davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1893-07-08
AN INTERESTING BEGGAR.

One afternoon, while strolling along
the Gale Ancha in Cadiz, [ met several
acquaintance at the. corner of that street
and the Plaza Constitution. We stopped
for friendly chat, and were about to
separate, when my attention was attracted
to a handsome French pc odle-dog at my
side, seated on his launches, and look
ing up in Ivy face. His comical little
countenance expressed so much intelli-
gence that [ stopped and patted him on
the head, when he commenced barking
and violently working his fore legs, after
the manner of dogs who have been
taught "to beg"
"What can he wish?' said I. "Surely
not my cigar?'
But having seen dogs Iwho were fond
of tobacco, held my cigar towards him.
AS soon as he smelt it he snorted and
bounded away, only to return immedi-
ately and resume his previous position.
I was now puzzled. but seeing several
beggars in the neighborhos,d, concluded
that he belonged to one of them, and
desired piece of money. Taking a large
"copper" from my pocket, I held it be-
ioAO hlo SsNCo' ~ SiC"U HCio Aio ludul-
festations of delight that was certain l
had OWNED his wants. | threw the
money to him, which he caught in his
mouth, and running across the street,
disappeared into bakery. To our aston
ishment, he emerged from the shop in a
few moments, bearing in his mouth
neatly wrapped bundle. One of my
friends tried to take it from him, but he
would not allow this, and insisted on
placing it at my feet. I picked it up,
removed the wrapper, and found large
bun busted with sugar. This he ate with
great relish. We remained for a while
to see if he would besiege another passer-
by; but no, he had had enough for the
present, and coiling himself up in the
doorway, settled down for quiet nap.
This exhibition of intelligence think
worthy of note, and particularly so for
the reason that the dog was apparently
acting independently, there being no one
near to prompt or direct him.-[ Harper's
Young People.
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1893-07-08
A WORD TO THE BOYS.

Charles Dudley Warner, a famous
writer, once wrote the following: eff I
owned a girl who had no desire to learn
anything, would swap her for boy.
If the boy did not desire to- learn, l
would trade him off for violin or a
lockwood vase. You could get some
thing out of violin and you could put
something into the vase The most use
less of things is that into which you can
put nothing, and from which you can
get nothing. The boy or girl who has
no wish to know anything is the one
and becomes the other" The boy, who
dosn't care what people think of him. or
whether he amounts to anything or not,
is in very bad way, indeed. In the
first place, it shows lack of pride. Now,
there are two kinds of pride; the true
and the false. False pride is that which
makes boy ashamed to carry the market
basket for his mother; ashamed to wear
old clothes when his father can't Oxford
him any better; ashamed to say mo"
when he ought, and ashamed to ask
questions about things he ought to know,
but don't. A boy who is all that is very
likely to argue "what's the use," when
he is advised to stick to his studies, to
be thorough in his work and conscien-
tious in all his dealings.
There was once a little boy who be-
come interested in earthquakes, and he
asked questions of everybody on the
subject of earthquakes until he was old
enough to read about them for himself.
Then he became so interested in the sub
ject that he began to study the cause
of these disturbances; from that he went
into the study of electricity, and began
to study machines, and finally learned
to put up electric wires and bells. Be-
fore he was old enough to go to the high
school, he was able to earn lot of
money doing these things and had several
men working under his direction. That
boy was too proud to 60 through life
without learning something of the world
he lived in. The golden rule that should
guide boy throug Oh life is, "whatever
you do, do it WE'LL" One of the richest
men in the country gives the following
advice as the road to success; II want
to impress upon vc", bays, the necessity
of punctuaE;y.' If you engage to do any
th;2s ut a certain day or hour, do not
fail to do it. And if you find you cannot,
notify the persons you have promised,
SO that they will not be disappointed. I
regard punctuality as one-if not the
very-cardinal rule Of successful bust
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1893-07-08
London's Big Ben.

