davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1894-03-15
THE OLD HARPooNER.
A Bit of the Poetry That Has Gone Out of
Whaling Life.

A Bit of the Poetry That Has Gone Out of
Whaling Life.
The gallant seaman who in all tho
books stands in the Prov of whaling
boat waving harpoon over his head,
with the line shaking out into the air
behind him, is only to be found now in
Paternoster row. The Greenland seas
have not known him for more than
hundred years, since first the obvious
proposition was advanced that one could
shoot both harder and more accurately
than one could throw. The swivel gun.
like a huge horse pistol, with its great
oakum wad and 80 drains of powder, il
q more reliable but far less pictur-
esque object.
But to aim with such gun is an art
in itself, as will be seen when one con-
siders that the rope is fastened to tho
neck of harpoon, and that as the mis-
sile flies the downward drag of this rope
must seriously defect it. So difficult is
it to make sure of ones aim, that it is
the etiquette of the trade to pull the
boat right onto the creature, the prev
shooting up its soft, gently sloping side
and the harpooner firing straight down
into its broad back, into which not only
the four foot harpoon but 10 feet IF the
rope behind it will disappear. Then,
should the whale cast its tail in the air
after the time honored fashion of the
pictures, that boat would be in evil case,
but fortunately when frightened or hurt
it does no such thing, but curls its tail
up underneath it, like cowed dog. and
sinks like a stone. Then the bows
splash back into the water, the harpoon
er hugs his own soul, the crew light
their pipes and keep their legs apart,
while the line runs merrily down the
middle of the boat and over the bows.
There are two miles of it there, and a
second boat will lie alongside to splice
on if the first should run short, the end
being always kept loose for that pur-
pose. And now occurs the one serious
danger of whaling. The line has usu-
ally been coiled when it was wet, and
as it runs out it is very liable to come
in loops, which whiz down the boat
between the mems legs. A man lasseed
in one of these nooses is gone and fifty
fathoms deep before the harpooner has
time to say, Where's Jock?'' Or if it
be the boat itself which is caught then
down it goes like cork on trout line,
and the man who can swim with a
whaler's high boots on is swimmer in
deed. Many whale has had Par
THAN revenge in this fashion, Some
years ago man was whisked over with
a blight of rope round his thigh.
"George, man, Aiec's gone!" shrieked
the boat steerer, heaving up his ak to
cut the line. But the harpooner caught
his wrist. INA, ma, num-" he cried,
1.-THE oil money'll be good thing for
the widdie.'' And so it was arranged
while Alec shot on upon his terrible
journey. "a. Conan Doyle in McC Cures
Magazine.
The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1894-03-15
Ex-Prssidents In Politics.

Several of the presidents have remained
in active politics after retirement from
the White House. Buchanan was elected
president at sc and retired at the age of
70. Tyler was member Of the provi-
sional confederate congress at the age of
II. John Adams, at IS years of age, was
a delegate to the convention for revising
the constitution Of Massachusetts,. John
Quincy Adams was elected to congress
by the anti-Mason party when ewas GA.
and he remained in congress for period
of II years. He died in the hall of the
house. James Monroe retired from the
presidency at 81, was a regent of the
University of Virginia with Madison and
Jefferson at IS, but declined to serve as
an elector from Virginia at 20 on tho
ground that an ex-president should net
be q partisan, but afterward acted as q
local magistrate and was a member Of
the constitutional convention of Vir-
ginia. Andrew Jackson was 10 when he
left the White House. ashington Star.
The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1894-03-15
a Good Son Is This.

An interesting story of filial devotion
is told of Deering citizen who, as a
young man, followed the sea and visited
many foreign lands, settling down at
home some 80 years ago. never having
slept out of his own house but 10 nights
since that time. During all these years
he has never failed every day to call at
the neighboring house Of his aged par
ents in the early morning before going
to his work in Portland and on his re-
turn at night. He always finds his IA
ther and mother ready to greet him. He
always says ''Hello" in his CHEEKY voice,
and the old man replies, "We're here,
john" That is all, but 80 years Of that
every day is vastly more flial compan-
ionship than falls to the lot of most ia
theirs, and fortunate indeed is the moth
er whose fond heart never looks in vain
for the daily visit Of her son!-Lewiston
Journal
The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1894-03-15
the OLD VALENTINE.

