davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1894-05-31

Transporting Gas Along the Coast.
'tice is now regarded by all the great
European powers as q matter Of vital
! importance. Even in the United States
is the question being discussed with
great deal of interest. Everything
tends to show that if there is one
branch of modern warfare, or rather,
perhaps, strategy, which is likely to be
watched with keen interest during the
next war it will be that Of military
ballconing. 1t is generally conceded
that France has made the greatest
strides toward perfection in this line,
though the world at large has not been
permitted to know the exact results
of it's latest experiments. There is
a great deal of secrecy about the es-
tablishment of Meudon, where the GOV
eminent Pare dAerostation is stu
atcd. France has been and is spending
a great deal of money in perfecting IN
absolutely faultless dirigible balloon,
one that can be moved in amy direc-
ton at the will Of the aeronaut ire
spectivc of the direction Of the wind.
The French experts claim that their
war balloon the General MeuSnier,"
attained a speed of twenty-eight miles
an hour and could be guided with
utmost ease to any given point. How
ever, since no outsiders where allowed
to witness the wonderful performance,
it might be a tritle exaggerated.
The German emperor does not pro-
pose to let his warlike neighbor monop-
olize this feature of army equipment.
He has just presented to the German
Society for Promotion of Aerial Navi-
cation for the advancement of this
science the sum of 500, 900 marks. This
is to be applied for the construction
and equipment of giant balloon. This
balloon will be as high as four-story
house 1t will fifty-six feet in diameter
and will contain not less than $3.50
cubic meters of gas. It will be made
of Egyptian cotton stuff and will be
coated with vulcanizsd gum, a sub
stance which is considered superior to
varnish.
Expect to Ascend $4,000 Feet.
A very interesting feature Of this
monster balloon will be the provision
Of a special valve of a new construc-
ton which will keep the gas pure for
longer time and thus sustain the bal
loon for longer period. It is proposed
to make not less than fifty journeys
within a year and to ascend as high as
possible. AT altitude OF $4,000 feet is
thought to I've attainable by the use of
artificial respiration. More than $1,000
will be expended in purchasing scien-
tific apparatus for this balloon, which
is intended more for taking observa-
tons than for the purpose Of waT.
Aside from this the German army
has this spring put in the field as
efficient balloon corps as that of
France, though perhaps not so strong
numerically. At Metz, during the late
maneuvers, several successful ascen.
sions were made which practically
proved the vast advantage an army
may derive from having these aerial
observatories. A very interesting ex'
pertinent was also made to show that
the balloon can, in an emergency, sup
The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1894-05-31
Cow on d Church Roof.

The conquering Of the cactus in
little Mexican town on the south bank
of the Rio Grande furnished gentle
man Of Dallas, Tex, with inspiration
for the following: TN this particular
town there was a good-sized church
with q fat roof. A large number of
cactus seeds had lodged in the moss
on the roof Of the church, and in the
course Of time there was big crop Of
cactus up there. Now, it is the custom
when they want to destroy this thing
to first burn off all the horns and then
the cattle will eat the plant The peo-
pie became tired Of seeing plants on
their church, and a mass meeting was
called to devise some means of getting
rid Of the things. After celebrating
for some time a man was hoisted to
the roof, and, after three days labor.
had burned the thorns from all the
stalks. A COW was then hoislDd to the
roof, and in about a week there was
nothing left on the roof but the COW,
which was lowered to the earth again.
The people were delighted with the re
suit, and now point with pride to their
church
The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1894-05-31
To Succeed Senator Vance.

