davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-09-19

The statement is frequently made that
nine-tenths of the farms are mortgagsd
for all they are worth, and before the
reports of our last census were analyzed
it was generally believed that the amount
of farm mortgage Indebtedness was SIM
ply appalling. Fortunately, the facts of
the case show very different state of
affairs. According to special article in
a recent number of the american Agri-
cultu7tst, the census reports show that
three-quarters Of all the farms in the
United States are owned free of incum-
brance. Only one-fourth of the Ameri-
can farms are mortgaged, and the average
mortgage represents only one-third of
the value of the farms on which it is
secured. The total amount of all our
farm mortgages is hardly one-tenth of
the value of the farms. The Agricultur-
iSt says: "Out Of every 100 families on
american farms in 1890 forty-seven
owned their farms free of mortgage,
twenty owned, but with ncumbrauce,
and thirty-two hired the farms they lived
on and worked. Of those who cultivated
their own farms, 70 per cent owned with
out incumbrance, and only 80 per cent.
had mortgages. Of the farms occupied
by tenants less than 10 per cent. were
incumbered. Four-fifths Of the amount
Of 'lebt on farms and homes were incurred
fl Tho commendable purpose Of buying
and improving the property, and like
proportion of the number of farms and
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-09-19

Among the decisions handed down in
the Court of Appeals of Missouri recently
was one declaring that debt contracted
in an option deal cannot be collected by
law, as such speculative dealing is gamb-
ling and illegal. The points sustained
were that the debtor was not bona fide
purchaser; was not prepared to receive
and did not expect to receive the actual
grain, and that if in contract for future
delivery the only purpose is to speculate
on the difference between buying and
selling prices. such contract is a wager
and therefore null and void.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-09-19
Dynamite In The Grave.

KNOXVILLE, Tenn, Feb. 24.-Herman
Spiro, large manufacturer of cider, who
was killed by railroad a few days ago,
all his life had great fear OF body
snatchers. Some exploits of medical
students here in the past added to his
fears and time and again he has expressed
detestation for resurrectionists and a fear
that his body would find its way 10 dis
secting room. Respecting his we'll
known views, when he was buried the
other day, his brother took steps to pre-
serve the grave against desecration. One
night after the funeral the grave was
guarded and the next day the brother
planted the grave with dynamite and
advertised that fact. In an interview to-
day he said: II believed they would
attempt to get brothers body because he
died from an accident and so decided to
prevent this by putting dynamite in the
grave. 1 did not put dynamite in the
coffin, but placed it outside go it will
explode as soon as spade is put in the
ground"
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-09-19

The city council of Atlanta has voted
aid to the proposed Cotton States and
International Exposition to be held in
Atlanta in 1895 to the extent Of cash
assistance to the sum of $4,000. The
clearing house banks of Atlanta have
contributed 10000, and while the direc-
tors of the company have not yet made
call for funds, more than $5O. 900 addi-
tional has already been voluntarily SUBJ
scribed. A preliminary fund of 100000
will be asked for from the citizens Of At
lanta next week, and so enthusiastic are
the business men of the city for the sue
cess of the exposition that already more
than that amount is guaranteed. 1t is
confidently expected that preliminary
sum of $500, 900 will be raised with which,
by the assistance of bonds and other
steps, the exposition will be at once
placed on a million dollar basis. Repre-
sentatives will be sent at once to the
South American Republics, Mexico and
Cuba, and before another week the
movement will be under full headway.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-09-19

On December 1st, 1888, an order was
made placing the railway mail service
under civil service regulations after
March 18th, 1889. One week after he
became President, Mr.. Harrison post
poned the date of the previous orders
taking effect on May 1st. Thereupon a
, thousand skilled clerks were put out of
the service and Republican incompetents
substituted for them. Ithas been decided
by the House Judiciary Committee to
Report favorably bill giving the Post
master the right to restore the
thousand victims of the Harrison ak.
Such simple act of justice ought not to
be opposed, but every Republican in the
committee voted against it.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-09-19
Cold Waves.

