davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1893-04-13
Culture and Politeness In Caracas.

Caracas has public ibraGy which
contains roi less than $1,000 volumes
The better class of citizens ere not only
educated as we understand the word,
but accomplished to degree not COM
mon in North America. Both sexes are
able to speak three or four languages be-
sides their own and are well up III art
and music. AS for polteness, there are
no such people under the sun. When
ever a Venezuelan, male or female
writes letter, whether to dear friend
or stranger, he or she Invariably con-
cludes it with the words, Beso susma-
nos, Il kiss your hands," and whenever
a Venezuelan gentleman meets lady,
whether it be his sweetheart or his
grandmother, he hastens to assure her
that he is Lying at her feet. Fannie
B. Ward.
Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1893-04-13
The Puzzle of Society"

Talk about your puzzles Chinese OF
any other kind-the greatest, the most
complex, the most inexplicable puzzle is
'society"-the society that you contin-
ually hear about, that bubbles up, that
effervesces, that widens out its own lit
tie ripples every now and then into one
gigantic wave that washes up from the
depths sediment that dims the luster
and sparkle and makes one wonder
where on earth real society is anyway.
Now, here is young man who came to
US with carefully prepared letters of in
PRODUCTION socially. He did not consider
it necessary to push himself. He was let
beautifully alone until accident proved
him desirable man to know.
Another man came here recently with
no letters-credit or social. He picked
up an acquaintance at popular hotel.
He let drop casually that he was from
England and was looking up real estate
here in America. This acquaintance.
who had the entree to society, intro
duced him to his friends. They invited
him out Others invited him in turn.
and he was Lrawn into society's vortex.
Now they hear from across the water
that the man, with his accent his only
recommend, is an imposter. Chicago In
ter Ocean
Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1893-04-13
A Skull as Big as a Bushel Basket.

One of the most remarkable finds OF
gigantic human remains of which we
have any record was that made at Paler-
mo, Sicily. in the year 1916, when an en-
tire skeleton of unheard of proportions
was unearthed by some marble quarry
men. These mammoth remains meas
ured exactly "a feet from head to foot,
and feet inches from point to point Cf
the shoulders. A stone ak buried with
this old time giant may still be seen at
Palermo in section z of the st. Isorent
museum. 1t is made of blush look
ing, fine grained bowlder. and appears to
be about feet inches long by foot
broad and inches through in the thick
est place. A musty, rusty looking tag
attached to the relic informs the visitor
that it weighs 50 pounds, but the general
verdict is that it could not weigh over
80 or 81 pounds.
The skeleton was burned by mob in
the year 1862 during the prevalence of
the black death at Palermo, the igno-
rant, superstitious people believing that it
was connected in some mysterious way
with the death dealing distemper. The
skull of this giant, according to Able
Ferregus, Twas largely excessive of the
baskets sayd TO hold the bushel, being
fitted above and belowe withe teeth to
the number of sixty-foure, the each of
which would have weighed two ounces
Cavalier Scroy claimed to have found a
skull on Teneriffe that had GO teeth.-St
Louis Republic.
Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1893-04-13
New Method of Starting Street Cars.


The latest method of starting street
cars in Denver is said to result in saw
ing of at least so per cent over the cost
of the ordinary system. The difficulty
Of maintaining schedule time with a
large number of cars is well recognized,
and on many lines if the car be delayed
by an accident for quarter of an hour
or 20 minutes the whole line will be so
demoralized that schedule time will not
be overtaken during the whole day. In
the city of Denver there are "a miles of
electrical and 13 miles of cable tracks.
requiring 103 trains in daily operation.
To obviate tie inconvenience which a
breakdown of any kind inevitably causes
system of telephone circuits has been
arranged with various call points, all
communicating with the head Office. Ev-
cry conductor on arriving at the termi-
nus of the route Immediately reports the
number of his car to headquarters and
receives in reply his proper leaving time
and any instructions that may be neces-
sary. The dispatch clerk is in this way
advised of the whereabouts of each car
and is very often enabled to fill up a
space of from 80 to 60 minutes caused by
parade" The saving of starters at
the various termini is taken as setoff
against the expense of the telephones
Chicago News Record.
Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1893-04-13