General satisfaction is felt through
out North Carolina over the appoint
mcnt Of ex-senator Thomas J. Jarvis
Us United States senator to fill the
vacancy caused by the death Of Sena-
tor Vance. Mr. Jarvis was born in
North Carolina ffty-six years ago, and
was denied, through straitened circum-
stances, the benefits Of education until
in his teens. Finally friends aided him
to secure a course at the Randolph
Macon college, but he did not graduate
until 1850, when he established himself
as a teacher. He joined the Confeder-
ate forces at the outbreak Of the war,
but though he participated in many
engagements, escaped unscathed until
at Drury's Bluff on the 18th Of May,
1864, he was disabled by a bullet,
which injured his right arm so that
it has ever since hung useless. On
peace being restored he turned his at
tention to mercantile pursuits, study
ing law meanwhile. After being adj
mitted to the bar he took an active
interest in politics and in 1868 was
elected to the state legislature. To
him was largely due the course OF
events which eliminated in the defeat
of the Republicans at the next cleo
The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1894-05-31

He has had phenomenal success as a
jury lawyer, is never surprised in the
court room, and has the nuppy faculty
Of making the strongest points against
his client appear in q favorable light.
AS an orator he has few equals. His
sparkling wit has often delighted the
most eminent men in the country in
his post-prandial addresses. Few men
have had greater success upon the
lecture platform, and his efforts in this
line have always been for charita BILE
purposes.
Mr.. Coudert has always taken an
active part in politics, and is a Demo-
crat. He is ever ready to speak in
favor Of Democratic principles, and as
a stump speaker he is singularly effec-
tive.l He has persistently refused to be
a candidate for any public Office, has
several times refused q nomination
for the supreme court, and in 1883 de-
clined an appointment to the bench of
the court Of errors and appeals. He
did excellent service as a delegate to
represent the interests Of American
commerce in the international congress
on the law Of nations in Antwerp in
1887, and five years later attended an
other session Of that congress at Liv-
erpool. His services abroad have re-
ceived the commentator of many gov
ernments, and he has received the
Cross Of the Legion Of Honor from
France and Italy. Fresh ulster was
recently added to his fame by his mas
ter1y presentation Of the case of the
United States before the foreign com
! mittee in Paris in the Boring sea con.
| tToverSy.
The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1894-05-31
The Dog on Guard.

- One of the postofhce officials of Bos-
ton is the owner Of a bulldog that he
would not part with under any circum-
stances. This dog considers it his
special duty to ride to and from the
depot and postofice on the mail wagon
and keep guard Of the mail sacks, says
the Globe. He has followed this GUS
tom for number Of years. One night
after the unloading Of the mail car he
started to ride, as usual, on the bags
in the wagon, but when the postoffice
was reached he was not on board.
This, was strange, for heretofore no
temptation had ever been strong
enough to lure him from his post. The
sacks were delivered, and as the man
called them over one was found to be
missing. The wagon driver hurried
back to look along the streets. After
searching over good part of the route
he suddenly discovered the dog sitting
in the gutter wagging his tail, and evil
IDENTIFY overjoyed at being recognized.
On going up to him the driver found
the dog sitting on the lost mail sack.
He had evidently noticed it when it
fell from tile wagon and had immedi-
ately jumped OF and stood guard over
IT,
The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1894-05-31

balloon warfare, is the invention Of a
Frenchman, who has disposed Of his
patent to the Russian government. The
inventor claims to be able to direct
this with as much accuracy as that Of
submarine torpedo. 1t has a carry
ing capacity Of nearly 1000 pounds Of
explosives. The discharging of these
can be made without subjecting the at
lacking party to any risks, owing to
the remarkable guiding power Of this
aerial cruiser, which is to strike and
glide away with marvellous rapidity
either as it energies from the clouds
or springs unseen above the smoke Of
battle to let fall it's missiles of destruc-
ton when least expected. No public
experiments have as yet been made
with this flying torpedo, which, if it
is all that the inventor claims, will
prove a most dangerous power of de-
struction. However, until a practical
test has been made no one can judge
of it's merits.
War Balloons for THE American
Army.
In building the war balloon General
Myer' for the signal corps Of the
United States army the first real step
was taken by the military officials Of
this country to advance with the great
powers Of Europe in this line of mill
tary work. It is modelled after both
the French and English military bal
looms and in mechanical details en-
| bodies the best features of each. 1t re-
sembles the English in the similarity
Of material from which the envelope
is made. The system of imitation is
also like that Of the English, the hydro
gen being stored under pressure within
steel cylinders. In the plan Of its sus-
pension gear it is after the French
models.
The envelope Of the General Myer''
is spherical in shape, with a capacity
Of 900 cubic feet, corresp 0nding with
the ordinary balloon used abroad for
captive ascensions, and having lift
ing power sufficient to carry two D1en
with the necessary signal instruments.
The envelope is formed of gold beaters'
skin, which is especially adapted to
this purpose, as it is imparvious to the
hydrogen gas and is very light The
membranes from which this fabric
gold-beaters' skin, is formed are taken
from the entrails OF the bullock, each
animal furnishing one. When stretched
they are from eighteen to twenty-foul
inches long and ten to sixteen inches
wide. After taking the membranes
from the slaughtered bullock they are
first scraped from the fat and sof
parts and salted till needed for use
The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1894-05-31

