davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1896-07-03

From Earth's Depths.

A remarkable underground creature
part animal, part fish, tOOthless and
sightless-was discovered recently by
government workmen engaged in sink
ing an artesian well in San Marcos, Tex
The description of the strange thing
here given is accurate, and A. J. Rose,
state commissioner of agriculture, stats
tics and history of Texas, has written to
the Sunday World confirming it.
The government is building fish
hatchery at San Marcos. 1t was neces-
sary to find water supply, and after
sinking shaft 1873 feet deep all under.
ground stream was found. In the first
current of water that spOuted to the sur
face the thing was found.
The thing is about 6 inches long and
almost white. When held toward the
sun the jelly like tissues were found to be
translucent The circulation of it's blood
was plainly seen and the internal organs
were discerned.
The head is shaped like an alligato s
and is about one inch long. Its mouth
is wide. There is not suggestion of a
tooth in the jaws. In the places where
eyes should naturally be are two pale
blue specks, faintly visible beneath the
skin, resembling blood sacs. ~ -
Just back of the head is a scarlet
fringe which was thought to be hair at
first. Under the microscope, however, it
was found to be q series of organs to
serve the functions Of gills. ~, r..
The thing" has four, legs. Each Of
the first pair has a foot with four toes
There are five toes on the second pair of
legs, resembling in remarkable degree
the human band. The body is round and
has /; tail much like an cells. g. WV <
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1896-07-03
PENNY-IN-THE-SLOT BANKS.
Signor Artom's Popular Depository in
Italy.

SignOr ArtOm's Popular Depository in
Italy.
Sig. Artom has introduced in Italy
the penny-in-t he-Slot savings bank.
planting these receptacles here and there
in the towns and cities i'll places where
at all hours and where they can make
their deposits without any delay or for
mality. The depository is an automatic
bank consisting of IL cast iron box or
pillar in which there are three aperturcs
one for the reception of the coin. which
is a 1O-centime piece: another for its re-
lection if it is false or of light weight,
and from the third receipt for the
deposit is given. When number of
they may be exchanged for book of
the regular savings bank. These pay
interest ut the rate of i per cent and
the depositors are likewise entitled to a
share in the profits which the bank de-
rives from its operations. The plan had
it's origin in Padua and has been extend
ed to Milan and other cities. promising
to become popular all over the country,
1t has been found powerful incentive
Miss Helen Zimmern, who writes about
it in the Leisure Hour, recommends it's
introduction into England She says it
is true that they already have the penny
bank there. but that it is hedged round
with restrictions as to time and place.
whereas the penny in the-s]ot depository
is available at any and every hour and
can be put up anywhere, holding out its
perpetual invitation to frugality and saw
ing. There is not the least doubt that it is
a capital thing and would be as useful
here as anywhere else. Whoever fol-
lows the lead of Sig. Artom and sue
cessfully promites it's adoption in this
country will be public benefactor.
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1896-07-03
Chemical Tricks with Checks.

In recent case at Guildhall it. was
shown that the crossing of a check is no
absolute defense against the misuse of it.
1t may be obliterated, and so neatly as
to leave all the rest of the surface per
fectly intact. Some checks have been
stolen from letter boxes in the city, and
one of them bore the words land COM
pany; not negotiable" printed with an
India rubber stamp. There was no trace
of these when the check was presented
at the bank, and as it was payable to
bearer it was c;shed, though, of course,
the signature was forged. This process
of obliteration is a marvel of applied
chemistry; and in the interest of science
some rogue who is retiring from busi-
ness should be urged to explain. 1t may
be that the ink used with India rubber
stamps Is not of the same quality as that
used with the pen. But there was a
case. if we remember rightly, in which
the very amount of the draft had been
altered by the same method, figures.
text and all. This seems to carry us
one step beyond the miracle of splitting
banknote. The next thing will be to
manipulate the perforated letters in the
same way, and then we may as we'll
give it up, and wait for the suppression
of checks by the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1896-07-03
Swallows Hard Labor,

