davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1897-01-23
PRAe r,eE ~trn HORIZONTAL l,fe-t.ne

under which I could discover these eject
ed balls. That was a sure indication that
rough legged hawk or some species CT OWL
made that tree its roosting place. Taking
a long pole and fastening on one end a
stout steel trap, 1 would bait the trap with
a mouse or some other thing the birds
were fond of, and then push the trap INTO
the branches of the tree, and tie the pole
fast l seldom failed to find hawk or
an owl fast in the trap when 1 went to
locked after it. Once / captured magn1n-
cent snowy owl in that way. He was un-
injured where the trap held his leg. After
a great struggle-for a wounded owl is one
of the worst customers to fool with tied
his legs together and his great wings
down, and started proudly homeward with
my prize. / carried with me an old single
barrelled gun. The time was in the fall,
the ground while 1 stopped to gather hick-
ory nuts. While thus engaged l discovered
yellow Jackets going in and out OF hole
in the ground. l knew at once that the
hole was the entrance to nest OF these
lively insects. 1 took my gun. and going
close to the hole, fired into 1t and took 10
my Heels. Looking back after 1 had run
a safe distance, 1 saw the yellow jackets
swarming ansrily out Of their dfsmantled
home. The sound of the gun had startled
the owl, and he had fluttered about, bound
he was. That futter was fatal to him.
The savage yellow jackets saw the move
ment and settled down on the helpless bird
until his coat was as yellow as gold.
Wherever the creatures could find a spot
to sink a singer they sank one, and In
spite of his bonds the poor owl rolled and
tumbled about in agony. l reloaded my
gun and creeping behind a fallen tree until
l was near enough almost to touch the
owl with the end of the barrel, shot the
big birds head off, thus losing my great
rize through my boyish mischief"
Evening star., 1897-01-23
THE MUD BATHS.
They Are New Mexican Institutions
and Are Largely PatrOnized.

From the New York Post.
THE hot springs Of New Mexico" says
a gentleman from Las Vegas, "are on the
Santa Fe railroad, six miles from Las We
gas, and they are situated in basin about
thirty acres in extent, surrounded on all
sides'by hills rising to height of from 800
to 400 feet, shielding the place from wind
and sand storms The mud baths, which
famous for their curative effects, are
only to be had in two places in the world,
here and at Carlsbad Germany, and 1t has
been shown that the mud found at the hot
springs of New Mexico and which is used
in giving the baths, is of the same chem
ical composition as that of Carlsbad. 1t is
very interesting to note the formation Of
this mud peat 1t Is formed by the veg
citation which has been washed down from
the hills probably a century ago, and
which, settling among the rocks, has be-
come decomposed and formed into a SUBJ
stance which is practically carbon impreg-
mated with salts, magEesia, soda, lith!a
and various other ingredients.
This peat Is gathered from the rocks,
dried and put through a fine sieve in order
to remove the silicates, and after this
treatment is as soft as flour. 1t is then
taken to the mixing room, where 1t is put
springs mixed with 1t until 1t is of about
the consistency Of mush. The mud Is now
ready for use, and it is taken into the bath
ing room, where the patient is placed in a
tub and covered, with the exception of the
head, and allowed to remain in the mud for
from ten to thirty-five minutes The appli-
cation of the mud has an effect similar to
mud poultfce, and draws the impurities
from the body through the pores of the
skin"
Evening star., 1897-01-23

tory of our world since 1t first took FORM"
With that he led his little audience to q
" ork bench and drew forth chunk OF
charcoal covered on all but one side with
plaster OF paris, bloWpipe, ana jewell
er's soldering lamp.
IT viii make the globe of q dime" he
said, and he placed silver ten-cent piece
on the charcoal Then he lit the lamp and
with the blowpipe directed the flame upon
the dime. Soon the charcoal began to glow
and burn away about the dime In broad
hollow, and then the dime turned first
black and then red, and as 1t approached
a white heat 1t drew itself together until
presently 1t was a globule of molten silver.
II you have never seen such ball OF
glowing melted silver you have missed one
Of the prettiest Of sights. On the outside
there forms very thin skin Of black oxide.
which serves like woman's veil to height
en- the charms beneath 1t. With the blow
pipe still adding heat to the globe. the
silver became as liquid as water, and the
gases emitted by the heated charcoal made
1t roll about in the hollow as mobile as
quicksilver, while within the globe the met
al could be seen agitated by intense cur
rents. These currents changed their direc-
ton as the point of fame from the blow
pipe was moved from point to point. and
every moment the surface agitation was so
great that the rest of the oxide would
break and disclose the dazzling metal be-
meath.
All know the beauty of quicksilver. and
many have seen the glow of melted lead or
tln OF the reu glare OI lfOn dS IL was pouIeu
in the foundry or furnace, but none Of
these compares with the beauty of molten
silver. Melted gold has a beauty Of its own,
but not like that of silver The light which
comes from the melted silver seems
as brilliant as that from an arc electric
light, but not dazzling; 1T is white with a
tinge of heavenly violet. and the swirling
metal seems translucent like pearl Of the
finest water.
Now we will let It COOL" said the Jersey
man, removing the blowpipe from his lips
Evening star., 1897-01-23

