davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Winslow mail., 1898-05-07
HEROIC LIFE-SAVERS.
How nm Entire Crew, with But One
Exception, Was Lost In an At
tempted Rescue.

District Superintendent Jerome o..
Kiah, with headquarters at Sand Beach,
Michigan, is one of the heroes of the
Hfe-saving service. He holds the gold
medal, the highest award the United
States government can bestow for hero
ism in saving life. His name is assocl-
ated with what was both one OF the
-.,ost daring attempts at rescue and one
of the greatest tragedies of the service
"a tragedy which wiped out an entire
crew with the exception of this sole sur
vivOr.
III. Kiah was at the time keeper OF
me Point aux Barques life-saving sta
ton on Lake Huron. A vessel struck
too far out to be reached with the shot
and line. The peril of attempting a
rescue with a surf boat was only too ap-
aren't; but Keeper Kiah mustered his
4 and made the launch. For awhile
...oir strength and skill enabled them
20 surmount or push through the tu-
multuous seas; but once in the open
lake beyond the shoals, where the
storm was free to riot at will, the real
danger began. 1t was a test beyond
human powers. The keeper remembers
that twice the boat was capsized and
was righted. After that he had vague
recollection of the boat capsizing and
righting herself several times, and OF
the crew clinging to it until, one by one,
the surfmen, perishing of cold, let go
their hold, and vanished beneath the
waves. He has dim remembrance of
the boat, with himself clinging to it,
grating over the shoal, and then being
flung up On shore.
He was found by two men standing
with one hand on the root of fallen
tree, steadying himself with lath in
the other, and swaying as if walking,
but not stirring his feet-a dazed, tot
tering wreck of his former self, MUIR
muring in an incoherent way:
'Poor boys! Poor boys! They are
all gone-all gone!" Temporarily
shattered in mind and body, he was
obliged to resign from the service. He
was long in recovering, but finally it
was possible practically to reward his
bravery with the appointment to his
present position.-Gustav Kobbe, in
Century,
The Winslow mail., 1898-05-07
LIFE OF A FIRE ENGINE.
Twenty Years of Work May Be Ex~
pected of One Before the junk
Man Gets 1t.

The life of fire engine in this city in
its first use is ten years. 1t is then re-
built and is good, either in regular
service or as reserve engine, for ten
years more. After 20 years of service
the old engine is sold at auction, says
the New York Sun.
1t may be bought by another city or
town for use as fire engine, but this
happens very rarely. The engines are
heavy, and they must be drawn by
horses, so they are not adapted for use
in smaller cities. The old engine is
oftener bought by contractor, for use,
for instance, in pumping out cellars. In
such service a steam pressure of so
pounds might be ample for the work,
while in fire service a pressure of $50
pounds might be required. In such
work as this the old engine might last
three or four years more.
Sometimes the discarded fire depart
ment engine is bought by junk dealer,
who breaks it up for the metals it con-
tains, and this is what they all come to
at last.-N. y. Sun.
The Winslow mail., 1898-05-07
THROUGH. PANAMA.
How an Tst.snian Canal Would At
feet the Commerce of
the World.

The situation may thus be summar-
iZed: The existing lines of trade seem
sufficient to carry the products between
countries that are in line with an
isthmus canal. To multiply ships will
not make trade, as the products to be
traded in must first be raised. A sur
vey of the east and its needs and sup
plies leads to the conviction that an
economic revolution must take place
before any great change in production
and expansion of commerce can be eX-
pected. In South America the centers
Of production are on the eastern coast,
and would receive little demand from
Asia or the west of the United States.
What is obtained from the west coast
of South America will bear a transport
round the Horn. The carriage of mer-
chandise between the Atlantic and Pa
cific coasts of the United States alone
may offer q prospect of some small in
crease, but this increase cannot be
measured. The rise of the Suez passage
in Importance is no gauge of Panama
canal, for the productions of India and
AUS lIcl1ics N1ISh l1eNO anu IuO1
appealed to the markets CT Europe, and
made the canal what it is, will still use
that path, and find little or no advan-
tage is passing through Panama. My
conclusion is that canal will be an
undoubted commercial convenience; it
is not a necessity. 1t will not result in
an immediate or extensive development
- 40 fhto &c !,
commercial interests of the United
States in any event are of even less i'm
portance than the interests of Europe.
-Worthington G. Ford, in Earper's
Magazine.
The Winslow mail., 1898-05-07
MAcAULAY IN HIS CHAMBERS.
There Was Little in His Appearance
to Indicate Genius.