A souvenir Of the bygone years,
Breathing old odors faint as musk
Which roses spill In dew and dusk;
Its blazoned pages dulled by tearss
Its faded Cupid dropping low,
With broken wing and rusty bow;
A leaf of life turned old and scar,
Yet still she holds IL sweet and dear,
For love embalms each simple line
OF that old, faded valentine.
She pores upon the cherished page
A lily past her morning glow,
But fair as In the long ago.
To such as she what matters age,
Whose love Is ageless, and whose truth
Makes in her soul eternal youth?
Still unforgotten kisses thrill
With rapture her swift pulses; still
She cries: "How bright this world would b
Could you, o Love, come back to me,
AS once my own and only mine,
My bonny knight and valentine!
"The fault was mine-oh, hapless fatei--
To learn our needs and blame too late,
When prayers and tears cannot atone
For wrong and sorrow dealt our ownf'
But, 10, o tread of eager feet
Presages something strange and sweet
He comes, forgiven, to forgivel
Sweetheart. to love that is to live,
And love like ours can never die"
Nor need to voice her hearts replyl
More eloquent the dumb, dear sign
OF that long treasured valentine.
New York Ledger.
The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1894-03-15
\ Railroad Through the sea.

An interesting experiment is about to
be carried out at Brighton in the shape
Of the construction of marine railway
for the purpose Of connecting Brighton
with the little village of rockingham,
some three or four miles to the eastward.
The rails will be laid on the solid rock
with concrete and at high water will be
covered by the sea, which, however, will
not affect the carriages, the latter being
supported on framework that keeps
them high and dry. At this part of the
coast the cliffs are high, and the beachis
practically inaccessible, SO that no boat
ing traffic will be interfered with. The
cars will be moved by electricity, like
those now in use along the eastern fore
shore of Brighton.-London News.
The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1894-03-15
An Affecting Tale.

Barber-Poor Jim has been sent to an
insane asylum.
Victim Tin chair)-Whe's Jim?
"Jim is my twin brother, sir. Jim
has long been broodin over the hard
times, and suppose he finally got
crazy"
"Hum! Not unlikely"
eyes, he and me has worked side by
side for years, and we were so alike we
couldn't tell each other apart. We both
brooded good deal too. No money in
this business any more"
whats the matter with it?"
ePrices too low. Unless customer
takes a shampoo or somethin, it doesn't
pay to shave or hair cut. Poor Jim! !
caught him tryin to cut a customers
throat because he refused a shampoo,
and so had to have the poor fellow
locked up. Makes me very melancholy.
Sometimes feel sorry didn't let him
slash all he wanted to. 1t might have
saved his reason. Shampoo, sir9"
sY-e-s, sir."-New York Weekly.
The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1894-03-15
HOE YOUR OWN ROW.
It Is Proftless Proceeding to Garry Goals
to Newcastle.

