davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1895-01-16
Narrow Escape.

MIR. Wilson had read so much about
the danger of certain much talked
about disease that he had done his best
to make Mrs. Wilson and their little
daughter Maud chew their grapes and
eject the seeds instead of swallowing
them according to the usual custom.
Maud found the new method little tc
her taste and her father had frequent
occasion to reproye her for not minding
his instructions.
One day the little girl was under the
weather and her mother thought il
necessary to administer a dose o.
medicine, in the shape of two small
pellets. These, after the manner o.
thoughtful parents, she concealed in &
spoonful of marmalaid, which she ther
offered to the unsuspicious patient.
A moment later she was startled tc
hear Maud exclaim:
Here mamma, here are the seeds
Wasn't it luckyg l came awful nea,
swallowing them. . Yonth's Companion
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1895-01-16
A National Insect Factory.

The reason that the government built
its bug factory was that it wanted to
raise insects, see how they lived, what
they ate. how they changed in form,
and find out what would finally destroy
them. You can see how important all
this information would be to a man who
had every year been bothered by in
sects he could hardly see, and whose
eaten by hungry army which paid
nothing for the feast.
The men who watch these little crea-
lures find lots of things to interest
them, and it takes away the WEAKNESS
of their waiting. They find that mar
vellous changes often take place in the
insects. Some of them alter their form
so that you would not recognize them
for the same insect. One will at first
be short thick fly, with sharp eyes,
wings, and minute feeler like an ele-
plants trunk, and he will next be a
worm without legs and no eyes. 1t is
always an easy matter to find out what
the bug is doing and what will drive it
away, but it is not always so easy to
say where he comes from or how he
happened to appear in certain places.
Inc DAY was IN Jne 1nSecCary saw
bug which had been found in California
by boy while eating boiled potatoes,
and later his father found more pota-
toes in the cellar, which had been dug
short time before, also inhabited by
this same worm. was told that this
worm had come all the way from China,
probably, nobody knew how. Any
way, member Of the unwelcome tribe
had reached the insectary, and was a
guest there. He was famous bug, did
he but know it, for he was to be care
fully watched, and his every action was
to be noted in book each day. He
would receive as much attention as any
great man-probably more attention.
for hardly any man has been closely
watched every day of his life, as this Chi
nese bug will be.-Harper's Young People.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1895-01-16
MEMS ERRORS IN DRESS.
A Young Woman of Observation Says Such
Solecisms Are Common.

at is surprising" said a young wom-
an of observation to N. Y San man,
how near some of you men-fellows
come to being properly dressed and
don't quite get there. I've heard q
good deal of talk and read good deal
of writing about the fine art of dressing
we'll, but my idea is that it's just ques-
ton of the preservation of the entities.
It's just like apple sauce with roast pork
and currant jelly with canvas-back duck
the proper thing goes with the proper
thing. Yet a man may be letter perfect
in his condiments, or may have a fit at
seeing a water color in a velvet frame,
and still wear silk hat and a sack coat.
Oh, you needn't laugh. I've seen it,
not only on Broadway on Saturday
night, but | have seen it on Fifth ave-
nue. on Sunday morning. Yes, and
worse than that. / saw young fellow
going to church with two swell girls, he
wearing black silk hat and brown sack
suit. Now, do you know. call them
impious.
There are two other sins of attire
that men are often guilty of-one sin
of commission, wearing an overcoat
with a straw hat, and the other sin of
omission, wearing an overcoat and no
gloves. These things are done all the
time, in their season, and yet you sim
ners in costume think it a good joke to
see a woman in white gloves and wear
ing a mackintosh-and so it is
There's another thing you men get
wofully mixed up over-spats and gait
ers. Any fool girl knows that the gait
er is used for warmth, and therefore is
a part of a winter costume, while the
spat was designed as an article to keep
the bottom of the light trousers from be-
ing soiled by black shoes. 1t is quite
as swful solecism to wear spats with
dark trousers as it is to wear gaiter
over tan shoe, yet both are commit
ted constantly here in New York, and
by men who ought to be ashamed of
themselves for not knowing or doing
better.
"And talking of tan shoes, you never
will convince me that it's either correct
or convenient to wear tan shoes in win
ter or in stormy weather. That's the
time for rubbers, and goloshes over tan
shoes are an incongruity that gives me
the horrors. It's the same sort of de-
based no-taste that leads man to peril
his soft palate by using a cigar holder,
or that leads him to outrage decency by
sticking a cravat pin in a sailors knot.
AID don't think for one instant that all
the rest of us don't observe these things
just as l do. If a mans dress is trig
and trim from top to toe we admire
him, even if he's as homely as sin-that
is, as sin is supposed to be, but if he
mixes the seasons or falls down in the
nicer details of completeness, we have
our little sneer at him after he's gone,
even though he's as good looking as
you'd like to be-"
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1895-01-16
How to Read a Book.

