davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-01-12

NEGRO SUPERsTITiONS.-

some Curious Things Which Arc Believed
by the Southern Blacks.
Did you ever hear of picking up
tracks?'" Congressman John Allen, of
Mississippi, asked a group of southern
members 1t was something new to all
of them
Well" explained Mr.. Allen, SIT was
new to me until short time before l
left home to come here for this extraor-
binary session of congress-. / went into
the country visiting some of my people.
When / got there found great excite
ment prevailing. A young negro woman
had been picking up tracks, and it had
broken up one family. Every body was
afraid. Nobody knew whose tracks
might be picked up next.
1T seems the young woman had a
grudge of some kind against man and
a woman. She had followed them and
p had picked up their tracks. Then she
had gone of and buried the tracks she
had picked up. She had put dogs hair
with the tracks of the man and cats
hair with the tracks of the woman.
After that the man and the woman
couldn't livu together any more than
a cat and dog could They had sep
arated and the whole community was
in state of uproar when l arrived
They were about to send off some thirty
miles for negro preacher. 1t seemed
that he was gifted with the power to
break the spell. One woman said
she never gave the voodoo WON
n al,
tracks Whenever she saw her coming
she sat right down wherever she might
be and waited until the voodoo woman
was out of sight"
Picking up tracks," continued Mr..
Allen, seems to be new idea among
the negroes. You've heard of people
Perishing with lizards and snakes I'M
der the skin? / had little experience
With case of that kind. A Justice of
the peace actually bound man under
one thousand dollars to GO before court
for putting lizards under the skin of
another man. j had the prosecuting
witness up in my room, and put him
through an examination for the benefit
of my fellow-lawyers. The negro had
his arms tied tightly with strings |
asked him what that was for, and he
said it was to keep the lizards from
getting together. He actually be-
lieved he could feel the lizards moving
about. After few questions he for
got that he had the lizards confined
by the bandages. and told a story that
didn't agree with it. He said that
whenever he ate anything he could
feel the lizards coming down from his
shoulders under his chest to his
stomach to get their part. | put all
kinds of questions to him and couldn't
shake his belief in his affection That
man died of lizards under the skin
Then it was found out that some
lizards had been buried at the foot of
a tree. If these buried lizards had
been discovered earlier the life of the
afflicted man could have been saved.
but his friends didn't know where the
lizards were until it was too late
That was what the negroes said ST.
Louis Globe Democrat.
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-01-12

We were perfecly concealed from all
observation except that of the jeering
monkeys, who looking down on us
from their heights. kept up ceaseless
clamor of derisive cries
For nearly an hour we crouched,
watching in motionless attention the
ponds surface, seeing lazily- floating
cayman or two. but no sign of the
game we sought.
Directly fronting us, on the east side
of the creek, there lay, extended along
the waters edge and not more than
nine yards away, the fallen trunk Of
a laurel tree, from which rose several
broken and partially decayed branches,
the whole being in deep shade, as the
sun had not yet risen high enough to
fully light that part of the island
While we were patiently waiting,
Alden nudged me and whispered: Sec
what beautifully variegated moss COW
ers one Of those limb stubs We must
gather some Of it before we go back to
camp"
| was about to make some common
place reply when, thirty or forty
yards south of us, I noticed slight
undulation of the water, and present.
ly there appeared above its surface,
first the head and then the back of a
full-grown monster, followed immedi-
ately by a like emerging of calf, a
comical looking creature not half as
long as its mother.
After inhaling air for half minute or
SO, the pair sank again. and. as we saw
plainly 10y the ripples. began to feed
on bottom-growing plants, along the
east shore and directly toward the head
of the lagoon
The next time they rose for nj r they
were twenty yards nearer us than be-
fore. and 1 whispered to Alden: "Wait
till they get into the shadow between
us and the big log; then, when their
heads show, you take the old one and
I'll take the youngster. shoot straight
for the brain and they'll never know
what hurt them" Tom nodded assent
and We waited in silence
The water shoaled SO rapidly now
that by the time the animals were
abreast of us and within two feet of
the laurel log the mothers rounded
back appeared above the surface, and
the little one, raising its hand-like flip
per to climb with, scrambled upon it,
riding exactly as I have seen the young
OF an African hippopotamus.
In another moment tho old monster
lifted her head, and making q sign to
my two other companions not to shoot
Tom and quietly thrust our rifle bar
rels through the bushes, took careful
aim, and we're about to fire.
That instant, however, TOMS ''beau-
tifully variegated moss" leaped into
sudden life. A flashing streak of black,
tawny brown and yellow shot out
from the dead branch. and in the twink
ling Of an eye the calls muzzle was fast
between the recurring fangs of mon.
BtrOus anaconda.
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-01-12
DATING WAY BACK.
Fhe General Got More Credit for Old Age
Than He Wanted.

