davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1893-10-20

an attempt to peer into the future. All
of them, though, promote mirth among
the young people, and their origin mat
tiers but little since their influence is a
happy one.
The apple customs are probably most
numerous. Ducking or bObbing for APP
pies is provocative of much mirth. and
everybody knows how it is done. Trying
to catch with the teeth an apple swing
ing on string from the ceiling or chan
delier is another merry pastime. An
other form of this game is played by
balancing from the string rod with an
apple ON one end and lighted candle or
little bag of flour at the other. The
rod is twirled swiftly, and the gamesters.
standing in a circle. attempt to bite the
apple as it passes by, but much oftener
run their noses against the candle or the
mealbag, with humol ms results.
The hands of course must not be used
in either of the games. but they may be
turned to account in pairing apples f.
divining purposes. The fruit must be
pared from bottom TO top i'll one long,
unbroken peeling. When an entire peel
ing has been secured, it must be taken
up by one end, waved thrice around the
the left shoulder. forming on the floor
one of the initials of the future spouse of
the person seeking the knowledge.
Eating an apple before n mirror at
midnight on Hallow Eve has long been
known TO be sure means of summon
ing the shade of girls true love to look
in the glass over her shoulder. Going
backward down the cellar stairs, can
~.
left, is another charm of the same kind
and must be put to proof at the same I'M
canny hour. But these are unsociable
tests, as the maiden must be alone when
she does them, and that is probably the
reason why more girls do not get adj
vance information concerning their flu
ture lords.
Divination with melted lead is more
soCiable, as any number can join the
circle. The molten metal is poured into
a basin of cold water, and the shape i:
assumes indicates the calling of the fair
inquirer's spouse, u gun or sword mean
ing a soldier. book foretelling preach
er or professor. n ship denoting sailor.
and so on. Sometimes the metal will
turn into an initial letter, however, and
these must be carefully looked after
Wlen nOtn1nS else can = De made or 1t
Melted wax may be used instead of lead
if preferred, but is not endowed with
the same potency.
Burning nuts is time honored way of
testing lovers faithfulness. Two nuts
are named, one for the maiden and one
for her love, and then they are placed
side by side on the top bar of the CRATE
or a shovel held over the fire. If they
burst and fly apart, the lovers are uncon-
! genial and will not be happily mated
but if they burn together trinity" as
Burns puts it, the union is sure to be a
happy one.
The game of snap dragon is good one
for Hallow Eve. Salt and alcohol are
put into a shallow dish and set on fire.
Then a few raisins are thrown into the
dish, and before the fire is spent each
participant must try to snatch one of
the raisins from the flames. 1t takes a
little nerve to make the attempt, but sue
cess means a happy marriage within the
year, while failure means nothing worse
than burned finger.
Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1893-10-20

Each of the cities and larger towns in
the Union can take care of its own poor
this winter, and this should be done sys-
tematically. Relief committees can be
formed. in all cases of the best and most
prosperous citizens, men and women.
They should take in hand the matter
earnestly and give time to sitting the
cases to the bottom. One subcommittee
should attend to the matter of provid-
ing work for the unemployed wherever
it can be found, that there may be as lit
tie downright pauperism and beggary
as possible. Accepting charity has or
dinarily demoralizing and degrading
effect on an individual. 1t tends to low
er his self respect and TO confirm in him
an impression that the world owes him
a living. Every great calamity in which
it became necessary for the public TO
open its hand generously has been pro-
ductive of its crop of tramps and vaga-
bonds. Men who for the first time in
their lives tasted the sweets of getting a
living without work have thereafter new
er done stroke of honest labor. This
decentralization must be avoided. While
deserving poor must be fed and shelter
ed, frauds must be punished to the ex-
tent of the law. Indiscriminate giving
does as much harm as not giving at all.
Clean, honest, helpful investigation is
the thing.
Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1893-10-20
American Singinr.

