davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1893-03-30

pies. an, dug like couple O quarter
horses fO' de sittin' room, to refresh
ourselves. We drag'd up big rockin'-
char TO- table, an we sat down befo'
dat pie all steamin' an siZzlin' wild heat
an lusciOusness. No sooner had we got
comfortably seated, dan Alexsis hap
pnin' to look out de window, 'spied our
common enemy. Miss Priscilla Ashbury
comm up de walk. She wus de teacher
OBJ Gle white chilluns an made herself at
nome. anyWhar in de neighbOrhOOd.
She had been de cause oh us bein' shut
up IN de smoke-house, many time, fO'
cuttln up our didOeS- an fO' calm her
de Puritan maiden. She come on us so
sud- My, we had no chance to git way
wild Gle pie; so we jeS' put it under de
cushion; an grabs two busters, an'make
b'lieve dustin de furniture. CCause you
understands we brack imps hab no right
in Gle white folks sittin' room, unless on
business.) Jes' den de door op'ns an in
come Priscilla, jes' as big as if she own'd
ole whole plantation. She walk Ober to
Gle lOokin' glass, an she look at herself
sideways she lay her hat on de ia
BILE, an she look at herself, ag'in, ober
her shoulders fix up her back hair,
an kim a squeeze an rumple up her
bus'le, an then stiff leggd-like, she walk
ober an planks herself plump down in
dat rOckin'- chair. Well, may Angel
Gabriel slash me wild a razzer, if she had
any mo- dan got plank'd in de rockin'-
chair, befO' dat dog gon'd parrot COM
menc'd he catechism Talk bout yo'
forc'ble arguments! l nebber had a
argument strike me so fOrcble, in all
my life! :. An. it mus hab struck de
Puritan bout as forc'ble: fo' she jump'd
six-feet! DOg-gone de parrot; could
hab jump right on he neckD De Puri
tan she look under de cushion, an sho'
'nough. dere wus de pie! 1t wus no
time TO procrastination, so dove right
fro de window, an lit out fo' de buckle
berry pastur; an bam-by, l look back,
an Alexsis he wus jeS' climbin out de
top OBJ de chimbley, on to de roof. De
prospects befO' me, wus now mighty
gloomy, if l went back, dat smoke house
would shOly contain me fo' bout a
week: an SEEM no possible chance,
wild out hook an ladder company, fo'
AleXsis gittin' off de roof jes' made
my min up, to show dem people.
wusn't de big fool, folk thought as if l
wus: so. 'mediately packs up my ham
k'chief wild razzer an shoe brush, an
p'inted my course Nor by Nor Yves To-
Minnesota street an has nebber been
heard from since. TALAMUD.
The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1893-03-30
A New Compass for the French Navy

The Lephay compass (cOmpds q Tepercs lItnlin-
e,Lc), which was eXperimentally fitted on board
the battle ship HOche, is hencefOrward to be
supplied to every battle ship in the French navy
The inventor, M. Lephay, French naval Lieu
tenant, cOntrives, by the adoption of cOmbina-
ton of lenses and mirrors to throw from the
pinnacle lamp of his compass vertical line of
light upon the interior side of the compass box,
between the card and the glass. This line, al
though it may be produced upon any desired
point of the inside of the periphery, is, for the
time being, fixed line, and bears a known rela-
ton with the line of the ships keel. 1t thus marks
the course OF the vessel. From another cOmbna-
ton OF lenses and mirrors above the centre of the
card there is thrown upon the interior side of
the compass box a second ray of light, which,
when the apparatus has been properly adjusted.
moves as the card moves. All that the helms
man has to do is to keep the two lines in one.
The navigating officer sets the course by so NOV
ing the rays that. the ship being on her course.
both are in one and thus it is not even necessary
for the helmsman to know what course he is
steering. The advantages of the invention are
that it greatly diminisheS the strain upon the
helmsman; that, owing to the rays of light hay
ing longer radius than the radius of the card,
deviatiOns from the true course are doubly evil
dent and propOrtiOnately easy to counterfeit;
that the suppression of the visible light from the
pinnacle lamp is beneficial to the night sight of
those on the bridge: and that it does away with
all danger of the helmsman MISUNDERSTANDING
orders, since his functions are rendered purely
mechanical. The French Naval Commission APP
pointed to consider it reported unanimously in
favor of its adoption in all large war ships.
London Times
The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1893-03-30
" Mesa Pyanda Kushin."