Cold waves are those sudden chan
.ges from high to very low temperature
which constitute the most noteworthy
feature of the United States. They
are produced by the flow of masses Of
cold, dry air from the regions east of
the Rocky Mountains in British
America, toward the south and south
east. During the long winter nights
of the Arctic region, dry, clear air.
accumulates in deep layers which is
cooled by radiation to a temperature
many degrees below zero; and then
commences to flow towards any place
where warm air is ascending, as it
does in the low pressure areas or
storms which constantly pass from
west to east across the United States.
A Glow area is produced by the
air, somewhere becoming heated from
unknown causes, above the surround
ing atmosphere. This excessively
heated air ascends and air is drawn in
below from all sides to replace it.
That drawn in on the south to east
side is warm and moist; that drawn
from the north to west side is dry and
cold. The cold wave follows after the
low area as it moves eastward The
severer and prolonged cold waves are
associated with extensive areas of high
pressure. Their rate of progress aver
ages 1900 miles in twenty four hours.
1t is of great advantage to many
business and agricultural interests to
know in advance when the temperature
will fall quickly and decidedly, be-
sides affecting the comfort and health
of thousands of people.-C. f. von
Herman, Meteorologist, NJ: G. Erper-
iu,ent Station.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-09-19

The days of the popularity of football
are evidently numbered. The Univer-
sity Athletic club has taken it in hand,
and means to reform the brutality out OF
it. Representatives of Harvard, Colum-
bia, Princeton and Yale met in New
York the other day to discuss the matter
and adopt regulations which shall abolish
the bruises and broken bones from the
field. That will end the business as far
as the great masses of the spectators are
concerned. When the excitement OF
danger is gone the interest Of the game
will 60 with it, and it will be no more
attractive than baseball.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-09-19

This affair happened in the fall of 1868
when my regiment (the 1st South Caro-
lima cavalry was stationed at Culpepper
Court House. It strikes me az being
signal instance Of bravery and daring
from among the many instances of that
character which long campaign is sure
to bring forth, and am not alone in con-
siderinG it worthy of mention. The Incl
dent formed the subject Of commenda-
tory dispatch on the part of Gen. Lee
himself, and was the first occasion to my
knowledge that private was singled ont
by the commander in chief for this dis
tinction.
Private VIM. R. Bolick was the recipi-
ent of this honor, and the decd that
brought him to Gen. Lees notice was
briefly narrated as follows:
It was indispensable that our comman-
der should have exact information as to
the whereabouts of Gen. Reade's quar-
ters. Gen. Lee accordingly sent to Gen.
Wade Ham pton with the request to have
the enemy's quarters located. General
Hampton, who was then my immediate
commander, transferred the order to me.
Having had occasion to commend Bolick
for his bravery and daring in difficult
undertakings previously, selected him
for the task. Bolick and comrade Of
his, Virginian named Curtis, who
always accompanied him on dangerous
missions, set out upon the expedition.
They successfully located the quarters
of the Union general towards evening Of
that day, but Bolick was not satisfied
with having run the danger they had
already encountered. He was determin-
ed to ascertain everything about the
interior of the camp. The two men crept
stealthily past the outposts, shielded by
the darkness. They crept up to within
few hundred feet of the generals tent.
when they came upon guard OF seven
men. The men were all asleep and had
piled their arms together. These were
Bolick and Curtis drew their revolvers
and awoke the sleepers. "If you move
or say word you are dead men," said
Bolick pointing his weapon. The SOL
diers looked for their arms in vain and
saw that resistance meant death. They
decided to give in feeling sure that aid
would be forthcoming.
Bolick calmly ordered the men to rise
and march, telling them to be silent.
He and Curtis guided the guard with
pointed pistols. AS they were passing
fence two Of the prisoners suddenly
jumped over it and made their escape.
Bolick did not fire, neither did Curtis.
They knew that it would bring the whole
Federal camp about their ears if they did.
So they quietly proceed ed with the five
remaining prisoners and safely reached
our quarters.
Gen. Lee personally wrote to me to
thank Bolick for his bravery in executing
the dangerous task entrusted to him.
The information he had obtained proved
of the greatest importance to the move
ments Of our army at that time.-Johm L.
Black, in Wilson Syndicate Letter.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-09-19

