davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-08-25

Jefferson Davis was instituting success
full plans for the conduct of the war de-
partment In the new territories, afterWard
becoming Secretary of War.
Both came from obscurity, but for gem
erations the same stream of genius in ma
tional affairs flowed through the ancestral
veins of both until. divided In twain by
the political condition of the country, the
two branches formed mighty cataracts,
winch dashed against each other until the
stains of slavery was washed out.
Ihose intimately acquainted with them
pronounced them gentle and good in their
home life, and personal department. 1t
is matter of record that the army
officers who guarded Davis while he was
imprisoned at Fortress Monroe, were en-
tirely surprised at his personality Their
preconceived notions of his disposition
were completely reversed. Instead of
the hre-eater, they found a calm, gentle
man of the greatest fortitude in the face
OF the greatest calamity that ever he
fell an American citizen. This state
ment is well attested. When this was
discovered Horace Greeley foremost
or Davis former foes, signed the bond
for his release. When Davis died in 1889
the New York Sun said "A great souI has
passed"
Through all the public career of each
there was shown tenacity, firmness. and
resolution even to stuppornness. Grant
never repented the merciless slaughter
of union soldiers in the great battles:
Davis never asked forgiveness for what
he had done. They both looked upon
the great losses as national calamity.
from which national blessing has come
to the black man, to commerce. to all
concerned, bringing happiness to all
one sleeps in almost the extreme north
the other in almost the extreme south.
The era of the civil war and all dis
cussion of 1t has closed as a national
matter The new north and the new
south are now practically and indisso-
lubly one, closer in union than ever be-
fore Verify they now know that they
are brothers of the same blood. hone
Drawn and brain. Four wars have
proven It. Washington Davis.
The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-08-25

consistent member. Her steadiness, and
strength of character have been the
stay of the family through life She
was always careful and most watchful
over her children; but never austere. and
not opposed to their free participation
in innocent amusements."
The influence and inherited trait of
Gen. Grants mother upon his character,
have been told so many times that they
need no reiteration here. 1t only remains
to show the innumerable family ties of
the Simpsons and Davises, in ancestral
composition as a chemist might say.
The life of John Davis" is the log
book by which every real Pennsylvania
Davis swears. The manuscript for it
was prepared from old documents In pos
session of various branches of the fam
lily, covering a period of nearly two hun
dred years. The collection and arrange
ment of these documents for print re-
quired odd moments for a number of
years, and the work was done and pub
lished for private circulation. in 1885,
by Gen. w. W. H. Davis, now living at
Doylestown. Pa.
The difference between Montgomery
county in Jesse Root Grants letter and
Bucks county in Gen. Davis statement, is
very slight. Montgomery county was a
part of Philadelphia until 1854 Both join
ed the present city of Philadelphia, on the
west and north, and the entire territory
where the early Davises and Simpsons
lived is within a radius of about forty
miles from the present public building in
Philadelphia.
Thus Gen. Grants great grandfather
was William Simpson, who was father of
John Simpson, who was father of Mrs.
Grant. The Roots also married with the
Grants in Ohio, and the present and pre-
ceding generation of Roots claim a first
cousinship with the Ohio Davises.
In answer to a letter of inquiry on these
points, Gen. Davis has written:
"Doylestown, Pa, July 30, 1895.-Ay Good
Cousin: Yours at hand and contents no.
ted
do know anything about John Simp-
son?' My fathers mother was Ann Simp-
son, of Buckingham township, this county
a daughter of William, who was a revolu-
tionary soldier, and he had a son John.
/ have often heard my father say that Gen
Grant was cousin OF his. Grant was also
related TO the Houghs of this county, who
are our relatives. You came from the
same ancestry.
Judge Root did not belong to this
bailiwick
Regarding the conversation / had with
Jefferson Davis while he was Secretary of
War. l know nothing more than / have
told you. Our talk was informal. He
thought we were cousins. Good bye.
w. w. II. Davis"
Mr. Washington Davis, New York"
Gen. Davis was an officer In the Mexi-
can war. brigadier general Ia the union
army OF the civil war. later governor Of
New Mexico, and United States commits
sioner 10 the 1878 Paris exposition. His
military, civil and literary records consfi-
tutc him an authority on the subject here
discussed On page - Of he Life OF
John Davis" are these statements.
John Davis married Ann Simpson.
daughter OF William Simpson. on june
q, INA.
The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-08-25
GRANT AND DAVIS COUSINS.
Were U. S. Grant and jefferson Davis Sec
Ond Cousins
New Light
ppar I'm Both Men,
Copyrighted


