davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The St. Johns herald., 1897-11-20
Origin or Tencinr.


 rom the nrst invention of the sword down to the period when the fifteenth century was drawing to a close, the weapon had always been used as an arm of Offense.
 The person using it thr- st or hewed It into the body of his antagonist when ever he had chance, and the only de fense against 1t was a stout armour or an interpOsed shield.
 It is not to be supposed that an an- cient warrior, or one lalonging to the earlier middle ages, never thrust aside or parried with his own a stroke f his enemy's; but this method of deferse was not depended upon i~ those days; the breast plate, the helmet, or the buckler was expected to shield the sol dier while he was endeavoring to get his own sword into some unprotected portion of the body of his antagonist.
 But about the time of Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain the science of fencing was invented. This new system of fighting gave an entirely new use to the sword.
 It now became a weapon of defense as we'll as offense. Long, slender ra- piers, sharpened only at the point, were the swords used in fencing.
 Armed with one of these a gallant knight or high-toned courier, who chose the new method of combat, disdained the use of armor; the strokes of his opponent were warded off by his own light weapon, and whichever of the two contestants were enabled to disarm the other, or deliver a thrust which could not be parried, could drive the sharp point of his rapier into the body of his opponent if he felt so inclined.
 The rapier, which was adopted tc combat two persons, and not for gen .- -'.--~ ...- became tHa 7~nanon of the duellists; and as dueIs used to De as common as law suits are now, 1t was thought necessary that man shc0lG know how -r +.vsr and .lcs orr.act the life and honor of himself, his fam ily, and his friends.
The St. Johns herald., 1897-11-20
The Women of Guiana.

The wife of the cooly in Guiana is a woman who is very much to be envied. Every gold or silver piece her husband receives for his services is beaten into personal tripkets to be worn by his bet ter half. In this condition it constitutes the cash wealth of the family. It is per fectly safe, as it is as much as any man S life is worth to touch the trinkets so long as the woman wears them. These same women are also noted for their beauty. Their features are straight and perfect, their eyes beautiful in color and their forms perfect models of symmetry and grace. Dressed in soft, filmy materials, rich in color and eastern figures, they present strangely oriental and fantastic appearances.
The St. Johns herald., 1897-11-20
Meek, bat Vigorous.

She was the daintiest of the dainty face, figure, air and apparel all pro claimed 1t. To be sure he had not heard her speak as yet, but from the lips ot so pretty little patrician only pearls and diamonds could fall It was strange that she should be at the races unat- tended, but that, of course, was but the accident of moment Her husband or brother could not be far off and would rejoin her in moment. Time went on, though, and still she sat alone. Pres ently something happened. One of the horses stumbled and fell. The jockey was pitched headlong to the ground
 He lay white and still. The man turned to look at her. There she sat, the color flown from her cheeks, her lips parted, her eyes wide and staring He ventured to reassure her. "Oh, 1 don't believe he's badly hurt, he said. "Hurt?" she repeated quick as a flash. ''I only hope he's broke his neck. I had $2O on the little scoundrel. "-New York Sun.
The St. Johns herald., 1897-11-20
A Misguided Burglar.

Scar-faced Sikes, the burglar, was operating on tine ground floor of house of Steenth street the other night, mak- ing judicious selections from the ar. ticles of silver and alleged silver which he found in the dining-room, when he inadvertently made noise, which dis turbed somebody upstairs.
 He heard that somebody cautiously open door, and then all was still, as if the somebody were listening. Then a voice fiOated down the staircase:
 William, is that you?"
 Without a seconds hesitation the burglar replied, "Yes, darling" and be to move toward the door, hoping that his reply had satisfied the in- quirer, who would then go back to bed, and wait for William" to come up- stairs. But he was disappointed.
 The voice immediately let loose some piercing screams, and as the burglar rushed out into the street, he said to himself:
 That comes of my inexperience with the ways of husbands. Instead of re- plying Yes, darling,' I should have said, Of course it's me; shut up and go to bed.' That would have been more natural and soothing, and I could have got away withogt giving myself 8 nervous ft."-Harper's Bazar
The St. Johns herald., 1897-11-20
YaIlOM Alaska Cedar.

