davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1895-01-03
Our Early Diplomats.

Congress had some difficulty in regu-
lating the expenses of its foreign min
listers so as to give them an opportuni-
ty to appear with dignity in foreign
courts and at the same time conform
to the economical ideas that prevailed
in the matter of public expenditure.
At the time Franklin was writing home
that ne could not make respectable
appearance at the court of France, the
president Of congress was receiving
letters alleging wasteful expenditure
of money by franklin and his nephew,
Jonathan Williams. Some of these
structures may have been warranted,
for John Adams was found including a
charge for the education of his son in
an account OF his expenses abroad. The
item was disallowed on the ground
that the Investigating committee did
not find "any book or proceeding OF
congress, nor are they informed of any
general or received custom, on which
the charge Of moneys for the education
Of tbs accomptants son can be adj
mitted, and, though the same Is in'
considerable, they are of the opinion
that precedent be not established"
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1895-01-03
LIVE STOCK.
CHICAGO.

Chicago, Dec. 27.-In cattle the ill.,
creased receipts which buyers so conf
IDENTIFY looked for did not come; the
effect of the diminished supply was made.
The demand was by no means active to-
day, but it was strong enough to exhaust
the supply at an advance equal to Wednes-
days decline. Quotations ranged from
9o.oOCgo?O Tor very common to extra
steers, with the bulk of the business at
$3.75@5.20. Cows and heifers were sale
able at $1.25@3.25, and there was fair
increase for native COWS.
AT the opening the hog market showed
strong selling at a small advance, but the
situation changed. Buyers grew indiffer-
ent, and in an hour or two the trading was
fiat.
From $425@4.35 bought most of the
light and $4.55 the heavy meats In view
of the small receipts the lack of frmness
the market displayed was a surprise.
Better prices were paid today both for
sheep and lambs. The supply was light,
and the demand good, with the result that
an advance of 10020 cents were made.
The best sheep sold around $3.50, and
$40 was paid for lambs. Quotations now
range from $1.5003.60 for poor to extra
sheep, and from $250@42 % for lambs.
Receipts--Cattle, 1000; calves, 5000;
hogs, 10000; sheep, $500.
hANCAO ClI4.
Kansas City, Dec. 27.-Cattle-Re-
ceipts, 3,400; shipments, 1,400. Market
strong to 5@10c higher; Texas steers,
$2.5O@4.50; Texas cows, $1.S0@2. SO;
beef steers, $3.2564.40; native cows, $16I
3.35; stockers and feeders, $2.7563. rs;
bulls, $1.4003.50.
Hogs-Receipts. 5000; shipments, =;
market weak to sc lower; bulk of sales,
$4@4.30; heavies, $4.10@43O; packers,
$4.30@4.35; mixed, $3.35@4.20; lights,
$3.35@3.SO; workers, $3.S0@3.90; pigs,
$3OO@375.
Sheep-Receipts, 1.6O0 shipments, TOO.
Market steady to 10c higher.
ST. LOUIS.
st. Louis, Dec. -Cattle-Receipts,
3, 200; shipments, 1900. Market active
at Wednesdays advance; native sters,
], 200 to 1900 pounds, $40; light weights
around $3.50; cows, $2.50@3. 10; Texas,
1000 pounds, $3.50; cows, $3.50.
Hogs-Receipts, 4,500; shipments, L.
300; market irregular, closed shade
lower; best heavy, $4.50@4.55; good mix
ed lots, middle weights and good light,
$425@4.55; pigs, common and rough,
1897 1-2@4.20.
Sheep-Receipts, 1000; shipments, -;
Market 10@15c higher and considering
the quality, 15@25c higher. Sheep and
lambs, $685.. -
CINCINNATI.
Cincinnati, Dec. Hogs-Steady
receipts, $500; shipments, 1900.
Cattle-Higher; receipts, 500; ship
ments, zoo.
Sheep-Steady; receipts, 400; shipments
400. Lambs. good demand, $2.25lI3.G0
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1895-01-03
MAKING OF A MAN-oF-WAR.
Built on Paper First, Then of Wood and
Finally of Steel

