davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1897-02-20
THE WASHINGTON FAMILY.
Mary Balls Tall Sons Were "Mute
as Mice" In Her Presence.

Mary Ball'S Tall sons were "Mut0
as Mice" In Her Presence.
Augustine, the second son of Law.
renee Washington, was the father of
George Washington. He is described
as tall man, of noble bearing, with
fair complexion and fine gray eyes.
After remaining some time in Eng.
land, he returned to Virginia, and by
1715 had married Jane Butler, and
settled down as planter in Westmore-
land County. In 1928 his helpmate
died, leaving four children, of whom
only two-.Lawrence and Augustine
grew to maturity. Two years later,
true to the custom of his family, the
widower married again. His second
bride was Mary Ball, OF Lancaster
County. She was the daughter of
Colonel Joseph Ball, and was descend.
ed from respectable English colonists,
who had settled on the banks of the
Potomac.
Mary Balls early life was quietly
passed at Epping Forest. her fathers
plantation where she was bred in the
domestic virtues which characterized
the matrons OF her day. Shs was little
versed in book lore, but was of such
commanding character as to inspire
respect and obedience in all surround
ing her, even in those who loved her
most. We are told that her sons,
though "proper tail fellows" were
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1897-02-20

BEVERLY. Mass, Feb. 20-The venera-
BILE John l. Baker is dead. Mr.. Baker, it
will be remembered, resigned his office Of
harbor and land commissioner few weeks
ago. He has been picturesque figure In
Salem and on the railway trains between
his city and Boston during half a CEN
tury, with his long. flowing white hair
and patrarchal beard. He was probably
known to as many people in this part OF the
state as any public man. because no one
could see him without inquiring who he
was. He had the honor of being the first
mayor Of the new north shore city, which
delighted him greatly. Mr.. Baker was born
in Beverly on Aug. 16. 1912. has been a wide-
ly known manufacturer, bank director,
president OF corporations. and has been
favored with every Office In the gift OF the
town he deserved or would accept.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1897-02-20

4 At the dinner given in his honor in
philadelphia, Col. A. X. Mcclure, the
editor Of the Philadelphia Times, told
the following story relating to his first
newspaper venture, started fifty years
ago: II we'll remember the case Of a
frugal farmer Of the bunker persua-
sion who was sufficiently public-spirit-
led to subscribe for the Sentinel for six
months to get the paper started, but at
he end of that period he had calculated
the heavy expenses of gathering the
|ripening harvest and decided to stop
his paper for a while. l need not say
that he was enthusiastically confronted
with many reasons why man OF his
Intelligence and influence should not
'be without the county newspaper, but
be yielded only to the extent Of further
considering the matter with his wife.
FfIe returned in few days and spread
sunshine around the editorial chair by
saying that mis- wife had decided to con-
tinue for another six months, as the
paper would be very handy in the fall
for tying up her apple butter crooks"
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1897-02-20

Fl II ~
Received the above sum Of Five Pounds
Twelve shillings Currency in full OF all ac-
counts to this 26th day OF. September, 1772.
VIM. Carlin.
Now, who would look for George
Wsshington's handwriting on bill OF
this kind? And yet it is there. The
bill itself and the signature are in the
handwriting of the worthy tailor, Car
lin, but the receipt, beginning at the
word "Received" and ending at the
date "1772," is in the handwriting OF
George Washington.
A quainter document has seldom
been published. What an honest fell
low Carlin IS! He charges 5s. It'd. to
"makeing yr green wastcoat," but he
takes care to explain that the odd I'd.
is only a fair payment for the silk
used by him. Note, too, how careful
he is to write the words errors ac-
cepted" at the end of the bill. If his
bill is not entirely satisfactory-we
are all human and liable to err-he is
quite willing to listen to any argu-
ments with a view to its reduction.
On the other hand if he should have
forgotten any item, he would naturally
have the right to charge for it in a
later bill. His precaution, however,
did not avail him, as the receipt in
Washington's handwriting shows. In
it Mr.. Carlin acknowledges that all
the money due him has been paid (;
aye. even though George Washington
atill owes him q half.penny. The bal
ance due to him is G5 12s. 3D., and he
only receives G5 12s. Probably Wash.
ington had no coppers at hand, and
Carlin was wise enough to take what
he got and be thankful.
Washington kept all such bills as
these with great care, and no one was
more exact than he in seeing that they
were correct. He was good arith-
netician, and his accounts were al
ways in order. The "ciphering book, "
in which he wrote out the solution Of
many difficult sums, is still preserved
That much of his income was spent
ON clothes can be readily seen. Though
never . dandy, he liked good attire
for himself and family, and no one was
more careful than he that his servants
should be comfortably clothed. Fash
ionable clothes, when needed. were
imported direct from London, and we
know from Washington's letters that
he obtained in this way several elegant
articles of attire for himself and his
wife. On state occasions he dressed
with great care, and we are even told
that at those times "his horses hoofs
were blackened and polished as thor.
oughly as his boots, On the day
when he was inaugnrated as President
he wore q full suit of dark brown cloth
with white silk stockings, all of which
we're of American manufacture on his
shoes we're silver buckles; his hair
was tied and powdered, and a steel
hilted dress sword hung by his eide.
Whatever he wore, he always looked
the great man he was.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1897-02-20
Married Fifty Years.