The durability of this timber is forei- bly, illustrated by fallen trunks that are perfectly sound after lying ill the damp woods for centuries. Soon after these trees fall they are overgrOwn with moss, in which seeds lodge and germinate and grow up into vigorous saplings, which ttand ill a row on the backs of their dead ancestors. Of this company of young trees perhaps three or four will grow to full stature, sending down straddling roots on each side and estab- fishing themselves ill the soil, and after they have reached an age of 200 or 300 years the downtrcdden trunk on which they are standing, when cut into, is found as fresh in tEe heart as when it fell John Muir ill Century.
The St. Johns herald., 1897-11-20
Prolongatfon of Human Life

Statistics tending to prove that :he average of mans life has been increas, ed through modern improvements in medicine and hygiene are always in teresting. Among the most recent in stances is a table prepared by core spondent of Nature, showing a steady increase in the proportion of sexagen arians among the population of Cana da. In 1851, out of every 100 persons living in Canada, 3.70 were 50 years or age or over. In 1861 the percentage of sexagenarians in the population had in creased to 4.49. In 1871 it had become 5.1O; in 1881, 6.S2, and in 1891, 7.01.
The St. Johns herald., 1897-11-20
Honest but Cnta Yankee

There is funny case of international honesty down in Arizona, just On the line between that territory and Mexico. A Yankee farmer lives there, one Anna ! sa Barrow by name, and it is his busi- ness to raise chickens. Chicken feed is cheap in Mexico and chickens bring fife prices in Arizona, but to raise fowls in Mexico and bring them across the bound ! ary or to buy the feed and bring it across, would involve the payment of a considerable duty, which would eat the profits about as fast as the hens could eat the corn. As for smuggling, that was not to be thought of.
 Amasa is Yankee, and be is so hon est that his neighbors say he wouldn't take advantage of a man in a horse trade. But he is also full of Yankee in- genuity, and after deep cogitation he built long, slim hencoop, one-half of 1t in Arizona and the other in Mexico On the line there is a gate. Over the line there are barns containing feed. At feeding time the gate is opened, and the chicken fancier shoos his flock intd Mexico, where they eat their meal. Then he shoos them back to the protec- tion of the American flag, where they digest this Mexican grain, lay theirl eggs and carry on their family affairs Mir. Barrow saves about 90 per cent on his grain and makes about that much on his chickens, and if there is any smuggling done it is done by the inno- cent and lrresFCH> ul- L-.aICs-F,azh-
The St. Johns herald., 1897-11-20
Where the Fruit Goes.

There were shipped east this year up to Septemb Der 30, 4663 carloads of decid- uous fruit from California, an increase of a thousand carloads over the cores bonding period of 1886. The following shows the destination of the cars shipped to arrive in Septem Der: Chi cago, 153; New York, 314; Boston, IA !; Philadelphia, 30; Minneapolis, 53; Baltimore, Cincinnati, 2; Kansas City, 2e; Montreal 1G; New Orleans, %; Denver, 14; St. Paul, II; St Louis, 23; Omaha 37; Cleveland, 6 {; Pittsburg, 8 S BuaaiO. Nil~auAee. lI.
 There has been an improvement in the lemon market of late and the local demand is at present. good, at SI.'o to $2.25 per box.
 The first considerable rainfall of the season occurred this week There had been ample warning of its coming for several days previous, and such farm CTS as were caught unawares have themselves to blame for any loss they may have suffered.
The St. Johns herald., 1897-11-20

In Southern California there are nearly 1000 stamps pounding quartz, and the industry is in it's infancy hereabouts. In the upper end of the State there are 595O stamps, Nevada county having 75O.
 The vintage of California this year promises to reach 20, 900, ,OOO gallons, or p per cent more than last season. About one-half of the grape crop has already been converted into wine. The growers are now receiving an advance of from So to $10 ton on their garpes, the understanding being that they are to receive $1 ton for every cent per gall lon the wine brings went sold.
The St. Johns herald., 1897-11-20
-Teg T4a Crave

Tf.~g T.il Graves.
 Many 5f tAe gold finds in fbe hon- d.eg region have been purely acaI Ieu.al and some Ot them were uecIueuIy In- teresting, though perhaps not more so than many accidental finds in our own West in the HOS and '50s. It was be- fore 1850 that three men, while look ing for gold In California, discovered the dead body of man who evidently had been prospecting" Poor fel- low!' said one of the trio. 'He has passed in his checksw Let's give him a decent burial" said another. "Some wife or mother will be glad if ever she knows It." They began to dig a grave. Three feet below the surface they dis covered the signs of gold. The stran- ger was buried in another place, and where they located a grave they open ed a gold mine.
 An adventurer who had drifted into Leadville awoke one morning without food or money. He went out and shot a deer, which, in it's dying agOnies, kicked up the dirt and disclosed signs of gold. The poor man staked out a "claim" and opened one of the most profitable mines ever worked in Lead ville
 Dear Man Claim," the name given to another rich mine in LeadviEe, was discovered by a broken-down miner while digging a grave. A miner died when there were several feet of snow on the ground. His comrades laid his body in a snowbank and hired a man for S2O to dig a grave. The grave dig ger, after three days absence, was found digging mine instead of a grave. While excavating he had struck gold. Forgetting the corpse and his bargain, he thought only of the fact that he had "Struck it rich"
The St. Johns herald., 1897-11-20
Shipping Fruit Abroad.

