davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The St. Johns herald., 1892-05-26
APRIL FOOLED.
The Mortifying Experience of Traveller
 in Spain.

The MOrt1fy1ng Experience Of Traveller
 in Spain.
 A traveller is likely to be seriously gulled by the practical jokes of foreign countries. With the witticisms of his native land, to which he is accustomed, he can contend, but there is an alarm ing element of the unexpected in those of other races, writes Irving Montagu, in "Wanderings of War Artist:''
 One evening I met two very fascinat ing Spanish girls in quiet quarter of Irun, one of whom, being a blonde, was enveloped in white mantilla.
 It being customary on meeting a white mantilla to extend her somewhat similar homage to that paid to royalty, Iraised my hat, and stepped on one side to allow the couple to pass, when, in doing so, saw, to my horror, by the light of the moon, that they were fol- lowed closely by grim and grotesque reptile, half lizard, half frog, which, with a series of spasmodic bounds, was making directly for their heels.
 O, the horrid beast, the indescribable monstrosity! To rush forward and trample on the uncanny thing was the work of moment.
 I was dumfounded; my exploit of heroism, far from inducing the grati- tude 1 expected, was immediately fol- lowed by roars of laughter, the merry ring of which reverberated on the still night air.
 ''Unconscionable fool" does not ex- press the ittleness I felt, as I was sub- jected to the ridicule of those willy dam- sels, and if man is capable of that be- coming peculiarity, must have blushed scarlet.
 1 had trodden on Fl drap-a piece of cloth cut into the semblance of some monstrous lizard, and attached by thread to the skirt of the maiden, so that, by certain dexterous movements and hitches, it could be made to leap after her as she hurried along. It was the Basque equivalent for the old Eng fish jokes practiced on the first of April.
The St. Johns herald., 1892-05-26
THE. "sPoTTER" NECESSARY.
General Passenger Agent Talks Abou;
 the Conductors Plaint.

General Passenger Agent Talks About
 the Conductors Plaint.
 ''It seems natural that all persons en- gagged in handling money should obiecS to being watched" said General Pas- senger Agent Eustis of the Burlington to Chicago News reporter. 'But what other system can be employed tI do away with the railroad 'spotter' : The latter is just as necessary an ad. junct to the operation of railroad he is to the federal government. We must be protected from interruptions employees"
 Mir. Eustis' remarks were called forth by dispatch which told how the con ductors in convention assembled at St. Louis had denounced the ''spotter" sys. tenn as unnecessary and an outrage upon the hard-working ticket puncher.
 ''It is mistaken idea the public has in thinking that railroad detective il obliged to prove a certain number oi employees are dishonest in order to show that he is doing his work. In reality it is just the reverse. The conductors who make the greatest clamor about the 'spotter' gradually come to realize the necessity of their presence. A de- tective never reports that certain em- ploye is dishonest He has nothing to do with that at all. In sending his re- port the spotter merely states that a person boarded the train and sat in a certain seat in the car he (the detectivc) was on, and that the passenger gave tho conductor some cash and left the train at such or such station. This report is then compared with the conductors.
 ''This constitutes the work of de- tective. A conductor is only dismissed when his shortage continues several months in succession. We had in our employ short time ago a conductor who was constantly declaiming against the secret-service system. In one of the meetings of the O conductors this man made a number of very stirring speeches against the spotter. After the meeting had adjourned asked him to step into my office. He did so, and I pointedly told him we would not allow any more of his stealing and that he must stop such work. He at first ap- peared deeply hurt at the imputation, but when produced the reports ard showed him that we had evidence that he was dishonest he weakened and promised to reform. Since then his re- ports have invariably tallied with those of the detectives. No, the secret-ser- vice system must be employed, and hon est men, while they dislike the idea, have come to look at it in the true light and accept it as one of the inevitables."
The St. Johns herald., 1892-05-26
AT AN TOLD Hoss" SALE.
Some of the Queer Things Bought and the
 Buyers Sold.

