davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1895-09-27

The destruction of the tomb of Benja-
min Romans in the Presbyterian cemetery
at Georgetown as one of the results Of the
march of Improvement recalls an act Of
Dolly Madison in 1914, when the British
captured Washington. Romans was chief
clerk of the war department at the time,
and upon his own responsibility he took
steps to preserve the public records. He
sent two wagon loads Of documents to the
canalboat of Captain Daniel Collins and
placed two armed officers ON guard, telling
them not to allow any one to come on
board.
A little later Dolly Madison drove down
to the boat and gave one of the crew
trunk, telling him to tako care of it and
he should be rewarded Among the ar
ticles in the trunk was the canvas Of
Peale's portrait of Washington, then hang
ing in the White House, but now in the
senate wing of the capitol.
Romans gave tho order to take the boat
up the canal and not wait for the captain,
who had gone to Washington. The boat
accordingly was headed for point near
Hominy House, a we'll known establish
ment in those days, and in the barn the
documents were stored until the danger
was passed. That night the capitol was
burned, and the documents saved were
among the most valuable belonging to the
natiOn.-Buffalo Commercial.
Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1895-09-27
WHAT is ELecTRlclTYl

Some Of the Numerous Theories on the
Mysterious Current.
Well, what is it? 1t is scarcely pos
sible to say. There are theories-many
of them. It is evidently something of
which we cannot take part; we can
not cut piece of it off and subject it to
analysis, nor can we pour little of it
into a bottle for future study and con-
temptation. It is like the wind-its
effects can be measured, its force,
strength and quantity can now be cal
culated to very nice degree. Still, to
liken it to the wind, it is stupendous
power, mighty typhoon, blowing, as
it were, without moving, two ways at
once along all parts of its path, giving
of halo of magnetism at right angles
to that path everywhere.
One Of the incest theories, perhaps, is
the one that considers electricity CON
dition" of atoms, brought about by
chemical action, as in a battery CELL or
by what might be called a severe irrita-
ton of the magnetic halo, as in a dyna-
mo, and by other means, such as heat
and friction.
What this condition is is beyond us;
it may be a violent rotation, or it may
be an equally violent vibration Of
atoms Probably the arc light would
prove it to be vibration But as no
man has seen an atom at any time, not
even with the most powerful micro
scope, it is impossible TO say Friction
in some form or other is present, as
heat is produced before burning, on de-
HtEuetitn, takes place. -~Exohanga.
Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1895-09-27

Lord Wolseley writes: II believe It was
not so much the deep condition of the
county after the heavy rain as a recur-
Eence Of this fatal malady on the morning
of Waterloo, added, Of course, to the fact
that he did not expect BluoheR's arrival on
the field of battle that day, which caused
him to begin the action so late and so pup
posely to throw away hours which might
have been employed IN destroying We'll
lington before the Prussians could arrive.
We know that during the progress Of the
battle itself he remained seated for hours
motionless at a table placed for him In the
open, often asleep, with his head resting
upon his arms; that also, when flying
beaten from the field he suffered so much
from drowsiness it was with difficulty his
attendants prevented him from tumbling
from his horse.
During the progress Of the battle he was
little ON horseback, for riding caused him
pain. He was thus dcbarred from seeing
for himself much of the Prussian advance
upon PlaDchenoit, and, consequently, did
not fully realize what the dangers Of his
position were as early as he should have
done had he been able to ride rapidly from
point to point upon the field Of battle to
obtain information for himself Indeed,
Il Is to this cause only we can attribute
the fact that he began this battle without
having himself previously accommodated OF
examined WellingtOn's position, relying
on General HaxO's report upon II"
According to Mr.. Ropes the emperor
rode out at / a. IN. on the 18th to the
pickets, two miles from his headquarters,
rode or walked along the line, and was
near the wood Of Hougomont at 9:80a. IN.
About a. m. he rode to the front again,
and, dismounting, approached the Eng
fish army to see If 1t were retiring. Not
much sign Of falling physical yigor in all
thisl-Athenmum
Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1895-09-27
WILD FLOWERS.

