davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-05-15

ter, and sat down, determined to watch
till daybreak. But with inactivity and
the dead silence and the blaze of light
the strange incomprehensible terror
returned doublefold. The sound Of his
W breathing became painful. He
thought Of Mary Clifford, then some
thing moved. He sat still as one par
alyzed; his blood romped through his
veins, and icy hands seemed to grip his
heart. The handle before him turned,
and the door that had not opened. for
a hundred years swung back and a man
walked slowly into the room. He was
dressed in evening clothes, and seemed
to all appearance like other men, but
for a startling expression in his gray
eyes. Ralf rose to his feet t~ongue-tied
while his visitor walked to the fire.
place and sat down. II can give Won
an hour" he murmured. There was a
silence.
''What for?" said Ralf, at last.
"To live he answered, indifferently.
Tt leaped to Ralf Segwell's mind that
be was entertaining a mailman. The
house was full, which necessitated the
using Of this room. The mysterious
door was undoubtedly the entrance to
the apartments Of some insane relative.
Ills own previous apprehension must
have beer caused by a latent con
seriousness Of a human presence a
stones throw from him. The thought
of his solitude in the dead Of night
with a homicidal maniac vas sufficient
ly ~unmanning. He turned pale, but
questioned with assumed airiness,
'Why?"
Justice" answered the stranger.
slightly elevating his brows.
How do you propose to take my
life?"
Through your imagination.
I shall look at you" He glanced up.
Ralf shrank from the gaze, then said
with a CHASTITY attempt at a smile,
well, ! hope my light still burns. I
cling to life. you know. here and here
after. / shall fight for that second
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-05-15

There are several theories advanced
as to why the members of the medical
profession are more prone to suicide
than any other. During the last three
years suicides among physicians have
numbered respectively forty-five, fifty
nine and forty-seven per annum, or
about one in 1000. Nearly one-fiftieth
of the deaths in the profession have
been by suicide. Some claim that this
result is caused by morbidness result
ing from association with the sick and
dying, or by an Indifference to death or
from a knowledge how to die painless
'ly. A medical journal claims that sui
eide is a matter of insane impulse. The
doctor comes in fatigued in mind and
body, depressed in spirits, perhaps
drugs is fatal in his case. If he had
to walk to the drug store to obtain
them, perhaps meeting an agreeable
acquaintance on the way, the impulse
would pass, but with the deadly poison
within reach of his hand the sudden
temptation to avail himself of its use
is too strong to be resisted.
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-05-15

Thebes. Their attention was specially
devoted to the study Of the prehistoric
mans remains in the Nile valley and
to the period of transition between the
autocthones and the first Pharaonic dy-
nasties. In the territory formed by
the bend Of the Nile between Thebes
and Abydos have been exhumed lately
the Oldest records known about Egypt.
During the ancient empire, before
Thebes had established her supremacy,
Abydos seems to have been the real
capital of Egypt. This city has OBJ
tanned a worldwide fame among schol-
ars through the two lists of kings
known as the Tables of Abydos," dis
covered there by Bankes and Marietta.
1t is in Abydos that the oldest tradi-
ton places the tomb of Osiris, and this
town remained as a sacred ground to
the close Of the Egyptian history. 1t
was in this neighborhood that were
found last winter by M. Amelineau
some royal sepultures of such an arch
aic character that they are yet a puz-
zle to most Egyptologists. Between
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-05-15
LIVED ON FAT OF THE LAND,



Ancient Romans Could Eat the Choicest
Delicacies OF tho World.
When at its. zenith the Roman empire
laid all the barbarian countries Of the
world under contribution to supply the
tables OF its mobiles and wealthy citi-
zens with the fine luxuries of life, says
L~ippincott's Magazine. Asia and Az
RIGA poured In the rich spices and fruits
of the tropics; Germany and the great
north countries raised the gfains and
wild berries; Italy and the fertile land
ofethe Franks cultivated the vineyards
to make or express the wines; every
strip of sea coast from the Mediter-
ranean to the Baltic contributed its
quota OF fish, and the forests of Brit
tany yielded the Wild game Of the
woods-birds. beasts and fowls-for
the banquets of the proud, dissolute
rulers OF the vast empire. With the
choice products of a great world so
easily obtained there were wanton
waste, foolish extravaganza and a,
strange disregard Of the value Of ex-
pensive luxuries, and the historian
dwelling upon these times delights in
recapitulating the various articles of
diet arranged in tempting manner up
on the grooming tables at the great
feasts and banquets. But, excepting
Nero's dish Of peacock tongues and
Cleopatra's cup of wine with the dis
solved pearls in 1t, the menu of our
modern banquets would compare favor
ably with those spread in the times
when gluttony, RIGHTEOUSNESS and
greed for luxury were insidiously sap
ping the strength of Rome.
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-05-15

