davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1898-01-20
A QUEER MONSTER.

While travelling at one time in the
west the writer's attention was ar
rested by remarkable object. In
outline it resembled an immense SER
pent, and it writhed and twisted as it
flashed along in the sunlight. Since
then it has been seen covered with
hard, iridescent shell, and it appeared
almost or quite dormant. 1t is much
more active some times than at others,
and when the mood is on it it will run
and leap and rise and fall with a
tremendous roar. The people said
that, while they could not tame it,
they succeeded in making it work,
and it was serviceable in carrying
heavy objects, which, however, differ
ing from most beasts of burden, it
would only carry on its bosom. 1t
loves the valleys and refuses to be
driven up hill. Wherever it travels
it always goes in its bed, and those
familiar with its habits say that if by
chance it leaves it's bed disaster is
sure to follow. 1t has great COM
mercial value and it's shell is sold in
many places.
But the strangest part is yet to be
said. It is a fact unparalleled in
nature that this wonderful creature
has arms but no legs, and its head is
at one end of its body and it's mouth
at the other.
And this queer monster is called 9
river.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1898-01-20
Pumping Oil From the Sea.

The only spot in the world where oil
is pumped from the sea Is on the ia
cific coast below Santa Barbara. Cal.
The bearing strata reaches out into
the ocean, and the drill scafolding,
looking like windmills without the
wheels, crept nearer and nearer the
edge until finally many OF them were
planted in the water. The work was
started at extremely low tide and final
ly the tall scaffolding appeared 20 or
30 feet from the shore, seemingly ris-
ing out of the sea. These wells at low
tide are completely surrounded, the
men working on platforms OF various
heights, which they ascend when work.
ing as the sea rises. The structures
that are built in the sea have not yet
experienced strong Southwestern. and
II is assumed by some that there will
be a fall in oil when heavy sea be-
gins to break against the scaffolding.
The drill is worked in the water by an
engine on the beach. the fuel being
the oil pumped up, this engine working
several wells. At present the most dar-
ing well scaffold stands in six feet of
water at high tide, and there Is ru-
NOR that others will be pushed out into
the shallow water. Undoubtedly the
entire coast in this vicinity overlies an
oil-producing stratum. on what is
known as Moore's wharf, half a mile
out, Of! rises to the surface in several
places.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1898-01-20
Cannon Without Smoke or Noise.

Col. Humbert, a French army off,
Ger, claims that he has invented a
cannon the discharge of which can he
neither seen nor heard by the enemy.
He closes the mouth of the gun auto
matically after the shot issues, thus
suppressing not merely the smoke anil
flame, but the defamation caused by tho
sudden rush of air into the barrel. This
has also the effect Of reducing the re-
coil. The method proposed is to fix
on the muzzle of the gun a metal piece
which carries a shutter worked auto
matically by the escaping fumes in
such a manner as to close the mouth of
the barrel as soon as the projectile has
escaped from it. 1t is said that when
French Minister of War it was not TAX
en- seriously; but the house of Hotch-
kiss of gun fame, in France saw in It
such a possibility that they placed
themselves at the disposition of the in
ventor, and organized series of tests
with a gun of 81 millimcters in cali
Der. The claims made for the device
appear to have been. to great extent,
confirmed. A committee on artillery
is reported to have found that the
fame of the discharge is hardly visible,
and the noise much diminished, und
while the recoil is yet considerable, ic
is greatly diminished. A great advan-
tage of the invention is that It can be
applied to existing guns at small cost.
st. Louis Globe Democrat.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1898-01-20

A charge is made against some dent
lists that they do not take pains to
make their instruments antiseptic after
they have drawn or filed a tooth, but
merely rinse the forceps or other ar
ticle employed in the operation, and
proceed to make the next patient COM
Portable. Some dentists even neglect
the washing of their hands after ex-
tracing a tooth. II these allegations
are true we may hope for a sudden and
wide reform. Diseases are more easily
and generally transferred from one
person to another by the mucous men,
brane than in any other way. and the
bacilli of dozen contagious ills might
be grated on the previously healthy
subject by the forceps OF the dentist
Brooklyn Eagle.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1898-01-20

Layton Brewer in the Criterion.