TO GcniuS.
His chambers are comfortably fur
nished, and overflow with books. The
hall, the two sitting-rooms and the
bedroom are all walled with volumes.
On this January morning Macaulay sits
breakfasting among his books. The
room has few ornaments beyond some
fine italian engravings, bronze statu-
cites of Voltaire and Rousseau, and on
the mantelpiece a handsome Ginning
French clock given to the essayist by
his publisher, Nr. Thomas Longman.
Macaulay is seldom without book,
either in his hand or in his pocket, and
this morning as he breakfasts he turns
over the pages of a volume of Addison
and Steele's Spectator" reading sem
tence or two here, glancing over old
favorite passages with a smile CT friend
ly recognition, and more rarely reading
rapidly q whole essay.
Presently he arises from the table
and goes to his desk. As he crosses
the floor the shortness of his figure sud-
denly becomes apparent. There is lit
tie, indeed, in Macaulay's whole appear
ance to indicate the genius and learn
ing which are enshrined within his
brain. He is short, robust and plain
looking. His head is massive and his
features are rugged and homely. When
in repose his face has little animation,
but when he talks it is lit by the emo
tions of the moment, and the deep-blue
eyes sparkle with yivacity. a solid.
robust individuality, of untiring ener-
gy and unwearying kindness and
courtesy-such is Thomas Darlington
Observation-Disclosures Journal.
The Winslow mail., 1898-05-07
The Parishes Of Louisiana.

The parishes of Louisiana which Dor.
der along the coast of the Gulf of Mex
leo, from Red river to the Sabine, and
which are called sometimes the "sea-
marsh parishes" are nine in number.
These sea marshes remain as testimony
to the interrupted operations of the
Mississippi river-interrupted by tho
building Of levees on the rivers banks
which, before the age of civilization
in Louisiana, were slowly and year by
year filing up the marshes so as to con-
vert them by the deposits of the mud
OF the river intothe solid ground of the
continent, as the rest Of the Iowlands Of
Louisiana had been similarly trans
formed into terra frma. As a rule,
with the exception of Orleans parish,
in which is situated the city of New Orr
leans, the population of these parishes
is small, being composed mainly of the
planters who live upon the banks of the
Mississippi and of the many bayous that
intersect these parishes, together with
fishermen and hupters.-N. o. Picayune.
The Winslow mail., 1898-05-07
A Maine Mans Fish story.

David Kelly of Surry has hada queer
experience, and in consequence believes
that a snelt will never die so long as
it is kept frozen stiff. Some time ago
he was fishing on Morgan's bay, where
he captured dozen or more smelts,
which he left in a pail in his little
shanty, expecting to return soon and
resume work. Being called to Boston
TO attend the funeral of relative, he
did not return for several days. Then
he took the pail filled with snow and
ice, in which were the smelts, and
placed it in tub, pouring over it few
gallons Of warm water in order to get
the fish out whole. He then went to the
village, where he stayed three hours.
When he returned every smelt was
alive and swimming around in the tub.
Lewiston Journal,
The Winslow mail., 1898-05-07
POINTED BREViTiES.

Nobody acknowledges being a book
agent. All are general agents.
We wouldn't mind paying for having
our teeth filled with gold if it only
showed.
There is always some one in every
town ready to go around and help
introduce any fake.
There is this advantage. when there
is fakir in town; :ou always know
where to find all the loafers.
What a fellow does not spend for
something to eat, he is obliged to spend
at the dentists so he can eat it.
A man who can make up his mind
that he feels better when he gets up
early every morning, is a philosopher.
A patent incidence vender has no
trouble getting men to try his wares,
if only it is something they can drink.
A man has to make a brave fight,
nowadays, to keep from being bank
rupted by requests for money to help
some benevolent ocieties.-Washing
ton Qa.) Democrat.
The Winslow mail., 1898-05-07
A EOfselesS City.

No other city is as quiet as Berlin.
Railway engines are not allowed to
blow their whistles within the city linn
its. There is no loud bawling by
hucksters, and a man whose wagon
gearing is loose and rafting is subject
to fine. The courts have large dis
crction as to fines for noise-naking
Strangest of all, piano-playing is regu-
lated in Berlin. Before a certain hour
in the day and after certain hour in
the night the piano must be silent in
that musical city. Even during playing
hours fine is imposed for mere bang
ing on the piano. In Paris it is only
during the carnival and Cn fete days
that the sound of the French horn rs
tolerated. At other seasons it is rigor-
ously prohibited by the police. German
intolerance CT noise is not recent
thing. Wallenstein, who demanded alb
solute quiet, had $50 houses torn down
in Prague and sentries posted all
around in the distance to secure silence.
There is a tradition that still further
back in time a Bohemian shepherd, see
ing the monk Adelhert asleep, blew on
his pipe in mischief. The monk called
down the curse of deafness on him.
Syracuse Herald.
The Winslow mail., 1898-05-07
GROWING INDUSTRY.
Phenomenal Increase in Number of
Patents on Cycles.
The Last Two Years Has Witnessed
an Immense Impetus to the
Bicycle Busin ess in All
Branches.