and letting his inflated che, n. IS -...le their
natural condition. The charcoal was placed
on the bench. Soon the agitation of the
surface of the tiny globe of silver ceased.
and the quiescence of TIE dull outer coating
showed that a skin of metal had cooled and
set in place.
Now watch the mountains and valleys
form and see the mighty earthquakes shake
the crust. exclaimed the Jerseyman, and
as he spoke the crust, which had been
smooth and even, began to wrinkle. Some
times the wrinkles would form long contin-
uous lines across half the globe; then in
spots the whole surface would pucker up
and again all of these would straighten out
crly to form new series of Fuckers and
wrinkles in other places. 1t was all over in
half minute and the globe was set enough
to drop into glass of water to cool.
Now look at it, said the Jerseyman,
handing the globe to his visitors and with
II strong magnifying glass. There is a
SKINNER of water on it, caught in the in
terstices of the roughened surface. That is
three or four times as much water in pro-
portion as our earth has on it, SO you
nave before you all the features OF sea and
land, mountain and valley"
1t was indeed SO, and, although the glass
revealed only the more prominent of the
FEATURES, there was no difficulty in seeing
all tie others with the minds eye
Evening star., 1897-01-23
MIRACLE OF HEARING
TO CHILDHOOD and AGE
The Stories Of Two School Children Alice Lyles and Caryl
Odel--The Verify Of Doctor McCoys Triumph Over
Deafness Illustrated Again and Again in the Homes
of Washington.
A PROMINENT LAWYER
RECEIVERS HIS LONG-LOsT
HEARING At EIGHTY.

Robert Patterson of ST. Mary's. Va,
now at No. Al Maryland ave-. city: Mr. Patter-
son Is wellknown attorney -at-law and long time
resident OF st. Mary's, Va He s stopping at pres
ent with his daughter. Mrs. w. l.. King OF Mary
land avenue although eshty years old next month,
he Is n finely preserved gentleman OF We olden
time. typical Nirg aian. standing six feet three
and straight as an arrow. He is very enthusiastic
In praise OF Doctor McCoy's system OF treat atment
and says: I'm like the young man in the Scrip
ture, Know not Wherefore his power, whether or
not IL be miracle: I only know that wherea. I
was deaf now 1 can hear
For more than thirty years had been troubled
with my hearing. II became bad that
Was Compelled to Give Up Ny Pro.
fessiOn IA n Lawyer.
could not hear the witnesses und had 10 stand
close by Judge opposing counsel and strain every
nerve TO catch what they saying
AT one time had an apoplectic seizure from the
int anse strain and finally gave up the law
i consulted doctors years ago who told there
was no use for me TO spend any money, for I
couldn't be cured, the drum OF my ear was 80
nearly gone that there was help for me.
AS time went on i grew more aud more deaf,
and attributed II TO the infrmities OF age and
Settled Down to a Life of silence.
MY attention was attracted by the stories OF
cures of deafness 10y Doctors Mccoy md Cowien,
and thought there must be chance for me.
Il availed myself Of their free consultation. They
pronounced my case greatly TO my surprisel
able. and began treatment.
AT this time l couldn't hear a word Of sonvar.
sation unless people spoke directly me. close TO
me and I'm a loud voice
The children never disturbed me- for never
heard them make a noise. the door bell ! never
heard, or the gongS on thc going 10y, the clo'k
ticking or any sounds Of like nature.
Il was returning from the doctors Office one iay
and heard couple Of men talking l Thought
they were speaking M. I stopped and heard
every word they were iytg. although ,unver-
saton was not addressed me. Then I knew for
the first time that
Ny Hearing Was Coming Back.
The next time Wa in the off ,e l heard dis
tnctiy the conversato' OF two ladies in the same
room.
Il have no trouble IN hearing the door bell
and the cars and the harm clock In the Iext room
awakens NE In the lri!ng. Ny little Irand-
childrens voices sound pretty loud sometimes aud
almost drown all other souues. but the tuse with
which hear them assures me that I'm no longer
hard of hearing.
Il advise everybody old and young IL they have
any trouble with TIL car, matter what other
physicians say, to 60 10 Doctor Mvt,ny.
Two weeks ago to N -, n Street Press
oyterlan Church, ard perIp :ou Imagine whnt
happiness IL was 10 ar every word OF Rev
Dr. Skellengers sermon something L ha,lu't heard
for years.
Evening star., 1897-01-23
HE SOWED THE WIND.
And Will Never Again Try to Get I'm
Woman's Edition of His Paper.