Between the palace yard at Westmin-
ster and the top of the clock tower
which marks the hours for Parliament
there are 420 steps.
The clock from which Big Ben
strikes the hour is the largest in the
world. Looking at the dial from the
northern tootway of Great George street,
or from the embankment, it looks as if
its diameter might be equal to the space
that man of medium size could cover
with outstretched arms. This estimate
hardly does the dial justice, for it's dia-
meter is twentythree feet. From the
ground the minutes on the dial look like
culinary minutes, and as if they were
close together. AS matter of fact they
are foot apart. The numerals are two
feet long. The minute hand, with the
counter balance-the heavy end that
projects beyond the center of the dial
is fifteen feet in length. This hand is so
massive that during snowstorm some
times the clock is retarded by the weight
Of the flakes that alight upon it.
Twenty men could stand under Big Ben
in rainstorm and escape wetting if
the rain fell in an exact perpendicular
and stayed where it fell The new light
at the top of the Parliament tower is
forty-three steps higher than Big Ben.
The old light was twenty-four steps
higher still. The new lii ht is 2,O6O
candle power. When the light is being
fixed two men stand in the lantern, and
they have plenty of room. The Parlia-
ment light is now a conspicuous object in
London. - Pail Mall Gazette.
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1893-07-08
AROUND THE HOUSE.

Beat carpets on the wrong side first.
Rub whitewash spots with strong
vinegar.
Rub your hands with salt and lemon
juice to remove stains.
Rub soft grease over tar and then wash
IN warm soda water.
The tiny red ant is one of the worst of
all household pests, and its determination
IS exceedingly difficult if not impossible.
Pouring kerosene oil into the cracks
which they infest will drive them away
for awhile, but they will soon return.
They may be kept out of sugar buckets
by making broad chalk mark around
them about half way up. The insects
cannot crawl over the chalk. 1t is a good
thing to put saucer of grease by the
place where they seem to come from.
They will swarm to it, and the grease
will hold them. When the saucer is
we'll covered scrape the contents into the
fire. Those ants at least will not return
to make trouble. This operation, re-
peated every day, will lessen the amount
of the plaques, although even this will
not exterminate them.
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1893-07-08

Recent experiments at Lynn, Mass.
recorded by the New York Press, indi
cate that electric locomotives operated
by the trolley system are entirely practi-
cable. The chief difficulty in the way
of their general adoption is the great
cost of establishing long distance lines.
The tremendous power of these new en-
gines of transportation was shown by
the fact that when an ordinary freight
locomotive and an electric locomotive on
the same track were coupled together,
facing opposite directions, the steam 10.
connective was dragged helplessly along
by its rival in spite of its throttles being
thrown wide open. The speed of the
electric locomotive is said to be 100
miles an hour. The storage locomotive,
equal in power and speed to the trolley
engine, has likewise been perfected, but
its cost is SO much greater than that OF
even the trolley loco motive that its use
at present is not to be expected. These
experiments, however, point to a day
when economical improvements in the
electric locomotive will enable it to sup
plant the steam railroad engine.
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1893-07-08

to look on her loved face got the mas
terry of me. Quietly slipping the tell
tale letters, which l had left on the
table, into my pocket, | opened the
door.
ooh, Fred, you are really ill !" ex,
claimed Carrie the moment the light fell
on my face. "Why did you not send for
me? Aren't you better?"
"Worse," l answered, husk'ly; ''but
Carrie-good heavens !"
AS uttered this exclamation I started
back, and then forward; and them
scarcely know what, for hanging across
Carries arm was my overcoat! Recovering
from my establishment, drew out eleven
thousand seven hundred and fifty dollars
and twenty three cents.
You have heard about, and perhaps
seen, the singular capers of a mailman,
or the wild antics of those crazed with
rum, or grotesque dancing of savages:
Well, Judging from what Carrie told
me and from the appearance of my
apartment after it was over, | am led to
believe that, were it possible to concen-
trate the three above mentioned species
of demons into one | was possessed
thereby.
But cooled down after awhile, and
just in time to save Carries head thump
from the chair | had selected in my
crazy waltz.
Then I asked for an exploitation. 1t
was the simplest thing imaginable. do
not know why had not thought of it
before. It was simply 'blunder of
Carries father. He had mistaken my
coat for his own, and worn it down
town, never dreaming that small for
tune was lying idly in the pocket.
I sent Mr.. Anderson his receipt,
handed over the money to Winston, and
went right on with my duties, wiser,
and, I hope, better mani brakes
Magazine.
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1893-07-08
RELIABLE RECIPES.

