davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Valentine Democrat. [volume] (Valentine, Cherry Co., Neb.) 1896-1898, 1896-10-01
"The Western Idea"

1t seems just a bit strange and awk-
ward that as we grow older as a people
we cannot get away from this ''West-'
ern idea," this stigmatizing a portion
Of our country because it is accom-
plishing with certain enterprising meth
DDS what could not possibly be accom-.
plished by any other. It cannot be that
we are jealous in the East, because we
attach so much Importance to the
West. 1t cannot be that we are ashamed
of the West, because we like to speak
with pride of it. Its people cannot
differ so very much from us since half
Of the American West is really made up.
of Eastern folks. But yet we go on and
on, and everything in the West that is.
not to our taste is 'sthe Western idea of
things" Surfeited with section
alism, we are full Of the notion that
one part of our country is superior to
another. We have still to learn and i'm
bibe the idea that America is America,
whether it be New York, Boston, Chi
cago, Denver or San Francisco.
The Valentine Democrat. [volume] (Valentine, Cherry Co., Neb.) 1896-1898, 1896-10-01
Their Customs.

A lady who dimes with the family Oh
a German professor found the table
customs very odd. AS soon as those at
the table were helped they at once cut
up all that was on their plates, and then
putting their knives down leaned on
the table with their left hands, and
with their forks disposed of the food
with celerity and without interruption.
At supper the hostess ground and cook
ed the coffee at the table, and the butter
was taken with individual knives out
Of an earthen pot that was used in COM
mon. Cheese was served and secured
in a similar manner, and was smeared
over thick slices of buttered bread.
When the eating was finished every
body still sat and watched the hostess
wash the dishes, which she did at table,
using the snowiest of napkins, without
wetting her fingers, while the master
puffed cigar.
The Valentine Democrat. [volume] (Valentine, Cherry Co., Neb.) 1896-1898, 1896-10-01
THE ROOF OF THE WORLD.
Marco Po1o's Account of the P1ateaa
of Pamir and Its Inhabitants.

Marco Po1o's Account of the P1atead
of Pamir and Its InhabItants.
In leaving Badashar you ride twelve
days between east and northeast, as
cending the river that runs through
land belonging to a brother of the
Prince of Badashan, and containing a
good many towns and villages and
scattered habitations. The people are
tMahommetans, and valiant in war. At
the end of those twelve days you come
to province of no great size, extend
ing indeed no more than three days
journey in any direction. and this is
called Eokhan. The people worship
Mahommet, and they have a peculiar
language. They are gallant soldiers.
anu they have a chief whom they call
None, which is as much as to say
CONT, and they are liegemen to the
Prince of Badashan.
There are numbers of wild beasts Of
all sorts in this region And when you
leave this little country, and ride three
days northeast, always among noun
tainS, you get to such height that it's
said to be the highest place in the
world! And when you have got to this
height you find great lake between
two mountains. and out of it fine river
running through a plain clothed with
the finest pasture in the world; inso-
much that a lean beast there will fatten
to your hearts content in ten days.
There are great numbers of all kinds
Of wild beasts; among others, wild
sheep of great size, whose horns are a
good six palms in length. From these
horns the shepherds make great bowls
to cat from, and they use the horns
also to enclose folds for their cattle at
night. Messer Marco was told also
that the wolves were numerous, and
killed many of those wild sheep. Hence
quantities of their horns and bones
were found, and these were made into
great heaps by the wayside, in order
to guide travellers when snow was on
the ground.
The plain is called Pamier, and you
ride across it for twelve days altogeth-
ed, finding nothing but a desert without
habftations or any green thing, so that
travellers are obliged to carry with
them whatever they have need of. The
region is so lofty and cold that you do
not even see any birds flying. And 1
must notice also that because of this
great cold, fire does not burn so bright
ly, nor give out so much heat as usual,
no' does it cook food so effectually.
I Now, if we go on with our journey
toward the east-nOrtheast, we travel a
good forty days, continually passing
over mountains and hills, or through
valleys, and crossing many rivers and
tracts of wilderness And in all this
way you find neither habitation of man,
nor any green thing, but must carry
with you whatever you require. The
country is called Bolor The people
dwell high up in the mountains, and
are savage IdOlaters, living only by
the chase. and clothing themselves in
the skins of beasts. They are in truth
an evil race.-St. Nicholas
The Valentine Democrat. [volume] (Valentine, Cherry Co., Neb.) 1896-1898, 1896-10-01
WITH BABIES FOR BAIT.
Hunters in Ceylon Lure CrocodiIes to
Their Death.

