davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Winslow mail., 1897-12-04
The Shane of the Earth.

A French scientist, Monsieur De PAp-
parent, finds in Nansen's discovery of
the Unexpectedly great depth of the
Arctic ocean an argument tending to
show that the earth is slightly top
shaped, the protuberance correspond
ing to the point of the top being at the
south pole. This, he thinks, would ex-
plain the different results arrived at by
the various measurements of astrono-
mers and geodesists. These differences
are very small in comparison with the
entire bulk of the globe, yet they are
readily appreciable, and one of the ex-
plantations that has been suggested for
them is that the earth is tetrahedral
in form But Monsieur De PApparent
thinks the top-shape theory is prefera-
bic. The fact that to an eye looking at
the earth from point in space it would
not sensibly differ in appearance from
a true sphere, shows how refined are
the methods of science which enable
men living on the surface of the globe
to detect variations in its general con-
tOur
The Winslow mail., 1897-12-04

Engineer Marshall was not badly
hurt, and he was able to be in Mercer
when the general manager of the road
thanked the blushing Polly officially
and offered a new and better position
in Mercer. And of course all the pas
sengers and express messengers heard
about Polly's brave deed and said a
great many pleasant things about her,
but Polly, being a sensible girl, only
blushed and said that she had to do it,
and that any other girl would have
done the same under like circumstan-
ces-which no one believed, of course.
Later, when the robbers were cap
tured, Polly was able to identify one
of them positiyely-the one who had
run the engine-and through him the
entire party was convicted and sentenc-
ed to the penitentiary.-Chic Rec
ord
The Winslow mail., 1897-12-04

Russia has closely followed Italy in
making a treaty with the French pro-
tectorate of Tunis. Negotiations have
just been completed by Count de Vau-
vineux, Charge d d'Affairs of France in
st. Petersburg. By this treaty Russia
is to enjoy with Tunis all the CONNER
cial agreements that she had made with
France, in addition to the privilege of
being, after France, 1.-The most favored
nation" 1t is doubtful whether
Franco-Russian combination has been
made to Oust the Italian merchants
from Tunis, where for twenty-eight
years they had enjoyed unique priv
ileges; but the journals of Rome look at
the new treaty askance and warn those
who have interests in Northern Africa
to be Cn their guard.
The Winslow mail., 1897-12-04
NATURES Engraving Stone.

For many years the greatest source
of the fine-grained stone used in lith-
ography has been the quarries at Solen-
hofen, in Bavaria. These quarries pos
sess q particular interest, because in
them have been discovered remains of
exceedingly strange and rare prehistor-
ic animals, such as some of the flying
reptiles that once dWelt in Europe, but
have now disappeared from the earth.
The science of geology has gained much
from these fossils, which, fiattened and
compressed, and leaving their impress
sions in the rock, might be likened to
engravings from natures own hand.
whereby she has handed down to us
pictures of a world whose antiquity ex-
tends far beyond the limits of human
memory or human history. Recently it
has been stated that the SOlenhofen
uuarries are approaching exhaustion,
and that new source of supply of lith-
ographic stone is needed. 1t is graft
fying to know that our own country
may supply the want, excellent stone
of the kind required being found in
Tennessee. In the meantime in Ger
many the possibility of substituting
aluminium for Solenhofen stone is be-
ing discussed.
The Winslow mail., 1897-12-04
Why They Remarry Every Year.

Just before Probate Judge Herr
closed his office Saturday night he was
paid a visit by very strange couple.
The visitors were middle-aged man
and woman, fairly well dressed and
very good looking. The man asked the
Judge if he would issue them mar
riage license and perform the cere
mony. 1t is needless to say that the
Judge answered in the affirmative, for
this is his business. The man gave his
name as G. G. Hopkins and his COM
panion answered to the name of Lillian
Hopkins.
care you related to each otherY' in~
quired the judge.
slightly" responded the visitor. "We
are man and wife"
Judge Herr naturally asked him his
reasons for being married again and
the stranger related n very remarkable
story. He stated that they were mar
ried five years ago in the city of Chi
cago. and have celebrated their we'd
ding anniversary each year by getting
remarked.
"My wife and entered into an agree
ment," said he, ''when we were first
united in the holy bonds of wedlock, to
the effect that at the expiration of the
first year our marriage should become
void. and if we wanted to live together
longer we should get married again.
Our adventure with Cupid has proved
a happy one to both, and for five con-
escutive years we have lived together
and have been married each year"
Judge Herr was rendered almost
speechless by the strangers story, ana
after much deliberation refused TO
marry them, as he was in doubt as to
whether or not he had the power 10 do
so. Hopkins talked intelligently and
did not have the appearance OF
''crank. Kansas City Journal.
The Winslow mail., 1897-12-04