ana VIII Never Again Try to Get In
W0man's Edition of His Paper
From the New York Journal
Holy smoke! what have I fallen intoo"
He was just entering the rarlor of the
girl to whom he had been paying atten-
ton.
Pandemonium greeted him.
The shrill voices of a score of women ,ose
and fell in ear-splitting, blood-curdling
cadence and the windows ratified and
shook from the fierce concussion. In one
corner sat man with an ashan face and
trembling limbs. to whom voll,y of TN
lntellg1ble language was ofttimes hurled.
ana then again he sat, with staring eve.
nalis. listening to those awful voices. as,
suggesting. vociferating and jangling, they
shattered the silence, quarreling among
themselves. Twenty women with twenty
voicesi
What could it mean?
First, one shrill voice and then another
predominated.
Il must have two columns for my essay
on Women Of Note"
IF you dare to cut down. my article on
The History Of the Sleeve I'll simply
quit
Il have sixty-eight receipts that are just
lovely and must go in
And l have-you should just hear my
poem on'-(AH off in a bunch).
Then the pale man spoke wearily:
But, ladies, space forbids-'
Again shrill voice above the others:
w heres my manuscript on The Chill
dren's Corner?' Don't you think, Mr., Spif-
kins, that l should
The pale man tainted.
The man at the door recognized the un-
conscious sufferer. He was the editor of
the Billville Blueblazes. He had been try
ing to issue a womans edition of his paper
for Sweet charity
Evening star., 1897-01-23

the field and gliding away, a few feet
above the stubble. as nofseless as ghosts
and as swift as shadows. These are short
ear owls. hunting for field mice. One
and they would make scarcely any more
noise than many butterflies. Ghostly 81
lence in fight characterizes all species OF
owls.
Hawks fly noiselessly, too. These birds
depend on stealth in seeking their prey.
1t won't do for them to have any rustic
about their hunting. There Is another pc
culiar thing about the short-eared owls.
BILE he will not find any other game birds
there. The only way that I can explain
that fact is that the owl knows instinc-
lively that the game bird is liable to be
hunted, and that consequently he can hunt
his own mice more securely II he goes
where the quails do not come. The short
cared owl Is a favorite with collectors. Its
coat of cream color and brown feathers
seeming especially to be admired.
The rarest of all owls are the hawk owl,
the snow owl, and the long-eared owl.
The hawk owl I never saw in Pennsylva-
MIA, but / have shot it In eastern New
owl called the sawet, which is sometimes
plentiful and sometimes scarce. These owls
are blind as bats In the daytime. and when
dawn approaches they roost In the first
place that appeals to them. Consequently
we often see them sitting on fence rails.
window sills, gate posts, and house roofs.
Just as we'll as in the woods. 1t is no trick
to knock them over with stick at such
times. There is a curious thing about the
day-blind owls. and that is that they are
all summer owls, and go south on the ap-
proach of cold weather.
owls have a peculiar way Of ca ting.
They swallow their food bones and all.
By some process the bones, fur, and feath-
ers are all rolled UP in small balls in the
owls stomach. When l was boy l be-
came aware of this. and it was great sport
for me to search in the woods for trees
Evening star., 1897-01-23
GEMS HAVE DISEASES.

