davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1895-05-25

closed the door, and down went our
bets on the table. saw Green's hat.
and then raised him my saddle. He
saw this, threw that other 800 on the
table, and yelled out: Cover it with
something; don't care what
This was getting too exciting, and
commenced to study. Glancing to the
left saw the corner of q discarded
card, and it was an ace. Then thought
it was = dead-sure thing, and COM
menced borrowing again. So did
Green. had every earthly possession
up when Green rnised me 800.
"rll bet my life against that $500,
I said, and Green threw the $500 in the
pot.
"Then 1t came to . showdown.
Green threw down four aces
Hold on said, that don't 20.
Green
That's what you say he said, and
then he threw his hands down on the
money. I picked q dagger up from
where I had laid it on the floor. and
down shot it through Green's hands.
It nailed them fast and he couldn't
move.
whats /" this? said Green.
"'Robbedw l yelled. You worked
in cards on me-
Its . lie, Green said.
Things rather quieted down. and
when l examined the deck I found. too
true, that another ace had been
worked in.
""Taint my fault said Green; I
didn't put it in
''And, sure enough, he didn't. For
we searched him and every other man
in the house. and found three more aces
in = feller's pocket who went broke
early In the game and fell asleep Then
/ saw that Green was straight, and
pulled the dagger out of his hands and
apologized. We all took drinks with
Green, and after finding that he was
fifty thousand dollars ahead Of the
game I went to the hotel across the
street-stark nal<ed-and went to bed,
and tell you was pretty sleepy.
''Well, about eleven o'clock that
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1895-05-25
WHENCE AlGRETTES COME.
Florida Heroas Almost Extinct, Frey to
Worthless Fashion.

Florida Hef000 Almost Extinct, . Frey "a
Worthless Fashion.
Prof. Frank NJ. Chapman, lccturing
on the extinction Of the Florida heron
as a tribute to merciless fashions de-
mand for aigrettes, said:
1T must be remembered that aig.
rcttes are worn only during the nest.
ing season, when the birds are build.
ing in colonies or engaged in tasks OF
cubation and care for the young.
The plume hunters have, therefore,
only to conceal themselves near the
birds in order to shoot them with per-
feet ease as they return with food for
the nestlings. The slaughter which
has taken place in this way makes
ones blood curdle, and all for aigrettes
on bonnets. A plume hunter once
met in Florida told me that he with
one or two others had killed four hun
dred herOns in one afternoon. The
coveted plumes are torn from the birds
in the sun"
There is no desire for any other part
of the body but the scalp" All the
beautiful aigrcttes grow from the spo,
on the back that lies between the two
wings. The hunter with a sharp knife
slips the blade under the skin. and
with a circular motion. cuts out a
piece Of something like the top of a
round hat These scalps have cir.
cumference of fourteen inches. At
tached to this are, on an average, forty
plumes of aigrettcs that fall grace
fully down over the tail.
Another BRUTE" said Mr.. Chapman,
''boasted that he and his party had
killed one hundred and thirty thou
sand birds. principally herons and
gulls, in one winter, twice as many
birds as there are in any museum in
this country. This number does not
begin to represent the loss of life.
Many of the birds were killed when
their offspring were dependent upon
them and the helpless nestlings were
left to starve. There is not one heron
in Florida to-day, where twenty years
ago there were three hundred"
After they are dyed, for herons are .
dirty white, the feathers are cut in
three and sometimes four sections,
making one feather. and make bunch
Of four aigrettes. The tips are con-
sidered the choice part, and in a mil.
liners shop q bunch of four was Of
fercd for forty cents, while the other
bunch. with stubby ends, could be pur.
chased for twenty cents. Suppose one
bird furnishes a scalp of forty plumcs
The plume hunter receives two dollars
for it. The milliner cuts them into
making forty lunches of four
aigrettes each. Ten Of these made of
tips bring four dollars, and the remain
der at thirty and twenty cents each
to six dollars, giving ten dol
ars.-Philadelphia Press.
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1895-05-25

