davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1898-06-04

bv some of the oldest citizens of this
place, belongs the discovery of the
process of making lead pipe, and like
many other inventors, the idea of max
ing the same was stolen from him and
further developed to It's present form
and manufacture. 1t was in the lat
ter part of the '30s that the idea sug-
gested itself to him, and the following
is the way he wrought 1t out: He first
took a slug, or casting of lead, placing
it on a mandcl, or rod of steel, about
sixteen feet long, and one inch in diam
eter; the mandel was highly polished
and upon this he drew or rolled out
the lead to the full length of the rod
thus giving him an inch bore, and the
material was rolled, 1t is said, to one
fourth inch, making a total diameter
of one and one-half inches for the pipe.
After completing several sections of
the length of the mandel, he soldered
them together, making the pipe of
whatever length he desired. He put it
to practical use by fastening it to pump
heads and also running it from springs
to connect watering troughs and spring
houses in the country round about
here. Being greatly pleased with his
discovery, and receiving the most fiat
tering Of comments from his friends
and ~neighbors, he concluded to make
his invention more widely known, and
hence made a visit to Philadelphia,
taking his device with him. At the
Franklin institute in that city he gave
his first exhibition to quite a number
of inventors, artisans and mechanics.
AS it is now related, every one who
witnessed it was more than delighted,
and so expressed himself in his imme-
date presence. 1t was moi long that
he was allowed to remain in a condi-
ton of supreme happiness over his in
vention, for a short time after he made
a disclosure of his discovery, and while
yet in Philadelphia he found out that
by the very persons to whom he had
given an exhibition of the process of
making lead pipe his idea had been
used and improved upon.
The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1898-06-04
Floors of Wood Puln.

Ordinary floors were condemned by
scientific men because they retain dust,
in which dangerous germs are fostered
and make 1t hold their virulence for a
long time. Cement floors are safer, but
less agreeable to the feet. M. Capitau,
a French hygienist, recommends wood
pulp floors, which have no cracks, are
soft to the feet and are bad conduc-
tors OF heat and sound, while their
cost Is considerably less than that Of
ordinary flooring. 1t is believed that
such floors will prove very durable. The
dried pulp, mixed with a little cement
to add resistance to the floor, is trans
ported in powder, and after being made
into a g%elatinous mass is passed be-
tween rollers. The floors are painted
to initiate oak or other wood.
The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1898-06-04
Gas Generated from Wood.

A Frenchman has succeeded in gen.
Grating gas from wood. The method
is similar to that of generating coal
gas, but is simpler, inasmuch as less
detrimental b~i-products are created.
The wood need be only of a low quail
ity, and any kind of chips originating
from the work of chisels, planners, etc.,
n even sawdust, may be used to
advantage. The most remarkable feat
ure about the process is the quantity
of gas produced. The inventor claims
that one cubic metre of gas is pro-
duced from one kilogram of wood, or
sixteen cubic feet Of gas from one
pound of wood. In order to produce
the same amount of gas from coal three
pounds of the latter Substance would
be required, and rs n pound of coal
is considerably higher in price than one
pound Of wood, It IS evident that wood
gas is very cheap. Another fact is
hat the figures given are from the
French point of view, and in America,
where wood refuse can be got for al
most a song, the gas would be still
cheaper. But this gas is not a good
illuminant, except when burned in a
Welsbach mantle, it being used mainly
in the industries.
The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1898-06-04
Extraordinary Feats OF Sword Fish.

The pugnacity of the swordfsh is
amazing, and many authentic accounts
of it's attacks upon vessels have been
substantiated by mutilated hulls, with
the sword sticking in them. In the Brit
ish naval archives is a report on the
sword of a fish taken from the bottom
of her majesty's ship Leopard. The
sword had penetrated the sheathing,
planking, and into the timber to a
depth of eight and a half inches. Not
many years ago the yacht Redhot, of
New Bedford, ran efoul a swordfsh and
lanced it. The fish pierced the side of
the boat and sank it. The ship Priscil-
la, a new boat, when les the Azores,
was struck by a sword fish one day
with such force as to bring all hands
from below under the impression that
the ship had struck a rock. In 1871
the British ship Queensbury was struck
by a sword fish, the sword penetrating
thirty inches, causing a leak which ne
c~essitated the discharge of the cargo.
The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1898-06-04
sUBDUINo THE BICYCLE.
Mental and Physical Struggles al th'
Man Who Learned Late.

