davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The St. Johns herald., 1896-12-19
Light and Perfumes.

A garden full of flowers is more fra grant when shadowed by cloud than when bathed in sunshine; at least, that is the conclusion to which the recent experiments of Monsieur MeSnard lead. He asserts that it is light, and not. as commonly believed, oxygen which exerts the greatest influence in destroying odors. According 10 the same authority, the intensity of the perfume given off by flower depends upon the relation between the pres sure of water in the cells of the plant. which tends to drive out the essential oils that cause the odOr, and the ac. ton of the sunlight, which tends to diminish the water pressure in the cells. Sprinkling the plant increases the turgeScence in the cells, and so augments the perfume. A cloud pass ing over the sun arrests the action of the light, thus permitting an increase of turgescence, and as a consequence, a more copious production of perfume At night the air around a fiower-bed is heavy with odors, because then their emanation is not opposed by the sun- light
The St. Johns herald., 1896-12-19

New York Tribune: New Jersey is not more famed for piety than for profan- ity, and of late one of its most eXem- plary deacons has been arraigned be- fore the authorities of his church for the violence of his language, because his imported bull ill a severe thunder storm upset all his beehiyeS, one after another, and was in turn Stung to death by the infuriated insects as soon as the weather cleared off. It was evi- dently the opinion of the council having the matter under consideration that the misfOrtunes which befell the deacon were judgment for his violation of the commandment, despite the fact that he did not swear at all till after their oc- currence, and that no church canon as cribeS an eX post facto operation to even the most energetic and unreStrained profanity If he had sworn before the event it might have been judged to be in some way connected with the pro duction of the thunder and it's extreme ly unusual effect upon the bull, but no evidence of this sort was adduced, and the general record of the deacon was against it. Some years ago, in the Hun garian hamlet of IaSZbeveney, notice was given to the populace with sound of drum and trumpet that ''as oaths and blasphemies are the real cause of earthquakes, every one, no matter who, is forbidden to swear or to use bad lan- guage under a penalty of receiving twenty-five stripes with rod or paying a fine of 9 florins." The same sort of speech is quite as likely 10 be the cause of New Jerseys thunderStormS. and like decree might not be amiss there. It really had no effect on the earthquakes of Iaszbeveney, and might not have on the meteorological conditions of New Jersey; but it's moral influence on the blasphemous Huns was no doubt con- siderable, and it might be equally great on the profane inhabitants of our sandy sister wealth, at any rate on that portion of them which adOrns the diacOnate.
The St. Johns herald., 1896-12-19
What to Say About the Baby

One is always expected to say some thing when looking for the first time on new baby. and, as it is neither kind nor safe to tell the truth and say that the little, red. podgy creature doesn't look like anything, an English magazine gives a list of unpatented and uncopyrighted remarks to be used, on such occasions
 Isn't he sweet. He looks like yOur' T think he is going to look like his father"
 Hasn't he dear little fingers? Do let me see his dear little toesv'
 Isn't he larger
 Isn't he a tiny darling|
 How bright he Seemsr
 Did you ever see such sweet little mouth:"
 Isn't he just too sweet for any thing:"
 "The dear little darling! never saw so young baby look so intelligentr' Do, please let me hold him just 5 minuter'
 Any and all of these remarks are warranted to give satisfaction. inst as they have been giving satisfaction from time immemorial until the pres ent day.
The St. Johns herald., 1896-12-19
Ants with IImhreIIaa

The doiEgs of ants are among the most interesting things that naturalists find to study. No members of the in sect world present more startling sug- gestions of intelligence and forethought governing their actions. It is not cor rect, however, to explain the habits and conduct of ants by human analo- gies. For instance, it was once SUD- posed that the so-called "parasol ants,' living in hot tropical countries, car ried little leaves above their heads for the sake of protection from the sun. Later investigations have shown that the ants actually do carry leaves, sus- pended by the stem which they hold in their jaws, and that columns of them thus furnished with leaves like an army with banners march in regu- lar order; but that the leaves, instead of being intended to shelter the ants from the sunshine, are deposited by them around their nests to form a soil in which grows a kind of fungus that they are fond of. So the paraSol ant is not dandy, but farmer.
The St. Johns herald., 1896-12-19

