davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1893-03-15
Mummy Corn.

During the season of 1889 most re-
markable crop of corn was raised by
David Drew at Plymouth, N. II. In
1888 Mr.. Drew came into possession of
some corn grains found wrapped in
the cloth which incased an Egyptian
mummy supposed to be at teast 1900
years old. Toese grains were planted,
and, strange to say, grew. The plant
had many of the characteristics of
real corn or maize. The leaves were
alternate, it grew to be over six feet
high, the mid-ribs were nearly white,
but as to the product of the stalk there
is where the curious part of the story
lies: Instead of growing in an ear,
like modern maize, it hung in heavy
clusters at the top on spikelets. There
was no tassel and no silks, each sprig
or spikelet was thickly studded with
real corn grains, each of which were
provided with separate husk, like
wheat grains
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1893-03-15
He WAS VERY ACCOMMODATING
A Reminiscence of Travel In the South
Only Ten Years Ago.

Travelling between New York and
to what it was when l first came south
Atlanta Journal man. Today" he
continued, zone can make the trip in
something like twenty hours without
change OF cars, in elegant vestibule
trains, including dinner cars.
"Ten years ago the line most patron
lied was called the Atlantic Coast line
or something of the kind. The
system was composed of lot of short
roads operated in conjunction with
each other, and it took about three
days to make the trip. The trains
dragged along at snails pace, and but
little attention was ever paid to
schedules
Il remember" continued Mr.. Wake
field, zone day when was making my
first trip over the road, coming to At
lanta on business, we stopped for dim
ner in some little town in North
Carolina. Twenty minutes would be
allowed, the trainmen said. did not
at first feel hungry and decided that
would prefer spending the twenty
minutes stretching my legs upon the
depot platform, but after few minutes
of this learned that it would be about
eight hours before we made another
stop for refreshments and I began to
get hungry then and there. Upon in
quiry found that ten minutes of the
twenty yet remained and hastened to
the dining room.
Before ] got fairly started the other
passengers began to leave and / was
not half through when found myself
alone, but looking through the doorway
l saw the conductor standing near the
entrance to the dining room and made
up my mind to keep on eating as long
as he stood there. Iwent clear through
the dessert and the conductor still stood
in the hall. Having made a very
hearty meal, walked out to where the
conductor was standing.
""Fhrough?' inquired he.
@'Yes,' said /.
@'Well, guess we had better be go
ing, then, and the conductor waved a
signal to the engineer.
@.Look here, said /, do you mean to
tell me that you held that train for me
to eat dinnerp'
"'Oh, yes,' said he with a smile, I
thought l would give you time to fill
up
"He had kept a train of eleven
coaches waiting more than ten minutes
for me to finish my dinner. Fact"
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1893-03-15
A RUSSIAN JUDICIAL SOLOMON.
How He Got All the Meat There Wss i'm
the Legal Nut.

Oriental Justice sometimes finds
parallel in Russia, where judges and
lawyers see no difficulty in making ec-
centric decisions and taking the meat
of the nut for themselves, leaving the
shell for plaintiff and defendant.
One day at village market shoe
maker bought a calfskin for 2 1-2
rubles, and having no money with him
went home to procure it.
The farmer meanwhile sold the skin
to a second buyer for rubles. Then
the original buyer returned, and when
played was SO indignant that quar-
rel ensued, and the matter was brought
before justice.
"You bought the skin frstp" said
the latter to the shoemaker, after lis
tening to the evidence.
"Yes."
"For how muchp"
"Two and a half rubles."
"Have you the money!"
"Yes."
"Put it on the table,"
Then turning to the second buyer
the justice asked: "You bought the
skin afterward and paid for itP"
"YeS."
"How much did you payP"
"Three rubles. {"
"Have you the skin?"
ayes"
"Put it under the table,"
The man obeyed and the farmer was
next addressed.
"You agreed to sell for two and one
half rubles, and as The buyer did not
return promptly with the money you
sold to another for three rublesP"
Eyes"
"Have you the rublesP"
Eyes"
"Put them on the table,"
When this had been done the Judge
delivered his decision: "The shoe
maker is to blame for bargaining with
out money and thereby endangering
the peace of the town. The second
buyer is to blame for outbidding an
other, and the seller for dealing with
people without money. Now all three
of you go. March!"
And they went perforce, leaving
skin and money behind them.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1893-03-15
WANTED THE BRIDGE DESTROYED.
The Regiment Might Be Captured, but
the Colonel Had to BE Saved.

