davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1896-04-11
QUEER WEDDING CUSTOMS.

In England Professional Witnesses Of
Marriages Are In Demand.
Professional jurors are well known in
America, and everybody has heard Of
professional mourners in other parts
Of the world. but professional wit
nesses to marriages are quite novel adj
ditions 10 the social system. 1t appears
that they are well known in England
and that their services are often in de-
mand.
a prominent London clergyman
writes on this subject:
'Ask any old cab driver, and he will,
probably, tell you how often he has
earned an extra fee by acting as ono
of the witnesses to the marriage of
some couple he has driven to church.
/ have had two such cases within the
last IL months. One tradesman near,
a corn factor. is generality at the service
of the clerk when a witness is required.
and should think that he has SO acted
in quite q score of cases during the past
few years, O present sometimes being
offered him for his services, while III
others he has not even been thanked.
"A South London clergyman know
usually sends for photographer, his
church warden, who has place just Op-
posite, to act as witness, and this indi-
vidual declines to act unless-he uses no
pressure, of course-he is allowed to
take q compound portrait of the bride
Gnd bridegroom to keep rs record,
and he simply asks that small sub
sciiption he put in the p0or-box Of the
church as return, and If the bride and
bridegroom choose to give an order for
a number of the portraits, he gives the
profits to the church expenses. He has
several times been asked for these por-
traits some considerable time after they
were taken, and in one case produced
such a photograph 1t Manchester as
sizes. In several cases / could tell you
of. the parties being married have, for
reasons known to themselves. and not
on account of want of time, absolutely
refused 10 be photographed, and, OF
course, another witness has been
found. Iowa State Register.
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1896-04-11

me here this afternoon? Let me be
frank with you. Oh. Nellie, we have
been friends now for a long time
Every year you become dearer to me
and more necessary for my happiness.
Will you not become my wife? Speak,
aarling. Say you consent. You can
not guess how long to have you al
ways by my side. Say yes, and make
me the happiest man in all the wide
world!"
From where she sat Nellie saw the
flutter of light blue gown as it passed
quickly from behind the screen to the
oren door. Molly had prematnrely fed.
do not keep me in suspense" he
went on. Say. will you be my wife?"
She bent her head to hide an irresist-
ible smile.
"Yes!"
Mr.. Beaumon. leaped to his feet in
amazement. Nellie did not speak q
word. With look of anger on his face
he stepped behind the screen. There
was nobody there.
'What does this mean?"
1t simply means, Mr.. Beaumont
that you have asked me to marry you
and have consented"
Il merely did SO at your suggestion,
because"
Exactly; and it was good of YOU to
adopt my suggestion. have accepted
your offer, and l hope shall not have
reason to regret il"
'Nonsense, Miss Nellie! You knew
it was only jest. like good practi-
cal joke, but surely this one is a little
undignifed. 1t was understood that
YOU would refuse"
81 made no such promise, Mr.. Beau
hont."
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1896-04-11

For many years vain attempts have
been made to get at a great deposit
of sulphur lying 400 feet underground
1t Calcasieu, La. The difficulty arose
from the fact that above the sulphur
lies q quicksand 100 feet deep. A few
years ago the plan was tried of freez-
ing the quicksand by means Of reflig-
Grating apparatus. and then boring
through it, but the undertaking failed.
Recently it was decided to try melting
the sulphur and pumping it up. and
this method has proved successful. Su-
perheated water is forced down a ten
inch pipe leading through the quick.
sand into the sulphur. The melted
sulphur mingled with water is then
pumped up through another pipe. and
exposed to the air until the water
evaporates. leaving the sulphur II .
nearly pure form.-Youth's Companion.
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1896-04-11
FOREIGN GOSSIP.