Even the government organs in France no longer assert that the trOu- bIe in Madagascar consists of isolated cases of HOvas revolts, but all journals now unite in saying that a formidable rebellion menaces the Colonial Govern ment of France in the island. The last advices were that the wandering bands of armed natives were mObilizing be- fore AntananarivO, the capital, where there are only 1000 French troops to de- fend the place, the remainder of the army of occupation being scattered throughout the interior, where the small commands are in daily conflict with the rebels General Gallieni has received orders from Paris to put down the rebellion with all possible speed, and. moreover, to make intrigues at the Hoyas court in Antananarivo impOssi- ble. It is reported in the war office that 12,000 troops of the regular army will soon be sent to reinforce those in Mada- gascar, and that preparations are al- ready under way in TOulon for their transportation. The new expedition will cost in the neighborhood of 20,- 100000 francs, and the government will ask credits for that sum when Parlia- ment shall come together next week. The affair of Madagascar simply offers another illustration of the failure of the Latin races in seeking to maintain, by force of arms, conquered colonies. It forms strong contrast to the Brit iSh procedure, which respects to a wOn- derful extent the ancient institutions of the conquered, governing in sympathy with them for many years.
The St. Johns herald., 1896-12-19
A Frosty Mine.

The ice-covered regions of the far North doubtless contain many treas ures which the inhabitants of sunnier climes would fain possess. Deposits of coal have been found in Greenland. and precious metals are known to ex- lst within the Arctic circle. Whether these riches of the North will ever be distributed through the marts of the world is a question for the next cen tury to answer. At present the most northerly mine in existence is said to be that of Omalik on the Fish River, in the northwestern coruer of Alaska, in latitude sixty-five degrees north. It produces lead and silver, principally the first-named, and its lodes are very rich. But the severity of tue climate is serious obstruction to the work ing of the mine, which has to be aban- doned every year about the beginning of October, only to be resumed late in the following spring.
The St. Johns herald., 1896-12-19
Eniders, Eyesipht.

How far away can spider see a fly? After several years of ingenious eX- perimenting Mir. and Mrs. Peckham, the naturalists, have concluded that the greatest distance at which spiders are able to see objects distinctly is about one foot Beyond that distance, then, we may assume that fly caught in a spiders web would be safe from detection by its enemy, if its move ments and struggles to get away did not betray it. The same observers think that spiders have the senses of color and smell. but feebly developed.
The St. Johns herald., 1896-12-19

10 haul him out of the woods on a co.l. mon jumper" rough sled used in the numbering regions. Three hours after leaving camp the poor sufferer died. and then it was a journey more mournful than ever-drawing a corpse through the wilderness building fires at night to keep prowling beasts away from a feast of human flesh, toll and terror together! When they reached the lake, a steamboat captain was too much concerned about towing a raft to take the woodsman's body, and there was a long wait for another steamer. Then, at Greenyille, there was no one to provide casket or even a box, and the corpse. wound in a common blanket, was tossed into the baggage car among the carcasses of venison. At some rural statiol. perhaps, kind and plying hands gave more gentle attention to the old fellows bones, perhaps there were tears, maybe prayer.
The St. Johns herald., 1896-12-19

pr. Calmette, the director of the Pas teur Institute at Lille, France, and dis coverer of the anti-venomous serum treatment for snake bites, seems to have demonstrated that in their essen tial toxieity, all snake yenoms are iden- tical whether taken from viperine or eolubrine snakes All are equally de- stroyed by alkaline hypochlorites and by chloride of gold. And finally, which is, perhaps. most important of all in practice. the serum of animals inocu- lated with graduated venom from a particularly deadly snake, such as the cobra. is perfectly antitoXic against the venom of all other snakes and also of scorpions. Some indubitable cures of cobra bites are reported, and there Is strong reasor to believe that anti-ven- omous serung obtained through cobra inoculations will prove q specific against all snake bites.
The St. Johns herald., 1896-12-19
A Real Vacuum.

