted.
Over the flame of this little lamp was a
ring of platinum, which became red
hot in a very few seconds, and which
consumed the smoke of dozen cigars
as fast as it was made, SO that the at
mosphere of the room was as clear as
it would have been had there been no
smoking going ON at all. all.-Poughkeepsie
Eagle.
Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1891-05-07
Unfortunate.

Miss Gaswell-Pop, did you see the
Prince O Wales while you was in Eu-
rope, an did ye talk with him3
Pop-I saw i'm, but the crowd was
SO big he didn't see me.-Demarest's.
Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1891-05-07

Of most interest to people in this
country arc the sponge grounds of
Florida, which cover the reefs along
the south end of that state, extending
up the west shore as far rs st. Marks
and Apalaches bay. These grounds
have total area of $500 square miles,
and sponge fishing is carried on all over
them by large fleet of vessels Which
rendczvnus chiefly at Key West.
Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1891-05-07

WHY Il IS tIItTC uIIIII
Freddy Gnterrupting)-Oh, yes can,
pa It's there''cause ma needs it to
peep through when you go into the
kitchen. Shore.
Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1891-05-07

Freddie-Pa, what is natural phi
losophy'
Pa-Natural philosophy, my boy, is
the science of cause and reason. For
instance, you can see there is crack
behind that door, but you cannot tell
Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1891-05-07
EMM|TSBURG RAILROAD.

M]N]cA2i Va [Y Al ROAD.
New TINE TAsLE.--On an ,ftcr We'd
rcs,ny August 22nd, 1887, trains on the Mo-
ocacy Valley R,llroad will run as follows:
Lcayc Mtcl!anlcstown
: A. VI. II A. NJ. 6 30 p. NJ.
Leave Catocln Furnaces,
S.35 A. NJ. 3 Is y. Nj.
Tickets TOR sale at Mec..anicstcwn by Mr..
Frank Elrs>on
Local Freight viii BE delivered on all
rams.
s. Schlcy, Pres. h. r. Wacsche, Supt.
Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1891-05-07
? A T Z N 7 5

Lawots, Re issues and Trade .Ua'Ns secured
and AL other patent ca,!scs in the Patent Of
tice and before the Courts promptly and care
fully attended to.
Upon receipt of modet or sketch Of inoention
make carerul emm,natton, and adc'se as to
a.eutnbIity Free of Charge
FEES MODERATE, and I make NO
CHARGE UNLESS PATENT Is SECCR.
Ed. Information, advice unI special rcfc-
ices sent on application
J r. MTTELL, WASHINGTON, d. T
Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1891-05-07
/ SHOULD SMILE.

Sec my two teeth, ust came so easy that didn't
know it, don't have pain, collie or cry AZ night -
Come babies, take DR.. FA!iRNEiS 5 EEL HING
and you will have no trouble. You can get
il anywhere for 2S cents bottle. May /, rvr'
Smyrna times., 1891-04-01
An AdrOit Solution.

1t issaid that Rev. DR.. Phillips Brooks
will never consent to allow one of
his photographs to be put on sale. One
day delegation of young ladies from
his Sunday School sought him out and
declared that they could make some
money at coming fair if he would let
them sell copies of his photograph. The
fair was to be held in connection with
the Sunday School work of his own
Church, and the young ladies couldn't
see how he was going to get out of the
tight corner in which they had him.
But he got out of it, just the same.
"a very laudable work, ladies'" he
said, blandly; "and how much money
do you suppose you can make at the
fair selling my photograph ?"
"Oh," said the young ladies, readily,
I'VE could make as much, we think,
as $50" They weren't prepared for
the reply:
"Very we'll, " said the eminent divine,
turning about and seating himself at
his desk, II can save you trouble and
myself annoyance in this way" And
he handed over a check for $50.
Smyrna times., 1891-04-01
The Garden of Eden.

