davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1893-12-14
A LOFTY SUGAR TREE.
A Wonderful Species of Palm That Gives
Sweet Sap.

Sweet Sap.
The sugar maple of New England has
rival. 1t grows in the Andes of Chilli
at height of from three thousand to
four thousand five hundred feet above
the sea. It is curious variety of that
most useful, wonderful tree, the palm,
whose varieties also give us dates and
cocoa and cocoanut and fans.
This palm is not slim and graceful
like most kinds we see in tropical pic
lures. 1t is about fifty feet tall, with
a very thick trunk. enlarging in diane
ter from the ground up to about half
its height, and then tapering again to
the top, where its long leaves spread
out.
These sugar palms produce great
quantities of sweet sap, which when
boiled down makes both molasses and
sugar of a peculiar but delicious flavor.
On one estate the trees grew in such
mum bers that once i: was determined
to count them. After counting several
hundred thousand more than half re-
manned uncounted, so the task was
given up.
What ''larks" il must be for the chill
dren when "sapping time" and sugar
ing off " come round! But the Chileans
do not collect the sap in the way the
New England farmers collect sap from
the maple tree. No; instead of boring
small holes in the trunk the palm is
cut down and bebeaded of its crown of
beautiful leaves, and then the sap be-
gins to flow from the upper end and
n e.
morning thin slice is cut off to pre-
vent the wood from hardening and
forming a crust through which the sap
could not flow.
A good tree will yield nearly hun
dred gallons of sap. A queer thing is
the fact that the sap will not run if the
tree lies with its head downward. 1t
will only run upward.-N. Y. Recorder.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1893-12-14

Three hundred and eighty-one years ago.
the romantic Ponce de Leon, searching for
the tabled fountain OF youth. set foot on q
land 81 adorned with blossoms of every
kind and hue that be named il Florida
Land of Flowers. To most Northerners,
Florida suggests only @ refuge for invslids
and consumptives, or place whence comes
oranges aud other semi-tropic fruits. The
state, however. has something of history.
Where Ponce de Leon landed was founded
St. Augustine. tic Oldest settled town in
the United States. and now a famous win
ter resort. In 1868 Florida was ceded by
Spain 10 Great Britain. In exchange or as .
ransom for Cuba, on which the British lion
had laid It's paw. In 1888. at the close OF
our Revolutionary war. England coded the
territory back TO Spain, probably not desir-
in Z possession surrounded by the rebel
lious colonies In 1919 Spain coded Florida
70 the United States, and she was admitted
TO the Union in 1915. Since the war Of the
r 0elhon, material development has been
rapid in Florida-rallroads have been built,
much Northern capital invested and great
improvement manifested. If intending 10
make a trip TO Florlda-and now is the time
TO be planning for it-be sure that your
railroad ticket is via the Burlington. which
affords choice of routes by either Chicago
or st. Louis Apply 10 any coupon ticket
agent, or write 10 ". J. c. Kenyon, Gen.
Pass. Agent, st. Paul, MINI.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1893-12-14
VITALITY OF INSECTS.
Eggs Often UninJured Even After Su
jected to Intense Cold.

Eggs Often Uninjured Even After Sub
jected to Intense Cold.
The eggs Of insects have greater
powers of vitality than any others. A
case was published of an egg producing
an insect eighty years after il must
have been laid, and the scientist re-
sponsible for this statement thinks
the power of vivification may endure
in these eggs for an indefinite period.
Many eggs of insects are exposed to
the air without any covering, and
many are sheltered too slightly TO be
secure from the frost. This, however.
they are able to resist, remaining I'M
frozen, though exposed to the severest
cold. or, still more surprising, are un-
injured by it's intensest action, recov-
ering their vitality even after having
been frozen into Jumps of ice.
On exposing several silk-worm eggs
for five hours TO a freezing mixture
which made Fahrenheit's thermometer
fall TO 80 deg. below zero Spollanzi
found that they were not frozen nor
their fertility in the slightest degree
impaired. Others were exposed TO a
degree of SO deg. below zero without
being injured. The quality of the
eggs of snails is, perhaps, even more
marvellous These eggs, if desiccsted
in a furnace until they are scarcely
visible. will always regain their orig
inal bulk when damped. and the young
will be brought forth as though the
eggs had never been in any way inter
fered with Neither heat nor cold
seems to have any injurious effect
upon their vitality. for they have been
frozen into ice for any length of time
and when the ice is melted will be
found to be wholly uninjured.-Balti-
more American
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1893-12-14
AraIABLE EMPRESS.
Two Stories of the Generous Though
0uick-Tempered Catherine III.