New York. Aug. 24-1Iany good people
well read and interested. in geneaIogies of
great men, do not know that Gen. UIys-
ses Simpson Grant and Jefferson Davis
were relatives. having common ancestor
of the third generation back.
This was a matter of common report in
some parts of the western army during
the civil war. and after the war many
soldiers spoke Of it.
/ had always regarded the rumor of the
Grant-Davis relationship as mere fiction
or passing fancy until few weeks ago,
1 had occasion to turn the leaves of some
old family records. which. by mere acct
dent, showed me some definite statements.
Yet no claim will be made in this article
concerning the idea expressed in the cap
ton, consequently there will be nothing
either TO prove or disprove "A few unpre-
tentious extracts, well vouched for. Will
enable any one. either partially or impair
TALLY, TO draw his own deductions.
Without hesitation or apology. 1 will try.
first. fairly to trace the three preceding
generations of Gen. Grant on his moth
er's side. His right name was Ulysses
Simpson Grant. A book entitled, "Ances-
try, of General Grant" by Edward
Chauncey Marshall. published in 1869. is
the authentic family history. according
to Col Frederick Dent Grant. now COM
missioner of police for New York city.
From this and other books and docu-
ments in my possession. it appears that
Can. Grants mother was Miss Hannah
Simpson, daughter of John Simpson and
granddaughter of William Simpson, of
Bucks county. Pennsylvania.
An extract from a private letter writ
ten by Gen. Grants father. Jesse Root
Grant, is sufficient testimony to the high
character and inherent merit of the
Simpsons and to their origin. The date of
the letter has not been transmitted. The
part referred to is taken from page IS
of the Ancestry of Gen. Grant" and is
as follows:
Miss Hannah) Simpson was the sec
ond daughter and third child of John
Simpson, and was born and brought up
in Montgomery county. Pennsylvania,
twenty miles from Philadelphia. Mr..
Simpson was highly respectable farmer
of American ancestry for several genera
uons. None OF the family connections
were ever aspirants for fame or political
notoriety, but were more solicitous as to
their standing in regard to integrity, We
racity and independence. The family had
removed to Ohio a few years previously,
and settled in Clermont county,"
Another letter from the same source
to the New York Ledger. says:
'At the time of our marriage June
"a, 1920, Mrs. Grant was an unpretend-
ing girl; handsome, but not vain. She
had previously Joined the Methodist
church; and 1 can truthfully say that
it has never had a more devoted and
The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-08-25
Something wonderful.
From the New York Press.

asked an experienced mechanic the
other day what he regarded as the most
wonderful thing in the way of general
utility in this practical age. His reply
rather startled me. He said:
The tracking Of a car wheel Is the
most wonderful thing TO me IN the whole
range of science and invention. Here
are two rails, up hill and down hfII
around sharp curves and along false tam
gents. and upon them flies at more than
a mile minute. without jar or jostle.
dozen heavy cars drawn by an engine,
weighing sixty tons. Passengers realizs
no danger. yet there Is only the HtfIe
nsnge Of wheel between them ana
eternity An inch and a half Of steel
turned up on the inner side Of the Wheel
holds the whole train a. securely 10 me
rails ~ u were bolted there in
grooves"
The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-08-25

-Apropos Of the general election and also
of the third matrimonial venture Of the
old Duke Of Argyil q good story comes
from England. Lord Lorne. the Dukes
eldest son. was addressing political meet
ing, and was being chafted by bystander
father Is going 70 be married again2"
Lord L0rne admitted the Impeachment.
and then came 20 the question why does
he marry agaln9' Because" WAS the
prompt answer because he IS liberal
unlQnsff"
The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-08-25

conFtessman Reed uses the typewriter
friends.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1895-04-11