1t is just possible that there may not !
be today as good singing among thegreat !
middle class of the American people as
there was when congregational music
was the vogue and the old fashioned
singing school yet hourished in all its
glory. The introduction of high priced
church choirs had tendency TO make
common people ashamed of their own
uncultured, nasal voices, and thus dis
couraged they gave it up altogether
the attempt to make vocal music.
The right way would have been for
them to take n mighty vow that they
would get rid of the unpleasant tones by
study and practice, but this course was
adopted by very few. Outside of pro-
fessionals we have fewer good singers in
the United States than there are in any
other civilized country. The majority
of people have been too busy heretofore
to pay attention specially to voice cul-
ture. The time has come, however, TO
change this. Our people, young and
middle aged, ought now to go in for
cultivating sweet tones in both the
speaking and singing voice. When that
is done, a great national defect will be
remedied.
1t is now a good time to begin the
work, at the commencement of the long
evenings. The old fashioned neighbor-
hood singing classes might be resurrect-
ed, always with teacher who did not
sing through the nose. The universal
piano stunning might we'll be dropped
in many cases and plain. easy instruc-
ton in singing substituted. The at
tempt of Frank Damrosch to train the
tenement house population of New York
in vocal music is a lesson both artistical-
ly and philanthropically. Mr.. Damrosch
is young musical enthusiast. He be-
heves that if the very poor and hard
working could be trained to know and
love music as we'll as to make it for
themselves it would alleviate their hard
lot and lift them to brighter life. With
this idea he announced year ago that
he would give Sunday afternoon music
lesson weekly in one of the tenement
house districts
The experiment has succeeded beyond
his hopes. y dime lesson is charged.
and the income derived Is sufficient 10
pay all expenses and leave something
over. Damrosch was soon obliged to
organize three great singing classes. the
largest numbering 1000 pupils. In the
interval from October to May the great
choruses learned to read music fairly
we'll at sight
Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1893-10-20
A HERO OF THE WAR.
Story of a Colonel on Gen.
McClelIan's Staff.
How he Saved President Lincoln From
Capture and Death.
Secretary Wells Pronounced it one of the
Greatest Acts of Heroism.

In the book, Officers of the Army and
Navy Who Served in the Civil War, is n
record of Col Sillowaye, where it is shown
that he saved President Lincoln from cap
ture and perhaps instant death. We
quote: "Wednesday, May u, 1868, Presi-
lent Lincoln with friends from the north,
went down to City Point on the Brooks,
transport vessel. The next day, when re-
turning the vessel was disabled near Point
Tobacco, so as to be unable to proceed.
As the Brooks was about to be boarded by
the confederates, Col Sillowaye had the
president placed in a boat and rowed to a
place of safety on the Maryland shore of
the Potomac river, and afterward taken to
Washington" Secretary Welles wrote:
I'm a conference with the president and
Secretary Stanton, in reference to your
valuable services of Wednesday last you
We're promoted to the rank of colonel and
it is proposed to elevate you to the rank of
chief engineer. We extend to you our
heartfelt thanks, and believe us when we
say we consider you to be as great n hero
as any in the service, and special mention
of service is ordered ON record in both de-
partments of the service"
Col W. A. II. Sillowaye resides at s Pine
street, Boston, Mass. His first wife was II
daughter of Sir William Blackie and niece
of Sir Richard Houghton. His present
wife is IA relative of Hon William NJ.
Evarts
Col Sillowaye himself tells a very inter
esting story:
''On the 10th of April, 1861, enlisted
in the army of the north. weighed 1872
pounds. After serving four years and
eight months in the army and navy, and
suffering from wounds and rheumatism l
was discharged. weighed the day l WINS
Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1893-10-20
HALLOWEEN SPORTS.
MERRY PAsTlMEs PECULIAR TO THE
EVE OF ALL SAINTS DAY.