The General Got More Credit for Old Age
Than He Wanted.
Old Gen. Fodewah takes great de-
light in being considered back num-
Der. His wife doesn't. and whenever
the general starts in to indulge in his
personal "reminiscences she always
takes pains to express her doubts of
their being verita BILE personal recollec-
tions.
The other evening the general was
entertaining dinner party with tales
of the wonderful changes which had
taken place in New York during his
time.
He had spoken of the time when
Grand street was out in the country,
and when he used to live in Mott street
and attend Columbia college, then sit
uated in Park place, and was about to
elucidate some other points of ancient
local history when his wife broke in
with:
Now. Thomas! You are incorrigi-
BILE. You know all those things hap
pened before you were born. If YOU
go on in that way you will be telling
people by and by that you remem Der
when the barge Office used to be con-
sidered uptown
But the generals little granddaugh-
ter holds firm and innocent belief in
his powers of long-distance memory.
After her return from Sunday-school
one day she climbed up on his knee
and said to him:
''oh. grandpa: you knew about Pc.
ter's dra wing his sword and cutting off
that mans ear, don't you?'
The ear of the servant of the high
priest? Why, of course, Bessie
'Therel That's what | told nv
teacher! She said it happened long
time ago-before anybody living could
remember. And | told her guessed
my grandpa could remem Der tn.
Y. Press.
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-01-12
~ SIz}aq@ssgMa:
71on5on

On my second expedition into north
ern Brazil some years ago, we camped
for several weeks on the Rio Branco,
about one hundred miles above it's
junction with the Rio Negro, one of
the principal continents of the Amazon.
The rainy season was past, and, al
though we were almost on the equa-
torial line, the weather was not unen.
durably hot, the constantly blowing
eastern trade winds greatly reducing
its temperature and rendering our big
tent, pitched in the shade of an inn
mense saman tree, a comfortabl
abode.
Our party consisted Of eleven men
ten Americans and a newly caught
Irishman-''Teddy" O'Brien by name,
who more for the sake of -'divilment
and divarshun" than forty dollars a
month, as he had said, had engaged
with us as cook. And truly wonder
full cook he was
genious experiments in that line, it.
would. perhaps, be ungrateful to
specify them. Anyhow, the fellow
earned his salary twice over by an in
exhaustible flow of merriment that
kept our digestive organs in condition
to assimilate the most erratic of his
culinary creations.
T. While some members of our party
were amateur botanists, biologists.
naturalists or taxidermists. we were all
enthusiastic explorers and hunters,
and we fairly revoled in the wealth Of
animal and vegetable life about U.S.
Our six-ton boat, moored in the river,
was fast becoming museum. Repre-
senting the country's flora, we had
dried plants, shrubs and flowers with
out end; in tho way of reptiles. .
stuffed cayman, several striped rattle
snakes, one twelve-foot boa, and a
great variety of lizards, while in insects
our collection was exceedingly rich.
OF the feathered tribe we had almost
everything from the mighty condor of
the Andes down to minute humming
birds; and of fshes-besides fine cleo
trio eel-one or more specimens Of near
ly every kind found in the inland
waters of the tropics.
OF wild beasts we had already shot
and set up the jaguar. red wolf, cougar.
peccary, culot, tapir, tiger-cat, wild
dog. three kinds of deer, the sloth and
,armadillo, as we'll as six varieties of
monkeys and number of other small
arboreal creatures.
But there was one amphibious ami
NAL, the manatee, and semi-amphib
ious reptile, the anaconda. we had not
yet obtained We had seen scores of
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-01-12
he first while ascending the river, but