MARBLEHEAD. Mass. Fob. 20-Joseph
/. Hitler and Mrs. Hitler have this week OBJ
served the golden anniversary of their mar
riage. Seven children have blessed tho
union. o, whom the following survive ohm
q. Hitler. Mrs. Ellen NJ. wife OF William g.
Brown Mrs. Jessie b.. wife OF George b.
Taylor. all residents Of Marblehead, and Mrs.
Sarah j.. wife OF Samuel ID. Watson OF Sau-
gus. MIR. Hitler is widely known through
ont the state, having served for several
years As travelling agent Of the Massachu-
setts Total Abstinence society. He has al
ways been an earnest temperance man, and
for many years was prominent member Of
the order of the Sons of Temperance. He
is at present identified with the Rechabite
society.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1897-02-20
College Record Smashed.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. Feb. 20--The college
strength test record has been smashed at
Harvard by Arthur Lowering. '97 The
previous record. held by Klein. was ,529. but
Lowering beat this by 13l points. making a
total of 1850. This entities him to the cham
pionship as the strongest college student in
America. IA measured bv DIR. ID. A. Sargent :
famous methods. Nash and all the other
strong men from the various colleges in this
part Of the world will now have to drop
their claims to this championship. In the
physical measurements taken OF the fresh
men class OF Dartmouth college, ]. ii. Put
nam OF Baldwinsville. Mass, last years
left tackle on the varsity eleven. proved the
most powerful man.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1897-02-20

Augusta Chronicle: Georgia can
raise better hogs and cattle than the
West; better turnips than Nova Scotia,
and at least equals Maryland in terra
pin and oysters. Her fish supply Is
superb along the coast and in the wa
Ter courses of the inland. Experts
say that she has gold belt superior
to that Of the Pacific States. Her pos
sum aud 'taters cannot be surpassed.
Her peaches do not challenge those of
california or Delaware, but easily
take first rank. and II her Indian peach
were revived there would be no kind
Of comparison. Texas raises more cot.
ton. hut Texas Is nowhere In manu-
facturc Of the fabric in rivalry with
Georgia. We regret to say that GeOr-
Gia is delinquent In one thing-she ap-
parently prefers TO patronize products
away from home. when her own home
industries are just as good and can be
had At better rates
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1897-02-20
MANIFESTLY UNFAIR.

"Don't you want to get into this
National Encyclopedia OF Prominent
People-cost you only 1882"
"No sir; don't like the way it is
run-look at George Washington and
John Quincy Adams getting in for
nothing. g."-Chicago Record.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1897-02-20

AprOpos Of the large mortality by the
Inhalation Of Illuminating gas, 1t is iu-
teresting to note that the medical So
cle,ies Of Pennsylvania are giving their
attention to substitute for the gal
lows. They have concluded that the
most humane method Of extinguishing
the life of the criminal sentenced to
death Is by the use Of gas, and they
propose to present bill to the Legisla-
ture this winter providing for the
change.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1897-02-20

But Coward! Onwardr' Is the word
Their brave commander speaks.
When thro' the storm his voice Is heard
Each Son OF Freedom seeks
To do his bidding; put aside
Is every woe and care
There's siot'rv DER the 10y tide,
Across the Delaware.
On through the gloomy, stormy night
With hardships dire they cope
"For God, and Native Land, and Right"
Their watchword and their hope;
Until at last, all cold and dank,
They greet the mornings glare;
Safe thro' the tide they've reached the bank
Across the Delaware.
And then. nine miles beyond they go,
With steady, solemn trcad,
To whore the hated Hessian foe
Sleep in their drunken bed.
Aroused from dissipation's doze
In wild surprise they stare,
And, conquered, give their swords to those
Who crossed the Delaware.
---George v. Hobart, in New York Herald.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1897-02-20
ONE ON THE HUMORIsT.