wal successful In making the expert
ment, a few days since, the nearest
any n had come to 1t was to take the
body in sections Give or six ~exposures)
and piece the prints together into a
skeleton. Usually in X-ray photog-
raphy the Crookes tube is about a foot
from the film or plate, with the object
between. But in making a photograph
OF a grown person the light must be
further OFF. The law in skiagraphy is
that the intensity OF the x ray dimin-
ishcs inversely to the square Of the dis
lance" II is twenty and n quarter
times as difficult to take a distinct pic
ture at a distance of foul and one-half
feet as IL would be at a distance OF one
foot. DR.. Morton used an Eastman
film stretched upon a board lying upon
the floor, covered with three layers Oh
blaclt paper to exclude daylight. Upon
this the subject. completely clothed,
was laid. Four and a half feet above
the floor an especially constructed
Crookes tube was suspended midway
between the head and feet. After half
nm hours exposure a negative was de-
veloped, perfect everywhere except The
hips. Fifteen minutes more would
have brought these out. A complete
outline of the spine. the heart, stom-
ach cavity, and collar bone may be
distinguished. The bones of the four
limbs and Of the feet and hands stand
out plainly. The coil Of hair shows
distinctly, also h~airplns. Gold rings
are dark. The nails of the shoes are
easily recognized. The figure stands
out in a ghostly manner on a black
background.
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-05-15
A Bloodhound's Keen scent.

A remarkable exhibition of the keen
ness of scent of the bloodhound was
given ait the little town of Bronson, iii
Allen county, the other day. The town
recently appropriated $100 out Of the
city treasury for the purchase of one
Of these animals, the purpose being the
detection and capture of thieves who
were operating in the neighborhood,
and a test Of the hound was considered
desira BILE. At noon three men started
out on foot and walked four miles into
the country. Then they mounted horses
and by a circuitous route returned to
the town. Six hours later the hound
was permitted to smell a glove which
had been worn by one of the men, and
the next instant with a deep howl he
caught up the trail and followed it on
the run. AT one point the men had
walked for thirty yards on a fence, and
when the hound came to this point he
carried his nose along the rail with
hardly any reduction of speed. Com
ing to the place where the men had
mounted he took UP the trail OF the
horses and followed it into town,
where, in a crowd of more than 100
men, he picked out the one whose glove
had been given him 20 smell. Kansas
City Journal.
The influx Of tramps into Delaware
towns has begun.
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-05-15

They were all SO sorry when they
gathered around the girl in blue.
We've just heard of the accident
that happened last week." said the
girl in gray.
so very sad said the girl in dark
brown.
fsThe man who broke his leg was
your iance, wasn't hep asked the girl
in the picture hat, anxious to be sure
of the facts before becoming too de-
monstrative in her expressions of sym
pathy.
He was" admitted the girl in blue.
Think OF itlp they all cried together.
"a broken legl How horriblel"
That's what l thought" said the
girl in blue. demurely, until George
explained to me that it might have
been wcrse.''
Might have been worse2'
YES; suppose 1t was an arm that
he couldn't use"
They all said, YES. yes, OF course"
and the girl IN blue blstshed@ little.
deeper red.-Memphis Commercial APP
peal.
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-05-15

In 1880 the South had 1851, 244, SCI
invested in manufacturing; by 1890
this had Increased to $685., O08, SIT, a
gain of 156 per cent, while the gain in
the entire country was 1906 per cent.
The value of the manufactured pro-
ducts of the South rose from $457, 454,-
777 in 1880 to s917, 5S9, O45. in 1890 a
gain of 100 per cent, against an in
crease of only 69.27 per cent in the
whole country. The factory hands of
the South received $75,917,471 in wages
in 1880 and in 1890 s222,11S ,5O5. Since
1890 the gain has been very large, and
the South is now turning out $780,
100000 of manufactured products a
year.
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-05-15

