davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1896-01-09
Story of a Careful Man.

He was a careful and thoughtful
man; in fact, it may be said that he
was an extremely careful and thought
full man.
He was resting comfortably in his
easy-chair with his feet resting on
footrest when he discovered that his
pencil needed sharpening. Any other
man would have taken out his knife
and begun work at once, but he was
too thoughtful for that; also too care
full.
He sighed, got up out of his chair and
went across the room for little waste
paper basket that was standing in the
corner Then he returned to his seat
in the easy chair and placed the basket
on the floor between his legs.
His wife smiled apprOvingly, and he
felt proud of himself.
He opened his knife, leaned over his
basket and began work on the pencil.
cit is just as easy to be careful and
thoughtful" he said, as he detached
the first shaving from the end of the
pencil.
at is" replied his wife, as she fol-
lowed the shaving with her eye and
saw it go over his shoulder and land on
the carpet behind him.
But why continue? There are few
who have not tried to sharpen pencil
over a small basket in some moment of
temporary insanity.
When he had finished there were
three shavings in the basket and the
rest were on the floor.
That is .usually the way it happens
Chicago Evening Post
Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1896-01-09

the services of the wheels for years at a
time. Thus it is that in North India, Thi-
bet and China to-day water wheels are at
work day ard night, grinding out prayers
for the people.
The question Of revenue is thus seen to
play very important part in heather
temples, and the wits of the priests of
Buddha are often racked to the utmost
to provide wherewithal to carry on the
business. In some temples of South India
the intelligence of the elephant is utilized
to raise funds, and ON great festivals an
elephant, trained to the work, goes to and
fro among the worshipers, holding bas-
ket with his trunk and soliciting contri-
buttons from the faithful. He gets some
thing from everybody, too, for he has
truculent way of presenting the basket
that intimates to the devout that the soon
err they disburse the better it will be for
them. Some years ago a number of En-
glish and American clergymen We're visit
ing a temple in Benares, when the ele-
plant deacon was making his rounds, and
he stopped before them holding out the
basket with a significant grunt.
They We're loath to give anything, but
at the request of the guide, who warned
them that the beast might be troublesome,
every one got out his pocket-book. It
was the only time in their lives that any
of them ever contributed to the revenues
of heather temple, but then an elephant
collector has not the urbanity of church
deacon, and his trunk has a persuasive
flourish about it that will draw rupees
from the most reluctant.
Some of the most singular customs of
paganism relate to death and burial. In
Africa, even at the present day. human
sacrifices are commonly practiced by some
tribes of the interior. Save on rare Occa-
sions, they do not sacrifice their own peo-
pie, but captives taken in war, and wars
are frequently waged, not so much for
conquest as to obtain victims for sacri-
fee. Volumes have been written about
the human sacrifices of Dahomey, and
though this nation is perhaps the worst
in this respect, there are others where this
form of worship is extensively carried on.
Very frequently, the bodies of the victims
are eaten, but in many cases, the unfor-
tunate wretches are butchered, simply
that their blood may be offered to the
hideous images that stand in the temple
Enclosures. In India. the pagan native
deems himself peculiarly happy if he can
die on or near the sacred river. Before
the days of British control, the dying
were carried by their friends to the banks
of the river and laid in the water. Ere
quently they were taken out in boats to
the middle of the river, and then thrown
over to drown. These practices were in
Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1896-01-09

great measure stopped by British author
ity, but in secluded places they are said
to be still carried on. though to a neces-
sarily limited extent Burning the dead
in India has never been interfered with
by the Government, though the suffice,
or burning widows, on the funeral pyres
of their husbands, was long ago abolished
by the interposition of law.
Perhaps the most peculiar burial rites
are those of the Chinese, who, in their
funerals, are as odd as in most of their
other customs. A Chinese funeral is man
aged strictly with view to cheating the
devil, who is understood to lie in wait
near the residence of the defunct Celes-
tial for the purpose of carrying off his
SOUL Just before the departure of the
funeral cortege from the house a con-
siderable quantity of firecrackers is set off
in front of the residence, together with a
peculiar variety of smoky pyrotechnics,
Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1896-01-09
A Sol Smith Russell Story.