contact with any sharp pointed object.
Over these Strengthening cords three
additional layers of gold-beater's skin
were placed similar to the first three.
Around the top and about the neck
an additional layer was placed to fur
Their strengthen these parts, where the
strain is great After the fabric was
thus completed the air was pumped out
of the model the neck Of the cotton bag
was separated from that of the outside
fabric and air was blown into the true
balloon envelope between the skins and
the cotton material, gently separating
the skins from the oiled surface Of the
cotton model and permitting the latter
to be pulled out through the neck Of
the balloon proper There remained a
The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1894-05-31
An American by Adoption.

An American by Adoption.
Not few Scandinavians and others
in Chicago and the Northwest gener-
ally have pleasant lecollections of &C.
quaintance with Hjalmar Hjorth Boye-
sen, now a professor in Columbia col
lege, New York. The professor was
born in Fredericksvaarn, little naval
station in the south Of Norway, where
his father was professor Of mathe,nat-
les in a naval academy. The elder
Boyeson was an enthusiastic admirer
Of the United States, having spent sew
eral years in this country. When HAL
mar had completed his education his
father asked his two sons whether
they desired to live at home or try
their fortunes in America, at the same
time informing them that he had de-
| posted a sum of money with friend
| in Chicago. This either Of the boys
| could have by applying for it in person.
| The two youths started for this coun-
| try, and took. up temporary quarters
in Urbana, Ohio. The younger re-
manned there, while Hjalmar came to
this city, where he secured a position
on a Norwegian weekly which had
just been started. The money he sent
to his younger brother. After a year S
work on the paper Hjalmar, who had
literary ambition, became convinced
that success was unattainable without
a thorough knowledge Of the English.
He, therefore, resigned his editorship,
and, after securing Il position as Latin
and Greek tutor in an Urbana college
applied himself diligently to the study
of the English language. In vacation
time he visited Harvard college, where
he secured employment as translator
of Norwegian works: A book which
he had written attracted the attention
of some Of the college celebrities, wh(
interested themselves in securing pub
Usher for it, and since then the clever
Norwegian author has had comparative
| ly plain sailing.
The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1894-05-31

Probably no other lawyer in this
country has a greater international
reputation that Frederick Rene Coudert
who is classcd among the leaders Of
the bar in New York city. He is the
Oldest son of Charles Coudert, who was
an officer in the guard of honor at
tached to the imperial guard Of the
first Napoleon, and was condemned to
be shot for his participation in a con-
spiracy to place the duke Of Reich
stadt, Napoleon H., on the throne.
After spending many months in prison
he succeeded in escaping to England.
He was recaptured later in France,
where he went in disguise, but power
full friends aided him in escaping in
1924 to this country, where he spent
the remainder Of his long life in peace
and honor. Frederic received his early
education at his fathers school in this
city, and entered Columbia college at
the age Of fourteen. He was gradu-
ated at the head Of his class in 1850
with the highest honors. He was adj
| mitted to the bar in 1858, and soon
afterWard, with his brothers, Louis
Leonce and Charles Coudert, Jr., form
ed the firm of Coudert Brothers, one
Of the Oldest in New York city. It has
a branch in Paris, says the New York
Recorder, and numbers among its
| clients half the governments Of Europe
The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1894-05-31

