davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1896-02-15
The skeleton Of DE Soto.

The local historians of Baton Rouge,
La, believe that the mortal remains of
Fernando De Soto lie buried between
two gigantic live oaks near the present
site Of Port Hudson. The books tell diff
ferent tales about the death and burial
of the great discoverer. Some say that
he was wrapped in his mantle and
thrown into the Mississippi; others that
the remains were incased in hollow
log In 1853 three hunters-Rigsby,
Davis and Hurin-were encamped near
what is now Port Hudson. While kim
ding fire they found human skele-
ton in a hollow log that had been lying
in drift The bones were those of man
six feet tall. In the log helmet, a
rusty sword and large bronze crucifix
Were also found, and on one of the fin
gers Of the skeletons hand large seal
ring The discovercrs of this CHASTITY
n.emento believe that the remains were
those of D. soto. the discoverer of the
Mississippi river. The burial place of
the bones Is we'll known to the Rigsbys,
who still reside III Louisiana. st.
Louis Rcpablic.
Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1896-02-15
GREEK FIRE.
How the Terrible Engine of Destruction
MAs Ised In Warfare.

Jo;nvill.. who served under King
Louis TX in the seventh crusade of 124S,
gives graphic description Of the ter
rors Of Greek fire: 1T happened one
night that the Turks brought up an en-
gine that they called the perriere (stone
throwerI. IA terrible engine Of destruc-
tion, and placed il in front of some cat
castles (chaZ chateil) that NJ. Gaultier
lie Curel and were guarding that
night, and from this engine they threw
Greek fire ut us in great quantities Ga
plante). Ii was the most horrible thing
that ever saw. When the good knight,
III. Gaulticr, my comrade, saw the fire.
he cried out and said TO us: 'Seigncurs,
we are lost forever without remedy, for
If they set fire to our cat castles we
shall he consumed and burned, and if
we leave cur post we shall be disgraced,
and 80 | conclude that there is no one
who can defend us from this peril ex
cept God, cur blessed Creator. Order all
our men. every time the enemy throws
the Greek fire. to throw themselves ON
I
TO our Lord. i'll whom is all power = !"
And whenever the Turks fired the first
shot we threw ourselves thus on our
hands and knees. rs our commander had
ordered The nature of Greek fire was
such that il advanced toward us as big as
tun, and its tail extended yard in
| length (une dcmye-canne dequatrepans)
I 80. 81, -
seemed as though it were thunderbolt
| falling from heaven and appeared to me
like Il great dragon flying i'll the air. 1t
threw ont such brilliant light that it
WAS as clear Is daylight in our host, so
great was its flame of fire. Three times
that l:i;at ley threw this Greek fire at
Us from Tie aforesaid perriere and four
Times from III" great croSsbOw (arbeleste
a tour1. a:i every time our good King
- Louis h,astl thar they were throwing
the fire ai IL III this manner he cast
himself rpau the ground. and stretch
ing ont his hands. with his face uprais-
ed g. heaven. he cried III loud voice to
our Lord and exclaimed as he shed great
tcas Beau Sire Den Jesus Christ,
pdiHt iI't - ttlit ma gent. his
tore de -. LouiS, Petitot. volume 2,
page $50
The cat cast les mentioned by Joinville
Were wooden towers used i'll sieges, and
the word canne is French measure of
length equivalent to six feet and con-
siStin2 Of eight pans Of nine inches
each. There was nothing novel in the
mere throwing of fire. Ii has always
been one Of the usual incidents Of sieges.
-Gentleman ; Magazine.
Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1896-02-15
SAVED BY A CAT.
How a Bashful Young Man at Last Got a
Spoon.

