davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1896-05-05
FROM NORTH CAROLINA,

The train drew into station on the
Atlantic Coast Line, en- route for Jack
sonyille, and the rear car was immediate
ly besieged by small darkies, clad In
rags, and clamoring for nickel.
"why don't you boys GO TO work In
stead OF begging:" asked one OF the
travellers.
I'VE ain, a-beggin'," returned one OF
the lads; ives workin'.
"Oh h,-and what is your business"
"Scramblin'," replied the spokesman,
showing u set OF teeth beside which the
ivory keys Of a piano would have seemed
like amber.
"Scramblin', eh? And what Is that
asked the tourist.
'.Shoot up nickel an you'll see, re-
piled the spokesman; and the nickel
was tossed, and the tourist at once per-
ceived two things-first, what scram-
bling was; and second, why the rags OF a
Southern darky seem TO be the rsggedest
rags in creation.
After the struggle for the possession
of the nickel was over, one OF the smaller
boys, who looked tired, and as pale as a
negro can, asked for another 10 buy
sumpin' Z eat"
something to eat Why don't you 60
home and get it:'
"'Ain't got n9 home" he replied, his
eyes growing wide.
what: No home? Why, where do
you sleep!"
"Dont never Sleep" was the answer.
The boy received quarter for his
candor.-Harper's Magazine.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1896-05-05
ThE OLD MAN.
Its Significance a. Applied Ia the Head of
the business House.

Were the head Of large concern
or the responsible executive officer of a
great corporation. whether my age were
% or ~, should want all Of my en-
ployees or subordiDates 70 call me The
Old Man. Not, Of course. TO my face
or when they were addressing me, bat
among themselves or when they spoke
Of me TO their friends
"His Majesty" His Royal High
ness. His Excellency" and the like
all indicate that the persons to whom
they are applied possess power, but in
this commercially democratic age and
country the one appellatiOn Of undisput-
ed autocracy is THE Old Man.
Applied to the head Of concern it
frequently indicates love, generally re-
spect and always complete submission
10 authority. IL is as free from any sug-
gestiOn Of age as IL reverend. IL Is
never given when there Is question Of
authority or a smoldering rebellion
against it.
When THE Old Man" says u thing.
that settles il; there are no questions 20
be asked: there Is no comment 10 be
made. When The Old Man does some
thing, or fails to do something, there Is
no criticism 10 be INDUCED IN.
1.-The Old Man j. the one person
about the ESTABLISHING, who is absolute
ly his own master, whose coming IN
and going out are unhampered, whose
encouraging word carries real weight
and whose reprimand indicates real dan
ger. TO whom sir" j. I right and not
courtesy.
Long live The Old Man. And
when, through his half closed private
Office door. he hears the boys term hlm
thus kindly, let him congratulate him
self that loyalty is in his service and
that he has attained the acme Of dignity.
Trufh
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1896-05-05
Curious Habits Of Lizards.

The lizard family has many queer
and remarkable habits. but none OF
these antics will compare with that
known to the naturalist as shooting
the tail" All species Of lizards are born
towards, but the effects Of fear are not
the same among the different members
Of the family. As an illustration l will
say that there is one variety of the liz
ard family (the so called horned toad }
which, when excited, spurts fine
stream of blood from duct situated
lust above the eye. Another variety, an
inhabitant of Australia NATURALLY blu
ish black in color, turns suddenly
white and appears to be perfectly para
lived the moment it finds itself con-
fronted by real or imaginary danger.
The most curious habit of all, however.
and one which is possessed by large
per cent Of the entire lizard family, IL
that Of voluntarily amputating the tail
if suddenly surprised by one OF its many
enemies. The lizards habit Of ridding
itself of the caudal appendage under
such circumstances reminds me that the
lobster always drops or sheds its claws
in the time Of thunderstorms. In fact,
anything that excites or irritates the
lobster will cause similar exhibition
of this peculiar power. The lizard
which amputates or purposely drops the
tail when scared does not become para
lyzed, like his Australian brother, but
hurries away as fast as the four legs
will carry the tailless body. The ampu-
tated tail is left to the mercy of the
enemy. 1t lies on the ground, founder
ing like fish. This attracts the atten-
tion of the pursuer, which makes meal
Of the amputated member while the
body is escaping to place of safety
st. Louis Republic.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1896-05-05
Tn. Greatest Of Rivers.