A woman went into a jewelry store
in New York and asked to see some dia-
mond rings. AS she was looking at them
she directed the clerks attention another
way for moment, and popped one of the
rings into her mouth. She did not no
tice before hand that the ring had a tag
attached to it by long string, and when
the clerk turned to her he was surprised
to find the tag hanging out of her mcuth
by the string, which she was making
the most extraordinary faces in her eff
forts to swallow. The string had gotten
tangled in her front teeth, and refused
to 60 either way. The clerk disentan-
gled it for her and also disentangled sew
eral pocketbooks which were found in her
pocket.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-09-19
She Lit too Hard.

TR1PLET, w. VA, Feb. 26.-At the
close of prayer meeting held in a
schoolhouse here, Miss Lottie Gibson, a
visitor from Elkins, denounced "Pet"
Horrock, her af1ianced lover, as SLAM
derer. He denied his guilt, and she
called witnesses to convict him. Then
she produced loaded stick, and while
bystanders prevented him from defend
ing himself she beat him savagely about
the head and face.
While the affair created great sensa-
ton. no thought was given to the young
mans condition. Now the affair takes
on the character of tragedy, as the doc
tors who called to attend Horrock say he
will die from injuries received in the at
tack on him, his brain being injured.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-09-19

homes were mortgaged for the same
purpose" Between 1880 and 1890 no less
than 100000 new farms were occupied in
the South and West. Still, agriculture is
not overcrow ded, and it is evident that if
three-fourths of our 100000 farms are
free of debt that this industry must be a
safe one to follow. This should draw the
attention of thousands of young men in
the cities to the possibilities of farming,
and it should induce them to give up the
uncertain and hard conditions of city life
for independence and comfort on farm.
With patience, industry and economy,
the only thing the farmers of the South
need is to give more attention to raising
their own supplies, and then all the
cotton they can cultivate. This would
make them independent of the world.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-09-19

The Philadelphia Record, an originator
of centennial celebrations, and p1oposer
of religious parliament in Jerusalem in
1900, wants 10 establish an international
religious university in the holy city.
Exponents of every religious beliefare to
have representation in the faculty. The
school or college will be open to repre-
sentatives of every creed, the only quail
fication being that the teacher shall be
supported by the nationality or denomi-
nation so appointing him. Every gov
ernment will be expected to help support
such an institution. Contributions are
to be in the form of annual donations OF
the sending of teachers, who are to be
furnished with every facility for the
propagation of their peculiar tenets and
supported in manner in keeping with
the government or creed represented.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-09-19

General Jubal A. Early, who lives at
Lynchburg, Va, was severely hurt few
days ago BY fall on the ice near the
post Office Of that place. No bones were
broken, but the old man was severely
bruised and his friends fear the conse-
quence of the accident. General Early is
IS years of age. He has been in feeble
health for some time past, and it is not
thought that he can live great while
lOnoar
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-09-19
In France the doctors claim G

In France the doctors claim on
the estate of deceased patient has
precedence over all others.
We endorse all the proprictors
saw about the merits of Salvation Oil.
1t is the greatest cure on earth for
pain. % cts.
- Do not let your dealer palm off
on you any new remedy for colds.
Insist ON having DR.. Bulls Cough
Syrup.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-09-19
: The following interesting story OF