It Is Proftiess Proceeding TO Garry Goals
to Newcastle.
There are more ways than one, my son,
Of carrying Goals to Newcastle, and in
almost every case it is proitless pro-
ceeding on the part of the person engag-
ed in it.
Therefore, my son, have nothing to do
with that kind of traffic-that is to say,
do not encroach upon another's preserves
except to admire. Do not attempt to
stock them with your own game.
When man is salesman in dry
goods store, do not attempt to instruct
him by the ventilation of ideas of your
own. If he be an actor, do not intrude
upon him any of your amateur notions.
If clergyman, refrain from Scriptural
citation and exegesis when in his compa-
ny. If a professional humorist, resist,
as it were the evil one, all temptation to
facetiousness and paronomasia. If anne
chanic, do not presume to give him points
in his calling. -........ IT,
But, on the other hand, my son, donot
attempt to interfere with his speaking or
his calling, profession or speciality. So
long as You listen you make no mistake,
and the wing of friendship molts no
feather.
Give ear to the story of his experiences
at the counter, but interject none of your
own; listen to and applaud his spoutings,
but spout not yourself; receive with be-
coming reverence his interpretations Of
holy writ. but NEEDLE not yourself with
that which the lay mind is not supposed
to be able to cope withal; listen and
laugh at his wit and whimseys, but
hazard no joke of your own; attend
while he relates his mechanical achieve
ments, but vaunt not yourself in the
same line. 49,
1t is a common mistake, my son, to
suppose that because man delights in
talking about certain something in
which he is proficient, he loves to hear
every babbler that falls in his way des-
can't upon the same subject; that because
it pleases him to exalt himself in given
direction he likes to hear others in the
same direction exalt themselves.
When a man knows thing thorough
ly-or thinks he does, which amounts to
the same so far as he is concerned-he is
quite ready and willing to instruct others,
but he brooks no incursions by others
into his peculiar domain. When he has
finished the exposition of his wares, it is
time for you to show up yours, provided
Of course they are of an entirely differ
emit line. ..
There must be reciprocity in the COM
MERGE of conversation, an exchange Of
complementary commodities. Each must
give what the other lacks and receive in
return that in which he is wanting, else
there can be no trade, no harmony.
You would not ship oranges to Flori-
da, ice to Nova Zembla or hot air fur
naces to Sahara. Then why carry Goals
to Newcastle?
Therefore, my son, let each man pad
die his own canoe as it best pleases him.
Admire, applaud, if you willard 1t IS
your best hold-but don't put in your
oar, though he be swamping.-Boston
Transcript.
The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1894-03-15
MYSTERIOUS ELECTRICITY.
The Human Mind May Never Solve Ii
Problem of What II II.

~
Tho Human Mind May Never solve tho
Problem Of What It Il.
To the metaphysical mind on the one
had and to the confident ignoramus on
she other the mysterious nature of cleo
tr;riS9 ,ffers a fruitful subject Of specu-
q. il To the latter especially II seems
SEa lsach that the true nature Of cleo
szssty has not long before been made
manifest, and he is always prepared to
dash off an explanation with much more
confidence than Newton proposed his
theory Of gravitation. It seems inexpli-
cable to the public at large that the mys-
terry surrounding electricity Is not dis
PEELED. 1t does not seem to occur to
those who are impatient to have the
great question, "What Is electricity"
answered that we are In Just as dense
Ignorance as to the mechanism of other
phenomena. Gravitation, light, heat
and chemical action are in the same
category of scientific mysteries and have
had centuries more of thought bestowed
on them than has been devoted to the
new agent. While it now seems that
we may be on the threshold of one of
the greatest discoveries of the human
mind, yet it is possible, and even proba-
BILE, that the knowledge of man may
never be permitted to extend to the en-
tire solution of the problem, for it is the
very problem of the universe itself.
Assuming what seems to be unques-
toned, that electricity, electrical action
or whatever we may call it, has its seat
in the atoms or molecules of matter or
of the hypothetical matter, ether, we
are brought face to face with the same
conditions that confront the cosmical
philosopher. AS the latter can never
hope to have his material vision extend
to the bounds of the universe, neither
can the molecular physicist hope to ma
terially appreciate the ultimate elements
of matter. Lord Kelvin has shown that
if a drop of water were magnified to the
size of the earth one of its constituent
molecules would only be magnifed to
approximately the size Of cricket
ball. Bearing this in mind, the i'm
mensity of the problem which is so often
fippantly referred to is evident. True,
We may uculOuStTdG0 Uu0 0AdCb ItldUlOu
between electricity and magnetism and
may satisfactorily connect these with
other phenomena and even obtain a
working hypothesis that will answer all
scientific needs, but the ultimate solu-
ton may forever evade the human mind.
Whatever we do learn, however, will
not be through the speculations of meta
physicians or the guesses of tyros, but
through the physical investigations of
Hertzes and Teslas. While as a mental
training metaphysical speculation may
have its use, the absolute lack of addi-
tons to our real knowledge during the
many centuries from Plato to Bacon,
when metaphysics held full sway, is con-
elusive that nothing can be expected
from this direction, and merely specula-
tive theories in regard to the nature of
electricity deserve as little considera-
ton as is now given to the metaphysical
vagaries of the schoolmen of the middle
ages Electrical World. .
The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1894-03-15
IHE BALLOON !. IN BATTLE.
HOW IL IL Managed and Information Trans
mitted and Received.

