davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The herald., 1897-09-19

When Hawthorne was writing "The
House of the Seven Cables" he selected
"Pyncheon'' as the name of one of his
characters. 1t suited his purposes. and
whether he created it or remembered it
seemed to him to make no difference.
for he conceived it to be as much his
property for the purpose intended as
Smith or Jones or Brown. He soon
learned better. Whether he knew 1t at
the time or not, New England was full
of Pyncheons, and the book had hardly
been placed on sale when one OF them
wrote him very bitter letter complain
ing grievously Of the injustice done his
worthy ancestor. Judge Pyncheon.
Hawthorne Immediately sat down and
wrote Mr.. Pyncheon letter express
ing regret, and assuring him most posi-
lively that no disrespect to the late Ia
mented Judge had been intended.
The letter was hardly posted when a
missive arrived from another OF the
Pyncheons even more wrathful than the
first. This, too, was politely answered.
and Hawthorne had begun to hope that
his troubles with the Pyncheons were
at an end. But, in fact, they were only
beginning, for the first two Pyncheons
lwere residents of almost the same neigh
/ borhood. When the circulation of the
book increased, the back counties began
to be heard from, and a host OF Pynch-
cons, great and small, old and young
prominent and obscure, assailed the un-
fortunate writer for defaming their an
cestOr.
In all, Hawthorne is said to have an
swered letters from forty-seven OF the
Pyncheons, and had serious thoughts O.
Publishing the correspondence in bool
) {oQl1a e. -. -. 1
The herald., 1897-09-19
FRUIT FESTIVALS AND HARVEST HOME.
Singular Revival Of Old European Customs in the
Newest West
WATERMELONS FREE FOR ALL!
Peach Day, and Potato Day, and the Corn Carnival
jolly Celebrations That Benefit All Concerned.

ascendant, and a white ear was the
ticket of admission. But it was not
forgotten that something to eat was
needed, and corn in all imaginable
forms was offered. They had it as
served in the dishes of every nation,
and if it was not exactly according to
the rules of the foreign cooks, no one
knew the difference. In the evening
there was a sort of carnival, at which
the young folks were given license to
have a good time, no matter at whose
expense. They raced along the streets.
armed with pockets full of corn, and
every one whom they met received a
shower of it in the face-just as revelers
of the Mardi Gras shower confections.
In the morning the streets were fairly
covered with corn meal, the result of
the crowds tramping the grain into
the pavement. All the stores were dec
Grated with the cereal, and many of
the wagons and carriages were perfect
pictures of blades and tassels. One
venturesome young lady went along
the street with a red ear hanging from
her neck, which brought to the minds
of the older men the time-honored
privilege of the husking bees. If the
pretty young lady reached home with
The herald., 1897-09-19

change gives a better effect. Scottish
golf hose, are worn rolled down Tar
enough to show three buttons on the
cuffs. The coat has patch pockets.
The entire suit is made of fancy chew
lot or tweed, the waistcoat being OF
the same material, single breasted, or
fancy plaid or Tattersall. either single
or double breasted. With this go a
soft Hamburg hat. turned down IN
front, low russet shoes-have 'em big
and heavy-a colored shirt, either OF
Madras or flannel, and Madras hunt
ing stock instead of a collar and tie.
Most men can make the same suit an
swer for golf and general country
wear.
For business wear, sacks, single and
double breasted, will be worn. All the
new coats will be cut to make the
wearers look road-shouldered, and
tailors will try to do this without much
padding. A man who is slim and has
q neck and shoulders like a champagne
| bottle will have to blame nature for hil
failure to. look fashionables Neither
The herald., 1897-09-19
RATTlESNAkE PETE DISCUSSES SNAKES.
Peter Gruber Has Been Bitten More Times Than Any
Other Man in America.
TELLS HOW TO CURE SNAKE b.
Ten Sears on One Hand Prove the Efficacy of His
Method. How it Feels to be Struck