Man Who Learned Late.
From the Kansas City Star: Ac-
~companying the other harbinger OF
spring, the robin, the game Of marble
in the alley, the tan shoe, comes the
learner on the bicycle. The cool, brac-
ing air of an evening and the long
stretches Of smooth roadway tempt
him, and in his minds eye he pictures
spins into the country, healthful, in
vorgating exercise and an appetite like
that of a plowman. But above all he
is impelled to learn by a dread of be-
ing considered a faddist. All Of his
friends ride. Already he imagines they
look upon him askance and speak of
him as a sort of Philip Noland-a man
without a wheel. For six successive
seasons he has held out against the
temptation and now he curses himself
for his pains. Why didn't he learn
then, when everybody was learning, in
stead of ~postponing the ordeal until
now, when all are past masters in the
art? So he may be seen every fine
evening upon the level, asphalt paved
i streets struggling to subdue al I'M
ShNNA~o oNSSo VI bAC DolNhlo vi 49, "hiSAi
costs him rs cents an hour, with a 50
indemnity against ~breakage. All this
is gall and NORWOOD to the modest
man. Not that he cares for the knocks
and bruises. He would gladly double
their number could he but escape the
prying eyes, the derisive outlaws and
half-suppressed singers of the men
and women who have passed through
it all years, years before. For these
reasons he is a creature Of apprehen-
sion and agony. After discovering the
fallacy of the theory that the art can
be acquired in a back kitchen with the
curtains drawn he remembers a par
ticularly ~unfreQuented side street, lined
with trees hat help to obscure the
light of moon and lamps. He takes off
the handle bars of his machine to give
the impression that the machine is out
of order and that he is on his way with
it to the repair shop. This furnishes
him with an excuse for not riding.
Then he sallies forth, leading his
wheel. The un~frequented by-street is
due north, so of course he goes south,
and tacks back to the windward side,
like a yacht, and beats and maneuvers
and hauls down his halyards and
reeves the pinnacle and so on and final
ly he heaves to in front of a livery
stable, which he goes through till he
reaches the alley and then by a sud
den port movement he energies trem-
bling and demoralized upon the dark
ened thoroughfare. OF course, every
body stops to watch him tangle him
self in his wheel. They gather in little
groups along the driveway, and wher
he falls and appears about to slide, hi
cycle and all, into the catch basin of
sewer, they can between spasms of i'll
timed mirth tender him assistance. II
is well to leave him at such a time as
this to settle with the man from whom
he rented the bicycle and with his
Maker.
The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1898-06-04

of It's history lies in its bequeathal to
the family.
1t was given to us by a DR.. Rose,
who had lodged so long in our hall
room that he was become quite a
member of the family. He was a lit
tie, trim old gentleman, with long
white hair and a fine, firm c~ountenance.
Years before he came to live with us
he had discontinued practice; for a
day entered his life when ambition
shriveled up and hope died. He was
wont to sit with Dick, Will and my
self in the rear room to wear away the
evenings, relating to us the queer
things that had happened during his
medical experience. Once when he vas
more communicative than usual, he
asked me to fetch his umbrella from
the hall. It was a short time after the
runaway had been stopped by Dick
or the umbrella, as you please. Dick
shivered and looked askance at it as
returned and gave it to the doctor.
Holding it tenderly as if it were ami
mate, he said with suppressed emo
ton, but quite Unexpectedly, his eyes
ohhhihS uHotCduly dJ IhS HIS. lhO
wretch robbed her from me, young
gentlemen, and killed her; yea, killed
her with a living death. And when I
met him l smashed this rod across his
head. Then the coward ran away
think of tran away from a decrepit
like me-" His fingers beat ~nervously on
the knob and his lips mumbled vio-
lently. We sat there gaping almost
afraid to breathe.
Il patched the rod together" he
began again, trying the brass brace,
land stuffed the knob with lead. If
we ever meet again, I'll burst his
skull" He had grasped the umbrella
firmly by the middle and was glaring
fiercely into the fire. Suddenly it
dropped to the floor, the hard look van
ished from his eyes and tears succeed
ed. "If she would only come back to
me-" he murmured between sobs, only
come back!" and covering his face with
his hands, he wept aloud.
We stole away noiselessly and gave
the rest of the folks an inkling of what
had occurred, so that he should not be
disturbed. At six the next morning
when mother went into the room to
raise the shades, he was still seated
where we had left him. The fire was
e and all the oil had burned out
of the lamp, leaving the wick smould-
ering. He arose, his face dry and
thoughtful, wished her good morning
in his usual calm tone, and took the
umbrella out to it's place in the hall.
Nor did he ever make any mention of
that night, though now We knew what
made him always sad.
He met his enemy nor his
daughter more; and when he died he
was buried as n of us. The Family
Umbrella was left in the dingy nook
where he last laid it and where il has
since remained.-Amsley's Magazine.
The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1898-06-04
HEIRS TO PATHS WEALTH.
Kinsman In Atlanta Is Well Thought s
by the Great Singer.

