davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1894-07-12
BEFORE THE WAR.
The Faithfulness of Big Dan, the Negr
Slave.


Slave.
A group of gentlemen, mostly from
Dixie, were discussing certain phases
of the institution of slavery as it exist
ed in their region, at one of the down
town hotels. The faithfulness of the
black man to his master was heartily
attested by those present, nearly all OF
whom had owned slaves.
"There never was a more loyal sub
ject than the old-time plantation
darly," said Maj. George Griffin, of Co
lumbus, Ga. THE percentage of slaves
who tried to gain their freedom by run
ming away was very small, which was
the best proof of their contented lot
My father had emigrated from South
Carolina to Georgia, bringing with him
about thirty negroes, in themselves
constituting respectable fortune. lie
was thrifty planter, and with the aid
of his colored vassals his worldly pos
sessions increased rapidly. Among the
number was great strapping fellow
named Dan, who from the fact of his
ability to do about twice the work OF
an average hand, and also for his good
disposition, was prime favorite on
the place. Dan was really the pet Of
the family. He could shuck more corr
and pick more cotton than any of his
colleagues, and withal was as amiable
as a child.
"One summer night Dan left hi,
cabin and walked up to the big house,
as the servants styled the residence o.
their owner. He found my father
seated on the veranda, smoking his
pipe, and coming to him, said: Mars
George, I've got favor to AK of you
"W ell, what is it, DAM?
"'You knows I've a twin brother
back in Souf Caliny, dat | amt seed II
eleven years. wants you to let me &c
on a little visit to see Reuben, for
thinks heap of dat boy
"Well, the upshot of it was that thu
necessary consent was given. There
was no railroad closer than Atlanta
but Dan thought little Of walking tina
distance. When the day came for hin
to start he was the happiest mortal OF
earth. Father gave him a nice suit o
clothes and plenty of pocket money
He was to be back in six weeks. Som,
of our neighbors prophesied that w
had seen the last of Dan, but not so.
recollect the night when he came dow
the road whistling a merry tune. III
had enjoyed a great time with hi
brother, and the six weeks was up to I
day."-Washington Post.
Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1894-07-12
A WOMAN'S AFFIDAVIT.
She Gave the Assessor Lot of Interest
ing Information.

A deputy assessor called at a Mission
residence few days ago and asked the
lady of the house to fill out her state.
mcnt of aSseSsable property, She had
never mnde out statement before,
this public duty having been attended
10 by her husband in previous years.
In some way she was under the inn
preston that the statement of her eff
fects would be published in the daily
papers, and she was anxious to let her
neighbors know what she had,
Have you n piano, MADAME" asked
the deputy assessor.
81 have that, and fine one, too"
"WbNt is it worth?"
"Not cent less than one thousand
dollars"
What is your household furniture
worth?"
"At least two thousand five hundred
dollars" The assessor glanced at tie
rag carpet doubtfally, but put it dow n
at that
81 see you have some pictures" lie
said There were few cheap chrom,, rs
hanging on the wall.
81 have nine oil paintings, worth fifty
dollars apiece"
'Do you keep any poultry?"
eyes, sir, have about five hundred
young chickens"
"What are they worth?"
They're very fine breed, and ]
wouldn't take a cent less than one dol
lar chick
Chickens, five hundred dollars, he
repeated, as he filed out the blank.
'Do you keep a COW or horse?"
No, but have a fine goat"
what do you value it at?'
"About one hundred dollars. Nan
MES better than any cow"
"You have no franchises to asses S,
have you?"
"No-o," she answered doubtfully y.
''But | think my husband has three or
foln. You can put them in at one hun.
drcd dollars apiece, can't you?'
Certainly, madam. The total is four
Thousand nine hundred and fifty dol.
lars. Is that almost right?"
"You might make round five thou.
sand dollars"
Her husband has been haunting the
assessors office ever since in an effort
to convince that official that his wife
was playing joke on the deputy when
she swore to that statement. San Fran.
cisco Post
Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1894-07-12
Where the Baby sleeps.

