davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Sharp County record., 1899-07-28

Daniel Smith was over from
Sidney Tuesday. WOO }
Hon. T. |. Herrn has pur-
chased a fine bran new buggy.
DIR. John Johnston was doing
business in the city last Saturday.
Lulu, youngest child Of Mr..
and Mrs. J. R. Metcalf, is quite
sick. ia}7a. t'H a.s. tH
H. T. Wiggs of Poughkeepsie
was in town Saturday on busi-
ness.
"A good many property own
ers are meeting the tax assessor
here. " .,'s
Mr.. and Mrs. Don Pence are
rejoicing over the arrival of a
little daughter at their home. %
-G. P. Oliver, a prominent
citizen of Sullivan township, was
transacting business in town
Saturday.
The drouth was broken last
week when large rains fell. The
farmers and all the people are
feeling better. ss, .s
Lots of watermelons are
coming in town, and notwith-
standing the dry weather, the
~. sf.t - I.s .lY ras0 tf'5-d
crop is very good,
The young0folks gathered at
the residence Of Mr. and Mrs.
W. C. Shaver Sunday night and
engaged in singing awhile.
Ladies agonized by female dis
orders should avoid unpleasant
examinations, and at once cure
themselves with Simmons squaw
vine wine or tablets. Sold by
Snow the druggist. {W
"A postoffice has been estab-
lished in the lower part Of lizard
county in the Sharp neighbor-
hood. Woods is the name of
the office and Bob Sharp is post
master. ~~
Ben Owens and daughter of
Newark were visiting their rela-
tives, Mr.. and Mrs. j. D. Collins,
last Saturday and Sunday. They
were &C ,ompanied home Monday
by Miss Beaulah Collins who will
spend some time there.
Carpenters Ault and Evans
have been engaged in ceiling the
new church,. With doors and
windows in, the building will be
ready for use. Subscriptions
have been solicited and a good
sum subscribed for that purpose
and it is hoped the edifi will be
ready to use soon.
81 have used Chamberlain's
Cough Remedy in my family for
years and always with good re-
Suits" says Mr., w. B. Cooper of
Ell Rio, Cal. "For small children
we find it especially effective.
For sale by all medicine dealers.
Rev. Pigue (Methodist de-
bater) left Sunday morning,
being called, by telegram, to de-
bate elsewhere. Bro. Dupont
left Monday morning. Both
gentlemen are able and interest
ing speakers; bcth established
their church and left it, Of course,
as they found it. And now the
question is in order: "Who
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-02-26

sally violated. and It is sad 10 think how many
h0rseshoes throughout Christendom to-day ara
simply spillng and wasting the good luck that
their owners believe they are holding as tightly
as If they were hermetically sealed cansi
After the horseshoe DR.. Lawrence takes In
the folklore Of common salt. the omens o.
sneezing, days Of good and evil omen, the luck
Of odd numbers and the like--chapters full all
of them. Of interesting facts about these
hoary yet ever young superstitons About
the unlucky number thirteen faces are given
which indicate more than one source Of its SUD.
posed magical character. The superstition is
rooted, probably in paganism. and has only
been intensifed-nOt caused-by the association
Of the number with Judas, regarded as the thr-
tenth apostle. Whatever its origin, It is now
almost universal, cropping up even among IN
telligent people. I'm italy" says Or. Lawrence
"shrewd theatrical managers have found 1t *
pedent to change the number Of box 10 70 ia,
and in many streets Of Rome and Florence one
may search in vain for house numbers between
12I5 and H." It may relieve some people Of
serious apprehensions to learn that II they sit
down accidentally in a company Of thirteen evil
results will be averted if all present rise to their
feet together
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-02-26

