davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-12-27
which he belongs.
The sinoinp is without the leader

which he belongs. -
The singing is without the leader
ship of an organ or precentor-it is
congregational and independent ::
there is no stern-eyed chorister to
browbeat the singers into the adoption
of some standard of time of his own
selection. Each singer feels his or her
own Importance In the proper, rem
dition of the sacred song, and proceeds
to do his level best without thought Of
the other singers. One quavering
soprano voice was heard above all the
rest, one metallic tenor followed for
half line in unison and then struck
out boldly into the unknown ethics OF
free upper thought
After the singing the preacher Of
fered prayer. There was much OF
earnestness and but little thought of
rhetorical pauses or finely formed SEN
tences in the prayer; it was the simple
story of mans needs, poured into the
ear of q sympathetic Creator. The
whole congregation knelt. The prayer
ended, the worshipers remained upon
their knees; solemn hush pervaded
the little church; then an aged
brother commenced the recital Of the
Lords prayer, slowly and reverently
the words dropping from his lips. I
have heard many renowned pulpit
orators, have listened to some of the
best actors Of the day, but as COM
pared with the recital of the Lords
prayer by the aged Dunkard brother
the pulpit orator and the actors have
as yet only learned the alphabet OF ex-
preston in the school in which the old
man is so proficient.
The sermon was preached without
any reference to any written notes or
heading, as the Dunkards do not be-
lieve in the practice of writing ser
mons, claiming that the inspiration to
preach should be forthcoming at the
time and to suit the purposes OF the
occasion. The sermon was a plain
matter-of-fact talk. There was no at
tempt at flights of oratory, nor strug-
gle for effective-sounding sentences,
but plain Interpretation from the
preachers standpoint of the meaning
of the Scriptures from which the text
had been chosen and it's personal ap-
plication to the everyday life of his
hearers. ~.
Throughout the sermon the atten-
ton of the audience was invariably
good. After the close of the sermon
the preacher announced the services
for the week in the different parts of
the town.
The aged Dunkard who had acted as
ON assistant to the preacher offered the
closing prayer, the preacher followed
by reciting the Lords prayer and then
the congregation was dismissed. There
was no collection taken. The omission
of this usual important part OF wor-
ship was quite noticeable.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-12-27

q a.E
Gated well enough SO that if elected to
preach we will have the benefits OF q.
well trained mind. We believe that e
thorough knowledge Of the Bible is OF
itself liberal education, and that toI
preach the truth one must clearly and
thoroughly understand that which he
attempts to preach. After this we be-
lieve in teaching the truth by the mind
that has been educated, SO that the
preacher may be well equipped TO-
preach in q manner that will be acj
ceptable to his hesrers." q Il
do you think the Dunkard char-
acteristics Of few years ago VIII +
finally disappear ~ I asked ~.
.I do, he said, $50 far as the pecu7s
liarities of dress are concerned, but
the church ceremonies will probably
remain unchanged. To US they have
their value as object lessons OF the life!
of humility which is taught by the
Bible. But our people are becoming
more liberal every year by contact and
comparisons with other denomiras.
tions, and we cannot forsee what
changes twenty years may bring, 10
one, sT;4 5isss ~
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-12-27

have other characteristics which iden-
tify them in the community in which
they reside. They are usually very
thrifty and their farms are well culti-
vated. Brawls and dissensions among
them are rare, they do not seek for
political preference and in some locali-
ties it is extremely difficult to induce
them to go to the polls to vote, even
during the most heated political excite
ment.
The Dunkards as class. are strictly
temperate their lives are as quiet as
the hills and valleys about their farms.
While they take but little interest in
the management Of the affairs in the
communities in which they live they
are good citizens and manage, to live
without helping to support lawyers or
courts of justice.
OF late years the boundaries which
separate them from their neighbors
have been somewhat broken down
the plain, Quakerish garb is com
sidered yoke of bondage by the
younger generation, the manner OF
dress has become 30 much modified by
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-12-27
such a mystery would bring upon q

