davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The St. Johns herald., 1895-09-12
GOLD LINING IN RATs.
The Metal Found in Rodents and saranta
 Take the lip.

Take the Tip.
 In forming a company for the ez- traction of geld from the microbes which are supposed to attach them selves to that metal in countless mil stolen a1 idea from thrifty Yankee boys, says the Chicago Tribune.
 I. E. Lake, a representative of the Waltham Watch company in this city. says it is a common practice for the boys in watch and jeyvelry factories to kill rats and burn their bodies to get the gold from them, and that the amount thus obtained in the course of year is considerable. Tn every large plant like that of tho Waltham Watch company many oiied rags are used in burnishing watch cases, and in time become strongly inpregnated with gold. The boys about the factories are supposed 10 keep these rags out of reach of the rats, but they don't do so. On the contrary, knowing the keen ap- petite of the rodents for anything greasy, the boys care1cssly leave these rubbing rags lying about where the rats can get at them and cat them. Six months of this kind of diet ills the interior mechanism Of the rat with a gold plating he cannot get rid of. It sticks to him closely, and so long as the supply Of oily rogs holds cut the rat sticks to the factory. h order to mako sure the voracious. rodents Viii have an indRcement to gorge themselves with r-o!J c1,o,.,, f7C-rc (7--C-, T.-4[fa- or1 eo++v meats from their luncheons On the floors and rub them well into the wood by shuf1ing their feet on it. At night the rats come out and nibble the floor ing. They don't care for the gold in it, but the grease attracts them, and in getting at the grease they take Q dressing of gold with it.
 Twice a year the boys have a grand roundup. Rats are caught by the hun dreds and after being killed are put into cruciblc and burned. The intense heat drives off all animal substances, leaving the gold in the shape of but ton. The amount collected in this way depends upon tho number of rats the boys can catch. 1t is hardly large enough to attract an investment of capital but it gives the ingenious youngsters con siderable pocket money, and encour- ages business tactics. In some factories there arc young Napoleons, who buy up in advance the shares of their fel- low-worllers in the rat colony. A scarcity of rats will depress the price of futures, while an overplus will ad vance it. Sharpers who understand these conditions arc accused of having at times caused an artificial scarcity or oversupply, as it might be to their in terest to bull CT bear the market.
 The French discovcrers are a little behind the times with their microbe cpT, Nu1N
The St. Johns herald., 1895-09-12
Fewer Lawyers in France.

There will soon be a great reduction in the number of lawyers in France. By a recent law each one must take out 9 yearly license. for which he pays an amount equal to about twelve per cent. of his house rent. Many persons admitted to the bar who arc not in ac- tive practice have asked to have their names taken off the roll, among them M. Faillieres, formerly prime minister and minister Of justice, and Senator Rerengcr, author of the law renitting the penalty for first oifenses and also noted for his efforts to improve French morality.
The St. Johns herald., 1895-09-12
"RAeslT DOCS.
Vigo-ons Plea Against Tiieir Persecution
 by Florida Les-s1sscr.

NiSo-CS5 Flea A ss.Sst E.iS1r Persecution
 by 9 FicriGa Lee-s,.tor.
 Among the amusing discussions dur ing the legislative session at Tallahas- sec was that on bill of Suiiivan's of Esea:nbia, providing for the prompt siaEghter of rabid dogs. The reading clerk, says the Florida Tiiacs-Union, had just read the title when an old gentleman, representative from one of the interior counties, arose and with great gravity and dignity said:
 Mir. Speaker, am opposed to that bill. am opposed to it becapse ] Idon't see why rabbit dogs should be killed any quicker than any other kind of dogs. I've got rabbit Gog. !!e ain't much on locks, but I tell you, when that dog gets on a hot trail in the broom sedGe Cnd little later you hear Lis voice a-yelping in Q high key and the yeips gettin' fainter and fainter. till by end by you can just hc2f 'cnl down ili the holler, and you go there and you see the little bcnch-legged weller r2eeal harllia', lis eyes bright and his fore head vrinlzlcd with excitement. under a sartin tree, jes' get yen 8 poie and meat is your'n for Ginacr."
 There was breathless silence during the eloquent appeal for the rabbit dog. When it had been concluded others rose mp and paid glowing tributes b tae qualities of the rabbit do.-s t!:sy oone,t. until one would heve sS:;cr2d tsat a thing necessary to 2 ucaa's claj.ij...y in the state of Fiol'is:s is ti,.ss-,;'..s., rabbit deg. Tlse bal i.F thc Wax, u.:G killed by a larr,, f.. ~lv
The St. Johns herald., 1895-09-12
Growtl, of a Lion.