Ascent and Descent.
After taking them from the salt they
are first culled, washed and soaked in
fresh water till the salt is taken out.
Then a day OF two before using they
are placed in vessel containing soft
water, in which has been dissolved
some fish glue, which adds to their adj
herring qualities when making the fab
ric of the envelope.
In making the envelope, says cor
respondent in the AerOnautics, a cotton
model balloon with a neck was made
OF the same size as the Gen. ral Myer
and it's surface oiled. This cotton bag
was then inflated with air by a blower
and the neck securely fastened so as to
retain the air. The model vas kept in
state of tension by applying the blow
er from time to time as the air under
pressure within leaked through. The
model thus fully inflated was suspended
by ropes attached to the neck and to
the top or opposite hole. This suspen-
sion permitted the balloon model to be
! turned as upon an axis, and thus
brought every part Of it's surface in
rotation within easy reach of the oper-
ator. A scaffold framework, having
a height nearly equal to the semidiame-
ter of the model, was placed around one
side, or semicircumference, thus pre-
senting to the workmen a nearly verti-
cal surface on which to lay the men,
branes. The nice task of placing the
membranes forming the fabric of the
envelope was done by women. Each
membrane was taken from the water,
stretched out upon the surface of the
\ model, smoothed down by hand, and
| stiles or ends, where irregular, were
cut off by a pair Of blunt-pointed shears
| which the women used most deity.
Reing wet and charged with the solu-
ton of fish glue the membranes stretch
ed taut over the surface and adhered
while damp to the model. The mem
branes in this way were placed side by
side, the edges overlapping, until the
entire surface of the balloon model was
covered with one coherent layer Of the
gold1beater's skin. Over this first layer
a second and third were put, ir, like
manner, except that the membranes in
each alternate were placed at right
angles to the longitudinal direction OF
the preceding series. Over the third
layer We're placed, from the top to the
neck, long ribbons about an inch wide
4 Of the salne material, laid in lattice
These ribbons were made by stretching
a layer of gold-beater's skin upon a
dong and smooth oiled board, and
snperimposing thereon five additional
layers successfully, and after drying,
the fabric, which reseRbled parchment
was cut into narrow strips. These in.
terlacing ribbons, or cords, appear as
dian1Gnd-shaped figures, increasing in
size from each pole to the equator, and
strengthen the balloon fabric and limit
it's tearing to rents no greater than
about sixteen inches at the equator,
! in case the balloon should come in
The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1894-05-31

Using Balloons for Crossing Rivers.
translucent globe, which, except for
the latticed ribbons in Acknowledgment
figures, appeared homogeneous through
out, not the line of a joint or lap of
the thousands Of pieces of which it
was formed showing ~
In the top Of the balloon envelope
was now cut circular opening about
Is inches in diameter, into which the
valve ling or thimble was inserted and
seized, and into the thimble was Sc
cured the valve. The envelope OF the
balloon being complete, it was placed
within the netting, the top of which was
secured about the valve ring, and upon
ropes being attached to the ring the
balloon and netting were hoisted. air
| was again blown into the balloon
and the netting adjusted. After this
the balloon was hoisted higher and the
suspension gear, with basket, was at
| tachcd. after which came the captive
gear-that is, the cable which holds the
| balloon when it ascends. All was per-
feet and the General Myer' was ready
| for use.
! HOW the Cable Is Made.
The cable serving to hold the bal
loon captive is made Of several strands
CT steel wire, having in it's center an
insulated wire for telephone work, the
outside strands acting as return wires.
The balloon, with complete equipment,
is now at Fort Riley, Kan, school of
instruction, where it is being used in
instrlIcting the signal corps at that
post. 1t has been pronounced by ex-
perts as a masterpiece in military bal
loon building.
This is not the first time the United
States army has made use Of balloons.
During the civil war. the federal gov
eminent recognized their value for
making observations. In the month of
September. 1861, one Of the most dar.
ing aeronauts, La Mountains, furnished
important information to Gen. McClel
Ian His balloon rose from the north.
ern camp of the Potomac and passed
above Washington. The ropes were
then cut and La Mountains rose to the
height of a mile and a half and found
himself directly over the lines of the
enemy. There he was able to perfectly
observe their position and movements
When he had made his observations
he threw out ballast and rose to 9
height of three miles, when an air cur
rent carried him in the direction Of
Maryland, where he descended il
safety. Gen. Mcclellan was so wei
satisfied with the observations take1
that through his influence the war de
partment received orders causing more
; balloons to be provided.
The use Of balloons, however, wa
discontinued for many years, but nov
it is believed they will be given a per
manent place in the equipment of al
armies The science Of aeronautics ha
so advanced, new features being con
. stantly added, that it is hard to dis
believe anything claimed by the enthu
siasts in this line. The chances ar
that we will dispense entirely wit
ordinary fleets. and do our fighting il
The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1894-05-31
Nj. Thivrier in His Blouse.