Peter Gruber, otherwise known as
'Rattlesnake Pete" who has Just re-
covered from his tenth snake bite, de-
clares that in his judgment no one
need ever die of the venom of the SER
pent from which his sobriquet Is de-
rived. Peter began his career as a
snake handler"-he disdains the title
snake charmer"-at Oil City, Pa, fif-
teen years ago. For the past five years
he has been located at Rochester, N.
Y, and it was there the writer met him
a few days ago.
It's an exceedingly simple matter to
cure snake bite" he said, thoughtfuily
surveying his gnarled right hand on
which is to be seen the scar from every
one Of his tenbites, "if you only know
how. And haven't the slightest OBJ
lection to telling my way, though it
may not be the best, and I'm sure it
isn't the only one. In the first place,
I want to say that the habitual and
heavy whiskey drinker stands a pretty
poor show in case he is bitten, just as
he does when attacked by pneumonia,
and that is one big reason why I rare
ly drink much whiskey. In fact
never drink at all between bites,' so to
speak.
WHISKEY THE FIRST THING.
"But the minute am bitten I begin
to pour down the whiskey. drink till
I'm drunk, to be frank about it. You've
often heard and read, no doubt, that
it's hard to get drunk when snake poi
son Is rushing back and forth in your
veins, but I've never found it so.
Whiskey will make fuddle come in
spite of all the snake bites in the world.
OF course, don't stop with the whis-
key. I don't even wait until 1 feel it's
effect before I begin on the proper ac-
companying remedy. permanganate of
potash.
"a solution of this should be injected
into the circulation without any delay
whatever. The sort of syringe used in
administering morphine is exactly the
instrument to use in making the injec-
ton which should be located close to
The herald., 1897-09-19

out being kissed it was mainly due to
the fact that she was swift Of foot, and
did not take any chances.
Perhaps the greatest element of
strength in these festivals-all of which
are in seme degree a revival Of the old
harvest home celebrations-is the
fact that the whole community is in
terested in them. Before they can be
made success there must be a prep
aration that includes the people of the
entire city or town. Committees are
appointed that enlist pretty nearly ev-
erybody, and all are expected to take
part in the work. Such things make
a community better, and leave an i'm
press that is felt in a higher view of
life and it's duties toward one another.
c. M. HARGER.
Copyright, 1897, by Bacheller Syndicate
The herald., 1897-09-19
BOB INCERs0LL's FATHER.
He was the Rev. John lngersoIl,
and a CalviniSt Of the
Spanish Type.

Colonel Bob Ingersolrs father was
preacher-.-a Calvinist of the sternest
sect. His first name was John. He
was known as Priest" Ingersoll by his
friends. His sermons were magnetic.
forceful, heavy with logic and learning.
but wonderfully frightened by flashes
of wit and illumined by simile and
metaphor. He settled in Hanover,
Oneida County, N. Y. in 1881. His in
PRODUCTION to the place occurred on the
third day of revival meeting that was
signally failing to revive. His first SER
mon, of which the theme was "Divine
and Love-" was such pro-
duct,on that the anxious seat. which
had been almost empty, was crowded
that evening as it had never been
crowded before. Priest Ingersoll never
minced his words. Frequently he ad-
dressed his auditors personally. Once
he thundered at we'll known local
character the following direct address:
you God forsaken Universalist. don't
you know that you are on the straight
road to hell?'
Once when he failed to arouse enthu-
siasm in the audience after having
spoken for some time as eloquently as
he knew NOW, lie Stoppcu SuNuSiAAS eA
said: "Let us pray" 1t was customary
in those days for the audience to rise
during prayer, and Ingersoll saw at
once that every one in the house was
on his feet, although only a few mo-
ments before. when he had asked those
who desired prayers to rise, all save a
few had remained seated. He waited
moment. and then, instead of praying,
favored the audience with the follow
ing:
HI see before me a company Of liars.
A few moments ago I asked those who
wished for prayers to rise, and nearly
everyone remain seated; now say
The herald., 1897-09-19

