davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Iowa Baptist standard., 1897-05-21
THE FIRST LIGHTHOUSES.
They Were IN Outx.owth Of the Beaec
Fires On He0d;a1ds.

They Were IN CutSSowth Of the BeAecn
Fires on Head;ands.
When ships are sailing upon the
ocean the lights of heaven are their
guides. Even in the dark ages. when
the compass and sextant were un-
known instruments, the seemingly mo-
tionless pole-star hung like beacon
light in the northern heavens. and the
rising and setting of the sun ana
stars distinguished the east from the
west, says the ST. Nicholas. When,
however. ships come near the land this
lights of heaven are not sufficient safe
~ to guide them. Rocks lie in theii
paths unseen in the night; reefs ana
SHOALS spread under the water; whil'
unsuspected currents sweep the frai!
craft all bindly upon these dangers.
nevertheless. ships were sailed alons
dangerous coasts for centuries before
pain system of marking dangerous
piaces was invented. The early ma
rihes were bold ana reckless royers,
more than half pirates. who seldom
owned rood of the coasts along which
theE sailed. and could not have estab-
ished lights and landmarks on them
hao tneF cared to do So The rude
oeslnnlng. then. of a system of light
houses was when the merchants with
"hom the reckless mariners traded in
tnose dark ages built beacons near the
haroor mouths to guide the ships into
por1s by day. and lighted I. fires for
.helf guidance at night. As such a
hafhor-guide had 10 be sure land
marx In the day time and a light by
hisnt' 1t soon took on settled shape
"a lower on which could be built a
hEe; ana such tower was usually
bullt OF stone. This method of guiding
shlps into the ports which they sought
was scarcely established before human
NlckednesS, used il as a means of their
destruction. Bands Of robbers. or, as
they came to be called. "wrcckers,''
would hide themselves somewhere near
me maven sought by a richly laden
Vessel, and after overpowering the
would extiDgush the bea-
,on-fire on the night on which the shin
vas expected. Then they would ligh,
inother fire near some treacherous
'ee1' The mariner sailing boldly to-
Nard the false light, would dash his
'essel to destruction on the reef
Shereupon the robber band would
'l'lnder the wreck and make off with
he booty
Iowa Baptist standard., 1897-05-21

bC~OAA-
black lake deep in the heart OF the
noisy swamps.
On the left a field of fair young cot
ton stretches in even, monotonous
! drills as far as the eye can reach, the
tender plant family green along the
ridges OF grayish-black soil of the fur
rows. The June sun beats down most
ardently upon wood and field, steady,
FURNISHED, golden glory, and the in
| tense heat refracted from its rays
against the scorching earth rises man
high, quiyering like the exposed nerve
surface Of a timorous soul, swaying,
shimmering. rising and falling in a
fantastic saraband over all the arid
uplands.
Near the edge of the field man
bends over a hoe, industriously work
ing among the young plants. He is a
pondsman, slave, but yet he is hap
py, for the 1.-the, tall, graceful black
woman who bends SO steadily above
the washtub propped against the cabin
SIDE Is his wife. He has chosen her
from among all the dusky maidens on
tine big plantation, and In his heart is
a great love and as great hope that
ny steady work he may soon buy her
freedom and his own.
Ills thoughts dwell upon this subject
as he works, singing as he keeps time
with slow, monotonous chopping of
his hoe in the dry, loose soil
His mp1odv tr;, and
full OF monotonous repetition, but the
vocal harmonies are rich full, strange,
or barbaric originality. not easy to
write or interpret. But the voice of the
woman repeats the refrain in soft,
tremnlous cresccndo that rises now and
again into an almost prophetic wall,
and there is no sweeter music in the
world to his unframed ear than her
m0urnful voice as it quivers back to
him upon the vibrant air:
"Out'n de wilderness he led his chill
len.
Outn de wilderness. oh, Lord"
Growing the hill lordly white
mansion gistens through the green
foliage and from a side gate in the
green hedge a patA runs in sinuous
curves between lush fields of grass and
clover down TO the little cabin in the.
edge of the wood Through the little
gate comes a girl. tall, 1.-the, and scan
tiiy clothed. Her limbs are bare. and
she holds a cotton basket over her
head TO shield her face from the sun.
her black eyes glowing from beneath
the coarse screen with sidereal fires.
She does not tarry on the path that
The sun has kissed to scorching inten-
sity. her bare, slender brown feet bare
y touch the hot, white sand as she !
iances over the path with many fan |
astic steps, keeping time TO the swift |
'hythm of her body and limbs with a |
ow grooming, musically, weirdly mo-
lotonons, the juba tune dear to the |
legr4 heart. aRl which forms an ac-
to his best beloved |
lance, The girl joins the woman at
he tub outside. the hut, plunging her
ong brown arms among the snowy
inen floating in the azure water. She
las lett off dancing now, but she still
lums the tune. and keeps time with
er work as she rubs and wrings the
aintT white garments. In the door
iay OF the cabin, that is sharply out
Iowa Baptist standard., 1897-05-21
Preached His Own Funeral Sermon.

