davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-07-03

South America, and there were alarm
ing inroads in the center. But Spain
still owned California, Florida, Cen
trail America and all the western part
of South America.
Today she owns nothing. Cuba Is
in rebellion, and practically gone from
her. She does not govern 1t, neither
does she get it's products. The rest
of North America has passed away by
conquest, by grant or by purchase.
South America, it is true, is largely
Spanish in blood and language, but
the Spaniards there have formed in
dependent countries, and are known
as Chilians, Bolivians, Peruvians,
Colombians, etc. Her great colonial
possessions gone and no more worlds
being left to conquer. Spain must now
Withdraw to her own portion OF the
Iberian Peninsula, and content herself
with that territory and the few rich
little islands in the Pacific still left
to her.
SPANS first loss in the early part Of
the century was the great district call
ing itself Louisiana. Spain had got
Louisiana in 1862 from the French,
who originally discovered it. But
when Napoleon became consul he got
Louisiana back, and the big New
CLEANS territory" and held them Sc
cure. This embraced all the southern
and middle portions Of the United
States, and was the largest and richest
piece Of land then known.
The United States got 1t from the
French in 1903, by paying about If
teen million dollars, and it is said that
the Spanish have neve ceased to
mourn that they could not have held it
until this purchase, which would have
enriched their then diminishing cof-
fers greatly.
SPANS next loss was Mexico by con-
quest in 1913. On that date Mexico de-
clared herself free. And then began a
long series Of wars in which all coun-
tries Joined, but which resulted in
Mexican independence on hard and
sure grounds in 1S4S. Spain lost heav-
lily by this war.
Texas still was Spanish territory.
But by act Of United States congress
in 1886 Texas was purchased from
Spain. It had a debt Of seven million
dollars. which 1t seemed as II 1t could
never pay of, and Spain allowed the
United States to take Texas If It would
assume the debt. There vas vigorous
A-N.%MI41M.L - 49,. .MMM W
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-07-03
MEN.

Many religious people in England
are criticising DR.. Nansen's book be-
there is no recognition Of God
in it.
Archduke Franz Ferdinand d'Este.'
the heir to the Austrian throne, whose
life has recently been despaired Of on
count Of his sufferings from CON
sumption, but whose health has recent
ly been improved by residence in the
Riviera, is now in Southern Tyrol.
where his condition continues to i'm
prove.
Senator Deboe, the senator from
Kentucky, visited the stationery room
of the senate the other day and made a
selection Of paper. pens, pencils, pa
per-cutters, plotting pads, a penknife
and other appropriate articles. II
think that is all I want he said. as
he turned to go. Haven't you for
gotten a corkscrew?" asked the clerk.
no" said the senator, that is one
thing | do not want, even il 1 do come
from Kentucky. I do not drink and |
do not smoke
James Gordon Bennett is returning
from Europe on his yacht Namanna
He has a party Of friends on board
He had sailed before the great disaster
in Paris occurred and the news must
only have reached himself and friends
when the yacht touched at MADEIRA
The victims of that awful fire muet
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-07-03
SCIENTIFIC T

A new combination coffee and spice
mill and weighing scale has a large
reservoir to hold the coffee, with a
grinder in the lower end, placed d.
rectly over a scale, SO that when any
amount is sold the slide on the scale
beam can be set at this amount and the
mill operated until the desired amount
is obtained.
A simple force pump recently pa
tented has two piston rods attached
to a lever working in two suction pipes
opening into a central chamber, which
has two inlet and two outlet pipes,
with a ball resting on each opening to
prevent the water flowing back through
the inlet pipes and close the outlet
pipes to produce suction.
An air ship recently patented by q
western man has a cigar-shaped reser-
voir above the car with capacity for
holding nearly enough gas to raise the
car, the car being attached to the res
ervoir by a number of upright rods on
which are mounted small parachutes
HNHN|WLM NT LH M|I"
worked up and down on the rods by a
motor in the car, the parachutes OPEN
Ing as they descend, thus lifting the
car, which has also a propeller and
rudder.
A handy device for counting the num-
Der OF days between two dates consists
OF two disks fastened together at the
center, one being smaller than the 9TH
er; the outer one having the months
and days Of the month around its edge
and the inner one having numbers
from ] up to 365. the unit being set at
the day Of the month to be reckoned
from. An arrow pointed at the last day
indicates the total number Of days be-
tween the two periods.
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-07-03

