davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1897-05-08

Although many physicians advocate
the advantages derived from long peri
DDS of fasting and some even go far
enough to say that no serious change
of tissue need result. the question
arises: Why the invariable loss in
weight? Food of some kind is neces-
sary to maintain the body and mind in
a healthy condition and to restore the
inevitable waste. AS a result of con-
tinuous abstinence from food the blood
becomes impoverished and diminished
and cerebral anaemla often follows.
The brain must be supplied with
healthy blood. Succi, who a few years
ago gave an exhibition in New York of
his ability to exist without food, and
who recommended SO highly his
''elixir," made, he said, from a plant
which he discovered in Africa (the use
of which retarded tissue changes), has
just died in a madhouse in France.
The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1897-05-08

dress with full round skirt in silver TIM
sci, striped with gauze. This material
is laid in five accordion plaits and
draped over turquoise blue silk. About
the hem is a full narrow ruche of
gauze with sprays of roses upon one
side. The bodice is low and s~quare-cut,
with a band of turquoise-studded lace
cross the front and a heavy garland Of
roses draped across the bust and
around the shoulders. The belt is Of
blue China silk with knots on the left
side. ELLEN OSBORN.
The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1897-05-08
NJ n1nrlz.

Not long since a man who claimed to
be a lineal descendant of Montezuma
called at the South Kensington museum
in London and asked to see mummy OF
an Aztec prince who belonged to the
Montezuma family. When shown the
remains the gentleman gazed long and
anxiously, but owing to the ravages Of
time and the poor work of the ancient
cmbalmers he could not distinguish any
strawberry mark on the left arm, and
had to leave the museum in a state OF
painful uncertainty.-ChicaGo Tribune.
The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1897-05-08

.tchief Commander OF the Turkish Army.
riding the fear of death entertained by
the enemies they slew. A fanatic is
always dangerous opponent, and when
armies of them are led by officers inn
,bued with the same reckless disregard
for life, they become formidable, even
though they may be poorly fed and lily
clad. In case of a wal between Turkey
and Greece, the Moslem troops would
be commanded by Osman Pasha, one of
fhe most distinguished generals of u
lime. This famous soldier IS now IS
Years OF age. He fought with great dis
lfnction in the Crimean war, was sub
commander of the Turkish forces dur
ng the CretAn campaign Of 1878 and the
arvian-Turkish war. In the Russo
Turkish campaign he was commander
b the Fifth army corps and led the
Noslem troops at the famous battle of
Aeaievitz. Defeated in that engage
ment, he ~intrenched himself at Plevna,
holding his position against an inn
Intensely superior force from August 81
to December 10 1877. when he surren-
The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1897-05-08

ElUuS DbEEdA WAS 10
the sad extent that
Black Jack Virgins
was sick abed, and
0 than probable
to make a die Of it
People hat know
the records and the
history Of Rocky
creek and the sur
roundin c oun cry
mought maybe Wou-
The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1897-05-08

der for the reasons why, but I can put
my hand in yours to-day, and tell the
truth and nothing but the truth when
1 say that Iwould mortally hate to see
Black Jack Virgins, Of Cyclone Streak,
come acrost with his last load Of poles.
The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1897-05-08

That Lonesome HOmeIy Feeling.
But in the main time garden truck
was ruther scanty and ~rations had run
down powerful at our house. We had
Jest naturally come up to the forks of
the road-somethin had to be done, or
somebody had to suffer. The wolf was
scratchin at the back door, and the
poorhouse doomed up over the western
hills, as it we're.
So in orderment to settle the meat
and bread question 1 hooked up the
wagon and team and pulled out over to
the railroad station after q little load of
provisions which had come for me.
And when / first driv up who do you
reckon was the first man / saw standin
there-who but Black Jack Virgins, of
Cyclone Streak?
No, I didn't turn around and go on
back home with my empty wagon,
but / felt a right smart like Mart Mayo
was in regards to the church, had a
powerful leanin that way.
In so far back as the records run
Mart Mayo never went to meetin but
oncst in his life. and then he was 30
scandlous drunk that he didn't know
where he was goin' till he got there.
He was standin outside by the steps
Ieanin up agin the church, when the
preacher come along.
do you belong to the church2" says
the good man.
mot as anybody knows of" says
Mart. ''but you will take notice that /
have a powerful leanin that way"
Naturally, of course, the railroad sta
ton was a monstrous lonesome lookin
place to me that day, and l never did
know till then what great gobs Of truth
had been set forth in that good old
song-"Home, Sweet Home" But our
bread and meat was there at the
ton. and a hungry man will take his
chances in many a clost place in order
ment to smooth out the wrinkles from
the brow band of his breeches. Any.
now, l faced the music with fear and
tremblin and driv up and got out ano
dropped the traces. l looked at BlacI
Jack. and Black Jack ne looked at me-
mad and steady like.
"Come to me, Rufe," says he.
whats the matter now, Biacl
Tack?" saysI l.
The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1897-05-08
HUMAN MATURE.
Always opium NaturaIg Around
Rocky Creek
A Cross Roads .Rucus"-A Choice
Article of s"white Ink"-ctrcum-
stantinI Evidence-One Rock
for Tive Birds.

