davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The St. Johns herald., 1897-07-31
Bird Builders.

Among bird architects the weaver bird takes a high place, for he builds { veritab ble tenement house. Imagine { structure built by birds that measure but six inches from the ends of theil tails to the tip of their skillful little peaks, which is large enough to shelter five or six men; large enough to break down, as it sometimes does, the tree in which it is built. Nor must it be sup posed the tree selected is either small and weak, or brittle. There is a species of acacia known in South Africa as the camel tree, and this the social weaver birds wisely choose for their nests, on account of the toughness of its fibre The material of which the nest is com posed is no less strong and wiry. II consists ot a grass which almost seems as if created for the purpose; so long, so flexible, so unbreakable and untear- able are its blades, that it makes the best and most enduring of mats. A single pair of birds often set to work on a nest of this kind, carrying the grass to a tree and commencing in a wonder lut UldllicI lp NNslNe = II CODllldCJlN llIS little rain-proof roof. The next sea son the progeny of the parent birds come back, select mates, and the old homestead is enlarged to suit their con yenience. The narrow structure now widenS, and beneath the compactly woven shelter the nests hang shoulder to shoulder, and accumulate all the more rapidly that the birds refuse to use a last years nest, leaving it to various rather disreputable tenants ill the way of bats, insects and reptiles. while they move into cleaner apart ments. In fact, the place is in every respect a tenement house, noisy and thronged with a miscellaneous multi tude of all sorts and conditions of folks. each family keeping house on its own account The roof, however, unlike that which covers the houses of men, effectually keeps out not only rain. but thieves and murderers; bird and egg eating snakes and monkeys cannot ef- feet an entrance, and the occupants of the nest are safe
The St. Johns herald., 1897-07-31
Her Di nity Melted

Just about this time and for month or more longer look out for anecdotes of Queen Victoria. There promises to be large crop of them, and many are already being harvested. Some are quite true and authentic, while more are not. but it is never good plan to spoil a readable story because of a lit tie question of veracity. One of the most recent Victorian anecdotes is told by a correspondent of the Chicago T1meS-Herald, who declares that Vic torfa has ever been very eXacting in the matter of court etiquitte When she holds reception she always in- SiStS upon the performance of every detail of custom. Persons who are for tunate enough to be invited to court have, therefore, to drill themselves and rehearse their parts, for fear of offend ing the Queen by any little neglect of manners. Now and then. however. her majesty unbends. On one occasion in very hot weather, she was receiving a line of sweltering nOblemen and ladies. Everybody was suffering from the heat. The Queen turned to an attend ant suddenly and exclaimed: Nv Amt it hOt.' It is court etiquette nev- CT to contradict royalty, and the lady addressed replied: Yes. madam. yon are. On this occasion the Queen for got both her manners and her gram. mar
The St. Johns herald., 1897-07-31
His Vow Broken.

Tor more than twenty years William H. Jerolamen, of Morristown, N. J., was silent in Ais home. He made a VOW and kept ituntil death faced him. Then he broke tie oath, spoke to his wife. kissed her md died.
 One day back Il the seventies, after a trifiing quarrel he said to his wife, "Pl neyer speak to you again as long as l live" At that time he was 5S years old He kept his vow and lived on, utterlg ignoring the woman who had shared his joys and sorrows SC long. They lived Ii a cottage at Mount Arlington, Morris County; but, as far as Jerolamen was concerned, it was as if his wife was not living.
 She bore the sl ght without mur mur. He dined in silence and alone, and so did she. Often Mrs. Jerolamen had to speak to her husband in refer. ence to household affairs, but he never answered
 He was church member, being one of the organizers of the Mount Arling. ton Methodist Episcopal Church. In 1874 the tOSn was divided on the ques- ton of prohibition. The old man tried to induce the members of the church to indorse the cold water ticket at the town election, but they refused. He Swore that he would never go to church again. He kept his word in this as he had toward his wife.
 ThuS his life 1-nrt On in Silo,noa o0d gloom. One morning he could not arise, for pneumonia had laid it's grip upon him. He was so years old, and he felt that he could not recover. His wife bent over him with love that all his harshness never had killed. He saw the light in her eyes, and feebly essaying to take her hand, he sobbed:
 Dear, I'm SD sorry. Will you for. give me-"
The St. Johns herald., 1897-07-31
Extreme Delicacy.