Can the Nervous system BE Educateds
The question Of the susceptibility OF
the nervous system for training came
up in a scientific discussion not long
since. There was a good deal OF diff
ference of opinion as to the possibility
Of training the nerves. According to
the most comprehensive opinion q
great deal depends on the owner Of the
nerves. 1t is possible to train certain
classes and conditions, while others
are hopelessly unsusceptible. The will
of the individual, the pliability, or
rather the impressionability, has ev-
erything to do with successful nerve
training. AS a matter of fact, the de-
sire to be trained must be present
first OF all. 1t comes from within, and,
prompted by the desire of the individ-'
ual a course of training may bring
about the happiest results. Train
ing nerves against the will Of the pa
tient reminds one of the old adage Of
convincing a man against his will
he is Of the same opinion STILL"
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-07-03

Experiments have shown that the
bullet of the Krag-Jorgenson rifle,
which has been adopted by the Ameri-
can army has ~projectile
force, yet it can be stopped by a little
pile of loose earth.
The bullet will bore a hole through
an oak tree a foot in diameter at q
No. Through old earthworks. No.
2.-Through body and into fresh earth
works. No. 3.-Into fresh earthworks
twelve inches.
range of two miles; p~erforate steel
plates; plunge into solid earth for a
distance Of eighteen inches after pass
ing through a human body. But a
small pile Of loose, dry earth will ar
rest its fight and tear it into frag-
ments. Scientists explanations Of why
this is SO are very unsatisfactory, but
all admit that it is true. DR.. Griffith Of
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-07-03

The United States government at
tempted to make a temporary arrange
ment with Great Britain that joint
measures be taken for the better pro-
lection of the seal herds against in
discriminate slaughter, but the attempt
was unsuccessful, partly perhaps be-
cause the British commission which
investigated the subject last year does
not believe the extinction of the herds
to be SO imminent as the American
commission thinks it to be. Both gov
ernments have reappointed the com
missioners who investigated the sub
ject last year to make another investi-
cation this season, and the United
States has assigned three revenue cut
tiers to patrol duty to prevent depre-
dations on the herds. Under the ex-
listing agreement the way will be open
to new arrangements next year.
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-07-03
IVA

experiences in the treatment Of wound
ed hearts. II has always been held
that ninety per cent OF such cases must
prove fatal, death being caused either
by shock or by the flow OF blood into
the ~pericardial cavity, whereby the
hearts action Is gradually brought to
a standstill. Hitherto no serious at
tempts have been made to save the pa
TENTS life. Herr Relin. however. con-
ceived the daring idea Of applying pre-
cisely the same treatment that would
be used In the case Of an external
wound. A man was brought into the
hospital dying from a stab In the
heart. He laid bare the organ, n
succeeded in checking the hemorrhage
by means OF a suture. The patient
made a capital recovery, and was pro-
duced before the congress alive and
well.
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-07-03

