davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1895-02-21

tact, but with the action OF time and
the dcpredations OF the relic hunters,
II is now no longer recognizable.
After the death OF Augustine Wash
ington, the Wakefield property was
inherited by his son, Augustine, Jr.,
Georges next youngest brother, on
attaining his majority. Years after
ward IL cnmo into the possession OF
Colonel Lewis w. Washington, when
a reservation was made of the spo.
which the old house had occupied. In
1858 this reservation, together with
the burial plot at Bridges Creek, was
presented to the State of Virginia by
its owners upon condition that the
place be enclosed and fitting monu-
ment inscribed as the birthplace of
Washington. But this was not done,
and subsequently the Virginia Legis-
lature ceded back the reservations to
the last owner, Mr.. John Z. Wilson,
the husband of Betty Washington,
whose grandfather was William Angus
tine Washington, the half-nephew Of
George.
In 1870 the need of proper me-
mortal to mark the Washington birth
site was called to the attention OF Con-
gress, and in June of that year an ap.
preparation OF $4,000 was granted for
u monument, to be erected under the
supervision of the Secretary of State.
In the early spring of 1880 William
NJ. Evarts, then Secretary OF State, and
much interested in the success of the
project, visited the place and exerted
himself in the consideration of plans
and designs for the monument. In
May following he reported to the
House of Representatives his opinion
that 100000, instead of $4,000. would
be necessarj TO provide such struc-
ture rs the nature and dignity of the
subject demanded, and as result the
appropriation was increased by Con-
gress in February, 1884, to the higher
figure, but from one cause and another
nothing further was done, and the
project was allowed to drop until
February, 1898, when Congress author
lied tho use of S11, 1876 of the $50, 0,0C0
already appropriated in constructing
a wharf as u means of approach to the
proposed monument.
From all accounts the old Wakefield
The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1895-02-21
THE "NeW WOMAN"

She does not "languish in her bower"
Or squander all the golden day
In fashioning gaudy flower
Upon a worstcd spray;
Nor is she quite content 10 wait
Behind her "rose.wreathed lattice-pane
Until beside her fathers gate
The gallant Prince draws rein"
The brave "Ncw Woman" scorns to
sigh.
And count IL such gricvous thing"
That year on year should hurry by
And no gay suitor bring:
In labor's ranks she takes her place.
With skillful hands and cultured mind (;
Not always foremost In the race,
But never far behind.
And not less lightly fail her feet
Because they tread the busy ways:
She is no whit less fair and sweet
Than maids Of oldcn days,
Who. gowncd in snmitc or brocadc,
Looked charming in their dainty guisc,
But dWclt like viulcts in the shade,
With shy, hnlf-upcncd eyes.
Of life she takes n clearer view,
And through the press severely moves,
Jufcttorcd. free; with judgment true,
Avoiding narrow grooves
She REASONS and she understands:
And sometimes It's her joy and crown
To lift with strong yet tender hands
The burdens men lay down.
Chambers Journal.
The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1895-02-21

an thet ct was all up with him. an thct
Hannah elders know'd who she favor.
ed too late, fer she wasn't a girl ter
break greemen'.
"Then sudden a feller run In tn door
an yelled: Some un's run Off with
Teacher Jimison's horse an sleighv
you uns never seen sech n panic.
TIL weemen jumped up an yelled; tn
men jest piled out tn door; John Jimi.
son climbed out tn winder, an Teacher
Long dropped his spellin' book an fol-
Tered. Ter my surprise Quincy Muth
ersbaugh never moved: he jest stood
there lookln' at Hannah elders an
smilln, while she was gain back, as
red as beet was gettin' out tn win.
der among tn last an turned round ter
see Of Ounce was behind me; thet's
how come ter notice ct. Jest stop.
ped an looked ct both of 'em. Fer three
minutes them two stared ct each other
an ! stared ct them, not KNOWN what
ter make of ct Meantime the room
was cleared. outside we heard tn
sleigh bells ringin as tn fcllcrs started
off after In thieves: we heard John
Unison and Teacher Long calm TO 'em
tor go In this an thct directions; we
heard tn wccmCn complainin' because
they'd so many hcv ter walk home.
Then tn rear windcr, right back of
where Quincy was tandin', slid up an
his young brother Sam stuck his head
in. an when he seen tn coast was clear,
whispered: j jest give tn 'larm In time,
Ounce, didn't |? I've hitchcd Teacher
JimisOns horse right here behind tn
schOOlhousc, an you kin take her home
jest as soon as tn last of these here
fools gifts away
Quincy smiled an said: Il thot you
was never comm an I'd hcv ter spell
at out
But tn windcr was shct down an
his brother was gone.
Then he steps down or tn platform
an walks up ter Hannah elders, an
says: 'Th' last syllable e-a.l-a.s.'
NO she says, quict-likc. 'ct's cal.
is. But thct amt 10 difference
Il slipped out tn windcr an started
home. Bout ten minutes later John
Jimison's horse ana sleigh passed me on
tn road. an from what seen jedgcd
1T wouldn't a done him much good.
anyway, Of he had n spelled down Quin.
cy .iuthcrsbaugh. New York Evenin.
sun.
The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1895-02-21
Wasliington's Good Lack.

