davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
St. Landry democrat., 1893-05-06
A Fish That Could Talk.

A natural curiosity captured on the
coast of Africa Gu May 9th, 1854, by
Slgnor Cavana and exhibited in all the
great cities of Europe during the years
1850. 1860, 1861 and 1862, where it was
advertised as the Talking Fish" was, in
reality, species of the African seal well
known to naturalists on account of its
wonderful powers of mimicry. This
particular animal was about twelve feet
in length and weighed something over
800 pounds It had fine dog like head
and large beautiful black eyes, which
seemed TO sparkle with intelligence
whenever the creature was spoken to by
anyone. It was very docile, and, when
told to dance, would roll over and over
in its bathtub, with first tail and then
head above the water, all the time chat
tering as though enjoying the sport as
much as the spectators did. It soon
learned many odd tricks and it is
claimed, learned to articulate at least
three words very plainly, viz: "Mamma,"
"papa," and "John," the last being its
keepers name When told to pray it
would clasp its 'flippers' in the attitude
of supplication and put on sanctimon-
ious look that could hardly be equaled.
St. Landry democrat., 1893-05-06

We are asked to believe in ghosts be-
cause in every age there have been ghost
stories. But would it not be more nat
ural to suppose that in every age the hu
man mind has been subject to aberra-
tons, and that some specific weakness Or
irrcgularity of the mental constitution, Or
of the physical organ, the brain, on which
all thinking, SO far as we are aware, de-
ponds, has probably given rise to this
particular class of Authorizations? We
cannot pretend as yet to know the mind
thoroughly in health and disease; but
this we do know, that there are thou
sands and millions of persons whose lives
are never intruded on by ghosts, and
who know absolutely nothing of the
occult phenomena. According to
the reverend gentleman's own fig
ures, only one woman in twelve
and one man in ten has had
any ''occult'' experiences. Now, what
we should like very much to have would
be further analysis of these figures,
showing the percentage of flighty Or
otherwise i'll balanced minds among the
| "occultn and the "non-occult' Gf we
may so apply the words) classes respec-
lively. Our own experience would lead
us to believe that the proportion would
be vastly larger in the former class than
in the latter Who has not known many
examples of the tremulous, nervous,
hyper sensitive, wonder-loving, hysteri
cal. or semi-hysterical type of constitu-
ton among the devotees Of ghost lore?
And if such examples occur, as we be-
lieve they must, to the mind Of every one,
is it not at least probable inference that
''occultism' in its various phases has
something to do with that kind of mind2
The ghost may be very ancient, but we do
not believe in him the more. The trouble
about him is that he has made no pro-
gress since the earliest times; in fact, on
the whole, he has fallen back. We
should not be disposed to talk of the
''lcvitation' of Elijah ourselves had not
the Rev. Mr. Hawels used the-term be
fore us, but, if following the reverend
gentleman's lead, we consider the
prophets alleged translation in that light,
surely it was a most successful feat in
'leyitationn and little ahead of any
thing the modern world can show. And,
speaking generally, the apparitions and
visions and other spiritual or occult
phenomena of ancient times had more
''body" to them than those Of our own
day If, therefore, the ghost has made
no progress in the course of three orfour
thousand years, if he is just as uninstruc-
tive and inconsequent a phenomenon
now as he was when we first encount-
cred him, if not little more so, we may
perhaps be pardoned for thinking that
he may be safely and fairly ignored by
people who have an average amount OF
business to attend to From the Edi-
tors Table in '"The Popular Science
Monthlv.n
St. Landry democrat., 1893-05-06

a good idea is that originated BY the
MIR. George F. Talbot, of Maine, and
embodied in the last report of State
Forestry Commissioner Packard, viz.
that towns shall acquire the title to
abandoned farms and plant them with
trees. A bill making such provision has
recently been introduced in the Maine
Legislature. At first blush, comments
the New York Post, it would seem that
there should be no cause in that State
Tor alarm about forest spoliation, but, %
matter OF faet, fire and waste, es.
pecially the first, are making serious
gaps on the hillsides. Little but zeal
can be expected of the Commissioner.
since his remuneration is only 5000
year. It has been suggested that the
Legislature make the Office desirable
one By increasing the salary to sum
which would compensate an able man
for the devotion of his whole time to it.
duties.
St. Landry democrat., 1893-05-06
RELIABLE RECIPES,