AhOs - hOABs NhAA Last oot u
spoon.
There is n man, we'll known in ju-
dicial circles rs one Of the most polished
and courtly If gentlemen. who tells the
following story:
He had not, i'll his early youth, those
advantages which tend to produce ease
of manner. Wien about Is. he was
much in love with neighbor's daugh-
ter, and. according to his statement,
was at this time nearly 6 feet tall. un-
calmly. shy and with the proverbial ubiq-
uitous hands and feet
One Sunday he was at dinner with
his rosy checked sweetheart, and when
tho gnests had been served with soup
the youth discovered that he had no
spoon He grew red in the face and was
in an agony of modification and dismay
II he asked for Il spoon. be felt sure ev-
cry Cne would look ut him; if he did
not eat his soup, his hostess would be
sure to remark it. What was he TO do:
He felt his hands growing larger and
more i'll the way than ever, and his feet
capsed him untold emotion by absolute
ly refusing TO 20 under his chair.
Great heads Of perspiration stood ont
on his face and trickled down like rain.
Tie situation was becoming unendur-
able when a terrified cat, pursued by a
small bnt game terrier, rushed into the
room and sprang upon the table. The
guests jumped up, and i'll the general
confusion the embarrassed youth retain
ed his seat, and turning to the servant
remarked calmly, "I'll have a spoon,
please "-Washington Times.
Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1896-02-15
No Kick Coming.

One day when coupe driven along
Broadway at the rate Of ten miles an
hour had come within hairbreadth
Of running me down followed it up for
three or four blocks until il came to a
halt beside the curbstone.
do you know l said TO the driver,
who grinned as he saw me approach,
"that you nearly ran me down ten min
uteS ago.
Yes, sir, " he promptly replied.
lyon had me i'll between your car
riage and cable ear, and il was a close
call. y
"YeS, it was, sir. "
lyon didn't even try to pull up your
horse, Ipersisted.
mo, sir.
"Then you didn't care whether you
ran me down or not:''
mo. sir.
"Well. that's cooll Are you in the
habit of killing people who may be
crossing the street as you come along"
Not i'll the habit. no. sir. You see,
it was this way. A gent picks me up at
the Fifth Avenue and wants TO git down
to the Star theater III five minutes. /
can't git him there in five. but can i'll
eight if there isn't block and the
wheels stay on, and L does it and gets 80
cents extra.
But where do l come in:'
You: Why, you escaped with your
life. and there's no kick coming to you.
Wait till you are run down and killed
and then let the WILDLY do the kickin." "
Detroit Free Press.
Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1896-02-15
SLAVE RAIDS IN AFRICA.
More Than "a Hundred Villages Destroyed
In one Campaign.

As we approached the falls we saw
that the river banks had been depopulat-
Ell and the villages were III ashes We
passed dead bodies floating in the river.
Canoes were standing on end like hol-
lowed columns crowds Of fugitives
were afloat and hiding among the reedy
islands. These were all signs of gen
eral terror, hut we could get no infor-
nation If It's character. Vague ideas of
an invasion from some savage tribe
came to our minds, and now and then
we had u misgiving that there must be
Arab slaverS i'll the neighborhood.
Continuing our ascent, on the third
day we came in sight of huge Arab
camp on the right bank and before long
we discovered that the Arabs of Nyan-
give (Livingstone's farthest point. hav-
ing heard the most exaggerated reports
of our successful descent Of the Kongo
in 1877, had hastened after us to reap
harvest of ivory and slaves. They had
been too successful. Over lis villages
had been destroyed below Stanley falls
alone, rich plunder of ivory was i'll
their camp, and several hundred slaves,
old and young, were herded like goats
and heavily fettered i'll the slave pen. Il
then appeared that while we had been
negotiating with the negro chiefs along
the river. making roads, building sta
tions and hauling steamers overland.
the Arabs of Nyangwe had been coming
down the river, laying the country
waste We had at last met, about 80
miles below the falls. A glance at the
scenes of the camp was sufficient TO re-
veal what a future awaited the Kong0
valley had we not conceived the project
Of opening the river TO ciyilizing influ-
ences. There was not a moment TO lose.
We had no authority to open fire on the
miscreants. They were subjects Of the
Prince Of Zanzibar, who was protege
Of England. and 10 plunge into hostili-
ties with them might possibly involve
us in serious complications. But while
we dared not use force we believed that
by continuing the same system we had
found so successful with the native
chiefs we could check the audacity of
the slavers by our mere presence among
them. After some days spent in cautious
and friendly negotiations with the
Arabs we We're permitted to establish
station at the falls, and after seeing il
well advanced we turned the prows Of
our steamers down river toward Leo
poldville. Henry NJ. Stanley in Cen
tury.
Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1896-02-15
The Mullen Plant.