OF all the stories which are told OF
that versatile character, Catherine H.,
Empress of Russia, probably the great
est number relate 70 her kindly and
forgiving disposition. She was quick
tempered but generous.
Once at an official dinner she had an
animated discussion with foreign am
bassador who had displeased her. She
spoke with more anger than dignity.
In the midst Of her TRADE she over
heard her secretary, Chrapowieki, say
in an uudertone:
1T is pity for the little mother 10
lose her temper this way"
She stopped abruptly. and during the
remainder of the dinner was gracious
and merry.
AS she left the table, however. she
went straight to the impertinent inter
rupter aud said: How dare you criti-
else my words in public?"
Her voice trembled with anger, and
her hand shook so that she nearly
dropped cup of coffee which she was
holding. She set down the coffee UNI
tasted. and told the unfortunate secre-
tary TO go.
The man believed himself ruined,
and expected to be sent to Siberia next
day. He had no sooner reached his
home. however, than messenger came
to summon him to the empress
He found the empress still angry and
excited. She reproached him bitterly
for returning impertinence for the
kindness she had shown him. He threw
himself on his knees before her
Take this" she said. handling him
a snuff-box set with diamonds Keep
it. and whenever you have any more
observations to make in public upon
what l say or do, hold your tongue and
take a pinch of snuff. Such advice
might he good for me"
One evening Catherine had dined in
one town and was to return to her pal
ace in another some miles distant.
These journeys were made with much
ceremony and magnifcence. The great
sleighs were ready to start for home.
Catherine sat alone in the imperial
sleigh. She inquired if the drivers and
footmen had had dinner. Receiving a
negative reply. she at once left her
sleigh. They have as much need of
dinner as we" she said to her party.
and she waited patiently until the
servants had dined. Cos<eAa,
ion
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1893-12-14
Kicked by Proxy.

Ambassadors occasionally still hold
tightly TO some privileges which are
hardly in keeping with the spirit of
the age. Not only ENJOYS themselves.
but their servants also. are free from
arrest in countries TO which they are
accredited, and an assault committed
on an ENJOYS servant is regarded as an
injury suffered by the envoy himself.
Thus, in 1870, Baron Turgot, the
French ambassador at Madrid, wrote
Indignantly TO the government: 81
have this day received kick in the
back of my servant" The latter had
been molested in the riots that fol-
lowed THE overthrow of Isabella H.,
but an apology and fine were demand
ed pretty much as il the minister him
self had been kicked--Waverley.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1893-12-14
OIL STOVES AND HEALTH.
a Dangerous Practice that Is Followed In
MANY Homes.

Many Homes.
The paraff oil stove, like the gas
and gasoline stoves, is one of the evil
inventions which are causing Increase
Of anRmia, neuralgia, nervous trou.
bles, throat and lung Elections. The
allurement of the oil stove is its
convenience. They are burned in the
open air of the room, have no connec-
tion with flue for smoke draught. but,
like the common para fin lamp. throw
the poisonous carbonic oxide of com
bustiOn directly broadcast into the air
of the apartment and make IL unfit for
respiration. While an oil lamp is
injurious in a sleeping room, especially
il burned all night,an oil stove is worse,
because stoves generally feed more
flame, consume more of the rooms
oxygen, and cast out more poisonous
gas 10 be inhaled by the sitter or sleep
err, whether invalid or not. can think
of nothing more stupid than the use OF
any of these modern cOntrivances in the
room of a person suffering from long
disease, asthma or a weak heart. And
who can think of combining child with
Group. catarrhal congestion or pneu.
monia in a room with an oil stove burn
ing, unless the window be freely
opened at the same time for vitalizinQ
oxygen? Better far have such cases
where there Is no fire; for with soft
blankets snugly wrapped to keep the
entire surface warm, and hot-water
bag or bottle near the feet, the inhaled
oxygen of pure air will keep up the
natural Matchmaking process by oxy-
genation, and vitalize the nervous en-
ergies and help to dispel the disease
B. Ii. Swavze ia Farm and Home
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1893-12-14
SHE WAS HYPNOTiZEO.
A Dry Goods Clerk who is a Gem In His