the first while ascending the river, but
had never secured one, though it is a
somewhat sluggish creature, and not
at all difficult of approach, as it feeds
upon aquatic plants at the bottom of
still water and comes frequently to the
surface to breath.
One evening we were bemoaning our
bad luck in this respect when Teddy
observed: An is it the quare haste
that's a cross bechune a mermaid an q
fish that ye're afther wantin? Fax
thur thin in no time"
"All right. Teddy. Let's have your
plan" said Tom Alden
It's aisier nor rowiin' down hill.
ine bhye Up beyant there's what ye
call lagoon. an the far ind av it runs
up loike a lake Until them thick woods.
Shure it's not tin shteps acrass: an be
the same token Oi seen a big man
manistee is it; an a good lump sv a
young wan frolickiu' round there
bright an airly this same blissid morn
in. The water ia thin parts is moighty
shoal, I'm thinkin'. whin the old haste
was feedin' aim the bottom, the baby
I'd scramble up livery now and thin
an roost aim her back. kapin its own
wee paddle av a tail in the wather,
koind of soshible lcike. Sorra bit av
thruole for some av yez to consale yer
silves ahn both sides sv the lane an bag
the two craythurs.
Teddy's idea seeming a good one at
daybreak next morning four of us, TAX
ing our rifles, barbed graphing iron
and coil of rope. set of for the la
coon, a grass-grown stretch of stag
nant water lying parallel to the river,
and at the nearer end about Q half mile
from our camp.
just as Teddy had said. we found its
further or northern extremity to con-
sist of narrow creek. and, this was
closely bor6ered on both sides bv water
palms, gum. rubber saman trees and
gigantic trec-ferns, with dense under
growth of bushea while, running
through all. reaching to and binding
together the Hottest tree-tops, was a
wondrous network OF Llama vines
amidst which, when We arrived, in
Vulnerable monkeys were just begin
ning their morning sports.
With some difficulty our quartette,
comprising Tom Alden, two other men
ana myself. gained the westward mar
gan OF the watery lane. where we en-
sconeed ourselves in the matted brush
WOOD. aeening it irnprudert 10 take
opposite siaes Tor fear Of accidents ~
possible cyossdrirg.
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-01-12
Gv,sv Dfe,ike for Churches.

Gypsies have NO religion and some Of
them have 50 strong an aversion to
churches that they never pass by ono
without muttered curse In European
countries they never suffer themselves
to be buried in churchyard, but,
whenever allowed, they bury their
dead in out-of-the-way places This
antipathy to churches and religious
forms is supposed by some persons to
have originated from their persecution
by the priesthood in the middle ages,
but, whatever its origin, it is a fixed
fact.-N. Y. San.
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-01-12
smoke curling before her eyes reused
up her imagination Victor Hugo
hated smoking
Fir stronger Than Oak.

It would be difficult, says the ST.
Louis Republic. to convince the aver
age man that fir is stronger wood
than oak. but such has been proven by
actual tests that were made by fair
and impartial committee appointed for
that purpose. The timbers used were
each AKA inches and 4 feet long. both
ends solidly braced and the weight APP
piled in the middle of the span. Yell
low fir stood strain of 3.o62 pounds,
common Oregon oak. 1922 pounds
Fine-grained yellow FIR from near tho
butt stood a strain of 1855 pounds,
and best Michigan oak snapped with a
strain of only a,4as pounds The tests
were made by the Northern Pacific
Railway company at Tacoma. Wash.
Old London Bridge.
New London bridge was opened in
1881. Old London bridge was mon
strosity. 1t dated back to the year 1l67
A. D., and at least three wooden bridges
are known to have occupied the same
site prior to that date. The old bridge
was slightly over nine hundred feet in
length, and had eighteen solid stone
piers, varying in thickness from TWEEN
ty-five to thirtyfour feet, thus confin-
ing the flow of the river to less than
half its natural channel. The entire
surface of the bridge was occupied by
blocks Of brick and stone buildings
(erected on arches, with the roadway
running tunnel-liks beneath), some of
them four stories high. All of these
bridge buildings were densely packed
with human beings lat one time esti-
mated at seventeen hundred), carrying
on all the trades and other vacations of
life. Spanning the two center piers
was a huge church building dedicated
to eSt. Thomas Of Canterbury, but
usually styled ''St. Peters of the
Bridge" In very early time the arch
opening from the bridge toward the
city was called Traitors Gate" and it
was no unusual thing to see the heads
of dozen executed criminals hanging
over it.-St. Louis Republic.
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-01-12
That Shattered Conversation.

