davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-05-01

Lucius Lucullus, the Roman general.
once gave a dinner at which wine was
served costing $40 an ounce. The
young pigs eaten were roasted over a
fire burning nuts and raisins. Among
the select dishes were peacock's
tongues, live fish from distant seas,
oysters from Britain and fruits from
Arabia. The cost of the feast was
about 100000. Caligula also gave a
dinner which is said to have cost $780,
900. Vitellius, the Roman emperor,
gave a dinner costing 5000, 900. An
other dinner by Aulus Verus, a Roman
noble, cost $250,00O and Elagabalus
M at which a single dish cost $780,
900. When George Nevil was installed
archbishop of York, in 1470, he gave
q feast that cost $150,000. The guests
during the day and night of the festi-
val consumed so oxen, 300 hogs, 10, 900
sheep, 1000 chickens, 1000 ducks, 1000
bucks, does and roebucks, 200 tons of
ale, 104 tons of wine and other things
In proportion.-Pittsburg Dispatch.
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-05-01

pected. but the fact that all doors were
locked with the keys on the inside
makes it most unlikely. Suicide or as
phyxiation are the two now receiving
the most attention by the authorities.
And 1t is in connection with them that
the circumstances which bid fair to
ieave the case a mystery have sprung
up.
Charles McCulloch and Supt. of Po-
lice Homer A. Gorsline visited the
rooms where Colerick's death had TAX
en- place and instituted an examina-
ton of the stove and its connections.
Their purpose was to learn whether
there was likelihood of a sufficient
amount of gas escaping to death.
What they found vas in the opinion of
Supt. Gorsline most significant. They
examined the stove, stove-pipe, and
chimney fue. The pipe, according to
the superintendent's account, had been
pushed through the wall until the end
was set against the bricks of the outer
wall, a. distance of some seven inches
from the plaster inside.
"If the people living in the ROOM"
said Supt. Gorsline, "had been burning
coal or wood they would have been
smoked out. AS it was tn y were not
aware of the trouble. o. top OF the
end of the pipe there had (allen a great
amount of plaster, burne'. out from be-
tween the bricks by the heat of the
gas, and this, combined with some
liquid, probably %rainwater, had formed
a sort of cement which plastered up
the fiue above the pipe and made 1t al
most impossible for the fumes to es-
cape. 1t is a popularity of the natural
gas that, while n one entering a
room filled with it is at once aware
of it's presence, it is possible for one
who has remained in the room while
the gas was slowly vitiating the at
mosphere to be overcome without be-
ing conscious that noxious fumes had
taken the place of the good air."
Taken all together the volume of
proof upon one side seems to many
unprejudiced persons as strong as that
on the other. What effect Miss Halls
statement will have upon it remains
to be seen Her statement throws abb
.solutely no light on the terrible af-
fair and does not explain why 1t was
she and her lover were but partially
clad. She said she came into the
house on the Thursday night, sat down
to read, became faint and remembered
nothing more. If Colerick was there
she does not know it. People in Fort
haliava the girl has NOT fold
the whole story and it certainly does
look that way. Still it is possible she
has told it all. In either event, the
affair remains a mystery, deeper than
aver.
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-05-01

wood, for the dampness and stain are
trying, at best, and joints should be
open as little as possible, All closets
and cupboards should be built from the
floor to the ceiling without the slight
est opening above or below. The doors
should v just as much of the front
as possible, leaving room only for a
narrow jamb and a shallow sill in
order that when they are opened the
entire exterior should be exposed to
view. Earthenware tubs are cheaper
in the long run than wooden ones, al
though their initial cost is considerably
greater. But if wooden ones must be
used, be sure they are put in most
carefully, as under the best of con
tractors they give more trouble than
any other kitchen fllment.
The drain pipe and traps below
should clear the floor so that one may
easily clean around them. The coping
should go close to the wall and rising
from it should be a high splash board
while a quarter round beading should
v the joint between the two. The
hot water boiler should not be damned
tightly into the corner, but should
stand a few inches from the wall. This
will permit it to be cleaned on all sides.
an important consideration If the boil
er be of copper. Above all things do
not stint money in laying the kitchen
floor; this must be constantly scrubbed
and if the wood checks and splinters
the task is heart breaking. Only the
highest grades of Georgia pine should
be used, in narrow strips, and it should
have frequent dressing. 1t is no econ
omy to lay a cheap floor with the idea
of depending Upon a covering of oil
cloth or other similar material.
A very common mistake is made in
putting in a sink that is too small
and in providing no place for the
draining of dishes, a sink is never too
large, even for the smallest family, and
If space will permit it it is we'll to put
in one that is a couple of sizes larger
than needed; at both ends should be
wide draining shelves, an admirable
feature, if one a afford it is a panel
Of thing adjoining the sink. This
should be capped with a strip of wood
containing hooks, from which may be
hung basting spoons, collander, mea
ures, etc. AS to furnishing proper,
this is a very simple matter, although
many people seem to think that it is
to tramp into the kitchen
the dilapidated and broken down furni-
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-05-01
SUGGESTIONS FOR A MODEL
KITCHEN.
Ccopyrlghted, 1897 by The co-opers-

