davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1897-01-02
A Fight With u PythOn.

An East Indian traveller related
curious experience with python. He
was sitting among some trees in wood
when he noticed movement in a
thick growth OF vines overhead, and
looking up saw the form of an enor.
nous snake evidently about to drop on
him. Hardly knowing why, he sprang
forward, seized the tail of the snake
with both hands and rushed into the
clearing. The snake, which was rest.
ing on mass of interviewer boughs,
was taken entirely unawares and eas-
lily pulled out, showing body nearly
as large as mans thigh and twenty
or more feet in length. To have been
caught in the folds of such creature
would mean certain death, but this in.
genious snake taker did not give the
animal an opportunity. He ran on,
dragging the reptile some distance,
then moving slowly in circle. soon
having it of the ground and in the air.
Swifter and swifter he swung the hid
eous object until it was flying around
him in straight line. There was
large palm tree not far away and NOV.
ing gradually toward IL he soon
brought the snakes head against it
with crash that sent the monster,
stunned and helpless, to tue ground,
where it was dispatched by the natives,
who at first had fled with terror,
watching from their concealment this
astonishing spectacle which illustrated
the courage OF the white man.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1897-01-02
QUITE EXPLICIT ENOUGH,

Mrs. Jones was absent and had left
the oungest scion of the house Of
Jones in the care OF her dear friend,
Mrs. Brown. 1t was evening and Fred.
die was put to bed, when the follow.
ing conversation took place:
Mrs. Brown-''Freddie, kneel down
now and say your prayers"
Freddie-"Yethum," (Kneels and
babbles his prayers, concluding with)
"God bless papa and mamma and oil
dear friends. Amen"
Mrs. Brown-"Why, Freddie, you
have left me out OF your prayer. Last
night you asked God to bless your
dear Mrs. Brown. Have you no word
for me tonight"
Freddie-"Oh, I'm too tired. But
that'll be all right. You come under
the head of dear friends Judge
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1897-01-02
A Powerful Freezing Mixture.

A mixture of two parts of pounded
ice and one part OF common salt will
reduce the temperature Of anything
enclosed so to be wholly surrounded
by the mixture (say milk can in an
ice cream freezer), to a point OF
thirty.six degrees below that at which
water freezes. There are but few that
know of the remarkable properties of
mixture of chloride of lime and ice.
A mixture OF three parts of cystalized
chloride OF lime and two parts of ice
forms a combination that will freeze
mercury in seven minutes. st. Louis
Repuhlic.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1897-01-02
A SMILING FACE.

'Tis nice 10 wear a smiling face,
And laugh our troubles down,
For all our little trials wait
Our laughter or our frown.
Beneath tho magic OF smile
Our doubts will fade away,
AS melts the snow in early spring
Beneath the sunny riy.
'Tis nice to make worthy cause,
by helping it, our OWL;
To give the current Of our lives
A true and noble tone.
'Tis nice to comfort heavy hearts
Oppressed with dull despair,
And leave in sorrow-darkened livea
A geam Of brightness there.
'ris nice to give n helping hand
To eager. earnest youth;
To watch, with all their waywar'ness
Their courage end their truth.
10 strive, with sympathy and love,
Their confidence to win;
'fis nice to open wide the heart
And "let the sunshine in."
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1897-01-02
Rescued by an Elephant.

Bessie Rooney, the ten year old SIS.
ter Of Michael Rooney, the bareback
rider. was about to be hugged to death
by bear yesterday morning at To!
tersall's, when Babylon, one of Ring.
ling Brothers big elephants, knocked
the brute down and saved tho child's
life.
The bear, known as "Growler," had
a vicious temper. He was chained near
the elephants. The little girl is
friend of the elephants, and was
romping with some OF them when
Growler seized her and closed his
paws around her slender form.
Babylon, who had been an interest.
ed spectator, brought his trunk down
with crushing force on Growler's head.
The bear was stunned by the blow
and released the child, who had faint
ed. The elephant then picked her up
and placed her where the bear could
not reach her. Attendants, who heard
Bessie's screams, ran to her assistance,
but arrived too late to rob Babylon of
the honor of saving a human life.-
Chicago Tribune.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1897-01-02
Saved by His Horse.


