davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1892-02-05
The Kalmyyki.

DR.. Hans Kaarberg did not at all be
lieve that the condition of the savage il
better off as to health and happiness
than that of the civilized man, and Ger
manlike he undertook to prove it. He
made journey to the steppes of Asia
where dwell the barbaric Kalmyyki
otherwise the Kalmuck Tartars, who alb
solutely and not very respectfully de.
cline thus far to be civilized DR.. Kaar.
berg found, of course, that the Kal.
myyk's wife was his bond slave. If she
left him for handsomer man the old
Mongolian law permits her to be tied
to the tail of wild horse and driven
out over the steppes. If, on the con-
trary, the Kalmyyk husband skips with
a handsomer woman little or no punish
ment is meted out to him. But the Kali
myyk women are, as rule, perfectly
healthy and scarcely troubled at all with
the ailments that afflict civilized women.
The Kalmyyk is an inclrrigible horse
thief and drunkard, though he makes a
faithful servant. He is brutal when en-
ragged at something weaker than him
self, but otherwise cowardly, in which
respect he is not altogether different
from some civilized men. The Kalmyyki
do not have consumption rheumatism,
bronchitis, govt, measles or weak eyes
neither epilepsy, anamia nor nervous
prostration. But they have fevers and
smallpox constantly, and are dying off
before the advance of civilization. So
you pays your money and you takes
your choice.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1892-02-05
Cheapest Feeding Materials,

Linseed cake is the staple food with
many farmers. 1t is not improbable
that this article will advance beyond d
reasonable price, and the farmer should
cast about to see if there is not some
food which can be bought so as to pay
him better. A good linseed cake is the
best food for general Purposes, because
it contains fair proportion of the diff
ferent forms of feeding matter that ami
mails require, and one of its great feat
ures is the oil, substance not strongly
represented in grain. An English ati.
thority explains that it is only because
the feeding constituents are we'll bal.
anced that it is preferred to other foods,
and if other foods are mixed so as to
possess the same properties equally good
results are obtained. The oil is the
chief difficulty, but that may be easily
arranged by buying the hnseed instead
OF linseed cake, for then the whole of the
oil is obtained. Linseed contains about
four times as much oil as linseed cake,
SO IT in making mixture we bear this
point in mind, the most difficult portion
Of the problem will be solved. OF course
the linseed must be crushed or boiled.
10 supply the albuminoid matter which
is found in the cake we have to turn to
the pulse crops-beans, peas, lentils,
maize and barley.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1892-02-05


The object in sailing beef is to get it
just salt enough to preserve it, and not
so salt as to make it hard and dry when
cooked. The following is receipt much
used-Cover the meat for twelve hours
with brine scarcely strong enough to
float an egg. Then take it out and wash
1t In cold water, and press it well with
the hands and squeeze out all the blood
you can before sailing it down. Then
throw the bloody brine away. Now
make a new pickle, and for 100 pounds
of beef, or in the same proportions for
other quantities, dissolve six pounds of
salt, two pounds of sugar and two ounces
of saltpeter in water enough to cover
the meat when weighted down; skim it
well before pouring it on, and whenever
scum arises on it afterward, Indicating
the beginning of fermentation, scald it,
skim it and pour it back when cold.
Keep in cool and well ventilated place
For the south and for keeping far into
the summer more salt will be required.
Never allow the meat to float up and re-
main uncovered with brine any longer
than is necessary while taking out a
piece for use
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1892-02-05
Some FsiIacics About Writing,