Layton Brewer In the Criterion.
When winds stream over the ragged
knoll
The highway lies along
The wires stringing from pole to pole
Give tongue to a voice Of song.
A-glint with beams of the morning sum-
They carry blitheful air.
!. HumminG burden that seems to run:
Good news is the word we BEAR"
This joyous one;
GOOD news We bear"
They swing and swing at the breezes
will,
While the heavens smile above
TO hear the measure they gaily thrill:
Were speeding a line OF love-"
with scale and trill:
"A line Of love-"
A cloud and a shadow go sailing %;
To the breeze's falling breath
In sinking cadence the wires sigh:
Respect for. a tale of death!"a
More softly still:
"a tale of DEATH"
o the songs are many the wires sing
When the rowing wind is sent
To play Of gladness or suffering
On its mighty instrument.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1898-01-20

nat ~ salt Win long oulase that q
the doctrines which IT. pioneer apostle
promulgated along IT. shores. and
though It occasionally shows. ~ at
present. particularly low water mark
Il Il not going to dry up altogether for
q long time to come.
Some unpleasant facts In regard to
the increase In crime In the United
states and some Of the causes which
have produced 1t were recently laid be-
fore the social science department Of
the Philadelphia Civic Club by Gen.
Isaac J. wistar. Passing over the sta
tistics. which were not new, General
Wistar's views as to the causes OF the
increase of crime may be briefly sum-
married.. One Of these causes, In his
opinion, is that the methods OF pun
ishment are not deterrent. A prison.
General Wistar continued, should De
place of punishment and above all
place where the prisoner cannot be
further contaminated. To this emo
separate confinement he regards as
necessary, and he Is not shaken In this
view by the claim that separate con-
finement largely increases case OF In
sanity. There is no more insanity In
side a prison than outside, among the
same classes, General Wistar main
tains and much of 1t In the prisons is
feigned to furnish greater opportuni-
ties for escape. Another cause OF the
increase of crime, in General Wistar's
opinion. is the delay and the uncertain
ty of punishment. For this criminal
Jurisprudence is at fault. The appel
late courts, he says, appear to devote
themselves, not to the trial Of the
criminal, but to the trial OF the judge
that convicted him, in the hope that
they can prove their astuteness by
showing that he committed some error.
In some extreme cases new trials have
been granted because of misspelled
words in the legal documents. One way
to reform this, suggested General Wis
tar, is to deny the right of appeal in
criminal cases. This, he claims,
would not be a hardship, inasmuch
as the criminal has four trials, the
first before a magistrate, the second
before the grand jury, the third and
fourth "a retriaD before the higher
criminal court. Other remedies are
suggested by the causes that show
their need.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1898-01-20
GOVERNMENT PAY DAY.
How Department Clerks Are Paid OF In
Washington.

Zone of the most peculiar things in
connection with the department SER
vice." remarked a disbursing ofhcer,
in Washington, lis the almost entire
absence of legislation regarding the
question of when payments are to be
made. The whole matter OF paying
is left entirely with the head OF each
department, subject to any rules that
he chooses to adopt, and this Is gov
erned by custom rather than by direct
or expressed law. Thus, in some OF the
branches of the Treasury Department
there are weekly pay days, notably in
the redemption division, while in 9TH
ers there are semi-monthly pay days.
In most of the branches OF the other
departments there are semi-monthly
pay days, though to the clerks of the
headquarters of the army in the War
Department, who are paid by an army
paymaster, there is but one pay in each
month. Congress has been appealed to
time and time again to regulate pay
days by legislation, but for some un-
known reason it has always refused.
Though there are now, and always
have been, advocates Of frequent pay
days, 1t is not sure that weekly pay
days are the best for department
clerks. Getting their money in four
parts, one-fourth each week, seriously
interferes with them, for, as a rule. all
of one weeks money Is expended by
the time the next week comes around,
leaving nothing to pay OF their board
ing-house or rent bills, which come due
every month. All through Europe de-
partment clerks are paid but once in
three months, and 1t is said they man
age to save more money by that meth
od than is saved by those who receive
their salary more frequently"
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1898-01-20