We stopped to look at the downy con.
tent Of that sober plant. the mullen.
Many plants had the central leaves fold
ed continuously one about another until
II sort Of large, gray green bud was
formed. ana in one Of these buds bee
WAS taking an afternoon nap, Snugly
sheltered from the air. which WAS grow
ing somewhat chilly. We thought that
any prudent insect might find com
Portable winter home by asking the
mullen to open its velvet leaves just a
around tho wanderer. And while we
were speaking IA bluchuttlc fly went
humming past rs, as if To say he had
no m:rd yet 10 be asking shelter Of any
one - di;h NJ. Thomas III St Nicholas.
Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1896-02-15

Sir Herbert Maxwell, NJ. p, retells a
tale about the lord high commissioner
ship of the general assembly Of tho
Church of Scotland. When Mr.. Disraeli
was forming his administration in 1874,
a certain noble earl, noted, in addition
to many estimable qualities, for his fe-
cundity of forcible expletive. expressed
a strong desire to become master of the
buckhounds. well, said Disraeli, Il
had myself thought Of that post for your
lordship, but the truth is that her maj
esty is very particular about the Ian
guage used in the hunting field. so I
have determined to submit Your name
for her approval as lord high commits
sioner TO the general assembly And TO
that post he was appointed accordingly.
Westminster Gazette.
Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1896-02-15
Lesson Learned n. Home.

What do you expect 10 bring for
ward in this congress:" said one new
member 10 another.
Absolutely nothing" was the reply.
But are you not going 10 try to write
your name on the immortal scroll of
fame? Don't you realize that you were
cent here by your constituents to see to
it that these other fellows don't let the
ship of state drift on to sand bar?''
My dear friend, don't bother my
self with reflections Of that kind. My
wife. who is "a discerning and practical
woman, once made remark 10 me dur
ing housecleaning time which has as
sisted me oa many occasions.
What was it:"
"She said that next toa genuine hero
the man To be most admired is one who
knows how Eot to get i'll the way. -
Washington Star.
Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1896-02-15
CHAMP CLARK'S STORY.
How II Impressed Youngster Who Heard
1t In n Speech.

1t In u Speech.
In the Garfield Hancock campaign
there was big Democratic meeting at
certain place i'll St Charles county. in
this state. a number of distinguished
Democratic speakers were there. and
we had Il day Of it, The writer was then
u small child, but one Of the speakers
made very Profound impression upon
his mind. The speaker was no other
than Champ Clark.
No one asks now, "Who was Champ
Clark but hen he was new star in
the armament.
We had II number of speeches, and the
children We're very tired. ! can I speak
for the grown People. because the good
Democrats there would not have owned
10 being tired. | know, after such dis
play uf cloquence from their great party
leaders. AT any rate was tired. but my
mother whispercd
There is only one more speech, :"
and was much relieved. A blend young
man was introduced aS Champ Clark Of
Pike county. He came forward with Il
pleasant face and manner thar at once
attracted my attention. Ho began in
this way:
Il am reminded If the hoy who kill
ed p0s>Cm and expected 10 enjoy a
possum dinner the next day The fam
lily was about to sit down to the dinner
table when a wagon drove up and a
neichbor's family came in. The head
of the house announced that the visitors
had come to dinner. There was no room
at tie table for cur young friend, the
sportman, and he waited, with his eyes
anxionSly fixed cn the dish of possum.
The guests had good appe;iteS Finally
there WAS only on" piece Of possum
left. and che of his own family took
that. Then the possum lover busted
right out a-crying. The disappointment
was too much for him.
MY friends, " continued Mr. Clark,
:" am III that same condition. When
heard the tiist speech. | thought, we'll
that Is pref Y bad. bat still have some
thing left 10 say. Then there came tho
next speech. and the next. and when the
last speaker finished | just busted right
out a-cr-inc. because there was not an
other thirg left for ire to say.
But there was, and he said it too
He awakened that audience till you
could hear lis applause "a mile away.
think i'iIt that was probably the
first time Camp Clark ever spoke in ST.
Charles couIty. He carried back home
with him Tie thanks and appreciation
Of a good n:rny of his hearers that day.
st. LOUIS Republic
Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1896-02-15