Cradles have gone out of date for
babies, whose little brains are injured,
we are told, by the rocking motion.
Whether this is so or not certainly no
one need long for the pretty swaying
arks of earlier days who sees the love-
Iy beds provided for the infant of '94.
One is like great basket mounted on
cross-legs of wickerwork. AT the head
there is sort of tripod which sup
ports q canopy that does not come over
the crib at all, but merely falls to the
floor in tied-back curtains much like
those at draped dressing table. The
body of the little bed is entirely COW
cred with three rows of broad lace
sewed to a lining that is fitted over the
wicl1erwork. There are bows of white
ribbon at the lower corners.
Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1894-07-12
A TABLE COVER IN PURE WHITE.

white wash silk. The large figures in
the corners are purely conventional,
and are worked with heavy silk. The
braid is put on precisely as already de-
scribed, but with white in place of col
ored floss.
The edge of the cloth is finished with
wide hem, simply hemstitched and
the whole has the rare merit of laun-
dering perfectly and without need Of
special care.
Beautiful as colored embroidery un-
questionably is, it has the disadvantage
of requiring the greatest care. Even
the wonderful wash dyes must be
treated with respect; and, rs every
housekeeper knows, it Is difficult TO re-
move tea and coffee stains without hot
ter water and more soap than they al
low The pure white covers are, there
fore, steadily growing in favor, and as
this one has the merit of being effective
without being exacting, it deserves a
hearty recognition from all busy wom-
en- folk.-N. Y. Recorder.
Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1894-07-12
Some Points About Pins.

Thorns were originally used in fast
ening garments together. Pins did not
Immediately succeed thorns as fasten-
ers, but different appliances were used,
such as hooks, buckles and laces. 1t
was the latter half of the fifteenth
century before pins were used in Great
Britain. When first manufactured in
England the iron wire, of the proper
length, was filed to point, and the
other extremity twisted into head.
This was slow process, and four or
five hundred pins was a good days
work for an expert hand. The United
States has the credit of inventing the
first machine for making pins. This
was in 1924. The inventor was one
Lemuel Wellmcn Wright. Many re-
marl1able Improvements have followed,
and the machines Of the present day
send off, as if by magic, whole streams
of pins, and these fall so nicely adjust
ed for the papers pricl1cd for them that
two small girls can put up several thou
sand papers in day.-Ladies' Home
Journal
Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1894-07-12

and whose husband had sent in claim
for the money.
p" lrrcgularity of what kindr I
asked.
Well, said the secretary, to be
plain with you, we suspect foul play.
To begin with, no friend of the dead
woman saw her in London during her
last illness. He was alone, without
servant or nurse in the house, with
the deceased, and we have just discov-
cred that the doctors certificate is
forged
THAT looks black enough said /;
and where is Prevot himself?'
1--WE do notbnow. We suppose he
has left the country. lie has placed
his claim in the hands of a solicitor
Have you refused to pay the
claim?' | asked.
oh, no. But we will not pay it un-
Til you have cleared up the case. You
may go ahead at once and do all things
necessary
livery good, said /, this is clearly
q case for eXhumation and an inquest.
The formalities for taking up the
body will occupy a few days. | will
take care of that part of the case. In
quiries had better be made in Paris Mt
the place deceased stopped when out
of the country, and some one must
keep an eye on Prevot.
"'All right, said the secretary, we
have full confidence in YOU"
(Which proves, Bracken," said /, in
terrupting the detective, that of tho
London insurance companies one has
a most acute and discriminating secre.
tary."
Bracken did not resent this speech.
Over his face quiet smile stole. II
lay you five to one you do not solve the
riddle now"
"a bet on such u ghastly subject '
said !, severely, would be out OF
place-horrible. Go on, Bracken, go
on"
"Well, | needn't tell YOU that an
order for eXhumation cannot be got in
five minutes, and is not easy to get
even in ten.
Before we obtained it our man in
Paris wrote that so far as he had been
able to trace Prevot's movements the
artist had given true account of him
Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1894-07-12

