davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1895-05-31
Phosphorescent Light.

Some experiments have been made in
France to determine the specific action
Of considerable lowering of temporal
ture upon the brilliancy of certain
bodies which shine in the dark after
having been exposed to sunlight. Tubes
Of glass filled with the powdered sui
phides of calcium, barium. strontium,
etc., all substances possessing the prop
erty of phosphorescence in high degree,
were exposed to the solar rays and after
ward proved to be luminous in the dark,
this being done in such a way as to fix
upon the memory the mean value of the
progressive diminution of the emitted
light, and the time also was noted dur
ing which the light was strong, less
strong and weak respectively. The tubes
were next placed in bright sunlight for
one minute and then suddenly intro
duced into double walled glass cylin-
der, the interspace of which was filled
with nitrous oxide at 140 degrees G. In
about five or six minutes the tempera-
ture Of the tubes was some 100 degrees.
They were then withdrawn, and when
observed i'll perfectly dark chamber no
luminosity whatever was perceptible.
As the tubes recovered their normal tenn
perature, however, the phosphorescence
returned without the exciting agency
Of the SUMS rays or Of diffused light.
These results were proved to be general
for all phosphorescent substances en-
ployed. The experiments showed, too,
that the production of the phosphores-
cent light requires certain movement
of the constituent molecules of bodies
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1895-05-31
THE EXPRESSIVE HUMAN HAND.
Strength of the Fingers Is an Index to
Mental Balance.

Strength of the Fingers Is an Index TO
Mental Balance.
Much has been written about the
hand. Artists have depicted its perfec-
ton, physiognomists have interpreted
its shape and expression, chirologists
and the gypsy queens have tried to
prophesy from its markings. But
study of its peculiarities by the induc-
tive method takes one into entirely new
fields and shows that to interpret the
significance of the hand one must start
on quite new lines. There is something
perhaps in the fact tlat the artistic
hand has somewhat tapering fingers,
but beyond this one deals with uncer-
tainties, and recollect an idiot youth
whose extremities had the contour of a
genius Or a Trilby.
If one examines the hands of a large
number of persons with nervous en-
dowment, he will find curious defects in
the length and relative proportions Of
the fingers. The length of the finger is
determined by that Of the middle one.
If the index and medius are closed upon
the palm, the ring and little finger be-
ing left extended, the middle finger
will reach close to the place where the
SO called life line runs down, between
the ball of the thumb and that of the
little finger. It will touch the palm just
below the highest part of the ball Of the
thumb. The middle finger is taken as
the standard Of length by which to
gauge that of Others In normal hand
the forefnger reaches just to the root Of
the middle finger, the ring finger is lon
ger and should reach nearly to the mid
die of the nail of the medius, while the
little finger should reach to the last
joint of the third finger. Now, in in
ebriates, epileptics, neurotics and the
degenerative generally these proportions
are often not observed. The most COM
mon defect is shortness, especially of the
third and little fingers, though some
times disproportionate length occurs.
Sometimes these fingers are unnatural
ly slender, or the little finger is slightly
bent The most common abnormality Of
the thumb is excessive shortness, with
defective mobility. These peculiarities,
we'll accumulated, from what we may
call the "decadent hand"-the hand
that writes our sensuous novels, the
Hauptmann DRAMA paints symbolic pic
lures and exploits pure atheism. Such
hands may be we'll formed to the ordi-
nary eye and may be attached to slender
and graceful limbs, but this kind Of
beautiful hand and arm is found quite
as often among the children of alcohol
les and among those highly cultivated
families which have become degenerated
by yicios vices and vicious crossing
Medical Record.
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1895-05-31
cHluDREk's SAYINGS.