2 ALouisville Coxrier-Jotsrsdl reporter
once spent three days in the early
summer at the Rockbridge Alum
springs, during Col. Thomas Peyton's
administration, and those three days
win always be remembered as the
pleasantest that he ever experienced.
The colonel talked necessarily, and was
always surrounded by group of eager
listeners.
One of the colonel's stories concern
ed Col. Blank, who commanded q
dashing Virginia regiment in A. P.
Hills corps. On one occasion this
particular regiment had been detached
on special duty and was some distance
away from the main body of Lees
army and without support. One day
the command was in camp on the bank
of a small stream, a little too deep,
however, to ford. The coloners tent,
with those Of one of the companies,
was on the side of the stream away
from the enemy. who were known TO
be not far of. The other companies
were on the enemy's side of the creek,
which was spa ned by small wooden
bridge. During the day pickets
brought in news that the federals had
begun rapid advance in force and
would soon be upon them. There
was considerable CONSERVATION and
the captains of the companies on the
enemy's side of the stream were pre-
pairing to cross it to the other side,
when, to their surprise, they saw some
of their own men attack the bridge
with axes. In all haste they ordered
the work to be stopped and were talk
ing with the workmen when Col.
Blank rode up to the opposite side of
the stream in great rage.
"Cut down that bridget" he ordered
in tones of thunder.
"But colonel -" one of the subor-
dinate officers intsrposed.
"Never MUD, sir!" shouted the coli
onei, red in the face with wrath.
"Never mind. sirl / know what I am
doingl The enemy is coming, sir, and
by destroying the bridge will be able
to retire in good order.n
@But, colonel, what will become of
the regimentp" asked another captain.
"Oh, d-n the regiment" yelled
the colonel. what does it matter
about the regiment, anyway? The
colonel must be saved, sir. Cut down
that bridge"
But the other officers took the mat
ter into their own hands, and the
bridge remained intact until the last
confederate soldier had crossed, and
then it was cut down. The enemy
soon came up, but were checked long
enough at the stream to allow Col.
Blank and his regiment to regain the
main army.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1893-03-15
COULDN'T SPEAK "ENcLEEs."
How Smart Girl SqueIohed a Masher
In Central Park.


She was young. stylishly dressed
and very attractive looking. She had
gone out early in the morning to take
constitutional in Central Park, SAYS
the N. 7. Herald. She strolled along
the paths watching the teams pass by,
halted before one of the benches, and
finally sat down. She was apparently
absorbed with her own thoughts
A young man, also well dressed,
happened to stroll by about this time
and, noticing the fair creature seated
before him, deliberately seated himself
by her side. Ostensibly he was abb
sorbed in the perusal of newspaper.
Occasionally, however, he would cast
an admiring glance at his fair neigh
Dor and finally. with an expression of
childlike interest, ventured to address
her.
Beautiful day!" he remarked.
She looked up, smiled sweetly and
said nothing.
"Do you live in New York;" he
asked.
She looked at him wonderinglv and
then said slowly, 81 no speak Englees,"
in dulcet tones. Her face had by this
time assumed an expression of vacant
the young man to proceed.
"But tell me-" he said, "are YOU
German, French, Italian, SwissP"-
II no speak Englees," came the
answer again.
well, you are very pretty. Do you
understand thatP"
Still the same answer.
The young man then began to make
signs, but without eliciting any further
response. He made another attempt.
"You are married, no doubtp" he re-
marked desperately.
81 no speak Englees."
"Oh, you know what l mean. Hus-
band-man = homo homme" - and
beads of perspiration began to show
themselves on his forehead. Still that
look of innocent wonderment and the
same exasperating reply
Il no speak Englees"
Just at this point another well
dressed young man happened along.
He, too, saw the young lady, and walk
ing up to her side addressed her,
"What! is that really you, Miss N?
Why, what Oh earth are you doing out
hereP Taking an airingP"
"Oh, yes" she replied, with the
purest English accent. "I've been tax
ing a constitutional. Doctor ordered
me to, You know. And Casting a
sidelong glance at the young man who
sat in state of sudden collapse beside
herr I've had such delightful time,
too"
She then took the proffered arm of
the last conner and walked briskly
away.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1893-03-15
NATIVE AFRICAN lRoN.MAsTERs.
How the BaIubans Produce Results from
the Crude Material.

