davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1894-10-22

war with the French in Tonquin, the
reorganized regiments were little
more efficient than the mob of shout
ing, gong beating, and somersault-
turning CeleStials, who were the
sport of both French and British SOL
diers and sailors in previous wars.
Even now, however, the constitution
OF the army differs little from what
it was when China, at the beginning
OF this century, having been, so to
speak, the cock of the walk in East
ern Asia from time immemorial, was
regarded by all her people as abso-
lutely iuyincible.
The leading branch of the military
service is found in the "Bannermen. :"
These are the descendants of the
original invaders, who, by law, have
the right to guard the Emperor's per-
son and the twenty-four gates of the
forbidden City," Pekin. AS there
are over 1000 of these men in Pc
kin alone, it is obvious that they can
not all be so employed so selections
are made from their number to form
privileged corps, the crack regi-
ment of the Chinese army. This
body is armed with bows and arrows,
save on great occasions, when they
wear swords and carry lances or hal
herds. They stand guard at the gates
of Pekin, at the palace, and escort
the Emperor on his Journeys. The
regiments next in honor are also
armed with bows and arrows, very
good bows, no doubt, and excellent
arrows, but still somewhat behind
the times. AS though in recognition
of the fact, they are provided with
matchlocks, with which they are sup.
posed to exercise six times a month,
firing three shots on each exercise
day. Much more Importance, how
ever, is attached to the archery prac-
tice, for, though it is no disgrace to
a soldier not to hit anything with his
matchbox, some discredit attaches
to failure with the bow. The prin-
cipal drill is with the scaling ladder,
it being taken for granted that the
enemy will always seek refuge in
some place that needs to be scaled,
though much attention is also given
to leapiug and jumping on horses,
running at full speed, These do not
comprise all the drills, for the sol.
diers are taught to use the sword,
the club or military fail, and also to
beat the gong in the most ear-split-
ting and terrifying manner.
The army of the Green Standard
constitutes the great body of the
Chinese militia. Assembled when an
emergency demands the use Of troops,
they are generally disbanded when
the emergency is past, and so have
neither time nor opportunity for ac-
quiring a knowledge of drill or OF
military tactics. Little effort is made
at uniformity, either in dress or arm,
and the men composing the militia
force are in reality mob that could
not stand a moment before even q
single regiment of European soldiers.
Unframed, undrilled, their swords,
spears, matchlocks, and bows hang
rusting on the walls of the barracks,
save on those occasions when a dress
Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1894-10-22
RECONCILED.

"Charley," said young Mrs. Tork-
ins, "what does the phrase talking
through your hat mean?"
'1t means" was the reply, "that
the person in connection with whom it
is used is in the habit of speaking
without bestowing due amount OF
thought upon the topic on which he
has undertaken to discourse or that he
has selected one which even with o
reasonable amount of application he
would be utterly incapable of compre.
hending."
And when she had caught her breath
she murmured:
"Charley, I don't think that slang,
in moderation, is SO very bad after all,
do you? ?"-Washington Star.
Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1894-10-22
Tho Indian's Pay Day.

"I happened to be at mission in
Idaho few years ago." said d. L.
Fernald, of Lincoln, at the Laclede
last evening, "when two Government
oilicials arrived with funds with which
to pay the Indians for land which had
been bought from them by the United
States. Each Indian received check
for tho amount due him, several
thousand dollars being distributed in
this way among thom. The town
where the checks were to be oashod was
ten miles from the mission, and by
daybreak the following morning
large crowd of Indians had collected
in front of the bank waiting to re-
ceive their money. AT o'clock the
doors of the bank were opened and the
Indians marched in, presented their
checks and received and counted their
money. They would not take bills,
but demanded that they be paid In
gold and silver, which was done.
AS soon rs they got the coin they
started out to spend it. The chief do.
sire of the men was fast horses. and
eho bOuASio pOoh VI IulS uutt
reaped rich harvest. All day long
men could be seen trotting horses up
and down the street to attract tho at.
tention of tho Indians, who immedi.
ately paid the price asked by the own
ers if the animals pleased their fancy.
Wagons and farm implements woro
also in great demand. One dealer
told me aftorward that no sold $4,000
worth of agricultural implements that
day. The squaws also received a por.
tion of the money, and they hurried
to the stores, where they bought
bright colored dress goods, shoes, hats
AMI sweetmeHts for their children.
Some of tho prices paid were onor.
nous. One young squaw paid $1S for
a pair of kid shoes, $40 for black
laco hat trimmed with bright flowers
and s2 for Glowing gum. st. Louis
Globe-Democrat.
Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1894-10-22