Buyers Sold.
 An 'told hoss'' sale is a funny sight. It is kind of lottery after all, and to what extremities the followers of the fickle goddess of chance will go is shown with many striking incidents. The various express companies, at stated periods during the year, sell the unclaimed packages that have accumu- lated in their offices. All day an east Washington street auction-room has been crowded with men, women, old and young, eager bidders at the so- called ''old hoss" sale, says the Phila- delphia Call. Packages, bundles and trunks of every description were brought forward by the voluble auc- tioneer. 'Here is trunk" said he ''that may contain silk dresses" A man paid a big round dollar for it. Opening it he found lot of old calico dresses and aprons. One man paid 25 cents for small keg labled ''handle with care" Dynamite? He thought so. Cautiously, in back room, it was opened. It contained axle grease A ''culled gem'man" paid S1 for trunk filled with air.
 A dude secured package with a Bible inside the wrapper for 20 cents. A gentleman with a shining silk ''tile" and wearing a creased" pair of trousers paid S1.S5 for package containing pair of overalls. For 25 cents man got miniature sewing ma chine, and lady paid 20 cents for box containing dudes laundry-shirts, collars, cuffs, etc. One fellow bought a package of four water vanes and thought they were some new-fangled bric-a-brac. A colored girl secured package of jewelry for 25 cents, just what she wanted. A man with one eye got a box of spectacles. A carpenter secured a package of blacksmith's tools. One fellow, who said he didn't smoke, purchased a large case of ''red letter smoking tobacco" for S1.O5. A colored man got trunk full of dishes for $1.3O, and a lady buyer found governor for an engine in the package she opened. A young man paid 10 cents for tintype of an old lady with two grandchildren about her lap-a photo graph of a dear relative had gone astray. A young lady secured a pack age of gentlemen's socks, and a boy bought an immense iron pulley for 15 cents.
 This 'sight unseen" misfit sale con- tinued hour after hour, and as the pack. ages were opened by the buyers there were great surprises, laughter and guy. ing. Every class of people was repre- sented, and man remarked on leaving after the sale closed: 'I have laughed more here to-day than I ever did before in all my life"
The St. Johns herald., 1892-05-26
HOW to Breathe PronerIv.

In all the various systems of physical culture now in vogue the greatest im- portance is attached to taking the breath properly. The breathing should be slow and deep, six breaths minute being safe average. There is still difference of opinion in respect to the relative value of abdominal and chest breathing, and each system has it's ad- vantages. One of the best exercises for increasing the capacity of the lungs is to draw a full breath very slowly and through the nose. Keep the lungs in- Hated as long as possible and then ex- pei the air suddenly through the mouth and repeat the process. Care should be taken not to try to make the period of holding the breath too long at the start; the more gradually the power of doing this is attained, the better will be the permanent results. There are many breathing exercises, and one of the best is the taking of a deep breath and swinging the arms, first one then the other and finally both, while the breath is inhaled. Excessive practice of any system should be avoided and the golden rule of taking moderate and judicious exercise should be observed.
The St. Johns herald., 1892-05-26
OPPOSED TO BEDS.
People Who Sleep on the Floor, in Chairs,
 or Standing Up.

People Who Sleep on the Floor, in Chairs
 Standing Up.
 Several persons, from some cause or other, have resolved at various periods not to sleep in bed. Perhaps the indi- vidual who kept to his resolution the longest, says Spare Moments, was Christopher Pevitt, of York, who died in 1796, aged ninety-three. He was Q carver and guilder by trade, but during the earlier part of his life served in the army. His house at York, after he had settled down, was accidentally burned down, and he therefore formed the sin gular resolution of never again sleep ing in bed, lest he should be burnt to death while asleep, or not have time, should such a misfortune again befall him, to remove his property. The resolution he rigidly kept for the last forty years of his life, his practice being to repose on the floor, or on two chairs, or sitting in a chair, but always with his clothes on. He lived entirely alone and was his own housel1eeper, and seldom admitted anyone into his hab- itation. Among other articles which composed his home was human skull, which he left strict injunctions should be inferred with him.
 A pedestrian named Ernest Mensen, who hourished in the third decade of this century and who once ran from Calcutta to Constantinople in ffty-nine days when employed as courier, took very little rest and never slept in a bed when on his travels. He got short maps of only ten or fifteen minutes at time each day, as and when he could, and took them standing or leaning against a tree, with handkerchief over his face. Only the other day man on being charged with begging declared that he had not slept in bed for thir- teen years, but took his nights rest in doorways and passages.
 The Japanese never sleep in a bed, but the same spotless floor that answers for table, chairs and dancing stage is utilized also for sleeping purposes. They sleep in great wadded coat, and putting their arms into the long sleeves, fold it over them and go to sleep upon the floor, with block of wood placed under the neck for a pillow. Perhaps the strangest sleeping place was one discovered few years ago, when the police of Budapest found thirty per- sons of both sexes lying in dirty but warm stream of water that flowed out of mill. The water was shallow, and the vagrants had got into it for warmth, taking stones for pillows.
The St. Johns herald., 1892-05-26
FIRING A REVOLVER.
To Attain Rapidity and Accuracy Do Not
 Aim Along the Sights.

