davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1896-04-11

fastened to the door, when she hap
pened to catch sight of a bird cage just
inside it, containing n strange looking
reminded her of those worn by English
clergymen, extending downward from
it's throat. At the same moment a
woman appeared at the half-opened
door leading to the rear of the shop.
"Tas tina burd be talken, num-" said
she, with n strorg North-of-England
accent. "Tas n parson, mum; them do
go on wors'n parrots"
On inquiry, the talker proved to be
what naturalists call Prostehmadera,
which had been brought by the shop
keeper all the way from New Zealand
(where she had formerly resided), Of
which the bird is native.
It's popularname, ''parson bird, given
H. by the carly colonists of New Zea-
land in allusion TO the peculiar tufts
of long white feathers that hang down
black plumage, and which resemble
clerical bands, certainly seems appro-
pirate. Perched on stump, as an ex-
temporized tallter, it gives vent to jar
gon of sounds, displaying it's bands and
eesticulating in manner that irresist-
IDLY reminds one of the declamatory
style of preaching. A gentleman de-
scribing the bird says:
"HeJshakes his head, bending to one
side, then to another, as if he made his
remarks first to this part of his hearers
and aftcrward to that, and once again,
with pcnt-up vchemence, contracting
his muscles and drawing himself to-
gether, his voice wakes loud, as If to
awaken sleepers to their senses"
1t is a favorite cage bird with the col
onists, being easily reared in confine-
ment, and it's extraordinary powers of
mimicry make it a very interesting pet.
II can repeat whole sentences and imi-
tate, among other things, the barking
of dog to perfection. It's memory,
teachableness and articulation are bet
ter than those of any parrot; in fact,
perhaps, it is the best talker among
birds.
The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1896-04-11

The Tortures inflicted Upon Suspects In
tho Old Moorish Town Of Ceuta.

The Tortures inflicted Upon Suspects In
tho Old Moorish Town OF Ceuta.
From time to time the horrors of
slave-dealing and the barbarism with
which prisoners are still treated in GER
tain parts of the world have been ex-
posed to the public. There remains
yet, however, a spot within 20 miles of
English territory where such terrible
sufferings and hideous fortunes are un-
dergone by human beings as to be al
most incredible. This is at Ceuta, an
old Moorish town in Morocco surround
ed by chain of fortresses which make
it almost impregnable.
The place was built by the Moors In
945, on the side of the ancient mountain
Abyla. All the fiendish ingenuity of
which they were masters was exerted
to invent and construct as many soli-
tary dungeons and horrible torture
chambers as possible. just as it was in
those dark ages, with as many improve
ments as were added before the Span
iards took possession in 1910. so it is
to this day.
The town to Spain is what Siberia Is
to Russia, but infinitely more horrible.
Here. political prisoners and persons
whom the government suspects are
transported. As a rule the suspects
are prominent and respectable citizens,
who, however, have committed no
crime, and against whom no charge can
be brought. No suspicious papers
bave been found in their possession:
they have no secret weapons; they have
neither made rebellious speeches nor
encouraged insurrection.
Since they have committed no crime
they cannot be tried in the orthodox
manner, nor can they be executed.
Nevertheless, they are dangerous.
they must be put out of the way.
Therefore, they are spirited to dun
geon In Ceuta, where they will be safe.
The dungeons are hewn out of the solid
rock beneath the fortress, and run in
tiers so or 90 feet deep. They measure
on an average eight feet square. The
approach is made through the floor Of
the fortress, down long, winding stairs.
The dungeons line either side of damp
alleys, the only openings being small
hole about foot from the ground.
1t is through this hole, enlarged for
the occasion, that the prisoner enters
his cell, followed by armed keepers
and a blacksmith He is thrown on his
back and chains are welded from his
ankles into the solid rock. The keepers
then leave him and the hole is blocked
up with fresh masonry. The dungeon
il reeking with damp, is infested with
vermin and absolutely dark. Scanty
scraps of food are occasionally passed
through the opening by the keepers.
For whole year the prisoner is left
to rot in the dungeon without seeing Il
human face. Naked and starved he
crouches in the darkest corner, await
ing death. At the end of n years time
the keepers and blacksmith again enter
the cell to see whether the captive is
still alive. and that the chains are in
good condition. possibly to add fresh
| ones.-Chicago News.
The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1896-04-11
THE CITY OF THE DEAD.

