davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1897-02-25
kEELhAULlNG.
IL Horrible Torture That Was 0ftsn
Melted Out to Jack Tar.

keelhauling was a method Of naval dis
cipline particularly in vogue with the
Dutch navy, for as Van Tromp swept the
channel with a broom at his masthead his
countrymeE sometimes used human sweep
ers under their keels In large square rig
ged vessels the victim was dashed TO "A spar
and had iron weights secured TO his feet,
spans were secured To this spar, and lines
were led from IL To the mainyard. When
all was ready, the culprit was swayed up
to the mainyard, dropped into the sea and
hauled under the ship TO the other side
Here Is the way Marryat describes its OPP
GRAFTON in that small cutter where Small
bones suffered and Snarleyow was thought
to be dog fiend: This ingenious proc
ess," he writes, sis nothing more or less
than scudding poor navigator on voy-
age of discovery under the bottom of the
vessel, lowering him down over the bows,
and with the ropes retaining him exactly
In his position under the keelson, while he
Is drawn aft by hauling line until he
makes his appearance at the rudder chains,
generally speaking quite out of breath,
not at the rapidity of his motion, but be-
cause when so long under the water he
had expended all the breath in his body
and was induced To take salt water in lieu.
sin the days of keelhauling the bottoms
Of vessels were not coppered, and in conse-
quence were all studded with IA species of
shellfish called barnacles, which attached
themselves, and as these shells were all
open mouthed and with sharp cutting
points those who underwent this punish
ment (for they were madc To hug the keel
son of the vessel by the ropes at each side
fastened TO their arms) were cut and scored
all over the body as II with SO many Ian
Gets, generally coming up bleeding In ev
cry part. But this was considered rather
advantageous than otherwise, as the loss
of blood restored the patient If he was not
quite drowned, and the consequence was
that one out of three, it is said, have been
known To recover after their submarine
excursion.
No words can add To this weird descrip-
ton of a very old and hearty sea way of
numbering All the officers of junior and
middle rank and all the men, whether vol
unteered, shanghaied or pressed, were sys
dramatically underpaid and robbed.-Har-
per's Weekly
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1897-02-25
Dangers In Circulating Libraries.

A foreign medical journal has been pub
fishing facts about the dissemination Of
disease through books from public libraries.
It is, of course, impossible for librarians TO
ascertain where books have been or to
know the conditions OF families into which
they go. A large number of books were
examined and were found to contain the
bacilli of pneumonia, diphtheria and many
other sorts, some of which were harmless.
Even new books fresh from the publishers
hands were found To contain germs There
are very many persons who practice wet
ting the fingers with the lips or tongue
when turning the pages Of books This is
an exceedingly dangerous thing To do, not
only to the person who does 1t, but to all
others who may use the book afterward,
especially IL the person SO doing has any
form of disease In the system. Invalids of
all kinds are likely to be great readers, and
the consumptive or those suffering with
cancer may unwittingly deposit on the
pages of the volumes they peruse the dead
ly germs of their own malady 1t has been
suggested that library books be subjected
TO intense heat at intervals frequent enough
20 insure their immunity as transmitters
of disease. York Ledger.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1897-02-25
A Warming to MIR. Cranes Admirers.

The public has come to look upon Will
liam ii. Crane as funmaker, comedian
clear through and a man who under no
consideration is To be taken seriously.
His plays have always been jovial, hearty
and wholesome, with never tinge of sad
ness in them. The departure he made
this year in choosing IA play in which in
the last act he dies has UPSET TO some ex-
tent this belief that he cannot portray the
tragic side of life. A striking instance OF
the feeling of the public on the matter
happened at the Fifth Avenue theater re-
Gently.
The curtain had been up for several
minutes and the play had fairly started
when "A carriage drove UP TO the door. Two
men and two women alightcd They were
in evening dress, and also in particularly
good humor. They had evidently had q
good dinner and were ready and willing to
bubble over with Enthusiasm. They were
looking for comedy and were ready to
laugh. As they passed through the door
one of the men said, with "a chuckle:
"Ill let it's great. l always laugh at
Crane.
When the curtain was rung down after
Crane, in the lart of the wornout, world
wcaried man had quietly broathed his last,
the little party sobc rly put on their wraps
and started out AZ they passed through
the door one of the women said;
"Well, how did you like it?"
The man sayagely kicked programme
out of his way and replied in gruff way:
1--WE been bunkoed "
'Why, how" asked the woman In sur
prise.
well, " aRd here he wrapped his heavy
coat around his throat, II came here To
laugh, not To cry and then the party
passed out into the night. York
Tribune
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1897-02-25
A Boys Religious Instruction.