The latest and most freshest news
which we have heard from over in CY-
The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1897-05-08
Over at &C Croaa Roads.

Oncst upon a time some twenty years
ago, or maybe a little the rise Of that,
me and Black Jack got into a tremen-
dius bad fight over at the Cross Roads
one Saturday evenin. No, sir. So fur
as 1 know there want any female
curiosity in the case, But there was
American politics and mean whisky
and fre-eatin fools at both ends of the
line.
In them good old days we didn't have
so Internal much party machinery in
the elections. 1t was a wide open, free
for-all scrub race, in which the best
ma always come down under the wire
first.
That was on q Saturday, you un-
derstand, and the election was to
come off on the next followin
Monday. Consequentially the boys
had rounded up at the Cross Roads for
the last final rally before the old cat
lit. "White ink" and "sperits-of-cats-
a-fghtin" flowed free and promiscous
till I reckon the old devil went and
picked him out a soft place in some
shady corne to lay down and laugh.
1t did look like the documents" were
comm his way with a rush, and that
was enough to tickle the old scoundrel
beast most to death.
Well, I will not try to tell you-I
couldn't if l would-right exactly
when and how the storm riz and
brought on that bloody rucus between
me and Black Jack Virgins. Maybe it
was his fault and maybe it was mine.
But this much 1 do know to a dead and
buried certainty-me and Black Jack
we had it, up and down and over and
under. And then when the dust cleared
away there was blood and hair and cleo
ton signs on every hand, whilst the
ground was tore up as from a bear
fight.
Hits been so monstroua long ago till
I can't exactly remember everything
for certain, but I recollect as fresh
and clear as if it was but only yester-
day that roy wife's husband did have
to take and tote a most tremendous
good beatin from q man by the name
of Black Jack Virgins, of Cyclone
Streak. The general style and shape
in which I returned back to the home
base that night was a plum scandala-
ton on the Sanders family. And the
next mornin when 1 got up and went
to the lookin glass, bless the heavens
if I didn't nave to stop and turn around
and pinch myself to be dead certain
whether it was me OF not. For three
or four days henceforwards after that
1 couldn't even bathe my classic counte-
nance in warm water without sufferin
the most seyerest pain, and it was
somethin better than a week before ]
recovered and braced up sufficient togc
forth oncst more and face the green
and busy world.
The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1897-09-09
Good for Chatham.
Chatham Record.

Chatham Record.
Citizens of Chatham, who have re.
mained here all their lives, are not as
apt to notice how much the county has
improved as are those who formerly
resided here and have recently return
ed after an absence of several years
For instance, DR.. Joseph M. Bynum.
who was born and reared in this coun-
ty but removed to Mississippi over thir-
ty years ago, is now on visit to his rela-
tives and is very much impressed with
the great changes and Improvements
that have taken place since he moved
away. He says that our farms are
much better cultivated than formerly,
our roads are in better condition, the
crops are more bountiful, and that our
people are living more comfortably.
This may sound strange to calamity
howlers, who have been trying to dis
courage the people. And after living
20 long elsewhere DR.. Bynum now says
that he would not advise anybody to
move away from Chatham.
The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1897-09-09
The Grandest Remedy.