Mrs. Blank, young looking, middle
aged lady, had been away for some time,
and came back much improved in health.
Among the people who noticed the inn
provement was her bright little nephew.
"Why, auntie,' he said, chow nice you
look. Why, when you went away, you
looked as if you were 100 years old, and
now, ~ he added, as he surveyed the fresh,
youngish looking face before him, "you
look quite little less than a hundred"
"Shall I get half ticket for Edith"
asked the father of that little person, as he
took out his purse at the station. "No, I
| don't think it will be necessary" an
swered his wife, "She's such little tot
of thing that although, of course, she's
over age I think can smuggle her
through Now sit up close to mamma"
she added later, drawing the child to her
and spreading out her own ample dra-
peries, and tho conductor passed on with
hardly glance at the little figure close be-
as soon as the man was out Of sight, sis
that what you meant by smuggling me
through"
Little Isabel's mother had very injudi-
ciously allowed the child to drink weak tea
with her meals instead of milk. One day
Isabel was taken out to lunch at a friends
house, and the friend, never dreaming that
child could drink anything other than
milk, placed it before her in broad, low,
fancy cup. The child gazed at the milk in
silence for awhile, and then astonished her
hostess by remarking disdainfully, 81 are
no cat"
Helen had been teasing for permission to
go to dancing school, and had been refused.
"But why can't I goS' asked the child.
because there are SO many other things
that have to do for you, dear, her moth
er answered, II cannot afford any more. !"
'But can't give up something else?" the
child persisted. ''Why,I KNOW as an
idea fitted across the brain Of this embryo
woman of the world, CIVIL give up Chris
tian Endeavorp' -New York Tribune.
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1895-05-31
Man.

Bearing in mind that, as far as gen.
eral configuration goes, the ground plans
of the present continent have been about
the same, only an occasional bit of land
having been topped of, as in England,
the question arises, Is man an animal
of the old world Or of the new? If we
descend from some anthropoidal ape,
then that Asiatic or African monkey
must have had fair hand, and, above
all else, aworking thumb. Balloons run
on all tours, but the gibbons, who are
arboreal and live on fruits, have nicely
developed thumbs and can pick a nut
and shell it neatly. An American mon
key has not these exact capabilities He
does not depend on his hands to cling
to branch. He uses fifth limb, which
is his prehensile tail. The true gibboq
is not, however, utterly nut or fruit
eater. If confined to that diet alone, a
strictly vegetarian one, he pines He
likes eggs and devours small insects.
Vary his diet in a menagerie, making
him slightly omnivorous, and his con-
dition improves. If not, then, for these
arboreal ancestors, who had hands, we
might never have been. We may then
trace our origin from the old rather than
from the new one, but we really know
but little about the particulars. New
York Times
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1895-05-31
Poor Aaron!

The devotional character of church mu-
sic is more apparent now than it was in
the days when the service of song was
made tedious and ridiculous by such vain
repetitions as, ooh, turn my pi-," "Oh,
turn my pi-,' "Oh, turn my pi-," "Oh,
turn my pious soul to thee" Dean Hole
tells in his ''New Memories how one of
these repetition anthems annoyed the
first bishop of the Episcopal church of
Connecticut, DR., Samuel Seabury.
The bishop was visiting the parish OF
Middletown, and an anthem, composed by
local musician, was sung. The words
were those of the one hundred and thirty
third Psalm, and eight times the singers
repeated the phrase, "That ran down upon
the beard" At dinner after the service
the bishop was asked, at the suggestion of
the composer, what he thought Of the
music.
"Oh,' he replied, ri dare say it was
very good, but 1 sympathized SO with
Aaron that 1 could not attend properly.
I thought that the running down of the
ointment eight times could hardly have
left hair upon his head. ''-Youth's Com
paniOn.
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1895-05-31
A Rai1roaders PRAYER.

