davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1894-09-20
4 Hudson's Bay Post.

Life at distant Hudson bay post, far
from a railway, may seem n very quiet
and uninterestinr one to dwellers in
busy towns, but quiet as it is the par
ticular post in the district Is the center
of all life and animation for all the white
men, half-breeds and Indians within
range of many miles. There they come
TO hear the news and bring tbs back
woods gossip. At any hour of The day
one or two Indians or haif-breeds may
he seen ii>tlessly hanging about the
store OF shop Smoking but talking little.
Perhaps they have come in to buy some
thing. perhaps they want to sell some
skins or very likely they are only loaf
ing.
Often they come to see the manager
simply in the hope of getting an advance
OF money or OF stores on credit, previ-
Gus to going on Il prolonged limiting
trip, when, ii refused the first time they
will hang about for days. persistentlv
and petulantly returning to the charge
But this advance is often allowed. re-
payment being taken when the furs
come in in the spring.
The Indians look upon the manager
of Hudson bay post very much in the
light of a father: and if he is a good
hearted fellow, as he usually is, he in
turn comes to regard them almost in
the light of his children and to know
the characteristic of each one of them
But, like father with his children. he
knows what is good for them and often
i'll many ways has. TO deny them to pro-
tect them against themselves. -BlacG-
WOOQ,S NaQn.iNc.
The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1894-09-20
THE APPENDICITIS FAD,
Popular Errors About Grape Seeds Ex-
ploded by Prominent Surgeon.

A prominent doctor who has per-
formed score of successful operations
for the removal OF that troublesome and
ineXplicable part of the human anatomy,
the yermiform appendix, says that the
general impression that appendicitis is
caused by the presence in the appendix
of a cherry stone or currant seed or a
seed of any kind is entirely erroneous.
Il have not found Il seed in the appen-
dix OF single one of my cases." be
said. "A small bit of digested matter
gets into the little sac, if the neck of it
Is open far enough to receive it. 1t may
remain there for years and cause no
trouble. and then again it NAV bring
on appendicitis almost immediately.
Where the patient Is i'll good health. in
four cases out Of five the operation for
removing the appendix is successful
There is Il great difference in the
length of time taken by surgeons to
perform this or, in fact, any delicate
operation. There is one surgeon in the
city who has performed the operation
in eighteen minutes, which included
the time from the moment the patient
was brought in on the operating table
until he was ready to be taken out.
This Is half the time that it requires
the majority OF skillful surgeons to do
1t: Oh course, speed Is not everything
The appendicitis fad, as the craze
among rich people to have their vermi-
form appendices removed is called. still
continues undated, and there are few
surgeons of prominence now who are
not familiar with the performance of
the operation. a story is told OF a doe
tor who is constantly ordering the re-
moval of the vermiform appendix for
patients. He was called to see a gen
tleman one evening who had been
rather seriously injured. The gentle
man, when he recognized the DOCTOR
said:
ooh, it is you; then l must have APP
pendicitis,'
doctors who have allowed the APP
pendicitis fad to carry them away have
performed the operation upon a great
many people whose vermiform. appen-
dices were in good condition, and in
some cases patients having weak con-
situations have died because of the
needless slit in their aDdomens / am
very glad to explode that story about
the grape seeds and other seeds.
especially IS the grape season is just
coming on. People who have heard
about appendicitis have given up the
luxury of small fruit in fear of appen-
dicitis, and some of the extremely sem
sitive ones have even been constantly
worried lest some seed that they had
swallowed in the past might give them
this disase-which is among the rarest
of diseases. anyway."-N T. W0rld
The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1894-09-20
Coughing Leads To Consumption.
hemp's Balsam stops the Cough at once