Mr.. r. B. Greeve, merchant, of Chill
howie, Va, certifies that he had con-
sumption, was given up to die, sought
all medical treatment that money could
procure, tried all cough remedies he
could hear of but got no relief; spent
many nights sitting up in chair was
induced to buy DR.. Kings New Discoy-
cry. and was cured by use of two bot
ties. For past three years has been at.
tending to business, and says DIR. Kings
New Discovery, is the grandest remedy
ever made, as it has done SO much fol
him and also for others in his commu-
nifty. DR.. Kings New Discovery is
guaranteed for Coughs, Colds, and Con
sumption. It don't fail. Trial bottles
free at E. T. Whitehead & Cos Drug
Store.
The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1897-09-09
ABOUT TRAVEL.
FAST TRAINS THE SAFER.
Reasons Why They Kill Fewer
Persons Than the Slower
Trains.

Indianapolis Journal.
''There seems to be an IMPRESSION y
said a railroad superintendent, speak
Ing OF the fast service the railroads are
now giving, "that the fast trains are
the most dangerous for the people
to ride on, and that more persons are
killed in crossing tracks, etc than by
the trains that are slower. This is a
mistake.
''The Pennsylvania Railroad Company
has given this matter special attention
and has statistics to show that, In pro-
portion to the fast and slow trains run,
more accidents have occurred to the
slow trains, sand more persons not in
the employ of the company killed by
the slower trains. Men in charge of
fast passenger trains are constantly ON
the watch for danger. The engineer
feels that there is more at stake, and
one will notice that the blasts of his
whistle are more frequent and sharper
that the fireman is more particular
to ring the bell while passing through
town or a city, or near a highway
crossing. It would be difficult to find
people living on the lines of the roads
which run fast trains that have not
heard of the Chicago limited, on the
Pennsylvania lines, the fast express
No. 2, between St. Louis and New
York, over the Vandalia and Pennsyl-
vania lines, the Empire State express,
the Knickerbocker, on the Big Four,
and the hundreds of other fast trains.
Fast trains are run nearer on time, and
people know their time and keep out
Of their way. The equipment of the
last trains is kept at the best standard,
and everything conduces to make them
safer to ride on and less liable to in]ure
people at highway crossings and In
passing through towns and cities. The
Pennsylvania transportation depart
ment is fully satisfied that the above
statement is correct"
The same remark will apply to the
freight service. In 1888 twelve miles
an hour was considered the highest
speed limit for freight train, and J.
J. Turner, when superintendent of the
Indianapolis division of the Panhandle
was the first to increase the speed of
freight trains in this section, schedul-
ing train at sixteen miles an hour
between indianapolis and Columbus.
Competitors soon took similar action
and increased the speed of fast trains
to eighteen miles an hour, then to
twenty miles, which was the maximum
for through freights for several years,
but with the better roads and faster
locomotives, some of the roads are
scheduling through freights at twenty
three to twenty-five miles an hour,
using the schedules of passenger trains
during the seventies and eighties.
The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1897-09-09
Facts About North Carolina.

Whitsett Student.
From many sources the following
interesting facts about North Carolina
have been gathered. It will be well
to keep these for reference
Number of counties 96.
State area, So, ,286 square miles.
Extreme length is 5034 miles.
Extreme breadth Is 1871 miles.
Number of electoral votes, IL.
Length of coast line Is 314 miles.
Water surface, 1920 square miles.
Area Dismal Swamp, 10000 acres.
Number of miles railroad, 3,597.
Indian population Census of 1890
1871.
Inland steam navigation, 900 miles.
Total population Census of 1S90)
l,617,O47.
Average mean annual rainfall, So
inches.
Colored population Census of 1890,
CO( ,llU.
Total water power, 100000 horse
power.
Western boundary-longitude 81 de-
gees, AZ minutes, 26 seconds.
Average winter temperature, ~ de-
grees Fahrenheit.
The highest point is Mitchell's Peak,
6,888 feet.
Average area of counties is 507
square miles.
Number of varieties of minerals dis
discovered $50.
Average summer temperature, 70
degees Fahrenheit.
Average elevation of State above sea
level is $40 feet.
The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1897-09-09
SCOTLAND NECK. NC s.
generally true as to be practically &C
curate.

