davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1897-11-11
Miles and Knots.

A statute mile is $3.50 feet. 1t Is
our standard of travelling measure,
adopted from the English. who in turn
adopted 1t from the Romans. Ro-
man military pace, by which distances
were measured, was the length OF the
step taken by Roman soldiers, and was
approximately FIVE feet long; a thou
sand of these places were called In
Latin a mile. The English mile is
therefore purely arbitrary measure,
enacted into legal measure by a
statute passed during the reign OF
Queen Elizabeth; it has not connec-
ton with any scale in nature.
A nautical mile, on the other hand,
Is equal in length to one-sixtieth OF
the length of a degree Of great cir
Gle of the earth. But the circumfer-
ence of the earth is nowhere a true
circle: it's radius of curvature is var
table: hence, the nautical mile as a
matter of fact, depends for its length
upon the shape, as well as the size OIL
the globe sailed over; and hence
strictly speaking, the length of the
nautical mile should vary with the
latitude from G,O4G feet at the equator
to 6.1O0 feet at the pole. Such ex-
treme accuracy is not necessary In
navigating, and cannot be well at
tanned without any undue labor.
The English Admiralty. therefore
have adopted 6.OSO feet as the length
of a nautical mile, which corresponds
with the length of ono-sixtieth of a de-
sree-or one minute OF an arc--of 9
great circle in latitude AZ degrees.
The United States Coast Survey has
adopted the value Of a nautical mile
as equal to one-sixtieth part OF the
length of a degree on the great circle
of sphere whose surface is equal te
the surface of the earth" This gives
the length of one nautical mile al
equal to 6,0SO27 feet. which Is yer,
nearly the value of the Admiralty mile
adopted in the English navy. Practi
cally the nautical mile is 300 fee
longer than the statute mile. In othel
words the nautical mile is equal Il
1.1515 statute miles; or one statute
mile is equal to CISCO nautical miles
Multiply nautical miles by 1.1b15. ant
the product will be statute miles; o.
multiply statute miles by DISCO. ant
the product will be nautical miles.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1897-11-11

was nothing more than a continental
slave park. To-day 1t Is largely the
abode OF intelligence and civilization.
In 1884 began the partition of Africa
among the various European powers.
with the result that the French Congo
now has population Of 100000; Ger
man East Africa. 100000. and Bril-
fish Africa, 1O,O00.OO0. In addition to
the evidences of progress which these
figures represent the tide OF civiliza-
ton has poured into Africa from all
parts of the globe. According to Mr..
Stanley the area of central Africa Is
equal to that of the United States. In
Guiding Alaska. with half OF Mexico
added. It's population at the present
time numbers 4S.000,0O0. OF which
1900, 600 900 are whites. On account
of the vast fertility of central Africa
the future of 1e,is favored region "
bright with promise.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1897-11-11

TREASURE Iay open before my eyes =
wicked impulse overmatched me. and
decided that It all should be mine.
i packed the money In my portman-
teau. locked the box, fastened the
study door, returned the keys to my
fathers pocket, and. returning to my
room. waited impatiently the coming
of day. II CHANGED the following morn
ing. Il being busy season, that SER
want could not be spared to drive me
over to the railroad. was to go over
alone and the team sent for later.
There was swollen stream on my
route, and as drove in sight scheme
occurred to me that l had not thought
of. / stopped the buggy at the waters
edge, and, lifting my grips to the road
side, cast the reins over the dashboard,
and then gave the horse a cutting lash.
They plunged with bound into the
muddy water. / watched them until
they reached the further shore, and
then concealed myself in the woods.
They would think me drowned and
mourn me as dead.
THAT night walked to a distant
station and took a train for the West.
After years of wandering, ever stung
with remorse, came to this place and
opened my farm. / resolved to make
what restitution was possible. the larg-
err part of my ill-gotten wealth by this
time having been squandered. So scant
was the living that / took from my
farm | soon became known as Miser
Furgis. | was glad, for 1t made me
more secure in my purpose and my
concealment. l sent the proceeds OF
each years crop to the widow OF my
foster-father, for he had died soon
after my flight. have, at last, re-
turned every dollar Of the stolen mon
ey, and the farm, free from incum'
brance, Is yours. This is my story.
need not speak of the remorse, the
fear, the suppressed love that l have
felt all the sad years. Forgive me
and think of me as your loving hus
band, J. n. Furgis.
The paper fell futtering to the steps
A breath of air caught and whirled i
out over the tangled weeds. Harold
gazed for a moment toward the sun
rise that fiared red above the treetops
then his head sank to his knees and
groan burst from his lips. His siste
was weeping silently, her head on nj
arm. Motionless, silent they sat 10
minutes, then Hettie, looking III
through her tears, said softly: BRO
Their, never dreamed that 1t would b
like this"
There was no answer He rose an
staggered into the shadow of the door
way.
For weeks there was not sign Q
life about the old ruins. But one brigh
morning Harold came forth new mar
and went energetically to work. NOV
the tenant houses are occupied. tn
farm blossoms as the rose" and
handsome modern structure crown
the eminence.
Harold and Hettie found where thei
treasure lay hid.-New Orleans Times
Democrat.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1897-11-11
How Il All Happened.
He was in doubt.

