davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1893-02-11
Salt and Civilization.

Though playing an unobtrusivo part
in human economy, salt has been pow
erfu factor in the politics, commerce, (
and wealth OF Nations, aud its use has
marked the advancement of civilization !
itself. Liebig once said that the state Of
civilization and the prosperity OF a Nation
might be measured by the quantity OF
soap il uses; but a more shrewd observer,
Schleiden, claims that a better estimated
OF peoples advancement can be formed
IRON the amount of salt they consumed.
The first trade routes were established
for the traffic in salt and incense; bar
barrie people waged war over the posses.
sion of salt springs; Venice owed much
of her magnificence TO the revenues from
her salt lagoons; while the French Revo-
luton is indirectly attributed tc the iu-
exorable gabelle, tho cruel and cxorbi-
tant salt laws which oppressed the French
people through four centuries. In
Europe, even to-day, the salt works are
either owned or controlled by Govern
ment; while tho Chinese jealousy pro.
hibit the export and import OF salt.
Thus, the policy of kings, the prosperity
of Nations, the progress OF civilization
have hinged upon this uuconsidered trife;
but aside from them, common salt has
had, in all times, among ali people, aud
in all creeds, deep religious signif-
canoe. The Greeks and Romans made
salt part of their sacrifices, end IL was
offered in direct Precipitation to plscate
the gods Of the internal regions. Among
the Hebrews, all flesh sacrifices offered
in the temple were seasoned with salt:
and the most binding and sacred CON-
pact was the so-called "Coyeuant Of
Salt" all such treaties being made over
a sacrificial meal, OF which salt formed
necessary part. The early German tribes
thought the ground holy where salt was
found, and their prayers more readily
heard in such places; while TO this day
the priest places salt in tho mouth Of
person receiving the Catholic sacrament
OF baptism.
The reason OF this deep and far-resch-
ing significance Il not far to seek. Salt.
because Of It's preservative qualities, has
ever been the symbol of eternity, incor-
ruption, fidelity, wisdom, justice, and
peace. Christ called His disciples the
s'salt Of the earth, -" meaning that In them
lay the perpetuity OF the Christian spirit.
1t bad also, particularly in the Bible, =
terrible and sinister meaning, betokening
sterility sud inevocable ruin, rs shown.
in the account of sowing with SAL the
site Of city destroyed by siege.
Moreover, salt Is che inviolablc symbol
Of hospitality, every meal including salt
among the ancients, and 10 the Orient
at the present dAy-having sacred
character. and creating among the par
takers thereof lasting bond Of friend.
chip.
"Attic salt" Is tho commonest synonym
FOR wit; and II is recorded that the
Romans who made salt the symbol OF tho
immortal spirit, termed mans soul his
salilium, !. e., salt-cellar. --Demorest's
Magazine,
Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1893-02-11

Attention has been drawn to the fact
that all the world over leaves are of a
green color, but, while the green of
plants and vegetables remains the same
in all attitudes, the co!ors of animals
vary considerably according to the region
they inhabit. 1t has been suggested
(and partially proven, | believe) that the
green color in leaves is due to a sub
stance called chlorophyil, which the leaf
structure absorbs from the atmosphere.
1t Is a wcll-known fact that leaves re-
move from the lower strata of our at
mospbere all the poison that the breath
of man and the lower animals throw into
ut; therefore, the importance of leaf
structure should not be lightly over.
looked Botanists of unquestioned
ability tell us that full-grown tree in
crowded community is in reality one of
natures most perfect and complex filters,
strainng aud purifying the air just as
filter does impure water. THIS impor.
taut ilterlng Of the tree is Only carried
on under the stimulus of sunlight, leaves
having but little or no power of ABSORB
ton on cloudy days or at Eight, What
we call growth in plant, IS merely the
power of that particular plant to convert
TO lis own use' the energy OF the sun.
Another peculiarly OF leaves may be
noticed in this connection, Tae general
arrangement of the leaves on limbs and
stalks OF trees and plants secures between
each sufficient space to prevent one leaf
Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1893-02-11
Big Cation Stalks.