copyrighted, 1897, by The Co-Opers-
tive Building Plan A%ssociation.)
Very little attention Is given TO the
furnishing Of the kitchen, even in the
most particular households. II a new
house Is being built the careful house,
wife may charge the architect with
certain conveniences for the room, but
generally the matter is left wholly to
his directions; unless he Is a tyro he
is not apt to ~disappoint expectations.
Modern improvements in plumbing
and in ranges provide the most con-
venient Of permanent fixtures. II 10
scarcely necessary to warn one against
the old style Of shut in plumbing, that
left innumerable crevices and crannies
to give Judgment To dirt and vermin.
The very best results are obtained
from the use of iron pipe instead OF
lead, and If this be used there is much
less chance OF sweating" and the
consequent rotting of the adjacent
wood. particularly If the pipes be paint
ed. The woodwork of the kitchen Is
fully as important as that of any Of
the rest of the house. Pine is gem
orally chosen, and is as good as any
other wood; 1t should be oiled and
given several coats Of hard varnish,
or else painted in yellow or buff.
Particular attention should be given
to the use of thoroughly seasoned
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-05-01

An old Lancashire miller, noted for
his keenness in matters financial, was
once in a boat trying his best to get
across the stream which drove the mill.
The stream was flooded, and he was
taken past the point at which he
wanted to land; while, farther on, mis-
fortune still further overlook him, to
the extent that the boat got upset. His
wife, realizing the danger he was in,
ran frantically along the side of the
stream, crying for help in a pitiful
voice; when, to her sheer amusement,
she was suddenly brought to a stand
still by her husband yelling out: "If
I'm drowned, Polly, dunnot forget that
fiour's gone up 2 shillin' a sack!'-
Tit-Bits.
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-05-01
MRS. Helen Hamilton Gardener.

Mrs. Helen Hamilton Gardener, who
made a notable address at the moth
ers' convention" held lately In Wash
ington, has many titles to distinction.
Her record of successful achievement
extends over the fields of literature,
science, journalism, and politico-social
affairs. Her first introduction to the
public was through a series of lectures
entitled respectively: Men, Women
and Gods" "Vicarious Atonement'' and
Historical Facts and Theological Fic-
TONS" In 1890 appeared her first
volume Of short stories, bearing the
title, "a Thoughtless Yes" which was
soon followed by a second and similar
book, Pushed by Unseen Hands"
Within the last few years the public
has welcomed, in quick succession,
others of her novels. She was born
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-05-01

The invention of Alabastine marked
a new era in wall coatings. and from
the standpoint of the building owner
was a most important discovery. 1t
has from a small beginning branched
out into every country of the civilized
world. The name "kalsomine" has be-
come so offensive to property owners
that manufacturers of cheap kalso-
mine preparations are now calling
them by some other name. and at
tempting to sell on the Alabastine COM
pany's reputation.
Through extensive advertising and
personal use, the merits of the durable
Alabastine are,'so thoroughly known
that the people insist on getting these
goods and will take no chance of spoil
ing their walls for a possible saving OF
at the most but a few cents. Thus it
is again demonstrated that merit wins,
and that manufacturers of frst-elass
articles will be supported by the
people. .6.oi
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-05-01
water Arects nerves BADLY.