He was in doubt.
There was no particular reason why
he should be in doubt, but, OF course,
that has nothing to do with the case.
Up to a certain point in the courtship
it Is the privilege Of every lover to be
in doubt, and II he were not he would
be tempted to believe something was
wrong.
On this particular evening he made
UP his mind that he would reach the
point where doubt ends or know the
reason why.
Thus it happened that he got
little closer to her than usual, when he
found that they were sitting side by
side on the sofa.
Did you ever think about mar
riage?" he asked.
mo" she replied.
OF course, that was lie. OF course,
he knew that 1t was lie, and she
knew that he knew It, Consequently
she wished that she hadn't answered
so hastily; but that Is so customary
to woman that it should attract no
attention.
IF / were woman like YOU" he
said reproachfully, II would think of
| it."
Would your she inquired care
lessly.
Eyes, I would" he answered agrees
sively.
Perhaps, she suggested tantalizing-
ly, you wouldn't mind telling me just
what course your thoughts would take
if you were woman like me-"
II don't know that I can give the
exact course of reasoning" ne ans
wered, fearful that he might be getting
beyond his depth, "but IL were
woman like you feel pretty reasonab-
ly sure that l would marry man like
-er-like me-"
You do?" she said, coloring little.
but still speaking in the same tantal-
izing tone.
Yes, / do" he returned doggedly.
"Well, IL were a man like you,' she
asserted, II wouldn't expect woman
like me to do anything of the sort until
a man like you had asked her to-"
1t is no trick at all to hold the course
or true love after the mariner once
gets his bearings so long as the signal
lights continue to burn, and thus 1t
happened that their bark sped merrily
on its way.-Chicago Post.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1897-11-11

they use Az bedding at night. The
taste for trading 10 very strongly de-
veloped. and they seize every oppor-
tunity to make money. Vast quanti-
ties of tea are consumed by them, and
they enjoy 1t. especially when mixed
with butter and salt. Their tea Is sold
In bricks and is of very inferior quail
ity. During all discussions of state
and in their ordinary assemblies. each
man has cup before him which Is
continually replenished.
The population of Thibet proper and
Chinese Thibet is S.000,000. Looking Mt
the enormous strentch of country over
which these millions are distributed. 1t
is apparent that the country is very
sparcely populated.-Boston Trans
cript
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1897-11-11