Secretary Filcher of the State Board of Trade has received letters from many handlers of California dried fruits, in- dicating decided improYementin in ship ments to Europe. Orders from Ger many are reported to be three times as large as last year with promise of a continuous demand. Great Britain's purchases are also far in excess of last year.
 From San Jose comes the information thatwhile only seventy-six calroads were shipped to the Old World in 1896, it is estimated that at least 300 cars of dried fruit and from 100 to 150 cars of canned fruit will be sent from the Santa Clara valley to Europe this year.
 As a result of the Hamburg exposition Los Angeles claims that eight carloads of fruit were shipped from that point this year.
The St. Johns herald., 1897-11-20
Time Resisting Cedar.

Cedar-wood is famous among farmers for it's lasting qualities, when used for fence posts. An interesting proof of the pover of this wood to resist the ef- fleets of time is furnished by the Egyp- tian boats made of cedar which were found buried near the banks of the Nile. and which, according to recent es- inmates of their age, were probably in use 4,50O years ago! The fact must not he overlooked, however. that these hoats were covered by the dry sand of the desert.
The St. Johns herald., 1897-11-20
The Blue Glass Craze.

About twenty years ago somebody gave to the world the information that blue rays were health rays, and that to sit in the light falling through blue glass would cure you of almost any thing you happened to have. Half the houses one passed had blue glass window. There were even blue glass sun parlors, and invalids basked in the ghastly light, and many of them re- gained their health, till somebody proved the blue glass idea to be utter nonsense, when, of course, they dis covered that they hadn't really been helped at all.
The St. Johns herald., 1897-11-20
QUEEN sABE?

Quien sabe ?-who knows ?-is phrase in very common use among the Spaniards, and helps over many, many difficulties. It is expressive. What the weather may be the coming winter, who knows? it may be snowy, wet, stormy, cold freezing, and full of sickness and pain, who knows? Some of us today hale and hearty, may lie on beds of torture or hobble about on crutches. who knows? Before the autumn merges into winter, many may have symp- toms of approaching trouble; of the old rheumatism coming on, or of first attacks begun: who knows? Who knows? That's a conundrum. But there is one thing everybody knows, the best thing to do Is to be ready forthe weather coming and to take hold of what is. Everybody knows what IS best. With St. Jacobs Oil in the house, everybody knows they have sure cure for rheumatism, acute or chronic. It Is like wise known that in any stage of 1t the great remedy does its work of cure per fectIy. If we suffer, we need not ask who knows when it is so well known what IS best
The St. Johns herald., 1897-11-20
AN OPEN LETTER TO MOTHERS.

We are asserting in the courts our right to the exclusive use of the word "CASTORIA," and "PITCHER'S CASTORIA," as our Trade Mark. I, Dr. Samuel Pitcher, of Hyannis, Massachusetts, was the originator of " PITCHERS CASToRIA,' ' the same that has borne and does now bear the fac-simile signature of CHAS. H. FLETCHER on every wrapper. This is the original " PITCHERS cASTORIA" which has been used in the homes of the mothers of America for over thirty years Look Carefully at the wrapper and see that it IS lhe Hind yoa have GlaDays bought, and has the signature of CHAS. H. FLETCHER on the wrapper. No one has authority from me to use my name except The Centaur Company of which Chas. H. Fletcher Is President.
 Ala,oh 6, 1897. SAMUEL PITCHER, MD
The St. Johns herald., 1897-11-20
Rnan-Eafinp WaRnS.

If Is asserted by correspondent of +ba Gardeners Chronicle that wasps not only devour ripe fruits, such as oDricots, grapes and pears, but that they extend their ravages to rosebuds and blown roses. The blossoms and buds covering two fourishing rose bushes belonging to him were destroyed by wasps, in spite of the battle which ne waged with the insects for the pres eryation of his flowers.
The St. Johns herald., 1897-11-20
Crane on Doors.

The custom of placing craDe o1 th, door o1 a house where there -l- .a. q recent death had it's origin in the an cient English heraldic customs, an, dates as far back at least 4s tAe ; ~,4- HOO A. D. At that period Indictments ar armorial ensigns were placed iu front of houses when the nobility and oentrv died. The Indictments were oi diamond shape, and contained the ram ilv arms quartered and colored with sable.
The St. Johns herald., 1897-11-20
Quick!

