davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
St. Landry democrat., 1893-09-23

there, ard these fellows have been trying
to take it from me-"
"Well, if that amt a good one."
sneered one of the tramps. "But it won't
do, boy. The moneys ours, and we
don't feel called on to say any more bout
it, 'cept that we're goin' to have it. Stand
aside there, old gentleman
Il reckon not.' said the farmer. 1--WE
hcerd both sides O the case, an if you'll
sense me fer spcakin' SO plain, | don't
b'lleye word you two rascals have said
"a purity pair you air. This is a clean,
straight for'd-looAin' boy, an you amt
nary the one nor the othcr-nO you don't
no you don't. Not step nighcr!'
He held up the scythe threatcningly
II wouldn't want better wccpin'
than this old scythe to defend myself
agin dozen SIGH fclIers as you be. You
jest come within swing o my scythc if
you think it'll be healthy fer you. Law!
I'd cut We down fer tho two wuthlcss
weeds of the airth that you be! Here,
boy, jest slip your hand down into the
pocket of my overalls and you'll find a
knife there with blade bout six
inches long. You take the knife an 'Il
hang on to the scythe, an | reckon we
kin hold the fort for quite spe!l.'
They did not have to hold it long, for
the two tramps soon took their departure,
but they were not allowed the privilege
of departing in peace.
An hour later the farmer drove over to
Crofton with Perry, and notified the
The deputy sheriff there
had been looking for two such men, who
were wanted for burglary.
A posse was organized, and before
nine o'clock the two men were in the
Crofton Jail. They were tried, convicted
and sent to the penitentiary.
Perry remained at the lake the rest OF
that summer, but sent the boat money to
the city every day, and was never molested
again.-[ Youths Companion.
St. Landry democrat., 1893-09-23
Natures Anomalies,

In New Zealand species of parrot il
found that, finding its food entirely or
the ground, has lost the power of flight.
1t differs from the rest of the family only
in this particular and in being almost
voicelcss.
Among recent breeds of pigeons is the
parlor tumbler, which has not only lost
the power OF flight, hut has very nearly
lost that of walking as we'll lis queer
motions when it attempts to walk have
given it It's name, the tumbler.
CAS- thick as the hair on a dogs
back" expresses nothing in Mexico, for
the Mexican dog is entirely devoid of
hair on his back or anywhere else. The
hot climate having rendered it super.
tuous, Mother Nature kindly Invested
him of it.
Nor does ''the little busy bee improve
each shining hour" in that country. On
the contrary, it soon learns that, as there
is no winter there, there is no necessity
for laying in a store of honey, AMI de-
generates into thoroughbred Ioafer.
Gas big as a whale" might be rather
small, as there is a species of the ceta-
cean genus hardly three feet long.
'As cunning as a fox" would have
sounded idiotic to the discoveries Of
Kamtchatka. They found foxes in large
numbers, but SO stupid because they had
never before seen an enemy that they
could be killed with clubs.
GAS awkward as crab" does not ap,
ply on some of the South Sea Islands,
for crab is found there that not only
runs as fast as an average man, but
climbs trees with the case of a school
boy.-[Exchange
St. Landry democrat., 1893-09-23

The abandonment of the fast train
between New York and Chicago shows,
maintains the San Francisco Chroni-
Gle, that extremely rapid railway travel
is not popular, even at the East. The
regular trains on all the large Eastern
roads average at least forty miles an
hour, and several make as high as fifty
miles an hour. 70 increase this speed
by ten miles an hour requires con-
siderable extra expense, and as the
patrodage on the New York Central,
which tried the experiment, has not
been liberal, it is only natural that the
comrany should withdraw the fast
train.
St. Landry democrat., 1893-09-23

Says the New York Sun: Last yea,
Peter Meggs was convicted in Texas OF
the murder of certain Mike Ferry
md sentenced to the penitentiary for
life. He had hardly been in jail three
months when his supposed victim ar.
rived ut the same prison, having been
found guilty under another mama of a
felony committed in distant part OF
the State. The convicts recognized
each other, but affairs are at a dead.
lock. Ferry being legally dead cannot
testify and show Meggs to be innocent,
and the other cannot give evidence in
his behalf. The lawyers of the State
are delighted with tangle the like of
which has not been seen since the time
of William and Mary. Though they
would like to worry out solution OF
their own, it is probable that the par
doning power Of the Governor will
have to be invoked to even get the
matter under way.
St. Landry democrat., 1893-09-23