eyes, have seen the big cotton
stalks grown in India and the cotton
plantations Of the Braxos bottom IN
Texas" said Alonzo T. Yerger. Of Way
cross, Ga, at the Southern, shut down
in Washington County, Mississippi, they
grow cotton staIks--not stalks either,
because they are trees-that beat any
and all things In the cotton line that !
have ever seen or heard Of. Why. 90 q
plantation belonging to one Of the Will
zlnky's, which firm failed the other day,
| saw a field Of cotton that boxed like =
forest Of sycamore trees. The cotton
plant had grown 70 an enormous size,
almost ~ large as trees. Colorsd children
had to climb them in order to pick the
Reecy staple. When the crop is gathered
along 10 February the tenants cut down
the stalks and chop them up for FIRE.
wood. The wook makes bright ADD
not Ere. burning as quickly as fat pine.
| saw one OF the stalks exhibited at
Greenyiile few days ago that had borne
ISL bolIs, and the cotton in the seed
weighed 100 pounds. According TO that
rate II would require only twenty stalks
70 make bale. But, OF course, there are
bu, few specimens Of such phenomenal
growth recorded in the world history"
st. Louis Republic.
Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1893-02-11
t'IFTY-sECOND CONGRESS,
Senate.


SD DAY.-In the Senate notice was re.
ceived OF Senator Cariisle's re-ignation.
With the exception Of one hour in the early
part Of the day, aud a little longer time ia
ihe evening, the session was held behind
closed doors, and was spent in the consider
alton of the French and Swedish extradtiou
treaties and incidentally of the Hawaiian
question In the open ses ion the Chandler
hawaiian resolution, offered some days ago,
was referred 10 the Committee on Fvreigu
Relations. Ne rs. Hale and Black burn,
were appointe ,el!ers to assist in counting
the presidential votes, and Mr.. Carlisle S
resignation senator from Ksntucky was
presented. The District Appropriation bill
was taken up, considered ami passed.
3irH DAY-A bill to pay the awards of
the Court of Claims was placed on the cal
endar, when conference was asked on the
House bill to ratfy the agreement with the
kickapoo Indians. Resolutions we're assed
and eu ogies delIvered TO the memory OF the
late Senator Barbour, OF Virginia.
35TH DAY.-T,e Presidents message was
di trit uted 10 the various committees to
which 1t b forged An unusually large
number Of bills was taken from the calen lar
and eighteen were pas ed. Mr.. Harris gave
notice that he wousd call up the Quarantine
bill and the siiver bill also went over.
Memorial proceedings were held in honor OF
some members OF the House.
36TH DAY.--Mr Hill made the motion, Of
which he had given notice last Friday, to
proceed to the consideration Of the bill TO
repeal the Sherman Silver Purchase act,
and in support Of tho motion delivered
carefully prepared speech, in which he de-
clared himself Internationally a friend of
free bi-metalic coinage The motion was de-
feated by nearly a two thirds majority. The
Guarantee bill was taken up and passed
wihout division; also III for the pay
ment out of the Tt easury of local taxes on
lands hald BY indians in severalty. Fhe
Automatic Coupler bill was taken Up and
discussed for II lime " hen it went over.
31TH DAY.-In the Senate number of
House bill, 10 which there was 10 objection
were passed. SiI,een pension bills were
passed. The motion TO proceed TO the bill
TO-. the CONSIDER alton of the New York and
New Jersey bridge was rejected. The bill
requiring railroads to equip their cars with
automatic ,rakss ami couplers was debated
at length.
Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1893-02-11
The Giant Of All Timepieces.

The greatest theological wonder in
world to-day is the gigantic clock in the
tower of the immense "Pdblic Building"
at Philsdelphia. When everything is
ia running order this marvel of the clock
makers art will be stationed a distance
of 35l feet from the pavement. Its bell
weighs between 10000 and $4,000
pounds, and is the second largest bell of
any kind in America, the great bell at
Montreal being the largest, weighing
IS, 900 pounds. The dial of this Pnila-
dclphis titan is twenty-five feet in di-
smeter, aud the striking hammer is as
large as pile driver weight. The
minute hand is twelve and the hour hand
nine feet in length. The machinery is
arrarged so that the CLOCK will STRIKE
every fifteen minutes, the quarter, half,
quarters and hours. The Roman
numerals on the face are two feet eight
inches in length, the dark part OF the
figures being 81 inches in width. As ii
is entirely out of the question TO talk OF
winding such monster by hand, a three
horse power engine has been placed ai
the square of the tower for that especia
nurDn.e
Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1893-02-11