night hadn't got up yet-somebody
came up and raped at my door.
"Who,s thereY asked
".It's Green came the answer.
"'What do you want?' inquired.
"I want YOU
Il got up then and went to the door,
and there found Green.
'''Well,' said Green, come on
"Come on where?'
Anywhere he said, don't you be
long to me?'
"And then l commenced thinking
about betting my life in that poker
game.
There was big crowd of cowboys
with Green, and knew if refused to
let Green take me they would kill me
on the spot. I thought about the mat
ter, and decided that had as well let
Green take my life as anyone else.
dressed myself in q blanket and went
with the mob. There was plenty OF
rope in the crowd, too, young fellow.
''They took me to a mountain about
five miles from the town, and Green
came up and talked to me.
".Your life belongs to me. don't it?
said Green.
"'Yes,' l said; what do you want
with itT
".why.' said Green, I want to take
it. Surely It's mine; want it.
"'Yes,' said; take it.
''Then they put rope around my
neck, threw one end over q limb of q
tree, and were in the act of pulling it
when yelled: 'Stopr
"'What's up?' said Green.
"'Why,' said, If my life il yours
you can take it, but this crowd can't;
it don't belong to them
"'Well, then, said Green, I'll take il.
Then he took hold of the rope and
began pulling. ] could feel the cords
in my neck stretching, and knew well
that my time had come.
HE hoisted me way mp In the air,
and then yelled from the bottom: You
can get pretty good view of the town
from there. can't you" / didn't answer
didn't have time to-the rope broke
snd fell to the ground, lighting on
my feet.
''Green got little sympathetic then,
and coming up to me said: What
goods your life, anyway
Its durn little TO you,' I said. but
it's . whole lot to me-
Well, them said Green, you can
keep it, but, young man, don't you
never pin q mans hands down to .
table before you know what you are
doing
Il was glad to get OF like did, and
left for Texas next day; but l tell
you, youcg man, I'm living, but as sure
As you're knee-high to q duck, l lost
my life once. ce."-Globe-Democra
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1895-05-25
Unfortapate.

How often our most innocent
speeches gang agley," leaving MS with
no resource but that of making the
best of q bad matter! A certain Scotch
minister is won't to relate how. having
been out all day visiting, he called on
an old dame we'll known for her kind
ness and hospitality. After some con-
versation she began getting out her
best china and whatever delicacies
were At hand to honor her unexpected
guest. As he sat watching the prep
arations his eye suddenly fell ON four
or 1--WE cats devouring some cold por-
ridge under the table. Dear me,
Miss Black" he observed, what .
number Of cats! Do they al belong to
your" Ma, M, sir" was the innocent
reply; "but mony = time say that q
the hungry brutes in the parish come
tae me. seeking = meal o. meat" Then
the good woman bethought her, and In
her embarrassment nearly daopped q
teacup.-Youth's Companion.
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1895-05-25
THE coLoNEL'S RUsE.


He Very Cleverly Gets Rid Of IN Obnoxi.
Gus Theater Hat.
''Did you ever see bird like that
alive?' demanded the colonel of the
young man who sat next to him.
He was staring at the strange speci.
men on the hat in front, which cut of
his view of the stage.
The wearer of the hat became in
tensely interested in the play, and the
chivalrous young man glared at the
colonel savagely. but made no reply.
II say, did you ever see such bird
alive?" repeated the colonel, nudging
the young man vigorously to enforce
his attention. Then he answered him
self:
mo. sir; no such bird ever lived.
Look at that combination Of colors.
Nature isn't good enough as q pattern
for these milliners. They must make
impossible combinations and devise
birds whose colors and shape would
give an ornithologist the nightmare"
The youpg man glared. The wearer
Of the hat became nervous.
There's . whole lot of sentiment
wasted over the slaughter Of song biras
for millinery purposes" continued the
colonel. Very few song birds or any
other kind are killed. They are not
wanted. Nature could not supply birds
with such bills and tails and colors as
these women want. It's the same
thing in flowers. Why, 1 know a wom-
an who insists on having the rose in
her hat dyed blue, because blue is more
becoming to her."
Apparently, no one was listening to
him, but the colonel knew the wearer
of the hat was not missing a word.
II like to see . pretty hat" he went
on, "but when see an impossible bird
like that ON one it losses all interest
for me. It's like seeing q we'll
man wearing . celluloid collar. 1t
looks cheap"
The woman in front turned slightly
and glared 1t the colonel, but he sp-
parently didn't see her, and continued
just rs the curtain was going down on
the first act:
"You see, natural birds are expen-
sive. They cost three times as much a.
these inventions of the milliners. made
up Of rubber wire, glass and dyed
goose feathers That hat is beauty,
and l shopld say it cost good price it
it did not have that artificial bird ON
it. That makes me suspect that it's
all show and probably cheap"
Then the colonel went out to ''see .
man." When he returned the hat was
gone. Its owner held it in her lap.
The colonel chuckled to himself, those
about him smiled. and the woman in
front was apparently deeply engrossed
in the ''ads" in her progfamme.-NY Y.
Recorder.
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1895-05-25