Cyclists UnconscousIv Follow the Pu'es.
You can tell bicycle rider by his
walk. Not because of a popularity OF
gait, but for the reason that he UNI
consciously follows the rules of the
road that he has learned while riding
a bicycle.
On the sidewalks of the crowded
streets of New York and Brooklyn, a
gentleman whose acquaintance among
bicycle riders is quite extensive, has,
as a matter of curiosity, watched his
cycling friends walking to and from
business. Almost without exception
they pass to the right when meeting
other pedestrians, and to the left when
passing them from behind. When
turning a corner the pedestrian who
has learned to cycle hugs the wall
closely, If going to the right, and Is
almost sure to make a long turn II
bound to the left.
If all pedestrians would observe the
rules of the road on the sidewalks as
well as the experienced cyclists OBJ
serve them on the highways there
would be fewer toes trampled upon and
fewer persons nudged IN the ribs by
protruding and sharp elbows.
There is nothing more annoying to
participants and nothing more laugh
able to the spectator than to see two
persons dancing mp and down and TAX
ing series of side steps because both
started to pass each other in the
wrong direction.
The bicycle is unconsciously teach
ing people how best to keep out Of
each others way. Any one who does
not think the result Is sure to be bene-
fetal ought to attempt to stem crowd
coming from a theatre or crossing the
bridge at rush hours. There will be
no polish left on the rash individuals
shoes, there will be mud stains on his
garments, and feeling of deep, bitter
resentment against all mankind in his
bosom.-New York Journal.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1897-11-11
A DECLINING INDUSTRY.
Same Skill No Longer Required In Max.
ing Famous Straw Hats.


ing Famous Straw Hats.
A strike in the gentle, smiling valley
of the Arno, says Rome correspond
ent of the Pail Mall Gazette, hiss drawn
attention to the straw-plait industry
there. 1t is one that is greatly affected
by change of fashions, and has its pc
RODS of prosperity and depression.
The days have gone by when tn, prop
erty about Florence was divided
among a few manufacturers % straw
hats (what the English call Leghorns),
who when marrying their daughters
gave them a dot of several thousand
OF scudi, leach scudi being worth four
shillings), and a straw hat, the strands
Of which, less than a milliinctre In
width, were made of straws 80 fine
that, after being woven, magDifying
glass was needed to distinguish them.
Now rich travellers travelling through
Florence go no more to the Via Porta
Rosa to pay 100 francesconi tf22 for
a straw hat to take home as present.
Fashion has transformed the Flor
ence straw industry. The profit now
ity; and consequently the hand work
at one time sought after and well paid
has gradually decreased in price until
the wages of the workers are infamous.
| When the Wholesale price of hat, all
made and sewed. is penny or two
and there are those at even lower
price-it is easy to imagine what com
! 10. he e,tr II
the twenty-five to thirty-five yards OF
made strands which are necessary for
one hat.
The skill formerly required in the
plating is, however, no longer roquir-
ed. Once it was an art, now every one
can do 1.-THE boys and girls who
drive the cattle to pasture, the women
at home, beggars, all those who have
nothing else to do. In the mountains
the men who break stones have been
seen at straw-plaiting in their few
leisure moments, and even men who
drive coal carts. This "vulgarization'
and overproduction will, in the end
be the death of the industry. There
have been immense expectations, es
pecially to America, and, consequent
ly, an overstocked market; and unit
some means are found of diminishing
the production the industry Will &c
from bad to worse, with the graves
consequences to those who live by 1t.
There are exporters who buy TIT
straw plat in bulk. paying If no: sum
cient for the work, more than Is war
ranted by their own profits, ana VIM
only continues the business out .
charity for the poor people Of the dis
trict. But this in many cases does no
prevent them from being accused
profiting NV the necessities OF tn
workers. Hence the strike.
Another misfortune for this indus
try is the new United States tarif1
which raises the duty on worked stray
, from % to 81 per cent of its value. BE
sides the Italian productions have =
struggle, in America. against the com
petition. increasing day by day. of tn
Japanese and Chinese straw. The ont
look is indeed dark, for no matte
how the poor Florentine straw-plaiter
protest and strike, they have no rem
edv. It is question of overproduc
ton for a constantly diminishing maj
lot
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1897-11-11
MORNING AND NIGHT.

8 little space OF pleasure
| A little space OF pain.
And then the solemn darkness,
And then--the light again'
= little song and story
IN sunlight and in rain;
a little CLEAN OF glory
And then--the dark again!
And 30 It goes: The darkness.
Ind then the CLEAN OF light;
And SO, life is good morning.
with sad thoughts of good night
Atlanta Constitution.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1897-11-11
e.,,,,d co,or Blindness.