The peculiar breed Of cats found ia
the Isle OF Man differs from Others only
in that they have no tails, anl the lack
thereof Is the insoluable puzzle 10
naturalist Since it has become the
fashion to explain everything by the
principles of evolution, Two theories
have been offered one, tlat owing to
the limited range and lack Of dense for
ests the original cats hal no uIe fot
tails, and consequently tines Che tails,
not the CATS gradually atrophicd for
lack Of use and became documentary;
another, the primitive MaBx cut off all
'theig cats tails, aud In the course Of
time developed a taiiess breed. Onc
thing is certain. the cats are there and
they have no tails. The highhred Chinese
cat is a splendid proof of what may be
done by kindness and culture. II you
were TO repeat to \ well-tO.do but un-
travelled Chinaman ;ae current saving
with us that cats are selfish creatures,
utterly devoid OF affection, he would
be very much astonishcd, aud, il the
owner of thoroughbred, probably in
dignant. The Chinese cat appears capa,
{ BILE OF intense attachment to one person,
and ages of selection and careful breeding
have brought the species up tc u high
/ standard. The Chinese claim that one
OF these cats-and any car to some ex-
tents u valuable c'ocN. In the moin,
ing the pupil of its eye is a broad band /;
, it contracts regularly till noon, when it
o is mere hair-line, aud expands again
as regularly till night. So when i
Chinaman wants to know the time Of
day he picks up his cat aud looks, New
York News.
Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1893-02-11
A GENERAL EXECUTED.
He Refused to Lead Mexican Troops
Against the Indians.

A telegram from Guaymas, Mexico. an
pounces tho shooting By court marital OF
General Jouquoin Urez. conmandsr oil the
Third Federal zone. A baud OF Indians at
tackled the hacienda Los Asrcsdes. belong.
ing TO Senior Tapls, broke into the heids AMI
drove away thirty head OF cattle. As soon
As forces composed Of Captain Lanss Rar.
aJez. Federal soldiers ami some servants OF
the ranches could be got ready they startsi
In pursui; OF the Indians.
The latter procssdsi slowly. satisfied, psf.
haas that they were in sufiicisut numbers %
resist the attack, and wers soon oysrtaksn
by the advance
II is said that Captain Lama, as soou as hs
nsme n sight Of the Intians calcuiatsi
their NUMBERS and position and intormsi
the of1cer commsn ling ths Feisrals ASKING
his cooperation TO attack them AID rsssus
~. rlundsr This General Urez declined 70
do and the Yaquis escaped.
t;autain Llaa laid the matter osfors Sos
FEDERAL authorities, and upon the above
statement General Urez. conminder o, ths
Fsleral troops, was court-nartfasen an
Immediately executed.
Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1893-02-11
WORK AND WORKERS.

A large meeting of representatives Of the
tifferrnt railway hrotherho5ds were bell at
Iehighton, Pa. The question OF fe ieration
Fss discu sed but no act on was tax n.
THE Schuylxili Coal Exchan 70 issued
circular fxi.ig toe wages o. miners Of that
-eg ion for the So two weeks OF Janu ry
tCd first two we X or february at FIVE per
cent above h. 81 30 basis
THERE was no trouble at Dunsirk. New
Yor<, growing out OF the strike in the Brooks
Locomotive WORKS and no troops were sent
there. 1t is said that the strike is broker
many Of the old men having returned to
work.
A NEW wage scale was posted al the Edgar
Thompson Steel Works, OF the Csrnegis
Company, at Brsddock, Penna. 1t reduces
The W. ( OF all employees in the converting
md b oonin, partment, about 500 in num-
Der.
THERK is great excitement in McKeesport,
2eana over TIE striking Of q natural gas
sell in he heart Of the city. The well has
& adlly lncreas ng pressure, great enough,
{ is calculated, TO supply the entire town.
he gas WIS struck at the depth OF 200
.eet
TIE striking boiler makers n the Chicago
n Alton shens at Blooming on, III, have
mrrend rel Internationally an apple
naiyidaa ~ for reinstatement. Osly one
lal! OF them obtained work. the places OF
he est having been filed some time ago
TWENTY FIVE br aker builders employed
n the consS uction Of 0tterb.in & Cum
nings's large coal washery at Phoenix PARK,
aear III inersville, Pa, ara on strike. One Of
heir numI er had ben discharged for lunch
ing between meals, and to have him rein
statsi al went out.
Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1893-02-11
CURIOUS FACTS
Cortea took sheep to Mexico in 1880