A railroad man is responsible for the
following prayer:
20 Lord, now that / have tagged
thee, lift my feet from off the road Of
life and plant them safely on deck of
the train Of salvation! Let me use the
safety lamp known as prudence, make
all couplings in the train with the
strong link of thy love and let my lamp
be the Bible. And, heavenly Father,
keep all switches closed that lead off on
the sidings. especially those with blind
end! @ Lord, if it be thy pleasure, have
every semaphore block along the line to
show the white light Of hope that may
make the run Of life without stopping
And, Lord, give us the Ten Command
ments as schedule, and when I have
finished the run, and have on schedule
time pulled into the great station of
death, may thoa, the Superintendent Of
the Universe say with a smile: We'll
done, thou good and faithful servant
Come and sign the pay roll and receive
your check for eternal happiness. , -
Rehoboth Sunday Herald.
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1895-05-31
VOL. 5O.--NO. 20

strangely to me-you cannot understand
what it means for woman-like me-
to hear man-like you-speak as you
have spoken. My God! Why didn't ]
meet you before?"
He laughed. because fate made a
mistake. -
''Listen! You are a good man. Per-
haps you won't be one always-never
mind the music-listen! When I'm
dead, tell the world what you have told
me- Yes, know-it's nothing. That
may be SO, but tell them what happen
ed tonight and what I said. You are
good man, and you will do some good in
the world, because good men are rare.
Do as I've said, and you'll help us wo-
men. Goodby. You don't know what
you've done for me tonight, what l feel
-goodby! When I'm dead-don't for
get. Oh, I am fool to-
The orchestra was playing ''God Save
the Queen" and the woman disappear
ed into the crowd. The man watched
the electric lights go out. He lit Gig
arctic. Then some one told him it was
time to leave the building. He ran out
quickly into the street and searched for
her, but she could not be found.
And all this happened some time ago,
as I have said, and it is all quite true.
And the man has not forgotten his
promise. Pail Mall Budget.
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1895-05-31
A SONG OF FATHERLANp.

I've wandered east, I've wandered west.
In gypsy wise random roamer.
OF men and maids I've known the best
Like the far Travelled king in Homer.
But, oh, for the land that bore me!
Oh, for the stout old land
OF breezy Ben and winding glen
And roaring flood and sounding strand.
I've stood where stands in pillared pride
The shrine of Joves spear shaking daughter
And humbled Persia stained the tide
OF free Greek seas with heans of slauphter
I've stood upon the rocky crest
Where Joves proud eagle spreads his pinion
Where looked the god far east, far west,
And all he saw was Rome's dominion.
I've seen the domes of Moscow far,
In green and golden glory cleaning,
And stood where sleeps the mighty car,
By Neva's flood SO grandly streaming.
I've stood on many a famous spot
Where blood of heroes flowed like rivers,
Where Deutschland rose at Grave1otte,
And dashed the strength of Gaul to shivers.
I've fed my eyes by land and sea,
With sights of grandeur streaming DER me
But still my heart remains with thee,
Dear Scottish land, that stoutly bore me.
Oh, for the land that bore mel
Oh, for the stout old land,
With mighty Ben and winding glen,
Stout Scottish land, my own dear land!
John Stuart Blaclde.
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1895-05-31
PYGMIES.

Some Information About These Strange
Mites of Humanity.
The Greek word pygmy means meas
ure from the elbow to the hand. The
pygmies were fabulous race of dwarfs
about whom many interesting stories
have been told. According to Homer,
they were SO very small that they were
attacked every year by the cranes OH
the coast of Oceanus and were unable to
defend themselves.
Writers of later date locate the pyg-
mics at the mouth of the Nile. We also
read Of northern pygmies inhabiting the
region of Thule, and Of others that
lived in subterranean dwellings on the
eastern side Of the Ganges. 1t is said
that once when Hercules visited the
country inhabited by these little crea-
lures two whole pygmy armies attacked
him while he was asleep. One army
fell upon his right and the other upon
his left, but the hero easily and quickly
rolled them up in his lions skin.
They were not, it seems, at all afraid
of Hercules for by the aid of ladder
they climbed up his drinking cup and
helped themselves to it's contents.
Aristotle says: ''The pygmies were
probably some diminntive race in Upper
Egypt who rode very small horses and
lived in caves" He did not believe
that the stories told about them were
altogether fabulous.
1t has often been declared that there
are pygmy races of human beings in the
heart of Africa. Indeed Du Chaillu
some time ago discovered a pygmy race
in the mountainous country on the east
of the southern great branch Of the
Ogobai. They are about AZ feet in
height ansa d. are called Orbongos. "They
live in the midst Of negro tribes OF or
/ binary size,'' says Du Chaillu. "and
there is nothing rensarkabl6'about them
except their diminutiye size. "-Balti-
more American.
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1895-05-31
The Parting Words.