III. 1HKVTIeF III 1H1S bIouse.
Thivrier was elected. True to his word
he appeare din the chamber wearing a
blue blouse and carrying in his hand a
coarse cap, such as worn by artisans
generally. Ills dress remained the same
until during an exciting session he
shouted: "Vive la commune" For
this explosion ne was suspended fifteen
days, and on his return recently he
had, discarded the blue blouse and was
dressed more in accordance with the
dignity which belongs to the Office he
holds ~ ..g',
The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1894-05-31

OPTICAL ILLUSIONS
me Peculiar Things which Puzzle

Some Peculiar Things Which Puzzle
the Best Sight.
Even for the practiced eye it is often
difficult to accurately estimate not only
color. but distance and dimensions, and
to correctly appreciate the forms with
out some study, and even then it often
profits nothing for the time lost. Con-
siderable dependence is put on the sur
roundings Of the object The first Illus
tration shows two parallel lines joined
at the end, A having two outwardly'
converging lines and B two outWardly
diversing lines. The apparent differ
enc in the length of these lines seems
considerable, when, in reality, they are
the same.
Should line Of equal length be-
The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1894-05-31

Of course. Should No. 2 be placed or
top your reply would be the reverse;
the fact is, both arcs are exactly the
same size and shape. BY cutting pieces
Of paper the shape Of the Illustration
and laying one on top Of the other it
will be readily seen. -.
OF the three figures in the illustration,
The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1894-05-31
Statesman i'm a Blue Blouse.

Last autumn, when seeking the sui
frages Of his fellow citizens, NJ. THY
rier, now a member Of the. French
chamber Of deputies, closed a some
what stormy address with the declar-
alton that if elected he would wear a
workman's blouse when attending to
his legislative duties. Few among even
his radical hearers imagined that this
was more than a figure Of speech, but
the idea appealed to the turbulent cleo
tors Of the Montlucon district, and NJ
The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1894-05-31

zion, end when the new assembly met
Capt. Jarvis was rewarded by being
chosen speaker. In 1872 he canvassed
the state as an elector on the Greeley
ticket, and three years later was q
member Of the constitutional conven-
ton. In 1876 Mr.. Vance and Capt.
Harris were elected governor and lieu
tenant governor respectively, the lat
ger succeeding Gov. Vance when that
The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1894-05-31

which appears the taller? Trusting to-
your eyes you would say the one fur
thest from you. Such, however, is not
the case, for we have been deceived
by an optical illusion. for the one clos
est to you is the taller by fully one
eighth of an inch. The reason for this
is very simple. The figures are not in
perspective with the vanishing lines Of
the wall. Our eye is accustomed to
seeing the figure farthest from us tower
above the other, one comes to the con-
clusion that it is the taller. By the use
Of pair Of compasses it will be seen
at nce.-Washingto Star.
The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1894-05-31
KNOWN FAR AND NEAR
GOSSIP ABOUT SOME NOTABLE PEO-
PIE.

Frederic II. Coudert, n Lawyer Of
international Fame, Wit, Orator,
lecturer and After-Dinner Speaker
-Phen omenal Success In Ills Pro-
fessiOn. 42@.... .a. # .,-s
The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1894-05-31

gentleman was sent to the United
States senate. Gov Jarvis remained
chief executive Of the state for six
years, his administration resulting in
great good to the Industries Of North
Carolina On hig retirement from the
The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1894-05-31

The pressure per square inch upon the,
bod OF every animal that lives ~ We bot
times greater than the pressure that viii
drive railroad train. IS