In de paint shop, Thanksgivin' day.
Talamud, he ax'd me fl done gone an
aforementioned bout Massa Philander
Cushings parrot down in Norfolk, Var
ginny. "TO be sho' not" | say; den |
urge him to tell de story, an edify de
North Hill band. Dereupon he draw
long snuff up he nose an hawk out he
throat, an, he say: OF massa Philander
Cushin' wus fust mate OBJ de Magnolia.
three master, dat traffickd in fancy
wood, an piled tween de shores OBJ de
Argentine Confederation, an de South
ern States. On one OBJ her trips, when
layin' at anchor in de Rio de la Plata
River, Massa Philander went asho'.
at Buenos Ayres, an got a young
parrot; an fo' a whole week. while de
ship wus bein' loaded wild Tulip-wood
Massa Philander wus putin in all he
spare time, teachin' dat bird to talk; an
TO long time de catechism run long
in bout dis style: Now, Polly: whar
wus you born? Say Buenos Ayres.
Say it, Polly! Say Buenos Ayres. Now.
say it ag'in; an de parrot would say
Bae1o Ayrs! Bue'aa Ayrs! Now, Pol
ly wha's yo' Massa name? Say Massa
Philander Cushing: Massa Philander
Cushing! Say it, Polly! Say Massa
Philander Cushing Say it once mo-.
an de parrot by slow degrees would
keep repeatin Messa, Pyanda Katshiaa
Mess0 Pyaaada Kushin! Now, Polly,
tell me whar you was born, an What's
20 Massa name-tell me right off now
go on, Polly; say it. An de Parrot
he keep practicin', an say: Bate,aa Ay,;s.'
-Nessa, Py01lda Kushia1! Bueaa0 lars!
Mesa, Pyd'ada Kushi7a! BY de time
de Magnolia reach her home port. de
parrot had he catechism down purity
fine; an all you had to do wus to look
at him, an he say: Bueaaa Ayrsj Mes
So, Py0aader KaxSaaial! Massa Philander
he bring de parrot home in bran new
cage, an hang him up in de sittin' room,
whar he could improve he vocabulary,
at leisure. Now, it happen'd one Sat-
day fo'nOOn, not long arter dis, when de
folks wus ober to Norfolk, an Alexsis
nanny wus bakin' agg pies, dat l paid
dem a visit; an somehow, or odder,
me an Alexsis got hop oh one OBJ dem
The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1893-03-30
Don't Know the English Language.

Beyond any question of doubt, seventy per cent
of the alleged stenOgraphers and type-writers
who offer their services to deluded public do not
know how to spell or write correct English. We
know of an instance where merchant advertised
for stenOgrapher had fifty applications for the
position and after examining thirty eight, found
only four who were competent. The thirty-four
failures due to the lack of knowledge of the
English language. And still in the common run
of business an elaborate knowledge of English is
not absolutely necessary for it has been ascer-
tanned that with the aid of only one thousand
words, an ordinary business can be successfully
and completely transacted. The reason why we
have SO many partially ignorant young men and
women amongst us is, that the public schools
(Which the majority attend )attempt too much and
turn out pupils who know nothing thoroughly
The public schools will also have to retrace their
steps. give I'D fads in education and come down
to just plain hard pan before they can impart
thorough education in any particular branch
The admirable kindergarten training, which is
complete, as far as it goes. educates the eye, ear
and hand Then comes simple reading, writing
spelling, geography, arithmetic or the science of
numbers and language lessons. 1t is the duty of
every teacher to see that his pupils are able to
compose well in English and read and write the
English language correctly. When this is done
and done we'll, the pupil, who must go to work at
the age of fourteen. has all the learning he can
take in. But to the more advanced scholar, the
aspirant for college degrees. the English language
is a study that he is all the while pursuihg-when
he reads. listens or speaks, he is studying Eng
fish. And why should he not? Is it not confess
ed that excellence in English is. in and for ITSELF
supremacy desirable. 1t is an accomplishment.
The ability to express ourselves easily and grace
fully is an acquisition to be coveted. Ones En-
glish is generally taken as the test and measure
of his culture-he is known "by the English he
keeps" To mistake his words, to disregard the
rules of grammar, disclose the speakers intel
lectual standing. Ones English betrays his
breeding, tells what society he frequents, and
determines what doors are open to him or closed
against him. If then generous command of En-
glish is so desirable, why is it so rare possess
iOn?-The Summary
The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1893-03-30


