davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Opelousas courier., 1895-02-23
BIRDS OF CALIFORNIA.
Ornithological Treasures Found on
the Pacific Coast.
Pecullar Habits OF the Road Runner-ThS
Melodious Song of tho Cactus Wren
Humming Birds Of Many Kinds
The Astefican Eagle.
Especial Los Angeles Call letter.

Especial Los Angeles (Cal) letter.
California is richer in ornithological
life, especially in the singing bird, than
any other section of country. The rea
son is plain-all the birds indigenousto
a temperate climate are found here,
and those more at hoIne IN a colder lat
itude find what they are looking for in
the mountainous regions. Finding an
equable climate, or varied, there is no
reason for the songsters, or those who
do not sing. to migrate. There are
species In this state, whose counter
parts are not found IN the eastern
states-owing. perhaps, to a mingling
or intermixture of various species,
something like our mixed races of peoa
Pile. A peculiar pathological type ST
the ''road runner" something on the
order of the cuckoo. The Mexicans
call him paisano, s%ignifying indigo
nous to the country" A man who lives
in the country is also called paisano,
instead of granger. The popularity of
the paisano or road runner, Is that it
lives on the mesas. or treeless sections,
and when apprised, 1t runs through the
chapparal until it strikes a road when
it takes to the middle and runs down
the road as if Satan were in pursuit. 1t
runs so swiftly and changes in it's
course so frequently that it is very diff
ficult to shoot it. If hotly pursued on
horseback, and it can out run most
horses, it climbs a tree, jumping up a
foot or two at a time. 1t cannot fly UP
ward, and must climb or jump up
ward, SO as to fly downward. The
paisano takes a special delight In kill
ing snakes, which it mainly feeds upon,
and also robs birds nests, perhaps from
a spirit Of viciousness, as it is consid-
cred a game bird and always looking
for trouble. This bird Is seldom killed
The Opelousas courier., 1895-02-23
"Eh? What's that?"
A Mean Trick.

Friend-Well, Eliza, how do you like
your husband?
Eliza-He is a villain.
"All men are; but what has he done?"
"You know he was a widower. Well,
/ found out that all his love letters to
me were copied verbatim from the ones
ne wrote to his first wife when they
were counting"
swell, / wouldn't mind it. He will
never send you any more. Texas
Siftings.
The Opelousas courier., 1895-02-23

spots. That is, the male, when Gagged,
sometimes changes from a purple red
to a yellow. Ornithologists have not
explained this apparent strangeness.
It seems that it would be more natural
for the female to turn. 1t is a fine
singer, but loses some of its melody
after being imprisoned.
The horned lark" SC called from
having long erectile tufts over the
The Opelousas courier., 1895-02-23
THE WHITE EAGLE.

away with young lambs. That they
never disturbed the domestic animals Of
the Mexicans is a well-established fact
The American golden eagle of Cal
ifornia has not a golden color, but Is
o brownish. It's long legs are boot.
ed with feathers down to it's toes and
spurs, as if for a ride.
j. M. SCANLAND.
The Opelousas courier., 1895-02-23
An Inconsiderate Purch..e,

landlord hear your son Sam is in
Jail, uncle. What's the cause?
Uncle Mose-Ignorance, sab! Wust
kaind, sab!
Flows that?"
"De fool went down to de sto', bought
dog-meat an ars'nick in de same bref,
an wa rested on behalf oh de com
munity oh chicken raisin' dog owners,
y 'spicion Truth
The Opelousas courier., 1895-02-23
FOR SALE.

T WILL sell for cash or on easy terms the fol-
l. owing described property, viz:
l. A plantation in Bellevue containing about
sfxty-six arpents, ali thoroughly fenced and
drained, with tenant house and outbuildings,
known as the Narcisse Richard place.
2. A plantation situated on the Courtableau,
containing four hundred and forty-two and
a. 100 arpents, about sixty arpents under pieux
and wire fence and in cultivation, with two good
tenant houses and outbuildings. The rear of
this tract consists of cypress swamp.
9. Several tracts Of wood land on the bayou
Teche, situated between Coulon's bridge and
Barry's Landing.
The first and second tracts are rented advan-
tageousiy for the year 1894, and il sold I will
transfer rent notes to purchasers.
w. {. PFRRAULT-
The Opelousas courier., 1895-02-23
Rural View.

Johnny Wayback-Did you see that
young lady from the city? She's got
on a coat. and vest, and shirt, and col
lar. and necktie, and a mans hat. and
most everything.
Little Sister-Hush! It's wicked to
make fun of crazy people.-Good News.
The Opelousas courier., 1895-02-23
A Poor business.