place.
Whichever or whatever the motive,
and what the meaning of the whole thing
might be, he was resolved to find out.
But how? Such questions are often
asked by human hearts on private medi-
tation, and as no answer comes, they
press ON blindly, seeking the fulhllment
of their queries in their own way, and
that way often leads, as it did in this
case, to strange and wholly unlocked for
results.
Finding sleep impossible, the Doctor
tain from the window once more gazed
forth into the darkness of the night.
But while the storm still ragged furi-
ously, and the sky was shrouded by an
inky pail, no light appeared from the d.
rection Of the Hall to whisper forebod-
ingly of the specter Of the tower.
Leaning his head against the sash, the
young physician soon found himself pur-
suing another and an entirely different
train Of thought,
This time the storm passing before his
eyes was transferred to the wildly lashed
and foaming pillows Of the sea. His
peaceful home had changed to the cabin
of an ocean steamer. and the goblin Of
night into the graceful form Of Ethel
Nevergail, his lovely fellow passenger OF
q few weeks before.
Again he seemed to be supporting her
in his arms, while guiding her feet across
the saloon of the rocking, swaylng,
plunging steamer.
Once more their fingers seemed to
have met, and he was gazing, with a
thrilling pressure upon his heart, into
her frightened eyes and upon her blush
ing cheeks.
All, beautiful, lost Ethel! How he
longed to see her, to speak to her, to be
near her; but he knew that for him such
a pleasure would never again be, so with
weary sigh he dropped the curtain and
turned to his pillow, but not to sleep
even, but to toss around and strive in
vain to Danish from his mind thoughts
of the girl who had unconsciously suc-
ceeded in leaving 80 indelible an impres.
sion upon his heart.
GTO RE CONTINuED.I
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-12-27
The Ruling Passion.

An interesting case of the 'sruling
passion strong in death" is described
by the Toronto Mail. A humorist In
Japan who jested all his life told hisl
friends while he was dying that hisl
body was not to be washed after his
death, but was to taken at once to .thel
family temple to be creamated. When
he died his instructions were followed
and the chief priest took the body toi
the cremation ground. As soon as 1t
was set on fire the mourners were as-i
tonished by1several loud exploaons.l
At first they were inclined to take TO
their heels, but curiosity got the beti
ter of fear and careful inspection,
showed that the hrmorist had slowed
away large number of fire crackers
about his person before his death. q
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-12-27
TSal-..0 . .HIE AWARD.

The Educational Exhibits at the Worlds
Fair we're so extended that the Judges have
only recently had time 10 report upon the
largest group, Group 149. No single eX-
niGit in that group nor in all the Educa-
iional display at the White City attracted
uore attention or excited more interest
han that Of Scientific Temperance instruc-
ion in the Public School. The Exhibitor,
Mrs. Mary d. Hunt, OF Boston, has Just been
informed that this exhibit has been assigned
i've highest awards.
!. For legislation requiring physiologi.
,aI Temperance instruction in public schools
IN forty-four States and Territories In the
United States and In Canada and in Sweden.
2. For graded series of textbooks on this
subject in the English language.
8. For translations OF these books, now in
ase. in FIVE different languages.
4. For methodsof pupil or school-room
study in this science. -.
S. For exhibit of pupil-work IN TINS
branch, from various States in the United
States.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-12-27
THE. DUNKARDS.
CHARACTERISTICS OF THESE
PECULIAR PEOPLE
They Are Thrifty Farmers-Their Re-
ligious Rites-A Visit to the
Old Church in the An
tietam Valley,
THE old Dunkard Church in

T7HE old Dunkard Church in
the beautiful valley Of the
Antietam stands on slight
eminence near the fork OF the
Boonsboro pike and the East Woods
road, in the town of Sharpsburg, says
q contributor to the Washington Star.
1t is plain, square, one-story build
ing with tie doors and windows set in
in such regular way that they stand
as a silent reproach to the congrega-
tions who seek to worship in churches
where the exterior shows triumphs. in
architecture and the interiors are q
study of modern luxury. -.
Around the church is scattered
grove of oaks, and to these are fasten-
ed the teams of the worshiping Dunk
ards. The vehicles are of the pattern
usually found in farming communi-
ties, none of them have been selected
with an eye to smartness or style
durability and strength are the prim-
ary considerations. The wagon seats,
in many instances, were covered with
undressed calf, or sheepskin-in one
wagon I noticed two gallon keg OF
drinking water, which the driver had
brought with the recollection of the
fact that there is no good drinking
water near the church. b.. 49,.
Waddling around among the horses
WAS litter of seven black forlorn
looking pigs. I counted the number
because I was thinking Of Pharaoh's
dream and the seven lean kline at the
time. The pigs and the horses seem
to be on amicable terms and old ac-
quaintances. ..
When the writer visited the church
on a beautiful Indian summer Sunday,
the congregation were singing famil-
lar hymn. The interior consisted OF o
room about thirteen feet square; the
floor was of smooth boards that had
been scrubbed until their whiteness
equaled the whiteness of the floors Of
the historical Dutch kitchens; the
walls were without paper, fresco or
kalsomine; the white plaster walls
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-12-27
,,rr INSURANCE AND TEMPERANCE.