the visit of five little children. sons and daughters
of the Warden. They were interested and inter-
esting visitors, eager to solve the mysteries per-
tanning to the "art preservatve of arts" which
we explained to them to the best of our ability.
There will be no confession Easter Sunday,
as Father. COrcOran's arduOus duties on that day
in his parish will fully occupy his time. His as
sistant. Father o Bren. is suffering with rheu-
matism to the extent that he will probably be
forced to take a trip East for the benefit of his
health.
Tuesday the second grade men were decked
in their new suits of clothes. The coats will
probably be used by some of the boys as a check
Ell board. By the way, good idea for that
champion chess player we have among us, and
Oh, that's sO-he is in the first grade. 'Scuse us,
Wayne
One of our shining lights visited shop on
business but failed to produce his pass when call
ed upon to do so by the guard stationed there.
He was reported for "vagrancy;" and now he is
wondering if the regulation tin can, which gen.
orally accompanies the tramp, was found in his
possession or not.
Engineer Jones is making grand prepare
tons to begin his spring planting. The ground
"
sight of the flowers that bloom in the spring. ira
la. will fill our hearts with joy. He was away
Tuesday, purchasing probably, big invoice of
agricultural implements for use on his planta-
ton.
Last Thursday it seemed as if the falls of
NIinnehaha had made their way direct to the
prison for the sole purpose of aggravating the
captain of the dollhouse. He had taken particu-
lar pains to have the boys whitewash one of the
southwest wings of the dollhouse the day before
when a small freshet set in and marred the
beauty 'of the whole shooting match - as the
boys APPLY expressed it.
Our usually loquaciOus devil :" has been a
sufferer from toothache for several DAYS and
his lugubrous, wOe-begone countenance has
kept the temperature of THE MIRROR office to
the zero point until last Saturday. when we sue
ceeded in persuading him to go to the hospital
and get some "pain killer - to relieve his suffer
ings. Before starting for the hospital he babe
us pathetic adieu. and acknowledged that he
knew something of the whereabouts of plug of
tobacco that had mysteriOusly disappeared from
the exchange editors table several days previous
He had been gone but few minutes when wells
shrieks. and cries for mercy were heard issuing
from the hospital, and then all was still. When
our devil - returned we endeavOred to have
him describe his sensations. but he positively
declined to say anything for publication.
The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1893-03-30
Possible Vocal Exertions.

ayes, sir, said Mabel, proudly, when
a young man kisses me l scream"
" Mabel" said Reginald, with sudden
GOODNESS. "why is it you are so often
hoarse when call on you ?"-Chicago
NeeCs- Record.
The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1893-03-30
Sold for Vagrancy.

On Tuesday a negro was sold from
the block at Fayette. Mo-, for vagrancy:
on Friday, Charles Hardin. white man.
was sold at Mexico, Mo-, each of them
for six months. The former brought
500, but the price of the latter is not
given in the dispatches. Both were sold
at public auction by the sheriff under
order of court, having been convicted
OF chronic vagrancy. Some of the east
ern papers, and especially those of Re
publican color, have raised the howl
that slavery is still in existence in Mis-
souri,. For all that the law is good
one, and here are two fellows who will
now have to work whether they want
to or not. Section 1916 chapter 1860 Of
the statutes defines Migrants as follows:
Every able-bodied person who shall be found
lettering about without visible means of support
and maintenance. and who does not apply him.
self to labor some other honest calling to pro-
cure livelihood. and all able-bOded persons who
are found begging. or who quit their homes and
leave their wives and children without the means
of subsistence, shall be deemed and treated as
Migrants.
The next section continues and says
UIluU dl1 hCCpCI0 VI CAI1UltOIS VI dllN
gaming table or gambling device. and
all persons who travel or remain in
steamboats, or 90 from place to place
for the purpose of gaming. shall be
deemed and treated as Migrants. 1t will
thus be seen that there is plenty of
material in st. Joseph to which this law
might be applied Section SS49 provides
for hiring out the vagrant. He is not
sold, as the slaves were, but his services
are let to the highest bidder 1t is all
the same, with a technical difference.
The section says:
If upon examination it shall appear that such
person is a vagrant, the fact of vagrancy having
been established by the verdict of jury; sum-
mOned and sworn to inquire whether the person
be a vagrant or not. the justice shall make out
warrant directing the sheriff or constable to
keep such persons in his custody until three
days notice can be given by advertisement, set
up in the most public places in the county, of the
hiring out of such vagrant at the court house
door in said county. for the term of six months.
to the highest bidder for cash in hand.
The money shall be applied to the pay
ment OF his debts, or if he has no debts
it shall go to his wife or children: if he
has neither debts nor family, it shall be
given him at the expiration of his term
of servitude. If be minor he shall be
apprenticed to some trade by the county
court
The vigorous enforcement of this law.
with whipping post for wife-b heaters.
would work wonders in certain circles
of st. Joseph.-St. Joseph (Mo.) Gazette.
Delivering his inaugural, President
Cleveland spoke without notes. as he al
ways does. 1t is said of him that he
never read speech in his life. In the
act of writing it, he half commits it to
memory, and then, with one more read
The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1893-03-30