The sO-called "Woman's Bible" has
achieved a conspicuous failute. Sen
sible women have condemned it's idea
as representative, and it's recent formal
reputation by the Woman's Christian
Temperance Union simply crystallizes
the individual opinions held of it by
thoughtful women. The movement
producing 1t was unwise and impru
dent, and many found it irreverent, al
though no such intent could justly be
ascribed to it's originators. Their fault
was simply misdirected zeal in the
service of their cause.
The Winslow mail., 1897-12-04

In this country, then claiming to be
enlightened" the tinder box. with
steel and flint, was the apparatus most
generally used. However, if there was
no tinder box in the house, the old flint
lock musket, with a few grains of pow
der in the pan, together with q few
shreds of paper or creased rags, was
considered household necessity. Rub
bing sticks together until they were
fired by friction was the method used
by the savages of that time in nearly
all the lands of the globe.
There was one singular exception,
however, to all of the above, as well as
many other of the more common meth
DDS of striking light" and that meth
cd was practiced by a rude tribe of
semisavages inhabiting Eastern Thl-
bet. Curious as it may seem, those
rude sayages obtained fire on strictly
scientific principles, which involved a
wonderful knowledge of the properties
of compressed air. The apparatus used
consisted of a wooden cylinder, two
and half inches long by three-quar-
ters of an inch in diameter, which was
closed at one end. Into this cylinder
(which tapered off at one end until it
was not larger than a common lead
penciD was fitted an air-tight piston,
which had a large fat knob at the top;
the other end of the piston was slightly
followed out, the indentation being in
tended for the reception of a small
piece of tinder or punk" When this
apparatus was in use it was held in
one hand, the piston being inserted
with the other, and pushed about half
way down. A very sharp blow was
then given with the palm of the piston.
AT the same instant the fingers were
closed around the knob and the piston
Instantly withdrawn. If everything
had worked to perfection, the scientific
savage was usually rewarded by find
ing that the tinder had been lighted
and fire assured.
Sir William Gill, the English scien-
tist, who investigated this queer mode
of striking light, says that 'it re-
quires skill to use this fire-producing
apparatus, as well as science to invent
it."-San Francisco Chronicle.
The Winslow mail., 1897-12-04
Feed for Farm Hnrsoa

Equal parts of old oats and shelled
corn, mixed with a little bran, and
made slightly moist, is a strong,
healthy feed. Idle horses may be given
two quarts at feed, and then turned
to pasture. Horses at hard work should
be fed four quarts at a feed. Feed oat
hay If new hay is fed, salt it. New
oats should not be fed too early. Let
them dry out a few weeks first.
Horses should be salted twice week,
giving tablespoonful at a time. Curry
the horses morning and night. and
wash the shoulders off with cold water
when they come in from work. and rub
dry. If the skin is rubbed off by the
collar, rub on little rock oil. and then
dust with air-slacked lime. This will
harden the skin, and, if the collar fits
properly, there will be no sore shoul-
ders. The collars should be cleaned off
every morning before being put op the
horses.
The Winslow mail., 1897-12-04
sun-spots and the Weather.

The interesting question whether
there is any measurable influence eX-
erted upon the earth's atmosphere, and
particularly upon what we call "the
weather." by the black spots on the
sun, is again under discussion. Sun
spots increase and decrease in size and
number periodically, the average time
from one maximum of spots to another
being about eleven years. At present
the spots are becoming less numerous,
and their minimum period is approach
ing. At a recent meeting Of the Royal
Meteorological Society Mr.. A. B. Mac
Dowall gave reasons for believing that,
as the sun-spot minimum draws near,
there is tendency toward greater heat
in the summer and greater cold in the
winter than is the case near the sun
spot maximum. The part of the world
specially considered by Mr.. MacDowall
was western Europe, but if Europe is
affected by sun-spots, America must
be affected by them also.
The Winslow mail., 1897-12-04