talking about hypnotism," said a
Detroit lady to friend, ''let me tell
you an experience of mine. | went in
to dry-goods store in this city to
make purchase of three yards of green
silk There was a nice. pleasant-look-
ing man behind the silk counter, who
fixed pair of large black eyes upon
me and said:
" We have no green silk to match
your sample. but here is a beautiful
shade of blue, and he ripped off the
folds over his fingers after the manner
of dry-goods clerks.
:" Il don't want blue / said. but so
family my voice did not sound like my
own. / felt that the salesman eX-
pected me 70 buy that sikh could
not resist his will, and told him to cut
off three yards. When the dress
maker saw it she was surprised.
I" L thought you were to buy a green
silk for your trimming she said.
~ changed my mind. | answered,
although | detested the blue.
"A few months afterwards I went in
To that same store and saw the same
salesman looking at me, and felt
drawn toward that counter. His look
was grave and respectful, but COM
pelling.
." Something l can show you?' he
asked. My eyes fell upon piece of
gray silk, hideous notified gray that
reSembled a sullSy sky and made me
homesiclS to look at it.
+" Nice thing, isn't it?" he said, and
quite new. That is the only pattern of
the kind that we have
I'll take three yards l said des-
perately, and when il was done up he
handed it to rue with polite bow
"a soon as was outside of the store
! wondered what on earth ] would do
with that miserable purchase, and
don't know yet. Now, isn't that a clear
case of hypnotism?"
Her friend said that it was, and that
the man must be very valuable TO his
employers on that account.-Detroit
Eraa DraCG
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1893-12-14
Interastins old stamps.

An interesting story Of the finding Of
some old postage stamps which were
engraved over half a centary ago
comes from Providence. The post
master at that time was Welcome Il.
Sayler. who considered. as the United
States had no postal service then. that
the idea OF stamp for the Providence
postoffice was a good one. He grew
enthusiastic over the work, and in
short time copper plate was pro-
duced. From this eleven stamps, ten
fve-centers and one ten cent stamp,
were made This was the proportion
OF high and low stamps used in those
DAYS. The stamps were a great novelty
when they appeared Recently Lycur-
gus Sayler, relative of the deceased
postmaster. pulled out of pigeon-hole
a roll of the ancient stamps, the sheets
being in good condition. They were
purchased by Philadelphia collector.
philadelphia Ledger.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1893-12-14
ORIENTAL STEEDS.
Origin OF the Best strain OF Ara bian Blood
as Related by Some Romancer.

Origin OF the Best Strain OF Arabian Blood
as Related by Some Romanccr.
While Mohammed was fighting his
way 10 greatness he was once compelled
to lead his corps of twenty thousand
cavalry for three days without drop
of water. At last, from hilltop, they
deserted the silver streak of a distant
river Mohammed ordered his trum-
peter to blow the call to dismount and
loose the horses The poor brutes,
starving for water. at once sprang into
a mad gallop toward the longed-for
goal No sooner loosened than came
the alarm-false, as IL happened-of
sudden ambush. ITO horse" was
blown, and repeated by a hundred
bugles. But the demand was too great;
the parched threats were not TO be re-
fused; the stampede grew wilder and
wilder as twenty thousand steeds pushed
desperately for the river banks. OF all
the frantic crowd but five mares re-
sponded to the call. To these duty was
higher than suffering. They turned
in their tracks, came bravely back
pleading in their eyes and anguish in
their sunken tanks, and stood before
the prophet. Love for their master
and sense of obedience had conquered
their distress, but their bloodshot eyes
told of fearful torment-the more pa
thetic for their dumbness The danger
was over; the faithful mares were at
once released; but Mohammed selected
these five for his own use; and they
were the dams Of one of the great races
- .ba Iasa-t From, than hava sprrprr
the best of Arabian steeds II can,
however, scarcely be claimed that the
average horse of the Orient comes up
to this ideal. He must have been bred
from the nineteen thousand nine hum
bred and ninety fve.-Col. t. A. Dodge,
U.SA., in Harper's Magazine.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1893-12-14
HOW SHE TELLS A STORY.
A womars Wonderful Ability In Spinning
Long Yarn About Nothing.