When 6 young lion reaches the age of two years he is able to strangle or pull down a horse CT an OK, and so he con tinues to grow and increase in strength till he reaches lis eighth year, when lie frows no moro. Tor twenty years after his fangs and taions show no sigrs of decay, but after that he gradually De comes feeble, and his teel1 fail him.
The St. Johns herald., 1895-09-12
S5,O00,000.
 S3,000,000. s 56i,000.

The company furnishes the poor man with the means to become freeholder by turning his annual expenses for rent of home into an annual payment Il; on home, and at the end of years eight he willoynit clear of incumbrance, while This neighbor. who rents his home, at the end of eight years, will have paid sim liar sum 10. rent and will be no nearer owning the same.
 For investors this association issues prepaid stock, sold at $50 per share, to members who desire to make all their payments at once and thereby save themselves the trouble of making pay. ments from month to month. The pro fits On this stock are limited to twelve per cent per annum. When the amount standing to the credit of the stock equals $100 the stock is deemed 10 have ma tured and the holder may withdraw the same and re, eiye $100 per share there for. Paid up stock shall be paid i'll a single payment of $50 per share and shall receive from t.e earnings of the associa tion a sem-annual cash dividend of g per cent per annum, payable on Jan. lst and July 1st of each year The dividend so paid is deducted from the profit earn ed. The balance earned is placed to the credit of the stock When the amount paid ($5O) and the profits ere dited ther, on equal Sl00, the holder may withdraw the same and receive $l00 per share therefor.
 This stock IS the most desirable instru- ment today before the public. It gives the investor an absolute guarantee for his capital invested and the highest rate of interest consistent with safe and con servativc fnanciering
 The affairs of this association are hon estly administered and the "widow's $ mite'' IS as cheerfully received and as carefully guarded as the milionaire's dollar. Tie American National bank of Denver. Col, comments it's manage m nt and security 10 ihe public
 The Columbia is purely mutual and cooperative, as every member hus a voice in the management at all elections. Ii is not corporation of capitalists, but ai association of men and women of all classes. Every building ti!at goes up in the county increases the value of real estate and every man woman Or child that saves their money in this way makes a better citizen and in time a wealthy person.
 Persons desiring to subscribe for stock for either loans or investments or wish ing aEy information regarding the "Co- lumbia, if you viii kindly call oil orad dress postal card to either of the fol- lowing local agerts, they will gladly give you all desired information wanted. F. NJ, ZUCK, IIolbrook. ". II. BURBAGE, 6t. Johns. ALFRED RUIZ, Cnncho. ~ I1D( c G.,r;,1.rorr;I l.,
The St. Johns herald., 1895-09-12
Food for Thought. A Dollar Saved is a
 Dollar Gained. C0LUMBIA BULL ING AID
 LOAfi ASSCCIATI0N. 0ffers the Safest, SarGSt and Hest Profitable Investment KG0WR. Equally Advantageous to the PcOr
 Man or Hi iiGnaiEe.
SAFE As TIE BANK OF ENGLAND,

The onward movement Of building and loan associations IS marked one and justly tco, for of all saving institutions none has stronger peculiar characteris- ties more distinctive functions. The simplicity of d building and loan associ- ation is great advantage to the work ing classes, who have little time and few facilities for much investigation as to the merits and soundn ss of deposi- tories of their savings.
 A building and loan association has but one security-the best in the world real estate This fact simplifies it's management, for it's assets and their values are tangible. They are blessing to the community and so acknowledged to be, and after careful investigation it may be stated that there is none more solid, more ably conducted than is the columbia" whose home office is loca- ted at Denver, Col. IL is well for our readers 10 be shown practical illustra- ton of what few dollars per month paid 10 the Columbia Building and Loan Association can produce in a compara- jivrly short time and we take it on a hasis of only $l000 per month, or for twenty shares of $l00 each, 50c per month for each share
 p shares, 5000, %.
 100 monthly payments $10 each $1033 70 shares, worth at maturity $2000
The St. Johns herald., 1895-09-12

Any person may buy as many shares as lie likes, np to GOO and the ratio is the same as in the above illustration. Most every man of q family would Ike to be the possessor of home, in fact it is his duty. This association will make installment loans to shareholders to the amonnt of il00 on each share of 50 shares neld by them upon being secured by first mortgage on real estate, not exceeding 50 per cent of the actual cash value Of such real estate
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1895-06-05
The Central Park Monkeys.

