davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1896-06-23
The Oldest Postmaster.

The oldest postmaster in the United
States is resident of Missouri. His
name is Elijah Watson, and he is loca.
ted at Nashville, Buchanan County.
His appointment as postmaster of the
village bears the date of June 10, 1858,
and was issued during the Administra-
ton OF President Franklin Pierce.
Watson was at that time clerking in
James Dickson's general store at Rush.
vile, and his commission came with.
out any exertion on his part. Dick.
son, who held the place before him,
simply became tired and turned it over
TO his clerk. The first few years of
Watson's services the total commits.
sions am ounted to about q dollar a
month. Nashville has increased in
populatioS until it now has 900 PEG.
pie, and the postoffice is worth $3.50
year. III Watson ever had a COMPETE
tor for the Office lie has never known
IT. He is SO satisfactory TO the people
that If the present Administration was
to name anybody In his place it would
lose great many Democratic votes.
During the forty-thres years of Wat
sons service he has only been required
to give bond on four occasions.
81 have only one complaint to make
against the Postollice Department"
said Mr.. Watson to q reporter, "and
that is that In the big offices some men
get too much pay and in small offices
some get too little"
Watson has J Ohm Wanamaller's word
for the claim that lie is the oldest post
master. During Harrison's Admins
tratiou, Wauamaker sent for Watson's
picture, saying he wanted it because
he was the oldest postmaster in con-
tinuous service.
Elijah Watson was born in Fleming,
Ky, In 1916, and is now eighty years
of age. In 1915, in company with his
good wife, who is still living, Watson
joined colony headed for the "Platte
Purchase, and located on farm
about mile cast of Nashville. He
says the "Platte Purchase in those
days was somewhat similar to the
present rush for Cripple Creek. Wat
son still enjoys good health, and reads
the addresses upon tho letters and
papers that come to his office without
the aid of glasses. st. Louis Globe
Democrat.
The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1896-06-23
WHOLE NO. $50.
Some Peculiar Accidents.

prominent oculist of New Orleans.
La. gives the following list of queer
accidents that have come under his
observation recently:
little boy, ten years old, was stand
ing IN front of bird fHncier's shop
when an aged parrot seemed TO take
sudden animosity 10 the child and
darted at him, pecking out one eye
before he could get out of the way.
Some linemen lett lot of short wire
lying on Euterpe street after repair
ing the telephone connections in that
district. An old coloted woman who
was on her way to market early the
next morning stepped on one end of n
bit of this wire, when the other end
flew up, striking her in the eye and
binding her.
A mixer employed at one of the
dairy firms near the city was milking
COW that had got her tail matted and
tangled with cookie burrs. In the
course of the milking the COW switched
her tail into the mans face, the mass
of burrs striking him in one eve and
completely destroying the sight of it.
a lad shooting at sparrows with au
mir gun hit his little brother in the
eye and blinded him for lie.
Tommy Pents, the handsome, bright
eyed seven year-old son of widow,
fell down stairs backward. When his
mother picked him up the boy was
asleep, the shock having affected him
In this singular manner, and in an
hour after, when he opened his eyes,
they were badly and irrevocably
crossed.
n poor lad who is affected with cpl
lepsy daring n recent attack fell against
the steam coils in his fathers office,
burning and blistering his eyes 10
badly that the sight is gone.
As the Louisville and Nashville
passenger train was coming into the
city few weeks since, some ruthless
person threw stone ut the day coach,
SCATTERING one OF the windows. The
particles Of g,ass few into the face OF
men sitting by the window, as many
us forty OF them unfolding themselves
IN his eyes alone. Most marvellous
to relate, every bit OF glass has been
distracted and tho mans eyesight
remains unimpaired. - Philadelphia
Times
The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1896-06-23
Old Kuala Bear Of Australia

