davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1895-08-09

as reason and observation can inform
us the living particles in the ponds ane
seas of today have descended in dl
rect continuity of living material from
the first dawn of life. No other sol
ton is open, save the possibility OF q
spontaneous generation of living mat,
ter SO continual and so common thai
| it could not have eluded the search OF
science. This is that Immortality OF
the protozoa' limited at by Lankcster,
in England, blazoned into fame by
| Weismann.
Whether or no the protoplasm OF the
tissues of higher organism be poten.
TALLY immortal can only be IA matter OF
inference. The reproductive cells, in
deed, from a living chain, binding the
animals and plants of the remotest
past. This reproductive protoplasm is
immortal in precisely the same sense as
the protoplasm of single cells is i'm
mortal, aud there seems no reason To
believe with Weismann that the proto-
plasm of the other tissues has acquired
mortality and is different in kind. 1t
dies, but only because it is part of
complex structure.
The machinery of the body is not
regulated to last forever; on the other
hand, it is to the advantage of the
race that it should break down when
reproduction has been accomplished,
and it's break down results in the ruin
of its component parts. There is no
reason to suppose that the protoplasm
itself grows old A slip cut from
tree many centuries old may be grated
ON "A young tree and so enter ON new
lease of life. We're the process to be
continued, a continuity of protoplas
mic life might be maintained. SO far
as we can tell death is not inherent IN
living matter. Protoplasm may live
forever, and flame shielded from the
wind and fed from an endless store
would burn forever, From the Lon
don Saturday Review.
The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1895-08-09
THINGS In THIS WORLD OF
OlIRS.
COWS MIXED BY A SNAKE

Eight Kansas BOvines sucked Dry ny
Monster Bull snake and Then Died II
Great Agony.
Four curious specimens of humanity
have been confined in Norridewcck
Me-, Jail accused of sheep stealing
They were arrested in Brighton, Som
erset county.
They belong to a gang consisting OF
about 40 persons, who have no homes,
but have lived until recently near the
Canadian line, living like wild beasts
in the summer and in the caves during
the winter. They wear little or nc
clothing, aud their backs. which have
long been exposed to the sun and
weather, are covered with growth OF
hair fully three inches long.
1t is very hard to get any sense out
of their conversation, although they
have learned to swear so that one can
not help understanding
One of the men, a giant in form, is
unable to talk, and is nothing short OF
an IDIOT His sides are full of small
holes made with the brad in the end OF
good stick when he has been yoked
with an OK.
The day they were placed in jail they
ha fight among themselves and tore
every stitch of clothing off each others
bodies.
Officers are after others of this tribe
of wild men, but cannot catch them
The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1895-08-09
by WAY OF ANECDOTE.
A "REMINISCENCES OF LINCOLN
Was Not SVerved by the Pro'es'
Against Emancipation.

WINS Not Svverved by the Protests
Against Emancipation.
There is now among the patients al
n sanitarium in Elmira an old man
named II. G. Robbins, patent lawyer,
who has been a resident of Washing
ton, nearly half century. lie was
we'll acquainted with Mr.. Lincoln, by
whom he was selected as chairman OF
the first police commission after ms
inauguration in 1SGl He tells this
story of the martyr president: After the
emancipation proclamation mao been
written, it will be remembered that
six months were given the coniedera'cs
| to lay down their arms and return 10
the union, in which case the proclama-
ton was not to be issued. The early
elections had gone against the repub
lican party. A tremendous pressure
was brought to bear upon the presl-
dent to withdraw the threatened issue
of the proclamation Letters poured
in, some imploring, some threatening,
and many weak hearted men called 10
counsel against the paper, until the
stanch anti slavery people feared tha'
Mr.. Lincoln could not Withstand the
pressures. One day, about a week be
fore the time set for the proclamation.
Mr.. Robbins walked into the Office OF
Private Secretary Nioclay. VINE
standing there Mr.. Lincoln entered,
put his hand on Mr.. Robbins's shoul-
der and said well old friend, the
important day draws near F" Yes, -
replied Robbins, land | hope there
will be no backing out on your part. y
"WeIl / don't know, said Lincoln;
Peter denied his Master. He thought
he wouldn't, but he did. = MIR. Rob
bins knew by this simple but subtle
hint that Mr.. Lincoln was determined,
though the pressure was almost too
great to withstand. The great day came,
and with it freedom to black aud
white. A few days later Mr.. Robbins
met Mr.. Lincoln, when the latter
grasped his hand and said We'll,
friend Robbins, | beat Peter
The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1895-08-09
Reporters That Won Promotion