Professor Waller recently lectured
before the London Royal Institute on
NERVES and Stimulants." He is re-
ported as follows: "a little tobacco
smoke or a LITTLE alcohol were shown
to stimulate the nerves slightly; a
strong dose, especially of the latter, i'm
mediately ceased from exciting the
nerve and began to stupefy it. one
has seen something like this result in
he human subject. The strangest dis
.overy, however, that is yielded by
these experiments Is that plain water
has the worst effect of all upon the
nerves." Until this fact is explained it
is not likely that teetotalers will be
tempted to draw . moral from the pro
fessor's other deductions London
Graphic.
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-05-01
Hints to Young Authors.

There is but N way for an author
to get his wares before the editors, and
that Is to send his manuscript to the
PERIODICAL to which he believes it to be-
best suited. If he deals with the prin-
cipal publications he can always feel
certain Of courteous treatment and
honest dealings. Prices vary and de-
pend entirely on the value of the ma
terial to tho periodical. Editors are
always glad to examine manuscripts
sent to them, and, all talk to the con
trary notwithstanding, are anxious to
discover unknown talent.-Ladies'
Home Journal.
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-05-01
ISAAC S. DEMENT,.

at the rate Of $50 words a minute for
half an hour, and this Mr.. Dement, re-
CARDS as the hardest proposition he ev-
er encountered. For the past four
years he has been out of the field as
an active reporter. devoting his time
and abilities to the business of pub
fishing his textbooks on shorthand.
In his spare moments Mr.. Dement, gives
his literary genius a chance and writes
novels. In addition to this he finds
time to exercise his inventive powers,
and has patented several useful me-
chanical devices Chicago Times-Her-
aid.
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-05-01

Hall lay, apparently dead. Medical aid
was at once summoned. and an exam
nation Of Colericlfe body showed that
his case was hopeless. Miss Hall, how
ever, still lived.
On the stand In the sitting-room was
a ftworounce bottle partly filed with
oarbolic acid. Colerick's mouth, lips
and tongue were badly swollen and dis
coloreds Their appearance was similar
to that produced by the corrosive ac-
tlDn Of some escharotic poison. The
body lay on the right side and from
the right corner of the mouth across the
cheek extended what seemed a scared
streak, caused by the discharge of pol
soned saliva from the mouth. Miss
Halls mouth and tongue were in the
same state. Both the victims OF the
tragedy had suffered vomiting. All
the windows and doors in the sitting
room were closed tightly and in the
s~itting-room was a stove burning nat
ural gas, the flame turned high,
An autopsy wal held IN the body OF
Colerick and the doctors present failed
to find any traces of carbolic acid. Por-
tions of the body with part Of the con
tents of the stomach were then given
to Or. Drayer. the city chemist, to test
for poison OF all sorts.
These, in brief. were the facts. at
tending the discovery Of the tragedy.
From the first a number of theories as
to the cause Of death were to be
found. The earliest. induced by the APP
pearance Of Miss Hall and of Coler-
iok's body. was poison. Following 1t
came that Of asphyxiation by gas from
the stove. Murder was at first sus-
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-05-01