Russia stands third among the na-
tions in the number of books published.
surpassing Great Britain. As but lit
tie fiction is printed the enormous
output of serious literature is the n. IRE
remarkable.
The center of the city of Birming-
ham, England, is being undermined ny
the myriads of rats infesting the sew
ers. The damage done to property is
incalculabIe. In one place no fewer
than $50 rsts were caught in one day.
The Cooperative Wholesale society.
limited, o; London, has no fewer than
24O employees engaged in clerical work
in a single apartment, 15G feet long Ly
60 feet broad. The sales of the con-
Germ amount to considerably over $780,
100000.
Egyptians are very prolific The
native births in 1894 were 335 $40. while
the deaths were only 192, 2,1O3. The La
tive population of Egypt up to the Sec
ond Cataract and including the oascs.
is about S,OOOccO. The natives are
thoroughly convinced that the muddy
waters of the Nile increase the FRO
creative powers.
DIR. Caster has discovered in a
heap of torn papers sent to him from
Yeman, Arabia. an ancient book OF
magic called 1.-THE Sword of Moses" !"
1t is written in Syrian hand, the first
part in Hebrew and the last in Aramaic.
1t will be published with translation
and fac-siiniles in the transactions OF
Inc 2:oy;:, 2:oy;:, Asietic society.
The first rivers mentioned in au-
thentic history are alluded to IN Gen.
esis. They are the Pison, the Gihon,
the Hiddckel and the Euphrates. which
are said to have flowed from the gar
den of Eden. Various attempts have
been made to identify these streams,
but no agreement has been reached
among the authorities save in tie case
of the Lass.
A curious form Of life insurance is
spirnging up in French manufacturing
towns under the name of La Fourmi
(the anti. The popularity is that the
longer a man lives the less he is en-
titled to. The payment of one dol
lar moth assures the payment OF
81 eco to the heirs of a man dying be-
fore the age Of SO. the payment dimin-
ishing proportionately to $500 at 81.
The idea seen.s to be that if man dies
young his children are likely to be in
want, but when he is 50 they will be
able to earn their living.
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1896-04-11
rhe cuest Chamber.

The japanese believe in banishing
from the bedroom everything which IS
rot really necessary to thatdepartment.
All things useful they make as deco
rative as possible; but for mere orcs-
ment's sake little or nothing il added.
,nless it be . vase containing flowers
arranged in their own inimitable way.
or something equally simple. Their
custom will bear consideration by the
housewives Of our western world, ton
by this Japanese method the utmost
reatuess. simplicity and repose Is pos
sible. Ada beauty and daintiress, xad
li4a3e elss II left to b desired. Bed
loosns % appointed may be easily kept
81 ocder and free hon dnst-that los
= onnAnet ond Aealth lthy-Wouookt19.
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1896-04-11
coMFoRTAsLE PEOPLE


- tAs nagAA TIA
Il II often said that it takes MI SORTS
of people to make the world. and Of The
many varieties, to the credit Of human
nature be It spoken, not the least nu-
merous u the eom1oVtable OF ecmfogte
rsking species. says HarpeT's Ba0Es
These people ara to be found every
where, doing their duty in such swees
modest fashion that oue scarcely an
alyzes the elements which make up
their attractiveneas even while baking
In the warm glow Of their kindnesses
and feeling how good and pleasant it
Il to live with them
They are endowed with The raro gift
Of knowing what to say and what TODD
at the right time and in the right way.
20 that they never jar upon oue's sen
sibilities nor give the impreasioa tAa4
they are anxiously ON the watch to help
winch latter II often too apt to produce
feeling Of burlensoms indebtedness.
Indeed. 1t II not always in what com
Portable people do. Il b quite - much
in what they judiciously leass undons
that their peculiar charm crnshtA. and
positive and decided - n tbeir in1lu-
ence yet It may be fully and thoroughly
described by negatives.
They never fret and fume over ths&n-
evitable. they make no arrogant prs
tensions and naturally therefore they
indulge in NO harsh structures, no m-
gentle criticisms. They are equally
free from that distressing mock mod
esty which practices morbid self-in-
troapection and bestows the results OF
tho process on small public too b6ged
and Indifferent to appreciate IL con-
Adences.
They never attitudini1e - I,artyra.
no matter how great the sacrifices they
make. their self-enaeement heing %
genuine that 1t II truly invisible. They
never stpoke one the wrong way. nor do
they indulge in nagging. that annoying
and perhaps most lntolerable Of tha
small foes to the peace Of hcusehold,
while the disagreeableness inflicted BY
those who do practice the irritating art
II borne with such piacidity that tha
sharp tongues are reduced - silenoo
through very shame.
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1896-04-11
MOUTH Of THE COLORADO.
lIullons OF Birds for Hunters In the Gulf
Of California.