firm In London, acting as special
agent for Australian wines, publishes
n striking advertisement representing
koaIa or Australian tree bear, with a
cub upon her back. The firm, which
is one Of thirty years standing, an
nounces that 1T has in its possession
the only specimen OF tree bear in
England
The koala is mn interesting animal,
not because it helps TO serve an Eng.
llsh wine merchant to advertise his
wares, but from the standpoint Of the
zooloSist. The konla is marsupial
Phalaugistidne, resembling the pha.
hangers in deutition, but possessing
much larger molnr teeth. The koala
has hardly the ri liment of tail 1t
resembles small bear. Its scientific
name comes from two Greek words
meaning respectively n pouch and n
bear. Its forereet have we toes, two
OF which are opposed to the other
three. This peculiarly does not ex-
tend to the hind limbs.
In speaking of the koala an author
ity snys that the animal Olives ,uuch
on trees. " The hnsty reader should
not infer from this that the koala dc
yours trees in its efforts to sustain life.
The idea mennt TO he conveyed is that
the tree bear spends large part of its
lie in the branches OF the Australian
trees. The name konln is Of Australian
origin, and seems to be IN effort to put
into one word the peculiar sounds ut
tered by the tree bear. As an adver-
Using feature the konla now leading u
lonely life with her Glib in London is
a thorough success. Many people who
nre not interested in Australian wines
have visited the tree bear. - New York
WOrld.
The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1896-06-23
PITH AND POINT.

Loves young dream often goes by
contrnries.
A good many of the people who
lance contr;vc f. owe the piper.
Pack.
The world may owe MS II living, bi,
it isn't easy to hypothecNte the claim.
Puck.
If man does not know when he il
beaten, some kind friend ispretty sure
10 tell him. Puck.
More loss OF sleep has becu caused
ny defective stomachs than 10y guilty
sonsciences. Puck.
To write an epigram all you have to
10 is to think MP something mean in
;wo lines and make it rhyme. Texas
Sitter.
Jinks" Would you call Brobsoa
ool?" Fhkins-." Well. hardly: but
think he knows the least on tue most
subjects of any man of my acquaint-
ance. Puck
Poetry Eel She (,entimentally) -
"What poetry there is in fire :" He
sadly Yes; great deaf of my
pretty poetry has gone there. -
darper's Bazaar.
How He Foun Thc'n: Jimmy the
ION How are you finding things
these hard timcs?' Mike, the Porch
climber Easy. Been using the y
FAY. "-IndiHuapoiis Journal
"How large were the diamonds?"
asked the press agent, pausing in tho
writing of the account for publication.
about as large rs chestnuts," con.
'essed the actress, unwittingly. In
annapolis journal.
Winterbloom -"Dolft you think
5000 is rather high for n tailor made
gown? Won Blumer tells INC his wife
paid only $50. Mrs Winterbloom
TRUE, my dear, but she got hers
before ! got mine. - Harlem Life.
Game Werden-'Look here. Don't
you know that you can't shoot deer
Just now" Proud Amateur Sports.
man-"Cqn't ]? pointing to fine
lead buck. Look at that and see
whether / cIn't. Boston Courier.
Proud Pop Ito old bachelor friend
"a tell You, Dawson, there's no baby
ike my baby Dnwson-"I'm glad
you've walked up to that fact. knew
mighty well there never was baby
ike the one you desired. - Harper
Bazar
"What n nasty smell burned powder
nas !" said johnny. Powder" OK.
claimed his elder sister. Miss Maud.
looking mp. "Wby, it hasn't any
sm-oh, you mean, gunpowder !" And
she turned lovely, creamy shade OF
vermiliion and became absorbed i'll
her fashion magazine ga;n.-Chicago
Tribune.
The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1896-06-23
A MonStrOus MonSirosity.

The TOcci twins are oddities of no
mean sort, but they do not compare
with the human moustrosity known
in England as MISS Atkinson, the
lady with the hogs head. =" A com
parison between this moustroas mons
ter and the freakish Italian twins is
hardly proper. However, there being
wide difference between IL "rreak"
and monster, after you read this
mote" take down your dictionary and
decide what the difference is between
the two terms In n way to suit YOUR
self. 'Miss" Atkinson was born per.
fectly developed every way from her
feet to her shoulders, but from that
point to the top of her head she was n
hog of the most hoggish kind. If you
doubt that such an uucanny creature
ever lived, consult Chnmbers's "Book
OF Days, or Wonderful Characters,
by Wilson and Garfield. According
to the usual version Of tle story she
was born i'll Dablin about the begin.
ming Of the eighteenth century, but
the Book of Days says that there
are legends of pig-faced ladies in the
literature Of every country in Europe
The earliest printed account OF such IA
person was that which appeared in
London in the year 1911 with the
title.."A Certain Relation of Hos-faced
Gentiewomun." 1t appears that this
"gentlewoman" was born at Wirkham,
in Germany, in 1913, aud that her
name was Tanakin Skinker. Our
"pig-laced lady" Miss Atkinson, was
the daughter linen weaver, and
upward Of twenty years of age before
the nearest neighbors knew that the
Atbiusons kept such monster in tho
house. At that time. she hal n beau
tiful figure and dainty feet and hands.
Sho was, Of course, perfectly dumb,
and seemed to possess no more intellt+.
gence than the common four legged,
hog headed creatures. She is report.
ed to have been able to eat only from
a trough, into which she would plunge
her nose almost up to the eyes. Thia
trough, which wns made of silver, IS
still TO be seen in st. Giles Hospital,
Dublin.-St. Louis Republic.
The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1896-06-23
4 New Lir.Boat