the bitten spot. At the same time the
wound should be immersed in kerosene.
1 have never tried this last but once;
it was Just after my tenth and latest
bite. AS usual, the wound was on my
right hand, and at first 1t seemed
pretty stubborn case. Somebody re-
commended the kerosene bath, ana 1
soaked the damaged hand for hours in
g. tin milk pan full of the oil. 1t
worked to a charm. In short time
the pain grew less, great clots OF blood
came from the wound. and the swelling
began to go down. 1t was a week or
ten days before I felt 1t right to say
7 ,,os cured but that is shorter time
than usual.
HOW 1T FEELS TO BE BITTEN.
"How does it feel to be bitten! We'll,
the first two or three times 1t feels like
death. The first time 1 felt the rangs
Of a rattlesnake I was nearly scared
ont of my senses. But aside from the
fright. it is really not very painful to be
bitten by a rattlesnake. The pain be-
gins to come pretty soon after the plte'
however. It streaks up the arm or leg
most bites are received near the ex-
+ramities. of course-with amazing ra-
niditv. In a little while the bitten
member swells tremendously ana
changes color. Then the tongue sweis
IN. You feel as If you were made OF
nth. Especially Is this true with re-
gard to the tongue, which not only
swells but practically refuses to speak
with any distinctness, though my I'M
nression in this matter may be some
what due to the fact that l drink 30
much whiskey when I am bitten.
"Once. acting on the advice OF
stranger. 1 soaked my middle finger
which had been bitten, in ammonia.
took the skin off and partially rotte'
the flesh: the finger has been pretty
had looking member ever since. I'M
evesieht Is generally affected more o.
less and it is when the vision begins -
clear a little that the fight with tn
venom may be said to be turning "
favor of the victim. The symptom 'na
remains longest is soreness OF the mus
cles. especially those OF the pie'e
member. My right arm Is tenoer no'
from the last bite, though 1t occurre
some weeks ago.
SOME QUEER STORIES.
IT knew a fellow. who, being bite
!, on the thumb at time when ne was
: long way from liquor store or orut
eist's. could think of no way to tre'
the wound but to cut or the thum
This he did with q hatchet. After tn
o he ran most Of the way to villal
some miles Oh. allowing the tnum0
The herald., 1897-09-19

bleed along the road. When he got I'd
the village he was naturally pretty
weak from loss of blood, as we'll as
from excitement and the effect of the
poison. He got well all right, but his
arm spots up every August and his
eyes are effected that month, each
year, too.
II knew a woman in Oil City who
was bitten some two years ago. Her
arm is said to spot up badly every
August and they say the spots assume
the pattern of the snake that bit her,
but 1 can't vouch for that. This wo-l
man claims, also, that she can't see as
well in August as she does the remain,
der Of the year; and she says that She
can see by night better than by day.
though I don't want you to understand'
that back this statement.
SNAKE NATURE.
IT often wonder why folks kill snakes
so vindictively. They are of great ben
eft to farmers. They kill and eat al
good many small animals and insects
that are injurious to the crops. and
they really harm no one unless they are
attacked. I have never known either
rattlesnake or a copperhead to at
tack a man or an animal except when1
cornered, and have never been told oil
such a case by trustworthy person.
When driven to bay, however, both
rattlers and copperheads will f1ght:1
perhaps in such instances the latter are,
the more to be feared. This circum-
stance and the fact that, unlike the
rattler, the copperhead cannot giveI
warning of his presence, do certainly
make this snake more to be dreaded;
and doubtless the same reasons ac-
count for the fact that men pursue and
kill copperheads with greater persist
ence than they show in following up
rattlesnakes. There is comparatively
little risk of being bitten by rattle
snakes except where they are very
thick indeed; but it requires some eau
ton to avoid copperheads in their
haunts.
II myself have never killed a snake.
The herald., 1897-09-19

sPeach Day." where this frult is
hrourht in by the orchard owners by
the wagon load, and long trains are
run to bring the visitors. Peaches are
not 40 satisfying as melons without the
ottendant cream and sugar; but IN
some instances the farmers go so lar
:. IN furnish these also, and the wo-
vrer will fix ones dish in the most ap-
retizine manner. The long line OF the
,isitors munching their fruit IN the
.hsde Of a grove make a pleasant and
entertaining spectacle, and to watch
the children is still more amusing.
when it is all over they throw the
peach-stones at one another IN the
gayest Of humor, and lucky Is ne "no
can escape being hit.
From fruit to grain Is not long
step. but there Is one division between
-''Potato Day." In the irrigated re-
sions. where they raise the large pota-
toes. the people have inaugurated
festival that is the oldest OF them all.
When the people first talked OF having
= "Potato Day. it was laughed at and
the first year few attended. These,
however. returned with such glowing
reports that the next celebration
brought out thousands. The promot-
ers take the vegetables from the
wagons Of the farmers, who contribute
them for the days fun, and place them
In long rows in a. fireplace constructed
Of earth and banked by Goals. Here
the potatoes are roasted, and they are
rs delicious as any that ever were
tasted-at least they seem so to the
hungry crowd. The rule followed at the
peach celebration-"Eat all you wish,
but carry none away"-is enforced
strictly here
With the Roasted potatoes. salt and
butter is 81 WE'D, so that there is no
reason why be full flavor should not
be realized. E those who prefer diff
ferent mann ef cooking are great pots
that are fill with potatoes to be
cooked with kir jackets on. Then
there are frie Atewed, and baked po-
tatoes, ard it ehe visitdEs own fault
Il he is not saEshad.
And then comes corr. ,t;s dc-e erair
festival of the plains. At first thought
It seems one of the most unlikely
things to furnish material for festi-
val. but when used rightly is remark
ably effective. At two days festi
val. this year. one day was devoted t.
the yellow corn and one to the white
ON the yellow day, the decoration
were al yellow, and mostly made o
yellow grain; even the ticket of admis
5fou was an ear Of yellow corn. o.
~ second :dax. white corn was in th
The herald., 1897-09-19