Laurence Hutton contributing series
of recoliections of his boyhood days, under
the title Of . A Boy Knew, . to St Nicho-
Vas, says: All the boys religious training
Mas received at home, and almost his first
textbook was The shorter Catechisin, I"
which, he confcsses, he hated with all his
little might He had To learn and recite
the answers To those long questions as soon
as he could recite at all, and for years
without the slightest knowledge as to what
IL was all about Even To this day he can
not tell just what ''effectual calling" or
justification, " is, and am sure that he
shed more tears over "effectual calling"
than would blot out the record of any
number of infantile sins. He made up his
youthful mind that II he could not be saved
without 'effectual calling, whatever that
was, he did not want To be saved at all
But he has thought better of IL since.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1897-02-25
NIGHT IN THE DESERT.
The Gloom and silence of Nature Have n
Painful Effect on Humanity.

r. Talbot Kelly. the English artist who
illustrated Slntin P;tsha : :" Fire and Sword
In the sudan, has written a paper for
The Century which he calls In the Des-
err With the Bedouin. Mr. Kelly has
drawn Il number of striking pictures for
the article \ lit of his description is as
follows: Night i'm the desert is very solemn.
Surrounded ly these sandy wastes melting
in the gloom. the silence Of nature Is al
most Painful and the occasional howl of IA
jackGl or n, oh OF horse only serves To
accentuate tine succeeding stiffness, while
the wondt ully rare atmosphere makes
the stars ap ar of such unusual size and
ncarness that one feels oppressed with
sense of lonely littleness ann often asked
how | occup my time in the desert. My
reply is " Painting Everything is paint
able and the desert is always beautiful
Infinitely varied i'm texture and local color.
prolific of wild flowers and insect life, its
interest is amending, while its trackless
expanse undulating TO the horizon seems
like an ocean suddenly pctriiicd into abso
lutte rest, and imprcsses the mind with
sense of vastness and rcpose which moth
ing, i'm my opinion, can equal
Again IA the effects OF varying weather
pass over the silent land, how pcrplexing
gold ms passing sunbeams play hide and
seek among it's pillows. or when the white
heat of day gives place Ia the violets and
yellows of sunset Added To the intrinsic
beauty of the desert itself are the innumcr-
able subjects always ready To hand
now u goathcrd watching his flock, OF
party OF Arabs exercising their horses,
about the tents domestic duties in full
swing, IA negro slave roasting coffee over
fire of cols, black rohed women fitting
from tent tn tent. or group of gayly
dressed children, the girls playing knuc-
klebones i'm the sand, the boys AS usual
indulging in the mischief readicSt 20 hand
Everywhere picture An artist para
disc indeed. the only drawbacks of which
are ones utter inability To accomplish a
1.-THE Of the subjects surrounding one and
the discomforts and hardships of It's life
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1897-02-25
First Impressions of London.

First, six days ON the ocean; then faint
blue coast that gradually turns to a rich
green A little later Southampton, dry
land, and England. After that "a short
journey through country divided by hedges
into IA green and gold checkerboard;
matched roofs disappear, and chimney pots
take their lace and flourish until you
come To the Thames and black barges in
midstream waiting for the muddy tide to
turn, between banks OF masts and smoke
stacks; then the Gothic buildings of Jar-
Lament, and Big Ben aud Charing
Cross station, and i'm another moment
you are in London, riding through the
never ending rCstlcssness of its streets in "a
cab that you can afford, with your hatbox
safe by your side and your trunk up by the
driver, and London, with its history, ON
all sides of YOU, its wooden streets and
polished sidewalks and bright shop win
dows, and at every corner small sweeps
and big policemen, providing clean and
safe crossing, while push carts dodge in
and out between st,aniing bus horses and
ransom cabs. This is always my first i'm
preston OF London. Jesse Lynch vii.
liams In Scrihner's.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1897-02-25
Two at a Birth.