with dirty sheepskins. The beams
around were decorated with the bleach
ed skulls of cattle, butchered some time
before. The scaffold was Loren Bos-
worth's bed chamber, and the pile OF
hay and dirty sheepskins his bed.
The old man lives on crackers, cheese
and other dry food. In the corner OF the
field where the barn stands Is "sct'
kettle. In this the old man prepared a
beef soup early in the winter. The soup
froze, and now, when Bosworth wishes
delicacy, he chops out chunk Of
The history of the old mans prosecu-
lions for cruelty to his animals is long
A short time ago lie kept colt In the
home barn In half-starved condition.
1t was so weak that IL would often fall
down in the stable. and could not get
up without help. This angered Bos-
worth at the rare times when he wish
cd to drive the colt to water. He fas-
tened two straps to the sides of the stall,
passed them beneath the colt so that 1t
could neither fall nor lie down. Last
summer the Board of Health broke into
the house owned by Boswortfh A ter
.rible' stencil had disturbed the whole
village. In the cellar were found no
less than fifty casks Of beef, suIted
years before. In filthy condition. Five
sheep lay in corner. having evideYtly
been buschered long before.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1895-04-11
To Start the story.

In writing a story, there are authors
who do not plan the course Of events
in advance, because they do not know
them; but they write on, certain that
some ingenious complication will sug-
gest itself-in short, the story Is to
write itself.
l confess believe in, and rather fol-
low, this system, for the reason that
the incidents seem more like real life,
where the unexpected so often hap
pens, and where events turn up In a ca
PRECIOUS way. However this may be.
have always found that everything
depends on getting well started-that
Is. started with such eagerness and
enthusiasm that you could sit down
then and there and write on and on
to the end.
Others deliberate and potter, as II
were; hover on the brink, hesitating to
make the plunge; the moment Of depar.
ture Is put off and put off, and when
mt last a start is made 1t becomes O
! task and drudgery, and is virtually
no start at all, because 1t is so laboret
and uninspired that you feel you have
not begun.-Memoirs Of an Author
Percy Fitzgerald.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1895-04-11
A ProfifabIe, Railway.

"The best paying railroad property
In Florida runs between the station at
Winter Park and a, winter hotel,' said
Lewis T. Gumby,. OF Jacksonville, at
La NOrmandie last night. 1T is mar
row-gauge affair, whose rusty iron
rails rest on squared pine logs laid in
the sand. and it's, equipment consists
of a single car, formerly I'm use upon a
Northern street railway, and pair Of
old mules. The entire outfit did not
cost more than $500, and yet 1t snakes
an enormous percentage in carrying
freight. From the holidays to April
there is a continual stream Of tourists
coming and going from that hotel, and.
of course, they carry baggage. All of
1t Is transported over that little rail-
road. both upon arrival and departure,
and for each piece and parcel a charge
of ~ cents Is made each way. Over
5000 pieces were carried ON 1t last
year, counting both ways, so you can
figure out what a valuable property 1t
is."-Washington Star.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1895-04-11

against it seriously, unless we take
the allegation that strong men are
never tidy to be a serious argument
1t would be one, perhaps, If 1t were
true. but 1t is not Great soldiers and
sailors are almost invariably tidy.
Frederick Of Prussia being a rather
conspicuous exception; many great
lawyers have been neat to finicalness,
and the same may be said OF many
great men of business. We should say,
indeed, that as many weak men were
untidy as strong men, and that of the
latter large proportion VIII be found
to be Of the dreamy 1r the reflective
temperament
Dreamy people hate tidiness and the
very reflective are rarely quite tidy.
the reason being the same IN both
cases, that such persons, besides feel
ing the inherent dislike Of most men
TO small recurrent exertions without
immediate end, are annoyed by inter
ruptions to the current of thought.
They want, as they say, to be at peace
from trifies, and as somebody usually
saves them from the CONSEQUENCES Of
their ways they remain untidy through
life.
That they gain anything by their un-
tidiness, except, possibly, some light
relief from irritability, is, however, a
most rash assumption. They rarely
save time, for they can never find any
thing; they do not think more clearly.
for the materials for thought are new
er ready to hand; and it may be ques-
toned If their habit adds even to .heir
mental peace.-Tne' Spectator.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1895-04-11