iTeacneH HIS Own Funeral Sermon.
From the Atlanta Constitution: For
rest Tuttle, local evangelist of Mil
lcdgeville, startled the community sew
eral days ago by appearing upon the
street corner for the purpose of preach
ing his own funeral sermon. He mount
ed dry goods box, selected an appro-
pirate text, and pronounced eloquent
cncomiums upon himself. He gave a
vivid description of his future place of
abode, and told of what he had done to
deserve the reward. In former davs
futile was we'll known circus man.
and for number of years travelled
with Barnum. His brother, Jerome
Tuttlc, was famous for his triple somer
sault turn, and was an athlete of world
wide nOtoriety. For time Forrest
followed his brother, but he changed
his life and returned to his old home
and began to preach. Upon one occa-
sion the circus with which he travelled
came to Macon. Tuttle secured a pile
OF bibles, placed himself at the main
entrance and offered bible to all who
came. His old associates were rather
surprised at the sudden change. Now
futile has conducted the exercises of
his own funeral, and although he is ap-
parently in a good physical condition.
has prepared for the end
Iowa Baptist standard., 1897-05-21
why She Danced for Her Fiance.

why She Danced for Her Fiance.
"ausau, Wis, special to the st. PAU
dispatch: A queer case was on trial in
Juuge Millers court day or two ago
'ohn Spick, the defendant, is farmer,
ana was accused of compelling his
sweetheart, Alvina Ziebarth, to execute
'he SKIRT dance at the point of loaded
gun John is quiet, inoffensive look
ing bachelor of 40 winters. and weighs
about 125 pounds, while Alvina has on
~ seen 10 summers and weighs any
where between 10 and $50. 1t tran
splred during the testimony that John
mad obtained from Alvina a promise
mat she would at an early age become
MIS-. John Spick and take up her resi-
dence in Johns humble abode. 1t also
transpired that Alvina's parents had
always extended the glad hand TO
him during all his wooing. while Sc
cretly they were plotting to prevent
the union. That they were successful
In alternating the affections of
his promised bride was quite
evident to the spectators. for twice
during the recital of the history of
his courtship she arose and walked I'M
TO the Judges bench and denounced
John as liar. The testimony of the
girl and her parents was to the effect
that John pointed the gun at her, and
AS John was minus any witness, be-
sides himself, to the contrary, the court
imposed fine of $40 and costs.
Iowa Baptist standard., 1897-05-21
NEW USE FOR ELECTRICITY.
Vegetables and Flowers Brought ia
Early Maturity.

Larry
Experiments conducted for the last
five years at Cornell college, the results
of which were made public last June
seem to prove that electricity may ne
used to stimulate the growth Of plants.
says writer in the New York Herald.
Agricultural scientists had long recog-
nized the valuable part that atmos-
pheric electricity played in the life OF
vegetable growths. but the artificial ap-
plcation of it had never before been
attempted. In addition to the applica-
ton of electricity to the seeds of the
plants and to the soil the experiment.
ers at Cornell used the arc light at
night. The plants receiving the bright
electric rays at night and the sunshine
in the daytime were found to grow
much faster than those not thus ap-
piled with the artificial stimnlant. Let
tuce. spinach, raddishes and similar
vegetables We're brought to maturity
in almost half the time ordinarily re-
quired. BY applying the arc light d-
rect to the plants their growth was SO
accelerated that many ran to seed be-
fore the edible leaves were formed.
Plants placed within five feet of the
lamp died and wilted shortly after be-
ing taken out of the soil. The effect
upon Towering plants, especially upon
the daisy. petnnia and violet, was
equally remarkable. The blooms were
hastened in their growth and their
number multiplied. The colors were
frequently made more brilliant. On tho
other hand, they faded sooner. A Mr..
Rawson, who owns fancy truck farm
near Boston and has tried similar
methods, finds that the gain from one
crop of lettuce is sufficient to pay the
expenSe metf,tlng the electric lights
during WhOl6 season.
Iowa Baptist standard., 1897-05-21