self. He had been in Paris from the
night of the sixteenth of October to
the morning of the nineteenth, when
he left with his wife for London. Mrs.
Prevot was said to have been ailing
while in Paris and when quitting it,
but as far as he could find out her case
was not considered even serious not
to say dangerous. Our man wound up
by asking for further instructions.
This was strong confirmation indeed
of the secretary's suspicion. On the
nineteenth the woman had left Paris
with her husband. She was believed
to be only slightly unwell, although
he declared her to be dying, and when
she arrived in London next day she
was so i'll that she had to be carried
out of the cab into the house.
81 telegraphed our man in Paris:
Come home over Prevot's tracks, and
find out everything you can about the
pair on their journey.
Another suspicious fact came to my
knowledge at this time. Prevot had
left the country, and his solicitor
either could not or would not give us
his address. | now felt that not only
had the hemp been grown, but it had
been spun and twisted for his neck;
that is, of course, if we got orders to
arrest and could find him. | had no
doubt we should have the order to ar
rest him forty-eight hours after the ex-
humation.
'To the cemetery we officials went
one dull, foggy November day. The
coffin was soon reached and raised and
in very few minutes the lid was off
and we were all gazing at the perfect
lv unaltered face in it. We were, of
course, under cover, but bad as the
light was here it was better than in
the Percy street room with blinds
down. No one suspected anything in
Percy street, and we all suspected the
worst here But / venture to say not
one of us was prepared for what now
occurred and | venture to say that
never in the whole existence OF that
dreary mortuary did its walls hear
ANYTHING like what it now heard
1--WE glanced at one another, and
then burst into loud fit of laughter.
One of the onloolxers had moved the
body of the late Mrs. Prevot, and
disclosed the fact that it consisted
mostly of a roll of carpet The head
and hands were very faithful waxwork
Representations of that lady.
ION getting back from the cemetery
found telegram from the man who
had been acting for us in France. 1t
was dated Rouen, and read: Mrs. Pre-
vot is here in fairly good health. She
has not yet been informed of her own
death tShall break the news to her?"
And" said l to Bracken, as he
stopped to hail bus in Oxford street,
"did you ever find Prevot?"
"No. You see he didn't get the mon
ey, and it was no ones interest to
prosecute, and they said he was in
/ Mexico and no one wanted him."
Not even his wife?'
''Not even his wife. When she heard
of the thing she did not like it at all.
! She said the man who could weep at
such a funeral could not be nice
minded man. An opinion in which !
heartily concur. Good-by."
Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1894-07-12
MET A FRIEND.
There Was Little Mistake, But 1t Was
Pleasant One,

Pleasant One.
His face beamed with surprise and
pleasure as on entering the great store
he saw friendly figure and features
with which he was familiar confront
him just within the door
'I'm right glad to see you," he said,
shifting the satchel he carried from his
right arm to his left, and he was about
to grasp the hand extended to him
when clerk touched him on the shoul.
der and inquired:
"What department, sir?"
departments queried the old man,
turning around, "am in the depart
ments? ! reckoned it were only in
Wash"
''This is the dress goods and mantle
department" said the clerk blandly.
"Well, young man, i amt lool1in' for
dress goods, and l dunno as we want
another mantel, seein' as we hcv only
one clock and | made shelf for that
myself. want a pair of suspenders if
so be you keep them. But first want
to speak to my friend here"
He turned about and confronted the
smiling face of his friend.
81 don't seem able to name you" he
said regretfully; cts kind of queer,
too, when l know you by sight, as
well as do'myself-"
"Suspenders this way in the gentle
mans furnishing department, here
interrupted the clerk.
"Thats all right, young man; don't
keer which way they are there.
know how l want 'em, and | amt
agoin' to change my style of wearin'
suspenders at my age. Now my friend
| here --"
He extended his hand expecting to
grasp that of his frierd, but his
knuclles struck cold, bare expanse
of looking-glass let into the wall.
Then he saw the face of the clerk over
his shoulder, and he knew he had been
fooled, and had mistaken the sem
blance of himself for an old friend,
And he meelxly followed the clerk,
bought pair of red, white and blue
suspenders, and walked out of the ''de-
partment."
II guess I'll have gardeen 'pinted
fore come to town agin,' he remarked
humbly as he left.-Detroit Free Press,
Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1894-07-12