his life on the plains Of that state and
New Mexico. West, in his day, was
one of the most widely-known all
round sporting men in the west, and
delights in telling the story Of ''how
he lost his life"
Il guess" the old man muttered,
''that I'm the only man living that
ever lost his life, but l did 1t, and I'll
tell you how it was 1t was about
thirty years ago and all the big sport
Ing men of the west were emigrating
toward Butte City. A crowd of us cow
boys left northwest Texas one day to
go up to Butte for little gambling
spree When we got up to Butte and
were all settled down, we got in with
all the gamblers, and in less time than
1t takes to tell about 1t we were num-
bered among the toughest set o. men
In the community.
Butte was all aglow one Saturday
night. The mines had just paid of and
every gambling house in the town was
filled with miners who came to try
their luck. 1 played unusually lucky
this day, and toward night had some
thing like Sl6, 900 won. Now that was
q pretty large sum, but In those days 1t
wasn't counted SO much, specially
when everything was 80 high. Well,
was feelin' in pretty good spirits, and
when a crowd of cowboys from Colora-
do came up and asked me If l wanted
to get in a game of poker told them
didn't care if did. got into the
game, and for awhile things were COM
ing pretty much my own way. Them
boys had money, and said they'd play
till HI went broke We played and
Kept a-playing. It was agreed that
every man who won . game was
to pay for the drinks In those days
every body drank whisky, and 1t nat
urally came about that we all got
drunk before morning. Well, when l
started | didn't have but SIC, 1000, but
by four o'clock next morning it was
trailing near on to sac, Goo Then l
lost my trail and began to lose. BY
Ave o'clock my pile was down to SIG, 900
again. We were all drunk and making
a good deal of noise. and every table
in the house closed down to come over
and see us lpay. It was poker. Hand
after hand came tough, and every one
came tougher. You might know how
tough they were when pair Of jacks
took jack pot Of 81 600. It was get
ting daylight, and when got down to
q 900 l picked up my five cards, and
what do you think were under them?
Four kings. Yes, sir, four kings.
Wouldn't / bet that? You can bet /
would.
There was five of us in the game.
The ante was s., and it took 85 more to
make it good. 1t was my time to say
and stayed. The next feller stayed,
and SO did everybody. A feller named
Green said he didn't have much of .
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1895-05-25

always been confident that Linecln
left to himself. would have chosen that
the old ticket Of 1s60-Lincoln and
Hamlin-should be placed in the field
It is reasonable to suppose that he had
resolved to leave the convention entire
ly free in its choice Of candidate for
the second place on the ticket-NOab
Brooks, in Century.
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1895-05-25
nAPoLEoN's USE OF ARTILLERY