The Balubans, as the natives of tbs
Muansanyomm district of central
Africa are styled, enjoy an excellent
local reputation as iron-workers, says
an exchange. They find their crude
material in the form of bog iron ore
on the surface of the land. 1t rarely
happens that digging to an appreci-
able depth is necessary. The smelling
furnaces, which are constructed of
clay, are from six to ten feet high,
from forty to sixty inches in diameter
at the base and conieal in shape.
The ore is tipped into the furnace
from above; the charcoal, on the other
hand, is introduced into basin-like side
openings. which also receive con-
tinuous air blast, while the iron and
Stag are removed from the bottom of
the furnace about every eight or twelve
hours, according to the degree of heat
obtained.
The forge is circular building.
some sixteen feet in diameter, with
pointed roof and open side. At a dis
tance it might be taken for park
band-stand. In the center of this hut
is the fire, which is maintained in con-
slant activity by means of unique
pair of bellows. which merit special
description. They consist of block
of wood, generally twenty inches long.
followed out and fitted with funnel
head made out of clay.
At the lower end are two oriices,
over which skins are stretched. Mo-
ton is impaired to the instrument by
the action of two small rods. The
hammer is of solid iron; the tongs are
marvels of simplicity, to wit: A bent
palm branch. An iron wedge driven
into timber hole serves as an anvil
The recollections of the Balubans carry
them back to the time when they
wrought metals with stone tools.
Some of the natives are comparatively
artistic workers. Very fine axes, taste
fully inlaid with copper, are produced.
Strikes among these swarthy artifcers,
it should be noted, are of compara-
lively rare occurrence, probably owing
to the fact that the malcontents invar-
iably have their heads Topped off and
their skins placed on one side fol
patching, or in case of need, entirely
recovering the aforesaid curious bel
1ouyc
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1893-03-15
Big Australian Eels.

A letter writer in Australia speaks
of huge eel, which Is sometimes met
with in the lakes or large rivers in the
interior of that country. His first in
PRODUCTION to them was somewhat orig
inal. He had been swimming near
the shore in beautiful secluded bay,
and feeling fatigued seated himself on
a log nearly as large as his body,which
seemed to be resting on the pebbly bot
tom. Suddenly the log slipped from
under him and moved gracefully away.
It proved to be an eel Is feet in length.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1893-03-15