81 have brought you bag of pea.
nuts, thinking you would appreciate
change" said young Mr.. Pompon to
Smokers, the humorist.
"a changer" replied the humorist,
thoughtfully.
"Yes, a change from chestnuts, yor
know Life.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1897-02-20
A NEW METHOD.

"Maria," said Silas Wintersmith,
looking toward the parlor.door, "Be-
linda an her bean are keepin' mighty
quiet"
"Mebbe they're courtin'." replied
his wife, "by mind.readin' or that
hypnertism plan I read about last
week."
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1897-02-20
THE PROBABILITY.

'Does your wife worry about burg.
lars?"
'Not mucb," answered Mr.. Meek
ton.
81 wonder what she'd say if she
found one in the house?"
II don't know. But 1 have an idea
that she'd ask him how he dared come
In the house without wipinR his shoes
on the mat. ."-Washington Star.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1897-02-20
EQUIPPED.

"One of your wife's lungs is gone,
my dear SIR"
"That doesn't do me any good, doc.
tor; the one she has left is a star. -
Truth.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1897-02-20
HIS STATUS.

"Whew! That fellow knows great
deal, doesn't hep" commented Poots
when Gassaway had departed.
EYES," replied Grimshsw. "He
knows entirely too much for one man;
he ought to be incorporated"
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1897-02-20
ANNOUNCED.

Priscilla -"Jack is the oldest fel.
low. He took me driving yesterday,
and when we were seven miles from
home he said. if I wouldn't promise
to, marry him he'd make me get out
and walk back"
Penelope-''Did you walk bsck?"
Prlscilla-"No, indeed; but the
horse did,
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1897-02-20

And so, you'd have me tell thetale
My father oft told me!
A story Of the days when pale
Hope fed, and Misery
Stood stark and grim before that band
OF men beyond compare
The tale of Washington the Grand,
Who crossed the Delaware!
One Christmas night, long years ago,
When shrilly cold winds blew,
And through the darkened air the snow
On frozen pinions flew,
A little band of patriot souls
Stood brave and fearless where
In iciness and anger rolls
The fretful Delaware.
Nor ice, nor storm, nor cruel blast
Can hold these heroes back;
They have resolved; the die Is cast
For freedoms cause! A track
OF blood upon the snow they've left
From shoaless foot and bare;
Ofall life's comforts they're bereft,
Beside the Delaware.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1897-02-20
HOPE SPRINGS ETERNAL.

Jones-"I hear that Simpson is
hopelessly in debt"
smith, guess not. He struck me
for ten yesterday, and seemed to think
he was going to get it. Puck.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1897-02-20
JAYS IDEA.

Josh Medders-"How does that
nephew of Judge Tophill's, that is
visitin' him, lookP"
Jay Green-"Wa.al, he's so GROSS.
eyed that guess he has to lay on his
back to look down the we'll. Judge.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1897-02-20
UTILIZING HIS MISFORTUNE.

''No," said the doctor "your finger
will never be in good shape again.
''Well," said the base ball pitcher,
"if I can pitch at all with that finger,
I ought to be- able to send in some
dandy new curves. Puck.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1897-02-20

There are 800 natives OF India now
residing in Great Britain, mostly for
the purposes of study. Cambridge
seems more attractive to them than
Oxford. but the majority are in Lon.
don reading for the bar.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1897-02-20
Washington Never Celebrated.

If we were to fellow the example OF
Washington himself there would be no
holiday on February %. The Father
of his Country paid no more attention
to the 18th of February ION which
date he was born according to the old
calendar) than he did to the 18th or
l4tb. So far as IS known his good
wife, Martha, did not even present
him with new snuff-box or handker-
chief by way OF recognition of this
now world-famous anniversary. But
his friends always remembered him.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1897-02-20
NICE TO TEACH.

Madge -"I wonder why Dolly gets
taken out skating 80 much?"
Majorie-''It's because she doesn't
hnew how to skate. Judge.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1897-02-20
HE HAD 1T.

Conductor-"Did I get your fare,
sir ?"
Passenger-"You must have. You
didn't ring it up for the company. -
Town Topics.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1897-02-20
AN IMPORTANT MATTER.

