davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1894-02-02
OLDEST WOMAN IN ILLINOIS.

Mrs. Rebecca Ann Lichner. of New
man, Has Reached the Age of III.
Mrs. Rebecca Ann Lichner, who re-
sides three miles southeast of New
man, is supposed to be the oldest
living woman in Illinois, if not in the
United States. She was born Dee IS,
1776, and consequently is III years
Of age. She is of Norwegian descent.
Her father, Ephraim Stead, was for
many years gu officer in the Norwe-
gian army, and won henors in the bat
ties of the Rhine in liza. She mar
ried Joseph Lichner in the year 1900
and bore him eight children, five boys
and three girls. The youngest child
Samuel, still lives with his mother
every dav when the weather is fair
Her husband died during the war OF
1912 Mrs Lichner moved to this
country in 1920 and acquired small
piece Of land from the government
which she has ever since retained
Her experience in the wilds of Illinois
in the early days would fill Il volume
Indians were plundering the country
and upon more than one occasion she
aimed the fatal rifle at the red man
In recent chat with Il st. Louis Re
public man she claimed to have walk
ed to Eugene and back. a distance OF
100 miles, sixty times, before wagons
could be run. She has Il very tender
way Of telling the story of her life
and tears flow copiously down he1
time-worn cheeks. She is a remark
ably we'll preserved woman, and is as
spry as 14-year-old school girl. II
appearance she resembles a mummy
her skin looking like parchment. ant
she is toothless and nearly blind
Dec. Is being Mrs. Lichner's 117tl
birthday. 4 large number of the ole
lady's friends gathered at her home
and rendered her surprise party. Sh'
! chews and smokes, but never drani
liquor but once after she had lail
in a snow bank four days between
Newman and Eugene, where she ha,
gone to have some corn ground.
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1894-02-02

little speech. Ladies and gentlemen
he said. Il have been out of work for
the past six months, and l must make
Il living in some way for my family.
l don't want to beg, but l have here
for sale some lead pencils with patent
tips, WHICH" His remarks were
cut short by an indignant protest from
Il grey haired, grey-Deared man. who
looked as if he might be a Quaker
Don't you know the rules of this com
pany forbid that sort of thing?" he de-
ntanded. III get a deck hand and
put stop TO it,
The young fellow turned toward him
and said, mournfully: I'm sorry to
see you against me like that, sir"
But the Old man. with snort of wrath,
@rasped his cane and stumped off into
the rear cabin. The other, taking OPP
pol-tunity by the forelock, darted hith-
cr and thither. selling off his stock
with great agility. the purchasers NUT
tering maledictions ON the flinty heart
of the hoary- headed stickler for rules.
There are always some skeptics in a
crowd. however. and there were a few
gone Il good while" remarked a bust
ness man to his elbow neighbor. land
shouldn't be surprised if they are
working together. AS he spoke. the old
man reappeared. Straight through the
cabin he walked looking neither right
nor left, his stout cane humping the
floor with every step he took. Failing
to find a deckhand 1T the rear of the
boat, he was going to search for one
on the forward deck. But he did not
come back. and the trade in pencils
went briskly on. The other passen-
gers, pressing out on deck us the boat
neared Brooklyn, beheld the old gentle
man standing close to the gate, gazing
sternly ahead. and the ferTyman stand
ing ready to do their several parts
when the boat should have bumped in
to her slip. That the disciplinarian
should have been unable to find them
was, to say the least, surprising.
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1894-02-02
THE TRICOLOR OF FRANCE.
How 1t Came to Be Adopted us the
National Flag Long Ago.