! Hot B1sCU1Ts.-One quart flour, one
teaspoonful salt, three tcaspoonfu's bak-
ing powder, one tablespoonful lard, one
pint sweet milk, cold (never use soul
milk use cold water when milk cannot
be obtained Sift together flour, salt
and powder; rub in lard cold; add milk,
form into smooth consistent dough.
| Flour the board, turn out dough, roll
out to thickness of three-quarter inch,
cut with small round cutter; lay them
close together on creased baking tin;
bake in good hot oven. Old biscuits
can be made fresh by moistening, placing
in oven until heated through.
FRICAssEE OF OYSTERS RoVer's
fricassee Of oysters is a most delicious
way OF preparing them She says to boil
twenty-ti oysters in their own liquor
and drain. Then put into frying pan
large tablespoonful of butter, and when
it is melted stir into it a tablespoonful
of flour, then add half pint of milk
and stir until it bois, when the oysters
and half a cup of the liquor with salt and
cayenne pepper are added, and all stirred
again until III bo1lS. 1t is tuCu taken
from the fire and the yelks of two eggs
lightly beaten and q tablespoonful of
chopped parsley are added. All dishes
of this kind must be served directly from
the fire.
PoAcHED EGGs--Poachcd eggs are the
most delicate of the simpler methods of
serving eggs. A deep saucepan should
be used and the water should reach the
boiling point before the egg is carefully
dropped in. Some cooks squeeze not
more than two or three drops of lemon
juice into the water and always use
a teaspoonful of salt A full minute
should poach the egg sufficiently, when
it is lifted out with the skinner and
laid upon the square of toast already
prepared Ga hot platter. Some of the
best chefs claim that the poaching pan,
to do half a dozen eggs at once, does not
insure the same perfection to each as
when they are done separately. Eggs
may be pcached in an almost perfect
sphere by giving to the water a rapid
rotary motion with a spoon or fork and
dropping the egg in the heart of the
whirlpool thus formed.
St. Landry democrat., 1893-05-06
Poverty muat indeed ho h;@to,

Poverty must indeed be bitter, muses.
tho Chicago Herald. when its victims
pledge their bodies for the dis.
section room in order to obtain a few
shillings for food. This was one of the
suggestions acted on at the gatherings of
the unemployed at the east end, London.
recently. It was represented that "sub-
jects" are difficult to obtain and are
quoted as high as $50. 1t was proposed
that the hungry men should sell their
bodies in advance of death to the hos.
pitfalls on condition of the presenl pay.
ment OF S5. Tt was feared, however,
that the market would soon become
overstocked.
St. Landry democrat., 1893-05-06

An extraordinary case of the arrest of
aJudge while sitting on the bench comes
TO the New York Sun from Nova Scotia.
Tbs arrest occurred at Bridgewater,
where Judge CARL was charged with
forgery committed ten years ago. It is
said that the Judge tainted when the
warrant was produced by two detectives
in his court. The purity of the judiciary
in all English-speaking countries is one
of the most hopeful indications of the
equal growth of morality and civiliza.
finn
St. Landry democrat., 1893-05-06

There il mourner's corner in one Of
the cloakrooms of the National House of
Representatives and another In the SEN
ate cloakrooln, where, asserts the New
Orleans Picayune, the disappointed and
disgruntied congregate to express their
dissatisfaction with the existing order of
things. There, it is averred, statesmen
gather to sit with the corpses of their
dead hopes and ambitions, and each
place il known locally as chamber of
sighs. A joke Or o good story is never
heard there.
St. Landry democrat., 1893-05-06

IL In said that the numerous cannino
factories being erected throughout west
Tennessee will, to a great extent, re-
duce cotton production, and build ur
truck farming and the fruit industry
10 On editorial article the Atlanta Con.
stasutton has this to say about Southern
canning factorless Factories of from
ven 20 twenty thousand capacity are be.
ing started Of Milan, Jackson, Mckenzie.
Sharon, Union City and other towns
Over one thousand acres will be set
apart for truck farming in Gibson County
alone, and similar reports come from
other counties. The demand for canned
Vegetables and fruits is practically un.
alnniteds and will increase more rapidly
shasl me factories can supply the goods.
NoWs we have In the South the finest
truIt and truck farming regions in the
Worids and, BY establishing numerous
canning factories right here within a
stones throw Of the fields, our farmers
viii ind in very short time that the
new industry will make them far more
prosperous than they could hope to be
under the all.cotton system. It is a
gratifying sign to see the rapid develop.
ment OF this industry in some parts Of
The South. and it goes without saying
that Georgia offers very inviting field
fcr y. Canning factories cost compara-
lively little 70 start. and their product
can b sold in the home markets, ID the
eastern and western cities. and sent to
Europe, Asis, Africa and all the Spanish.
American countries south Of u.s.
St. Landry democrat., 1893-05-06
VERY CLOSE.