"There are twelve varieties Of mon
keys in Central park, New York city
thirty-two monkeys altogether" said
Keeper Cook.
"My favorite is q Nubian baboon.
Ho always tries to help me sweep his
cage in the mornings, and fights to get
the broom away from me. give him
rap over the head and then he pre-
tends that he's angry. But it's only a
bluff. He wouldn't hurt anybody.
Hc knows I keep apples in my pocket
and he knows which pocket they are
in; too, and gets them when he can.
There is Java monkey who used to
ring doorbclls and had to be sent hero
because his owners neighbors COM
planned of him so much. Nobody
could stop him. He lived somewhere
down town, and no matter how they
tied him up he would break away and
ring bells. lie can't ring any bells
now, but he is never quiet.
Monkeys don't live long in captiv-
ity. They all die of lung trouble
sooner or later. We have ono that
has been here years, but that is On ex-
traordinarily long time. We have only
had one monkey born here that lived.
That was about four years ago, and he
lived two years."
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1895-06-05
Raz3rs Get Out of Sorts.

The customer moved uneasily in the
chair.
"Givc TINT razor turn or two on
hestrop," he said. est hurts my face. {"
The barber closed the razor and
took another.
81 didn't know it was tired" he re-
marked as he proceed to freshen the
lather.
"Tired?" calculated the customer.
"Yes. sir, tired, or sick" responded
the barber. ga razor gets so. some.
times, that you can't do anything with
it. Then some BARRIERS soy it is tired,
while others say il is sick. The
weather seems to infect them just like
it does folks. In damp, chilly weather
razors are liable to become good for
nothing anytime. You may homo and
strop them all yon please, but they
won't take decent cutting elge.
When they get that way you've got to
lay them away for awhile. You see,
the edge OF o razor, when looked at
undar q microscope, appears to be N
fine saw. Well, the weather acts on
these teeth, and when it's damp anil
chilly they get scratchy anil then wo
say the razor is tired. Sonetime es
nearly every razor in shop will bo
affected, and then we BARRIERS get
cussed by pretty near every customer
! We shave. Washington Star.
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1895-06-05
Valuable Postage Stamps.

Persons who have kept any Of the
old letters they received in the South
during the war, might do we'll to look
them over. The Confederate govern
ment authorized the issue and use of
local postage stamps, and nearly every
city in the South. at one time, had its
own stamp. Many thousands of these
were used, but so rare are they now
that they bring very high prices.
There is among collectors keen de-
mand for them, and an idea of what
they will bring may be gathered from
the report of sale which occurred
recently ct the rooms of the Philadel-
phia society, New York. Confederate
stamps sold as follows: Athens, Ga,
$40; four varieties of the Baton
Rouge, La, Scent, S4l, SIT and $50,
respectively; Macon, Co., two varie-
ties, for s63.50 and S191; Lenoir, n.
O., 81 and Mobile2-cent, black, S41.50.
As time goes on these curiosities will
probably increase in value. They
are already beyond the reach of every
body but wealthy collectors.
cIHnOe
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1895-06-05
Touch Story About q Diplomat.

Walter Wellman tells rather q tough
story on Muruaga, the late Spanish
Minister at Washington. 1t appears
that years ago the present Minister
was m attacho of the Spanish Lega-
tion, and W. W. Corcoran, whose
house was much frequentcd by mem.
bers of the diplomatic corps, hcarI
that young Muruaga had misbehavel
himself before one of tho young lalies,
member of his household. The iratc
banker. took stick and went to inter
view the Spaniard, whom be found in
his own drawing room. He taxed
Muruaga with his offense, and receiv-
ing reply that was not satisfactory,
advanced upon the offender with his
stick. The proud scion OF old Spaiu
took refuge under sofa, begging
Justify for mercy, but Mr.. Corcoran
poked him out Of his retreat with his
stick and gave him n sounding whack
rs he fled precipitutely from the house.
The incident led to the budding diplo.
mats being sent to another capital,
and the old.timers ut Washington
wero not little surprised when he re-
turned there as Minister. New Or
leans Picayune.
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1895-06-05
INDIGNANT.