The application of electricity to safe
ty devices in banks and other buildings
has reached degree of efficiency that
is simply marvellous.
The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1893-03-30

Delivering his inaugural, President
Cleveland spoke without notes. as he al
ways does. 1t is said of him that he
never read speech in his life In the
act of writing it, he half commits it to
memory, and then, with one more read
ing, he knows every word and punctua-
ton mark in it.-EG.
Daily Texarkana Democrat. (Texarkana, Ark.) 1890-1894, 1893-04-03
A Disagreeable Affair.

Much comment, not unmiXed with
criticism, has been evoked over the
arrest of the women who conducted a
shooting gallery on the West side.
The affair, to say the least Of it, is o
very disagreeable and unsayory one.
While we do not think the presence
Of these women in our city has been
in any sense desirable, yet, because
they are women, we should like to
have seen them less harshly dealt
with. The council did right, no doubt,
in revoking their license, but would
have done much better had it taken
earlier action. The arrest Of the wo-
men is another matter, as they were
here under color Of law, they should
have been given notice to quit the
city. Upon their failure to comply
they should have then been arrested
Daily Texarkana Democrat. (Texarkana, Ark.) 1890-1894, 1893-04-03
An Interesting Meeting.

The initial services held by the Y
M G A Of Texarkana at the opening
Of their new quarters in the lyy-Frie
dell building ON yesterday afternoon
proved in every way decided success
for the Association. The previous an
nouncement of the opening exercises
had the effect of drawing a large au-
dience, composed of our best people,
whose presence in such numerous
assemblage evinced the deep and wide
spread interest which is felt for all
that concerns the present or future
welfare of this most excellent organi-
zatlon. The services were indeed
both interesting and excellent. The
address by Rev. Arthur Highly was
able and eloquent, while the prayer
by Rev. Ernest Thompson touched the
hearts of his hearers. The musical
part of the services added another
charm to the otherwise interesting
and enjoyable occasion.
Daily Texarkana Democrat. (Texarkana, Ark.) 1890-1894, 1893-04-03

and startling. In one instance, par
ticularly, the Neo-Stundists of Russia,
the reported result of an investigation
almost passes belief, despite the fact
that the same is made by an accredit-
ed authority. In one province, that
Of Yakhin, this gentleman describes
his experience with a body Of this
queer sect as the most remarkable of
his life. He observed them making a
ring, like English schoolgirls when
singing, "When | was lady, aud
whirling round with velocity that
made him dizzy. They twisted and
bent their bodies till you would fancy
they must have steel wires instead of
bones inside their skin; they elapped
their hands as loudly and excitedly as
South American audience applaud
ing prima dona; they shouted TIL
the roof seemed to be coming of; then
they varied the proceedings by jump
ing up to the ceiling and trying to
catch the spirits there, while the mus
cles of their faces seemed to have be-
gun course of exercises on their &C
count; their mouths would widen till
they almost reached their ears; their
eyes would roll. and turn upwards
like those Of the magician in the cara
bian Nights" after he had quafled the
goblet Of potent poison, till nothing
but the whites were visible; and dur
ing all this they would chant strange
sylables and unfamiliar words, weep,
laugh, moan and sob, the perspiration
rolling in streams from their faces
and bodies until at last they were
overcome by exhaustion and dopped
down like poisoned flies" "Our
orthodox people look upon it all as
the work of the devil" remarks M.
Skvortsoff. "And in this they are
perfectly right" he adds, "for without
the assistance of the evil spirit no
Christian could perform such things.
Daily Texarkana Democrat. (Texarkana, Ark.) 1890-1894, 1893-04-03
Az 6. RS
G. berry PeCtOral

taken for consumption, in it's early
stages, checks further progress of
the disease, and even in the later
stages, it eases the distressing
cough and promotes refreshing
sleep. 1t is agreeable to the taste,
needs but small doses, and does not
interfere with digestion or any Of
the regular organic functions. Asan
emergency medicine, every house
hold should be provided with Ayers
Cherry Pectoral,
Having used Ayers Cherry Pee
toral in my family for many years, l
can confidently recommend it for all
the complaints it is claimed to cure.
Its sale is increasing yearly with me,
and my customers think this prepa-
ration has no equal as a cough-cure."
S. w. Parent, Queensbury, N. B.
Daily Texarkana Democrat. (Texarkana, Ark.) 1890-1894, 1893-04-03
PUBLIC CONFIDENCE.