q racketv man like him would nave
Ia+ her die in Paris among stran-
rars instead of bringing her back TO
ber own country. 1t could not be SAID
h., hrouobt her back to her own peo-
IL ~ Cor She was childless and had no
t;ops of her own, and all her nus
hands cut her on her marriage with
this nenniless foreign adventurer'
W snirs Preyot's condition was so bad
.,ot no one was allowed to see her. and
~ ia I;.tla over a week all the blinds OF
~ A. house were down. One or two OF
prevot,s closest friends were then al
ioyed TO see all that was mortal Oh the
80 ..;st,s wife. and delared they found
~" a. .'' verv little changed-somethlng
.'';xner n and a good deal paler' that
was all This was the first aay' Inc
sooond dav all who called were ao-
s,;tted to the death chamber by TINS
.nn'O nv The body had been placed IN the
tine 'n .;th glass panel so that all
conn the face. Prevot explained
m.s .hat tbe nature of the case IN, made such
.n arrangement desirable Inc luner-
al al a., Mace on the fifth day Moth
a. 'ov noteworthy occurred at it. Every
ing no'e"o ~ The new-made widower
one sod WA how becomingly he bore HIM
no,f. his conduct was just tne perieo, ,',
sen se,r Of suitable behavior maklng @ no n,
tlon u - - his grief nor any attemp' TO
P A.,ral sorrow.
cOnSsul week after the funeral the ,, insnr- sur
apee company communicates q tNinS Mnsr very ,av
There 1'e,Iar' %Ts' they hey feared, about the death
irrsgu,d gSn,.ial ofthe late Mrs. Prevot, whose
saa'U ,.9s ,Sa, insured for thousand pounds
Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1894-07-12
REDEEMED THE BILLS.
Some of the Extraordinary Rescues Made
by the Bank of France.

ny tht bHhh VI
When bank bill is utterly destroyed,
the government or the bauk which is
sued it is the gamer by the amount OF
the bill, for it is promise topay which
no longer exists, But if enough of the
note is left to constitute reasonable
proof of its existence it must be paid.
No more extraordinary rescues have
ever been made, perhaps, than those
which governments and governmental
banks have performed in the case of
mutilated currency.
Some extraordinary but wcll-authen-
ticated stories of such rescues, per-
formed by the Bank of France, are re-
lated. Not long ago Partisan goat
got hold of fifteen bank notes of a
| thousand francs each, and devoured
them all. For very short time he was
an extremely valuable goat. He was
soon slain, however, and all the bills
were found, chewed up into bits and
partially digested, in his stomach.
Strange to relate, they were, in due
course of time, put together again at
the bank and paid.
One day sheep ate upa hundred
franc note belonging to a butcher The
butcher ran into the house of friend,
seized breech-loading gun, loaded it
and shot the sheep. He had no sooner
done this than the owner of the gun
rushed up.
"That was an expensive shot of yours
for me-" he said
"What do you mean?" asked the
butcher.
"Well," said the other, 81 had seven
ty francs in bills hidden in the barrel
of that gum
The Sleeps carcass was pretty thor
oughly searched, and enough of the
pieces of the notes recovered so that
the bank redeemed them all.
More commonplace incidents of this
sort are continually reported at the
bank. Now and then an excited fam
lyman, wife and children-rush into
the bank. The children, left alone at
home, have found some pretty
pictures and cut them up with scis-
sors The pictures turn out to be bank
bills, and when the parents return,
they take pictures" children and all
to the bank as evidence.
The bills are put together and re-
deemed; the family go home happy, but
the children never again cut up any,
thing valuable
A not infrequent occurrence is the
leaving of bank-notes in the pockets OF
linen vests which are sent to be washed
Perhaps the washerwoman looks in tho
pockets, but very likely she does not
but puts vest and banll-notes into tho
suds Bills treated in this manner arc
very hard to restore; for the rubbing
and the washing preparations very near
ly efface all evidence that the pulpy
mass has once been money
Burned money is sometimes restored
A man came home, took out letter
cut the envelope across the end anC
took out three hundred francs in bills
In his absence his wife put the bills
back in the envelope. The man re
turned and, taking what he supposed
was merely the envelope, threw it into
the fire.
However, the ashes of the burned note
still retained the form and imprint o.
the burned money, and it was redeemed
by the bank Youths Companion.
Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1894-07-12

