davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1893-04-05
Society at The Capital.

The society of the capital that is
Immediately before our eye, is a NOV
ing aud breathing picture of tho life
f tic country. |, is essentially re-
publican. The men and women who
compose il come from all ends Of the
land. Its chief inlerest lies in the
fact that il Is not like the society thu
is 10 be found at courts or in the
charmed circes Of those who hedge
in kings. Here We have The people
doing us best they may what is done
by the select of Europe. They may
do it crudeIy, inciegantiy, even bos.
tcrous,y, but will any one who has
partiC patcd in heir pleasures say that
they do not ito it generously and with
a certain nobility of kindIimess, that,
unfortunately for them, is a stranger
10 many who look at them through
cynical Iorgnctles:
From the Presidents dwelling down,
the hou.cs of the official people who
care To perform the social function are
omen to the public. 1t is absurd, of
cuursc, 10 speak Of the social inter-
course carried on on such basis H.
invo wing in any but lhc slightest d.
gree The elements If select ion or Of
cXcusivencs.. There WAS Il time not
many wears ago when II few persons
were invited 10 the official receptions
at the White House, and placed behind
barrier of receiving women ard
s,ias. 1t was pleasant for those who
were thus chosen, and they were pee
pie who helped TO make Washington
unique aud peculiar; but the great
Washington world, the really interest,"
ing and characteristic specimens of
ilu'''''h,D wv itlINsNnlh'l''N VI 'IC
progressive citizenship of the country,
,ramped on before that President as
their like had tramped OH before
her Presidents, and as they would
continue TO tramp on before Pres-
dents yet to come, into the great East
Room, out into the halls, limidv
through the Conscrvatory-for sim
pie minded men and women who do
not understand all tho complications
of social relations have ptyct learned
the delight Of remote c,rncrs, and
are stongly incIiued to doubt the pro.
pricIy of = ting beyond the call of
the host or hostess, no matter how
large the party may be. - Henry
Loomis Nelson, in lIarper's Magazine.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1893-04-05
.SiOrU of an Altered Drdn.

Within a few weeks the power of
chcmcstry TO aid criminals has been
made manifest in the case of a Buffalo
(N. W bank. This bank believed
shat it was amply protected against
fraud by what is called the advic,
system. Its habit hss been at the
c.osc Of each days buslncs, TO notify
its New York bank correspondent to
all the drafts it has issued that day,
and The numbers and amounts Uf each
of them. This it was supposed would
prevent The payment of any altered
draft when il reached the New York
bank. But this advice system cost
the bank 2l2 900. a well dressed
man, well introduced apparently, with
the manner of an active business man,
bough, two drafts of This bank, Que
for $4,000 and one for Sl2O. This
transaction was reported Immediately
to the New York correspondent.
A day or two later draft for
Sl2, was received by the New
York correspondent. Its number cor
responded with that indicated in tho
letter of information sent from the
Buffalo bank, and it was, therefore,
paid. But when a few days after
that another draft for $4,000 of tho
same number was received, it was
evident that fraud had been prac,iccd.
The last draft was genuine. 1t had
been me- solia'ed in distan, city. The
first draft had been altered so that its
number correspondent with that OF the
genuine draft for $4,000, and it had
been raised to $4,000. Yc, the alter
aiOns were so perfec. llHt it was al.
most impossible for Mr., Siec 10 detect
them. AS the New York correspon-
dent had paid the forged draft, it was,
of course, conf ellcd to pay the genn-
inc one, and The Buffalo bank lost its
money Atlanta Constitution.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1893-04-05

Ing by stage, having as fclIow-passeh-
gers four heavily armed men, VINO
wclc cscorting 100000 worth Oh
bullion to tho railway. Wo had pro-
cccdrd about ten miles when Ortiz ana
his gang swooped down upon us. IL
was seldom indeed that they let so rlch
IL prize slip through the mountains
without making a try for it. Inc
driver was expecting trouble and dlu
not wait for second command, but
rcined up at once, and sat on his Do6
rs umconcerncd as though waiting lot
II passenger.
"Thc captain of the guard turned
to me and said: We're going to
make fight for it, The odds are
against us. If YOU want TO surrender
be quick about it, Before | could
reply volIey came crashing through
the coach, slightly wounding two
men. We returned the fire and
dropped three of the robbers. They
drew back little, but kept on shoot
ing, and we continued to make reply.
In ten minutes one of the guards was
dead, another disabled, and every one
Of us had been touched. We had five
dead robbers 10 our credit aud felt en-
couragcd TO keep up the fight. Five
minutes later the captain of the guard
was xii cd and Ortiz got slug Of
metal IN his shoulder that disabled
him. His gang then drew off. The
driver had sat unConcerncd through it
all. lie now called 10 know if he
should proceed. wait minute, re.
pied one Of the guard. He slipped a
cartridge into his smoking revolver,
stepped out Of the stage and dropped
the driver OH the box. 'One of the
gang, he said, laconically, as he
mounted the box. took the ribbons and
llccked the lead horse with the long
buII-hidc whip"
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1893-04-05
QUEEN NlCTORIA'S BEEF.