The Amazon Is the king u streams
From first to last II receives over /, 200
tributaries, Of which more than 100 are
large sized rivers and rise so far apart
and have their foods and ebbs at such
different seasons that the Amazon II az
about the same height the year around.
AT some points on Its lower course one
bank is invisible from the other. The
beholder seems To be looking on great
yellow sea Of fresh water. When discoy-
cred, some tribes Of Indians on the low
er portion knew nothing Of the existence
of the opposite shore and did not believe
that it existed. saying that "the great
river flowed all around the world. Its
mouth, including that of the Para, In
$50 miles in width, and IL is nayigable
for large sized ocean steamers for ], 900
miles from the sea, and 50 vast Is the
food that the ocean is tinged yellow for
400 miles from the coast Of Brazil st.
Louis Globe Democrat.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1896-05-05
He Had Heard Her Say So.

That it is only step from the sublime
TO the ridiculous is well illustrated by
the following amusing incident that
happened few Sabbaths ago IN well
known church, and caused no little mer-
riment among the teachers. The super
intendent was telling the wee small
folks Of the custom in certain countries
Of chaining the prisoners hands and
feet together And, she asked, don {
you suppose that If some one came and
released them they would be very happy
and grateful"
Ii was unanimously agreed that they
would
And, continued the superintendent,
coming TO her point, Jesus was sent to
the world 10 release people from their
sins. Are any Of you here bound with
the chains Of sin?" No." piped the
4-year offspring Of the minister,
I'm not, but my grandmother is. -
Louisville Post.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1896-05-05
NUMBER 1s.
CALLING THE STATIONS.
Little Mistakes That Sometimes Occur In
Their Frequent Repetition.

Occasionally. said a man. lone
hears guard on the elevated road call
the next station back instead Of the one
ahead Coming down on the Sixth ave-
nue. road, for instance, he might, on
leaving Grand street. look in and say,
The next station is Bleecker street,
when be meant Franklin. Still, this is
rarely done, not nearly so often as one
might think il would be, by men call
ing the stations over and over again all
day long. To be sure IL might seem that
the names would be by frequent repeti-
tion so deeply craven on their memory
that there would be the less danger OF
calling them wrong, but what ! sup
pose happens is this-that sometimes
the mind unconsciously switches over,
aud the guard calls from the up list in
stead of the down, or vice versa.
Sometimes when guard miscalls
station he lets it go-perhapS he doesn't
think Of it himself. Sometimes he cor
rects !n a mild tone Of voice, as though
the les Il sand about II the better. Some
times he sets it straight clearly aud un-
mistal ably. | rode up town the other
day on sixth avenue Harlem train
with q qua who, as the train left For
ty-sec nd street. looked IN and said.
Fifti "a next, Fifty eighth street train,
change there for Harlem. But the next
minute he looked IN again and said.
with equal If not greater distinction and
deliboration, Fiftieth next. Harlem
train, change there for Fifty eighth
street.
Here Was case that was little
different: A newsman who got of a
Sixth avenue tram with "a bundle Of pa
pers at Fifty third street handed pa
per 70 the guard and asked him 10 give
IL 10 tho ,icEot chopper at One Hundred
aud Thirty-nfth street. The guard look.
eel into the clr az the train started and
said. Hundred and Thirty-tfth street
next, but this was so far of that It
really needed no correction. and very
reasonably the guard let 1t go at that,
but he smiled as he closed the door -
New York sun.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1896-05-05
The Rarisal Guns.