Gail ashore''
The words rang through the ship. Re-
lpctantly he tore himself from his fair
young wife and rushed down the gangway.
"George!"
He turned his eyes, wet with tears, to
hear her last words.
"Don't forget ALREADY the mighty steam
ship was swiftly gliding from the dock to
put the cat out at night"
He waved his hand to show he heard her,
and amid the hoarse shrieking of the tugs
that Knocked his misery he bowed his head
and wept.-New York World.
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1895-05-31
Them PONIES.

Them PONIES.
Mister Editur plese excuse me
only rite ter say
won't take yer paper any more
So stop it up ter day.
1t never was no good nohow
Nothin in it but lies
And if it lasts yere longer
Twill be big surprise.
For Ter think yer sent back them PONIES
And writ declined with thanks
Yeou might ade struglin
Farmers sun to rise up in the ranks,
But no yer ar SO gol darned mean
Yer wouldn't give him chance
Yer probably never took 'em out
Or give 'em even glance.
mat there was mean people in this world
allus has allowed
But never saw any was meaner nor YOU
IT have then I'll be SHOWED.
Joseph P. Sears in Boston Globe.
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1895-05-31
Business.

tsThe women of America have broken
away from tradition very remarkably, :"
said one titled foreigner to another.
eyes" was the reply. "They will
make proposals of matrimony instead of
the men before long"
"That will be nice. It would ba good
idea for US to make it rule to consider
only sealed bids. ''-Washington Star.
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1895-05-31
Soda Propelled Engines.

A fireless locomotive engine was re-
Gently used on the Aix-la-Chapelle
Julich railway. The motor power is de-
rived from soda. The invention is based
on the principle that solutions of caus-
tic soda, which have high boiling points,
iberate heat while absorbing steam.
These engines eject neither smoke nor
steam and work pojselessly. Compared
with coal burning LOGON Olives, soda en-
gines show capacity equal to the for
mer, white they are worked with greater
ease and simplicity.
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1895-05-31
One Kind.

Rankin-Are you going to vote?
Fyle-No.
"Why not?'
IT can't make up my mind which side
Is right"
"Why don't you read the papers?''
"Thunder! I don't do anything else! I
read all of !''-Chicago Record.
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1895-05-31
Flatheyse Reciprocity,

fHaye you any babies that CRY all
night?'' asked a wild eyed man at the
founding asylum.
"Plenty Of them, SIR was the answer,
"but why do you want one that cries?"
'For revenge" replied the applicant.
The family in the flat above ours has a
piano. New York World.
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1895-05-31

CHOW who is said to support the
world?''
'Atlas, miss"
"And who supported Atlas?"
"Please, miss, my book don't say,
but I spec it was his wife.
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1895-05-31
How She Did It.

Trivyet-Miss Flop claims to have
made a thousand refusals Of marriage.
Dicer-That's easily explained. When
young Callow asked her to marry him,
rhe replied, ''No; thousand times no. F."
London Tit-Bits.
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1895-05-31
Speaking of Resemblance.

Greyhound-What made you per-
form your act So poorly just now?
Poodle-Aw, weallyl The sight Of
that spurious counterpart Of myself in
the upper box wobbed me of all self pos
session.
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1895-05-31
w- REMOVAL

am now located at No. 5 E. Main
street, where will be found a full line
of GROCERIES and VEGETABLES.
FRUITS speciality. Also a full line
of TOBACCO and CIGARS. All to be
sold at the Lowest Living Prices.
Thanking my friends and the public
generally for their kind patronage, |
most earnestly request them to call
and see and be convinced.
:. : . Respectfully. A. M. oUPP.
may Sim
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1895-05-31
Wise,