Hunters in Cey1oa Lure Crocodiles to
Their Death.
The fondness of crocodiles for babies
is used by hunters in Ceylon to lure
the reptiles to death. A nice, fat baby
is tied by the leg to stake near some
pond or lagoon where crocodiles
abound. Soon the child begins crying
and the sound attracts the crocodiles
within hearing distance. They start
out Immediately for the wailing infant.
The hunter in the meantime conceals
himself in the bushes or swamp grass
near the baby, with a rifle in his hani
projecting out and almost over the
child. He remains perfectly quiet and
the reptile, intent on it's prey, notices
nothing but the screaming and kicking
child. AS the monster approaches to
within few feet Of the bait the hunter
sends bullet directly into the alliga-
tors eye, causing instant death. A miss
would mean death for the baby, but
the hunters are expert shots and at the
short distance at which they fire a miss
is next to impossible. AS a rule the
sound Of the firearm scares the baby
worse than the presence Of the croco-
dies jaws and the rows Of sharp and
glistening teeth, but after being shot
The Valentine Democrat. [volume] (Valentine, Cherry Co., Neb.) 1896-1898, 1896-10-01
School Theatricals a Century Ago.

Miss Agnes Repplier writes a little
sketch entitled cat School Hundred
years Ago" for st. Nicholas. Of one
form Of diversion allowed the pupils,
Miss Repplier writes:
Few things more amusing than Miss
>Witford's "Early Recollections" have
ever been told in print. We know ey-
ierybody in that school as intimately as
Mary Witford knew them in the year
1896. The English teacher who was
so welded to grammar and arithmetic
Mary hated to study; the French
teacher whom she both loved and fear
ed, who had passion for neatness, and
used to hang around the children's
necks all their possessions found out Of
place, from dictionaries and sheets Of
music to skipping ropes and dilapidat-
ed dolls; the school girls who came
from every part of England and
France; above all, the school plays
''The Search After Happiness" which
they were permitted to act as a great
treat, because Miss Hannah More had
written it. If you know nothing about
1.-The Search After Happiness" you
have no real idea how dull a play can
be. Four discontented young ladies go
forth to seek "Urania," whose wisdom
will teach them to be happy. They
meet "Florella," virtuous shepherd
ess, who leads them to the grove where
Urania lives. Here they are kindly
received, and describe all their faults
at great length to their hostess, who
sends them brimfui of good advice tc
their respective homes. Think Of lo'
Of real school girls acting such drama
The Valentine Democrat. [volume] (Valentine, Cherry Co., Neb.) 1896-1898, 1896-10-01

We have to learn in this country to ac-
cept a man as an American whether he
lives in Chicago or in Portland, in New
York or in Tacoma! He lives in Amer
man, nor Western man, nor a South
ern man, but an American, living not
after an Eastern idea, Western fash
ion, nor a Southern fancy, but under
one central American idea: equality
Ladies' Home Journal.
The Valentine Democrat. [volume] (Valentine, Cherry Co., Neb.) 1896-1898, 1896-10-01
Conpensation.

81 hear half the audience left the the
ater at the end of the first act Of your
play, Hicks
Yes" said Hicks, gleeful1y. 1--WE
sold their seats to late comers, and
cleared enough to make the perform
ance equal to three-night run"
The Valentine Democrat. [volume] (Valentine, Cherry Co., Neb.) 1896-1898, 1896-10-01
The Crook.

In some parts of Scotland it was Gus
tomary to carry newly born child
three times round the iron crook"
which hangs in the middle of an old
fashioned chimney, and serves to sup
port cooking-pots, the ceremony being
supposed to insure the infants future
prosperity. To double up the chain Of
the "crook" at night prevents witches
coming down the chimney.
The Valentine Democrat. [volume] (Valentine, Cherry Co., Neb.) 1896-1898, 1896-10-01
Her Little Mouth.