But why should this bit of iron be imagined
to possess such wonderful properties. and how
did it happen that superstition apparently
arising recently has become so widespread?
No definite answer to these questions seems to be
Obtainable but DR.. Lawrence has collected data
which point to a number of possible causes. 1t
may be taken for granted that the prompt and
wide acceptance Of such a belief must be due to
something in the obJect-n its form, substance.
origin or use-that connects it with other and
more ancient supersttions. And, in fact, the
horseshoe abounds in such connections and
sociatons The Romans drove rails into cot
tage walls protection against the plague;
the blood sprnlIled upon the door posts and
Intel at the time of the great Jewish feast
formed the chief points Of an arch" of horse
shoe form; the peasants in the west Of Scotland
form arches of the branches Of the mountain
ash over their farmyard gates to ward off evil
from the cattle; and it may be that things like
these suggested the mailing Of the horseshoe
over the door and on the threshold 1t is GER
tain, at any rate, that its form connects il with
some OF the most ancient of talismanic charms
and religious symbols. The belief in the mystic
significance of the crcscent-the figure Of the
growing moOn-outdates the oldest records Of
the race and has disseminated itself in number
less forms among all peoples. All sorts Of BIZ
furcated or two-horned things, and even single
horns have been employed as talsmans or
amuets. The Horwas of Central Hindostan tie
roots which resemble the horns Of certain ami
mails about their chdrens necks protective
charms. In Southern Europe the necks of
mules are ornamented with two boar's tusks or
with the horns Of an antelope. The Arabs OF
the Gases of the desert nail the horned heads of
cattle over their doors talismans: in Lesbos
the horned skulls OF oxen are fixed to trees or
shrubs to avert evil from crops and fruits. and
so on ad infnitum. The following is an odd but
typical development of this crescent magic:
THE mano cOrnuta or anti-witch gesture. is
used very generally in Southern and Central
Italy. Its antiquity is yOuchcd for by its repre-
sentation in ancient paintings unearthed at
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-02-26

Pompeii. 1t consists In fexng the Two miuoie
fingers while the others ore extended IN iii'''"
ton Of horns When the hand In THIS position
ia pointed at an obnoxious individual the ma
rgnitv of his glance Is believed TO be rendered.
inert. In f. Marion Crawfords novel fero
Gbislori' one Of the characters, Laura Ardeh
was regarded in Roman society as Jettattlce'
that is one having the evil eye. Such repu
tation once fastened on person Involves sociS
ostraclsm. In the presence Of the unfortunate
individual every hand was hidden to make the
taIismanic gesture, and at the mere mention OF
her name all Rome made horns NO one ever
accosted her without having the fingers iieXeu
in the approved fashion unless Indeed they
had about them some potent amulet 1t IS
curious fact that the possession Of the EVIL eye
may he imputed to any one regardless of char
actor or position Pope Plus TX was believed to
have this malevoent power, and many devout
Christians. while on their knees awaiting his
bencdiction. were accustomed slyly to extend
hand toward him in the above mentioned posi-
ton"
The material Of which the shoe is made also
has magical power. for the belief in the super
natural properties of iron is very ancient. Plny
afirms that iron coffin nails driven into the
Intel of the door will protect the house from
evil spirits; and that any one placed within
circle traced by piece Of iron is safe from
sorccrers and Witchcraft. The Arabs OF the
desert when overtaken by a simoom feel certain
that they can drive away the djinns by shout
ing the word Iron! IRON" In Bombay an
iron bar is placed along the threshold OF the
room in which a newborn child lies, to prevent
the entrance of demons. \ knife or an iron nall
fixed in A reed placed in the bottom Of boat
protects the scandinavian peasant from the
Neck. or river sprite. The Highlander takes his
oath upon cold iron or steel In short, folklore
is full Of evidences Of the superstitious regard
in which this most wonderful and useful metal
has always and everywhere been held. The
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-02-26
From an old engraving)