One If the most curious species of
known fruit is the holy or sacred cit
ron of the Jews. Its virtues are Landed
to the skies. and it is celebrated in leg
end, romance, poetry and song, and
yet 1t appears that it is never eaten. 1t
Is known IN most all oriental countries,
but appears TO be most highly esteemed
by the Moorish Jews of Tunis and Mo
rocco. On the streets of the last named
city it is sold at about cents per fruit.
These fruits are generally purchased by
bands of rowing pilgrims, the members
of religious professions and Jewish
priests.
When one of these sacred citrons falls
into the hands of a priest, he takes it to
the synagogue, where it is kept to be
used in some emblematic rite during the
time of the great feast of the tabernacles
Not only in oriental countries are these
holy fruits known and esteemed, but in
Germany, Russia, France, Spain and in
England. They are probably used in
American Jewish synagogues TO some ex-
tent, but such use would be necessarily
limited. In England, so am informed,
good specimens of holy citrons bring as
much as so shillings each, there being
whole companies which make their i'm
portation ''side line"
The use of this unique fruit is supposed
to be derived from the injunction con-
tanned in the twenty-third chapter of the
book of Leviticus.-Exchange.
Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1893-04-13
How Corn Was GROUND at One Time,

The watermill is older than the wind
mill, but prehistoric corn-such wheat.
for instance, as Pytheas, the first trav-
eler from civilization to Great Britain,
saw the natives of Kent drying in large
sheds on account of the absence of sun
was ground in hand mills, as is still done
in the east. Quernes, as these mills are
called, are frequently found IN the CYCLIC
pean underground dwellings of Scotland
Their simplest form consists of two thin
circular stones, the upper of which is
pierced in the center and revolves on a
wooden or metal pin inserted in the low
er one. The grinder dropped the grain
into the central hole with one hand, while
the other caused the upper stone to re-
volve by means of stick inserted in a
small hole near the edge
The laboriousness of this operation is
well illustrated by story told of Column
ba. He was studying under st. Finnian
and every night on which it fell to his
lot to grind the corn with the querne he
performed his task so quickly that his
companions enviously asserted that he
had the assistance of an angel in turning
the stone. Wilson thinks that at this
time (the early part of the sixth century,
the querne was the only mill in use.
Large water mills were introduced in the
thirteenth century into Scotland, and
legal means had to be employed to rem
der their use compulsory.-Gentleman's
Magazine.
Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1893-04-13
Jenuy Lind's Temper.

A Boston woman, whose name is not
printed, is reported to have taken sing
ing lessons of Jenny Lind good many
years ago and to have found the Swedish
nightingale great scold. Her temper
at this time was such that she would
often fly into a great rage, and her hus-
band would have to entice her out of the
room to soothe her, after which she
would come back with affability drawn
over her wrath so oppressive in her
courtesy that the student hardly dared
to breathe for fear of starting her off
again.
The American confessed that she spent
more of her lesson hours crying than
singing, and added: Her reprimands
were often personal. She would look at
me and calculate. oh, you look SO ugly
when you singh It was impossible to re-
sist apologizing for ones appearance
when she spoke like that, and that threw
her into a new rage. Mahogany Tree.
Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1893-04-13
Charges Against a Minister.

1.-THE bitterness of NJ. Tricoupis," NJ.
Deschamps remarks, his fatal ardor for
work, his tragic and fatigued air, fill the
Greeks with stupefaction. 1t seems to
them his conception of life is strange.
and that he must have learned those
ways in morose latitudes where the sun
never shines" When was in Athens
some years ago, the most serious charges
against the prime minister | was able to
seize were the extensiveness of his col
lars and cuffs, which were found an Eng
lish exaggeration; his bolt uprightness
and his habit of speaking without gestic-
ulating-a ranglaise, the Greeks would
bitterly d.-Westminste Review
Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1893-04-13
THE INTRODUCTION OF MeNTHoL.