Nearly every one who thinks himself
inspired to instruct young persons how to
write good English tells them first of all
to study the style of the best authors and
initiate it. The advice is idiotic. How,
Tor instance, would the style of Shake
speare do as model for newspaper
reporter of this time? How would the
high stepping measures of Macaulay
read if applied to the description of a
lively trial in a police court? We are
told that Lincoln acquired his wonderful
command OF. English through a careful
study of Shakespeare and the Bible, but
neither the literary style of the one nor
the other of these appears in his Won
derful messages, The simple truth is
that Lincoln had first something to say
which overshadowed all considerations
of style in its importance, and the only
style Lincoln ever aspired to was to put
this in the plainest English.
Another individual who thinks he has
a call to show young people how to
write advises them to take from dicta-
ton or to copy a page day from some
good author. This of course will bring
mechanical exactness, which is impor-
tant. 1t will also acquaint us with the
good authors; but as an aid to style the
direction is absurd.
The same sapient individual advises
people to write as they talk. To a slight
extent this advice is good, But it will
never do to write exactly as we talk.
Conversation admits of free and strong
words which are quite out of place in
the printed page. The putting down in
black and white makes a statement
much stronger in way that cannot be
defined, but it is fact nevertheless. Try
to write just as you talk. Though you
talk well, when your words come to be
printed they will seem, recorded ex-
actly, undignified, overfamiliar, perhaps
slangy, or even coarse.
On the other hand, try to talk exactly
as you would write and your converse
ton will soon become an intolerable
bore. The difference cannot be defined
but it is there, and experience will teach
one where to draw the line and avoid
both extremes.
Every person has style of writing
which is his own, as much as the shape
Of his nose is his own, and it is the ono
in which he will succeed best. Let him
learn good grammar and spelling, then
practice as Lincoln did, putting his
thoughts into the plainest English that
is at the same time refined and digni-
he'd, and the style will take care of it.
self.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1892-02-05

Our British cousins have been gibinp
at Americans now for fifty years about
eating so much candy. But our turn has
come at last. Owing to our national fond
ness for sweets we have learned how to
make candy so far superior to anything
which goes by the name in Great Brit
ain that now in London American con-
fectionery" is advertised and sold among
rich and poor as rare dainty. "Des-
sert Sweets" Christmas boxes, GA
YOURS" as the Anticipated system of
British spelling will still insist on writ
ing the word, and various other sorts of
American confectionery are considered
OF sufficient Importance to be advertised
IN the high class magazines on the other
side. So handsomely have we turned
the tables on the anticandy people. Per-
haps they thought it was so bad because
Americans liked it, and have found ont
better now.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1892-02-05

From time to time the old man placed
fresh wood upon the fire and carefully
piled up the ashes so as to form white
crescent just within the crescent mound
OF earth. The mescal was handed
around and eaten at intervals until day.
light began to shine in through the can
vas and we could hear the Indians stir
ring about the camp outside.
Now the door flap was suddenly lifted
and a man stepped in, carrying in his
arms an infant. The child was sick al
most to death and as last hope he had
brought it to the sacred lodge to be
prayed for by the priests of the mescal.
There was something deeply affecting in
the pathetic earnestness of the father as
he watched the priests praying over his
child, which seemed in stupor and
made no sound. The ceremony COM
pleted. he left as silently as he entered.
The sun mounted higher and higher,
and the fire burned low until at last,
when nearly noon, the singers took up
the raven song, which is always the
final one. While this was being sung
the door flap was again raised and some
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1892-02-05

deposited 1t carefully upon the top of the
mound upon bed Of fragrant herbs
arranged in the form of a cross. He
then distributed the mescals around the
circle, giving four to each man.
Each participant now took mescal in
his hand and passing it with sweeping
motion toward the sacred mescal ON the
mound and on through the blaze of the
fire brought it up to his lips. This was
repeated four times and at the fourth
time he seized the mescal between his
teeth and chewed it with a loud crunch
Ing noise
After chewing it awhile he took Il in
his hand and held It up, looking now
like brown nutmeg, and then throwing
back his head swallowed it at gulp, rub,
bling his chest and the back of his neck
after the operation, presumably TO facili-
tate the descent of The pellet, The re-
naming thfee were swallowed in the
game way at intervals of perhaps half
an hour. This is generally repeated
three times in the course of the ceremu-
ny, making twelve mescals TO each man.
AS soon as the first inescals had been
eaten the man sitting next the old fire
tender took the drum, while his nearest
companion took in one hand rattle and
in the other an eagle tail fan and curl
ously ornamented stick. This stick was
used as hand rest, one efd being set
upon the ground, while the fan was for
the purpose of screening the eyes from
the blaze of the fire in front. The rat
tie, fan and stick were decorated with
various symbolic figures and colors. In
its main features the ceremony is form
of elemental worship, the prayers being
addressed to the mescal, the fire, the
rain, the earth, the sun and the morning
star.
The one now began to shake the rat
tie and started plaintive mescal chant,
while the other kept up an accompani.
ment with the drum. These chants are
hymns to the mescal and the various
powers of nature. Like most Indian
songs, they are in the minor key. Each
couple continued the song for perhaps
bfteen minutes and then passed the in
struments on to the next two, who start
ed another song, and thus it slowly went
around the circle, AS the night dragged
along the tired ear became almost in
sensible to the low monotone OF the
songs and the incessant din of the drum:
the hire took on strange shapes as it
blazed up and again died down, throw
ing weird shadows over the dark forms
around the circle, until at last the whole
thing seemed as unreal and far away as
the memory of dream.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1892-02-05