gloom, and how is he to tell how the
hours are passing? Looking northward
through high window just beside his
cot, he finds his question answered. He
sees there the Great Bear, commonly
known in part as the Dipper, climbing
upward to its highest perch in the heav-
ems. Why not convert the two upper
most stars OF yonder Dipper into the
hands of q clock? 1t is o. O'Clock, and
they are hanging In % nearly horizontal
position, pointing almost due east TO
the north star, and elevated only lit
tie more than the star from the horizon.
Where will they be at -, at =, at 4, or
at any hour when the weary. restless
patient wants to know the time? 1t is
a question to- be wrought cut nfathe-
matically or rather diagranaaticalfy
Before proceeding with the construc-
ton Of the celestial dial, however, it
will be best 10 say q few words about
the Interior mechanism of the clock for
the instruction of the unleerned why
does the Dipper always describe cir
Gle around the north star. never sinking
below the horizon? Look at the follow
ing picture of the earth, the north star
and the Dipper, and the. subject will be
perfectly plain.
Were the spectators located at the
North Pole the north star would be di-
reetly overhead. Were the spectator
ut the equator 1t would be seen ut the
horizon. When seen from these lati-
tudes Ii follows that 1t is as we see it
on any starry night. The Dipper is so
near the unchanging north STAR that in
these ATTITUDES it never rises or sets
like respectable stars, but keeps up its
perpetual dance around it. Further
south it rises and sets, for the north star
sinks and the Dipper sinks with it, but
with us 1t Is compelled to take part in
perpetual masquerade. In full view.
Now for the celestial clock, whose
machinery was put In motion at the be
ginning OF time. 1t viii not have two
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1895-04-11

self, who attends to all the business
AFFAIRS Of the establishment
On the left side of the basement AZ
one enters Is the brilliantly lighted bar.
glistening with the usual glassware and
bottles and decanters exactly similar
to those used In saloons and filled with
many-colored liquids, all non-alcoholic.
Behind the bar are four bartenders, re-
splendent In white jackets. well groom
ed and dexterous In mixing decoctions
and serving drinks.
On the extreme right of the cellar are
the tables from which are served the
eatables. each customer helping him.
self. In the center or the room are the
tables at which the customers sit when
they have filed their dishes. The
cashier Is at the door. The help consists
of four bartenders, a chef, two carvers,
seven girls who superintend the giving
out of food and tear Off coupons, three
men and two women dishwashers, two
cashiers, two portcrs, a manager and,
last but not least. the bishop himself,
who seems to take delight in hustling
about and obeying orders like ''Give us
couple of beers" his high hat and the
strangely out of place during the APP
parently awful consumption of bright,
sparkling, foaming beer.
On each side OF the back-bar is por-
trait of Miss Frances Willard and Neal
Dow and about the room in conspicuous
places are placards announcing the diff
ferent kinds Of drinks. The beer served,
as explained by the expert German
chemist who makes it, lis pine-brcwed
extract of hops and malt, and while
there is no alcohol in it any beer drinker
will declare i to be good drink and
close counterfeit, without any of the
bad effects of lager beer" ,
Speaking of the success of the "Home
Salon" Bishop Fallows says that his
beer is a wonderful success and that n
brewery is now needed to supply the
demand.
A remarkably funny incident oc-'
CURED on the opening day when 1000
persons visited the place. The beer ran
out at . o'clock and practical joker
WulspeIcu W DiSiop uiiOWS tudt NelsS
beer was just as free of alcohol as was
his beerette. and suggested that sup
ply of that be obtained. The sngges-
ton was acted upon, and several lozcn
cases hurriedly bought. Customers
who knew the difference between beer
and beerette that afternoon softly
'winked the other eye" after drinking
the weiss beer, and ordered the bishop
TO ''set 'em up again."
The hilarious manner in which his
customers began to act astonished the
good bishop, but not an inkling of the
real state of affairs occurred to him I'M
til two revenue officers entered and said
they understood the "Salon" was sell
ing weiss beer. The bishop acknowl-
edged 1t and was thunderstruck when
they informed him the weiss beer lie
was selling contained s per cent. of al
cohol, and that if he wanted to continue
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1895-04-11
NEW ARMoR FoR VESSELS.
A Method Recently Patented b. m
English Inventor.