successful practitioners OF the present
day.
And just here | wan to say that
hot-water bags and hot-water cans, II
kept handy by, and used whenever
there was any reasonable excuse for 1t,
would save many a sick spell and more
doctors bills than those who never
use hot water can imagine. | have a
patient who is and has for many years
been almost an invalid. Only the most
palnstaking care has kept her on her
feet. She is subject to neuralgias and
chills and a low state Of vitality gen.
orally. and finds 1t impossible to keep
warm in a quite comfortable tempera-
ture. Some years ago she had several
cans made for holding hot water. They
held about one gallon each, and had
screw taps close them. They are
filled with = water and kept at her
feet at night Or in her easy chair dur
ing the day. Whenever she has one
OF the chilly spells from which she
suffers so much, she wraps herself up
RAoSCo VAC tdh at n 2 lCC anu
another at her side or back and curls
herself up for a coy nap. In almost
every instance she wakens up re-
freshed and bright and able to go ON
with whatever she has in hand. Before
she adopted the hot-water theory, she
used to try in vain to get sleep or rest.
She tossed and writhed and ached with
WEAKNESS and exhaustion. Now the
cheering warmth rests and restores
her, and almost Immediately she falls
Into a sound and refreshing sleep.
from which she awakens really bene-
fitted in mind and body. The heat
draws the blood from the brain, equal
ICES the circulation and increases the
vitality.
1T is one of the most difficult things
imaginable to make people understand
the value Ct heat in almost all minor
disorders. Whenever the system be-
comes what is popularity spoken of as
run down. there is a feeling Of chilli
ness which is not only exceedingly un-
comfortable, but may be the forerun-
ner Of illness. If the temperature can
be kept up to the normal one may as
sist nature to shake of the disease.
We are very far from knowing Just
what the effect of medicine is on the
human system. We know that 1t helps
to remove distractions and restores
lost conditions, but precisely how it
does this Is not as yet given to us
to comprehend.
There are certain things that we
know will produce certain results, and
many OF these are exceedingly simple,
and within the reach of every one. To
keep the feet dry and warm, the body
protected from chills, and the diges-
tive organs moderately well supplied
with nourishing food is to go a long
way on the road to good health. 1t is
not generally understood that a hot
water bag applied to the stomach Is
a better aid to digestion than all Of the
dinner pills and powders ever COM
pounded and put upon the market. 1t
quite as little known that a glass
OF cold water at the end Of a meal has
been the first cause of more dyspepsia
than doctors have ever cured. A little
hot drink at meals, and a great deal
OF hot water bags and cans would save
untold suffering, and keep many a per-
in the enjoyment of excellent
health"
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-07-03

the Missouri State militia, discovered
it several years ago. when he made it
public it was announced that he had
discovered the German army secret of
twenty years standing. To protect
himself against TIE deadly Krag-Jor-
gensen bullet, a soldier needs neither
forts, trees, armor nor steel plates. He
a dig up a pile of loose earth eigh-
teen inches in diameter with his bay
onet, and, lying down behind this APP
parently insecure barrier, be assured
that all the bullets fired at him will
be fiattened before they reach him.
Our illustrations show the effects on
the bullet of the resisting effects OF
old earthworks, human bodies expert
ments have been made on cadavers)
and fresh earthworEs.
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-07-03


have been when this ~stupendous work
was finished. Modern methods OF
building are rebuked by some OF there
old piles, and It has been questioned
how much of our best work will be In
evidence 5000 years hence. History
tells us that the canal known as Banr
Joussuf was constructed 1000 years 8
and is yet fulfilling the purpose Tor
which 1t wa made. The canal runs
almost parallel with the river Nile for
abczit two hundred and fifty miles. 1t
turns and curves, creeping through
meadows and along the foot hills,
carefully preserving its level until Il
reaches a point where 1t turns west
ward, and running through a narrow
pass, reaches a district which without
1t would be a desert incapable OF cul-
tivation and devoid of vegetable prod
ucts which would sustain life. OF course
the statement that it was built by Jo-
seph, the son of Jacob, may or may not
be true. but that 1t is Of untold i'm
portance to that region need not be
stated. There are traditions that this
canal was originally intended to sup
ply a lake which was nearly five hun
dred miles in circumference. and that
this lake was the source of fish supply
of that region, and that the value OF
this product was at least two hundred
and fifty thousand pounds a year.
Modern engineers are giving more at
tention to old time methods than they
did half a century ago. They are
learning that undue haste and undue
cheapness are not at all profitable.
They are also learning that here is
room for even more knowledge on the
subject, that cheap materials and
scamp work are not to be relied upon.
When these old builders built they
builded to the glory Of God and not to
the enriching of the contractors who
took the job.
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-07-03

Observations to determine the dura-
ton Of sunshine in Europe showed that
Spain has most sunshine and Scotland
the least. So much for solar light.
What Of moral sunshine? How bright
is Scotland; how Spain lies in the
shadow! Pure and beautiful Is the
soul-light that shines through those
Scotch mists.
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-07-03