In the delta Of the Ganges mysterl-
Gus sound il sometimes heard, to which
the name Of "Barisal guns" is given,
because Of its resemblance TO the dull re-
port Of distant artillery. Similar noises
are we'll known TO the lighthouse keep
ers and fishermen of Ostend and Bou-
logne. who call them the mist pouifers,
or fog dissipators, and generally hear
them on the evening Of a hot day III sum
mer. Although the sounds are compared
to the detonations of guns, they are not
very like these, and they occur at irree-
ular intervals. Their origin is enveloped
in mystery, but some physicists regard
them as electrical detonations, such a.
might be produced by flashes Of ordinary
lightning or the explosion Of globe light
ming. while others refer them to the
shocks Of field matter in the bowels OF
the earth or the rambling Of slight earth
auakes. Public Opinion.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1896-05-05
A Question OF Honor.

She is young, happily married and
prosperous. a short time ago she lost
her purse III the street. and Immediately
upon discovering her loss went 10 a
newspaper Office and put III an adver'
tisement, offering reward for the re-
turn of the missing article. The follow
ing day poor man brought the purse to
her house ard claimed the reward. Leav-
ing him standing at the door, she disap-
peared, presumably to get the promised
sum, but in reality to send one of her
servants for a policeman, although sine
had no good reason for doubling the
mans statement that he had picked up
the purse in the street. He was not a.
rested, but he got no reward. This sort
of thing is rather discouraging to persons
with honest intentions. York
Journal.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1896-05-05

OF all the soyereigns of the world the
shah Of Persia is said 10 possess the
largest treasure in jewels and gold or
paments, il being valued at $50. .000,'
600. The chief object Of value is the old
crown Of Persian rulers, in the form OF
a pot Of flowers, which is surmounted by
an uncut ruby the size Of hens egg
The diamonds in another symbol Of his
rank are said to weigh almost 20 pounds.
There is also jeweled saber, valued at
81 900, ,000 Another thing that the shah
prizes is silver vase ornamented with
100 emeralds. whose equals, it is said,
are not to be found in the world. In the
collection there is cube Of amber which
tradition says fell from heaven in the
DAYS Of Mchammed and insures the pos
SCISSOR against bodily harm.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1896-05-05
Her Ideal Shattered.

Miks Clara Louise Kellogg tells the
follow Eing story Of her introduction to
one ot the British aristocracy. She was
very young at the time of her first trip
abroah. A gentleman who felt an inter
est in the talented young American took
her t,I call on the dowager Duchess OF
Somekse Miss Kellogg says that she
had beyer before seen duchess, and
that jhe fully expected the lady to come
into ,lbe room attired in velvet and er
mine and wearing a coronet on her
head. She was quite bereft OF speech
when very ordinary looking person,
wearing a black bombazine gown aid
prunJlla shoes. appeared on the scene
The gentleman who had brought Miss
kellogg told the duchess that she wonld
be glad to sing for her, to which her
grace responded:
"E|ut have no piano"
This was the finishing touch to the
youpk singers childish ideals regarding
persons Of high degree. A duchess who
woreprunella shoes and did not owp a
pianI
LATER musicale was given by her
grace at which Miss kellogg sapg-to
the al compartment Of hired piano
chookng for one Of her songs an ar.
rangEment Of Tennyson's Tears. Idle
TearI /" The verses were quite new to
the duchess, who had "heard Of Tenny-
son, but had never read anything that
he hid writ,ea." The next day the gen
tlem IN who had introduced Miss hei-
logg. and who, BY the way was an
American, bought copy Of the poems
and iIent it to her grace.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1896-05-05
A KIND OF FARMING THAT WILL PAY,