History tells MS of the pers
reconnaissance of Washington
Lafayette around Elk Landing,
when the British debarked at
point, from whence they marche
the Braadywine, Penn. 1t also st
that they camped upon Chestnut
Del, from which point tho I!
Chesapeake is distinctly visible,
They made an early start from !
bivouac and went northwestwaTl
strike the road leading from Elk u
ing TO Newark, and entered !
house which stands about one hun!
yards from the road, to try Z
breakfast. They were graciousl'
ceived by the lady OF tho house
found a table nicely set and the bH
fast ready to be served.
Lafayette manifested great del
at their good luck, and they were
seated. The lady of the house,
inG the room for a moment, VAS
ton touched Lafayette under the
with his foot aud said: SEAT
hurry; this breakfast was not 0
for u.s." He took the hint, andh
not long before they were again
saddle, after expressing many 10
for the hospitality. Upon turnl
bend in the road they looked bac
saw Lord Howe and his staff, d
pected guests, turn into the
house. American Historical Reg
The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1895-02-21

"mansion" was in truth but a very
ordinary farm house, even in its primi-
two day. But there is little question
that the hero-mother and her worthy
husband lived an ideal country life
there, in the midst of their prosperous
plantation, attended by the usual COM
plement of slaves, and dispensing to
all comers the generous hospitality
characteristic OF the old Virginia fami-
lies in Colonial days. The most dis
tinctive features of the house were its
immense chimneys on each end, built
from the ground on the outside of the
frame dwelling-so large, indeed, as
to make the house look disproportion-
ately small in comparison with them.
Each wide fireplace is said to have had
capacity sufficient for cord of wood
at one time. The building had but
one floor and an attic under the big
hip-roof, which was broken by dormer
windows to admit the light. At the
front was n wide porch, extending the
whole width of the house. On the
right side of the entrance was the par
lor, and its fireplace was decorated,
after the fashion of that time in the
dwellings of the well-to-do, with blue
Dutch tiles of quaint design. There
were but three otGer rooms of fair size
on the first floor, the largest being in
the one-story extension ut the back,
used as sleeping chamber by Angus
tine and Mary. In that comparatively
humble room the greatest American
was born, February, 20, 1871. There
also, besides his sister Betty, who
was born in June, 1913, his brother
Samuel first saw the light, in Noyem-
Der, 1874.
The house stood back about hun
dred yards from the bank of Pope's
Creek, about half a mile southwest
from the Potomac in u straight line.
The plantation was triangular
shaped track, bounded by the Potomac
and Bridges and Popes Creeks, and
comprised somewhat over 1000 acres
of wood and bottom land, on which
were produced large crops of tobacco
for export. The trading vessels of that
day being mostly of light draught, no
difficulty was encountered in mooring
close To shore and taking ON their car
goes OF tobacco direct from the fields
where the weed had been produced.
When George Washington was but
little over four years old the historic
house was accidentally destroyed by
fire. The burning happened on "A
windy day in April, 1735. The slaves
in the yard were burning brush and
other ''trasb," as is usual in the
spring, when suddenly soma sparks
were carried from the burning heap to
the dry shingles of the home rocf. In
few moments the whole structure
was wrapped in danes. Augustine
Washington, the father. was absent at
the time, and Mary, the mother, took
command in his stead. Under her d..
rection the family furniture and valu-
ables were removed by the slaves to a
place OF safety, and then, without
wasting time in idle lamentation, she
set all hands to assist in making VI
beds and preparing supper in cabir
Mt the rear, which fortunately had es,
caped burning.
The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1895-02-21

