davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1892-01-21

Texas side, where there are few
troops and many sympathiZers.
United States troops under Capt.
John Bourke recently defeated the
Mexican revolutionists, who then
crossed the Rio Grande and marched
toward Mier, stronghold of Cara.
Here, however, they again suffered
defeat by the Mexicans and once more
recrossed the river into United States
territory. Along the line of the Rio
Grande the United States has now
1000 troops and preparations are be-
ing rapidly made to augment them.
Between these two fires Cara seems
to be in rather hot quarters, but the
changes in Mexican affairs are so
many and startling that we would
not be much surprised to hear of a
considerable number OF Mexican
troops declaring for the adventurer.
Catarino Cara was born in Mexico
and reared in Texas. Alter gradual
ing from the University of Mexico he
entered the army, but an act of in
subordination sent him to the Texas
side of the Rio Grande. While living
in Rio Grande City he shot man
named Sebree, and is said to have
killed two customs inspectors. At
Duval, Texas, he started paper in
opposition to the Mexican Govern
ment. Disappearing for time, he
reappeared last September at the
head of a revolutionary force, crossed
the Rio Grande into Mexico, and was
there defeated by Government troops.
Since then he has lived the life of an
outlaw until few weeks ago, when
he again began active opposition to
the Diaz Government.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1892-01-21
Land Tran.formed by Ants,

A traveller in Central Australia has
discovered that the surface of the
country has been greatly changed by
what may appear at first thought a
ridiculous agency-the white ants.
On plain and in thickets their nests
are so numerous that it is difficult to
drive among them. The clay with
which the nests are built is, when
cemented with resinous matter, as
hard as brick, and when the nests
fall to pieces they form clay fats,
almost imperyious to water and not
easily cut up by traffic. The work
of these creatures can be studied in
all stages; first in the thickets, where
they are commencing work; then in
the more open country, where they
have crowded out the timber; next
on the plains, where half the hills
will be found deserted; and lastly on
the clay fats, where they have almost
entirely disappeared and the scrub
has begun TO grow again. The nests
are further remarkable for the large
proportion of iron they contain.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1892-01-21

hAohNF W. iGnNiNs. 1lllllDiS OluillSCl
Infantry. He served as sergeant and
lieutenant and in December, 1868 was
appointed Adjutant OF the Sixteenth
Colorado Infantry. Later he was as
signed to duty as Captain of Company
@, OF the same regiment. He was
mustered out at Nashville in May,
1866. He returned TO Illinois and
resumed the study of law, reading
with o. G. Gray. at Ottawa. After
being admitted to the bar he
located at Oswego, Kas., in April,
1869. The same year he was appoint
ed County Attorney and the follow
ing year Probate Judge, which Office
he held till Feb. /, 1873, when he
was elected Judge OF the Eleventh
Judicial District. He was reelected
in 1874 and 1873, and in Nov. 1882,
was elected a member OF Congress as
a Republican. He was delegate TO
the Chicago convention in 1880. He
was reelected to Congress for three
successive terms, but met defeat Q
year ago at the hands Of the Farmers
Alliance, He was editor and prOprie.
tor OF the Oswego Register from 1871
until appointed District Judge In
1874
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1892-01-21
Armorinr OF shins.

The limit in the heaviness Of armor
applied to ships may perhaps have
been reached, and it seems natural
that, its development having run a
course much like that Of the armor
OF men, may come eventually to a
similar end. In the middle ages,
when gunpower was first introduced.
the armor of knights and men at
arms was gradually. increased in
weight to meet the new weapons. As
the quality of powder and the guns
improved armor was added to until it
reached a point where IL knight
was endorsed 1t required several
squires to get him into the saddle
again, or IL a man fell he could not
pick himself up unalded. The next
step was to limit the armor to the
more vital portions, retaining only
the cuirass and helmet. Finally even
these were thrown away. Somewhat
similar may be the transition in
modern navies. The guns having
beaten the armor, ships may have to
discard their coats of mail and rely
upon offense as the best protection,
just as intelligent pugilists defend
themselves by the counter rather than
by the simple guard.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1892-01-21
Dickens and Thackeray.