Some Precious Stones Lose Color,
Some Gradually Fade and Die.
From the New York Times
Gems have diseases just as men and wo-
men do, with this difference, that the in
firmities Of precious stones can rarely be
cured. Some gems deteriorate, grow old, in
other words, and gradually become lifeless.
Pearls are most subject to this fate, and
no means have been found to restore them
to life.
Among infrmities to which precious
stones are liable is one common to all COL
ored stones, that of fading, or losing color
when long exposed to the light. The en-
erald, the sapphire and the ruby suffer the
least, their colors being as nearly perma-
nent as colors can be- yet experiments made
few years ago in Paris and Berlin to
determine the deterioration of colored gems
through exposure showed that even these
suffered, a ruby which has lain for two
years in show window being Derceptibly
lighter in tint than its original mate, which
was kept in the darkness.
The causes of the change are not very
clear, even to expert chemists, but ii is evil
dent that the action Of the light on tine
ccloring matter of the gem effects deteri-
grafton, slow but exceedingly sure.
In the case Of the garnet and topaz the
change is more rapid than in that of the
ruby and sapphire, but there is a curious
difference in the result in topaz and garnet,
for while the latter grows lighter the for
mer appears to become cloudy and dull in
hue, losing much of the brightness char
acteristic of q newly-cut gem.
For ages the opal has had the unenviable
reputation of being the most unlucky of
gems, and it is believed that the jewellers
themselves Were originally responsible for
some of the superstitions and hard luck
stories connected with it, since to the pol
ishers and settlers it is one of the most
troublesome gems on their list
Microtonists say that the prismatic colors
and fire of the opal gre due to myriads of
minute cracks in the body of the stone, the
edges Of which reflect the light at different
angles and give the hues so much admired
A stone full of cracks is liable to split in
two al any time, and disasters of this kind,
especially in the process of grinding and
polishing, have occurred SO often that every
gem polishing house has it's store of hard
luck stories in connection with the opal.
After the gem is set and sold the load is
taken off the mind of the manufacturer and
transferred to that of the wearer. OpaIs
that have successfully passed the ordeals
of grinding. polishing and setting do not
often crack afterward, but it is best not to
expose them to even the moderate heat in
VolVei by the wearer sitting in front of an
open fire, for the opal is composed prin-
cipally of silicic acid, with from to 13 per
cent of water. a combination which renders
them very treacherous objects. The idea
that they are otherwise unfortunate in the
sense that they bring disaster to the wear
er may be dismissed as suDerstitious.
OF all precious stones, however the opal
is the most open to be diseased.
Evening star., 1897-01-23
HAD BEEN DEAF
SINCE BEFORE THE WAR
HE HEARS AGAIN,

Samuel Allen, 2o5 Harrison ST., Ana
costa: Il hadn't heard a 5 rmon fer twenty years
when L went TO Dotor Mccoy.
The cable cars could right Iast and
wouldn't hear even the gong ring, let alone the
rumble of the car
During the war I drafted, but was rNempt-
e,' on account OF the total deafness of my right
ear. occasoned by attack OF mumps
Il couldlt hear a wagon any noises going on
about the house in the street.
Il belong to Harmony Lodge. l. q. o. F, and to
Encampment No 4. Magen' nu. but I have been
forced to give up attending the meetings because
my left ear became dull OF hearing tprobably
from sympathy that couldn't hear a word of the
ritual 1 might perhaps hear very loud AMI
heavy clap Of thunder, but all ordinary sounds
were dead to me.
Il am employed at the St Elizabeth Asylum,
where I've been for three years past. l grew
lad that the gentleman who gave orders found
the utmost difficulty in making me hear.
After mad been under Doctor McCoy's treat
ment some time sitting by the
evening, and put my watch to my ears / fairly
jumped, was SO delighted. could hear il tick
plain day in my left ear. Then found could
hear the voices Of people clearly, and noises that
had aever heard came to me distinctly.
The next Sunday I went TO the Methodist
Church, Rev. DIR. Mclean, pastor. Before | got
inside 1 heard him reading. pillar in the church
hid him from my view, hut 1 heard every word OF
his sermon. Just think OF It'll i hadn't heard
much as that for twenty years! Why, could even
hear the words Of the hymn.
Every day my hearing improved Now my left
ear is entirely cured and I hear sounds in my
right. hear the hoofs Of the horses when they
strike the paved road when I sit In the cars I
have no difficulty in hearing the boss speak
the barn. which is about hundred feet long.
I hear my watch tick under my pillow. have
trouble whatever in hearing ordinary conversation
and don't know Of any sound that don't hear
distinctly
Evening star., 1897-01-23
CURIOUS WAYS OF OWLS.
Some See by Day as Well as by Nigh,
-GhOstIy Birds