Long Yarn About Nothing.
1t is marvellous how a woman will
spin out the story of some occurrence
that man would dismiss in half
dozen words She will fondle il as If il
were precious baby; she will crowd
il with incident, and enter into particu-
lars with minuteness that is simply
appalling. And she will tell the same
story, with all its particularly, dozen
times a day If she be given the oppor-
tunity, and to the same persons, indeed.
IL they will allow ii. The fact is,
woman Is talking animal, and she
talks ungrudginglv. Man is either too
mean or too lazy to speak fiuently. He
lacks imagination, also-the imagina-
ton that thinks many words are equiva-
lent to much matter. With woman, on
the other hand, to talk is to live. Her
vocal organs need no spur, no lubri-
can't; they work-no, not work, but
play-automatically and without fric-
ton. For example, a woms a has seen
a horse run away and deposit its driver
by the side of the road. Rear her:
"Oh, such terrible thing / saw to-
day! 1t makes me shudder every time
think of it! / really don't believe /
shall ever get over it. 1t was perfect
u awful. What was it2 I'm almost
afraid TO tell you; it will shock you. /
am sure. Well. had been thinking
that l would go In town shopping the
first pleasant day-you know what
weather,we've been having; it has been
rain, rain, rain, right along. and there
hasn't been a decent wash-day for /
don't know how long. Just as we
turned into Washington street I saw
the people rushing frantically to the
corner. / wondered what 1t was all
about, and l told Mrs Smiddle, who
was with me. l guessed it must be fire,
but she thought it was procession.
What funny idea, wasn't it? l
t. ought SO at the time, but, of course.
She didn't let on; you know what
touchy thing Mrs. Smiddle is. began
to look around for the fire engines.
thought it was funny | didn't hear the
gongs. You know how they keep
their bells changing. All of a
sudden a horse and wagon
came tearing down the street.
My heart was in my mouth in a,
minute FOR the LORD sake, said Il
to Mrs. Smiddle, what are we going to
doP Wen all be killed She had
turned as white as sheet, and l didn't
know but what she'd faint right there.
Just as the team got opposite to us the
horse ran up against a post or some
thing and fell fat on his stomach. The
wagon was smashed all to pieces and
the man was thrown out and killed,
they said, but don't know for certain.
AS l told Mrs. Smiddle at the time,
was so frightened didn't know where
was or what was doing. | asked a
policeman if the man was killed. He
looked at me a moment and then said:
What did you say, madam So l
asked him again, and then he told me
yes, the man was killed. 1t was an
awful thing, and l was so excited and
so nervous that / thought / should
drop. l told Mrs. Smiddle that was
just as frightened as / could be, and
she said she was never so frightened in
all her life. boston Transcript.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1893-12-14
HE TOUCHED A CHORD.
The Old Man Was an Artist I'm More Than
One Way.


One Way.
He was whitewashing a board fence
on Beaubien street when a woman
stopped and asked him how much he
would charge to whitewash a kitchen
ceiling. He replied that his figures
were seventy-fve cents, when she in
dignantly exclaimed:
''Why, I have had three different
men offer to do it for fifty cents. and
one said he'd make a good job of it for
forty!"
"Doan' doubt it, mum-doan' doubt
it tall, he calmly observed, but who
war dem pussons? Was dey scrubs or
artists? Was dey gwine to mop dat
ceilin' or put on de whitewash wild de
ham OBJ bon decorator"
''They guaranteed to do the work
first-class -
"'Zactly, mum, but how yo' gwine to
tell bout it? When dey goes away de
ceilin' am all wet. Nobody kin dun tell
under fo' hours wheder it was de work
ob an artist or scrub"
'Seventy-five is too much"
at am too much fur de whitewash.
mum, but dar's odder considerashuns
Tze a purfectly 'sponsible pusson. /
knows my bizness. / doan' call yo' in
from de parlor whar' yo' am playin' on
six-hundred-dollar pianer to ak
queshuns. doan' spill no whitewash
on yo'r valuable ile-paintings and stat
uary. / doan' damage yo'r noquette
carpets or break yo'r three-hundred-
dollar mirrors"
Cant you say fifty?" she asked.
AN 'spos'n an agent Gums along
when I'm at work dar?" he went on
without needing her. HE wants to see
de lady OBJ de house to sell her rug on
de insta 'lment plan. Does he see yo'?
Not muchl / inform dat pusson dat
when we wants rugs we buys de best
an pays cash down, aud he goes away
wId flea in his ear"
MAKE it sixty, then"
IF I'm dar in de house yo' doan' hev
to go round an pick up yo'r diamonds
an hide yo'r bank books an yo'r purse.
If lady calls fur yo' wild kerridge to
go calm you leave me in de house wild
feeling oh security. If yo' wants to go
down to the dressmaker's TO see bout
dat seventy-dollar dress, why
well, I'll give you seventy-fve.
When will You Gomez"
"Fust thing in de mawnin', mum
thanks. Jest go right along now an
doan' bodder yo'r purity head no mo-.
Yo' has secured an artist an 'sponsi-
BILE pusson combined. an when ! gets
frew wild dat ceilin' de naybers will be
so jealous oh yo' dat yoll hev to shet
up de house an go off to Sarytoga two
weeks ahead of timer'-Detroit Free
Press.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1893-12-14
1e worlds Fair Photos for One Dime.

