davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The herald., 1896-02-03
Chemistry Of Wool.

Mention is made Of an interesting series
of experiments upon the chemistry of wool
made by Knecht, in which, on heating
purified wool with .sulphurio acid, he OBJ
tained light brown solution which read
lily gives precipitates with solutions of the
acid coloring matters. The substance
which produces these precipitates or lakes
he considers atolbe identical with the con-
stituent Of, the fber,w combines with
tho acid colors in an ordinary dyeing proc
ess, the amount of this lake forming SUBJ
stance being about 25 to 80 per cent Of the
weight Of wool. To obtain the above men
toned acid solution Of wool, it is stated
that about 100 parts Of tho fiber are boiled
for about two hours with 200 parts Of
strong sulphuric acid and 800 parts of wa
ter, the wool gradually dissolving, produc-
ing brown solution, which, when, neutral
lied by alkali, deposits a syellowish white
precipitate constituting a., lake forming
substance. A body called ,lanuginic acid
was already known, being obtained by q
process the converse of the above-viz, by
dissolving wool in caustic soda and neu-
tralizing with acid. But, according to
Knecht, IN acid solution Of lanuginic acid
has exactly the,same properties as the lake
forming substance, and the two are there
fore considered identical Curiously
enough. chemists are uncertain as to what
the natural color of wool is due, the varia-
tion being from white to dark brown and
black.-New York Sun.
The herald., 1896-02-03
Sharksltins as ssndpaper.

A carpenter who was at work in the
New York aquarium at Castle Garden,
and knew thing or two about fishes, took
the skin Of a dog1sh which had died, dried
1t and used it as sandpaper. Tho dogtlsh
Is Of the same order as tho shark, whose
skin is often used as sandpaper. Shark
skin sandpaper is fine and uniform. 1t
doesn't SCRATCH and it is lasting The
gritty points are really modified scales.
Fishermen use sharkskin as sandpaper, and
some is sold for that use, not so much,
however, in this country as in Europe.
When sold, it is used principally on fine
cabinet work.
III this country sharks are utilized chief
ly for their oil and for the manufacture Of
fertilizers. An oil that is used for lubri-
eating purposes Is taken from the shark g
liver, the rest Of the shark, excepting such
skins as there may be other demand for,
being worked up into fertilizer. In Europe
the shark is caught chiefly for its oil and
skin. A knndso1ne leather called shagreer
is made from sharkskin, and this is used
for making purses, csrdcasos and orna-
mental boxes. Shagroen is moro used in
Europe than here. Many small sharks ars
eaten in Europe. In Mediterranean cities
they arc common article Of food.-New
York Sun.
The herald., 1896-02-03
Bonaparte's Last Visit to Corsica.

Professor Sloane, in his "Life of Napo-
leon," in The Century, writing of the re-
turn from Egypt says:
At last favoring wind began to blow.
With lights extinguished and at night
they passed tho strait which separates AT
RIGA from Sicily, escaping the observation
of the English cruisers sent from Nelson's
fleet to patrol those waters. Skirting Sar-
dinia, the 1otilla reached Corsica carly in
October. Though, as he declared, he was
"deeply moved by the sight Of his native
town." no remnant Of his carly enthusiasm
could sweeten for Bonaparte the enforced
delay Of several days in the harbor of Ajac.
clio. He had left far behind the emotions
of that primitive society and was indiffer-
ent to the abounding caresses of all the
friends who crowded the decks to see him,
evidently fretting to be gone. One fact
alono has been recorded to his credit. His
features relaxed with evident joy as he ten
dorly returned the greeting Of the old
woman who had been his earliest attend
ant. 1t was his last visit to the island of
his BIRTH but not the last time tho accents
of its dialect fell on his cars for it was
Corsican who soothed his last hours at
st. Helena.
The herald., 1896-02-03
A USEFUL CIGAR.
Its Lighting Wes tho Means of Advertins
Serious Panic.

