davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1895-02-15
A Primary Battery.

According to the Glasgow newspapers,
two young Scottish workmen, sons of a,
mechanic employed in the Singer sewing
machine works on the Clyde, have in
vented a battery which, it is asserted
will revolutionize electrical work, and a.
great man Of science like Lord Kelvin
thinks so much of it that he offered to
buy the patent rights for $500 The.
inventors, aged 81 and IS years, have,
it is said, made primary battery Gin
which, while the decomposition Of the,
zinc plates is rendered enormously slow
or and the chemicals used are of trivial
value, the strength Of the battery thus
formed is very greatly increased" The.
battery has been put to some severe
tests and is said to have stood them tri-
umphantly til evident that these lads
have made some sort of discovery
which is likely to bring them fortune,
but general expert opinion discredits
the idea Of an electrical revolution.
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1895-02-15
Dingbats.

The Boston Journal gives various
theories as to the meaning of the word
"dingbats." One writer who spent his
boyhood in Maine thinks it means to
spank, because his mother when getting
ready to use the slipper threatened to
put the "dingbats'' on him. From Will
barham academy comes the explanation
that it means the breakfast biscuit,
which the students dispose of by stick
ing it to the under side Of the table,
throwing it at the heads of other stu
dents or eating it. A Connecticut pupil
states that to receive punishment at the
hands of the teacher is known as "get-
ting the dingbats. Two Philadel-
phians agreed that it means money, as
in the sentence, ''I've got the dingbats
for it." But New Hampshire agrees
with Maine that it means spanking,
and so the majority appears to side with
the maternal slipper. It is from such
@'little acorns" that the tall tree of our
almost cosmopolitan language has
grown. We got ''blizzard'' from the
west, "kuklux" from the south, boom"
from the ambitious cities, ''crank"
from the eccentric minds in every part
of the country, 'pantats'' from Italy,
'chalitza" from Russia. Bingbats is
going to be a great convenience.
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1895-02-15

| yard Then he would be able to talk to
| her, to find out her name, and perhaps
, that would be the beginning Of an &C.
I quaintance to end-in moments of rev.
| erie like these pleasant smile adorned
the face of Andrew McChunk, smile
that not all his growth of stubb]y red
beard could conceal. He would strain
his eyes as if to see her from the post
Office. "Plinkety, plung, plung, would
go the gong She would look up and
smile, and he would smile. Then the
relentless cable would carry him on, a
dark look would come into his face, and
he would dance viciously Oh the alarm.
and perhaps if an opportunity offered
would vent his anger On the unfortunate
wagon that might happen to intercept
his passage.
At last the meeting and the separa-
ton. 1t was a disagreeable, rainy day
in early November when his car ratified
along lower Broadway. He made out
the great green umbrella from Cedar
street and saw the lower part Of the i'm
itation seal plush cloak beneath it. Then
a mail wagon intercepted ibis view for
moment.
"Plunlzety, plung, plung," went the
gong. His eyes were riveted upon the
stand. She was not there. His astonish-
ment knew no bounds, for never before
had she been absent from her post SO
early in the day. ''Plunkety, plung,
geplung, geplung, b-r-rung- b-r-rung,"
went the gong. Perhaps she was behind
the stand.
Gripman McChunk' S bones were chill
ed to the marrow. Up from under the
very platform upon which he was stand
ing came a scream. He jumped on the
gong, and it sounded one single tri-
umphant clang. Round whirled the
grip wheel, round whirled the brake
wheel, and the car came to standstill
They picked her off the fender and
carried her away in an ambulance. So
Gripman Andrew McChunk's heart was
broken.
A big policeman stood beside him on
the platform on the trip up town. The
gong sounded seldom on that mournful
journey. When it did ring, it had lost
all former life, and the notes came
forth in a mournful toll as they gave
expression to the players feeling.
Next day the police justice decided
that the whole affair was an accident
and discharged Andrew McChunk with
a warning. The company discharged
him, too but without warning. He
got job as street cleaner, and one
bleak day in the following February, as
he was shoveling the snow out of the
cutters Oh Columbus avenue, he CHANGED
to look up, and his eyes fell upon
blue and gold sign over small but neat
looking store. Upon it read, "Miss
Wilkins, Delicatessen. He looked
through the window and saw her stand
ing there behind the counter. Their
eyes met, but she gave him no smile of
recognition.
AS he bent down over his shovel he
muttered, eff I'd "a KEEP my eyes down
tn track, I wouldn't be here, and she
wouldn't "a got damages an be there,
but then I'd "a never know'd what ct
was ter have tibet queer wishin ter see
her from three blocks up tn street. %
He leaned on his shovel and gazed
blankly into the brown snow.-New
York Sun.
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1895-02-15
He Knew the Ropes.