The man who always looks gOOd-na- tured was in a particularly glowing mood as he remarked
 "I closed a first-rate deal yesterday sold a piece of property at big ad- vance on the original price. I never should have bought it in the first place if it had not been for the fancy my wife took to 1t. tell you it's always a good idea to get your wife's advice about any business you may have on hand.''
 "Yes," replied Mir Meekton; II have always thought it was a good idea where it is practicable"
 "Oh-I see. You are facetiOus. You mean that a man may be unmarried" !"
 No; was thinking of my own case. "
 Don't you ask your wife's advice%'
 ''I used to, but I don't any mOre."
 Didn't 1t turn out weHy'
 "Oh, yes; but circumstances have changed"
 You don't mean to say that you and she have had a difference?
 "No, indeed. I shouldn't think of diff fering. But shouldn't ask her advice about any business for fear of having my motives misconstrued. You see Henrietta has been studying law. and if l were to ask her advice she might think was trying to take advantage of our relationship to get something for nothing. Washington Star.
The St. Johns herald., 1897-07-31
BRIDGE OF GREAT SIZE.
It Is to Span the Mississippi Above
 New Orleans.

b. l.. Corthell, chief engineer, and E. II. Connor, assistant engineer, have just completed the drawings and stud les for bridge so remarkable that it will attract general attention through put the civilized world. It is to span the Mississippi River at Twelve Mile Point, between four and five miles above New Orleans.
 This bridge is to be a railroad struc. ture, double tracked, connecting all lines on the east and west banks of the river. It will be when the river is at It's highest, S5 feet from the waters surface. At the point where water meets the land, the height of the rail will be 100 feet above the earth. At each end of this great structure, the approach will be G5S0 feet long, the grade being 1.5 per cent. The length of the structure between piers will be 2,2S0 feet. The length from approach to approach, the points referred to be- ing those farthest from the shore, will be 1o,4OO feet, a total length of nearly three miles.
 Perhaps the most interesting feature of the bridge from an engineering standpoint is the great length of clear span required, 1000 feet. This fact must be considered carefully, because only when this is tffe case can the great task that confrOnts the engineers bc appreciated, owing to the character of the river bed. The bed of the MiSSis- sippi River at this point, and the ground far on each side, is all alluvial material upon sand. The ground over Whlch the approaches pass is made en- tlrely Of river deposits. Borings to the depth of over a thousand feet have been made in New Orleans, and noth- ing encountered except loam, sand, and some shallow layers of clay.
 The bed of the Mississippi a few feet below the surface is of clean sand. On either side and beneath the sites of the proposed approaches, borings have been made 200 feet deep. Fifty feet below low waGer mark, clean sand was found which grew cOarSer as the depth of the borings increased. It is upon this sort or a bottom that the foundations of this tremendous structure must rest. The shore piers will rest on pneumatic cais- sons sunk 100 feet below low water mark. The piers are to be constructed of what is called granite face stones and concrete backing.
 An excellent idea of the fmmensitv of the structure can be gained from the fact that the total height of the river piers from the bases of the caissons to the top of the ornament on the truss post will be 750 feet. The approach spans of the bridge are to be supported upon steel towers of enormous tensile strength. The total length of the iron structure will be 10634 feet a lergth of this sort of which no bridge in the world can boast.
 It seems to the engineering world but short time ago that all creation was talking O. the Eads bridge at St. Louis, and the hitherto obscure Government
The St. Johns herald., 1897-07-31
tn every ene, and sapeA0r ln authority

ii every ofe, and siiDeHiot h authority to every line of reasoning.
 But the truth Is that sense of every kind, common or uncommon, must be allied with reason, or it loses it's signln' canoe.
 There may Do no conscious proceeS of reasoning going on. but 1t always accords with reasonable conclus1ohs- so reasonable, in fact, that they are often called self-evident.
 It is rather q matter of extent than of kind, and its limits are those of ordl' nary matters.
 It may be called one degree of req son-that degree to which most men can attain, and without which they would be considered most unreasona' ble.
 It does not atm t. enter the arena Of philosophy or speculation it does not expect to solve the problems which tax the highest powers Of the human mind; but it does enable g nan to manage hls own affairs with some intelligence, to prevent his making himself ridiculous, to guide his conduct in relation to his fellow-men. to judge with some ap- prOach to correctness. and to decide with some wisdom in matters common to all, or in those more especially con- nected with his own pursuits.
The St. Johns herald., 1897-07-31