A contributor to the Nineteenth
Century some time ago wrote a paper
on the advantages of cooperative, or
central kitchen, in which meals should
be cooked and furnished to many
families. The English press took up
the discussion with vigor, and q great
deal has been said, for and against it.
This experiment has already been tried
in this country, and not, it must be
confessed, with the most brilliant sue
cess. But it is, nevertheless, the solu-
ton of the domestic difficulty; and,
though we may not live to see it, the
cooperative kitchen is as certain to
come as was the printing press and
steam engine.
St. Landry democrat., 1893-09-23
Aunt -Iasie the Snake Woman,

There has recently died a well known
character of Okolona, Miss, known as
Aunt Masie Huggins,' or the "Snakc
Woman who lived an isolated life with
snakes as her only friends. She had
built herself hovel composed Of
branches of trees, clay and other debris,
which, though often washed down by
the rains, she would build up again.
This novel residence is said to have been
fairly alive with snakes of every local
variety, hanging from overhead, lying
under foot, and creeping from the
chinks in the wall. the woman sub
sisted On the products of small garden
near her cabin, which she cultivated her
self. With the exception of the neces-
sary intercourse with those from whom
she purchased the few things she re-
Quired, she was never known for over
thirty years to have held any conversa-
ton with any human being. She could
often be met after dark walking through
the town with her strange companions
twined about her arms, her neck, and
nesting in her bosom, with their ugly
heads protruding, kissing at every one
that passed.
On these occasions, however, when
hailed or questioned she would make no
reply. Once some boys of the neighbour
hood prowling about her cabin found
several of the snakes on the outside and
killed them, and before they were aware
of it Aunt Masie appeared in the door
way with shotgun, which she let fly at
the crowd. None of the boys were
killed, but one of them was shot through
the ear, and the rest scattered in hurry
That the woman's mind was affected there
seems little doubt. Her only son while
out hunting in the woods was bitten by
a rattlesnake, and days afterward his
swollen and discolorcd body was found.
This appeared to craze his mother, who
left her home, saying the snakes were
calling her to come and live with them,
and that they would give her back her
boy.
She is said to have come of q good
family, and to have been we'll educated.
When discovered she had been dead for
days, and the snakes were crawling over
the body, but fled on the appearance of
strangers, and have not been seen near the
cabin since. By those who have seen
her surrounded by her queer adopted
family it has been estimated that there
must have been at least 200 of them,
among them several venomous
varieties. The woman did not claim to
have charmed them, as the saying goes,
but it is probable that her perfect fear
lessness tanned them. - Philadelphia
Times.
St. Landry democrat., 1893-09-23

! At recent meeting of the British
Royal Society, George King and Doctor
Arthur Newsholme read paper on
"The Alleged Increase of Cancer" in
which they supported the opinion that
tho supposed increase in cancer is
only apparent, and is due to improve
ment in diagnosis and more careful
certifcation Of the causes of death.
Their arguments are founded on COM
parison of the official cancer death
rates for England and Wales, Scotland
and Ireland, with other data obtained
from the experience of the Scottish
Widows Fund and the official cancer
returns of Frankfort on the Main.
St. Landry democrat., 1893-09-23
MARY SUIl'H.
BY EUGENE FIELD.

BY EUGENE FIELD.
Away down East where I was reared anon
my Yankee lith.
There used to live a pretty girl whose nam:
was Mary Smith:
And though it's ma ~ years since last 1 sa .
that pretty girl.
An though feel I'm sadly worn b. Western
strife and whirl
Still, oftentimes, think about tn, oil ia milia
place,
Which, someway, seemed the brighter fol
( Miss Mary's pretty facs,
/ And in my heart feel onco more revivified
! the glow
used to feel in those old times when wa'
Mary's beau.
On Fri lay night I'd drop around to make my
weekly call,
| And, tho Ugh I came to visit her, I'd have to
see 'em all
With Mary's mother sitting here and Mary's
father there,
The conversation never tagged so far as I'm
aware;
Sometimes I'd holl her worsted, some times
we'd play at games,
Sometimes dissectt the apples which We named
each others names
Oh, how loathed the shrill-tonel lock Tat
told me when to go
Twas ten o'clock at ha f-past eight when was
Mary's beau
And Mary, shout those lines of mine seek
out your bidiug place,
God grant they bring the old sweet smile
back to your pretty face
God grant they ing you thoughts of me, not
as | am to-day
With falering step and dimming eyes and as
pect grimly gray;
But thoughts that picture me as fair and full
of life and CLEO
AS we were in the ol1en time-as you shall al
ways be.
Think of me ever, Mary. as the boy you used
When time was fleet and life was sweet, and 1
WIS Mary's beau.
Dear hills of old New England, look down
with tender eyes
Upon one Ii tie, lonely grave that in your
bosom lies;
For in that cradle sleeps a child who was so
fair to see
God yearned to have unto Hinse the Joy she
brought to me;
And bid your winds sing soft and low the song
of other days,
When, hand in hand and heart to heart, we
went our pleasant ways
All me! but could ng again that song of
long ago
Instead of this poor, lille song of being Marys
beAu
St. Landry democrat., 1893-09-23
A UNIQUE SINGING LESSON.