A pretty long list, says the Londol
| Standard, might be made of men wht
| have owed their advancement in life
| to smart answer given at the righr
moment. One of Napoleon's veterans
who survived his master many years.
was wont to recount with great glee
how he once picked up the emperors
cooked hat at a review when the latter,
not noticing that he was one of the
privates OF the guard of honor said
carelessly THANK you captain" I'm
what regiment sire?' instantly asked
the ready wittcd soldier. "In my
guard, responded Napoleon. perceiv-
ing his mistake; for Il see you know
how to be prompt y
somewhat similar anecdote is relat
ed of Marshal Suvoroff, who, when re-
ceiving dispatch from the hands of a
Russian sergeant who had greatly dis
tinguished himself on the Danube, at
tempted to confuse the messenger by a
series of whimsical questions, but
found him as ready witted as he had
proved himself to be brave. How
many fish are there in the seaS" asked
Suvorotf. A II that are not caught
yet was the answer. How far is it
to the moon?' 1.-Two of your excel
lency's forced marches. . What
would you do if you saw your enemy
giving way in battle?'' I'd tell them
there was wagon load of whiskey Just
behind the enemy's line" Baffled at
all points, the marshal ended with,
What's the difference between your
colonel and myself?' my colonel
cannot make me lieutenant, but your
eXcellency has only to say the word. +"
| say it now then answered Suyo-
ron, and right good officer you'll
be. In both cases the newly made
officers received the promised commits
sions.
The traditions of the English navy
nave preserved another instance of the
kind well worth quoting. When the
duke of Clarence, afterward william
w., went down to Portsmouth TO in
spect the British seventy fours. the
guide allotted to him was a battered old
lieutenant with one eye, who, lacking
friend at court had served for
years without promotion. As the vet |
eran removed his hat to salute the row
al visitor, the latter remarked his bald |
ness and said iestingly, 81 see, INV
friend, you have not spared your hair
in your country's service" why.
The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1895-08-09
ELECTRIC WINNIPEG.
The Atmosphere is Full ofthe Fluid and
II has Curious Results.

\ very odd thing, and one that mol
only astonishes but startles the strang
err is the peculiar electrical condition
of everything in Winnipeg during the
winter. IF YOU reach out to touch an
electric bell, before your finger is
within three inches of the enunciator
there is flash of lighting that goes
M through your arm and will proba
| bly, make YOU Jump six feet, IL you
touch any metallic substance there Is
flash of lightning when you get into
bed the clothing crackles, and one
would think that the landlord had
provided you with a blanket adorned
with firetlies.
After while one gets so nervous one
is afraid to touch anything. have
stumbled around my room and bruised
my shins rather than take chances
lighting the gas or turning on the elcc
tric current. If you reach for the gas
Jet, crack" it goes. If you shuttle
your feet along the carpet you can
light the gas with your finger 1t is
really one of the most startling phc-
nomena in the whole Northwest. I'M
agine turning over in ones bed and
having the quilts emit sparks, or
reaching for bell and being imme
diately answered by flash that is apt
to make one howl. | saw my travelling
companions who had grown somewhat
careful, wrap his finger up in a piece
of paper to touch the bell. He jumped
back with d shrek, and the whole
paper seemed on fire The people of
the etiete East vino want 10 become
should 90 up North; they
will get it in proper shape and will
learn to avoid radiators and every
other metallic substance.
The fact remains. however, that in
that climate one feels wonderfully
hopeful and able to work, and no task
seems to hard to be undertaken, and |
am firmly convinced that the great men
of Canada. will be developed there. Iii
is remarkable fact that Ontario, the
most blessed of all the sections of
Canada, has developed, porportionately
to its population, fewer brainy and en-
ergetic politicians and business men
than the provinces by the sea or the !
great western stretch of land with the
wonderful electricity in the air and
the greatest difficulties Of money max
ing in the climate. From the Satur
lay Night.
The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1895-08-09

