davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-05-09
A Heroic Physician.

There are doctors and doctors. but
one of the most intelligent of all these
friends of humanity was one who had
the courage recently to give bit of ad-
vice to the head of family not many
miles from New York. The head of the
family was robust but exacting, healthy
but irritable-in short veritable Hec-
tor.
II don't know what is the matter with
my family, doctor" he said. "but my
wife is nervous, my children are suffer
ing from something, don't know what
in fact, the whole house is upset. Even
the servants seem vacillating and bord-
ering on nervous prostration."
II think it would be all right" said
the doctor, "it you would take a six
months tour to Europe-alone."
"I?" cried paterfamiliss. THE only
we'll member of the familyf"
"Yes," said the doctor, gravely. "You
ought to travel-for the health of your
family."-Harper's Magazine.
The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-05-09
HOW TO WASH A PIANO.

Having been told repeatedly that the
best way to clean a piano case was to
wash it with soap and water, somehow
never could quite make up my mind to
try it after all, for it seemed as though
the soapy water must surely spoil the
brilliant polish in spite of all assurances
to the contrary. But when our beauti-
full Steinway began to look dull and
milky and realized that the time had
come when something must be done if
would have it restored to its pristine
splendor, determined to find out if pos
sible all about it and then to make the
experiment resolutely if l became con-
vinced that it really was the best way.
Accordingly the first opportunity
which presented itself was taken to ask
the piano tuner about it, knowing that
he was sent out by one of the oldest and
most reliable firms in the country.
Certainly" he replied in tone SO
convincing as to quite Danish doubts.
"Just let me have a dish of tepid, soft
water, cake of Ivory soap and three
pieces OF clean. cleazy Canton flannel"
When had brought the articles des-
ignated he at once proceeded to show
how it was to be done.
Take the first piece Of cloth and wet
it," he said, suiting the action to the
word. "then rub it over the cake of soap
and apply it to the piano-a small por-
ton of the surface at time. Next wet
the second piece, and with this rub off
the soap as thoroughly as possible.
With the third piece dry the part. rub
bling it till it shines brightly, and do it
all as quickly as possible, that the soap
may not remain too long upon the pol
ished surface"
was delighted with the result, and
no longer felt any hesitation about con.
tinuing the work that he had begun. II
one is very sure to get thin. cheap
quality of Canton flannel and is careful
to follow directions as here given them,
success is certain.-Good Housekeeping.
The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-05-09
ONLY A WOMAN.

The reports now being received from
Miss Clara Barton of progress in her
work of Armenian relief should cause a
glow of pride and thanksgiving in the
heart of every American woman and
bring blush of shame to the cheek of
European craftsmanship and protesting
Christianity. What the civilized ma.
tions of the earth, acting in concert and
supported by armies and navies, the
combined strength of which defies &C.
curate calculation, failed utterly to &C.
complish is today being wrought by one
small woman, armed with sublime
faith in herself and in the cause to
which her head and heart have been
dedicated. Single handed she has
scaled the walls of prejudice and broken
through the ranks of fanaticism. With
dauntless spirit she has compelled re-
spect from a government which holds
woman as a chattel, sells virtue in the
market place and is as barren of mercy
as it il of morality.
In the name of the American Red
Cross Society she is today wringing
hope from despair and turning back the
tide of distress and disease which fol-
lowed the course of the river of blood in
stricken Armenia. With caravans of
food and clothing, of medicine and medi-
cal skill, she passes from province to
province, strewing blessings on every
hand and flooding with light places
shrouded in darkness.
Well may Armenia sing for all time
the praises of American womanhood and
we'll may American womanhood add an
other laurel to the crown of that sister
whose life has graced and strengthened
the country which gave her birth.-The
NeaU York Journal.
The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-05-09
THE BLACK DEATH.