There used to be IN old porter at o
certain Irish railway station who was
more remarkable for independence of
character than attention to his duties.
On one occasion two of tho direc-
tors werc travelling over the line, and
noticed that the name of this station
was not called, the neglect being the
more serious as it was q junction.
This was made the subject of COM
plant, and old Charley, who was the
delinquent, was promptly brought to
book and reprimanded.
He was very wroth that any one
should find fault with him, and
thirsted for revenge. So. keeping o
lookout until he saw the directors on
their return journey, he stood op-
posite their carriage and shouted in a
stentorian voice:
"Cookstown Junction! Change here
for Randalstown, Castledawson, Mag
herafelt, Moneymore and all stations
Oh the Cookstown line, and don't say,
re blaggards, ye weren't towld!"
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1895-06-05
LoniSiana's Two Good Crops.

Two crops have paid we'll in IIouisi.
ana this year. While cotton and sugar
fell in prico far below what they ever
were before, and, in many instances,
probably below the cost of pro 1uction,
corn and rico sold well, at COOL ad-
vance over the previous year, return
ing n handsome profit to those who
planted them.
The reason for the Improvement i'll
corn is quite obvious. The failure OF
the Western crop produced scarcity
throughout the country, and sent
prices up everywhere, even in the
South, where the crop was q big one.
Thus the Louisiana farmers had n
double piece of luck which is not often
given them-a big crop at good fig
ures.
In rice it was somewhat different.
The crop was short. This, combined
with the Chinese-Japanesc war, which
practically stopped the importation OF
foreign rice from across the Pacific,
whence most of it comes, tendc,l to
stiffen prices, to the great advantage
of the Louisiana farmers. New Or
leans fimes-Democrat.
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1895-06-05
Micro Organisms in the Air.

To the unassisted eye the presence
of even any solid particles in the dir
is, as rule, entirely invisible. We
say this is so as rule, for there are
circumstances when the solid particles
In the air are rendered visible. Every
one is aware of the appearance of o
stream of sunlight, introduced through
slit or hole in the shutter of darA-
ened room. Under such circumstances
the air through which the sunlight
passes is seen to be full of minute dust
particles, yet ''gay notes which are
thus seen to ''people the sunbeam"
constitute, after all, only very in
significant fraction of the total num-
Der the air contains, for thousands of
them are far too minute to be visible
to the naked eye. Among these latter
are the germs.
It is only indeed with the aid of our
most powerful microscopes that We are
enabled to discern these latter and
form any estimate of their size. Many
of them are less than the one twenty
thousandth of an inch. In the words
of Professor Percy F. Frankland, one
of our first experts on this subject,
'400, 900, 900 of these organisms could
lie spread over one square inch in
single layer. Thus we could have
population 100 times as great as that
of London settled ON an area of sim
gle square inch without any complaint
of overcrowding, and giving to each
individual organism, not three acres,
which certain politicians tell us are
necessary for the individual man, but
one four hundred-millionth of square
inch, which is quite adequate for
citizen in the commonwealth Of micro
organisms. .''-Gentleman's , agazine.
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1895-06-05
Borrowing Trouble.