A graphic story is told by Surgeon.
Captain Grey, one OF the officers who
served in Rhodesia. In the attack on
Mashangombi's the horses began ia
drop. and soon thirteen lay on the
ground, and 1t looked as if the men
would all DO killed. Evidently Gap.
tain Turner thought SO, for he virtually
gave the order, "Sauve qui peut,"
telling every man to fight the best he
could for his own hand. But though
the horses continued to fall, the men
escaped. DR.. Grey, to use his own
words, "led toward tho way out"
under raliiug fire at a gallop, and
was closely followed by the troop.
Every soon, however, l fell from
the saddle, struck with bullet from
an elephant gun about 500 yards of.
The bullet struck me on the top of the
thigh, smashing the socket of tho
thigh bone, breaking n vein and
otherwise wounding me. My horse
was carried on at full speed with tho
roar guard, which rushed at desperate
speed to clear the pocket-like en-
trance of the drift, where the natives
were rallving in the hope Of killing
us. AS lay on the grass, bleeding
profusely, l looked up and saw two
natives aiming Mt me at distance of
about forty feet. At the same mo-
ment saw my horse come laundering
back from the drift. 1t suddenly
stopped and came and stood over my
PROSTATE body, covering me from the
firing, and at tho same time making Il
peculiar noise through its nostrils. l
thought it had been wounded, and
that with tho pain, noise and con-
fusion it had gone mad. This notion,
however, was soon dispellel, for it
continued to stand over me in kneel.
ing posture, and l could see that the
faithful animal had come back to pro.
tect me.
81 may remark here that this horse,
which J myself selected, / made pet
of. The assegais from the approach
ing natives were now beginning to fly
around me, and thinking il 1 could
reach my horses back l should be
shot, which was preferable to being
assegaied, I seized the reins, put my
right foot in the stirrup, asd made IL
supreme effort 10 mount. And was
successful; but how 1 did il do not
know, for my left side was entirely
paralyzed. On finding myself in the
saddle, l called, Go to my horse,
which darted like an arrow toward the
exit from the drift. st. Jhmes's
Gazette.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1897-01-02
Burglar Starts a Fire.

A well.known burglar of Washing.
toms society of thieves accidentally set
fire to house and then extinguished
the flames without alarming the in.
mates. In the lower part of the house
the candle flame came in contact with
some clothing on line, and in order
to extinguish the flames the burglar
went to the room of the sleeping oc-
cupants OF the house and got pitcher
of water
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1897-01-02
THE PENALTY OF vULG ARIrY.

cav! old fellah," said Cholly, as he
found himself face to face with Willie.
boy, cav I say! 1 hear you ave dis.
charged your man, YOU know!'
"Yaas! said Willieboy, Lad to do
it, don't you know. He quito dis.
gwaced me. Yaas. Disgwaced me,
you know. just fawncy He let me 60
out the othah night with wed flower
in my button hole. Yaas Just fawncy
A we'd flower, and I was feeling quite
blue that night, you know. So | dis
chawged him. Because we'd and blue
don't hawmonize, you know. had to
dischawge the creature; he had such
how'd taste don't you know
Browning's Monthly.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1897-01-02
The Pilgrlnis' Threshold,

The first Church Of Plymouth,
Mass. has just received an interesting
relic from Senator George +. Hoar.
1t is a, considerable portion OF the
original threshold of the church in
Dreft Haven, Holland, in which the
Pilgrims held their last service before
departing for America. When. Mi:
Hoar was in Holland last summer he
found it and bought it for a small
sum.-Philadelphia Record.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1897-01-02
NO BET.

''Is it true, Votey. that Scrasgs of.
fered to bet you his head against
football that he would run ahead Of
you for clerk?"
"Yes, and told him that he want.
cd too much odds. "-Detroit Free
Press.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1897-01-02
AMERICAN HUMOR.

Foreigner-"What are they chasing
that innocent looking couple out OF
that house for? See, they are throw.
ing things at them! There. boot
has just caught him under the ear q!
What does it mean?"
Citizen --"Why, that's just bridal
party starting on their wedding Jour-
ney."- Plain Dealer.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1897-01-02
NOT AFRAID.