| The southeastern part of Jefferson
county, New York. that strange region
of hcrmits and rccluses, is all agog
over another sensational discovery.
Miss Mary Birchall, who lives with
her parents in a dilapidated frame
! house not he lake shore, in. that rock
riven scrub pine district of Henderson
| known as ''Thc Jobs. - has become
possessed of a wondrous power.
! Miss Birchall is comedy girl of Is,
tall and graceful, with an abundance
of dark brown hair, regular features
and complexion rivaling La France
roses. She is almost "A recluse, how
ever, and is rarely seen away from the
tumble down structure she calls her
home. She is also uneducated save
for the knowledge she may have
CLEANED from the birds, the flowers and
the forest Of scrub pines that sur
rounds the house. But she is endowed
with strange electric power that
would make her famous in the mu-
seums of the country if she would con
sent to exhibit herself.
One of her methods of utilizing the
power is the transmitting of a current
of electricity to sewing machine and
a grindstone, causing them to run at
any desired rate of speed, and all the
family sewing is performed on an old,
fashioned machine driven by the cleo
trio current from the girls finger
tips while the edged tools of the little
farm are sharpened on the grindstone
revolved by the same force. She can,
in measure, likewise light up dark
room at her will by her presence. When
Farmer Birchall wants to investigate
matters at night in the barn. Miss |
Mary accompanies him and Eliminates |
the building and there is not the dan |
ger of fire there would be by the use |
of lantern
When producing the phenomena she
seems to be charged with all the cleo
tric energy of IA live wire, and it is ex-
tremely dangerous for person to touch
her.
The heavily charged, atmosphere
that surrounds her at such times re-
pels, and thus has saved many from
injury. A large shepherd dog owned
by the family rubbed his nose against
Miss Birchall when she was transmit
ting force To the grindstone and re-
ceived a shock that stretched him life
less. When Illuminating the COW
stables, one night vicious heifer
kicked at the girl, striking her on the
hand. Instantly the animal experience
ed shock that paralyzed its limbs. and
not recovering afterward, it was killed
by Mr.. Birchall. \ young man named
Charles Harris, who lives at Six Town
Point, volunteered TO investigate the
mystery. He asserted his Willingness
to undergo the risk of the girls pow
ers: took hold of her hands. and at
lnce began to experience terrific
shocks, and in a few seconds was I'M
There are many other strange things
old of the girl, but her extreme diff
ience and shyness have led her TO re-
use to see many who have visited the
house.
The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1895-08-09

A Lttcullus-LiIe Youth.

The pc people of Paris are likely Il
talk for many IA day of the wonderful
dinner given on Thursday night last
at famous restaurant in that city b.
| Rodman Wanamaker, the son OF eX-
| Postmaster General Wanamaker OF
Philadelphia. Twenty tMo guests par
took of this feast. Twenty two of the
finest equipages which Paris stables
could produce called at the same mo-
ment at the residences of the guests
and then brought them to the ban
quet hall. The list of guests included
a number of titled personages and 9th
or friends of the host. The decora
tions of the dining room were marvel
ousy beautiful. Luminous funtain.s,
planted upon great blocks of ice, kept
the air cool The dinner itself showed
splendid disregard of cost. 1t was
not one dinner, but twenty-five indie
pendent dinners. separately served, one
to each guest. Each guest had before
him whole leg Of mutton, a whole
salmon, truilied fowl, basket of peach
es and a double magnum of cham
payne, besides bottles of wine of sac
red vintage and fabulous cost After
the dessert had been served "A waiter
brought around black silk bag, into
which each guest thrust his hand and
drew out souvenir The souvenirs
were pearl and emerald pins, ruby
links, gold cigarette cases, inlaid
with diamonds, and other trifles of
substantial value. 1t is asserted that
the cost of the entire affair was close
to $40. coo. Young Wanamaker, " says
the London correspondent of the New
York Sun, succeeded to his own sat
isfaction in demonstrating that Ameri
can hospitality, when measured by the
cash standard, quite distances etfete
European customs. Some comments
ON the affair, in which Frenchmcn
and foreigners are INDUCING, do not
have pleasant sound in the ears of
other Americans in Paris, and some
protests are made that young Wanna
maker is not typical American host. y
Nor is he. The feast was wicked,
wanton extravaganza, which could
serve no purpos whatever except as a
display of Lucullus like recklessness.
We have few Americans of that kind,
but they are not types.
The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1895-08-09