OF the innumerable objects in the
priceless collection Of rare volumes
and manuscripts which Mr.. Childs
presented to the Drexel Institute
none absorb SO much attention as the
manuscript of Dickens "Our Mutual
Friend" and of Thackeray's lecture
on George III. Dickens mode of
work is exemplified in his manuscript
copy. The first few pages of the man
uscript are entirely taken up with a
skeleton outline of his plot. This Is
entirely completed before the novelist
attempts to get down to the solid
work of writing the story. In this
way it is seen that he had his work
entirely mapped out, and knew just
exactly what he was going to do with
each character. si'i
Dickens wrote peculiar hand, the
lines very close together and the let
tiers very small, with frequent marks
of change and erasure, showing the
utmost care in the preparation Of the
work. In places whole lines have
been scored out, to be replaced by an
other choice of words or different
mode Of expression. In the first vol
ume is inserted letter from Mr..
Dickens to Mr.. Childs, in which the
novelist invites his friend to visit him
Gad's Hill.
The manuscript lecture on George
III. by Thackeray is in wonderful
state of preservation. 1t is handsome
ly bound, and is embellished by fine
old steel engravings of the Georges,
collected by Mr.. Childs, and contains
numerous drawings made by the
author in colors. These are the only
colored drawings of Thackeray in ex-
istence. Each sheet Of the manu-
script, which presents a strong con-
trast in its neatness to Dickens writ
ing, is pasted on heavy cardboard.
This is the original copy, from which
the author delivered his lectures.
The manuscript is as readable as
print, and its excellence is sustained
throughout. There are annotations
by Mrs. Richie, his daughter, who
certifles to the genuineness of the
work.-Philadelphia Record.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1892-01-21

which / have seer. when stoat, be-
fore killing rabbit, proceeds to mes
merise il by cutting circles around IL,
except that tho stoat accompanies his
circles by wonderful somersaults,
which were lacking on the present
occasion. The wood-pigeon's be-
hayior was almost an exact repetition
of the rabbits. Arriving so suddenly
on the scene, | unluckily startled the
principal performer, who stopped;
and, to my surprise, / then saw that
1t was squirrel. The bird was at
first so utterly bewildered that 1t was
several seconds before she sufficiently
recovered to fly away. When at last
the wood pigeon had flown of, and
not till then, the squirrel also left
the scene and .betook himself up a
tree. 1t would be interesting to know
whether such conduct on squirrels
part has been noticed before, and
what would have been the upshot OF
the affair had IL not been inter-
ruptedY is IL TO be supposed that
the squirrel intended to kill the ring
?-Mechanical News.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1892-01-21
THE BOTTLE IMP.
An English Hoax that Was Repudiated 1
Century and a Half Ago.

An English Hoax that Was Repudiated n
Century and Half Ago.
The bottle-imp hoax was one of the
most gigantic of the many hoaxes and
impostures played on the English peo-
pie during the eighteenth century,
says American Notes and Queries.
The Duke of Montague, in the year
1749, laid wager with another noble
man that if an imposter, advertising
that he could jump into quart bot
tie should come along, all London So
ciety would flock to see the wonder.
In order to decide the bet the follow
ing advertisement was put in all the
papers:
AT the new theater in the Hay
market on Monday next, the 10th
inst, is to be seen a person who per-
forms the several most surprising
tricks following, viz: First, he takes
a common Walking-cane from any Of
the spectators, and thereon plays the
music of every instrument now in use.
Secondly, he presents you with a
common wine bottle (Which any of
the spectators may first examine); he
then places the bottle on a table in
the middle Of the stage, and he with
out any equivocation goes into it in
sight Of all the spectators. While in
the bottle he will sing all the popular
songs Of the day. During his stay in
the bottle any person may handle it
and see that it does not exceed a
common tavern bottle in size."
This advertisement excited the Gu
riosity of the people, and on the even
ing mentioned a prodigious number
of people gathered in and around the
Haymarket. Royalty went in dis
guise and beggars in their everyday
clothes. Not more than half the
crowd, the account says, could find
seats in the great building. Finally
the supposed conjuror appeared on the
stage. The majority of these conf
IDENTIFY expected to see him soon in the
odd-shaped bottle sitting on the Ia
bic. Not until he braZenly told them
that II they would pay double fare he
would go into pint bottle instead Of
a quart did it dawn upon them that
they had been sold. A general row
ensued, during which masks were re-
moved by force and many aristocratic
features exposed.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1892-01-21

