davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-03-09
Homemade MOusetrap.

Some time ago, says a writer in the
English Mechanic, an idea for a mouse:
trap suggested itself to me, which l car
ried into effect, and the results were
highly satisfactory. My trap was as fol,
lows: procured an eartheDware glazed
pan, about two feet high and eighteen
inches across the top, which was h all
filed with water; then 1 placed two
strips of wood, about four inches wide,
across the pan. In the centre I placed
diamond shaped piece of wood, with
two nails, one at each of the two points,
which rested on the four-inch boards
one end of the diamond rested on the
pan and at the other end piece OF
cheese was tied, as shown in the sketch.
Then placed a narrow board, running
from the floor to the edge of the pan for
the mice to reach the cheese ment ioneo
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-03-09
The Very Smallest Horse.

What was supposed to be the smallest
specimen of the equine species ever
brought to this country was "Queen
Nab, " who was brought from the Lon
don Geological Gardens to New York
in 184S. "Mab" was then twelve years
old, and only survived her ocean voyage
about three months. The writer has two
descriptions of this "equine in minia-
ture,". one of which says that she was
nineteen inches high, and the other that
she was "two inches over two feet"
Even though the nineteen-inch account
be the correct one, "Mab's" smallness
has been exceeded by good half dozen
other ponies. A few years ago the Bar.
oness Burdett. Coutts came Into posses
sion of an abbreviated edition of pony
which was only fourteen inches in height
and but eighteen and half inches in
length, counting from the end of the
nose straight across to the root of the
tail. At the present time the Shah of
Persia is the owner of a Shetland pony
which is but twelve and half inches
high. This pampered pet of royalty
wears gold shoes worth $40 each.-
st. Louis Republic.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-03-09

and one may. say they really are 80, for
the Stockholmer is proud of his city;
and his character, gay, generous and
genial in its best aspect, as we'll as the
clear and melodious intonation of his
mother tongue, accord we'll with the
sunny sky and the picturesque scenery
of the fair northern capital: ~
On approaching Stockholm from the
Baltic, the steamer plies her way through
numberless iplands covered with fragrant
FIR trees and white-stemmed birches, the
favorite tree of the inhabitants. These
isles are adorned with villas or the red
painted cottages of the peasants, which
in summer serve as homes for weary
townsfolks.
Entering the fine harbor the rocky
"South" with its granite walls rises to
the left and to these heights the tourists
repair for the admirable views which
they afford. The practical man: who
wishes to acquaint himself with the In
dustral establishments, also makes a
pilgrimage to this point, as does anybody
and everybody who takes an interest IN
| the great elevator, 12O feet in height,
| from the long bridge of which delight
full panorama of the city and its environs
presents itself. On the right is the
| favorite resort of the Stockholmers, the
highly praised park, Djurgarden, with
| idyllic royal summer residence, the Bel
| vedere and skansen, an appendix to the
Museum of Northern Antiquities,
miniature representation of the peasant
| homes OF former generations as well as
| of the nomadic abodes, sledges, reindeer
and all, Of the Laplanders of our own
day. Here the pleasure grounds, the
CAV terraced Tivoli and the aristocratlc
Hasselbacken with its military orchestra,
and the motley crowds of soldiers, civil
ians, sailors and Dalecarlians, in their
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-03-09

ytlly thornless one. The etiquette
offs Dutch Court is very strict, and the
lit girl is not allowed to play with any
ott children of her own age. One can
wsimagine that the motherly heart OF
tEmpress of Germany was touched at
tBfght of the lonely, quiet, little child,
a s7hen she thought of her six happy
lite sons at home, it is not to be won
de4 at that she gave vent to her feel
10 in the Inference which provoked so.
! comment at the time: '.If she
G 4 only play with our boys, wouldn't
Senjoy it9"
! j sad little story is told of the <Prin-
~ Wilhelmine, when she was about
sdor seven, which proves that the life
~ princess is not quite bed of roses
hee when seated at play with three of
tai dolls, one of the wax babies misbe-
e.ed itself and the little princess held
n, warning finger, saying sternly: "lf
syl are SO naughty ! shall make you intb-
,'arincess and then you won't have 9hy
,S;1cr little children to play with, and
len you'll always have to throw kisses
eth your hand whenever you go out
,ciyinp," ~
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-03-09
The "Boss" White Oak Tree.

