davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Van Buren press., 1894-02-24
THE STORMY PEraEL.
Queer Supcrstitions Sailors Entertain RAJ
garding the Bird.

| xbEuluk b0C DAIus
One of the best known of the sea
birds is the stormy petrol. 1t Is oftenest
seen during storms, flying above the
waves in search of shellfish and other
small animals that are brought to the
surface by the tempest.
The sailors call petrels "Mother
Carey's chickens" and do not view
them with much favor, owing to their
being constant companions OF storms.
Jack" thinks that rough weather may
be expected when he sees petrels
about and is not quite sure that they
do not in some way cause the tempest.
When the bird is on the outlook for Its
prey it seems to walk on the water.
Hence the seamen of the oldcn time
In allusion to Apostle Peters walking
on the water called the bird petrol,
from the Latin Petrellus, Little
Peter"
So far from the sailors being super
stitious as to the capture Of another
kind Of petrol, the cape pigeon, which
is of a black-and-whitec color and about
the size OF tame pigeon, I have
known Jack to take hand occasion
ally in capturing them as q hit Of rec
reation during q dog watch.
In southern ATTITUDES the cape pi-
geons follow ship in thousands, says
st. Nicholas. A common bottle cork
is tied to the end of piece OF thread
and trailed astern SO that the cork
touches the water. This gives the re-
quired tautness to the thread.
AS the birds fly In clouds from side
to side astern some of them constant
ly strike the thread with their wings,
and the resistance is enough to turn
them over it, when the thread Is
wrapped round the wing and the bird
is hauled on board. In this manner I
have seen hundreds caught in day.
On one occasion clipper ship carry.
ing passengers to India captured pi-
geons by hundreds, and the surgeon by
some mischance succeeded in entan-
Cling o stormy petrol.
Now, the doctor was an enthusiastic
naturalist, and what to the sailors is
known as Gland lubber'-that is, he
was on his first voyage. The doctor at
once took the specimen to his cabin
and made preparations to skin and pre-
serve it. In hot haste a deputation OF
seamen, headed by the old, gray-haired
sailmnlser, came aft with request that
the petrol be set atliberty, saying that
otherwise the ship and all on board
would surely suffer
The doctor, somewhat surprised, In
tended to set the bird free, but his en-
thusiasm us naturalist prevailed over
tho superstitious warning, and when
the sailors had disappeared the bird
was added to his collection. The fact
soon became known forward among the
men, and the doctor was regarded with
black looks by the crew for the re-
mainder Of the voyage.
In the course of time the good ship
anchored in the Hugil river, and that
day at dinner the doctor suddenly
died.
There was a gathering Of the sailors
around the windlass that dog-watch
and the doctors sudden death was at
tributed by the superstitious sailors
to his slaughter of the stormy petrol
The Van Buren press., 1894-02-24
HOUSEHOLD ACCIDENTS.
Tho Proper Treatment Of Slight Wounds
and Scratches.