III IRE tine Il seemed g Il had IN her
dreams, and she expected 10 hear the
rush of flying form Just behind her.
But she struggled ON. and In moment
Mrs. winslow came running out to ask
what II was all about.
Kathie's white face told her fright
what 10 It? What IL 1t. RATHER
cried MrA winslow. taking the baby In
her own arms.
"The hyena-under the shed!" gasp
Cd Kathie.
Mrs. WINSTON gave little scream.
which was echoed by her mother. as
she held the screen door open and pull
ed them all In.
At that moment there was rush
and scurry from the shed, upon
which all eyes were fixed. A flying
patch of maltese and another larger
one of black and white cut through
the air. barely toching the ground
then the maltese patch turned, doubled
into a furious ball, struck the black
and white patch like fash of light
ming. there were q series of sharp yells.
and the black and white patch was
running the other way with Its tail
between its legs. Mr.. Wfnslow and
her mother looked at each other. Then
they laughed.
"Mr Browns dog again." said Mrs.
Winslow. II guess he'll stay away
now"
She opened the door. .
Come here, Tom" she cried. you're
brave old fellow, but between you
and Tise you've given us quite a
fright"
Tom looked around two or three
times, then walked leisurely up to the
house, came in and allowed himself to
be petted. But he did not have all the
honors. Mrs. Winslow and her moth
er both Rugged and kissed Kathie and
called her brave little girl until she
was utterly bewidered, for she had
never thought 1t was a brave thing
not to leave the baby in the presence
of a supposed danger.
That night when she had gone to bed
Mrs. Winslow said:
"That settles 1t. I shall keep Kath!e
with me as long as she wants to stay;
so perhaps, after all, our scare had a
purpose"
II was sure you wouldn't let her
co." said her mother.
A few days later the papers stated
that the hyena had been shot, and
Kathie breathed freely once more. But
when they told her she could stay with
them just as long as she wished-could
be one Of the family, 1t took several
pretty hard pinches to make her sure
that she was awake-Chicago Record
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1898-01-20
MRS. BUTTERFLY.

Mother Butterfly was hunting about
for green cradle in which to lay her
baby. The baby was still asleep
curled up in the tiniest of tiny egg
shells. At last Mother Butterfly
alighted upon a tender green birch
leaf that was swaying gently in the
summer breeze.
"'This will be beautiful cradle, I"
she said, ''for the breezes will rock
my baby when he is sleepy and the
leaf is so young and tender it is just
the food he will need"
. So Mother Butterfly laid the tiny,
tiny egg on the very tip of the young
birch leaf and then she few away,
knowing that Mother Nature would
take care Of her baby.
Several days passed and then tiny
baby caterpillar crawled out of the
little egg. The very first thing he did
was to eat every bit of his egg shell.
Mother Nature told him that he must
not leave any of it lying about lest
some bigger creature who likes to eat
baby caterpillars should see the shell
and know that he was there.
The egg shell was not enough to
satisfy his hunger, however, and he
soon began nibbling the edges of the
green leaf. 1t tasted very good, and
so he nibbled and nibbled, and finally
he had eaten away the tip of the leaf
on both sides of the long rib that runs
down the middle--the back bone of
the leaf. Little caterpillar was care
full to leave that for Mother Nature
had told him that the mid-rib OF the
leaf would be the very incest place
for him to lie upon when he wanted
to rest after his dinner. He was just
about the same color and no one
would be likely to see him there.
The birch leaf was q very pleasant
cradle and the baby caterpillar was
rocked to sleep every night by the
breezes and bathed every morning
with the sweet dew. He was . very
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1898-01-20

HoLIDAYs.
s'To- morrow Is . holiday I"
Cries John with shouts Of laughter;
And al the other children shout
As they como trooping after.
"What will you do ?" inquiries mamma.
ssWhat kind Of celebration -.
Will best express your sentiments
On such q grand occasion 2"
"Why, we shall do, just what it says,
4 The name, you know, that's given y
Mamma looked puzzled, and the boy,
To desperation driven
BY her cbtuseness, sternly cries,
"Well ! would give dollar
disposed You knew that hollerdays
Were made for boys to holler. "
Kate Epson Clarke.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1898-01-20
WHERE sold PUT" WAS TIED.