Cases of Persons Who Were About to BE
Buried-Many EntOmbed Alive-The
Recent and Remarkable plight of
Pretty Young Girl.-Eren Physicians
Mystihed. -Funera1 Services Interrupt
ted by the supposed Corpses sitting Up
In he IN


If the grave would tell its secret
what heritage would be left to tn
living who mourn the dear departed
Medical science has sought for tim
out of mind for perfect test of death
yet instances continue to multiply o
persons having been prepared for buria
yes, and entombed, even-when lif,
was not yet extinct. Reliable record,
furnish many cases of quite recent oc
currence, besides many cases of sup
posed death where persons have beer
restored to life after their death certi
ticates had been issued and all arrange
ments made for burial.
Speaking on the subject of apparen,
death, when in reality the subject was
only in trance, with animation sus-
pended, a prominent New York physi-
! clan related this instance in his ow-
experience:
Some time ago | was called to see
a hearty, robust girl of about twenty
years of age. As some of her symp-
toms were new to the young physician
who was attending her, | was called in
for consultation. AS / entered the
house was informed that the patient
had died few minutes before. The
other physician and myself made a
thorough examination and agreed that
she was dead. Still, there was some
thing so peculiar about the case that
advised that careful watch be kept
over the remains for three DAYS and
nights. Two days subsequently the
family sent for me to determine if the
body needed to be placed on ice, as it
was to be removed to New Hampshire
for interment. The unusually good
condition of the corpse surprised me-
and | looked it over with great inter
est.
There was an absence of the rigid
lty usually attending death, and
though the body was cold it was not
as rigid as | expected to find it. While
bordering these things | was startled
by what seemed to be slight tremor
of the eyelids-so slight, however. as
to be scarcely perceptible. But on
close inspection l found that was not
mistaken. clearly saw the faint
twitching of the delicate nerves of the
eyelids and realized that life had not
departed. Another physician was
summoned, and we made vigorous eff |
forts for quickening the feeble spark |
of vitality which was now slowly as
sorting itself, and in a few hours res
was resumed, natural warmth
returned, the eyes opened, the lips
parted and the teeth were unclinched.
Stlmulants were administered, then
and twelve hours there
after consciousness returned.
Within month she regained nor
nal health and strength, which has
continued almost uninterruptedly ever
since. She married subsequently,, and
s now the mother of three splendid
children. She declares that She was
conscious of all that TRANSFERRED around
Ter, and suffered indescribable mental
live
The late eminent DR. B. f. Marcy
u New York, mentioned the case of
highly connected young woman whoI
The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1895-08-09
sirkIes Was Obeyed.

The story is told that when. after
the second battle of Bull Run, Gener-
al SickIes assumed command of dl-
vision of the army of the Potomac, he
gave an elaborate farewell dinner to
the officers of his old Excelsior brig
ade. Now boys, we viii have fam
lily gathering. . he said to them AS the
army assembled in his quarters. Point
ing TO the table, he continued
Treat il as you would the enemy.
As the feast ended an Irish officer,
Captain Byrnes, was discovered 10y
.Sickles in the act of slowing away
three bottles of champagne in his sad
die bags. What ara you doing sir?'
gasped the astonished general obey
ing orders, sir, - replied the captain,
in army voice. You told us to treat
that dinner as we would the enemy,
and you know, general, what 80 can
kill we capture. y Life
The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1895-08-09

Hosea Ballou, the father of Univer
salism y said Nelson Ritter of thi:
city, was an old fashioDd man, bu
with good deal of real wit. At one
of our important church meetings {
good many years ago young clergy
man delivered a sermon, which he AT
forwards pompousIy told his friends,
in the presence of Ballou, that he was
only an hour in writing. And how
long would il have taken you to write
that scrmun:' said the young minister
10 Balou. And the reply was !
don't believe | could have written it in
all ctcrnityr Well, now. said the
sprouting thcoiogian, nothing abash
ed, what part Of the sermon did
yoa like best: There must have been
a little bit Of good in it. Yes, said
the old man, thoughtfully, the text
was first rate. Syracuse Post.
The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1895-08-09