In the town OF B. party feeling waxed
hot and relentless at IA general election
The two parties were so equal in numbers
that the variation of single vote one way
or another might be matter of most seri-
Gus consequence. OF course on both sides
sharp eyes were open and watchful. A
young man came up to the polling booth
on election day and offered his vote. 1t
was his first appearance i'm the character Of
an elector. He had just got married and
he had the independence to differ in poll
tics from his father, who challenged the
vote.
"On what grounds" demanded the off
cial
"He amt 81. -
81 am 81, asserted the youth.
"No, you amt" persisted the father
"You won't be one and twenty till tomor-
row."
IL say will' cried the youth. Il was
born on Dec. 3. 1t is down SO in the old
Bible
"Then it's IA mistakel" said the old
man. You weren't born till the morning
of Dec. q, can swear. "
How can you sweary'
How repeated the father Indignantly
Goodness gracious, wasn't l thercy"
well, retortcd the son, with proud de-
hance, and wasn't | there tooy''
The young man voted. Pearson 5 Week
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1897-02-25
EASY TO SWEAR.
The Stupidest of Parrots Can Readily Ac-
quire the Habit.

Third avenue, on the outskirts of the
Bowery district, boasts the only parrot
academy" on this side of the Atlantic In
reality IL is only the back room of "A bird
fancicr's shop, LLt in IL many wonderful
things are accomplished in the way of edu-
eating parrots When asked about his
methods, the proprietor of the shop, who
is also tie principal of the academy, ex
planned at some length in exceedingly bad
English He said he was German, but he
very much resenbled an Italian.
You see, when the birds come in, L put
them all loose in that room, where they re
main for few days until they become ac
custoncd 10 their surroundings. Then /
put with them bird that can only say
words of one syllable, IA yes no, eat,
dog. He soon teaches the whole lot what
he knows.
"Then put in bird that can say Ion
ger words and simple sentences, and when
they have mastered his lessons yet another
bird, who teaches them longer sentences
and how To ask and answer questions.
That j. about as far a. the bird teachers
can go.
30 my daughter and l finish off the
smart ones for Iarrors arc like children
and all are not smart. l select the stupid
birds and stll them off cheap, while the
smart ores are still kept in that room un-
til their ,ducation is complete We teach
them thCir letters and figures, how to add
and subtract and TO spell simple words
with the cid Of a black board
Then ny daughter teaches them To
sing with II piano accompaniment, To tell
the tiIno of day and sometimes 10 dance To
music. No, we never teach them to swear
for we have no demand for swearing birds
though several times have missed selling
"A bright bird because he sworc at me when
was trying TO show him of They learn
bad words from the people who come in
the store and the. boys Iassing along the
streets. The stuI idest parrot can learn To
swear New York Herald
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1897-02-25
A CatastrOphe.

The train was roaring along about 40
miles an hour and the conductor was bust
ly punching tickets full of holes when a
little, Thin old man who sat in one of the
corner seats tucked his sleeve
MIR Conductor, you be sure and let
me off AT SrCers station. You see, this is
the first time / ever rode on steam cars
and | don't know anything bout them
You won't forget 1t, ehl"
''All right, sir. won't forget
The old man brushed back IA stray lock
of hair, and strengthening himself, gazed
with Increasing wonder at the flying land
scape, every now and then exclaiming
"Gracious!' by gum!' etc.
suddenly there was crash, and after u
number Of gymnaStic moves that made
him think of his school days, he found him
self sitting ON the grass of the enbank-
ment alongside the track.
Seeing another passenger sitting u short
distance away, patiently supporting yari-
Gus parts of the splintered car across his
legs, he inquired:
lis this Speers crossingg"
The passenger, who was drummer and
not altogether new TO such happenings, re-
piled, with smile, although In consider
able pain:
mo. This is catastrophe.
is That sou he irritably exclaimed.
Now ! knew that conductor would put
me OF az the wrong place "-Harper's
Round Table
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1897-02-25
FOR pyspepslA's VICTIMS.
s.id To lie Effective In Large Majority
of Cases.