In the whole system of our patent
system none of the mechanical arts has
inspired in an equal period of time such
extensive and widespread activity as
hose that relate to the cycle. In 1866,
hen Lallement filed his application
his now celebrated patent for We
scipede, only 20 patents had been is
sued by the United States for rider
propelled vehicles. At that time all
these were classified by. the patent
Lee as Carriages and wagons" and
.ere included in the class having that
iIicial title. By January l, 1869, 43
atents for such vehicles had issued.
Tith the year 1869 the ''velocipede
aania'' came upon the country. In
nat year velocipede patents were in
.reased by about 200, and in consequence
IS ere grouped together as subclass OF
carriages and wagons" and officially
designated ''velocipedes." After the
mania of 1869, invention in velocipedes
remained practically dead until 1876,
when the English exhibits of bicycles
at the Centennial exposition gave it an
impetus. Until the year 1890, how
ever, when the influence of the pneu-
matte tire began to be felt, the growth
of invention relating to cycles was com
paratively slow. In 1890 one assistant
examiner in the patent Office was able
to examine all applications filed in this
class of inventions. Since 1890 nearly
1900 of the 5000 United States patents
for velocipedes have been granted. In
1892 the applications had become so nu-
merous that velocipedes were collected
into a class by themselves distinct from
carriages and wagons and transferred
to another division, which was then en-
ployed in the examination of veloci-
pedes, harvesters and games and toys.
The class was then split up into some
So subclasses for convenience of eX-
animation. Applications accumulated
so rapidly that games and toys were
soon crowded out and sent elsewhere,
and in May, 1897, harvesters also were
forced out and the class of velocipedes
now forms by itself one examining
division, requiring the labor of one ex-
aniner, nine assistant examiners and
five clerks to handle the great number
of applications. And even with this ex-
pert force, a force larger than any other
examining division in the patent office,
passing on 800 applications, new and
amended each month, more applications
are awaiting action there than in any
other division. In fact, on an aver
age during the past two years twice as
many cases have been awaiting action
in this division as in any other, and
three times as many as in most of them.
And, withal, the class of velocipedes
does not include motorcycles, wheels,
tires, cycle accessories, nor the numer-
Gus special machines, all of which ex-
list only because of the cycle. During
1892 about 600 velocipede applications
were filed, in 1894 about S25, in 1895,
1900; in 1896, about $500, and in 1897,
about $500, including the various ac-
cessories, gear cutting and tube draw
ing machines and special machinery de-
signed for use in the cycle factory
Iron Age.
The Winslow mail., 1898-05-07
The Rage for Bicycle Riding Began
in America as Long Ago as the
Year 1859.

The spring of 1869 found the wheel
craze universal. Carriage builders were
led to add to their factories plants for
the manufacturing of velocipedes. Over
1000 of these machines were turned
out every week, while orders were pour
ing in by the tens of thousands. To
quote from newspaper of about that
time: "As an indication of the extent
to which the manufacture of veloci-
pedes was carried on, it may be men
toned that Mr.. Calvin Witty, the pur-
chaser of the Lallement patent, em-
ployed the resources of seven large car
riage makers, and kept their establish
ments busy day and night. He had 70
men at work in one establishment in
New York, and he also kept men active
ly employed in two factories in Con-
necticut, one in Wilmington, Del, and
one in Newark, n. j."
But few people had expected that the
mania for this new style of wheeled ve-
hicles would be so great.
Among the earliest who exhibited
their skill on the velocipede in public
were the Hanlon brothers. They used
a somewhat clumsy type of wheel from
France. These, at best, were but heavy
things, which We're soon improved upon
by American makers.
Schools for teaching learners to ride
were quickly opened; and that of Frank
Pearsall, the well-known New York
photographer, was perhaps the first of
these. His school was on the corner of
broadway and Twentg-second street.
Together with his brother he turned
out upwards of 800 well-taught riders
within two months. Three months
later nearly so bicycle schools thrived
in New York and Brooklyn, These
schools We'd one with the other in
high-sounding names One was the
"Amphicyclotheatrus," another the
"Gymnocyclidium," etc. The cost of
tuition was SIS each; but this amount
carried with it the right to use veloci-
pede and to practice in the hall for one
month.-Frank 81. Vizetelly, in st,
Nicholas.
The Winslow mail., 1898-05-07
THE CARE-FREE VIENNESE.
They Rarely Take Life Seriously, I'm
less at a Funeral.