Of one subject even Mr.. Freeman
would have been forced to admit that
Mr.. Froude, the historian of the refor-
nation, was a master. Froude was a
born sailor and could manage a yacht or
yawl in the ugliest sea as if he had been
bred to the business. So he was quick
to detect any slip that his friends, who
were less expert, might make.
The workmanship Of ''Crookit Meg, :"
he was pleased to say, was as good as
could be, with one exception. eff you
mean to take us to sea in this question
able little vessel, you must have your
sea dialect looked over. The main sheet
is a rope, not sail. The jib is 'loosed'
when you get under way and is the first
sail taken in when you are coming to
your moorings -Blackwood's Maya
zine.
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1895-02-15
DIDN'T HAVE ANY USUAL BRAND.
How a Country Cousin Made Miserable
Newly Made Man Ahout Town.

How a Country Cousin Made Miserable
Newly Made Man About Town.
When all adaptive young man from the
far corner of some New Eng land or west
ern state lives for time in New York
and absorbs enough of its atmosphere to
gain the prestige of regular boulevard
ier it's pretty hard now and again to
have old times thrust upon him in the
person of a primitive cousin or brother
law, whom he is bound in conscience
to entertain. A case of this kind occur
red recently, in which the artless rel
ative saw nothing but a screamingly
funny lapse Of memory, while the man
about town found modification there
i'll which was pretty hard to live
through.
A complete deliverance of the bump
kin into the hands of the outftter made
him presentable, and then there was the
little bachelor dinner at a Fifth ave-
nue. hotel given by the swell to all the
smart men, who wanted to meet your
cousin, don't you know"
All went merry until the wine list
came forth. To be sure, the pumpkin
talked too loud and refused to under
stand any monitory wink, but then he
said nothing too badly out of place.
"What wine will you have?" said the
cousin, addressing him.
''Haw! Haw! I don't know, Cousin
Dick, anything about the wine. You'll
have to settle that yourself"
'Shall we begin on a bottle of Sau-
terne?"
''Lordy, how can I tell Anything
you ike!' shouted the red checked. bull
let headed youth, who couldn't make
head or tail of the winks and looks of
deadly warning emanating from the
swell S eye.
People at adjoining tables pricked up
their ears i'll amused curiosity, while the
guests at the table looked trif1e dis
concerted at the pumpkin S noise.
What said the swell, firmly plant
ing his index finger on the word "Me-
doc" and glaring at the youth mes
merically, SO that he might understand
and repeat it, edo you generally take?"
"Usuallyv' shouted the youth. 'Haw,
haw, hawl Isn't that great? Usually
nothing! Of course! Never see wine.
How could /? You know that, Cousin
Dick, as well as do. You never saw
wine at home, and now New York
makes you forget all about it. Usually!
Haw, hawr' and the terrible youth
stretched out at full length and roared
satisfactorily for about five minutes,
while a sense of frozenness stole over
his cousin, and the swells looked Oh in
amused pity.
That frozen cousin is dead henceforth
to family ties i'll SO far as dining social
recruits is concerned, at least.-New
York Herald.
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1895-02-15
HIS 800 ANXIOUS WIVES.
Should the Ameer of Afghanistan Die The!
Would All Be Shot.

6HOulu INC Amer OF AI$IlhulSldH OAo AHcy
Would All Be Shot.
There is a certain village in the Mid
lands where the illness of the ameer Of
Afghanistan has been followed with
painful anxiety. The reason is to be
found in the following curious, but, I
believe, perfectly authentic story: Some
years ago an enterprising young tailor
left the village in question and went
abroad to seek his fortune. He eventu-
ally found his way to Kabul. Here great
luck awaited him. He obtained the pat
ronage of royalty and became the poole
Of Afghanistan. He had left sweet
heart behind in England, and, as soon
as he found himself en- the road to for
tune he sent for the damsel to join him.
She came, but here fortune deserted the
tailor. His intended bride in her turn
obtained the patronage of royalty, with
the result that she eventually became
ons of the 300 wives of Abdurraham.
This, however, is only the first act of
the tragedy. Il is understood that, by
the laws Of Afghanistan, when the
ameer dies, the whole of his 300 wives
must t. let Let The laws. Of the Afghans
are as immutable as thoseo their ancI6c,s t
neighbors, the Medes and Persians, and
the whole of the little Midland village
where the ameer's English wife was
born and where her parents are still liv-
ing has been during the past week or
two in high state of excitement over
the possible fate Of the young lady. For
tunately the ameer seems better now,
and it is to hoped, if only for the sake
of his wives, whatever their nationali-
ty, that the improvement may continue.
In the meantime cannot diplomacy do
anything for the young woman? At his
time of life, and with equity habit to
boot, I should have thought Abdurrah
might have been induced to get along
with 800 of them. If, however, he must
have round number in the family Cir
Gle, perhaps an exchange might be ne
gotiated. London Truth.
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1895-02-15
liz HAD No HARD FEELINGS.