ment itself, but that sum has been
sufficient. Tho formal dedication OF
the completed structure could easily
be arranged, it would seem, for the
birthday anniversary OF 1896.
Near the steamboat landing and
close by Bridges Creek is the old
Washington family vault, containing
the bones of Washington's father and
of Augustine Washington's first wife
and of some of his ancestors. This
vault will be enclosed IN some suita-
BILE way. From the wharf at Bridges
Creek an improved roadway will be
made and enclosed by fence on
either side, leading southwestward
and southwark mile and half to
the site of Washington's birthplace,
The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1895-02-21
As to Giants.

As rule, giants are not long.liv,
They have too many gauntlets to ru,
being giants-thGt being anytb,I
over six feet six-they naturally d,I
into the show business and are thencl
forth incarcerated in vans, cloJ
rooms, and in the dingy and eilluya|
laden air of the exhibition roo-
Their not overresisting lungs here /,
hale the combined etiluvia and aro-l
that arise from the lungs, skin &.
not overclean or over-well.a
clothes of their many admirers, all !
which is not conducive to eiths
health or to long life. 1t would seq
reasonable to believe that a giant-a
he seven or ten feet tall-who is We
formed, and who has every organ j,
just proportion to his bulk, shol
live as long as q small man or as lol
rs his heredity might otherwise perm
reasoning theoretically this wo1
seem probable, but when we come
well analyze the subject and comps
the actual facts We find that someth
or other always goes wrong and b
owing to many an "if." we find Il
our giant dies early as q rule. so
one organ goes wrong and the gra
machine comes to stop; or some
gan does not keep pace with the n
of the increase in bulk, and he g
halt;ng and squeaking, or either
overwork or an underworld here
there and physiological inadeQuI
OF some sort is the result, WITH
general deterioration of the VII
structure and with finally premai1
death. In ctner words, there is q
to be failing link in the physioIo
cal scheme of these abnormal beil
which, by giving way, breaks the q
tinuity of the chain of life, and d.
independent of any of those moral
linquencies which are but too Of
the cause of an early breakdown.
is simply that the whole strucu
would not work abnormally in eT
detail. National Popular Review.
The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1895-02-21

The innate modesty and iudlcil
quality OF the victor was well illustra,
cd in the remark made by him on be
ing notified of Congress- intendei
medal to his honor. Speaking OF IL
men, he said
"They were, indead, at first bacl
of undisciplined husbandmen; but /
is, under God, to their bravery and ~
tention to duty that am indebted I'd
that success which has procured nd
the only reward j wish TO receive, ID.
affection and esteem OF my county
men. "-Pathhnder.
The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1895-02-21
FIRST IN WAR AND PEACE.
wAsHINGToN's BIRTHPLACE TO
BE MARKED BIZ A MONUMENT.
A Granite Shaft TO Be Erected by the
Government-story OF the Old
House-Its Historic Inmates.

A Granite Shaft TO Be Erected by the
Government-story OF the Old
House--Its Historic Inmates.
VXTORK has begun on the
\N monument to mark the
v v birthplace Of Washington,
at Wakefield. Va, and the
substantial completion of the work this
year seems assured. A Ashaft of Amer
ican light granite, about forty feet
high, will rest upon a plinth and die
for the inscription, and these in
turn upon two bases, the lower one
twelve feet square, SO that the total
height of the structure will be fifty
one feet. That height will fully an
swer tho requirement OF being visible
from the decks of vessels in the chan
mel OF the Potomac, not quite four
miles distant. The successful design
among the twenty-nino submitted was
from the same firm, Crawford & Son.,
Buffalo, n. T., that erected the me-
mortal to Mary Washington at Fred
ericksburg, and the relative porpor-
tions of the latter monument are
closely followed. 1t has been settled
that the inscriptions on the monu-
mcnt shall be oftho simplest character.
The words birthplace of Washing
ton," will be cut out into the die
stone, and the words Erected by the
United States, 1885," cut into the
front of the first base. Mr.. Crawford
says that it will probably take him
about year to complete the construc-
tion of the monument according to tho
design approved by the Secretary of
State.
The old homestead, about seventy
miles below the National Capital, will
hereafter, perhaps, become more of n
resort Ior patriotic visitors, since.
with the funds provided by Congress,
pier has been built in the river,
about two miles from the monument
site, and a road to the latter con-
structed. The improvements. with
the purchase of the ground required,
left only about S11 200 for the monu-
The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1895-02-21