A wren built her nest in a box on a
New Jersey farm, and the occupants of
the farm house saw the mother teaching
her young to sing. She sat in front Of
them and sang her whole song very dis
tlnctly, and one Of her young attempted
to initiate her. After proceeding through
few notes its voice broke and it lost
the tune. The mother recommended
where the young one had failed, and
went very distinctly through with the
remainder. The young birl made a
second attempt, commencing where it
had ceased before, and continuing the
song so long as it was able, and when the
notes were again lost the mother began
ngain where it had stopped and com
pleted it. Then the young one resumed
the tune and finished it, This done,
the mother sang the whole series of notes
the second time with great precision, and
again young bird attempted to follow
her. The wren pursued the same course
with this bird as with the first, and so
with the third and fourth, until each of
the birds became perfect songster.
[Golden Days.
St. Landry democrat., 1893-09-23
AN OUTDOOR PLAYHOI Sc.

Everyone knows how often in on,
variable climate an otherwise perfect dav
IS utter spoiled for our ENJOYMENT by
an ug lily wind. If we have tent we can
Shut ourselves in from the hateful in
truder, yet haH' al the air we want from
the opposite side. Where there are
children it is a great advantage to have
quite substantial and permanent out
door playhouse, for, if only they are pro-
tected from the da p ground, wind, or
too hot sun, the little people are much
better off to spend the entire day in
the OPEN Even baby can safely take
her nap under the shelter of the tent,
drawing in health ard sweetness with
every breath. If floor is laid beneath
the tent, the children need not be house.
bound because the lawn is damp from a
recent shower or from heavy dew; and,
even if there is no tent, this is thought.
full provision for the children's enjoy.
ment that can be easily arranged. 4
delightful play platform was recently
built by utilizing two tree stumps and
some powders for supports. A simple
shelter could be made for this by putting
stout posts at the corners and stretching
over it canopy of unbleached cloth or
the heavy striped awning stuff. Cur
tains for two sides only need be made.
to button or tie in place, and to be put
on the sides whence the wind blows, -
DemOrest's.
St. Landry democrat., 1893-09-23
FOR THE YOUNG FOLKS.
GRASSHOPPER.

CHRISTOPHER.
There's an odd old fellow, wrinkled and
yellow,
That sits in queer little heap
BY his open door, all shaded DER
With an awning Of clover deep.
lie is keeping shop i'll the summer grass,
And he calls to whoever may happen tc
pass,
'Cheap, cheap, chcap''
| never could tell what lie has to sell,
FOR Just as sOon.as creep
10 the swinging sign of the blue grass
fine,
lie is off with flying leap.
But far away in the meadow then
l hear him crying his wares again,
'Chcap, cheap, cheap :"
= Youths Companion
St. Landry democrat., 1893-09-23

Bishop William Taylor, the Metho.
dist Bishop of Africa, has written to
Secretary Gresham asking for the pro-
lection of Liberia by moral suasion
against the claim of France for seven
ty-three miles of the Liberian coast.
St. Landry democrat., 1893-09-23

In China traveller wishing for
passport is compelled to have the palm
of his hand brushed over with fine oil
paint he then presses his hand on thin
damp paper, which retains al impress
sion of the lines. This is used to pre-
vent transference to the passport, as
the lines of no two hands are alike.
St. Landry democrat., 1893-09-23

Charles F. Wright of London, who
is now spreading the light of theosophy
in the country, declares that the elixir
of life is no dream of the alchemists,
but may be reached through the eek.
pansion of the individual conscious
ness, whatever that means.
St. Landry democrat., 1893-09-23
The Mexican Giants Causeway.