Serious Panic.
A good story is told of sea captain
who died not long ago, and who was for
lnerly in command of ship in which pas
sengers were carried from London to Lis
bon. On one occasion the ship caught fire,
and the passengers and crew were COM
PEELED to take hurriedly to the boats. The
captain remained perfectly cool throughout
all tho confusion and fright Of the debar-
kation and at last every one except himself
was got safely into the boats.
By the time he was ready to follow the
passengers wcre almost wild with fear and
excitement. Instead of huTying down the
ladder the captain called out to the sailors
to hold on a minute, and taking cigar
from his pocket coolly lighted it with bit
Of burning rope which had fallen from the
rigging at his feet. Then he descended
with deliberation and gave tho order to
push off.
"1Iow could you stop to light cigar at
such momentf" no was asked afterward
when some of the passengers were talking
over their escape.
Because" he answered, IT saw that if
did not do something to divert the minds
of those in the boat there was likely to be
panic, and, overcrowded as it was, there
was danger Of the boat being upset. The
act took but moment, but it attracted
the attention Of everybody. was not
nearly so unconcerned as seemed to be,
but was in reality in fever of excitement.
My little plan succeeded. You all forgot
yourselves because you were thinking
about my curious behavior, and We got off
safely. London Standard.
The herald., 1896-02-03
LACE AND LACEMANlNG.
Source of Wealth to tho Belgian Govern
mcnt-Laoe Schools In Brussels.

Source OF wealth I'd ttlo kSclSiisn OofeTu-
mcnt--Laoe Schools In BRUSSELS.
Brussels was tho favorito laco at the
court of tho first empire and when Napo-
leon and tho Empress Mario Louise maco
their first entry into tho Bolgic capital
they gave large orders for laco OF tho rich
est point. Tho city gave to the empress q
collection Of it's finest laces, also curtain
of Brussels point for drapiAg the cradle of
tho king Of Rome.
Lacemaking is great source OF national
wealth to Belgians, over 800, coo women
being thus employed. Lacomaking forms
% part of female education since tho man
date Of Charles V to that effect, and there
aro 1900 Lace schools in Brussels. The
thread used in Brussels lace is Of extraor-
.dinary finencss The finest quality Is spun
in dark underground rooms, for contact
with air causes the thread to break
A fragment of laco in the collection at
tho World, s. fair was worked with the nee
die upon muslin, leaving q few lncshcs un-
finished. 1t is an heirloom of the Bona
parte family of Baltimore. Napoleon III
was great lover of lace. The 1ounce in
the trousseau of Eugenie, empress Of tho
French, was valued at so, 900 francs and
took 40 women IS months to complete.
Tho Duchess Of York is q great admircr
and connoisseur of lace, using tho pillow
herself One notable piece sent by her be-
longedto descendant of Lord Anne Ham
ilton, who was tho grandson of Queen
Anne Another specimen Of historic in
terest was an apron given by Queen Eliza
beth to Locd Fairfax; still Others, gown
manufactured for Queen, Adelaide and
Princess Charlottc's s christening robe. In
thoyear of the great famine in Ireland,
1S47, whom thousands Of children were loft
orphans in the hands Of the landed propri-
etors the Irish ladies at once bcthoueht
themselves Of occupations whereby they
could DO made to gain their livelihood,
Lady de We're was FIRST to teach the mis-
. tress of school on her own estate tho art
of lacemaking. Irish point and CarickIna-
cross, Limerick and honiton laccs arc
great favorites with Queen Victoria and
her daughters. York Churchman.
The herald., 1896-02-03
Is Even Yet in a State OF
Crudity
BUT 1T HAS COME TO STAY
And the System Will Be Greatly
Improved
The Objects so.ght Are the Better D;ffu sion
of Light and Avoidance OF Injury
to the Eyes

An expert points out that while in the
carly days Of electric lighting people
thought much more of tho mere fact CT
having tho electric light than of the actual
efficiency they derived from it,, the consum-
er Of today is usually perfectly we'll able
to tell whether he is gotting full valUe in
light for tho money ho is paying the cen
trail station; SO that between the, strict ox-
action of the customer. and the ,compoti-
tion Of rival lighting systems an electric
light company can only hope to succeed by
the best possible service,
Tho whole subject of lighting is in a
transition state. In factories and large
shops the practice of allowing the rays OF
the arc lamp to fall downward will proba.
bly, soon DO discarded. 1t, is found that by
inverting the lamp sndithrowing the light
to tho roof, which Should be whitewashed
or white painted, tho powerfully reflected
roys are so different throughout the build
ing as to- give. the maximum efficiency
without strainiEg the eyes of ] tho work
men. Much of thol3resent outdoor light
ing is Condemned as' crudo, and ,unsoien-
'ti1c Tho street arc lampss dazzle and
stfain the. eye throsw sharp shadows :and
waste light. The NEXT improve cient will
probably be the usef lower eand'e power
lamps, placed at Shorter interys slssarld
having rejecting hootla Tie son' half
Of the globe will be seAiopaauo 'andtpos-
sibly tinted deep .oraIige color. This
would neutralize the, painful glaro of tho
arc limp and give gthe streets Sthe,offect of
being illuminated with Chinese. lanterns.
In domestic lighting shades having
prismatic coIrugations on theiri surfaces
are coming into vogue. They givel'a good
diffusion Of light, with but littler absorp-
Jon. An authority on decorative, lighting
says that, although many new ideas have
sprung up in tho distribution Of masses of
light in interiors, none has, superseded
In beauty and effectiveness the system of
putting lamps out Of sight and lighting
the room entirely by diffuspd and possibly
colored light. This will probably be the
method of Illuminating churches in the
future. In churches wherelit hos already
been adopted the effect is described as SO
infinitely restful, and appropriate that in
comparison the ordipary methods Of church
lighting seem garish and 'barbarous.-
New York Times.
The herald., 1896-02-03
She Posed the Parson.