"The Black Death" was first heard of
in Europe in 1347, when, after devastat-
ing large districts of Asia, it was
brought to Constantinople from the
Black Sea and conveyed from the Bos-
phorus by ship to the various ports of
the Mediterranean. Its ravages were
terrible. In Cyprus almost the entire
population was destroyed. while in
Venice over 100000 people, or about
seven-tenths of the population, are said
to have died. In Genoa scarcely a
seventh OF the inhabitants survived,
while those who desire to know how it
ragged in the other cities of Italy need
only turn to the graphic descriptions
given to it by Boccaccio and Petrarch.
At Sienna the erection of the Cathedral
was stopped by the plague, and has
never been resumed to this day. From
Italy the scourge made its way to
France, to England, to Germany and to
Spain, and it is said to have been car
ried to Scandinavia by ship which left
whole of the crew died of the plague,
and the ship, after floating aimlessly
about for long time, was cast ashore
at Bergen, the infection soon spreading
all over Norway and Sweden. Even
Iceland did not escape, while remote
Scandinavian colonies in Greenland
we're so obliterated that their very sites
were utterly forgotten. Whether from
this point the Black Death was carried
onward by wandering tribes of Esqui-
maux, and thus finally reached and de-
vastated this country, will never be
known, but such course is conceivable,
and might account for the entire disap-
pearance of those Icelandic and Scandi-
navian colonies which are said to have
existed along the coast of Maine for two
or three centuries prior to the discovery
of America by Columbus.
Europe was subjected to three more
visitations of "the Black Death" before
the great pestilence of 1865, of which
Peyps gives SO detailed portrayal in
his diary; and in London to this day
there remain many mementos of the
plague in the shape of green plots in
the centre of the most populated dis.
tricts which mark the spot where thous-
ands of corpses were buried along with
tons of quicklime in deep pits. Few
Americans go to London without paying
visit to Tattersalls, in Knights bridge,
and it may interest them to know, il the
matter has not already been called to
their attention, that the bit of green
lawn facing the entrance of Tattersalls
marks the locality of one of the largest
and most densely packed of these great
pits of "the Black Death. '-NeaU York
Tribune,
The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-05-09
Forestalling the Month.

The time has come for putting away
winter clothing and other wooden things
and the anxious housekeeper is con-
cerned as to the best way to keep them
from the destructive moth. There is
really no science about the matter. Take
the articles early, before the moth miller
makes it appearance, give them thor
ough airing and shaking and beating,
and then fasten them securely in paper
or cotton bags, leaving no loop hole for
the miller to get in, and the things will
be perfectly safe. On the contrary, if
they are left around until the eggs are
deposited in them, not all the moth pre-
ventives in the world will keep the eggs
from Matching and the moths from get
ting in their work.
1t often happens in our variable eli
mate that the millers come before one
is ready to put away furs and heavy
overcoats and such things; and then the
only sure preventive is to have the bags
ready, slip in the article as soon as it is
taken off, tie it up securely, and leave it
there until it is wanted next time. Es-
pecially should this be done when the
article is not wanted again until the
next day, for the little pests love to do
their evil deeds in the darkness either
the darkness of night or the far corner
of windowless closet. And really this
putting away is not SO much trouble as,
at first thought, it might seem. Having
the bags ready, it takes but a moment
to slip in the garment and lie it securely,
while the comforting thought that it is
safe is ample compensation for the mo-
ment's bother. Moths are said to have
a particular aversion to printers ink.
and many housekeepers make their bags
and wrappings of newspapers securely
pasted together.
The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-05-09
HOMEMADE SUNSHINE.

What care las the days go by
Whether gloomy or bright the sky
What care what the weather may be?
Cold or warm-'tis the same to me.
For my dear home skies-they are always blue;
And my dear home weather 1.-THE glad days
thro)
Is beautiful summer from morn TIL hight,
And my feet walk ever in loves true light.
And why? Well, here is my baby sweet,
Following me round on his restless feet,
Smiling On me thro' his soft blue eyes.
And gladdening and Frightening my indoor
skies.
And baby's father, with fond, true heart
ITO baby and me. homes better part)-
His face is sunshine, and we rejoice
In the mu SIC heard in bis loving voice.
So why should we heed as the days go by
The gloom or he light of the weather and SKY
OF the outside world, when we're busy al day
Manufacturing sunshine which fades not away?
With smiles, with kisses, with peace and Win
joy
Father and mother, and baby boy
We are living each day in the sunshine we
make
And God keep us and guide us for Loves dear
sake
MARY d. BRINE, in Harper's Bazaar.
The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-05-09
STOCK