practice the war broke out, and he
enlisted in the Seventy-seventh Mis-
souri, Infantry, serving as a Captain
throughout the campaigns Of 1862
add 1863. In 1864 he left the army
and went to New Mexico, where he
was admitted to the bar. He also
engaged in mining and stock-raising,
and amassed fortune. In 1866 he
was a member of the Territorial
Legislature, in 1868 and 1869 Attor-
ney General Of the territory, and
from 1870 to 1872 United States Dis
trict Attorney. He was elected a
delegate to Congress, and served
two terms from 1877. 1t was while
in Congress that he formed close
friendship with James G.. Blaine. He
was a member of the Republican
Committee for twelve years ending
1884. Since 1875 he has spent most
of his time in New York City, though
he has made his legal residence in
West Virginia.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1892-01-21
Doctors In England.

An article in the London Quarterly
Review states that while only 600
registered medical practitioners die
each year in England there are 1900
added each year. The death rate
also having largely decreased, and
sickness In proportion, competition Is
exceedingly severe, so that for po-
sition the salary of which was $500 a
year forty-five well-qualified candi-
dates applied. The average income
of the profession is said to be 81, 900
per year, and it is declared that it
will take an average man twelve
years to reach that figure. To obtain
a place I'm the highest ranks Is SUI.
pfemely diflcult.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1892-01-21


a. They should De.
The first stage in the making of
cheese Is that by which the curd Is
separated from the whey, says Har-
per's Young People. This Is done by
heating the milk to given tempera-
ture, varying according to the season,
and afterward adding a certain pro-
portion OF rennet. When the cheese
is to be colored the dyeing matter Is
put In before the rennet. In less
than half an hour after the heat has
been applied the coagulation has so
far progressed that the curd, from
which the whey has been drawn, is
ready to cut.
Almost the only instrument used
In the making OF cheese is the curd-
knife, curious-looking arrangement
something like double comb with
long teeth. The immature cheese Is
both cut and stirred with this, the
curd being separated into small bits,
none of them being larger than an
ordinary walnut. The stirring and
heating must go on until the curd has
reached proper stage of what Is
called digestion" 1t is then torn
into narrow strips like ribbons, for
the curd by this time is as firm in
fiber as the breast of a roasted
chicken and indeed looks like it.
These strips are then fed into the
sailing mill, where they are thor
oughly mixed with salt and made
ready for the cheese-press. Enormous
pressure is applied in this cheese
press in order that all the whey that
by any possibility remains may be
squeezed out.
From the press the cheese is taken
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1892-01-21
Senator Gordon,s Severe wound.

In speaking about wound received
in the cheek at the battle of Sharps-
burg Senator Gordon not long ago
told a curious story which illustrates
a feature of his character which will
come into play during his Senatorial
career. 1t is the fact that Gordon
never loses his head, and that he can
think under any circumstances. Said
Gen. Gordon:
"While l lay there wounded on the
field my mind went through curious
process of reasoning. l thought /
had been struck by cannon ball,
and / said to myself: i have been
struck i'm the head with a six-pound
solid shot. 1t has carried away my
head. / can feel that there is little
piece of the skull left on the left side.
But my brains must be gone entirely.
Therefore l am dead. And yet am
thinking. And how can man think
with his head shot off? And, If am
thinking, 1 cannot be dead. And yet
no man can live after his head is shot
off. Still, / may have consciousness
after l am dead, but my body cannot
have action. Now, If 1 can lift my
leg then it must be that / am alive.
l will try that. Can /? Yes, can.
/ see it rising. l am not dead, after
ALL And with that woke up and
found that my head was still on, but
/ reasoned as philosophically and log
ically over the matter as though /
was in my Office. "-Pittsburg Dis
patch.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1892-01-21

THERE is only one real remedy for
the weak and wavering mind that
finds it so difficult to meet the ever
recurring questions of life promptly
and decisiyely, and that is continual
practice. He who is conscious of this
infrmity of purpose may do much to
cure it by strict self-discipline. Hav-
ing weighed the arguments on each
side, or compared the advantages of
different courses for reasonable
time, let him compel himself to
choose one and refuse the other with
out longer delay. If he does this
regularly and constantly, in small
things as well as in great, it will
gradually become more and more
practicable, and what once appeared
to be a herculean task may at length
become natural and easy.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1892-01-21