Built on Paper First Then of Wood and
Finally of Steel.
A man-of-war is built upon paper be-
fore a single plate of steel is forged.
Not only is the design and model made,
and a sketch to show how she will
look when she is floating on the foamy
deep, but every piece that enters into
her construction, whether it be of iron
or wood or steel is measured and drawn
out with even greater care than an
architect exercises in designing the de-
tails of the mantels and oor-jambs
and plumbing of a house. Not only is
the length and breadth of ship de-
cided upon in advance, but the naval
constructor will tell you to an ounce
how much water she will displace when
her armor and guns are placed upon
her; how many times her propellers
will revolve in minute with given
pressure of steam, and how many tons
of coal an hour must be consumed to
drive her at certain rate of speed.
The science of shipbuilding has
reached such perfection that of the
forty ships that compose the new navy
of the United States only two have not
fulfilled or exceeded the plans and
promises of the men who designed
them, with reference to horsepower,
speed and other qualifications.
The Atlanta and Monterey did
not develop quite the horsepower that
their engines were designed to give,
and their builders had to pay forfeit.
The Castine and the Machias were
found to be top-heavy when they got
all their armor on, but that was an
error of Judgment. They were given
too many guns for their tonnage, but
the defect was easily repaired.
When the plans of a ship are given
to the contractor the first thing he
does is to reproduce the design, or at
least cross-section full size, with chalk
on the floor of his loft, and wooden
patterns are made from the chalk
marks for the use of the founders in
casting her ribs and beams. Then a
wooden plate is made for every steel
plate that is needed and marked with
white paint to correspond with that II
represents on the pen-and-ink design.
Then the keel is laid and the skeleton
riveted together until it stands out in
the air like the steel buildings that are
now being constructed fifteen and six.
teen stories high before brick or a
stone is laid for the outside walls.
When it comes time to put on the
plates, the wooden pattern is used first
to see if it is perfect fit and to mark
where the rivet holes must be made.
The steel plate is then laid upon it, the
places for the rivet holes are marked
and then drilled, and finally it is fast
ened by red-hot steel bolts where il
belongs. In a ship of five thousand
tons there are over seven or eight
thousand different pieces of steel and
fifty or sixty thousand steel riyets.-
Chicago Record. -
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1895-01-03
y,hy Bulls Hate a Red Rag.

In tire first place, says an English
writer red Is color to which cattle
are unaccustomed, so that they may
naturally be supposed to be startled by
its very novelty. Scientists show the
sensation Of red to be the complement
Of that Of green, being induced by ex-
sctly opposite affections Of the retina.
If the eyes Of cattle are constructed on
similar principle to our own the con-
tinual contemplation of green, as in
trees aud herbage, must produce a state
Of retihal fatigue, predisposing to VIC
lent excitement of the retina immedi-
ately a red substance is presented to
view.
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1895-01-03
SAME GIRLS.
a Sympathetic Traveller Makes an Acct
dental Discovery.

a Sympathetic Traveller Makes an Acct
dental Discovery.
A man had occasion to go to the
union depot the other afternoon to meet
his wife. When he had got To the sta
ton he found his train was half an
hour late, and he bought a PAPER and
sat down.
Not long after he had seated himself
a rather pretty girl, who wore pink
waist and had nice, red cheeks and
clear blue eyes, and who looked to be
, not over seventeen, came and sat down
next to him. The man who was wait
ing for his wife took casual look at
the girl and went back to his paper.
Pretty soon another pretty young
girl, who also wore pink waist and
had blue eyes and fresh complexion
and all that sort of thing, came along
and stopped in front of the first girl.
The second pretty girl looked as if she
wanted to cry. She said with tremu-
lous voice: "Why, Nettie, what do you
think? The fares dollar"
"A what?" gasped Nettie.
"a dollar; and she told us it was only
fifty cents; and haven't got enough to
get the tickets, and oh, dear, don't
know what we will do"
She sank down beside Nettie and the
two looked at the tiled floor with very
solemn faces. Presently Nellie looked
up and said: "I'll take a walk around
the room. Perhaps there is somebody
here know" She mado the tour of
the room and came back with her face
gloomier than before. Nobody here
ever saw before" she said,
brokenly. The other girl sprang to
her feet. "I'm going to tell the ticket
man just how it is" she said. "Per-
haps he will take what we've got and
let us send him the rest" She came
back with tears in her eyes. "He
WON'T" she said sadly.
The man who was waiting for his
wife heard all of this. His heart was
touched. So he leaned over and said
81 beg pardon; but, ladies, THAT is
will you allow me to help you in your
hour of trouble?"
The pretty young ladies started and
looked at the man with frightened airs
The man fastened to reassure them
that his intentions were honorable
and, after many protests, and arrang'
ing for repayment and exchange Of
names and all that, he gave the pretty
girls ST. Is, and they thanked him pref
tily and went to get their train.
1t so happened that the mans wife
did not come on that train, and he
went down to another train in the
evening. While he was sitting on 6
bench waiting for the train he got tt
thinking of his afternoon experience
and concluded he had done right
worthy act. AS he was in the midst o.
this train of thoughts a pretty girl in 6
pink waist sat down beside him. Pretty
ty soon another girl, looking all woe
begone, came along and said: "Why
Nettie, what shall we do? The fares {
dollar"
The man who was waiting for hi
wife got up and walked slowly to the
door. He had seen great light. They
were the same girls.-Buffalo Express
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1895-01-03
THE POOR's CHRISTMAS.
The Tree and Dinner to the Poor Child
rem q Great Success.