The stump of the tree to which
Israel Putnam was once tied in the
French and Indian war is still stand
ing in the little village of Grown Point,
town in the upper part of New York.
It was in the course of skirmish near
Wood creek, at the time of the French
invasion in August, 1853, that he was
captured by the Indians and tied to
this tree. While the flames were scar
ing his flesh he was saved by Captain
Molang, a French officer, who rushed
through the crowd, scattered the fire.
brands, cuffed and upbraided the In
dams and released their victim. Put
nam was taken to Montreal and
presently freed by exchange.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1898-01-20
NEW OCCUPATION FOR WOMEN.
The Breeding Of Angora Cats Presents
Financial Possibilities.

FUdUCtdi IOSStpVttt0Ss
Forrest Crissey, in discussing "The
Breeding of Angora Cats as a Voca-
tion," in the Woman's Home Compan-
ion says:
ut is the general opinion of these
cat fanciers that the culture of Angoras
is an occupation which any young
woman with fondness for pets and
a little of the commercial instinct may
pursue with profit as well as pleasure.
1t is an occupation in which success
does not depend upon special talent.
One cannot succeed in literature, mus
ic, the arts, or in teaching, without a
course Of training and an Unborn adap-
liability, but the rearing of cats calls
for no mental preparation, or for any
rare power in any particular direction.
Capital, however, is necessary. An
CORA cats bring a good price. and 1t
will cost something to establish a ken
mel. The amount will depend upon the
magnitude of the beginning. One may
expend a hundred dollars and secure,
perhaps, three choice thoroughbred
adults, or at an outlay of twenty-five
dollars, or whereabouts, one may pur-
chase a male and female kitten and
rear them herself. The fitting up OF
suitable kennel need not cost much,
but there are important points In the
construction and care of the kennel
which should not be neglected, and
which any owner of Angora cats is al
ways ready to explain. The essentials
for a successful Angora kennel are not
elaborate. Most important is an am
pie outdoor runway, made OF woven
wire, with a roof of the same material.
This should connect with cosy house
or dormitory. Both apartments
should be provided with elevated
shelves, as the cats like to sleep as
far from the ground as possible. They
also enjoy the exercise of jumping up
to and down from their elevated
perches. Fresh grass and pure milk
are absolute necessities. The Angora
has been a much slandered animal.
The general public believes 1t to be
delicate in physique and surly and
treacherous in disposition. This is
as far from the truth as Is possible.
They are almost uniformly amiable
and affectionate in disposition, and
possess hardy and vigorous constitu-
tions. They are full of interesting &C.
centricities, however"
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1898-01-20
A pEAp-LrAr OBSERVATION.

Next time you are ont in the park
look closely at the dead leaves blow
ing about ON the ground. You will
find that most of them have their
lower sides uppermost.. Can you think
of reason for this :
When leaf is mature ard almost
ready to fall it curls up just little at
the edges. When it falls, the first
breeze catches these margins and
turns the leaf lower side uppermost
and there it remains, because in this
position the wind has less opportunity
to disturb it.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1898-01-20
SMALLEST BOOK IN THE WORLD.

The smallest book in the world is
not much larger than a mans thumb
nail. 1t was made in Italy by firm
Of Padua publishers, the Salmin
Brothers. 1t is fouy-tenths of an inch
high and about quarter of an inch
wide. The volume contains 208 pages,
each having nine lines and from 50 to
100 letters. The text is an unpublish.
ed letter written by the. famous in
ventor of the pendulum clock to Nine.
Christine, of Lorraine, in the year
1915. The next smallest book is is
sued by the same firm. 1t is an
edition of Dante's Divine Comedy,
being little less than an inch wide,
with type so small that it takes a
microscope to read the letters.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1898-01-20
Neal pow's Libby Prison Speeches.