You see that woman coming, Jack, dressed up
in pink and gray?
Well, that's a woman whom I loved in times
now passed away.
used to visit her each night and write her
every day,
And words of burning, eager love to her I'd
often say.
I'd take her out to parties and to many mat
inee,
Would send her every week or SO a costly big
bouquet.
Large sums out Of my salary cheerfully
would pay
For buggy rides and such like things to make
our courtship gay.
Well, after all I'd done for her, this same
young maid, Miss May,
Although her parents stern had said to such a
marriage nay,
Packed up her clothes together and skipped
lightly out one day
And welded a young fellow down at Nara
gansett Bay.
Well, goodby, Jack, she's coming, and with her
must stray.
You say that you re astonished that word to
her I'd say;
That should coldly snub and scorn such de-
ceitful fay.
But, don't you see? l am the man with whom
she ran away.
Charles J. Cotton in New York Sun.
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1895-02-15
The Cakes of Our Childhood.

It must be a common experience with
us all to look back with something OF
wonder, even of humiliation, to the
things in literature or art we once
thought exquisite and of highest worth.
The oratory we once sat under, the mu-
sic we once sang or played, the engrav-
ing we used to buy and hang on our
walls when we were IS and infallible,
how poor and cheap they often seem aft
er quarter of a century or SO, during
which we have read more, thought more,
used our eyes more and drunk deeper Of
the 'still sad music of humanity. -
Macmillan's Magazine
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1895-02-15
An American Translator of Horace

General Thomas w. Hyde of Bath,
despite the manifold cares of his busy
life, has been engaged during his few
leisure hours in translating Horace's
odes. After reading Gladstone's work
the general was moved to write the
English author upon some details Of
their mutual work and recently receiv
ed the following autographs note in
reply:
DEAR SIR promptly acknowledge your
Kindness and think it a great honor that my
poor effort should be noticed from beyond
the Atlantic by fellow laborer to whom I
wish a success more perfect than my own.
Yours very faithful and obedient,
W. E. GLADSTONE.
Hawarden Castle, Dec. l. 1894.
Augusta (Me.) Journal
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1895-02-15
A Monument of Bankruptcy.

The great tower at Wembley park,
north of London, which is intended to
be much higher than the Eiffel tower.
promises to become a monument Of
bankruptcy. The company has spent
$500, 900, and the first platform has not
yet been reached.
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1895-02-15
Her Fortune.

Pearl Passee-Yes, dear papa is very
generous. On my birthday anniversary
he always gives me dollar for each
year have lived.
Yulie Congratulated? That must
have been the money Charley Gayboy
meant when he said you had fortune
in your own right. Buffalo Courier.
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1895-02-15
GustatOry.

81 can't say" remarked the sword
swallower as he dispatched Damascu;
blade, ''that I especially like the tast"
Of foreign foods. y
ssTheir dishes,' rejoined the glass
eater, who was partaking of a Venetian
soup tureen, are, as a rule, far from
pleasing"
The human salamander tossed off three
fingers Of imported red fire, with gas
oline chaser, but said nothing. Detroit
Tribune
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1895-02-15
Bound to Have 1t.

Mrs. Gotthere-My dear, pardon my
frankness but really fear your daugh-
ter can never be a social success.
Mrs. Owtsyde-Why?
Mrs. G.-Well, she has no no
aplomb at all.
Mrs. O.-Is that all? She shall have
one. Me and John will spare no expense
with Mollie She shall have the best
article of ap-whatever it is-that can
be had. Pittsburg Bulletin.
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1895-02-15
An Incomplete Affair.