The native Viennese is jolly, good
natured, shiftless creature.
No people on the earth are SO jolly, or
SO eagiIy and so much amused. Go to
the Prater, the largest public park in
Europe, and from a hundred different
beer-gardens comes the noise of toot-
ing brass bands and stamping feet and
beating drums. Merry-go-rounds swing
old and young, and dime museums and
music halls are as full of people as they
are empty of decency. Go to the thea
tiers on any night, and you will fnd
them crowded by an enthusiastic audi
ence, the galleries filled by noisy stu
dents and working girls, The court
theaters, which present only legiti-
mate dramas and operas, have also their
numerous devotees. Go to the coffee
houses. of which there is one on every
corner. and. you will find them full,
especially in the afternoon, with mer-
chants with their noses in the news
papers, and clerks slipping their Mocha,
and officers smoking their cigars, and
cue-pushing and card-shu1fling youths.
AT night these coffee houses become the
rendezvous of the lower element.
have never seen the Viennese serious,
unless it be at funeral, and l suppose
that even out of that he manages to get
some fun. Yet he is easily excited, and
though loyal and law-abiding, his
-ood nature may quickly turn into
.ry passion, and Viennese riot is
.ar;ous matter.-Edward A. Steiner,
In Woman's Home Companion.
The Winslow mail., 1898-05-07
MISTO0K HER MODS.
Congrcssman's Aunt Slept as He
Drove Fer Sightseeing About
Washington.

"Let me, while ! think of it. tell a re-
lation story told me by the new con
gresham from Ohio" writes IA Cabinet
Members Wife" giving her Inner Ex-
Periences," in the Ladies Home Jour-
nal. This is his first term in con-
gress. When he and his wife came 10
Washington early in October they
brought along an elderly aunt of his
wife's for visit before the season be-
gan, as she was too deaf to enjoy So
ciety. One day he took the old lady out
to drive in high, open vehicle, called
here trap. His wife was unable to go
al the last moment, SO the aunt mount
ed behind, and be in front, as he drove
himself Being new to the place they
had hardly any acquaintances. Great
ly to his astonishment in a short time,
as they drove along, people began 10
bow to him from every side. He said
that for one short moment be saw him
sell a great man, but at the same mo-
ment his surprise increased, until he
turned around to express his astonish-
ment to his aunt Priscilla, even if he
had to shout, and in turning, the mys-
terry of the bows was solved-the old
lady sat bolt upright, sound asleep
with her head fallen forward. Every
lurch of the vehicle bowed her head,
ano the people along the streets were
only returning what they took to be
her salutations. He spoke to her, but
she could not hear, so he turned about
and drove home. When he stopped IN
front of the house she walked up, ard
was mortified to DEATH"
The Winslow mail., 1898-05-07
Peculiar Funeral Customs.

Swiss funeral customs are most pc
culiar. At the death of a person the
family inserts formal, black-edged an
nouncement in the papers asking for
sympathy and stating that "the mourn
ing urn" will be exhibited during GER
tain hours on a special day. In front Of
the house where the person died there
is placed little black table, covered
with a black cloth, on which stands~a
black jar. Into this the friends and
acquaintances of the family drop little
hlack-margined visiting cards, some
times with few words of sympathy on
them
The Winslow mail., 1898-05-07
Ind Pnx in Advance.

Farmer KilIweeds = Oh, you wait
work, do you? Well, haven't much to
do just now, but guess can give you
a little job. You can turn the grind.
stone for me for about half an hour
Now, what DO you want me to give you
for a job like that?
Weary Wiiiiams-I'm a-t'inkin' dat
fer operation of dat kind ye'd better
give anaesthetic.-N. Y. World,
The Winslow mail., 1898-05-07
A Noxe4fv Gold Kline.

In one of the rivers in California, gold
is collected by means of an iron GYM
der, which is constructed somewhat on
the principle Of a diving bell Inc
cylinder containing the workman Is
lowered, air is forced into it, and by
series of pipes under pressure lne
workman sends the gravel from the
river bottom up to the deck of the poa''
There it is poured into proper reeep'
tacles, is sluiced and washed, ard the
gold separated from the refuse. "hile
the men engaged in this work do not
gather gold in Klondike quantltles'
they make a fine living, and one when
they think they may depend upon for
a Long time.-N. Z. Ledger.
The Winslow mail., 1898-05-07
Torn Money Rejected.

