davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1893-01-11
CHINESE RIVER TRAVEL.
How the Ce1estials Navigate One of Their
Big Streams.

o. L. Kilborn, one of seven Cana
dian missionaries who have gone to
settle in Chen-tu, the capital of Sze-
Chuan, has sent home an account of
Chinese river tral, says the Montreal
Witness. At Ichang Mr.. Kilborn and
his companions embarked, with their
belongings, on two house boats and
began Journey of 1000 miles up the
Yang-tse river.
The Chinese house boat is a fiat
bottomed punt, of which the stern half
is covered in. Rather more than the
anterior third consists of open deck,
where the fourteen rowers stand when
they WELD their oars, and where the
whole crew spread their mats and sleep
at night. Turning on a pivot at the
bow is long, heavy oar, which, when
steering than the rudder. The boat is
furnished with tall and strong mast,
and, with the least fair wind, up goes
the Chinese sail, ribbed with the light
bamboo. When the wind drops eight
cen men jump ashore; fifteen of them
tow the house boat along with from
200 to 1000 feet of bamboo rope, chant
ing as they pull, while two men keep
the rope clear of projecting rocks
along the river bank and the remain
ing one runs beside the rest, spurring
them to their work by shouting, wav-
ing his arms, and clapping his hands.
Often the banks become too pre-
cipitous for this tracking" and the
fourteen rowers take to their oars.
The mode of progression is changed
ten or fifteen times day. Often the
boat crosses the river to gain quieter
water or smoother bank, and is car
ried down quarter of mile in the
course of this maneuver, though all
hands stamp the deck tiercely, row
with desperation, and fill the air with
yells.
On reaching the rapids of Tatung
two bamboo ropes were put ashore and
seventy-tive men and boys hauled on
them, to the accompaniment of a
small barrel drum furiously beaten by
a man on deck. The Chinese author
tiles have established life-saving asso-
Citations, which keep several we'll
manned boats constantly plying at all
the dangerous rapids. Such a thing
as an anchor was never seen. Some
times pole was driven down through
hole in the bow; but usually rope
was tied round bowlder or stake on
| the shore-or,in in default of these, round
heap of small stones gathered for the
| purpose.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1893-01-11
John Chinaman and His Children.

AS father, John idolizes his boys,
but feels keenly the disgrace brought
on by the advent of daughter. He
does not consider her worthy of a
name, but calls her Number 1, 2, or 8,
as the case may be. He ignores her
entirely in telling the number of his
children, counting only the boys. He
considers her as without mind or soul
and denies her the advantages of edu-
cation which her brother receives. AS
she grows up she is slave in her own
and her husbands house; and not till
she is old does she receive love and
reverence.
If child is taken sick, both John
and his wife think the soul has wan
dered away, and steps are taken to re-
call it. The mother calls at the open
door, "Soul, come home!" The father
goes out to seek it, usually searching
about the nearest bridge. At this cry
of Coming, sacoming!" the mother
looks carefully about her floor and Sc
cures the first thing of life she sees.
This may be flea, or beetle, or other
insect, but is supposed to have within
it the missing spirit. 1t is wrapped up
and joyfully placed under the pillow of
the sick one, who is now expected to
recover forthwith. If death comes in
stead, the child is buried summarily
and with scant ceremony. John con-
siders his own coffin one of the most
valued and most necessary pieces of
furniture for his best room, and his
highest ambition is to have an elabo-
rate funeral. He and the older mem
bers of his household have this ambi-
ton gratifed in proportion to their
wealth and the number of their de-
scendants.-St Nicholas.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1893-01-11
Change of Diet.

Doctor-"Well, 'Rastus, how are you
feeling to-day?" 'Rastus- d reckons,
doctah, I done feel no bettah, sah!o
Doctor-"Indeed! What did you have
for dinner todayp" 'RastusEaChick-
ems, sah!" Doctor-"Why, man alive,
that was what you had yesterday, and
I distinctly told you then you needed
change of diet" 'Rastus-"I war
mighty 'ticklar bout dat, doctah; dis
wuz altogedder anodder chicken dat l
done eat terday. Boston Courier.
Chrysanthemums served as salad
are favorite article of diet among the
Japanese.
In Danish cities it is against the law
to ride a bicycle faster than the speed
of a cab.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1893-01-11
The Winter Girl.