A slight cut or abrasion Of the hand,
or slight burn, may become serious
matter If it is totally neglected. Where
the skin is torn or cut, 1t is desirable
In the first place that tho wound should
bleed freely. Cases OF lockjaw are Of
rare occurrence where this is the case,
and very slight wound Of the hand
or foot has been known to produce
this dangerous malady where bleeding
did not follow.
One of the greatest dangers lies in q
wound OF kitchen knife, which may
have held impure matter, and even
from the scratch of pin, and fatal
cases Of blood-poisoning have FREE
quently resulted from SO simple Q
cause. Absolute cleanliness, therefore,
is necessary in the treatment of such
a wound. After tho wound has bled q
little it should be washed with per-
fectly clean water. That which has
been boiled is best for the purpose,
and there is no harm in using little
carbolic acid in the proportion of .
drop or two to quart Of water.
Do not attempt to stanch bleeding by
the use of cobwebs, which are natural
ly dirty and full Of impure germs, but
use little lint and clean cotton or
linen cloth. These should be always
kept in the houses. for use in case Of
such accidents A trustworthy drug
gist will always supply some prepare
ton OF carbolic acid, properly weak
ened for household use. Even house,
hold ammonia, though it is painful at
first, is recommended as mild way OF
cauterizing simple wound. A thick
paste of equal parts of common baking
soda and flour, wet to a paste with cold
water, is the best remedy for burn.
1t is better than line-water because
lime-water is liable to become incrust-
ed, while the paste of soda and flour is
cooling to the surface and can easily be
removed. The object of treating a
burn is to cover the extremities Of the
nerves which have been injured and
give them opportunity to heal. While
such paste is being prepared, cover
the wound for the moment with COM
mon flour and wrap it up in clean cot
ton.
A simple healing plaster which may
be prepared in the household calls for
half pound of resin. an ounce each
Of mutton tallow, camphor-gum and
beeswax, half an ounce each of British
oil, cedar oil, gum myrrh and linseed
oil. Melt the resin, mutton tallow,
camphor-gum, becswax and gum myrrh
together and add the oils. This plaster
should be spread on cotton when need
ed and applied to the wound.-N. Y
| Tribune
The Van Buren press., 1894-02-24

The mayor OF small village in Ger
many has discovered an effectual way
Of stopping dueling among the hot.
headed citizens Of that place. A few
weeks ago two physicians quarreled at
q public dinner and challenged one
another to fight with pistols. The vii.
lage chief magistrate heard of the
quarrel. He informed the village fire.
men, and together, drawing a machine,
they proceeded to the lonely spot in
the woods where the encounter was to
take place. just as the seconds had
stepped off the distance heavy stream
of water struck one of the physicians
in the neck. A moment later the sec
ond doctor was drenched to the Skin
also. The would-be fighters in theii
dripping clothes looked so ridiculous
that they both burst out laughing
shook hands, and returned to their
homes, thanking the mayor for his in
PREVENTION. Chicago Tribune.
The Van Buren press., 1894-02-24
For MiIady's Fair Face.

There are few women who have not
had at some time or another use for o
face powder, even though as q rule
they eschew anything on that order.
A violet powder which can be COM
mended is composed of wheat starch,
three pounds; powdered orris, half
pound. Mix together and add altar Of
lemon, one-eighth. Of an ounce; affairs
Of bergamot and cloves, each, one-half
drachm. For those troublesome black
heads that so disfgure the face that
Is blessed with the most classical fea-
lures the following compound works
wonders: Take kaolin, four drachms;
glycerine, three drachms; acetic acid,
two drachms, and oil of lemon, five
drops. Apply this every night and
after few days the black specks can
be easily pressed out, or most Of them
will even come out by washing with
pumicestone soap.
The Van Buren press., 1894-02-24

middle point. Fasten one end to the
edge Of table, as in the cut. The
other end should terminate in loop.
Directly under this loop bore q small
hole in the table. Cut from wide
cork stopper q circular piece OF cork,
and through its center pass long
nail from which the head has been re-
moved. You will then have q
rudimentary top. Lastly, cut out
three figures of horses from pieces Of
cork, and attach them to the upper
surface Of the top by means Of small
bits OF wire. Place the top In position
as shown In the cut, the ends Of the
nail being held by the loop and the
hole in the table. Wind a cord round
the upper portion Of the nail and draw
It brishly out. The top will turn,
carrying the little horses, and the
horse which stops nearest to certain
point previously marked on the table
gains the trick. More than three
horses may be made, If desired, and
interest Is added to the apparatus by
painting the horses different colors.-
Once q Week.
The Van Buren press., 1894-02-24
SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY.