Sol Smith Russell relates some funny
experiences with ambitious amateurs.
While he was playing in Chicago Harry
Hamlin, the manager of the theater at
which he appeared, begged him as a
personal favor to give one of his femi-
nine friends a chance. Mr.. Russell as
scented to this and gave her an oppor-
tunity to interpret role for nothing.
She was very bad in the part, but the
climax came when Mr.. Russell had to
utter a soliloquy before an open win
dow To his surprise the young woman
made her appearance through this
window instead of through the door,
thus running the scene She never
played again. Next night Mr.. Russell,
still amiable, tried another one of Mr..
Hamlin's friends. All went well until
she had to exclaim: 'Oh, have lost my
husbands love-" Perhaps it was stage
fright, perhaps lapsus linguae, but at
any rate, she remarked, in tear-drench-
ed tones: "Ah, I have lost my hus-
bands gloves" That broke Mr.. Rus
sell up. He was the husband, and his
gloves as a rule, with their finger
holes and general dilapidation, are the
joys and amusement of the profession.
Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1896-01-09

Running, turning short, and hating, TO-
gether with fireworks and yelling, finally
bring the cortege to the place of burial,
but the cemetery is never entered through
the gate, but through a gap in the hedge
or fence or hole in the wall, and, after
more fireworks and yelling, the body is
finally inferred. The cause of this singh
lar procedure is this. 1t is we'll under
stood that the devil, although in some
respects shrewd. cannot see very well,
nor can he turn without a great deal of
difficulty, his joints and muscles being so
arranged that while he can travel like Il
race horse as long as he goes ina straight
line, good deal of time and effort IS
necessary when he wants to turn cor
ner. So the fireworks are let off at the
house III order to blind him, and when the
smoke is sufficiently dense to obfust ate
his vision the procession starts, leaving
him watching ut the door. OF course. i'll
4 little while he discovers how he has
been tricked and starts after it on a run,
but when the first corner is turned he is
unable to stop, and so shoots on ahead.
The same bad luck attends him for sever
al turns, and after repeated experiences
of this kind he gives up the hunt in dis
gust. goes on to the cemetery and sits
down at the gate to await his prey. Right
here the Celestials are too smart for him,
and, by avoiding the gate, always manage
to have the burial over before he finds
out what is going on. 1t may seem strange
that the Old Boy does not learn better,
and, considering the fact that several
millions of the almond-eyed are annually
spirited out of his reach by the same
means, it really seems that he ought to
be aware of the means adopted to deceive
him, but, as Chinese proverbial lore eX
presses it, "the devil never learns by eX
perience," which is full explanation of
the whole situation. The same contempt
of the devils stupidity is seen in a pecu
liar burial custom among some of our
aboriginal tribes of Indians, who former
ly elevated the bodies of their dead ON
poles from belief that the eyes Of the
evil one were SO placed in his head that he
looked always downward, and, of course,
the bodies being above him, he might pass
under and never see them. In all heath
en- NEUROLOGICAL lore, though many pecu-
liar superstitions are found, the origin
of which is lost in antiquity, there is per
haps nothing more curious than these
methods by which Chinese and the Amer
lean Indians cheat the enemy of mankind.
Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1896-01-09
AN INDIAN MODE OF BURIAL.