Hos there much between Georoe
and Hilda2
She-I saw them sitting on the sofa
last evening and you couldn't have put
an oyster knife between them - Judge.
CASE OF DESIRE.
Jones--1o.u can get the position if YOU
find somebody that can go on your
bond.
Snith-Which do you prefer, Willie
Vanderbilt or one Of the Astors2
Are you acquainted with them?N
Not at all; but they can 60 on nv
bond, can't they, if they want tor
Texas Siftings.
WORSE AND WORSE.
One of The1n (who likes him)-I don't
see why you think George is half-witted,
I'm sure.
The Other (who doesn't like HIM l
don't. He hasn't any wits at all
Truth.
St. Landry democrat., 1893-05-06
The Last Scout.

An Eastern traveller in the Rocky
Mountains tells in a private letter of
meeting q scout of the old days, and
says: "He is very interesting; he is the
last of the 100 Government scouts, and
can walk Tor run) 1870 miles day; all
the others are either in jail or dead. His
stories are very thrilling, and doubtless
are true, for he has to be drawn out by
degrees, and bushes like girl through
his dark skin at the direct questions
asked after he has unconsciously told a
little Of story Of the past. u Boston
Transcript.
St. Landry democrat., 1893-05-06

The London Spectator is ssperfectly
satisfied to zee the United States take
the Hawaiian Islands, as England would
DO able to capture them without any
trouble In the event of war, and in
times Of peace it would be just as con-
ven1ent port as it was under a native
Ssypasty. v
St. Landry democrat., 1893-05-06
WLDAH'S HUSKINq PARTY.
4 NEW ENGLAND BALLAD

BY DEXTER SMITH.
u the meadows gleam the snow drifts
Meath the glances of the moon;
Down the lane the snowbells jingle
With glad youthful hearts in tune.
Meath the old barns slanting rafters
High are piled the ears Of corn,
In their sheaths of yellow velvet,
Soon to be by deft hands torn.
Softly beam the rays from lanterns
Der the merry huskers hung;
As they sit around the circle
Jokes fly fast and songs are sung.
| On table near the haymow,
With the whitest cover dressed,
Pans Of doughnuts-;mugs Of cider
Wait the busy workers rest.
o what happy shouts of laughter
When the hand of lad or miss
Rarely red ear discovers
And the young man claims kissl
NOnS arc IucII1SI tuau Il ulOdu,
Who from barn to house oft gees.
She expects her ci y cousin,
He'll eclipse the country beaux.
Now the floor is cleared for dancing,
And the fiddler, Gran Their Poole,
Loudly calls the changing figures,
Mounted on a milking stool.
Gracefully the guests are bowling;
Forward, backward, toe and heel,
In the movements alternating,
Tripping the Virginia reel.
Talk of city hops and functions
The Four Hundreds gilded yarn
They are dull beside" the frolics
Pure and sweet in Browns old barnl
Hark! The bells are sounding nearer,
Huldahs city guest arrives;
With him comes youth from Ireland,
Who to learn our manners strives.
Huldah, heaming fresh, and rosy,
Queen of beauty and of grace,
Finds herself, on introduction,
In the strangers firm embrace.
She starts back in CONSERVATION,
While the young man, blushing, too.
Turning to her cousin, whispers,
"That's what you told me to do!''
"Neyer!' says the city cousin,
"You misund rstood, it's Clear
"But,' the Irish boy continues,
"You said kiss the first red carp
Then there came full explanations;
Girls ears versus ears of corn;
And the dancing and the feasting
Lasted till the early morn.
Huldah, happy with her husband,
IN her heart holds winter dear,
And he, blessing Yankee customs,
Never sees the corn's red ear
That he does not W. Il remember
One glad night in CedaItown,
When he saw the frightened glitter
In the eyes Of Huldah Brown.
St. Landry democrat., 1893-05-06
A DOCS LIMITATIONS.

First Boy-'I got the smartest dog
you ever saw He can do anything"
Second Boy -"Bet he can't"
''Bet he can"
''Can you make him fght?"
"Course.'
"Can you make him wag his tail?'
''Course"
"Well, I'll bet you can't make him
fight and wag his tail too
- Good News.
St. Landry democrat., 1893-05-06

a naval officer, who made q study OF
leprosY, in Hawaii, declares that there
are $4,000 lepers in the United States
and that the disease is not more contag.
ious than consumption.
St. Landry democrat., 1893-05-06
Any ARTIST IN HIS LINE.

