davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1897-10-22
QUAINT AND CURIOUS.

A peHnd of the finest spiJer web
would reach around the world.
man whc Il Fond Of figures asirms
that in battle only one ball in eighty
five takes effect.
The largest known flower is said to
be the Ratiiesia of Sumatra. 1t has
diameter of nine feet.
The flag carried by Cortez, the Span
ish conqueror OF Mexico, nearly 400
years ago. was until recently preserved
at a little church in the capital of the
state of Tlaxcala.
Five ordinary men can hold a lion
10 the ground, bnt it takes nine of the
same kind Of human beings to hold a
tiger. One man can hold a horse by
the head so he can not rise.
Patent 80, 406 in the German Patent
Record is: "Fraulein Elfrida La
tikiewitz, Berlin, apparatus for keep
ing the cheeks full. This apparatus
is worn in the mouth and is fastened
to the jaw.
The hand of Jim Stevenson, Lex
ington lKy.) colored man, is said to
measure eleven inches from the wrist
to the tip of the middle finger. The
thumb nail is described as of the size
Of half dollar.
In Sweden, if you address the poor
est person in the street, you must lift
your hat. The same courtesy is in
sisted upon if you pass lady on the
stairway To enter a reading room
or bank with ones hat on is re-
garded as impolite.
A very rich Frenchman called ''Pere"
Chapalier, made his fortune by utiliz-
ing the stale bread of Paris, not only
that which came directly from house.
holds but also that found among the
garbage of the city, Chapalier was a
manufacturer of bread crumbs. He
pulverized the stale bread collected by
a multitude of agents, and either sold
the crumbs to restaurants for kitchen
use, or remoulded and baked them in
the form of loaves for the poor.
In 1885 landlords throughout Mas.
sGchusetts colony were licensed by the
Legislature for a year sometimes, and
sometimes "at the pleasure of the
court The charges were regulated
by law, and not by the landlords.
For instance, the usual price of beer
was a penny a quart. Many of the
innholders were constantly in trouble
and were fined for charging two pence
quart for beer. The price of meal
of victuals was not to exceed six pence
eight cents.
Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1897-10-22

was the only desire that remained 10
him in life, and till it was accom-.
.plishef his shrewd little friend saw
Ma there was no good talking Of any.
lg else, So he hurried over 10
lrA land aud had reached ThomastCwn
the1 evening before. Today he had
takq car over to the village lin the
old plays it was the shortest and pleas
aatdst four miles ever known and,
leaving the driver asleep in the sun
at the ross reals, had turned into the
wood That is 4 fnort cut to the two
p1iEciral houses YIN the parish. He
had no yerf .te idea Of the plan
to pursue1ssts,sw that be had reached
his iou7 sad ., q mi seemed as if all
power ~ ROUNDS to Perhaps some
where a lrlc zee Nellie parossing from
the ea'Y hip su1ls.-.iB fectory side,
he she d 5lnP sectieb ssing by, and
lie would sWaown upon his knees
among the7 fern aud look at her.
George Str,angeways' wife-and-oh,
this faintnfssl Merciful Godl is that
Ne lie
. eddie u it really vou1n
TeddIe was on the moss, stretched
fat. save that Nelie's arm was under
his head; Nellie's little, bare, sunburned
hand unfastened his eollar-he could
only look and smile. The green Moy-
liscallan leayes were overhead, dancing
against the blue, Nellie's face was
very close, and he thought he must
be in heaven.
How could you como like this and
take us by surprise, and you so i'll,
Teddie, the girl went on, reproach-
fully; ''if hadn't been going across
to the castle this morning early and
come IN you lying here in heap"
Going across to Che casile?. Ted
die found time to utter, his eyes o.,
Nellie's left hand. Don't you live at
the castle now altogether"
And what should / go and live at
the castle for, when I've good home
of my own. intruding on newly mar.
ried people,as if didn't know better
Besides, Aunt Ellen isn't home from
her honeymoon yet, and Uncle George
what. are You able to sit up? Take
care or you'll"
She could not finish the sentence,
for Captain Blake was sitting NJ with
a vengeance, and to'steady hin...s,ilf le
had got his arm around her waist.
so you never thought of Aunt Ell
len?" aid Nellie, by and by; well,
you wouldn't have been an freshman
if you hadn't made mistake some
wherel Only if you'd ever seen
Cncle George / don't think you'd
have douhted me, Teddie dear. OH
they have been so funny counting one
another these five years land if hadn't
been so well amused ] think | must
have died, for you kept me long time
waiting without word n- Boston
England Guardian
Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1897-10-22
A rrngedy of the Lightning.