rhav do neither plight nor wed
In the city OF the dead.
:. The city where they sleep away the
nut they lie, while DER them range
Winter blight and summer change.
.,d a hundred happy whisperings OF
No they neither wed nor plight.
sud the day is like the night.
heir vision is OF other kind than ours.
rbey do neither sing nor sigh
In that burgh OF by and by.
.,,sara the streets have grasses growing
cool and long;
nut they rest within their bed.
leaving all their thoughts unsaid.
,asming silence better far than sob or
though the robin be awning.
,r.ouoh the leaves of autumn march mil
lion strong.
There is only rest and peace
In the City of Surcease
rom the failings and the wailings meath
the sun,
And the wings OF the swift years
peat but gently DER the biers.
~. Wing music to the sleepers every one.
There is only peace and rest:
Rut TO them II seemeth best,
Tor they lie at ease and know that life Is
done.
Richard Burton. in Atlanta Constitu-
ton.
The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1896-04-11
FEA1htRED PARSON.
An Antipodean Bird Who Probably Is the
Best Talker OF HIS Kind.

An Antipodean Bird Who Probably Is the
Best Talker of HIS Kind.
Some time since friend of mine,
having occasion to purchase a small
article, entered little thread and
needle shop in the environs of the city
of New Orleans, but found no one in
the place, writes j. Carter Beard in
the Philadelphia Bulletin. AS he
turned about to leave hoarse voice
called out:
"Wait moment, ma'am. Take q
chair" ~
Looking around her in some surprise
at not seeing any source from which
she could suspect the voice to proceed
or any possibility of accepting the in
vitation so cordially extended to her,
she replied:
''I'll wait, but see no chair"
Betty! Betty! come quick! come
quick! come quick! Some one here.
Take n chair" called out the voice loud
ly.
Rather alarmed, for there was no one
in the little shop but herself, my friend
The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1896-04-11

agonixing exclamation Forever morel
II l haven't gone and put machine oil in
the sauce instead of lemon extract"
The variety and intensity of express
sions on the faces around that table
would have furnished q funny car
toonist with inspiration sufficient to
last q month. Some tried to laugh and
make light of the affair, but they were
those who had eaten the last of the ma
chine oil sauce; some looked sorry and
sober and others looked positively i'll.
Then came moan from the pantry
which caused general scramble in
that direction, and poor Aunt Martha
was dragged forth with her face in her
hands and her whole manner denoting
the deepest mental distress. She was
inconsolable and declared in the most
decided way that she would never be
able to. look any of them in the face
again.
They went in the parlor and took
Aunt Martha with them, and by all
sorts of schemes tried to divert her
mind from the sauce question, but
without avail. She would break out
every few moments with self-con-
demnatory Intersections and bitter lam
entations, and it was not until her CON-
pany was leaving, with the most hearty
and sincere assurances Of their enjoy
ment of her hospitality, that she could
summon even the faintest smile to her
archaeological countenance. Az
soon as they were all gone she lost no
time in hunting up Matilda and giving
her very warm and emphatic lecture
upon the reprehensible practice of leav-
ing bottles around where they did not
belong. my stars!" she cried, 'sup-
pose that machine oil had been poison?
'Twould been used just the same, and
here we'd had lot of cold corpses on
our hands! It's just a mercy of Divine
Providence that it wasn't carbolic acid
or some such deadly stuff. My land!
but I'll never hear the last of it. It'll
travel from Jerusalem to Jericho, and
they'll be calling their machine oil
Aunt Martha's pudding sauce, see IL
they don't!"
When she had finished her lecture, and
Martha had chance, the long-suffering
servant said, in her most correct and
vigorous English:
''Aund Mazda. didn't vas pud das
boddle in der bandry, neider! Id vas
The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1896-04-11
HUMOROUS.