The number Of people afflicted with this
peculiar and uncomfortable sensation art
ar eating Is by no means small. III means
simply that either because the person 10
fatigu, a or because the food Is indigestibie
or because the nervous system Is out OF or
dor the act Of digestion Is either wholly
arrested or Is very improperly carried ON.
People troubled in this way can observe
two or three plain rules which will entire
ly prevent the difficulty and will be OF
great benefit TO their general health.
First eat nothing until there is posi-
tive appetite for food 1t will be far better
TO skin ones dinner entirely and far less
Injurious To the general health than TO eas
when weary, when excited, when nervous,
or when the appetite Is not present III
great hunger comes on in the middle of
the Afternoon, AN apple or piece OF bread
and butter will have relish ana nayor
undreamed Of under ordinary clrcuIn-
stances and Will prevent the faintness
which might arise before the regular hour
for nourisning supper.
Second, cat something which requires
considerable chewing, especially at the
beginning Of "A meal This involves the
use of dry foods, bat IL does not mean the
entire absence of liquids from the meal.
The reason Why food that has 10 be chew
cd Is valuable il because ia the process OF
inastication large amount of saliva is SO
GREETED, and this Is an important factor In
digestion.
Ii liquid Is desired at IDealtime, 1t Is
not likely 10 do great harm If 10 Is not too
cold, prov iding IN is not swallowed mt the
same time the dry food is put in the
mouth. The man who washes down each
mouthful OF bread with a swallow Of milk,
tea or coffee has no saliva mixed with his
food, whereas ii he thoroughly masticates
his mouthful of dry food, swallows il and
then taken his swallow Of milk he will in
terfere far less with the proper process Of
digestion.
DIR. j ii. Kellogg has made some inter
esting experiments, showing the amount
OF saliva sccreted by the glands Of the
mouth while dry food is being chewed.
piece OF larrafin cheWod for five min
utes PRODUCES Two -thi IDS of an ounce OF sa
Iva; one ounce of granose, IA dry food pre-
pared from wheat, increased in weight "
two ounces one ounce OF bread chewed
for five minutes caused the production Of
one ounce OF saliva; one our sc of raw APP
pie produced -. ounces.
Third, ext digestiblc food only. Dige sti-
bic food is a varied term and is deter
mined by the individual. Articles which
are perfectly harmless for one indiy idual
are very serious hindrances 10 the physical
well being OF another. Experience is the
chief guide. and when articles Of food
cause distress and seem 10 hurt you the
part of wisdom is to let them alone.-New
York Telegram.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1897-02-25
A NEW MEXICAN METEOR.
rssnd ON Analysis to BE conPossd chisay
of Iron.

The American Journal Of Science gives
an account by Warren Nj. Foote Of Phila-
delphia of the recent finding of a meteorite
which fell In 1870 I'm the Sacramento
mountains of New Mexico and was seen at
Its fall by Mr. Nj. Bartlett OF Florence,
A Il. The meteorite passed through the
heavens In southerly direction and fell
with report like cannon. The facts
were reported by Mr.. Bartlett TO Mr.. q.
X. Biedernan, who began an investiga-
ton, which was fruitless until, by chance,
small sample of iron found by a shepherd
of the region proved To he meteoric and led
TO the locating of the mass, which had fall
en- on the top If "A limestone hill, where 1t
was partly buried. Mr.. Biederman and
his party with much labor dragged IL six
miles over the desert 10 a wagon road. No
pieces were found near 10, and 10 Is COM
plete exert for two pieces, weighing to-
gether about five pounds, which have been
broken or sawed from the mass.
The new found meteorte is IA typical ex
ample OF the class of siderites, weighing
about 52l ounds, and about 80 inches
long, "a inches broad and s inches thick.
1t has the characteristic thumb" marks,
and on IA fiat side 1t has two cup shaped
pits from 4 b. & inches i'm diameter, which
are remarkable feature. AT the point
where the fragments were removed the DC
tahedral cleavage and lines OF crystalliza
ton are noticeable 10 a degree rarely seen
In iron Ii is, howeN or, on the etched sur
face, prepared through treating polished
slab with diluted nitric acid in the usual
manner, that the beauty of the crystalline
structure Is best seen. In this respect it
ranks among the finest of recorded irons,
the Witimannstattcn figures being excep-
tionally regular and distinct. The broad
bands of kamacite are symmetrical the
prominence OF the interlacing Of shining
white threads of the niccoliferous iron be-
ing especially remarkable, and distinguish
ing il from the III Captain mcteoric iron,
found I'm 1898 about 80 miles north of Sac
ramento range In the latter iron the per-
centage of iron Is less and nickel greater
phosphorus also being present. A quaint
tative analysis shows the following results
with very small remainder undeter
mined: Iron, 81. 80 Ter cent; nickel, 1855
per cent; cobalt, .52 per cent; total, S9.77
per cent
The mass is Perfectly preserved, there be
ing no sign of disinTegration or emulation
Of lawrencitt. he saving shows IL 10 he
quite soft and generally homogeneous The
entire lack uf sun face alteration proves that
il fell at IA comparatively recent date and
leads To the conclusion that IL Is the meteor
seen To fall by Mr.. Bartlett, whose account
led To the disco>, ry.-New York Press.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1897-02-25
On Catching Heat.