ever invented the Chinese cannon are
the most worthless, and of all gun
ners the Celestial artillerymen are
the worst. Their native-made guns
are the poorest apology for artillery
that ever came from foundry. One
English officer tells of a gun he saw
that had been cracked in firing, and
was nevertheless continued in the
service by being patched up with
strips of bamboo and tied with
strings The guns have no sights,
for the Chinese 90 not understand
these mysterious appliances, and
often remove them from the foreign
guns purchased for the use of the
navy, sometimes replacing them with
pieces of bamboo. With the native
guns it is impossible to hit anything,
partly from the lack Of sights, partly
from other faults in the piece, and
partly from the worthleSSneSS of the
powder. 1t is said the Chinese in
vented powder hundreds of years ago
and artillery men who have tried to
use the Chinese product are often
tempted to believe that it is some of
that powder that was first invented
The Chinese guns merely throw out
the shot and that is about all. Dur
ing the opium war the English,
watching the Chinese batteries, often
saw the round balls used drop from
the guna the distance of few yards
and roll away, and even when the
Celestial shooting was at its best, the
balls glanced from the wooden sides
OF the men of war; generally without
throwing off splinter. Besides
their cannon the artillery men are
provided with bows and arrows, gen.
orally much more effective than their
guns. They have no gongs, the re-
port of the artillery being supposed
to answer the same purpose, but they
are provided with one weapon, which,
so far as known, is peculiar to China.
1t is known by a Chinese name.
which, translated into English, sig
mites the "stink-pot," and it justifies
its appellation. 1t is a small vessel
or jar of pottery filed with sulphur
and other combustibles, and is used
by lighting the intlammables within
and then throwing it among the
enemy. One match, burning under
the human nose is bad enough, but
the general effect of this peculiar
weapon is that of a barrel of matches,
and no wonder can be felt at the fact
that, when landed on the deck of Il
hostile ship, it speedily drives the
defenders from the scene With can
non, stink-pOts, and bountiful sup
ply Of very large tirecrackers to use,
when their guns from any cause fail
TO go off, Chinese battery is well
provided for either attack or defense,
and is justly regarded as the bulwark
Of the national independence.
To what extent the warlike appli-
ances Of ten or twelve years ago have
been supplemented by more modern
and improved devices is uncertain,
but Judging from the fact that of the
troops dispatched to Corea, some at
least were armed with bows and ar
rows, it is fair to presume that in no
inconsiderablc degree the time
honored implements of war still hold
their place in the Chinese bands, and
were it not that the Japanese are
better provided. the international
duel would be about as interesting
and as bloody as if it were fought
with mopS, washboards, and flat
irons.
Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1894-10-22
TO CARVE A LEG OF MUTTON.

There are no serious difficulties in
learning how to carve, and, with lit
tie study AL patience, any one may
quickly learn to perform the task with
sufficient skill to at least avoid re-
mark, and every head of n household
ought to make it a study. 1t is not an
easy matter to prepare good dinner,
but it is an easy matter to spoil the
effect by butchering the meats. Flat
terry is one of the foods an amateur
carver thrives on; tell him how hand
some his hands are and what graceful
angles his palpitating elbows make in
mid-alr, and he may not throw grease
beyond the carvingmat. 1t is not
good form for the carver to remove
his coat st. Louis Star Sayings.
Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1894-10-22

