davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The St. Johns herald., 1894-04-12
THE sPAN!sli BULL.
How the Animsl Is Developed Into a
 Fighter for the Public Arena.
 The b11l1s rsed for firhtiur nl1rpoSeg

How the Animsl Is Developed Into a
 Fighter for the Public Arena.
 The bulls used for fighting purposes are a specially selected, specially cared-for class. They are all pedi- greed. Andalusia is especially the district of the bull. Here. at the age of one year, the young bulls arc separated from the heifers. branded with the owners mark and turned out loose on the plains to graze with others of their own age.
 When year older the young bulls are gathered together in order that their mettle and fighting qualities may be tested. One of them is separated from the herd and chased by man on horseback, who. by the slkillful use of a blunted lance, overthrows the escap- ing bull, whereupon another rider comes in front of the animal with sharper lance to withstand the eX- pected attack. If the bull, on regain ing his feet, attacks the rider twice it is passed as a fighting animal; but if he turns tail and runs off then it is set aside to be killed or to be used in agri- cultural work. And so with each ami mal, until tho whole herd of -tEvO-ycar- olds has been tested.
 Each bull that has stood the test successfully is then entered in the herd book with description of it's ap- pearance and receives name-such as Espartero, Flamenco and the like. This process of careful selection goes on from year to year until the bull is five years old, when, should its mettle still prove true. it isfready for the arena. and flaming posters appear on the walls of Madrid or Seville announcing that Espartero tor whatever his name isl will, on such and such date, make his first and final appearance.
 A good ''warrantable' fve-year-old bull for the fighting ring costs from gro to ESQ.
The St. Johns herald., 1894-04-12
RICHEST FAMILIES IN AMERICA.

The Astors and the Vanderbilts Control
 Between Them Hundreds of Millions.
 A careful estimate of the wealth of the Astors puts it at S2OO, GOO, and this makes the family the richest in the United States. What is more, the wealth of the Astors is in such shape that 1t cannot but increase, for the reason that it is gilt-edged New York city real estate, some of which, accord ing to the Washington Star, has with in the past ten years increased in value 700 per cent. and is still appre ciating. The policy of the Astors has always been to buy real estate on the lines along which New York is now extending and hold it for rise, rare ly selling, however, but building and renting instead. The result is that the Astor' properties are in valuable lands, in brick, iron, stone and mortar instead of in fluctuating stocks and bonds, the fixed value of which is al- ways uncertain. As family the Van derbilts stand next to the Astors in the matter of wealth, and their riches must be considered in the aggregate and in common, since their individual fortunes are pooled, so to speak. You will often see Cornelius Vanderbilt, the present head of the house, quoted as being worth 100000, GOO. Of course he is not worth any such amount Cor nelius has most of the Vanderbilt mil lions, but those who know say that he is personally not worth above $SO,000,- 900, if as much.
 It must be remembered that the late William H. Vanderbilt had large family to divide his millions among, and so the shares in the end were not so large as some people thought them. Besides there is a disposition on the part of the calculators who love big figures to give the Vanderbilts credit for owning outright their great rail- road system, when, as matter of fact, thousands of stockholders share in the OyUrar.ch in
The St. Johns herald., 1894-04-12
REAL NEW JERSEY APPLEJAcK.
Not Much Of It in the Market. But Adul-
 terats0DS Plentiful.