maker of the shoe. also, comes in Tor MS snare
Of magical character for to the worker Oh the
metal has always been transferred part OF the
popular respect which is paid to the metal Itself
In the pagan world the smith had an honorable
place among the gods or demons, and there mas
always lurked in the popular mind in Christian
lied countries. the idea that he is magical
craftsman, and that his art of metallurgy was
originally learned from the devil In certain
countries blacksmiths and farrers have always
been regarded as possessing magical powers.
In others they enjoy special privileges. Among
the Arabs Of the GASES of the Sahara farrlers
are exempt from taxes. If on the battlefield
one of these Arab farriers is hard pressed by
his enemies he has onl:- 10 dismount and indi-
cate his profession by initiating the action of
bellows with the corners of his burnoOse, and
his life is spared. 1t has been thought, also,
that the shape of the horseshoe connects 1t with
the worship of the serpent-One Of the very old
est of religious symbols--wth phallic symbols,
and with a number Of other things about which
interesting facts are given in DR.. Lawrence's
book.
1t is. perhaps of some Importance to know
how a horseshoe should be placed in order to
be most effective as protector against things
evil and as 4 luck bringer. 1t should be fixed
above the outer door or on its threshold. be-
cause it thus protects the whole house, witches
and demons being unable to pass over it or I'M
der it. This position. on the outer line of de-
fence. it were is the proper one for all sorts
of similar charms the world over. Magical
images have even been found under the thresh-
olds of Assyrian palaces Inside the house the
shoe loses much Of its potency, though it is still
an emblem of good luck. Out OF doors it is USE
less. since the evil things it guards against are
impotent in the open air. The amount of luck
which shoe accidentally found will bring de-
Ponds upon the number of old nails in it; the
more nails the more luck. one thing it is es-
pecially important to remember: the points
should be turned upward. otherwise all the luck
will spill out This precept is almost uniyer-
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-02-26
CHARMS AND OMENS.
THE HISTORY OF SOME sUPERsTITIoNs

rHE MAGIC or THE HORSESHOE. with other
Folklore Notes. by Robert Means Iawren,e,
NJ. d. Octave PIP. tx Sh Housh'oh' "i'''''''
& Co.
The study of the folklore Of omens, charms
and the like rot only brings to light many
fascinating bit Of ancient superstition; it also
reveals permanent tendency Of human thought.
Mankind appear to have n twist toward the
naive supernaturalIsm Of paganism that moth
ing can straghten out. Science may rdcuIe
and reason as it will, the horseshoe still goes
no over the door or is nailed TO the threshold,
the broken looking glass still inspires appre-
hcnsion the spilled salt continues to fly over
the left shoulder and the number thirteen re-
mains an object of reverential dread. DR.. Law
renee has brought together large number OF
interesting ia Its about some Of the more note
worthy Of these popular superstitions The lore
of the horseshoe, to which about one-halt OF his
book Is devoted. is particularly allurng' ana in
one respect at least, peculiar. Most popular
fancies of the kind strike their roots back into
the remotcst antiquity. They spring. many OF
them, from the first serious thinking Of prime
val man about natural forces and their eX-
PLANTATION. Belief i'm the magic power Of the
horseshoe however. almost universal though 1t
became is Of comparatively recent date. as is
clear from the simple fact that the common use
Of the shoe itself is a very modern thing.
Among the ancicnts the shoeing Of horses was
only occasionally resorted to- and it is probable
that the iron shoe not invented until the
fourth century, while severa' hundred years
more elapsed before the art Of the farrier was
thoroughly established 1t seems, in fact To
have been in connection with the medieval be-
lief in witchcraft that the horseshoe first came
into prominence as 4 protecting talisman and
bringer OF good luck. 1t was great anti
witch specific.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-02-26
Gbe 2Trn,21ctk Qrsbnne.
ILLUSTRATED SUPPLEMENT.
SUNDAY. FEBRUARY 20, 1899.

What with Sir Walter Besants inyigoratng
ministratons and the respectful attentions OF
the literary agent" who treats popular
author as he ought TO be treated it would seem
rs if all authors. popular and otherwise, should
develop new Scf-conidcncc But we find one
cheerful novelist protesting in print that he
has not dreamed Of adapting one of his stories
for the stage: indeed, the thought Of being held
responsible quite alarms him. Two friends, he
Declares have obtained his permission to
dramaiizc the tale. On thcm We presume, he
means that all contumcly and blame shall de
Sccnd But as he could easily prevent the
making Of the play, why should he not bear
the responsibility like man? The distinction
h. draws is trivial Similarly the author Of
The open Question is said to have expressed
great Indignation over the disclosure of her
identity. This is very droll. Surely it is pos
Siblc for an author to keep his personality
unknown if he really makes up his mind to
conceal il.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-02-26
THE MIDNIGHT SKIES.