One point needs 10 be emphasized At
this time: Farmers should inquire more
closely into the wants OF local markets,
and try 10 meet their requirements IL
is surprising TO what an extent the IN
terror towns depend upon large cities
perhaps 30 or 80 miles away-for
products which should be supplied by
nearby farmers. In the more thicRly
populated parts of the country, fresh
vegetables, poultry, eggs, meat snd
dairy products are always In demand, at
fairly remunerative prices, yet how lit
tie of the money paid for these eommod-
tiles goes into the pockets Of farmers,
who should receive IL all. In fact, II Is
no uncommon sight 10 see farmers buy
ing for their own tables vegetables
which By little forethought might have
been raised on the farm and made a
source Of profit.
We are not advocating the idea That
the general farmer should be market
gardener. but well-provided garden or
..truck patch" should be an unfailing
source of good things for the home and
a profit 70 its owner. The farmer en-
gagged in growing simple crops has little
time 10 devote TO other matters; but at
present low prices, might 1t not pay
better TO grow less wheat, corn and po-
tatoes, aud give more attention 10 I'M.
proving aud increasing the flock OF
poultry, and 10 supplanting scrub stock
with improved breeds of cattle: Early
and late vegetables, fresh eggs, poultry,
and choice butter are always in good de
mand, and farmers should produce these
commodities, at least TO such an extent
as to supply their own families and the
demands OF neighboring market or
manufacturing towns.-Americsn Agr-
culturist.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1896-05-05
GOOD ROADS.


Better roads we must have, and better
roads We shall have II all hands work
together to that end. But IL is not learn
ed state commissioners that We want,
with elaborate reports long drawn out.
IL country roads are ever improved IL
will have 10 come first OF all through 4
better supervision Of the work and n
more careful oversight OF their coudi-
tion. Fine-spun theories and high
.iowu science are not so much needed IN
the first steps towards the object sought
- homely common sense and good iudg-
meut, aud disposition 10 apply them TO
the work. Twice and thrice as much
could be realized out Of the money de-
voted to the purpose IL the supervision
were what it ought Tn be. Useless, then,
more money until we are disposed 10
give attention enough 10 the business 10
iudiciouslv lay out what we have. The
Improvement must begin down where
We are aud work upward TO better things.
Talk II made Of state road commission.
We never can reach the case By begin
ming NJ the top and working downward.
The ideal highway must be reached by
gradual approaches starting from pres
ent conditions. BETTER supervision is
The first step. Portland has entered
upon the right course hy establishing
system, aud takiug steps 10 continue u
methOdically year after year. Just such
4 course Is what Is needed In the conn
try. though ot course the details OF the
work must differ from that OF the city
The msu who knows best how 10 put
a. l., .t-tr
their continuing In that condition Is the
one wanted for road commissioner, ana
having placed him in charge keep him
there.
The amount II money and lsoor now
thrown away annually for the want of
well defined system on the part OF the
authorities In charge Is appalling. state
Railroad Commissioner ODonneH oi
New York, (which state, by the way, Is
much in the same way ~ our own IN re-
gard to its country highways, in a pub
lic address recently made the following
surprising statement:
"As.uming that the state has paid the same
annual rsAd taX every year since the buihiing oi
the EriS canal. the total sum would have ouin
the enlarged Erie canal. and steel track hlgh-
way on every road IN the state and l"ft surplus
An the treasury For all this enormous oatlay,
Nc have nothing 10 show except the OH mnu
and dirt roads OF our ancestors, AMI not n g"oa
q. they were = years ago
But the people OF our state need not
look TO the state or the government for
the needed aid in this reform. The
stimulus 70 effort may come from other
sources, but the real work, the better
roads. must come from the people who
need them. IL better roads are wanted
they hsve only Ia put intelligent effort
into the work. This is the time to put
reform in progress. More money Is
neither needed nor called for TIL better
use is made Of that now appropriated
FOR the purpose-Msine Farmer.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1896-05-05
HOW THEY OiNeO.
Tho Methods of the English st Table In
the Seventeenth Century.