4AC loiiS"ih5 Ahs0ASSoA<A5 Ss"AJ "a
how a canary was cured of homesickness
was told by well-known gentleman
"Not long ago my wife purchased ca
nary at bird store. 1t had been accus-
toned to companions Of its kind at the
store, but at our house it was entirely
alone. The pretty little songster was ev-
identity home-sick. 1t would not sing, it
would not eat, but just dropped and
seemed to be pining away. We talked
to it, and tried by every means in our
power to cheer the bird up, but all In
vain. NV wife was on the point Of car
rying the bird back to the store when
one day a friend said: "Give him
piece of looking glass" Acting on this
suggestion, she tied piece of broken
mirror about the size of a mans hand on
the outside cf the cage. The little fellow
hoped down from his perch almost i'm
mediately, and. going up close, looked
in, seeming delighted. He chirped and
hoped about, singing all the pretty airs
he was master of. He never was home
sick after that. He spends the most of
his time before the glass, and when he
goes to sleep at night he will cuddle
down as close to the glass as he can,
thinking. very likely, that he is getting
near to the pretty bird that he sees so Of
teu."
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-09-19
CurIosities of the Calendar.

The year 1900 will not be leap year
simply because. being a hundredth
year, although it is divisible by four,
it is not divisible by 400 without
remainder. This is not the real rea-
son, but the result Of it; the real rea-
son being the establishment of the
Gregorian rule, made in 1882.
The Nineteeth Century will not end
until midnight of Monday, December
81, 1900, although the old quarrel
will probably again be renewed as to-
what at.constitutes century and when
it winds up, and thousands will insist
on premature burial ofDecember 81,
1899.
But as a century means 100 years,
and as the first century could not end
until full 100 years had passed, nor
the second until 200 years had passed,
etc., it is not logically clear why the
Nineteenth Century should be cur
tailed and broken off before we have
the full 1900 years.
April l and July l in any year, and
in leap year January l, fall on the
same day of the week.
September l and December in any
year fall on the same week day.
January 1 and October l in any year
fall on the same week day, except it
be leap year.
February l, March l and November
l of any year fall on the same day Of
the week, unless it be a leap year,
when January l, April 1 and July 1
fall on the same week day.
May 1, June l and August l in any
year never fall on the same week day,
nor does any one of the three ever fall
on the same week day on which any
other month in the same year begins,
except in leap year, when February l
and August fall on the same week
day.
To find out on what day of the week
any day of this century fell divide the
year by 4 and let the remainder 60.
Add the quotient and year together,
then add 3 more. Divide the result
by 7 and if the remainder is 0 March l
Of that year was Sunday if l, Mon
day; if 2, Tuesday, and so on.
For the last century, do the same
thing, but add 4 instead of 8. For
the next century add instead.
1t is needless to 60 beyond the next
century, because its survivors will
probably have some shorter method,
and find out by simply touching
knob or letting a knob touch them
Christmas of any year always falls
on the same day of the week as Jan
uary 2 of that year, unless it be a leap
year, when it is the same week day as
January 3 of that year. -.
| Easter is always the first Sunday
after the full moon that happens on
or next after March 21. 1t is not
easy to see how it can occur earlier
than March % or later than April rs
in any year. .,
New Year (January y will happen
on Sunday but once more during this
century that will be in 1899. In the
next century it will occur IA times
only, as follows: 1905, 1911, 1922,
1928, 1889, 1850, 1856, 1861, 1867,
1878, 1884, 1889 and 1895. The in
tervals are regular-6-5-6-l1, 6-5-6-11
except the interval which includes
the hundredth year that is not q CEN
tury, when there is break-as 1893,
| 1899, 1905, 1911-when three inter
walls of six years come together after
that plain sailing till 2001, when the
old intervals will occur in regular or
der.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-09-19