Dick Hicks (watching the orchestra)
-"Those musicians don't care any.
thing about the director"
Mrs. Hicks-"How do you know?"
Dick Hicks-"The more he shakes
that stick at 'em the harder they til.
die. Puck.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1897-01-02
HARD LINES,

Marlowe-"Sclentists soy that they
can trace man back through su uccessive
periods into the gaseous state"
Maria-"Pooh That's not very diff.
ticult, seeing that there are no end of
men who never really got any furth.
er."-New York Journal.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1897-01-02
EDWARD G. DANA.

steamship Bruins, which took them on
board and brought them to Maniia.
The Flora p. Stafford was owned in
Philadelphia by Captain John Y.
Smith, and partially in Cardiff by his
brother, G. S. Smith.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1897-01-02
HAD LOST HIS RECKONING.

She ~ am quite sure you had too
much champagne when you called on
me yesterday afternoon"
He-"Yes; thought I'd just look
round to-day to see if ! was engaged
to you. ."-Pick.Me.Up.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1897-01-02
Lighted Into Eternity.

A wealthy gentleman of Vienna
stipulated in his will that an electric
light must be constantly burning in
his tomb, and another inDide his coffin,
for twelve months after his death
Pittsburgh Dispatch.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1897-01-02
NOT FIXED.

eyes, he's a very able man, but
somehow he doesn't seem to succeed"
"Perhaps for the reason you men
tion."
"What?"
Variable"
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1897-01-02
A CONSIDERABLE YoUNGsTER.

Amiable Mother-'Here, Tommy,
is some nice castor oil with orange in
it,"
Doctor (playfully)--"Now remem-
Der, don't give it all to Tommy; leave
some for me-"
Tommy (who has had some before)
--"Doctors a nice man, ma; give it
all to the doctor. "-Household Words.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1897-01-02
COMFORT.

"He has broken my heart" walled
The beautiful girl.
"There, there, don't take on SO"
said her friend in tones OF pity; "it
might have been your bicycle. ~
Judge.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1897-01-02
THE MERRY SIDE OF LIFE.
STORIES THAT ARE TOLD BY THE
FUNNY MEN OF THE PRESS.

He's the Winner Tho Coming-Stig-
mata No Bet - Had Lost His
Reckoning, Etc, Etc.
"Man wants but little here below"
And the dealer who is wise,
II he would stand the slightest show
. And sell that ''little," must have the "Go'
And freely advertise.
Il. A. W. Bulletin.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1897-01-02
SrIGMATA.

"I am surprised that Jones should
turn out to be so incorrigible liar"
"Pm not. What else could you ex-
pect from man with hook nose and
tishy eyes. s."-Cincinnati Enquirer.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1897-01-02
THE COMING,

"Nina's Count has arrived from Eu.
rope, hear. How did he Gomez
&c. o. D., they say. Life.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1897-01-02
HOW JOE TUE PHANTOM
Bn0KE JAIL.
BY DAN QUINN.

ORD comes through
the detective Office
that Joe Butts,
sometimes known
MS Joe the Phantom,
has been arrested at
Calcutta. Butts is
wanted Tor the rob.
lery of 10000 worth
of diamonds Mt Man.
chester. In comp
any with his vile,
who is we'll known
!n tho polina nf
The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1897-12-23
STAGE GlINTS.

Alexis Gissiko, professionally known
as Markham, has retired from the stage
and is interested in the publication of a
magazine in New York city.
W. S. Gilbert is suing the London
Era for an alleged libel contained in an
article criticising Mr.. Gilbert for his
criticisms of leading English actors
Andrew Mack will play Sir Lucius
O'Trigger to Nat G. Goodwin's Bob
Acres in a scene from "The Rivals at
the Actors fund benefit in New York
Paul Gilmore is negotiating with Mrs.
Alexander Salvini with a view to Sc
curing her late husbands repertory and
paraphernalia, and it is very likely that
he will star.
E. II. Sothern will not attempt re
vival of s. Change Alley but will re-
ly upon his repertory for the present
season. Next autumn he will produce q
new play by Anthony Hope.
Julia Arthur has received a fragment
of the sword she carried in the initial
performance of "a Lady of Quality, -
which has been recovered from the
ruins of the burned Detroit theater.
Judith Berolde, who has been absent
from the stage for several years, will
reappear in the New York Independent
theater's production of the one act Ital-
ian tragedy 1.-THE Rights of the Soul. "
D'Oyley Carte has recovered his
health, and while he has not yet as
sumed the burden of business cares he
is present every day at rehearsals Of
''The Grand Duchess at the Savoy
theater, London.
The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1897-12-23
How to Secure Pure Water.