The agricultural experiment station
at Yuma, Ari., has been testing dur
ing the year the varieties of early
fruits and vegetables which can be
cultivated to the best advantage in
that torrid climate. It is thought by
the people of that region that Arizona
and some of the favored parts of
southern California will ultimately
furnish eastern cities with the supply
of winter vegetables which now large
ly come from Bermuda and the south
ern Atlantic states.
"To this complexion it must come at
last" is the opening line in letter
written to friend By the venerable
Francis w. Bird, of Massachusetts,, in
which he announces that he can attend
no more club dinners in Boston. He
was one of the originators of the So
called Bird club" which was organ
lied half a century ago by few active
free-soilers. During all those years
the club has held its monthly meeting
in the same hotel. Mr.. Bird is now 83
years of age.
There has been a large increase in
the number of divorces granted in
Scotland in late years. Between 1864
and 1874 the average number WIS thir-
ty-five year, which increased to fifty
nine between 1874 and 1880. Last
year 127 divorce DEGREES were granted
there, as against 109 in 1891 and
eighty-nine in 1890. OF last years
decrees si2ty-eight were obtained by
husbands and fifty-nine by wives. In
fidelity was the ground for considers
blv more than half
Nervousness shows itself in queer
ways. There is a young New York
newspaper man who exhibits COM
mendable self-possession on most oc-
casions, and would not be supposed to
have such thing as a nerve about his
person, but there is one spectacle that
he cannot endure, and that is to see a
mans hat blow off. If this calamity
occurs IN his presence he catches his
breath, shudders and reaches about
for something to hold to until the sem
sation of losing himself has passed.
This is constitutional and is the only
exhibition of nervous weakness that
he ever makes.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1893-03-15
The Ant as an Engineer.

The pastry was delicious and wanted it my
self,
So put it in the pantry on the very lowest
shelf;
And to keep it from the insects, those ants SO
red and small.
made river round 1t Of molasses, best OF
all.
But the enemy approached it, all as hungry
as could be,
And the captain with his aid-de-camp just
skirmished round to see
Whether they could ford this river, or try
some other plan,
And together with his comrades he around
the liquid ran.
To his joy and satisfaction, after travelling
around,
The place where the molasses was the mar
rowest he found;
Then again he reconnoitered, rushing forward
and then back,
Till he spied some loosened plaster in the wall
around tack.
He divided then his forces, with foreman
for each squad,
And he marshaled the whole army and before
him each ant trod.
His directions all were given; to his chiefs he
gave a call;
While he headed the procession as they
marched off up the wall.
Every ant then seized his plaster, just speck
and nothing more,
And he climbed and tugged and carried till
he'd brought it to the shore;
Then they built their bridge, just working for
an hour by the sky,
After which they all marched over and all fell
81 Nicholas
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1893-03-15
For a Burn OF scald.

The white of an egg is one Of the
most efficient remedies for o burn or
scald, excluding the air at on7e, and
affording instant relief. The raw
white is also used as an antidote for
several poisons, taken internally, espe-
cially those of a corrosive nature. A
raw egg will detach fish bone lodged
in the throat; while the oil extracted
from the yolk has great power in the
healing of cuts, bruises and scratches,
being regarded by the Russians as a
remedy of fabulous powers.-G Good
RoakSekeepinq.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1893-03-15
Paving Roads With India Rubber.

New ideas in paving have lately at
tracted attention. Among these is the
paving of bridge by a German en-
gineer with india rubber, the result
having been SO satisfactory as to in
duce its application on much larger
scale, point in its favor being that
it is much more durable than asphalt
and not slippery. In London a sec
tion of roadway under the gate lead
ing 20 the departure platform of the
St. Pancras terminus has for some
time past been paved with this ma
terial, with the effect of deadening
the sound made when passing over
on wheels, besides the comfortable
elasticity afforded to foot passengers.
Another material which is being salts
factorily introduced for this purpose
is composed of granulated cork and
bitumen pressed into blocks, and
which are laid like bricks or wood paw
ing, the special advantage secured In
this case being that of elasticity
Siftin0S.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1893-03-15
The Irish Members Parting Shot.

In the house of commons, one fa-
nous fighting night, noted Irish
member rose to denounce speech
which had been delivered from the
treasury benches. He desired to say
that the statements made by the gov
ernment's representative were not al
together accurate, but his impetuosity
led him to phrase the accusation rather
strongly. "Order! order!" said the
speaker of the house, as he rose in all
the majesty of full-bottomed wig and
silken gown. His Irish colleagues did
not wish the member to be suspend
ed," and they limited so by tugging at
his coat-tails. The indignant yet good
humored honorable member recog-
nized the command of his party and
sat down, delivering this Parthian
dart: "Very well, sir; 1 obey your
ruling. and beg to retract what Twas
about to observe. ."-ATgo1aGut.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1893-03-15

A Hannibal CMo.) man has had an
iron box made all in one piece, with a
slit in the top. When he feels like
taking drink he drops dime into
the box and swallows a glass of hop
tea. The box holds half bushel and
he expects to fill it by spring.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1893-03-15
Famous Desks in senate Chamber.