Hard is his lot who undertakes to stee,
a class ofyoung women, all painting to ap.
pear intellectual, through the mazes Of sci.
ence "as she is taught by Herbert Spencer.
It is degree worse than a Browning So
ciety. Some years ago Rev. Charles G.
Aines, formerly Of this city, but now Of
Boston, was conducting a class Of working
girls in the Study of evolution. One young
girl in particular seemed determined tc
"make an impression, :" and propounded
many fearfully and wonderfully thought
up questions, but none that staggered her
reverend teacher, more than one which fol.
lowed remark Of his in which the word
'life' was used. With her chin medita-
lively sunk in the. hollow Of her hand and
in slow, solemn voice, which challenged
general attention, Miss. A. earnestly inter
rupted him, "But, DR.. Ames, what is
life?" Eop o moment the doctor returned
her intense gaze. Then he meekly an-
swered, "Excuse me!' and the lesson
went on.-Philade1phia Press.
The herald., 1896-02-03
WHAT CONSTITUTES A LETTER?
Some Points Not Generally known About
Foreign Mails.

Foreign Mails.
Most people have supposed that anything
sealed against inspection and delivered to
tho posto1flco constituted in effect n 'let-
ter," which at tho regulation rate of 2
cents postage per ounce the mail service
would be obliged to forward to it's dcstina-
tion. So far rs the domestic service is con-
cerncd this supposition may be correct and
would seem to be implied by tho wording
of official decisions, which declare that
"all matter scaled or otherwise closed
against inspection is also Of tho first class"
But with the foreign mail service at least
tho condition is different A provision in
the postal treaty specifics that letters in
their usual and ordinary form" arc to be
forwarded at given rate. just what con-
stituted this 'usual and ordinary form"
has not till now been defined and officially
declared, and this is the way in which the
definition was brought out:
A Boston architect offered at the post
Office in that city scaled roll addressed
to tho commissioner of patents at Ottawa,
ON which the proper amount of postage
ut letter rates had been paid. The clerk
In charge Of tho window declined to re-
ceivo the roll as letter. and on the mat
ter being referred to him Postmaster CO.
veney decided that the term letter is to be
construed to mean and embrace sealed
packages consisting Of an envelope Of any
size but fat, as is the usual letter. Tho
objcctor did not think that this ruling and
definition Of q letter was correct and gavo
his opinion that letter twas q package
containing personal matter Of no salable
value" The matter being referred to tho
authorities at Washington for decision,
tho superintendent Of foreign mails in due
time forwarded decision embodying tho
joint opinions of Canadian and American
postal authorities to tho effect that "the
term letter, in it's usual and ordinary
form, is to be construed to embrace sealed
packages consisting Of an envelope of any
sizo but of the usual letter shape and it's
contents, but that rolls or pacakge not
inclosod in an envelope, as the word en-
velope is generally used, cannot be consid-
cred to bo "a letter in its usual and ordi-
nary FORM A scaled package in the form
of q roll is, therefore, not entitled to trans
mission in the mails exchanged between
the United States and Canada, and youl
office was correct in declining to receive
the sealed roll mentioned. This woulG
seem to settle tho matter as to what con
stitutes u letter within tho meaning Of oul
postal treaties.-Paper World.
The herald., 1896-02-03
Why He kicked.