II think it is all nonsense continual
ly singing the praises of the summer
GIRL" said pretty creature who. il
she only had known it, was herself a
typical member of the class she did
not wish to hear complimeuted, "be-
cause the girl of the winter is so much
sweeter and lovelier in every par
ticular. ~
The man of the party, who was
especially partial to warm weather
maidens, made faint protest, but was
overruled by the little lady, who went
on to state the particular attractions of
the girl she was defending, says the N.
Y. World.
II know you men are all daft on sun
burn and simple gowns. but tell me
candidly if a rosy-cheeked, bright
eyed, fair-skinned creature, with her
hair in curl, her gown taut and trim
as tailor can make it, and we'll
groomed air about her that is wonder
fully fetching, is not far more lovely
than the wind-tossed, frowsy young
miss whose gowns are in a bed of
wrinkles and whose bang will not stay
bung?"
The picture appeared very attractive
to the man, it must be admitted, yet
he was not willing to give in, and
suggested that beach tete-a-tetes,
canoeing. rocking, and sundry other
little amusements would lack zest if
entered into with the precise maiden
just described.
"That is so like a man." laughed the
girl. "Of course, one couldn't do any
of these things in Chestnut street togs,
but has it ever occurred to you how
sweet and womanly certain some-
body looks in her pretty housegown,
with lace ruff1es at throat and wrists,
presiding at her little tea-table, when
winds howl without and snow lies deep
on the ground. Don't it make you on
such occasions actually chilly to think
of that great sweep of sandy beach
where you used to sit and look unut-
terable things into the eyes of some
girl in filmy gown. Summer girls
are all right, but they should not be
allowed to. monopolize all the nice
things said of our sex, for the winter
sister is equally as attractive and far
prettier to my way of thinking"
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1893-01-11
He ought to Have Known Better.

The man had been out of town for
month with his family and their house
had been closed. When he came back
the first thing that met him was gas
bill. He fumed over it until next day
and then went to the Office.
aHere," he said, shaking the offend-
ing document at the naughty clerk,
"you fellows have got me charged with
as much gas in October as in Septem-
ber."
.@You are in the same house, aren't
youP" inquired the clerk with dignihed
formality.
"Of course am"
SWELL, then, it ought to be more;
there are thirty-one days in October"
@Come off. The house was closed
during the entire month and l was out
of town with my family"
"Are you sure of that" and the clerk
eyed him suspiciously and studied the
bill awhile.
"Do you want me to swear to it?"
No, not exactly; but why didn't
you let US know about it at the Office
before we made out the bill? You
must have very exalted opinion of
yourself if you expect us to know if you
go out of town for month, and to
render our bills accordingly.
Then was the poor man abashed
greatly. and he went forth in deep
umility.-Detroit Free Press.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1893-01-11
DISCOURAGED THE TRAMP.
New York Barkeeper with 3 Preparation
That Was Warranted to Drive Tramp
Trade Away.

In appearance he was unkept, dirty
and ragged. He had evidently seen
hard summer, and had but recently re-
turned to the city to be laid up for
winter repairs"
As he slouched up to the bar of
Fifth avenue saloon he tossed 90
cent piece on the counter, with the re-
mark:
"Say, boss, gimme the best yer got
-seeP And gimme it quick. / amt
had nothin' but Jersey pizen fer five
months"
The barkeeper handed out bottle.
The tramp filed the glass in front of
him to the brim and swallowed the
draught at single gulp.
"Gee" he remarked with inward
satisfaction, @but that was smooth
lunch counter, where he ate about all
seated himself at table in the corner
of the saloon and stretched himself out
preparatory to a doze.
my, but this here's soft layout,
he yawned, and was soon fast asleep.
@this will be that fellows last appear
Il
this!" he added, turning to customer
and exhibiting a small bottle contain
ing reddish-looking liquid. well.
this is my tramp mixture. 1t is main
ly composed of Tobasco sauce and
ginger. 1t is harmless, but when
tramp gets one dose of the stuff he
never comes back to have it repeated
By this time the tramp, with his
al hna aly 1,9c Ia
open, looked picture of repose if not
of comfort.
@Now," said the barkeeper. "I'll show
you circus He then poured guam
tity of his mixture into small glass.
Walking up to the tramp he deliber-
ately poured the dose into the open
mouth.
The sleeping tramp gave q gulp or
two he involuntarily swallowed most
of the stuff. Then he awoke. At first
his face wore bewildered expression.
Then he gave a sudden start and
jumped to his feet.
@Sufferin' wildcats, what's this!" he
yelled. as he pranced about the floor.
aOh, murderin' blazes," he howled,
@I'm dyin'. Gimme some water, quick!
Wow! but must hev the cholery or
6OAA OAAA WOLcOs 4xAO A4OOU4 SOo II y
Goals in it, an I'm on fire. Gee, but it
bites! Mebbe it wuz the likker."
Then his eye caught that of the bar
keeper.
sinister" he remarked, ahev you
"Yes, that's just what I have" inter
rupted the dispenser of drinks. Didn't
tell you last spring not to come here
againp I've just given you little OF
my tramp mixture, that's all. Have
some morep"
"Sufferin' snakes!n howled the tramp,
making for the door. sI'll get even on
you fer this. If I don't, blow me. : I'll
have you arrested fer tryin' to pizen
me. That's wot will"
"No fear of my being hauled up for
the likes of him." the barkeeper OBJ
served, as the tramp disappeared
through the door. sIf he runs across
copper now he'll be run in as drunk
in no time. It's the only way, though,
he added, refectively. II don't want
such customers around here, so keep
my mixture ready for 'em. And they
don't come back for second dose, you
can just lay your bottom dollar or
that."-M y Herald.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1893-01-11
Drugstore Names.
Oil of vitriol is not an oil.
Copperas is an iron salt and contain