q Poly r)ADHALz->)Avtn HI }
" T IdnT XpRG) II

SWarming around the engine, she heard
fierce oathS, and then the engine start
ed up again. She saw in an instant
that it had been cut free from the train.
In the cab window, where her father
usually stood, there was big unfamil-
lar figure managing the lever and throt-
tle Terrified, Polly sprung to one side
into clump of bushes. AS the locomo-
tive passed her on its way up the track
she saw that the man in the cab wore
a black mask on his face, and then she
knew what had happened. She under
stood why Pinckney had tried to warn
her and failed. Robbers had held up
the train and were preparing to rob
the express car.
For moment Polly was torn with
doubt and terror. Had they shot her
father? She knew that he never would
submit to have his train captured with
out struggle. Should she go to him?
Then she remembered her station and
the telegraph, and without a moments
delay she was flying down the track
toward the depot. She would send for
help to Mercer. But squarely in front
of the little depot the locomotive stop
ped and the black-masked man sprung
from the cab window and darted
across the platform. Hardly thinking
what she was doing, Polly ran up on
the other side, the fireman's side of the
engine, and, raising herself up, peered
into the cab. She had half expected
to see her fathers dead body lying
on the floor, for she had heard much
about the terrible doings Of train rob-
bers.
Through the cab window she could
see the robber sitting at her own little
desk in the depot sending a message.
1t flashed over her all at once that he
was wiring Mercer that the express
was delayed, thus preventing any
alarm. The robber had pushed up his
mask and she saw him plainly.
What should she do? She dared not
enter the office, and she, a mere girl
could be of no service where the rob-
bers were making their attack on the
train. If only she had the little revolv-
er that lay in the drawer of her desk
she set her teeth as she thought what
she would do with it.
AT that moment three shots rang out,
The Winslow mail., 1897-12-04
THE LAST ROSE OF SUMMER.
The Woman Who Suggested the Poem
Died Recently.

Died Recently.
Had Thomas Moore never written
any other poem than 'The Last Rose
of Summer" his fame would endure.
Yet had it not been for Mrs. Amelia
Kohler, who died at Mount Vernon, N.
Y, not long ago, Moore might never
have written the famous words.
The poem, according to the firm belief
of Mrs. Kohler's friends, was of her
suggestion, and the first line was ut
tered from her lips. She was early in
the century a close friend of Moores
sister, who kept a private school in
London. While walking in the garden
of the school with the poet one day
Mrs. Kohler, so the story runs, pluck
ed rose, remarking: Z" 'Tis the last rose
of summer; why not write about 1t, Mr..
Moore?"
The incident suggested the thought
that was afterwards so beautifully
woven into verse, and the poem was
dedicated by the poet to Amelia, which
is Mrs. Kohlers first name. Her life
The Winslow mail., 1897-12-04
Electric Power in Africa.

Attention was recently called in this
column to the proposed use of the cat
aracts of the Nile for the generation
of electric power. At meeting of the
Institution of Civil Engineers in Lon
don a short time ago, Prof. Forbes re-
ported that he had been consulted
about another similar enterprise in the
dark continent" This was a propo-
sition to employ the Victoria Falls of
the Zambesi river in supplying electric
power to the gold mines in Matabele-
land and the Transvaal He thought
the scheme was not so chimerical as it
had at first appeared to him. In his
opinion 1.-The distance over which power
might be profitably transmitted by cleo
tricity was not far short of 1000 miles"
The Winslow mail., 1897-12-04

Phrases like 81 don't want to-" with
the infinitive elided after the to, hav-
ing been declared to be Americanisms,
the Rev. J. Erie writes to the Academy
that he had always used and heard
the form, being a native of South De-
Won, and also quotes DR.. Watts Let
bears and lions growl and fight, for it's
their nature to-" DR.. Fitz-Edward Hall
gives q long list of English examples
for the phrase, beginning with the year
1886, and including Jeremy Collier, De-
foe, Southey, Dickens, Charles Reade,
Ruskin and George Eliot.
The Winslow mail., 1897-12-04

was of interest in more ways than this,
however. She was 92 when she died,
and for twenty years had lived with
her daughter, Mrs. r. N. Saunders,
who lives with her husband in Mount
Vernon. Her maiden name was Amelia
Offergeld, and her father was an officer
under Gen Blucher. The family home
was in Aix-la- Chapelle, France. When
quite young she married Charles Koh-
Ter, London merchant. After her
husbands death she came to America
to live with her daughter.
The Winslow mail., 1897-12-04
CLEVER ADVERTISERS IN PARIS
Even Ouick- Witted Americans Might
Be Given Pointers.

