davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1899-03-09

"Thc oysters YOU get in Porto Rico
are small and have the coppery taste
that the bivalycS they furnish in
Europe have" remarked +. NJ. Mercer
of New York n he fish, however, are
very fine. and the fruits of the island
are delicious. In fact. ii Is Il country
where human life is easily supported
with very little labor. The expense of
living to the natives is very light. The
boys of the common class go naked
till they are about ten years old.
think that the reports of native i'm
morality have been greatly eXaggerat-
ed. My own observation was that the
people behaved with quite as much
propriety as they do in our own coun-
try. where certainly the opportunities
for correct mode of life are superior,
seeing that we enjoy much higher
standard of civilization. For an Op-
pressed and tax ridden people the
Porto Ricans do well. and there is little
about them that calls for severe critic
ISM"
Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1899-03-09
Jasminc PIPE Stems.

In Turkey, the jasmine is extensively
grown for the manufacture OF pipe
stems. For this purpose the stems of
the growing plant are trained with the
greatest care util they have attained
the proper length and size The bark
is protected by 2 wrapping of varnish-
ed linen or calico. Two or three times
a year this will be taken Oft and the
bark treated to a citron juice bath.
This Is said to give Il the light color
SO much sought after. Some of these
pipe stems are from ten to eighteen
feet in length ard bring as much as
s1n0 each.
There is a powerful breeo OF dogs
along Smiths sound that does not hes
itate to attack the most ferocious wild
animals. These dogs hunt in pairs
and a big bear is joke to them. One
dog can bring down reindeer and kill
it in few minutes. Their chick coat is
tawny in hue and in winter thick
fleece of wool covers them. They look
SO much like wolves it is hard to tell
what they are at little distance
Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1899-03-09
Queer Belief. About Seven.

SO numerous are the queer beliefs
concerning The number seven that a
narration of them all would fill a vol
ume. bur we may mention few or
them. From the very earliest ages the
seven great planets were known and
ruled this world and the dwellers in it,
and their number entered into every
conceivable matter that concerned
man. There are seven days in the
week. .'seven holes in the head for the
master stars are seven," seven ages
both for man and the world in which
he lives There We're seven material
heavens. and in the underworld de-
scribed by Dante The great pagan dead
who were not good enough for heaven
or bad enough for hell reposed in a
seyen-walled and en-gated city.
i here are seven cOlors in the spectrum
and seven notes IN the diatonic octave,
and the leading note of the scale is
the seventh. BE il noted that the sew
entl son is not always gifted with
bencticent powers. In Portugal he is
believed To be subject to the powers
of darkness aud 10 he compelled every
Saturday evening 10 assume the like
ness of an ass.
Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1899-03-09
Coprareous Animals.

In North America one of the largest
of the weasel family is the FISHER. q
very large, long g-furred polecat, living
mainly by the waterside, and, like
many others of the tribe very partial
to fish. 1t weighs about sixteen
pounds, and it's long, richly colored fur
is exported in great quantities to diff
ferent parts of Europe, though not
often used in this country. trapped
fisher" will attack anyone who comes
in reach of the trap chain, and when
free will beat off any dog of twice its
size But perhaps the most striking
example of the courage of the smaller
species vet recorded is that known as
the fishing cat, which, though no rela-
ton, to the Canadian fisher" is quite
as courageous. One of these, which
was kept in menagerie, broke
through into the next cage, and there
attacked and killed a leopard which
was three times it's own size.
The Indian mongoose possesses all
the courage of the pOlecat, together
with amiability and regulated
mind. 1t turns its pluck and prowess
to good ends. and we imagine it TO
stand at the head of the list of the
smaller animals if quality as well as
quantity is demanded as Il mark of
intrepidity. There is no doubt that the
mongoose realizes the deadly nature OF
the cobra's bite Its intense excite
ment is strong evidence of this. But
mongoosc has been known to fight
Just as bravely against other foes.
One was seen to attack and drive off
n large greyhound which it fancied
was hostile to it.
Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1899-03-09