Twas strolling about in Madison square
with an artist when we ran across such a
ragged and woebegone specimen of the vae
that 1t was suggested that we secure his
picture. 1t was left to mo to approach him
on the subject, and asked:
"My friend, do you want to make q
quarter in about ten minutes?"
GAS to howr' he replied.
QThe artist here wants to make sketch
of you. Sit still for ten minutes and III
give you q quarter"
"What do you take me furl" exclaimed
the man as he rose up. "D'you think be-
cause I'm bard up that hain't no sense
leftp''
whats the matter with you? We sim
ply want to make sketchl"
"T know it, and that's what kick on.
You make a sketch. 1t gifts into the pa-
pers and then into the hands of the police.
BY and by my ambition incites me to rob
a bank or pick up some other good thing,
and there is my picture to trip me up and
lay mo by tho heels No, sir-not much
I'm ragged and hungry and dead broke,
but I'm no chump to sell myself for a
quarter Of dollar l''-Detroit Free Press.
The herald., 1896-02-03

less. 1t Is go natural TO regard truth as
the foundation OF our whole moral struc-
turo, to look upon it as the loyclicst prod
uct Of O fino character, that any deviation
from it must necessarily be held rs most
unfortunate. l should DO similarly i'm
pressed if l did not feel certain that tho
fear is often wrongly placed, that this ha-
bitual telling Of falschood has its origin,
not in viciousncss o. q spontaneous desire
to deceive, but rather in causes for which
tho person is not entirely responsible,
which, ON the contrary, arc the natural re-
suits Of natural causos.-Popular Science
Monthly
The herald., 1896-02-03
SHYLOCK PROPlTlATED.
How Edwin Booths Company Once Ended
"The Merchant of Venice"

How Edwin Booths Company Oncc Ended
"The Merchant of Venice"
Edwin Booth told the following story:
Once during the days Of his early strug-
giles, young Booth was "barn storming"
down in Virginia, at place called Lees
Landing. Tho improvised theater was o
tobacco warehouse, and it was crowded by
the planters for miles around. Booth and
his companions had arranged to take the
weekly steamer expected late that night,
and between the acts were busy packing
up. Tho play was "The Merchant Of Ven
ice" and they were just going on for the
trial scene when they heard the whistle,
and the manager came running In to say
that tho steamer had arrived and would
leave again in half an hour. AS that was
their only chance for a week Of getting
away they were in terrible quandary.
"If we explain matters" said the man
ager "the audience will think they ars
being cheated and we shall have free
fight The only thing is for you fellows to
get up some sort Of naturallike impromptu
ending for tho piece and ring down the
curtain. Go right ahead, ladies and gen.
tlcmen, and take your cue from Ned here. 4"
And he hurried away to get the luggage
aboard.
Ned, " OF course, was BOotn, VINO re-
solved to rely upon the ignorance Of the
virginians Of those days to pull him
through. So when old George Ruggles,
who was playing Shylock, began to sharp
en- his knife on his boot Booth walked
straight up to him and said solemnly,
"You are, bound to have the flesh, are yous"
"You bet your life," said Ruggles
"Now,I'll make you one more offer, :"
continued Booth "In addition to this
bag Of .ducats I'll throw in two kegs of mig
gerhead terbac, q shotgun and couple of
tho best coon dogs in the state"
"I'm blowed If I dom do it, responded
Shylock, much to tho appreciation of the
audience, who were tobacco raisers and
coon hunters to man. "And to show
that there is no ill feeling" put in Portia,
"we'll wind up with Virginia reel. !"
When the company got aboard the steam
or, the captain, who had witnessed the
conclusion of the play, remarked: "I'd
like to see the whole Of that play some
time, gentlemen. I'm blessed If thought
that fellow Shakespeare had SO much snap
In him. ."-Life's Calendar.
The herald., 1896-02-03
Plenty on G3 O Week.

He is little more than an infant now,
though he has been q man of tho world
and burdened with all the business cares
of an independent Garner of his own liveli-
hood, for two years or moro. He started
in as street musician-that is, he ratified
the tambourine and picked up the pennies
but some one else got all the profits Of
that venutre. Then he ran away and
went into business for himself. Some
body hired him for night messenger, but
the little fellow couldn't keep awake, and
that failed. Two bankrupts in his short
career. Then ho sold papers and saved
enough to buy himself bootblacking out
fit. And now he tells mo he averages So
week and has "money to burn" He is
the brightest, happiest little fellow on the
street.
Which merely goes to prove the value Of
ignorance where bliss is concerned. New
York Herald.
The herald., 1896-02-03
The Usual Result.

In the neighborhood of certain race
course tho late Sir Robert Peel found a
man practicinig tho three card trick who
asked him to "try his luck" Sir Robert
was tremendously indignant, said that he
was privy councillor and was incapable
of such thing and sworo that if he could
find constable the man should be locked
up. While all this tempest was going on,
however, tho confederate of the operator
played the old trick Of turning up the cor
ner of the king. Instantly tho storm
ceased, and Sir Robert "tried his luck' to
the extent of half sovereign, with the
usual result.-London Tit-Bits.
The herald., 1896-02-03
Peculiar Dialect.