1t SO happens that Mr.. Blaine's old
desk in the senate is now occupied by
Senator Hale, who was one of the dead
statesman's closest friends. This desk.
like many others in the senate, is now
famous.
Take the desk of Senator Cockrell.
for instance It used to be the desk
at which JEFF Davis sat when he repre-
sented Mississippi in the senate from
1848 to 1851. During the war some OF
the soldiers quartered in the capitol
learned this fact and they made raid
upon it with their bayonets. They
were attempting to demolish it when
an officer of the senate hurried to its
rescue.
@What are you doing?" he asked of
the angry militiamen.
Breaking up JEFF Davis desk" they
answered, as they made another stab
with their bayonets.
at is not JEFF Davis desk" was the
answer. at is the property of the
government. and if you don't stop
id quick you will go to Jail"
Then the soldiers ceased, but today
the ugly holes made by the bayonets
in the polished mahogany tell mute
but eloquent story of the passions of
1861 Washington Post.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1893-03-15
Business Cards.

THO -LOAN.-Money 10 loan on Farm Prop
~-k ertv JOHN PORTER,
1S7i-1y% Ravenna, o.
Decorah-posten., 1893-12-19

bos roJle, Der or aatcn. On Is Wi'
illter oil WGnsoen al Snaos tnss ia
10 iom en- Iioeu 2. Nae De 8aaoe, ionr
FOLDER bet trpoienoe uocuior alpneen,
Ear SmaObaaoe meo @arn / inoi Gr'
rem. gtaar be bar ionet fine @arn no,
laar be "mane" en- lamp ben iii I'm
Storbnao, Tom oa trGt,er @nrrene, og
alrrne ta8er Gait pna Ell Gar @nrn, %
9iernc life fnar en- Glib.
Seore Iiter 5iiterne iig, unar SiIber
'09er 2anO, oa fan man iRtte fine Carr
on apeloer, % iaa trGtte benz on
Wor8eneu. Wan fan life bn, IOm
Nnterne, i9tte fine @aru / Stloen, mur
letter benz Der, bpOr man p%euter, at Der
Ital gjsre Snbiis ont Natteu.
Decorah-posten., 1893-12-19
Socttro ncorprcuoe Smaa:
born.