The Giants Causeway of Mexico is
queer ledge of rocks ten miles north
east of Pochuca, Hidalgo, and reached
by way of branch of the Vera Cruz
Railway. To the Mexicans the oddity
is known as the Palisades Regla. Like
its great counterpart in Ireland, the
''causeway" is made up of columns OF
basalt ringing side by side in regular
pentagonal tiers, each of the 10000 or
more columns being from 25 to 100 feet
in height.
St. Landry democrat., 1893-09-23

The Japanese and Chinese languages
are entirely different, yet so many Chi
nese words are used in Japan that
scarcely line in japanese newspaper
is without at least one Chinese word.
In japanese novels the japanese equiv
alent for the many Chinese words is al
WAYS piyen
St. Landry democrat., 1893-09-23

Aphasia, or the loss of memory or
comprehension of speech, is queer
complaint. A man who had forgotten
his sisters name always referred to
her as s'that other woman" A per-
son, apparently otherwise in perfect
health, will substitute the name of one
article for another totally different in
the most ludicrous way.
St. Landry democrat., 1893-09-23
An island is ga tract of land entirely

An island is ga tract of land entirely
surrounded by water" Loop Creek,
in West Virginia, doubles upon itself
and runs under itself in natural VIA
duct, after making loop that encloses
tract nearly half mile long. Cues
ton propounded by the New York Sun
for geographical sharps: Is this tract
an island?
St. Landry democrat., 1893-09-23
A Heavy Corn Cron

Inc Omaha Bee says that unless all
signs fail. Nebraska will this year bar.
vest S5o, 00O, 900 worth of corn, which
Y equal TO one years silver product of
loloraao, Moatana, idaho and Utah.
St. Landry democrat., 1893-09-23
St. Landry Democrat.
BY L. 4. SANDOZ.
Ope3ousas. Louisiana.

After every great financial stress
there is marked increase in the num-
Der of insane.
St. Landry democrat., 1893-09-23

The average weight of 20, 1000 Boston
men was 142 pounds; women, 125
pounds. At Cincinnati the average OF
the same number Of mon was 154 pounds;
of women, 131.
St. Landry democrat., 1893-09-23

A copy Of tho first dictionary, made
by Chinese scholars in the year 100 B.
c., is still preserved among the archives
AZ thu Oolsstiais. = = E-a@,
St. Landry democrat., 1893-09-23

Our national cemeteries. cighty-thrce
in number, contain $50, 200 honored
dead. Every individual grave IS marked
by q stone tablet Of granite or marble.
St. Landry democrat., 1893-09-23


ated by water from the other continents.
as the absence of all higher mammalian
forms indicate. The mammals of Aus
tralia all belong to the lowest mammalian
types, the marsupials and monotremata,
with the exception Of few kinds of
mice, which may perhaps have originally
come over from Asia on floating trees or
wood. The more highly developed man.
mails Of Europe, Asia, Africa and Amer
lea have almost entirely exterminated the
lower marsupials wherever they came in
contact with them, and would undoubt-
edly have done the same in Australia,
had not water barred their way to this
island continent.
The tertiary age, during which plants
and animal life fourished abundantlv
amidst a genial climate, was to close in
an unexpected manner. Both in Europe
and North America great portions of the
continent were lifted up from 1000 to
1900 feet above their present altitude
above the sea level and brought beyond
the snow line. In North America the
high plateau Of Labrador and the Lau-
rentian highlands began to condense the
atmospheric vapors to snow, and grad
ually vast and enormously deep sheet
OF glacier-ice was formed, which spread
cold in all directions and began to
move in generally southern direction
carrying along with it a vast amount
OF debris collected on it's way, which it
finally deposited all along its tracks
from the uoighborhood Of Hudson's Bay
to the Oaio and Missouri. In some
localities this giaciss-ice was from 5000
to 5000 feet deep, as is inferred from
the scratches made along mountains Or
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-01-02