Myriad swallows have their nests in
the clay wall behind the Walnut street
depot of the Independence Air line. The
clay was exposed by the grading done
three years ago for the tracks of rail
roads and the Walnut street car line.
The wall is eighty feet high, and almost
perpendicular. It's face is dotted with
little round holes, and swallows fly in
and out. They are bank swallows, and
there are hundreds and hundreds, of
them. The holes in the clay bank are
the mouths of tunnels that run in a
crooked line, slanting upward from two
to four feet into the bank. The tunnels
never slant downward; if they did the
hole would fill with rain At the end of
each Of the tunnels is Il large cavity. in
which are the swallows nests. The
holes are dug by the swallows scratching
with their feet
Anyone who thinks that a bird doesn't
know what hard labor is ought to see
Il couple of bank swallows scooping out
hole in a hard clay bank. They scratch
and dig and tiutter, and the pulverized
clay flies from the mouth of the hole in
a stream. and every once in while the
bird comes to the opening with it's beak
open, painting for breath
The swallows are nesting at this sea-
son of the year, and if person goes very
close to the bank the parent birds resent
it and circle about his head, chattering
Observation-Disclosures City STAR
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1896-07-03
LIVES IN A ROCKING CHAIR.
One Man in America Who Carries Hi
House Around with Him.

One Man i'll America Who Carries His
House Around with Him.
Oakland has taxpayer whose home
is nothing more or less than an antiuuat-
ed rocking chair, and who has astonished
the authorities by obeying an ordinance
which it was thought would serve to
end his peculiar ways, if enforced, says
the San Francisco Chronicle.
The eccentric resident is Chinese
named Chang Wee. and he repairs cane
seated chairs for a livelihood.
Chang Wee covers /; great deal of
territory, and does not consider it worth
while to establish himself in a house.
SO he carries sample chair with him
upon his back. and when mealtime or
night overtakcs him he plants himself
down wherever he chances to be and
enjoys repast of rice and prunes or
goes to sleep for the night.
Chang is partial to highways. and
many people have been puzzled to see
him huddled up in his chair at the side
of some suburban road calmly waiting
for the morrow.
Some time ago Chang was told that
he could not occupy the streets ut night
unless he hung out d lantern. for the law
was explicit on the point that pbstruc-
tons should be indicated by lights after
dusk.
This did not discourage the Chinese,
and he at once secured beacon. which
he hangs from the back of his chair
now upon retiring.
Chang is Il property holder and owns
lot in partnership with another Chinese
on East Fourteenth street Neverthe-
less, he considers himself too poor to
afford Il place in which to sleep and
eat.
He walks through Alameda and Con
ira Costa counties. repairing chairs, and
makes fair wages thereby.
Among the Chinese of this city he is
looked upon with suspicion. for they
consider bis ways radically Inconsistent
and absurd
Nevertheless. Chang Wee is making a
good living and saving all but mite
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1896-07-03
SNUFF FOR THE POPE.
1t is Manufactured in Baltimore of Vir
arinia and Kentuclzx Tohacco

1t is Manufactured in Baltimore of Vir-
ginia and Kentucky Tobacco.
Pope Leo Mi. adheres to custom
still practiced in this country by gentle
of the old school-that of using snuff.
1t is not generally known that the snuff
used by the head of the Roman Catholic
church is made especially for his use in
Baltimore. 1t is the highest-priced snuff
made anywhere in the world, and it's
value is increased several times above
the original cost after the customs duty
has been paid to the Italian government.
The. snuff Of the prince of Rome is
manufactured from the pick of the finest
Virginia and Kentucky tobacco. the Bal
tlmore firm which makes the snuff being
careful that every vestige of stem is re-
moved from the tobacco before it UNDER
goes the process which changes the leaf
to sneeze prOvOker. Before it is packed
the snuff is favored with the costly at
tar of roses. One hundred pounds were
first ordered for the Vatican. This was
packed in 1-pound and 5-pound jars, each
jar being placed in IL leather case lined
with cardinal satin. The Jars were of
the same color. and each was tied with
cardinal ribbon. In honor of Cardinal
Gibbons, through whom the Baltimore
firm secured its first order, the snuff
was called Cardinal snuff
1t is supposed that the 5-pound Jars
found resting place in the private
apartments Of his holiness. The 1-pound
jars were used as presents from the Pope
to various cardinals and to others of his
friends fond of a good Baltimore sneeze
Rev. John p. Farrelley of the Ameri,
can college at Rome appears to have
been numbered among the latter, and
must have pinched of the Pope's snuff,
for the Baltimore makers recently 70,
ceived an order from Father Farreliey
for some of the snuff his holiness uses, ).
This order has been filled,
Pope Plus TX. was snuff-taker. too.
and Baltimore enjoyed the distinction of
making his snuff. The brand was known
as Pho Mono" N' AAo"
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1896-07-03
GAVE PROOF OF HIS AFFECTION.
Negro Clasps Vice-President Stevenson
Portrait While Dying.