Oh, beautiful blossoms, pure and sweet,
Agleam with dew from the country ways,
SO me, at work in a city street.
You bring fair visions of bygone days
tlad days, when hid in a mist Of green
To watch springs delicate buds unfold.
And all the riches / cared to CLEAN
We're daisy silver and buttercup gold
IT'S true you come of lowly race
Nursed by the sunshine, fed by the showers,
And yet you are heirs TO a nameless grace
Which fail TO find in my dollhouse flowers,
And you breathe on me with your honeyed
lips,
Till in thought stand on the wind swept
fels,
Whore the brown bees hum DER the ferny dips,
Or ring faint peals ON the heather bells.
close my eyes on the crowded street,
/ shut my ears to the city's roar,
And am ont in the open with flying feet
on, of to your emerald haunts once morei
But the harsh wheels CRATE on the stones be-
low,
And sparrow chirps at the murlSy pane,
And my bright dreams fade in an overflow
OF passionate longing and tender pain.
e. Matheson in Chambers Journal
Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1895-09-27
&c Account vith HIs pentIst.

Brown has the reputation of being
one of the most misery of men, but he
plumes himself ON his memorable sense
of justice For Is years he owed a dem
fist $2s for filling a front tooth with
gold, refusing to pay it because he said
the bill was exorbitant. The other day
the filling came out. He took the gold
to a jewelry store and had it valued.
Then he wrote to the dentist and in
CLOSED a check for his account, based on
the following computation: Actual
value of the gold, s8.50l amount Of
labor (Which I deem liberal), So; for use
of the tooth 10 years, 50; total, s1s.5 30.
I return gold on account and inclose
check for the balance, $40. Washing
ton Post.
Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1895-09-27
A sTATELY Old MANSION.
The Home Of Sarah Orne Jewett, the Nov
elist, at Berwick, Me.

The Home Of Sarah Orne Jewett, the Nov
elist, at Berwick, Ne.
Iwonder if there is another such house
in New England as the home of Sarah
Orne Jewett, says a writer III the Boston
Herald. have seen many stately man
sions that go back to the days before the
Revolution one in particular where
General Gage was quartered in old Dan
vers, a town which is linked by witch
threads to Berwick, and one with gam
brel roof upon which good dame and
her crOnles climbed to be out Of reach of
husbandly authority while they drank
tea forbidden to patriots until the tax
was removed-but have never seen "a
living place at once so modern and so
reminiscent Of 1880 OF days younger
still. In its great rooms filed with old
mahogany and warmed by huge tiled
fireplaces it would be easy to forget that
the gundalows, with their high peaked
sails like great birds wings, do not yet
sail down the river from the landing
wharves in fleets of tens and twenties
to Portsmouth, with their loads Of pine
planks and boards to be exchanged for
East Indian rum, tobacco and mOlasseS
or for Russian iron, duck or cordage, or
for such priceless old glass and silver
and china as came from unknown ports
and now peep out wonderingly upon
nineteenth century cushions and pic
lures and bric-a-bra from their deep
set cupboards and shelves.
Il found these things here" Miss
Jewett says, land hope TO leave them
when 1 go into the unknown. If one
had one's choice of ancestors, it would
be impossible to pick out better than
those who chose the elaborate cofnices,
all carved by hand with infinite pains,
and the high paneling of the parlors,
and the broad window siIls, and the
lowered wall paper, still bright and
fresh, though Of a pattern on which Ma
RE Antoinette might have set the seal
Of her approval when she fitted up the
little TrianOu
Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1895-09-27

Hereafter the government will recognize
acts of heroism ON the high seas in behalf
of citizens of the United States by the
award of handsome silver vases instead of
gold watches, Compasses etc, as has been
the custom in the past. 1t has frequently
happened that these watches, fine though
they are, have been bestowed upon mari
ners possessing chronometerso Of much su-
perior quality. The same is true of other
navigating apparatus which it has been
customary to give in acknowledgement of
valuable heroic service to American sea-
men. The state department officials, who
have charge Of this matter, have decided
to substitute vases for other articles as an
experiment, and if it proves successful
that style Of award will be adopted as the
standard. The design most favored is a
tall vase, embossed at the base in imita-
ton of dashing waves, with an American
eagle surmounting II shield inscribed with
the American coat Of arms. Washington
Star
Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1895-09-27