Wheeler-Well, Jayson! So you've
given up farming. How's that?
Jayson-Very simple. In winter,
when vegetables brought high prices,
1 couldn't raise any; and in summer,
when I had plenty, they sold so cheap
there was no profit in 'em.-Puck.
The Opelousas courier., 1895-02-23
Where Credit Il Due.

Mrs. Strongmind-Don't you think
woman's hand has played an important
part in the great work Of civilization?
Philosopher = Undoubtedly; but I
don't think her hand has been quite SO
effective as her ~slipper.-N. Y. Weekly.
The Opelousas courier., 1895-02-23
Natural Vanity,

Daisy-Did you understand which
one of those ladies you were introduced
to was Miss, and which one was Mrs?
Jack-No, but that didn't trouble NC;
Icalled them both Miss and they were
perfectly Observation-Disclosures Traveller.
The Opelousas courier., 1895-02-23

-Defoe, the novelist and political
writer, was the son of a butcher, but
his father determined that the boy
should follow a better trade, and so
~apprenticed him to a stocking eaver
AS a boy he was very disputatious and
delighted to refute his playmates in
argument, no matter about what.
The Opelousas courier., 1895-02-23

samuel Woodworth, the author Of
the ssOld Oaken Bucket and other
poems, was called the American Gold
smith, on account OF a resemblance in
character TO the author OF the DESERT
ed Village
The Opelousas courier., 1895-02-23

"A man is not educated until be has
the ability to summon. in an emerg-
ency, all his mental powers in vigor-
u exercise to effect its proposed
object.-DanieI Webster.
The Opelousas courier., 1895-02-23
The Place for Repentance.

Mrs. cusom--so they married in
haste, did they?
Mrs. GaWker-Yes; and nov they are
repenting in Sioux Falls.-fife.
The Opelousas courier., 1895-02-23
she Would Think Of Him.

what would you think of a man
who kissed you the very first time you
met him?"
Il don't know what I'd think, but I'd
think about him q great deal.n-N. Y.
War1d
The Opelousas courier., 1895-02-23
with q Thud.

Mistress-You broke my sevres plate.
You are discharged. How did you
break it?
Servant carelessly dropped enc OF
The biscuits you made yesterday on it.
Town Topics.
The Opelousas courier., 1895-02-23
The Coming Struggle,

Boy-Pop, you'd better get me a
bicycle, and buy one for yourself, too,
if you don't want to get left.
Pop "a politician)-What's got into
you?
"Look out for the B. P. A., that's
ALL"
"Eh? What's that?'
"The Bicycle Protective association.
It's just starting, and all bicyclists are
joining, and there's so many of them
you'll never get 'lected to anything in
the world if you don't belong GOOD
News.
The Opelousas courier., 1895-02-23
B. BLo.,MFrEr.p.

CommissioneF q. 5. CIRCUIT Court for the West.
crn District Of Louisiana.
Commissioner L. s. Court of Claims throughout
the United States.
Notary Public in and for the Parish of St. Lam
dry. Once with Hon. John ". Ogden.
Particular attention given to Land Cases and
to Final Proofs. Collections in the Parishes Of
st. Landry and Acadia promptly attended to.
Pensions secured; Patents, Caveats, Trade
Marks, ETC., procured without delay.
The Opelousas courier., 1895-02-23
4 False Report.
~

Hrown-I hear you r the :lap:y .
Their of twins
Jones' az, the father II sHiiaa.-
Life.
The Opelousas courier., 1895-02-23

-Lincoln's bovhood was spent in the
ronghest and coarsest description Of
farm work.
The Opelousas courier., 1895-02-23
PRIVATE BOARDING HOUSE.
BY r G.

Laudrf Street. O~pELoUsAs, LA.
hates for Board and Lodging: Per day, sl.00;
per week, $500; per month, $500. Meals 25c.
The Opelousas courier., 1895-02-23
ELY'S CREAM BALM

Opens and cleansest the Nasal PA ssages. Allays Paif
and Inflammation. Heals the SoFes, Protects tht
Membrane from colds, Restores the Senses of Tast
and Smell. The Balmis quickly absorbed and gives
relief atonce.
The Opelousas courier., 1895-02-23

A PARTICLES appliedinto each nostrii and fsagree
able. Price 50 cents at Druggists or by mail.
ELF BROTHERS. &c Warren Street. New York.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1895-04-19
Who Was Gains Wife?