A Berlin cable dispatch says: "a
meeting of material interest to the
working classes will be that of the in
ternational congress on legislation for
the working classes which convenes
here next September. A similar con-
gress met here in 1890, and at the COM
ing session the useful changes in legis-
lation for the workers enacted since
that time will be discussed. Among
the topics outlined for action will be as
to whether international protective
measures for workmen are possible or
desirable; ought international bureaus
for the collection and distribution of
trades statistics be established; as to
the advisability of submitting workers
to a protective regime, and how far
protection is beneficial"
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-05-15
The Duck-nIII. or "water Mole.r


One of the most singular OF known
animals is the duck-billed platypus,
which is pretty generally distributed in
situations suitable to its aquatic hab-
its throughout the island of Tasmania,
and the southern and eastern portions
of Australia. 1t is generally known in
the Australian colonies as the water
mole" The length of the animal when
full grown is from eighteen to twenty
inches from the extremity OF the beak
to the end of the tail. The body OF
this singular animal" says DIR. George
Bennett, sis depressed in form, and in
some degree partakes of the character
of the otter, the mole and the beaver.
1t is covered by a dense coat of coarse
hair of a dark brown color, with
shades of light of a silvery hue, UNDER
meath which is a finer, short and very
soft fur, resembling the two distinct
kinds of fur found on the seal and OF
ter. The only external diff
ference of sex to be accurately distin-
guished, and indeed the only one on
which any dependence can be placed,
is the spur on the hinder leg of the
males, the females being destitute OF
that appendage. The legs of these ami
mails are very short; the feet are penta-
dactyle and webbed. In the fore feet
(Which seem to have the greatest mus
cular power and are principally used
both for burrowing and swimming) the
web extends D short distance beyond
the claws, is loose, and falls back when
thus capable of great expansion. : -
The head is rather fiat, and from the
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-05-15

An interesting series of experiments
is now being conducted at Prof.
Crooke's laboratory with a view to find
ing a quick and easy method of dis
tinguishing false and true gems. The
Roentgen rays have been found to be
capable of easily penetrating diamonds,
while limitations are invariably Opaque
in the new light. The resistance Of
pearls, rubies, sapphires and other
precious stones is also being tested
before the tubes.
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-05-15

whats the fascination in Segwell?'
murmured a guest irrelevantly. LOOK
at him and Miss Clifford"
HE deceives us ALL" answered a
pretty American. Hes enigmatic ana
melancholy. He's the only
concrete specimen Of evil / know. we
talk a good deal about bad things ana
read bad books, but on the whole mod
ernity Is very good-don't you tnink
sou
Some OF you have a ~ferocious bark,
Miss Swift"
Most persons bark Is worse than
their bite; Ralf Segwell's bite is much
worse than his bark. / guess that's
why he's so uncanny. In fact. he
never banks at all-he just walks up to
n in a friendly sort OF way and bites.
| hope they have consigned him to the
haunted room!"
They have. / believe. but he doesn't
know. They never tell their guests.
then nothing ever happens. There's
nothing to happen. for they haven't a
ghost, you know; only a door that
leads nowhere. An obtrusive thing
that forces its personality or doorality
on you. 1t has not been opened for
hundreds of years-no human power
can force It,"
.
II asked Mary Clifford to please you,
said Lady Wallace. They were sitting
together in the great hall. You were
such friends. l am sorry-it's a host
ess' duty to know all these things. !
apologize" She noticed a weary ex-
preston settle on his face. Her SYM
pathies were touched. When their eyes
met she flushed and smiled with a
winning. intimate grace that was dar-
ing without being bold. How shall |
atone?"
You Witch" be said in a very low
voice; then suddenly he stood up as a
little white figure passed at the end OF
the hall.
1T was Miss Clifford" she said.
"Was it?" he answered indifferently.
Let us talk about you"
That night as Ralf Segwell shut him
self in his room the feeling of depres-
sion he experienced on arriving at
Mersdale returned. His thoughts wan
dered to the house party-nineteenth
century men and women, effervescing
with spontaneous epigram, locked up
in these vast, gloomy rooms. How
strangely the place dominated the peo-
pie: The old seemed the significant
fact. the infesting butterflies but sha-
dowy things inhabiting for a brief pc
Rod this great somber pile. He looked
up and noticed a door that had escaped
his observation in the afternoon. He
tried the handle, then a cold shudder
went through him as he turned from it
and crossed the immense room, only
dimly lit by candles hat spluttered at
intervals. He glanced again at the
door. What a miserable hole
hey had consigned him tot A wild
iesire to sneak away elsewhere became
irresistible.
Unable to rest, he flung himself out
If bed, stirred up the fire to a blaze,
ind lit every candle in the. room. AS
lie held the match to each one he
ooked with renewed fear over his
boulder. Then he placed a chair near
he fire, yet facing the dreaded quar-
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-05-15
The Nearest Fixed star.

