davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1896-05-20
GREEK FIRE.
How the Terrible Engine Of Destruction
Was Used In Warfare.

Joinville. who served under King
Louis TX in the seventh crusade Of 124S,
gives graphic description of the ter
rors of Greek fire: 'It happened one
night that the Turks brought up an en-
gine that they called the perriere (stone
thrower), o terrible engine of destruc-
tion, and placed il in front Of some cat
castles (chaz chateil) that M. Gaultier
de Curel and l were guarding that
night, and from this engine they threw
Greek fire at MS in great quantities "a
plante). 1t was the most horrible thing
that ever l saw. When the good knight,
NJ. Gaultier, my comrade, saw the fire,
he cried out and said TO us: 'Seigneurs,
we are lost forever without remedy, for
il they set fire to our cat castles we
shall be consumed and burned, aud IL
we leave our post we shall be disgraced,
and so ! conclude that there is no one
who can defend us from this peril ex-
cept God, our blessed Creator. Order all
our mon, every time the enemy throws
the Greek fire, to throw themselves on
their hands and knees and cry, "Thanks
to our Lord, in whom is all power' "
And whenever the Turks fired the first
shot we threw ourselves thus on our
hands 9nd knees, as our commander had
ordered. The nature Of Greek fire was
such that it advanced toward us as big as
a tun, and its tail extended yard in
length (une demye-canne edequatrepans). !.
1t made such noise in coming that il
seemed as though it were thunderbolt
falling from heaven and appeared to me
like great dragon flying in the air. II
threw out such brilliant light that il
was as clear as daylight in our host, sc
great was its fame of fire. Three times
that night they threw this Greek fire al
us from the aforesaid perriere and foul
times from the great crossbow (arbelestt
O tour), and every time our good Kins
st. Louis heard that they were throwing
the fire at us in this manner he cas-
himself upon the ground, and stretch
ing out his hands, with his face uprais
ed to heaven, he cried in loud voice {,
our Lord and exclaimed as he shed grea
tears, Beau Sire Dieu Jesus Christ
garde moy ct toute ma gent. CHis
toire de st. Louis" Petitot, volume 2
page 1857
The cat castles mentioned by Joinvill
were wooden towers used in sieges, ant
the word came is French measure o
length equivalent to six feet and con
sisting of eight pans of nine inche
each. There was nothing novel in tn
mere throwing Of fire. 1t has alway
been one of the usual incidentsof sieges
Gentleman Magazine.
The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1896-05-20

A tramp appeared at the door Of a
house in Takoma park yesterday. He
was not an ordinary looking tramp. AL
though ragged, there was an air about
him that betokened good breeding. He
touched the rim of his battered hat with
the grace of Chesterfield, and the lady
of the house gave him something to eat.
"You look as though you had been n
gentleman" she said. IL am afraid you
are addicted to drink.
"No, madam, you are in error" he
replied. Addicted implies habit. I
am therefore not addicted to either
eating or drinking. / was, however,
once gentleman. My downfall came
from learning trade"
Learning trader"
Eyes, madam. worked at the ma
chinists' trade for five years, and so in
jured my thumb and forefinger that ]
could follow my profession no longer,
madam"
"What was your profession?'
~ wrote checks madam"
And even then she did not know wha,
he meant--not until her husband came
home and told her why the writing Of
checks made him have to learn trade
Washington Star.
The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1896-05-20

Prisoners, it has been said, think
much of the rank of those who pass sem
Of death upon them, and the sheep
stealer of bygone days preferred that his
doom should proceed from the lips Of q
chief Justice. Lord Campbell mentions
case where a sergeant presided ON the
Oxford circuit in place of the judge
taken suddenly ill, and man was capt.
tally convicted Being asked, as usual,
whether he had anything to say, he re-
piled, "Yes, wish to say that l have
been tried before journeyman Judge"
Liverpool Mercury.
The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1896-05-20
He Was a Little Dutchman.

heard good old German giving his
little grandson lesson in English the
other day, says writer in the San
Francisco Post. The old man sat tilted
back in chair against the sunny side
of the house smoking his pipe, while
little Paul played on his lap and the
collie Joe frisked about them.
"Come, Yoei Here, Yoei" called the
little boy.
The old man knew that Yoe was not
the English pronunciation of Joe, so he
undertook to correct the little fellow.
"No, gran'pa's boy don't say him
right" laughed the old man. "You
mustn't say Yoe.' Say Voc.
'Yoe," repeated the child.
"I'm 'fraid, Paulie, you vas Dutch
man und can't say 'Yoe.' Now look al
gran'pa und say him right Say 'Yoe 80
The child watched the old mans
mouth and then repeated "Yoe"
81 t'ink, Paulie, your tongue vas toe
tick You vas gran'pa's little Dutch.
man nnd can't say 'Yoe I"
Then they both laughed and the little
boy called:
Here, Yoe! Here. Yoel''
The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1896-05-20
Byzantine Art.