AS to where man first appeared II
is beyond doubt that his earliest home
was in southern Europe. or Asia, or
north Africa. No earlier traces of him
have been found than those found in
the area that is now England, France
and Spain.
1t is believed that whales often at.
tain the age of four hundred years.
The number of years these huge crea-
lures have lived is ascertained by
counting the layers of lamin@ forming
the horny substance known as "whale-
bone" These laminB increase yearly
just as the 'growths" do on tree.
Two basket mills at Dover, Del,
turned out 5000 peach baskets per day
during the summer. The work is done
with great ease, rapidity and precision.
The fastest basket maker in the Dover
mills makes from two hundred and
fifty to three hundred baskets per day.
He is paid one cent per basket.
For two or three years past Japan,
with an annual output of about g, $50, 600
tons, has had more coal than is needed
for home consumption, and with char
actistic enterprise the Japanese have
been looking for foreign markets. Their
exports now amount to fully 1,225. 900
tons year. There was some talk OF
shipping coal to California, which has
not yet, however, been done to any ex-
tent; but several cargoes have been sent
to Bombay and there found market.
Engineering and Mining Journal.
in 1887 Levi estimated that tho
earnings of English agricultural labor
ers were e75,OO0, 600 per annum; OF
those engaged in textile manufactures.
EAT, 600, 900; building trades f43, 900, 900;
metals, 932 900, 900; ships and railways,
EOS, 900, 600; servants, EGO, 900, 900; show
ing that agriculture was still the most
remunerative business for the laborer.
The cultivation of camphor is an
important industry in Japan. Some
of the larger and older trees have a
diameter of fifteen feet and reputed
age of three hundred years. About
five million pounds of camphor are
sent out of Japan every year. One
fourth of this goes to the United States.
The state forests are estimated to be
able to maintain present supplies for
another quarter of a century.
1t is we'll known that In freezing,
water congeals in crystalline form,
and its volume is thereby Increased by
about one-eleventh. This expansion OF
its bulk is effected with such over
whelming force that even rocks are
split in the process, and all bodies con-
tanning water which freezes must per-
force, for good or for evil, be swelled
out to the same degree as the water
swells in freezing.
1t appears, from statistical re-
view of fish culture in Europe and
North America, prepared by N. Boro-
dine, OF the Russian Association OF
Pisciculture and Fisheries, that the
eighty fish hatcheries in North America
| (sixty-six in the United States and
fourteen in Canada and Newfoundland
produced in the year of their last re-
port 1916, OPT, 1872 fish Matched. and 416
hatcheries in Europe, 277, 97s, O16 young
fish. The North American hatcheries
are all governmental; most Of those in
Europe are in private hands. The aver
age production of one hatchery is $685.
900 in Europe and 10, 400, 600 in North
America.
The Van Buren press., 1894-02-24
Tho Hear In the Arena.

II has been said that the bear Is not
10 cruel as other huge animals, and In
proof thereof 1t is asserted that in the
days OF old Rome, when wild beasts
were turned loose in the arena to fight
with prisoners = who were allowed
their liberty II they could overcome
their savage foes-the bear used TO be
Kissed by the spectators because 1t do
clined the combat with Christians and
other captives. Without casting too
much doubt upon this statement
which Is, however, certainly open TO
ausstion-it must be borne In mind that
the Romans knew nothing OF the two
fiercest bears, the polar Of the arctic
regions end the grizzly OF the Rocky
mountains.
The Van Buren press., 1894-02-24
A " ondorful Old Man.