This is the way in which is cooked
the roast beef for which the table of
Queen Victoria is 50 justly celebrated;
Cut of most of the flap of sirIoin
OF beef and trim the joint neatly
Have Il clear, brisk fire we'll built up.
Place the Joint close to it for the first
half hour, then move ii further oil.
Basic frequently. When nearly done
sprinkle the joint well over with salt.
Put a small quantity of water in the
dripping pan, then pour off the gravy,
free it effectually from fat, and pour
ii over the joint in the dish. Time Of
roasting, about three hours for ten
10 twelve pound Sirloin. Garnish
with scraped horseradish and York.
shire pudding. Serve horscradish
sauce in tureen.
For the Yorkshire pudding, make a
thin batter with II pint Of milk and
some -four, season with salt, pepper
and Il little nutmeg grated fine. The
batter should be perfectly smooth.
Beat up the yolks Of four eggs and
the whites of TWO and strain them into
the batter. Beat il well with fork
for some minutes, then pour the mix.
ture TO the thickness of an irch into
tin, buttered freely, and put it into
the oven. When the pudding is SCI
lay it in The tin slanling in front of
the fire under the beef which is roast.
ing, and when the top is well Drowned
take the pudding out of the tin and
expose the under side of it to the fire.
When done cut it up into diamond,
shaped pieces and garnish the Joint
with lhem,-[N, Y. Tribune.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1893-04-05
Electricity Good for Cats.

If the SIN Francisco Call speaks the
truth, the introduction Of electrical
roads into New Orleans is likely TO be
followed By II plague of monster cats.
Ii says that since the trolley was estab-
li>hrd in hat city the cats have grown
so big and SO numerous as to consti-
tntc "A nuisance aud menace. II said
that daily, about the time the cars
op running for the night, cats from
everywhere begin to congregate along
the tracks for electric food, or baths,
one cannot tell which. Carefully &C.
lcctng a suitable spot on the rail, the
cat in search OF refreslment will lick
the rail and then lie down upon il for
a few minutes. Pretty soon he will
roll over and over on the rail and will
stand with all four feet upon it and
with wild eyes, arched back and dis
tended tail, will yow and dance and
amusc himself for an hour at a time.
An expert electrician, who was con-
III ted on the subject, said that he
could not imagine what effects the cats
could get out OF the rails; but what
ever it may be, the cats of the city are
said to bc attaining all enormous size.
unheard of before, and to keep them
selves in wondrous good condition.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1893-04-05

AT the age of four Claude was al.
most a perfect miniature mummy.
being a mere skeleton clothed in dry,
yclIowish brown skin. Still he con-
tinucd to grow in height, the bones
cnlarging just as though they We're the
framework intended to support their
quota of flesh. AT the age Of twenty
eight, when he was first exhibited in
London, he was man in height and
general appearances, bu, weighed
only tifty-siX pounds. He stood five
feet seven inches in height and is said
to have looked for all the world like
Il vanished skeleton, the skin, which
was tightly st etched over the bones,
especially at the joints, being parch-
mCnI-like, both to the touch and 10
the sight. When he first began
wasting away in flesh (his during
the third and fourth years Of his life)
the breast and sides retained their
rlumpness long after The legs and
ms were literally "skin and bones"
Finally, when the llesh wasted from
The breast, sides and shoulders, the
skin was 30 loose that il fell down and
dried between the ribs, making it pos
siblc for IA person with the nerve to
do 80 TO clasp the fingers around tho
lbs and touch the ends together, there
being nothing but the two thicknesses
of skin TO interfere. A writer on the
London Times says Of him: "Ho had
the appearance of bag of hoops
covered with leather and set up Oh
two rough, knotly sticks"
The great wonder of Leurafs case
appears TO lie, not in the fact of his
extreme emaciation, but in the fact
that such degree of decay should bo
compatible with human life.-TSt.
Louis ReDubIic,
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1893-04-05
RECIPES FOR PREPARING FISH.