Fi1tering paper and a medium size
funnel are all that is needed. The pa
per, little as you may know it, can be
bought at any pharmacy and is very
cheap. 1t comes prepared to fold inside
the funnel. Then gently pouring water
into the funnel the paper strains it per-
fectly pure. OF course a heavy stream
will break the paper, and pint or two
is about all that can be filtered at once
without spending great deal Of time
upon it, but little perfectly pure wa
ter is often invaluable, and this is often
the easiest way to get it.
And always remember that almost
any drinking water fresh drawn is purer
than any water that has been standing
in the air in open vessels even half an
hour. Too often we think only whether
water that has been standing is cold or
warm. Now, cold water absorbs more
injurious gases and absorbs them faster
than warm. Set pitcher of ice water
in an inhabited room, and in a few
hours it will have absorbed nearly all
the respired and perspired gases in the
place. The air will be purer, but the
water filthy. Al an ordinary tempera-
ture pint of water will absorb pint
of carbonic acid gas and several pints of
ammonia gas. Children should be taught
not to drink water left standing indoors.
The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1897-12-23
How to Mend Maekintoshes.

Procure a small tin of india rubber
cement, or dissolve some strips of pure
india rubber in naphtha, then apply
little of the cement to the surface of a
strip of the material of which the mack
intosh is made. This can be purchased
by the yard from the waterproofer
Also apply little of the cement on
each side of the torn part and bring the
edges together and place over them the
patch, which requires to be kept in po-
sition for a few days, until quite hard,
by placing a weight over it.
How to Ward on the Appearance of Age.
The theory that nerve troubles seri-
ously affect the complexion has been
generally accepted now. If you become
aged, looking for clouds instead of sum
shine, seek the latter and make those
around you admire your bright face and
cheerful manner. To evade the invasion
of age, the face and neck should be
thoroughly massaged by a magnetic per-
son. After the muscles and nerves are
In normal condition through a course
of this treatment the face and neck can
be kept in this healthful condition by a
course of personal care. Devote 10 or Is
minutes daily, and always use for these
treatments an oil which acts as a sub
stitute for soap and water and which
will cleanse the pores of all effete mat
ter. Only such oils should be used as
are Endorsed by reliable physicians.
Steaming is very beneficial before the
massage is given, but the face should
be first anointed with the cleansing oil.
Intense steaming should never be re-
sorted to as it parches the skin.
The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1897-12-23
AMATEUR CCNJURlNG.
How to Be q Hermann With Little
Practice.


If all that professor of magic says is
true, anybody with little practice may
become a rival to the great Hermann
All one needs are few implements sold
by the professor. a few lessons at 81
lesson, and practicable last costs you
nothing but time.
Here's one of the tricks that he calls
easy. It's to make coin pass through
a wand, through pack of cards and
drop into glass on which the cards are
resting The professor placed his glass
on the table, rested the cards over the
glass and stood his wand perpendicular
" on the cards. "Here's the coin, he
said, holding it In his left hand and ap-
pearing to take it in his right. ''Now,
watch it 60" He hit the top of his
wand a crack with his right hand, and
instantly there was jingling, and a
coin dropped out of the pack Of cards
and In the glass. But it wasn't the coin
the professor exhibited at first. That he
still held in his left hand. The one that
dropped into the glass had rested secure
~ in couple Of Sits in the bottom card
until the downward pressure from the
wand bent the cards and released the
coin. A little dexterity in handling the
cards makes it impossible to discover
the coin in the pack, and few words
about the wand and magic, and SO ON,
add much to the bewilderment and the
interest.
Another clever trick that seems to
call for an exertion of magnetic force
and has decidedly mysterious look is
that of making lead pencil rise to a
perpendicular position after placing it
horizontally from the palm to the slight
" bent finger tips. The operator passes
the finger tips of his other hand close
over the pencil, and as he does SO the
pencil rises from its horizontal to a per-
pendicular position. To perform the
trick a pencil with a rubber eraser
should be used. Push needle from
which the temper has been taken
through the eraser and leave just enough
out at the end to bend into an almost
invisible hook.
In placing the pencil in the palm
push this small hook under the skin.
Then put the other end on the finger
tips, and the rest is simple. The open
ing of the palm, which tightens the
skin, raises the pencil, and the mystic
passes of the other hand and the talk
about personal magnetism serve nicely
to deceive the spectators.
Making a handkerchief disappear
from the hands while an egg appears in
Its place is deceptive, but also simple.
1t simply requires magic egg, or one
with a hole in it. The disappearance of
the handkerchief is accomplished SIM
ply by poking it into the eggshell, and
when that is displayed it adds wonder
to the trick.
The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1897-12-23
HORSE TALKS.