Unconsciously funny was the Irish
man who on being placed at the bar,
felt quite uneasy when arraigned and
complained bitterly that he should
be in sllch an awkward position so far
from friends and home The Judge
felt kindly toward him and said: BE
calm, young man. You may rest as.
sured, that, although among strang-
CTS, full justice Will be done YOU"
BE me soul, yer Honor" groaned
Pat, land it's the fear of that same
that troule's me-"
But funnier still, in its unconscious
humor, is the following: Lord Chief
Justice Holt. when young, was very
extravagant. and belonged a to club of
wild fellows most of whom took an in
famous course OF life. When his
Lordshlp was engaged at the Old
Bailey, man who was tried and con
victed Of a robbery on the highway
whom the Judge remembered to have
been one of his old companions.
Moved by that curiosity which is ma
tural on a retrospection of past life.
Holt, thinking the fellow did not
know him, asked what had become of
such and such of his old associates
''Ah, my Lord" said the culprit,
making low bow, they are all hang,
ed but your Lordship and L."
The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1894-09-20
Fortune-TelIing by the Finger-Nails

Fortune-telling by the finger nails,
onychomancy, as it was called, was not
uncommon in ancient times. The prac-
tice was to rub the nails with oil and
SCOT or wax. and to hold up the nails
thus prepared against the sun, and up
on the transparent, horny substance
were supposed to appear figures or
characters which gave the answer re-
quired. In more recent times people
have been found predicting by means
of the nails of the hands and telling the
disposition of persons with certain de-
scriptions of the nails. However alb
surd it may appear will give examples
Of this superstition:
4 person of broad nails is OF gentle
nature, timid and bashful. Those
whose nails grow into the flesh at the
points or sides are given to luxury. A
white mark on the nail bespeaks mis-
fortune. Persons with very pale nails
are subject to much iniirmity of the
flesh and persecution by neighbors and
friends. People with narrow nails are
ambitious and quarrelsome. Lovers of
knowledge and liberal sentiments have
round nails. Indolent people have
generally tleshy nails. Small nails in
dictate littenesS of mind, obstinacy and
conceit. Melancholy persons are dis
tinguished by their pale or lead-colored
nails; and choieric martial men, de-
lighting in war have red and spotted
nails.
The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1894-09-20
Tricky Lions.

Some Of the most dangerous tricks of
animals are those Stimulating kindness,
says RcarS0nS Weekly. Hyenas often
follow lions and finish a carcass the mo-
ment the lions have left it. Sometimes,
however, the hyenas are too eager and
steal bits of meat while the lions are
still eating.
The Ion ridS himself OF the nuisance
i'll the following way: He throws
piece of meat aside. When the lion is
looking the other way the hyena lodges
in and rushes off with the meat Pres
entity the lion throws another piece of
meat, this time little nearer The
hyena takes that also. At last the lion
throws piece very near indeed. The
hyena having become reckless. makes
dash at that also. but the lion wheels
round and lays him low with pat of
his paw and a growl of annoyance.
The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1894-09-20
TWO YANKEE TRICKS.

A Yankee performing a Journey
through the back countries on foot.saw
two horses in field as he passed along,
one Of which he determined to borrow
for few miles. as he was feeling very
weary. Accordingly, writing in pen
Gil on a slip of paper that he would
leave the beast at the next town on the
road, he tied the note to one horses
fetlock. and mounting the other with
merely halter for bride, rode off
with him. This transaction happen
ing to be observed, an alarm was given
to the owner Of the animals, who sad
ding the remaining one, without pay
ing ahy attention to the note attached
to his leg. rode away after the I'M
known borrower. or, as he considered
him. perhaps, thief. Unluckily for
the Yankee. he was mounted on a slow
traveller compared with the steed he
had left behind. and he soon deserted
with some CONSERVATION rider behind
urging a powerful beast along the road
at full speed, evidently in pursuit of
him. Having neither whip nor spur,
he found it a difficult matter to i'm
pei the horse he rode beyond its
usual pace, and his pursuer. there
fore, had every chance of coming up
with him directly. At this moment he
perceived cottage by the roadside at
no great distance, toward which, by
blows and kicks, he urged his steed
somewhat faster, the former gaining
on him nevertheless at every step.
Reaching the door he dismounted
| and went In. The farmer riding up
Immediately after in a tremendous
passion, threw himself off his horse
| leaving it by the side Of its fellow, and
ran into the cottage to seize and secure
the thief. The Yankee, however, was
prepared for him. Having slipped up
stairs, he opened the front window
which looked upon the road, and as
the farmer ran into the house let him
self down outside, mounted the saddle
horse, seized the other by the halter
and rode off securely with both.
Tie hero Of the second story was al
least as ingenious. A new liquor ware
house opening at Boston on ready
money and low price system, Jonathan
walked in one day with a two gallon
keg on his shoulder. and asked for {
gallon of the best brandy. The liquor
having been poured through a funne
into his keg, the money was demand
ed. Pretending ignorance of then
mode Of doing business. the Yankee
said he would boy the next time he
came into town. The shopman de
INJURED, saying that he did not intend
to give any credit.
But" asked the Yankee. in mock
surprise, 'do you intend to take bach
the brandy.
TO be sure" replied the other, ii
you don't pay for it."
Then" raid he, you must bring
your measure, for | have some liquor
of my own in the key"
This was done, a gallon of the con
tents measured back, and the fellow
marched off with another gallon o
fine grog, having half-filled his kes
beforehand with water.
The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1894-09-20