Last Saturday morning on the plan
tation of A. P. Bouknight, in Edgefeld
county. Joseph Cuffs daughter about
sixteen. was knocking cotton stalks in
the field and her little brother unthink-
ingiy set fire to bunch of grass near by.
Her clothes caught on fire and she run to
where her father was blowing; but before
the flames could be extinguished, she
was burned fatally. She walked to the
house and told her mother that she was
burned to death but not to grieve about
her. fit was the Lords will for her to
20 that way she was willing and ready
to go. Saturday evening her spirit de-
parted.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-09-19

Some say there is no money in farm
ing, others prove that there is. Among
be latter is Mr.. 1. r. Rountree. of Dun
barton. After paying his subscription
Monday he told is he did not owe cent
in the world. Besides, he has two crops
of cotton and enough homemade provis.
ions to last p1ea hs "my enoab bsgen yeaFs to
thirty people. He keeps all his farming
lands under fence and gives his hogs the
run of the fields from the first OF Septem-
ber up to new year. So they thrive and
cost him but little. Cotton is sur
plus crop with him.-BGrnWeU People.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-09-19

The President has appointed John T..
Hunter, of Lancaster county, to be United
States Marshal for the District of South
Carolina. This is regarded as a Butler
appointment. Mr.. Hunter is Sheriff of
Lancaster county, and is said to be one
of the most popular men of his section,
and well qualified to fill his new posi-
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-09-19

The State Supreme Court has decided
that chain gangs are unconstitutional.
Judge Pope rendered dissenting opin-
ion. The same Court also decided that
jury composed of six men is legal jury in
Trial Justice Court. To the latter decis-
ion the entire Court agreed.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-09-19

It seems that the Rev. DR.. T. De Witt
Talmage is determined to leave the
Brooklyn Tabernacle. He announces
that he will preach his farewell sermon
next Sunday. He intends to start with
his family on April on tour around
the world. The party will be gone sev-
eral months, and will visit California,
New Zealand, Australia and other places
of {ptoroct
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-09-19

A. H. Mowry has been reappointed
Postmaster at Charleston. He was ap-
pointed under Cleveland's first admins
tration, and managed to hold on to the
Office under Harrison, although Theodore
S. Gailliard, chief constable at Charles
ton under our present State administra-
ton, wanted the place and claimed to be
Republican who had been deprived of
hio uoto
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-09-19

It is said that the Louisiana lottery,
under a new name, is now located at
Tampa City, Florida. The drawings are
made in Honduras, but every other
detail of the business is transacted in this
country. 1t is an evasion Of the law,
but enough to keep the demoralizing
nuisance going. People should not be
taken in by it, for it is purely a scheme
of robbery.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-09-19

The management of the State dis
pensary claims that the total profits for
the State since the dispenSary's es-
tablishmept amounts to very nearly $780,
600,
Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1894-03-08
Coal Gas and the Vanishing Forest

Coal Gas and the Vanishing Forest.
The scientists are devoting much
attention to the widespread theory
that Che earth's atmosphere is becom-
ing seriously affected by the enormous
quantity of coal that is converted
into carbonic acid gas-the natural
enemy of the human beings.
Along with this poison gas which
is being generated in thousand
smoky cities and through. other
sources all over the world, comes
the steady cutting down of forests,
the leaves of which are the natural
absorbents of poisonous gas.
General Wistar, who Is said to be
the highest authority in the matter,
is so deeply interested in the subject
that he is making great efforts to call
the attention of the scientific world
to it, and he believes that the grow
ing bronchial troubles and epidemics
like the grip, all over the world, have
an ultimate connection with 1t.
How much the present enormous
generation of carbonic acid gas can
affect the whole body of the atmos-
phere science will ascertain just as
soon as it applies itself to the prob
lem in earnest.
At all events the great efforts now
being made to preserve the forests
are worthy of every encouragement.
The planting of trees in cities, the
development of extensive and we'll
wooded park systems, the planting of
large groves of timber in the vicinity
of towns and cities, are all calculated
to assist in the ABSORPTION of the
superabundance of carbonic acid gas
with which, according to the scien-
lists, our atmosphere is becoming
dangerously overcharged.