Tine HOnOred Diversions For tho Family
Fireside-DuekinEa and BObbInG For APP
ples-Schemes For DIvinIng the Future
and Detecting Prospective BrIdegrooms.
AS everybody knows, Hallow Eve, or
Halloween, as it is the fashion to call it
since the world has come to appreciate
Bobby Burns, is always celebrated on
the 31st of October. 1t is the eve or
vigil of the Feast of All Saints, or Hal
lowmas, which is set down in the church
calendar for Nov. 1, and under the an
Gent canons was to be observed, like
Christmas eve and the vigils of all other
feast days of the first class, as a season
of fasting and prayer in preparation for
the reception of the blessings expected
to flow from n proper observance of the
feast of the following day.
In the popular mind, however, Hal
low Eve is anything but fast day. 1t
is far more generally observed as n sea-
son of homely revelry and innocuous
mischief-a sort of harmless saturnala
whose peculiar customs and half be
ieved superstitions plainly indicate their
pagan origin and provo themselves the
ineal descendants of ancient divination
and magic.
Many Hallow Eve customs of course
are simply merry games, with no other
object than amusement. Most of them
combine amusement with some sort of
Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1893-10-20

physically impressive and has nothing of
pretension about him. He and his wife
live in n coy little house in Blandford
road, Bedford Park, London, and the
peacefulness of his present life, he SAYS,
makes the old days seem like dream.
Before he was II years of age Stepniak
says he was a member of n secret society
of students at the University of ST. Pc
terSburg organized for purely literary
purposes, but given to the discussion of
the ideas of Herbert Spencer and John
Stuart Mill. The police would not have
permitted the society to exist if they had
known of its object, and the students at
tended its meetings armed with bottles
of whisky or beer, as if they were going
to carousal, to which the official gentry
had no objection. Later some of the
members of that band of students went
out among the peasantry disguised as
workmen, spreading the gospel Of dis
content and the hope of freedom, and
eventually reaching the dungeon, Siberia
or the scaffold, as the world is well
aware.
Stepniak admits being still actively
engaged in the nihiistic propaganda,
writing pamphlets that are secretly
shipped to Russia for the revolutionary
press. He is also engaged on a novel in
English descriptive Of Russian life, aud
is proud of the increasing facility with
which he is able to express his ideas in
that language. He likes England and
says there is no excuse under such gov
eminent as hers for attempting to bring
about by force such events as will sure
ly come peacefully to pass with time
and patience.
Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1893-10-20
Fan Floriculture.


The individual who brings vases OF
cut flowers into the house, keeps them
till they fade and die and then throws
them away is not lover Of flowers al
all. Their true lover feels toward them
as he would to favorite horse or dog
To him or her they are living things, tc
be fed and watered and studied and
tended and made the most of. In return
they will give back floods of sweetness
and light which will be rich reward fol-
his care
a drive through the country at this
time of year will quickly show where
the real flower lover lives. In that ia
vored spot there will be activity among
the plants, only less than there was in
the springtime. The flower lover will
be busy with spade and trowel, potting
off the beauties that are to bloom in win
ter, covering the shrubs and borders that
are to stay outdoors, and cleaning up
the garden and lawn so that they will
not look all winter like an old cabbage
bed from which the cabbages have been
cut, while the unsightly stumps are left
SAAShAAf ALho hhC oA-
In the favored southern states of the
Union winter covering for the glorious
roses and pansies is not necessary. But
i'll the middle and northern states in
these days the real flower lover will be
seen cutting back the luxuriant summer
growth of the roses and laying the canes
fiat upon the ground in compact mass
Over them he spreads layer of leaves
and litter, holding the cover together
with evergreen or other branches piled
on top so the leaves cannot blow away.
The hardest of perennial plants make a
quicker, more vigorous growth in spring
for being thus protected. Border plants
should be covered in the same way, ex-
cept that they need cover half n foot
deep of leaves and litter. 1t must be
weighted down to keep the wind from
blowing it away.
On sunshiny day in October you will
see the flower lover digging up the tube
rose, gladiolus and dahlia bulbs. He
will let them lie in the sun two or three
days, till the moisture has dried off them
and the rich autumn warmth has entered
their hearts, then he will put them away
in IA cool, dark place to sleep till the sun
awakens them into life next spring.
Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1893-10-20