Not Much Of It in the Market. But Adul-
 teratioDs Plentiful.
 One doesn't hear so much as former ly about Jersey lightning" This, says the Pittsburgh Dispatch, isn't be- cause applejack is not made any more. Quite the contrary. The local name has departed because the juice of the apple, which, distilled by the farmers in the northern part of the state, pro- duced the lightning effect, is now known throughout the country. Jer- sey applejack, or apple whisky or brandy, as it is called in some of the fashionable city hotels and barrooms, is now among the brands on hand in every well-regulated cafe.
 It is curious how applejaclz got its popularity Originally it was strictly local in it's manufacture and use. The farmers of Sussex and Warren counties were the sole producers and the sole consumers. They knew the mellow effect of that distillation. They knew how, with lump or two of sugar and touch of water, to make it palatable. The instant effects upon the brain and then upon the tongue were discovered half century ago. The permeating eff fects and the mellowing tendencies in creased with age. Consequently every hospitable farmer in these parts kept his demijohn of ten or fifteen-year-old apple" as the case might be. Farm CTS sons emigrated to Newark and other parts of the state. Others started in business in New England or out west. They all sent home for apple jack and sounded it's praise. Friends sampled the golden-hued liquor and relished it. Gradually the st nulant that humorists styled Jersey lightning ceased it's local features and became more universal. To-day you can get New Jersey app-eJack, or something labeled that way, in the prominent cafes in any of the larger cities. Plen- ty of so-called applejack is for sale; but much of it is made up of all sorts of ingredients. It is fiery enough to upset the brain and will intoxicate all too rapidly, but the delicate flavor of the real article is missing. and the man familiar with the taste will not take a second drink.
The St. Johns herald., 1894-04-12
AN ANCIENT PEOPLE.
Relics of a Prehis. orlc Race Found in
 Russl,tn excavations.

Relics of a Pre.iIs. oric Race Found in
 Russl,tn xcavations.
 The Hermitage is famous building in St. Petersburg, in which the relics of Peter the Great are preserved. In it there is also kept what is called the Kertch collection.
 Six centuries before Christ, the Greeds founded colonies on the shores of the Black sea. They united with the native Scythians, and Scythian rulers were generally placed over the colonies.
 Outside the gates of the modern town of Kertch there are rows of tombs and mounds. In the year 1880, the Russian government began to care fully examine these tombs, the objects found there-remains of the ancient colonies-being taken to St. Peters burg and placed in the hermitage.
 In 1881, mound was opened called by the TartarS ''The Hillock of the Brave" and in Q room of hewn stone the remains Of a Scythian king were found, together with those of his wife, his war horse and servant. His gold. en crown and ornaments were there untouched.
 Even the sarcophagus of carved cy. press wood, in winch his body was laid, remains undecayed, and the carving and gilt fgures upon it are still sharp and beautiful.
 It seems incredible that substance so frail should have endured for more than two thousand years uninjured.
 The gold bars of his shield, the sil. yer slaves of his heralds, the collar of twisted gold wire, are to be seen, be- sides many other articles found in his tomb, although Q large number were stolen at the time of the discovery.
 But still more interesting and beau tiful were the contents of a tomb dis covered ID 1866, of priestess of Ceres. with all her rich ornaments, and these were all preserved.
 Most exquisite they are. The gold chains, buttons, bracelets, necklaces, equal the best workmanship of Venice or Florence at the present day The golden plates from her head-dress are of respousse work O: perfect beauty
The St. Johns herald., 1894-04-12
An Aversion for Water.

An interesting incident of wild beast life was witnessed by hunter in Asotin county, Washington, recently. A deer came bounding down the steep side of bare, rocky hill on the edge of the Snake river, just above the mouth of the Grande ROnde, closely followed by a big mountain lion. The buck plunged headlong into the river and swan for dear life toward the farther shore. The big cat stopped short at the waters edge, put it's paw angrily but gingerly into the water. and then drew back and watched the deer gain the opposite bank in safety and dis appear in the woods. With a disap- pointed snarl the lion bounded away.
The St. Johns herald., 1894-04-12
TWAS A GOOD STORY.
That Is, When 1t Was Applied to Some
 Other Fellow.