Tho new house, ''Pine Grcvs .
which Augustine Washington immedi.
ately built down in Stafford Count
Virginia, across the River Rapp.'
hsnnock from fredericksburg, va,
modelled closely on the plan Of .bs
Wakefield home. There the remainie,
Of the children were born, and the,.
Augustine died, in 1743, and wa,
buried in the vault with his first wife
Jane Butler, at Bridges Creek.
The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1895-02-21
HERE.
On the 22d February. 1871,
GEORGE WASHINGTON
WAS .E0RN.

As late as ls t4.s 80, was still H.
The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1895-02-21
Hay Bargcs Rowed by WOmI

The hay barges on the Swiss
rowed by women standing, All
small sail-boats, with tall brow
standing very high TO oatch
winds. are among the most pictqd
OF craft. New YORK. Recorder.
The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1895-02-21
NeW COLOR.

Paris has invented new shade or
color which II calls pelure d'ognon. That
sounds better but does not look better.
than the English version-"onion par.
Ing -------.--- -----------
The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1895-02-21

Wakefield House, on the bank of
Pope's Creek, Il wide arm of the Poto-
mac.
Nothing now remains of this house
but the foundation walls, flush with
the ground. The landscape surround
ing tie site is not particularly attrac-
tive at present, but with proper grad
ing. planting and improvement it
could doubtless be transformed into II
handsome park. 1t is like any com
mon fallow feld-covered with grass
and weeds. and here and there dotted
with clumps of wild fig bushes, ragged
pine trees, hemlocks and shapely
cedars. On the spot where the old
Wakefield House stood, fat-sided
freestone slab was placed in filial de-
votion in the year 1915 by George Wash
ington Parke Curtis, Washington q
adopted son, bearing this inscription
..................... ...'............,....
HERE,
On the 22d February. 1871,
GEORGE WASHINGTON
WAS .HORN.
...s.....'..'''tt's' .s.' ''., ..........
As late as le tA.s I'D was still III
Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1895-08-20
IN A BANANA BUNCH.
Family of Strange Tropical Animals
Comes to Chicago.

Family of Strange Tropical Animals
Comes to Chicago.
Somewhere down in the tropics few
months ago family Of sigmodonts took
up its abode in bunch of bananas. In
the course of time the bunch of fruit
was picked and shipped to Chicago be-
fore the little creatures had an oppor-
tuntty TO give up their lease. A Mr..
Kaufman, q Wrightwood avenue
grocer, bought the cluster of fruit, and
when he went to cut dozen bananas
for customer he found the nest. Be-
sides the mother, there were six baby
sigmodonts.
When they were disturbed the little
ones jumped on the back of the parent,
and chung for protection to her fur with
their little hand-like feet, and further
secured themselves by turning their
own tails around that of the mother.
Unfortunately, in the excitement of
the discovery, the mother and five lit
tie ones were killed. The other one
was rescued by Mrs. DR. Tomagin, who
was in the store at the time, and it is
now at her home, thriving on fare of
bananas.
Banana rats, crabs, scorpions and tar
antulas are frequently found hiding
Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1895-08-20

his activities. He is at the present mo-
ment engaged upon two or three i'm
portant pieces of literary work, and 1t
Is quite possible that still others may
have been begun and finished before his
wonderful vitality shall have given out
Whatever estimate history may make
OF the nineteenth century, it is quite
certain, says the Chicago Record, that
the name of William Ewart Gladstone
will be written high above his contem-
poraries for the marvellous ability of
the man. The versatility of his genius
Is almost incredible to the average
mind, accustomed as it is to regard q
man as great who does only one thing
better than his fellows, without asking
that he be at once statesman, author,
fnancier, debater, lawmalxer, business
man, orator and scholar.
The great secret of Gladstone's won
derful success as public man lies in
the fact that the people have faith in
him. Whatever his enemies may say
and they say many bitter things-the
fact remains that the people of England
believe in him as a man. Above and
beyond all his brilliant qualities of
mind is his sterling manhood, which
the people not only of England but of
the whole civilized world look upon
with something more than admiration.
Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1895-08-20