except after it had been in captivity
some time, nor have I ever been bitten
by a snake save when I had been hand
ling one. The popular belief that a
rattlesnake will bite itself to death
rather than be captured Is true. Cop
perheads for some reason rarely or
never attempt suicide. All that is said
about the virtues of rattlesnake oil
as remedy is true, but I never heard
Of anybody making oil from "copper"
heads. The oil Of the rattlesnake is
made from fat which lies on each side
of the backbone, exactly as the leaf
fat of a beef or sheep is disposed, and
is tried out in the same way as tallow
or lard"
CAN SNAKES BE CHARMED?
Here "Ratt1esnake Pete" paused
long enough in his talk to go to a cage
where he constantly keeps from a doz-
en- to forty rattlers, every one Of
them with its poison fangs undrawn.
First he stirred up the whole den of
reptiles with long stick. The result
was a sudden enlivenment of the coiled
snakes, a dozen sharp and prolonged
! hissings, as of steam escaping at a
high pressure, and a perfect storm of
shrill rafting. Cautiously opening tho
door of the cage, Gruber inserted hi.
hand, and when the head of one of tha
crawling, deadly creatures came withir
reach he seized it by the neck ana
brought it wriggling and souirn,ir.
into the open air. The reptile was
frantic with rage, and when Gruher
| placed a piece Of metal within its reach
this was instantly covered with a mass
of amber colored venom-enough tn
kill roomful of men,
THAT looks bad, and it's as bad az n
looks" he said, putting the snake back
into the cage, "but you're in no dan.
ger handling your snakes unless you
!. lose yorr nerve. Nerve is the whole
, secret on snake-charming-or rather
, in my oppion, there's no such thina
, as snake-cA FARMING at all. You want t.
keep your knakes afraid of you con
stantly. Iknow that many snake
, charmers. sd{called, cause the snake
y to move their heads in unison with /
4 stick, and this Is supposed to be a,
evidence that the snake is charmed. I
is nothing of the sort, however; tn
snake is merely afraid that he will b
= hit with the stick. is watching 1t close
!" ly. and is so constituted that he can
). not watch anything in motion withou
moving his head to conform with til
=. :. motion of the thing he watches.
.e
10 Copyright, 1897. by BachelleE eyndicat
The herald., 1897-09-19
ssThe Mayside Inn.''

The Howe who originally kept Long
fellows "Wayside Inn" was an ancestor
of the Right Rev. Mark Antony De
Wolf Howe, Episcopal Bishop Of Gen.
trail Pennsylvania. For many years
past the house has been in the hands
Of caretakers, who ordinarily did not
entertain the public. The large ball
room, however. was opened Tor the use
of picnic parties from the neighboring
manufacturing villages, and great
many dishes were kept In the house Tor
the use of such visitors. A charge was
made for the china ana the use OK the
room. :
The herald., 1897-09-19

ssWatermelons! free for ALL"
Odd il the cry, and stranger still Is
the sight presented to the visitor.
Great. luscious, juicy melons are
heaped high in a pile that seems as
big as a haystack to an Fastener. 1t
IL several rods long, and is surrounded
by an eager line of young men ana
BOYS. ready with heavy knives to slice
I'D the fruit in huge pieces for all VINO
may come.
..Watermelons!' they cry. anxious
for the people to appear. Then the
crowd literally swarms over the park
and forms around the rough counter
ahout the heap of melons-and the
elaughter commences. Slash go the
knives in the hands Of eighteen strong
mon who stand around the low pyra-
hid. 100 feet long, 1S feet wide. ana
fact high, containing 1900 melons.
This is flanked by heaps of canteloupes
containing about 5000 toothsome spec
linens. The piles slowly diminish ana
the walters become weary, but they
are relieved by others until the last
melon is sliced in halves for the null
titude, When evening comes the park
Is 9treWn Will tlc linus e-A'0
the feast.
Such is watermelon Day" in the
west. observed at Rocky Ford, little
town in the eastern part of Colorado.
It is a young folks holiday and they
enjoy it to the utmost. Speaking, mu-
sic. and a parade are features OF the
occasion, and all have grand, gooo
time.
watermelon Day" is but a type OF
many fruit and grain festivals that the
people of the plain have introduced
Each community has some specialty
for bringing crowds to see the town
and the products and the region. On
the plains around the watermelon town
are great reaches of sandy loan that
raise melons as sweet as those OF
Georgia. Similar methods have been
adopted by score of places in the
West. so that these festivals are grow
ing numerous.
They are great days for the children;
the little ones are the first on the
ground and the last to go. They al
ways find something good to eat and
plenty of It; the object of those in
charge Is to have as much eaten az
possible and there is no one to say
stop. So the youngsters romp and
laugh and stuff themselves to thei1
hearts content.
Farther over the range one comes to
The herald., 1897-09-19