The Tree and Dinner to the Poor Child
rem q Great Success.
Thursday at o'clock fully 200 Of AUS
tins poor children enjoyed an elegant din
ner and the delights of Christmas tree
well filled with toys. The ladies gather
ed at Fireman's Hall about 10 o'clock
and commenced at once to arrange for
dinner and dress the Christmas tree.
Long before the hour appointed the chill
lren commenced to come in and sat with
wistful eyes watching the preparations
being made for their enjoyment, The
long table accommodated 11S and it was
packed with eager eaters along its side
for the first table and with smaller num-
bers the second and third time. The table
was loaded with ham and turkey sand
wiches, with cake and pie and with
crackers, pickles and fruit for every child.
The Christmas tree furnished candy and
toys and the boys and girls had in addi-
ton as much milk or coffee az they
could drink They were q happy lot and
ID was hard matter to keep them away
from the Christmas tree, pending the
dinner, as their eager curiosity took
them nearer and nearer it to lock at the
coveted toys.
To the merchants VINO cOntrlDuteu Ihe
toys, to the Messrs. Drake, who furnished
the table, to Mr.. EN- s. Hughes, who Sc
cured and set up the tree and 70 the
fire companies who generously gave the
use of their hall, The Statesman in the
name of the poor returns most grateful
thanks.
But what words of praise can be spo-
ken of the dear ladies Of Austin who
solicited contributions and who with
loving care and solicitude spread the
dinner and arranged the tree? Their
names need not lc mentioned, they do not
desire it; their own condolences give them
approval, bat t. them al; l., the name &c
the Door The S-.l:ns.ia'.n wishes 70 return
the hearti ast Of thanks.
We regret to shy The fund TO secure
substantials of life for the poor families
is very small. But with it the ladies in
the next few days will do the best pos
sibe for the poor, many of whose names
are on the list. But it is hoped most
sincerely that those who to this time
have not given will leave contributions
at The Statesman office-as distress aud
need are very urgent this year aud the
present funds are not nearly Sufficient.
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1895-01-03
i. b. O p. cIRnnI.An

Georgetown, Tex, Dec. 27.-tspecia
Judge G. W, Glasscock Of this city, gssa.
master Of the Independent Order Of t,.,a
FelloWs OF Texas, has issued circular Ictt.l
to the order, setting forth briefly sunraays
of his work for the year Just closing. a.
though the. work has been arduous, Jade
GlasscOck has dispensed with Clerical III
slstance and given his personal attention :,
every detail OF his Official duties. Since H..
assumed the grand mastershp he has writ
ten more than 1000 letters sent out nuner-
GUS circulars, giving information and MAKING
valuable suggestions for the benefit of the
order Eighteen new subordinate lodges
have been organized with prospects for six
others before the close of the term. Twelve
ReDekah lodges have been organized ana
resuscitated. On account of the heavy DIV
ties of the office and his private business.
the grand master has not been able to visit
the lodges, but considers that the office
work that he has accomplished has been Of
more value to the order. Considering the
dearth of business and financial conditions
the statistics presented in the report indi-
cate that the Independent Order of Odd Fei-
lows has made the best progress this year.
In the history of the state. Grand Master
Glasscock is preparing his full report TO be
submitted to the state grand lodge at its
next meeting at Dallas in February
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1895-01-03
A WE'LL AS 4 BAROMETER.