Cattle may be kept on just enough to
sustain life, but there can be no expec-
tation of profit. The valuable elements
of food go to repair waste animal it's
sues, and there is none left to make
gain; but the more an animal can be
made to take beyond this and assimilate
the excess goes to make flesh, wool, milk,
etc.. wherein lies the profit.
II short of food. and inclined to give
less liberal rations. just do not. II you
yet have rough feed, it will pay to buy
grain to feed with. The next wisest
step is to sell off part of the stock at
some price, for it will not pay to feed
at all unless you feed enough to enable
your stock to make some gain or produce
something of value.
In this land of abundant and cheap
food we have only to raise good high
grades of stock and feed them the pro
ducts OF our fields to obtain double
profit. The English breeder must look
closer to details, must buy much of his
feed, and consider it's manurial value;
but we lose all our labor and our profit
if we feed poor stock. Millions are
doing that, however.
II man is going to raise hogs he
must do it right, and that is all there is
about it. 1t is no longer a profitable
business upon the hit or miss plan.
There are too many important details
which will not take care themselves,
Well looked after, there is no better bust
ness in the world.
Germany has II millions of cattle, 13
millions Of sheep. and II millions of
hogs, but her many millions of people
are increasing faster in numb ers. while
the production of live stock is practi-
cally at standstill. They require large
supplies of foreign meats, and are bound
to take increasing shipments from
America every year.
While the improved breeds of stock
are within the reach of the masses, be-
cause of their low prices, pure bred sires
should be procured to grade up the
the scrubs OF the land If we farm we
must raise some stock, and it is really an
advantage that it is now unproftable to
raise scrubs OF any kind. To feed them
is to throw away our grain.
The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-05-09
LANDOR, DICKENS AND THACK-
cray,

Charles Dickens, even in the zenith OF
bis fame, was never to be seen at the
houses of the great; and with the ex-
ception of Lord Lansdowne and the
Baroness Burdett- Coutts he owned no
intimate friendships among the Upper
Ten.
Thackeray, on the contrary, like
Moore. loved the grace and delicacy and
Unborn amenities of what is called good
society" He was no more of snob
than Dickens, no more of tuft-hunter.
but he was more plastic, more frankly
Influenced by that kind of social sensu-
atty which finds it's enjoyment in good
living good manners. pretty women, and
refined talk. Dickens had no eye for
beauty per Sc. He could love a COM
paratively plain woman-and did; but
Thackeray's fancy went out to loveliness;
and cleverness alone, without beauty
which ruled Dickens-would never have
stirred his passions. Both men could,
and did. love deeply, passiopately, madly,
and the secret history of their lives has
yet to be written. 1t never will be
written now, and it is best that it should
not be.
But, I repeat again what was said be-
fore. in each the intellectual apprecia-
ton of life and the personal tempera-
ment and character we're entirely antag-
onistic. The one who wrote so tenderly,
SO sentimentally, SO gushingly, had a
strain of hardness in his nature which
was like rod of iron in his soul. The
other who took humanity as he found
it, who saw its faults and appraised it at
it's lower value-yet did not despise what
he could not admire-was of all men the
most loving, the most tender-hearted,
the least infexible.-1he Bookmdn.
The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-05-09
AS THEY LIVE IN GREENLAND