Boiled Salt Mackcrcl- After fresh.
cning wrap in a cloth and simmer for
iifeen minutes; it will be almost done
as soon AS the water reaches the boil
ing point; remove, lay on it two hard.
boiled eggs, sliced; pour over it drawn
butter, aud trim with parsley leaves,
Boiling salt fish hardens it.
BroiIed White Fish-Clean, split
down the back, and let stand in salted
water for several hours; wipe dry,
and place on a well-greased gridiron
over hot Ccas, sprinkling with salt
and pepper. Put flesh side down at
first, and when nicely Drowned, turn
carefully OH the other. Cook for 90
or 80 minutes, or until nicely Drowned
Oh both sides.
Boiled White Fish--Dress the fish
nicely, and cover in fish kettle with
boiling water seasoned well with salt;
remove the scum as it rises, and sim.
mer, allowing from eight to ten mln-
u'es' time to every pound; when
about half done, add little vinegar Or
lemon juice, take out, drain, and dish
carefully, pouring over it drawn but
ter; or garuish with sprgs Of parsley
and serve with egg sauce.
Goldfish Bals-Soak Goldfish cut in
pieces about an hour in lukewarm
water, remove skin and bones, pick to
small pieces and return to stove in
cold water As soon as it begins to
boil, change the water and bring to
boil again. Have ready potatoes
boiled tender, well mashed and sea.
s0ned with butter. Mix thoroughly
with the potatoes half the quantity of
Goldfish while both are still hot, form
into fiat, thick cakes or round balls,
fry in hot lard or drippings, or dip in
hot fat, like doughnuts. The addition
of beaten egg before making into
balls renders them lighter. Cold po.
ta:oes may be used, by reheating,
adding little cream and butter and
mixing while hot.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1893-04-05

The most singular freak of M ure
known to surgical or medical licra-
iure was Claude Ambrose Leurat, II
Frcnchman. known all over the world
in tho early part of the present GEN.
lury as the "Living Skeleton" A..
the timc of his birth, and for quite II
period after that interesting event,
Claude was as plump and fcsIIy as
any of the little Frcuch cherubs Of
his neighborhood, Troyes, France.
One account says that he was born IN
1887, but half dozen others place ii
ten years la:er, SO that we may con-
clude that, had he lived to The present
day, be would only he three years
older than the century.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1893-04-05

the window to the ground. which was
but few feet below, and, ns wide
awake as | ever was in my life, went
straight TO the dcadhousc. Now there
were no fears, | did not think at all, |
only listened. Upon reaching the door,
| lighted one of he candles that were
lying on n shelf, but IL was of little
use, the wind made the fame flicker
and spluttcr. With this uncertain
light, | passed down the long aisle,
between the whle.sheclcd W corpses on
either eide. did not know where
viii lay, but, without hesitating, ]
walked up two.lhirds Of the way and
turned down the sheet from the fifth
last corpse Oh the right-hand side.
at was he, pale, yet looking just as
If he were asleep. stood moment
holding the flickering light above his
head, when-.ood God! | saw his
eyolids uemble. stood as if sudden
ly turned into stone, hen a slight
quIvcring breath and-the lids opened.
with II shrek, ] dropped the candle
ana ran out into the air, through the
fields to The hospital.
"Upon rcachin. there. my wits
came back. What was to do? Not
call upon The surgeon; no, he would
only laugh and tell me head was
lurncl. Then ! thought of the Stew
ard. lie had been very fond of Will.
would ak him.
"ln short Time we stood by Wills
side. l was no longer frightened.
My profession Il GOODNESS came to my
aid.
"Upon examna ion found Il
very feeble pulse. 5 imnlanl, were
given, and for two hours, sur
rounded by our ghostly specta-
tors, we labored. At length we
were rewarded by hearing HE words,
spoken in a very weak voice, Where
am l?'
"'AIl right, old boy ! answered,
as tried to keep his eyes from seeing
the objects about him. Another re-
turn OF pariia Inconsistencies enabled
rs 10 gel him out without his seeing
where he WAS, and IN the morning, he
found himself IN the hospital, very
weak, but on The road to recovery.
"ln n few months, he was anon.
Us again, as bright and as chcery IA,
but he never whisllel, Cheer up, CON-
rades, ami be gay lie appeared to
have forgotten it,"
TIE doc or fl .i,hcd--it had grown
qui dark. After moments silence.
| said, 81; is funny that father never
told me this story. Who was this
man whose life you savcd?'
Just then my father came TO the
door TO tell us hat supper was wait
ing. lie stood still as lie Heard The
question. With n peculiar took in his
eyes, tie doctor pointed to him and
saii, "Thst was the mrn."- Yankee
Blade.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1893-04-05
SCIENTIFIC SCRAPS.