I'm battle musicians are always
kept in the rear" "That's not fair.
Many of them richly deserve killing
Chicago Record.
-Next.-"I wonder what part of
mans costume the new woman will
adopt next?" Probably the frocl<
coat."-Detroit Free Press.
She (fishing)-"I know, Alfred, I
have my faults" He-"Oh, certainly"
She (angrily) Indeed? Perhaps
you'll tell me what they are ?"-Tit-Bits.
-Flora-"Chollie told me last night
that he believed could break mans
heart with my smile" Laura-"Chollie
was just talking. A mans heart is not
like a mirror. "-Cincinnati Enquirer.
-"The natural history class will now
write down the names of IL arctic ami
mails" said the teacher in monotonous
tones. Little Johnnie dashed off the
following and handed his slate proud
ly to the teacher: "Six seals, five polar
bears and one walrus."-N. Y. Evening
Sun.
Papa (busy with his accounts)-T
"iSh you Woulon U TCuu hdCuCl.
You disturb me-" Miss Rachel-"This is
the morning paper, papa. I'm reading
Notes on Society" Papa--"So am /,
child, and I've got some here that are
awfully hard to collect."-Chicago
Tribune.
THAT last load of coal you sent
said Mr.. Slopay, with a most impressive
manner, was more than half slate
Perhaps you may remember" retorted
the coal man, with much spirit, "that
you said, after you had ordered it, Just
slate this, will your "-Indianapolis
Journal.
The latest device of Paris paper
for attracting readers is the engagement
of two eminent physicians to attend
gratuitously upon its yearly subscrib-
ers. Recently the manager of the paper
gave notice to one of the physicians mot
to prescribe for Y any more: his sub
scription has expired" The doctor
replied: $50 has X"-Tit-Bits.
The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1896-04-11

tiful chimpanzee, whose name was Mir
anda.
Consul had never seen such a beauti-
full chimpanzee before, and he fell deep
ly in love at first sight. Miranda re-
turned his regard, but she had become
attached to the household of u British
trader, and she insisted that she would
not live elsewhere.
Miranda took great pleasure in in
structing Consul, and it was not long
before he could eat raw eggs, drink
from teacup and smoke Il pipe-ac-
complishments which were shared in
a higher degree by his wife, Miranda.
Some years after this, in 1893, Consul
accept an engagement with the Zoologi-
cal gardens at Manchester, it having
been agreed that, in return for board
and lodging and care in sickness, he was
to exhibit his performances in public.
The managers of the gardens, not being
aware of Consul's high moral character,
and fearing that he might leave the
premises at the first opportunity, locked
the door of his apartments on the first
night Of his arrival. This was an in
dignity which the newcomer took inn
mediate measures to resent and to cor
rect. Having read some of the marvel
Gus tales about how certain prisoners
had escaped from their cells by oddly
improvised tools, he set to work on
teaspoon and in a short time had de-
vised very serviceable chisel.
With the aid of this instrument he
soon regained his freedom, and since
that date never knew confinement. I'm
til the time of his death Consul might
have been seen any fine day, gravely
parading the walks of the gardens in
gorgeously decorated coat, stockings
and shoes, wearing n comfortable soft
hat and leaning on cane. Occasion
ally he smoked a pipe, and he always
had a pleasant word for those whom he
met, whether they were within or out
side of cages. And it was with the
greatest sorrow that the people of Man
chester heard the news of Consurs
death
The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1896-04-11

hcuse), with nose ~ inches long,
was exhibited throughout Yorkshire,
says the Strand Magazine.
Thus If noses were uniformly exact
in representing the Importance of the
individual, this worthy ought to have
amassed all the money in Threadneedle
street and conquered all Europe, for
this prodigious nose of his was conf
pound of the acquisitive with the mar
tial. But his chin was too weak or his
brow too low, or nature had so ex-
hausted herself In the task of giving
this prodigy a nose as to altogether for
get to endow him with brains; or, per-
haps, the nose crowded out this latter
commodity. At al! events, we are told
the Yorkshireman expired, nose and
all, as he had lived, in n condition OF
mind best described as idiocy most abb
ject.
The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1896-04-11
BooRTsHNEss ON THE RAIL.
Theories of the Cold Treatment OF Fellow
Passengers by Men Otherwise Decent.