Such enormous sums arc being paid
for houses and windows in London
along the route Of the royal procession
On June ~ next, and 50 costly are the
preparations made by the people of the
metropolis for tho celebration Of the
sixtleth anniversary of tho Queens as
cension to the throne that during the
last three months her Majesty's life
has been insured to the tune of nearly
$4,000, 900 by shopkeepers, window bro
kerH, house agents and spectators,
who are anxious to protect themselves
against loss in the possible event of
the venerable sovereign's death before
the date Of the jubilee.
Iowa Baptist standard., 1897-05-21
POSTAL FACILITIES IN 1900.
"A Business Letters Slow Stages Cen.
tury Ago.

tury Ago.
In 1870 not only was the field Of
uslness enterprise restricted. but the
transaction of business within that
neld was slow and difficult SAYS the
Atlantic. The merchant kept his own
DOCKS, or, as we would have said. his
own accounts: wrote all his letters
with quill and when they were writ.
ten let the ink dry by sprinkling il
with sand There were then no en-
Velopes. no postage stamps, no letter
boxes In the streets. no collection of
the mail. The letter written. the paper
carefully folded. sealed with wax or a
wafer, addressed and carried to the
postonlce, where postage was prepaid
at rates which would now seem cxtor-
tlonate. To send letter which was
single sheet of paper, large or small
from Boston to New York or Phila-
delphia cost 1S1a cents and to Wash
ington 20 cents; and this when the
power of a cent was five
Tunes what it is at present. To carry
q letter from Philadelphia, then the
capital of the United States, to Boston
and bring back an answer by return
mail would have consumed from
twelve to eighteen days. according ia
the season Of the year and the
weather.
Iowa Baptist standard., 1897-05-21
USEFUL HOUSEHOLD HINTS.

When meats are being roasted and
there is danger Of their becoming too
brown place basin of water in the
oven. The steam will prevent scorch-
ing and the meat will cook better.
An old cook noted for making the
most delicious of loaf cakes was asked
her secret for never having failure
and replied: 1T is all in the baking;
the richer the cake the slower must he
the oven"
And regarding the boiling of eggs:
If, when the shell is cut from the end
the egg is found not to be sufficiently
cooked to please the palate, it may Re
again put into boiling water and cook
ed still longer If he top is sprinkled
thickly with salt When il is done re-
move the coating OF salt and the egg
will be the same as If the she'll had
just been broken off.
Iowa Baptist standard., 1897-05-21
The Old Hounds Farewell.

An affecting account Of the death of
an old hound is given by his owner in
the Animal World" Hector was q
long-tried and trusted dog, the leader
of a pack of hounds. The old dog be-
came too infrm for the field and was
left at home when the pack went out,
Year by year his feebleness grew up
on him. but he was we'll cared for. and
passed his time mainly in sleeping be-
side the kitchen fire. His long alb
sence from the hunting-field caused his
fine, deep-toned note to be almost for
gotten. One afternoon" says the
owner, Il was writing in my room,
when suddenly l heard the splendid
note, as | thought at the moment, of
a strange hound, and listened to hear
it again; when, instead of it's being
repeated, the whole pack in the ken
mel near my house gave one burst, as
if in full cry, and, as the sounds died
away and all was again hushed in still
ness, my huntsman rushed into the
room, saying, in an agitated voice:
Hector is dead. sir! That splendid
note of what | had thought a strange
hound had been the old dogs fare
we'll call to the pack. They had heard
and had answered"
Iowa Baptist standard., 1897-05-21
REFLECTIONS OF BACHELOR

Probably Jonah was trying in rot
out of cleaning house.
1he great necessity in a womans life
is love; the great necessity in a mana
life is doubt.
Somehow mothers are always fatter
than you think their daughters will ha
at the same age.
Men are like wild animate
won't do much damage SO long as tbov
are fed at the right time.
A woman always has an idea thai
she can make a man fidget and act m
comfortable whenever she looks at him
hard.
The man that puts on nonchalant
air when he asks woman to marry
him is the same boy who used to whis-
tie when he went past a graveyard at
night
Iowa Baptist standard., 1897-05-21