Kinsman In Atlanta Is Well Thought oi
by the Great Singer.
The death of Nicolini, coming as 1t
has before that of Adelina Patti, prob
ably means that a large share of her
fortune will fall to American heirs.
Nine. Patti has few living relatives.
Her nearest kinsman is believed to
be Alfredo Barilli, a musician of At
lanta, Ca, says the Pittsburg Dispatch.
Mr.. Barilli is the son of the prima
donna's half-brother, who also, in his
day, was a musician. The half brother
was almost grown at the time of the
diva's birth, and it was by him that
the voice which was to make her fame
and fortune was discovered and given
its first development. Many tales are
told in the Barilli family of the strict
measures resorted to by the elder Ba-
rilli to force his young charge and
pupil to diligent study, and of the oft
repeated but harmless punishments
which resulted when in the exuberance
Of youth she sighted her tasks and
failed to live up to the possibilities
of her wonderful voice.
Although in the brief annals of Pat
it's life little or no credit has been given
to Sig. Barilli for his part in her
musical education. says the New York
Times. the singer herself has acknowl-
edged her Indebtedness to him on the
back of a large photograph sent to
him before his death and just after
PATHS first great European triumphs.
On the back of this photograph, be-
meath his name and hers, she has writ
ten: ITO my first and only teacher"
This souvenir, furnishing as it does
almost the only proof Of the elder Ba-
rilli's intimate connection with her
career, is naturally greatly priced
by the family Of his son, which
still has it in its possession,
Alfredo Barilli, an artist and a man
of taste and culture, has always been a
favorite with his aunt, and has spent
several summers with her at Craig-y.
Nos. Two years ago his wife and chill.
dren were invited to accompany him
to her castle in the Welsh highlands
Every preparation was made to &C
cept, but sickness prevented them from
going as a family, although Mr.. Ba.
rilli himself paid his respects and ex-
pressed his wife's regrets. During
PATHS last American tour, when she
sung in Atlanta, the Barilli family were
invited to dine with the singer at hel
hotel, and were the recipients o.
affectionate favors at her hands
The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1898-06-04
PLIABLE GLASS PLATES.
Chinese Work Which Makes One of Old
Pliny's Stories Probable.

Pliny's Stories Probable.
From the Strand Magazine: 1t ap-
pears that the Chinese have the art of
making pliable glass plates. They are
not solid, but plated from spun glass
and made gorgeous by brilliant oriental
coloring. The %strangest thing about
them is that, although they are made
of glass, n can bend them backward
md forward as if they were putty or
pliable clay. In hearing of these
strange plates one is reminded of a
story originally by Pliny in his Natural
History, and popular during the mid
die ages. AS narrated in the "Gesta
Romanorum'-that strange repository
of monkish lore-the tale runs thus:
at happened that a certain artificer
fabricated a plate which, being exhibit
ed before the emperor (Tiberius), he
attempted, but ineffectively, to break
it. 1t bent, however, beneath his eff
forts, and the artiticer, applying a
hammer and working upon the glass
as upon copper, presently restored it
to its level. Tiberius inquired by what
art this was effected, and the other re-
piled that 1t was a secret not to be dis
closed. Immediately he was ordered
to the block, the emperor alleging that
if such an art should be practiced gold
and silver would be reckoned as moth
ing" The "Gesta Romanorum" pre-
tends to be nothing but a collection of
amusing stories, and in it Pliny fact
and myth are so mingled that it Is hard
49, t. Ah,- @n4s -.
case, however, it appears that the old
Roman naturalist might have been tell
ing the truth after all.
The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1898-06-04