The old United Presbyterian kirk at
Savoch. in Scotland, had Il minister
some sixty years ago named David
Cav, n very diminutive man, standing
only about five feet two inches. He
married strapping. handsome lass.
some five or six inches taller than he,
and her name was Grace Wilson. The
Sunday after the wedding he got a
neighboring minister to preach for
him, so that he could sit with his bride
on the first Sunday. The minister was
Il good deal of a wag. so Mr.. Cav made
him promise faithfully that he would
not allude in the sermon to him.
his bride or the fact of the marriage,
but Mr.. Cav nearly sank through the
floor when the text was given out,
Ephesians iii. s: unto me, who am
less than the least of all saints. is
this Grace given"
Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1899-03-09
GROWING GOLD.
The Mystsry Explained by . Chsmist'
Experiments.


1t is generally supposed that the mug
gets which are found in the rive
gravels of Klondike and other aurifer-
GUS regions have been brought down
by the rivers direct from the reefs in
which the gold originally lay.
Many practical miners and scientific
men. however, have long been of the
opinion that this cannot be the case, for
no masses of gold of so large size are
ever found in the reefs themselves.
They believe, on the other hand that
the nuggets have grown where they
are now found, just as crystal OF
salt will grow is strong brine; but with
so insoluble Il substance as gold 1t is
difficult to understand how such
growth could take place. Experiments
carried out in Australia have shown
that decaying vegetable matter Will
cause the deposition of gold from
solutions of gold salts, but these salts
are not known to occur in reefs.
The mystery is now solved. n Slav-
onic chemist named ZzigmOdy has just
shown that gold itself can exist in a
soluble form. BY acting on slightly
alkaline solution of Il gold salt with
formaldehyde and submitting the pro-
duct to dialysis he has succeeded in OBJ
tanning gold in collodical condition,
in which state il is soluble in water
and may be precipitated by the addi-
ton of common salt. 1t is washed out
by the rain, carried away in solution
by the rivers, and deposited in the
river gravels whereever there is any
thing containing salt to cause it's pre-
cipitation. In the course of ages u
large nugget may be formed in this
WaV
Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1899-03-09
SHAVING IN PORTO RICO.
No Use for American Razors or tho Gus
tomary Soap.

The natives of our new territory,
Porto Rico, have no need to buy soap.
for the wooded country abounds in
plants whose leaves and bulbs supply
most fully the place of that indlspens-
able article. Among the best of these
is the soaptree, so called, though it is
more bush than Il tree. Its bulb
when rubbed on wet clothes makes
snow-white lather which has an odor
like brown Windsor soap. The Porto
Ricans, who are all, from the highest
to the lowest, great dandies i'll their
way, make soap out of cocoanut oil
and homemade lye-and a fine soap it
is, smooth and fragrant. This cocoa
nut oil soap is used for shaving.
When man wishes to have Il shave
in the morning he starts out with his
cocoanut shell cup. and his donkey tail
brush and bottle. 1t is never any
trouble to find an empty bottle in Porto
Rico, Cuba Jamaica, or almost any or
the larger West India islands, even in
remote spots in the mountains. Al
least twenty generations of thirsty
people have lived there and thrown
away bottles. The man carries no
mirror; he is too poor to own such n
luxury Not one house in twenty in
Porto Rico has even the very cheapest
looking glass. But generously rich
nature provides the mirror, as well
as the soap. The man goes to some
convenient pool in the mountain stream
where the water is quite Still-there
is his mirror. He breaks his bottle on
stone, and deftly picks out sharp
piece of suitable size. Then he fathers
his face profusely. and begins to
scrape away with his piece of glass,
which in his hands works as well as the
best steel razor. a cut. or even Il
slight scratch, is extremely rare as a
result of this al fresco form of shaving.
Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1899-03-09
BIRDS SHY or wINDsToRMs
Tactics They Pursue to Escape Impending
danger.