Mabel always refuse man permits
sion to kiss me.
Ada-Why?
Mabel Because then he is more anxious
tQ.-RroQklyn Life,
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1895-05-31
In the Sunny South.
He-Mademoiselle, you are the sta

He-Mademoiselle, you are the star
of the evening.
She-You are the first to tell me so.
He-Then allow me to claim my re-
ward as an astronomer.
She-What do you mean?
He-That is to give my name to the
discovered star
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1895-05-31
What a Blessing Ia Educat,oni

These are some answers to examine
ton questions given in an eighth grade
tchooI nd thousand miles from Chi
cage:
Liberia was established in 1922 as
pslony for aspirated negroes. p
"Nine-5enths Of all the plants not
found in any other part Of the world
ire found in Australia. y
'iSalem Witchcraft was neither sol.
tier nor a sailor, bnt he discovered
ONE cities, '--dreat Divide.
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1895-05-31
Appropriate.

Miss Swansdown Cat the ball)-I
wonder what is the name of that fellow
just danced with.
Miss Taffeta-I heard him call him
self martyr. ADetroit Free Press.
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1895-05-31
Equal to the Emergency.


An old admiral we'll known for his
power of exaggeration was describing a
voyage at supper one night. "While
cruising in the Pacific, " he said, I'VE
passed aa island which was positively
red with Holsters. "
.:But'' said one Of the guests, smil-
ing incredulously, HOLSTERS are not red
until boiled"
s.Of course not" replied the I'M
daunted admiral, '.but this was vol
panio island with boiling springs. -
Pearson's Weekly.
Robespierre had thin face, sharp
nose, narrow forehead and small mouth.
with thin lips. He always dressed neat
" and was often mistaken for depart.
ment clerk or bookkeeper.
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1895-05-31
Still Good.

eyes" said the corn fed philosopher,
ftthe rule still holds Even the high tow
ering theater hat has 9 woman at the bot
tom Of it. n-Indianapolis Journal
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1895-05-31

/! The mosaic on one Pompeii floor is
known to have cost ga.
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1895-05-31

Some Information About These Strange
Mites of Humanity.
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1895-05-31
A DUOLOGUE.

This is not problem story"
Neither does it discuss the advantages
or disadvantages of having ''new wo-
men" in our midst.
The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-09-29

havior in few clear-cut, kind sentences,
ana went right on with her sermon. IL
the. gospel grinders would only learn that
X isn't these staggering truths, which
cannot be grasped by the average mind,
but a doctrine of simple, earnest faith
that arouses people TO better living But
they never will Now it was the sincerity
OF the little niger, and the earnestness
of her followers that impressed me- and
while l can't say that she converted me,
she certainly set me to thinking, and [
things.
Il wanted to give her something. and
couldn't make up my mind what to buy
her. She reads poorly and can scarcely
write at all, but somehow she didn't seem
Ike a child that would care for toys.
FINALLY in sort of desperation, l settled
on a large wax doll with highly colOred
cneekS and mass of yellow hair. IL
you could have seen her antics of delight
When she found it was all her own She
clasped 1t to her as if she would never
let It go, and then she told me that she
used always to preach sermons to her
dolls, and that the people who overheard
her persuaded her to preach to people,
which was the very thing she had always
longed to do.
Everybody agrees that she is Won
der and tell you she is. Many white
people think her inspired and the blacks
believe that she is sent directly from
Goa as warning, and that the judgment
day is coming soon. ] don't know, be-
cause I've never thought a great deal
about such things. But l do think she IS
entlrely Inherent from any little child
that I've ever seen, and I shall never,
never forget her, with her solemn ways
and unceasing warnings about what we
must do and must not do if we want
to meet each other when we get home,
way over yonder."
There was a great shutting of feet,
coughing and clearing of threats among
the squire's visitors as he concluded, and
the clustering gentleman from Kentucky
began to denounce the excise law in loud
tones. But the squire looked a the rings
hlaW
his corncob pipe and had little to say
The rest of the evening