The first thing to do in reading a
book, or story in magazine, or any
other thing worth reading, is to ascer-
tain who wrote it. An author talks to
us in his books, and just as we like to
know the friends we talk with, we
should like to know the name of the
man or woman whose published thoughts
are entering into our daily lives. There
fore make it rule, girls, to read the
title-page of the volume in your hand;
and if there be a preface, unless it be a
very long one, read that too. You will
in this way establish an acquaintance
with your author; you will know him
by sight and soon you will know him
more intimately. Every author has lit
tie ways and words of his own, and you
will find yourself recognizing these very
swiftly and lovingly. By-and-by, when
you happen in your story on some
phrase, or turn of a sentence, or little
jesting mannerism which belongs to the
author you are growing well acquainted
with, you will feel pleased. and the sto-
ry will mean a great deal more to you
than if it were simply the work of an
unknown person, whose tones and looks
were quite unfamiliar. -HarpeY'S Young
People,
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1895-01-16
An Insuperable Obstacle.

The fair Chicagoan had refused tht
young mans offer with scorn and he
had gone back to his home a broken
hearted man.
"My child" exclaimed the mother
why did you do that?"
you ought to know, mamma" re
piled the girl coldly.
Perhaps I should, but l don't. ISM
he richP"
"Yes, mamma"
"And of good family?"
Excellent"
with social recognition?"
"Plenty of it."
"Of excellent habits?"
Better than most men,"
"And he loved youP"
Sincerely, he said"
"Did you love himP"
II did, mamma" and the girl sobbed
"Then why in the name Of goodnes.
didn't you accept him?"
The girl stepped close to her mother
and whispered in her ear.
"Great heavens!" exclaimed the moth
er in horror. what a narrow escape
Who would have ever thought he cam,
from St. uis!"-Detroit Free Press.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1895-01-16
Trying.

There are some cases in which cor
rect musical ear causes its possessor a
good deal of discomfort.
81 suppose you heard Squire Samp-
sons daughters voice pretty loud in the
hymns, my dearP" said Parson Fawcett,
inquiringly, to his little wife at the
close Of the morning service. Il used
to think when she lived here before her
marriage that her voice was very strong
but not-er-not exactly reliable, per-
haps, as to pitch"
'Mr. Fawcett," replied the minister's S
wife, while a flush rose to her thin
cheeks, 81 suppose she that was Ara
bella Sampson thinks she is praising
the Lord when she sings, and far be Il
from me to say that she doesn't; but ]
must say that it is all l can do to praise
Him at the same time. Youths Com.
OQ71LO7l
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1895-01-16
WHENCE CAME "cHESTNUTs,"
Here's Travelling Man Who Thinks He
Has a Clew.