1t Was Utterly Unknown In England TweH-
ty-five Years Ago.
The medicinal use of menthol in China
and Japan goes back into the datelesS
ages. Isolated references 10 its applica
ton in TIE east are met with here and
there IN the records Of western travellers
N those parts, but we shall probably
never know the name of its discoverer or
the early history of its introduction.
We do not know with absolute GER
tainty when and by whom menthol crys-
tails were first brought 10 the notice OF
European pharmacologists. 1t is said that
they were used pharmaceutically on the
continent as long ago as the end of the
last century, but if that statement is cap
able of proof the drug must have fallen
into oblivion shortly after its introduc-
ton, for it was certainly utterly un-
known, even by repute, to most persons
in the drug trade % years ago. Some
where about 1864 a consignment of the
drug was received in London under the
name of Chinese peppermint oil and
passingly commented upon for its curious
property of solidifying with fall in the
temperature.
To the late John Mackay of Edinburgh
belongs the distinction of first having
called the attention of British pharma-
cists to the valuable properties of men,
thol Mr.. Mackay is believed TO have
brought ''po-ho oil" with him from
Paris, where it was then sold in the
small, red labeled Chinese bottles famil
lar to eastern travellers as kind of pro
prietary article.
Had menthol been an utterly valueless
medicine it would perhaps have taken
Europe by storm then and reigned for a
season, just long enough to gather for
tune for its first exploiter. But as the
drug happened to have solid thera-
peutic value it had to wrestle through
the familiar stages of contumely, ridi-
cule, animosity and unreasoning popu-
larity, just like any new creed or re-
former.
The commercial interest of menthol
practically dates from 1878, when an
English firm in Yokohama made a small
shipment of it to London, determined
not to rest until they had succeeded in
securing for the remedy footing upon
the market. After many months their
shipment went back with a note from
the agents announcing that 1.-The stuff
could not be sold there. as no one knew
what to do with it. But the Yokohama
firm persevered. and they reaped their
reward. Four years later menthol crys-
tails were the rage of the season, selling
at 60 shillings per pound, wholesale, and
carried about in cone shape by all per-
sons with any pretense to the possession
of civilized nervous system.-Chenist
and Druggist.
Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1893-04-13
A Newspaper Library.

There is at Aix-la- Chapelle curious
museum library containing thousands of
newspapers It was founded seven or
eight years ago by Oscar Forkenbeck,
who collected newspapers as other peo-
pie collect stamps or autographs. He
spent his entire income for 40 years on
the dailies published all over the world
and printed in 30 different languages.
Finding himself the happy owner of 1O,-
600 files. he founded the museum, ap-
pealed to the newspaper world to assist
him, and now occupies his own time and
that of three assistants indexing and ar
ranging the rapidly increasing collec-
tion.-New York Sun.
Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1893-04-13
Testing Pure Water.

1t is one of the easiest things in the
world to tell pure water from the i'm
pure. If you want to test the color of
the water, just fill colorless glass bottle
with the water and look through it at
some black object, and the distinctive
ness with which you can see the object
will give you an idea as to the amount of
clay or sand there is in the water. Then
pour out one-half the water, cork the
bottle tightly and set it in warm place
for about "a hours. Remove the cork
and smell the air In the bottle. If there
is an offensive odor. even the slightest.
the water is unfit for domestic uses.
Well water, no matter how bright and
sparkling, is, nine times out of ten. pu-
crescent Then, as a matter of course,
decomposition is sure to set in in day
or two if you put the bottle in warm
place.-New York Telegram.
Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1893-04-13
GRAINS OF GOLD.
Small hooks are read the most.