What would seem to be an absolute vacuum was recently produced by Prof. Elmer Gates of Washington in an ex- ceedingly simple manner. He took ''test-tube," which Is a tube of glass closed at one end, and which, in this case, was composed of kind of glass that melts only at very nigh temper ature. Into the tube he poured molten glass of another Kind, which melts at comparatively low temperature. After the latter had cooled, and thus formed solid mass completely fill ing the tube, he attached suction pump to the open end of the tube, and then applied heat until the softer glass inside was again melted. The next step was to withdraw the molten glass by means of the pump, enough being left to close completely the end of the tube, when it was allowed once more to cool. AS no air could enter the space left vacant by the withdrawal of the molten glass, a perfect vacuum is be- lieved to have been produced there.
The St. Johns herald., 1896-12-19

Woodsmen are a wealthy class as q rule, lead a healthful life, and seldom have need of a doctors services; but when poor fellow succumbs to sick ness in the depths of the Maine forest, his prospects are rather dismal Re gently an aged man was taken violently i'll in the MooSehead region. His dis ease was typhoid fever. but they called it dySentry and dosed him with Ja- maica ginger-the only medicine at hand. Finally, as the patient grew
 steadily worse, faithful friend started
The St. Johns herald., 1896-12-19
Pigrnies in Guiana.

It is reported through Science that an American commercial traveller In Guiana has recently discovered in that country villages inhabited by little peo- pie, averaging only about four feet and a half in height. Humboldt, when in South American many years ago, heard stories of dwarfs living in those re- gians, but he saw none, and seems to have given little credit to the reports about them that reached his ears. It will be remembered that Stanley, in his last expedition in Africa, found communities of dwarfs whose exist, ence had also been previously report ed, but generally doubted.
The St. Johns herald., 1896-12-19
Tramps and Panics.

If tramps became tramps and re- mained so because they could not find work to do, there would be close cor respondence between the number of tramps and prevailing industrial condi- tions. Their ranks would be greatly increased in time of panic, and dimin- ished in time of prosperity.
 The first of these tendencies is strong ly marked. Professor McCook, of Yale University, who has made thorough study of the subject, finds that after
The St. Johns herald., 1896-12-19

each of the panics of 1878 and 1893 there was great rise in the number of tramps. Even after industrial con ditions began to improve, the upward movement continued.
 The reason is obvious. When times become dull, weeding-out process among workmen begins. The drinking men are the first to be dropped; then in- different workmen; then incompetent single men; and sober, capable, mar ried men the last of all. When times improve, these classes are taken back in the reverse order. The men from whom tramps are recruited are usually the first to go, because they are intem- perate, shiftless, and generally unmar- ried
 But Professor McCook's statistics show further, that there is nothing like a complete retaining of the trampS, even when business is at its best. In 1876, for example, there was further increase in the number of trampS, al- though small one. It was not until IOtt lli1l DltSiucSS effected a diminutiOn in the number, and then the fall was only ten per cent.
 The conclusion seems inevitable that considerable percentage of the men who become tramps in the first place because they are thrown out of work re- main tramps afterward because they do not choose to work. They have found that they can live and be fairly comfortable and happy without work, and they like 1t. As Professor McCook suggests, they remain nomads from the same instinct that leads a horse who has once run away to run away again when he gets chance
 Therefore the first remedy for the tramp evil is work. The withholding of private charity, and the exaction by the authorities of full equivalent in work for food and shelter, will put a new face on the world to the able bodied tramp.
 When he finds that to secure support In vagabOndage he must work not less hard, but harder than under other con- ditions, the nomad life will lose its charm for him.-Youth's Companion.
The St. Johns herald., 1896-12-19

The fierce competition for speed in warships still goes on. Last year a tor pedo-boat built in England created a sensation by making more than thirty knots an hour. Early this year the French turned out one that made near ly thirty-one knots. Now England has built another, the Desperate. which makes more than thirty-one knots. or about thirty-SiX miles. an hour. Nor will the strife stop there. What France will do is not known, but the British Admiralty is nOw making contracts for boats that will make thirty-three knots. or thirty-eight miles. That means a spurt of thirty-four or thirty-five knots. or fully forty miles an hour, on trial trips, a speed not many railroad trains surpass. Of course the limit will be reached at some point. Where that will be may perhaps he reckoned from the fact that while the Cunard cham pion. the Lucania. is of 12.9J0 tons dis placement and developed on her trial trip 32.000 hOrse-pOwer, these thirty three knot boats will be of only 300 tons displacement. but fully S,000 horse power. The former. therefore, is forty three times as big. but only four times Rs powerful as the latter. It is. of course, impossible to go on increasing the ratio of horsepower to size indef- initely, and when that can no longer be done. the limit of speed will be near at hand.
The St. Johns herald., 1896-12-19