Speaking of chestnuts," said the
travelling man from Chicago, reminds
me of an attempt to joke with a gang
OF train robbers when l was running on
the Frisco road through the Nation
as messenger for an express company
several years ago.
Il was messenger on the local be-
tween Fort Worth and Fort Smith One
evening when the through train was
late, our train got orders to run ahead
OF 1t from Fort Smith to Tuskahoma.
"While we were running slowly
through deep cut, up heavy grade,
the engineer suddenly called for brakes
and applied the air. The train had
hardly stopped when half dozen des-
perate men armed with Winchesters
emerged into sight from the darkness.
"As we hardly ever carried any valu-
ables on the local l was not as cautious
as L would otherwise have been. When
the train came to stop 1 threw open
the side door to ascertain the cause of
stopping, which soon learned.
when confronted with half dozen
guns was not anxious to invite fusil-
lade from them by attempting to close
the door to frustrate them in their de-
sires.
"They had the engineer, fireman and
coaches covered and three of them en-
tered my car.
Il had a small train safe which they
went through after 1 had delivered up
the key, but they secured nothing ex-
cept an expense of 80 cents ag gainst
some agent at little Jim Crow town
in Texas
"The only thing of value they found
on me was meal ticket at the eating
house at Fort Worth.
"They expected 10 catch the through
train, and were feeling kind O. raw over
the layout they had secured, while
was feeling just the opposite on account
of getting off so light.
what prompted me to say it 1 can
not say, but as they were cursing their
ill luck l said: Boys, there is a sack
of chestnuts over there: you might get
a few of those
THE leaders, face lit up with dia-
bolical grin as he said: Well give
you some chestnuts just to pay for your
little joke and us for our trouble
"While he was talking he ierked a
piece of board off box and COM
menced to paddle me with it; the other
two followed suit. For at least fifteen
minutes they amused themselves in this
manner until seemed more dead than
alive; they then left the train.
"The next day was black and blue
from the effect of my chestnut joke, and
was not fit to 60 on duty for thirty
days.
IF had kept my mouth shut and
had not tried to ring in those chestnuts
on them l would have been all right.
Il think that incident is where the
saying of an old chestnut first arose,
at least it is where it was forcibly
brought to my notice for the first time"
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1895-01-16
BLACK AND TANS.
One Gentleman's Theory as to How the
Dogs Originally Were Marked.

When in Melbourne last year 1 went
carefully over all the dogs in show
with one of the stewards and we found
the spots in all black-and-tan terriers,
foxhounds, deerhounds, collies, lurch-
ers, etc., but could get no information
regarding them from the experts, says
writer in Nature.
In some of the highly-bred toy dogs,
as the small black-and-tan terriers, /
found on inquiry that these spots, form
erly so very conspicuous, were being
bred out and had nearly disappeared.
Their persistence through so many
strongly-marked varieties, except those
of late date, is singular. for there is
fairly good proof that when first domes-
ticated the dog was red, or bright
brown, like the pariah, dingo, etc.
As far as l can see we do not find the
spots white on a black or dark ground;
nor yet black or dark on a white or
light ground. My explain alton is that
they have arisen as a permanent mark
ing after the dogs "sported" to black
under domestication, and have been
preserved and developed through natu-
raj selection. Possibly they are pro-
tectiVe and simulate eyes.
One morning in Asam, Just at dawn,
I had occasion to go out into the gar
den, and while STOPPING to examine
some flowers near fence partly cov-
cred with creepers suddenly saw an
animals head looking through, and
what seemed to be two black and seem
ingly large eyes glared at me. Sus-
pecting that black leopard was about
to spring over, 1 started back, clapped
my hands and shouted. To my relief,
however, saw tail wag, and found
that the spectator was coolies dog
knew very well, and which recognized
me. The use of the tan spots-in this
case at least-then occurred to me.
May it not be that the spots thus serve
q protective purpose and have often
saved the lives of dogs (black dogs)
from their enemies, the smaller felines,
such as the clouded leopard, etc.? Per.
haps the matter is not new, but if it is
1t seems worth looking into. I have
several dogs with black bodies and
heads The tan spots rather pale, are
of the size of a shilling. l have shot
one, keeping the skin of the head as 8
curiositY
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1895-01-16
DIDN'T PUSH 1T OVER.
Crank Resists Temptation at the Wash
ington Monument.