Not only hundreds of admirable Syrf-
an churches, but st. Sophia itself, had
been completed before the early Chris
tian basilica at Perigueux was begun.
When we think what this must have
been, with its wooden ceiling and scant,
barbaric attempts at ornament, and
what st. Sophia is, with the most beau
tiful dome that has ever yet been con-
structed and a richness of finely devised
and perfectly wrought adornment that
has never yet been equaled, can we mar
vel that any kind or degree Of contact
With Byzantine art deeply impressed
western eyes and often guided western
hands? Can we wonder that the churches
of Constantinople were copied at Raven
ma. or that Charlemagne copied Ravenna
at Aix-la- Chapelle and sedulously en-
couraged the immigration of Byzantine
artists? Or is it surprising that, in the
tenth century, the Venetians, perpetual
ly in commercial contact with every
eastern port, initiated a Constantinopoli-
tan church amid their own lagoons? Be-
tween the sixth and the eleventh centuries
western art-Romanesque art-was not
even sure what It wanted to try to do,
while in the sixth century eastern art
Byzantine art-had already conceived
and perfected some of the most marvel
Gus monuments of human intelligence
and taste.-M. G. Van Rensselaer, in
Century.
The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1896-05-20
A Theater Incident.

"At theater where the seats are not
numbered and to which l had gone
early TO get good seat" said man,
II found just the seat wanted in the
fourth row from the front. In the seat
in front of me in the front row sat
man; the seat Immediately back of him
was vacant, and the seat back of that
and directly in front Of me was occu-
pied by a small boy, sitting between his
father and mother. So that besides
good location l had an unobstructed
view, which was one of the things l
had in mind in choosing the seat. OF
course / had 60 take the chances ON that
vacant seat, but the chances were at
least even that it would be occupied by
u man, and if it was taken by woman
there was chance that she would not
wear big hat.
"When the theater filled up, that
seat was taken by "a woman, and she
had ON hat which would have covered
the grass plot in front Of house in the
suburbs, and there grew upon it flowers
and things as tall as the hollyhocks in
the front yard of house in the country.
"But she had no sooner taken the
seat than she raised her hands and lift
ed the big hat off. My view was quite
unobstructed, after all, and 1 felt that l
had reason to be grateful. New York
Suu
The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1896-05-20
A Model Regiment.

The story is told of an English mill
tia regiment whose reputation was none
of the best that on one occasion de-
tective from Scotland asked to be allow
I'd to inspect the regiment to discover, If
possible, if certain malefactor were in
the ranks. Permission being given, the
detective, accompanied by the adjutant
of the regiment, made the tour Of the
various companies, front rank and rear
rank. When the official had got to the
last man Of the rear rank Of the rear
company, he stopped suddenly and gazed
earnestly at the rather embarrassed war
rior. why, you surely have made a
mistake" exclaimed the adjutant in
dignantly. why, you have pitched on
the best man in the battalion. He has
been with us for more than 90 years and
he is our pattern soldier. His arms are
a mass of good conduct badges, and he
is the example Of all that is best in the
life Of a soldier. You surely do not
know him?' NO." replied the detect
i've "I do not-but know all the 9th
ers. San Francisco Argonaut.
The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1896-05-20
NUMBER 3.
Sea water For City Streets.

The ancient idea Of flushing the sew
ers and cutters of city streets with sea
water is being vigorously discussed in
many places. In England 1t has come
into such favor that proposition is
now put forward to supply the city of
London with sea water. The water
would be taken from the sea at spot
not far from Brighton remarkably free
from pollution. II would be pumped
into a reservoir Of 10, 900, 600 gallons
Thence it would be forced into another
reservoir. from which IL would gravi-
tate to London. The present consump-
zion of water in London is 200, 900, 900
gallons day, of which 10000, 900 gal
Ions is used for municipal purposes
This might be saved for domestic pur-
poses by the introduction Of sea water.
The cost of the project is put at 81, $780,
600, and the sea water would be sup
piled by meter for public purposes at q
fraction of the present cost of fresh wa
ter. One watering of the streets with
sea water is said to be equal to two, or
even three, with fresh water. 1t pre-
vents the decomposition of street refuse,
it is effective for flushing sewers. and
particularly valuable for the extinction
of fire. OF its value to health there is
no doubt, and it would be easy to sup
ply it to hospitals and to schools for
swimming baths.
The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1896-05-20
THE CHANCE PASSAGE.
A Touchdown Argument For the Early
to Rise Scotchmnn.