A man with a speciality Is never at
a loss for a subject for conversation.
When the late General Neal Dow was
in Libby Prison, during the civil war,
he would stir up his fellow prisoners
with patriotic addresses.
In the midst of his eloquence, II any
of the guards appeared, he would
quickly take up temperance as his
theme, much to the delight of his hear
ers, and the guards would only hear
the familiar remark:
Yes, gentlemen, we must put down
the grog shops with strong hand
Youths Companion.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1898-01-20
pucal Education.

The Duke of Argyll lately offered
himself as a living proof of the advan-
tages of desultory reading. He had
never been to school or college, but he
had always read everything he could
lay his hands on. To this he attrib-
uted his success in public speaking,
for he "often found he had read what
others had not"
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1898-01-20
Banana Culture.

The banana is the most prolific OF
fruits. The produce OF one acre plant
ed with tananss will support % times
as many people as the produce OF one
acre planted with wheat.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1898-01-20
A TINY wELL-pIaaER.

The mole is one of the thirstiest OF
animals. 1t never burrows at any
great distance from water, and at
times of drought when the supply OF
the needful element is diminished or
cut of, the ''little gentleman in the
velvet coat" counteracts the scarcity
by digging wells until it comes to
depth at which water may be obtained.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1898-01-20

The largest lobster that has been
seen in New Haven In years weighed %
pounds and was very old.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1898-01-20

In the Quduty VI tue oOuS, anu the
judging was an interesting task, Each
bird Is taken to a small room, the
doors being closed, and the judges sit
ting on different sides of the table up
on which the bird Is placed. Should
the bird fail to sing no prize Is award
ed. When 1t does sing, however, there
are twelve qualities of song that re-
ceive markings, and four faults. The
mellowness, spontaneity, range Of
voice. the MARBLE, absence of abrupt
change from one scale to another, and
the continuity are points that receive
attention. When the bird peeps too
much before beginning to sing, when
its music is shrill, or II there Is hitch
in execution, discounting marks are
placed against 1t.
The Great Salt Lake Of Utah, the
Galilee of the vanishing Mormon, Is
seventy miles long and fifty mile wide
in its widest part, with a present maxi
mum depth of forty feet, though much
of its area does not exceed from twelve
to twenty. Fifty years ago, when
Mormon first Jared thither,, II was
much deeper, exceeding one hundred
feet in places, and its average being
much greater than present measure
ments show. Just now 1t Is two feet
lower than has ever been known be-
fore. and the local savant conjectures
that It Is gradually turning into a body
of fresh water. The theory is sup
ported by an examination of the
waters of numberless springs which
used to pour pure brine into the lake,
the outflow of many of them being now
quite fresh, as II they had exhausted
the underground deposits of salt of
which they were formerly the solvent
and carrying vehicle. Still. of the lake
J n general, II may be safely asserted
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1898-01-20


with Grace, and not go far away from
the house.
"Mr. Winslow is in the barn." she
said, "and would rather have you out
that way"
About half way between the house
and the barn was an old shed which
Mr.. Winslow intended to tear down.
All at once, in the midst Of their play,
Oracle started for this shed running as
fast as her little fat legs would carry
her, and Kathie started after her, call
ing to her, but the little rogue only
screamed with pleasure and ran the
faster.
Since hearing of the hyena Kathie
had vague fear of everything which
she thought might possibly give a hid
ing place for a wild beast, and under
meath this old shed was surely room
enough, while 1t was dark there and
had suddenly grown terrible.
But Baby Grace had no such fears
She ran up to 1t, laughing, and bent
her chubby form to peer under It,
Kathie came up to her and caught
her, bending, too, with sort Of fas.
cination caused by her fear. And ther
for horrible moment she stared as II
both eyes would start from her head.
There, sure enough, were two great
daming orbs, like two jewels, staring
at her, and she heard low growl. Blu
she could not move.
The baby pointed at those shining
eyes and laughed; then Kathie''
strength seemed to come back. Sh'
seized the struggling child in her ARM
ard ran toward the house with her IL
spite Of her kicks and screams. ant