Oll OF V1trlOl IS not an Oil.
Copperas is an iron salt and contains
no copper.
Salts of lemon has nothing to do
with lemon, but is salt of the ex-
tremely poisonous oxalic acid.
Soda water contains no soda.
Sulphuric ether contains no sulphur.
Sugar of lead has nothing to do with
lead, nor has cream of tartar anything
to do with cream.
Oxygen means "the acid generator, /"
but hydrogen is really the essential
element and many acids contain oxy-
gen.
German silver contains no silver
and black lead contains no lead.
Berberine is usually made from hod-
rastis canadensis.
Wormseed is unexpanded flower
buds.
Milk of lime has no milk.
Quicksilver is purely mercury.
Oil of origanum is made from thyme
and not from origanum.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1893-01-11
A Horses Consideration for Baby

A lady correspondent vouches for
the following: A Be lware county
mother missing her baby boy the
other day found him in the stable in
close proximity TO and clapping the
hind legs of family horse with loud
and delighted cries. Although a
spirited animal, the horse stood per-
fectly still under the shower of blows,
seemingly afraid to stir for fear of
hurting the infantiIe tormentor. refus-
ing even to eat. AS soon as the child
was removed the horse changed to a
more comfortable position and resumed
its meal. philadelphia .55cord
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1893-01-11
Where the Money Went.

A manufacturer in the country near
Lyons, France, wished some time ago
to know how many of his hands car
ried their money to saloons. He
marked 700 silver dollars, paid them
to his workmen and asked the saloon
they received. Payday was on Satur-
day. On Monday the saloons sent up
ward of so marked dollars to the fac
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1893-01-11
women's smoking-Rooms.

A writer says that in many of the
English country houses there are
ladies' smoking-rooms. These. were
the outcome of feeling on the part
of the women that they were admitted
only upon sufferance to the smoking
rooms of the men. A new trouble
has now arisen. 1t is found almost
impossible to keep the cigar-smokers
out of the realms of the cigarette.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1893-01-11
Already There.

"Are you the engineer of this trainP"
asked the Salvation Army man.
"Yes."
"Don't you want to go to heavenP"
"My friend" answered the engineer,
"what can heaven offer to man when
he has his hand on the throttle, the
road clear, and fifty miles of straight
track ahead of him?"
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1893-01-11
Wire CIothesIine.

Actual experience has shown that
the best material for clothesline is or
dinary telegraph wire which is now
being sold very extensively for that
purpose. Its great advantages are that
it never wears out, does not when prop
erly put up sag as the ordinary clothes
line, never breaks, and does not look
unsightly. 1t can be wiped off when
ever the clothes are hung out, and
therefore will not soil them as an or
dinary hempen line SO often does. 1t
is not expensive, and taken all in all is
far superior in every respect to the
old-fashioned article. -HouSe- Furnish
iad ReUleM
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1893-01-11
A workingman on Boycott..