After burning sulphur in the poultry
house (some people use it as remedy
for roup and lice) do not let the chickens
out into rain or mist They will. catch
cold then very easily, the same as per
son who has been taking sulphur.
Don't feed dry oats: scald them well
first.
If you want to get eggs, keep the hens
from ever getting chilled This is the
biggest secret" of the egg business.
Don't give food or drink to fowl for
at least twelve hours before killing it.
Ground bone is not only excellent to
prevent leg weakness and for the gen.
eral health, but it encourages egg pro-
duction immensely.
/. AT the present season the busting box
serves its most valuable purposes.
Whole wheat is fine egg food, but too
much of it may cause looseness of the
bowels
Scaly legged fowls are disgrace to
any yard. for they are generally caused
by neglect and are easily cured
If You frlve birds whose combs frost
readily apply a little glycerin to them
when the weather is unusually cold.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1892-02-05
legal Notices.

stephen A. Buxton State of Vermont,
VS. Windham County
Robert Ii. Snowden, Clerks Office, in
Lydla T. Snowden, Chancery, January
F. S. Easily, IA, 1892.
Whereas Stephen A. Buxton of Wood
bine, in the county of Harrison and state
of Iowa. has this day filed in this office
his petition against Robert B. Suowden
and his wife, Lydia P. Snowden, of
Brooklyn, county of Kings and state of
New York and f. S. Easily of Babylon,
county of Suffolk and state of New York
setting forth that on The Goth day of No
vember 1887, the said Robert B. and
Lydia Z. mortgaged to him certain land
in Londonderry, in said Windham county,
being the same land conveyed by said
Stephen A. and his wife to said Robert b
by deed dated Nov. u, 1887, recorded in
Londonderry land record book l6, page
l9l, conditioned for the payment of a
promiso'y note for 500 90 given by said
Robert B. to said Stephen A. dated
Nov. 81, 1887, payable on or before Nov.
p, 1890, with inlerest annually, which is
now due md unpaid. And further set
ting forth that said F. S. Easily claims
an interest in said plcmi, es, which inler-
est, if any exists, the petitioner saws is
subsequent to and subordinate to his said
mortgage. and praying that the equity of
or r. l, Il ID II
den, Lydia p. Snowden and f. S. East
ty in the premises may be forcclosed,
which petition is returnabIe to the DeX
term of the Court of Chancery 10 be held
at Newfane in aud for said Wndham
county on the second Tuesday of Marcn
y. ID. 1892, and it appearing hat the said
SO shat the binary process of the court
cannot be served upon them. ii is 0ydoyDd
that the petitioner notify the defendants
of his PETITION, and of the term of The
court to which he same is returnable, by
publishing the substance thereof, with
this order, for three weeks SncceSsivelv
in the LONDONDERRY SITTER, printed al
said Londonderry. the last publication 10
be at least twenty days previous to said
Text March term of said court VIII Oh
pubica ion will he deemed sutiicien;
itice TO said defendants 10 appear and
make answer TO said petition.
ROYAL TYLER, c ERIK
A. +. CudwoTth, Petitioners Sulicito
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1892-02-05
TESTIMONIALS.