HOW IL Ii Managed and Information Trans
mitted and Received.
Balloon and wagon have formed juno
tion and are ready to start with the
troops. Away goes the wagon, with the
balloon hanging on to its tail, while the
attendant sappers on each side keep 1t
steady. The train moves along at good
round pace, easily keeping up with or
even passing the infantry, and makes for
the particular spot at which it has been
determined to commence balloon opera
tions, which is usually ON the top of a
good high hill.
An ascent is an easy enough matter
and is soon accomplished. The balloon
is securely fixed to the end of the wire
rope, and the two men who are to ascend
take their places. At the word Of COM
mand the men who have been holding
down the car let go, and up shoots the
balloon, unwinding the rope as it rises
and allowed sometimes to ascend to a
height of 1000 feet. And suppose the
officer receives instructions to move the
position of the balloon, is it necessary to
haul it down? Not a bit of it. A man
is placed at the end of the wagon who
carefully guides the connecting rope so
that it cannot get entangled or run risk
of being cut, and away goes the wagon,
sometimes at a trot across fields and mp
and down hill, until the balloon itself is
long distance away from its original
station. Next, suppose that it is neces-
sary to lower the balloon. Is it needful
to wind in all the wire rope that has been
paid out from the reels? No such thing.
The balloon is brought to earth in a
much more expeditions manner.
A long, stout pole, in the middle of
which is a pulley wheel, is laid across
the rope Half a dozen men seize the
pole ard run it along the rope, and their
weight soon brings the balloon down to
the ground. Passengers can then be ex-
changed, or any other operation can be
carried on, and then the men run the
pole back, and up shoots the balloon
again many hundreds of feet into the
air, without having been away from it's
exalted position more than few minutes.
But it is not necessary to lower the bal
loon in this or any other way whenever
it is required that messages should be
exchanged between those below and those
above. There are various contrivances
for doing this. Sometimes, for instance,
a wire is attached, through which mes
sages can be sent to telephone. Another
plan is to send messages down the wire
cable. A little wire hook is fastened
around the cable, and the letter or pa
per, weighted with small sandbag, is
sent futtering down. The human voice,
it may also be added, can be heard both
from considerable height and depth, so
that verbal communication is not difficult
if there is no wind.-Good Words.
The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1894-03-15
nfOdest.

Writers CT comic plays are said to have,
as q rule, a very good conceit of them
selves. But one of them objected never
theless when an ardent admirer compared
him with Shakespeare.
"You mustn't do that!" said the dram
atist. -
''Why not%
''Well, Shakespeare had his way of
writing, you know, and ! have mine. -
Youths Companion.
The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1894-03-15
Tons oS psfriaad U,.h

In the northwestern part Of Colorado
there is region several hundred square
miles in extent which is literally a,vast
deposit of F~srifed fish Of all sizes and
shapes. These fish beds-shale contain
ing fish remains-are about $50 feet in
thickness and extend up and down the
Green river for distance Of 100 or 200
miles.-Detroit Times.
The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1894-03-15
In the Fashion.

Mrs. jackson Parke-WF hat IN the
world is keeping you up SO late?
Mr.. jackson Parke--I AMI writing an
article for the papers on "lIow Killed
My First Hog" These literary chaps
with their stories of how they wrote
their first books, are not goitg to have the.
field all to themselves, not bly, jugful. -
indianapolis Journal.
The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1894-03-15
Count Primoli,. Camera.

Count Primoli is familiar figure in
Partisan society. spending i portion of
the season each year at the hospitable
house Of his aunt, Princess Mathilde, in
whose salons he formed the acquaintance
and acquired the warm friendship of the
popular novelist, Paul Bourget. He is
noted as being, with the possible excep-
ton Of the Due de Morny, the most sue
cessful amateur photographer in Europe,
and has spent enormous sums on various
perfected apparatus connected with this
particular fad. New York Herald.
The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1894-03-15
Royal German Dim ers.