A Knockdown Argument For the Early
to Rise scotchnnn.
An old Scotchman had roommate in
New York who was not fond Of early
rising and never stirred from his bed un-
man considered 1t his duty to warn the
young man against the effects Of indo-
lence, and at the same time to impart
religious instruction to him.
Every morning the Scotchman arose
at @ O'Clock, shaved himself and when
completely dressed shook his young
friend and addressed him in this man
ner:
"Now, lad, you see what it is to gain
time. Here / am dressed and ready for
breakfast, with half an hour in which
to read a chapter in the Bible and to
commit verse to memory which may
serve useful purpose during the day.
Now shall open the good book at ran
dom and read any verse on which my
eye chances to light, and think it prob
able that the verse will have some spe-
cial application for the events of the
day. Meanwhile, there you are, with
barely enough time to dress for break
fast and not a minute to spare for good
reflection.
For week or more this address was
repeated every morning with little vari-
alton, and the chance passage read aloud.
Then the young man gave the Scotch
man dose of his own medicine.
II was cold morning when the
Scotchman, wearied by late hours the
previous night, oversight The younger
roommate arose softly, dressed himself
quickly and aroused him.
Here l am," began the convert to
the new gospel of early rising, lin COM
plete order for breakfast and ready to
turn to verse in the good book which
may serve me useful turn during the
day."
"Well DONE" said the Scotchman,
rubbing his hands.
"You know, too," continued the
young man, without smile on his face,
"that ones hands may be directed by
something that is not blind chance to a
verse which may be highly significant. ~
Certainly" said the Scotchman,
| pleased to perceive that his lesson had
been aptly learned by the pupil. "Opeil
the book and read the first passage which
your eye catches"
The young man opened the book, and
without pause or smile read the fol
lowing verse from Proverbs:
"He that blesseth his friend with q
loud voice, rising early in the morning,
it shall be counted a curse to him.
The serious Scotchman was taken bacl
so completely by the sentiment that ht
demanded the book and had to read thu
verse through his spectacles before hi
could believe that his companion wa
not deceiving him.
"Well, lad," he remarked gravely
T suppose it was meant for my benefit
I'll let you sleep another morning -
Youths Companion.
The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1896-05-20
What the Alabama Did.

In the war between the northern and
southern states, which ragged in America
during 1915, we have the only in
stance in which steam cruisers have
been employed on any scale to harry
commeNe. The south had no commerce
to be attacked, but the north had a
large and prosperous merchant marine.
From first to last the south sent II
steam cruisers and small sailing cruis-
ers to sea These captured between
them steamers and 281 sailing
ships--not very heavy bill Of loss, one
would think. Yet this loss practically
drove the United States flag from the
seas. To prove this, I will quote from
the case of the United States, as pre-
sented to the Geneva arbitrators, the
following facts: Sin 1860 two-thirds Of
the commerce Of New York was carried
ON in American bottoms. In 1868 three
fourths was carried ON in foreign bot
toms" And the transfers from the
United States to the British flag were
,enormously large. They were.
The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1896-05-20
SAVED BY A CAT.

How Bashfui Young Man at Last Got a
Spoon.
There is a man, we'll known in ju-
dicial circles as one Of the most polished
and courtly Of gentlemen, who tells the
following story:
He had not, in his early youth, those
advantages which tend to produce ease
Of manner. When about 10, he was
much in love with a neigbbor's daugh-
ter, and, according to his statement,
was at this time nearly 6 feet tall. un-
calmly, shy and with the pxoverbial ubiq.
uitous hands and feet
One Sunday he was at dinner with
his rosy checked sweetheart, and when
the guests had been served with soup
the youth discovered that he had no
spoon. he grew red in the face and was
in an agony Of modification and dismay.
If he asked for a spoon, he felt sure ev-
cry one would look at him; If he did
not eat his soup, his hostess would be
sure to remark it. What was he to dos
he felt his hands growing larger and
more in the way than ever, and his feet
caused him untold emotion by absolute
" refusing to 60 under his chair.
Great beads Of perspiration stood out
ON his face and trickled down like rain.
The situation was becoming unendur-
able when terrified cat, pursued by g
small but game terrier, rushed into the
room and sprang upon the table. The
guests jumped up, and in the general
confusion tho ernharra seed pouth vetair
ed his seat, and turning to the servant
remarked calmly, "I'll have a spoon,
please. "-Washington Times.
The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1896-05-20
How Fast Doe. Electricity Travel,