A Massachusetts life insurance companys
Instructions to its medical examiners contain
tae following:
:sIn consideration OF risk nothing is more
important than the habits Of the applicant
RESPECTING the use of stimulants and mar.
cotics. Intemperance weakens body and
mind, and increases the fatality OF acute dis
ease by lessening the powers OF resistance,
while many forms OF chronic disease take
their origin in the excessive use OF alcoho!lc
liquors and tobacco. Moreover the statistics
OF life insurance show that intemperance re-
duces the average expectation OF life nearly
two-thirds. The most definite information
on this subject is therefore required, and the
examiner should see that the answers to the
questions relating to the use OF stlmulants
and narcotics are clear and specific. Inc
company does not knowingly insure IN In
temperate person.
"Present habits OF intemperance or i'm
morality invariably disqualify an applicant
for any form OF insurance. Past habits dls-
qualify for term Of years, varying accord
ing TO the nature OF the case. The daily use
Of any alcoholic beverage in the excess OF an
amount representing one and hall ounces
of absolute alcohol (hnstie's limit 1s not
lightly regarded by the Home Office"
TEMpEKaNcE NEWS AND NOTES.
OQly elSDC Ol SeVSutS -ufo Souhlioo iAA -o''S
issippi license saloons.
Drink upsets the emotions and makes
devils OF naturally good-tempered people.
One-nfth of the annual increase OF the
wealth Of the Nation is devoured by the So
loon.
Bishop Taylor tells of a distilery in Africa
called Bon jesus Good Jesus-so associated
are rum and Christianity in the minds OF the
natives.
Count Leo Tolsto who spent his time and
fortune year ago in alleviating the suffer-
incs OF the starving Russians. now asserts
that drunkenness was one OF the great
causes OF the famine.
writer in he Leeds (England) Times
saws lit is calculated that the people oil
Leeds spend at least one million pounds per
annum on Intoxicating liquors, half OF which
belongs to the working classes.
Forty-fve counties in Prohibition Kansas
possessing poor-houses and farms. are with
out a single pauper. and in thirty-seven
counties at the last term OF the District Court
there were no criminals for trial.
The thirty fifth report OF the Reformatory
and Refuge Union states that in Great Brit
ain and Ireland 145.00 persons are every
wear committed to prison as drunkards, OF
whom $4,000 are men and the rest women.
The British Home Secretary, the Hon. a.
n. Asquith, speaking recentlyin reference 10
the Gladstone Government and the liquor
onestion. said I'VE mean, gentlemen, L
strike blow, and ] trust and believe II will
be an effective blow, at that which H.. alter
all. the greatest of the plaques and curses
which aflict us as O social community
mean the e1annSG5 iptemperance." n. h- i
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-12-27