''It is plain" said the justice, "that
you stole the hog, and shall send you
up for 10 months"
"Jedge, kin you gimme bout QUE
hour TO I goes?''
"What for?''
"Well, sub, wants ter 60 home en-
salt dat hog n!'-Atlanta Constitu-
ton.
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1895-02-15

The great Christian feasts Of Christ
mas, Easter, Ascension and Whitsun-
tide are said to have been ordered to be
observed by tho whole church all over
the world as early as the close of the
first century.
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1895-02-15

A portrait Of man scratched on bone,
apparently the shoulder blade Of sheep,
was found in 1857 in Swiss lake
dwelling.
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1895-02-15

Some Of the little bronze images OF
Chinese deities are supposed to have an
antiquity of 2, 600 years before Christ.
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1895-02-15

] Wheat is mentioned in the Scriptures
as we'll known grain and under wide
cultivation.
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1895-02-15
HaldkGrCliletS

Two long counters and hunting for more
room! More THAT $500 fIandkcrchiefs just
received. These values are simply marvel
Gus. In this connection it can be truth
fully stated that we have never shown Il
better OF CHEAPER assortment for the
holiday season. Linen and silk handker-
chiefs, with initial. for ladies and gentle-
men.
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1895-02-15
A BROKEN SONG. -.

"Where am from?" From the green bil,s nf
Erin.
Have no song now?" My songs are all sung.
What O. my love, then?'' Alone, am farm.
Old grows my heart, an my voice yet is young.
III she was tall?" Like kings own daugL-
ter
III she was fair?" Like mornin O. May.
when she'd come laughin, twas the run1iin
wather;
When she'd come blushin, twas the break O.
day.
where did she dwell?'' Where onest had my
dwellin.
WHO loved her best?' TIL are no one now
will know
Where is she gone2' Och, why would be
tellin?
Where she is gone, there can never go.
MORA O'Neill in Spectator.
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1895-02-15

Winnipiseogee is the beautiful lake
Of the highland. - .........---
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1895-02-15
DO YOU WANT MONEY :?

We will loan you money at a lower rate of in
terest than any other association. We DEDUCT
NO BONUS, but loan you the face value of your
stock in cash. You only pay interest on what
you receive. Monthly payments smaller than
On o less pe onh and
pays larger dividends than any other stock. We
issue two classes of paid up stock, follows. both
paid up and nom assessable:
One at $50 share, bearing per cent interest,
payable semi-annually, natures. or you receive
800 per share, in seven years. The other at 500
q share. bearing 10 per cent. interest, payable
SEMI annualy. Can be withdrawn a any time.
The attention of persons having large or small
amounts to invest is called to the above stock.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-06-20
ABBREVIATED TeLseRAMs.

George Cohn and William Brown made
their escape from the northern Indiann
prison at Michigan City.
Fourteen houses, three general stores,
and q number of small tenements were
destroyed by fire at Brownstown, Ind.
The loss Is $40, 900; insurance, EO,e00
Ernest Adler. diamond dealer at q
MaideL Lane. New York, confessed judg.
ment for SS,667. money advanced. The
liabilities of Adler arc said to be about
$9),Uo0.
Obituary: At Mount Vernon, O., Lecky
Harper, 50, the oldest editor in the state;
at San francisco, Joseph MacDonough;
at Hannibal, Mo. ex-State Senator j.
Perry Wood; Mt Wyanet, Ills, Christian
Boxman; at Wausau, Wis, g. A. Bro.
ger.
Ralph Turner'S IL ;year-old Quincy, Ills,
boy, hanged himself because his mother
gave him a scolding.
Jacob Keifer and wife, aged 20. OF
Wooster, o., were horribly and probably
fatally burned through carelessness In
lighting a gasoline stove. The woman
was burned about the body and head.
Her husband in endeavoring to carry the
stove out of the house threw the burning
fluid all over himself
Captain William Clark, government
steamboat inspector at How ard s ship yard
Jeffersonviile, Ind, missing since May Il
and supposed to have been murdered. has
turned up at his homo at Grand View,
Tenn. A telegram says he is insane, su.
perinduced by sunstroke.
Mexico and Guatemala have extended
until May }, 1876. the time when tho
new boundary treaty shall go into effect.
Three coal cars on the Pennsylvania
railway were wrecked by collision at
Collins station. Dawson Fornwalt, of
Columbia was instan tly killed, and his
brother, Harry Fornwalt, fatally injured.
The treasury gold reserve is now with
in $500, COO of the $lOO, OOO, 600 mark.
Gladstone has practically withdrawn
his support from Lord Rosebery's cabinet
by retiring from the pairing agreement
with Right Honorable Charles P. Villers.
NJ. p, tecause he wishes to be regarded
as having an open mind on the Welsh
church disestablishment bill.
Miss May Belle Critchfield. a st. Louis
young helress who mysteriously disap-
peared few days ago, was found in the
Convent of the Good Shepherd, whittier
she had gone voluntarily and intends,
she says. to stay.
Ex-Congrcssman Richard Bland, OF
Missouri, is ill at the Brown Palace hotel,
Denver. His lecturing tour has weak.
ened him and he is unable to see callers.
Bland's physician thinks he will be able
to travel in u few days.
In January, February and March, 1894,
the total British exports of tinplate was
so, SS1 tons, valued at 81, ,OO9 329, of which
4s,6 ,6Io tons were exported to the United
States. During the same period in 1895
the total export was 93 672, tons, valued
at 81, ,O7J, 655. of which 6o,57 tons were
sent to the United States.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-06-20
THE ARMY OF GEN. GOMEZ.
Major Ham Says 1t Numbers $4,000
Many Americans in the Ranks.