There is Il tender sweetness about
some Of our common phrases of aifec-
tionate greeting, simple aud unobtru-
sive as they are, which falls like dew
upon the heart. GOOD night" the lit
tie one hsps as, gowned in white, with
shining face and hands, and prayers
said, she toddles OH TO bed. Sisters and
brothers exchange the wish, parents
and children, friends and friends. Fa-
miliar use has robbed it Of its signifi-
canoe to some of Us; we repeat it auto
matically, without much thought. But
consider. We are as voyagers, putting
off from time to time upon an unex-
plored sea. Our barks of life set sail
and 20 onward into the darkness, and
we, asleep on our pillows, take no such
care as we do when awake aud journey
ing by daylight. OF the perils Of the
night, whatever they may be, we take
no heed. An unsleeping vigilance Of
one stronger and wiser than we, who is
the eternal good Good and God spring
from the same root, and aare the same
in meaning. 'Cfoodby" is only God
be with you. Good nigh" is really
"God night, or "God guard the
night. " It would be a churhsh house
hold in which these gentle forms of
speech We're ignored or did not exist.
Alike, the happy and the solrowful,
day by day, may say Good night. -
Churchman.
Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1895-09-27
AlI weathers suIted pr. johnson.

DR., johnson stoutly poohpoohed the
notion of the effect of weather on the
mind "To temperance, he wrote,
"every day is bright, and every hour is
propitious to diligence. johnson, how
ever, was little given to analyze the in
fuenoes Of nature, or any other inhu-
ences, upon himself. And it may we'll
be that this disposition on his part was
in the spirit Of the stoics and in def
ance Of his own feelings, to which he
disdained to give way. 1t seemed to
him sony thing that "a being en-
dowed with reason" should resign his
powers to the influences Of the air and
live in dependence on the weather and
the wind. Temple Bar
Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1895-09-27
A GAME OF NINEPlNs.
A BIunchausenIike Story of a Beheaded
German Criminal.

German Criminal.
In an imperial city lately criminal
was condemned to be beheaded who had
a singular itching to play at ninepins.
While his sentence was pronOuncing he
had the temerity to offer a request to
be permitted to play once more at his
favorite game at the place of execution,
and then he said he would submit
without a murmur.
AS the last prayer Of a dying man
his request was granted. When arrived
at the solemn spot he found everything
prepared, the pins being set up and the
bowl ready. He played with no little
earnestness, but the sheriff at length,
seeing that he showed no inclination to
desist, privately ordered the executioner
to strike the fatal blow as he stopped
for the bowl.
The executioner did so, and the
head dropped into the culprit's hand as
he raised himself to see what had oc-
CURED. He Immediately aimed at the
nine, c0nceiving that it was the bowl
which he grasped. All nine falling, the
head loudly exclaimed, 81 have won
the game Prom the German.
Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1895-09-27
Tag ELgg AND TIE ACTRESS.
No Wonder That sIodjesiza's Face Wore
set and Stony Fxpression.


} Set and Stony Expression.
Two fair actresses were conversing in
a cafe on Powell street with the careless
ease Of their "profesh " Their COM
ments were distinct and audible to the
occupants Of an adjoining table.
They were chatting about a senti-
mental scene in which both had appear
ed on the previous night
''And Just at that moment when he
pressed my hand" said one, land 1
was supposed to answer with a sob, q
fea-oh, such bite began to torture
me between the shoulders. 1t was aw-
ful-simply awful. I could not remem-
Der my lines could not make the sobs
come All 1 could think about was that
horrid flea 1 whispered to him, Put
your arm around me quick. And he
thought I was fainting, and put his
hand behind my waist and whispered:
What is the matter with You, and why
are you making such q horrid face? Are
You ill?' What could 1 say? Nothing,
of course, but fell back against a chair,
and fortunately-oh, how fortunately -
hit it with my shoulder blade, just
where that flea was. Then / swung to
and fro as if III great mental agony, and
thus got in a little scratching. It was
just heavenly and did not spoil the
scene a bit. When went off the stage,
had my maid go over the place where
that flea had bitten me with a hand
brush. She said there was a spot there
as big as a dollar.
"Modjeska told me. " said the other,
"that once at the California i'll the bal
cony scene in Juliet, when she was ex-
tending both hands and saying, Ro-
meo, Romeo, where art thou, Romeo?
she got a nip in the ankle that almost
made her cry out. She could not stop.
It would have spoiled the scene, and
for the minute she had to suffer One
Of the critics remarked in his paper
next day that during the scene Mime.
Modjeska's face wore a set and stony
expression. And no wonder, poor lady ~
"When May Muir, who is very sus-
ceptible to fleas, is attacked, " resumed
the other, "she gets up and begins to
dance. She can twist about and scratch
anywhere while the dance is going on.
and nobody notices her. Clara Morris
told me that in the dying scene in
Camille a flea fastened on to her so
viciously that if she had not reached
back with her fan and dislodaed it she
could not have died with any decency.
San Francisco is an awful place for
fleas.
Awful awfuIp' conceded her
friond as she settled with the waiter. -
San Francisco Call
Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1895-09-27