The largest pieces of white oak that
were ever probably sawed to order and
shipped to this market have been re-
celved by Messrs. Roberts & Case, of
New York City. This piece of timber
was thirty inches square and fifty feet
long, and measured $3.50 feet board
measure. It. weighed 22,50O pounds,
railroad standard weight for green oak
timber. The tree measured over 81
feet in diameter fifty feet from the
ground. Mr.. Case says he has handled
ship timber tor thirty years in this mar
ket, and this is the largest piece of white
oak sawed to size he ever received. An
other piece was also received at the same
time which was 20x24 and sixty feet
long. The two pieces made 615O feet
and were all that was shipped in two
cars, which came from Ohio.--Ne.5
York Recorder.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-03-09
Gotham's Obelisk in Danger.

The thousands of New York's citizens
who have looked with interest and pride
upon the old Egyptian obelisk in Central
Park will easily recall the excitement
caused eighteen months ago by the re-
port that it was dislntegrating. Unfor.
tunateiy the concern and interest were
apparently only ephemeral, and the rec
concentrations of the specialists who
examined the condition of the monu-
ment to insure its preservation for future
generations have been disregarded up to
the present time. But naturally, there
has been no change for the better in
the condition of the Obelisk in the years
that have passed by. On the contrary,
it is the opinion of experts that prompt
action for the preservation of the monu-
ment is imperative, if its American ex-
istence is to be at all comparable in point
of years to the hundreds of decades
which it passed in the land of the Nile.
The people of New York will never
cease to regret the treatment, or lack of
treatment, to which the Obelisk was SUBJ
iected after its arrival in New York. For
four years, in the belief that it was as
safe in the hard climate of America as in
the softer one of Egypt, nothing was
done to protect it from the effects of
nature and its own natural tendency to
decay. Great blocks of the valuable
stone were lost or crumbled away. And
the "scrapings" which it received when
the first coat of paraffine was applied to
it, years ago, only added to the substance
lost. In fact, it is said, that more than
700 pounds of stone have fallen, or been
taken from the Obelisk, since its erec-
ton in New York. New York Tribune.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-03-09

At Blanc's death millions had been
made every year, and every year thieves
and fools had ruined and killed them
selves at Monte Carlo in discouraging
numbers. The voice of the Good had
been loudly calling on France to shut
up the infamous resort.
Then those who had inherited the
place from old Blanc showed great intel
ligeuce. The whole thing WAS put into
stock company and sold or the Paris
Bourse.
The idea was to get large blocks of
the stock into the hands OF big French
men of power and to scatter the rest as
much as possible, so that Paris, which is
France, might not take kindly any hints
about closing the place. Whether any
officials of the Republic took stock or
not is uncertain, but It is we'll known
that the valuable paper is held by roy
alists, imperialists and other French
pretenders who might control France
and M.nte Carlo should the Republic
f.il. 1t is also certain that in Paris
there is less enthusiasm than any yTnere
else about closing the greit hell.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-03-09
THE TOUCH OF THE WAND.

Before my love and l had met,
The budding larch was clad With green;
No bitter wind awoke to fret
The gold locks of the gardens queen;
The chestnut from his kingly throne
Reigned DER the dewv lawn, and yet
Their grace they had not wholly shown
Before my love and had met.
Before my love and had met,
The skies we're soft as now they be;
The breeze that kissed the violet
Shook white snow from the hawthorn tree
With breath of ilacs freshly blown
Ny heart was lifted up, and yet
There was sweetness all unknown
Until my love and had met. 49,
Before my love and l had met,
The whispers of the pines heard;
Low warblings paid the shelter-debt
Where leaves concealed happy bird;
The river rippled Ger the stone.
The air was thrilled with gladness, yet
Music has gained deeper tone
Now that my love and have met.
Before my love and I had met
The earth was good, the fields were fair.
The land where suns shall never set,
Can Gods own hand be palmer there?
All joy Of earth in joys unknown
Is gathered up, but we had yet
One hope the less before the Throne,
II and thou had never met.
William Waterfeld, in the Cosmopolitan
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-03-09