Major Ham Says 1t Numbers 1j,00O-
Many Americans in the Ranks.
JAoKsoNvILLE, Fla, ,Janc 2l-A special
to The Citizen from Gainesville says r.
+. Anderfer has received another letter
from Major Ham, which was delivered
in Tampa by private individual, is
dated "In Camp at Tunas, Province Of
Camagucy, Cuba, June 10. via Tampa,
June 49," and says: 1--WE reached Co
mez's camp this morning ut 10 o'clock,
after marching part of the night. Our
entry was triumphal Gomez troops were
drawn up to receive US. Col Hernandez
was with us, and had the pleasure of turn
ing over the gold-s25J, 00J-to General
Gomez, who will use it in buying sup
plies and paying the soldiers.
The rifles and dammunitionwet turned over
to the quartermaster, as we'll as the 500
rifles captured from Spaniards yesterday
in battle. General Gomez army now
comprises 10, 900 men," Ham cnumerates
the regiments of which the army is COM
posed, among the troops being an Ameri-
can battalion from Georgia, Alabama and
Florida. numbering 3,4, independent
companies of Americans from Ohio,
under command Of Captain Ellis,
1S5, and last, but not least, the com.
pany of Texas sharpshooters, now fifty
two strong, from Fort Worth, under Cap
tain Stiilwell, who was promoted from
first lieutenant."
Major Ham adds: "As soon as all are
in camp VIC shall march upon and try to
take Puerto Principe, which Is our OBJ
jective point. We are expecting another
expedition with 1000 rifles and 5. .OO0, ,O0C
rounds Of ammunition. We also hore to
take one Of the Spanish cruisers soon, as
we have plans made to that end"
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-06-20
rRrsca AKp,TxAr,ox LAWS
Report on How They Havsf 16rkcd Dur
ing the Year 1894.

WASHINGTON, June 20.-Consul Whitley,
Mt st. Etienne, France, has sent to the
state department report upon labor arbi-
tration in Franco for the year 1894 The
French law has been in operation for two
years. 1t contcmplates the voluntary sub
mission by the parties interested in the
questions Mt issue between them, first to
n committee OF Cancellation consisting of
delegates chosen by the respective parties,
and secondly. in case Of n failure to agree
on the part of such committees, to a coun-
Gil Of arbitration. The proceedings may
be initiated 10y either party, or in case Of
u strike upon the invitation Of the justice
of the peace Of the district. but In all cases
the agreement OF both parties to submit
the question Is essential
The facts in the report arc taken from
a report recently published by the depart
ment of commerce and industry. l. ap-
pears that while thero has been great
decrease in the number Of strikes in 1894
ne compared with 1893 the proportion of
cases under the arbitration act was con.
siderably in excess OF the past year. 1t ap-
pears that there were G3i st rikcs in 1898 and
39l in 1901 In 1898 there were log proceed
ings under the act and 10l cases in 1891.
In 1893 proceedings were invoked 56
times by workmen, 4S by the justice and
by employers. In 1874 there were 81 by
workmen, by employers and Al by the
justice.
Workmen refused to submit the ques-
ton times in 1898 and employers 81
times, while in 1894 workmen refused in
cases and employers in "a. The COM
mittee of arbitrators reached solution in
81 cases in 1873 and 32 cases in 1894. The
number Of workmen taking part in the
ayl strikes of 1894 was 81, ,576; number Of
establishments closed during the contin-
uancc Of the strikes, 1881, and the ag-
gregate days work lost by the workmen
1,C62, iSo In the 81 cases where solution
of the difficulty was reached the demands
Of the workmen were granted in 10 cases,
refused in l and q compromise reached
in IL