III
Be Given Pointers.
The recently notorious Barrison sis
ters first came into notice as an adver-
tisement of play, "The Fairy's Well"
run by Owen Ferree in New York, and
while hardly more than babes were
seen every day riding in an Irish iaunt-
ing car through the streets of New
York. That was ten years ago. All
these methods are common enough in
the States, and much more frequently
used than such of the public as is not
familiar with the business section of
the city knows. Now hear how it is
done in France:
To-day" writes a Paris correspond
ent, "on the boulevardS | came across
a wedding party, which, to my aston
ishment, drove up in a splendidly ap-
pointed equipage and alighted in front
of fashionable restaurant. The men
were in evening dress. The bride had
on her orange blossoms and veil; pret-
ty bride she was too. Everything about
the party was au fait. They took their
seats on the terasse and, of course, a
crowd at once began to gather near
them, for while bridal parties are not
an uncommon sight in Paris, still, as a
rule, the blushing bride hides herself
discreetly in some far-off, obscure res
taurant, rather than f1aunt herself in
the face and eyes of the boulevards.
Slipping their absinthe, the party chat
ted and laughed and the gaping people
about them drank in every word. They
talked in unconscious audibleness, and
every word they said was simply
glorification of the Montmartre cafe.
That done they passed ON to their next
stand" "
The Winslow mail., 1897-12-04

size of each cell being about one pint
in capacity.
The cars were exhibited in various
cities and attracted some attention.
but the time was not ripe for electric
transit and Farmers scheme was not
utilized. 1t formed the basis, how
ever, upon which engineers subsequent
ly built the electric cars of the present
day. Farmer died in Chicago during
the Worlds Fair in 1898.
The Winslow mail., 1897-12-04

botanist insists that many neglect
ed American weeds are good to eat.
The tender young shoots of milkweed
are said to be as delicate as asparagus,
with similar valuable properties. Pig
weed is related to beets and spinach.
The nettle is well favored, though
somewhat course and stringy, which
argues that the donkey may be more
of an epicure than is supposed. 1t is
suggested that every weed has an hon
est value if it could only be discovered.
The Winslow mail., 1897-12-04
saving Ones Muscles.

Constant dipping the pen into the ink
while writing may be avoided by in
serting two pens of the same size in
the penholder, the inner one to project
a little. The writing is done with the
inner pen. The ink collected between
the two pens is sufficient to last
through several pages of manuscript.
and yet it will not flow more freely
than is desirable.
The Winslow mail., 1897-12-04

An expertmenter in Berlin claims to
have discovered the exact momentum
of lightning, by measuring the amount
of iron fused by stroke during a thun-
derstorm. The average is placed at
1000 horsepower. But it does not fol-
low that a man who is struck by light
ming and recovers can be Indifferent to
the storage battery of one mule.
The Winslow mail., 1897-12-04
over Half a Million for = Rook.

The highest price ever offered for a
single volume was rendered by num-
Der of wealthy Hebrew merchants of
Venice to Pope julius II. for a very
ancient Hebrew bible. 1t was believed
to be an original copy of the Septua-
gent version of the scriptures, trans
lated from the Hebrew into Greek in
277 B. G. The sum mentioned to julius
was 100000, but the Pope declined the
offer.
The Winslow mail., 1897-12-04

A New York paper explains that
two lives were lost In an unexpected
collision of two trains on the One Hun
dred and Tenth street curve Of the ele-
vated road the other day. We nave no
ticed that the unexpected collisions
usually are more destructive than those
which are deliberately planned in ad-
vance
The Winslow mail., 1897-12-04

And now the Chicago Council Is ask
ed to grant a permit for an under
ground railway system throughout the
entire city. This is running the fran
chise business into the ground.
The Winslow mail., 1897-12-04

Such are the vicissitudes of the world,
through all its parts, that day and
night, labor and rest, hurry and retire
ment, endear each other. Such are the
changes that keep the mind In action;
we desire. we pursue, we obtain, we are
satisfied; we desire something else, and
begin a new pursuit.
The Winslow mail., 1897-12-04

A just Inheritance tax in all the
States would either lessen other taxa
ton or 1t would furnish means for
State improvements, and the assess
ments would not be missed by those
who inherit wealth they did not make.
The Winslow mail., 1897-12-04

This typewriter business is getting
awful. One typewriter's smile wreck
ed Chicago bank. and now a mistake
made In transcribing a bill by another
In New Jersey has necessitated a spe-
cial session of the Legislature of that
State to pass the bill over again.
The Winslow mail., 1897-12-04
A Great Chinese Rridne-