lIIllons OF Birds for Hunters In the Gulf
Of California.
At the head of the gulf the quantity of
birds is something that can now be seen
in few places in America. The sheets
Of ducks that stream along the water or
darken acres Of its blue, or are strung in
long chains along the sky above. remind
one of the palmy days Of the Illinois
river before the market shooter hal
made any impression on it. The shore
at ebb tide is lined with an assortment
Of bay birds such as can be seen no.
where in the United States to-day. The
brown curlew. with his sickle bill, turns
the other way, and whose white body
and black wings shine afar over the
waters. Dowitchers and sanderlirSs
willet and palaropes. plover ard sand
pipers, q motley host, little and big,
gray, white. brown, pepper and silt.
and all sorts of combina:ions-dot a.
most every foot of the shore eOr mile
after mile, league after league. Here
they run in little troops, ant there
trot about singly and in pair:; her"
them skim the bars with restless wing.
and there wade about in the ebblng tide.
Cne prepared for it, and who under
stands it, can have the finest Of shoot
ing; but one needs a shotgun. with wad-
ing boots as well as elsewhere, ard must
learn the ground. One must remember
that ducks are no longer pulled down
anywhere with a garden rake, and that
even for geese the rake now needs ON
extra long handle.
Fish and green turtles abound in the
gulf, but, as in California waters. mid
winter is not the season for the hest
fishing. The head of the gulf is shall
low for a long distance, and quite free
from danger of heavy waves. and early
spring would doubtless yield flne and
curious fishing there. Several varieties
of fish are found in the river. but It's
waters are so turbid. though the fish are
fairly good, the fishing cannot be called
attractive.
The weather il lovely except when
heavy storms on the Pacific side reach
over the high mountains. But such
days must be the rare exception. and
the winter climate about the mr. nth Of
the Colorado is probably about as near
perfect as can be found. The trip is u
surprise as well as pleasure evcu to
those familiar with California, Arizona
end Mexico, and a longer stay by parties
better fixed for exploration than the
last would doubtless discover many now
points Of interest, as the country is
cutie unknown to the white man. The
Indians are all friendly and accommo
dating, and there is nothing in the idea
that the Cocopahs are uncivilized and
dangerous.-N. Y. Times.
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1896-04-11
A Philadelphia Horse Trade.

The proprietor of an uptown hotel.
which is patronized largely by the ag-
ricultural classes, has a vacant stall in
his stable, and thereby hangs tale.
The Boniface was very anxious to sell
a horse to a friend from the country.
hut the latter had some doubt as to the
animals speed. The two agreed up
en- a certain day for drive in the park.
and in the meantime the hotel man had
not been idle. They were bowling
along at pace which was scarcely cal
culated to create any great excitement.
when a park guard, who had previously
been fixed" arrested the owner of the
horses for driving faster than the al
lowed three-niinnte gait. He willingly
paid his fine of five dollars, and his COM
panion was SO impressed by the occur
renee that he Immediately purchased
the horse. Thercare tricks In all trades.
Record.
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1896-04-11
".

"My darling Molly, you have made
me SO happy"
''But don't you feel a terrible big
amist-accepted by two women in the
same day?"
''It was a cruel Jest of Nellie's."
Yet she meant no harm"
Nevertheless, should like to pay
her back in her own COIN"
'Yes; how can we manage it?"
Look, Molly! Here is Capt. Durston
coming up the drive. We will pretend
that Nellie and are engaged"
delightful"
The captain entered and exchanged
greetings.
'Have you heard the news, Capt
Durston?" said Molly.
"What news?"
"Nellie has accepted an offer of mar.
Rage"
"Yes; I am delighted to say I am
quite aware of it,"
Molly and Mr.. Beaumont exchanged
glances.
"Why, who told you?"
lila! ha. Who in the world should
tell me but your cousin herself?"
Nellie: Impossible.."
"Not at all. 1 have just authorized
the announcement in the country news
PAPER"
''The deuce you have!" exclaimed Mr..
beaumont, eNCitedly.
"And why not, SIR"
because it is utterly false, sir!"
''Sh-h! What is the matter" cried
Nellie. running into the room Surely
you two gentlemen are not going to
quarrel herc!"
Capt. Durston states on your au-
thority, Miss Nellie, that you are en-
gagged to he married"
1T is perfectly true. believe I am" !"
Molly threw herself into an easy
chair and began to sob and show signs
of becoming hysterical. Nellie and
Durston stood looking bewildered,
while Beaumont regarded Nellie with
a glance of mingled surprise and con-
tempt.
Il thought" said Beaumont, this
farce was at an end, Miss Nellie"
"Farce. What do you mean?"
Suddenly smile broke over her face
and she burst into a peal Of laughter.
Then everybody laughed. everybody
congratulated everybody else, and
everybody was in the end supremely
hxppy. But three of the company in
sisted that Nellie was . wicked, meddle.
sr.rre miSchievous lstfl~ fhsucv aud thee
she would have to be kept well in hand
when she became Mrs. Durston.-Tit-
Bits.
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1896-04-11
THE DAUGHTERS PART.