The Durrant murder case in Califor- nia may be studied for some of the features of our criminal jaw which not infreQuently contribute to a miScar. riage of justice, and are strong incen- tives in some communities to lynching That the man is guilty of the crime charged; that he murdered that unfor- l tunate girl and hid the body in that
 church loft, has been clearly establish ed before a jury, and their finding in dOrsed by q court of competent juris- diction. The Governor of the State had the case before him on an appeal for pardon. He is a lawyer, and he exam ined it carefully. But he declined to interfere with the execution of a just sentence. Several years had gone by, and at last, when every local device had been exhausted by Durrant's attOr- neys to defeat the carrying out of the sentence, they decided upon this last resort, and so took the case to the Su- preme Court. This works a respite, and Durrant will get at least six months more time. Unfortunately, the records of our procedure in criminal cases are full of this sort of thing. And it extends to cases of the highest rela- tiOn. The case of Guiteau is directly in point. There was never for a mo- ment the slightest doubt about that wretch's guilt. He was taken red handed. And, in addition, in his poor way. he confessed his crime and eX- plained all that had led up to it. His victim was the President of the United States, and every consideration, both of example and justice, called for swift punishment of the horrible deed. But the procedure was slow. Months elapsed before an indictment was found and a somewhat theatrical trial begun, and 1t was almost year before the wretch. whose guilt had stood as well established the day after General Garfield's death as it then stood, was brought on the scaffOld for execution. It is urged, of course, that where life is at stake an accused man should have every chance to present his case. No issue is fairly to be taken with that contention. But where a full and fair trial has been had, and competent lawyers have represented the accused and brought out every point in his ia vOr, and verdict of guilty is then pro nounced, the sentence of the court should be promptly executed. These spacious pleas and delays, founded ire quently upon points which the Supreme Court has already decided, serve only ends that mock the proper administra- tion of justice, and account to some ex- tent for the disposition, too frequently indulged in, to try cases in the court of Judge Lynch. ''They do these things better in France" And very much bet ter in England. In the treatment of indeed, England shows mucb we could copy with profit.
The St. Johns herald., 1897-07-31
MADE BRUIN YIELD HIS LIFE.
Woman Kills a Bear with Rolling
 Pin and Carving Knife.

Woman Kills a Bear with Rolling
 Pin and Carving Knife.
 Florida has brave girl in the per son of Miss Marie Robinson, who lives two miles from Fort Pierce on Cedar Hammock. While she was making bread the other day she was startled by the appearance of a young black bear close beside her, standing on its hind feet. Raising a big hard wood rolling pin she brought it down whack on the bears snout. Bruin did not like this treatment. and advanced toward the girl, fencing with it's fOrepaws. Again Miss Robinson delivered a blow at her advancing foe, but the bear had learn ed wisdom, and he deftly parried the blow with his right paw. He then caught Miss RObinsOn's dress with his other paw, tearing it from the shoul- der. In return she gave him a straight right-hander with the roller. which caught him under the ear and sent him down.
 Bruin scrambled up from the second round, and was pretty mad. He shuf- ueu up lO lue SlIl, NdIIIy htepluS DOlu .tOrepawS extending and growing an- grily. Miss Robinson again landed a right roller, hitting him squarely be- tween the eyes. AS soon as he recOv- cred from the stunning effects of the blow he endeavored to grasp the girl in his paws. Seizing a big carving knife that lay on the table Miss Robin son lunged forward with it, it's blade penetrating the bears neck. 4 bright
The St. Johns herald., 1897-07-31