1t has been an extraordinary year
for thunderstorms in England as well
as here, aad a most unusual number
of fatalities have resulted.
One of the most pathetic of them
happened in Birkenhead, where a
young man and his sweetheart, taking
shelter under great lime tree il a
violent shower, were killed by thun-
derbolt The tree was curiously
marked with white, spear-like stroke
pointing straight down to the spot
where the young people stood.
So great was the popular inter
est III the sad tragedy that it was found
necessary, after the news got abroad,
to station policeman at the foot of
the tree. Otherwise it wonld have
been totally stripped of its bark in
spite of its great sicily the morbidly
curious relic hunters.
Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1897-10-22

down IN a pit and the iron sheetlng
used inside the core and outside the
cope was a half inch thick at the top
and two inches thick at the bottom,
thus preventing the danger of explo-
sion, such as was formerly common
when casting a bell.
Streams from the furnaces poured
into the mold and the bell was cast
and ready TO be shipped to Chicago
The smaller bells were made in muck
the same way, but speFial molds were
not necessary, as the foundry makes a
great many bells of their size.
The bells were received in Chicago
and were placed on exhibition on n
platform in front OF the church, where
they were viewed by the thousands
who comprise the deusely populated
parish of st. Johns Cantius. Then
they We're consecrated, the priest of
the diocese. Rev. Father John Kas-
przyeki, being ass.lted by fifteen
priests and represent yes of more
than sixty Polish societies.. 1t is esti-
mated that 10000 persons were pres
cnt 81 tie service
Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1897-10-22
r,tle of Admiral

1t should here be explained that the
title Of Admiral was not used In
England in the earlier days, says the
London Nautical Magazine. In fact,
the better opinion, is that 1t was not so
used before the beginning OF the four
teenth century. He was called CapI-
taneus Maris Captain of the Seal,
keeper of the seacoasts," Captain Of
the Kings mariners" The title "Ad-
miraT or "Amiral," probably derived
from the Arabic amir or emir pre-
feet, was used In foreign countries
much earlier than in England. and
came to IL rom France. Prynne
t"Animadver ions," rage 100, states
that there were admirals and an adj
mlralty court in England as early as
tie time of Henry l., derived from our
ancient Saxon kings-Alfred, Edgar,
Ethelred and others who had the do
minion Of the British ocean. None OF
thse kings probably was more potent
than King Edgar, who, possessing an
absolute dominion of the neighboring
sea, sailed around about 1t every year
and secured 1t with constant guard.
These ships, being very stout ones.
were in number 100; some writer's
even affirm that there were 4,SO0 sail.
ing ships.
Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1897-10-22
caIcAeo.s LARGEST eELL.r
weigh. o,soo Pound. ana !. 10 s

Weighs 0,5oO Ponnds and Is in 81.
Johns cnntins Church.
The largest bell in Chicago Is that re-
Gently placed In the tower Of the
Church OF st. John Cantius, at Carpen-
ter street and Chicago avenue. 1t took
the better part OF three days to hoist
the big bell and two others into the
tower. Sixteen men were employed In
the task, and man from the foundry
Mt West Troy, n. y. where the bell
was east, superintendent the job.
Six Thousand five hundred pounds Is
the weight OF the big bell. and with it
came two others. weighing ,300pounds
and 2.s00 pounds respectively. The big
bell is the largest In Chicago. 1t meas
ures sixty-six inches across Its mouth
and its height is fifty Inches. Resting
on the supports from which It swings.
when ringing ont summons 70 attend
mass or tolling the death Of parish
Toner, the bell towers to more than
twice the height Of man.
The big bells were cast IN West Troy.
n. Y. where most of the large bells
for churches are made. The work Of
casting It was a very tedious process,
for great care must be used in casting
a bell. as the slightest mistake will
ruin its tone. seyenty-seven per cent.
Of copper and % per cent. of tin form
ed the alloy which was first made and
then melted into l2-pound lngots.
These In turn were melted in three re-
verbatory furnaces. A giant mold was
made, consisting of a core and cope,
the latter fitting over the former leav-
ing a space between In the shape Of a
bell. The outside of the core and the
II the cope were lined with clay
q. ed by firing. Tie mold was
Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1897-10-22