We may measure boycott in the
same bushel. 1t is mighty means of
bringing some bad men down to their
marrow-bones, and of choking some
such burglars of human rights as need
it; but how often it is but simply the
policy of wrecking train to run over
a stray COW, or, as we think, to punish
man sitting in an easy-chair thou
sand miles away. We may shut the
factory of a single sinner, and shrink
his bank-account, and reduce his rail-
way stock; but what of the five hun
dred hands that made their bread and
butter in his employP Where are
they, now that the gates are locked,
and what are they eating, when the
grocer and the butcher refuse them
credit? Is it right to starve baker
because we have case against mill
er; or to break up butchers trade
because he buys his beeves of a cattle
king? These men have their rights
as we have ours, to buy or sell as they
choose, and the same right to live and
get along as we have. More than
| that, it is well to remember that the
boycott knife is very apt to cut tho
| fingers that open it, and thus to cut
the wrong way. As before said, there
is the virtue of power in boycott, as
there is in double-headed switch-en-
CINE, and it is practically almighty in
the right direction; but it can run
both ways, and generally leaves some
innocent and broken bones under its
wheels.
Such disasters are reactionary, and
when the outside public have once
burned their fingers in the matter, it
is dead-sure thing that they will
turn the waterworks on the fire till it
is but an ash-heap and cold cinder.
| OF one thing we may be certain: that
two wrongs can never make right,
and now that we have the means of a
peaceful settlement of disputes in ar
bitration, it is folly and crime to
resort to any reprisal till all fair and
judicial methods have been exhausted.
Taking down one tyranny to put up
another is bad policy. The iron rod
is not an inch shorter nor penny
weight less on the scale for passing
from one class to another; and it will
be just as easy to make five out of
twice two, as to make the industrial
world better and happier by any such
process of doing wrong that right may
come. Compelling unwilling men,
under threat of non-employment, to
join unions, and insisting on employ
es discharging such as refuse,-with
the threat of strike or boycott,-is
not whit less sin against social
freedom than is the blacklist of rail-
way, or the lockout of mandatory.
We have our rights-let us press
| them; we have our follies-let us
throw them away with our old shoes
and broken plates.-Fred Woodrow, IN
| the Ce7ztztT7y
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1893-01-11

A floating newspaper paragraph
says that Halifax lady aged 80 has
just begun taking piano lessons. Even
the old and feeble can get square with
.heir neighbors when they go about it
right--Ieras SJtings.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1893-01-11
"Look at the Map"
Pennsylvania
Lines.

Do they reach the Lake resorts of Mich
igan? Do they reach the Mountain re-
sorts fthe East? Do they extend to the
lannon's Ocean resorts of the New Jersey
Coast? Do they make connection through
New York for all points in New EnglandY
"Look at the Map
St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1893-07-15
He KNEW BEST.
The Man Who Had No Curiosity to Know
YYIara LIE yNas Il +

The Man Who Had No Curiosity to Know
Where He Was At.
The cabin stood at least mile back from
the Mississippi river at Plaquen1ines, be
low Baton Rogue, and we all went to bed
early. It didn't seem more than an hour to
me when the eowner of the place put his head
into the room and called out:
Stranger, do 30 want to know whar yo'
are ut about now?'
No, I'm not particular | replied, only
half awake and wondering what sort of d
joke he was trying to spring on me.
1t might have been midnight when he
called again:
Stranger, kin tell yo' whar yo' are at if
you hev any curiosity about it,
| had none and told him So II should
have asked for an explanation, but was too
sleepy to rouse up. Somewhere between 2
and 8 o'clock, while was dreaming of be-
ing at sea, he popped his head in for the
third time and called cut:
I've got my bearins ag'in, stranger, and
kin tell 20 whar 20 are at if yo' want to
know.
II didn't wake up enough to talk back,
and he didn't disturb me again until after
daylight. This time he shook me by the
shoulder and shouted:
Stranger. do yo' want to know whar yo'
are at?n
Pm at Plaquemines, OF coursel'' re-
piled as | reused up. This is the fourth
time you've woke me up and offered to tell
me where was at.
St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1893-07-15