impatient genius, finding his tongue too
slow, conceived the idea that the thing
could be done in another way, so he in
vented mechanical device to further his
devotions. 1t consisted of a wooden cyl
inder about ~ inches in diameter and ?
in height. At the middle of one end
staple was inserted, to which a cord to
10 inches long was fastened, the other
end being made fast to a rounded piece
of wood of convenient size and shape to
be held in the hand. The cylinder was
hollow and contained a roll of thin parch-
ment, on which this prayer was written
several hundreds of times. The handle
was taken and the cylinder was revolved,
on the theory that at each revolution all
the prayers written on the parchment
within it were repeated. The priests in
stantly perceived the working value of
the model and promptly monopolized the
manufacture of the prayer cylinders, de-
irving therefrom no small benefit in the
way of revenue. In some parts of India
the use of these cylinders is almost uni
versal, nine out of ten of the men met by
the way revolving their cylinders as they
walk or ride. The idea was soon found
capable of extension; for the priests rea-
soned, if praying could be done with a
small cylinder, why not with large one.
SO great cylinders, having diameter of
5 to 6 feet and height of to 8, We're
prepared, loaded with prayers, a crank
was fitted up, by which they could be
turned, they were set up in the temple
and any one by the payment of small
fee, was allowed to turn the machine q
certain length Of time.
The result was grand success, for the
people soon came to learn that by the
payment of a fee they would be able TO
pray more in five minutes than they could
hope to do all their lives in any other way,
and the incomes of the temples waXed
great and the priests grew fat, for
wealthy men, we'll able to pay, but unwill-
ing to work at the wheel, sent their SER
wants to DO the turning, looking in occa-
sionally to see that the job was being
properly DONE The wheels were kept
going day and night, and the demand for
them became so much greater than the
supply that another improvement result
ed A monastery in Thibet was situated
beside mountain stream, and it occurred
one day to the priests that it would be a
good idea to rig up the prayer wheels
with water-power attachment, let the
water do the turning, and credit one who
paid money into the treasury with SO much
time of the wheel. The idea was found
to be both brilliant and practical; water
wheel was made, the prayer wheels placed
in position over it, the apparatus was set
Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1896-01-09
A Lesson MisanpIied.

1t seems strange that a childs mind
should be infallibfy attracted to the
naughty rather than to the nice. \
year or so ago I took Ethel and har-
old to see the play Of Little Lord
Fauntleroy." | rashly fancied that the
example of the little hero's gentleness
and goodness would have fine effect
upon my little relatives. The day af-
ter the performance l overheard Ethel
and Harold say Bully for you," and
Cheese it, Gully with an alarming
ease and frequency. "Where did you
hear such expressions?" cried, only to
receive the answer, why, at Little
Lord Fauntleroy.' Don't you remem
Der? Dick, the bootblack, talked like
that"
Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1896-01-09
Things Found in Amber.

In many museums may be seen in
the most perfect state Of preservation
in amber fossilized remains of plants
and animals. The science of Egypt in
it's highest development did not sue
balming so perfect as the simple pro-
cess taking place in nature. A tree ex-
.cludes a gummy, resinous matter in a
liquid state An insect accidentally
lights in it and is caught. The exuda-
ton continues and envelopes it COM
pletely, preserving the most minute de-
tails of it's structure. In the course Of
time the resin becomes a fossil and is
known as amber. The history of fossil
insects is largely indebted to the fly in
amber. And to the preserving proper
ties Of amber we owe, likewise, our
knowledge of some of the more minute
details of ancient plant structure.
The coasts Of the Baltic are, and have
been from the days Of the Phoenician
traders, the great source of the amber
of commerce. 1t occurs in rolled frag-
ments in strata known to biologists as
oligocene. These are tertiary rocks Of
a date little more recent than those of
the London basin, and equivalent to the
younger tertiary series of the Isle of
Wight The fragments of fossil resin
were washed down by the rivers from
the pine forests of the district along
with sediments and vegetable debris.
In them are found most perfectly pre-
served remains Of the period, as well
as of insect life. Fragments Of twigs,
buds and flowers, with sepals, petals,
stamens and pistils still in place, oc-
cur. Pollen grains have likewise been
found. A recent genus, deutzia, has
been recognized by it's characteristic
stamens; the valves of the antlers Of
cinnamomum are seen in others. In
one specimen the pendant catkin of
species of oak is seen as distinctly
through the clear amber as if it were
a fresh flower. And beside the insect
and plant remains thus sealed up in
amber stray relics Of the higher fauna
of the forest have also been met with.
Fragments Of hair and feathers have
been caught in the sticky resin and pre-
served. Among others a Woodpecker
and squirrel have been recognized in
the Baltic amber.-Gentleman's Maya
zine.
Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1896-01-09
POTATOES NOT WHOLESOME.
The Tuber Discussed from a Scientific
end Culinary View.