sAs Ca De Assh TsvssA AaAin0 D@s
.1Afs lesel1y f1s.sene
One OF the sweetest tnines eirs een
do y 70 receive n1enos 8faeaouslys pr
ticulariy at home. In ones own noooe
2 cordial manner - PafsaeuiaS1y ns-
ting. Do NOT ssend ON IN tne maod,e
Of the room ana DOW coaoiy ma 1osms!-
y 70 the naend VINO nae ealaeo. va.
over 10 meet ne1s SNe neS yOuF neno
ana sey p'eessns'y sns. yoe o vy
eiao 10 see ner again. osin' coso sno
FORMAL ways oi S!ees'ng sequs.nssS
are NOT proper IN : eaFi Wescolaa
guests 70 ner lesners mouse.
daughters pefs - % eHss nes
motnef ON every soessA ocoa' ~
eiri Pours sne e. IN Aer mosnef afe~.
ine-room wnen uaends ofop N D nve
O'Clock. 0uise oisen. wnen p nnaaa =
present, she neips sne euests 70 N
sandwacnes ana the eakes Wn,en ~
served q nve O'Clock see' ana nessesx
hands the cups ana tekes tnesm nun
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1896-04-11
OUTLINE AND DESIGNS.

are etched with white . waterscape,
birds, anchors and the like. The circles
sre united in design with blue ribbon
effect, gracefully floating ON the back
ground Of white. Tho edges Of the
white cover are worked with eyelets.
and the two pieces are laced together
with white cotton rope. They come
little short Of entirely covering the pill
low. 20 m to show . blue denim cover
ing beneath.
One Of the square pillows has .
white center, with . hsh design Of blue
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1896-04-11
THE FRETFuL PoRcuPlNE.
Not . Good Mouthfcl for . Sucking Cal
to Tackle.

Not o Good MOuthfC1 for . Sucking CAAf
to Tackle.
The porcupine is often a nuisance
to the settler in northern Michigan
His faith in his arlnor has made him
SO fearless that he often goes prowl-
ing around houses Mt night and even
in the daytime, looking for something
to eat. Anything made of wood that
has an artificial flavor attracts him.
The salt-saturated slaves Of an old
pork barrel and the peculiar taste and
oaor of a washtub are what he likes
best, but he is not very particular. II
nothing else offers he will attack the
house itself and gnaw away the wood
from around the heads of rusty nails.
The sound of his teeth rasping away
on hemlock board is enough to drive
sleep out of the township. Many a
homcsteader knows how it feels to get
M in the middle Of the night and kill
q porcupine and to have the mosquitoes
to settle on his legs in thousands while
he is doing it. Sometimes the porcu-
pine climbs up on the roof, and it il
astonishing what noise he makes
there. He tramps from one end OF
the house to the other, and brings
his feet down as emphatically as il
he weighed so pounds. The quilts on
his sides and tail rattle on the shingles.
and occasionally he stops to nibble.
Az YOU lie awake and listen to him you
wonder whether he is likely to gnaw
a hole in the roof large enough to drop
through, and how it would seem to have
HIM tumble down into your bed.
Ii the settler has dog he will prob
ably be obliged to pull quilts out Of its
nose two or three times before he learns
to let porcupines alone. But dogs are
not the only animals that suffer. A
young calf always has firm belief
that everything in the world is good
TO chew, and he secs no reason why .
rorcupine should be an exception to the
rule. A year or two ago calf par
ticularly strong in his belief made his
appearance ON q farm in the upper
peninsula. He would apply suction
70 anything he could get at. though
his owners coat tails seemed to suit
him best. IL they were inacces-
sible-which was not always the case
he would get hold of one Of the
spokes of a wagon wheel and pump
away ON It as fiercely as If he were the
suction hose of . steam fire engine.
After about Is minutes he would give
it up with disguised expression which
seemed to saw: THAT wagon must
be out of ORDER" and tackle bale Of
hay. One morning he turned up at the
stable with thirty-four quilts sticking
In his nose and lower lip. He had evil
IDENTIFY met . porcupine and had at
tempted to perform the usual opera
ton with even less than usual success.
He looked a. If he had grown beard
and mustache in . single night 1t
took two men to hold him down while
another pulled out the quills.-Chi-
cago Record.
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1896-04-11