out and put upon the wheel. Mechan-
ically he trod the steps for fifteen min
utes, took the five minutes rest, and
began again. In the second fifteen
minutes he stopped, threw up his arms,
gave vent to horrible scream of an
guish, and fell in swoon. The prison
surgeon examined him and said his
heart was in such condition It would
be dangerous to put him on the wheel
again. So Wilde is allowed to sit in his
cell. They throw in a quantity OF
oakum every morning, but he need not
pick it unless he wishes to do so. OF
late he has begun to pick the oakum.
Any occupation Is better than sitting
idle and thinking.
The second arousing came through
the gentle, earnest old chaplain, Rev.
w. Frederick Stockton. Wilde had
not been IN Pentonville many days be-
fore the old clergyman pushed timidly
into his cell. 5fi
Wilde, seated at the table with his
face buried in his hands, glanced at the
old man, saw his occupation in the cut
of his cloth and flushed angrily.
'What do you mean by ;ntruding
yourself upon me?" he demanded.
II hope you are not unrepentant,"
the old clergyman ventured. r.
Wilde jumped to his feet in a rage.
"Unrepentant?" he said, angrily;
''what do you mean? How dare you
insult me in this fashion? am inno-
cent of the crimes of which ! am ac-
Lcused. You will kindly leave me alone"
Mr.. Stockton insisted no further. He
is waiting now for Wilde to get to work
at the Bible. He feels that sooner or
later he must read it, and, reading,
soften to a more receptive frame of
mind, Wilde still has friends who be-
heve in his innocence, among them
several women well known as writers.
Oscar Wilde's wife is not one Of these
beli0 vers In him. She has taken an
other name. and with the children has
gone away to quiet place on the con-
tinents
Wilde win not hear from the outside
world for three months. Many people
believe he will go mad long before that
time. But others think, and with rea-
son, he is SO facile and. adaptable he
will gradually and easily slip into the
prison routine and get his mind bal
anced by the entertainment his we'll
stored memory and vigorous magma
tion can give him.
Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1895-08-20

only means of entrance and exit then
is via q little upward opening like a
melon plug, and very easily made use
of, as also readily rendered water-tight
in it's turn. At the top are several
little holes for ventilation, but which
can also be closed at will. Further
more there are six windows, round as
PORTFOLIOS in the ordinary ship. Over
all is flagstaff which can be lowered
and put up at pleasure, with water
proof connections and ventilation de-.
vice, and or. the top of the flagstaff is a
lantern. There are two oar holes also,
one on each side, similarly water-tight
in the play of the pair of strong service
able oars,
And, last and most important of ali,
the apparatus always rides the wave
neutrality-suspicious., because Of the
abundant ballast in the bottom. The
interior of the miniature is fitted up
comfortably, with seats all around the
wall, and there are straps for additional
support In case of storm.
For practical use, the inventor pro-
poses 'lifeboat" of this description
which shall be either feet high by 6
feet in diameter, at the widest girth,
with seating capacity of 10 persons,
or else one 10 feet high and feet wide,
seating Is persons. The former style,
made wholesale, would cost only s125,
and would carry 1000 pounds without
sinking more than feet in the water,
riding as buoyant as top. In the base
would be plenty of room for supplies
and water to last from 10 to Is persons
several weeks, without any danger
from water or vitiated air. For the
first-named size of boat the circular en-
trance would be 8 feet in diameter, and
the windows foot. Chains are at
tached on the outside for people out in
the water to catch hold and climb up
by. The lifeboat cannot possibly tip
over, but simply hobs up and down,
like cork.
Already on Lake Calumet there is a
little '.lifeboat" of this pattern, and the
inventor expects soon to have one on
Lake Michigan. s9
Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1895-08-20
Porcine Oddly in Arkansas.

D. K. Persons, farmer of Red Mills,
Ark, Is the owner of pig that COM
pletely lays all other freak porkers in
the shade. 1t is perfectly devoid of
hair, and has double set of eyes, feet
like human hands (even to the nails),
one very large ear and face which
looks more like that Of a young baby
than 1t does like that of regulation
pig. From between the upper set of
eyes projects proboscis like that of a
young elephant. This proboscis has
two holes through its entire length,
and it is through them that piggy gets
his supply of air. Mr.. Persons values
the freak at $1,000, and his neighbors
say that he takes greater care of1it than
all the rest of the stock on the place.