4 cablegram from London says: In
consequence Of the efforts of the gov
eminent Of Massachusetts. the Ameri-
can Antiquarian and Massachusetts
Historical societies, the Pilgrim So
ciety Of Plymouth and the New Eng
land Society Of New York, backed up
hy the desires Of the archbishop of
Canterbury and the bishop of London,
the consistcry court of the diocese Of
London assembled March % in the old
chapel Of ST. Pauls Cathedral in order
To determine the question of the re-
storation Of the log of the Mayhowcr to
the United States. After formal dis
cnssion the chancellor said: Il order
IN the undertaking here given by Mr..
Rayard to place the log in fit place,
where rereons concerned can have ac-
ceaE thereto. and proper certified copy
being deposited at Fulham that the
original he given Up to Mr. Bayard for
transmission to the President of the
United States"
Iowa Baptist standard., 1897-05-21

fre shows itself, the charcoal may be
regarded as entirely free from liability
to spontaneous combustion. The scare
caused by the supposed danger from
the ignition OF charcoal used in refrig-
Grating chambers may consequently be
regarded as groundless, and as no di-
rect evidence exists of its ever having
lgnlted under such circumstances, it is
somewhat of mystery how any alarm
should have arisen.
Iowa Baptist standard., 1897-05-21

SIR Isaac Holden, the millionaire
member Of Parliament from Yorkshire,
TOW nearly 20 years old, believes with
John Wesley that phusphates of lime,
10 which -four Is so rich, arc good for
growing children, young people, and
Nonng mothers, but shorten the life of
the elderly by making bones dense
and wcighiy muscles rigid, "furring"
the large blood vessels like an old boil
er, and choking the capillary artcr-
ieF, So he eats hardly any bread, his
fa'orite food being oranges, bananas
and meat
Iowa Baptist standard., 1897-05-21

BY the last census it appears that
the population Of France is now 3S,-
228,969, an increase in tve years of
only 1889, and this mainly through
immigration. For several years past
the death rate has exceeded the BIRTH
rate. These facts become still more
significant when comparison is made
between France and her neighbors. In
Germany the increase of population
during the last five years has been
2,851,431, nearly 100000, as against
$4,000 in France. The contrast is still
more striking when these figures are
compared with those of the past At
the beginning Of the century France
outnumbered Prussia three to oAt. To-
day Prussia contains almost an equal
population, and as for the whole O:
Germany, there are i've Germans to
every four Frcnchmen.
Iowa Baptist standard., 1897-05-21
The Pneumatic Tire ExpIoded.

While Ed Geers, horse trainer. was
driving a spirited filly at Selma. Ala.
one of the pneumatic tires of the sulky
BURST with a loud report. The fily ran
away. seriously kicking he trainer.
"ho has Il broken arm. cHt face and
A>elp and seriously injured ankle.
Iowa Baptist standard., 1897-05-21

lined against the gloom of the inte-
rior, figure appears suddenly, a tiny
ebony tot, n acant snowy white garment
| barely covering its cupid-like dusky
| body. 1t stands uncertainty on its
Wobbiy infant feet and crows ino,1ir-
ingly, insistently: Nanny, mammy!'
The woman leaves the tub suddenly
catching the little black pckaninny in
her arms. swift gleam of the holy ioy
of motherhood Illuminating her face.
"Mammys chile!' she murmurs mas
sionately. and then, holding the infant
high in her arms, she calls to the man
hoeing in the field. lie laughs and
brandishes his hoe, making grotesgue
motions TO attract the baby's wander
ing gaze.
The sun beats down with the same
tiorcety FURNISHED rays upon the cabin.
the mysterious stream, the whispering
wood, and the path leading from the
MANSION through the bayfield, is lust
as hot. But the green shutters of tho
mansion are tightly closed, the trim
yard is in disorder, and the erstwhile
fair blooming garden is trampled out
of recognition by many feet. A Gu
rious spectacle is being enacted in the
ruined garden. In the graveled space
before the wide piazza a block has been
erected. To the right is huddIed a
shrinking group OF men and women.
scantily clad, bare OF head and foot.
their knotty hands telling eloquent
tales Of days of ceaseless toll with hoe
and plow. Facing them curious. ca
ger group Of sun-tanned white men
afoot and astride of glistening animals
murmur and comment on the common
place heart breaking tragedy
This slender-limbed yellow girl has
the block, and in her liquid
black eyes there is gleam of resigned
The strident voice OF
The auctioneer assaults the grooming /
summer silence; there is a murmur |
'mong the white men. and the girl |
steps down-the whole current of her /
life changed by a few brutal words. |
One after another the shrinking black /
victims tremblingly mount the over
urned tub that does duty for a block.
Ind now IL is the turn of the woman
whose home aud heart are centered in
he tiny cabin, the tip OF whose smoke
PCS chimney can be seen over the green
ledge
Ha; fate, also, is quickly decided
Iowa Baptist standard., 1897-05-21

Because she was sufficiently prompt
In bringing him his morning coffee ]
Linker, Chicago barber, called An
ME Egan "a lobster" Annie had her
employer arrested and he was fined a
small sum and costs OF court. Annie
would now like TO call Mr.. Linker "a
sausage" but the lesson of the law
serves as bride TO her tongue
Iowa Baptist standard., 1897-05-21

Hecent expressions by Cuban leaders
indicate that they have lost hope of as
Eistance from the United States but
'hey keep right on fighting, while we
rersevcre In doing police duty for
Spain
Iowa Baptist standard., 1897-05-21
How 1t Travels.