oelS vi war tnan Iney knew III 1850.
In that year, during the war with
the British small gunboat grounded
in river, was abandoned Ly the
crew and captured by the Celestials.
Noticing the superior speed of the
gunboat over their own tub-like
junks, they determined to use the
vessel, so tIoated her off the bar,
lighted the fire in her furnaces, pro-
duced the proper amount of smoke
from the funnel, but was greatly sur
prised that she did not move, and
conceiving that the foreign devils
must have bewitched her, sent for
conjurers to remove the spell. All
their efforts were, however, in vain,
they finally concluded that the boat
needed couple of eyes painted, one
on each side of the bow, tocnable her
to see her way. Before this could be
attended 80, the boat was recaptured
by the foreigners and further expert
ment indefinitely postponed.
The efforts of the CeleStials to
utilize Western methods of army dis
cipline and Western arms in the
land service seem to have been greet
ed with somewhat more success than
this attempt to press a steamer into
the employment of the Flowery King
dom, but with all the improvements
that necessity has forced upon the
Chinese military authorities, the
army remains, for the most part, in
a condition that renders it scott
and byword to the troops of any
civilized nation. Nominally, on
paper, it is an imposing force. Ac-
cording to the Chinese official reports
it comprises all the arms of the SER
vice in overwhelming numbers.
There are the troops of the Eight
tanners, including Manchus, Mon
gols and the Chinese, or rather the
descendants Of those who Joined the
Invaders under the Emperor Shun-
chih in l644, when he conquered the
Empire. These alone are said tC
number 1923, 900. Then there is the
Ying Ping, or National army, the
members of which call themselves,
and are called, Braves, who number
about $50, 900, and besides these are
territorial and provincial police and
militia, probably quarter of mill
ion more.
Altogether, therefore, the empire
is said to be able to put ,250, 00C
men in the field, Il force that seems
so large that any one might be eX.
cused for entertaining profound re-
spect for the military strength of the
empire, Such a force is not large
when compared with the area OF the
country nor with the population, for
it should not be forgotten that the
Chinese empire is almost as large as
the whole Of North America, and
that more people speak the Chinese
language than any other one tongue
on the globe. But in absolute num-
bers the Chinese army is strong, and
were its efficiency only eqnal TO its
numbers the plains of Central Europe
might once more behold the spectacle
of MOngOlian cavalry overrunning the
fairest regions of Christendom. If
this sight is ever witnessed, however,
1t will only be after some centuries
of drilling have given the CelestialS
an idea of military tactics, and the
same period of good food and proper
exercise has hardened and developed
their muscular systems to enable
them to stand the fatigue OF long
marches and the labors of the battle
Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1894-10-22
BY THE DEEP SEA.

They were watching the foam as 1t
trailed itself in strange, fantastic
shapes along the yellow sands.
GLOW wonderful, how mysterious is
the sea - exclaimed Paul. "How su-
perior in its majestic naturalness it is
to all the achievements of art. Think,
darling, into what beautiful, harmon
ious forms yon bubbling foam is
wrought. O."
81 am thinking" replied Fantine,
catching his enthusiasm, thinking
what lovely embroidery patterns it
would make. Judge
Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1894-10-22
A DOMESTIC CATAcLYsM.

"Did you ever have any psyoholog.
ical experiences?" asked the profes.
sor.
Indeed, L did; a most remarkable
one," said Mrs. Eyeglass.
"Prophetic?"
eyes"
~ should greatly like to hear it. )"
zone night I dreamed that the sky
suddenly blazed with light; tho heav.
ems were filed with thronging host,
a trumpet sounded, the dead rose
from their graves, and then II voice
shouted: Something terrible is going
to happen ;"
"Well?"
"Well, the very next day our cook
left. - New York World.
Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1894-10-22
TIE SAMPLE" TIENp,

The Clerk lin the drygoods storel--
Glow many samples Of cloth shall I
give that woman?"
The Manager Fourteen.
The Clerk--'But we have fifteen
styles of goods in that class"
The Manager--'I know it. But
when she's selected the fourteen she
likes best she'll come back and want
something she can make up her mind
to have dress made of. "-Chicago
Record.
Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1894-10-22

The British postoftice has recently
introduced new system of notation
for its date stamps. The letters from
A to NJ are used to represent the hours
and also of twelve intervals of five
minutes sach; thus A A means |. O5,
A b 1.1O, and so on. A. m. and D. m.
are expressed by A and P after an
asterisk ; thus NJ GA met II. 15 a. m.
Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1894-10-22
DUE CARE.

Inexact Mistress-"You needn't
bring all that water down again, Mary.
When you've scrubbed tho bedroom
floors, just throw it out of tho window,
but look where it goes.
eyes, mum"
Later on. "Well, Mary, did you
look out where you threw that water p"
eyes, mum, [ looked out directly.
I'd soused it nll over tho Rev. DR..
Mild. ~ Philadelphia Life.
Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1894-10-22
HOUSEHOLD AFFAIRS.