"Just had talk with Brainard, the
inventor. He has big problem on
hand now."
"What is he trying to do?"
Trying to make both ends meet"
Puck.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1897-02-20
TO makeing 8 coats OF

TO makeing coats OF
Dyed Cotton for
Giles Il Mike Mores. 0 Is 0
TO pieceing 4 caps
from Cunuon..... 0 ! 0
To makeing 4 saylors
JuckltS.. 1
To makeing 2 pr
Bretches for joe. 0 G 0
omakeing yr Bretches
OF silk wove. ........ 0
To makeing n wastcoat
Of Blue Pearsion.... 0 0
Aug 30th To makeng yr white
Carsaymay coat. 80. IA 0
TO makeing yr London
BrOWn.. n............ IL
To makeing yr groen
wastcoat silk, ~. 0 5 ~
10 makeing yr watt
ingman Livery. 1
Errors excepted
VIM Carlin..... z II ~
Contra Cr
BY half Il Barrill OF
cDru... o
BY Messrs Cunning
ham aud Alexundrs
acct. t................ ! IL
l 10
Bal. II =
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1897-02-20
THE MERRY SIDE OF LIFE.
STORIES THAT ARE TOLD BY THE
FUNNY MEN OF THE PRESS.

Depths of Humiliation-EQuipped-
He Had It-Nice to Teach-Hope
Springs Eternal, Etc.
The inconsistency of man
Is not Il joke. but real;
The more you sell fellow for,
The cheaper he will feel
Judge.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1897-02-20
EVIDENTLY HIS OWN.

Smithers-"Do you think Charley
Litewate's Jokes are all original?"
Nubbins-"Yes; they are too stupid
to be borrowed from anybody else. -
Twinkles.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1897-02-20

Since 1870 Missouri has mad five
Governors who were born IN KentuckS
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1897-02-20
AN OLD WHALER'S SERMON.
JONAH AND THE WHALE; A REPLY
TO SKEPTICS.

An Able Seaman Tells of the Expert
ences That Convinced Him of the
Truth OF the Bible Story.
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-08-12

moned from the county and city 10 serve
rs Jurors ct the September term Of the
United states Court In Lynchburg: Grand
Jury--A. j. Craven. j. Snowden Wood.
and George W. Macon. Petit Jury-R.
IS. flanagan, George w. Marshall. and
J. ". Dolin.
Mr.. q. W. Brown, while In the noun
tains near Black Rock SPRING.. killed q
rattiesnake that measured feet, and
Possessed fourteen rattles. Those tnat
saw II pronounced II the largest they had
ever seen IN the county.
big excursion train from Kentucky
vii pass through Charlottesville tQ-mor-
row morning at O'clock, over the Chesa-
ucake and Ohio. bound for Old Point.
The 800 people composing the party VIII
breakfast H. tits city.
The infant son OF Mr.. Monte Jones
died on Monday. and was buried yester-
day near White Hall.
The Baptist Sunday school Win have
n basket picnic tomorrow IN the grove
near the knlttng-mil on Rose Hill.
The fourth biennial convention Of the
Nirginia Asaocia iion OF the Deaf met at
Midway Assembly Hall this evening at
s O'Clock. The programme was carried
out as published Ina yesterdays Dispatch.
The convention Will assemble tomorrow
morning al o'clock for the transaction
Of business before it. The election OF off,
Gers will also take place At this session.
The personnel Of the delegates IA re-
markabiy attractive. Bright, Intelligent
faces oespeak an active mind. and there
Is always n ready smile and an ever
present writing tablet for any one who
has anything TO communicate.
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-08-12
Size of Men of Genius.
(Albany Argus.D