Cortez took sheep to Mexico In 1880
A San Francisco woman is the proud
possessor Of 900 cats.
A combined knife and fork for one,
armed men is being manufactured.
The most unique citizen OF New York.
City is All Goo Wah, Chinese tramp
Tobacco has been successfully raised
on the banks Of the Androscoggiu River
in Maine.
The Desert of Sahara has almost exact
~ the number of square miles that the
United States has.
SHIRTS embroidered by hand and cost
ing fifty dollars each came in fashion in
the reign of Elizabeth.
Herrick, the poet, was fond of pigs as
pets, and taught one to follow him about
and to drink beer out Of mug.
Rose Brooks, a ten-year-old girl, OF
Memphis, Tenn, was choked to death
by glass marble the other day.
Out of one hundred aud thirty-four
men in the freshman class at Amherst
College, only sixteen use tobacco.
Paper teeth are now manufactured By
q Lubbock dentist. One set has been 10.
use thirteen years and is as good as ever.
A goose with three wings is the choic.
est fowl in the flock of Mrs. Samuel
Lutz, of Worcester, Montgomery County.
Penn.
The staple of food for the 500, 900 ma
lives of Natal and the Zulus alone is
white corn. 1t is ground into coarse
meal and boiled with water, making or
binary porridge.
The chips from gallows upon which
several persons had been hanged was one
OF the items Of medieval materia medica;
these were thought to be especially
valuable in treating cases of obstinate
ague.
G. W. linn, OF Ivorydale, near Gin.
cinnati, Ohio, was afraid that people
wouldn't believe him the owner OF twin
puppies without any forelegs, so he had
an affidavit made out a9d five ncighbors
sworc to it.
1t customary throughout Spain for the
walters OF cafes to ill glass Of wine or
liquor SO that it oyeraows upon the
saucer. This custom, in which it is de-
sired to show an appearance of liberslity,
is called the "footbath.
The title of Prince is almost as com.
mon in Russia as that Of Colonel in this
country. A Prince Krapotkin is cab
man, a Prince Soloykoff is market.
house porter in Moscow aud Princess
Galitzkin is an equestrienno In cheap
circus.
Miss Ella Hale, of Upper Ssndusky,
Ohio, lost her voice while coughing ivo,
years ago. The other day she expert
enced similar coughing sdell, aud after
it had subsidized found that her voice
had returned. Doctors are unable To-
explain.
Some OF the costly things in the Sui.
tan's treasure house at Constantinople
are ehildren's cradles of pure gold, in
laid with precious stones; divans covered
with cloth of gold, embroidered with
pearls; suits OF mail, thickly incrusted
with big emerslds aud diamonds, and
other relics of former Ottoman spleudor.
Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1893-02-11
DISASTERS AND CASUALTIES

THE twenty ninth victim of the oil ex-
plosion at Alton Junction, H., il dead and
three more of the injured are at the point OF
death.
A leaky service pipe cause an explosion
% natural gas in Ulysses S. Brunson's houss
at Anderson, Indiana, and five persons were
seriously in .ured
WHILE Dennis Sullivan and John + nix
were charging the S pant O. parlor car
in the Lake Shore Depot, at Toledo, Ohio,
an explosion occurred and 10th men were
probably fatally injured.
A FREIGHT train on the Chicago nd East
ern Illinois Railroad fell ihrou IN bridge
crossing Spring cveek near Atherton, Indi-
ana. Nearly every man of the train crew
was injured,
AN explosion occurred at the Delhi fire.
works plant at Reading, suterb of Cine n
natl, and He ,ry Horne, aged IS, was HI led;
Gus Girwin, "a years, fatally injured, and
other employees seriously burned.
STEWARDS factory, at Pontiac, Michigan,
was wrecked by the exp osion OF the boiler
and four employees were injured. The fac
tory had not started for the Jay or the loss
of life would have been great.
A COLLISION between a. coal train and
work train on the Chs sapeake and OhioRail.
road, near Augusta, Kentucky, caused by
all eiiBlneeE ldulup asleep III Iue cap. re-
suited in the death Of one man and serious
injuries to Ell ht others.
w. B. SMITH, bcokkeeper of the st. Louis
Car and Foundry Company was killed by
being thrown from the drivers seat o; a cab,
by the sud- n starting of horses clused
by him stri King them with whip. He was
drunk at the time.
A DESPATCH from Peru, Indians, saws
that moving ce caused a break IN the main
supply pip, Of tho natural gas company In
the mid lie of the Wabash river. Tbs town
has to depend on small PIPES ON the bride o
all large consumers are cut off, and there is
lit prospect Of the break being repaired
short of GO days.
JAS. BOYD, aged 10 years. AM James
Moore, aged is, OF Latrobe, Penna, were
killed, and VIM. Moore was probably ia ally
injured by being struck by west bound ex.
press train on tue Pennsylvania Railroad
They were walking on the track with
party on their way to a dance
Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1893-02-11
mob LAW In TEXAS.
Governor Hogg Declares He VIII
Bring the Lynehers to Justice.
Dispatches Sent to the Sheriff and Dis
trict Attorney.