Standard Medicine Co.,
Gentlemen: think no one can be more COM
petent than myself to speak of the marvellous
virtues of The PERUVIAN NERVE COMPOUND.
Three years ago was on the point of succumb-
Ing entirely to nervous prostration, when it was
prescribed for me. The effect was wonderful.
Strength drifted rapidly back to me, and be-
came conscious of buoyant joyous sensation
rarely experienced by.any person not in vigo-
rOus health. l think this is specific quality of
this Compound for in reco mmcndng and even
administering 1t to ailing and feeble friends at
different times, have closely watched its results
and always found that 1t strengthened and invig.
GRATED mentally as well as physically. We en-,
deavor to keep it constantly in the house, for if
any member of the family begin to lose vitality,
we know that 1t can be speedily restored.
never speak of this exquisite Compound of
choice and rare extracts by its prosaic name, but
offer draught of 1t as the wine of life, meaning
the essence of the life force which it always
seems to me, it contains within itself.
Of this Compound can never say enough.
believe You must have discovered the boarded
secret of some long forgotten alchemist, solved
its mystery, and are now beneiting mankind
with It,
| wish l could feel sure that l might have
three easpJonfuls day of 1t as long as l live !
can say with perfect TRUTH that | never have
taken or have known of remedy which pro-
duced exactly the effect that this Compound
does, and it is rot merely upon one person, but
upon all whom nave known to have used it.
MRS. C. b. RUSS.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1892-02-05
Making Guns and Ammunition

Men shoot cartridges, but women
make them. Most of the 100 EMPLOYEES
are women at frankfort arsenal, on the
Delaware, near Philadelphia, where
100000 cartridges year are manufac-
tured. There is so much hand work in
the thirty distinct processes required
that the nimble fingers of girls are found
valuable. Cartridges for small arms
rifle, carbine and revolver-are made at
frankfort. At present the factory is
turning out $4,000 day but the num-
Der could be easily tripled, and more.
and 100000 daily manufactured. Be-
sides the cartridges, the frankfort fac
tory makes fuses and primers for shell
and cannon. 1t manufactures no can
non explosives except shrapnel. Shot
and shell for cannon are made at Wa
tervliet, N. Y, and these two arsenals
are the only places in the Union where
ammunition is actually manufactured.
AT the other arsenals it is stored.
Manufacturing arsenals for guns
themselves and the other equipments of
war are scattered over the Union. At
Springfield, Mass, rifles and small arms
are made, while the field guns and the
machinery that goes with them are fab
ricated at Waterviet. Gun carriages
are produced at WATERFOWL, N. Y, in
fantry and cavalry euuipments at Rock
Island, Ills. Much of the small arm am
muntlon made at present goes to supply
militia in the states. There are govern
ment arsenals of storage at Benecia,
CAL; San Antonio, Tex; Augusta, Ga;
Columbia, Tenn; indianapolis; Augusta,
Me-, and New York.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1892-02-05
Something of a Weapon.

Police Captain Cox exhibits a muir
derous weapon in the city Jail, the
like of which has never been seen in
this city. It is folding sword that
can be used either as a club or a
sword, and when opened is about two
feet and half in length. Its blade
made of heavy steel, tapers to a
point at the end, and both edges are
sharpened.
The weapon is heavy enough to
take off head at single blow. 1t
can be opened in an instant by press
ing small spring at the end of the
hit, which let's heavier spring
throw out the blade. Captain Cox
says the weapon is an historical relic.
having been found on the field of the
Custer massacre, but tradition and
Tailor Hudson say that it was once
the property of Turkish brigands.-
Portland Oregonian.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1892-02-05
About Flower Gardens.