During the summer months the dis
tricts along the Indian river, Florida,
can give points to any other place on
the mosquito question. Housekeepers
are at their wits end to keep the pests
from entering. Usually, outside the
screen door hangs mosquito switch"
made of split palmetto leaves. 1t
would be an objectionable breach of
hospitality if the visitor should neg
lect before entering to switch himself
thoroughly from head to foot. sud
denly open the door and dart in. and
then slam the door in the faces of the
winged tribe trying to follow him in
side. Many houses have the front
porch entirely screened in so that the
people can enjoy the evening air and
listen to the humming outside the
screen.
The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1894-09-20
MANHOOD RESrOREp!
WOOD FOR KlNDLINC PURPOSES.


Pine kindling wood comes principal
ly from the forests of Virginia. The
trees, says the Scientific .Anieyfca1t are
first cut down and the trunks quartered
and sawed into proper lengths. The
wood is then carted TO the coast, packed
into sailing vessels and brought to this
section. where it is bought up at the
docks by the dealers and manufactured
into kindling wood, being first sawed
into short lengths then passed through
a steam splitter which carries the pieces
to an elevator, which in turn passes
them along and drops them down into
the delivery wagon.
The pieces of timber, which are four
feet six inches in length, are first sawed
into eight and one-half inch lengths.
the saws used for the purpose being
thirty inches III diameter, one-eiohth of
an inch III thickness having fifty inch
and a quarter teeth. These saws make
about ?, 900 revolutions per minute. the
attendant being able TO saw up about
from twelve to fifteen cords per day.
The pieces, as fast as they are sawed,
are passed. to a steam splitter They
are first placed end up on a movable
NilNlNHo NIiSlill, WHICH,, Nv llt ultl Vi tNO
heXagOn wheels and Il ratchet wheel
which is worked by an eccentric, causes
the chain with the wood to move along
under the knives which pass through
the pieces of wood. splitting each of
them into dozen or more pieces.
The knives are four III number and
bolted into the crosshead. They are
twelve inches in length, six inches in
width and three-quarters of an inch in
thickness. The knives pass up and
down Il perpendicular slide with
twelve-iuch stroke, making about eighty
cuts per minute. The endless chain is
twelve inches in width, and passes over
a wooden bed, the top of which is COW
cred with iron plate which protects the
chain from the blow OF the knives when
striking the wood. At every down.
ward stroke of the knives Il movable
bearing which the knives pass through
holds the pieces of wood firmly against
the chain. With the upward stroke it
releases The split wood. which is moved
forward about two inches at a stroke by
the chain, which is worked by the
ratchet wheel eccentric.
The pieces of wood then drop down
III " an tiCN dlp1 1T inc emu Oh the ma
chine and are carried of TO the delivery
wagons by number of buckets bolted
on a twelye-inch cotton belt These
buc kets are eighteen inches apart. and
made OF wooden strips three inches in
height and about one and one-half
inches III thickness. They are held in
place by being bolted to narrow iron
strips on the under side of the belt.
The belt is almost forty-tive feet in
length, and travels about 1000 feet per
minute. The splitting machine can cut
about twenty cords per day. A deliv-
cay wagon holding about one cord can
he filed in about fifteen minutes. The
wholesale price of Virginia pine at the
dock is from 81 to IS per cord the man.
ufactured kindling wood brings from
81 to Si3 per cord.
The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1894-09-20
A9zLl -~.,., RHEUMATISM,
Gz6# CIRES DnlM NEURALGIA,
MEN@ AEV SCIATlCA,
zssneasahzdE lUMBACO,
sPHAINs, BRUISES, sWELLNcs. BURNS.
WHAT A BOSTON MAN SWALLOWED.