A woman who has travelled largely
in Japan mentioned in the course of a
lecture the fact that the Japanese Ian
guage does not contain an impolite
word hence there is no swearing in
that happy land. She also stated that
oscillation was an unknown pleasure.
As the audience dispersed, commenting
favorably upon different points, an old
woman remarked in a voice loud enough
to be heard by all, "Well, for my part,
! prefer a country where they kiss and
ouss l''-Atlanta Constitution.
Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1895-09-27
Could Not Make Tibet.

Mr.. Wilson relates an amusing story
of an officer who determined to enter
Chinese Tibet by stratagem. This off
Ger managed to cross the frontier at
night, and so escaped the frontier guard.
Next day, however, while he was jour
neying deeper into Tibet the Tibetan
soldiers overlook him and informed him
that as the country was unsafe, because
of robbers, they would go with him in
order to protect him, to which arrange
ment the traveller was compelled to
agree. In a few hours they came to a
river, which was crossed by q rope
bridge. The Tibetans passed over first,
i'll order to show that the bridge was
safe, and then the officer got into the
basket and was pulled along by the lib
etans. Suddenly, however, they ceased
pulling and left the Englishman hang
ing in midair above the rushing torrent
In vain the traveller shouted to the
Tibetans to pull They merely smoked
and nodded their heads. The hours pass
ed, and still the officer hung above the
torrent. At last the Tibetans agreed to
pull him back if he would promise to
leave Tibet Immediately. This of
course he was compelled to do and took
his departure from the forbidden land.
Gentleman S Magazine.
Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1895-09-27

How He Knled Yearline In a Fair
Fight without Weapons

D
Fight without Weapons
Old Ephraim Hatfield, father Of Anse
and Elias Hatfield. of Mccoy Hatfield
feud notoriety, was born fighter. He
was also mighty hunter, and had one
ambition. It was to kill a yearliug bear
in a fair fight without any weapons
other than those nature provided him
with. Every day that he felt especially
strong he would go ont with his dogs
and his boys, and, freeing bear, would
get him down and fight him. When
bruin would begin to got the best of the
encounter, he would call his boys to let
loose the dogs. Year after year passed
and Ephraim had not yet whipped a
bear.
One day a fine yearling bear was
freed, and as Cnffy was climbing to
place of safety old man Hatfield cut off
a piece Of the animals tail with a quick
blow of his knife. and the bear came
down Ephraim threw his gun and
knives to the boys and cried out;
oHe's likely varmint. Stan aside,
boys, an watch yo' dad. I'm comm,
bar 20 And he clutched the bear by the
throat.
The animal got its paws around
Ephraim, and they fought, rolling in
every direction, until it was almost inn
possible so distinguish man from beast
In the cloud. The boys held the dogs
and encouraged the old man by shout
ing to him:
GO it, papi You've got 'eml Give
it to i'm, dad -
Down the hill the two rolled until
they could roll no farther.
ALet loose the dogs !" shouted the old
man. LET 'em loose The critters got
mer'
But the boys thought the old man
would never have better opportunity
to realize his ambition and whipa year
ling bear and kept the dogs away.
Finally Ephraim, seeing that he was not
10 have assistance, began to use his feet
and hands with an energy born Of de-
spair, and in half an hour he succeeded
in choking the animal to death, but not
until his clothes were torn to shreds and
his face and body were covered with
gaping wounds, from which the blood
flowed so freely that it left a crimson
trail wherever the man went. Dragging
the carcass out Of the pit Ephraim start
ed after the boys, and it would have
Jared roughly with'them, but they fed.
The old man reached his home and was
almost dead from loss Of blood, but his
ambition had been realized-he had +
whipped yearling bear in fair fight
The boys hid out in the woods for sew
eral days, and would not return until
their father, whose joy at his success
had got the better Of his pain and an
ger, sent them word that he would not
whip them if they returned. Hatfield
never wearied telling how he whipped
a yearling bear, and his sons are equally
proud of their fathers achievement. -
Oinoinnati Euuuirar
Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1895-09-27
THE sAReAsso SEA.
A Wonderful Region In the Atlantic
Which No Dlan Has Explored.