rounded by row upon row OF struggling
gamblers, while other tables are com.
paratively deserted.
Only two games are played, roulette
and trente ct quarante-thirty'and forty.
Roulette is far the more popular game.
It is much easier to understand than the
other, and the betting there begins at
FIVE francs, which appeals to the army of
small betters. Trente ct quarante is the
game of the heavy gambler. At this
table he is not apt to be bothered by the
hysterical woman with her silver pieces.
At the roulette table the highest sum
that may be placed in one bet is 5000
francs iS120O. At trente ct quarante
the limit Is double the amount. The
placing of limit is not due to any de-
sire to keep visitors from gambling too
heavily. The idea is to prevent men of
means as great as these which the insti-
tuition controls from doubling their bets
indefinitely, thus making ultimate loss
impossible. .
The roulette tables are far the more in
teresting, for there human nature comes
out most strongly. At the same time it
should be said that the conventional idea
of gambling crowd does not find illus
tration at Monte Carlo. The sunken
eyes, pallid cheeks, twitching fingers and
deep groans are largely absent. No one
CANDLES there for half an hour without
observing that the etiquette of the place
demands careful concealment of feel
ing. Inasmuch as every human being on
top of the earth takes pride in his or her
ability to conceal emotion, it is but natu-
ral that uniform air of indifference
should prevail at the tables. The new
man who Is winning and who can hear
his heart beat as he puts his money into
all sorts of pockets retires to corner to
count his money. The poor fools who
mean to kill themselves, also, as a rule,
seek out secluded corners for their un-
pleasant purpose.
Read and learn the true explanation OF
Monte Carlos endless prosperity, as given
to the writer by a grizzled croupier of a
thoughtful turn. Monte Carlo wins for
ever, because the gamblers stay there as
long as they are winning. Every pros
pect pleases, the bank can stand it and
keep on paying. At last comes time
when the tide turns-a penny pitched up
million times is going to come down
tail about half million. The bank gets
back its own, and luck runs against the
player. Unlike the bank, his resources
are limited. When he has lost what he
brought along, he is compelled to stop.
and then it is that he goes home, leaving
the bank a certain winner.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-03-09

By this time the energetic gambler
who went straight from the train to the
tables may be considered to have reached
the top of the great stone staircase. It
is very curious flight of steps in one
way, being perhaps the only one in the
world of which it can be said that men
always 60 up it faster than they come
down. The fellow whom you see start
ing from the bottom has lot of money
in his pocket, and is fred by the hope of
big gains. or of making good big losses.
He looks at the Casino up above him and
flies at the steps. Without stopping for
breath, he is at the top. The man who
starts to 60 down goes slowly. He does
not care whether he misses the train or
not. He also requires time to curse his
folly on each step. He goes down
much more slowly than he went up.
This is not to say that no man goes
away winning. But he who wins as
general rule takes no interest in the stair
case. A hack is the thing for him. He
picks out the best-looking one he can
find, and even without making a bargain
with the driver starts away il triumph.
1t pleases him to roll up to his hotel in
Nice or Mentone an evident winner.
At the top of the steps the man whom
the reader is following has view of the
Mediterranean and its shores which is
very beautiful, but on which he wastes
no time. He hurries around to the front
of the big building, where the entrance
to the gambling rooms is. From this
front door broad road, which is really
park, leads up towards the mountains.
It is beautiful arrangement of flowers,
fountains and palm trees on either side,
and far up the hills in all directions are
the big hotels and private country seats,
with the Hotel de Paris on one side and
the Grand Cafe on the other, at the very
entrance to the gambling halls.
Inside the Casino everything is as busi:
ness-like as in the Grand Central Depot
at New York. The man who wants to
have clear idea of Monte Carlo gam
bling must understand to start with that
it is an absolutely business concern. Not
a man in sight cares in the least whether
you win a million francs or lose every
cent you've got. The American who has
devoted careful thought and attention to
the most graceful methods of getting out
of poker game when ahead is often
amazed at Monte Carlo to see eight
croupiers look indifferently into the air
when he says that his feet are cold and
he must be going. The duty of the en-
ployes at Monte Carlo is to watch the
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-03-09
drawing in from that ocean many golden