1t Is on n Cattaraugus County Farm, and
InfsIIibly Foretells Weather.
There is curious we'll on the Flint
farm, in the town of Great Valley, Cat
taraugus county, N. Y. 1t is a natural
barometer. NoSody ever passes that
farm, winter or summer, if the weather
is settled, without asking something
like this:
"Does the well threaten changer"
For everyone knows that If there ia
bad weather coming the well will let
them know it, sure as sure can be, says
the New York Sun,
They call the well up there the
"whistling we'll" although it doesn't
whistle now. But that isn't any fault
of the we'll This well was dug about
fifty years ago by the father Of Col.
Film, who now occupies the farm. He
put IL down forty-6ve feet, but found
no water, and dug 10 further. Instead
of water, n strong current of air came
from the we'll at times. The opening
was covered with big fiat stone, and
for amusement o hole was drilled in
the stone ard big tin whistle fitted
into it. This whistle had two tones
one when the air rushed up from the
well, and q different one when the
counter current sucked the air back
into the mysterious depths 1t wasn't
long before the discovery was made
that within forty-eight hours after the
outrushing current from the well
started The whistle to shrieking a
storm Invariably followed. When the
tone of the whistle was changed by
the reversing of the current, it was
discovered that the change meant q
change and the coming of fair weather.
These weather signals never failed.
When the weather was settled the
whistle was silent. The whistle got
out of order some years ago, and, for
some reason, was never repaired, but
the coming and going currents of air
still prophesy the coming Of their re-
spective "spells of weather" with I'M
varying infallibility.
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1895-01-03
32AiE g ,.
CHICAGO

NhlCAGO.
Chicago, Dec, 1.-The wheat market
opened trm at u small fraction advance
over yes hrdays closing price. The for
eign exchange hod resumed operations
and sent out quotations indicating hrm-
ness. A plentiful all of snow covered
the entire country from the Rocky noun
tainS to the Atlantic coast, but receipts
al the tWo principal Northwestern mar
kets. were light Chicago also had small
receipts.
The Cincinnati rice Current remarks
that revised estimate s indicate $4,000
600 winter and l65,OOO,OOO bushels
spring wheat Tor The last crop: The in
situation that move than 5OO,OO0,OOO
Werc raised here had a depressed effect.
Tbs publication Of Bradstreet's visible
caused The marke, . weaken tritle, be
cause H. renJrted m increase of 100000
bushels III the visible supply Of the world.
Closing. cables We're firm. The aspect
of The market Underwent an entire
change IL the last half hour of the session.
Brokers, who usually act for Il. Cottrell
of New York, became such scarce sellers
thai the local crowd FASTENED to join
the Cottrell proce5sio and tumbled over
each other to get rid of their feebly held
long wheat. The price tumbled in 10
minutes from 5S IL to 81 LIE. The
Ia .est trading was OF 5-Sc.
Corn was firm. at the opening and
Drought from Ia 10 0-SC more IMAM IL
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1895-01-03
TAYLOR TOPICS

Taylor, Tex, Dec. 27-(Speclal.)- lon
Christmas day difficulty occurred between
two Mexlcans about two miles northeast OF
Taylor, in which one of them named Peter
Garcia was stabbed and almost completely
disemboweled with a knife In the hands Of
the other, who made his escape and Is still
at large. The wounded man was found by
the roadside an brought to the city, where
he died the following night. This Is the
only casualty which has occurred at Taylor
during the holidays.
Taylor lodge, No. 3s79 X. of H., last night
elected the following officers for the en-.
suing year: Ike Lewis, dictator; J. l.. Por-
ter vice dictator; John Sboaf, assistant dc
tator; o. l.. Praetorius, reporter; q. w.
Tiey financial reporter; John Threadgiu,
treasurer; Il. Krohn, chaplain; j. s. Me
lasky, guide; Arthur Becker, guardian j.
b. Willis, outside guardian; Joe Hyde, John
Threadgill and J. f. Zwernemann, trustees;
Dr. John Threadgill, delegate to the grand
lodge.
The annual ball by Taylor lodge, No. 3.
o. d. H. s., and the Taylor Turn yereln at
Humphrey hall last night was largely at
tended and financial success.
This is the coolest day of the season at
Taylor, with ice in abundance and business
almost entirely suspended.
Many, If not quite all Of the merchants
are busily engaged with their forces taking
annual invoices of stock on hand.
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1895-01-03
CHANG . as slelTEIo IAN },