ssWhat is horse sense, Uncle Jim?"
II don't know exactly, but a man
oughtn't to trust himself on bicycle
unless he has got il, Z
Doctor-I believe you have some
sort Of poison in your system. Pa
TENT Shouldn't wonder. What was
that last stuff you gave me?
Jabbers-why have you and Merri-
man quarreled? Havers-Oh, he's
such a perfect ASST Then l should
think you'd get along all right"
Counsel-What is your age, madaml
Witness--I only know from what I've
been told, and you just told me that
heresay evidence was not valid in
court
Spriggs-H Hello, old man, Tn awful
ly glad to see you out again. / heard
that the doctors gave you up. Bowles
Yes, l guess, I'd have died If they
hadn't.
Prosperity Eluded Hint Thoughts
you said you saw prosperous times
ahead. " ''Wen, l thought did, but
the heiress had my eye on wouldnt
have me-"
He dreamed Of GLORY in the leld'
In eestasy complete,
And then he went forth valiantIy
And harvested more wheat.
''Your husband seems to be pretty
easy-going sort, ehY' "Don't you be-
lieve nothin Of the kind. 1t is tn
hardest work in the world to start hig
goin' at all
Duzzey-I know for fact
there are lots of innocent men bel
the bars. Doohey-Name SOM
them. Duzze- Well, animal tai x
Cor instance. ~
Mrs. Cgmso-Your husband dresses
very quietly Mrs. Cawker-Does he2
.YoH ought to hear him when he cant
find his collars, or his cuff buttons be-
come mislaid
Mrs. Swellington-Are you sure
this is the fashion? Modiste--Oui,
madamel Ze YER latest. Mrs. Swell
inston (still doubtfuD-Quee 1t
looks we'll and feels comfortable.
Mrs. Bloobumper-How did the de-
tectives happen to suspect him, dis
guised as he was in women's clothes?
Bloobumper-He pasted milliner's
store window without looking in.
''In marriage, said inc on aaache-
Tor, as as he mentally figured on the
cost Of a wedding present, "a woman
gets everything" Yes" admitted
the old maid, ''she even gets the
worst of it..
An old laiy was telling her grand
children about some trouble in Scot
land, in the course of which the chief
of her clan was beheaded @t'was
nae great thing Of head, to be sure, I"
said the good old lady ''but it was q
sad loss to him
Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1897-10-22

A late invention which is interest
ing medieo-scientists is called the BIZ
cycle health meter. 1t is made of two
strips of steel, so thin as to be flexible.
These are fastened together with
l-ivots. about one-tifth of an inch long
Between the steel plates is the mechan-
ism, and fastened to thelportion of the
steel that comes against the wrist is a
thin strip Of what looks and feels Tor
all the world like oile,lanik. in a
Inortise at the top Of .he meter one
sees certain figures, which change
from time to time with the physical
condition of the 'wearer. These fig
ures denote the rise and fall of physi-
cal condition, just as the mercury in
the thermometer indicates the changes
il the weather. --ArgoDaut.
Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1897-10-22

III had my life to live over, " said
the man who adopts a solemn tone,
''there are lots of mistakes that i
wouldn't have made"
That's Just like man." his wife
reioined. Always discontinued. Sup
pose YOU didn't make the same mis-
takes; have you any reason for sup
posing those you made in place of EN-
would be bit more satisfactory"
Washington Star.
Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1897-10-22

Five years later Captain Edward
Blake was coming home on sick leave.
1t had been ''near squeak" as he
said himself. That wound on the
head, at the Burroo Pass affair, had
set all Europe talking about him, but
had nearly done for him all the same.
Then came weeks of fever and the
weary journey to Bombay; the re,
lapse on the road, which, but for Mrs.
Diamonds nursing, must have finished
him; the almost miracllously accom-.
plished move on TO shipboard, which
the doctor allowed was an ex erienee
of kill or cure.
And now he was steaming home as
fast as the P. 4 o. line could do it. aud
every day some fresh sense Of power
in mind OF body was reborn in him;
one day he could arrange his own pill.
low, the next he could read few
lines Of the paper. A little later he
asked Mrs. Diamond if she could find
him paper and pencil, as he wanted
to write note ''home." Life was
worth living again with Moyliscallan
drawing nea er day by day. Mrs.
Dia nond was little widow lady. who.
since her husbands death, had been
keeping honse for brother in the
civil service, "rhe Judge, as she
called him. had fallen a victim to tho
Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1897-10-22