Theories OF the Cold Treatment OF Fellow
Passengers by Men Otherwise Decent.
What is it that makes n decent man
turn boCr us soon as he enters n rail-
road car: If there were 30 double seats
In car and 30 men entered it each
would sit by himself. Let him, if he
chooses. But let the 31st man come in
and ask as this seat engaged?" and
the chances are that every answer he
gets will be "Yes."
The other day Hartford man bound
for Boston asked six men who were
sitting alone if the seats beside them
were taken. Each answered Yes"
and yet five of the six rode clear
through alone. Indeed, this habit has
gone so far that, If passenger moves
along to make room for you, you look
him over pretty carefully before you'll
trust yourself with him, for fear he is
pickpocket. His unnatural demon
stration of hospitality invites sus-
picion.
And this disposition of man to sit
alone seems to be matter of sex.
Women do not behave that way-at
least not in steamcars. In trolleys
IL women may start on one side of the
car, but, after three, or even four, have
gone, there's no more room. not even
for another woman, than there was
before. The remaining eight somehow
spread out their skirts so as to look
more crowded than before. But in the
steamcar the average woman, especial
ly if she has with her big bundle,
baby, or u restless child, will take a
halfseat beside n man, even If there's a
whole seat vacant near by.
There are some men to whom this
fate comes whenever they travel. 1t
may be due to Christian gentleness
that beams in their eyes, but it may also
be due to the cowardice that they can't
conceal. At all events, they have the
company. and, generally, before long,
the bundle or the child is in their laps
and they submit. One reason is that
they have to. 1t is expected of them.
Maybe the cold treatment that one
man gives another in the cars is his
method of getting even for the way
that women impose upon him. That
is a plausible explanation and it's the
only one that appears. Nor does this
do away with the charge of boorish-
ness. That can't be done away with,
for it's there.-IIartford Courant.
The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1896-04-11
THIRTY-ElGHT YEARS OVER 100.
Time Seems to Have No Eject on This
Man, Feoderovitch Kouzmin.


Ivan Feodorovitch Kouzmin is, ac-
cording to the Russian authorities, the
oldest man in the world. This seems
n rather broad statement, but the rec
ords are there to show that Ivan first
saw the light OF day on October 81 (old
style), 1881, which would make him 1873
years Of age next birthday. One hun
bred and thirty-eight years of age!
Late last September Gospodin Lo-
monossof, member of the Mos
koyski viedomosti editorial staff,
happened to stop at wayside
inn near the village of Dukova,
in the government Of Kostrama, and
there met an aged son Of Ivan and be-
came interested. Having satisfied
himself that Ivan Kouzmin, for he IL
was, was telling the truth about his
age and having obtained some data rs
TO the aged PEASANTS probable birth
place, Lomonossoff set to work to dis
cover, If possible, the entry Of his bap-
ti3m.
This required an unusual amount OF
labor and research, but finally the
church where this ceremony took place
was found and the archives contain.
ing the entry were brought to light.
There was the full name and the date,
and, curious to relate, an addenda by
the officiating priest to the effect that
God had blessed the child with the holy
sign of the cross beneath the right
shoulder blade, and thus marked him
for his own. A subsequent examine
ten of old VANS body revealed this
peculiar mark, growth Of warty sub
stance, slightly resembling the Greek
cross seen on the cupolas of all
churches of the eastern orthodox faith.
So there could be no mistake about IT..
Ivan Feodorovitch Kouzim was 1877
years of age! The records showed II.
and his own words told the story still
more eloquently. Here was veteran,
who, though entirely illiterate and
barely able to understand more than
the requirements of peasants daily
routine, could. in his lucid moments, re-
call the happenings Of u century ago.
Ivan and his son, ii may be said, very
quickly benefited by this sudden bound
into fancy. Y. World.
The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1896-04-11
A Boys Rapid and Fatal Growth.

Patrick Casey, young bridgeport
boy, in the middle of August last was
five feet high. lie then began to shoot
upward, and kept at it until the middle
of the following October, when he was
six feet three inches. This was an
average of quarter of an inch day,
or nearly seven feet year. His age
then was II years. Casey was unable
to Withstand this enormous strain
upon his constitution, and he died the
following November. Before his death
his hair turned from red to jet black.
The physicians accounted for the
change OIL the theory that the tincture
of iron that had given to him as tonic
had entered into his blood and acted
upon the haif. His case puzzled the
doctors, but no autopsy was held on the
remains, owing to the objections Of thu.
family.-Boston Post.
The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1896-04-11