A New England scientist says there's
going to be the dickens to pay if the
rest of the United States continues to
cart away granite and marble from the
land of the Pilgrims and the Puritcns.
cit is not unlikely" says he, "that
the equilibrium OF the earth is already
considerably undisturbed, anl that we
shall shortly feel pronounced
wabble." OF course, if there Is to be
wabble anywhere we would prefer it
in New England, but perhaps the out
look is not so desperate rs OF first
glimpse. The summer rush of people
to the White Mountains, Bar Harbor,
Newport and thousand other New
England summer resorts must in
very great degree restore the
weight which existed before there were
quarries in New England. And there
is another thing. 1t is computed that
there were in the Western hemisphere,
when Columbus set foot on it, not
more than 100000 human beings.
There are now, at very low estimate.
1O1, ,OO0,O These 100000, 900 of
additional persons have Increased tho
weight OF the Western hemisphere
some 100000 of tons, in the round
est Of round numbers. Surely there
IS m opportunity for wabble in this
state of affairs AMI We ought to be
conscious of it by this time. IT there
has been no wabble, an explanation
should be demanded. Some man of
science should rise to tell us why We
don't wabble. Nothing is more dread
full than this uncertainty when md
wherc the commotion will begin.
Probably only those who are holding
to car straps at the time will keep
their feet. Buffalo IN. ~ Courier.
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1895-06-05
A Dog and Parrot Story.

William Winpenny, of Queen lane,
was, until q few days ago, the owner
of pet parrot, which he had purch-
ased in New Orleans several years ago.
The bird was veritable household
pet, being allowed liberties that no
other parrot ever enjoyed. It's con-
slant chatter amused the members OF
the family, especially at meal time,
when Polly was regularly placed at
the table, receiving the choicest It'd
bits for her meals. A few days age
Polly died and was revcrently buried
in the yard with little headstone to
mark the grave. The next days din
ner was q mournful one for the family,
Polly being sadly missed. The old
house-dog, Pomp, looked on with q
wistful eye, surmising that something
was wrong. The instinct of the brute
solved the problem, and, without more
ado, he went into the garden, dug ur
the parrot and, carrying it into the
dining-room, deposited it in it's accus'
toned place. Philadelphia Record.
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1895-06-05
H,IrS. Musg.nS.N

A family who live out in tho sub
urbs think they possess the smartest
cat in the country. The father Of the
family, after long hours of office work,
has the habit when he gets home in
the evening of walking the floor for
exercise. AS soon as he begins his
walk, "A1rs. Muggins" falls into line
behind him, and, with head erect and
tail waving in graceful curves, marches
up and down and back and forth
through the room, only varying tho
proceedings once in while by rolling
over on her back as the man turns
around and plays with her with his
foot. When the walk is over and
"Mrs. Mnggins" sees her master start
for his big rocking chair, she makes
one bound, settles herself in the chair
before he can get there, and, with
countenance that speaks as plainly as
words, looks up at him and says:
"Did you ever get left?"
"Mrs. Muggins" is q very good
mouser, and occasionally she will
catch great big rat out in the barn.
OF this feat she is always very proud,
and invariably brings the rat, after it
is dead, to the house, where every
member of the family must see it, and
praise and ret her for being such
good, brave cat. The first time this
occurred one of the members of the
family took the rat up on shovel
aud threw it over the back fence, but
in very few minutes "Mrs. Muggins"
had it back again; again and again
was it thrown away, but every time it
was brought back. At last the two
compromised matters by allowing the
rat to remain just outside the back
doo- by the side of tho step. There
it stayed all day until evening, when
it was found why "Mrs. Muggins" OBJ
jectod to having it thrown away.
The father had been home only n
few minutes when "Mrs. Muggins"
walked proudly into the sitting room
with her head aloft and the big rat
dangling from her mouth. She went
up to the man aud laid the rat down
at his feet, looked up in his face and
waited to be caressed and praised.
After she received the desired ntten-
ton, she allowed the rat to bo car
ried away, and cared nothing more
about il.
Now the rats that are caught are al,
ways allowed to remain near the house
until all the family have seen them, =,
Cincinnati Tribune,
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1895-06-05
Light the Room Dimly.

A glare of gas jets and of glaring
conspicuous lamps is in the worst pos
eible taste and betrays pa-venu on
the spot. A room should be lighted
from the sides with softly shaded gas
jets, one only in moderate sized
room, or by quiet, half hidden lamps.
Candlelight is the prettiest OF all and
the most becoming. Wax candles are
too expensive to be used largely to
light the parlors, but for q dining
room nothing is more conducive to @
confidential, reminiscent hum of con-
versation. Don't light the gas at all
and place the candles in clusters Of
four, daintily shaded, >at~eech corner
of the table. Do1ot overdo the dim
lighting and have the halls too dark
to admit of stranger walking through
them with safety.-NcaO York NeaOs.