EGG SANDw1cHEs.-Egg sandwiches
are simply made as follows: Chop hard
boiled eggs fine with cucumber pickle,
large or small, according to the number
of eggs. Pepper and salt, adding little
made mustard, and rubbing very smooth
with a silver spoon. Spread between
thin slices of crustless buttered bread.
Pile on plate on a folded napkin.
Coop CLAM CHowDER.-For a good
clam chowder, take twenty-four medium
sized hard shelled clans. Wash and cut
in slices half dozen new potatoes. Put
them into large porcelain-lined sauce
pan containing two quarts of cold water.
Add one white onion, chopped fine, two
sprays of soup celery, also chopped fine,
and the green leaves of three or four
stalks of parsley. Add tablespoonful
of butter and one of salt. Now put the
kettle over the fire and let the water come
slowly to the boiling point, and boil for
about twenty minutes. At the end of
this time take large slice of fine lard
ing pork, cut almost half an inch thick,
free it from the rind and cut it into little
cubes. Let this pork stand in saucepan
at the back of the fire for about ten
minutes after the chowder is put over.
Then bring it forward aud fry the scraps
brown in the fat in the pan and add them
to the chowder, leaving out the grease
which has tried out of them. Add now
to the chowdcr four nice tomatoes, cut
in small pieces, and sprig Of thyme.
Cook twenty minutes longer. Cut each
clam in four equal parts and add them,
with half their juice, to the chowder.
Let the whole boil for two minutes more,
but no longer. Draw the kettle to the
back of the stove and test the chowder.
If necessary, add little salt and salt
spoonful of black pepper. A table
spoonful of Worcestershire sauce is also
good addition. Break in pieces two
large pilot crackers aud add to the
chowder, stir it well, cover it, and let it
stand for three or four minutes. Then
serve at once. This recipe may read
strangely to some people who have been
accustomed to pack in CLANS, crackers,
potatoes and other vegetables at the be-
ginning, and boil the chowder for three
quarters of an hour. The result of such
cooking is that the clans are merely
toughened CLANS and oysters should be
cooked as quickly as possible. and are
rendered tough and indigestible by
frightening the process.
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1893-07-08
BIRD CATCHING In ITALY.

A well known gentleman relates the
following story of the manner in which
birds are captured in Italy: "Once when
| was in Florence, lady came to me
and said, DO come with me and hear
those birds sing, oh! such wonderful
notesl' There was room full of birds
in very small cages, and these birds were
all blind; they had had their eyes put
out. In the night the owners take them
outside the city and hang the cages in
trees. The trees are then all smeared
with tar. These birds keep up their
pitiful singing and other birds are
attracted to the cages, and they get stuck
on the tar and then they are caught, and
their eyes are put out. And, these birds
are killed and sent to America for ladies
10 wear on tn cir bonnets. After hearing
this story, do you think you can ever
wear bird on your haiti"
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1893-07-08

The New York World says: "The
romance of General Kirby Smiths life
had its origin at the first battle of Bull
Run, where he was badly wounded, q
musket ball passing quite through him
from shoulder to shoulder. He lay help
Less on the ground until some soldiers,
attracted by the whinneying of his
horse, which stood over him, came and
bore him to shelter. He was then taken
to Lynchburg and nursed there by
Miss selden, who brought him back to
health and soon afterwards became his
wife. In later days, at Shreveport, in
1864, General Smith could be seen hoe.
ing q little patch of ground to raise
vegetables for his wife, who had become
an invalid, and that same year he sold
his faithful horse, which he loved next
70 his wife, in order to procure food for
her. General Smith was man of con.
spicuous honesty. When the war was
ended and he was fugitive on his way
20 Mexico be borrowed dollar here and
there to obttln means to send his family
home, thoash he had with him at the
aime $40, 0o0 in gold belonging to the
osnfederacy.
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1893-07-08
"A War Incident.