snd Culinary View.
John Gilmer Speed, DR.. Cyrus Edison
(ex-president of the New York Board
of Healthy and Mrs. s. T. Rorer learn
eddy discuss 1.-The Potato as a Daily
Diet" in the Ladies' Home Journal,
and pretty conclusively prove that the
humble but popular tuber is not
healthful article Of food. Mr.. Speed
asserts that the potato as food is not
nearly so valuable as we have very gen.
orally esteemed it to be. It is quite
deficient in nitrogen, and as a sole diet
Is therefore unsuitable. 1t is hard to
digest and therefore should be par
taken OF very sparingly by all save
those who live active lives out-of-doors.
4" The potato provokes our great
national ailment, dyspepsia, and the
sooner the consumption of the mealy
tuber begins the sooner will the dread
fangs Of the dyspepsia appear.
DR.. Edison in a rejoinder to MI. Speed
writes: I must quite agree with MI.
Speed in his condemnation of the pota-
to. am sorry to have to say anything
against the humble tuber, but the truth,
especially when it is scientific, and
more especially Misunderstanding, must
be told. 1t is certain no one can at all
times eat the potato with the assurance
that it will do him no harm.
The practice Of feeding potatoes to in
fants and young children cannot be too
severely condemned. A potato diet
may not kill them outright at once, but
it is certain to injure their digestive
organs permanently and effectually, so
as to make their lives burden to
themselves and those who are brought
in contact with them. DR.. Edison also
contends that the potato is very def
cient in nutritive qualities, and has less
value as an article Of food than most
other vegetables and cereals.
Mrs. Roror writes: I am not po-
tato prohibitionist, but firmly believe
that potatoes should be served only
with strongly-concentrated heterogeneous
food, such as roasted beef, or, for the
vegetarian, with beans, peas or lentils.
Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1896-01-09
can remember, the bell has been rung for
this purpose, and that is uuita a,,o,rh

can remember, the bell has been rrng for
this purpose, and that is quite enough.
Speaking OF prayer and praying, how
ever, perhaps the most peculiar method
ever IN vogue in the pagan world is that
which is practiced by millions of people
in India, Thibet, Chinese Tartary and
China at the present day. The Budd-
hlsts have many prayers, but of them ell
none is supposed to have the virtue of one
simple sentence, ON mani pad,ni hum.
The jewel in the Lotus. Amen" These
words are constantly on the lips of the
devotees of this faith. The laborer at his
toll, the merchant in his store, the trav-
eier ON the way, all repeat this mystic
supplication; not always aloud, but even
when mentally engaged, their lips keep
up mechanical motion as the praying
goes on, for the belief is universal that
the greater the number of times this SEN
tence is repeated the greater the benefit.
A few hundred years ago, however, some
Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1896-01-09

| and symbolic in origin, but as we so
IN the scale Of human nature there
bnnd many peculiarities of religious
rance which are strange, incOmpre-
Ebp. and, not infrequently, in the
tst degree absurd. To us, at least,
seem 50, the fact arising partly, from
Inability to comprehend any signific-
they may have for those who prac-
them, and partly from the enormous
renee between our intelligence and
Of the people who use these un-
d rites. But it is exceedingly inter-
!. to notice that even when a re-
us ceremony, once symbolic and full
aning, has lost all the significance it
Fdy possessed, none the less does it
ilup to be practiced, for the reason
lin these things custom is powerful,
the fact that in heather nation a
0us ceremony is now performed, no
G how meaningless. is sufficient evil
ntO the minds of the WOrShiperS, not
that there is virtue in it, but that it
Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1896-01-09