The Oldest postmaster In continuous
service, and perhaps in years, in the
United States, resides at Hammonds-
Vile, Jefferson county, Ohio. His
name Is w. II. Wallace and he is
eighty-two years old. He has
been in the service for the last sixty
three years, having been appointed to
his present position during Andrew
Jackson's administration. Mr.. Wal
lace is also credited by the Adams Ex-
press company as the Oldest agent in
its employ, both in years and continu-
GUS service, and is also the Oldest sta
ton agent on the Cleqeland & Pitts
burgh railroad, II not in America, hav'
ing served In that capacity since 1854.
He bears his years lightly,
The Van Buren press., 1894-02-24

some member Of the family insisted
that that particular part Of the city
was the regular summer home OF these
tourists, who returned to their old
quarters each season, in human fash
ion. This idea was not accepted as
fact, and there we're many speculations
as to some possible means OF testing
the theory. Not being up In the stork
language, no one could ask questions
and get answers, neither could any
mortal remember the fine points of
stork physiognomy from year to year.
A plan was finally decided upon, and
one particularly aristocratic monarch
of-all-I-survey-looking bird was en-
ticed by u good dinner into the garden.
There silver ring was placed about
his leg, on which was engraved Der
lin, 1885," He then flew back to his
favorite chimney, and ere long he
Joined tho passing Aocks that were
constantly leaving for the south. Many
. thought followed the feathered fugi-
tive during the long winter, and at the
first sign OF spring eager eyes watched
for the return of the travellers. After
many days, distant line Of storks,
far up in the blue, came into view.
Over the clergyman's house several de-
tached themselves from the sky cara
van and lowered around the dwelling
A tempting feast was prepared, and
presently the weary pilgrims flew
down into the yard. Friendly eyes
watched every movement with joyous
welcome. Imagine the surprise when
ono OF the flock was seen TO have t,eo
silver rings upon Its legs!
Behold! the old ring was back again,
and accompanying it another, which
read: "India sends greeting to Berlin. "
Henry Fem, In st. Nicholas.
The Van Buren press., 1894-02-24
The Servant Was willing.

A lady, whose Christian name was
Jane, and who had little daughter
named for her, was engaging q house
maid, whose name also proved to be
Jane.
Knowing that the preponderance Of
the one name in the household would
occasion confusion, she said to the
MAZDA tall, angular spinster, with
high cheek bones and angular fea'
lures:
81 believe that it would be better fol
us all il 1 called you by your last name
if you don't object"
''Shure and l have no objections
mum. You can call me by my last
name"
"But you have not told me your last
name yet"
"Shure and my last name Is Oar
linp.--N. Y. Herald.
The Van Buren press., 1894-02-24
Cissy Proves Her Point.

A certain little girl from whom the
Listener sometimes hears is evidently
going to be q great logician. When
she was called upon at school the
other day to recite . verse from the
beatitudcs she responded with
blessed ore the dress-malxers, tor they
shall see God.
"But, my dear GIRL" exclaimed the
teacher, ut Is not 'dress-makers'; II n
'peace-makers. ="
SWELL" the child answered, stoutly'
INV mother has dress-maker and she
makes dresses out Of pieces "-Boston
Transcript.
The Van Buren press., 1894-02-24
PUNoENT PARAGRAPHS.