Some seventy or eighty years before
the revolution-that is, at the epoch
of the war of the succession, when she
was in close alliance with Spain and
Bavaria-it was thought desirable, says
All the Year Round, to distinguish the
allied soldiers by cockade, which com
ed the colo1S of the three nations
the white of France, the red of Spain
and the blue of Bavaria. To none of
these incidents, however. would it be
wise to attribute the origin of the
historic tricolor and cockade adopted
by revolutionary France. At the out
set there seemed a likelihood that
greenwich Camille Desn oulins had
popularized at the Palais Royal
would have become the national color;
but men remembered in time that it
was that of the livery OF the Comte
d'Artois, the most unpopular of the
Bourbon princes. and it was there
upon discarded. A proposition was
then made to assume the cOlorS of the
city of Paris-blue and red, as Dumas
reminds us in his six Ans Apris"
To these was added the white of so
many glorious memories. because it
had been selected by the national
guard-always faithful to the throne
and its traditions Not until some
months after the capture of the Bias
tile was the trfcolor definitely adopted.
when Bailly and Lafayette presented
it to Louis WI. in the great hall of
the Hotel de Vile, and the convention
issued a decree in which it was de-
scribed as consisting of three colors
-''disposees en- trois gandees egale.
de maniere que lie bleu slot attache a
Ia garde du pavilion. lie blanc au
millue. ct lie rougle flottant dams les
airs"-that is, in equal vertical sections.
with the blue inward, the red outward
and the white between. This is the
historic flag which Napoleon's legions.
in conjunction with their eagles, bore
VIGOROUSLY from the Seine to the Elbe,
the Tagus, the Borodino. and the
Danube; which they planted victorious
ly on the walls of almost every Eu-
ropean capital.
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1894-02-02
FOR CURRENT EXPENSES.
Carlisle's Idea of How the Bond Issue
Proceeds Can Be Expended

Washington, Jan. 2j.-For the first
time in this congress, every member
of the Judiciary committee of the
house attended the meeting today, the
magnet being Secretary Carlisle's
statement Of his position on the bond
issue.
The resolution Of Representative
Bailey, Of Texas, declaring it to be
the sense Of the house that the secre
tary has no authority to apply the
proceeds from the bonds TO any pur-
pose but resumption, was before the
committee.
Carlisle explained that most Of the ap-
preparations made by congress stipulat-
ed that any money in the treasury not
otherwise appropriately should be
used for the pupose of the act Under
this authority the secretary said that
he could expend for current expenses
all the money in the treasury down To
the last dollar, whether or not it
is the proceeds Of the bonds, provided
only it be not otherwise appropriated
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1894-02-02
FAIR LIPS AND CIGARETTES.
Some Famous Women Who Are Dr
voted to My Lady Nicotine.

Mrs. Crawford, the noted journalist
Of Paris. says that the cigarette has
not yet found its way with after-dinner
coffee into the official drawing ROOM
but it soon will AT all the homes set
ting up to style it is served at intimatc
breakfasts and, small and lively din
ners. Nobody is shocked when n lady
smokes not merely one cigarette, but
two or three. A. minister of Queen
Christina is responsible for the report
that that highly respectable and re-,
Spected lady Is an inyeterate and
veteran smoker Most of the Russian
grand duohesseS are smokers. Mrs.
Crawford does not know whether the
queen of Italy smokes or not, but
some of her ladies certainly do. When
she was at Spezia she saw them en-
joying cigarettes while boating on the
lake and in the grounds Of the duchess
of Genoa's villa, where the queen was.
Modjeska is an invcrterate smoker
and is really quite disturbed IL the
women guests at her table do not
smoke with her. "Ah," she said, 'if
YOU would smoke with me, then |
would be sure Of your loyalty. Tn Po-
land one ever says kind things of an
other when they have smoked togeth
er."
| 1t is always Il cigarette the woman
smoker INDUCES in. Fair Phyllis with
a pipe, or even Il cigar, would be Il
monstrosity not to be tolerated. And
yet the doctors agree that the cigarette
is far more injurious. Few men really
enjoy seeing the woman smoke for
whom they care most. 1t is all very
well at the gay little dinner after the
play, or the lively supper in free-and-
easy Bohemia. And it does seem cosy
and jolly to see another fellows wife
smoke with her husband; but for the
little woman at home, whom his child
rem call mother, even while he rather
urges her to have cigarette for com
pany, in his secert heart he is glad
she refuses, and because he knows
she will refuse is the reason why he
invite her so persistently to share his
confidence with my Lady Nicotine.
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1894-02-02
STORAGE BATTERIES SUCCEED.
Their Use in Streetcars Has Passed Be
yend the Stage Of Experiment.