Mrs. Hard-Do have some more
cream, Miss Sweetooth.
Miss Sweetooth (hesitatingly)-Well,
just little, Mrs Hard. Only a mouth
ful.
Mrs. Hard-Bridget. fill up Miss
Sweetooth's plate again.-Tit-Bits.
The Valentine Democrat. [volume] (Valentine, Cherry Co., Neb.) 1896-1898, 1896-10-01

over few times the child takes the
shooting as a matter Of course and pays
little attention to it. So expert are
many Of the hunters that they do not
shoot the alligator until it has ap-
preached to within a few feet Of the
baby. Then, with but few inches Of
space between the muzzle of the rife
and the eye Of the alligator, the fatal
shot is fired.
The Valentine Democrat. [volume] (Valentine, Cherry Co., Neb.) 1896-1898, 1896-10-01
Always New Ones.

Mrs. Illnow-Don't you doctors ever
get out of patience?
". Doh, of course; some die and
others leave, but there are always new
ones to fill in.-Detroit Journal.
The Valentine Democrat. [volume] (Valentine, Cherry Co., Neb.) 1896-1898, 1896-10-01
Nine Feet of Mustacbe.

4 clerk at the Fort Hall Indian
agency has a mustache that measures
nine feet from tip to tip.
The Valentine Democrat. [volume] (Valentine, Cherry Co., Neb.) 1896-1898, 1896-10-01

81 have a poem on the sea- said
the lover. Il think I'll take Johl,' re-
piled the maiden. ''He has q ship
there."-Atlanta Constitution.
The Valentine Democrat. [volume] (Valentine, Cherry Co., Neb.) 1896-1898, 1896-10-01

and speaking to each other in this Sc
date and meritorious fashion!
with ever new delight we now attend
The counsels of our fond WATERWAY
friend"
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1896-08-26
Alnmina Production.

The process brought forward by Hell
bling for the production Of alumina from
clay, SO as to be absolutely free from
silica, is described in Complies Rendus
as very simple. The clay is thoroughly
Incorporated with a mixture in equal
parts of ammonia and potassium sui
pilates, in such proportion that three
molecules of ammonium sulphate may
be present to every molecule OF alumlna,
and the mixture is made into hollow
bricks, which are then heated In an
oven at 27O degrees to $50 degrees G.
At this temperature both gaseous am
monia and acid ammonium sulphate
are given off, which Immediately reacts
with the potash salt present, acid potas-
STUN sulphate being formed, the latter,
at the above temperature, combining
with the alumina Of the clay to form
alum, and this is finally extracted from
the bricks by means Of water and freed
from iron by recrystall ization, the In
soluble silica remaining behind being
useful in cements Granular alumina is
prepared by spreading out the powdered
alum in thin layer on shelves arranged
in vertical tower, which is traversed
by the warm, moist, animoniacal fumes
derived from the brick oven. AS the re-
suit Of this simple and ingenious method
| the alum is transformed into alumina.
retaining the form of the original pow
der, and potassium aud ammonium sui
| pilates.
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1896-08-26

ouel. one man received three ugly

duel. One man received three ugly
prods, but finally killed his antagonist.
No duelist could ever be made smile
over the famous story of the Englishman
and Frenchman who were to fight a
duel in pitch dark room. Not wishing
to kill his man, the Englishman fred
up the chimney when the word was
given, and, to his surprise, brought
down the Frenchman, who had hidden
there. When this story is told in France,
it is always the Englishman who is up
the chimney.
Fighting Fitzgerald was successful in
18 duels before it was discovered that
he always wore a coat of mail. For
years his fame in society had rested on
his invariable success as duelist, and
this discovery was his undoing. A GER
tain major in fighting him objected
when his sword snapped on heart
thrust and demanded an investigation.
He was afterward hanged in Ireland for
numbering neighbor.
The most tragic duel in England was
between Lord Byron, granduncle of the
poet, and kinsman. It was fought in
a tavern room by the light of one tallow
candle. Lord Byron was tried for MUIR
der, but got off on granddaughter, from
the penalties of which he escaped be-
cause he was a peer of the realm. This
safeguard Of peers was done away with
only during the present reign. Chicago
News
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1896-08-26