A Method Recently Patented By an
English Inventor.
A new method Of armoring war
ships, radically different from that now
followed, Is proposed and has been
patented by an English inventor, w.
II. Croolke, of Birmingham. Instead
of affixing the armor directly on the
side of the ship he would make 1t
structurally separate, and would hang
1t over the ships side as the Morse
men, the Greeks, and other ancient
sea fighters were accustomed to hang
their shields over the sides OF their
craft, or In a measure as torpedo net
ting is hung out from the modern war
ship. His method of construction
would give the ship three skins, with
water-tight compartments between.
and lie claims that the outer two might
both be pierced without greatly inter-
fering with either the stability, safety
or fighting power of the ship.
The device is illustrated in the ac-
companying cut of cross section,
showing the three skins, A, b and G.
The outer skin Is the armor, composed
Of the heavy armor plating (A). its
framework CD, backing (E) and the
inner lining F), the whole forming one
main outer thickness of skin. The next
skin OBJ would be Of steel, iron or any
water-tight material, and between
these two skins would be the spaces
60 and lH, which you'd be divided
into water-tight compartments through
out the length of the ship. The third
skin Co is the structural skin of the
vessel, and between 1t and the second
skin would be more water-tight COM
partments. The two outer skins are
disconnected from the inner skin, or
the real structure of the ship, below
the lowest deck, and the space between
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1895-04-11
JAPANEsEowREsTLINe MATCH.
Description, of a Homeric Strug9fe in
an. Unroofed ARENA

Description, of a Homeric StTuG4fe in
an. Unroofed ARENA
These wrestling contests take place
in a huge amphitheater, much like
large circus, sheltered by ~ bamboo
framework covered with mIttfng to
keep out the people who do not pay to
go in. The top is, uaro0fedi Tiers of
boxes of a primitive description line
the front. A ring OF rice bugs incloses
the sanded arena, some DOZEN feet in
diameter, In which, the combgtants
meet. The center il occupied by the
umpire, a person. of mach distinction,
dressed in an old Broeade costume, pic
turesque enough TO Europeans and
reminiscent of feudal times -Four
judges, according,to Current Literature
are also in attendance in case the Urn.
pire's decision should be disputed. The
umpire stretches out his fan and shouts
something in stpident voice. At his
behest the first couple. of combatants
appear. The dress. is scarcely conven-
tional, according. to occidental ideas.
Indeed, there is practically mo- dress at
all. Beyond a strip round the Hons, alb
solutely nothing is worn Tney stride
into the ring amid the plaudfts Of thou
sands. take a draught of water from
bucket in the corner, sprinkle them
selves with the fluid, and are ready for
the encounter. Two mighty men are
they, with limbs and trunks that would
not disgrace. Samson. Mountains of
muscle some, others mountains OF fat.
Good humor CLEANS in their faces.
They slap their thighs, and stamp their
legs like FESTIVE horses, and then crouch
ready for the spring, like beasts Of prey
The umpire gives the signal to com.
mence and they bound into each others
embrace. Perhaps the feint is parried
SO that we have 1t all over again. 1t Is
a Homeric moment as the champions
struggle and sway this way and that
until, with final effort one Is thrown
| to the ground. In one instance heavy
man was hurled right over the rice bags
by n wiry opponent and would have
had nasty fall off the stage but fol
the Intervention of an attendant placed
ready to prevent accidents.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1895-04-11
A Buried Forest.

There is sunken forest Of white
cedar on the coast of New Jersey which
has been continuously mined" for Its
valuable timber for more than eighty
years. The curious industry of digging
for these sunken logs Is carried on by
the people of Dennisville a village
which was brought into existence sole
ly through the wealth of the buried tim
Der in its vicinity. Over this sunlSen
forest, trees of large size are now grow
ing, and in many instances the growing
timber is cut away in order to get at
the more valuable logs which lie only
three or four feet beneath the surface.
1t is believed that they were sunlxen by
an quake.--American Stockman.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1895-04-11

Marshal Lefevre, created Duke OF
Dantzic by Napoleon I. for his services
In battle, was called upon one day by
an old comrade who had not succeeded
In the world. He seemed very envious
Of his friends riches and beautiful
house, and made unkind remarks about
them to the marshal. "well. now"
said Iefevre, at last, you shall have Il
all, but ut cost price. We will 60 down
into the garden; viii fire at you sixty
times; and then, II you are not killed,
everything shall be yours"