F. % be perpetuated simply because
'H down to them from their ances-
Probable that to many if not to
u the worshipers in pagan temples
ceremonies performed there have no
aGance other than that of custom.
[ are like the Chinese idea of the
+ elWay; that is, the eternal balance
lungs When Il Chinaman builds a
" III one corner of a square lot, a
n must also be built in the opposite
'S, 10 restore the Flung Shway; when
/, a.lnlney or tower is erected OH q
,u'4s' there must be another on the
NC side, 10 preserve the Flung
'H when plate of rice is placed on
s9e OF table, another must be oppo-
ta' the Fung Shway be not dis
.% Inc Celestial does not know
' ~'S should be so, but he knows that
y "ner thinaman has the same ide:t
',a' is enough for him and to talk TO
h" "''"' architectural proportions. or
r.. g!'a thar his notion probably Or
,,''' IL i nice sense of relation, would
i "">le Your words, for about these
~ Nv AeltGcr knows nor cares any
:, - we tact that everybody else be-
~. "%' the Flung Shway ought not TO
''0Co being quite enough for mis-
,r:. lie has another idea that, to
.,,''S' seems luGicrously absurd. At
~ >'S o. the temples in which he
s.. 'N mere nang bells and when .
Il, VI Ia" Celestial Empire wants to
.r,1, t'"!erS. or to make offerings TO
: % 90 ihSHre good luck in any enter
:. "Al'h lie may be engaged, he
h. j.. ''' PARISH temple and before en-
Nj, >,'lS 'he dell at the gate IL tap TO
,,,sS '.-'} OF the place understand that
;nr Is at hand and DESTROYS of
IL T,,. I" business. Nothing, to our
b NJ, D"'" oe no"e eXQuisitely absurd
5e,r ,N method Of signitying to- deity
5a2m.u 10 pay reverence, yet to the
,ily L,r It n ut and proper. and he de-
,r WI ~''e'eS that unless this prelin-
,aion, performed. his prayers and
4 On. would be wasted for the lack
3 b,a " near and receive them. The
: simy IN origin in an ancient use.
b w@ 'r'E 10 cur OWN, of bells for noti-
lice b, S1'pefs of the proper time for
tsa n m1' "f this fact the Chinaman
g ,ba s,en II day knows nothing; he
g and 'ai because Everybody else
'ecause as far back as any one
Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1896-01-09

and under cover of the smoke thus made
the bier is raised and the carriers leave
the house in smart trot. They go up
the street short distance, then suddenly
turn into cross street or alley and stop
and yell, more fireworks are burned, and
after. pause of few moments the fun
eral march, or rather trot, is resumed.
Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1896-01-09

- motion to the immense satisfaction OF
a lx concerned. The people were
eat;st; al because they could do their pray
;ms with far greater ease. having only 10
.ns ond not TO work; the priests were con-
tan+ for ali the time of the wheels was
fully taken up, and sometimes rich devo %
80. 80 nod n sums so large as to engage
Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1896-01-09
Fruits.

The French have devised method of
preserving fruits by means Of ALEC
holic vapor The fruit is placed i'll
room containing open vessels contain
ing alcohol.
Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1896-01-09
PRAYERS
nm ORSERVANCES STILL
PRACTICED.
,N.chinery-Prayer by Wa
-How the Chinese Cheat
u-Why the American In
,,-ood Their Dead on Poles.
RELIGIOUS Rites.

onoer Religious Rites.
, s ,be possible exception of the
'Dv who is believed to be first
'..' tbe Missing Link, if, indeed,
I, " vt nearer relationship, all ma
s' w. some form Of religion and
gal AL observances peculiar to it's
:. p"' Among civilized nations, re-
y, ,,nmonies are suggestive in char
Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1896-01-09

It is not what is inside a man that
makes him look distinguished; it is his
clothes.
Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1896-01-09

The kin you like leas, are the most
apt to kiss you when they come and
when they go.
Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1896-01-09
VIII Honor Hofer's Memory.

Andreas Hofer, the Tyrolese patriot,
is to have colossal statue erected to
his memory on the top of the Kuchel-
berg. ----s-----