Fernando Cortes marched at the head
of his army from the Gulf Of Mexico
upon the city of that name, and, after
furious struggles, dethroned the ma
tive sovereign and reigned In his stead
as the viceroy of King Charles. Cor
ties discovered the Pacific and Cali
fornia. Before the death of Charles the
Spaniards had pushed n~orthwards. and
as early as the year 1910, Spanish set
Elements were made In what is now
the State Of New Mexico. Southwards,
Charles ~lieutenants established : reg
ular line of communication from ocean
to ocean across the Isthmus Of Pana-
ma. This line of communication was
made for no less a purpose than to
transport the ingots of silver from the
rich mines of Peru to Charles Golfers
in Spain, and from the Atlantic side
on their way to Atlantic to carry the
stores for the ~arsenals and garrisons
which were being established on the
Pacific.
In the meantime Francesca Pizaro
had completed the conquest of Peru,
while the. Islands of the West Indies
peacefully became provinces of Spain,
as entirely under her control as were
Valencia and Andalusia. Before the
death of the great Emperor, Spain had
taken possession of Florida, and her
flag floated proudly over Mexico, New
Mexico, Guatemala, Peru, Chill, Para
quay and Buenos Ayres upon the con
tinent, and over every important is
land in the Caribbean Sea. And on
the map Spain claimed even wider do
minion in America. Thus stood the
condition of affairs in the middle of
the sixteenth century.
BY the beginning Of the present en-
fury a vast change had taken place.
Spain found herself deprived of a
great part of the rich colonial possess
sions over which she had once held
such imperial sway. The entire east
ern coast was gone, both in North and
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-07-03

The Importance which often attaches
to a single word has been emphasized
in a curious way In New Jersey. The
legislature, at its last session, took
favorable action on a proposed amend
ment to the constitution prohibiting
all kinds of gambling. In some way
the word prohibited" was altered to
provided in the amendment as acted
on, and the error is so serious that the
legislature has been called together in
special session to rectify 1t.
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-07-03

He was detained by a snow-storm in
a small town, the n hotel" of which
could scarcely be said to deserve the
name. 1t was crowded to overflow
Ing, and the traveller was assigned to
a room in company with a tall, hard
featured backwoodsman, who seemed
inclined to give the stranger a cordial
welcome.
There's only one objection to your
sleeping with me-" he said, heartily,
"and that amt any objection to me,
but you may feel different about It.
You see, I'm an old trapper, and | gen.
orally bark back to the past In my
dreams, and live over the days when
| was shooting wild animals and kill
ing Injuns.
Where / stopped last night they
charged me two dollars extra because
I happened to white up part of the
foot-board while l was dreaming. But
I feel kind of calm and ~peaceable to-
night, and like as not I may lay still
as a Kitten
The traveller surveyed the narrow
bed, and reflected that he was about
half the size of his prospective bed
fellow, and a sound sleeper into the
bargain. He sat up in one chair with
his feet In another that night.
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-07-03

Statistics prepared by the New York
state excise commissioner show a
considerable reduction in the number
of saloons in the state as the result of
the 6perations of the Raines law. That
law has now been in operation about
thirteen months. and in that time the
number of saloons has been decreased
by 7.437. When the law went into
force on April 80, 1896, there were 3d.
437 licenses in force in the state. On
November ], 1896, there were 26.593 Ii
cnses in force, and 1t is expected that
there will be issued about $4,000 IL
censes during the present year. The
total receipts under the law from May
1 to October 81. 1896, were Sill, O38. 1922,
and after deducting rebates and ex-
penses of collection the receipts
to $40, 556, 1872. Under the
old law the net revenu for twelve
months to all towns and cities in the
was $2,91s 500.
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-07-03

Thousands Of cattle south OF the
Mexican border line are still on their
way to the United States markets.
The prospective duty on imported cat
tie is largely responsible for this con-
dition of affairs. Mexican cattle own
ers have felt it was now or ever.
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-07-03
~cANARY-BIRD CULTURE.