And thus is it with the opportunities
of life. They do not troop up to Us
with the blare of trumpets. As silent
ly as the sun do they pass us by and as
supremely Indifferent to neglect dc
they sink out of sight. Invisible tc
the eye of the savage is the modern
war-ship buried In bed of iron ore
Just SO invisible are most opportunities
except to the eyes of compelling faith
The lron-clad is there, the opportu-
mites are here, all round US free as air
and discoverable by every man with
full faculties, who will take of his time
freely, mingle it with strength of pur-
pose and direct his operations with in
telligence. He 1t is who makes high
ways across trackless deserts who dares
out on deeps even it alone who, ever
dissatisfied with those things where
unto our race has attained, moves us
forward along new lines, dragging us to
betterment by his own forces. He it
is who is ever harassed bY the indolent
who will not act, and the faithless who
will not believe in opportunity until it
materializes before their very eyes. But
what OF the harvest? To such a man
no matter how barren his life may first
promise to be, there is a creditable
career, not perhaps of money-grubbing
but, at any rate of honest, upright Iiv.
ing and kindly benevolence. And tc
the others? They see in themselves
when buffetings come and difficulties
special objects of personal spite on the
part of the Almighty; they crawl of
to escape the hardships; and,> when
they come to themselves as life is wan.
ing, see nothing worthy of race that
has suffered, and sweat and Travelled
for every single inch it has gained in
morals or In materials. They have en-
joyed some of its gains, but they have
added naught to It's store. Their hearts
starve and their memories perish.
Cease then to curse the bitter blows OF
fate,
No goal is easy whose reward is great
Each barrier won will heart and
strength renew,
Each step assembled gives wider view.
I know people whose lives seem one
long experience of meeting with bar
ricades on the way of life, and yet in
their disappolntments are their op-
portunltles, and out of them they seem
to extract the tenderness of heart that
is touched with others needs, and that
lovely charity for all who labor and are
heavy laden-that charity that makes
them bearers of good along pathways
that to them are ever thorny.
The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1897-09-09
some PERTINENT QUESTIONS.

II YOU had chills, and druggist Of
fered YOU medicine to cure, or money
refunded, would you try it?
Do you think he would make such
an offer if he did not confident-belleve
it would cure you?
Could he afford to refund the money
for quack medicine?
Very we'll !: now to the point. The
proprietors of DR.. David's Chill Tonic
have instructed all druggists handling
their Chill Cure to refund the money
in case of failure to cure. (If not at
your druggists write the proprietors,
Owens & Minor Drug Co., Richmond,
Va)
The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1897-09-09
Something to Know.

It may be worth something to know
that the very best medicine for restor-
ing the tired out nervous system to a
nervous system to healthy vigor is
Bitters. This medicine is purely veg
etable, acts by giving tone to the nerve
centres in the stomach, gently stimu-
lates the LIVER and Kidneys. and aids
these organs in organs in throwing of
impurities in the bloud. Electric Bit
ters improves the appetite. aids diges-
ton, and is pronounced by those who
have tried it as the very best blood pu-
rifier and nerve tonic. Try it. Sold
for Soc. OF. ST 90 at E. T. Whitehead
& Cos. Drug Store.
The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1897-09-09
I The Same.
|Old Sarsaparilla.

! That's Ayers. The same old
ssrsaparilla as it was made and
so1d by DR.. J. c. Aver SO gears
J .oo. In the laboratory it is
I daerent. There modern app1i-
| nces lend speed to skill and
I experience. But the sarsaPa-
r;lla is the same old sarsaparilla
that made the record-50 gears
Of cures. Why don't we better
it, Well, we're much in the
condition of the Bishop and the
raspberry: DOUBTLESS, " he
said, "God might have made a
better berry. But doubtless,
also. He never did,. Why
don't we better the sarsaparil1a?
We can't. We are using the
same old plant that cured the
Indians and the Spaniards. 1t
has not been bettered. And
since ,ce make sarsapari11a COM
pound out of sarsaparil1a plant,
We see no way of improvement.
Of course, if we were making
some secret chemical compound
We might go. But we're not.
We're making the same old sar-
sapari1la to cure the same old ,
diseases. You can tell it's the
same old sars0pGrillG be-
cause it works the same old
cures. It's the sovereign blood
purifier, and-it's Ayers.
The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1897-09-09

Every column of a newspaper con-
tains from 5000 to $4,000 distinct
pieces of metal, according to the size
of the type. Displacing one OF them
means an error. Is 1t any wonder that
errors sometimes occur? Still, some
people think, it awful to see mistakes in
a Southern. Publisher.
The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1897-09-09
G. COOPER.
ROCKY MOUNT, N C..
Two Sides to It.