Baltimore Herald: The use of the
storage battery in streetcars has pass
ed beyond the stage Of experiment.
Since last May such cars have been
in constant use in the city Of New
York. Six cars have been run con-
stantly during that period, have travel
ed more than 10000 miles, and since
Aug. 1 they have been running eleven
hours a day. During that time they
have kept their schedule trips rather
better than cable or trolley cars run
ming over the same period in New York
ard Brooklyn. The experiment proves
that they are a success so far as the
ability to carry passengers and to
keep schedule time is concerned.
The cars are loaded with battery
of IA cells and each car is capable
of running about three hours before
the power is exhausted. 1t requires
only four minutes to charge the batter
les and recharge them. The machinery
also is under admirable control and
the car can be stopped at any time
within a space Of twenty-five feet.
r1Olll StdttluchtS ptiD1iSACo III Inv
New York Times it appears that the
entire expense of running the storage
cars is 9.32 cents q mile. The plant
which has been established is capable
of running eighteen cars, and If that
many motors were in use it is estimat-
ed that the cost would be $50 cents
a mile.
The cost Of introducing the plant in
the first instance is stated to be no
greater than that Of the trolley and
cable systems. The first cost of stor-
age battery cars is greater than that
of either the cable or trolley cars,
but the machinery required in the
new style Of propulsion has been per-
fected so that the entire cost Of equip
ment is reduced to point where the
storage battery can safely be regarded
as competitor for public favor as
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1894-02-02
MRS. THACKERAY.
Immured in IN Asylum for Many
Years, She ut Last Dies.

To most readers the announcement
of the death of Mrs. William Make
peace Thackeray at great age came
with most uncanny significance. I'M
INJURED as she has been for many years,
practically under restraint, her name
has seldom been heard in the news
paper turmoil. Writers who knew of
her existence, in great love and rever-
ence of her husband, have permitted
her to finish her pilgrimage-weary
enough at best-without inf1icting upon
her the publication of her misfortunes.
This delicacy. which cannot be too
much commended, has manifested it
self in a good many ways. Even re-
cent biographies of Thackeray have
omitted all but the slightest mention
of the widow. The late Lord Hough
ton Orchard Monckton Mines, the
fault Of whose memoirs certainly was
not overdelicacy or too great consid-
alton for the feelings of his contem-
poraries, sedulously omitted a1lusion
to Mrs. Thackeray, although he must
have known the story and the woman,
too. too well. Yet it is probable that the
tang of Thackeray's books, that bitter
sweetness that makes men love him
above all other writer's of the day.
the pathetic undertone in his laughter.
the half-laugh in his pathos-all these
we may 1--WE think trace back to the
sorrow that gnawed at the great Gym
les heart. He did not make little
verses out of his great sorrow" but
the sorrow dominated all he wrote,
and we have no doubt was accountable
for those sudden outbursts Of passion
which critics decry as contrary to the
can0ns. but which indeed have given
the real Thackeray to all readers of
his books
The Thackerays had three children
Anne, well known to novel readers;
Jane, who died in infancy. and Har-
riet, who married Leslie Stephen 1t
was after the birth of the third child
and while Thackeray had risen in his
first flight, preparatory to taking a
still higher in Vanity Fair, that Mrs.
Thackeray was stricken. Her malady
was extremely distressing, for it in
volved Authorizations Of ill-trea tment
and persecution that were especially
grievous to this kindest of men, but
for some time he chung to hope of
recovery and devoted himself to her
care. It was in vain. The time came
when it was necessary to seclude Mrs.
Thackeray, and with his great, loving
heart SCARED with this conflict Thack-
cray went out to face the world to
draw for generations of English read
erS
The hidden great-the humble wise.
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1894-02-02

drafted and pushed to passage home
stead act, which threw open the gov
ernment lands to settlement. BY that
act about seven hundred families have
acquired homesteads, paying for them
on the fiye-year inStallment plan. The
idea has been hobby with him and
since he became president he has draft
ed Il measure 10 throw open the crown
lands which have heretofore been used
to raise revenue for the private purse
Of the sovereign. There are about nine
hundred thousand acres and prefer
ence is TO be given to the native Ha-
waiians The only terms are that the
occupant shall cultivate them aud shall
lot have the privilege of dispensing of
them.
He has several times been Il member
Of the Hawaiian legislature, and has
always been identified with what IS
known as the reform movement
In 1897 he was appointed associate
Justice Of the supreme court, and was
promoted to the second place. which
he resigned 10 take his present posi-
ton. He is said to be rs brave IL man
personally as lives on the islands.
And they tell how. practically single
handed, he stood at the door Of the
legislative building and faced down an
Infatuated mob who, with weapons In
their hands. demanded admitta-ce. He
is thoroughly convinced that anneXa-
ton to the United States is the destiny
Of Hawaii. aud that annexation will
contribute to the benefit Of both the
island and this country. Until then he
will do his best to prevent the restora-
ton of the monarchy
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1894-02-02
LYING DOWN MEANS DEATH.
The Strange Disease of Il Philadel
phian Who Sleeps Standing ZIP.