Anything that bears upon life saw
in5 az sea is OF great interest TO hu
name persons. There have been many
inventions in the why OF life.b oats.
but most OF them have many obiec-
tious, nnl some have lroveu them.
selves in emergencies entirely worth
less. \ new boat is divided into two
lengthwise sections. There are water.
tight compartments which are filed
with Wr-tight metallic Tank These
are fastened 60 the floor OF the boat.
and are intended ns recuptacles for
provisions, water, clothing and the
like, end IN cases OF emergency,
ammunition. II makes not the slight.
ost difference how tho boat comes in
conlacs with tho watcr-w whether she
be pitched IN headforemOst or dropped
backwards or ST lewise-as she rights
herself almost instantly and is practi.
uaIiy non sinhnble The tanks for
food assist in keeping her aaoat, ~. if
properly used, they alone would keep
the boat from swapping
Those who have studIed the BULL Of
this boat declare IL the most sensible
anil practical article o. its kind that
has rs yet been produced. New York
ledger.
The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1896-06-23
Billet-DOux in Bricks.

Persian and Chaldean improvements
on Egyptian methods of producing
and preserving literature were of great
value to the literary world of that era.
and even this generation has reapcd
benefits from them. Instead of doing
their printing on pyramids and monu-
ment, where moth and rust could not
corrupt, they engraved their short
stories, local paragraphs, billet doux,
and correspondence on soft clay bricks,
which wero afterwards burned, MAX
ing an extremely durable literature. In
this it was much more convenient for
the postoftice department, for it was
ca Ter to send them from city TO CITY
than to carry around Cleopatra needles.
In either case it would be n little un.
pleasant for our modern letter carrier
along about st. Valentines Day.
Epistolary correspondence was apt
to be a little slow by this brick pro.
cess, but letter once completed.
lasted as long as painted china. We
can imagine conversation something
like this in those dayG;
Have You written to your mother
lately, Mrs. Dooars?' asks Mrs Daar-
ieeling.
"Oh, yes" answers the former.
pointing to row Of soft clay cakes on
side table, 'I began n letter three
weeks ago, and it is nearly finished
now. Next week 1 will send it to be
fired, md my mother will be delight
cd to think that answered her last
letter so soon l"-Pathfndcr.
The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1896-06-23

a door bell for deaf mutes is the in.
vcntion OF deaf mute. There is
something paradoSical in the sug.
gestion Of such thing, but it exists,
and has n very reasonable scientific
explanation.
The ear OF deaf mute is not sensi.
tive to the little vibrations of air that
in the normal car is recognized as
sound, but it instantly perceiyes any.
thing like n jar, or such thing as the
rumbling of a train. When any one
goes TO the house of deaf mute and
pulls the knob, no bell rings. The
deaf mute's ear would not perceive
that. But q heavy metal ball falls off
it's support to the floor.
1t makes n vibration and n Earring
IN the floor that is at once perceived
by the sensitive nerves of the deaf
mute housewife, and answers all the
purposes OF the bell. The contrivance
has been patented. - New York Jour.
nal
The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1896-06-23
WITH MAGGIE AT TIE cans

WITH MAGGIE AT TIE cans
Ahls an truths We grow oldes and 20
farther from the times
When the days were formed in measure. aud
the nights were writ in rhymes.
We grow fonder Of the old things-eor. /,
that romantic age
All our living wa . poem, printed or o
tinted page;
And the sweetest lyric written was ut cyc b.
meath the starr.
Long ago. there a; the iarnstcai, With sweet
Maggie at the bars.
have had somewhat u pleasure fron
worldly point Of view.
have met with kindly bosoms, WITH theiI
hearts pu!sating true;
But. somehow, the woods aud meadows
have no flowers quite a fair
As they bloone when was younger in the
love-surr ,unded air;
While tine moons are not rs tender, and nat
quite so bright the stars,
As they shoue when we We're trysting- and
Maggie at the. bars.
Will r. Hale.
The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1896-06-23
A Paying Investment.