The Milwaukee Sentinel claims that
that city supplies the United States
with the bulk of the Hartz Mountain
~canaries, and that there is no great
crime in the deception, for the MiIwau-
kee bird is really an Improvement on
the imported article, having Just as
fine a voice and being much harder.
Experience has shown that the i'm
ported singer loses the power of trans
hitting his voice to the young after
passing through an American winter.
Thb Is the case, also, it is said. with
the Tyrolean singers who come to this
country, their voices losing the ne
culiar Alpine yodling quality when
they have been here a year.,
Before they are mated the hen birds
are kept in separate cages in the music
room, carefully fed and made to listen
to the music of the singers and the ma
chine used in training their voices. In
this way the hen is enabled to trans
NIT the best musical quality to its Off
spring. The mushroom is a large one
with a south exposure, and is kept
with the same scrupulous n~eatness as
the breeding-room. In the corner OF
this room is the bird organ, and with
it the little birds are given their vocal
training. When the machine Is start
ed the notes emitted are wonderfully
like the song of the untutored canary
These notes are known to bird-trainers
by the term pfeiffen. Gradually the
whistle strikes on to a different line.
1t is an Improvement over the pfeiffen,
and it is called klingel role. A higher
step still is called the klingel, and a
still higher step hohl klingel. Lastly
comes what is called hohl rollen, and a
bird whose voice has been developed
up to that point is worth $50 in the
market any day.
There are innumerable small cages,
made Of wood aud wire, in this room.
and also two or three large cages in
which a number Of the birds are placed
together. Near the bird organ is what
appears to be an ordinary cupboard.
The two front doors have an orna-
mental opening cut in them. quite sim
liar to the openings in the body OF a
violin. Examination shows that the
AFFAIR Is really built on the principle
of a violin, the front covers serving as
sonnding-boards. When the birds are
having their voices trained they are
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-07-03

help 1T. Ed was a restless fellow. He
wasn't dissipated, nor did he gamble
or have other expensive vices, but he
was generous and a plunger on his
luck. He wouldn't settle down and do
business on business principles"
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-07-03

H. A. Huston, state chemist of In
diana, in a report says: The estimated
sales of commercial fertilizers in In
diana during 1896 amounted to 1000
tons. This is an apparent decrease of
5000 tons from the estimated sales in
1895. The decrease is, l believe, only
apparent, for it now seems probable
that the estimate for 1895 was too
high, owing to a considerable number
of tags being carried over which were
really used in 1896, although they ap-
pear. in the 1895 sales. 1t is probable
that an estimate Of 1900 tons in 1895
and $4,000 tons in 1896 would more
nearly express the real facts. In the
4 2 1000 tons for which tags were
issued were 10,700 tons of bone
and non-acidulated packing house
products; 21,S00 tons of com
plete" fertilizer, that is, acidu-
lated goods containing phosphoric acid,
nitrogen and potash; $500 tons Of am
moniated p~hosphates, LOO tons Of acid
phosphate and potash. and s4,400 tons
of plain acid phosphate. OF the bone
and non-acidulated packing house
products 400 tons had received an adj
dition Of potash. Comparing the sales
il. each group with the sales OF the
previous year, We find that there has
been an increase Of 1900 tons in sales
of complete" fertilizer, an increase
of 1000 tons in the sales Of plain acid
phosphate, q decrease Of 500 tons in the
sales Of ammoniated phosphate, a de-
rease of 100 tons Of acid phosphate
and potash, and a decrease Of 1890
tons in the sales of bone and calculated
packing house products.
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-07-03

The Providence Journal says: The
fiction that most Bostonians are de-
scendants of the men and women who
came over in the Mayflower' has not
vet been exploded, as recent comments
indicate. AS a matter Of fact, the old
Boston families were not of the May
flower party. Most Of them came from
Suffolk with Winthrop, and settled,
first at Salem, then at Boston, eight
and ten years after the Plymouth col
ony had been founded. Yet the May
flower legend is still vigorous, like
some other legends that pass as his
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-07-03

Mr.. Wiggles-"Did you 60 to the
whist club today?" Mrs. Wiggles-
Yes" Mr.. Wiggles-'What was the
subject for discussion this afternoon
-Somerville Journal.
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-07-03

T may e a far
fetched caution to
tell my patients to
be sure and keep
warm when the
thermomete is
ranging around In
the seventies and
eighties, but that is
just what | find 1t
needful to do said
one of the most