 The Texas congressman us ally has a shrewd perception of hUnor, re- marks the Washington Post. Ehe del egation has a corner on half the good stories going, and can lay claim to sev. eral which have got away A core. spondent backed the dean of the dele. gation up in corner the other day and told the following tale:
 "A friend of mine," said the core. spondent, ''came up from Texas when the session opened, and as he expected to be here some time he locked around for moderate-priced room, which he located in a nice neighborhood. A motherly old lady showed Sim the room, which pleased him versr much As he was about to leave the room she asked him where he was from.
 From Texas, madam
 "'Wen, let me show you how this gas works. You turn it on so, and put amatch to it, so; when you get through turn it off, so.'
 But understand all about gas. We have it at home.'
 6 Yes. but 1 have had good deal of trouble with Texans about gas, and it doesn't do any harm to show you Turn it on so, and turn it off this way Don't try to blow it out
 '' But, madam, protested my friend, you needn't go to all that trouble. If it will relieve your mind any, I lived in Chicago for six months before coming here
 $ You did, eh? We'll, want you tc understand that this is respectable house, and I won't have any poker playing or drinking and carousing ur here.'"
 flaw, hawp' laughed the congress- man, ''that is one of the best stories I ever heard" and his sides shook with laughter.
 ''But," said the cores pondent, ''the boys are sending that story out tonight and saying that you arc the Texan"
 ''The deuce you say. We'll, that is a pretty low-down sort of yarn to spin on anybody" grumbled the congress- man.
The St. Johns herald., 1894-04-12
Learning the Begging Trade.

Many of the children in the east end of London are trained in the arts and blandishments of begging by old hands at the business, who have retired from active operations. In Paris there are several professors" who earn good in- comes by teaching young people how to beg. Clever purse fakirs, pocket pickers and handkerchief stealers are turned out after certain course of lessons, for which a moderate fee is charged. Beggars' pitches" frequent ly change hands atrespectable figures, and advertisements often appear in the French papers offering to dispose of lucrative corners and good wills" to those desirous of entering the ranks of the begging fraternity. Just the other day pitch in front of the Louvre wasdlsposed of for one hun dred dollars. .--.
The St. Johns herald., 1894-04-12
AN ODD TlMEPIECE.
The Chariot Clock of the Emperor Of
 China.

One of the most wonderful time keepers known to the horologist was made in London about one hundred years ago and sent by the president Of the East India company as gift to the emperor of China. The case, says the New Orleans Times-Democrat, was made in the form of a chariot, in which was seated the figure of a wom- an. This figure was of pure ivory and gold and sat with her right hand rest ing upon tiny clock fastened to the slde of the vehicle. A part of the wheels which kept track of the flight of time were hidden in the body of a tiny bird, which had seemingly just alighted upon the lady's finger. Above was canopy so arranged as to conceal a silver bell. This bell was fitted with a miniature hammer of the same metal, and, although it appeared to have no connection with the clock. regularly struck the hours, and could be made to repeat by touching diamond but ton on the lady's bodlce. In the char tot at the ivory lady's feet there was a golden figure of dog. and above and in front were two birds, apparently flying before the chariot. This beau tiful ornament was made almost en- tirely of gold and was elaborately decorated with precious stones.
The St. Johns herald., 1894-04-12
Microbes Not All Danrerous.

A physician tells the Cincinnati Times-Star that the widespread fear O. disease germs is entirely groundless. ''Everything," he says, ''is full o1 germs or crusted with them, but every germ IS not harmful, Every disease germ on the body does not produce q disease. If it did there would not be [ person on the face of the earth to-aor row. People lived before disease germ were known and were as healthy as they are to-day. They lived as care fully as we do-perhaps more so. We cannot avoid contact with disease germs, but we can do what is better strengthen the body So that it resist them as easily as a lion can a flea Some scientists pretend to deplore { lack of precauticn people take against germs. It is simply bee. rec the people see, despite theories. that every germ doesn't produce sickness any nor, than every man is a murderer. Ever, man may possibly be one, but we wou1o not be justified ia going armed or that account"
The St. Johns herald., 1894-04-12
The Boatswa1n's Whistle.