"A Lovable Man.-Miss Oldie-"O,
how / could love the man who loved
me-" Miss Keane-"So could anybody"
Detroit Free Press.
-Figg-"Fll let you know I'm not
the fool you think" Fogg-"Possibly
not; which one are youT'-Boston
Transcript.
After the Meet.-Miss Harkaway-
Sand how did you get on at the first
fence?'' Mr. Newe-Nimrod--"O, Ter
got off at the first fence Tit Bits.
-"Ya'as, Cholly gave her piece OF
his mind when he met her." at must
have been very small piece then, II
he has any left."-N. Y. Press.
Hungry Higgins-"Wot's right
nowadays-t'ank you, or t'anks?"
Weary Watkins-'T guess tanks would
hit us about right "-Indianapolis
Journal.
Mrs. "What'd that furni.
ture dealer say when you told him
that mirror he sent up was cracked?"
Houser-''Said he'd look into it,
Buffalo Courier.
-Poet-"I have called to learn what
has become of my poem sent you, en-
titled, 1.-THE Brave FiremenP" Editor
1T went to the fire. "-Philadelphia
Record.
There were oysters in the church fair stew,
For hours no person spoke.
Twas sad to see them pining for
That dear old.fashioned joke
Washington Star.
lis there o-way in which you can
dse this poem?" asked the despairing
poet. There is" said the editor.
ave haven't had load of wood in a
week. ATLANTA Constitution.
-"Wagg, you have great luck with
your jokes, hear" "Xes." Don't
the editors ever sit on emp" mo.
My jokes have such sharp points
they're afraid to"-Harper's Bazaar.
THAT young widow Flison is quite
dashing creature, don't you think?''
81 guess you are right. She dashed
my hopes most effectually when !
asked her to marry me. "-Indianapolis
Journal.
-Nell-"How do you know she 10 in
love with Jack?" Belle-"Because she
told me he was perfectly horrid, and II
she were in my place she wouldn't
have anything to do with Phil
adelphia Record.
The average waist of woman, a
woman's journal asserts. has increased
from nineteen inches to twenty-four
inches within five years. 1t looks
elusive, but there are men who will
endeavor to get round it.-Philadel-
phia Ledger.
-Judge-"Did the prisoner, when
you arrested him, appear to be under
the influence of liquor? In word
was he intoxicated?" Police Officer
80, no, your honor, not at all; nothing
in that way; only just drunk. boston
Transcript.
MIR. Dinwiddie-'T see that Mrs
Gladstone has written an article OF
children, in which she says they need
change" Mrs Dinwiddie-"Don't
know that? Don't they come to me
two or three times day and ask for q
nickel or dime%'-Pittsburg Chroni.
cle-Telegraph.
They're fools who try to put love ON
| A stupid scientific basis;
Who say, with myths OF days bygone
This silly passions proper place is
Despite their talk in its old grooves
| 1t rolls with reinforce insistence,
Which shows loves not force that moves
Along the plane of least resistance
IN. Y. Herald.
Resignation heard that
chat girl you have been going to see SO
long is to be married next month. "
Tom (sadly)-''It's true, she is" Jack
THAT'S pretty tough on you. isn't
it?" Tom (resignedly)-'I guess car
stand it." Jack-"Who is the happy
man?' Tom-'I am."-Detroit Free
Press
The Van Buren press., 1894-02-24
Cutting the Knot.

1--WE had to write about George
Washington to-day" said schoolboy
to his mother.
Il hope you didn't forget to tell
about the cherry tree7"
"Oh, no. said he sawed It down."
"'Sawed 1t down. uo chopped II
down with his hatchet."
Eyes, l know, but couldn't spoil
hatchet."
The Van Buren press., 1894-02-24
PHOTOGRAPH CASES.

A Novelty Which IL Easily Made and Very
Pretty.
What shall be done with the photo.
graphs which are yearly on the In.
crease?
There have been albums and photo.
graph frames and bags, both small aud
great, in which to deposit them. and
still they accumulate.
A pretty idea for a photograph case
is to take piece of cardboard Of any
size desired, and cover plainly with
pink silk. Cover another piece slight
ly smaller, as in drawing, joining this
to the first, and still another piece
The Van Buren press., 1894-02-24
FIG. 2.

each chamber; in southeast room, first
floor; register In corner fireplace
and same in southeast chamber. The
dotted lines represent first floor divis-
ion Of rooms.
Fig. 2 shows portion Of air box with
pointed end covered with wire net
ting. G. Williams, in Country Con-
k1omap
The Van Buren press., 1894-02-24
Carved Leather Cushions.

EMBOSSED and carved leather cush-
ions decorated In colors are laced to-
gether with narrow thongs OF leather
without stitch being taken In them;
these ore liked for hall seats, tor
ubrarias and for mems rooms
The Van Buren press., 1894-02-24
AMUSING SCIENCE.

A Nursery Toy Which Can BE Made By
Any Intelligent Boy.
A very amusing game for children Is
shown In our illustration. and may be
provided at small cost and with little
trouble by carrying out the following
directions: Procure a slender iron rod,
bent to right angle at about the
The Van Buren press., 1894-02-24
sardine Salad.