Greenlanders have no regular meal
times, but eat when they are hungry.
They seem able to go without food for a
remarkably long time, and also to eat at
sitting the most astonishing quantity.
Among their principal dainties is the
skin of different kinds of whales. They
call it matak, and look upon it as the
acme of righteousness. 1t is taken off
with the layer of blubber next TO it. and
is eaten raw without ceremony. Mr..
Nansen declares that he must offer the
Eskimos his sincerest congratulations on
the invention of this dish. | can assure
the reader that now, as write of it, my
mouth waters at the very thought of ma
tax, with it's indescribably delicate taste
of nuts and oysters mingled. And then
it has this advantage over oysters, that
the skin is as tough as india-rubber to
masticate, SO that the enjoyment can be
protracted to any extent OF vegetable
food the primitive Greenlanders used
several sorts; 1 may mention angelica,
dandelions, sorrel, crowberries, bilber-
ries, and different kinds of seaweed.
One of their greatest delicacies is the
contents of RENDERS stomach. If a
Greenlander kills reindeer, and is un.
able to convey much of it home with
him. he will, l believe, secure the stom-
ach first of all; and the last thing an
Eskimo lady enioins upon her lover,
when he sets off Misunderstanding, is
that he must reserve for her the stomach
OF his prey.
1t is no doubt because they stand in
need of vegetable food that they prize
this so highly, and also because it is in
reality very choice collection of the
finest moss and grasses which that
gourmet, the reindeer, picks out for
himself. 1t has undergone a sort of
stewing in the process Of semi-digestion
while the gastric juice provides som g.
what sharp and aromatic sauce. Many
will no doubt make a wry face at the
thought of this dish, but they really
need not do so. have tasted it. and
found it not UNBEATABLE, though some
what sour. like fermented milk. AS a
dish for very special occasions, it is
served up with pieces of blubber and
crowberries.-Erc
The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-05-09
PELE, THE HAWAIIAN FIRE
GODDESS.

The Hawaiian natives OF so and 100
years ago believed in the existence of
many curious deities and divinities. the
most powerful Of which perhaps was
Pele, the fire goddess. She was thought
to make her home in the crater Of XII
lauea, in the very midst Of the awful
heat of that greatest of all volcanoes.
By some che was spoken of as the
Genius of the Burning Mountain" and
to others she was the Good Dame From
the Rocks of Fire." According to the
folklore stories of Hawaii she at times
assumed the form Of handsome young
woman, but usually her appearance was
that OF hideous old bag or witch. In
the latter form her tattered and fire
burned garments scarcely concealed the
bideous deformities of her person and
were poor excuse for covering absolute
nakedness. When Pele appeared as a
witch in all her haggishness, her blood
shot eyes and fiendish countenance were
believed to partially paralyze all behold
ers. Worse was the fate of the luckless
wight who happened in the old hag's
path and was unfortunate enough to
receive touch from her bony finger.
Such persons we're instantly transformed
to solid stone. all except the brain, the
eyes and the tongue, which remained
for some time active and with their per-
ceptive and other faculties wholly unim-
paired. The brain, knowing the awful
condition Of the body and limbs. was
tormented for days by all sorts of har-
rowing sights which the old bag con-
jured up before the still active eyes.
The tongue. which still remained as
flesh and blood, gradually wore itself
out on the teeth and rocky sides of the
mouth while crying for help. Finally
all life in the stony statue became ex-
tinct and the finty relic of humanity
was left on the side of the great volcano
as monument of Pele's awful power
st. Louis Republic.
The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-05-09
married daughters of hard working
Betsey Crawford.

married daughters of Woodworking
Betsey Crawford.
II wouldn't have thought il" said
a prominent lady in the church.
"Why, John Crawford was a deacon,
and protested to live according to
right and justicel There must have
been undue influence. His first wife
worked like slave to help earn that
money. l never supposed a man
would be unfair to his children.
"You never can tell what folks will
do" said another church member.
"Youth and tact are great forces in
the world. John Crawford never
meant to be unjust, but he couldn't
help it. A third of that property
ought to have gone to those daugh-
tiers. Why didn't his wife make him
fix it before she died?"
"Maybe she tried, who knows7"
said the person addressed. eff the
law didn't make him do his duty,
how could you expect his conscience
to do it? We need some new laws
about the property which men and
women earn together"
Mr.. Crawford's injustice resulted
in the early death of one daughter,
and left bitter memories of her father
in the heart of the other.-NeaU York
Independent.
The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-05-09
FARM. GARDEN AND DAIRY
Instructive Reading for Agriculturists.
PREPARED EXPRESSLY FOR "THE UNIvERsALIsT"