tord.v md the impression he made upon the cOpCre-
gotion vas most favorable. Mr.. Eliot resigned the
crate the Unity Unitarian Church, OF Denver
few DAYS ago. It was the opinion OF many OF tiose
who heard his sermon yesterday that II VIII hot pe
long before he is installed the pastor of the Church
OF the saviour An unusually large consregati. was
present to hear lin. His sermon was pronounced TO
be aggressive In its Unilarianism. lie preached upon
upon the duties OF the New Year. lie said, in part
Are we not apt to make the Divine gift OF memory
a reproach rather than Inspiration! Do We not
often dim present selfrespect by dreaming OF the
things which might have beeni There are many 'hihe'
in the past which 1t Is best wholly 10 forget. Forget
your blunders and mistakes. They have taught you
their lesson 1t is indelIby stamped upon your souls
Life is series Of mistakes and he Is not always the
most successful man who makes the fewest blunders
Toor mediocrty may secure that kind OF success
The true man Is lie who organizes victory ont "a MS
mistakes some OF us obs back and member positive
sin and know that spirits are stained with guilt'
Forget that Bad MS are the results of making light
Of sin, those OF breeding over 1t are worse. nave
little sympathy with the constant preaching Of re-
pcntnnce 50 characteristic OF Christian teaching l
have no patience with any gospel Of selfreproach.
Rcmorse ,paralyzes more than 1t energies good I'M
pulses. Let the dead past bury it's dead Act In the
living present Lift yourselves out Of bondage 10
trivial regrets and vain brooding ms7tcnt past
by SO occupying yourselves with immediate activities
that there Is for regret. Let life be an ever
repeated endeavor. Your true inquiry Is not whence
yOn came nor how, nor why, nor when, hut what you
may become.
'The future for which would have you work IS
future for this world. do not ask you to be bllnd
TO the hope OF a future heaven. don't ask yol I"
live without the hope OF immortality. Let the fore
CLEANS Of that hope brighten your past and your I'M
mcdiat" activities. but learn 10 lake one tlng nj q
Tine and everything I'm its order. The good Ne lay
hold OF beyond and above must get IL body and form
from the good We have perceived ana achle'ca on
earth Living for the future means We are to do our
part In transiiguhng the little actual world In which
we live. We want 10 create the new earth ana me
new heaven here. / want You 10 seek the religious
life not that your souls may be saved. but that Your
lives may be saved brOadcned, enlarged. made happy
ana useful here" "
The Pulpit Committee and Mr.. Eliot VIII hold n
conference some dine this week. which VIII probably
result In tho minister bee ming the permanent pstor
nj church.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-01-02
WIDESPREAD INTEREST IN GOOD ROADS

THE NATIONAL LEAGUE RECEIVES ENCoURAG-
ING LETTERS UPON ITS WORK.
The officers OF the National League for Good Roads
are receiving much encouragement in their attempts
to arouse widespread interest in the subject Of road
improvements and road building. Many letters were
received by General Roy Stone. the vice president
at his office, No As Broadway, last week. These
letters indicate the progress made BY the league.
The first League in Genesee County has
Just been formed at Batavia Ex-Governor David n.
Gooden. OF Antrim, New-Hampslnre, has been al.
pointed vicepresident Of the NcwHampshire league.
A. a. Middleswart has been appointed vce-president
OF the Ohio league lie writes TO General Stone saw.
Ing that State Road Congress will soon be held A
CMllicothe J. H. Bagley, OF Catskil Greene COUNTY
Is engaged In the formation OF local leagues He h
enthusiastic in bis work and writes that he believe
much good will come OF 1t.
II. NJ Flagler. Of the Standard OIL Company Is In.
terested In the work also. Hs believes that good
wagon roads Will prove great benefit to railroads
as feeders James j. Hill, president Of the Great
Northern Railway, writes from st. Paul, Mlnn. that
he will be glad to aid the National League in any way
possible. 1t has been suggested to him that the SER
vices OF the agents Of the road might be secured In
forming local leagues.
Requests for information concerning the scope OF
the work OF the league have been from nearly
all the great Western and Northwestern railroads. the
officers Of most Of them promising the services Of their
agents. CJlonel John Hay. Of Washington, D. c. and
james c. BerryhilL Of Des Moines iowa, have con.
rbued so each toward carrying out the work of the
league, making total of 1880 in voluntary cOnribu-
tiOnS received.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-01-02
POOR CHILDREy MADE HAPPY.

At Adelph Hall Thursday afternoon n substantial
Christmas entertainment for the benc~ Of the poor
was held. There 100 children and their mothers
present. Every child received warm nannels
caps pcttlcOats. hoods and mlitcns. Every mother
had an order for half a ton Of coal a warm bed
spread pound OF tea fat chicken and other eatlbcs
petticoat and a dress. The children entertained
for an hour by the singing Of Christmas carols BY
Mrs. w. =. Hawk and the Junior Kings Daughters Of
81. T1mohy's Church. The affair was planned and
carried out ~ Mrs. Danl Godschmldt. Mrs.
Charles Hogan. Mrs. W. S. Hawk, Mrs George Ely and
Mrs. Arthur Fish.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-01-02
4. G. MILLS AND THE Ny. A. e. ELECTIOy

a. O. Mills chairman OF the nominating committee OF
NcwYork Athletic Club denies that he has made any
statement concerning opposition to the regular ticket
be voted for the coming election In speaking ~
the matter Mr.. Mills says: 81 have understood that
OF certain prominent and active members have been
urging them TO for Office. they had undoubtci
right do. and should they conclude not u run, feel
sure that such refusal Will be based solely upon the
ycton that the best interests OF the club would Dc pro-
noted by not having opposition ticket at this par.
ucular time"