/ laid as America s memento in the Churcl
| Of the Holy Sepulcher at the tomb of tn
Saviour, where it is now held among tn
most cherished treasures.
| These pilgrims took part in the mag
| nifcent ceremonies of the last week il
/ Lent in Jerusalem, and 13 of them wer,
selected for the annual ceremony of fee
washing by the Latin patriarch at Jerl
salem. On Good Friday they traverset
the usual route of Calvary and held {
prominent place in the ceremonies oi
Easter. They visited all the holy places
made the tour of the Holy Land and still
reached home early in the season. Il
really dazzles the imagination to contrast
their experience with that Of the pill
grims of only a thousand years ago, and
still more of those warriors who tried in
their blind, brave way to improve the
situation.
In all history there is no episode more
wonderful and thrilling than that series
Of movements c ,4lectively known as the
crusades. "All Europe rose as by one
impulse and precipitated itself upon
Asia, . is the lively expression of one his.
torian. "Robber kings and bandit bar
ons, says another, crowded to do bat
tie for the tomb of the Prince of Peace,
and defenseless captives We're massacred
by tens of thousands in honor of him
who forbade his followers to shed human
blood"
1t is scarcely an exaggeration At in.
tervals for 175 years successive stream,
of knights and yeomen, kings, nobleme1
and peasants, even of women and chil-
dren and singing priests, poured into
Asia Minor, and of all these millions not
in 90 ever saw home again. OF thu
first throng some 100000 perished ii
Hungary, Bulgaria and the Greek prov.
inces by famine and the hostility Of the
natives. OF the first 300, ,OG0 who crossed
into Asia, aided by the Greeks, who were
anxious to be rid of them, not one lived
to tell the tale. The Turks made pyra,
mid of their bones
Yet the undaunted Christians pressed
on, with regularly organized armies, aft.
er their first losses, and in the last year
of the nth century captured Jerusalem,
which they held 81 years. Then ca1ne
such ..gentle pilgrims as King Philip Of
France, King Richard / of England,
Leopold of Austria and their kind, for it
is to be remembered that all the cru.
saders were ranked as pilgrims and en-.
titled to honors and indulgences as such.
King Richard joined in prayer with his
allies at the holy places, but he cursed
Philip for refusing to work on the siege
St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1893-07-15
skEERY JIM OF TENNESSEE.
He Tried to Bolt But rhey We're All Aftet

ne Tried to Bolt But They Were All After
Him.
| One midforenoon | arrived at the cabir
| of a squatter in cove of the Iron Stone
/ mountains of Tennessee and was courteous
| ly saluted by three or four men and women
| who sat on the doorsteps. When asked
II there was funeral, one of the women
rose up, made a nkerchyn and replied;
| Reckon not, sab. Reckon it's gwine I'd
be marriage. Won't yo' un stop fur it?,:
Who's the bridesn asked as got down.
Reckon it's me, sab. Hell hei her, tit.
tered the woman.
And the groom" 2"
Jim? Oh, he un's in the bresh sum.
5 Whar. He un's powerful skeery bout Cit,
tin married, but he uns got to cum IMP
He un's dun bin co'tin she un fur nigh
two Vars" !" explained one OF the men. who
afterWard turned out to be preacher, and
now hirn's tryin to funk. Jest made q
break fur the bresh, but thar,s FIVE men
after him, and he un's bound TO cum ii. y
never cid see one so skeery,n observed
the bride, stbut likely he'll git over it. Sa
rah, was yo'r man skeery?"
'Shool He f1lnked on me three times y
replied the woman addressed.
'Doan' reckon was skeery." said one Of
the men as he lighted his pipe.
Not very skeery, but some skeery,n add.
ed his wife. Father wouldn't hev abided
you I'm bein too skeeryn
It's jest this way, said the preacher as
ne looked down the road and absently
scratched his leg. 1--WE seen some men
who was skeery and some men who wasn't
Stands to reason that all hain't one way
L a woman is rich and purity and widder,
then man is skeery. was skeery of my
last wife, powerful skeery. can't blame
Jim fur bein skeery, but he un has pledged
his word, you see. Orter hev bin yere an
hour ago, but bim's hidin in the bresh.
Boys will bring he un in. though
just then we heard yells and the reports
of rifles down the road, and presently six
men came into view. One was evidently q
prisoner TO the others.
Got be TN, fur suah, and he can't funk
no mo-, said the bride as she stood up to
smooth out the wrinkles in her clothes.
. You all cum in, " cautioned the preacher,
and we were hardly inside the cabin when
the procession arrived
Had to run he un over two miles, but wa
got himi' explained the leader Now,
Jim, stand up and be married.
m skeeryt Whlned Jim as ne hung
back
g LAP gasped the women in chorus.
We low you un is skeery," said the
preacher, tbut skeeriness mustn't go too
fur. Take hold of her hand. Sum OF you uns
git behind to ketch him if he bolts. That's
right. Now, then, skeery or no skeery, do
you TN take she un fur yo'r true and lawful
wife?''
Skeery Jim hung off for awhile and tried
to break away, but finally got his nerve up,
and the ceremony took place. While we
were eating the marriage supper he bolted
for the woods and disappeared. but tbs
preacher philosoph explained:
Yo' ailneedn't tWorry about it. I've seen
over TO 'ty cases of sich skeeriness, and every
one turned out all right. Soon's we uns il |
gone the bride kin hoot, and him will call
up like lost meuli'' NJ. QUAD.