Rio 0rnnde.
The United States has little war
on hand along the Rio Grande, the
dividing line between Texas and Mex
leo. The fact that so many men have
risen TO the Presidential chair OF
Mexico by means OF military filibus-
tering has left an influence that Is
keenly felt in>that territory, and thus
IL is not surprising that at present we
find the adyenturer, Catarino Cara,
trying to create division that may
elevate him to the place now filled by
President Diaz. Did Cara .contine
his operations to Mexico the United
States could remain mere spectator,
but unfortunately Cara has violated
and is violating the neutrality laws
of the United States aud as conse-
auence our Government is opposing
him with military force. Already
conflicts have taken place between
Garza's troops and the United States
forces in Texas.
So hong as Garza's forces are few
there may be enough glory In con-
flict for United States troops, but as
the Texas side of the border abonnds
in sympathizers for the adventnrer,
there is no knowing how many men
he may at any time become leader of,
and no doubt II able he would plum
der our border forts. GarZa's policy
is to create small army on the Dor
der and then march toward the CEN
ter of Mexico, trusting to internal
disaffection with the present Govern
ment to cause reaction in his favor
as President. AS the Mexican States
bordering on the Rio Grande are well
supplied with soldiers, Cara natural
ly is collecting his followers on the
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1892-01-21

A splurse In wheat and what Il Suggest
ed 10 = Visitor.

spiurEc In wheat and What IL suekest-
@70."
@7Oi."
The floor was living hell. A
seething, raving torrent OF balf-crazed
men; Babel OF clamor; an air rent
with wildly flung arms and hands.
The street had gone mad.
IL was one OF those sudden fits OF
fury that come after long period OF
stagnation; the air trembles with the
storm for while; then the tempest,
dying, leaves naught behind but the
nerve-killing memory OF 1t and the
ruined lives that lie behind
This time IL was wheat. The bulls
were tossing 1t up viciously The
bears were grinding their teeth and
waiting for the break to come.
Would it come?
The messenger boys were breath
less. The arms that were not flung
skyward handed out orders and tele-
grams so rapidly that the wires could
hardly carry them all. Fortunes
were hanging on threads, threads of
wire; the Western Union was making
money, whether it was bull or bear
that won.
All! That was cable that time.
London selling"
@7O.D
"69s."
The pit became more like wltch's
caldron than ever Blood-purple
faces, blue-swelling veins, hoarse, in
articulate yells, uncouth, joint-loos-
ening gestures-all the animal things
in man most patent. Saw you ever
the tigers fed in the Geological? Bah
Ia very gentle sight to this.
"691."
The bears yelled louder. The mar
ket was bending to them. 1t was,
with many of them, fortune either
way. 1t was the battle for wealth
crowded into hours; many drag it
through a lifetime. But all the
fierceness of lifes struggle was es-
sential here.
"69@."
"69a."
40"
The bulls leap in very frenzy of
glee. 1t was another cable from Lon
don. Strong buying tendency" Then
advices of panic in the West-wheat
rising like kite.
The bears began to waver. The
shorts" trembled. 1t was the bulls
opportunity-to become rich sudden
ly. To break others-no matter.
"70}."
"7O4."
The climb began. The fractions
were despised. The jumps were by
cents.
If it had been hell on the floor be-
fore it was greater inferno now.
The shorts turned pale. But they
still fought. Grim, savage, desperate,
bloodless.
1t was no use. The price went up
steadily as the thermometer toward a
summer noon. There was fever in
the West, and it was contagious-by
wire.
Now it was $50"
Would the clock never strike the
closing hour? No; there were for
tunes to be made; lives to be ruined.
For the wheat itself, who cared? 1t
was the same wheat all the while,
but
400"
Still upward.
S1.00."
Paff
There is little ring of smoke in
one corner, and under it there is a
dead man, with Tuning pistol hang
ing to limp hand. The crowd surges
that way little.
"Corbridge," says some one; "he
was a good many thousand bushels
short. It'll be hardish on his family"
"S1.01."
And the market closes. Chicago
Tribune.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1892-01-21
where I.lnglass Comes From.