The Chicago, Milwaukee g. St Paul
Railway has made an arrangement with a
first-class publishing house to furnish a
series of beautiful World Fair pictures, of
large size, at the nominal cost to the pur-
chaser of only ten cents for portfolio of
sixteen illustrations. Nothing so handsome
in reference 10 the Worlds Fair has before
been published. The series would be worth
at least twelve dollars if the pictures We're
not published in such large quantities, and
we are therefore able 70 furnish these works
Of art for only ten cents.
Remit your money TO GEORGE II. HEAF-
FORD, General Passenger Agent, Chicago,
Milwaukee & St Paul Railway, at Chica-
go, Ill, and the pictures VIII be sent prompt
" TO any specified address. They viii make
q handsome holiday gift.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1893-12-14

Teacher-What is the object of polar
expeditions?
Pupil-To find a northwest passage
for ships.
Teacher-what can you tell me about
the latest attempts?
Pupil-They are now hunting for the
northwest passage with dogs and sleds,
cause there isn't any northwest pass
age that ship can get through.
Zeaeher-Go up head Good News.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1893-12-14


tan e from the city of san Antonio
d. fSsxar, at that day the most i'm
portans commercial point in all west
Texas Ny operations for a time were
confined along a small river called the
CoIette, as a civil engineer in the in
forest OF Capt John Field. veteran OF
the Mexican war, who had settled on
that stream some years previous, who
hal become dissatisfied with the unre-
liability ~ the only means Of grinding
the Iudiaa corn. the oid-t.me windmill
then in vogue, and had determined TO
build a frst-class water mill on the
Colette
At that day game Of the edible kind,
such as deer, turkey, squirrels, prairie
chickens, etc, was very plentiful, at
distance of twelve or fifteen miles from
the settlement There was also gem
erous sprinkling Of panthers. wild cats
and other night providers, and now and
then lost Comanche Indian spy would
appear on the scene
Il was quite a relief % the whole
working force in that enervating c4-
mate when the captain would call
halt in all departments of business aud
announce a big hunt up the river for
few DAYS to recruit our lost energies
aud wonted strength, depleted by in
cessant and PrOfuse perspiration-
There were generally 1--WE or six in
the party. and we went usually on horse
back with our aIlowauce.Of bread, coffee
and quart lineup securely tied TO the
saddlestraps behind and carrying 4
good deer gun, a Cots navy six and a
huge cutlass, or belt knife. The plan
was TO stay long enough for each one
of the party - secure saddle OF ven
ison 1.-THE two hind quarters OF DEER
with the skin still On, the fore quar-
tiers having been skinned and thrown
away.
Along about the first days OF Novem-
her. when the DAYS had slightly cooled
off and the nights We're most delight
fully cool AMI crisp under clear blue
italian slSy-such weather as makes a
vigorous man feel glad that he is living
the captain announced TO his forces
his int .,'on of laying OFF, the whole
force for two weeks
We were soon in splendid trim for
the big hunt. and took the road 10 the
field Of sport with high spirit OF ella
ton and anticipation. As our field Of Op-
Grafton had been selected in a new and
untried section, where the panther and
jaguar. or spotted tiger. did most
abound
We arrived at our destination IN good
condition, after moderate ride of some
thirty miles, pitching our tent near the
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1893-12-14
Rising to the Occasion.

Mr.. PshuclSs, the eminent tragedian,
paused moment, folded his arms, and
contemplated with set lips the bowling
mob in the gallery.
Then he spoke.
NO" he shouted in a voice that
smothered the din like the crashing OF
a thunderbolt into pack of exploding
firecrackers. II am not TO be put down
by noise This is a case where 'similia
similibus curantur' won't work.
And he went on as before, an uncured
ranter. Tribune.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1893-12-14

I'm the Sandwich islands the apple
has become wild and forests of trees OF
many acres are found in various parts
of the country. They extend from the
level of the sea far up into the noun.
tain sides. II is said that miles of these
apple forests can occasionally be seen.
One traveller gives the extent of one of
them as between FIVE and ten miles in
width and about twenty miles long.