arrested and brought to court next
morning, charged with carrying CON
cealed weapons. VIII argued that il
the weapon had been concealed the
policeman could not have taken him,
as he was going his way in a perfectly
peaceful and unsuspicious manner.
W~hereupon the court forthwith vocif-
Grated: "Discha-a-rged!"
On the other hand, Dick never went
out carrying it but that he came back
bursting with the tale of some marvel
Gus adventure, of which he was quite
naturally and unexpectedly the hero
Dick liked to use the umbrella: it al
ways afforded him a story.
One evening Of a sloppy, dismal day,
he hobbled into the hall with a woeful
face. and muttering incoherently, de-
posted the Family Umbrella in it's cor
ner with a bang. He went to bed di-
rectly. There were no h~eroics; no re-
counting brave exploits, nothing but
dark and gloomy mutterings intermin-
able. We all thought that for once the
umbrella had actually failed to pro-
vide Dick an opportunity to display
his valor. and were much concerned for
the effect of this accident would have
OF his mind.
In the next mornings paper, be-
meath glazing headlines, we read a
thrilling account of the stoppage of a
mettlesome runaway horse by a mere
child. who fouted a prodigious UNI
brella in the face of the maddened ami
oooJ n;olz WOOD A. o-+;a1a ,- -.
mented upon it with much modesty, &C
k~nowledging himself once again the
hero. He took exception to the men
ton of a mere child" however. AS
Dick then stood six feet in his stock.
ings and was daily awaiting the arri-
val of a grizzly beard, it cannot be
denied that his exception to the re-
porter's statements was a little just
We consoled him by saying that in
comparison to the "prodigious' umbrel.
la a giant would appear diminutive
but he never used it again.
1t came out afterward that the met,
tlesome" horse was non other thar
the grocer's superannuated nag, which
never ran except when a fire engine
was behind him; that Dick had JUS
managed to get over the crossing
when the horse came along at a jos
trot. A wicked gust of wind bore th'
umbrella from Dicks grasp and whip
ped it into the "maddened animals
face. Dick was knocked down by thu
grocer's boy, who came painting afte
his charger, and then received the in
juries which caused him to limp. Yet h,
always got credit for stopping the run
away, and used to tell the story witt
great gusto ON every available occa
sion. He did not repeat it the last tim
we met; so / fear something else ma
occurred.
From the time OF that occurrence tn
Family UmLrsl!o v2s kept in a KNIT o
sanctuary: but he rnc5t curious par
The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1898-06-04

seven escaped. The loss to the posse
was four killed and foul wounded. Of
the enemy two were killed, including
the leader, and several wounded. But
that was the end Of the gang.
On the premises is an old well, into
which it is reputed the bodies of many
of Browns victims were thrown, also
a large amount of morey, the booty of
the gang. The well however, was
filled up years ago, and never has been
dug out. By the time the contempt
raries of Brown had become gray hair
ed an old fellow wandered into the yard
one day and begged that he be allowed
to clean out the we'll. Permission was
refused, and it always has been be-
lieved that he was the last survivor OF
The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1898-06-04
GYPSY WOMAN VIOLINIST.

One of the few musicians among the
m of the gypsy race is Czita, a
violinist who has been playing in New
York. A few years ago she was a
b~arefooted member of a band Of stroll
ing players, but through good fortune
and ability she rose to be an enter
tainer to royalty. The Romany girl
makes another claim upon American
interest, as she says she is the sister
of Rigo, the gypsy player for whom
the Princess De Chimay deserted her
husband. The fair princess, it will be
remembered, was once Miss Ward of
The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1898-06-04

Detroit. Czita always refers to her as
her sister-in-law.
Czita dresses in a gown half Persian,
half gypsy. Long G the band to
which she belonged was playing from
village to village, when there was a
call for them to furnish music for peas
ant dancers at a fete at a castle. Among
the guests was Prince Metternich, d.
rector of the Vienna conservatory.
Amazed at the sight of a gypsy girl
fiddler, charmed at her playing, the
prince took the barefoot girl away to
the big city and gave her a musical ed
ucation that has secured for her medals
and brought her as a violinist before
The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1898-06-04
HOW HE BECAME A DEACON.
Rainy Sunday When the Negro Was the
Only Auditor Present.