To Attain Rapidity and Accuracy Do Not
 Aim Along the Sights.
 Capt. J. Forman, Thirteenth infantry, says in the St. Louis Globe-Democrat: ''It is peculiar fact that very few men, even accomplished shots, know how a revolver ought to be handled. Nearly all of them are taught to aim revolver as if it were a rifle; that is, by bring ing the object aimed at and the fore and hind sights into line. This is all well enough for shooting-gallery prac tice, but should never be followed in the field. In training troops to use the revolver they are taught, in aiming, never to look at the weapon at all, but to keep their eyes on the object to be struck. In quick firing, and especially in shooting from horseback, much bet ter results are obtainable in this way. A man throwing stone does not look at his hand; neither does a billiard player sight along his cue. The same rules apply to the use of short weapons. I have seen men trained to shoot excel lently at mark when they could not see their pistol sights at all. Pieces of pasteboard were fastened just in front of the cylinders, which effectually pre- vented the men from using their fore sights, and greatly increased the rapid ity, as well as the accuracy, of their ire. Nearly anyone can sight a pistol correctly, the inaccuracy of the aim being due to trembling of the hands before the trigger is pressed. By hid ng the sight the temptation to hold too long is removed, and the first aim, gen orally the most accurate, is preserved" :"
The St. Johns herald., 1892-05-26
An Apt Illustration.

A little man asking how it happened that many beautiful ladies took up with but indifferent husbands, after many fine offers, was thus aptly answered by a mountain maiden: A young friend of hers, during a walk, requested her to go into delightful canebrake and there get him the handsomest reed; she must get it in once going through, without turning. She went, and coming out brought him quite a mean reed. When he asked if that was the handsomest one she saw, ''Oh, mo- replied she; Il saw many finer as I went along, but l kept on in hopes Of much better, until I had gotten nearly through, and then was obliged to select the best that was left"
The St. Johns herald., 1892-05-26
Coins of Brass and Tin.

When England was being made into mincemeat and blocks of real estate by the Saxons and Danes, silver and brass were in use as currency, but the Nor mans subsequently, installed the aristo cratic metal and left the democratic brass to take care of itself. Gold was first coined by Henry III., and copper made into British coin in 1672. Tin was used for coinage in 1880, and the na- tional farthing was made of this Cambrian product with a stud of copper let in the center. In 1890 and 1891 tin half-pence were issued in considerable quantities. The only pure gold coins issued in English history were those of Henry III.
The St. Johns herald., 1892-05-26
rrench omcers study German.

Professorships of the German lan- guage were established in all the French military schools immediately after the Franco Prussian war, and of late years French ministers of war have been wont to tell how wonderfully well all French officers knew the tongue of the neighbor beyond the Vosges. \ few weeks ago, however, when the Russian Lieut.. Winter, who speaks only Ger man and Russian, walked into Paris ct the close of his long tramp from St. Petersburg, not a single French officer able to converse iuently with him could be found in the French capital. The military professorship had afforded all officers an opportunity to learn to red German. Only a few, however,
 profted from the oppagsa ty.
 speaking of the langaa9e. eltacUgb tl- only requirement of in oos.,.Ace i4 c-.s> of war, had been entire}y neglected.
The St. Johns herald., 1892-05-26
Living Without Working.