Nothing on board United States man-of-war strikes the visiting lands man more forcibly than the seemingly almost constant sound of the boat swain's whistle. That instrument sends it's thin and wandering strain of music up and down the deck every few minutes from sunrise to sunset. This means that somebody is busy all day long in one or another sort of active duty requiring summons by signal.
The St. Johns herald., 1894-04-12
coINcIDENTAL CAREERS.
The Queer Story Related of Two Con-
 EressTncn.

Eressmcn.
 Hon. Joseph c. Hendrix. representa- tive in congress from New York, and Hon. Richard Bartholdt, representa- i've from Missouri, used to be fellow reporters in Brooklyn years ago. Hen d1ix represented the New York Sun and Bartholdt the Brooklyn Freie Presse. The latter, in the course of time, drifted west and rose to be a Dromincnt figure in local politics in tt. Louis, where he now edits an in1u- cntial German paper. Hendrix stayed in New York, but in general way ex- 'sericnced the same disposition of a 3enevolent providence as his former eolleague of the press. They turned up in Washington about the same time, and there was a cordial greeting as they shook hands.
 "What are you doing in Washing ton?' asked Hendrix.
 That's fair question" said Bar tholdt, but suppose you tell me what you are doing here?"
 "IFhy, I'm member of congress- ; said Hendrix
 50 am l, said Bartholdt. How did you get into politics?'
 Oh said Hendrlx. ''I was elected a member of the school board"
 ''So was I, said Bartholdt.
 "Then I was elected president of the school board said Hendrix.
 ''So was l. said Bartholdt-
 ''Then I was elected to congress" :" continued Hendrix.
 And so was I,' exclaimed Bar tholdt.
 ''Well," said Hendrix, ''you and l must have been born under the same conjunction of planets
 Both had reached congress by pre- cisely parallel lines, after separating in the reporters room in the Brooklyn city hall building. and met after term of years in which they mad completely lost trace of each other.
The St. Johns herald., 1894-04-12
ELECTRIC LIGHT BUGS.
Giant Beetles That Ara Attracted
 to the Cities
Mammoth Winged Insects That Were Unknown Previous 70 the Introduc- ton of the New IIIu-
 minator.

Electric bugs have made their ap- pearance in Pittsburgh and have led the Dispatch of that city to make study of them.
 These bugs were in America when tue country was first discovered and are very common in European coUn- tries. Before electric lights were known the bugs were seldom seen and not often were specimens of them ob- tained. As soon as electric lights ap- peared in city, so did the bugs.
 The bugs resemble flies in shape. They have six legs or claws. glossy wings, body like beetle and rather large eyes. Directly between the eyes they have what is called spear. This. their only weapon of defense, is about three-eighths of an inch long in full grown bug. Their sting is very pain full, but it is not poisonous. They never fight unless interfered with.
 Electric bugs do more good than harm. They eat up the smaller in sects, and it's novel way they have. too. of catching them. If they had to fly after insects to catch them they would never capture any. They lie upon their backs with their six tiny claws in the air. Then they move them slowly to and fro, and thus at tract the attention of their prey. As soon as an insect alights upon one of the claws it is promptly seized and de- voured.
 The bugs make their appearance as soon as the warm weather sets in. They are rather small at first, but in less than a month they attain their full growth.
 Some of them measure over three inches in length and are nearlyan inch wide. They lay their eggs in the bot tom of rivers. 1t is estimated that one female bug will lay three thousand eggs in three months during her life time. The eggs remain in the mud during the winter and are matched by the first warm wave.
 Toward the end of the summer when insects become scarce the bugs kill small fishes and eat them. A swarm of the bugs will go after small fish and stab it to death with their spears They then carry the carcass of the fish to the bottom of the river and it lasts them for food many days.
 These bugs can propel themselves through the water faster than fish. Fishes fear them, although they are never attacked by them when insects are to be caught. These bugs have been known to kill some good-sized finny specimens.
 The first cool wave that comes drives the bugs to the river, where they re- main until the frost kills them. When they die they arc eaten by the fishes as a sort of poetical retribution, TO doubt
 They are more numerous in the city now than at any other time. If the bugs remain away from the water until daylight they cannot find their way back to the rivers until night sets in again. Daylight has the same effect on them as electric |. i.ghts, only they fly high in the air instead of in circles or against lamp globes, and consequently do not die from exhaustion.
The St. Johns herald., 1894-04-12
4 Queer Ch.nese Superstition.