The nearest Of the fixed stars is Al
pha of C~antauri, with a distance of four
and one-third light years from our
globe. A light year is the astronomical
unit for measuring these distances,
and means the space that a ray Of light,
travelling 1885, 900 miles per second,
would traverse in a year. 1t would
take an express train, travelling unin-
terruptedly, more than eleven million
years to make this journey.
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-05-15

power can be brought to our doors. The
latest article In this Line Is a floor
s%crubbing machine. which has Just
been placed on the British market.
This useful mechanical houaemaid will
scrub the floor, collect all the slops and
dirt as fast as they are formed. and
wipe the boards dry into the bargain.
Moreover. this work is done more
thoroughly than by hand; for the use
OF the machine allows the water to be
used at a very high temperature.
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-05-15

Some interesting facts have been pub
lished respecting the teetotal colliery
village of Roe Green. in Ian
cashire, England. Twenty-Five years
ago the houses Of the village
belonged almost exclusively to
the Bridgewater trustees, who employ
most Of the men. To-day. out of lao
houses. e~igbty-one are Inhabited BY
their owners. The Rechahite Tent has
a membership OF 270: the Band OF
Hope, 2S5.
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-05-15
Facts About Aluminium.

The production Of aluminium in the
United States last ear is placed at H.
800, 900 pounds, against an output of
900, 900 pounds in the previous year,
S17, 800 in 1894, $4,000 in 1893 and 1851
900 in 1891. The uses of this new and
valuable metal are extending the de-
mand quite as fast. A dozen years ago
the price of aluminium was nearly IS a
pound. Last year the price averaged
40 cents a pound, and is still falling.
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-05-15

Three causes are leading to the de-
struction of bird life in this country
the wanton killing of birds by so-called
sportsmen, the use of dead birds or
parts thereof as ornaments on women's
hats, and the making of collections of
nests and eggs. The first indefensible,
the second is a reproach to womanhood,
and the third should be restricted to
collections for public information, like
the Smithsonian Institution. The hui
man race would miss the birds if they
were gone.
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-05-15

In a letter upon the Eastern crisis,
Gladstone has p%illoried the Emperor
William of. Germany. The Old Man
Eloquent disposes of the Young Man
Inconsequent and, Recalcitrant by de-
scribing him as Having only such
knowledge and experience, in truth linn
tied enough, as have excited much as
tonishment and some CONSERVATION
when an mixing Of them has been Civ
en- to the world"
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-05-15

There are reports of the discovery of
true it will revolutionize the entire me-
chanical development Of the country.
A telegram from New York says: The
mysterious whitish compound which
was supposed to be a new and powerful
freezing mixture is liquified air, and
is the basis of Mr.. Tripler's power,
which, he contends, will take the place
OF steam and produce energy at a min
imum Of cost. How he liquifies air he
will not tell. 1t has been done before,
but in small quantities in scientific
laboratories, but " commercially.
When liquifed the air is at a tenn
perature of 450 degrees below zero on
the Fahrenheit scale. 1t b0ils or va
pcrizes again at $40 degrees below
zero, and it is from the expansion con
sequent upon this vaporization that
Mr.. Tripler obtains his power, which
is transmitted through the engine ex-
actly as the power generated by steam
from boiling water is transmitted. 1t
10 pOOSibAC, AONSFOiy hO 70, "
obtain a pressure of 1000 pounds to
the square inch at a temperature of
200 degrees below zero, and at prac.
tically no cost, while to obtain $50
pounds of steam at a temperature Of
800 degrees above zero is required the
Sugar is our-laFgest article of inn
port. Last year the total reached near
ly 500, 900, 900. Coffee m next, with
$S5, 900, 900; wool, $685. 900; raw silk,
1910 900; woods, $21, 900, 900; hides,
$40, OO0, 900; india rubber, $1,000 900;
goatskin, $4,000, 900; tea, $751; 0 900;
vegetable ibres, $11, 900, 900; chemicals.
$780, O0. 900; gums. 81 1000; soda, ST.
10000, and other raw materials
amounting to a total of $3.50, 00O, 900 last
year, upon which no duty was paid,
being AZ per cent Of our entire i'm
ports. In 1896 40 per cent was free.
In 1894 So per cent.
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-05-15
between the two halves of the poll.
where it is secured by a screw.-New
Ideas.