-
abe was particularly precise, and espe-
cially in the supervision of the culinary
department. The kind-heartcd yet Sc
we're old soul kept after Matilda, the
kitchen girl, with relentless persist
encv and hawk-eyed vigilance which
often made the poor girl sigh for relief
from her surveillance, for anything
that was done amiss had to be careful
" rehearsed under the direct super
vision of her inspector-general. AS
result the culinary skill of Aunt Martha
came to be known and Dragged of
throughout her wide circle of friends
and acouaintances; and when anybody
wanted to speak in praise Of anybody
else's pies or buildings the ipvariable
verdict was; Most as good as Aunt
Martha's."
One evening n small but select COM
PAW of Aunt Martha's friends was in
yited to take dinner with her, in celebra-
ton of her brothers birthday anniver-
sary, and she had given every detail
of the cooking thereof her personal at
tention. The soup, meat, etc, had all
received her approval before being
placed before her guests, but when it
came to the dessert, that she insisted
upon preparing with her own hands.
She made one of her famous cabinet
buildings, as treat for the occasion,
and there was general rejoicing among
her guests over the prospect of insert
ing their teeth in the much-vaunted
dainty.
The pudding had been passed ere IL
dawned upon Aunt Martha that she had
not made any sauce for it. Such an
oversight would have been almost in
exeusable on the part of anyone else,
andthe dear old soul was honest enough
todeclare that the error was even worse
for its commission by herself. She WINS
compelled to confess that in her haste
she had overlooked that important item,
but springing to her feet she exclaimed:
wait a moment! I'll make sance in
llfy' and darting into the pantry she
diminished around for hardly more than
moment and reappeared with look
OF triumph in her eyes and bowl of
translucent, palatable-looking sauce
In her hands.
There" she said, as she proceeded
10 help each dish generously. II guess
we will have sauce if Aunt Martha is a
little forgetful. IIdon't see, for the life
OF me, how l came to forget it; but law!
I'm getting old and careless"
This candid acknowledgment brought
asly smile to the faces around the table.
and to thoroughly convince their good
hostess of their willingness to forgive
The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1896-04-11
AN AMATEUR VOLCANO.
Eruption of Mount Olympus wash.
Traced to Burning Ignite.

Eruption of Mount Olympus (Wash.)
Traced to Burning Ignite.
The Mount Olympus sensation which
lately scared the good people of Wash
ington state with the idea that vol
cano was in active operation in that
great mountain, has been brought to
a sudden end by the return of an eN-
ploring party to find out what was the
matter.
1t seems that earth in that vicinity
is interlaid with veins of Ignite coal.
Forest trees have fallen into the crew
ices and gorges, enormous quantities
of leaves have drifted down upon these,
and by some means fires have been
started which have communicated with
the coal veins. Great jets of steam and
burst of smoke frequently come from
the sides of the mountain and these
confirmed the theory that there was
q genuine volcano in operation. It
seems that the heat has melted the
snow which has formed perpetual
white cap at the summit. This, trick
ling down the sides of the mountain in
streams, has fallen upon the fire, which
accounts for the great volume of steam.
The puffs of smoke and explosions are
thought to be caused by the ignition
of collections of natural gas.
This condition of affairs naturally
leads to the inquiry whether good
many volcanic eruptions might not be
traceable to burning Ignite and the
explosions of large quantities of coz
fined gases. BE that as it may, Mount
Olympus is n seething mass of burning
coal, and the volcano scare amounts
to nothing.-N. Y. Ledger.
The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1896-04-11
Fine Place for Quail.

"Any quail about this neighbor-
hood?" inquired tourist who was
about to register at western Texas
hotel.
"Quail!" said the proprietor, with an
indulgent smile, "they have got to be
a nuisance. The cook complains that
she can't throw u piece of refuse toast
out of the back window but four or
five fat quails fight to see which one
shall be down on it."-Texas Sitter.
The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1896-04-11

her they all started in on the pudding
WIN vim that bespoke a previous
knowledge of its qualities.
:, Ihe first taste had n queer effect on
.ne whole company. Some dropped
'neir spoons and raised their napkins,
some paused with perplexed faces, and
Others made brave effort to go on with
'ne pudding. Then Aunt Martha her
seif tasted, then she smelled, then
s,ahclng wildly about, she cried:
Land sakes! What is It? DO you find
anything wrong with the pudding?'
There was no concealing the fact that
.ney did, but no one had the courage to
make reply. Their looks were enough,
however, and without further inquiry
aunt Martha made q bolt for the pantry,
om whence q moment later came the
The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1896-04-11
Observation-Disclosures

They are such as are made up of two
parts of equal shapes. Look carefully
ut these, and you will preceive that the
upper halves of the characters are very
little that an ordinary eye declares
them to be of equal size. Now turn the
paper upside down, and, without any
careful looking, you will see that this
difference in size is very much exagger-
nted; that the real top half of the letter
is very much smaller than the bottom
half.