iAlbdHy AIGuS.)
Mr.. Havelock Ellis has contributed 20
the current number Of the Nineteenth
Century readable article OIL Genius
and Stature" based on an extensive
study OF ancient and modern biography.
IN the endeavOr to ascertain whether the
size OF the human BODY has anything to
do with the power Of the intellect. Mr..
Ellis divides his subjects into three
classes. He calls men over 5 feet inches
tall" those between feet and feet
4 medium" and those under feet (
short" In the first class are found
Burke. Burns, Darwin. Cromwell. Lin
coin. Coleridge. Peter the Great (he was
feet l-2), Thackeray 0 feet a. Wash
ington &c feet -, Bismarck. Boingbroke,
Bunvan, Julius Caesar, Charlemagne. CO.
lumbus. Flaubert Goethe. Edmond de
GOncourt Huxley. Helmholtz, Dr. John
son. Leasing. III Hung Chang, Jean Paul
Richter Schoyenhaucr, Nietszche Mira
beau. Longfellow, Daniel Webster. Richie
lieu. Moltike, Moliere, Petrarch, ana many
Others.
TIE medium" class comprise n much
smaller number. among whom are LORD
BeacOnsfield q feet %. Gladstone O teet
s.. Dickens q feet -, Byron % feet -
Swift 6 feet s., Voltare g feet q, WEI
lington q feet y, Alexander the heo GpSa.'
Lord Bacon. Beaudelaire, BroWnihs'
Hood. Luther. Newton. Poe. Renan, YER
lame COlfucius Dante, Lord CHESTER
field. Vatican, St. Francis of Assist
The short list is quite long. bdiA1c
q feet a. De Quincy @ feet -. I'hiers @
feet .. Kant % feeD. Beethoven o feet y.
william Blake barely feeO, Keats 60
feeD. Napoleon g feet ! Sd, Nelson %
feet a. ST. Francis Xavier q feet o. Arl5-
totle. Augustus Caesar, Gibbon, Milton
Montaigne, Sir Thomas More. Mozart
Calvin. Hogarth. Horace, Charles Lamp
Timour. Dryden. Locke, Wagner. Eras-
mus. Macauay, Charles Martel faraday'
Sir Christopher Wren and others.
TO sum up all the results of this lnVes-
tigation. Mr.. Ellis finds that of 34i men
of genius 142 were tall, u were OF middlc
height. and 10 were short; and ne con-
Guides mot that persons Of extraordinary
u1cntal ability tend either to be taller or
shorter than the average population, put
rather that they exhibit an unusual ten
dencv TO variation. 1t is mediocrlty alone
that genius seems to abhor lhere u
nothing new IN the general .propositl0h.
seneca. told the Roman world mat tne
mind was the proper Judge OF the man,
ovid declared that "our vigor Is IN our
immortal soul": and. 10 come down 70
later period, the good little DR.. Isaac
Watts sang
Were I so tall to reach the pole,
or grasp the ocean with my spah'
I nnust be measured by my soul;
The minds the standard or the man.
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-08-12


fat thus prepared Is left In promising
spots. for great white bears to devour.
Along comes one Of the monsters. CUPS
a hunk down whole; the gastric juices
melt the fat and eat away the strings OF
tendon with which the whaieoone ~
bound: the whaiebone springs out straight
across the animals stomach. and present
IL 1t dies Next day Mr. Eskimo comes
along and gathers In a big bear-sSh
worth several quarts OF whiskey.
ut Is the custom that while hunting
white whales no native shall chop wood.
dig In the earth. sew. or tan skins. TO 90
any OF these would offend the god Of the
white whales. who might not permit those
useful cetaceans TO come back the next
season. When the whaling Is over. all
the bones Of the animal must be gathered
and burned for the same reason. and
corresponding superstition directs that ali
bones of the walrus. seal. and bear shall
be consumed likewise by fire. lest their
divinities be offended"
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-08-12
CHARLOTTESVILLE.
The Republican State Convention
other Mention.

CHARLOTTESVILLE. VA, August H..
iSpeciai)-At a meeting of the Chamber
% Commerce, held last night Mr.. Tyson
10 the absence OF Mr.. Phil. Letcrman.
,halrman OF the committee appointed 10
secure the session OF the Republican
State Convention for this city 0f one
AoulG oe heidi read letter from Colonel
William Lamb, chairman Of the state
Committee, who stated what Charlottes-
VIE was expected 10 furnish In the way
OF entertaining the body. Mr. Tyson re-
uorted that the committee had secured
lrvate subscriptions sufficient TO meet
No'onel Lambs request. The same com
niitec was continued, VITA power 10 act
SO make an arrangements necessary TO
sil ihe convention here.
As M. sidney Baxter was Tidne his
'-rsc out OF Mr.. Caycr's livery stable
uf afternoon. the animal slipped on the
NtnCllthic pavement aud fell ulon the
t..t breaking young Bakers leu leg
eeiFctn The knee end ankle, The broken
I'D was set by Br. J.. T.. Early and put
W a Diaster-of-Pars case.
'afio have been issued announcing the
M rage OF Miss Margaret Blount Daniel
20 sir James Nelson WaddcN the cere-
uipm 90 take place at the Presbyterian
N.iol Wednesday morning. August 25th,
- y o'clock Mas Daniel Is the daughter
" AIs. g. W. Daniel. OF the University.
ana Is a young lady CT rare accomplish
.enif Mr.. NadGell II "A popular member
" ne shoe firm OF Thomas q Waddell.
Inc following nrrSnns have been sum