trict Attorney.
Governor Hogg claims to have done
everything in his power to prevent ths tor
turing to death of Henry Smith, the Negro
murder. at Paris Texas. He sent this dis.
patch to the Sheriffs at both Paris and Tex
arkana:
use all lawful means 10 see thai Henry
Smith is protected from mob violence and
brought to trial for the crime be'or the
lawful authorities. MODS must no. lie per-
mitted to try prisoners in Texas. L, you
ueelhelp call for it, By all menus protect
this majesty Of the law AMI the honor of
Texas and your people from committing
murder
When Governor Hogg received offie,al
information of the bu' ming he instructed
the County Attorney at Paris to secure the
names of all persons engaged in the affair,
and sent the following instructions to the
Sheriff of Lamar county, at Paris
I'D scharge your swerd duty as an officer
of tie State faithfully and fearlessly.
Promptly complain before the proper au'
thorities against any person known TO ave
engaged in the lynching Of he Negro, Henry
Smith, at Paris AMI report the names of all
witnesses to the district and county attor-
ney, 10 the end that ali the guilty persons
may be effectually prosecuted.
"To n. B. DJak, District Attorney,
Clsrksvile, Texas-In the lyme ing of the
Negro, Henry Smith, in Paris, the laws OF
the States have bsen openly deied. Every
good citizen is interested in maintaining and
enforc ng thu laws of the land. Ether law
and order or anarchy prevail and there can
be no compromise or middl- ground. Mob
law in Texas must te stamped out. 1t is
believed and expected that you i'll prompt
iy, diligently and pers silently irquire and
ascertain who are the guilty persons, and
fear ess y prosecute them. Any assistance
needed viii be promptly rendered.
~. S. HoGG, Governor of Texas"
The Governor is very indignant and is EN-
phatic in asserting that a guilty pei sons
shall be punished.
Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1893-02-11
Distinctive Features Of New Orleans

"The biggest little city 10 the c1un.
! try, is what M adopted citizen OF New
Orleans calls that town. With but little
more than quarter OF million OF in.
habitants, the Crescent City has most of
the features of true capital aud me.
tropolis. 1t is among the few towns in
our country that can be compared with
New York IN respect of their metropoli-
tan qualifications, but New Orleans leads
all the rest, though in population ii is
small beside any of the others It has
an old and exclusive society, whose
claims would be acknowledged in any Of
our cities. 1t supports grand opera; its
clubs are fully what the term implies,
and not mere empty club houses. II has
fine theatres and public and church
buildings. The joys OF the table, which
Chesterfield ranked first among the dis
sipations Of intellectual mcu. are pro-
vided not only in many fine restaurants
and IN the clubs, but in a multitude Ct
homes. No city has finer markets. Its
commerce is with Ill the world, and its
population is cosmopolitan, with all
which a long continuance OF those con.
ditIons implies. Like the greater cities,
it has distinct divisions or quarters,
which offer the visiting sight seer nov
elly and change Its sights" are the
accumulation of nearly two centuries.
and of Spanish, French and American
origin. - Harper Magtziue.
Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1893-02-11


"Undoubtedly," said II. G. Orcutt,
1.-THE most exciting experience that ever
had was in Iowa on one of the big trunk
lines that cross the State. 1t was ride
on a hand car. Now, | have never been
a section boss, neither have l been
railroad employe in my lie, but CON-
bination of mishaps secured me night
ride on one OF them. l was in the town
of Emporia, and | wanted to get to
Strong, a little town some fifteen miles
farther west. My object was to see a
leading merchant of that town who was,
| understood, to leave at nine that night,
Just half hour before could reach the
town BY the regular train. The clerk
intimated that 1 might ride to Strong on
a hand-car. Some necessary work had
delayed the section gang at Emporia,
and now, at eight o'clock. they were
preparing to return. found the boss, (
told him ms object and my distress, and
asked him to take me aboard. We
started, aud after we had gone some
twelve of the fifteen miles, working
along at good rate, we were startled to
hear the whistle of an engine in the di-
rection of Emporia, aud directly in the
distance we could see the dim CLEAN of a
headlight. Something was wrong. No
train was due over the line for fully an
hour aud ten minutes. We did not stop
to argue the case. The train would be
on us before we could throw the car off.
The order of the section boss was to keep
ahead of the engine, il possible, until We
passed Strong, thinking, no doubt. that
the approaching train would stop there.
We worked like Trojans. Everybody
laid hands on the power-bar aud worked
for dear life. My, but we made that
handles fairly sing! We kept ahead
of the traiu for at least mile and half.
Then it ran into US, but we were going
50 fast that the shock was slight.
would rot like to repeat the experience. 3"
st. Louis Globe Democrat.