A characteristic of all din ners given to
the court and military officials by the en-
peror and empress Of Germany is that
there is always provided dish of sweet
meats, which holds as well pictures of
the royal pair and their children, each
bonbon having likeness painted upol
it. And when the hosts retire there is
something approaching scrhmbleamong
the digniied officers and fuDctionaries
for one Of these much valued souvenirs
to take home to equally eager wives and
daughters.-New York Tim les.
The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1894-03-15

attacK. Large pouies or unese niue pesrs
were massed in silence round the point
to be assaulted. We could hear the
sharp, shrill word Of command two or
three times repeated, though until then
we had not believed in the vocal power
of en- ant. The instant after we felt the
storming hosts over head and neck. ~
New York Ledger.
The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1894-03-15
EGG Sucking Boston Girls.

There is new fad in Boston. It has
its origin among young women-mostly
of the genus known as the matinee girl.
1t is drinking raw eggs at the soda foun
tain in .'ladies' lunch" places and similar
innocuous resorts. The girls stop, ask
for an egg and swallow it from a glass
without blinking. -Providence Journal.
The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1894-03-15

In the Medical museum, Washington,
there are two skulls all cracked up like
a couple of eggshells that have been
knocked together. They formerly be-
longed to couple Of Norfolk negroes
who butted each other to death because
a woman couldn't decide which Of the
two she liked the better.
The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1894-03-15
African Ants.

DR.. Sharp gives the following extract
from DR.. Livingstone's Narrative of an
Expedition to the Zambezi:s
1--WE tried to sleep one rainy night in a
native hut, but could not because of at
tacks by the fighting battalions of a very
small species of formica not more than
one-sixteenth of an inch in length. It
soon became obvious that they were un-
der regular discipline and even attempt
ing to carry out the skillful plans and
stratagem of some eminent leader. Our
hands and peclss ware the first ahiee.s Of
The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1894-03-15

The sooner a man finds that he has not
the capacity to know even one thing
thoroughly, the more general and reli-
able information he will begin to accu-
mulate concerning the world in general.
Milwaukee journal.
The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1894-03-15
She Ought to Know.

Miss Imogen Quincy, who entered pc.
iical lfc to the extent of seeking the
postmistress-ship of her town, says that
no woman can earn lveliheed at po-
etry-the statements of Fila Wheeler
Wilcox Notwithstanding.
The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1894-03-15

The smallest republic in the world is
Franceville, one of the islands of the
New Hebrides. The inhabitants consist
of 40 Europeans and 500 black workmen
employed by a French company.
The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1894-03-15
A Compromise.

"Your account has been standing a
long time, Mr.. Dukey."
"Then give it seat, my dear Shears"
every glad to, sir; shall we make it a
receiptg-London Judy.
The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1894-03-15

Imperator was originally a title of
honor bestowed on victorious general.
After the downfall of the republic it
became the title of the supreme ruler
and had the sense of our word. emperor.
The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1894-03-15

The royal title beg has now almost
disappeared, and when used in the alter
ed form Of hey is applied to military
rank In the Turkish army. Originally it
was deemed more honorable than that of
sultan.
The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1894-03-15
SAUK CENTRE & NORTHERN.
Daily Except Sunday,

Daily trains between st. Paul, Minneapo-
lis, Sioux City, st. Cloud, Sank Gen ire,
CrookSton, Moerhead, Fargo, Grand Forks.
Grafton, Winnipeg, Devils Lake, Great Falls,
Helena, Butte, kalispell, Spokane and Sc
attic.
Pacific coast trains run palace sleeping
and dining cars, buffet, library, observation,
smoking cars, first and second class coaches,
free cOlonlSL SlGepels, etc.
Connections at st. Paul, Minneapolis with
trains TO and from Lake Superior points,
Chicago, st. Louis and the east, south and
south west.
Crosses the Rocky and Cascade mountains
i'll Daylight, giving passengers a chance TO
see some OF the finest scenery In America.
Steamer ana rail connections at Sea tile
for Puget Sound points, California, Alaska,
Oh1na and Japan.
Connections at Bonner's Ferry, Idaho. for
k9Otenai river ana lake points; at Wen
atchee, WASH, for Lake Chelan, the upper
COlumbia and the Okanogau district.
Tickets sold and baggage checked to all
principal points. For publications and in
formation about rates, routes, etc., apply 10
JAS. A. NORRIS, Agent,
Sank Centre, Mimi.
The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1894-03-15

A little boy, being asked if he was the
Oldest in the family, replied, "No, mum;
my granny is"