| Washington is the Mecca of cranks,
and the monument seems to be their
principal shrine. Even the white house
is not so attractive to them as the great
white shaft. 1t can be seen for miles
around and seems to attract cranks as
candle does moths. The watchmen
have become accustomed to the gentry,
and as long as they appear to be quiet
| and well disposed, usually deal gently
with them, however wild their ideas.
One man they tell of declared that the
monument was built of human skulls
and bones and persisted in pointing out
the faces of friends in the stones; but
perhaps the oldest specimen on record
happened down there the other day.
When the watchman first observed
him he was leaning heavily against the
shaft apparently pushing with all his
might-at least he would push for a
while, and then he would walk around
to the other side, apparently to see if
there were any people there. The
watchman watched this proceeding for
a while and then accosted him:
Beg pardon; you aren't going to
push it over, are youP"
q could if I wanted to-" responded
the man; then, with immense dignity,
"My name is Samson"
"Oh, the strong manp" ventured the
watchman, sizing up the man, who was
about five feet five, and not apparently
very muscular. Let me see, you were
down at Kernan's theater a few weeks
ago, weren't youP"
"No, sir!" replied the man, sternly.
Il am the reincarnated Samson of Bib
lical times; the one who overthrow the
Philistines, Staying thousands with the
jaw bone of an ass, and afterward pull
ing down the pillars of the temple.
Why, it would be mere child's play for
me to upset this puny monument"
well, wouldn't do it if l were
you," expostulated the watchman,
mildly. "You see this is in memory of
Washington; probably you have never
heard of him, as he was a little after
your time; but we moderns think a
good deal of him. Then it cost the
government good deal of money and
took a good many years to build this
smonument, and good many people
would consider it unkind of you to de-
stroy it. Take me, for instance, I am
/ hired to watch it, and, of course, you
would throw me out of a job. Besides
you might hurt somebody"
mo, l was very careful to look on
the other side first" said the man. "But
perhaps you think l can't do it9 Now
you just look up and see me shake it. ;"
The watchman was agreeable. Now.
it is fact that when one stands directly
at the base of the monument it appears
to be topping over. This is, of course,
an optical delusion, caused by the
clouds moving overhead; but it inn
pressed the crank with his power.
"Did you see me shake it?" he in
quired, triumphantly.
"Yes," responded the watchman, SOL
emnly, "but 1 wouldn't do so any more.
You might weaken the foundations
even if you didn't push it over. Be
Sides here comes crowd of people,
and not knowing who you are, they
might laugh at you. Then you would
have to push it over to prove it to
them"
"That's so," said the crank, and, bid
ding the watchman "Good day." he de-
parted, and has not been seen about the
monument since Washington Post.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1895-01-16
PLAYED 'PossuM AND ESCAPED.
A Snake That "DIedr Whenever His HUI
man Tormentor Approached.

While searching for snails I turned
over the old log and disturbed a snake
called by our negro a "spreadin' ar
row, says writer in the Youths Com
pGraion. The tactics pursued by this
snake were curious. First he erected
his. head and neck and fattened them
out till they seemed no thicker than
cardboard, thus increasing his apparent
size. as he took care not to be seen edge
wise. The shape of his head changed.
1t took a pronounced triangular form,
similar to the heads of our most venom
GUS snakes. Then his tail, with the aid
of a dry leaf, was proclaiming that it
was the tail of rattlesnake. All this,
coupled with an ominous hiss, was
calculated to strike terror to the heart
of his disturber. as for moment it did
I regained my courage, however, and
began to poke the serpent with stick
when, finding buster of no avail, he
sought safety in flight. Repeated head
ings off showed him how futile were his
efforts in that line, and he altered his
tactics again. He turned on his back
and remained motionless. L threw him
up six feet from the ground, and SO
quickly did he turn over that he SEEM
ed to strike on his back,
Once on his back nothing could in
ducc him to move. Tapping, prodding,
twisting his tail-all were in vain. Then
1 suspended him from the limb of a
tree, retreated little and watched. At
the end of two minutes the reptile
moved. Slowly he turned on his spinal
column as on an axis, surveyed the
premises and, seeing nothing danger
Gus, dropped to the ground and was
making off. At my approach he died
again. After sundry other proddings.
which failed to move him, rewarded
him for his cleverness by giving him
the liberty which certainly he had earn
ed"
A snake moves by the means of his
ribs and the strong scales on the alb
domen, to which the several ribes are
attached by series of short stout mus
cles. These scales take hold of the sur
face over which the reptile may be
passing and aid the creature in gliding
along. In this manner they climb trees,
often with great agility, either ascend
ing spirally or climbing straight up the
trunk, but in the latter case rough
barked tree is always necessary.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1895-01-16
deplorable lack of originality, had cop

deplorable lack of originality, had cop
led from the evening paper.
Don't people do some silly things,
Winifred, dear, when they are in lovep"
She took marguerite from the bowl
on the table and stuck it in her hair.
Then she tore up the letter and gave
the pieces little puff to send them out
on the stream.
Il b'lieve you," said Mrs. Stewart
shall you want to be rown across
for that last trine, memP" demanded
the boy, putting his head out of a win
dow, cor is the guv'nor going to do itp"
'The last train" echoed Mrs. Stew
art, "why, of course not, James. Go
to bed at once"
That's boys quite mad," said Stew
art, turning over page of the paper to
find the cricket; eve must get rid of
him. m."-tSt Jdn1eS's BudQet.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1895-01-16
How He Won Her.