Small books are read the most.
Hope is based upon faith, desire upor
caprice.
Doing good viii make you richer thar
iigging gold.
The real giant is the man who over
comes himself.
Many people pray most for the things
they ne d least.
1t is easier to run with the crowd than
10 walk by Yourself.
He who would be strong in mind must
have facts for his diet.
Ii is hard to feel at home with people
who never make mistakes.
Every time stingy man looks at
dollar it shrinks his heart.
He who will not answer to the rudder
must answer to the rocks
The manly part is to do with might
and main what you can do.
It takes a fool lifetime to find out
what others see at glance.
No man can keep right who does not
decide that he will always do right.
The man who is ruled by his feelings
will always travel in a zig gag course
The man who fights tO-day's battles
faithfully will not be whipped tomorrow
We are not to blame for the first mis-
take we make, but We are for the second.
If it were not for the troubles tomor
row no one would be round d-shOuldered
to-day.
The greater the house built on a poor
foundation the more foolish the man
who builds it.
The most delicate, the most sensible
of all pleasures consists in premotlng
the pleasures of others.
Everybody has more or less cause to
be unhappy. Happy is the man who l.
too busy to be miserable.
The best form of responsive service is
that which consists in putting good
sermon into good practice.
Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1893-04-13
Men Who Abuse Privileges.

Chambermaids at swell hotels soon be-
come great students of human nature.
1t does not take them long to size up
either the social or financial standing of
the guests.
For instance, one showed her acumen
in this direction the other day when !
happened to call her attention to the ar
ray of six towels on the rack over tie
washstand IL the bathroom.
Think that extravaganza said the
bright young woman. well, don't you
make any mistaken
But it most cost the house a lot for
laundry bills" l ventured.
Not bit of it, she replied vivaci-
ously. Most of our trade here is first
class No one ever uses lot of towels
unless they are not used to them at
home. Men who are accustomed to the
luxuries of life do not take advantage of
the supply. 1t is only the class who usu-
ally wipe their faces on roller towels
who abuse or generosity"
And doubtless the girl knew what she
was talking about.-New York Herald.
Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1893-04-13
Metbods For secret Corresnondence

At trial in France it was shown that
the chemist Turpin, who is undergoing
five years imprisonment for treason,
made arrangements with friend to carry
on secret correspondence. A letter from
the prisoner, giving the necessary direc-
tions to his friend, was read in court. An
official inquiry was made and some in
teresting information supplied by the
convicts, from which it was shown that
when private news is to be supplied to a
prisoner a formal letter, apparently con-
tanning nothing of Importance. is mt.
This, being read by the governor, would
be passed on to the prisoner, who, under
standing the missive, and that it was
only necessary to read between the lines
written in milk, he could make this per-
fectly decipherable by rubbing it over
with a dirty finger or an old slipper. An
other ingenious form of secret correspond
ence. consisted in leaving letters out of
words, as if the writer were illiterate.
The omitted letters put together formed
the requisite words and sentences.-Lon-
don Public Opinion.
Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1893-04-13
A Point For Travellers.

The advice is given by well known
society woman who travels a great deal
to wear ones best underclothing while
on the cars. ''Never mind if it does get
soiled," she says. Il have known of the
most fragrant cases of neglect during
railroad accidents of people whose un-
derwear looked as though they might be
poor. This is shameful fact. but the
people who pick up the wounded after a
wreck are intensely human. Many of
them do not propose to open their homes
to sufferers unless they are to be paid
for it. They judge of the ability of peo-
pie to pay largely by their underwear,
as the outside garb of most well to do
people is more or less the same in these
days"
The idea of arraying ones self with a
view to accidents when starting out on
journey is perhaps likely to suggest
useless forebodings, and this advice is
likely to engender pessimism regarding
the character of ones fellow men, but it
may be worth heeding.-Her Point of
View in New York Times.
Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1893-04-13
Tobacco Smoke Is a Prsservative.

You have probably never thought of
tobacco smoke as a preservative infu-
ence, I'll venture" remarked Chatfeld
Arthur to several companions in the La
clede. "Of course we all know that
spirits, and especially alcohol, will keep
whole most anything you are of mind
to commit to its permeating care. /
have found tobacco smoke to be equally
good, with no worse results as regards
odor than alchol, unless you dislike to-
bacco. | know that | have put bugs,
worms and various kinds of reptiles in
large bottles and have kept them for
years by simply blowing the bottle full
of strong tobacco smoke and sealing it
properly.
1.-The perfect forms would remain for
years, in fact just as long as the bottle
remained perfectly sealed. Upon open
ing it the result has invariably been
that is, in cases of long standings COM
plete collapse. Still the effect isno worse
than that of alcohol, for one never thinks
of removing preservative life form from
the alcohol. When one puts a form in
alcohol, it is understood to be merely for
looks and not for examination or han
ding. st. Louis Globe-Democrat.
Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1893-04-13
The First American Bible.