The best isinglass comes from Rus
STA, where IL is obtained from the
giant sturgeon which inhabits the
Caspian Sea and the rivers which run
into it. This fish often grows to the
length of twenty-five feet, and from
its air-Dladder the isinglass is pre-
pared. 1t is subjected to many
processes before being ready for sale,
but the Russians, knowing it has the
reputation of being the best, take
great pains in its preparation, and in
the worlds markets it has practically
no rival. A great deal is made along
the Amazon, in Brazil, but 1t is very
coarse and inferior, and is used for
the refining of liquors and similar
purposes. The adulteration of good
isinglass with the inferior kinds can
always be detected by placing sam
pies in boiling water. The best ISM
glass will dissolve completely, leaving
no visible residuum, while the inferior
variety will show threads of flbrous
tissue and be of dark color, often al
most brown.-St. Louis obe-Demo-
GRAFT.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1892-01-21
FnrouENr burglaries alarmed tn

FREQUENT burglaries alarmed the
residents of a Japanese village, as nc
clew whatever could be obtained re.
garding the perpetrator. An ingen-
ious fellow, whose home had been
plundered, proposed that each villagel
should write the name of the man he
suspected on slip of piper and put
it in a ballot-box. On the votes be-
ing examined, it was discovered thai
fifteen named one man, and the rest
were blanks. The robber was so as
tonished at che result of the ballot
ing that he actually confessed hi
identity.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1892-01-21
oua FIRST BATrLE-sHIP.
The Magnificent Oregon, Now Building in
San Francisco.

The Magnificent oregon, Now Buiiding IN
San Francisco.
The first great modern battle-ship
of our new navy, to be known as the
Oregon, is now under construction at
the Union Iron Works of San Fran
cisco. This is monster, beside
which ships like the Chicago and
Newark will look small. She is one
of the three largest ships yet planned
by the Government.
The Oregon is to have displace-
ment of 10000 tons and will be 348
feet long, 80 feet inches wide, and
AZ deep. She will cost, exclusive of
her armament, about "a, 100000. Her
minimum speed is to be not less than
fifteen knots. The hull is Of I'M
sheathed steel.
Her framing will be on the bracket
system, and she will have double
bottom extending from armor shelf
to armor shelf and forward and aft.
The sides, from armor belt to main
deck, will be protected by not less
than five inches Of steel armor.
Her armament will aggregate 631
tons. 1t includes four l3-inch breech-
loading rifles, weighing sixty tons
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1892-01-21
strange Conduct Of y squirrel.

One day in October last, while
walking through public park, /
came suddenly on remarkable sight.
A reddish animal was carcering in
rand circles around wood-pigeon
stationed - -Ho ground, and which,
in a dazed fashion, kept 5ss:-"ing slow
ly round and round to watch the
whirligig performances; in fact, the
procedure was almost exactly that
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1892-01-21

to the drylng-room, a large, airy
chamber, where it is left for days,
months, or even years, according to
the quality desired. 1t is frequently
turned and much care is expended on
it. All cheese must go through the
same stages, the different varieties
being made by certain combinations
of cream, fresh and SKINNED milk.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1892-01-21

VnUAtu FARMING
y The wife OF an English ostrich
breeder in Cape Colony compares the
young ostrich that has just cleared
Its nest to a hedgehog mounted on
stills and provided with long neck.
The feathers are nothing more than
grayish bristles, while head and neck
are covered with fine, speckled
down, soft as velvet. A difference OF
the sexes is not yet discernible in the
plumage.
Very few ostriches are born nova
days out OF captivity, for the fashion
of the day has developed ostrich
breeding into one of the best-paying
industries, which yields handsome
revenue TO several countries, es-
pecially the deserts and waste lands
of Southern Africa.
The valuation of the South African
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1892-01-21
Too slow.

Monsieur Calino was ordered by his
physician to take drive OF an hour
each day, and having no horse of his
own he called cabman for the pur-
pose.
One day he signaled cabman and
got in for his daily drive. The horse
started up at painfully slow gait.
"Hold onl" said Calino to the
driver. Il must get another cab. 1t
would take me all day to ride an hour
with such plug as that!"-Youth's
Companion.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1892-01-21
Armies of Civilized Nations.

The armies of the world, or rather
of the civilized nations, include
5000, 900 men. These men, and al
most as many more who are required
to wait upon them in scme form OF
other, are consumers, and not pro-
ducers, of the worlds supply Of food.
Besides the loss of their time and la
Dor, they cost at least 81, 900 year
each, and that amounts to SO, 600;-
600. 900.