The Seychelles Islands, which are
supposed by many to be the site of the
Eden in the Old Testament history,
form an archipelago of ia island in
the Indian Ocean, and are situated 10
8 degrees and 38 minutes south lati-
tude, about l 400 miles east of Alden
and 1 900 miles from Zanzibar. They
rise steeply out of the sea, eliminating
in the Isle of Maize, which is about
5000 feet above the level of the ocean,
and is nearly the centre of the group.
Only about 80 of the islands are in
habited, the last census giving them a
population of 1900 souls. All these
islands are of coral growth. The
beaches which surround these islands
are the most beautiful in the world.
These beaches are of white ealcar-
eOus sands, enclosed in coral reefs
from a sort of wall around the islands,
and when the suns rays fall slanting
on the sands of the shore reflects here
and there light-tinted rainbows of the
most exquisite shades.
The waters, which are shallow and
clear, abound in fish, most of them of
rare colors, which can be plainly seen
as they swim to and fro, varying their
graceful movements by leaping out of
the water.
The houses are built of a species of
massive coral hewn into square blocks,
which glisten like white marble and
show themselves to the utmost advan-
tage in the various tinted green of the
thick tropical palms, whose immense
fern.like leaves give pleasant and
much-needed shade. These palms
grow as high as 100 feet, and some
times more. They overtOp the houses,
and even the coral built church-a
novel sight and one of the curios of
Maize. They line the seashore and
cover the mountains, forming in many
places extensive forests. Many trees
display simultaneously buds, blossoms,
unripe and ripe fruit.
Smyrna times., 1891-04-01
Delaware College Free.

The Delaware Legislature visited
Newark, last week, and were there in
structed by the faculty of Delaware
College as to the needs of that institu.
ton. The college has for years past
been conducted by a board, whose
members are appOintees of the state.
In order to avail themselves of the an
nual government appropriation for in
structiOn in the agricultural and me-
chanic arts, the trustees now ask an
appropriation by the state, of 1000
for the erection of the necessary build
ings. The college has been a practl-
cally free school for two years past,
and the trustees Tuesday resolved to
throw open the doors to the boys of
Delaware, absolutely free of any charge
for tuition. They also decided to set
apart One-ffth of the government ap-
preparation for the maintenance of a
separate industrial school for colored
boys.
Smyrna times., 1891-04-01
WHOLE NO. 1878.
The Grip on the Ohio River.

The epidemic of the "grip"-an ex-
sggerated and often fatal form of the
inhuenza-at Pittsburg and Allegheny
and the adjacent towns on the Ohio
river appears to be more serious In its
effects than elsewhere this season. In
Pittsburg and Allegheny steadily in
creasing number of deaths is reported.
The statistics for the twenty-four days
OF March give seventy deaths in excess
OF the mortality in the whole of March
last year, and for the twenty-four hours
up to noon on Tuesday last thirty.
eight deaths are reported, "a rate, !" it is
said, which, if kept up, would aggre-
gate nearly twelve hundred deaths in
month" Apart from the actual
death rate, the number of persons i'll
with the disease is very great. One.
third of the students at the Western
Theological Seminary and one-third of
the corps of employees at the Alleg-
hany General Hospital are stricken
down with it, and several of the street
car lines are short of help. Epidemics
OF the grip have often occurred at un-
certain interals both in Europe and in
the United States, and have sometimes
been very fatal. In 1729-'3O fifty
thousand persons were attacked at
Milan, sixty thousand at Rome and the
same number at Vienna. In London
1t cut oil one thousand a week in Sen
tem0er, 1929, and in subsequent wears.
from 1872 to 1743, it spread over Eu-
rope. There were visitations of the
epidemic in the United States in 1882,
1903 and 1836-'37. It's latest appear
ance in the United States was in 1889
~, but the mortality, though quite
large, was very far from reaching the
deaths of 1929 and 1870. The Pitts.
burg epidemic is singular in this, that
serious as it is, it does not extend be-
yond the Ohio river towns, although
the disease is said to be most prevalent
usually after a succession of cold
rains, such as we have recently passed
through. Many cases are reported
from the far West, but nowhere has it
been so bad as at Pittsburg.
Smyrna times., 1891-04-01
For the SMYRNA Times.
Taxing Land Values.
MR.. EDITOR (:

MR.. EDITOR:
Your town, like many of the other
towns in Delaware, is seeking to build
herself up by Offering inducements to
manufacturers to locate there for busi-
ness. Such step is worthy one, if
it can be taken without injustice to
anyone and it can be, but your SUBJ
scriber don't think the present propO-
sitions deal out equal justic e, if there is
any such thing as unequal justice.
An inducement is a special privilege
which is injustice, and injustice never
works out good. Every one must
admit this or give up his adherance to
christianity.
Some may say special privilege is
not an injustice. Suppose A to be a
holder of vacant lots in your town, and
B to be a merchant doing business in
his own building which he has built
without favor OF any kind, and suppose
Z to be the man to whom you offer
inducements in the way of gift lot OF
exemption from tax for stated period
of time.
With all respect for them and with
the wish only to show the truth, 1 term
you AS parasites. They naturally
want to return you something and so
they aid the scheme of getting manu-
facturers.
If a lot is given they may in some
cases give it, for "God loves a cheerful
giver" and "He that giveth to him
shall be given" especially if he has
more town lots which he invariably
has.
But how about the BIS, aye, there's
the rub" Bees) are always workers
and workers are always imposed upon
When B built that fine store your ben
evOlent lawmakers discouraged others
from doing likewise by taxing his thrift
and enterprise, and now your purpose
to make him pay C's taxes because
you find it impossible for tubs to stand
on their own bottoms where it is the
system to tax thrift and let idleness go
free.
Your aUide-GlOdke BIS are not so favor
able to the new proposition because it
don't go far enough, and include them,
they look upon it as a step in the right
direction but so short a step that it is
injustice to them.
When B went to your town he bought
one OF a number of lots from A and
when he got his store built he wrote to
his brother telling him of the chances,
his brother at once went to him but
did not remain for A asked twice as
much for his lots B was little indig-
nant the next morning when the as
SCISSOR came and fined him heavily for
his thrift, and little more so when he
passed on and put AS lots down at the
old rate. He went to AS house and
asked why he wanted so much for his
lots, A replied that they were worth
more since he had improved his lot by
building on it.
The answer was reasonable and B
returned to his store thinking of how
the increase of value of land that the
community makes is gobbled up by the
individual instead of being taken for
the use of the community and wishing
that, that value might be taken in
lieu of taxes on thrift.
G. A. BROTHERs.
Smyrna times., 1891-04-01
How they Feel in Middletown.

Bishop Fowler may have done right,
no doubt he thinks he did, but if he
had consulted the wishes of the official
board and the congregation of the M.
f. Church, at MiddletOwn," says the
NeIO Era, "before announcing the ap-
pointment of the Rev. Alfred Smith, as
presiding elder of Easton District, he
would perhaps have hesitated, maybe
thought a second time, and surely
made a different decision. RumOrs of
the bishops methods of conducting
the business and making assignments,
had preceded his arrival here in Della
ware, bnt no one thought for minute
that he would appoint a minister as an
elder, against the wishes of the brother
contrary to the expressed desire of the
congregation and particularly after but
one years service in the charge, as was
the case above referred to.
Smyrna times., 1891-04-01

The question of the preservation of
the Chesapeake oyster is being widely
agitated in Maryland, and at a mass
meeting in Baltimore on Wednesday it
was determined that a concerted effort
should be made to secure legislation
which would restore the depleted sup
ply. Owing to the destruction of the
oyster beds nineteen firms of oyster
packers have left Baltimore, and while
100000 bushels of the bivaIves were
gathered in 1875, that quantity was re-
duced TO 100000 bushels in 1891.
When it is remembered that the oyster
packing houses in Baltimore pay out
annually in wages the sum of 81 $780,
600 for labor alone, and that the can
makers have a yearly payroll of $685.
900, it may readily be seen that the
subject is one of considerable economic
interest.
Smyrna times., 1891-04-01
The Last of the Militia.

A movement is afoOt among the
militia, to have a grand military dem
onstration.On Decoration Day, in con-
necticn with the usual turnout of the
Grand Army posts. Military men ex-
press the opinion that all the military
organizations in the state will disband
early in the Spring, owing to their in
ability to maintain themselves upon
the meager appropriation of 81, 900; and
it is thought that this proposed mill
tary parade will be the last appearance
of the militia, as it is now organized.
It is therfore intended to make the dis
play one of heretofore unequaled mill
tary excellence, and at the same time
show their appreciation of the memory
Of those who died on the field.