The Russians clean their furs after
this fashion: Rye flour is placed in a
pot and heated upon the stove, with
constant stirring as long as the hand
can bear the heat. THO flour is then
spread over the fur and rubbed into
it with vigorous hand. After this
treatment the fur is brushed, or, bet
ter, is gently beaten until all the flour
is removed. Furs treated in this man
ner are said to resume their natural
color and luster and look like new
New York Advertiser.
Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1894-10-22

They had wandered into the conser'
vatory.
The music came to them in faint
rhythmic throbs.
81 have had many men at my feet,
shewas saying, carelessly, "but in vain.
None of them meet my requirements. ;
He pondered.
''Have you tried corn plasters?" hi
suddenly asked. 81 have known then
to do the work when the most skilful
Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1894-10-22
SAD THOUGHTS,

Tramp-"Iako back yer loaf OF
bread, madam return it unbroken. "
Housekeeper-"Wh What's tho matter ?"
Tramp-"lt brings back too many
sad memories. I can't tech it."
neutrality-suspicious. it mako you
think of the bread your mother used
to make?"
Tramp-"No'm. IT make me think
of when I wuz doin' time breakin'
stones at Sing Sing "-Philadolphia
Life.
Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1894-10-22
TELLING THE GOOD NEWS.

Mrs. Youngma-"And 80, my darl-
ing got the prize at the baby show? I
knew he would. 1t couldn't have been
otherwise"
Old Bachelor lone of the iudges)- -
eyes, madam, we all agreed that your
baby was the least Objectionable of the
lot. Truth
Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1894-10-22
chiropodists had failed. Detroit
Tribune.

NO CHANCE FOR SUCH AN IMPRESSION.
"That is a wonderful work of ma
ture, said the man who was visiting
Niagara Falls for the first time.
pretty big" replied the hotel
keeper.
81 don't see how anybody could con-
template it without feeling terribly
insignificant.
"Well, 1 suppose q good m any peo-
pie do feel that way. But, you see,
most of the people who stop at this
house are brides and grooms. Wash
ington Star.
Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1894-10-22
A HARD HEARTED MOTHER.

"Jimmy Smith grandma treatsihim
just like he wasn't no kim"
Mamma-."What does she do?"
"Why, she don't never lock theJpan-
try SO as he can sneak in an take
things on the Chicago Inter
Ocean.
Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1894-10-22
HINTS FOR BUSTING DAY.

busting u room is not the simple
matter lookers-on think it. 1t does
not consist in wearing pretty apron
and an effective cap and waving II
feather duster after the picturesque
fashion of Phyllis in the plays. In
fact u feather duster is one of the least
useful implements a woman who in
tends to dust could find. 1t merely
puts the particles of dust in circula-
ton in the air and after awhile they
oil settle again on mantles and mirrors,
pianos and chairs, to disconcert the
housewife later when she finds callers
gazing with admiration upon the sill
yer gray cloud that is spread over all
her furniture
A dust-cloth is the proper thing to
remove dust from all wood and hard
materials. stiff brush should be
used for upholstered furniture. 1t
will remove dust from plush, tapestry
and the like, set it moving about i'll
the air and as smooth surfaces have
greater attraction for dust than rough
ones, it will settle again on the tables
and chairs. Then soft, slightly
damp rag will remove it. 1t is, con-
sequently, always wise to brush the
upholstered goods first, TO allow few
minutes intermission before busting.
The trials of busting day can be
greatly reduced if the housewife will,
during sweeping, put under cover ALI
her bric-a-b -brac and books, and will, a.
far aspossible, protect her upholstered
furniture from dust by covering it
with coarse Sheets New York World
Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1894-10-22
SOUTHERN PICKLES AND SAUCES.