The democratic congress has one oppor-
tunity to bring about great reform. and
at the same time save IL very large sum of
money, that should not be neglected. 1t is
n fact well known to all who have ever had
any considerable business with the treas
ury department that there is an unneces-
slry amount of red tape in its methods of
dealing with accounts involving the expen-
diture of money. This is not the fault of
individuals but of the absurd system which
compels a duplication of all the work done
in connection with every account which
passes through the offices of five out of the
SIX auditors of the treasury. To duplicate
the work the clerical force is also necessar-
lily duplicated. 1t is not good argument
to say that this duplication is necessary
safeguard, because the work of the sixth
auditors office. which handles all of the
postoffce accounts, and which has long en-
joyed the reputation of being conducted
under II thorough business system, is not
duplicated, being of itself final settle
it passes, 1t is lprobable that
the joint congressional committee now in
vestigating the work and methods of the
various departments will recommend that
all of the bureaus of the treasury depart
ment which exist merely for the purpose
of duplicating the work done in the offices
of the first five auditors be abolished.
They certainly ought to be abolished. 1t
would mean the dropping of five or six
hundred needless employes-the influence
represented by their friends, many of
them senators and representatives, is
what will make the task difficult one for
| congress-and the consequent saving of
their salaries, and it would reduce the
time required to get an account through
the treasury nearly one half. 1t would
also show the people that democratic
economy was being practiced as well MS
preached.
Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1893-10-20
AT WHIST.

Across the polished table there
/ sec her sitting now-her hair.
Her eyes, her dainty fingers, too,
Just as In years agone knew.
My partner.
led a hearth think the king
II passed around the silent ring,
And though II was the best one out.
She paused n moment. half in doubt
Then trumpet 1t.
oh. partner, that was the command,-
She said when she had played the hand.
Then, wrinkling up her pretty brow,
you will forgive me, won't you now,
For trumpings"
Another night, remembered well,
She sat where moon cast shadows fell
No polished table lay between.
The trce bonghs made n waving screen
Above her.
We talked OF other things than whist,
strove her fancy to enlist
With all lovers gentle art,
Yet once again led my heart
UnguArded.
led my heart again, my last
When round to her the trick had passed,
She thought Il not the best one out,
So paused a moment, half In doubt,
Then trumped IL.
This time no pleading glance caught,
No trembling lips forgiveness sought,
No eyes with lashes dropping wet
Told me my partner did regret
To trump it.
New Orleans Picayune.
Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1893-10-20
AN INTERESTING NlAlLlST.

How Sergius Stepniak. the Russian Exile.
Spreads the Gospel of Discomfort.
Sergius Stepniak. the Russian nihilist,
who lives i'll England because he is not
permitted to live i'll his native land, is so
well and so little known that all the
world speaks of him as if he lived next
door. and yet not man Jack of them
could tell the name that rightfully be-
longs on his doorplate. He talks freely
enough about him. If. or rather about
events in which he as taken part, but
avoids leading questions with the skill of
a man adept in verbal fence.
He is IL years of age-that much he
says of himself-and it is evident from
his dignitied speech and demeanor that
ne is n man of good birth ant cultiva-
ton, but he is neither handsome nor
Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1893-10-20
An Experiment In Philanthropy.

Not far from New York city is 125
acre farm, which benevolent lady has
decided to the Children's Aid society.
To this farm will be sent the large boys
falling into the society's hands. and the
attempt will be made to teach them
farming and religion. They are slum
boys from IA to 10 years old, picked out
of the very worst environments into
which child of humanity could be
hurled.
The New York Children's Aid society
has been in existence 10 years and has
found homes in that time for 75, 600 boys
and girls on farms, some east, others
west. But it was always the small boys
who could thus be disposed of. Farm
ers hesitated, as well they might, to
adopt a boy of IA to IS years old whose
life had been passed under the worst
possible auspices. Vague shadows of
murder, burglary or arson naturally
fitted before the imagination at the
thought of taking such a youth into an
unprotected rural home. So the society
will run q farm of its own and try to
teach the big boys morality, manners, re-
igion and farming all at the same time.
The place will accommodate 900. 1t ia
a large contract, especially as it is only
contemplated to keep the boys on the
farm premises few months each.
When they know something Of farming,
it is hoped they will be able to find en-
ployment in the agricultural regions.
Every boy thus saved will be so much
gain to the country.
Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1893-10-20
Marriage In Bowie County.