How He Deceived the Eaeoy 0y The N00.
Der Of HIS Field Pbeeos.
''In all the recent discussion Of Ma
pOleon and his methods" said . gentle
man who helped to settle the late un-
pleasantness and Is still deeply in
terested in military science, II have
not seen attention called to feature
of his style of fighting, which nm
doubtedly had much to do with his
wonderful success. 1t was IN essential
part Of his great art of being the
strongest to use his own happy
phrase, to give the enemy, wherever
possible, IN exaggerated idea Of his
forces. This is part OF the secret Of his
victories over superior numbers, which
military tacticians love to write about.
HE placed great reliance upon the
artillery arm of the service. not only
for breaking IN army into sections. but
for dealing with each section ut . time.
He preferred comparatively light.
smooth-bore field pieces to the heavier
guns. which created more havoc when
once in position. but were hard to move
about The execution Of his lightning
like maneuvers required that his guns
should be moved rapidly.
I'm equipping IN army there il . ces
tain fixed proportion preserved betwees
the number of men and the number O.
cannon in each division, SO that il you
know how many guns m enemy is
training on you You can usually form
. fairly-accurate idea of the number Of
men he has. Napoleon took ad-
vantage Of this rule by violating
it. That il to say. the number
Of his cannon was out Of all proper
tion to the number Of his men. When
he had succeeded in separating the
forces Of the enemy into. say, three di-
visions, either by sheer hard fighting
or by strategic movements. he would
open up with his cannon stclose range
ON the first division. The opposing
commander. judging from the number
Of pieces, .would suppose he had sixty
thousand men, when in reality he had
forty thousand, and rush . courier -
quickly ~ he could send him to the.
next division with the news The com
mander Of the second division would
send il on u the third. probably add.
ing . few figures of his own. 50 that
Napoleon's fighting resources were
magnifaed ont Of all proportions In
this way he frequently had the other
sections half-whipped before he got
around to them.
From his use Of these smooth bore
Held pieces they came to be known e.
NspoleonA They were employed ex.
tensively during the civil war.-Chi
eago Tribune.
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1895-05-25
SWEPT OUT THE TERROR.


Uasq~e Wsy - which . Sharp Lss9
lslaaase Wen . Wagsr.
Ysphsnk h not . lively Long Islaad
village, but it has . building that has
made things lively for the villagers
''Bull'' Is . sort of necessary part Of the
furnishings of the one store in the
place. He has acquired the reputation
Of being = terror 70 everybody, iuclud-
ing his most intimate friendA No one
dares to approach the ugly beast nm
less provided with . morssl of fresh
meat ~ . peaee Offering.
II was night when Q tall, Eaw-boned
man walked into the store. Nine men
were seated on boxes and barrels near
the stove whiting soft pine sticks and
squirting tobacco juice on the hemlock
floor.
'Bad-looking dog over there" said
the lean man. with a glance at the
'Bull." who appeared to Ls doing.
"Yes," said Doc Winchell, 'he sthe
worst beast Of his kind in these parts
"Bet can put him out of the store
inside Of ten minutes, "was :he strange
mans reply.
YOU'D be foolish TO tackle that job.
mister" !" responded Doc. "eauss you'd
not only loose your coin. but you'd ret
hurt into the bargain. Take my cd
vice, mister. and mot make the try"
''l'm willing 70 try. I've heard of the
all the way from Ronkonkoma TO win
some money. I'll bet twenty dollars ]
can do the trick. Can you fellers raise
the dustT
.'Well. II you are determined to risk
your life and lose your cash." said
Doc. "we1l give you the chance.
Boys, chip in" and the hat was passed
around.
The money was raised, and the
stranger added four five-dollar notes
to the pile and the storekeeper was
made the stakeholder. Then the lean
man warned everybody to seek safe
places and view the process Of evic-
tion.
''Gimme . broom" he said. and one
was handed to him.
Most of the men took seats on the
counter, but the others stood on bar
rel heads to SEQ the foolhardy man
torn TO pieces by the ferocious Bull"
who was still dozing in his comforts
BILE spot
With the broom the cadaverous man
began to sweep the floor 1t the far
end of the room with slow and de-
liberate strolreA Nearer and nearer
he brought the refuse to the drowsy
dog, and nearer and nearer came the
sitting clouds Of dust
''SnifF! sniR! sneexe! snee7ev' and
Bull" arose. stretched himself, yawned
in the face OF another gust of dust got
. mouthful Of it, blinked. gazed with
bloodshot eyes at the sweeper. and
then, curling his tail between his legs,
sneaked out the front door of the store
that had been left sjar BY the victor
from Ronkonkoma. After he had re-
ceived the stakes he observed dryly:
'Gentlemen, my name II Smith. John
Smith; whst'll you take st my ex-
penseT but the discounted crowd Of
sitters was too angry to even order
plug Of tobacco. % he said: Good
night, all, ;" and left with the cash.
n. Y. Recorder.
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1895-05-25
BET HIS LIFE AND LOST.