From the New York sun.
''Ary one who has tramped much through
the woods said an observant PennsyIva-
MIA wOodsman, knows how seldom 1t is
that ne sees an owl Of any description. and
also how equally rare IL is TO get a shot
at a hawk. although many may be seen.
There are two good reasons why the
everyday hunter seldom sees an owl while
he tramps. One reason is that some owls
cannot see by day. and therefore select
hiding places which render their discovery
next to impossible as a person passes cas-
uaLy through The woods. The other rea-
son Is that there are some owls that see
Dy day as well as by night These double
slghted birds discover the intruder long
oeIore ne can possibly see them, and they
lose no time in seeking places of greater
sdIety Inere are owls whose eyesight
aoes not depend on darkness to be of use
me screech owl and the long-eared owl
are ano ng the members of the family that
are tAnded, or partially blinded, by the
Hsnt OF DAY Others. among them the hoot
OWL the snow owl. the hawk owl and the
shoTt-eared owl, are sharp sighted, both
oy day ana by night The short-eared owl
IS great Held mouse hunter In wheat or
rye stubbie He Is among the first of the
family OF winter owls that come down
from the north to forage in this latitude
Early In the season, quail hunters
working in wheat stubble, especially IN
western Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio
Ge frequently surprised by the sight of
pair OF big birds rising suddenly from
Evening star., 1897-01-23
PLAYING FIREMEN
With All the Apparatus Of a Real
Department.
A NOVELTY IN MANUAL TRAINING
Up-to-Date Course in a Cambridge
Boys School.
ITS MANY GOOD POINTS

Written for The EvNn'Dg Star.
A novel and interesting feature Of the
Cambridge Manual Training School for
Boys is the fire battalion.
In conduct and appliances this is moth
fng less than reproduction of the real
Are Organization under the civic govern
ment. and it gives the youngster fortu-
cate enough to secure Its advantages a
Dractical knowledge and training In the
whole science of fighting fire. The drill
was first introduced as an optional feature
tn the school. but its success was so pro-
aounced and the benefits so unquestion-
Hble, that it has been made compulsory
npon all boys physically able to take 1t.
The compulsion involves no hardship,
s,owever for the dullest boy cannot help
finding the exercises interesting. Before
he can enter the battalion proper a semi
military course is given him. consisting
of the simpler marching movements, set
ting-up exercise and other forms of train
ing identical with those used in the school
Evening star., 1897-01-23
A Genius in His Line.

From the Detroit Free Press.
1--WE hit it"' exultantly exclaimed the
theatrical manager from the bounding west
1--WE turned the trick. You other fellows
in the business haven't learned the ele-
mebtary principles of feminine human ma
ture."
What are you trying to get at?'
"Come out and sit through a perform
ance at my house I'll give you SO for each
and every hat bigger than birds nest that
is worn by any woman in the audience"
You're just kidding. No manager on
earth can get crowd Of American womel,
to obey an imperative rule made by the
house."
remark of yours. OF course he can't. And
that's just where my generalship came in
to play. did like the rest of you, by post
ing notices that all large hats must be re-
that the order had to go If it wrecked the
business. I hired policemen, base ball um-
pires, lightning rod men. book agents, prize
fighters and professional referees, but their
the women. Half the fellows slinked away
without giving notice or drawing pay"
But l thought you said you won In the
fight"
That's right. got out new set of no.
tices stating that nj bareheaded woman
would be allowed in my theater. They could
have their money back, but their absence
would be insisted upon. The first night
there was not hat in sight. and there
were hundred men in sight to protect
them. made a big bluff, but finally pre-
tended that was scared out by the dear
creatures and their champions. Now the
hatless women give me the freezing laugh
as they pass In. and l pretend to be the
maddest man west of the Mississippi Wo-
man, In the aggregate, is very prone to
back up and go the other way