Some doctors hold that there is more
danger from going from the cold outside
and into IL hot room than from the hot air
into the cold Ii is further declared that
il would be more correct in most cases TO
speak of Catching heat than of 'catch-
ing cold. "
DIR. William II. Pearse, writing i'm The
Scalpel, says that he ventures To differ from
the popular belief that there Is special
danger in going from a hot room into the
open air, holding on the contrary, that
the heat of the room or house is great
preventative from chill or Catching cold
on going out into the open air.
In Russia, i'm central Europe, Canada
and the northern United States houses are
made very warm with dry heat in the
winter, yet men, women and children go
out into a temperature below zero. The
stimulation and heightened condition of
the circulation and nerves and ultimate
molecules of protoplasm give IA great power
of resistance To the outer intense cold, pre-
venting chill in the first exposure until
exercise, with It's infinite motions, rs 1t
were, takes up and maintains the condi-
tions of resistance.
DIR. Pearse says that he has walked at
midnight from highly heated mansion
across Boston Common, in his dress coat
only, on a calm, starry night, the tempera-
ture about zero. He suffered no inconven-
fence and felt sure that the stimulus of
the heat of the house gave him power of
resistance To the cold.
The Medical Record declares that DR.
Pearse Is undoubtedly correct in his obser-
walton that one can come from hot room
into the cold outer air and run but little
chance of catching cold The danger is
rather in entering hot room from with
out, especially All unycntilated hot room.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1897-02-25

Travel, which adds charm 10 the con
versation of an agreeable person some.
times renders bore more tiresome than
ever
And there stood, Aunt Susan, said
Miss Porter slow speaking but long wind
ell nephew who had been dronlng on,
about his summer I'm switzerland, for
some hours since the old ladys eyes had
begun to droop i'm the lamplight-''and
there stood Aunt Susan, with the abyss
yawning in front of me
William, said Aunt Susan, speaking
as one who has long kept silence, was
that abyss a.yawning before you got there
or did II begin afterward! Exchange
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1897-02-25
Extrayagant MascagnI.

Mascagni The composer Of "Cayalleria
Rusticana, is reported To he growing OK
travagant in dress and manners. His
cravats, the cut of his coats, the color of
his socks, are continually varied, each be
ing more extraordinary than the last One
of his crazes Is the collection of clocks and
watches of all kinds, from AN English gold
lever to IA cheap nickel timekeeper. Three
Of these watches he always carries with
him-one gold repeater, with his mono
gram i'm brilliants presented by club of
mobiles; another silver watch, the third
made of nickel and three times the ordi
nary size.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1897-02-25
Monograns.

An expert ON the subject says that TO
construct good monogram the last letter
should be the largest and boldest, and the
first letter next i'm size, but lighter than
the middle letter
We always supposed from the contour Of
the thing that the secret of "A good mono
gram consisted in the inability to deter
mine whether II was -. u. W" or 20.
V. X, and the more one letter couldn't be
distinguished from another the more sue
cessful Il was. -Strnnd magazine
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1897-02-25

Tortoise shell combs are generally cut
by hand Bone combs are machine made
The teeth of fine combs are cut by very
delicate saws Metal combs are nearly al.
ways made by machinery
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1897-02-25
The True Ring.

He---To prove the sincerity Of my inten-
tions as sutor have brought with me
this solitaire adornment for your engage
ment finger
She-l must say, my friend, that your
speech has the true ring. -Richmond Dis
patch.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1897-02-25

Let us read with method and propose to
ourselves an end TO which our studies may
point. The use Of reading is 10 aid US In
thinking Edward Gibson.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1897-02-25

List was the most wonderful pianist i'm
musical history. He had prodigious
strength Of arm aud wrist, which enabled
him to achieve astounding results, but his
delicacy Of touch was very remarkable.
When learning the piano, he was often
known to practice from Ia To Is hours a
day