AN@AhJ oAhNa "hoh bbo CSI WAS bhV
Only Auditor Present.
The late Rev. DIR. Payson, once a
famous pastor of Portland, Me, went
to church one b~oisterously stormy Sun
day, not expecting to find any of his
congregation present. Nor was he dis
appointed, but just after he had stepped
inside the door an old negro came in
and asked If DR.. Payson was to preach
there that day, explaining that he was
a stranger in town and had been ad-
vised to go to his church. upon that"
said DR.. Payson, 81 made up my mind
to preach my sermon if nobody else
came" Nobody else did come, so the
doctor preached to the choir and the
old negro. Some months afterward
he happened to meet the negro and,
stopping him, asked how he enjoyed
the sermon that stormy Sunday. En-
joy dat sermon?" replied the old man.
II 'clar, doctor, l nebber heerd a better
one. You see, I had a seat pretty we'll
up front, and w~henebber you'd say
somethin' I'd jess look all roun' ter see
nobody on'y jess me. An l says to
m'self, He must mean you, Pomp,
you's sech a dretful sinner Well, doc
tor, dat are sermon set me a-thinkin'
what a big sinner I war, an went an
jined de church down home. Tze a
deacon now"
The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1898-06-04

remote country churches you may
see a palsied, white-haired man, quak-
ing at the vestry door, yet having an
air of authority. He is still known as
the sexton; but, age having retired him,
his son performs the office, though he
now and then offers a suggestion,
fancying his working days are still up
On him. The Family Umbrella, had
it been gifted with speech, might Of
ten have advised it's owners not amiss.
In its obsolete state it had been rele-
gated to an obscure corner in the hall,
standing a silent monitor to all who
passed. The ferrule rested in a nick
on the floor. Some believed that the
weight and long standing of the UNI
brella had worn this notch into the
wood. But Will, who is highly mag
NATIVE, and a lover of %curios, told me
as a matter of strictest fraternal con-
f1dence that he had dug the hole as a
resting place for the umbrella out OF
pity. Some might be tempted to laugh
at Wills sentimentality; for an instant
I did not know what to do, SO I mere
ly puckered my brows and promised
never to divulge the secret.
To return to the umbrella: 1t was
the queerest, oldest, biggest, heaviest
and most .unlucky umbrella as was
never borrowed or stolen. The rod was
nearly an inch in diameter, with a
heavy brass brace about the center,
where it had ono been broken. The
ribs looked as if they might have been
flched when the crusade against tele-
graph wires was agitated. But I verify
believe the umbrella had been made
before the telegraph was thought of.
The covering appeared to be recover
ing from a severe attack of yellow
jaundice; and it had such an area OF
lung expansion hat if you carried it in
the street, it would not only envelope
the two persons who might be passing
on each side of you, but the ribs would
make impish efforts to transfix the eyes
of any horse that might be stalled at
the curbstone.
The handle consisted of a big knob
studded with leaden slugs-truly q
murderous contrivance. To one &C
quainted with the numerous peculiari-
ties of this extraordinary umbrella
that nobody could ever take it Out
without falling into some mischie1
seems in no way improbable.
Will was coming home with it late
one stormy night through an unfre.
quented thoroughfare, when he wa:
The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1898-06-04

A French millionaire, Pierre Loril-
lard, has just ordered to be built an
extraordinary beat. 1t is being made
entirely like a salmon. The minute
following o; the outlines of that fish
has resulted in a yacht of ~extraordi-
nary narrowness. 1t will be fifty feet in
length and only eight feet in breadth.
The shape of the salmon was chosen
on account of its well known extraor-
binary swiftness. M. L~orillard butt
the first house boat ever seen in Amer
lea, and some time after he added to
his home a curious stable boat, which
has accommodation for SIX horses, two
cows. ten dogs anC :wo wagons.
The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1898-06-04
A Resourceful School Ma'am.

An editor down in Nebraska visited
the school na'am and found her "hot
stuff" Here's what he swears to: "She
is the pride of the town, the star of in
vention and a jewel of brilliancy. She
drew a picture of an iceberg on a
blackboard. 1t was SO natural that
the thermometer froze up solid. With
rare presence of mind she seized a
crayon and drew a fireplace or the OPP
posite wall. The prompt action saved
the school, but nearly all the pupils
caught a severe cold from the sudden
change"