In 1868 the first Bible printed in Amer
lea was published in Cambridge 1t was
unlawful to print an English version of
the Scriptures, that right being mo-
nopoly enjoyed by privilege and patent
in England. The one printed in MassS-
chusetts was Eliot's famous Indian BIZ
ble," and although 1,500 copies were
struck off they are quite rare, and
''sealed books" as the tongue in which
they are written is literally dead lam
guage," the tribe and all who had a
knowledge of the dialect being long ex-
tinct.
Eliot's work is unique, being at once a
monument to his piety, perseverance and
learning. Its literary successor was New
mans Concordance of the Scriptures. 4"
This was compiled by the light of pine
knots in log cabin in one of the frontier
settlements of Massachusetts,. 1t was
the first of its kind, and for more than a
century was admitted to be the most
perfect, holding its place in public es-
TEEN until superseded by Cruden's, which
it suggested Philadelphia Record.
Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1893-04-13
An Old Jewish Cemetery.

The most interesting sight in Prague
is the old Jewish cemetery. 1t is in the
center of the city, surrounded by thick
walls. There are thousands of ancient
moss covered slabs, some bearing IL
scriptions of great antiquity, which only
Hebrew scholars can decipher. The Gem
etery is unused, but no other Jewish
burial ground in Europe can compare
with it for age or general interest to the
antiquarian. Charleston News and Cour.
Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1893-04-13
PROVIDENCE.

somewhere underneath the sky.
While the summer winds pass 10y.
Fed by sunshine. soil and rain.
Springs and grows the ripeniug grain
That with wheaton bread shall feed
Thee and thine in time of need,
While thou tOilest heavy hearted.
As if Lope and thou were parted.
Some Ftout hand the furrows made, .
And the seed within them laid.
And some watchful eye took care
Lest from ont the earth or air
Weed or winged or creeping creature
To the toll should bring defea;ure.
God and man the wheat have tended,
And from drought and deluge tended.
By some river. never still.
Stands the dusty, hurrying mill
That shall grind thy grain tn flour.
Waiting now the day and hour.
Somewhere ship and train are keeping
Room for it. While thou art sleeping
They may bring their freight a-nigh thee.
But thy own will not pass by thee.
Is it well TO sigh and fret
When Gods workmen all are set
Each at his own task for thee
And his messengers will be
All so fleet and free. transmitting
Treasure for thy benefiting?
Naught can hinder or evade him
Sun. earth, seas, he has to aid him.
Illustrated Christian Weekly
Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1893-04-13
An Unsuccessful Persistent Suitor

One Of The most persistent suitors who
ever proposed and was rejected was the
eccentric Cruden, compiler of the con-
cordance to the Bible. Miss Abney, who
had inherited a large fortune, was the
subject of hls attentions. For months
and months he pestered her with calls
and letters. When she left home, he
had papers printed, which he distributed
in various places of worship. asking the
congregation to pray for her safe return,
and when she returned home he issued
others asking the worshipers to return
thanks. Miss Abney never became Mrs.
Cruden.-Brandon Bucksaw.
Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1893-04-13
He Came Out Even.

He was weary faced travelling man
who had been the victim of every boom
towner whom he had met.
He entered the Office of ticket agent
the other day, and purchasing a through
ticket for the east said:
II have at least made one good invest
meet since / have been in this part of
the country"
"How's that?'' asked the sympathetic
agent.
Il came out even,' replied the eastern
man as he walked toward the door,
New York Herald.
Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1893-04-13
Increasing Club Membership.

Members of a New York club are a
little shocked at receiving from the club
authorities circular asking everybody
to do what he can to increase the club
membership. This wholesale method of
soliciting members is esteemed unwise,
but it is a small matter compared with
advertising for new members, a thing oc-
casionally resorted to by the proprietary
clubs of London. Such an advertisement
now running in a London politico liter
ary weekly is especially addressed to
members of parliament. t.-New York Sun