The above question is frequently
asked in every day conversations, but is
seldom answered to the satisfaction of
the querist. Wheatstone says that the
speed Of electricity from point to point
along proper conductor is practically
instantaneous. Various attempts have
been made to ascertain the exact num-
ber of miles which the current will
travel in given length of time. Ac-
cording to the most reliable estimates
which such experimenters have made
Its speed is not less than ia, 900 miles
per second. The writer adds; "Such
speed is inconceivably great. The mind
cannot contemplate it without stagger-
ing. "--St. Louis Republic.
The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1896-05-20
How 20 Cure a Cold.

Simply take Otto's Cure. We know
of its astonishing cures and that 1t will
stop cough quicker than any known
remedy. II you have Asthma Brcn-
chitis, Consumption or any disease Of
the throat and lungs, few doses OF
this great guaranteed remedy will sur
prise you. If you wish to try call at our
store, Main street, and we will be pleas
ed TO furnish you bottle free OF cost,
and that will prove our assertion.
w. b. ALEXANDER.
The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1896-05-20
lsatlrcao Gtmr Gables.
O~.~~~-~O~~N-o~ON~~N~~0O~ ~O~N~~~O~OoN~~"~-O~N~NON
PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD.
IN EFFECT MAY IL, 1896.

Philadelphia & Erie Railroad Division Time
Table. Trains laays WNs1MfR8 pyiitTSod'
p:Oi n m-Train s, daily except Sunday for
sunbury, Harrisburg and intermediate sta
tions, arriving at Philadelphia b;23 y. M,
New York. e;2J p. m; Baltimore, $500 p. M;
Washington, 7;lj p. nj Pullman Parlor car
from Willamsport and passenger coaches
from Kane 20 Philadelphia.
$3.50 p. m.-Train 8, daily except Sunday for
irving at Philadelphia 4;30 A. NJ; New York,
7:33 A. NJ. Pullman Sleeping cars from
Harrisburg 10 Philadelphia and New York.
Philadelphia passengers can remain in
sleeper undisturbed until 200 AN.
o:35 p. m.--Train I, daily for Sunbury, Harris
PhiiadelphIa, s:5s a. NJ; New York, 0;33
A. NJ. on week days aud i0;S A N. on sun
day; Baltimore. $3.50 4. NJ; Washlngton, 7iiO
AN. Pullman cars from Erie and Williams
port to Philadelphia. Passengers in sleeper
For Baltimore and Washington will be
transferred into Washington sleeper At Har-
risburg. Passenger coaches from Erie TO
Philadelphia and Williamsport TO Balti-
more.
WESTWARD
7:2t n. m.--Train l, daily except Sunday for
Ridgway, Dubois, Cfcrmont and inter
mediate stations. Leaves Ridgway at $500
p. NJ for Erie.
6:C6 p. m.--Train II, daily except Sunday for
Kane and intermediate stations.
THROUGH TRAINS 4 ,, FOR ,, BRENTWOOD
TRAIN II leaves Philadelphia s:23 A. m.s
Washington, $50 A. NJ; Baltimore, $3.50 4. NJ;
Wilkcsbarfe, 1918 A. NJ; daily except Sun
day, arriving at Driftwood at 6:06 =. NJ. with
Pullman Parlor car from Philadelphia 20
Williamsport.
TRAIN leaves New York at p. M; Phila-
delphia, 11:20 p. M; Washington, 10. 40 n. M.
Baltimore, 1850 y. M; daily arriving at
Driftwood at $3.50 n. m. Pullman sleeping
cars, from Philadelphia to Erie and from
Washington and Baltimore TO Williamsport
aud through passenger coaches from Phlla-
dclphia to Erie and Baltimore to Williams
port.
TRAIN leaves Remove at $3.50 n. M, daily
except Sunday, arriving at Driftwood 7:21
n m.
JOHNSONBURG RAILROAD.
DAILY except Sunday.)
TRAIN 10 leaves Ridgway Mt 0:20 n. M; john
sonburg at 0:3s n. M, arriving at Clermont
at 10:35 n, m.
TRAIN 20 leaves Clermont at f0:45 n. M ar
fsving Mt Johnsonburg at Hal a. m. and
Kidgway Mt 1900 n. m.
The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1896-05-20
The Poocss Plate,