The question as to whether Adam
was really the First man of all the
earth, and, if so, where Cain obtained
his wife, is still open for discussion.
There are certain sects and creeds that
believe in a pre-Adamite creation of
man. The advocates of this theory be-
leve that it is altogether probable that
the pre-existing races OF the human
species covered more than half of the
habitable area of the earth at the time
when God "breathed into Adams nos
trils the breath of life; and man became
a living soul" If this theory is not the
true one, who were the sons of God"
Genesis vi. y of whom il is written
that they saw the daughters OF men
that they were fair9" According to the
pre-Adamic theory, these sons of God"
were none other than the representa-
tives of a race that had been created
prior to Adams formation from the
dust of the earth. Chevalier, the great
French anthropologist, declares both
the negro and the Chinaman 10 be Of
the pre- Adamic races. st. LOUIS Re-
public
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1895-04-19
SHOP WINDOWS ABROAD.
Ingenious scheme Of Merchants to At
tract Attention To Their Wares.

Europeans don't 90 in for newspaper
advertising to anything like the extent
that we do here. said An American re-
Gently returned from abroad to a n. Y.
SiH man, but they take the shine
right oil Americans for original schemes
tn attract attention to their shop win
dOws.
"ln London. Paris and the larger
cities in Belgium the shopkeepers are
continually devising catchy advertise
ments. Shoe dealers. matters, safe
makers and men in various mercantile
lines do the business up best, but the
confectioners pastry men and other
small merchants are not a long way be-
mind them.
a shoe-dealer in Brussels who makes
specially of a waterproof shoe keeps
pair of the shoes standing in pan of
water in his window all day long. The
water comes just up To the top of the
soles and the public are respectfully in
vited at all times to step up and feel the
inside of the shoes and see that they are
perfectly dry.
Another shoe-dealer in London made
specially of shoes for bus drivers, and
his greatest claim for them was that
they were unusually warm. He kept a
pair of shoes imbedded in a cake of ice
in his shop window, and any one could
walk in and feel the inside of them and
see that they were warm.
"A halter in Antwerp who manu-
features waterproof silk hat keeps one
OF them in his shop window suspended
over pan, with stream Of water run
Il . 70
once without seeing crowd of people
standing in front of it, and don't doubt
that this scheme brought him many a
customer he would not have otherwise
had
in Paris firm of safemakers en-
ployed two men to stand in the window
OF their place all day and hammer on
the lock of one of their safes with huge
edge-hammers.
The novel designs that confectioners
and pastry cooks get up and put in
their windows attract the attention and
admiration of all foreigners. Every
confectioner in Paris who goes in for
window advertising at all has big
Eitfel tower of candy in his Window but
fine as the Partisan displays are they are
not nearly so handsome as those in
Brussels The amount of cake and candy
which is wasted in window decoration
in the big Belgium cities is amazing. l
can't see what use the sweets can DO
after the things are pulled apart. and
certainly no one can have any use for
huge castle or figure made out of cake
and candy unless it is used as center
piece on 3 banquet table.
Il have noticed in New York of late
tendency among small retail dealers
to emulate the foreigners in this matter
of window advertising. A Broadway
shoe-dealer is advertising his water
proof shoes like the Brussels msr-
Shant-"
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1895-04-19

sumers Of snuff among all the cities Of
the country. The population is some
thing like 10000, and last year more
than five tons of this form of tobacco
was used there The habit OF snuff dip
ping is not usual in New England. and
it was brought to Dover, 80 il j. said,
by soldiers ust after the war and has
increased to its present proportions.
India is getting nearer to England
year by year. New and faster steam
ers have been put upon the L. and %.
line and letters are now delivered in
London twelve days after their depart
ure from Bombay. The mail. of course,
travels across the continent by rail to
Brinds "A route which would not be
available for the transportation of troops
in the event of war. The troops could
he carried from Great Britain To India,
it is believed, in eighteen days,
frog farm with about 1000 900
head of stock is carried on successfully
by man in Contra Costa county, Cal.
He started ranching in frogs a few
months ago with herd of about ?. 900
frogs and is already making lots of
money. DE supplies the markets of
San Francisco Oakland and other
large cities on the coast. Ii costs little
or nothing to raise the frogs and the
rancher is not anxious to trade his ranch
even for gold mine, so he says.
Tired and thirsty travellers find a
friend in the "trayeler,' tree" which
grows in Madagascar. This wonderful
tree i said to have no branches, the
leaves growing from the trunk and
spreading out like the sections OF fan.
These leaves of which there are gen
orally not more than twenty-four on
each tree, are from six feet to eight feet
in length and from tour feet to six feet
broad. At the base of each leaf is a
kind of cup containing about quart of
cool. sweet water
Bloodhounds for thief catching are
used with much success and spectacular
effect in several southern and western
states, and sets of the animals are per-
mainly added To the sherifs outfit in
some counties of Kentucky and Mis-
souri,. A pair of hounds in Hardin
county, Kentucky, were set on the trail
of thief one afternoon recently, and
after following it tive miles ran into a
house. upstairs, and into bed in which
.he thief, his wife and two children
were asleep.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1895-04-19
STRANGE SCENES IN TlmeUcroo.
The Town Scarcely Recognizable Undes
French Domination.