A real sardine salad is not made OF
those little fish that come in oil and
are SO high-priced; it is Of the sailed
variety, which you buy by weight.
Take a half pound Of these, soak an
hour, changing the water at least six
times. Pull them apart, taking out
the spine, and cut one of the halves
into strips an inch long, coiling the
other half into little rolls; these last
are for garnishing. Use some gherkins,
some mixed pickles, a little smoked
salmon and teaspoonful Of capers;
mix all together with three parts OF
oil to one of vinegar; pile the heap in
your salad bowl and garnish prettily
with lemon slices and quarters, cold
boiled tongue, stoned olives, few
picked oysters, and the little rolls OF
sardines. Louis Republican.
The Van Buren press., 1894-02-24
THE sToRK CAME BACK.

An Amusing Bird story Told BY . German
Clergyman.
heard last summer true story,
which seemed to me worthy the car Of
young readers. 1t was narrated by a
clergyman to q groupo of young folks on
hotel piazza. shall not tell his
name, because know the story better
than the historian.
Several years ago this gentleman
was living in the German capital with
his family. There were many new
sights and sounds to interest the
American family, but nothing moro
fascinating than the colony Of
white storks which settled on
the adjacent house tops and made a
bird village Of the nestled chimney
stacks.
The birds had such an air Of propri-
etorship and general coziness, that
The Van Buren press., 1894-02-24
FOR YOUNG PEOPLE.
A COMPANY FACE.

Once on time, In PARKWAY place,
Lived queer little girl with Q company face,
And no one outside Of the family knew
N her everyday face or supposed she had
two.
rho change she could make with wondrous
celebrity,
FOR practice had lent her surprising dexterity,
But ct last II CHANGED, on an unluclty day
Tor lucky, perhaps, would much better say,
10 her dismal dismay and complete consterna-
She failed 70 effect the desired transformation
And caller. her teacher, Miss Agatha Mason,
SURPRISED her with half OF her company face
on,
And half Of her everyday face peeping out.
showing ono grimy tear track nnd half OF
pout
Contrasting amazingly with the sweet smilc
That shone on her company" stdo oil the
while
The caller no sooner had hurried away
Than up TO her room the girl flow in dismay;
And, after night spent in solemn reflection
On tho folly Of features that can't bear inspeo-
ton.
She came down to breakfast and walked to
her place,
Calm, sweet and serene, with her company
face.
Thenceforward she wore It, day out and day in.
Till you really might think 'twould DO worn
very thin;
But strange to relate, It grow moro bright and
gay,
And her relatives think twas red letter day
Whom the greatly astonished Miss Agatha
Mason
Surprised her with half of her company faco
on.
Minnie L Upton
THE STORK GAME BACK.
The Van Buren press., 1894-02-24
Lies About Giants.

There has been no subject concern
ing which more lies have been told
than about giants. Until it was found
that modern men could not be squeezed
into the armor at the Tower of London
1t was taken for granted that we had
degenerated in size. This is not only
not the case, but in the matter OF
giants we have the advantage OF our
predecessors. The Emperor Maximil-
Ian, indeed. was said to have been
eight and one-half feet high, but am
Gent mensuration, especially In the
case of an emperor, is not to be trusted;
indeed, from it's not having him made
taller, it is certain that there was no
one else nearly so tall. Orestes, it is
true, we are told, was ten feet long.
after death; but he was not thought so
highly of when alive; we may easily
take eight feet as his ultimatum. Now
Chang was eight feet, and there ara
two giants at present going about in
English caravans who exceed that alti-
tudc.--N. Y. Sun.
The Van Buren press., 1894-02-24
She Had HAD Experience.

He-..So yea we're never in love?
6he-No; but I've been engaged to
lots Of men who Here.-Lifa.