To produce cattle fat and large at
the least expense, feeding must begin
with the calves. They should be taught
to eat while they are drinking milk.
Keep oats in a trough near them. Their
future growth depends largely upon the
care given them the first year. 1t takes
no more feed when properly and regu.
larry given, to keep calves fat all their
lives than to half way do it.
Good blood only will not keep the
modern blooded porker up to his high
standard, and the intelligent feeder
holds the key to the situation. In the
very nature of circumstances, the pig
which has been brought up on thin
diet is in a fair way to drift back to
the old conditions, fitted to be driven
miles to market.
The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-05-09
THE FIRST MAYFLOWER.
BY AR HUR HALE.

The gray mists on the hillside fall.
The gray gulls DER the harbor call;
With silent tread they wander down
Through last years leaves and grasses brown.
Said he, 1.-THE months go by this year,
And all is still and dead.
Is 1t, then, always winter here?"
"The spring will come," she said.
An east wind cut the mist in twain
There is the straight sea lire again.
She draws her mantle clos e. and he,
Turning his back upon the sea,
Speaks: Lord, thy servant here behold!
My sins upon my head:
But why, Lord, STAY us by tie cold!"
1.-THE spring will come,' SIZE said.
She droops her head. and at her feet
There is a flower, white and sweet;
They brush the leaves aside, and there
Its pink and white are everywhere.
A ray of sun-and all the slope
Laughs with rs white and red.
'It is the Mayflower of our hope;
The Spring has come" she said
New England Magazine.
The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-05-09
Selected Story.
THE SECOND TIME.
BY SARAH X. BOLTON.

THE Hon. John Crawford had be-
come a prominent man in his COM
munity. He had begun life in pow
erty, had learned economy early, and
fortunately had married a girl with
tastes and habits similar to his own.
Both desired to rise in the world, and
she, forgetting herself, bent all her
energies toward his progress and sue
cess. She did her own housework for
years, made her own clothes and
those of her children, and in every
way saved that John might be rich
and influential. Her history was like
that of thousands of other New Eng
land women-she wore herself out
for her family. She never had time
for social life, and not very great
amount of time for reading, though
she kept up as we'll as possible with
the thought of the day; but her one
aim was to have her husband hon
ored.
John Crawford was good hus-
band, though not always considerate.
He thought nobody quite so good
and helpful as Betsey; nobody cooked
so well, nobody was more saving,
and he was proud to rise by her help.
He failed sometimes to consider how
large a matter that help had been in
his life. If he had been asked who
made his money, he would have re-
piled, without hesitation, II made it,"
That Betsey was entitled to half, or
even a third, would never have &C.
Cured to him. He provided for her
and the children all they seemed to
need. He was at the head of the
family, and that headship had made
him somewhat selfish and domineer-
ing.
As the children grew older, and
Mrs. Crawford looked out into the
future and realized the possibility of
leaving the world before her husband,
she thought much of their condition
under changed home. Mr.. Craw-
ford would marry again, probably,
and her children might have little or
none of the property which they to-
gether had struggled to earn.
One evening she said, as they sat
before the open fire, the children
having gone to bed: John, itseems
to me things are unequal in the
world. You and l have worked hard
and l have been proud to have you
succeed. We both love the children,
and want everything done for them.
What if I should die, and you should
marry again and have other chill
dren7
"Why, Betsey, you don't think l
could forget our own precious chill
dren9 No second wife could or would
influence me against my children.
You and have worked together, and
should feel dishonorable to leave
them helpless. and care for others.
You must think me villain"
"Oh, no, John; but l have seen
cases like that. Only the other day
the Rev. Cornelius Jones married a
young wife, and gave. her all his
property, leaving nothing to his three
daughters. Now, if minister would
The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-05-09

Over 10000 patents have been issued
for the various kinds of electrical appli.
ances.
There are 636 patented fuels or meth
DDS of preparing wood, coal and coke for
use.