either be exactly copied or modified to
suit your needs.
The original has just been completed
by clever woman, who makes all her
own designs. The foundation is pale
sage-colored furniture sateen. The
central figure Is worked in long and
short stitch with old pink Turkish
floss, and the center is filled with fancy
stitches Of the same. The antennae-
like lines that run from it were first
drawn with a brush, then covered with
the braid, neatly pasted on. Each one
of the sections is buttonholed irregu-
larly with old pink flo floss around its
entire edge, and each joint is entirely
worked over with the same. The com
bination of tones Is charming, and the
rapidity of the work is an immense ad-
vantage in these days of hurry and
hustle, when one has hardly time suf-
ficient to indulge in the love for max
ing pretty things.
The second illustration shows one
corner of tea table cover, and is all
white.
The material is heavy linen, fine
quality of what Is known as butchers
linen" and all the work is done with
Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1894-07-12
WOMAN AND HOME.
STYLISH EMBROIDERY.


something About the Very Latest Thing
In Embroidery-A Combination of Honi-
ton Braid with Embroidery Excellent
Model In tho shape of u Cushlon-Cor"
ner for Table Linen.
The very latest thing in needlework
Is combination of the honiton braid
with embroidery, Heretofore we have
had the lovely lace work, and we have
even seen the braids used as braids
simply, but their use for applique and
their combination with long and short
stitch are both new and immensely eff
tective.
The work is simple in the extreme
and requires no knowledge beyond that
which every woman has. The secret
of success lies in the design and in the
selection of colors. II you are careful
that both of these are good, the rest
will surely follow, and you may be as
sured Of success.
The cushion shown in the first draw
ing is excellent as a model, Aand can
Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1894-07-12
How to Clean Windows.

Simple as the operation may seem
there is way to clean windows and a
way not to clean them. The following
suggestions may be of use to some, as
they save both time and labor: Choose
time when the sun does not shine on
the window, else it will dry strealked,
and no amount of rubbing can prevent
it. Brush off all the dust inside and
out; clean the woodwork around the
glass first. Use for this warm water
and ammonia do not use soap. Wipe
dry with cotton cloth. Do not use
linen, as it leaves lint on the glass
when dry. Polish with tissue or old
newspaper.
Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1894-07-12
THE COUNTY OF PERTHSHlRE.
Claims Pre-eminent Right TO BE Regarded
as Queen of Scotland.

Claims Pre-eminent Right TO BE Regarded
as Queen of Scotland.
This is the central county of Scot.
land in more senses than one, and has
the natural and hereditary right to be
regarded as queen of the land. 1t was
the first to draw attention hitherward,
and still remains the chief attraction.
When the Sout hron talks of the High
lands he mea1ls Perthshire, when he
starts for the Highlands he arrives in
Perthshirc. There are doubtless "hills
beyond Gramp'ans, and lands beyond
Tay," but on either side of the great
watershed which marks the northern
boundary of tt is country there is ten
dency to bccoTle tanner and commoncr.
The charm cf the scene is according
to tho seekers. To some it may be
those stream plowed ravines and
glacier scoopeG lakes; to others the
purple autumn hills, with the whirring
covcys of richl T-darli birds; but charm
there is for I'LL. And if men would
only leave the wild life alone, we do
not know that there would be more
interesting and enchanting place to
spend summer holiday than this
same Pcrthshire. The other counties
may well say, as was once said of a
great statesm&n: "Wc are all proud Of
you. Scottish Review.
Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1894-07-12
BIack Hosiery La Doomed.

In Paris the cry has gone up: mo
more black stockings" and the shops
in Paris are eager to please, and, obe-
dent to the voices of their fashionable
customers, exhibit now heaps of silk
and thread hosiery, all of the same
color, but infinitely varied in shades,
from the dark gray called steel gray
to the palest dove tint; few white
articles are seen among the lot, and
far away, in q remote corner, thou
sand pairs of black silk stockings,
open-worked, as thin as the webs of
the most artistic spider, lovely, but
disdained and snubbed by their friends
of old, are given away almost for moth
ing