s Srlano la99es ct Bette, lnoet al
&Oiuoebaar, ON Barnet, for at bolce
Onot borte, tiger "Babyhood', os Suio'
log, Salt, Srgo % ct Stptte Stes an
brin9es / bet npipbte Barns 8u99e
SOqaub.
RumHniite Wgore binoer rooe Saant
ON Qntlerne paa tine Sprn for at al
oeuoe Snot, meoeus be eitlnnoite NtD
ore mbriugcr Stptfer al A~safoetids
ont 6olien paa fine Smaa,
MCorene g8ales logger Ell SlOtaup
e0er en- auiU / Snrnenes 9ug9e; ani'
Ten belptte5 OBiaa paa ianme Wiaoo,
! andre 9ele al Gn9lauo.
8lanot %o9eierbjcr9eue3 Bomber ali
lees 8prn, Der CT ipot ueo Npmaaue
ior at O2re bcore %"itonrne for 3un9e
bnanOet" euo andre, meoen8 oe, Der e
iD0te / Mnnnen8 iioIte 9uarter, anita
oe3 at 6aue mjnore 5mN0einroi9beo
men bcbre 6oritauosepna. Gn 3aiter
Der mpocs, meoen5 Wtanncn CT / 5ilta
genOe, or tiolt8 mooeu.
@eo 5poilau al ct Barn blouot 2auo
bcioltniugeu i Gngloll0 ora9er 9tabo
toncu Gmior8 ior BET, batter BET, iptte
BETS Seq / Seu2gelie og 9nioer BET,
0OOco meo Ole Tor at iorbmoe 0jernc
italcn3 Ben. Qerpaa rule8 bet inc
ct tptt 9Ieo, % bets 2Gbcr iu3tes me-
8rrnoeoin, for at oct itnI blipe Ell iuto
bloos @n9lGnoer.
SCR oen 0raite m}Ooer lG98er #
Barn / @ug0eu, oreier bum Jig IT
@on9e runot iOrnn Sloeu, meoens bu,
ipn9er i'm 9u~oliugsiun8 ipr at bOrtja8
onoe NIanocr.
9onoOnsW} ooeren logger en- 8o9 III
Der 6ppeoet pon BET upisOte Barn, 70
at oct fan bliUe ilintt til at lGie, % Ip0
ger &eu9e / bet iprite Dab iOr at itoii
Oct 0ti9oom i 5rentioen.
Zen tprtjite OIpoer operlHsier i
Barn meo Nmuletter, i%aaluart lom 81
er ieot.
8 Spauicn blluer Saruet8 Nuiif
berDrt meo @rcuen ira ct 5urutrp ir
at brill0e Qpo 2ptfe. 7
Decorah-posten., 1893-12-19
lO.3

zoe b0nIigs }tumOOning ON at bIiUe, rnaeoe uOr naaoige
lante no gennem 6~IOio0rene.
"a Gsren par bleuen Iuttet siter ben iua Opbt for:
nqrmebe gamle Game, iant Gluira me6 ioIOeoe 9GnOer
neo paa SOfaeu. st Bar Giebltte laa bun title Og
IgttsOe, uoeu ~iaumegst iom at uiae tratte 9eiret. Ger.
pon iprang bun op, rep E; gp5 ira gOrost, itiasOe fig
iornu SpeiIet % ~betro9teOe it Anitgt, paa boiltet &oOme
og gleg5eo ~uai6ruot aiuereOe.
"Gr ieJ imut2 Guer bar ieg tabt mig 2" ipurgte
bun fig istO, meoens bun irggteoe iOr at ~6eora8sS al ben
i~migrenoe Stemne, iom til5ujiteOe benOe, atOj5ie to Qar
5auoe nouiac; 5sn0e5 Bart o., toet be boUOe iOr.
milOet 6inOsrne5 Eurpur, giUet 9euoe5 Qnijgt5!ret ct
iinere % GoLere llotrgt.
"3oemiuoite ~tilfOisos bun msO g~eitemiBeo, "uIl BAN
/ en- 6euieeuOe iinOe mig i%OruHoret: en- Eige iOet atttnOe
2ar bar snOnu en- MiGn9Oe boruagti3e Sheer % Guuer
men 5os en- Spinoe meuem nittsu % tyUe Aar bar 6ors
itanOeu lPagt over 6%oIslisrne. Seq itol p~oatuinge gom
ben Gro, at leg 5ur glemt, at ct iaaOunt 0e6Iit iOm
bet, Oa nj itilte5, no9sniinoe bar iunoet Steo msaem o5
...... 9iu!"
3roo5 bet 6srrsosmms, iom 6ornuiten iamt 9anen
uso at iaUne uirteIis en- us Grab bauOe ~tiItrOoiet is
ouer GIUira8 s~lOOeuOe Sial, par bun bog iaa rpitst OeO
lanteu ON bet upenteOe gienipn, at bun neppe tlnos
itaa ureu a; itstts fig, ba Der OpitOo garm bet pore GGs
relic o9 ct BAR Y%srionsrs Striot nGrmeOe ig.
Ulsu 8pisnbs web 6Oreitiainsen ON for iteOis at tabe
ben Nanos gsttIis, Der bapOe iset benOe5 SUasbeO, bpia