Jasper-The idea of that barber cail-
inc himself an artist. He is simply
scraper. o ,,hv
Jumpuppc-That's just the reason why
he calls himself an artist. LOOK WHAT
a picture he made of my face this morn
ing.
St. Landry democrat., 1893-05-06

Among the newest and most notable
goods offered are the silk and linen ging
hams, or swivel silks. They have the
India texture so exactly that it is diff
cult to distinguish any difference with
out touching them. The regular wash
silks cannot approach them in beauty,
and if as is claimed, the silk finish is
retained after washing, they will prove
formidable competitors not only to the
wash silks, but to the Indias.
St. Landry democrat., 1893-05-06

Calhoun County, Florida, Is without
q railroad in its borders, has not single
lawyer, nor is there single barroom IN
the county
St. Landry democrat., 1893-05-06
THE JNvARYING IMPULSE,

Mrs Van WiIde--Helen, 60 down to
the library at once. Charles wants tc
speak to you over the telephone.
Helen 49, Gracious. Is my hat or
stralght?--t Chicago News.
PARADOXICAL.
Charley's trying very hard to win
your Affections
Eyes, he's man after my own heart.
But won't have him. "--[Chicago News,
Record.
St. Landry democrat., 1893-05-06

Residents OF the Pacific Coast towns,
notably San Francisco, will be carried to
the Worlds Fair by the Southern Pacific
for $72.5 round trip.
St. Landry democrat., 1893-05-06

The Midlothian Liberal Association
has adopted resolution declaring Home
Rule for Scotland az necessary condi-
ton to Home Rule for Ireland.
St. Landry democrat., 1893-05-06
St. Landry Democrat.
BY T.. A. SANDOE.
0peIousas, IS Louisiana.
his vote.

~ man In Wolfe County, Kentucky,
Ass been disfranchised for life for selling
HE ,znfa
St. Landry democrat., 1893-05-06
WANTED TO KNOW.

New Boarder (gently)-Hasn't this
butter rather-er-a peculiar taste, Mrs.
Slimdiet2
Mrs. Slimdiet-That? That's roll but
ter, sir.
New Boarder s-er-I suppose so;
but where have they been rolling it,
New York Weekly.
St. Landry democrat., 1893-05-06
PROBABLY THE LATTER.

Is it love when your heart beats faster
Whenever the pair of you meet?
Is 1t love that when you passed her,
Your cheek felt sudden heat2
Is it love if your vision trembles
And swims when you see one girl2
Is it love that for you she dissemblcs
The defiant all of churll
Is it Cupid that causes these feelings;
Is it love-wholl answer the ques-
tion?-
These throbbings and whirlings and
Feelings;
Is it love-or just Indigestion?
Il Chicago News Record.
St. Landry democrat., 1893-05-06
BOBBY's AMBITION.

BoBBY's AMBITION.
'I'm going to be postman when
grow up" said Bob, who had beel
chided by his father for whistling
"Then [ can go around ringing front
door bells and whistling all | please. -
lHarper's Bazaar.
TWO OF. KIND.
He was inclined to be didactic when hi
friend put his head in the door and asked
hurriedly:
''Haye you s'matches?"
Is have some Matches" he answered
in very distinct tones. "When you know
the English language, why not speak it
hey?"
His friend laughed, secured the mat
ches, and said:
swell, Unjust hurry. Goodbye"
"Gooby,' was the response from thu
didactic one
The other put his head in at the door
again 1t was his chance now.
Il don't know what 'gooby' means
but probably you do. Is it slip-shoc
English for goodbye hey@-[ Detroit
Free Press.
An ITEM FOR HOuSEKEEPERs.
The committee Of the legislature that
visited the State Agricultural College at
Fort Collins on Saturday tells good
story on Superintendent Anderson. The
members of the committee had looked
over the building, and highly compli-
mented the superintendent on the clean
illness and order that prevailed. Senator
Lockwood and Representative Hunter
were little ahead of the others in leav-
ing the building, and, stopping to chat a
few minutes at the entrance. overheard
the conversation of a couple of boys un-
seen by them that put different COM
plexion on affairs.
"Thank God,' calculated one of the
youngsters, heaving big sigh of relief,
1--WE don't have to go through this thing
again for while
''No,' was the hearty response of his
companion. eve don't have to sweep out
under the beds for another year now. -
Denver Times.
NEW KIND.
The two 6rummers were standing I'D
at the railway restaurant counter feeding,
Pretty soon one of them, after q slipht
manipulation, handed something 70 the
other.
''Have Liliuokalina sandwi h?' he
said.
"What in thunder kind of a sandwich
is that? said the other, taking it.
TRY it and see"
"Come off, exclaimed the other one.
as he pried it open with his knife,
''there's nothing in it.
THAT'S why we call it the Liiuoku,
lani sandwich" explained the first one,
and went on eating. - Detroit Free Press.
A DISCOUNTED GHOST
She--Mrs. Jackson used to be fine
but she says she has lost her
power.
He--Yes; Jackson hates table-rap-
ping, so he put her up to asking her first
husbands spirit where he used to~spend
his evenings. - Judge.
She's my Sandwich
I'm her ham,
She's my Lille.
Pm her Sam.
Soon I'll annex her,
You may bet;
Little Hawaii
Will be my pet.
-[Defance News.
St. Landry democrat., 1893-05-06