A much priced cat straycd ont Of the
window Of Il Central Park West apart
ment the other day. He walked along
the cornicc until lie reached one Of tho
windows next door and looked in sol
emnly The absence Of the precious tab
by was soon discovered. and he was
called back quickly and reprimanded.
The next day the proprietors of the
animal were Informed that the neighbor
had complained because the cat had
peered into his room. They Immediate
" Informed the owner Of the property
that the man who had been so disturbed
by little feline curiosity practiced ON
the flute fur two hours every day.-New
York sun
Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1896-02-15
Harper's Bazar.
IN 1896

The twcntv-ninth year OF lIARPER'S
BAZAAR. hrginnin. IN January. 1896. finds
il maintaining its deserved reputation both
as "A Fashion journal and II weekly periodi-
cal f,r homc reading.
Every week the WAR presents bcauti-
ful toilettcs for various occasions, SANDoZ
BAUDE. and CHAPUIL illustrate and engrave
the newest designs from the finest models in
Paris and Berlin New York Fashions
cpitomizcs current siylcs in New York. 4
fortnightly pattern-shcet supplement with
diagrams and directions enables women to
cut and make their own gowns, and is of
great value To- the professional modsic as
well MS To the amateur ireS '-makcr. Child
rens Clothing receives constant attention
Fashions for Men are described in fnll de-
tail hy Il man-ahout-toNn. Our Paris
Letter, 10y KATHARINE DE FoREsr. is II
sprightly weekly recital Of fashion, gossip,
and social doingS in Paris, given bv clever
woman in an entertaining way.
Botl the Scrcals for 1895 are the work OF
American women. rtrs. Gerald, bv MARIA
Louise Pool. Is striking story of New
England life. MARY T.. WILKINS, in
Jerome. n Poor rlan discusses the al
ways interesting problems oi the relations
between labor AMI capital. Short stories
will hc written hy the best authors.
Special Departments. Music. The
Outdoor Woman. Personals, What We Are
Doing Women aud Men. report and discuss
themes Of immediate interest.
Answers TO Correspondents. Qucs-
tions receive the personal attention OF the
editor, and are answered At the earliest
practicable date after their receipt.
The volumes of tho BAZAR begin
with the first Number for January of
each year. When no time is mentioned.
subscriptions will begin with the Number
current at the time OF receipt ST order.
Remittanccs shonld Ice made by post-oflice
Money Order or Draft. 10 avoid chance or
loss
Newspapers are not to copy this advertise
ment without the express order of
Harper 4 Brothers.
HARPER'S PERIODICALS
ilarper's Magazine one year SI.0O
Ilarper's Weekly 400
llarper's Bazaar 400
liarper's Round Table 400
Postage Free To all subscribers in the 'nited
States, Canada and Mexico.
Address HARPER & BROTHERS,
P.O. Box $50, N. Y. City.
Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1896-02-15
FOUNDING THE koNoo STATE.
Explorer Stanley Tells In Erief the Story
of the Great Enterprise.

Explorer STANLEY Tells In Irief the story
of the Great Enterprise.
During my descent of the Kongo I
had rovolved over and over in my mind
the question Of the destiny Of the river
Seated at the Prov of my boat, which
led our flotilla, and daily watching the
river developing itself. was preoccu-
pied with these thoughts every leisure
moment. There was. it seemed to me.
no other power but England that could
interest itself with this part Of Africa,
and, as | said, there was not n single
white man i'll possession Of any portion
Of the equatorial belt except at the
mouth of the kongo. where few trad
ers had gathered. But despite the nu-
merous addresses in England upon this
subject failed 10 awaken more than n
geographical interest i'll equatorial AT
RIGA The terror of the African climate
in general was too strong upon every
body.
Elsewhere. however. the reports Of
my addresses i'll the English newspapers
Were taking effect. After nearly nine
months busy life in England the king
| of the Belgians invited me to visit him,
and / was then informed of his strong
inclination 10 undertake for Africa what
/ had been so strenuously advising Eng
lishmen To do. He was already president
of the African International association,
which was about TO set ON foot hu-
manitarian enterprise from the east
coast. and he led me 10 understand that
if were free from other engagements
he would like TO employ me in opening
the Kongo basin TO European influence
and civilization.
1t was my opinion that the best way
Of setting about the work was to con-
struct light surface railway which
should skirt the cataracts of the lower
kongo and then to launch steamers ON
the upper waters, which / estimated
would furnish about 6. GOO miles of nav
| igation. We argued about this matter
from August TO December, 1878. The
best Belgian engineers were consulted,
but after the most elaborate calcula-
tions as TO cost it was finally decided
that rs the expense would be great we
should content ourselves with making
wagon roads past the cataracts and build
n series of military stations for the pro-
lection Of caravans, and that the annual
expenditure should not exceed $50, 000
Henry NJ. Stanley i'll Century.
Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1896-02-15