other whalers, and when he read DR..
Lyman Abbott's sermon on Jonah and
the whale he bethought himself of
Capt. James r. Davis of Noank, a re-
tired whaling captain, rs years old,
who has been five times a Jonah, -
which is Capt. Davis own way of say
Ing that he has lived in the bellies Of
1--we different whales. Unfortunately
FOR the strictest possible application Of
Capt. Davis experiences to the scrip
tural story, but no doubt fortunately
for Capt. Davis himself, his whales
were dead. But he was. in them-of
that there is no doubt-and he has
lived to smoke a pipe and tell about
II, n Capt. ~Swinnerton tells the story
OF his friends experience thus:
Il dined yesterday with a man, now
70 years of age, who has been in the
bellies of five different whales. He is
Capt. James R. Davis of Noank, Conn,
n this was done when he was a
young man of 20 years of age. He was
n of the crew of the whaling ship
Tiger, Capt. William Brewster, of
Stonington, Conn, which left that
place in 1916, sailing direct around the
Horn to the whaling grounds of the
Pacific. Afterward the ship sailed to
Magdalena bay, off the Lower Cali
fornia coast. The grayback whales
use 1t as a breeding ground and are
found here in great numbers. The
cow whales float up on the sandy. shore
or the still waters and when the tides
fall the young whales are born on the
beach. The calf when born has its
fukes bent up like a hook, and it is
several days before this hook straight
swim. The mother whale will sport
about the bays until her baby gets the
crook out of it's tail and then teaches it
to swim. The COW whale when about
to calve is very fat and valuable and
yields about forty barrels of oil from
the blubber and seven barrels from the
inside heart fat and that about the
liver and entrails. The mother whales
never desert their young and thus be-
come easy captures. After being kill
ed they are towed alongside the ship.
A c%utting-in chain is fastened to the
side fin, a tackle from it to the main
yard hauled tight and one strip of
blubber cut into. This is called a
blanket piece. Then the ribs are cut
at the backbone and the blanket piece
and the ribs are hauled up from the
carcass, leaving a hole in the upper
part of the body just back of the head.
A man enters this hole and cuts all
the fatty substance from about the
head, which is shaped like a chickens
gizZard, but from two feet to thirty
inches in diameter. Capt. Davis told
me he was in a different whale zach
day for five days, being inside Zach
about al hour doing this
work, and that it is a common custom
for a whaler to be for a time a Jonah
In the whales stomach. Capt. Davis
mas been a Jonah on five different oc-
Now, if a young mar of 23
years can live in a whales stomach.
though the whale be dead, why
'ould not the Jonah Of the Bible live
hree days and as many nights in that
whale of scripture? Capt.
Davis five whales had not been dead
'ery long when he was in them"
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-05-01
A GIANT WASHINGTON FIR.
Grew in the state from which 1t Takes
Its Name.

Its Name.
A tree that rivals in height and age
the monarchs of the redwood forests
in California has just been cut into sec
tions in the state Of Washington. An
idea of its size may be gained from the
fact that IL sawed into inch strips. the
lumber made from the tree would fill
ten of the largest size freight cars,
and the strips of wood, if placed end to
n would reach from the town where
the tree now is-New Whatcomb, Wash.
across the waters of the Pacific
ocean to the land of LII Hung Chang.
The total height OF the tree as it
stood before being felled was 465 feet.
To the point where the first limb
branched out was 220 feet. AL the base
the circumference was found to be 33
feet and IL inches. There was not
throughout the tree the slightest in
dication of u~nsoundness. In all the for
ests Of Washington there is not a tree
young or old which would make finer
lumber than this. The ring test, when
applied to the Washington tree,
showed that 1t was at least 484 years
since the day when it became a sapling
in the heart of the Cascade mountains.
The tree was as straight as an arrow
from its base to the first limb, 220 feet,
the trunk maintained an equally stern
position to the topmost point. Had the
limbs been shorn away, then the bare
trunk would have lowered from ground
to tip 465 feet without the slightest
bend or crook. The tree was not, as
might be supposed, of that variety
which in the United States gains SO
tremendous a he~ight-the redwood. 1t
was of the species known as the Wash
ington fir. taking its name from that
state.
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-05-01


seems, have been the thought furthest
from their minds. But either the hand
of chance interfered to bring about an
accidental death or in the undercur-
rent Of their lives there was some
tragedy. Was it remorse? Or did
their lives hold some other secret, yet
unknown, which brought about the
tragic end?
On the morning of Saturday, March
10, the first evidences Of what had oc-
CURED were found. Mrs. Hall had left
Fort Wayne on Thursday for st. Paul,
Mimi, where she was to be married
to Russell King Of Walla Walla, Wash.
1t had been arranged that her daugh-
ter was to spend the time OF her abb
sence with friends in Fort Wayne.
From Thursday evening, when both
Mae Hall and Will Colerick were seen
by friends, until Saturday nothing had
been heard Of the young people, and
their absence caused considerable anx-
iety. The discovery Of their fate was
made by Ralph Lane. a cousin OF the
young woman.
4 III uooAS ~ tAC lOOAno WCAt lOChCus
and the window shades down. Repeat
ed knocks brought no answer. Young
Lane, with the assistance of the occu-
pants of another part of the house,
succeeded in opening the door. Lying
on a divan directly in front Of them
was the body of Win Colerick. Neigh
bors were summoned, and a further
search carried on. The rooms were
in considerable disorder. In part this
was due to the recent packing of
trunks before Mrs. Halls departure, in
part to the death struggles of Coler-
lex. In the parlor. where Colerick's
body was found. a small table bore in
dications that the young couple had
spent some part of the time in playing
cards. In the sltting-room behind 1t
nothing a found. In the bedroom
>pening Off from the sitting~room Mae
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-05-01
from custody