Some one has said In writing that you
can always judge town and its people
by its newspapers. The Southern Pub
Usher replies:
"Thls is only half true. Many a
newspaper is putting on good front
and making a creditable appearance in
a town that is too dead to attend its
own funeral"
The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1897-09-09
The moderate drinker never touch
es it-one drink Is excess.

Ayers Hair Vigor tones up the weak
hair-roOts, stimulates the vessels and
tissues which supply the hair with nu-
triton, strengthens the hair itself, and
adds the oil which keeps the shafts
soft, lustrous, and silky. The most
popular and valuable toilet preparation
in the world.
The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1897-09-09
FOR OVER FIFTY YEARS

Mrs. Winslow's Soothing Syrup mas
been used for over fifty years by mil
lions of mothers for their children while
teething, with perfect success. 1t
soothes the child, softens the gums,
allays all pain, cures wind collie, and Is
the best remedy for Dlarrhoea. 1t will
relieve the poor little sufferer lmme-
diately. Sold by Druggists in every
part of the world. Twenty-Five cents a
bottle. Be sure anu ask for MRS.
Winslow's Soothing Syrup" and take
no other kind. 12l 1y.
The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1897-09-09
BUCkLEN'S ARNICA SALVE.

The best saive in the world for Cuts
Bruises, Sores, Ulcers, Salt Rheum,
Fever Sores, letter, Chapped Hands,
Chilblains, Corns, and all Skin Erup-
tions, and positively cures Piles, or no
pay required. 1t is guaranteed to give
perfect satisfaction or money refnnced.
Price 25 cents per box. For sale by
r. r. WHITEHEAD & co.
The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1897-09-09

Mr.. M. V. Perry of Littleton told the
editor of this paper sometime ago that
he remembers distinctly that a short
while after the war w. L. Douglas, now
the famous shoe man OF Brocton, Mass,
was helper in the business house OF
Bottimore, Marrow, & Co., of Norfolk, :,
Va. He was born near Elizabeth City
in this State, and after working IN
Norfolk awhile he went to Boston and
then to Brocton, where he has made
such a great success in the manufact-
ure of shoes. It has been stated that
MIR. Douglass himself has said that he
made it rule to have every peg and
every stitch in his shoes we'll done and
herein was the secret of his success.
His life ought to be lesson to every
young man in the land. When young
men learn to do their best for their
employers all the time, there will not
be so many failures In after life. The
yerv best that one can do all the time
is the very least for which he may
expect the best success.
The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1897-09-09

There is nothing to prevent anyone
concocting a mixture and calling il
"sarsaparilla," and there is nothing to
prevent anyone spending good money
testing the stuff /; but prudent people
who wish to be sure of their remedy
take only Ayers SarsaparilI, and SO get
cured.
The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1897-09-09
WATCHES!

We are always ready to sell you the
right kind of a time-piece at the right
kind of price. There is nothing
better than the best, and no honest man
can sell an honest article lower than
the low water mark. There is limit
both ways, and we come up to those
limits and offer you as good as you can
get as cheap as it can be sold. If you
want an honest reliable watch at the
lowest possible price, patronize US.
Watches, Diamonds, JeweIry, Solid
Silverware, Clocks, &c. for sale. Our
personal attention of 40 years expert
ence given to repairing. Satisfaction
Guaranteed
The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1897-09-09

Halls Hair Renewer cures dandruff
and scalp affections also all cases OF
badness where the glands which iced
the roots Of the hair are not closed up.
The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1897-09-09
NO CURE-NO PAY

That is the way all druggists sell
GROVES TASTELESS CHILL
TONIC tor Chills, Fever and all forms
of Malaria. It is simply Iron and
Ouinine in tasteless form. Children
love it. Adults prefer it to bitter nause-
atine tonlcs. Price, Soc. 6 lily.
The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1897-09-09

In the war at this day, men think
more of the chances of victory than
the justice of the cause.
The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1897-09-09

Most men and women grow rich In
character rather by what they relin-
quish than by what they acquire.