Vice-President Stevenson received y
touching proof of affection few days
ago from an old negro servant James
Thomas was a negro of the old school.
courteous, faithful and tender in his at
tachment for those whom he regarded
as his betters, and who were good to
hlm lie was messenger in the post
of1lce when Mr.. Stevenson was first as
slstant postmaster-general During the
time he held that office Mr.. Stevenson
had severe attack of sickness. Thomas
nursed him through it. The kindness
which marked his services in that crisis
and the value of them were apprecia ted
thoroughly by Mr. Stevenson, and ever
afterward he had warm place in his
heart for his faithful attendant. He
saw that the old man wanted for moth
ing. and displayed such kindly regard
for him shat Thomas affection grew to
a positive veDeration
While the yice-orcsident was in Ala
bania last week he received letter mott
flying him that Thomas was dangerously
ill. AS soon as Mr.. Stevenson returned
he sent his son Louis to the old negro's
home, to tell him that he would cali and
see him and to ask if anything could be
done for the sufferers comfort When
dead. and his mourning relatives told
this pathetic story:
An hour before the old man died he
arose from his bed. went into another
room. secured portrait of the vice
president, which Mr. Stevenson had
given him. went back to his bed and
held it in his hands with his ewes fixed
upon it. Thus he died. When Louis
where the old man lay the PHOTOGRAPHY h
of his father was still held firmly in Tho
old mans hands.
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1896-07-03
A NEW INDUSTRY.
Digging Out Facts in Public Libraries for
Use in Particular Work

use III fart1cuiar work.
Visitors to the Astor library have OBJ
served that certain persons appear there
with great regularity. and two or three
faces seem to be as permanent a feature
of the place as the busts and the white
columns. These regulars are there at all
hours of the day and ut all seasons of the
year. One man in particular seems to
spend all his time within the walls of the
library. a man whose work on certain
subject took him regularly to the library
made all effort to see what subject was
absorbing one visitor whom he noticed at
work whenever he had been in the IL
brary during the two years preceding
For month he observed the man. and
found that during that time the man had
been reading industriously in volumes re-
lating to four different subjects and tax
ing copious notes from them. He did not
look like man who was reading for the
purpose of general cultivation, and the
books he had been using varied as widely
in subject as the history of the Spanish
drama and Chinese metaphysics. The
h0pelessness of learning anything about
the mans occupa ton from his own OBJ
servation led the interested inquirer to
ask one Of the library officials who the
regular visitor was. Then he learned
he had often noticed at work in the Ii
brary, was regular reader employed to
do for others the reading and Investigate
ing necessary for particular work
Usually this man and others like him
are called upon to dig out only. the points
relating to certain phases of subject.
but often their work extends over much
wider range. They are known to the
officials of the library, and in this way
they are brought into contact with per-
sons who are looking about for some
body to undertake the required labor of
reference and reading.-Sun. -,
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1896-07-03
IN THE SOUDAN.
FINDING the skeleton Of u Man Supposed
to Have Dicd from Thirst.