-" L "
news tales. The final chapter was COM
menced when VIII e. Colerick was
found dead In the parlor Of the home
of his promised bride, separated by
less than. a dozen feet from the room
where the girl herself, Miss Mae Hall,
lay at the point Of death. BY their
own hands, by accident, or how? No
man knows.
The greater part Of the love story
which preceded the tragedy, the inn
mediate events which led up to 1t, the
reasons and the direct cause of the
young mans death are all unknown.
There are factors yet to enter into the
problem. Mae Hall has been rescued
from what seemed certain death and
may some day make a statement which
will shed light on the story; but from
the present standing of the matter it
Beems more than likely that much of
the mystery which shrouds the case
will never be lifted and that no man
will ever know with any degree of GER
tainty what 1t was that occurred be-
tween the evening of Thursday. March
IL, and the morning of the Saturday
following in the rooms occupied by Mae
Hall and her mother.
The actors in the sad drama car
rled out there were both of high stand
ing in the community. 1t was no vuI-
gar tragedy, set in a background of
sordid details. Mae Hall is the daugh-
ter of Mrs. Elsie Hall, who for a num-
Der of years was a teacher in the Fort
Wayne public schools. Her father,
William Hall, died some time ago. Miss
Hall is a bright and attractive girl,
socially popular. and prominent in re-
ligious work among the young people
Of the Congregational church.
viii e. Colerick held an even high
err though no more honorable place.
He was the son of Mr.. and Mrs. Hen
ry Colerick. For fifty years the Cole
rick family has been prominent in
Fort Wayne, and the name has been
associated with the highest honors in
law and politics. The young man rep
resented the third generation to take
up the law as a calling, and he bid fair
10 follow in the footsteps of his faith
Or, who has achieved a name as one
Of the best criminal lawyers in the
west. He was only t%wenty-four years
bid, but he had already made some
hame for himself and given proof of
IN inherited capacity for his chosen
railing.
The future of both young people was
bright with promise. They were to be
married in April or even earlier. In
deed, there had been some talk of the
wedding taking place within a few
days on account of the approaching
marriage of Miss Halls mother. The
engagement was a matter of public
knowledge. There were no objections
in the part of the parents on either
tide. The match was everywhere re-
garded as mos suitable. The young
people had known each other nearly
all their lives. They had played to-
as children; as they grew up to
manhood and womanhood the child
ish friendship had ripened into love.
1t would be hard to find a
which seemed more likely to be car
ried to a happy ending. 1t is this fact
which lent to the case the first of the
unusual features which make it a mys-
terry.
Suicide. IL suicide 1t was. should. IL
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-05-01
The Depth Of Meanness.

The well-to-do sons and daughters Of
a father who died recently in a town in
Bennington county, VT, had a quarrel
as to who should pay the funeral ex-
penses, as the parent had died in pow
erty. AT last one of the ons reluct-
antly assumed the charge and saved
the town the expense. but not before
all of the three had offered a spectacle
Of heartlessness that was barbarous.
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-05-01
Here l. the Happy Land.

Morgantown, w. Va, and vicinity
mast be set down as a happy land"
receipt of a large sun to be de-
voted to the needs Of any destitute
family of the town led to a diligent in
vestigation by a charitable institution
with the result of establishing the fact
that there was not in the town or ad-
jacent country a family SO poor that
it needed the money.
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-05-01

One OF the latest devices for a bl-
cycle is a leader" to be attached to
the front forks and bottom bar OF the
frame 10 guide the front wheel straight
when the rider Is compelled to wa,s
ara Lad his wheel
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-05-01

"Dah's only one time,' said Uncle
Eben, when it's safe ter co~nterdict a
man, an OATS when he puts on a
melancholy look an stahts Ia ter tell
bout how old he's gettin' ter bs.n-
Washington Star.
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-05-01

To prevent lamp chimneys from fall
ing off a new burner has double clamps
to extend up inside and outside of the
chimney and grasp the flange, in place
Of the single-spring fingers now in use.