1t is not necessary to go to the far south
or west to find provincial customs or hear
peculiar dialect. There are some very
primitive people not farther off than the
Rhode Island border Of Connecticut.
In this thin line Of little villages the
grave faced men and women still live as
simply and take life as seriously as Mas
sachusetts Puritan. They solemnly make
two strangers known to each other by ''Mr.
Smith, hcro's Mr.. Brown to you." Mr..
Brown here's Mr.. Smith at you"
Thcy confess to an interrupted state of
good health by saying they Geo mauga
the day. to a contrary state of we'll being
hv- ~ am feeling kidge the day" The
The herald., 1896-02-03
An Airy BLACKSMITH Sion.

Probably the highest blacksmith shop in
the city in point Of elevation is one located
Oh tho seventh floor of the public building.
Very few people are aware Of tho existence
Of tho shop away up under the caves Of the
massive building, but it is there just the
same, and, if tho making of horscshocs is
excepted, it probably turns out as largo
and varied an amount of work as the av-
erago smithy in the city. The shop is To-
Gated On tho north corridor, near tho west
end, and glowing forge and several ring
ing anvils are kopt busy all day long 1t
supplies the need for largo amount of
ironwork to be done in the construction Of
tho remaining rooms and corridors in the
building and is an Indispensable auxiliary
to tho operations. Philadelphia Record.
The herald., 1896-02-03
A ROYAL COUNTRY. HOME.
Babelsberg, Whore william I of Germany
Used to Rest,

Used to Rest,
Babelsborg, the favorite country house
of the German Emperor William I, was,
like most imperial and royal residences, a
show place. Tickets "to view' were of
course not granted to tho public when his
majesty was actually sojourning in the
castle, but it sometimes happened that OK
cursionists. applied for. admission in igno-
rance of rules and regulations, and as tho
drive from Potsdaln to the park gates was
. q long one William I, unwilling to disap.
point the would be sightseers, over and
over again permitted them to be conducted
through his apartments, despite his pres
er1ce in the Schloss. One day he was en-
gagged in the library with secretary when
the attendant, Unaware !of his masters o
presence ID o part of the house seldom util-
lied fdf' official interviews, ushered q large
party, Of visitors from Berlin into the ad-
Joining dressing room, which the emperor
had only just vacated.
The'privy councillor attempted to hastily
close tho door Of Communication in order
to keep out the unwilling intruders. But
his 1najestyrwoiild not allow his subjects
to be balked Of their amusement. Open
ing O ,,.practicable' door in the oaken
paneliiiS he squeezed himself into mar
row cupboard used for storing away super
tluous old china. glass, etc. Thcro he pa
tiently remained for Eve or six minutes in
the dark, while the inquisitive Berliners
were handling the knickknacks on his
dressing table and peering at his boots and
toilet REQUISITES.
The CONSERVATION Of the attendants es-
corting the excIrsionists through the royal
apartment may be imagined when, as the
last Of. the party passed out Of tho dressing
room, his majesty emerged from tho china
closet and called back one of the footmen
to fetch clothesbrush, as his coat had
got very dusty while he had been in prison.
Woman at Home.
The herald., 1896-02-03
Natural Causes of Lying.

Nothing is more. common than to find
children, with an evidently rudimentary
conception Of truth, who willfully and Of
ten for no reason make exaggerated OF false
statements, who Seem really to deceive
themselves as well ss others, who mako
their relatives miserable by threatened lack
of responsibility, which, spreading out in
many wnys, points to an unhappy or dis
graceful life.
This fear is. 50 common that the major
ity of people. fancy, have felt it moro OF
The herald., 1896-02-03
Letter Writing.

Lot your letter be written as accurately
as you are able-I mean with regard to
language, grammar and stops-for as to
tho matter Of it the less trouble you give
yourself tho better it will be- Letters
should be easy and natural and convey to
the persons to whom we send them just
what we should say to the persons if we
were with them.-Chesterfeld
The herald., 1896-02-03
Work and Talk.

Generally speaking, it is true of women
as of men that those who think most say
least. Woman's talkativeness is the result
of her sedentary occupation. Tailors, shoe
makers and woavers all men who sit
close at their work-have, in common with
women, not only hypoohondriacal fancies,
but also tendency to great talkativencss.
Richter