Fewer than II 900 prussians have incomes
of more than $1,000 year.
St. Landry democrat., 1893-05-06
THE JOKERS' BUDGET,
JEST AND YARN BY FUNNY MEN
OF THE PRESS,
Wanted More Tragedy-Probably the
Latter-Bobby' Ambition-Two of
a Kind, Etc, Etc.
WANTED MORE TRAGEDY.

Seeker How did you like the tragedy
last night?
sageman-There wasn't quite enough
of it.
seckcr-Good heavens, man! There
were five acts: I'm sure you ought to
have been satisfied with that,
Sageman-Oh, I'm not saying there
wasn't enough of the play; mean there
wasn't enough tragedy. A massacre of
the entire cast in the first act would have
been about the right thing = Boston
Courier.
St. Landry democrat., 1893-05-06

bines. Eandcuffed, and pushed about
by one and another, we reached the bot
tom of the slope, where q prison van
was waiting for us-a vile box, without
ventilation and full of vermin--into
which we were thrown and driven to
Bastia, escorted by gendarmes with
drawn swords.
A nice position for Government Off
cial!
St. Landry democrat., 1893-05-06
POETRY AND PROSE.


Tragedian alphabetically - Give me,
Lethe, the wine in which | can drink
forgetfulness.
Innkeeper--No, no. Then you would
forget to pay.-LFliegende Blaetter.
SHE WOULD BE MISSED.
Mamma alphabetically What would
my little girl do if should die2
Little Flossie--I don't know; | sup
pose I should have to spank myself
life.
THE PROBLEM SOLVED.
Little Josie--What do you suppose all
these holes are in the cheese for?
Little Leah-Oh, I'd think you would
known. It's to let the smell out.--!I Inter
Ocean.
VERY LIKELY.
"There's a great deal of jealousy
among the flowers, said Hawkins. 1t
is my firm belief that the violet is blue
because it isn't rose" ~-lJndge.
St. Landry democrat., 1893-05-06

"Tm going to be postman when
grow up" said Bob, who had been
chided by his father for whistling.
"Ihen can go around ringing front,
door bells and whistling all | please. -
Harper's Bazaar.
St. Landry democrat., 1893-05-06

| lently paying the game. 1heY watched
each others movements, the cards either
faced downward upon the table or care
| fully held so that the opponent might
not catch glimpse of them, and gave
an occasional quick glance at their ''hand"
without losing sight of the other players
| face. / was especially interested in
watching Quastana. The photograph was
a very good one, but it could not repro
duce the sunburnt face the vivacity and
agility of movement, SURPRISING in man
of his age, and the hoarse, hollow voice
peculiar to those who spend most of their
time in solitude.
Between two and three hours passed in
this way, and had some difficulty in
keeping awake in the stuffy air of the
hut and the long stretches of silence
broken only by an occasional exclama-
ton: "Seventeen" "Eighteen!' From
time to time was aroused by a heavy
gust of wind, or dispute between the
players.
Suddenly there was savage bark from
Bruccfo, like cry of alarm. We all
sprang up, and Quastana rushed out of
the door, returning an instant afterward
and selling his gun. With an exclma
ton of rage he darted out of the door
again and was gone.
Matteo and I were looking at one an
other in surprise, when dozen armed
men entered and called upon us to sur
render. And in less time than it takes
to tell you we were on the ground, bound
and prisoners. In vain I tried to make
the gendarnes understand who I was
they would not listen to me. "That's
all right; you will have an opportunity
OF making an explanation when we get
to Bastia. 7
They dragged us to our fat and drove
US out with tbs bltt ends Of their Gag