The cry of "On to Richmond' awak-
ened no enthusiasm in the hearts of the
"3d Ohio when they found themselves
en- route, as prisoners of war, for that
famous capital; nor were they enthusiasts
tic when they halted for the night and
prepared to sink supperless into dream
land.
The 54th Virginia Regiment had the
Ohio boys in charge. The Virginia boys
soon began to prepare supper, and in the
preparation the Ohio boys were not for
gotten. Old Virginia hospitality showed
itself even in war; The men soon made
their appearance with coffee kettles,
cornbread, and bacon, the best that they
had. In few minutes the coffee was
stcaming, the bacon cooked, and pris-
oners and captors sat down together
around the campfire, "like kinsmen true
and brothers tried" The hungry,
grateful Ohio boys ate with relish such
as no one can appreciate unless he has
been in like situation.
No wonder there was warm spot in
every heart of the Sd Ohio, ever after,
for the generous saith Virginia.
A fresh slide in the magic lantern gives
another of these shifting war pictures.
In the distance is Mission Ridge, which
has just been stormed. That long line
of prisoners passing over the pontoon
bridge and up the stony mountain road
is the 54th Virginia. A soldier on duty
at Kelly's Ferry asked indih'erently of
one of the prisoners, as the regiment
passed, "What regiment is that 2" "The
5tth Virginia, was the reply. In an in
slant the loungers sprang to their feet,
and rushed to where the 54th had been
put in camp. 1.-The 54th Virginia is in
camp at the Ferry" was heard on all sides,
and the boys of the Sd Ohio rushed into
the camp of the prisoners. The Ohio
boys brought out the boxes they had just
received from home. Coffee and sugar,
beef and canned goods, and in fact, the
best they had, was freely lavishcd upon
their former friends. They remembered
gratefully their debt of honor, and paid
it molly. 1t was the same old scene
over, with the shading reversed. For
one night, at least, both "Confeds' and
"Feds" enjoyed again the sweet grace of
hospitality that could bring a smile even
to the grim visage of war.-[Blue aud
Gray.
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1893-07-08

French farmers believe in threshing
and selling their wheat at once, the
American Agriculturist states, and not
in holding in expectation of an advance
in price. They have also found out that
by scientific rotation of crops on we'll
prepared soil, with carefully selected
seed and the judicious top dressing of
commercial fertilizers, the yield of wheat
can be raised from thirteen to twenty.
six bushels per acre.
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1893-07-08
THE MISSING COAT,
BY THOMAS G. MITCHELL.

never told anybody how very, very
near I was to death that night, just a
year ago; but as l can now look back
and calmly recall each word, each act, !
will write it down as a warning to all who
may find themselves similarly circum-
stanced, hoping with all my heart that
the number may be few.
In the first place, my name is Freder-
lex Putnam. am, and have been for
the last ten years, the foreman and book
keeper of the large numbering establish
ment of William Winston & Co., and
hope to be for another decade, unless
something better turns up. Mr.. Winston
is the resident partner and manager of
the manufacturing part of the business.
The other members of the firm, of whom
there are two, live in the city, at the foot of
the lake, and attend to the sales of lum-
Der, which we send them oy vessel.
This is by far the largest share of what
the mill cuts, though the amount of our
sales directly from the mill to supply the
country to the west of us is quite large.
Well, one cold evening, just as I was
preparing for home, heard footsteps on
the crunching snow outside, and pres
emily the Office door flew open, as
though some one in haste had given it d
push, admitting tall. stout, we'll
dressed man, with small travelling bag
in one hand and shawl over his arm.
I was alone, Mr.. Winston having gone
to the house some haitian hour before,
locking the safe, in which we kept our
books and papers, and taking the key
with him as usual. | had already
closed the damper to the stove, put on
my overcoat, and was just in the act of
turning down the lamp-but, of course,
| waited.
GOOD evening"" said the man, bust
ling up to the stove, and kicking the
damper open with his foot. 'tHas
Winston gone to the house2"
I answered that he had.
"Whew! I was afraid of it."
He drew out his watch-a very fine
one, thought.
II shall not have time to go up" he
said. "The train is due in fifteen min
utes."
''Is there anything can do2" asked.
II want to leave come money with
Winston. intended to stop in town
day or two, but have just got des-
patch that calls me home"
"What name, sir7"
Anderson, of Andersonville.
/ knew him then, though l had seen
him but once before. He had been one
of our best Western customers. | say
had been for the reason that during the
past year his payments had not been so
prompt. In fact, he was considered be-
hind, and Winston had that very day
told me to write to him, and .punch
him up little" as he expressed it. The
letter was then in the breast pocket of
my overcoat
"You can leave the money with me,
sir, and / will give you a receipt
he seemed to hesitate, which nettled
me somewhat. ! never blamed anybody
since, however.
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1893-07-08

Says the New York independents
1.-THE ascendency of the Irish in our
foreign.born population has now given
place to that of the Germans. In 1850
nearly forty three per cent. of the total
foreign born was made up of persons
born in Ireland, against twenty-six per
cent. formed by those born in Germany.
In 1890 the Irish percentage fell to
1928, while the German rose to 30.11.
Persons born in Ireland and Germany
represented more than two-thirds of the
entire foreign born element in 1850, but
only a little more than one.half in
1890"
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1893-07-08
AfgretteS as Ornaments.