Henry" said Mrs Binkins, do YOU
think this will be hard winter"
of course it is, replied Mr. Binkins:
freeing makes even the water hard"
And Mrs Binkins silently pondered
on what nice thing it is to have a
smart man for MISUNDERSTANDING
ton Star
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-01-12
An Offset.

The wall flower" remarked the
philosopher. lis often the only girl in
the ballroom who can cook dinner"
Yes, responded Miss Worldling.
''and the girl who dances is the only
enc who can digest it"-Detroit Free
Press.
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-01-12
a Painful Ease

TOMMY tailor has agreed to make
a suit of cloth es for me aud not charpe
me a cent for them.
Dick-You must have struck a .n.r
Tom-Hardly; he says III have to paw
ash-Detroit Free Press,
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-01-12
A Dry Well.

Train Robber-Come! shell out!
Rural Minister (sadly)-If had such
energetic fellows as you to pass the
plate now and then might have some
thing to give you.-N. Y. Weekly.
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-01-12
Comparison.

Mary-You call him beast. What
kind of a one7
Kitty (who has been bored)-A wolf,
should say. He's SO difficult TO keCI
from the door-Harper's Bazaar.
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-01-12
The Reporting STYLE,

City Editor-Mr. Scribbler. you will
have to be q little more careful in your
style of writing up local occurrences.
Reporter-Nhy, what's the matter?
City Editor-In reporting the toasts
at that public dinner you say: THE
mayor of the city and ladies, etc, were
appropriately drunk, and the party
separated in fine cheer Texas Sif.
ippS
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-01-12

Earold-Bowleigh has Joined the
kennel club.
Percy-Yes? l knew ne was going
to the dogs.-Judge-
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-01-12

Four Year-Old Jessie - Dear ms
There's the door bell again! If it's
anybody that wants TO see me, Bridget,
just tell 'em / amt at home.-Chicago
Tribune,
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-01-12
And He Did.

II am now" croaked the parrot,
reaching for its mistress costly bonnet,
about tn put in bin for damages
Chicago Tribune.
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-01-12
A Measure of Revenge.

Gladys-Oh, but just hate that Mr..
Masterys!
Genevieve-Why don't you marry
him, then?-Chicago Record
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-01-12

When Baby was sick, we gave her Castoria-
When she WAS Child. she cried for CascoriA
When she became Miss she chung to CastoriA
When she had Children, she gave them CastcriA
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-01-12

Oh. woodman, spare that tree,
pray you let II stand,
A refuge IL may be
When the oull6og1s al hand.
Atlanta journal
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-01-12
CABLING q Check.

Bingo--Did you have any trouble Ia
cashing that check gave yona
Mrs. Eiugo-No, indeed / took il
right to my milliner.
Bingo-What did She do: give you
gold?
Mrs Biago-Gracions, no, She gave
me the loveliest beUne, you ever saw
Puck.
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-01-12
The Hunter,

When the hunter returns from the Platte,
With his stories Of killing down pate,
Don't envy his luck,
Or believe all the truck,
For he's talking at you through his hattie
Omaha World Herald
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-01-12
A Great Difference.

Teacher-How many feet are there
in perch?
Boy-Do you mean the one ] caught
or the one that got away?-Good
News
The daily herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1892-1897, 1894-06-15
BROWNSVILLE.