RinderpeSt is the dealilest disease that can overtake cattle. 1t comes from Asia, like so many other plaques, and 1t has recently ravaged English terri tory in South Africa with terrible SC, verity. The Government was compell. ed at last to take active measures for Its suppression, and to that end they commissioned Dr. Koch to proceed to the Cape and try to discover the mi crobe that is the cause of the disease. The great German bacteriologist has so far failed to isolate the bacillus; but he Las achieved the greater practical sue cess of discovering that the bile of animals that the disease had killed act ed as a vaccinating substance on healthy cattle. By this treatment the plague may be successfully combatted.
The St. Johns herald., 1897-07-31
on hls nhvsIcai and mental resources,

on hls physical and mental resources. It appears he bought bike. As nat ural sequence he tried to ride it. He was seduced into making the effort by the cajoleries of his children. He was persuaded to relinquiSh it by the cajOl- cries of the bicycle. It seems he select ed wide, level road as the theater of action and entered 'R. U. E." But there was more rue at the exit. He listened patiently while enthusiastic friends explained just how easy it was to ride, and then he set off and prompt ly fell off. He tried it again, taking care to keep the front wheel under him." but although he succeeded in this the rear wheel landed on top of him. Then he went through all the vagaries known to beginners, including collisions with every obstacle in sight on the road and the adjacent fields, and hay ing proven to his satisfaction that he was in danger of rounding out his ca reer too abruptly traded the wheel on the spot for sofa cushion. This is one of the reasons why Mir. Jefferson thinks there is too much tragedy about a bi' cycle for his comedy predilections.
The St. Johns herald., 1897-07-31

It has been matter of pride among those who wish to see women succeed in walks of life other than those ap- proved by the old-fashioned that when woman has been given a position of trust she has seldom proved unfaith- ful to the confidence reposed in her. And this is the rule. An exception has been found, however, in a St. Paul woman. who has been accused of using for private purposes several thousand dollars belonging to a society of w1ich she was the treasurer. It is said that sne freely admits incorporating the noney, but gives aS an excuse the fact that times were very hard and that she was obliged to take the money to pay her household expenses. Such a naive explanation is at least better than tine defenseS set tip by some of Chicago's UefaulterS
The St. Johns herald., 1897-07-31

Attorney Vincent, of Chicago, in his speech in defense of Luetgert, made the astonishing statement that nearly every married man at some time or other felt that he would like to choke or do something to his wife" MT. Vim cent has always been regarded as an amiable and peaceable citizen, but it is evident he should be more careful what married men he associates with. His experience appears to have been extremely unfortunate.
The St. Johns herald., 1897-07-31

Workmen have begun to remove one of the historic landmarks of New York City, the Tombs prison. This remark able structure, built in the Egyptian style of architecture, is one of the city's most noted sights. It has sheltered nearly all of the great criminals of the country at some time or other, and its massive walls could tell wondrous tales of crime and misery were they supplied with tongues as well as ears.
The St. Johns herald., 1897-07-31

engineer achieved almost in a night lasting fame. The Southern Pacific bridge across the Mississippi above Kew Orleans, while in one way less the ed, is really the most tremendous struc- ture in the way of railroad bridge ever planned. The best known engi- neers pronounce it, taken as a whole, one of the engineering marvels of the century
The St. Johns herald., 1897-07-31

Forgive him? Would she? Kneel- ing by the dying mans bedside she Wept softly, while he with tongue freed at last rambled on deliriously about old times She did not leave him until the end came He died with his hand in hers and a look of happi- ness that his face had not borne in twenty years.
The St. Johns herald., 1897-07-31

A Bostonian who returned recently from abroad had quite struggle with the customs officials at the Hub over a small piece of the Giants Causeway brought home as q relic. The naval office held that it was granite and should pay q duty of 9 cents. The col lector's office pronounced it crude mineral, and, therefore, undutiable. In the end the latter opinion prevailed.
The St. Johns herald., 1897-07-31

Under the new postoffice registry law soon to be promulgated the sender of registered letters is indemnified against loss, to the extent of $10, no greater sum being allowed on any one letter. Ten envelopes are thus required to se- cure $1O0. This is, however, an i'm provement on the old law; in which the Government was not held responsible for any loss.
The St. Johns herald., 1897-07-31
So Some Sav-

The origin of the phrase, "At sizes and seVens," meaning 'at variance, " is probably traceable to the fact that If you write the numerals they all agree in height until you come to six and seven, the former Of which goes above tne others, and the latter below them
The St. Johns herald., 1897-07-31