French officer AT Timbuctoo, in Q
letter communicated To the Temps. de-
scriOes that town as hardly recogniZa-
bic now that there is the hustle of SOL
diery there and the sound of trumpets,
with an embattled fort and gate closed
every night. There is also a munich
patty, besides police commissaries and
scavengers. SO that promenades in the
streets at night involve no unpleasant
ness. In the market a troop of Tuareg
boys their fathers killed and themselves
picked up in "Reminiscences address
you in smattering OF French. The
market, with its straw sheds and its
odCr of meat and rotten fish is very
poorly supplied. The oldest mosque
has within the inclOsure acacias dotted
with hideous black .torks. A labyrinth
of narrow streets leads TO the massive
Tower of Sancore, the summit of which
serves as perch for all the pigeons OF
the district. In spite of its three
mosques and of its being a holy city.
religion has very little hold on the peo-
pie. Timbuctoo, in fact. is merely =
vast exchange where salt, calicoes and
honey are given for slaves.
Before the arrival of the French
Tuaregs on horseback would often ar
rive at night before merchants shop
and stick their lances in his door, where
upon he was glad to offer them his best
goods as blackmail Many doors still
bear these lance marks. The Tuaregs
still occasionally carry off slaves work.
ing in the milet fields. and the French
have to make weekly "Reminiscences to
tranquillize the villagers, for though the
latter were accessory to the massacre OF
the BONNER column, their millet is re-
quired for men and horses. The Tuar-
egs have only twice shown fight. In
one case they used the captured mus
kets of the BONNER column, and left
forty-tive of their number dead on the
sand. Their usual plan is to draw the
French into tedious pursuit and then
attempt nocturnal surprise but
against this the French are now on their
guard.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1895-04-19
Money Value Of Hands and Fingers

An engineering journal has collected
some interesting statistics from the
tables of a German miners insurance
company, If man loses both hands
he is registered As entailing a 100 per
cent loss. In other words he has been
deprived of the ability to earn a liveli-
hood. The loss of the right hand de-
preciates the value of an individual a. a
worker 20 To 80 per cent, while the loss
of the left hand leaves him with only %
to 20 per cent OF his original earning
capacity The thumb is taken n play
Ing part equal to 20 to 30 as a bread
winner; the first finger of the right hand
j. put at ~ To Is per cent that of the
left hand at from 10 1873 per cent and
the middle finger of either hand is worth
from 10 90 10 per cent The value of the
third finger j. put down n from TO y
per cent while that OF the little finger il
estimated at to II per cent. These val
ucs may appear arbitrary. but II j. eX-
planned that the apparent inconsistency
In the rating is occasioned by the differ
ence in trades followed by injured ones
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1895-04-19
FIRE LOSS OF 100000.
Court House and Business Blocks ~
Plattsburg, Mo-, Burned.

Plattsburg. Mo, April l6.-The fire
which started yesterday afternoon in
the livery stable Of James Stormm, at
the south end OF Main street, resulted
I'm the destruction Of the court house
with all its records, two entire business
blocks and the partial destruction OF
a third block The flames rapidly en-
veloped the large livery stable and were
carried by a north wind over the entire
block.
Although the volunteer fire depart
ment worked hard. the scarcity Of
water and the fact that there were
several frame buildings in the block,
initiated against the men. The Clay K
Funkhouser Banking company, Hill &
Young. grocers; Trimble McWil-
Hams. +. c. Frost, George Ersig and
Joseph Sutler, jewelers.. are among the
principal losers. Very little goods were
saved from any OF the burned build
ings The loss will foot up $500. 900 on
which the insurance is probably over
half.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1895-04-19
THE SILVER QUESTION.
onicials at Washington Have Much In
terest In Illinois.