Professor Holmgren of the Univer-
sity of Upsala. who has just died. es-
tablished the first physiological insti-
tute In Sweden. He was chiefly known
through his researches on color blind
ness and hts plan Of testing the color
sense By means OF woods.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1897-11-11

In 1906 100000 visitors, represent
ing forty dicerent nationalities, paid
admission to the house In which
Shakespeare lived 800 years ago.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1897-11-11

Golf was invented by lonely
Scotch shepherd, who had nothing
better to amuse him than knocking
stsaes into holes with his crook.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1897-11-11

The Crystal Palace at Sydenham,
Ensland. will hold 100000 people.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1897-11-11

Again the important question. How
Long are Women Beautiful?" is dis
of beauty does not reach itshrdludlu
cussed in an English journal, one
writer maintaining that "the fullness
under the age of thirty-five or forty"
| This claim is disputed by another
writer, who cites the opinion Of women
| themselves, as shown by the undoubt-
| ed fact that ANY woman who craved
| admiration on the score of her per-
| sonaI appearance would be vastly more
| pleased were her age to be guessed as
being thirty rather than forty" Well,
| II all depends, as Pitt Sing would OBJ
serve. The race and the woman
| must be considered. In some tropic
lands women are either wrinkled and
| shriveled or fat and shapeless grand
| mothers before they reach the age
mentioned. In England and In this
country 1t often happens that the full
ness of beauty" in women does not
reach its zenith under the limit of
thirty-five or forty" The age limit
is very elastic. depending on many
things that help to make or mar the
beauty which is woman's most coveted
possession.
In the Atlantic Monthly the cele-
brated African explorer announces his
return to the literary workshop by dis
cusslng at some length the progress
of civilization on the dark continent
twenty-five years ago. says Mr.
Stanley. "the whole of central Africs
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1897-11-11

face presents ludicrous appearance;
there is one continuous line of cheek
bone, with the tip of the nose sticking
out like solitary beacon. But a COM
pensatory providence has added to the
ears what is lacking in probosial cir
conference, and 1t Is but fair to state
that the auricular appendages OF the
average Thibetans are of generous
size.
The Thibetans are absolutely with
out gratitude. They will demand tre-
mendous rewards for feeble services,
steal everything within sight, regard
politeness and gentleness as indica-
tions of cowardice, and merely refrain
| from stabbing their guests because
their courage fails them. Poisoning Is
| popular, and the Thibetan is so sus.
picious OF his own countryman that he
| will drink and eat nothing until his
host partakes plentifully before him
The character of all the Thibetans, set.
tied and nomandic Is the same-cow.
ardly. faithless and immoral. They
are servile to the brave. insolent to
the fearful and mere tools In the hands
of the lamas, or monks. They are
false to their best friends, as is witnes
sed by their desertion of the French
missionaries who have been their mos'
constant helpers.
Their physique is notably good, ant
they stand cold and hunger admirably
They are active. and at first view
lighthearted and genuis.s; but In reali
ty are cunning. foul End unlovable
They are very unclean. rarely or neve
bathing their persons. The dress of TIL
common people consists of q yer,
dirty, greasy sheepskin robe vhic!
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1897-11-11

ter. She came down presently, her
heart all a-fiutter with agitation.
Harold, have you found it?" she
asked, huskily.
He bowed his head, and the glow OF
| triumphant satisfaction on his face
was pitiful. He led his sister gently
along the hall to the old rotting stoop.
Here they sat down in the crimson
glow of sunrise and Harold opened
the paper an read:
DEAR WIFE-In trying to atone
for one sin I have been guilty OF an
other-perhaps a greater. But, when
you know all, l am sure you will for
give me. l will be brief. When Q
child was left an orphan. A wealthy
and childless couple adopted me.
was reared in luxury, and when l wa:
old enough ] was sent OF to college
While there made the acquaintance o.
some dissipated young men. and soor
learned to drink and gamble. 1t wa!
not long until / was deeply involved
in debt-debts of honor, as they wer'
called. was ashamed to ask my fos
ter-father for the large sums / needed
but being threatened with exposure
promised to satisfy my creditors on m!
return from my vacation, IL they woul'
wait
Banks were not as common then a
now, and had learned that my fathe
kept his money in an iron box In tn
study. His keys he always carrie
with him. The night before / was I
return to school l stole to his room
and secured them. hc1 intended I
take only a SUFFICIENT sum to pay m
| debts. but when the chest with II
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1897-05-06
Queer Color Names,