the class who seem to be able to think
for themselves, that it is safe to say
that not one-half of the church mem
bership wear the Dunkard garb. Their
close proximity to other religious
bodies had somewhat broken into their
church membership, and many of the
younger Dunkards have left the church
in which they were reared and allied
themselves to other churches which
seem to them less exacting in the pre-
requisites of church membership.
The next day being Monday, and,
consequently, wash day, I managed to
get around somewhat through the
beautiful valley of the Antietam, to
take look at the Dunkard farms The
well-t;lled fields and overhowing barns
everywhere bore witness to the indus
try and prosperity of this thrifty class ;
indeed, Dunkard farmer who is not
prosperous would be curiosity, If
not an exception or impossibility.
Their success seems to be due to the
wise selection of farming lands, their
untiring industry, and simple, frugal
manner of living. The same rules fol-
lowed by other farmers would, with
out doubt, yield the same degree of
prosperity, and help to solve the prob
lem, "Does farming pay?"
A visit to the Dunkards would not be
complete without chat with the
preacher (the term minister or pastor
is not used), so I managed to find an
excuse for calling upon the preacher
to whose sermon I had listened the
Sunday before.
I found him at work upon the little
farm, for he is farmer, and soon was
engaged in conversation with him.
Our talk soon turned upon the church
service of the day before, and he half
apologetically, said he was not SO we'll
prepared as he should have been, as it
was expected another preacher would
preside, but having been called away
to attend o funeral there was no other
choice, but to preach himself. l ex.
pressed myself as highly pleased and
Instructed by his sermon. and then ne
told me of the manner in which his
sermon was prepared. He said: IL
always select my text earl in the
week, and then by the aid ofmy Bible
and Concordance, study carefully all
passages of Scripture relating to the
subject selected. All the week while
at my work l keep my mind upon the
subject of my sermon, and try so far
as possible to learn exactly what 1t
means, and its lesson and application
to ourselves. Then on Sunday try
to tell the church what the Bible has
told me on the subject" ."
"Do you have theological schools
and seminaries?" I asked.
"No," he replied, ''our preachers
are selected by vote OF the church;
formerly we were not in favor OF
liberal education, but we see the pull
pits of other churches supplied with
men specially educated for the minis,
terial work, and we recognize the fact
that we must educate our children or
we shall constantly lose ground-so
we are starting schools for the higher
education of our young people, and
believe that every one should be edu-
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-12-27

saw the most frightful object eyes ever
beheld, dancing inside, plainly seen
through the windows"
The boy stopped here, while his eyes
seemed dilating with horror at the re-
membrance, and his lips grew pale.
"What was it like?"
aOh, I don't want to describe it!
can't really Jim looked out when I
screamed, and was as frightened as I,
80 we both jumped into bed, quick, and
covered up our heads co shut out the
sight. 1t was terrible, Doctor, terrible!"
"Are you sure others have seen it'"
"Oh, yes; and you can see it yourself
If you look that way about ten o'clock
the next hard storm that comes 1t
seldom fails to appear then"
DR.. Elfenstein said no more, but in
wardly resolved to remember, and be on
the lookout for the specter OF the Haunt
ed Tower. Yet, while he resolved, he
laughed at himself for putting the least
faith in this boys unlikely story.
ait is q wild tale these villagers have
invented, in order to excite strangers
and draw attention to this quiet, rural
place. do not believe one word about
bu6 &uOSU, you, 1Ol UhO JOhO VI oAO oAA'hS,
I will look this way about ten some real
stormy night and see what is to be seen."
AS if to keep the thing in remem-
brance, Earle saw that the sun was
sinking, even then, into bank OF
clouds, and he concluded that thunder
storm would burst over them that very
night
One thing, however, Earle Elfenstein
noted, the present baronet's apartments
we're on the same side Of the building
that connected with the ruined portion,
while the tall old tower, which seemed
of more modern build, stood just back OF
the whole, while its large windows on
each of the four sides could be distinctly
seen by the whole village inhabitants, as
1t rose SO far above the houses, and even
above many Of the numerous trees that
filed the grounds.
With q breast full of curiosity and
eager to be at work unraveling the mys-
terry that hung so deeply over this well.
known place, Earle turned the head Of
his horse toward the entrance, deter
mined If q storm did rage at ten that
night to be stationed at some window or
place where the Haunted Tower could be
distinctly seen.
Could DR.. Elfenstein have known what
the appalling storm had in store for him
he surely would have dreaded more its
coming.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-12-27
- ALCOHOL IN THE HOUSE.

awful thought that woman should learn
the power OF appetite through doctors pre-.
scriptions Above all else we should keep
the home pure Mothers should see TO it
that no liquor ever enters the home.
''Twenty-three years ago." said Archbishop
Ireland, II began temperance work with the
men. am glad, most thankful, that I be-
gan in any way but if were to begin again,
/ would organize the women. Not because
they need It more than, or nearly as much,
as the men-in the worldly view of the case +,
but because Of the good that would be done
in their homes and to their families"
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-12-27
ALCOHOLISM AND CRIME.