noted in history and literature are IN
nunerable. These Parthian shafts are
treasured up and furnish admirable
SAMPLES for the cultivation OF modern
Wit which seems to seek different
channel. The Chicago News recalls
quito number of these anecdotes
among them being the following; a
youth TO fortune and fame unknown
sent Dumas the manuscript of a new
play, asking the great dramatist to be-
come his collaborateur. Dumas was
for a moment pctrificd then he seized
his pen and replied: How dare you,
sir, propose to yoke together horse
and an ASST The author, by return
of post, wrote: How dare you, sir,
cali me "A horse?' Dumas, by next
mail: "Send me your play, my
friend -
The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1895-08-09

1t is authenticity stated that there
is "A family of 10 sturdy children, all
under 3l5 years of age, which is at
tracing good deal of attention in
Wauchula, Fla. The mother of the
children, Mrs. William Webb, first
bore twins, then triplets, and ON April
4 last she gave birth to quintuplets,
four girls and one boy, all of whom are
said to be thriving remarkably well.
1t is proposed to introduce bill into
the Florida legislature for the relief OF
the parents Of this little family, as
they are very poor. The local newspap-
er which vouches for this story thinks
Mrs Webb has broken "A worlds rec
ord, and ought to be pensoned off for
ltfn
The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1895-08-09
Kenneth Bazemore had the rood for.

Kenneth Bazemore had the good for
tune to receive small bottle of Cham
berlain's Collie, Cholera and Diarrhpa
Remedy when three members of his
family were sick with dysentery. This
one small bottle cured them all and he
had some left which he gave to Geo.
W. Baker, a prominent merchant of
the place, Lewiston, N. c., and it
cured him of the same complaint.
When troubled with dysentery, diar
rhua, collie or cholera morbus. give
this remedy a trial and you will be
more than pleased with the result. The
praise that naturally follows its intro
duction and use has made ii very popu-
lar. - and 30 cent bottles for sale by
+. h. Durgin, Druggist. adv.
The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1895-08-09
The War Governor of Illinois and n
Time When lie Got LEFT.

Uncle Dick OgIesby,, the war Coy
ernor of Illinois, always delighted in
telling this story on himself. He prid
ed himself on his success in campaign
ing when called upon to reach a mans
vote through his family pride On
| one Of his tours he passed through a
country town in Illinois, when he came
suddenly upon u charming group a
lcomely woman with bevy of little
ones about her in garden with a
high picket fence in front of it. He
stopped short, then advanced and lean
ed over the front gate.
Madam, said he. in his most in
gratiated way, may ! kiss these beau
tiful children 2"
Certainly, sir, the lady answered
Idemurcly: there is 30 possible objec-
ton. -
They are lovely darlugs, said Tn
Gle Dick. after he had finished the
llth. II have seldom seen more beau
tiful babies. Are they all yours,
marm?"
The lady blushed deeply
"Of course they are the sweet little
treasures. From whom else, marin,
could they have inherited these lmpid
eyes, these rosy checks. these profuse
curls, these comely figures and these
musical voicesy"
The lady continued blushing.
by the way. marin, ~ said Uncle
Dick, may bother you to tell your
estimable husband that Richard J.
Oglesby, republican candidate for gov
ernor, called upon him this EVENING""
A las, SIR quoth the lady, Il
have no husband. -
But these children, madam-you
surely are not widow"
II fear you were mistaken, sir, when
you first came up. These are not my
children. This is an orphan asylum y
The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1895-08-09

Many anecdotes, more or less apoc-
ryphal, have been current as to the
wit of the late Rev G. II. Sturgeon.
One, however, which is perfectly au-
thentic, is characteristic of the man.
On one occasion he was much ANNOYED
by three young men who persisted in
wearing their hats. He appeared for
the time not to notice them, but pro
ceeded to tell his audience of visit
he had paid to Jewish Synagogue.
when | entered. 'hc said, Il took of
my hat, but was informed that the
great mark of respect was TO keep il on.
| did SO, though can assure you | felt
very strange wearing my hat in a place
of worship. And now, having paid
this mark of respect 10 the synagogue
may ! ask those three Jews in the gal
lery to conform equally with our rules
and kindly uncover their heads?"
The men collapsed.