The old English had three meals
day, Of which the chief meal was taken
when the work Of the day was finished.
The fret meal was at o. dinner was
about o'clock, and supper was taken
Just before bedtime. The Normans diDed
at the old Eng lish breakfast time or a
little later and supped at Z p. m. Ia
Tudor times the higher classes dined at
II and supped at 5. but the merchants
seldom took their meals before IL and 0
O'Clock.
The chief meals, dinner and supper.
were taken in the hall both by the old
English and the Normans, for the parIor
did not come into use until the reign OF
Elizabeth. Breakfast did not become
regular meal until quite lately, aud d..
Murray. in the Oxford Dictionary. gave
1863 as the date Of the earliest quota
ton in which the word occurred. The
meal did not become recognized until
late in the seventeenth century. FOR
Pepys habitually took his draft Of
half a pint of Rhenish wine or dram
of strong waters in place Of morning
meal Dinner was always the great
meal Of the day, and from the accession
OF Henry " to the death Of Queen Eliza
beth the dinners were as sumptnous and
eXtravagant as any Of those now served.
Carving was then a fine art. Each
guest brought his own knife and spoon,
for the small fork was not introduced
into England until Thomas Coryate Of
Odcombe published his "Crudities" in
1911. Pepys took his spoon and fork
with him TO the lord mayors feast IN
1868. The absence Of forks led TO much
stress being laid npon the act OF wash
ing the hands both before and after
meals and 10 the rule that the left hand
alone should be dipped into the com
mon dish. the right hand being occupied
with the knife.
The perfect dinner at the best time Of
English cookery consisted Of three
courses. each complete In itself. and ter
minated 'by a subtlety or device, the
whole being rounded of with ypocras.
after which the guests retired into an
other room, where pastry, sweetmeats
and fruit were served with the cboicer
wines. The English were essentially
meat eaters, aud il was not until tho
time Of the commonwealth that pud
ding attained It's extraordinary populari-
ty. Indeed. the first mention Of pudding
in the menus Of the "Buckfeast" at ~.
Bartholomew hospital did not occur
until l7i0. aud in 1912 is an item Of .
shillings for ice. London Times.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1896-05-05
Stately Dances Of Old.

The minnet is already known 10 many
were il only through the inuumerabl,
pictures executed by pastelists, now dcaa
but stlll CO e5rated. The dainty gestures,
the graceful steps, the sweeping courte-
sizes, are no secret to us, but the sarn-
band and the pavane we do not know
much about, although they are vel!
worth being studied. The saraband is
what one might call an almost religious
dance, for IL Is - deliberate, so solemn
and yet so gracefully beautiful. The
cavaliers, hen they bend before their
fair partners. litelally sweep the floor
with their plumed hats. while the la
dies brocades aud laces fut,cr around
them like the wings of some bright hued
butterfly about 10 take its flight. The
promenade-a sort Of polonaise-wbicb
follows. the couples marching with i'm
posing demeanor behind one another. Is,
beyond everything else, becomlngly
dainty. although somewhat strait laced,
but one cannot be anything but en-
chanted by something 80 entirely re-
moved from the hurry and scurry seen
IN our salons when dancing Is written
on the cards of invitation.
The pavane is sprightlier, more like
the gavotte, and brings into constant
play fans, we'll managed trains and
again plumed hats. the tout ensemble
making up IL tableau Of unsurpassed
charm and aristocratic motion. The O.
sential qualities Of all these dances ara
simplicity and grace, for they afford no
opportunity for displays of gymnastics,
Of hurried a,hleticism, no force Of biceps,
no pushing or jolting or elbowing. They
are the very essence Of easy gliding and
Of keeping time to strains Of melody,
which remind one inyoluntarily Of the
eyanescent odor of some rare old per
fume like those we still find IN the silk
EN- sachets made by our great-grand-
mothers Exchange.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1896-05-05
x...,,,,.a Glove. For omcer..

There are very few novelties in mill
tary goods, but some gloves recently put
ON sale by dealer are novelties. They
are for officers who have to wear white
leather gloves according to regulations
The new gloves are Of wash leather and
have ten holes in the palm Of each hand,
while the space between the fingers Is
cut away toward the palm. The object
Of the holes is to keep the hands from
perspiring. From behind, when the
hand is closed, the holes do not show.
The gloves are successful in their object.
New York Sun.