Energy Expended In Cloud Formation
A calculation is given in a bulletin
of the United States Weather Bureau,
says the American Electrician, SHOW
ing the immense quantity of energy
expended in the formation of clouds.
1t is estimated, on the basis OF an an
nual fall of water as rain or snow in
the United States that the work done
in raising the rainfall to the clouds
is equivalent to 1920, 000, 900 continuous
horsepower, or the work Of 5000, 000.-
GOO horses ~toiling ten hours a day
perhaps a thousand times as many
horses as there are in the United
States"
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-05-15

The news that women are to be adj
mitted to serve in Colorado's militia
army will surprise all the other states
and startle the despots of Europe. Any
governor OF Colorado may now ride
bride deep in blood. How the new
women soldiers are to be uniformed
does not appear. The bloomer cos
tune, or the short skirt, of the Greek
army, will doubtless be adopted.
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-05-15

coverieA. But contradiction mover con-
quered truth. From Negada ome an
other discovery OF a similar character
another royal tomb OF in~disputable
antiquity, A new page In the history
OF humanity is being revealed.
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-05-15
GHOST OF MERSDALE.

STRANGE n of
d~isquietude took
possession of Ralf
segwell the mo-
ment he a that
she was Of the
house party. He
did not know that
Lady Wallace had
asked her, and felt
6 with his fair
young hostess for
~
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-05-15

CURRENT NOTES OF SCIENCE
AND INDUSTRY.
Tho Newest ChoppIng Ak Has the. Poll
Separated from the Blade-Horses Thai
Wear s~nowshoes--x Ray Photography
Effects of Loss of Sleep.


YER since the X
ray bega INTO gain
public notice scien-
lists In every coun-
try have been en-
d~eavoring to obtain
a ~skiagraph OF the
entire body of an
adult with one ex-
posture. But until
DR.. William J. Nor
ton of New York
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-05-15
Horses That Wear s-nowshoes.

Newspaper reports have been telling
Of deep SHOWS in the west--four and
six feet in Dakota and Montana. Think
of that! Of course the men and boys
can get around easily enough on snow
shoes, but what would you think Of
horses walking on snowshoes? Such a
sight is not at all uncommon. OF
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-05-15

A state legislature who fails to elect
a senator should go without a senator.
If the appointment OF a senator by a
governor is to stand, a legislative con-
test might at any time be SO manipu-
lated as to throw the choice to the gov
ernor. The best and shortest way to
get senators, however, is to let the peo-
pie choose them.
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-05-15
New chopping Ak.

A new method of manufacturing this
tlme-honored implement was patented
recently by ]. G. Grabtree, of Texar-
kama, Texas. The poll and blade are
separate, the poll opening on n NOR
tised pivoted hinge at the back, the
blade being shouldered and sliding in
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-05-15

Durant, the San Francisco student,
who brutally murdered the two girls
in the church belfry. has about reached
the end of his rope. The delay is pain
full.
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-05-15

All sorts of arguments are being
advanced in Kansas City and Omaha
to show that one city is of more conse
quence than the other. Why not arbi-
trate?
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-05-15

In order to get money that she needs.
q New York young woman consents to
part with her middle finger. This is
not SO strange when we consider how
mauy a poor maiden has sold her hand
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-05-15
wv MEXICO Has The Finest CLIMATE in The WORLD

Greece hopes to receive ut least g.
600 horses from America right away"
Canned?