The relation between alcoholism and crime
has been repeatedly observed, and statistics
sufficiently confirm the conclusions Of popu-
lar opinion. Wherever these are appealed to,
at home and abroad, we find the same high
percentage OF crimes and misdemeanors per
petrated. either under the influence OF liquor
or by notorious drunkards. OF course, as
physician 1 know very we'll that the relation
between drunkards and crime Is often mlsap-
pretended, that the former is frequently
pointed to as the cause of the latter, while in
reality they are more frequently the inevitable
coordinate consequences Of an inherited ab-
normal mental condition, physcopathic de-
generacy Nevertheless in reality this patho-
logical condition is not of such extreme sig-
nifcance in this regard. BY making dis
tinction between occasional and habitual
drunkards. it is found that by far the great
majority Of offenders belong to the former
class. To cite only one example: OF 113o
persons convicted in Germany in 1892 for
ofrenses against the person, $50 were drinkers
Of these 600 were occasional drinkers, and
only $50 confirmed drunkards.-Dr. AdoIph
Strumpell
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-12-27
THE PARTING.
BY WIN. W. LONG.

ehe looked upon him coldly, with calm
and quiet face,
And no shade Of sadness ruffled her beauty
or her grace;
Her mien was proud and stately, no tremor
shook her hand,
As she handed back his letters-haughtiest
lady in the land.
His soul was filed with yearning, ns he
looked into her eyes,
Hnt their LIQUID depths we're placid as
cloudleSS summer skies;
And he murmured low and sadly, in touch
ing monotone
That the low winds waited softly to the
forest in q moan:
'.Good-by, darling Laila, we shall never
T am going Tar away, to the land Of fair
Lorain.
You have bartered your proud beauty for
boards OF cleaning gold,
And q bridegroom stern and seltSh-a
bridegroom gray and old.
His path of life is sullied with the orphans
falling tear,
And the widows wall OF sorrow hath as
cended to the ear
OF the Great Eternal Ruler, like the ringing
Of knell;
But the reck'ning must be settled, for he
doeth all things well.
Nv fortune is my honor, with conscience
pure and true,
And a heart that gives its worship as no
other will to you.
But your path Of life is chosen-jewels and
gold are thine,
And q deep, sad, tender yearning and
broken heart are mine"
he passed from her queenly presence, down
to the winding lane,
Into the forests shadows, and she saw him
never again.
She glides about, princess through the
marble halls of Lockair,
Her person robed in satins and jewels in her
hair;
But her lips are never smiling and her voice
Is soft and low,
Like the music Of Eolus in its undertone OF
They tell passing story Of the youth, young
Alderband,
That he faded like q flower, and died in
foreign land.
There are serpents at tho fountains, and
blight upon the flowers,
And dreams of life are shattered in this
strange world Of ours.
PALMYRA. Va.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-12-27
most fetching tailor made gown has

most fetching tailor-made gown has
cast the fashion-worshiping sinners.
The brethren of the congregation
dress much after the fashion that pre-
walls among the well-to-do farmers, in
every farming community. Years ago
the correct style was to wear coats
fastened by hooks and eyes instead of
buttons, to shave the upper lip, and
have the hair cut after the pattern
formed by placing milk crock at the
head and cutting away all the hair not
covered by the crock-but all these
distinctive characteristics of dress have
passed away, and while the Dunkard
brother of to-day dresses plainly, there
is little about his appearance that
would indicate the brotherhood to
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-12-27

been washed and kissed then performs
the same Office for the brother next to
him, and this course is followed until
all have been waited upon, the same
line of action is pursued by the sisters
of the church.
"How do you manage when you
come to person in the church that
you don't like?'' was asked of a sister
concerning this ceremony. "Oh, " she
replied, "we always manage to sit BE-
side some one we are on good terms
with So it seems that there are per-
sons from whom the great lesson OF
humility has not entirely leayened the
spirit of caste and worldly preference.
Aside from the peculiarities of dress
and church ceremonies the Dunkards