Washington. April l6.-Even the most
enthusiastic silver leaders now in Wash
ington admit that President Cleveland's
Chicago letter advocating the adherence
OF the party To the gold standard, is To
be the keynote of the coming campaign
for hard money. Officials are watching
the progress OF events in Illinois with
intense interest, as il is hoped by many
that the fact of the letter having been
sent 10 Chicago Will solidify democratic
sentiment in the western metropolis on
the side OF the President. There has
been talk OF inducing county conven-
ions IN various parts of the state to ig-
more the call for financial conference
In June on the ground OF irregularity.
but II can be said on good authority this
plan Will not ind favor with the admin
istsation. The President has set the
pace and IL is said he wants TO see an
open fight.
Chicago. April 16.-W. II. Harvey,
chairman OF the executive committee Of
the BlmetalliC league, whose headquar-
ters are in this city, has written an
open letter TO President Cleveland in
answer 10 the Presidents communica-
ton 10 the Chicago business men. Mr..
Harvey alleges that since the demone-
tization Of silver the shunkage of values
has led To an increasing volume of debt.
until IL is now about forty billi.ps Of
dollars, or two-thirds of the total value
OF the property in the United States.
Mr.. Harvey next asserts that taxes
nave increased, that creditors are bene-
nted by the existing condition of affairs,
and the administration has been domin-
ated by the creditor class. He thinks
that If the currency policy of the Presi-
dent is legalized il would mean the con-
fiscation OF the peoples property. 1T In
not, Mr.. Harvey says, more money
than We want to borrow, but To pay of
what We already owe; that the gold
policy, the result OF plutocratic legisla-
ton in Europe, should be abandoned
and the mints be again thrown open to
silver and our stock OF primary money
be increased thereby"
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1895-04-19
FITS AND NERVOUS DISEASES.

When Henry NJ. Hall, NJ d., late surgeon u.
:. A, Department of Tennessee, returned from
the war he found child afflicted with epilepsy.
Leading physicians were consulted, without
apparent benefit. Noted specialists could give
but little If any relief To rescue his child from
a fate worse than death became the object of
his life. For several years experiment followed
experiment, until AT last success crowned his
efforts In lSS9 old age and inhrmites in.
duced him TO lmpart the knowledge of how To
manufacture ii, under the agreement that a
bottle should be sent free Of all charges TO any
one applying for it, who was afflicted with cpl.
lefSy. Since then over 10000 free bottles have
been sent 10 the afflicted. Experience haS
proved that II cures Insomnia 81. Nitus' Dance.
and all forms of Nervous AfiiictiOn If YOU
want to try this wonderful remedy free Of all
charge, write, stating your disease as plainly "A
possible give your age and post oiiics Address
The Hall Chemical Co.. West Philadelphia Pa.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1895-04-19
WHY THE MONUMENT is THERE.
The story of Major Dade and His Brave
Companions.

Many visitors to West Point have
wondered what was represented by
handsome monument of Italian marble
inscribed "Dade and His Command"
The story is not told, or only casually
referred to. in the popular histories, and
the shaft tells nothing of the gallant
deeds of those whom it commentaries
it is a fluted column of artistic design,
surmounted by an eagle, from whose
beak descends wreath which grace
fully entwines it. The base is square,
the slabs bearing the names and inscrip.
ton being separated by miniature can.
non, over which numerous stars are
placed At appropriate intervals. The
names of the officers who fell with Dade
are inscribed on the slabs. But no hint
is given of what they did or when and
where they fell.
The thrilling episode is worth recall.
ing especially as it occurred just fifty.
nine years ago, or, 10 be precise, on the
18th of December, 1885. Major Dade
and detachment of III United States
troops were within few days march
of Fort King, Florida, when they were
surprised and massacred by over l00C
luilldlSs ut llltu Ntlt lt-
joicing at having almost reached the
end OF a long and tedious march, and
were looking forward to celebrating
the New Year with their comrades al
Fort King. They were suddenly at.
tackled by the savages in overwhelm.
ing numbers, and slaughtered withou,
mercy. Three only survived to tell the
story. An exploration of the battle.
field, made in the following February.
by order of General Gaines, showed that
the detachment had fought TO the last
extremity. and that each man had died
at his post. The scene presented to the
exploring party was an awful one.
They buried the bodies of eight officers
and ninety-eight men, and small six
FOUNDER cannon belonging to the com.
mand. which was left by the Indians.
was placed vertically at the head of the
common grave, where it remained foI
many years.
The long-forgotten tragedy is COM
memorated by the graceful shaft on
the banks of the Hudson, inscribed
simply to "Dade and His Command
1t was erected in 1S45.-Bufdio Com