Moyliseallan woods in 81. Msl.berl
How often Teddie Blake had pictured
his homecoming through the green
glades that stretched between the cas-
tie and the reelory. Those sylvan
aisles were the rally place of all his
favorite dreams, for did not Nellie
cross them day by day, and would it
not be here that he would bring her
to tell her the secret which he thought
she must have guessed long ago. Rec
tor OMalley would let him speak at
last, for the long waiting had borne its
fruit in reconplng the Blake Golfers,
while Teddie knew that the Burroo
fass affair, of which he himself thought
aud spoke 50 modestly, was not likely
TO be forgotten when his name came
up at the Horse Guards. A thousand
times he had gone over all this in i'm
agination, lingering, meanwhile, the
little flat locket that hunga his watch
chain-and now-and now, he was
creeping back to Moyliscallan like a
thief, having given no word Of warn
ing either to the rector or to his agent
at tAe castle creeping home Just TO
see Nellie's face again once more and
thea to go away anywhere and die. He
was still weak and wan from the fever.
Mrs. Diamond had tried hard to per-
suale him to remain little time in
London for consultation with first
rate doctor, bat the determination to
see Nellie at Moyliscallan once more
Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1897-10-22
Mean and Irritable


obseurity aud its earliests1 ''4s
twined with that of sever
claiming its par, mage. Moaa and
distinct game it came OF WCGu 0uu
Holland or whether it is tn. ION
of several games lorn in England and
Scotland-no man kGowoth. There
are ancient Dutch tiles picturing
what might have ~ prototype,
and there is reeorledN royal decree
of the Scots Parliam mt in l457 con-
demning go'f as diftracting the sol
dl RS attent on FROM archery. James
VI of Scotland laced a tariff on tho
feather balls which came from Holland,
and Charles l was in the midst Of an
exciting match when the news of the
Irish rebe lion reached him
And this is not all of history.
"Kloben is German for club; "kulban"
Gothic for stick with a thick knob,
and "kolfr is Dutch for game that
by some is set up as the original of
Tresent-day golf. "Chole," still
played in Northern France and game
of undoubted antiquity on the CONT
nent, is also upheld as a possible
source OF ancestry; while the ancient
'jeu-de-mail' has likewise place in
the well-filled list of golfng forefath
ers, because it is played with a box
wood ball--batted to extraordinary
distances-and a club somewhat of a
compromise between croquet and
polo mallet
Is not the history of nearly all our
games lost in the shrouded years. of
the long ago? And histoey is
So readily madel-some study of
isolated data, a little skill with
tie pen and a. vivid imagina-
on-and whe is there to gainsay
your completed work? Why, indeed,
should not golf be traced TO Biblical
times, for may not David's strength
of arm and accuracy of eye with the
sling have been acquired by driving
of the tee and holing out on the green?
Harper's Magazine.
Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1897-10-22
ON THE SUNNY SIDE.

preachin'-prayin'
~ the dark or light
Always sayin.
ut u all come rightF'
Spring-time glory,
Or the winters blight,
Same old story
eth ali come right =.
Fortune flyin'
When it seemed in sight,
Still kept eryin'.
"itll come all right /"
Song Or slghin',
SIN his hope wuz bright;
Liyir -dyin'--
eth come all right y
Atlanta Constitution.
Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1897-10-22

The unmarried men are becoming
more coy and more timld every day,
and the unmarried women are becoR-
Ing more aggressive and holder.
Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1897-10-22

Irate Customer-This chicken i,
quite cold.
Polite Waiter-What else could
monsieur expect? The poo- has
cen dead three weeks, NV
Book.
Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1897-10-22

- less man. IIOW DO HE
Origin of Golf Lost in 81 getting in the dumpsl
tiquity--Perhaps David p f. Ito, a.. ter,oer
The first golf appears 49, ~. L,,r;ases
obscurity aud its earliests1 'N'iAAs ~
Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1897-10-22

sswhat is horse sense, Uncle Jim?"
II don't know exactly, but a man
oughtn't to trust himself on bicycle
unless he has got il. .
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-05-07
nAGLE AGAIN
ASSA|LS BARRY
Exciting Episode That Oc-
Cured on a Street
Car.
The Ratort Discourteous Ex.
changed Between the Two
Men.
Judge Terry's Slayer Called a Hirad
Assassin and Southern
Pacific Thug.