BY W. G. HOLE
II, finite minds there can but !"
TT, finite in iniinity:
And as within it's systems sp'-'
Each planet has allotted place,
The whole must be continent
Within undreamt-of limits pent.
Again. il that be true indeed,
That all the stars together speed
For ever through the empty vast
one must be first and one be last.
Then. as the midnight skies we scan.
Think Of that star which leads the Ndh'
Flung back by whose huge Prov the seas
Of terrible tranquillties.
AROUSED to Intellectual storm.
Surge round the stars that following swarm
In new amaZemcnt. till the last
Pale laggard Of them all is past;
And all the fiery burrows fade
Gods worlds in splendid passage made.
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-07-12
TO Be ALDRICH BILL.
Senator Burrows Says the New Mea-
sure Will Be So-Ca|Ied.
Committee Is Putting 10 a Great Deal Of
Work at Marragansett Pier.

Narragansett Pier July l2.-The SUBJ
committee OF the senate finance COM
mittee was in session five hours, and Il
is stated much valuable work was ac-
complished. Senator Allison was per-
haps the busiest of the trio OF senator's
now present, and plods along with
great industry. while Senator Aldrich
apparently does more thinking.
senator Aldrich is a prince at getting
the pest Ideas. and he likes TO interview
other folks in the financial line, but he
doesn't like TO be interviewed himself.
lie is courteous TO newspaper corre-
spohuehts. but he wants TO save the
AluIlch financial bill for later in the
year, ana he says so i'm short English.
senator Burrows said today that he
supposed II would be called the Aldrich
Dlii' ana ne considered the compliment
ueserVeu.The bill is not entirely drafted
as YET, however. but the main features
are pelns fast nodded. It is stated
mat senator Aldrich found out just
Wnat was wanted while he was in Eu-
rope last spring.
Ihere are still some indications thaS
opposition exists to the abandonment
Oh pimetallism by the republican party.
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-07-12
TO MARK The CORNERS.
Site Of Roger Williams Abode, Near
Seekonk, TO Be Filled.
PTspsr Action 10 Be Taken BY the Rhode
Island Historical Society.

The adjourned quarterly meeting Of
the Rhode Island Historical Society
was held yesterday afternoon at the
cabinet of the society on Waterman
street. Judge Stiness in the chair. and
the following named gentlemen were
elected ITO active membership: Frank
Greene Bates, Alfred, n. Y; Clarence
5. Bridgham, Providence; Adeline NJ.
Dyer, Olneyville; Mary A. Keach. Provi-
dnce; John Il. Sanborn. Newport: Fred
| crick a. Sayles, Pawtucket; William w
sherman, Newport.
The report OF the librarian showed
THAT 80 bound vClumes. $40 unboiInd
volumes and pamphlets, and II mis-
cellaneous articles had been received
during the quarter. a list OF the
more important access.ons yas read
The special committee on the mo-
posed change of the bylaw on the an
Gual due reported that l76 members had
been heard from. OF these. "a were in
fstf ef Fais-ag the dues from 50 To s.
6S were against such increase. and IA
were nOncommittal. on motion the mat
ter was laid over to the October meet
ing.
The most important business to coma
before the meeting was the matter of
securing suitable marking of the site
OF Roger Wiliams's abode and spring
on the right bank Of the Seekonk river
before settling near the spring OF the
Moshassuck I'm 1886 In introducing tho
subject. Judge Stiness stated that the
site was about TO BE- filled I'm and to be-
come a public highway, over which
tracks were 20 be laid by the Union
Railroad Company. Judge Stiness sug-
gested that a survey of the place be
made, and that the corners of the Lot
be marked by stones. as there would
be no other way Of indicating the site
after Il had been filed i'm.
Judge Stiness. II. &. Sayles. Edwin 4
Smith. William B. Mead and Prof. w
ii. Munro were appointed committee
TO take necessary action. Some ques-
tfon OF the authenticity OF the tradi-
tfon that Roger Williams had lived at
this place arose. and the committee
was directed To look into the matter.
The meeting then adjourned.
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-07-12