People wear vesuvius red now, anC
elephants breath. london smoke, tabac
crushed raspberry and strawberry anC
robins egg blue and other shades but
fashionable folks of old wore colors
with names more odd sounding still
Innocent infant was once a favorite col
or, and captain glory, also a sad drat
color known as penitent hermit A
gown of caterpillar brown might be
adorned with trimmings of canary tail.
A strong gray, blended with purple,
was dubbed lively flea, and, whereas
there is now break of day pinks MILL
ners of a century ago trimmed poke
bonnets with ruchings of thought of the
beloved one and quillings of does belly.
A court beauty in the time Henry "
Of France affected a color known as
mortal sin, and it came to be the rage
forthwith, and common harm was an
other popular fancy for stomachers and
petticoats.
One subtle, barely limited at shade
was christened stif1ed sigh. Dead alive
was another anomalous color greatly in
favor in Marie Antoinette's time, most
Of these out of the way and rather I'M.
decided shades being chosen by women
whose dainty coloring needed only an
unobtrusive background to bring it into
relief New York Sun.
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1897-05-06
DIPLOMATIC AUCTIONS.
Bric-a-brac Bargains Eagerly Sought at
the Shrine of the Red Flag.

- WV 49,
There is graceful custom among
foreign diplCm ut the capital that
we may rs we'll trench uIon. | refer to
the auction sale which frequently be-
falls on the occasion Of the recall Of one
OF our alien ambassadors er ministers.
Fer two weeks before their excellen-
cics decamp the local papers reyel III a
long and lurld "ad. ~ fecCnnting the re-
call Of the ambassador or minister and
declaring how on a certain day all peo-
pie so minded are invited To appear and
contest at public Ycndue ter dazzllng
list Of plunder IN said 'ad. y set forth.
Prime among tie properties Tor sale
yen viii notice wines and many thing
bcsides that are as articles 81 commerce
highly fairfield. But in these cases cour-
tesy has held The tariff at lay. All of
legations Wines and cigars and furnl-
ture-ln fact, everything ef a personal
sort that legation causes To he brought
to Amerlca--ls passed scot tree at cur
customs. One will readily discern that
ripe profit might be made to roll pleas
antly up at one Of these untarliied Iega-
ton sales. Our OWL t1adespeople must,
however, pay the fiddler IN each notable
instance.
AT these sales snobdom turns stoutly
out. The bidding Is hot and fast and
high. There Is nothing "a lusted for by
certain sort OF Amencan, crlnglngly
numerous hereabout, as wine VIII \
has been justified by an ambassador 5
taste, or a Piece OF furniture or brlc-a-
brae which has been solicd by noble and
Titled contact. And, therefore, these It.
cation auctions furnish the most heated
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1897-05-06
Blackwell.

Members of the class of 1900 Of Madi-
son High school passed pleasant even
ing, NAV lst, with their elass-mate, Miss
Annie Turner.
Mr.. Hiram Moore is painting his
house aud stables.
People travelling in the vicinity OF
Madison Centre can hear the buzz Of the
saw and the puff of the engine, indieat-
ing that business is good.
Mr.. Omar Eames and Mr.. Savage of
Madison. called upon N. Eames' sister,
Mrs. a. f. Adams, Sunday.
Charlie Barrow and wife of Skowhe-
gan, recently moved into the house on
the River road owned by b. +. Turner.
Many of the farmers in this vicinity
have grated their apple trees the past
week.
Mr.. l.. II. Gilman is very much better,
so he is able TO be out of doors.
Owing to the cloudy weather of sun.
day the Sunday school at the Town
house was not organized as was intend
ed. lf the weather be pleasant LeXt
Sunday, there will be preaching service
in addition to the organization. Should
it be stormy it will be postponed until
next pleasant Sabbath A good attend
ance is desired.
Mr.. aud Mrs. Mottier l.. French and
Mr.. Jonah McIntire of Scion, visited
relatives in town, last week. l..