danger.
The power OF the winds is dreaded
by almost all ordinary birds. and an
instructive knowledge seems to be pos
sessed by them that ii they once sur
render to the force of the winds un-
known dangers will have TO be faced.
Consequently. when a high storm pre-
walls, all birds seek shelter of some
kind. The strong-winged sea birds are
Inc last to take fright ut the approach
ing hurricane, but even they will final
ly try to escape its fury beneath the
shelter of some cliff or sand dune.
During tremendous windstorms birds
may sometimes be seen flying overhead
at IL great altitude. When this phe-
nomenon is observed it may be taken
for granted that the upper atmosphere
is comparatively quiet and that the dis
turbance is confined chiefly to the
lower regions. Many sea birds seek
the upper air of common quietness dur
ing tropical hurricanes.
When n heavy wind or gale springs
up the gulls. terms and petrels will
fly back and forth over the waters
surface. rising and falling. and utter
ing their peculiar cries Of warning. If
the storm extends too high up they will
drift gradually with the wind or fly
away to the edge of the hurricane.
Very often they get caught unexpect-
edly in the gales OF wind and they find
themselves in dangerous position.
Il hen they struggle with might and
main against the powers of the air
currents. knowing that danger and
death face them if they once come
under the dominion of the wind, they
use all the strength and tactics they
are capable of TO combat the elements.
A young herring gull petrol or tern
thus surprised will beat up against
the wind with powerful fight. 1t will
rise high in the air. facing the gale and
making little progress forward as
well as upward. Then ii will suddenly
descend with rapid flight toward one
side of the storms swept path, but fall
ing off at the time in the direction OF
the blowing wind Once more it will
sweep around and face the storm, as
cending heavenward and striking des-
perately out toward the direction of
the storm.
Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1899-03-09
Non-Freeztng water Pipes.

The Germans. who are so far ahead
of many nations in a certain class Of
technical skill. have Incorporated into
their plumbing practice non-freezing
water pipe. which will save an meal
culable amount of annoyance and pro-
family in a single winter. The purpose
of the invention is not only to prevent
the water from being frozen, but to
provide an opportunity for its expan-
sion by cold. Into the iron pipe, as far
as it is above the ground. there Is in
serted n second narrower pipe of thin
elastic substance such. for instance,
as rubber This insertion remains un-
affected by the ordinary pressure; but
if the water should be frozen by ey-
treme cold the elastic insertion is COM
pressed by 50 much as the volume of
water is increased 10y the freezing.
With the coming of the thaw the in
sertion expands again to its original
circumference. The object of the tin
or lead around the insertion is to pre-
vent an unpleasant taste or odor being
impaired to the water 1t is said that
water pipes provided with such an in
sertion have withstood a cold test Of
40 degrees centigradc. While others
that were no so provided invariably
burst at that temperature.
Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1899-03-09

SO injurious is life on torpedo boat
that years continuous service Will
mentally and physically incapacitate a
man. This assertion is made on the
authority of Lord Charles Beresford,
but that the strain on any one serving
on these crafts is very great Is shown
by the fact that Ia one months service
the British naval regulations allow one
week Off. Austria is endeavOring to
mitigate the hardship of service on
these boats. and life on one built for
the Austrian navy. and tried on the
Thames recently. was demonstrated to
be pleasanter than on those of the Eng
lish navy.
Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1899-03-09
TESTS FOR INSANITY.
Rule Of Thumb Methods Which VERY
Frequently Fail.

TfequeDtly rais
Most people imagine. said nerve
specialist, that doctors have some In
fallible test by which they can de-
tect insanity Immediately. OF course,
that's all nonsense. There are many
odd methods OF diagnosing such cases,
however. In locomotor ataXia the
patient cannot walk with his eyes shut.
In incipient paresis there is difficulty
in articulating particular letters. ana
one famous scientist used To make his
patients say national intelligencer. A
man with an incipient ease of the dis
ease can't prono,lnce these words dis
timely to save his soul.s Another very
eminent practitioner employed truly
rural for the same purpose. If you
have paresis | would advise you not
to try To say truly ruraf-at least not
in company.
.'The .knee-ierk test is well known to
physicians. TO apply il the legs are
crossed and Il sharp blow struck just
below the knee Of ,hc limb that is
swinging loose. If the subject is all
right there will be Il prompt reflex
action: in other words. his foot will
fly up in spite of all efforts TO keep it
quiet. If not. there is something
WfO1lS. anu iiih' iciiiuhS H'c VI ei"SiC
incident which occurred in q southern
court not many years ago. y man was
being examine for insanity. and one
of the lawyers made the experts the
butt of n great deal of ridicule. He
scoifcd par'icuiarily II the knee-ierk
test and asked 10 have 1t applied to
himself. ,here WAS no reflex action,
and the f;icl had :, powerful effect on
the jury. especially as the lawyer hap
peued To he IL man of brilliant attain
ments. After the trial was over he got
10 thinking about the matter, and in
spite of his skepticism concluded to
submit to Il thorough! private examina-
ton. Ii was made and discovered un-
deniable signs of locomOtor ataXia,
booming him to a certain and lingering
death
Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1899-03-09
Jus, Like Other PeopIs,