Finding the Skeleton of u Man Supposed
to Have Died from Thirst.
We refreshed ourselves with frugal
breakfast Of biscuit and draughts Of
brack'sh Murat. water, now of Il rich
brown % tSll color and having strong flavor
OF tne soatskins. then walked along
the foot of the cliff. seeking Il way by
which to scale it's side and attain some
point commanding an extensive view over
the desert. whence j might he able to dis
tsngulsh our lost caravan. On turning
spur Of the hill before commencing the
ascent | saw, lying on the sand before
me, human skull, and then, close to it,
leaning I;a against rock, Martini-Henry
rifle. On looking round perceived.
Just above me, crouchng in the shadow
Of rocky ledge, the skeleton of a man.
lie was on his back. his limbs drawn,
up, his fists clenched, as he had died
there in the agony Of thirst. He had
evidently lain there for long time, and
his head had fallen off. On examining
placed in the position IN which / found it,
/ saw that it was In good condition;
there was no rust on the metal and the
lock was in perfect order; but the wood
en- stock had been bleauhpd white, and
all the 'yarnish had been eaten of BY
the sun; 1t was an EGYPTIAN govern
m me- rifie. but there was nothing to show
"AA"@ 'iiS man usiu DCcu Il SOlulef. lnefc
were no hoots, cap, belt or traces Of I'M
form to be seen near hini--iab thing, in
deed, save a ragged piece Of white linen.
1t was difficult to conjecture what this
solitary mani could have been do
ing here alone, quite sixty miles
from the nearest water. 1t was
evident that we were the first to
take shelter under this lonely rock
since be had lain himself down there
to die; for no passing native would have
failed to carry away with him the Mar
TIM ienry, a valuable article on this
frontier. We took the rifle back with us
to Wady Halfa, and as it was of course
numbered, it's history was soon traced.
It had been served out to Il man in the
Seventh Egyptian battalion, who lost it
two years ago, and who therefore had
been made to replace it at his own ex-
pense. The skeleton may have been
either that of Deryjsh raider or of one
of the frontier rifle thieves, who sell
weapons to the enemy.-Soudan cor. Lon
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1896-07-03
Bath in a Coffin.

II wanted a bath in a North Caro-
lima hotel. remarked Commercial TRAY
e!er Antrim on the occasion of his last
visit to his house here. II rang for the
bellboy-thcre was but one-and when
ne arrived l asked him if they had Il
batbtub about the house.
Yes, sab: nice ones, sah,' he said.
Bring me one
I'm few minutes the boy returned,
bringing on his shoulder coffin, with Sill
ventilated handles, and lid all complete.
What does that mean" | asked, in
dignantly.
Oats de bathtub, sab. De landlord
used to be in de undertaken business
sab. and had some collins when he took
dis hotel. His son is timer, sab, an
jess lined de collins wild tin. Try it,
boss: You'll find it berry NICE
"Conquering my repugnance, 1 opened
the lid, and found the coffin lined with
TN, as stated, and took the bath, but
didn't feel just right about it.'-Hard-
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1896-07-03
"A Monster Elder Tree.

"A section of an elder tree % inches in
diameter was left at the rooms of the
immigration board yesterday by r, Y,
Holman, who secured it from the prem.
ises of neighbor. The tree was nlont.
ed in 1867, when very small, so that #
has increased nearly an inch in diameter
yearly: The block at once attracted the
attention of visitors, who noticed the
thickness of the annular additions. but
could not decide what kind of wood II
was. and were astonished when told it
was elder. Eastern people who have
known the alder as a bush growing in
fence corners, and seldom with stems
more than an inch in diameter, and the
elder as a bush growing in swamDy
places, seldom more than two inches in
diameter. cannot realize that on this
coast both alders and elders grow to
trees often more than two feet in diam
cter. At the East boys made popguns
out of sections Of the elder bush: by
pushing the pith out of them. and in old
times they were used as "quills'' to wind
the yarn to be used in the shuttle con-
nected with the hand looms in use in
those days. Strange to say, the nth is
about as large in the elder bush IN in
an elder tree.-Portland Oregoniun
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1896-07-03
A HORSE DIES FROM GRIEF.
He was Separated from His Mate m
E$3zE, Died In n Short Time. E5s5:

He was Separated from His Mate and
Died In 4 Short Time.
The emotional life Of il horse III re-
markable. There are instances OH rec
ord where the death of 4 horse has been
traced directly to grief, One instance Is
called to mind, which occurred more than
twenty years ago, A circtls had been
performing in the little town Of Union
vile, Pa, when one of the trained horses
sprained one of his legs SO that he could
not travel. He was taken to the hotel
and put in 4 box stall. The leg was
bandaged and he was made us comforta-
bic AS possible. .. .sr< -55< .#s. szs
+. He ate his food and was apparently
cOntented until about midnight, when
the circus began moving ont OF town
Then he became restless and tramped
aud whinnied. As the caravan moved past
the hotel he seemed to realize that he
was being deserted, and his anxiety and
distress became pitiful. He would stand
intense listening, and then as his ear
caught the sounds of the retiring wagons
he would rush, as best he could with his
injured leg, from one side of the stall
to the other, pushing at the door with his
nose and making every effort to escape.
The stnbleman, who was stranger to
him, tried to soothe him, but to no pur-
pONS. LIZ "Oulu uUL Ue COullOfIGQ. y
Long after all sounds of the circus had
ceased his agitation continued. The
sweat poured from him in streams and
he qnivered in every part of the body.
Finally the stableman went to the house.
woke up the proprietor and told him he
believed the horse would die if some Of
the circus horses were not brought back
to keep him company. At about daylight
the proprietor mounted Il horse and rode
after the circus. He overlook it ten or
twelve miles away, and the groom who
had had charge of the injured horse, re-
turned with him. When they reached the
stable the horse was dead.
The stableman said that he remained
for nearly an hour perfectly still and
with every sense apparently strained to
the utmost tension, and then, without
making sign, fell and died with scarce
ly a struggle. The veterinarian who was
called remarked after the circumstances
were told him that unquestionably the
horse died from grief If it is possible
for all the mental faculties OF the horse.
to become abandoned to grief to such an
extent as to cause death, how much
mere does he appeal to the sympathy and
regard of mankind. - Kentucky Stock
Farm.
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1896-07-03
The Small Bows Rup Star

The small boy had never seen any
firetiies., He had. however, seen the
stars-the beautiful, far-off, mysterious
stars-and he regarded them as ,ltogeth
er about the best thing that this round
world had provided for his especial enter
tainment and delight. All last winter
ne used to beg off, from going to bed
that he might sit in his nurses lap and
gaze up at the little golden twinklers
set in the dark sky. How he longed
to have them closer, that he might catch
and hold them and find out for him
self just what they were. The other
evening FREELY flashed for the first
time across the small boys path. The
sight of it filled him with wonder and
curiosity, but DO one was able to satisfy
him as to just what it was. Presently
bis big brother caught one and put it in
the small boys fist. ooh. mammal" he
cried. as he viewed the tiny, twinkling
insect at close range. IL know what
they are now; they're bug stars"-Ncw
York Sun
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1896-07-03

Season after season, with the recurring
periodicity of the roses, we welcome the
appearance of the fair girl graduates,
always with Il thrill and Il tug at our
heart strings as we think Of the life
which lies beyond their college gates. 1t
is more and more in the air-the feeling
which some old-fashioned folk do not
share-thut girls first ambition should
be for a career; that the self-SupNrting,
money-earning, absolutely independent
young woman is the one to be admired
and cnvied. All fair-minded people must
rejoice that so many thoroughly equipped
young women arc graduated yearly. and
that in the fierce struggle for foothold
they are less handicapped than of old;
but the sentimental observer. hearing the
songs. and the baccalaureate sermons,
and the essays SO polished and so pro-
found, and watching the slim fingers that
clasp the diploma, is still glad that for
hundreds of graduates there il nothing
to do except to live ut home and make
society richer, sweeter and more charm
ing and elegant The educated woman
keeps society at it's high-watcr mark. and
she is as useful and as honorable in this
inconspicuous but honorable relation to
her world as can possibly be her class
mate with definite work to do in the out
side market-place, among the ranks of
working men and women.--Harper's Ba-
Ear.