CHANG 30 NiS ELECT Eic aiANa
A saioo oesas SUES r.st vape- n
5et aitea 'o1 i.arroca.
A Ger tam ss'2an, via1lrz so riegse
its patrous via nut the expense Of bir-
ing a .1uFhsire5 Tyaist bought an
electric YiaGo sag3 rha 5ui,or.l. lis
Sentin 4u-s. 9.E-a7 aTe Very n ny
to watcn, Tor they start up tune and
go strnight ahead and play Il TO the
bitter end without anyone near them.
To a person who does not understand
the motive power, the thing appears
uncanuy; and the boys prepared to
have lots of fun. The saloon was full
of patrons when somebody slyly turned
on the current and the piano started.
Out came the solemn, aiestic strains
of "Tanphauser. A man who was
drinking at the bar set down his glass
and shivered. Three men playing
cards began TO get nervous and, lirally,
with q cuss word or two, gave up the
game, Still the piano Numbered out
the heavy chords of "Tannhauser" and
the audience, not being familiar with
Wagner, got bluer and bluer.
The owner saw that the piano had
made mistake and hastened to assure
his patrons that he had other pieces
and would put new one in. This he
did, and the men frightened up little
while waiting 10 hear the new piece.
Many expressions OF disgust at hearing
a funeral dirge on such I'M occasion
were hurled at the owner Everyone
had about resumed his original atti'
tude when the piano was given another
trial This time Il was "Lohengrin, u
and while the piece was little bright.
or, it was not festive. One man de.
clared It had been played at his grand
fathers funeral or sisters wedding, he
forgot which. This piece was taken
out and third tried, but II was an ar
rangement of the national hymns with
variations, and was Just as solemn.
The piano was closed for the night and
in the morning the proprietor rushed
to find some more suitabl pieces. Now
the piano plays "The 8o5ie Man.
"With Danny by Ny d," and the
"Wasl on Post March," and the
crowd delighted Bur che piano
came near wrecking Vho saloon the
first night. If it had been Meyerbeel
instead of Wagner perhaps the name
would have carried the music through
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1895-01-03
The gem of household helps-Dr
Prices Baking Powder. The best made
AN AGED SUICIDE.

Galveston, Tex, Dec 27-(SpeciaIl -
Today in a secluded copse near the Den
yer railway, a man about rs years of age,
with gray hair, and from all outward APP
pearances a laboring man, was found
suspended, dead, at the end of rope
from the limb of Spanish cedar. From
the appearance of the body he had hanged
himself some three days ago. He was
identified by papers found upon his body
as Joseph Weber, German, and resi-
dent of Mobile, Ala. EVERYTHING indicates
that the act was premeditated. A verdict
was given accordingly.
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1895-01-03
ROSS SUCCESSOR.

No reliable information has been clean
ed as to who will be the successor Of Gov
ernor Ross for the presidential chair of
the Agricultural and Mechanical college.
Governor-elect Culberson has not inti-
mated who he desires to put in the posi-
ton, nor has the board of trustees of the
college said anything about their prefer
ences. Notwithstanding this silence on the
subject however those who are in q posi-
ton to know are willing to bet that Gov
ernor Ross successor will be man froul
GraysOn county.
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1895-01-03
A pREsCEDENT ESTABLISHED.

Houston, Dec. 27.-(Special.)--C. G..
Richart was awarded $4,000 damages
against the street railway company.
Richart and his father were on hose
cart going to fire when it upset and
badly crippled both. They claimed the
bad condition Of the tracks caused the ac-
cident. The father was awarded $4,000
and the case affirmed. The sons ease
was reversed ON a technicality before.
The case is important in establishing. a
precedent holding the car company LA
BILE for the condition Of its tracks.
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1895-01-03
AMERICAN CAPITALISTS

Monterey, Mex, Dec. pa company
of New York and Chicago capitalists ha-
been formed for the purpose of securing
concession from the Mexican govern
ment for building jetties and securing
deep water at Soto lie Marina on the gnli
coast, midway between Tampico and the
United States boundary. 1t is the in
tention 10 also construct a railroad tc
connect with the City of Mexico.