Though the German emperor has an
annual income of about three quarters
of million sterling, the empress, who
dresses like good-class woman"
is most economical. The children'S
clothes are repaired in the workroom,
where her own wardrobe is mended
When the clothes are outgrown they
are cut up for the smaller members
of the family, which can very we'll be
done. seeing that six out of the seven
children are boys.
Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1899-03-09
Activity Of Baby CrocodIles.

The moment young crocodile
breaks it's shell it is TO all intents and
purposes as active as it is at any time
during it's life. 1t will make straight
for the water, even If it be out of sight
and a good distance off. and 1T will
pursue its prey with eagerness and
agility during the first hour of its
free existence.
Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1899-03-09
Writing on Glass.

4 patent has been granted in Ger
many for new method of writing
on glass, using an aluminium point.
The glass which is TO be written on
is first moistened with vinegar and
the writing or drawing made with the
point. Fine particles of aluminium
adhere to the glass. which when dry
shows the marking in silverly lines
that cannot be readily removed by
friction
Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1899-03-09

The elephant has more muscles in
its trunk lnan any other creature pos
sesses in its whole body, the number
being. according to Cuvier. not fewer
than 10000; while in the whole of his
body man can only boast of 527. This
is why the elephants trunk is so ex-
ceedingly strong, and at the same
time so extremely delicate in its move
mentS.
Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1899-03-09
Electrical Currents.

A scientist has discovered that cleo
trical currents in the form Of waves
rapidly succeeding one another can
produce insensibility TO pain and cold
ether. When the currents We're applied
to the finger and thumb by wires, the
finger could be pricked with a pin with
out pain.
Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1899-03-09
CapitaIs of theNUnited States.

Lancaster was the capital Of the
United States from Sept. -, 1777, to
Sept. 80. 1777. The capital was also
located for time at Baltimore, York.
Princeton, Annapolis and New York.
In 1900 the seat of the Government
was transferred permanently from
Philadelphia to Washington.
Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1899-03-09

The Swedes, as the people of Sweden
are called. bake their rye bread only
two or three times n year; and what
n baking it is, to be sure. 1t lasts for
n week or more, and how busy every
one is! They do not bake this bread in
loaves, but they make it in fiat cakes
about the size of ii dinner-plate with
a large hole in the middle
Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1899-03-09
The Rest Soldiers,

A foreign medical officer, speaking
of soldiers. states that physical matur-
ity does not occur till between the ages
of twenty-three and twenty-five. Boys
under twenty are almost sure to break
down. The best armies are those with
TWENTY-FIVE years as the minimum.
Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1899-03-09
When Frances President Travels.

The French President travels free
on the railways during his official tour
of France, but when the return journ-
ey is concluded, his secretary calcu-
lates what it would have cost IL paid
for Mt the regular rates, and this sum
is handed over to be distributed among
the poorest paid of the railway men.
Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1899-03-09
An Underground city

A subterranean city exists in Galicia,
Austrian Poland, which contains a
population of over 1000 men, women
and children, many of whom have
never seen the light of day.
Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1899-03-09
small Famo for spanish Actors.

Theatres in Spain have no pro-
grammes. A bill in the lobby some
times gives the cast. but most of the
actors remain unknown by name.
The curtain is devoted TO advertise
ments. and i'm Madrid theatres adver-
tising cards are affixed with the num-
bers on the back of each seat.
Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1899-03-09
CLAW Pipes.