1t is doubtful whether any one has
more gold and silver plate and other OBJ
jects Of value than the pope. It is de-
"clared that were he to melt down all
the medals. chains. vessels and other
objects preserved in the Vatican, the
amount of gold obtained would make
more coin than the whole of the present
European circulation.
The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1896-05-20
In the Light Of experience.

Nodd-Before we were married,
when we went into restaurant, it used
to take my wife about an hour to decide
nn what she wanted.
Todd-Doesn't IL now?
-'No, sir. never let her see bill Of
fare. "-Detroit Free Press.
The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1896-05-20
Var onded in April, 1885.

The mediocre Alabama a single
small and i'll armed ship was the
cause Of most of this loss. There We're
no doubt other contributing factors,
but the effect Of her career is plainly
marked in the sudden increase of trans
fers during 1858, when she was at sea.
After she had been sent to the bottom
Yankee shippers recovered their breath.
The trade, however, had departed, and
the United States has never regained
the position which it held in 1860 as
shipping nation. -Nineteenth Century.
The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1896-05-20
Tho StyluA.

The Roman pen. or stylus, was an
iron implement, sharp at one end like
an awl and fat at the other like paper
cutter. It was used for writing on tab
let's Of wood or ivory covered with wax.
The sharp end was employed for writing
and the fiat for erasing or correcting
what was written.
The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1896-05-20
new 1t Happened.

"How did you"- the visitor began.
when the ossified man hastened to say:
How did I get in this conditioni
Certainly. A young woman gave me no
marble heart when was q young ma u,
and it spread. .''--Cincinnati Enquirer.
The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1896-05-20

In Henry a. Johnson's Arnica and OIL
Linament is combined the curative pro
perties Of the different oils, with the
healing qualities Of Arnica. Good for
man and animal. Every bottle guaran-
teed. For sale by H. A. Stoke.
The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1896-05-20

Teacher Ito lass)-Why is procras-
tination called the thief Of time?
Boy Cat foot Of class s)-Because it
takes person so long to say it--Har-
lem Life.
The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1896-05-20

The first hint of paper making in Eu-
rope was in Constantinople. The proc
ess was brought from China by way of
Samarknnd In A. d. e5l.
The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1896-05-20

The poison dagger, IN infamous weap-
ON still in use among the aborgines Of
Brasil. 10 fashioned after the fang Of o
serpent
The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1896-05-20

Stern duties need not speak sternly.
He who stood firm before the thunder
worxhipsd the ''still small voioa -
D0bell-
The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1896-05-20

The rosy fingered morn did there dis
close her beauty. ruddy az 9 blushing
bride. gliding tbs marigold, painting
the rose. with Indian ohrysolites her
cheeks were dy'd. Baron.
The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1896-05-20
At the Navy Yard

At the Navy Yard.
$50 this is the mimic rifie?"
~Yes, num-.
"And that's the maxim gun?'
ayes. mum. The minie-mum and the
maxim -mnmf'-New York Recorder.
The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1896-05-20

A ALLEGHENYV VALLEY RAILWAY
"A COMPANY commencing Sunday
May 20, 1896, Low Grade Division.
The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1896-05-20
NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR CHARTER
~ In the Court of Common Pleas for the
county OF Jefferson

will be made 10 the said court ON Thursday
q day Of May, 1896 mt 2 o'clock p. NJ. under the
act TO provide for the Incorporation and
regulation OF certain corporations approved
April goth, 1874, and supplements by VIM. Il.
Marshall Henry Herpel, Henry peible, J. j.
6utter. Solomon 6bahor, H. 8. Pelnap. ct al
70 be eellcd the Reynoldsville Cemetery
Company the character aud object of which
is the maintenance Of = public, cemetery for
the burial OF the dead bodies of human beings
and for tilese purposes 70 have, possess and
enjoy all the righte, hene2ts and privileges
'y 'A' said NJ snS 6ASi " RSSssSs