The Chinese have 9 remarkable su- perstition about the Gnu river, which is the local name on the border for the Chatting. A considerable trade in drugs is borne alopg this river, for which a special class of boats, com posed of very light boards fastened with wooden nails, is built. The na
 tives say that she magnetic attraction of the bed of the river is so strong that were ordinary boats used the iron nails would be pulled out. Along the river banks iron is mined in primitive fash ion, and from the geological evidence it is believed that the ore is very rich.
The St. Johns herald., 1894-04-12
HORSE RECKONING.
An Instance Showing the Animals Math,
 ematical Capability.

An Instance Showing the AnlmaPS matn'
 ematical Capability.
 A Russian doctor has been expert menting to find how far some of our domestic animals can count. The in telligence of the horse, as this is shown in mathematics, seems to surpass that of the cat or the dog. The instances given by him are interesting, but be- fore they are accepted as authentic they should be verified by the observa- tions of naturalists whose skill and care are unquestioned.
 He found a horse which was able to count the mile posts along the way. It had been trained by it's master to stop for feed whenever they had covered twenty-five versts.
 One day they tried the horse over a road where three false mile posts had been put in between the real ones, and sure enough, the horse, deceived by this trick, stopped for his oats at the end of twenty-two versts instead of going the usual twenty-five.
 The same horse was accustomed to being fed every day at the stroke of uOOu' 1uc uOSGOI OooSINSo OtidC WuSu- ever the clock struck the horse would stop and prick up his ears as if count ing. If he heard twelve strokes he would trot off contentedly to be fed, but if there were fewer than twelve he would resignedly go on working.
 The experiment was made of striking twelve strokes at the wrong time, whereupon the horse started for his oats, in spite of the fact that he had been fed only an hour before.
The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1894-06-22

While walking along the streets or
Vienna one day with a friend, Won
BuloW came across a regimental
oand on its way to the castle to play
at q certain hour. He let 90 the arm
OF his companion, a to the middle
Of the street, and joined the small
boys about the drummer. Following
the band, he kept bowling to the sur-
prised drummer, and applauded him
at almost every beat. That is
rhythm! Excellent. That's the
way | like to hear it," he continued
70 calculate, to the surprise of the
musical soldiers and the great de-
Light of the small boys. People in
the streets recognized the famous
pianist and joined the procession, so
that the band, upon arriving at the
castle, had n of the largest audi
ences to which it had ever PLAYED.
He listened attentively to the end of
the last piece, and then made a deeD
obeisance before the drummer and
his instrument. Thank you" he
said; that was refresh1ng. That
puts my nerves in good condition
again" When the drummer learned
the identity Of his strange admirer,
he was the proudest man in the. regi-
nent-Argonaut
The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1894-06-22
The Editor.

Parson Whangdoodle Baxter Of til a
Thompson Street Blue Light taber-
nacle on arriving at his place OF wor,
ship one Sunday morning was sur
prised to find no one present but
Sam Johnsing, the sexton. What
de debbil am de matter dat OARS no.
body heah?" Nobody heah bekase
dar's a notice in the Freeman's Jour-
nal dat dar would be no sarvice be-
kase Oh de disunwellness OBJ de pas
ture." did dat fool niggah editor
put dat notice in his paper for a
fac'?" e.He did dat berry ding
.sWall, I declar'. | told him 'stinctly
de notice Of my disunwellingness
was intended for de Sunday arter
mex. He am a fool eff eber dar was
one. "-Texas Siftings.