1t was not without due sense of the fitness of things that President Cleve- land declined the honor of the degree of IL. D., offered him by Princeton University at the sesquicentennial eel ebration. There was long list of scholars of eminence to whom degrees were given as an honor befitting their special attainments and services. It would have come to Mir. Cleveland sim ply as a recognition of his political Of flee and as a sort of memento of his participation in the celebration. It used to be the custom for the American col leges to decorate with a doctorate any public man whose official position brought him into contact with the insti- tuition in any way; but the larger col leges at least are becoming more spar ing of their honorary degrees, and thereby making them of greater value a part, doubtless, of the tendency 60 make all degrees more significant of ac- tual achievement. It was a proper ci- vility for Princeton to offer to include the chief magistrate in her list of birth day honors; but it was an eminently ap- propriate thing for him to decline the proffered degree, to which he has no particular claim in scholarship.
The St. Johns herald., 1896-12-19
Iron Foundations for Tall Buildings

A new way of constructing a solid foundation for a tall building has been tried with success in Berlin. It was necessary to find solid base sufficient ly strong to carry a building weighing more than 10000 tons. The plot of ground upon which the building was to stand was adjOined on both sides by high buildings, which rendered unsafe the digging to any depth for fOunda- ton. The only way out of the difficulty was the sinking of caisson in the cen ter of the plot, upon the cemented top of which hollow form of cement was built. Into this form molten iron was poured, filling up the space, and upon this cast-irOn foundation plate the un- derstructure of the building now rests, while the side walls are supported by a cantilever structure. The full weight of the load upon the cast-iron f0unda- tion is estimated at more than 10000 tons.
The St. Johns herald., 1896-12-19

Despite innumerable explanations and demonstrations, the question con tinues to be asked whether 1899 or 1906 will be the closing year Of the century
 Reference 10 the rule ny which the Gre gorian calendar was established should be sufficient to settle the matter. Ii states explicitly that the number in q date is the number of the current year The nineteenth century, therefore, will end with Dec. 31, 1900, and the twenti. eth century will begin with Jan. 1, 1901.
The St. Johns herald., 1896-12-19
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Marriott WatSOn'S next story Is to be entitled "The Career of Della Hast ings."
 The Rev. Washington Gladden. is writing a book on The Working Church and Its Pastor"
 The visitors at Shakspeare's birth place during the year ended with last March numbered 27,03S.
 Harold Frederic's new book, 'AIrs. Albert Grundy,' is declared by the Lon- don Sketch to be rather flat and ''tOO easily written"
 Maurice Maeterlinck is at work on a new tragedy to be called "Aglavaine ct Selysette." The title sounds quite Spen- serian, with a touch of the Far East.
 Though 74 years of age, Edmond de Goncourt has attracted worldwide at tention with his new volume on "Ho- kousal," the greatest of Japanese de- signerS.
 Gladstone's new volume of Studies Subsidiary to the Works of Bishop But Ter" will be published early in July. It will appear simultaneously on both sides of the Atlantic.
 Gen. Sir T. E. Gordon has nearly ready volume entitled Persia ReVis- ited, 1885," in which he comments on Muzaffer- ed-Din, the present Shah, and on the political situation.
 After long stay at his country house at Saint-Tropez Emile Olivier is again back in Paris. Improved health allows him to push forward his history of the Second Empire and novel called Ma rie Madeleine"
 Charles E. L. Wingate is preparing q volume on "ShakSpeare'S Heroes on tha Stage" as a companion to his ''Shaks- peare's HerOines on the Stage" He also has ready handsome holiday vol ume to be called Famous American Actors of To-day"
 The Bookman is authority for 1t that John Morley has i'll preparation new volume of Studies in Literature" and adds: Tt is pleasant to note that Mir. Morley's writings have happily cOntin- ued to increase in spite of the jealous demands of the political shrew."
 Mrs. Lynn Linton's My Literary Life" which is to be published in vol ume form in the autumn, is said to con- tain some startling revelations and much personal gossip about literary characters who lived amid the ''Sturm und Drang" of the midcentury period.
 Andrew Lang says: 70 difference in taste in books, when it is decided and vigorous, breaks many a possible friendship" He indicates the passport ito his favor by telling as that "he or she who condemns Scott and cannot read Dickens is a person with whom I would fain have no further converse"
 In 1865 four lads occupied the same room on the ground floor of the first di vision of Cadet Barracks at West Point. Since then they have made their names more or less we'll known in current American literature. They are Capt. Charles King, Arthur Sherburne Har- dy. John Brisben Walker and Richard Henry Savage.
 After MT. Barrie's mother and elder sister were buried together last Sep tember it was authoritatively announc- ed that these two were the original of Jess and Leeby in "A Window in Thrums." It is said that the sad beau ty of those characters is found in still fuller measure in Mir. Barrie's forth coming book about his mother entitled 'Marget Ogilvy."
The St. Johns herald., 1896-12-19