Yesterday afternoon an inquest was
| begun by Coroner Lincoln into the
causes OF the death OF Arturo Pense,
the man who was killed on Federal Hill
on the night of July 3 last
Pense had been In trouble before the
fatal encounter, and twice he was con-
victed of assaults caused by his too
desperate invasion of the household OF
his countrymen.
For the killing Francisco Spaolerio
is now under arrest. and the police are
looking for Venaszio Cristofoli, "A half
brother who also welded a stiletto
There were numerous witnesses includ-
ing the police, who produced the six
inch doube-edged knife which cut
Pense half dozen times. Ii was stain
ed with. his blood. Charles Calderone
swore that he saw Cristofoli strike
Pense with the knife in his liquor sa-
loon. The duel was ended when the
bartender used a cue over the heads
OF the three belligerents. Cristofoli
threatened TO kill the bartender. The
first blow struck Pense on the right
cheek. The second was aimed at the
left hand side Of the neck. Another
blow struck Pense in the breast. The
knife entered into the flesh at each
blow. The fifth knife thrust was in
the back. Several more blows were
struck. Witness could not keep count
of them all. Blood flowed freely.
Questioning by the coroner disclosed
the information that the witness was
the only person who attempted TO in
terfere. In SO doing three chandeliers
were broken as witness dropped the
chair ne had seized 10 stop the assault.
saff f..FNa f..1 gla.I.a I'll IA trsaH soil
with a small pocket knife. Paol was
under Pense and the former kept jab-
bing at Pense with a knife. The witt
ness could not say whether he (PaolD
struck Pense or not on account of the
excitement that prevailed at the time.
Pense had fallen over Paoli, and both
We're on the floor. Cristofoli was strik-
ing at Pense.
When the bartender struck Cristofoll
win a cue a second time, he CCristofolD
ran into the street and witness had not
seen him since. Pense was lying on
the floor near the bar, face downwards.
He attempted 10 rise TO standing po-
stion with the aid of a chair but fail
ed He fell TO the floor again. The Of
ficers then arrived. Pense was left on
the floor II the arrival Of the ambu-
lance. Paoli attempted to run out
through the back door, but was held by
witness and bartender. When asked !
why Pa0ft WAS stopped the witness re- I
piled that he wanted to give him to the |
officers.
What had he done7" asked the cor
oner.
He had done nothing"
Witness explained-that he thought
Paoli should be held until officers arr
rived as he was In the fray. Witness
could not state whether Paolfs efforts
to strike Pense were successful or not.
Pense was not drunk. Paoi had been
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-07-12
WILL WE'D AT NEWPORT.
prnos Canlaculene Of Russia Coming 10 Claim
Mss Julia DENT Grant.

Newport, July 12.-Mrs Potter Pal
mer announced today that the we'd
ding OF her niece Miss Julia Dent
Grant. daughter of Gen. and Mrs. Fred
erick Grant. TO Prince Cantacuzene Of
Russia would take place here late in
September
This matter has just been definitely
decided upon though ever since the en-
gagement was announced it was
thought the wedding would take place
mere, as the home of Miss Grants pa
rents sas temporarily broken up on ac-
count of Gen. Grant having important
army duty in the Philippines. 1t was
not until today, however, that Mrs.
falmer was able to say that the ques-
tion had been decided
MRS. Palmer said that upon Prince
Cahtacuzene's arrival, early in Sep
temper, Miss Grant will go TO New
York 10 meet him. and they would come
mere, when final arrangements will be
maze Tor thei wedding. Ii is possible
that the marriage. as well as the re-
ception, will take place at the famous
Beaulieu" villa of William Waldorf
Astor on Bellevue avenue, which Mr..
and Mrs. Palmer have leased this sea-
son.
Miss Grant will arrive next week to
VISIT Mrs. Palmer for the summer One
by one her bridesmaids will be chosen
from among her friends.
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-07-12
SAVED FROM PAuPsR'S GRAVE.
ulcers OF Actors Fund Euy Charles Graham,
ih) Song Nrtsr.

New York. July 12.-Charles Graham,
a song writer. who was the author of
many Of the most popular melodies Of
the day, was saved from a paupers S
grave by the Actors fund.
Graham died in Bellevue hospital.
where ne was registered as William
Graham, a homeless man. Grahams
wife, who lives with five small children
in wretchedly poor quarters in Ee-
venth avenue. missed him from home
on Saturday and made a search for
him. She learned on Sunday that Will
liam Graham's body was i'm the morgue
and jumping TO the conclusion that il
was that Of her husband, appealed to
the music publishers to aid her. They
sent her to the Actors fund, and the
officers of the fund agreed to bury him.
Mrs. Graham and her Brother-in-
law, Howard Graham went TO the NOR
que and identified the body as that of
Charles Graham. His body will be
buried today in Mt. Oliver cemetery.