This is the story of a man who can
sleep only in L standing position. His
name is Theodore Won Elfrich, and
life has become such a burden to him
that his death will be positive re-
lief. One morning Il few weeks ago
Won Elfrich walked into the business
office OF Philadelphia newspaper
and took a position beside the radi;i tor
His object was to find a warm place
where he might sleep in the only at
titude possible to him-an erect posi-
ton. Now he comes there every day
and remains until the janitor requests
him to leave in the evening AS he
sleeps he keeps a half smoked cigar
in his mouth and leans his elbow on
the radiator. Sometimes he makes n
pillow OF his arms and rests his head
upon them. Occasionally he slips to
the floor and awakens with a shock
Then 4 look of terror may be observed
on his face. One day the janitor ask
ed him why he stood here all day
asleep.
Because it's warm" replied Won
Elfrich. He said his home was broken
UP, and that his children would no
longer take care Of him.
Il was once healthy and strong
he went on, ''but dissipation has
made me the miserable being / am
today. When 1 came to this country,
about thirty-five years ago, from the
fathcrland 1 had my patrimony. One
day / caught a severe cold. The cold
settled in my stomach. Since that day
I haven't had a moments peace, and
now I'm waiting until l die. Catarrh
OF the stomach followed that cold,
and it has been the cause of all my
miseries. Life has been a perfect tor
ment to me, and / think no man ever
endured more torture and long-dra wn-
out agony than I have. One physician
after another I have tried, but without
relief. My wife took sick and died
and my house was broken up. I am
afraid to lie down and sleep, for
feel that it will be the sleep Of death
At night / walk the streets, no matter
how disa Teeable the wea ther. All
the sleep I get is while standing up
by this radiator 1t is warm here, and
the newsboys are used to seeing me
around, and don't wake me any more,
as they did at first. AS long as I can
get rest standing up / am all right.
The minute I fall into a reclining pO-
sition it wakes me up. and so I man
age to sleep sound. My only solace
is holding cigar in my mouth. It
seems to afford me more relief and
pleasure than anything else"
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1894-02-02
MAS A CHRISTMAS JOKE. :
The Baby on the Doorstep Proved to
he Handsome Doll

On account Of the excellent reputa-
ton they have held in this community
for Il number of years, the Oil City
Blizzard concealS the real names of
the parties who figured in an affair iii
that city on Christmas which is just
leaking out. In certain house. on
certain street, lives man, his wife
and their little daughter. Early Christ
mas morning Mr.. Smith arose and
when he opened one Of the doors saw
Il small cradle ON the steps. Upon
lifting a handsome quilt from the era
die the head Of little child. with the
deathstare in its eyes. Mortified him.
Mrs. Smith was Gated to the scene
and the cradle and contents were car
ried into the house. Then n number
OF nefghbors were notified, all OF whom
entered the place to take view Of
the corpse. A physician was summon
ell and when he arrived between
twenty and thirty persons had crowded
around the cradle. Sadness was de-
picted on every countenance. The wo-
men were sobbing and tears strcamed
down the checks of gray-haired men
who were present. The cruelty Of Il
mother who would desert her child in
such a manner was loudly denounced.
and after the matter had been dis
cussed the doctor stepped up to the
cradle and took the little creature In
his arms. Upon its back was pinned
Il piece of paper containing the infor
nation that the doll was present
! to little Emma from her grandfather
With bowed heads and shcepish coun-
| tenances the neighbors passed out and
returned to their respective firesides.
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1894-02-02
ERUPTIONS IN ORE
CON.
Periods of Activity Reached by Mount
st. Helen's in Years Gone By.