hsh.
Some distance from the Princes pal
ace at Monaco was the fine big rock of
Monte Carlo, which is at least as beauti-
full spot as any in the world, overlook
ing the blue Mediterranean, which unlike
the blue Danube, is really blue, with
fine mountains to the north to keep off
the wind, and with oranges, lemons, OIL
ives and palm trees all about. Wise NJ.
Blanc, who had made much money at
Homburg before gambling was ended
there, said to himself that Monte Carlo
was the best spot in this whole world to
put gambling house on. 1t was.
Old Blanc to-day is dead. He prob
ably has an uncomfortable time meeting
gentlemen who blew their brains out or
poisoned themselves on his account, but
his success is undoubted. His daugh-
ter's millions bought her noble hus.
band, his son was able not long ago to
come to this country in a fine steam
yacht, with a distinguished member of
Academic Francaise and an interesting
member of the Palais Royal Theatre
troupe on board, and the Prince of
Monaco is one OF the richest rulers in
Europe.
Blauc's plan for starting new gam
bling place was simple and enticing. He
offered the Prince tremendous sum in
ready cash every year, agreed to pay the
army and police, to light the streets, help
the poor and look after the churches.
The offer was accepted, the magnificent
gambling palace was erected, with its
theatre, and the game started.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-03-09

picturesque costumes, listening !
Punch and Judy, or enjoying OF
popular performances, bear witness
the pleasure-loving disposition wH 3
seems a characteristic of the people. Ict
One of the charms of Stockholm tv
in the fac: that almost side by side bfa
the e!egancies and Improvements OF Ebs "a,
1lization, wild untamed nature apptee
as in this isle at the very entrance oy5t y6
city, where the only works OF man II
the forfeit and the royal skating Ess'
ion. A handsome iron bridge co4e
this bit of wilderness with "Sii!-
sholmen" (the island of shipD, theieks'
of nautical instruction, of naval ee-
ories. and of sturdy sailors. Unis,sea1e
former it is bordered by trim gdr.s
affording pleasant promenades. SpI e
Among the public buildings of =
holm the Royal Palace holds t 'st
rank in the eye of the artistic t.
Though situated in the very olde G'rt
of the city its position on an es tee
displays to advantage the vastnest t5it ga'he
ediice and the perfect symmetr be its
architecture. The National Muo In
the Venetian renaissance style, be ms
fine collections of objects conne9oHl!n
the history CT Sweden, from Tor one
implements of the prehistoric 90 this
department being one of the truI t. a. re-
markable of its kind in Europe; con to
the scientific apparatus of the sitSSned
Berzel,us. Portrait and soul, In gal
leries occupy other parts OF sr starn'same
building. The Academy of 8 ;, the
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-03-09