In The Nineteenth Century "Sir Her
bert Maxwell, Bart, M. p" gives some
suggestions on garden making which are
OF use to rich or poor. He writes of the
theme in winter because the winter is
the time to prepare for garden, if one
is going to have it. A rare glimpse he
gives US, too, of the character of the great
botanlst, Linn8us, who shed tears when
he first beheld a field of English gorse.
it was so beautiful
Sir Herbert rejoices that the popular
taste is returning from great fiaring
masses of red and yellow autumn flow
ers to the old favorites of the Elizabethan
age, when outdoor English flowers were
celebrated in prose and song. The first
essential of garden, however is that it
should contain some flowers that are in
bloom at all times, SUGGESTIONS of bios
SONS following one another as their re-
spective months for opening come and
pass. It must never be said, "You
should have seen our garden a month
ago; then it was indeed beautiful
The gardener, professional or anna
teur, who understands his business will
know how to provide for succession of
beautiful blooms-from the crocus that
peeps up through the snow to the
flower that sheds its last pale petals
when snow comes again.
In ENGLAND fbaro own
plants that will blossom in the dead of
winter, bridging the gulf between the
embers of October and the first sparkles
of February" This is the hellebore
family, to which the Christmas rose be-
longs. One of these "opens its great
bells, of the color of apple blossoms, in
the first days of November, thencefor-
ward, blow high, blow low, come sleet
Or snow or frost or rain, will maintain
great wreaths of bloom till well on in
January" 1t is not likely that we could
have this plant in the severer climate of
the northern part of the United States;
still there are portions of the country
where it would undoubtedly thrive.
The writer has not half the opinion of
forced and dollhouse floral beauties that
he has of the natural outdoor flowers.
and he congratulates us on the increase
OF these. We have hundred species to
choose from where the Eighteenth CEN
fury gardener had one. If with all this
wealth we do not have lovely gardens it
Is certainly our own fault. Mr.. Max
well further regrets that statuary has
gone out of fashion in the decoration of
gardens, for nowhere else can it be used
to such advantage, giving as it does a
feeling of repose to the beauty of nature
all about it.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1892-02-05
A Great Mechanical Work

1t was over in a few minutes, the
work OF breaking ground for the bridge
across the Hudson at New York, but it
initiated one Of the grandest mechanical
enterprises of the latter part of the
Nineteenth century. No silver trowel
or fancy implement was employed as a
tool to dig up the earth, but just a new
steel shovel, exactly such an honest,
strong implement as the foreign labor
ers themselves will use when they bur-
row into the ground at West Sixty
seventh street. New York city, and on
IN tunnel to the Hudson river. An
American threw out the first shovelful
OF earth, to give the thing dignity
Then he stopped and delivered over the
real task to the Italians and other
gentlemen from Europe who come
across the water to do the hard work of
the United States. SO it goes.
The great bridge will cross from
Sixty-seventh street, New York, to the
heights of Hoboken. 1t will be four-fifths
OF mile long, its center span being 9, 021
feet, the longest ever made 1t will be
$50 feet above high tide mark. This
splendid bridge will carry at least eight
railway tracks, and give New York city
what it has never yet had, direct COM
munication with the rest of the country
Facilities will be sufficient to allow
every railway centering in Jersey City
to bring passengers and freight direct
INTO the heart of the metropolis. The
benefits that will accrue from this can
hardly be computed 1t will spread
New York city over a good part of the
adjacent lands in Jersey
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1892-02-05

STRETCHED HIS HANDS TOWARD THE FIRE
into blaze with a beaded eagle feather
used only in this ceremony. The feathe,
was also brought into frequent requisi
ton to fan away any particles of ashes
which chanced to fall upon the mound.
Stretching out his hands toward the fire
he then delivered an earnest address,
which my interpreter afterward ex-
planned was an exhortation to the par
Elephants to enter into the ceremony
with the proper religious spirit, and a
special word to me to the effect that
they had permitted me to be present
that might note everything, so that on
my return | could tell the government
and the white men that it was all good
and not bad, and that it was the re-
ligion of the Indians in which they be-
heved, and which was as dear to them
as ours is to u.s.
The other now produced package of
mescals and selecting the largest one
women on the outside handed in mans Of
mashed meat, parched corn soaked in
water, heavy cakes of bread and coffee.
As soon as the song ended these were
passed around the circle, each man tax.
ing what he wanted. Before eating each
one threw small piece of meat into the
lire as an offering. The fire received also
a piece of bread from each man, while
one or two grains of corn were placed
upon the mound and few drops of
coffee poured over it as libation.
With final prayer and another re-
quest from the old man that | should 90
back and tell the whites that the In
dlans had religion of their own which
they loved, the ceremony ended. From
sitting full fourteen hours in such a
cramped position, with the constant din
of the songs and instruments and the
glare of the fire in my eyes. | was pretty
well used up and for awhile hardly
able to move, but the mescal eaters ap-
peared to be as fresh as when they be-
gan. Before We had made ready our
horses to depart the sacred lodge had
been taken down and only the mound of
earth and the ashes remained to show
where it had been.
JAMES MOONEY,