The sooner you begin to use SeA4lkiMg's Best tea and baking powder, the better your opportunity to get some of that $2ooo.oo.
 And the more you will en- joy your cake and eating. A Schling Company
 San Francisco 2OO6
The St. Johns herald., 1897-11-20
Try schmllng's Best tea and baking pOwd,
IT'S NOT EXTENSIVE.

It's the quality that's high in TEA GARDEN DRIPs, ToBoGGAN MAPLE SYRUP and PELICAN LOUISIANA MoLAssEs. For said by frst-clasS grocers in cans only. Money refunded if goods are not satisfactory. Don't accept an imitation See that the manufacturers name is litho THE PACIFIC COAST SYRUP co.
The St. Johns herald., 1897-11-20
Left Destitutei Not of worldly goods. but of all earthly comfort

| is the poor wretch tormented by malaria. The
 fell seourge is, however, shorn of it's thong in advance by Hostetter's Stomach Bitters, its only
 s'rre preventive and remedy. Dyspepsia. bilious i ness. constipation. rheumatism. nervousness and kidney comF-aiuf- are also among the bodily atiiruons which thi- ne-ed--u- uleGi. 1 cine overcomes "itri certainty oso a, .s-.~---
 atically.
The St. Johns herald., 1897-11-20

ion. Kan. ana q years oid and just ht,le ---r.a. r-v u..tss iu Indiana bo. hissci a and i've learned to ride sume. Its a pile of fun, but my biscile joltS considerable. A feller come along yesterday with biscile that had hollow injun robber tires stuffed with wind. He let me try hissen and mi, it run like kushinl He told me you sell injun robber just the same as hissen How much will it be to fix mine up like hissen? Mine is all iron wheels. Do you punch the hollow hole threw the inju tin robbeI or will have to do it myself? How do you stick the ends together after you got it -donef If your iniun robber is already hOller, will it come any cheaper emptyP l can get all the wind want out here in Kansas free.
 EBERNEEZER Y. HENSON. P. S.-How much do you charge for the doc dad you stuff the wind into the robber with and where do you start2
The St. Johns herald., 1897-11-20

1 believe my prompt use of Piso's Cure prevented quick consumption.-Mrs.L Lucy Wallace, Marquette, Kan, Dec. 12, '95.
The St. Johns herald., 1897-11-20
Poor Oscar! He Is in the market yet Who bids ?-Spare Moments.
The Metric System

Metric standards of weights aud measures have been adopted by twen. ty-one countries, Great Britain and the United States being the only prominent exceptions. Before another year Great Britain will, in all probability, have passed an act legalizing the system in the United Kingdom and providing for the preparation of table of equlva- Tents between the metric and the i'm perial standards. This will leave the United States in a conspicuous minor ity among nations.
 The British act, it should be noted. is merely permiSSive, and the choice be- tween pounds and kilos remains free 10 every merchant; but even so. 1t is concession to the metric enthusiast. 1n that it will lead to a more careful teaching of his system in tic schools and to wider use of it i;, dealings with other nations. The metric sys- tenn has much to conquer before it be- comes universal, but it is making rapid strides toward ultimate success. It's standards unquestionably facilitate the keeping of accounts, and give one a great deal in common with the rest of the world. With our decimal money system we have a good start made upon the metric gradations, and our arithmetic classes have ~'-~-- --:1 more attention to the French standards than corresponding classes -- Eaarsn schools.
 It may be fifty, in may be one hun dred years before the metric system becomes the established method of ad- juSting weights and measures in all civilized nations. The change is grad ually being effected, however, and not rapidly enough to entail confusion or sudden great cost. American scien- tists have long asked for a compulsory bill from Congress, and it is likely that we shall at least go as far as parlia- ment in this change before many more sessions are ended.-Boston Journal.
The St. Johns herald., 1897-11-20
Stop! Women,