BROWNSVILLE, the county sea OF
Cameron county, is situated in the
southern pant of the county on The
Rio Grande, about thirty miles above
its mouth, and directly opposite the
Mexican city Of Matamoros. 1t has
a large trade with small towns alon
the river for over 800 miles, The ex.
eat OF steamb rat navigation. 1t has
commercial relations with the gulf
ports BY the port of Braz de San
iiago, with which it is connected b,
the Rio Grande railrca1. 1t also has
COMMUNICATION with the interior by
stage to Alice, connecting with the
Texas Mexican aud the Arkansas Pass
r :iway. Another frequent mode Off
transportation TO an from Browns
vile via the Matamoros and Mon
terey railroad to Rio Grande City,
aud thence by stage to Pena Station.
Brownsville is laid off squareIy with
streets CT good width, aud is built up
with solid brick buildings, and has a
fine city market. where all vegeta-
bies, meats, fresh fish, game, etc., are
on seal at remarks ably low prices
The city fire department. is well
equipped and most effective. There
are three churches. Catholic. Episco-
pal aud Presbyterian. The educa-
tional advantages of Brownsville are
unsurpassed By any town, and une-
qualled by few OF its size. The pub
lie schoo building. valued at $50, 600,
is one of the haudsomest and best
equipped in the State, and stands as
a monument to the progress of the
city. 1t employs fourte en- teachers,
aud about six hundred pupils are in
daily attendance. There are three
Catholic schools, ST. Joseph's Col
Iege for boys, the content school for
girls, aud ST. Alosyius' school for
boys, both of the latter being Taught
by the Sisters of the Incarna;e Word
convent. Another school fer girls is
The Presbyterian mission school.
Among other public buildings may
he mentioned the cont house,
large AID costly building which is =
credit to the county. and the cns'om
house, which Is one CT the hand.
soonest federal buildings in the south.
The postrffice in this building is very
handsomely equipped. There ar,
also many handsome private resi-
dences.
The population numbers about
1000. about three ourths MEXICAN.
1t is one of the preitiest little towns
in the State, aud on account of its
mild and equable climate il destined
to become a popular resort, espe-
eially in the winter season.
The daily herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1892-1897, 1894-06-15
IN DOUBT ABOUT 1T.

Mrs. Figg: Tommy, If you don't
lie better boy yon Will never get
TO heaven.
Tommy: And if 1 be real good
and 60 there, will [ have to keep
ON bein' good after l get lhcrc?-
Detroit Frue Press.
The daily herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1892-1897, 1894-06-15
MAPOF MEXICO.
COmmendabie Undertaking by the
State and General Gov
ernments.
San Antonio Express.

Monterey, Mex, June 81
this mornings issue of the State on
fetal Periodical of Nuevo Leon is
published :he official cor;espon-
dence Of this State government and
the Federal government in the
City of Mexico relative to map OF
this State. to be subsequently EN-
bodied in general map of the Mex
lean Republic on scale of 1 to
100000. The correspondence be
gan April u, last, and terminated
May %, in an arrangement for a
section of the explorative geograph
ical commission to proceed forth
with 20 the preparation of said map.
It is estimated that the surveys, etc,
required in the performance of the
work will occupy period OF three
years, during which time the Stat
of Nuevo Leon will aid the project
with a payment of $500 on the first
of each month.
The government surveys and
map of the State of San LUIS Potosi
have Just been completed on sini
lar plan, and thus accurate and re
ha6le maps of the several States in
the Mexican Union, and general
map of the Republic, is gradually
being prepared.
The permanent committee of the
State Congress of Nuevo Leon for
the present month is as follows:
Lic. Jesus G az, Flores, president;
Mr.. Aureho L4rtiguc, treasurer,and
SIC. Vlrgilio CARA Cantu,secretarv.
On May 81 Federal edict de
eIares abolished after July 1, 1894,
the "JefAturas de Hacienda Fed
eraI revenue ofices-in the States
of Aguas Cnlientes, C0lima, More
h4s, Qneretaro and Tlsxcala. The
6nties heretofore performed by
These offices will be assumed by the
Jeialuras de Hacienda,jn the States
of Z4catccss, Jalisco, Mexico, Qua
naiuato and Puebla, resi- ectively. |
This will tend C nsiderably to re
ddce he Federal revenue expcndi |
fures-
Notice was received here this
morning of the arrival at the Sea
sort Of Tafnpico of the tour bronze
Ffatdes and fhe two spray fountains
10 be put mp on Ztragozl Square in
fills city. They were manutaciu'
ed in the United States and shipped
BY water to Tampico, whence they
will come over the Monterey d
Mexican Gulf Railway to Monte
rey. These ornaments to the pm
eipal plaza of the city, together
with its superb black marble lnnsic
stand, will add materially to the at
rractivcuess of this besu'ifuI Puolic
resort, The pillars. arches and
T0of' of the music stand will be of
Ornamental iron casting, which IL
now ready to be put together at the
Monterey Iron Foundry, where the
castings were made.