ganlzat1on OF It's living residents. The
whole globe of Mars, which has a di-
ameter of about half that Of the earth
1923 thousandths-8,7 1898 kilometers or
A, 281 miles) weighs only los thous-
andths Of our globe, or 625, 584 quintil-
lions of Kilograms. The density Of the
materials which compose Mars is infer
ior to that Of the substances which COM
pose the earth in the proportion OF I'll
to 1000 If we compare this density
with that of water, for example, we find
that the mean density of the earth is b e
times (5.50) greater than that OF water,
or, in other words, our globe weighs
51S times as much as globe of water
of the same dimensions. But Mars
weighs not quite times (3.91) as much
as globe of water of its dimensions.
Its component substances are, then, less
dense than ours.
Once more, gravity there is much less
powerful than upon the earth, in the
proportion of 376 to 1,000-that is to
say that mass of 1000 pounds trans
ported to Mars and there weighed by a
spring balance would weigh only 376
pounds, and that man weighing 16O
pounds upon the earth would weigh
only go pounds upon the surface OF the
neighboring globe. Here we have abso-
lutte data, demonstrated automatically
and indisputable-data with which i'm
agination has nothing whatever to do
North American Review.
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1896-08-26
Spies In Society.

There is no gayer or more brilliant
society in Europe than that at st. Peters
burg. It is less difficult Of access to for
eigners than London or Paris society,
simply because hostesses implicitly rely
upon their friends of both sexes not to
introduce into their salons any but per-
sons of irreproachable character.
st. Petersburg is a hotbed Of gossip.
The Russian lady is SO clever that she
does not require any details of story.
She guesses at these, and, if necessary,
supplies them-in other words, invents
them. The one word which that guile
less official has let drop-which she has
surprised on his lips'-serves her as
the key to the mystery the rest is easy.
Of course she only communicates these
state secrets to her most intimate friends,
who themselves are sworn to secrecy,
but she has so many friends, Of both
sexes that in an incredibly short space
of time the important morsel OF gossip
is literally all over st. Petersburg.
To the foreign ambassadors she Is
more valuable than legion OF spies,
These persons are assiduous visitors &c
the leading salons, where. as may be
supposed, they pick up quite as much as
they want to know, and thus are often
better informed than the emperor's min
lister Of foreign affairs himself.
There is mad race among the fall
leaders Of the grand monde to attract
the largest number of diplomatists and
great personages in their drawing rooms.
Thus it happens that the younger men,
if not excluded from the salons which
they would SO adorn but for tL1s pol1ti-
cal craze, are not often seen in the prin.
cipai houses. ST. Petersburg Letter.
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1896-08-26
The One Man Barras Praises,

Almost the only man who is praised
throughout the book (Barras' memoirs)
is a man who by universal assent de-
served the praise that he receives-Mar-
shall Lefebvre, Due de Dantzick, the
husband in the well known play Gal
though perhaps in real life) OF
stMme. 5ans-Gene. - Barras never
names him without speaking of his
courtesy, real goodness and perfect up
righteousness of character, and this even
at time when he was holding the high
est offices under Napoleon, and faith
fully serving one who to Barras was not
only the usurper, but the deadly personal
foe. Barras had much occasion for graft
itude to Lefebvre, and with SO bad a
man as Barras this might have been ex-
pected to secure his hatred had he
thought Lefebvre worth it, but the Duo
de Dantzick, as is we'll known, was not
an eagle, and he had the tact never to
write to Barras without telling him how
much he continued to feel the invariable
kindness which in the days of the direc-
torate he himself had received from the
director London Athen@um.
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1896-08-26
PERSONAL ENCOUNTERS.
eome Interesting Notes About Duels an
the Practice of Dueliug.