There were number of us in one
of the London taverns made famous
by Dickens, when a great, big fellow
slouched in and made himself very
disagreeable with his mouth. One of
our party was man from Boston, and
some way or other he and the big man
came to exchange words The first
we heard of the row the big man was
saying:
You Yankees is great on the brag,
and that's all you can do"
''W ell, [ dunno" replied Boston.
But, | do. When did you ever do a
blooming, blasted thing?"
How about 1776?'
''Never heard of itr'
How about 1922"
Did you ever hear of Bunker Hill?"
Il have. sir. That's where 500 red
coats licked the life out of 1000 brag-
g;ng Yankeesm
Il guess Uot"
Not, Does you dare to dispute
the Liverpool KIDD"
You'd better see what history says. >
L have done that ere, you bloomik
idiot, and it says how all yon Yankees
run at the first fire. Don't it now ~
Il never heard that it did"
Don't it say that?'
The big fellow had pushed up bis
sleeve and pnt up his fist, and it was
plain that row was on hand. He was
big enough to eat up two such men as
Boston, while he had friends to look
out for the rest of u.s. Our conrpan
ion therefore took the most prudent
course and acknowledged that history
might say so, and probably did say 50.
This satisfied the big fellow, and he
turned away and glared at French
men also tourist, who had come in
later, After a long stare he walked
up to Grape and shouted:
Blast yer bloomink parloy vous, but
we've always licked We ont of yer boots
on land and sea-
You speak Won big big lier' shout
ed the Erenchman hot in minute.
what call the .Liverpool Kid a
liar to his face
AYE! and l shall now give you Won
awful beeg licking.
Johnny got out of his coat in a jif
fly, danced around with his hands up.
and to our utter astonlshment the Kid
went right down into his boots and
skunk out of the room, having no more
| pluck than hen, We sat there fol
five minutes before any one spoke
Then it was the Boston man, who said
Just think of it, [ can lick six fel-
lows like that banty Frenchman, and
yet that big duffer made me swallow
two wars for independence and Bun
ker Hill on top of them.
The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1894-09-20
History of the Pen.


The first pens were made of bronze,
steel, and iron sharp pointed like a bod
kin. These were used in producing
hieroglyphics on stone in Assyria and
other eastern countries. Then came the
camei's-hair pencil for painting on the
skins of animals and next the stylus of
bone, ivory, or metal. But parchment
and papyrus became known, and the
reed pen was Invented. Time rolled on
and it was discovered that the quill was
better than the reed, and it came into
universal use, and continued so until far
into the present century, Silver, horn,
tortoise she'll, and glass came along oNy
20 give way to steel. until in 1920 a gross
Of the latter pens was made in Birming-
lam and sold at wholesale for $50 The
best god pens are made in the United
Stat HgyfI3G0Tf
The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1894-09-20
HOW SLATE is MINED.
Wonderful Skill of Those Who Cut 1t
Up.