AS the outcome of the "roast" to which
David Nagle was submitted some time
ago In the Star, published by James H.
Barry, there was an exciting scene on a
Devisadero-st street car on Tuesday, between
the two men named. This was the second
episode that has resulted from the publ
cation in question.
In each case Nagle was the aggressor,
according TO eye-witnesses, and his resent
ment has apparently not moderated,
though the roast" was applied several
months ago.
On the latest occasion Maggie was on the
car seated on the side of the dummy away
from the sidewalk, when Barry boarded
the car at the corner of Hayes street, on
his way downtown.
According to one who was aboard the
dummy at the time Nagle, on seeing his
old-tine enemy, began using abusive lam
guage, directed against him. AS soon as
the editor OF the Star com pretended the
situation he shouted to Maggie: "Shut up,
you biackguard; you hired assassin, shut
up"
Maggie arose and in threatening man.
ner approached Barry, who kept his seat
and continued: You hired Southern
Pacific thug, you have threatened to kill
me; you have killed others. Now kill"
The Southern Pacific employee came a
step or two nearer and said: "Be careful
what you say" adding some vile language
and epithets.
II will say whatever 1 please" replied
the journalist, both by word of mouth
and in public print"
Maggie promptly invited Barry to get
off the car and fight. but the latter an
swered That he was not engaged in the
business of fighting skunks.'
Matters subsidized until Nagle left the
car at Leavenworth street. AS he was
about 10 do so he said something about
Barry not printing anything about him
in his paper.
To this Barry re joined: whenever such
creature as you can dictate the policy of
my paper and keep line out or put line
IN | ought to be dead"
In the course of the exchange of uapleas-
antries Barry took occasion to inform his
adversary that he Nagle, was gunfghter
and that he probably thought on account
OF his reputation that he could kill any
man, and added. You have killed the
last man you ever will and live"
An attempt was made to find Nagle last
night, but he was not at home Barry
was seen at his Office late last night and
confirmed in substance the occurrence as
related,
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-05-07
DISGRACED THE UNIFORM
Why Sergeant of the First United
States Infantry Was Dismissed
without Honor.

Sergeant James r. Pickett Company G..
First Infantry, U. S. A, has been dishon-
orably discharged from the service of the
United States, with forfeiture of retail ned
pay.
The dismissal was made by the direc-
ton of the Assistant Secretary of War, on
the recon mendation of the commander of
Sergeant Pucketts company. The SER
geant has quite record as a sprinter and
was the winner of prizes in recent con-
tests at the Preside. No court-m artial
proceedings were had in his case. He
made statement OF the charges against
him to the officer commanding the COM
pany in which he served, and asked to be
let out of the service. The statements
mads convinced the commander that
Pickett had not acted in an honorable
manner, and therefore dismissal with
honor was not allowed. According to the
statement given Pickett wrongeu a girl
and did not marry her until compelled to
do so. After the marriage he refused TO
contribute 10 the support of his wife, leav-
ing TO her the burden of caring for herself
and baby.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-05-07

of things-it shows itself in many ways.
At first, perhaps little heaviness in the
stomach little sourness, windy belchings
and heartburn. Headaches begin to come
pretty soon after that, and biliousness and
a foul taste in the mouth in the morning.
Chronic constipation is almost inevitable,
and it is probably the most serious trouble
that ever takes hold Of a man. Its seeming
simplicity is the thing that makes it most
dangerous, because it leads to neglect.
Constipation means that the body is hold
ing poisonous, impure matter that should
be gotten rid of. The poison is being re-
absorbed into the blood and the whole body
is being filed with it. Impurity in the
blood may lead to almost any disease.
There is no telling what may come of it.
Constipation is the start of it all. And yet
people are careless about it 1t is the most
serious thing in the world, and the easiest
to cure if you go about it right. DR.. Pierce's
Pleasant Pellets cure constipation. Cure
it positively, certainly infallibly. Cure it
30 it stays cured. Cure it SO you can stop
taking medicine.
And that is something that no other
remedy in the world will do.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-05-07
KILLED HERSELF,
Mrs. Mary DObelaarr Wound Up a Sick
Spell With, Draught of
Strychnine,

Strychnine.
Mrs. Mary Dobelaarr, whose residence
was 40 Twelfth street, died at 7 o'clock
yesterday morning from strychnine
taken by herself with the intention OF
committing suicide.
Her husband is the owner of the scow
schooner Mountain View, and was absent
from the City at the time the suicide took
place. The woman had been sick for tine
past five days and swallowed the poison at
o'clock last Wednesday afternoon.
w. II. Miller, who lives in the same
building, saw the women take the drug,
and Immediately summoned DR.. Thrasher.
who administered the proper antidotes,
but the poison haa already taken effect
and the woman died, as before stated.
Coroner Hawkins took charge of the
body and an inquest will be held