She-"But woman can make money
go farther than man can" He-.yes,
I've known you to travel half over the
city to spend half dollar when a man
would have parted with it at the first
store he went o,"-Boston Trans
eript.
Iowa Baptist standard., 1897-05-21
Precious Bullets,

Bullets made of precious stones are
rarities in warfare. But during the
fighting on the Kashmir frontier. when
the British troops defeated the rebel.
lious Hunzas, the natives used bullets
of garnets incased in lead The Brit
ish preserved many as curiosities.
Iowa Baptist standard., 1897-05-21

The shameful charge is made in Bal
timore that school commissioners and
politicians are selling appointments of
teachers. IL there Is any truth in If
the offenders richly deserve to be fined
and imprisoned.
Iowa Baptist standard., 1897-05-21

Prince Ferdinand of Bulgaria has dis
appeared, and now it will be in order
10 search the Partisan music halls if
MS subjects wish 10 know just who
the ia.
Iowa Baptist standard., 1897-05-21

Weyler says il Is all over. and tb,
Cuban rebellion is as meek as a whip.
ped child. Gomez says Spain is aboul
70 give IT up as the toughest iob she
ever contracted for. And between tho
two are the trocha, yellow fever. small
pox and a brand new bicycle track for
those on either side who like to scorch.
Iowa Baptist standard., 1897-05-21
Costly Meal Of a Pig.

A peasant living near Milan recently
bought pig. which. when killed was
found to have swallowed metal
maEhboN containing TWO notes of the
value of $3.50.
Iowa Baptist standard., 1897-05-21

Our Old clothes have lost us some
friends. but not SO many as our opin-
icDF about our neighbors.
Iowa Baptist standard., 1897-05-21
Spontaneous Combustion of Charcoal.

Spontaneous Combustion of Charcoal.
1t has been stated from time to time
that charcoal used in building refrig-
Grating chambers on shore as we'll as
on board vessels has ignited spontan-
eously. Although it is known that
charcoal is liable, under certain condi-
items, to take fire spontaneously. there
has been no direct evidence that it has
ever done so in the cases alleged, and
with the object of settling the ques-
ton. an inquiry into the matter was
sCme time since undertaken. The facts
brought out by this investigation are
that. though freshly-made wood char
coal-that is. charcoal which has not
absorbed it's moisture-and oxygen is
liable to so-called spontaneous COM
bustiOn. il is never liable to reignite
after having been exposed to the air
for day or two II appears conclu-
sive. from tests and experiments made
bat In any case if. after a few days no
Iowa Baptist standard., 1897-05-21
MAMMY'S CHILE.

LOG cabin nestles
in the bend of a
tiny clearing in the
edge of a great for
est of whispering g
pines. On the right
a dark brown
stream swirls swift
ly yet noiselessly
b G t W e en- sedgy
banks, finally los
Iowa Baptist standard., 1897-05-21
BOY Made stark Mad by Hypnotic Faik

erk.
Sault Ste. Marie, Mich, special to
chicago Times Herald The hypnotic
"Fontanas,' who recently exhibited
here, have left in their wake a number
of juvenile adopts whom they used on
the stage as victims. Boys ranging
from II to Is years of age have gone
to hypnotizing their friends. One of
the juvenile hypnotists operated on a
boy IN the basement of the high
school, placed his victim in a rigid
condition and left him there. Super
intendent Ferguson was called, but
could not bring the boy back to con-
sciousness. During session of Sum
day school in the Central Methodist
Episcopal church CONSERVATION was
caused by boy who had apparently
become stark mad. He had been sit
ting quietly in one of the classes, and
without any apparent reason suddenly
started up and indulged in a number of
insane antics. 1t was soon discovered
that he had been mesmerized.
Iowa Baptist standard., 1897-05-21

The time will soon be here when the
gallant young man asks the delicate
girl at his side II she will have some
Ice cream. And she modestIy replies.
Only freezerful, please
Iowa Baptist standard., 1897-05-21
Waste.

Science declares that nothing in ma
ture is wasted. Let me say to Won tba.
nothing anywhere is wasted. except in
case OF a man who throws himself
away.-Rev. Z. r. Lee
Iowa Baptist standard., 1897-05-21

GIVE self power to move noun
tain. and II will put big sign out on
II 70 show who did it, as the house
movers do.