Twas at a big cane grindin' first met Mary.
She
Was with another feller, but was castin' eyes
at me;
An he said: "Oane is hard to beat; its reg
ular honey devil"
But said: Yes; Jest like that gal you've
got along with you!'
You see that was a compliment-fer was
great on sich!
An Mary blushed an smiled at me-the cum
min little witch!
She tossed her head and sweetly said: 81 ant
as sweet as that!"
(A-toyin' with ribbon that was danglin'
from her hatJ
But lowed that she was sweeter, an kept
sayin' pleasant things.
Bout butterflies an so forth, an angels
lacktn' wings;
The other feller silent-with his face all in a
pout,
Fer it took me jest ten minutes by the watch
to cut him out!
Then I went home with Mary, an talked
along the way;
An we're goin' to jump the broomstick Cif
the Lord spares life) in May.
These women folks Is curious, an they'r re
mighty hard to beat.
You see, they're all 80 sweet themselves
they're fond O. talk that's sweet!
Frank L. Stanton.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1895-01-16
Delicate.

Tsras SJftings reports new form Of
nervous prostration.
Bring me beefsteak," said a Gus,
toner at restaurant, "and good one"
"Yes, sir"
"And l say, bring me big one.
Every little thing annoys me and makes
me nervous"
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1895-01-16

St. Peter-I can't decide about your
record till the typewriter comes.
Gaplord-Good heavens! Is it neces-
sary for her to be swornp
The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1895-04-17
Acquitted.

George Ankle, of Wheeling, a
justice of the peace, who some time
since was convicted in a North Car
DINA court on a charge of larceny,
an account of which appeared in
the State papers at the time, has
been acquitted and released by the
decision of the Supreme court of
that State, which reversed the judg-
ment of the lower court and dis
missed the proceedings. The trou-
BILE grew out of the finding of a
pocket book and some money and
papers on the train by Mr.. Ankle,
while travelling through North Car
DINA, some time since, and dispute
arose between him and the owner,
as TO rewards and Ankle was indict-
ed in North Carolina for larceny, or
attempted larceny.
The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1895-04-17
Turned I'm.

J. L Asher, who so mysteriously
disappeared from Henderson, sew
eral weeks ago, and who vas sup
posed to have been drowned OF
killed, an account of which was
published in the daily at the time.
has turned up. His brother, Mr.. A.
w. Asher, received a letter from
him yesterday, in which he stated
he was running on the Pittsburgh
tow boat Onward, as striker, and
that he was all right. lie gave nc
reason for his going away from
home SO unceremoniously, and caus.
ing his family so much pain and
sorrow.
The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1895-04-17
There Are Plenty Of Democrats.

Huntington Advertiser.
In view of the fact that another
National campaign is rapidly ap-
preaching it is well to remember
that the Democratic party is still
the party of the people, and to it a
large majority ofour fellow citizens
look for proper solution of all vex-
ing questions.
a close examination of the status
of the elections of 1891 reveals most
markedly the fact that the Republi
can party was not vindicated by the
people at the polls, but, on the other
hand, was condemned by one mil
lion majority.
Roughly speaking, there are six
teen million votes in this country.
1t is estimated that five million OF
these men voted the Republican
ticket, while twice that number did
not; but, on the contrary, full six
millions of Democrats, Populists
and Prohibitionists voted against
the Republican party, and that fully
five million voters staid at home.
This view of the National political
situation shows that the former
course of the National Republican
party, is to say the least, distastefult o
the American people.
There's inevitable humiliation
ahead of the apparently victorious
CD Republican party unless, for the
time, some new evasion or subter-
fuge can be palmed off on the peo-
pie. Americans are fast waking up
to the realization that the thirty
years of Republican supremacy
were years of comparative inactivi-
ty. That little of real value was
done, that much of lasting harm
was permitted if not enacted by the
worthy solons of the G. o. p.