An ordinary houscny has 5000 eyes (;
the dragon 2S. 900 eyes.
The FREELY or glowworm gives n
light practically without heat.
To the naked eye 5000 stars are Wis
lble; the best telescopes show $780,.
900.
Tic argand burner gives consider
ably less than one per cent Of its ell
ergy in the form of useful light rays.
Since the great earthquake of 1891
lilo and 2026 shocks have been cXpc-
r'cnccd in Nagoya and Gilurespectivc-
ly, two provinces in Japan.
Azurzawa Ryochi Nichome Sa"ju-
kanboz Kio- bashi-ku is the name of n
Japanese gentleman who has discov-
cred the secret of photographing in
natural colors.
1t is possible to produce epilepsy in
rabbi, or Guinea pig by tickling the
, car, which fact simply demonstrates
that the disease is originally of re.
tiicX character in at least one respect.
Havana, (Cuba,) physicians claim
that mosquitoes may carry the yellow
fever germ and transfer it by their
bites. But the incubation is so mild,
that the sufferer has only slight at
tack, and is safc against any second
attack.
Pneumatic tires are being used on
the wheels of an omuibus belonging
TO the Glasgow (Sco,land) Tramway
Company. The omnibus carries l2
passengers inside and fourteen out.
side, and is said to be very comfort
abe vehicle to ride in.
Scientists arc beginning to believe
that digestion in the case of carniv-
orous plants is due to the activity OF
certain heterogeneous, which are
always present in the sap of the ma
Iurc plant, and that their sccrctions
are favorable to the development Of
such minute organisms.
A man weighs lcss'whcn the baron,
cinr is high, Notwithstanding the fact
tha, the atmospheric pressure on him i,
more than when the barometer is low,
As the pressure of air on an ordinary
sized maa is about II tons, the rise of
the mercury from 20 to 3 inches adds
about one ton 10 the load ho has t.
carry.
Sir Albert Roliit, in speaking re.
Gently before the London Chamber OF
Commerce on the possibilities of long
distance telephony, expressed his be-
lief that at 10 distant date spcccl
across the Atlantic would be possible,
as well as the visual representation OF
the person with whom the telephone
speaker might be convcrsing. Tie be
icvcd this to be not II mere guess
but 4 fair in ference from what science
had already accomplished.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1893-04-05

In Florida, where the soil ia mostly
sand, the lcisurely but thrifty far
mer has his ground lightly stored in
his groves about e"cry two weeks,
with great benefit 10 The crops, even
when no CONNIE, cial fertilizer is used
II is claimed that this surface cultiva'
ton checks evaporation, keeps down
weeds and puts the soil in a condition
10 absorJ air and water readily. Thi:
accords with the wel-known saving
"Tillage is manure" Until the lis'
is increased of plants that may profit
ably be sown for shading and green
manuring the soil, can anything better
be proposed than frequent cultivation
at seasonable times2"-[New Yors
Telegram.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1893-04-05

There has been some misconccpiion
as to the working Of the so-calIcd
electrical WONDER" which is now
drawing large crowds in London. The
invention would probably be more
correctly described as Photographic
woadcr, the electrical part Of the ar.
rangrmcnt consisting simply of the
motor, which gives the rapid motion
TO the series of pictures, and an incan-
descent amp in the interior of the
machine, both of which are operated
by coin falling in the slot. Tic eff
Feet. exhibited are truly wonderful.
Figures of mon aud animals seem in
stinct with life, and their animated
gestures are absolutely true to nature.
Notably an elephant and a camel walk
aud run respectively across the field
Of vision, and not only is the charac'
tcristic gait of each made manifest,
lut the action of the various muscle.
Of the DO " and limbs is distinctly
seen. - Chicago News Record.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1893-04-05


At Parting.
n thou dost bid thy friend farewell,
But for one night though that farewell
may be,
Press thou his palm with thine, How Canst
thou tell
How far from thee
Fate or caprice may lead bis feet
Ere the tomorrow come? Men have been
known
To lightly turn the cover of the street,
And days have grown
10 months, and months to tagging years
Before they looked in loving eyes again;
Parting at best is underlaid with tears,
With tears and pain.
Therefore, lest sudden death should come
between,
Or time, or distance, clasp with pressure
true
The hand Of him that goeth forth, unseen,
Fate goeth, too.
Yea, find then always time to say
Some earnest word between the idle talk,
Lest with thee, henceforth, night and day,
Regret should walk.
--TCOventry Patmore.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1893-04-05
Millions Of NiCiIinn .SeEfs.