In serving wines with course dinner
sherry should he served with soup. With
the fish chab!.s or sauterne is nearly al
ways served. and with entrees have
clarct Champagne. hook or moselle
comes with the roast Port wine Is us
ually served with the cheese course and
burgundy with the dessert. Serve red
wines 1T the same tonperaturc as the
room White wines should be slightly
chilled. but never put ice into wine.
Do not fill "a glass ia the Top. Serve the
least celebrated wines at the commence
mcnt of - dinner, reserving for the last
the choicest yin,aseS New York sun.
Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1896-02-15

People who are susceptible to the cold
should make point Of wearing loose
clothing ia cold weather. Loose gar
mcnts are always warmer than tight
fitting ones. hot only because they allow
room for circulation. but also because
they permit Il layer of air between the
SKIN and the outside cold.-New York
Suu
Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1896-02-15
Where He Wonld Live.

Sir Arthur sullivan was himself in
Berlin to aS ist at the first performance
Of his "Ivanll0c' ut the Royal Opera re-
Gently While lie was there he met Mas
cagni at dinner given i'll honor of
the two il!u>iriors guests of musical
Berlin. I'm which of the European cap
itals would you soonest live:" asked Sir
Arthur. and Mascagni's reply was rather
perplexing. Il would live from to IL
n. IN. at London, from ii to . at Paris,
from ) to at Vienna, from Z to 10 at
Budtpest and after 10 at Berlin"
Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1896-02-15

Why it is desirable that women be
elected on the board of overseers of the
poor in the towns Of Massachusetts needs
no argument That Is the kind of work
i'll which good women are naturally I'm
tercsted and active, and their special fit
ness for such service does not admit of
challenge 1t Will be for the public good
III any community to put at least one
competent woman cn all such boards.
Springfield Mass. Republican.
Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1896-02-15

Several persons We're crushed to
death last night at the performance OF
the Amateur Grease Paint company
"What-a fire."
No. just getting away from the per-
formers. Chicago Record.
Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1896-02-15
$l.00 A YEAR.
CARRIES NEITHER PURSE NOR SCRIP.

Lit Love alone. He i divinciy ltd.
And feels the way his veilcd eyes do not sec.
No throne nor principalitic- hath he,
Nor amy place TO lay his royal head.
No care hath he about his daily bread;
lie rcckS not whether hc be bond or free;
But, fun of faith and sweet security,
He goes forth checrily 10 WOO and wed.
For Love believes that all God hath Is his.
Freely he takes freely hc gives away,
With melting. mingling touch Of hand and lip.
Let Love alone lie ciaimcth all there Is.
The whole world trembles with his potent
sway,
The king who carries neither purse nor scrip
Anne L. Muzzey in New York sun
Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1896-02-15
The Oldest KNOWN.

a French medical paper prints what
is believed to he the oldest known med
ical recipe. 1t is a tonic for the hair, and
its date is 1000 B. &. Ii was prepared
for an Egyptian queen and required
dogs paws and asses hoofs to be boiled
with dates in oil
Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1896-02-15
An Application.

4 man one morning at family pray
ris prayed for u good neighbor in great
dcstilution. After the prayer his boy
sand to him. Papa. give me your pock-
etbook. and will go over to Mr.
Smiths ana answer your prayer my
self louisville Western Recorder.