Charles Darwin must be placed among the strongest advocates of for eign missions. After a visit to heather lands he wrote: The men who de- nOunce missions forget that human sac rifices, infanticide, bloody wars and cannibalism disappear with the advent of Christianity"
The St. Johns herald., 1897-07-31

Advocates of short skirts say that few women would have perished at the burning of the Paris bazar but for the fact that they stumbled on their skirts and fell in helpless mass. Three wom- en who had been through a previous enabled to escape.
The St. Johns herald., 1897-07-31

A part of the new soldiers monument at Stamford, Conn, is relic that will be greatly treasured by the town. It is one of the guns with which the Kear- sarge sent the Confederate cruiser Ala bama to the bottom.
The St. Johns herald., 1897-07-31
Had Causa for Tears

Father (fercely) - Confound it! Whats that child screaming about now?
 Mother-Why, the poor dear over- heard the nurse remark that he grew more like his papa every day.-New York Times
The St. Johns herald., 1897-07-31

It is said that on the third rail cleo tric system man may walk on the third rail with impunity, but he will be electrocuted if he touches one of the other rails at the same time. Under the circumstances, the walking could hardly be pronounced good.
The St. Johns herald., 1897-07-31
No Excuse.

Toothache will no longer be ecceDt- ed by the Geneva Switzerland Post office as an excuse for absence of pn ployes. The Canton superintenden; has issued a circular directing them fo have their teeth extracted rather than have the service suffer.
The St. Johns herald., 1897-07-31

Joseph Jefferson recently attempted new role to round out his career. but he found it so pervaded by realism that be has abandoned it temporarily until he recOyers from the inroadS it made
The St. Johns herald., 1897-07-31

stream followed its withdrawal and bruin was becoming grOggy. Blow after blow with the rolling pin fell upon his head. and after a few minutes the brave girl had the satisfaction of see ing the animal roll over on his side and expire.
The St. Johns herald., 1897-07-31

Whenever Colonel Phoebe Couzins ''fears that she is about to be dragged into prominence" in any way she promptly confides her fears to the newspapers to the extent of column or
The St. Johns herald., 1897-07-31

It is hard on Howard Gould that he should lose $5,000,000 if he marries the woman he loves. The woman man loves, however, is worth more to him than $5,OO0,OOO.
The St. Johns herald., 1897-07-31
ADVANCED sT.LoUIs cHINAMAN
The First of His Race in America to
 Use Electrical Machinery.

The Chinese can hardly be called progressive race; as a nation they cling to time-honored customs, and even the Americanized Chinaman seldom changes his shirt-like garment and bag, gy trousers for the apparel of his white brothers. In this day of mechanical contrivances for saving labor, when
The St. Johns herald., 1897-07-31
Very Circu,nsnect

''Is Miss Straitlace circumspectY 2 asked Miss Pert.
 ''Circumspectr' cried Miss Caustic "why. she won't accompany young man on the piano without chaperon.' J -Tit-BitS.
The St. Johns herald., 1897-07-31

Some Americans in Mexico are living where they caE see POpOcatepetl and Ixtaccihuati, and they feel greatly i'm proved. The effect of Ixtaccihuau must be especially revivifying.
The St. Johns herald., 1897-07-31

The discovery in St. Louis that a mummifed corpse perspires may be use ful to the Old-fashioned believers who still hold to the opinion that judgment after death comes in the form of heat.
The St. Johns herald., 1897-07-31
Annea:s rn Common Sense.

In controversies on moOted questions, when ali arguments seem to fail, we often hear appeals made to common sense, as if that at least must be alike
The St. Johns herald., 1897-07-31

Every one admlres the woman who is so loyal to her husband that no onr dares pity her when he misbehayes.
The St. Johns herald., 1897-07-31

Boston may have been partially jus tified in rejecting Bacchante. She cer- tainly was a very brazen young wom- an
The St. Johns herald., 1897-07-31

The new tunnel under the Thames, 6,2OO feet long, cost $4, GOO, or less than one-fifth as much as New York $ uncompleted capitol at Albany.
The St. Johns herald., 1897-07-31
PUBLISHED EVERY SATURDAY

Hereafter when Gen. Miles leaves the country the fact must be kept from the Indians.
The St. Johns herald., 1897-07-31

The more extensively a man is en- gagged in politics, the greater fraud he is