A Wonderful Region In the Atlantic
Which No Dlan Has Explored.
The surface Of the Sargasso sea seems
like a perfect meadow of seaweed. 1t is
supposed that this enormous mass of
gulf weed may have been partly grown
at the bottom of the shallower parts Of
the sea and partly torn from the shores
of Florida and the Bahama islands by
the force Of the gulf stream. It is then
swept around by the same agency into
the Sargasso sea, where it lives and
propagates, floating freely in midocean.
And the store is ever increasing, both
by addition and propagation, so that the
meadow grows more and more compact,
and no doubt at the inner parts extends
to a considerable depth below the sur
face.
Nor is this all, for at least two-thirds
of all the infinite flotsam which the gulf
stream carries along with it in its course
sooner or later finds a resting place in
the Sargasso sea. Here may be seen
huge trunks Of trees torn from the for
ests of Brazil by the waters of the Anna
zon and fioated down far out to sea until
they were caught and swept along by the
current logwood from Honduras, orange
trees from Florida, canoes and boats from
the islands, STAYED in, broken and bottom
upward wrecks and remains Of all sorts
reaped from the rich harvest Of the At
lantic; whole keels or skeletons of ruin
ed ships, so covered with barnacles,
shells and weeds that the original out
line is entirely lost to view, and here
and there a derelict ship, transformed
from a floating terror of the deep into
mystery put out of reach Of man in a
museum Of unexplained enigmas. -
Chambers Journal.
Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1895-09-27
Specimen Gases

s.H. ClInoId. New Oassel, Wis. was troub led
with neuralgia and rhenmatism. his stomach was
disordered. his liver was Affected to al alarming
degree appetite fell away. and he wus terribly re-
duced in aesn aad strength Three bottles Of Klec
isle Bitten cured him.
EdwAd Shepherd. Harrisburg, H., had run
Eing sore Of sight years' standing. Used three
bottles Of Electric BilteFs and seven b0xes OF
Bucklen's Arnica sslYe, and his leg is sound and
we'll. John Speaker. CatawBs, u, had nve large
Fever sores on his leg. doctors said he was in
oazahls. One bolt le Rlectric Bitlers and one box
naeklea's Asnica aalvs cared hin entirely. Sold
4 piasas q Riaaaa nlaa's alna aio1a.
Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1895-09-27

A young and we'll dressed woman en-
tered Charing Cross telegraph office the
other day and wrote cut dispatch to
be sent to Manchester. Sheroad it over,
reflected Cor moment, and then
dropped it ON the floor and wrote a sec
ond This she also threw away, but was
satisfied with the third and sent it off
The three kilograms read:
First. -" Never let me hear from you
again.
Second. No one expects you to re-
turn.
Third.-"Come home, dearest. All is
forgiven. "-Peason's Weekly.
Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1895-09-27

Lieutenant Governor Macintosh OF the
Northwest Territories told the Legislature
assembled In Regina the other day that
the Ottawa authorities have resolved to
give distinctive names to the several re-
gions Of the vast unorganized territory
that composes so much Of the larger por-
tion Of the Dominion. The region ada
cent to Alaska viii DO named Yukon, and
to the east. embracing all tho territory to
the Atlantic, there will be the districts Of
franklin, Churchill and Ungnga. Is Lab
HRdor 20 dpop cut IS a taritorial namaa---
Hondcn fOna.l Adxaraiaa.
Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1895-09-27

Sunday School Boy-Isn't there lots
Of life in ginger, teacher?
Teacher-Yes.
"And bread is supposed to be the
staff Of life, teacher?"
Yes, my boy"
"Well, then, it has occurred to me
that perhaps Methuselah lived on gin
gerbread. S-Yonkers Statesman.