The faircst possession of all Italy is
sunny Sicily. Yet Sicily has no homes
for the lowly of the countrysidcs as
we know and love even the lowliest
home. Nearly all Sicilians arc serfs
Of the few. Doubles $500, 900 souls
out Of Stcily's entire population of
. 1854 900 inhabitants hold This rela.
'ion TO The nobility, governing classes
and ecclesins les.
In the entire length and breadth of
this island, from the highways not
fifty "farm-houscs' will be seep.
These are not farm-hOuses as we know
them. Each is desoaic stone struc-
ture, inh biled by the family of some
soprantendente or overseer, where
tools are stored, and in the buiscst
seasons of labor gang of wofsh.
faced men and women are fed on slopi
AMI hcrdrd at night on stone benches
for sleep. The mOnIanaro or mount
ainccr, the atore or plowmau, the
pccornjo or shepherd, the vigdaio or
vnc-tirc,ser, the vcmdrmniaIorc or
g,apc-gahcrrr, the millore or reaper,
aod every manner of human animal
lla; abors with flocks or in vineyar,I
or iiud is in fact cunadino or
villagcr, living in low and poisonous
hovcs in cities or hamlcts, from out
of which hollow-eycd crowds pour
before daylight, manching their food
as they drag themselves TO their ilocks
in the mountains or their toll in the
vineyards and iiclds.-[Chicago News
Record.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1893-04-05
The G0r1eous STAFF Omcer,

On the occasion of "A military gath.
ering in Washington, during the adj
minslralon of Mr.. Cleveland, a con-
siderable party of citizens and members
of tie militia had an arrangement TO
call on the President at 4 certain hour.
There was a goody number of ladies
and gentlemen. When the party was
announced Mr.. Cleveland got up from
his chair at his de,k and, swinging
around, sat upon its corner, with a
cigar between his fingers which he had
been smoking, and from which the
smoke still cured up, lie put out his
Land rs the first of the party reached
him, without remark, and still half
sitting upon tho corner of his desk, lie
reached out his hand and gave him n
pump-lanlIc shake. This was re-
Iehtcd rs fast as the company could
pass by-a single ur-and- down stroke,
lie said nothing until Il member of
G"vcrnor Gray's staff, who presented
himself in all that gorgeous array Of
rcgimenials which only n staff officer
" no never saw much service can put
on and which is probably the most
groesque free show the country be-
holds. appeared in front of Mr.. Cleve-
land. The President ran his eve up
and down the man, and pleased cx-
preston came into his face, which had
been blank until that moment, and lie
remarked as he took his hand: "Got
'em all on, Co,onel?"
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1893-04-05
FOR TIE HOUSEWIFE.
TO BROIL STEAK,

Stake for broiling should not be
thin, or it viii be dry and hard;
at the butchers ask them to cut your
steak three -fourths of an inch thick,
cut off the sucl, grease the broilcr and
have il hot, lay the steak Oh the brolcr
on bed of hot Goals, turn the broiler
often; whe done remove 10 hot
platter, sprinkle with salt, aud spread
butter ovor it. Serve immediately
New York Recorder.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1893-04-05

81 had IN adventure with Ram n
Ortiz, the notorious Mexican landit.
down in New Mexico in 1873" said
Dick Little to a Giobc.DD mocrat re-
porter. "Oriz and his blood-lhrstv
lieutenant, Manuel Gria'va, were the
tcrrors of Arizona ut that time, and
robbing stages and numbering passcn-
gers were their daily sport. | left
camp of the Argentine mine one morn-
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1893-04-05
He CD,iId Walk,

Mother-l wish YOU would 60 on an
errand for mo.
Small SONNY leg aches awful.
"Too bad. wanted 20 to 60 to
old Mrs. Slickney's candy store,
and"
"Oh, that ISM. far, | can walk
there easy"
every well. Go there, and right
along side of it you will sec a grocery
store. 60 in and ge! me a bar Of
soap. flood NJ 'ws.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1893-04-05

SOWFCe.
Thu Minnesota Historical Society
has lust issued volume entitled "Tho
Mis-is ip,i Il yer amt I's SJurce.' In
this volume the ultimate source of the
river is declared to be in partially
inclosed basin containing many ponds,
lying directly south Of Lase ltasca,
and distant from its head about ,aree
miles For all practical and popular
purposes, therefore, Lake ltasca may
continue to be known as the source of
The Mississippi. Tic S,atc of Minue-
'o,a has set apart the region about
Lake ltasca as a Stale park.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1893-04-05

The King of Italy buys all his car
riage horses in London, but his riding
horses are bred in Italy.