Spanning an inlet of the Yellow Sea
near Sangang, China, is a bridge five
and a quarter miles long, with 300
piers of masonry, and having its road
way Ga feet above the water This
work is said to have been accomplish
ed by Chinese engineers 800 years ago.
The Winslow mail., 1897-12-04
A Machine tn Test Arches

A testing machine of wonderful pow
er has recently been devised for the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
1t is capable of exerting a pressure of
100000 pounds. 1t can be applied to
testing the strength of complete arch
of masonry, and it is said that similar
tests on so large a scale have never
before been applied.
The Winslow mail., 1897-12-04

AnArizona astronomer who acknowl-
edges that he was looking at Venus the
other night insists that the planet wore
q veil on that occasion. That mans
wife must be a tartar or he wouldn't
have to tell such stories.
The Winslow mail., 1897-12-04

True courage Is shown by doing with
out witnesses that which a man Is ca
pable of doing In the face of the world.
In the former case, 1t Is certain that
osteutation has no share in the effort
The Winslow mail., 1897-12-04

The words we so often carelessly use
reflect a force In the mind that uses
them; they are the messengers of the
secret life Of men to other men. Born
OF mental energy In one, they are
The Winslow mail., 1897-12-04

"a horse stepped on the face of Ho-
mer Jones yesterday" remarks the Ne
braska State Journal, but he will get
we'll" 1t Is a pleasure to be assured
that the horse will get well, but he
probably will know better than to re-
peat that experiment.
The Winslow mail., 1897-12-04

A Cincinnati paper wants the hen
substituted for the eagle as the Ameri-
can bird Of freedom, because the hen
added S133, 100000 to the national
wealth last year. The hen can no
longer be regarded merely as a lay fig
The Winslow mail., 1897-12-04

There Is a fortune for the milliner
who shall devise a bonnet that can be
worn In any part of the church and al
ways present the trimmed side to the
congregation.
The Winslow mail., 1897-12-04
The FIRST ELECTRIC CAR.
The Memory of Farmer, It's Inventor,
HOnored This Week.

The first electric passenger car ever
made in the United States was dis
played to the public for the first time
at Dover, N. H. July &c, 1S47. The
fiftieth anniversary Of the event, which
occurred recently, has bee nfittingly
observed at Eliot, Me-, where lived the
The Winslow mail., 1897-12-04
How 10 Choose a Pup.

In order to make choice of a puppy
from among a number OF others 1t IS
best to leave the choice to the mother
herself. In carrying them back to thein
bed the first the mother picks MP wiz
always be the best,
The Winslow mail., 1897-12-04

Many advertising business men are
fishing in ink pots and wondering why
the public doesn't bite. Try a little
original bait, gentlemen. 1t will catch
readers every time.
The Winslow mail., 1897-12-04

1t took Nansen three years to get four
degrees nearer the north pole than any
previous explorer. We would really
like to know what good his trip has
done anyone on earth.
The Winslow mail., 1897-12-04
The Sides,

Reporter are two sides to the
story, of course"
Editor Gn hurry)-"The end is moro
important than the other side."-De-
troit Journal
The Winslow mail., 1897-12-04

The Lynn (Mass) Item sweetly says:
Never kick fellow when he's down"
Good advice; 1t always is safer to jump
on him with both feet.
The Winslow mail., 1897-12-04

when a woman loves should she
ask marriageT inquiries the Philadel-
phia Item. What do you think we are
maintaining the leap year tradition for?
The Winslow mail., 1897-12-04

There is no occasion for New York
to throw her museums of antiquities
open on Sunday so long as she has her
Sunday newspapers.
The Winslow mail., 1897-12-04

Miss Hashagan, a New York artist,
has married her redskin model, Thun-
der Cloud. If he is a good Indian, why
In the thunder shouldn't he make
model husband.
The Winslow mail., 1897-12-04

Obstacles which seem to hinder our
course afford the best opportunities for
developing the courage and accumulat-
Ing the power which we need to pur-
EuQ II
The Winslow mail., 1897-12-04

Chicago newspapers are now engag-
ed In making out a new census of that
city based upon the directory figures.
Chicago Is still the city of magnificent
census estimates.
The Winslow mail., 1897-12-04
Right with Him,

Algy-Heavens, Gus! Your silk tiles
all brushed the wrong way.
Gus-Ah, yes, me boy. But Wales is
wearing 'em fuzzy now, ye know
Philadelphia North American.
The Winslow mail., 1897-12-04

From this life, as from dungeon-bars,
we look to the skies, and are refreshed
with sweet visions of the home that
shal be- ours when we are free.