It is said that between the island oi '. dagascar and the coast of India there c I thousand islands, only six f which gre inhabited. l. s Ot go islc-.ls .. man can live cn5
 f,--1 n princely luxury
 2re than twcnt,- five 4i; in fcct ol s9ne C1 e isl -eeCn't work at all, 2. ire r. .1c foCl, --d 70 c!ct,,c. .--0 r-~---.---
The St. Johns herald., 1892-05-26
Kansas and Greenland Houses.

The sod house on the Kansas frontier and the dwelling of Greenland Eski- mo are very much alike, about the only difference being an overground bur row in the home of the Eskimo. All Greenland houses are of the same size, face the same way, and are built of the same material-layers of rough granite, sod, and mortar.
The St. Johns herald., 1892-05-26

Ear marks, Crop right, underbit left. AZTEC LAND AND CATTLE co
 (LIMTTED.J Post office. HOlbrook, Arizona. Range, Apache and Yavapai counties, Old cattle branded X ES Also in various other on left side and hip kS1ss@A1 brands and marks. 5,sR on both sides kept Dp. zzFSS Horse Brands: :ssEs E. right or left shoulder. HIS
 Essssss right thigh.
The St. Johns herald., 1892-05-26

Ear marks: Clean split from root to point left ear, upperbit in right ear Wattle (varuga) on jaw. unCer mouth. c on left jaw (cheek) bulls C on left cheek only. Flooded stock c on left cheek and c on left ribs.
 HENRY HUNING Post office: Show Low, Arizona. Range: Show Low creek, Silver creek, Laguna Ortega and Laguna Salada.
 Horse brand C left shoulder.
The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1892-12-07
Christmas Wide Awake.

The December Wide Awake is true
Christmas number and has, therefore,
the full Christmas flavor, from the
beautiful colored frontispiece that
opens it to the fantastic flower piece
that ends it.
This frontispiece is representation
Of the Ice Queen in her grotto, drawn
by Henry Sandman to accompany Mrs.
Sandhsm's article, "The Vagaries Of
Santa Claus"
The Bluecoat School," the famous
English school in which Charles Lamb
and other noted Englishmen were eda.
Gated, by Louise Imogen Quincy, is
highly interesting and fully illustrated
by Joseph Pennell. 'Mr, Van Gelt's
Case" by William o. Stoddard. To
this strong story succeeds an equally
strong Christmas ballad by L. Macdon-
aid Alden, How Lajla Found the
Christ-child, beautifully illustrated by
Merrill.
The now serials that commence in
this Christmas number are of Unusual
excellence. They are w. o. Stoddard's
Revolutionary story, "Guert Ten Eyck;;'
Nelly Elliot Ssawsl's navaI story, The
Midshipmsu's Mess" and Thsodora z.
Jenpess's Indian story, "Piokes and
her People," all finely illustrated. A
delightful Christmas play for young
people, Wishing" by William Grant,
is given complete, with directions for
home representation.
Price 20 cents. $40 year.
d. LorURop COMPANY, Publishers.
Boston, Mas.
The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1892-12-07
NOAH'S ARK.
IL Was To1ad just whore ths Patriarol
I.AfN Ii

Left 1t.
1t was some Ave Thousand years ago
when Noah landed on the top of Mount
Ararat in Armenia. Although he was
neither ship builder by trade, nor did
he use steel plates bus built his vessel
with wooden planks only, the ark was
OF such marvellous power for resistance
that it has withstood the wear and tear
OF wind and weather all this time until
this day. To this effect Is tho inforna-
ton conveyed to the world by the right
reverend papal delegate to Malabar,
archdeacon of Babylon, and Doctor OF
Divinity Joseph Nour, in his report OF
his travelling adventure published in the
most faithful Roman Catholic paper,
Universe, at Paria The report is re-
plete with minute cirvurnstential evil
dence Of the fnct that the learned doc
tor has discovered the ark of Noah on
the top Of the Ararat. At distance OF
one thousand feet from tho top OF the
mountain, too small distance to allow
of possibility Of mistake, he sow with
lid hahSN eyc nb'os vi " P~'~ahA'i "A'A
which. on closer inspection, waa found
to look like large vessel, part of which
stood out above the snow and was
clearly visible. It was above three hun
bred feet long and one hundred feet
high In the center was turret. Tha
sides had openings like windows Tho
central part of the roof had boon broken
In by the snow. The doctor was, ha
says, in condition Of woSder SO indie.
scribahle as TO Onthsly overlook ths
fact that 1t would have boon well to &c
nearer to the vessel and examine il
more thoroughly Hs says it was OIL
April rs Last OF two p. n. that he first
saw that he stood face to face with the
ark of Noah
The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1892-12-07
WINTER STABLlNG.
Keep tho Cows Clean and They VIII Re-
turn Goodly Yield.