Mount st. Helen's has shown the
greatest activity in recent times, and
an account Of the more important erup-
tons is given by the Salem (Oregon)
Statesman. In August, 1881, there was
an uncommonly dark day, which was
thought to have been caused by an
eruption Of a volcano. The whole day
was nearly as dark as night, except
for slight red, lurid appearance,
which was perceptible until near night
Lighted candles were necessary dur
ing the day. The atmosphere was
filled with very light ashes, like the
white ashes of wood. The day was
perfectly calm. For few days after
ward fires out Of doors burned with
blush flame. as though mixed with
sulphur. There were no earthquakes
or rumblings. After, the ashclouds
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1894-02-02
CORSETS FOR THE FEET.

The latest atrocity in the interest of
fashion is a corset for the foot. The
new instrument of torture is made
so as to enable a size smaller shoe to
be worn than would be otherwise pos
sible and consists of a strong though
thing band of web, which is fixed
round the instep while tie foot is
of the ground. When it is in place it
is comparatively easy to put on a
shoe which is altogether too small,
and the pressure being ON the corset
instead of the shoe the latter does
not stretch.
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1894-02-02
1T OUGHT TO SATISFY HER.

Mr.. Wickwire-I don't know whether
I ought to tell you, but I won $500
from Briggs last night playing poker.
Mrs. Wickwire-Oh, how nice. Now
you can afford to get me that new
dress.
Mr.. Wickwire-What an unreason-
able woman you are. I shall do moth
ing of the kind. It ought to be salts
faction enough to you to know that
Mrs. Briggs won't be able to have a
new dress.-Indianapo Journal
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1894-02-02
THEY WORKED TOGETHER.
How a Poor Young Man and a Pitt
less Old Man Sold Pencils.

There occurred the other afternoon
on a Fulton ferry-boat an incident Of
the sort which makes the charitably
inclined think that the charity organ
ization society is, after all, the best
medium for the distribution Of the
money they can afford to apply to re
ievins the distress Of their needy fell
low men, says the New York Tribune
The boat had just left the slip when a
decently- dressed young man rose from
his seat in the forward women's cabin,
which was well filled. and made a glib
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1894-02-02
REFUSES TO ADJOURN.

Denver, Col, Jan. 26.-The house to-
day by vote of % to Is indefinitely
postponed the resolution providing for
sine die adjournment tomorrow
night.
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1894-02-02

against the other two modes of motive
power.
From these statements it will ap-
pear that the trolley no longer COM
mands the field in electrical street
railway propulsion, and the time is
near at hand when the storage car
will be Il familiar sight in many Amer
lean cities.
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1894-02-02

Henry A. Miller, Of Elkhart. Ind.
sued the Lake Shore and Michigan
Southern railroad for $4,000 for the
loss OF an arm by an accident in the
shops.
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1894-02-02

The departure of the British war
ship Resolution for her station in tue
Mediterranean has been again delay
ed, owing to q defect in her machin-
cry.
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1894-02-02
HEROES OF HAWAII
NEWS MADE CONSPICUOUS BY
THE DIPLOMATIC HURRAH
PRESIDENT DOLE A STRONG. IN
TELLECTUAL CHARACTER

lie Comes from Good Old Maine
Stock and Was Educated III Will
lams-He Leaves the Hawaiian Su-
preme Bench TO Become the Head
If the Provisional Government.
News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1894-08-30
The Coming County Fair.

Don't forget the Lamoile County
Fair, Sept. Is, 10 and 20-three days
of genuine pleasure. Come and wit
ness the speed contests by horses and
bicycles. Six purses will be trotted
for, and there will be a green race for
county horses, trotters and PAGERS,
that have never started for money.
Every pains will be taken to get the
best horses in this section of Yer
mont to compete in the races. Fill
Floral Hall with your exhibits; liber-
al premiums in every branch are Of
fered that should bring out a grand
showing of the resources of the La
moille valley. A sum has been set
apart for discretionary use for ex-
hibits by children 13 years old and
under, made by their own hands.
This is a new feature, and one that
will receive especial attention. No
charge will be made for admittance
of children who furnish exhibits in
this class. Music will be furnished by
the Waterville Band of Is pieces. Re-
duced rates on railroads. Posters
are already out. Look for small bills
and send for premium books, which
are now ready. Hon. A. B. Smith of
Morristown, is in charge of assigning
and renting privileges. Remember
the date-Sept. IS, 10, 20.