\ matrimonial snarl that may have far
reaching consequences has been discov.
cred in Bowie county, Tex. For 10 years
past, owing to the too great complais-
anCe of county clerks, illegal marriage
licenses have been issued to the number
of 1000, 50 the story goes. Thus l 900
couples, who have been jogging along
under the matrimonial yoke for years.
making the best or worst of it, have sud
denly been awakened TO the fact that
they are really not married at all, but
are free to go and try it over again any
day they like.
How will they take ii? Doubtless
those who really enjoy the yoke will have
only to go and be welded over again.
Some of the couples thus rudely jostled
outof their dream of married bliss be-
long to the most distinguished and high
flying social circle of Texarkana. These
would not dare TO separate, even though
they wanted TO, because of what was ex-
pected of them by society.
Those, however. who have no social
standing to maintain can dropapart with
luc greatest SASS II lneN are llEttl OI edCn
other. There will be some interesting
scenes i'll cases where one is tired of it
and the other is not. There will be con-
siderable furtive study of each others
countenances among couples whose rela-
lions have been n little strained, as they
say i'll statecraft, each to find out what
the other is going to do about it. Some
wandering John who has not been sober
in five years may suddenly be converted
into a prohibitionist, and some shrewish
Mary Ann may in the twinkling of an
eye become meek as lamb because of
the Bowie county decision. There are
always compensations.
Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1893-10-20

mission to join 1t poured in upon her.
and the institution as at present con-
Quoted is the result. One of the latest
additions is class TO study the expan-
sion of Christendom.
Sixty ont of 90 Scripture classes have
taken up the chronological Scripture
cycle scheme for going through the
Bible chronoloSically in three years,
which was originally set forth by the
president in series of II pamphlets for
the use of the college. These pamphlets
have been revised, enlarged and consoli-
dated in one volume. published under
the title ''Clews to Holy Writ
Miss Petrie Is soon to be married to
Professor earns Wilson of the McGill
university of Montreal, and in all proba-
bility the scene of her labors will be
transferred from London to that city,
but she has announced her intention Of
continuing her beneficent work wherever
the future may take her.
Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1893-10-20

II has been proposed for consideration
that the racing men all wear some distinc-
tive color instead of wearing numbers,
which are often impossible to decipher
Racing men have always showed n lament
able lack of good taste in dressing for the
track. There is great necessity for the
racers to have some distinctive color to aid
in identifying them. There need be no CON
fiict. Each man could make his selection
and register his choice, and in case of a con.
troversy the first man would of course have
the preference. The innovation would add
life and beauty to an Outlines dull picture
and the matter should by all means be con.
sidrred by the racing board in constructing
tho rules for lSg4
Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1893-10-20

johnnie Bull Must Try Again.
A bloomin English craft kim In a leetle spell
Albumin fer the viErylAnt to lay her colOrs
low.
She'd cleaned out all the Britishsrs an done the
Dutchmen up,
An reckoned she'd sail over here an swipe the
Yankee cup.
The stranger Was rakish lookin cuss, all paint
ed black,
An they lowed she was q tough un fer q
straight run o tack.
But talkin never whOlloped Uncle Sammy on
the seas,
So he jest hitched up his bresches an whistled
fer o breeze.
They mkt their sails all spiek an span an TUX
spin together,
But when the Yankee kim In fust they blamed
It on the weather,
Fer what they wanted was gale a-blowin like
old scratch.
An sieh q blarsted fiuke ex that was Jest drift
In matchI
So then we he'd rouser, regular spankin wind,
An Johnnie Bull kim In ag'in list forty seconds
behind.
Anthere's nary blOOmin cutter-throwin In yer
English lord
That's match for Uncle Sammy an n Yankee
New York Sun