Oil Cucumber Pickles-This very
delicious compound is prepared as fol.
lows: Pare and slice four dozen GU
cumbers us If for serving on table,
put them into brine strong enough to
bear an egg, and let them stand TWEEN.
ty-four hours. Slice dozen or four.
teen onions; cover with brine for two
days. Shake off the brine thoroughly
and arrange in jar alt rnate layers
of cucumbers and onions, adding to
each layer one tablespoonful OF mus.
tard seed and saltspoonful of celery
seed. Pour olive oil and vinegar over
each lnyer. The longer this picks
stands the better. II made in July, it
should not be used till December.
About one quart of olive oil is re.
fequired.
Yellow Piccalille-Five gallons OF
lIure vinegar, one pound of race gin.
ger, ono pound of black pepper, one
pound of horseradish, one pound OF
black mustard seed, one pound of gar.
lie, two ounces of nutmeg, two ounces
of mace, two ounces of cloveA, two
ounces of turmeric mixed with sufli.
cient sweet oil TO form u paste, two
ounces ofred peppers about finger
long, one dozen small hard heads OF
early York cabbage split in two pieces,
one dozen clingstone peaches, two
punches of asparagus, twelve heads OF
small celery, one quart of green apri.
cots, one quart of small white onions,
two dozen ears of corn about the size
of the finger, and one pint of tender
snap beans. Everything except the
peaches, celery and sweet spices must
be scalded, and remain in the water
twelve hours, and then be dried in the
sun, with salt sprinkled over them.
Add one small bottle of London mus.
tard, mixed with good olive oil. The
pickle should be kept in stone jar, and
stirred occasionally with a wood spoon.
The housekeeper who furnished this
receipt said that she commenced max
ing the pickle in early summer, add
ing the various fruits and vegetables
mentioned as they came in season.
Chow Chow-Twenty-iye cucum.
bers pared and sliced very thin, fifteea
white onions, cut very fine, n little
horseradish, II quarter of a pound OF
white mustard seed, half-ounce oi
celery seed, Il quarter of cup oi
ground pepper, tumeric and cinnamon
(equal quantities of each), the measure
being ofthe three mixed. Cut the
vegetables fine and pack in salt for
twenty-four hours then drain. Soak
for two days in vinegar and watert
drain again and mix in the spicer
Boil three quarts of vinegar and one
and half pounds of brown sugar for
half an hour, and pour over while hot.
Do this for three mornings in success.
sion, using, of course, the same vine
gar and sugar. Then mix one box OF
pustard and a half-pint of sweet
oil, and pour over the pickle. Two OF
three heads of cauifower, chopped.
may be added. Harper's Bazaar.
Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1894-10-22
A NATURAL QUESTION.

"What kind of a dog is that, papa p"
asked Willy, us ho observed tho big
animal chasing his own tail
"That is n Watchdog, / think" said
the knowledgeable parent.
"Is he winding himself up SOS he'll
go?" asked Willy.-Puck.
Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1894-10-22
TOO GOOD A JUDGE.

Wagstaff-"Whero's that famous
dog of yours TINT was such good
judge of trampsl"
Hopscotch-"I was obliged to,give
him away. To be frank, when Iicame
homo from the races tho other night
he bit me. Judge.
Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1894-10-22

CHEER up, people. Cane.grinding
is getting mighty close to US, and
ca 1dy-pulling time is not more than
six blocks away. There'll be life in
the old land yet,
Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1894-10-22
BURNING WORDS.

Miss Querie-"I understand you
had a narrow escape coming across ?'
Mr.. Hard-Port-"Y eyes, indeed; the
coal ran out and the captain had to
split the ships log to keep the fires
going. Truth.
Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1894-10-22
Back Number Warriors.

The signal defeats the Chinese
navy has encountered in it's engage
ments with the japanese ships show
that the Chinese have learned little
more of the art of using steam YES
Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1894-10-22

Mr.. Doleful - you're looking
wretched. Downright miserable to
tell you the honest truth.
Jack-"Thanks for telling me the
truth, old man. | know you wouldn' t
do that for everybody. Life.
Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1894-10-22
PAID IN KIND.

"Look here" said the proprietor of
the lunch establishment, "this coin
has hole in it.
"Well," " replied Meandering Mike,
$50 had the doughnut ye sold me-"
And he strobe haughtily on. Wash
ington Star.
Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1894-10-22
MATERNAL ANXIETY.

Mother--"I hear such discouragin9
reports from college about Georges
habits!' %
Friend-"Is he addicted to-"
Mother-"To mathematics And
George would have made suchlan ath-
lete Puck.
Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1894-10-22
A CORRECTION.

He ''What is he gong to do after
he graduates?"
She--"Wouldn't it be more appro-
pirate to ask Whom is he going to
do? Truth.
Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1894-10-22

The great canned goods center of
industry of the world is Baltimore,
Nd.
Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1894-10-22

The population of Italy is very
dense, there being 27O people to every
square mile of territory.
Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1894-10-22

Hamilton Disstoh, the millionaire
Philadelphia saw manufacturer, is de.
veloping a 1000, 00U-acre fruit and
vegetable farm in Florida.
Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1894-10-22
CELESTIAL SOLDIERS.
ACCOUTERMENTS OF THE OLD
CHINESE ARMY.

Bows and Arrows Still in Use-GonGs and
Trumpets as Offensive Weapons-Drill
Turning somersaults Battery Equipped
with Fire Crackers and Cannon.
Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1894-10-22
A PRIZE POEM.

''Pennscratch won prize with his
last poem?"
"How was it?"
at had been declined of;ener than
any other. Chicago Inter-O Ocean.