And consider that in addressing Mrs. Pinkham you are confding your private Ills to 8 woman-a woman whose ex- perience in treating woman's diseases is greater than that of any living phy- sician, male or female.
 You can talk freely to a woman when 1t is revolting to relate your private troubles to man; besides, man does not understand, simply because he isa man.
 MRS. PINKHAM'S STANDING
 INVITATION.
 Women suffering from any form of female weakneSsa are einvited topromptly communicate with Mrs. Pinkham, at Lynn, Mass. All letters are re- ceived, opened, read, and answered by women only. A woman can freely talk of her private illness to woman. Thus has been established the eternal confidence between Mrs. Pinkham and the women of America which has never been broken. Out of the vast volume of experience which she has to draw from, it is more than possible that she has gained the very knowledge that will help ySur case. She asks nothing io return @~n4rt vow ~co5 --i1l, cr5 her ad-lce has rslteved tLousa-fs Sureiv v any 7yoWa-. rich or poor. is very foolish It she does not take advantage of this generous offer of assistance.
The St. Johns herald., 1897-11-20
SCAR EDISON was A male firt. There

asl't a s'-i - Dayton who hadn't received attention from him, and Jl@- ho S @ attentions which, when Q
 young lady receives them from a gentle man, are generally consid e e d to "mean something"
The St. Johns herald., 1897-11-20

But they make Century runs: "The,mills of the gods grind slowly" remarked theaphilOsO- pher. 'Geared too low, chi" queried the cyclist.
The St. Johns herald., 1897-11-20

Parke-I have a joint account in the bank with my wife now Lank55OOd. You make an even thing of it, 1h7 "Yes, put the money in and she draws it cut"
The St. Johns herald., 1897-11-20

The reciprocal civility of authors is one of the most risible sceues in the farce of life. Johnson.
The St. Johns herald., 1897-11-20
Ar Ircuiring wheeIman.

This letter, published by The Ameri- can Field, is said to be all order sent by a Kansas man to a bicycle company:
La correspondencia de Puerto Rico. (San Juan, P.R.) 1890-1943, 1897-08-16
iJESU, HOMBRE!

Dijo GEL Eco Macdonald -(que es un 'seco''
de papel- que hace sidem'' solo en- el-partido
incondicionaD D,-que aquf estamos en- un trfs-
Y, este 10 sabe un borrico), para que con
Puerto Rico Jauja sea un grano de anfs.--
s'iJesd, hombre!' Tapa, tapa que to ven
las orejas. -<Df, mi amor, por que te quejas?,
-sporr que no te dan la ''chapa"2- es
verdad, angel de amor,"-que, de Espana
Paloseco, ,-''mas caro" sc escucha GEL Eco,"
" Sc comprende meior?No te parece elo-
cuente-lo que dicen desde allf? Y, no escu-
chas 10 que aqpi afrma ell contribuyente? Y
ell ''superabit'' hermoso-de nuestra GAIA reple-
ta,-1no te dice 10 que ''aprieta"-el presu
puesto horroroso?-Y, de pobres, eli enjambre
que mendiga noche dia. - ino te dice, que,
vida mia, -tiene ''petora' de hambre? ?-Y
este intense malestar-que el pafs entero sien-
te,-5no te dice, que la gente-ya cansa de
aynnar?-Y aquel aolfoito celo--er ofrecerte y
no darte,-no te dice, que, con arte-nos estan
tomando ell 2elo?-i Jesd, hombre! POGO cues
ta-cargar al burro demas, -pero, 81 puede
"mas-con la carga, al fin, Sc acuesta. .--Por ESQ
''angelo d'amore" tie digo que ''non vero'
que aquf nos qae{eel dinero que ssse llevan"
los s'signore". ".-D1dcESEs PRIETO. Capital.
La correspondencia de Puerto Rico. (San Juan, P.R.) 1890-1943, 1897-08-16
T { A T R @

La novedad de la function de anoche estu-
vo en- el estreno esta Capital de la popular
zarzuela Ez Idne6oy de Gronuderos, que tantos
aplausos tanto dinero ha proporcionato & sus
afortunados autores los senores Sanchez Pastor
Chapf.
Ell pdblico capitalefo ha podido juzgar
anoche los merltos de Ia preciosa zarzuela, y
por 10 mucho que aplaudio puede asegurarae
que fue de su complete agrado, ESQ que la
obra sc resentfa de falta de ensayos, asi como
de ciertas inseguridades en- la batuta. Por par.
te de los artstas iLfantiles hubo deseos de salir
airosos en- su diffcil trabajo, distinguiendose la
monfsma nina Pillar Ramirez, que debutaba
anoche, y que nos hizo un zana6or graciosisi-
mo, asf como ell nino A. Fernandez que inter-
preto admiramente ell Lego, como sc 10 demos
tro el pdblico haciendole repetir muchas veces
los couolets de los nailagros La orquesta re-
gular, mejor dicho, mas NAL que bien, pues
nos cost6 trabajo reconocer el numero de intro
duccion tan bello y delicioso algo muy malo
lubiera dicho de los seflores mdsicos ell maestro