Come Interesting Notes About Duels and
the Practice of Dueling.
Even in Germany the popularity OF
the duel is open to some doubt. It's ex-
istence is due not SO much to desire
for a combat as of fear what people will
say if there is no fight. There have been
noted duelists who were always ready
for a fray, and when they entered a
drawing room women quailed and hoped
it would not be their husbands or lovers
who would be SO unlucky as to excite
the ire Of the men of blood.
During the occupation of Paris by the
allies there were duels every day, the
Frenchmen usually being the challen-
gers and the victors, as they were very
skillful with the small sword. Some
times, however, they made mistake,
as when they jeered at an English officer
over losing his leg at Waterloo The
jeerer discovered that the loss of his leg
did not interfere in the least with the
Englishman's aim.
There have been exceptions to the
mania for fighting at any price. An
English captain, challenged by a
Frenchman, had the choice of weapons
and chose pistols. The Frenchman de-
clared he would fight with nothing but
the sword, and interested friends finally
compromised on lances, on horseback
The combat naturally attracted much
attention. A great crowd witnessed the
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1896-08-26

rode away. The honest freedom OF this
woman was very singular in that Mos
lem world, but it was not the only proof
we found among the Bedouins OF how
much the laws Of Mohammed have
spoiled the old Arabian manners.
When she had gone, a difficulty arose.
We had not expected to be entertained
by Arabs and had brought no gifts
with us. We could afterward send a
robe from Jerusalem to the young chief,
but we had no present for our hostess.
NV wife had brought good new shawl
from London, but it was creased and
furrowed. What was to be done? We
remembered Yusuf. He had been en-
gagged as a cook, but his great weight
a good 16 stone-suggested mangle.
We explained our plan, pointed out that
it was compatible with the smoking OF
unlimited cigarettes, and he joyfully
agreed. Next day, while we were off on
an expedition, he carefully dampened
and folded the shawl, laid it between
two camp beds and lolled and rolled
over it all the afternoon. Good Words.
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1896-08-26
KentuckY,s Names.

Kentucky is known as the Corn Crack
er State, from game bird enjoying the
same name which was formerly found
In great abundance in most parts Of the
state. 1t is also called the Blue Grass
State, from the belt Of land running
through the center in which this variety
OF grass grows to great perfection. In
the early days of our history it was
known as the Dark and Bloody G. eund,
being SO termed by the Indians. It was
then debatable land between the In
dams living north Of the Ohio and those
living in the mountains of Tennessee
and Georgia, sort Of battle-ground for
these tribes, which fact gave it the
name long before it was settled by the
whites
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1896-08-26
How a Shawl Was smoothed Out.

A brown faced, black eyed Bedouin
matron, in long, loose robe of blue
linen, came forward to greet us, and in
her lap were a heap Of cucumbers, on
ions and melons. Like Abigail, she
brought gifts She was the wife of Ali
Dial, a woman 35 Or 40 years of age,
clean, genial and "wiselike. :" She
stroked my wife's chin several times
and kissed her repeatedly. She was I'M
yelled and spoke freely to myself. Apol-
ogizing for her husbands absence, she
gave us an invitation to feast that
same evening. We begged to be allowed
to postpone it till tomorrow. "We are
Nazarenes, I said, land this is the
day of our Lord" Icannot tell whether
she understood, but she smiled prettily
and granted our request. She would
send messengers for us at the proper
hour. And 80 she mounted her ass and
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1896-08-26
Earnings of Golf Professionals.

During the last ten years the number
Of golf professionals has probably been
multiplied tenfold. AS at every links
the supervision Of a greenkeeper is a
matter Of prime necessity, the number
of these professionals has grown CORE
spondingly. Adding together the income
he derives from all sources, we may
take it that tho respectable professional
on good links can some times earn as
much as $3.50 TO 1900 year. A few,
doubtless, rake more, and there is at
least one crack s'pro" whose income
from all sotrcas can hardly be less than
5000 a year. James Gazette.
Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1896-08-26
Bird Hunters In Cevlon.

A more disagreeable object than a
scorpion Of Ceylon it would be difficult
to imagine. Although, as a rule, it does
not measure more than seven inches in
length, there is a species found in the
woods that are longer than foot. They
crawl out of some dried wood, and TAX
ing up their position on convenient
rock or stone, looking, as they hold
their great jointed sting curved over
their backs and their claws held aloft,
the very picture Of aggressive warfare.
Here they stretch themselves in the
broiling sun and await their prey.
These are the small, beautiful honey
birds that dart from flower to flower
and take the place Of the humming birds
of the east.
AS one approaches the scorpion seems
to shrink into the stone until it becomes
almost imperceptible Suddenly the
great insect will raise its claws and
dart at its beautiful victim, which in a
moment is destroyed. Strand Maya
zine.