The manner in which slate is mined
and cut up for purposes to which it IS
applied is process that is known to
only few people. because slate is not
found in many places in this country,
lis principal sources being in upper
New England and eastern Pennsyl-
vania. 1t is not taken olS of shafts, but
it is quarried out of big holes in the
eartff. Some time ago, when the writer
was at Bangor, Pa, he was invited to
90 down into one of these quarries,
about 200 feet deep, hand over hafd on
a rope, but he declined the invitation,
as | think most inexperienced persons
would do.
The slate is blasted out in huge blocks
and is hoisted out by steam and turned
over to the men who know how to re-
duce it to the proper size. Huge
blocks of it are taken in hand by these
workmen, who cut notch into one
end of each piece Then they take a
chisel and mallet, and they are SO
skillfui in. directing their blows that
they can split the blocks of slate in al
most any way they please. II you
watch the slab on which one of them is
working you will see a little hair line
running through it, and presently the
block will fall apart on either side of
this mark The workman will make
this line 90 straight through the middle
or to either corner, just as he likes. l
do not know just how he does it, but he
invariably accomplishes what he sets
out to do.
The smaller pieces thus produced are
taken in hand by another set of men,
who split them up into sheets of the
proper thickness for roofing slate. This
they do with long-bladed instrument
about the shape of putty-knife, but
many times larger, and if you saw them
do it you would marvel how they got
the sheets off without breaking them
and also how they could split them so
thin. Some of these men can take a
sheet of slate only one inch thick and
split it thirty-two times. The usual
number of divisions is sixteen. These
sheets are taken and cut into square
by machinery.
Wherever there are slate quarries
you will find great many Welshmen,
for the best skaters come from Wales.
BOYS follow the trade of their fathers
and there are whole families and settle
ments who know no other means of
earning living.
The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1894-09-20
CHEAP EXCURSIONS.

On September IL and % and Octo-
Der 9, 1894, the Northwestern Line
will sell Home Seekers Excursion
tickets topoints in northwestern Iowa.
western Minnesota, North Dakota,
South Dakota, Manitoba, Nebraska.
Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Idaho and
Montana at exceedingly low rates for
the round trip. These tickets will be
good for return passage within TWEEN
ty days from sale and will allow stop
over privileges on going trip in terri
tory to which tickets are sold. For
tickets and full information apply to
Agents Chicago North Western Rail
way. 5tsep27
The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1894-09-20
RECENTDISCOVERI ES.

Although many new and important dis
coveries have recently been made in various
sciences, there is probably none of greater
Importance to the people than the one re
Gently made by DIR. Shoop, which is attract
ing the attention of physicians and all class
es of people throughout the world.
We refer to the discovery as to the cause
Of chronic diseases of the stomach, liver, kid
neys and internal organs.
The doctor has traced the cause 10 certain
nerves that have control of these organs, and
by prescribing Dr. Shoop's RESTORATIVE, a
preparation he prepares to act upon these
special nerves, the cause is removed and with
it the disease.
His New Book, explaining this discovery,
sentfrce to any address together with samples
for oct. stamp to pay postage.
DR.. SHooP, Racine, Wis.
The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1894-09-20

THOMPSON, Conn, Sept. 13.-Two
men kidnapped Clarence Ward. the
lOyearold son of Ferdinand Ward.
the exbanker and tinancier of New
York, this morning, from the home of
his guardian Frederick d. Green
They were soon afterward arrested in
Webster and the boy recovered. The
boys father has several times tried to
get possession of the child without
success. The boy has made his home
with his uncle, Mr. Green in Thomp-
sontown, since the death.of his mother,
while his father was in Sing Sing, Mr..
Green was appointed the boys guar
dian by the New York courts, and has
charge of the property left to Clarence
by his mother.
The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1894-09-20

SHELL LAKE. Wis. Sept. IA The
first soaking rain since June fell this
afternoon anG extingxished the forest
fires. For the first time in weeks the
people here feel safe from the fires
and the settlers who have been ID
constant terror viii go to sleep to
night feeling that their homes are not
threatened.
The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1894-09-20
SEE THE WORLDS FAIR FOR FIF-
TEEN CENTS.

Upon receipt of your address and
fifteen cents in postage stamps, we
will mail you prepaid our SOUVENIR
PORTFOLIO OF THE WORLDS COLUMBIAN
EXPOSITION, the regular price is Fifty
cents, but as we want you to have one,
we make the price nominal. You will
find it a work of art and thing to be
priced. 1t contains full page views of
the great buildings, with descriptions
OF same, and is executed in highest
style of art. II not satisfied with it,
after you get it, we will refund stamps
and let you keep the book. Address
ii. +. BUCKLEN Il Co. Chicago, H.