Rev. pr. Halsey Knapp, of Brooklyn left will that surprised his friends. He bequeathed something like two hundred thousand dollars, and when this became known. there was much speculation as to how Baptist clergy man had been able to accumulate so much Of this worlds goods. But it was discovered that Dr. Knapp was of pure New England descent, and was senior partner in q thriving poultry firm, wherein he labored diligently six days out of the seven.
The St. Johns herald., 1896-12-19
NFr. and nIrs. Pigeon.

There is one very admirable trait about pigeons" said A. R. Mather, of Cincinnati. II have always had a penchant for birds, and since I was a small boy have owned a number of pig cons. When pigeons mate they do so for life, and the average constancy among them is as great as among hu- man beings. 1 have watched them care fully and never saw one of them desert its mate I had a very handsome bach elor pigeon that was quite attentive to one that was mated. When the mate returned home he found this pigeon lowering around the cote, and, taking in the situation at a glance, attacked the gay bird and nearly killed him. Al ter that there was no attempt upon his part to break up the little home. They have no divOrces among them, and altogether valuable lessons in do- nestle happiness can be learned from pigeons. Washington Star.
The St. Johns herald., 1896-12-19
Looks Ont for Himself

In hunters lore there is an idea that the jackal is the lions provider-that he finds the game aud takes the lion to it. This superstition has no more foundation than is found in the fact that after a lion has slain his quarry the iackals always attend and await the conclusion of the repast, ill order to pick up the leavings.
The St. Johns herald., 1896-12-19

contemporary scores good point against a popular newspaper misuse of words. 1t is just as ungrammatical and sounds just as harshly to tue educated ear to say uniquer as to say more unique or most unique
The St. Johns herald., 1896-12-19

Miss Collins announced that she wouldn't marry Chancey Depew. and Depew al once announced that he would write q play. He might have made his revenge less general.
The St. Johns herald., 1896-12-19
Dynamite Not So Daneero.s

Dynamite, contrary to general belief, Is comparatively harmless so long as it is kept from the materials which are used to explode 1t. Gunpowder is far more dangerous in transportation than dynamite.
The St. Johns herald., 1896-12-19
"I Want You. Nv Honey.,

For those with weakened digestive powers honey is said to be very de- sirable food If a person is very tired -"too exhausted to eat''-a few tastes of honey will act like magic.
The St. Johns herald., 1896-12-19

Undoubtedly the most notable in stance of a superfuous contribution by the elements for long while was the washing ashore of jawbone at Chi cagO the other day.
The St. Johns herald., 1896-12-19
Mother off Seven Noted Men

Mrs. Bardsley, mother of the Bishop of Carlisle, who died recently at the age of 94, had seven sons, all of whom took holy orders. Her husband, too, was a clergyman. They were intimate friends of Charlotte Bronte.