Academy of Music, the Academy OIL
Fine Arts, the National Library, theI
Medical University, the Modern Univer-l
sity C'Hogskola'), and the imposingI
buildings of the public schools, testify tot
the generous care of the nation for the
culture of coming generations. The,
charitable institutions are neither few in
number nor neglected by the State or pri-,
vate citizen. Among the churches and.
chapels, the Church of St. Nicholas may!
be noted as the oldest Q264), and the
Riddarholms Church, where no hymn is
ever heard save the funeral dirge, and MOI
oration save the last farewell, which the
primate of Sweden utters over the dust
of her princes, in the peaceful resting-t
place of the warlike kings and the gentle
queens. 80. I. M.
In that silent temple 5000 moulderingl
banners won on bloody fields, lunches Of
rusty, ponderous keys that once opened
the gates of towns and fortresses for the
brave armies from the far North, and the
simple monuments of the great war cap
tains tell wonderous tales of other times
The places of amusement are surprisinglyi
numerous, too, and well attended, and
NAV in some instances be said to be ex-
travagantly luxurious The hotels are
comfortable and the best of them ele-
gantly equipped. the intercourse is
facilitated by means bf cabs, omnibuses,
trans, ferries, tunlel for pedestrians
ESQ feet in length, aad two elevators ini
the higher parts, not to speak Of the
telephone. "a.
On the whole aockholm presents 9
modern appearancel as the considerable
increase in its population is OF d more
recent date-1s4q 1000 inhabitants;
1890, 3,0O0-Iut the "city,'' the
largest of the three Islands which
formed the anciert town, still consists Of
maze of narrow irregular streets, and
still narrower Ines, lined partly with /,
the gabled house of the Hanseatic Style
now chiefly usd as shops and ware
houses, and is, ,ijfact, the very centre OF
business, the schange, the Bank of
Sweden, and nnor financial institutions
being situatediere,al In the immediate
vicinity of theihief harbor. The mari
time traffic is baturally brisk, the Baltic e
and the Mall forming the two great
thoroughfares and are connected BY
means of cail, SO that ships may pass 8
from one intithe other. The capital
is embellish{ with beautiful public
gardens, whe velvety lawns, luxuriant D
flower beds-sven palms and bananas
make you dbt the geographical fact
that stockhm 20 is situated in the Same
latitude as Z most southern point Of,
Greenland numerous statues also sdornl
the city, sthes of the hero kings, the
kings Of scnce (Linneus, Berzelius and
others, afof the great lawgiver, the \
wise admistrator, Birger, the Earl, who, G
by surroYlng the town with strong
walls madf, as he said, stthe lock Of
the Malar and earned thus the name
of the Fodder of Stockholm.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-03-09

frcm noon until II o'clock at night. At
certain hours of the day crowds of men
and women struggle vainly to get near
enough to lose their bets and rely on the
assistance Of the croupiers or of other
players to put their money down. They
are unable very often to see it and listen
for the cry of the croupier to let them
know whether they have lost or won.
The gamblers superstition, which
leads many players to seek out the table
which has been having hard luck during
the day, often causes one table to be sur
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-03-09
American S0nSsters in German Trees

A wealthy merchant of Hamburg,
Germany, Melkers by name, has begun,
since spring of last year, series OF
acclimatizing experiments on large
scale, using mostly American birds for
the purpose. In his list of birds are in
c!uded various kinds OF the oriole, the
meadow lark, thru&hes, mocking bird,
the purple martin, the American part
ridge, the California ortyx and the
purple finch. So far as the results OBJ
tanned by him are concerned they are, be-
yond doubt, satisfactory and encourag-
ing. 1t may, therefore, be surmised that
ere long goodly number CT our Ameri-
can birds will have become faithful sub
jects OF His Majesty in Berlin and Pots
dam. Chicago Herald.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-03-09
Crossing the Feet.

II The way, people cross their feel! is cften
Indicative of character. Neat people
Usually put the right foot over the left,
while disorderly people generally put
she left foot over the right. Everybody
knows how much character is expressed
,in the wearing of the hat, and why
Should it be thought surprising if man
should tell what he is by the way he
places his feel. t.-Globe. Democrat.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-03-09

silver and hid it in a hollow stock,
which they then conided to the waves,
determined to found new town wher-
ever it should land. And the winds and
the waves carried the stock to an island
(holme) just where. the Norrstrom flows
out of the Malar into the Baltic, and
there the fugitives built new homes;
and in the course of time fair city rose
on the rocks, and through the long CEN
turies it increased in size and covered
the mainland on either side of the water,
and the people called it stockholm"
(stockholm}. The swedes, says the
Chicago Graphic, may be thankful to
fate for guiding the fathers of the royal
city to so lovely and favorable place,