Keep The Cows Clean and They VIII Re-
turn Goodly Yield.
AS soon as the cows are turned out
remove the eXcrements and scrape the
floor until it is perfectly clean, and
leave it without litter until just before
the cows or cattle are to be tied up for
the night The floor will dry quicker
If left uncovered than otherwise, and
then there will be no danger of litter
cleaning is not well performed particles
of manure become frozen to the floor as
solid as stone and are constant an
noyance until warm weather comes.
Like the rolling of a snow ball, more and
more becomes added to the Instructions
upon the floor, until the animals have
to lie upon rough surface, and double
the time spent every morning in trying
to clear out the impedinents that is or
dinarily required to do the work of
stable cleaning complete. Before the
stock is returned give the floor a good
coating of cut straw, chat or some
thing of the kind. This will prevent
the animals from slipping and also
keep the droppings from coming in di.
rect contact with the floor, so as to
freeze down. Where manure becomes
frozen down, as it will sometimes in
extreme cold weather. in spite of the
precautions used, take an old AK and
remove it at once and apply a double
amount of bedding until there is a
change in the weather. As rule,
never neglect the stables, for the least
work is required when every morning
the labor is performed in the best pos.
sible manner.-Farners Voice
The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1892-12-07
MODJESKA.

When some one asked this famous ac-
tress how she preserves her beauty, She
said: 81 am not economical with my
money or my emotions. | am the verest
spendthrift that ever lived of smiles, and
tears and dollars. 1t is that have still
retained the power to feel everything
whether glad or sad most intensely, to
laugh and cry within the same moment
almost, that keeps me young" Most PEG.
pie grow morose and melancholy as they
grow old. One reason for this is, that
they suffer terribly with indigestion. When
the stomach fails, the vital forces soon de.
cline, the form loses its roundness, the
step its elasticity and vigor. All this can
be guarded against by taking the Laxative
Gum Drops. These Gum Drops contain
a fine cathartic embodied in gum drop ma.
terial. They contain no disagreeable taste
of medicine. They can be given to chill.
dren without the slightest danger. In fac,
so mild and gentle are they, that many
people may think they have no effect upon
them, but if they will persevere for several
nights in their use, they will notice that
they will receive the utmost benefit from
their use. Get this great remedy of any
dealer. The small boxes are 10 cents, tho
large boxes rs cents.
SYLVAN REMEDY CO., Peoria, Ill.
The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1892-12-07

front segments. After the last molt
it loses its Shiny appearance and dark
color and appears in a clean yellow
skin entirely free from slime. After a
few hours it leaves the tree and crawls
or falls to the ground, where it buries
itself to a depth of from one to three
or four inches. 1t soon changes through
a chrysalis form and again appears in
the winged form. The flies are again
actively at work about the third week
of July, depositing eggs for second
brood and these in turn reach maturity
in about four weeks. Pear and cherry
growers should watch for this pest
about the middle of June and early in
August If trees are badly infested Sc.
rious damage may be done 10 the TO.
liage.
Helle bore in powder, mixed with
water in the proportion of an ounce to
two gallons, and applied to the foliage
with a syringe or watering pot,
promptly destroys the slug Fresh air
slack lime busted on the foliage is said
to be an efficient remedy. A very
minute ichneumon fly is said to lay its
eggs within the eggs of this saw-fy,
and from its tiny egg little maggot is
Matched which lives within the egg OF
the saw-hy and consumes it. The illus.
tration, which we reproduce from the
Northwest Agriculturist, shows an af.
fected leaf, fly, and larv;e of the slug.