At no period, In the history OF oul
city, has the prospects for her futur,
been brighter or more enduring thar
now. Nor has there ever been time
when the confidence of the people, in
the present welfare and future pros
perity of their city, was flrmer or bet
ter founded than at the present. Ii
is true that the whole country has
just emerged from period Of almost
unexampled depression, attended by
hardship and disaster, which, in the
ordinary course OF events, would have
the natural effect of destroying public
confidence and shaking to its very
center the flrmest of public faith.
That such is not the condition of our
own people, speaks volumes for their
indestruetible faith in the city's future.
Such confidence cannot well be mis-.
placed, The business men of Texar-
kama, are a clear-headed far seeing
set, and their convictions are well
worthy the consideration and respect
of the public. Taken altogether the
existence Of Tcxarkana has been
prosperous one. AT no time has she
been worse of that the majority Of
her sister cities. While, to-day, her
future as commercial, railway and
manufacturing center is brighter and
better founded than ever before, and
will bear favorable comparison with
that of any city of like size in the
Southwest.
The completion of the Texarkana &
Fort Smith railway North and South,
gives her equal advantages from both
points, as though two separate and
distinct lines were to be constructed
That the road will be built, is now be-
yond question, and with its compile
ton will open an era Of prosperity
beyond the present reach of the most
vivid or sanguine Inauguration.
Daily Texarkana Democrat. (Texarkana, Ark.) 1890-1894, 1893-04-03
THOMAS REEDS GREATNESS

From this time onward one need
not fear that he can become so poor,
act SO vile or live so meanly, but
there will be some left to do him rev.
erence. Had we been called upon to
select the last of living human sub
jects for fulsome praise, either public
or private, the search would have been
widely extended ere we should have
settled on Thomas Bracket Reed. Yet
hear what a Pennsylvania eulogist has
to say Of him.
of sheer originality and force of
intellect were the sole criterion, Thos.
Bracket Reed would come near be-
ing the greatest living republican,
In that brilliancy and fertility which
are allied to genius, he is without an
equal. He is unique, coruscating and
effulgent AS Speaker Of the House
he displayed also more substantial
qualities. He showed will, decision
and resolution. lie showed mastery
Of men and measures. There has
been no finer exhibition in our times
Of parliamentary power and Cromwell
liam attributes. Every enc feels that
for that sort of u struggle he is I'M
rivalled, and that he was born Tor ii
us much as Napoleon for war or Ham
ilton for statecraft. 1t is side of
greatness which is not TO be disputed,
and we only pause when we come to
ask whether it includes all sides. But
it is big enough, with the lighthouse
Illuminating power Of penetrating
speech which goes with it, to put Tom
Reed in the first rank of living iiepub-
leans and living Americans"
Shades of Abraham Lincoln, Roscoe
Conkllng and Ulysses $. Grant, gaze
down on us and weepl
Daily Texarkana Democrat. (Texarkana, Ark.) 1890-1894, 1893-04-03
"The Colonel.

"The Colonel" was here yesterday
and was produced at the matinee and
last night. II is one Of the best come
dies that ever delighted Little Rock
audience. The cast is superb. There
is not a single member Of the com
pany who Is not deserving of unstint-
cd praise. Every one Of the combina-
ton Is an artist. The individual
work is superb; the general perform
ance could hardly be bettered. The
first act becomes interesting the mo-
ment the curtain rises and continues
Daily Texarkana Democrat. (Texarkana, Ark.) 1890-1894, 1893-04-03
Religious Enthusiasts.

Just now, when one Of the most inn
portant topics under consideration in
all civilized lands is that Of Worlds
Parliament Of Religions to be held
during the present year at the Worlds
fair at Chicago, religious discussion
has reached a height never known be-
fore in centuries. This almost univer.
sal interest has been followed by wide
and sweeping investigation into the
religious beliefs and practices of diff
ferent nationalities. The result has
In some instances. been both strange