"Thc property owners of q VILLAGE
cannot make q better paying invest
ment than in tho maintenance of n
well-organized Improvement Society. -
writes John Gilmer Speed in the
Ladies' Homo Journal. "Throuqb
such society tho value of every piece
of property in village, and the neigh
borhood thereof, may be enhanced in
value; village lifo may be made to
take on new interests and new diqni.
ties; stagnntion may be kindled into
nm exhilnrating activity. Let the peo-
pie become interested in n Village I'M
provement Society and they will soon
begin to discuss plans and policies
with gratifying alertness. They
will discuss how best to secure n pub
lie library they will talk ever the
ways aud means OF getting running
water into the town; they will argue
over the best way of establishing n
ire department they will study drain
age aud sanitation; they will recop
ME the value of street lights when
the moon rs shining on another part
OF the world; and when they vote on
these questions they will vote with On.
tire intelligence, aud they will 20
away from the meetings refreshed low
what they have heard, and what they
have done.
The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1896-06-23
Jealousy of a ZIG Maslin.

A mastir had for long time occu
pied tho sole place in tho objection of
the family, when little toy terrier
was introduced, on which, of course.
carcsses were lavished What was the
surprise of tho family when the little
toy terrier disappeared, and az the
same time they noted something eus.
plclous IN the look of the ma,tiT
Search was made for the terrier with.
out result, but ON the third dnv ser
want going near 20 the collhole. heard
faint whine md moan of anguish
Looking in, there was the toy terrier
imprisoned, lying helpless under n
heavy weight of coal and dust, and mt.
terly unable TO extricote himself or
even TO move his limbs. None could
tell whether Leo, the mastiH, had
actually entioed tho terrier into the
cellar and scratched the Goals over
him. or whether this had CHANGED bv
accident, but Leo had. ut al events.
carefully abstained from giving apv
assistance to his tiny companion. -
Cincinnati Enquirer.
The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1896-06-23
For Black Ercs.

Hero is a preventive Of black ovcs.
vouched for by good medical author
ity. The painting commonly resorted
to by those who cannot afford TO ap
pear in public with these decorations
Is unpleasant and inefficient. Besides.
prevention is better than cure. Oh.
tain from druggist the tIneture or
strong infusion Of capsicum anuuum,
mixed with an equal bulk OF mucilaqo
or gum arabic, with the addition or
few drops Of Rlycerine. This should
be painted over the bruised surface
with cnmels hair pencil and NJ
lowed 60 dry on, q second or third
coating being applied MS soon rs the
first is dry. II this is done MS soon rs
the injury IS inflicted, it will invari-
ably prevent b'ackeniug OF the bruised
tissue. The same remedy is good in
rheumatic, sore or stiff neck. New
York journal
The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1896-06-23
EVANSVILLE, W. VA, TUESDAY, JUNE %. 1896.
"Yes-ii We live to tell tho tale"
remarked Janet.