Id John West.
or ~ t i G .
John" as he
W as be tt e r
known In the
early days of
Texas,is in Fort
w or h, Tex,
and will reside
there in the fu-
ture. West is
e ig h ty years
old, and one of
the oldest cow
boys in Texas,
h q wing spent
the last sixty
three wears OF
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1895-05-25
W. G. KENTZEL, Edito
THREE SHIPS.

Three ships there be a-sailine
betwfxt the sea and sky:
And one is Now, and one Is Then.
And one 10 By and By.
The first little ship is all for you
It's masts are gold, its sails are blue,
And this is the cargo 1t brings:
joyful days with sunlight glowing.
Nights where dreams like stars are grvwfaR
Take them. sweet. or they'll be going!
For they every one have wings.
The second ship IL il all for me
A-sailing on a misty sea
And out across the twilight gray.
What 1t brought Of gift and blessing
Would not stay for my caressing-
Was too dear for my possessing.
So 1t sails and sails away.
The last ship, riding fair and high
Upon the sea, Is By and BY.
0 Wind, be kind and gently blowi
Not too swiftly hasten hither,
When she turns, sweet, you'll 60 with her
sailing. floating. hither. thither-
To what port may not know.
Harriet F. Blodgett, in St. Nicholas.
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1895-05-25

"A dark. gloomy, blue sky is windy.
but . bright. light-blue sky indicates
fine weather. Generally the softer
clouds look the less vino (but perhaps
more rain) may be expected. and the
harder. more ',grs ssy." rolled, tufted
q E.sged the stsopses the eQwips
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1895-05-25
A PERFECT DIET.
Quantity Il n Important Elsnsas 81 ths
Qoeotj0o.

Quantity Il n Iap0etaat Element 81 The
Qaeotioo.
Man in his primitive condition finds
in the fruits Of the chase the means of
satisfying his hunger. When he pos
sesses food, he eats il, and no thought
Of its giving him distress enters his
mind.
The eonventionalities Of civilized life
convert man into . different being.
Like animals Gagged and domesticated,
he finds living IN easier matter, per-
haps, but like them. he suffers the
penalties Of IN artificial existence. In
other words, . decreasing indulgence
in physical exercise in the open air
brings its natural efIect-disease.
Chief among the diseases which our
civilized habits induce are those of the
digestive organs, since the organs of
digestion are those which most require
IN abundance Of physical activity for
their perfect health and tone Since.
therefore, stomach troubles arc socom-
mon. IL has become . habit Of many
people to diet"
Every prudent man wishes TO know
what will "best agree" with him. and
after NO matter how many expert.
ments. every man finds that all sys-
TENS Of dieting fall short Of perfee-
tion.
Few Of NJ inherit digestive organs Of
perfect functional activity; fewer still
find it possible TO live normal" lives.
Hence. . careful and proper method Of
eating il . necessity for most people Of
the nineteenth century.
Quantity il an important element Of
the question. Nature requires . Ger
tain bulk Of food material. In health.
therefore. one must 1T times eat other
things besides the most nourishing,
else the diet will be too much re-
stricted. A variety of foods-the
greater the better. within reasonable
limits-is better than too much or too
frequent indulgence In . few articles.
Thorough mastication II essential to
good digestion. This II conducive to
deliberate eating. - we'll n TO bet
ter preparation Of the food for subse-
quent digestive action. Mr.. Gladstone
il said to have enjoyed his long con
tinued good health BY having adopted
early in life . habit Of taking twenty.
I'VE bites 70 each morsel Of meat.
Those whose digestive organs are
enfeebled derive the most nourishment
from milk, or froma diet composed Of
ground beef. toast o. thinly-sliced
bread and hot water. Proper supple-
mentary exercises shoald be added By
the physician.
A perfect dietary includes more than
. mere sttention 70 foods and drinks.
II involves. for instance, regular out
of-door exercise - . stimulation 70 the
action Of the stomashL-Youth's Com
pauion.
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1895-05-25
l,.eol. ce.,a..s No..

Miss Todd's first meeting with Abra-
ham Lincoln was once humorously de-
scribed by her. HE met me 1t .
party, abe said, and a& last came
awkwardly forward and said: Mis-
Todd, want to dance with you the
worst way" And. With twinkle n
her eye, abe addsd: ..And hs snrels
dad. Dancing was neS his poxfieplal
1sstA-Nstlenal Tslbune