This is IN excellent recipe for coeca-
nut pie: Yolks cf three eggs, add two
tablespoonfuls Of sugar and one of1cur.
beat thoroughly. Add two teacupfuls
OF milk and hale . teacupful Of fresbly-
grated cocoanut. Pour into baking.
dish lined with rich pie paste. Place in
. moderate oven. While baking heat
tie whites Of the egg 70 stiff fro.h.
cdd three tablespoonfuls Of sugar and
half . cupful Of grated cocoanut- When
the pie is done spread this ON it. Return
10 the oven till il il . delicate brown.
eexve cold. Chicago Tribune.
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1896-04-11

am so sorry have hurt your feelings
and will confess all. l have been hoax
ing both of you."
"How?"
"Mr. Beaumont never meant to pro
pose to me-he loves you alone-but he
went through the farce at my request
lie is waiting downstirs to see you. Sc
lathe your eyes, make yourself pretty,
and come down. ] gave the poor man
quite a fright, but am awfully peni-
tent and he has forgiven me. 1 will tell
YOU all about it. There-we're good
friends again, aren't we?"
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1896-04-11
A oe.a Crsss-Ex.ni.er.

A short time Ego large factory,
fitted with the most modern appliances,
including electric lights, caught fire,
and despite the most strenuous ef-
forts of the fire brigade, was almost de
molished.
The following morning . newly-ap-
pointed member Ct the force was dis
patched to the spot, with view Of as
certaining how the fire originated
After closely interrogating the man
ager Of the factory. he asked n see the
man who was responsible for the elee-
tric light.
The manager stated that the electric
switches we-e under his sole control.
Then you are the man who lights up
the electric AFFAIR." asked the police
man.
Manager-That II 20.
Policeman (bubbling over with ex-
eitement)-Now, be careful how you IN,
swer my next question, COS il II aint
satisfactory, Il viii BE- took - evidence
against ye. When you lighted the elec
trie light last night, where lid you
thruw the match ePearson's Weekly
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1896-04-11

"Why. Molly, dear, whatever is the
natter?"
Don't come near me! I'll nc-nevcr
for-forgive you. You are a horrid.
Esean th-thing. Tn packing up and go
going away"
"Now, don't be a silly girl. What
have / done?"
"You pro-promised to refuse him, and
then actually accepted him. You
treacherous creature! I'll never speak
to YOU again. To play such vile trick
on me! How could you be SO heart
less?"
but saw you leave the room before
l gave him my answer"
Il came back and listened outside the
door, heard you accept him. and then
rushed away"
"My dearest Molly. it was all prac-
tical joke. thought you were out Of
hearing, and l was just teasing him.
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1896-04-11

11OSSy k3OeS - OaAA1eE 1oss
A dinner table may be very charming
y spread for . company dinner u ths
cloth has either bands Of drawn work
or bands Of coarse lace at intervals
from the center out to the hem. Any
color Of satin may b. laid beneath and
the whole color scheme made TO con-
form TO this foundation.
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1896-04-11

The mendicant stood before the way
farer with outstretehed hand.
sPlease, sir" he 1nid, Il have seen
better days"
.Well, thst's 10 affair Of mine" said
the wayfarer. "Aake your kick to The
weather man II you don't Ike this kind
Of . day.-Chicago Post
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1896-04-11
A MATCHMAKER.

AN sure, Cousin
Molly, that Mr.
Beaumont is in love
with you."
Nonsense, Mel
lie! He knows
very little about
me. I have only
been staying with
you three weeks"
"But don't you
believe in love at
first sight?"
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1896-04-11

CONN Salesman ito village under
taker)-Yoa are looking very blue, Ar.
Potter. How II business7
Undertaken (sourly)-Aw. am 60
ing to sell out and leave this town
the confounded place = dead.-N. 7.
World.
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1896-04-11
IL.

s'well, Mr.. Beaumont, have sounded
my cousin, Molly"
.'And do you really think may hope
for success?"
81 am sure of it. She is very fond of
you, but not yet fuzzy aware of the
tures."
''It was very good Of you to offer me
your advice and help"
''Not at all; we ure very old friends.
Now, don't you be rash, or you will
spoil everything. You must do exactly