During the season just passed Joe
Patchen has travelled II, 900 miles by
rail.
The California 8year-old PAGER Ar
thur w, 2:15I, stands 16. % hands
high.
Ethel Downes is the first direct de-
scendant of Goldsmith Maid to break
into the 2:10 list.
The crack 3-year-old trotter of the
Pacific coast in 1897 is Nordeau, 2:17A,
by Norris, :22I.
During her racing career Ella T has
been shipped over 80, 600 miles, and in
81 starts has won money 60 times.
If you think we have not come very
near reaching the speed limit, consider
the fact that not a single new 2 :04
PAGER has appeared this year.
Pearl G, 2:061s, while dethroned as
queen of the pacing turf, still holds the
champion half mile track race record at
2:09, made at Muncie, Ind, the past
season.
Rilma winnings the past season foot
up $14, 262. so, and a mark of 2:10, not
to mention those sums which came out of
the pool box at Detroit, Readville, Lex
ington and elsewhere.
Grace Hastings, 2:Os, is to be perma-
nently retired from the turf and will be
bred in the spring to Baron Wilkes. 1t
is said she will be trained and driven
against her present mark while she is
with foal.
Old Esther, thoroughbred mare, by
Express, dam of the splendid campaign
ing 3-year-old Expressive, 2:12H, has
another representative in the g 80 list,
her son Kelly having recently taken a
mark of 2 :27.
Julia Coulter, 2:15A, by Wilkes
Boy, and Kitty L, by Lanoewood Chief.
are among the trotters that will soon
cross the Atlantic. 1t is said the latter
can trot in 2:12, while her record is
slower than 2 30.
The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1897-12-23
HOW to Brush the Teeth.

The proper way to clean the teeth is
to brush them from the gums to the
crown of the tooth. In this way the
particles of food that are lodged be-
tween the teeth will be dislodged. If
the teeth are only brushed lengthwise,
as is generally the case, the food. in
stead of bei1g brushed out, will be
more firmly lodged than ever. One
should keep skein of dental silk al
ways ready to pass between the teeth
and clean them effectively from any
thing that has got between them which
the toothbrush cannot reach. If the oc-
casiona1 use of toothpick is necessary,
use one made of quill, but if the teeth
are properly attended to such an instru
ment will be useless.
The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1897-12-23
APHORISMS.

They who forgive most shallsbe most
forgiven. Bailey.
To know how to wait is the great Sc
cret of success.-De Maistre.
Who makes quick use of the moment
is genius of pendence. -Lavater.
Opportunity sooner or later comes to
all who work and wish.-Lord Stanley.
To see what is right and not to do it
is want Of courage or of principle
Confucius.
Set all things in their own peculiar
place and know that order is the great
est grace.-Dryden.
We ought not to look back unless 1t
is to derive some useful lessons from
past errors and for the purpose of profit
ing by dear bought experience. Wash
ington.
Five great enemies of peace inhabit
with us-viz, avarice, ambition, envy,
anger and pride. If those enemies were
to be banished. we should infallibly en-
joy perpetual peace.-Petrarch-
Pain and pleasure, like light and
darkness, succeed each other, and he
only who knows how to accommodate
himself to their returns and can wisely
extract the good from the evil knows
how to ive.-Sterne.
He who boasts of being perfect is per-
feet in folly. never saw perfect man.
Every rose has it's thorns and every day
its night. Even the sun shows spots, and
the skies are darkened with clouds, and
faults of some kind nestle in every bos-
om.-Spurgeon.