The British museum contains very
full collection of clay pipes. dating
back as far as the sixteenth century.
The custom of waxing the pipe to
prevent it sticking to the lips was in
troduced by the Dutch about the year
100.
Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1899-03-09
Cutting of Diamonds.

Diamonds are cut in three differ
ent forms-the rose, the brilliant, and
the table, of which the second is the
prettiest. 1t is double pyramid or
cone, of which the top is cut off to
form a large plane, and at the bottom
directly opposite to Il small plane.
Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1899-03-09
Artificial Wine

About 100000 gallons of artificial
wine are being made from barley
every year in large factory in Ham
burg The medical profession in Ger
many thinks very highly of the wine,
and recommends it in the hospitals of
that country.
Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1899-03-09
The Visible Stars,

The number of stars visible to the
naked eye is less than six thousand.
The number of stars visible through
the largest telescope is probably not
less than one hundred millions.
Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1899-03-09
Vase CandIesticks.

The woman who is fond of novel
ties for her table will rejoice to learn
that candlesticks are now made with
vase pedestals. The holder for the
wax taper rises from a little bowl in
which flowers or ferns may be held.
Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1899-03-09
w.ork,pcmen of Calcutt..

The hours OF work in the Calcutta
jute mills are from 4:30 a. M. to 8
p. m., or l6ia hours per day, Saturdays
included. and all repairs and cleaning
of machinery have To be made on
Sundays.
Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1899-03-09

Letters of marluc and reprisal,
which really meant the commission
ing of privately owned vessels as war
ships-the old privateer, in fact-were
first granted in 1925. They are not
permitted now.
Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1899-03-09
CoalIng a Warship

The rate at which modern warships
take in coal is simply marvellous. The
Magnificent, first-class British battle
ship in the Mediterranean, recently
averaged over 100 tons per hOur--a
rate of nearly three tons Il minute.
Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1899-03-09

Elephants have only eight teeth
two above and two below on each side.
All elephants baby teeth fall out
when the animal is about fourteen
wears old. and n new set grows.
Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1899-03-09
pari. Ha. Popular Pricas.

The theatres o. Paris have popular
representations on certain days, whe'
the seats cost only quarter, or hal,
the usual price.
Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1899-03-09
Fasts of Jains.

In fasting feats the sect of jams, In
India, is far ahead of its rivals. FastS
of from thirty to forty days are very
common. and once a year they are said
to abstain from food for seventy-tive
days.
Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1899-03-09
A Grated Ear.

An enterprising veterinarian of
Bristol. Pa. has successfully grated
an artificial ear on horse. 1t exact
ly matches the ear on the other side
of the animals head and is equally
under control.
Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1899-03-09

Flowers are never used in Tuscany,
but at Christmas and Easter all the
walls of the cathedrals are decked
with wonderful damask OF almost
priceless value
Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1899-03-09
Drifting of Spaniards.

Any Spaniard over the age of nine
teen is liable 10 be called into mill
tary service for three years. BY the
payment of 1900 pesetas $4,000 he can
escape military duty.
Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1899-03-09
GunpOwder Test

The test required of gunpowder of
any and all classes is to give the pro
jectile a muzzle velocity of 1000 feet
per second, with pressure not greater
than fifteen tons to the square inch
in the powder chamber.
Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1899-03-09
Child wives.

The latest Government census in
India showed 6,0l6,I59 girls between
five and nine years of age, who were
already married. of whom 10000 had
become widows.
Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1899-03-09
Tb. Atlantic Cable.

About three seconds are occupied In
transmitting message from one end
of the Atlantic-cable to the other.
This is about seven hundred miles a
second.
Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1899-03-09

from one place to another the people
Of England spend about $3.50. 900 day.
Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1899-03-09

At least one-third Of all people In
middle life have one ear affected by
deafness.
Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1899-03-09

The most uncompro missing critics are
usually found in or" CWn families.
Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1899-03-09
lfrewories.

or 81 900 breweries in the world, 25,.
600 are in Germany.