let us pray and all spring to their
feet as a matter Of form, but with no
prayer in their hearts. What does God
think of such prevaricators? Now let
all who do not wish to be prayed for
sit down"
A certain local skeptic in the audience
The herald., 1897-09-19
PYNCHEONS WENT FOR HIN.

1897, by Bachelor Syndicate
The herald., 1897-09-19

by the door.
what are you laughing, about?"
thundered the irritated preacher.
IT was laughing" the man returned.
"to think how like the devil you fooled
u.s."
The herald., 1897-09-19

and the three-inch Ascot are the
shapes. Nearly every man Is supposed
to be able to tie his own neckwear,
but the haberdasher is always ready to
fit out the man who can't.
Hats? Oh, there's no hurry about
hats. The summer season lasts longer
and longer every year anyhow. The
fall shapes will differ somewhat, of
course, but general principles remain
the same"
OWEN LANGDEN.
Copyright, 1897, by Bachelor Syndicate,
/ Leo Is the 257th Pope. Twenty-four
of his predecessors were Johns. 16 were
Gregorys, IA Clements, IA Benedicts. 1;
Innocents, IL Leos, Pulses, 8 Bont-
faces, 8 Pauls, Urbans. Alexanders
10 Stephens, Adrians, and eacl
named Sextus, Nicholas, Martin ant
Celestine. In the earliest days Of thu
Church the prelates raised to the Pom
tificate retained their own names, bu
the custom Of adopting the name o
some predecessor has obtained for som
ceAA. - A'ss -.-.1 kA-s y .a-x
The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1897-03-24
SENATORIAL FIGHT.
Kentuckians Now Laboring with the
Great Problem.

Special to the Astorian.
Frankfort Ky. March 2S.-roday
separate ballots were taken for the
States senator with the following re-
suit
Senate-Blackburn free silver demo-
crat, "a; Hunter. republican, 13; Boyle,
republican. 3; Davis, sound money
democrat, 6; total, So.
House-Blackburn. "a: Hunter. 5S;
Boyle. 8; Davis, 5; McCleary. /; Sloane.
l; necessary to choice, TO-
The silver democrats held Caucus
tonight. but did nothing to indicate
what course they would pursue in TO-
morrow's ballot for senator. DR.. Hun
ter's friends have been bringing every
possible pressure to bear upon the re-
publicans who voted for Boyle today.
and claim that two OF them will vote
for Hunter The friends Of Governor
Bailey claim that three more republl-
cans will desert Hunter Neither side
give names. The Hunter people will
try to force a continuous session to-
morrow and keep on balloting until an
election is had. The opposition will
attempt to defeat this by adjourning
II it is found no man can be united
on to defeat Hunter on the first ball
lot.
The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1897-03-24
INDIANS IN TROUBLE.

Tekoa, Wash, March 2S.-Four drum
ken Indians from the Coeur dAlene
reservation went into whitmore and
McLean's grocery store last night. Az
ter using noisy and abusive language
they began to throw croclSery and mer-
chandise around the room. Richard
Kelly came to the aid of Mclean and
was knocked down three times by the
infuriated Indians. He seized large
hammer and knocked out two of the
red men. Constable Oliver Sparks,
hearing the noise, came in from the
street, and with the weights from the
scales and counter knocked out the
other two. All four received ugly cuts
on the head, and 1t was feared for
some time that they had been killed.
Physicians were summoned and their
wounds dressed so that they could be
taken to the calaboose. The citizens
are aroused and are determined to
send the offenders to the penitentiary.