A New Jersey court has upheld a rail-
road company in refusing to accept a
torn treasury note, declaring that while
the government is bound to redeem mu-
tilated bills of this character private
parties are not obliged to accept them
as legal tender. One effect Of this de-
cision should be to decrease the amount
of mutiIated currency in circulation,
giving the government the trouble of
taking care of it, as it always stands
ready to do.
The Winslow mail., 1898-05-07
Seven Wonders of the World,

We have no indication of the exist
ence of cycle of seven wonders until
about the end of the second century B.
C. Then appears, in an epigram of
Antipater of Sidon, an enumeration of
seven great works, which prove to be
the very ones later appearing as the
seven wonders. They are: (D the
Walls of Babylon; (2( the Statue of
Zeus at Olympia; (3) the Hanging Car
dens of Semiramis at Babylon; (4) the
Colossus of Rhodes; 60 the Pyramids
of Memphis; (6) the Mausoleum of
Ealicarnassus; (7) the Temple Of Diana
(Artemis) at Ephesus. Within the next
century, Varro, by his leisurely allusion
to the septem opera, betrays that the
saying had already assumed current
proverbial form. Diodorus, in the sec
ond half of the same century first B.
CO., speaks, too, Of ''the so-called seven
works." and Strabo, a little later, uses
the very phrase, "the seven wonders"
From this tine on, at least, the septem
miracula have an assured place in all
the common lore of Rome. The little
Greek treatise, "On the Seven Won
ders," which has come down to us in
incomplete form, and under the name
CT Philo of Byzantium, an engineer Of
the second century B. c., is really, as its
style and artificial purisms amply
show, the work of some rhetorician of
the fifth or sixth century after Christ,
and in no wise ohargeable against the
otherwise blameless record of the ex-
cellent man Of facts and machines. The
list it gives is the same as that found
in Antipater's epigram.-P Benja-
min Ide Wheeler, in Century.
The Winslow mail., 1898-05-07
&C mil,ionnire stati.tics.

Berlin boasts of 2,o02 millionaires,
reckoned on the basis of incomes that
would represent capital of 100000
marks-that is, $4,000 year. Only
1.1O3 of these, however, actually have
the S250,O00 of capital; 7S have 100000
marks or over, and only five have the
2O,0OO O00 marks that would make them
millionaires in England.
The Winslow mail., 1898-05-07
The Mind as a Disease Producer.

We know that congested liver pro-
duces gloom, perhaps leading to sui
eide. Another kind of gloom is per-
haps due to congested spleen, A dis
orderly heart produces apprehension of
coming danger. Certain intestinal con-
ditions produce fear. Morbid condi-
tions of other organs mar the sense of
strength and manhood or womanlineas.
We know also a few converse truths:
That gloom of despair may induce
iaundice; that good news will make the
heart beat vigorously; that cheerful
ness will calm and regulate its beat;
that fear and anxiety may paralyze di-
gestion.-Dr, Herbert Coryn, in Ma
tional Review.
The Winslow mail., 1898-05-07
The Queens Mail.

About 10000 letters are addressed to
Queen Victoria yearly from her sub
lects. Those that are not stamped are
not forwarded by the officials. The
queens letters have precedence of all
others, and are forwarded to Windsor
by special messengers from the general
post office.-Washington Star.
The Winslow mail., 1898-05-07
WOMEN AS TEACHERS.
The Proportion Largest tH the United
States and Smallest In Germany.

InSTe are IN the OHlJcd CldtcS. iOtisgll-
ly speaking, 95O,0O0 school teachers.
and of this number 900 are men aad
230.G00 are women In other words.
there are nearly twice as raan, fa-saie
rs male teachers, and the disparity is
Increasing year by year. According
to the last official census of Prussia
there were 6s.00O school teachers in the
kingdom, of whom 9.OO0 were women
and 50, GOO men. 1t is evident. therefore,
that the Prussian preference is for male
teachers. In all Germany there arc,
inc'uding the ~overn raent. church and
private schools. 135,CeO teachers. and
the number - pupils is nearly 1o.cac-
OG0. There ne 1sHcoA teachers in
France. of g'ora eHccA are men ar
95,0ao ere wc-.a1. ttc rr-rh"r of eac!,
being sco5-e, te ;'ort thF sa'He ratic
Of inerre re-e -. = IS sUnnc~"
about 10000 teachers in Great Britain,
but authentic figures are lacking.