The aigrette is tuft of graceful thin
feathers taken from q kind of heron
called egret; and not only are these poor
birds killed expressly to furnish orna-
ments for ladies' bonrets and hair, but
they are killed at the time when they
ought especially to be protected
namely, during the breeding season.
They build their nests close together,
and the feather-hunters look for these
breeding places. The best time to at-
tack them is when the young birds are
fully f1edged but not yet able to fly; for
at that time the solicitude of the parent
birds is greatest, and, forgetful of their
own danger, they are most readily made
victims. They hover in crowd over
the heads of their despoilers, their bold
ness making it as easy as possible to
shoot them down; and when the
slaughter is finished and the few hand
tuls of coveted feathers plucked out, the
poor birds are left in heap to tester in
the sun in s:snt of their orphaned young,
that CRY lor food and are not fed.--[A ni-
mai World.
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1893-07-08
LITTLE NUTMEG-GATHlCRERs.

Fancy picking nutmegs! This is what
the children of South America and the
tropical islands do almost as soon as they
can walk. Gathering nutmegs is some
thing like gathering chestnuts. Nut
meg-trees are planted in groves. The
trees are twenty feet apart and have long,
green leaves, very dark and glossy. The
nutmeg is enveloped in husk abont the
size and shape of a rusty coat apple.
When perfectly ripe, the husk splits,
and nut falls out. The kernel of fhe
nut is the nutmeg of commerce. 1t is
beaten from the husk by children, who
climb the nutmeg-trees and thrash the
branches with poles. The air is some
times SO heavy with perfume that the
young nutmeg gatherers are overcome
by its heaviness, and have to be borne
from the grove on the shoulders of CON-
panions.-[New York Ledger.
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1893-07-08
genuine.

If the United should really gobble
Hawaii, according to the San Francisco
Chronicle, some of Minister Stevens's
friends fear he may become victim OF
the royal kahunas. A kahunah is a
native switch doctor" who prays folks
to death. The Hawaians believe that
his power is limitless. A kahunah can
be bought off, but he comes high.
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1893-07-08
FOR YOUNG FOLKS,
TWO LITTLE ROSES

TWO LITTLE ROSES r.
One merry summer day
Two roses were at play; e.,
All at once they took a cotton ]
They would like to run ar&aY. j
Queer little roses; -
Funny little roses,
To want to run away!
They stole along my fence
They clambered up my wall; =:
They climbed into my window
To make a morning call!
Queer little roses;
Funny little roses.
To make a morning call!
New Orleans Picagune.
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1893-07-08

Numerous metal ties have been in.
vented and many roads have tried them,
but all have proven unsatisfac tory,
states the New Orleans Picayune. The
principal objections to them are their
cost and their non. elasticity. A: track
laid on metal ties wears out rolling stock
much faster than one laid on timber.
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1893-07-08

There died in Mexico lately, relates
the Atlanta Constitution, miser who
had tatooted his will over his chest in
stead of using pen and ink. The court
decreed that the "human document
should be copied and duly attested in
the presence of witnesses" This was
done and the court pronounced the will
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1893-07-08

Sir E. F. du Cane endeavors to prove
In Nineteenth Century, that crimes of
all kinds, except murder, have decreased
steadily during the past few years.
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1893-07-08

OF ALL the various legal measures that
have been adopted in orler to discourage
suicide none has worked very we'll.
Since the New York law was passed but
a single conviction has been had under
it. This was twelve years ago, when a
Iuan undertook to drown himself. He
was rescued and was sentenced to Sing
Sing, and he is therc yet:
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1893-07-08

Have blonde or brunette women had
most influence in the world, ruling
by love or force2 The New York Sun
decides in favor of the blonde.