"Ies-ii we live to tell tho tale,
remarked Janet
UP ct the ballroom they found {
dismal enough crowd. On, stout Ger
man lady shook her head automat!
caly. and calculated at intervals.
Wen never see our happy home'
again !" The children were fretful.
and their terrified mothers secmed to
nave lost the art of soothing them.
PM made heroic effort to cheer them
up-played with the children, ioked
With the old folks and induced some
OF The younger ones to gather around
the piano and sing but after all it was
fictitious gnyety he stimulated, and
1t soon hickered down again. There
was something too alarming to be
Ignored in the fury of the elements
the rising water, the never ceasiny
wind and rain. Janet noticed with
some surprise that Mr.. Van Dyne was
gloomy, and even snappish. He ans
wered shortly when spoken to, and
seemed more concerned about his own
comfort than anything else. He
secured one OF the few armchairs, and
ensconcing himself in it, relapsed into
sullen silence.
And still, ms dark drew on, the st orm
Increased, wieh lashing rain and
screeching wind, and, above all other
sounds, the great hoarse roar of the
breakers. Phil and some OF the other
men made what provision they could
for the comfort of the women and
children; but MIR. Van Dyne made no
move to give up his easy chair. Pres
entI ~ there were people asleep on the
tables and beEches-some even hud-
died upon the floor.
1T looks now like tramps' lodging
house" remar@ed Phil to Janet.
She turnell aul looked at him. eve
are in great danger, are not we ?" she
asked. II heard Captain Sanders saw
VIC may expect the worst, If the wind
veers."
"WelI, it hasn't vccrod yet, he ans.
wered.
But it may"
Yes, it may. 1 will tell you the
truth, because you have courage to
hear it. We are in great peril, ard
heaven knows how it will end"
There was silence between them for
moment, aud then lie took her cold
hand in his.
Janet" he said, al must tell YOU
even here and now-how much love
you; even il you clnnot love me, it
eases my heart to tell you-'
"But | do, Phil" she answered,
looking up with her frank blue eyes,
The truth is, l was afraid to let myself
love You until | learned, through this
storm, how kind anl good and unset
fish you really are. You used to say
such hard things, but now seq YOU
are one Of those who practice but do
not preach. >
And so they sat. side by side, han
In hand, happy in spite of their peril
happy, as romantic youth can be,
even in the thought of dying together.
But no such poeti, climax was pos
sible. The storm subsidized gradually,
the waters began to recede, and as the
two watched, with tired eyes, the COM
ing OF dawn, they knew that fate had
spared them for life and love. New
Orleans Tlmes-Democrat.
The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1896-06-23
ADVERTISING RATES.

Advertisements will be inserted et enc dolls.
per square for the art insertion Aad Afsy
GEMS tor each subsequent insertion
cents line, and no notice inserted for ls1
thaa one dollar.
Legal advertisements will Be inserted a
ne sates allowed By law and will, In al cases,
% enased 70 the attorney, and payment viii
DC required upon delivery Of certified COPY.
CHAhaEs yoB ANNouNcEMnNrs.-F
oo9ng ofncsrs. IS; State and Congress, $40.
Terms for csaniing advertisements made
kn3wn on application 10 the publisher.
Dispatch: Ss-Orders By mail viii Tecsiys
pro0pt atssntion-
The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1896-06-23
The Barber shaved mn, yos,

Sleeping and dreaming in barber's
chair lost nan the tip o his nose in
San francisco the other dav. The man
dropped into the barber shop to get o
shave, and as his face was being latb.
cred fell asleep. The barber con
tiuucd TO shave his sleeping customer
gently. Suddenly the sleeper struck
ont right and LETT with his fsts, pre-.
sumably ut some dreamlaud foe. His
right fist struck the razor and drove
it's keen blade through the end of his
nose. This awakened him with
START, and after a hasty explanation
the man picked up the piece of his
nose and ran to the City aud County
Hospital. The surgeon stitched the
piece Of nose on where IL belonged.
and there is a fair show OF its growing
in place. or more or less in place. -
New York Sun.
The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1896-06-23
Tic Largest American Mule.

The largest mule that ever walked
on American soil is now, or was re.
Gently, the property OF one George II.
Johnson, farmer living few miles
east Of Honey Grove, Texas His
muleshiP Us exactly lsl hands, or 8
feet inches in height being exactly
z. inches higher than the famous Los
Pecos (Old Mexco) mule. which was
go widely advertised Doc ls9O.9l ~
being 1.-THE most gigantic specimen OF
the mule family the world has ever
known. ~ The Honey Grove mule is
not slim AID raw-boned. but is built
in proportion TO his height, Weighing
1919 pounds st Louis Republic.
The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1896-06-23

The Hope .Idabol Examiner saws
that the little child OF Mr. and Mrs.
Mulvihill got needle in its hip by
some means few weeks ago, but as IL
was not painful they concluded TO wait
till they came to Hope and then have
It removed. The needle soon disap.
peared, and one day this week made
its appearance in the cbild's knee,
working its way partially ont through
the flesh. SO that Mr. Siison was able
10 remove it with q pair Of nippers.